A dark blue tarp painted with twinkling stars covered the seemingly uninhabited shoreline of Houston, Texas. The ocean's current rippled the full moon's reflection, tugging a humanoid shape with it, which dragged itself from the water, coming to a rest on the sandy beach.

The creature sat up and reached down to stroke her tail melancholically. Gazing up at the moon, she let out a huff of frustration, running a hand through her long, brown hair. It was only under the full moon that a mermaid such as herself could come ashore and breathe human air. She wasn't sure if any other merfolk knew; it was forbidden to breach the surface as she had done every full moon for the past decade. Being a nomad among her kind, this mermaid had explored many shorelines across the globe, but this was her first time on the shores of Texas.

The mermaid tilted back her head and closed her eyes, enjoying the dry warmth of the surface while she could. She was torn from her ecstasy by a ravenous exhale just behind her. Sharply turning her head, the mermaid came face to face with an extremely pale human with fiery red eyes.

Licking his lips lustily, the man growled, "I don't know what you are, but your scent is the most alluring thing I've ever experienced…you wouldn't mind if I had just a small taste?"

The vast, lifeless beach echoed with her inhuman shrieks.

I know this was a short chapter, but it's more of a teaser to introduce my idea! If you like it, please let me know! Any advice or encouragement helps. Regardless, I plan to post a second chapter soon, and actually introduce some characters :) Thanks for reading!