Chapter 1
As Dylan swims through the vibrant coral reefs, gathering specimens, the tranquil sea seemed endless. Sunlight filters through the water, casting beams of light over schools of fish that dart around him, undisturbed by his presence. He’s focused, grabbing samples and making mental notes, all while Oscar remained on the boat, scribbling down their findings.
But there’s something else in the water—a presence. Hidden deep within the darker, colder depths of the ocean, Arion sensed the disturbance. His ancient, primal instincts awaken as he felt Dylan’s energy, unlike anything he has ever encountered before. The sea creature glided effortlessly through the water, silently observing from a distance. With each stroke Dylan takes, Arion moved closer, his glowing eyes locked onto his prey.
Dylan, unaware of the predator closing in, continued to collect coral. His mind wandered to Oscar, thinking about their time together—how it was always either work or fleeting moments of passion. But there was something missing, something unspoken between them that left him yearning for more. His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden, overwhelming feeling. The water around him shifts slightly, a chill crawling up his spine.
He paused, looking around. The fish scatter, moving as if in unison away from something. Dylan turned, scanning the ocean depths, but there was nothing—only the endless blue abyss. Yet, the feeling of being watched lingered, growing stronger with each passing second.
Dylan hesitated for a moment, feeling the unsettling shift in the water. His instincts tell him something isn’t right, but curiosity got the better of him. He swam a little further, his eyes narrowing as he scans the shadowy depths below. The once peaceful sea now felt heavy with tension.
As he swam deeper, the water grew colder, and the sunlight became faint. Dylan’s breath quickened, his senses on high alert. He squinted, trying to make out anything unusual in the gloom. There—a flicker of movement far below, just beyond the reach of the light. It’s faint, almost like a shadow, gliding smoothly through the water.
“Is that...?” Dylan mutters, kicking his legs to move a little closer, but just as he does, the figure disappears into the darkness.
A rush of water pushed against him, gentle but deliberate. Dylan’s heart pounded in his chest. He knew something was there, watching, stalking—but it stayed just out of reach, as if it was playing with him.
Unseen but ever-present, Arion made sure to keep his distance, all the while watching Dylan’s every move. The predator in him savoured the moment, savouring the thrill of the chase, though it was not quite time for the real hunt to begin.
He swam back up a few feet, still scanning the depths. His fingers trembled slightly as he brushed a strand of seaweed from his face, but he shook his head, pushing down his fear. “I’m imagining things,” he mutters, but deep down, he knew he wasn’t. Something was definitely out there.
Dylan lingers for a moment longer, his eyes still searching the waters below. The uneasy feeling of being watched refused to leave him, but he forced himself to dismiss it. “Just the ocean playing tricks on me,” he mutters, taking a deep breath before turning back to the coral and fish he was gathering.
He busied himself with his work, trying to focus on the task at hand. His movements were quick and precise as he plucked samples, placing them carefully into his collection bag. The surrounding fish seem to have returned, although warily, darting around the coral like nothing had disturbed them.
But Arion remained close, lurking in the shadows, his eyes never leaving Dylan. He moved with fluid grace through the water, keeping his distance yet maintaining an intense focus on his prey. There is something different about this human—something that ignited a primal desire within him. He sensed Dylan’s heartbeat, heard the rhythm of his breathing, felt the heat radiating from his body, even in the cool ocean depths.
Dylan’s obliviousness only made the situation more tantalising for him. He watched as Dylan continued his work, unaware of the creature circling him, moving in and out of the shadows. Each time Dylan paused, glancing around nervously, Arion retreated just enough to remain unseen, the game growing more thrilling by the minute.
From the boat, Oscar shouted down to him, his voice muffled through the water. “Dylan! You good down there?”
Dylan waved back to signal he’s fine, though a knot of unease still twists in his stomach. He took one last glance into the darker waters, convinced now that something was there but unwilling to lose focus. He was here to gather samples, not chase shadows.
