“Alana,” Nori echoed.
The woman stared at Nori, waiting for something. From the top of the hill, the sister of the Naiad’s husband appeared, a hand cradling her inflated belly.
“Wait for me,” the human woman called down the hill at Alana.
Nori shrunk under the waves, receding into the reeds before surfacing further away to watch.
The sister stalked through the palms, stopping before the Naiad, and gasped. Her mouth hung open, and blood drained from her face as if she’d suddenly seen a monster.
But there was no one there but Alana.
The mute Naiad watched the young woman, wide-eyed with surprise. She took a step toward the sister, and the woman spun away. Darting up the hill, she let out a shrill scream, sand flying behind her feet.
Alana watched her go, the unease written on her face fading into determination.
Nori sat hidden in the reeds with Olinne, watching beyond the curve of the cliffs as they melted into the shore. They were hidden here, where the tall rocks blocked any view of the island. It had turned into their secret meeting place, theirs and Alana’s.
Alana wove around the white cliffs. She met their eyes and smiled.
Strapped to her chest was a round bundle, swathed in tapa cloth. Alana cradled the infant child as she turned the baby for them to see. Nori and Olinne squeezed together for a closer look.
The baby’s skin was warm and dewy, a fluffy patch of curls crested the top of her head. Her eyes squinched shut in the sun, but she opened them a moment later, blinking at them. Eyes as dark as obsidian stone, reflecting the sunlight like stars hanging in the night sky.
“She’s beautiful,” Olinne breathed.
“What’s her name?” Nori asked.
Alana mouthed a word, then her face crumpled. She sat abruptly, her forehead cradled in her hand, and fought tears.
“That’s alright, creature,” Olinne said, reaching for her hand.
Alana wiped her cheeks, offering them both a brave if not flimsy smile. She pulled the child in against her chest, beaming down at her with a broken smile, then wriggled the baby back into her straps and stood. Glancing at them, she strolled her index and middle finger like feet through the air.
Nori nodded, leaning into the waves. “Enjoy your walk.”
They watched Alana drift through the rocks along the beach in silence. Olinne made a noise, and Nori glanced at her. Tears carved tracks down her cheeks, and she smiled sadly. Nori took her hand and squeezed.
From around the bend, movement caught their attention.
A sailor rounded the cliffs. He caught a glimpse of Alana before she disappeared from view, winding around the shoreline. He stared after her for a moment, then glanced around the empty beach before trailing her steps.
Nori glanced at Olinne, but the curly-haired Naiad’s tears had already dried, her eyes locked in the man’s movement.
Sinking into the waves, they followed him.
The child learned to walk. She ambled short steps, losing her balance and falling to her clothed bottom with a squeal of laughter. On the shore, Alana watched her daughter, blue eyes dancing. Her hair was beginning to lose its lustrous shine. Her skin had dimmed, porcelain covered in dust. Her blood was slowly killing her, turning toxic in her veins.
Nori sat on her tail on the waves, only a few feet away. “How much time do you have?”
Alana sighed, her gaze on her child. She held up eight fingers.
“Months,” Nori asked hesitantly, “Or days?”
Months. Alana enunciated the movement of her mouth, though her tongue rendered her silent.
“You could leave her with us,” Olinne suggested softly. “Eight months is enough to fulfill your vow. Come back to her, healthy and whole.”
Alana stared at her child as if she hadn’t heard. She blinked, and tears slid down her cheeks.
