On my twitter, I often say when the next chapter will be out a few hours before, so if you want to be kept in the loop of Restless Waves, search for: @SianaghG

- Sian ;)

"Let's do it!" Rowan said excitedly. "How do we do it?"

Kaerius swam closer to him and gripped the rocks. The waves were still ploughing into him. "We go on quest."

"Quest?" Rowan asked, looking to Jaiker for help.

"Quest," Jaiker said quietly, not taking his eyes off Kaerius. "The goddess chose Rowan," he said in the Thalassic tongue. "I can't help but think that you'll get punished if you change fate."

"Rather that than live with a human for the rest of my life."

"You're not this horrible, Kaerius. If you go through with this, I hope Rowan's death will haunt you forever. Better yet, I hope Rowan haunts you forever and makes your life miserable." Jaiker ducked under the waves, swimming away to find his son.

Kaerius moodily clung to the rocks. He couldn't look at Rowan. The guilt told him that it was a wrong thing to do, but Kaerius chose not to pay attention. "Carry Kaerius to land," he demanded.

Rowan slowly edged towards him, through the water that was only getting more aggressive. When he reached down to slot an arm under the sea creature's armpits, a wave seeped up the rock like the sea exhaled harshly. The wave crashed into them both and Rowan slipped. He fell to his knees and headbutted the side of Kaerius's face.

Kaerius clung onto the rock harder to stop the water from dragging them away.

Their faces were the closest they had ever been. In among the panic of standing waist deep in rough waters, Rowan could only really focus on Kaerius, and how cold his skin felt against his forehead, and how close their mouths were, and how his soul flipped around at the contact.

"I scratch you," Kaerius warned with eyes that latched onto Rowan's mouth.

Rowan pulled back and stood up, lifting Kaerius up with him. This time, Kaerius coiled arms around Rowan's shoulders and wrapped his tail around the rest of his body. Kaerius gripped tight and felt his back slam into the rocks when another wave pounded them.

Rowan sieved through the water, getting hit with a few more waves before he was able to scramble further up the rocks until the waves couldn't reach them.

"So, we're going on a quest?" Rowan asked. Kaerius was wrapped around him so securely, Rowan's arms were free to rest by his side. He walked across the sand, avoiding making eye contact with people. They couldn't see Kaerius. He hoped they couldn't see him. "To get what?"

"Need more English. Cannot explain," Kaerius grumbled. "We make mixture. I drink."

"And that will separate our souls?"

Kaerius nodded against his shoulder. The guilt never left him, and it hurt a little more.

"I guess I'll have to trust you. I wish we could understand each other better. It would make all of this so much easier." Rowan entered his house and stood by the door, listening for any sounds. There were still no signs that his mother was home. He assumed she had either gone to his father, gone on a hunt, or gone to clear her head.

"How long will this quest take?" Rowan asked when he reached his bedroom. Kaerius uncoiled his tail and flopped back on the bed. His nostrils were filled with Rowan's smell, and it fluttered his heart.

"Days. Week. Kaerius unsure."

Rowan started rummaging through his drawers. "If you're coming and we'll be on land, you have to wear some proper clothes."

Kaerius was given the choice of ripped black jeans or light blue board shorts. Kaerius looked roughly the same height and weight. To Rowan's surprise, Kaerius picked the jeans, and when his legs appeared, Rowan had the discomfort of watching him trying to get them on.

Thinking that Kaerius chose the jeans because he liked the style, Rowan gave him one of the few black t-shirts he had. It was strange to see him in clothes, but the t-shirt hugged Kaerius well, especially his arms, and Rowan had to stop himself from looking for too long.

Rowan then packed a few spare clothes for them both, money that he had saved up for university, some salt for Kaerius, and other things they would need if they didn't come back for a few days.

While Rowan was packing stuff from the bathroom, Kaerius picked up the file for werewolves. He met Rowan by the sink and pointed at the front cover.

"Werewolves?" Rowan said, grabbing his toothbrush. "What about them?"

"We find... Wol-ves."

"What for?"

"For quest."

"How are werewolves going to help remove the bond?" Rowan asked.

"Fur. Moonlight."

"I don't understand."

Kaerius ran a hand down his face and sighed. He shrugged, trying to say that he didn't know how to tell him.

"I should teach you English," Rowan chuckled. "What do we need from the werewolves?"

"Fur. Moonlight," Kaerius repeated.

"Why, though?"

"Mixture. I drink."

"You want to drink a werewolf's fur?"

Kaerius had the urge to throw something sharp at Rowan's head. Instead, he turned and stomped back into the bedroom.

They didn't speak to each other until it was time to leave. Rowan made Kaerius wear the black leather gloves again. With his clothing, and his purple eyes and black hair, Kaerius had quite a style going on.

"I guess it's a good thing nobody can see you. You'd draw attention to yourself. You look kinda cool, though."

Kaerius didn't understand. He was wearing the darkest shade there was, unlike Rowan who was wearing peach coloured board shorts, a white t-shirt with a picture of an Aztec surfboard on the front, and white flip flops with light blue straps between his toes.

When Kaerius started to frown, Rowan decided that it was the right time to go. As they exited the house, he said, "We'll find the werewolves first then. There's a pack in town." Rowan abruptly stopped walking and groaned. "I have to be sleep deprived to see them. We need to wait forty-eight hours before I can see them."

"No. I see them," Kaerius said.

"but you don't know who you're looking for, I do. I've also been trained to fight and protect myself. It'll be safer if I can see the werewolves too."

"Kaerius fight."

"Your poison doesn't work on werewolves. Also, they're not sharks. You don't have a tail to slap them with anymore."

Rowan had a point, but Kaerius was stubborn. "I fight stronger than human."

Rowan turned back towards the house. "Not everything has to be a competition." As he stared at the home he grew up in, Rowan knew it would do him some good to get away from his mother for a while. He couldn't stay with his dad, but Kaerius needed access to a bath every 4 hours. "We should stay in a hotel until I'm sleep deprived enough. It'll be better for both of us to be away from my mum."

Kaerius didn't know what a hotel was, but he followed Rowan down the road. He kept staring back towards the sea. The further away he got, the more his nerves spiked, and he wanted to forget everything and run back to his home.

"We'll be back at the beach in no time," Rowan said, feeling anxious and knowing it wasn't his own emotion.

Kaerius stopped looking back after that. He had to create the illusion that he wasn't weak. By now, it was impossible. Rowan could already feel his true feelings, though it wouldn't stop Kaerius from trying.

After ten minutes of walking, Kaerius asked, "How long?"

"Not long. Are your legs hurting? We can take a break if you want. There's no rush."

"I fine," Kaerius scowled. His feet were the ones that hurt. He wore shoes for the first time, and the skin on his heel started to sting.

Rowan walked slower. He could see the irritation on the sea creature's face.

When they reached the town, Rowan soon noticed that people were looking at Kaerius like they could see him. When they entered the cheapest hotel, the guy behind the desk smiled at them both.

Rowan asked if they had a spare room that they could stay in for a few nights. Fifteen minutes later, and 50 pounds poorer, the boys were waiting for the elevator doors to open with the keys in Rowan's grip. When the lift finally arrived, Rowan was glad that it was empty because Kaerius's face changed to one who looked like he had seen a ghost.

Along the back of the lift was a full-length mirror. Rowan had to force the sea creature into the elevator when he wouldn't stop staring at himself.

"Me?" Kaerius asked, pointing to the purple-eyed man staring back. He had only ever seen himself in the reflection of the water. His hair was dark against his pale skin. His strong jaw was sharp and defined, his lips were fuller than Rowan's. His eyelashes were thick, and he had a black rim around his eyes like he wore eyeliner, which Rowan didn't have.

Rowan watched Kaerius poke and pinch his face. The elevator was slow, so Kaerius had time to get a good look at himself.

Kaerius's gaze moved onto his body, and his muscular torso. He arched a brow. "I pretty."

Rowan scoffed, though he couldn't deny it. Kaerius was very good looking. "Come on," he said when the door opened.

Kaerius turned away from his reflection, and he looked shocked once again. They were somewhere completely different. "Magic?" he asked when Rowan dragged him into the corridor.

"Our room is this way," Rowan said, containing his laughter.

The hotel was outdated. The floor was probably once a very vibrant red. Now, it was murky brown. The walls were decorated with patterned wallpaper that would give Rowan a headache if he stared for too long. The pattern also closed the walls in around them, and the dim yellow light above didn't help. There was a musty smell like old perfume had been absorbed into every fibre. The doors looked a little battered and worn. Rowan was glad to be with someone else.

When he unlocked their hotel room, the first thing he saw was a double bed. "Ah," he said with a frown. "The receptionist must have thought... never mind."

Kaerius eyed him with confusion. "What?"

"He must have thought that we were together."

Kaerius's frown deepened. "We, human, Thalassic Mortal, together. Yes?"

"Yes, but not in a romantic way."

Kaerius then made the same noise as Rowan. "Ah."

"I didn't even think to specify that we needed two beds."

"No need two. I sleep, you awake." Kaerius shrugged. He didn't care at all, which made a question fall from Rowan's mouth.

"Kaerius, you seem to care more about your soulmate being a human rather than another man. I'm guessing it's not a big thing between Thalassic Mortals?"

Why would it? Kaerius thought. "I kiss pretty Thalassic Mortals," he said. "Gender no important."

"Do you all think that way?" Rowan asked.

Kaerius shook his head to say no. "Preference. Thalassic Mortals no care. All happy."

"That's nice," Rowan smiled and sat on the bed. He sank into it and would find it hard to stay awake all night with a bed so comfortable. "I wish humans were the same. We could learn a thing or two from your species."

Kaerius cocked his head to the side, staring at the human on the bed. Rowan often surprised him. For years, Kaerius had only come into contact with human hunters. He had shaped a hasty judgement of what he thought humanity was like. Rowan wasn't like them. He was kind and caring and wanted to help those who would never return the favour. Rowan was different, and Kaerius liked different.