But all water was one water, and if you spoke with the language of the sea…
His blood rose with anticipation as he strode away from the hotel, passing out of the harsh glare of unnatural human lights and into the more welcoming embrace of moon and star. He followed the curve of the lake shore, the quiet song of the water becoming clearer the further he went from the noise of the human world.
Finding a quiet spot out of the view of any window or passing car, he loosened the buttons of his shirt, shrugging out of the constraining fabric. The irritating pants and even more irritating shoes quickly followed. Chase had complained ceaselessly about the cold and damp ever since they had arrived in Scotland yesterday, but to John the night breeze felt pleasantly warm and welcoming. He was always too hot on land, accustomed as he was to the sunless depths of the Atlantic ocean.
The night breeze caressed his skin, whispering echoes of distant clouds. Despite his eagerness, he made himself take the time to carefully fold his clothes. He had only a handful of human garments, since they’d all had to be personally tailored for him. Even clerks at specialist shops for humans of unusual size had blanched when he’d ducked through their doorways.
He could have shifted with his clothes on, of course—all mythic shifters could. But he’d discovered that although his human clothes could survive his shifting, they fared less well with his swimming. Wherever it was they went when he transformed, it didn’t keep them dry, and he’d shifted back on more than one occasion to discover himself clad in bedraggled, ruined garments. Human clothes were not nearly as practical as his own people’s traditional garb in that respect.
He hid the hated human clothes in the shadow of a water-smoothed boulder, and finally, finally, he was ready.
The lake whispered welcome as he waded out into it. As soon as it was deep enough, he dove, striking out away from the shore with swift, powerful strokes. Even in this feeble form, he could have kept pace with a seal, let alone any human swimmer. But it was still slow, so slow, compared to the supple speed of his true self.
The water rolled curiously over his skin, exploring his hard planes and long limbs, murmuring with surprise. Its song echoed in his veins, carried by the tides of his blood: All seas are one sea, and all water is one water. You are of the flow, and yet apart. What are you?
He sang back, as best he could with tiny human lungs and a tongue like a beached fish: All seas are one sea, and the salt lies hidden under my skin. Patience. I will show you.
Bearing in mind Griff’s warning, he swam until the lights of the hotel were pinpricks in the night, and the lake yawned deep and dark beneath his fragile human feet. Like all mythic shifters, John could prevent humans from seeing him in dragon form…but he couldn’t prevent humans from noticing the effect he had on his surroundings.
When he was certain that he was far enough out that the wave wouldn’t attract attention, he shifted.
His own true body was incalculably vast compared to his tiny shifted, human form. A shock wave of displaced water exploded outward in all directions. The entire lake leaped, calling out in a mighty cry of delight and recognition.
Opening his jaws wide, he was at last able to proudly proclaim his name, his true name, every mighty chord and rippling arpeggio of it. The sound of it shook the water, and the lake trembled in awe.
The lake embraced him like a long-lost lover. It wasn’t the saltwater of the ocean, but it was still a taste of home. He luxuriated in it, weightless, stretching out every coil and claw to fullest extent.
I am born of water, and borne by water, and to water I return! he sang, and the lake picked up the melody and joined him in joy.
He could have happily spent hours there, swimming and singing and listening to the lake’s tales of season and sky…but his duty called him.
Do you know my song? he queried the lake. Do you know my shape? Did an even greater one ever grace your depths, a secret power amongst your swift-darting fish?
He’d asked this many times over the past two years, to many different waters. He had swum the fractal coastline of Britain and queried its bays and harbors. He’d called out to lakes both smaller and greater than this one. He’d even ventured into the oily, metallic waters of the great Thames river, and shouted his question over the crash and clamor of London.
Every time he’d received the same answer: No.
And this time was no different.
No, said Loch Ness.
His heart sank within his chest…and then thudded in shock as currents curled coyly around him. Despite the lake’s denial, it did know something. There was a secret here, concealed in its depths.
And it was debating with itself whether to tell him.
Please! he cried out to it. The heart of the sea lies empty, and my heart is empty too. If you know what I seek, if you can fill that void, tell me!
The waters of Loch Ness whispered and swirled around him for a long moment, eddies breaking apart and reforming like the thoughts of a divided mind.
Then it said, simply: Come.
Chapter 2
Neridia couldn’t believe it, but so far, the first date was turning out to be a total success.
Maybe all that work will actually pay off!
She’d left nothing to chance this time. After a long string of disastrous dates with the freaks and perverts who were attracted to her own online profile, she’d gone fishing for herself.