The sun’s higher now, glaring off the water as we bob in the dinghy. Lucia’s sitting close, her shoulder almost touching mine, and I feel this weird flutter in my chest. She’s just… intense, you know? All wild hair and sharp hazel eyes, like she belongs out here with the sea and the cliffs. I glance at her, then quick away, tugging at a loose curl in my bun. No way I’d ever say it out loud, I’m way too shy for that, but there’s something about her that makes my stomach knot up. Probably just the adventure, right? That’s all.
“So,” I say, clearing my throat to shake off the feeling, “this X on the map; it’s past the bay, near Capo Gallo. You know anything about that spot?” My voice comes out quieter than I mean it to, and I focus hard on the parchment, tracing the faded lines with my finger.
Lucia tilts her head, her dark hair spilling over one shoulder as she studies the map too. “Not much,” she says, her tone thoughtful, “but Nonna used to tell stories about that cove. Old legends. Said it was cursed, or blessed, depending who you ask. Something about a pirate queen who hid her loot there centuries ago. They called her La Sirena Nera; the Black Mermaid. Fishermen still swear they see her ghost swimming out there sometimes.”
I blink at her, my imagination already running wild. “A pirate queen? For real?” Mondello’s full of tales like that, Nonna’s always going on about shipwrecks and lost riches, but this feels different, heavier, with the map crinkling between us.
Lucia nods, a small smile tugging at her lips. “Yeah. Story goes she made a deal with some sea spirit to protect her treasure. Left a piece of herself behind to guard it, her eyes, maybe, or her soul. Creepy, huh?” Her gaze flicks to me, lingering a second longer than it needs to, and I feel my face heat up. I duck my head, pretending to study the map harder.
“That’s… wild,” I mumble, adjusting the coin still tucked into my bikini waistband. It’s been pressing against my hip this whole time, a little reminder of how this all started. “Guess we’re about to find out if it’s true.” My heart’s thumping, and I tell myself it’s the legend, not the way she’s looking at me.
She doesn’t push it, just leans back and starts the motor again. “Let’s go, then. Before my aunt catches us.” Her voice is casual, but there’s a spark in it, like she’s daring me to keep up. I nod, gripping the boat’s edge as we cut through the waves, the coastline blurring past. The wind yanks my curls free, and I don’t bother fixing them this time.
We reach the cove… a tucked-away stretch of emerald water framed by jagged cliffs. It’s quieter here, the air thick with salt and secrets. Lucia kills the engine, and we drift, the silence pressing in. “Ready to dive?” she asks, her eyes catching the light. She’s already kicking off her sandals, all easy confidence, and I fumble with my flip-flops, feeling clumsy next to her.
“Yeah,” I say, grabbing the snorkel mask from her bag. We slip into the water together, and I focus on the cold shock of it, not how close she swims beside me. Down we go, the sea darkening around us, until I spot it: a bigger box, half-buried near a cluster of rocks. My pulse races as we tug it free, working together without talking. It’s heavy, but we manage, kicking hard to haul it up.
Back in the dinghy, we’re both dripping, panting, and I keep my eyes on the box as Lucia bashes the rusted lock with a stone. Inside, there’s more coins, a tarnished dagger, and a leather pouch. My hands shake as I pull it open, and a necklace tumbles out… gold, with a ruby pendant that glows like it’s alive. “Whoa,” I whisper, holding it up. It’s heavy, old, and gorgeous.
Lucia’s watching me, her expression soft in a way I don’t quite get. “Try it on,” she says, quiet, like it’s just a suggestion. “Looks like it belongs with you.” There’s something in her tone… warm, almost careful… that makes my chest tighten, but I brush it off, too shy to think about it.
“Okay,” I mutter, fumbling with the clasp. She doesn’t help, just watches as I hook it around my neck. The ruby settles against my skin, cool at first, then warm… too warm, like it’s pulsing. I gasp, my hand flying to it. “Lucia, it’s…”
Before I can finish, a jolt runs through me, sharp and electric. My vision blurs, and when it clears, Lucia’s staring at me, wide-eyed. “Sabrina… your eyes,” she says, her voice barely a whisper.
“What?” I lean over the boat’s edge, peering at my reflection in the water. My blue eyes are gone… replaced by a deep, golden hazel, the exact same shade as hers. My breath catches. “What the… how did…?”
Lucia’s hand hovers near mine, then pulls back. “The legend,” she says, almost to herself. “La Sirena Nera’s eyes… maybe this is part of her. Part of the deal.” She’s not smirking now, just looking at me like I’m a puzzle she wants to figure out.
I touch the necklace, my mind spinning. “This is insane. What does it mean?” My voice cracks, and I feel small, overwhelmed, but Lucia’s steady gaze anchors me somehow.
“Dunno,” she says, softer now. “But we’ve got more to find. Look.” She points to the pouch; another map’s slipped out, pointing farther along the coast. “This isn’t over.”
Then we hear it: a distant motor. Her aunt’s boat. “Merda,” Lucia mutters, snapping into action. “Hide it—quick.” We shove the box under a tarp, my hands brushing hers by accident, and I pull back fast, my face burning. The necklace hums against my chest, my new hazel eyes meeting hers for a split second before I look away.
I’m in deep now… treasure, legends, and something else I can’t name. And as we speed off to dodge her aunt, I know I’m not backing out. Not yet.
