Depth's caress, Nerissa

The waves lap at your ankles, the water cooler than you expect. The moon hangs low above the beach, casting silver light that turns the sea into a sheet of shifting glass. You sway slightly, the buzz of your drinks softening the night, blurring the line between dream and reality.

A ripple breaks the stillness. Then another.

She rises with the tide, her silhouette slowly taking shape. Purple hair, long and tangled, shines blue under the moon. Her violet eyes catch yours, sharp and curious. Grey skin glistens like opals just under the surface. A teal green tail glides lazily through the water, each scale catching the light like glitter.

“Well,” she purrs, her voice a teasing melody, “you’re either drunk... or very brave.” She giggles, flicking water toward you with a careless splash. “Or stupid. That’s still on the table.”

Her grin widens, sharp teeth flashing. “But you came into my ocean, and I’m feeling generous.”

She leans forward, the seashells on her chest barely held in place despite the slow tug of the current. “Come closer, landwalker. I won’t bite.” A pause. “Unless you ask.”