Marine Biologist Harmony Stelfox was about to reveal to the world, one of the greatest aquatic endeavors of all time. A robotic mermaid. She didn’t anticipate that things could go so terribly wrong. Was the universe trying to tell her something? She was on route to the launch pad in the North Atlantic, on Hellhound Island, just north of Wiltfang Island, eager to launch her little Mermaid. Her vessel fell under attack by the jaws of a Great White Shark. A man with striking dark eyes, and an outline of heavy muscle was the one to rescue her. His quick sharp movements added an element of danger. He swam with g-force speeds. Humanly impossible. His was forbidden to speak it, but he was merman who took pity on the beautiful young maid. The wrath brought upon Harmony, and eight other yacht party guests trapped them in the Bermuda Triangle. In the clutches of lethal dark magic. There was little to do, but sit and wait for a rescue. That may never come.

Marine Biologist Harmony Stelfox, aka me, was about to reveal to the world, one of the greatest aquatic endeavors of all time. A robotic mermaid. I didn’t anticipate that things could go so terribly wrong. Was the universe trying to tell me something? I was on route to the launch pad in the North Atlantic eager to launch my little Mermaid. When my yacht fell under attack by the jaws of a Great White Shark. A man with striking dark eyes, and an outline of heavy muscle was the one to rescue me. His quick sharp movements added an element of danger. He swam with g-force speeds. Humanly impossible. And it was. He hid his secret well, he was a merman, a sworn enemy to man. But he thought, this beautiful maid had struck something within him, and he risked it all, to save my life. He laid me to rest on the deck, and dove into the sea before I awoke. Shortly after, on Hellhound Island, me and a group of bachelor party guests were sucked into a Rogue Wave. He followed us, my rescuer, but the current was strong, and he lost sight of us. After a treacherous night of terror, we were becalmed. Dead calm on a dark sea, and realized it was the Devil's Triangle. With no wind in our sails, the equipment dead, we were adrift in a thick blanket of fog. With no hope of safely going home, again.

When a rogue wave washes the houseboat you’re dancing on, out to sea, you and your beach party guests expect the worst. Harmony Stelfox was recovering from a bewildering near death experience. She was nearly killed by a rogue shark, and thought days like these were behind her. How many unforeseen disasters can a girl expect during the run of one week? They were adrift. The sun was blazing hot on their skin, they ran low on food. But they did have plenty of beer. There was one thing more. They were not alone at sea. There was a lonesome creature who watched from a distance. He never slept. He didn’t falter in his watch. And he didn’t offer them help. His stare was filled with furry and hesitation. He called to Harmony, and she swam to him, and he hadn't felt warmth, or love. Harmony thought he was a dream, for a merman couldn't be real. He briefly paused and his eyes met Harmony's. She was the native-lander he rescued from a shark attack. He had no regrets, but if she realized he is the one who rescued her during her robotic mermaid launch, it would mean death to them all. Saving a native-lander would be seen as an act of aggression against his own kind, of the Merworld. His sense of honor cringed. His loyalty would be questioned. Saving her pleased him, and yet he felt torn. His presence only prolonged the inevitable. The creatures were coming. And they would drag them down into the depths, of the Abyss. Ghastly sea creatures boarded the ship, and the war was on.

In the vein of a sixth sense, she saw them. They were coming. Hand in hand with a stranger, she fled. -- My world shattered, crumbled, and fell into unrecognizable chunks at my feet. I realized a shocking truth about myself, and it shook me to the core of my humanity, the night he came for me. This dark and delectable stranger, Rogue Soule, had an alluring pull, a hold over me that I couldn’t explain, or resist. Each had an unfamiliar face and they called me Aurora Snow. They vanished that night, taken by creatures of great magic. Summoning the courage deep within me, I faced a choice; follow Rogue into the depths of the unknown, or risk my mortal soul to save the ones who loved me. The ones I will never remember..

The Best American Series® First, Best, and Best-Selling The Best American series is the premier annual showcase for the country’s finest short fiction and nonfiction. Each volume’s series editor selects notable works from hundreds of magazines, journals, and websites. A special guest editor, a leading writer in the field, then chooses the best twenty or so pieces to publish. This unique system has made the Best American series the most respected—and most popular—of its kind. The Best American Sports Writing 2011 includes Paul Solotaroff, Sally Jenkins, Wells Tower, John McPhee, David Dobbs, Wright Thompson, P. J. O’Rourke, Selena Roberts, and others