I'm swimming faster than I ever have in my life. Water rushes past my face, often blurring my vision to the point I worry I'll run into something. Whatever—or whomever—is behind me isn't happy. My chest is heaving as I slow to a stop, trying to catch my breath.

I feel something behind me, but don't see anything until it gripped my shoulder and spun me around, reigniting the pain that had been dormant until now. I gasped as I looked into a familiar pair of emerald-green eyes, hoping against hope that my own were deceiving me.

My heart was racing, my shoulder throbbing as I awoke. The mermaid's face swam in my mind, bringing with it confusion and anger. Why would Naia be targeting me specifically? Did it have something to do with Tiger Shark or Mom?

I mulled over those questions as I got dressed and swam downstairs, the phantom ache in my shoulder reappearing with a vengeance. A smile was on Jay's face as he saw me, swimming over to me and grabbing my hand. Happy birthday, Nerissa. I love you so much. He kissed me on the cheek, tears filling my eyes as he did. The grin on his face faltered as he noticed my tears.

A half-hearted smile appeared on my face when I looked at him. David appeared before I could even raise my hands, a gift-wrapped box in his hand. This was outside addressed to you, Rissa.

My hands shook as I grabbed the box and opened it. A note lay atop a large ring, the sapphire in the center sparkling. Consider this my present to you. Tiger Shark's next assignment is down below. I'll be waiting to see if you successfully complete your tasks. Your loving sister, Naia. The mermaid was my age, with short blonde hair and bright blue eyes.

David put a hand on my shoulder, bringing me back to the present. Who's it from, Rissa?

I slid the ring onto my finger with a trembling hand. As much as I hated to admit it, the ring was gorgeous. Wordlessly, I handed him the note. The familiar hopelessness snuck back up on me, bringing with it a fresh wave of crippling doubt.

That's when I noticed the cake. Chocolate with sea foam frosting. My favorite. I glanced at David and Jay, wondering if this was their doing. The sneaky expressions on their faces made me smile. I grabbed a piece and took a bite, almost moaning in pleasure.

David's smile faded as he scanned the note, his nostrils flaring. A shiver ran down my spine—not at David, but at the anger the note brought out in him. Before I could give David or Jay any time to talk me out of it, I grabbed my jacket, slinging it over my shoulders.

Disbelief was written on David's tight face as he stopped me. You're not seriously thinking of going, are you? It's clearly a trap.

I shook off his touch and left without so much as a backward glance. The farther I got from the house, the more the hopelessness increased. How could I keep on doing this and still maintain my sanity? I swam for a few more leagues before coming across a mermaid.

She was motionless on the ground, her hair splayed out behind her in the silt. Her blue eyes were unseeing as she stared blankly up at the surface. I bit back a sob as I noticed the ring on her finger—similar to mine. She had a husband, a family. How could we take her away from them?

I flinched as I felt a hand on my shoulder, whirling around to meet a pair of familiar green eyes. Naia. Her expression was smug. Do you like your birthday present, Nerissa? I wanted it to be David or Jay, but Tiger Shark was adamant that it be someone you didn't know. Be grateful that I'm letting them live. Ire blazed in her eyes, so much so that I backed away from her.

What do you want, Naia? The ire in her eyes sent a chill down my spine.

Her answering smile was full of venom as she placed a hand on my injured shoulder. My mouth opened in a silent scream as the pain returned with a vengeance, along with a very distressing vision. Bodies. Multiple bodies, piled atop one another.

As quick as the vision had appeared, it was gone. That was just a taste of what will happen if you fail to complete the tasks as you are given them. I almost forgot: happy birthday, sis.

Her words played over and over in my head as I swam home, barely able to concentrate on what was in front of me. I made it to our doorstep before I collapsed, the pain too much to bear. The last thing I saw was Jay's face, deathly pale and worried, before my vision blurred completely and darkness overtook me.

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