Chapter 2

Unknown POV

Swiftly, I flicked my tail, diving further into the deep. I needed to get back to Meritopia, so I could warn the Queen about what's coming. Swimming past the coral where the protectors stood guard, I swam down the underwater cave's tunnel, tearing the seaweed from my path as I swam. Emerging out of the pool, I waited on the moonstone in my ring to change from blue to white. As soon as it did, I took a dress from the safe, hurrying through the palace. My heart pounded heavily in my chest. Standing before the Queen's chambers, I realized the doors were closed, but I needed to see her. She must know.

"I wish to speak with Queen Marina," I mumbled to the guards, who pretended I didn't exist.

"Do you have no respect? Did you not hear me? I want to speak to the Queen." I approached them.

Linking their tridents together, they barricaded me from entering her quarters. Raising my hand, the ground beneath us began to rumble. I didn't provoke them; they disrespected me, and now they must die.

"I am here," her sweet voice whispered behind me, pulling my hand down.

"Queen Marina." I bowed at her feet, kissing the tip of her glass shoe.

"Stand, child, you seem so... disturbed. Is something wrong?"

"My Queen," I stood, taking her hand, "I’d rather speak with you privately." I glared at the guards.

"Very well," she marched past me, pushing the door open to her room,

Closing the door softly behind me, I bit the inside of my cheeks, worried about what I was about to tell her.

"What news do you bring?"

"I watched the moon pool as you told me to, ensuring that Prince Triton was nowhere it."

"And?" She walked around the room, dragging her hands along the emerald stoned tables.

"There was an incident."

"What do you mean?" She glared at me; her eyes flashed from orange to bright red. She was already angry, and she hadn't heard the news yet.

"A human girl fell into the moon pool. She was pushed by another—"

"On a full moon?" Her face fell with dismay.

"Yes."

"That was two nights ago. Why are you reporting this to me now?"

"Because she drowned. Turns out, she wasn't much of a swimmer."

"I see. But if the human is dead, why bother to report it?"

"That's the thing, Your Highness. I watched her take her very last breath, and the human male—I guess he panicked and ran back to the others. So, I took a swim. I must have swum too far. It took me a while to get back, and..."

"And?"

"When I did, her body was missing,"

"So, the human authorities found her." She walked towards me.

"I am afraid not..." I swallowed hard. "She lives, Your highness."

"Did you see her with your own two eyes?" The queen squeezed my shoulders.

"Yes, I-I used the ring, and I followed her."

"You went to the surface?"

"I had to… I had to be sure," I mumbled.

"Okay... We can fix this. Tell no one, especially not the prince." She cupped my cheeks. "That girl was murdered, a violent death in one of our moon pools. Do you have any idea what that could mean for us?"

"No... I do not."

"Sirens are born from violent, watery deaths. That girl died and was brought back to life. If she is a siren, then she will be as strong as me. With their tactical behavior and our powers, they will be invincible with a leader that great."

"What if she's not a siren, but the one the oracle predicted?"

"No, if that human is my son's mate, I will rip the spine out of her tail. She doesn't belong in our world."

"What do you want me to do, My Queen?"

"Keep an eye on her. If she changes when she touches water, I need you to take her here... To me, only me. Say nothing to Triton. This betrothal must go on."

"As you wish, My Queen."

"Leave," she mumbled. I could hear the disappointment in her voice. I failed her. I failed Meritopia.

Walking through the halls, I closed my eyes, dragging my finger on the sea glass walls, humming the song of the sea, a tune that's popular among the sirens, luring sailors to their death. For centuries, humans tried to discover if we were a myth. For centuries, I had watched them fail, thinking mermaids and sirens were the same, but we weren't. While those hideous creatures killed for sport, we’d rather stay hidden, protecting the ocean. But we do share one common enemy: humans.

What that human boy did to that girl was wrong, but what we were about to do to her was worse. If the powers of the moon granted her fins and a tail, she will be in danger, and she will risk our existence.

"Such a beautiful song. How can something be so dangerous but appear so gentle," he spoke from behind me.

"Prince Triton," I kneeled, unable to meet his eyes.

"I missed you last night. I waited for you in my chambers, but you didn't come."

"I am sorry, My Prince. The queen sent me on a last-minute voyage."

"I see."

I wanted to tell him. I wanted to tell him that what the oracle told him could be true, about him meeting his mate at the center of the moon pool, but I didn't want to break his heart. I didn’t want to give him false hope, knowing that what happened to the human was a terrible mistake. Furthermore, I gave the queen my word. My marriage with the prince was too close for it to be the ruined by a prophecy. I was the one who held Triton in my arms, stroking the top of his head each time there was a full moon, and he came back to Meritopia, disappointed that he hadn't found the one the Oracle spoke about. I asked him how would he know when he had found her, and all he said was, “she wears the rarest ornament of the ocean.”

"Are you alright? You seem distant," he added.

"Yeah, I have to go. Your mother... She has asked me to take care of something. I will be gone for a few days, but I promise when I get back, we will take the longest swim ever, floating above the ocean, bathing in the moonlight." I reached for his cheek, stroking it with my fingers.

"I will be waiting here for you." He placed his palm over my hand, bringing it to his lips, placing light kisses on my knuckles.

"I know," I whispered, walking away from him.

It was too risky to go back to the surface without being spotted. The humans had converted our home, the ocean, into a recreational spot. Over the years, things had become harder. We swam in pairs just in case one of us was caught in a fisherman's net. We swam mostly at night to decrease the possibility of being seen but even that came with consequences. The sirens hunted at night, and though humans were at the top of their list, merpeople were second.

Seated in the garden, I smiled as schools of fish swam around our kingdom, different animals from different species exploring the ocean's floor. Swaying my palms over a few poorly grown flowers, my heart filled with joy when they grew taller, their blossoms touching my fingertips.

"I never knew you still came here."

"William." I breathed out. "What are you doing here?" I whispered. "We can't be seen together."

"Why? Because you're getting married to the prince?" he sarcastically asked, but he knew the answer. He was just being bitter.

"Please, don't do this, William... Not here," I looked around.

Removing his helmet, my heartbeat began to pound faster when I saw his face, beautiful white eyes, with robust hair to match.

"You are not pure... I had you."

"True, but you never said the words, William. You never made me yours, and now you are behaving like a fool."

"Does your prince know you have laid with another?"

"No, and it will a stay that way. Why stick with a bloody guard when I can have a prince?"

"Because I love you. Can't you see that they are just using you to fill a void because the prince's true mate hasn't shown up yet?"

"I am sorry, William, but I don't feel the same about you..." I lied. I did feel the same about him if not more, but I was going to be a princess, and soon, the queen of this pod.

"No, it's greed that is making you do this. You're basically kissing the Queen's fin just because you want to fit in somewhere you don't belong... Look me in the eyes and tell me you don't love me."

Slowly, I raised my chin, my lips slightly parted, looking into his dancing eyes.

"I-I don't love you, William. I’m sorry." I brushed past him. I didn't expect him to understand. I don't expect anyone to understand, but I worked hard for this. I earned it through sweat and blood. I gave up so much that no mermaid or merman would, so I’m sorry. Sometimes, true love is a small price we all have to pay. The heart wants what it wants... And right now, that's Triton.

Rushing over the waterhole, I dived in, my legs merging back into a tail as I swam up the tunnel and out into the ocean. I needed to keep a watch on the human girl as Queen Marina said. I had to make sure she wasn't Triton's mate, because if she was... I would kill her.