The moon hung low over the horizon, its silvery light spilling across the ocean, turning the waves into liquid mercury. I had ventured to the beach late that night, seeking solace from the endless hum of the city. The tide was gentle, the kind that whispered secrets only the sea could know.

As I wandered along the shoreline, something glimmered in the surf. At first, I thought it was the reflection of the stars, but the light moved differently—alive, purposeful. Curiosity got the better of me, and I stepped closer. That’s when I saw her.

She was perched on a rock jutting out of the shallows, her back to me. Her silhouette was mesmerizing—slender yet powerful, her bluish skin shimmering faintly under the moonlight like the surface of the ocean. Her dark purple hair, long and flowing, seemed to be woven from strands of midnight itself. I noticed the subtle flicker of scales catching the light on her arms and legs, and the delicate outline of fins where her feet should have been.

I stood frozen, unsure whether to approach or retreat. She seemed unaware of my presence, her gaze fixed on the horizon, where the waves kissed the sky. A soft, haunting melody drifted through the air, so faint I wondered if it was real or just the song of the sea. It wasn’t until a wave lapped at my feet that I realized how close I’d come.

Suddenly, her head turned slightly, and I caught a glimpse of her profile—a serene yet otherworldly beauty that seemed carved from the ocean itself. Her green eyes, glowing faintly like bioluminescent pearls, locked onto mine.