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Time was like a whirlpool, Nixie realized. It never stopped until it burned itself out. It swallowed everything in its path–––which was everything in the world. It sucked you in and spat you out underwater, and you couldn't find the surface again.

The lucky survivors lived by finding something–––someone–––they could grab onto, which would keep them afloat and bring them to the surface.

Nixie felt lost.

But she also felt like she had found something. Something to hold on to.

Someone to hold on to.

When she woke up, she was lying on the beach. Her skin stung, already pink from the hot sunlight. She squinted against the glare, sitting up.

"Nixie?"

The voice was far away. She turned her head. Cam was running toward her. His feet kicked up sand as he strode along the beach.

Nixie smiled involuntarily. He was grinning at her. She leapt to her feet, ignoring her head, which spun from heat and exhaustion. They collided and Cam grasped her shoulders.

"I found my boat. I saw it over by the rocks on the east shore."

"Are we going back?"

"It's already eleven thirty!" Cam exclaimed. "Don't you think Sirena and Lyla will wonder where you are?"

No, Nixie thought. They won't care. Not after what I told them. But aloud, she only said, "Fine."

Cam grinned again. "I mean, we don't have to leave… this place is pretty… magical." He laughed at his own joke, and Nixie, used to him by now, just rolled her eyes.

Last night had left them both exhausted. The full moon had come and gone by the time they had floated down to the Moonpool, and Nixie had pulled Cam underwater. They had swum up to the beach and collapsed, elated, no longer caring about Zac or his powers. Why did they matter?

Nixie turned out towards the waves. "We could at least swim around a little first," she said playfully. Cam narrowed his eyes.

"It's less fun when you're not half fish, Nix," he said pointedly, poking her.

"More for me, then." And with that she jumped away from him and ran towards the small breaking waves.

Cam yelled after her. "Fine!" He followed her down to the surf.

As soon as Nixie's toes touched the sand, they began to tingle. She smiled at the sensation––like her feet had fallen asleep, and now she was stretching them, releasing them into a tail. She stumbled farther into the waves, and after a few long moments, her fins billowed out underneath her. She treaded water, daring Cam to follow.

But Cam wasn't looking at her.

He was staring at his own feet.

As she watched, a wave rolled up onto shore where Cam was standing. It rushed up onto the sand, around his feet. But when it receded, he just stood there, still dry.

A patch of warm, dry sand surrounded him.

Nixie rubbed her eyes and stared.

He was repelling water.

"What…?" Cam began, locking his eyes on hers.

"Cam," she said hollowly. "Step into the water."

Cam jumped into the waves. His expression was blank for a few seconds, but as he got closer, a wave of confusion passed over his face. Then he looked sick. He stared down at his shirt, down under the surface at his waterlogged shorts–––

–––And then he vanished underwater.

"Cam!" Nixie cried, panicked. She swam toward him. Taking a breath, she dived into the waves. His hand was visible an arm's length away, and she reached out and grabbed it, pulling him up to the sunlight.

They broke the surface, both spluttering in surprise. Cam's face was pale with shock. He and Nixie stared at each other, and then, very slowly, Cam turned around.

Sunlight danced and played on shimmering blue-green scales just under the surface of the warm, clear water.

Cam stared in disbelief at his new tail.

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