Of Blood & Water

By Ellouise Liston

Braelyn was a princess who was sheltered in the undersea kingdom of Kymora, dreaming and training for a day that she would finally face the monsters who killed her mother, the humans. Humans have been at war for years after Braelyn's mother fell in love with a human who th

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ellouise Liston
• Release date: Feb 15, 2022
• ISBN: 9780645111927

Ellouise Liston

Ellouise Liston is the author of New Adult romance novel, Hooking up with Mr Wrong and resides in Sydney, Australia. Best known for always needing a healthy mix of humour and heart racing romance in every book she writes. Ellouise writes romance while influencing young minds as a high school English Teacher. When she is not busy with writing and teaching, she can be found reading, binge watching Netflix or spending time with her fiancé and fur-baby, Shep.

Book preview

Of Blood & Water

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

Copyright © 2021 by Ellouise Liston

All rights reserved.

The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book without permission is a theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like permission to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), please contact mailto:[e-mail]

Cover design by: Franziska Stern @coverdungeonrabbit

Formatting: Enchanted Ink Publishing

ISBN: 978-0-6451119-2-7

Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.

Printed in the United States of America

To my mum and my aunty Fiona for filling my childhood with stories and turning

me into the writer I am today.

Prologue

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Twelve

Thirteen

Fourteen

Fifteen

Sixteen

Seventeen

Eighteen

Nineteen

Twenty

Twenty-One

Twenty-Two

Twenty-Three

Twenty-Four

Twenty-Five

Twenty-Six

Twenty-Seven

Twenty-Eight

Twenty-Nine

Thirty

Thirty-One

Thirty-Two

Thirty-Three

Thirty-Four

Thirty-Five

Thirty-Six

Thirty-Seven

Thirty-Eight

Thirty-Nine

Forty

Forty-One

Forty-Two

Forty-Three

Forty-Four

Forty-Five

Forty-Six

Forty-Seven

Epilogue

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Prologue

A picture containing night sky Description automatically generated

MANY YEARS AGO, back before war plagued this world, there lived a little siren in the beautiful undersea kingdom of Kymora. Like many stories, this one started off with a love story between a human and a siren. He was the prince of the Tylerian kingdom on land, and she was the princess of Kymora, both expected to rule their separate kingdoms. Until one night, the young siren sought out a great magic that would allow her to be completely human so that she and her prince could finally be together. But of course, over time that love was poisoned by greed and power, ending peace between the species and sparking a war that not only destroyed the young siren, but the world they once knew. A world that was once filled with peace was changed into one of fear and death, where species were segregated and tortured. And just like that, the beautiful kingdom and the young prince were no more, and two baby siren girls would never know their mother.

One

BRAELYN

Ouch!

I look down at my arm, seeing a cut there with blue blood dripping from it. I glower back at my twin sister, Luna. What the hell!

Sorry.

Again! Our trainer and guard, Sebastian, says off to the side of the training arena, his booming voice echoing around us. Without any hesitation, Luna swings her sword in an arc motion for my head, which I easily deflect with my own sword, wincing against the impact and the pain in my arm.

Luckily for me, sword fighting has never been Luna’s forte, but get a bow and arrow in her hand, and it’s a death wish for her target.

I take an involuntary step back, feeling the pins and needles moving up my arm as my cut begins to heal. At the same time, Luna starts swinging her sword between her fingers in a flurry, quickly getting closer, her white blonde hair fanning out around her.

I tighten my grip, just as my heel hits some cracked stone in the ground propelling me back with a grunt, and I hit the ground on my elbows, feeling the sting of broken flesh, but I don’t focus on it much longer. Instead my eyes zero in on an incoming Luna, with her sword held high, leaving her midsection open.

Big mistake.

Gritting my teeth, I hold my sword out in front of me, the loud clang of steel hitting steel reverberating throughout the room when we collide. Her usually light purple eyes look darker with determination as she pushes down against my blade with her own, a glint of excitement already shining in her eyes as she knows she’s won.

That is until I curl one side of my mouth up in mischief, making sure she can see the idea forming in my eyes before I do it.

I see the second she sees it, but it’s too late. With her midsection exposed, I use my angle to my advantage, lifting my legs up and kicking her in the stomach so hard it sends her sailing across the room in a tumble, her sword now a few feet away from me.

I see her quickly recovering, crawling up onto all fours, when I scramble up from where I fell and sprint towards the fallen sword. I snatch it up, feeling the victory coursing through me when I waltz right up to Luna’s fallen form, still on all fours.

I point her sword at her when I reach her, still smiling a sly smile, Any last words?

Luna doesn’t move at first, and it has me on edge.

When she looks up at me, her white blonde hair hanging with loose strands over her face, she is smiling a mischievous smile of her own, one filled with amusement and playfulness a second before biting her lip, and without so much as a word, she swings her legs out from under her, and in one swoop, takes my legs out from under me and sends me falling to her side on the ground.

The room is quiet as I groan, sitting up and rubbing my sore elbows, looking at Luna, who is now laughing and shattering the silence as I push my red locks from my face.

Must you? I shake my head at her, trying not to laugh, picking myself up off the ground and dusting off the backs of my pants.

When she finally composes herself, scooping herself up from the ground, she says, taking her sword from me. You kicked me.

You cut me! I exclaim, waving a hand to the already healed part of my arm.

I said I was sorry.

Our bickering is suddenly silenced by the subtle sound of footsteps from where Sebastian approaches us. His footsteps are slow as he enters the arena, taking the small steps one at a time, levelling us with a disappointed look. His bright blue eyes move between us like a dance, and just like that, we know we did wrong.

It doesn’t take much for us to know. After all these years, we’ve trained ourselves to learn Sebastian’s tells.

Under the subtle glow of the sun from the surface lands above, the lines on his face appear more prominent. Years of stress show around his eyes in lines that were caused by so much pain and loss after our mother’s death. We all lost her, but Sebastian was like another brother to her, just like how he is more of an uncle to us than anything else.

Luna and I know that’s why he pushes us, that’s why he trains us. It’s the same reason my uncle, our mother’s twin, has us train with him.

After a moment’s silence, Luna and I both stand straighter, waiting for our critique, when Sebastian focuses on me, his jawline tensing. You hesitated.

There was no question, but I still answer. No, I didn’t.

Holding his hands behind his back, he faces me head on, giving me a look demanding that I tell him the truth.

My shoulders sag a bit when I say, Okay, I hesitated a bit, but I was healing.

He takes a step towards me, A human will not let you rest if are healing. They will go for the kill, or worse.

Worse? Luna’s small voice pipes through, a mix of uncertainty and fear crosses her delicate features.

There are worse things than death. Sebastian assures her with a simple nod before looking back at me.

I’m sorry, it won’t happen again.

I know it won’t, because if it happens in a real fight, you don’t live through it. He turns his attention to Luna, You left yourself open.

She blinks, aware of her mistake. Yes, I did.

He looks at her a long moment, then looks at me before shaking his head, a somber expression appearing on his face. You girls know these things, so what is going on with the mistakes? You girls know mistakes are a death wish.

We both nod, giving each other sidelong glances before I speak up. We will keep practicing, until there are no more mistakes.

He shakes his head again, expelling a tired breath before running a hand through his tousled brown hair, messing it up further.

Your uncle wants to see you after your lessons today. It’s about the Binding Ceremony.

At that, I roll my eyes and scoff, while Luna’s face goes red as she stares down at her feet before looking back up through her thick lashes.

If I were you, I wouldn’t have that attitude with your uncle today. He has a lot going on these days.

My mind instantly goes back to the meeting this morning.

He’s always got a lot going on. All he thinks about is this war and getting revenge for our mother, he doesn’t even want to think about what we want.

Sebastian crosses his arms over his chest. What do you want? He asks, cocking his head to the side.

I want to fight. I don’t want my life to be bound to someone I hate, I wanna join this fight for our people, get revenge in my own way instead of holing myself up in this castle.

Those are big plans. But have you been in a real fight, Braelyn? He asks, knowing the answer, knowing the only fights I’ve been in were ones in a controlled environment with my sister.

I shake my head, tensing my jaw.

So you haven’t been cut so bad you’re almost bleeding out, all while still having to keep your sword in your hand. With people you called friends dying beside you and you helpless to stop it. You ever experience that?

I shake my head again.

He nods his head, contemplating. You are not ready for war, Braelyn.

I clench my fists by my sides, wanting to argue but knowing better of it, so I bite my lip to silence myself while Sebastian turns his attention back to Luna.

And what do you want, Luna? His voice is softer as he speaks to her.

She hesitates, opening her mouth and closing it again before finally saying in a shaky voice. I want Mom.

Neither of us expect those words, but we each feel them. We all want Mom back; the only difference is that Sebastian had the time with her that Luna and I didn’t, and I guess I kind of envy him for that but I could never hate him.

After our lessons are over, we are told to clean up and get dressed and head directly to our uncle’s office immediately.

After leaving my room in a fresh dress, I smack into a wall of muscle as I’m heading towards Luna’s room.

I stumble back, gaining my footing as I blink up at the tall figure in front of me and groan in annoyance.

Happy to see me? Phillipe, my soon to be ‘other half’ smiles down at me slyly, his dark eyes moving over my dress a little too appreciatively, making me take another step back from him.

I’m practically buzzing, can’t you tell? Now if you will excuse me. But just as I take a step to go around him, he slaps his hand out, blocking my path and steps too close to me until all I can see and smell is him. The stale, salty smell poisons my nostrils as I narrow my eyes at him.

Phillipe and I have never gotten along. We pushed each other, growing up in the castle, with his father being the military advisor to my uncle. It’s expected that he will be bound to me for the crown and lead our kingdom into victory. Because women can’t do that, or so this kingdom believes. Now, looking at the man who is going to be taking the crown and me fills me with so much rage I have to concentrate on not punching his smug face, especially with how close he is.

Not so fast. Considering we will be bound, I think it’s a good idea for us to, he licks his lips, get to know each other. We haven’t really been alone since we were kids, and I would like to see what kind of woman you’ve become. He finishes this with a wink and a smile, and I can’t help but wonder if this actually works on other girls, because for me, I’m trying not to gag.

Even though I would love nothing more than to practice my kicks on his head, I give him a tight smile, side stepping around him before he can stop me, calling out over my shoulder as I hurry down the hall away from him, Rain check!

Luna isn’t in her room. She’s standing outside our uncle’s office when I arrive. Her back is against the ancient stone wall, and her head is angled towards the door, her brows crease in concentration, straining to hear.

She changed, like I did, into a clean dress, only hers is a pale blue that compliments her fair complexion, clinging to her chest only to fall down in waves at her feet. Her blonde hair is pinned up with loose strands hanging around her heart-shaped face.

Always so delicate.

Her eyes meet mine when I reach her. She quickly puts a finger to her lips, silencing me before I speak. It is then that I hear it.

Beyond the door, separating us from our uncle, we hear him speaking in gruff tones, disapproval coating each word leaving his lips.

But the voice that follows is unfamiliar. It is a female voice sounding light with a husky edge to it as she speaks with our uncle.

I’ve told you to never come here. Our uncle warns the female.

Dear Argent, it almost sounds like you’re unhappy to see me. She addresses my uncle by his first name, which never happens nowadays. People usually address him as sir, Your Highness, or in our case, Uncle.

I expect to have her reprimanded for it, but he says nothing. Instead, the woman continues. "Besides, I won’t have to come here, if you could learn to keep your subjects away from my land."

How do you know they were on your land? I would think if you saw them, you wouldn’t let them live.

The woman’s voice changes, sounding sharper, like a razor ready to cut. I know they were there, because I found this.

We hear a light clatter of something being dropped on a hard surface, tumbling to a stop, silence following it.

One of your weapons. She clarifies with assurance in her voice.

Uncle says nothing, but we strain to hear him sigh in defeat before the woman speaks again. Now, I know that the war has been hard on you, but I am not involved in this war. Which means I don’t want your people coming to my land and leading trouble to it. Are you understanding me?

I almost think he won’t answer, when he eventually says, "I would think you welcome trouble with open arms, Sea Witch."

Luna and I both look at each other with wide eyes, both of us recollecting the stories we were told as children of how our mother was taken from us. The Sea Witch was the one to change our mother into a human, which led her down a dangerous path. The woman who was responsible for everything is just beyond this door. 

She laughs, sounding like nails down my back, making my fists clench. No, trouble just seems to seek me out. She hisses, pausing for a moment, Is the matter all cleared up?

Uncle doesn’t respond, but Luna and I look back at each other with matching questioning looks a second before the door swings open. Out walks a tall woman with white blonde curls stopping at the tops of her breasts and dark eyes that focus on me as she steps out into the hall, Uncle close behind her, and his jaw tense. Her strapless black dress swishes around her legs with each slow step.

She looks to be the same age as Uncle and Sebastian, with faint lines around her eyes. She scans me up and down, assessing when she cocks her head to the side.

Uncle makes no move to throw her out. He just stands in the doorway of his office, leaning against the frame glowering at the Sea Witch as she approaches me, stopping just in front of me with a mixed look of awe and curiosity. 

Unbelievable. She gasps, letting her eyes trail over my face.

I scrunch my own face in suspicion as she takes a step closer, too close for my liking, reaching up to curl a lock of my red hair around her finger.

The resemblance is …

I know. Uncle says abruptly, finally pushing away from the wall and grabbing the Sea Witch’s attention briefly, until she looks back at me.

It’s like she’s standing right in front of me. It’s clear who she’s talking about as she takes me in one last time. I am frozen stiff, unsure of how I should react and all too aware of how I want to.

I want to shove her away and tell her to stop talking about my mother like she knew her. It was her fault. The thought makes my fist clench so hard it cracks.

The sound grabs the witch’s attention, her brow creasing. She looks down at my fist, and a slow smile starts to grow on her face. A smile that grows into something both beautiful and scary all at once as she drops the piece of hair she still held, sliding her hand down my arm until her hand encircles my closed one.

I could almost choke on the tension filling this hallway.

The Sea Witch leans in until we are almost nose to nose, and I tense my jaw, schooling my features.

Let’s hope you’re smart enough not to meet the same fate. Although judging by your temper, she starts to squeeze my fist with a strength I didn’t know she had, making a gasp slip past my tensed lips and my eyes widen in a mix of shock and pain, hearing my bones start to crack and creak under the pressure. Still smiling, the Sea Witch’s eyes grow darker as she watches my reaction, I can tell the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

Gritting my teeth, I knew I had enough, Don’t you dare talk about her. I growl, my body almost shaking now. You never knew her.

And she didn’t, not really. Or so I’ve been told, she was only the one to give mother what she wanted, the one to lead her down the path that led to her destruction.

Did you? She asks me, knowing the answer and loving the wince of pain I show.

It isn’t until I hear my uncle’s big, booming voice that I remember where we are and that we aren’t alone. Get your hands off her and step away.

The Sea Witch’s body freezes, and I glance over her shoulder to see Uncle standing there with his sword out, the tip appearing to be pressed against her shoulder blade.

There is a moment of hesitation before she rolls her eyes, releasing my hand and stepping back once Uncle lowers his sword to look back at him.

I instantly grab my now swollen hand, holding it to my chest and feeling the tingling sensation instantly dancing across my aching fingers.

Luna is at my side, her face creased in worry and eyes starting to water. I give her a strained smile to assure her before looking back at Uncle still holding a sword at the Sea Witch with a look of fury that he uses to scare off his enemies. Leave. He growls through gritted teeth, which only makes her roll her eyes again.

You don’t have to be so overprotective, Argent. You know she will heal. She looks back at me, her eyes going to my hand. See, she’s already healed.

I look down at my hand and see the swelling is gone and so is the pain, but I don’t drop my hand.

You have done enough damage to this family. I suggest you go now. Uncle warns, his fury not wavering.

But the Sea Witch just tilts her head and takes a dangerous step closer to him, the blade is now pressed against her chest until a bead of black blood runs down into the low neckline of her dress. Or what? You’re going to kill me? She laughs a light humorless laugh. Because I think we both know you won’t. You can’t. She gives him an arrogant grin, and his sword drops after a moment’s hesitation, his body practically shaking with anger when he glowers at her.

Leave.

And just when I think she won’t, she turns on her heel, giving Luna and I a wink as she sashays down the hall, her dress flowing with each step.

Once we are alone, the silence still hanging thick in the air, each of us looking at each other, wondering who will be the first to break it.

Uncle is the first to step forward, sheathing his sword at his hip as he looks at me with a blank expression, as if what just happened didn’t just happen.

What are you two doing here? he asks, moving his gaze between us without a question of how we are or any sense that he cares.

Luna is the first to speak, because I don’t think I could with the number of questions buzzing around in my head of what just happened. Sebastian said you wanted to see us.

He nods, remembering. Oh, yes. Come inside. He waves a hand into his office, and we both enter, taking our seats in the ones opposite his.

After closing the door, he makes his way around his grand table with candles and jewels and weapons lining it and takes a seat in his chair.

Before he can speak, I ask the one question I have buzzing. Why did you let her leave?

I feel Luna freeze next to me, and Uncle’s eyes go wide for a second before he composes himself. We are not discussing that right now.

Why not? After everything the Sea Witch has done, you have a chance to-

To what? Seek my revenge? And what good will that do? Uncle leans forward, resting his forearms on the table.

Honestly, I didn’t know how to answer that, except that I want justice, for my people, my family, and my mother. So, I say in the smallest voice, She took Mom away.

Seeing the pain on my face, Uncle’s features soften slightly as he looks at me, It wasn’t just the Sea Witch, Braelyn. There are a lot more players involved in this than you realize.

Before I can ask further questions, Uncle leans back in his chair and says, General Magnus and I have started the preparations for the upcoming Binding Ceremony. I do hope you and Phillipe find some time to get to know each other, properly. Uncle looks at me with a look telling me that this wasn’t up for debate.

I suppress my eye roll, thinking back to the incident in the hall outside my room. We know each other well enough, Uncle.

Uncle smiles, pleased. That’s good to hear. It will make the whole process run smoothly.

This time I can’t suppress the eye roll, and I realize too quickly what a mistake it is when Uncle’s face darkens.

You don’t want to be bound with Phillipe? His voice is low and threatening, making me check my words before I say them. But I was never good at that.

Shifting in my seat, I say, Not particularly.

My uncle’s head cocks to the side, not understanding. Not particularly?

Luna’s small voice stammers in between us, eager for whatever is about to start to already be over. What she means is… she looks at me, her features strained with anxiety as she searches for something to save the day with, but I’m tired of tiptoeing around Uncle.

I mean exactly what I said. I tell her, not meaning to sound abrupt, but she doesn’t look hurt, instead her face softens in understanding and support, which I need right now as I look back at my furious uncle. I don’t want to be bound to Phillipe.

So you want us to lose this war? For this kingdom to crumble? Uncle’s voice sounds uncharacteristically calm whereas his face is starting to go red, the gills at his cheeks flaring with each heavy breath.

There are other ways to win this war, where you don’t need to sell off your family. I probably should’ve used a better phrase, but isn’t that what he was doing?

Is that what I’m doing? He takes in a deep, controlled breath before schooling his features and levelling me with a look. And how do you expect to win this war? Will you fight?

I don’t even hesitate, Yes. Let me fight.

And what about your sister?

At that, Luna’s back straightens in her seat, and she looks at Uncle, alert.

Uncle looks at Luna, her eyes wide, Are you ready to fight in this war?

Her eyes move from Uncle to me, as if looking for an answer. She looks back at Uncle, I believe I can.

You believe you can? He gives us both an emotionless smile, rising from his seat. Look at you two, ready to fight a war. He walks around the table, gliding his hand along the edge of the tabletop until he seats himself on the table in front of us, his arms crossed over his chest. I’m proud. So, I take it that your lessons are going well?

We both look at each other, and I nod. Very well.

Uncle regards me for a moment, before calling out loud enough to make us both jump in our seats, Sebastian! Would you come in here, please?

I furrow my brow, wondering how long Sebastian was waiting outside and realizing what Uncle was doing.

I don’t turn around when Sebastian enters, but I feel his presence there as he closes the door behind him. Yes, Your Highness.

Giving me a final look, Uncle looks up at Sebastian with a friendly smile, You’ve been working with the girls for some time now. Tell me, how are they doing?

Sebastian doesn’t answer right away, and I can almost see him searching for his words. It’s not like we were horrible, but we definitely needed some work according to Sebastian.

Um, they have been going fine, Your Highness. Progressing as expected.

So they will be ready to join the fight?

Sir?

The fight? Do you think they are ready?

The silence that follows speaks more than any words can, and I feel my shoulders deflate slightly as Luna reaches over to grab my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze, assuring me she is there. But my focus stays on Uncle, who looks at me with a mix of disappointment and impatience, running his hand over the dark stubble coating his jaw.

You will be bound to Phillipe in ten days. During these ten days, I expect for you to spend as much time with him as you can. We will rebuild this kingdom with new blood and –

The anger and frustration I’ve felt bubbling beneath the surface is starting to rise to the surface as I glare up at Uncle, And what? We will finally win this war? I rise from my seat, meeting Uncle eye to eye, Tell me, how will you rebuild a kingdom without a queen?

I don’t even wait to hear his response. Instead, I tip the chair out of my way, storming towards the door and glaring at Sebastian who refuses to meet my eyes as I pass. I don’t blame him; he was just being honest. We probably aren’t ready for war, but that doesn’t stop me from wanting to join, and to think that no one will let me… I feel trapped and controlled. I can’t breathe. I need to get out. I need to get away.

Two

Braelyn

MY DRESS DISINTEGRATES when I leave the golden glowing force field encircling our kingdom like a dome, diving through and cutting through the water on the other side until my legs give way to my tail.

Shiny green scales encircle my legs, connecting the two, with my long green flowy fin growing out of where my feet just were, gliding through the water effortlessly.

I glance back at the kingdom with its stone structures, golden lights, and greenery, before turning away, using my arms and tail to propel myself through the water, only focusing on the gentle touch of the water gliding across my skin.

After what feels like years of swimming, the silence I welcomed is shattered, making me stop and making me all too aware that I have swam too far.

I look back and see Luna swimming up to me, her purple tail flicking behind her.

Braelyn! She calls me through my mind, the only way we can communicate in water. She stops before me, a look of concern crossing her face.

What are you doing here? I ask, sounding more curious.

You ran out. I needed to make sure you were okay. It’s then that she finally realizes where we are. We both look up towards the surface, seeing the dark shapes of ships moving over us. Braelyn? Where is here?

Luna, you should head back.

Luna snaps back to look at me, the question clear in her eyes, but she asks all the same. What about you? I’m not going without you.

You need to go! It’s not safe for you here.

I can practically hear her scoff in my head. It’s not safe for me? What about you? It’s when I don’t say anything that she pieces it all together, frowning, You’re going to join the fight?

Don’t. I warn her, moving to swim closer to the ships above, only to have her hand encircle my arm in a death grip, pulling me back so that I am now looking into her angry purple eyes.

No, you don’t! You know we’re not ready yet and yet you are still so willing to kill yourself for this stupid cause.

I snatch my arm out of her grasp. Our mother’s death is not a stupid cause.

I practically growl the words, making Luna flinch back.

She looks at me, But will it help? Will this bring Mother back? Will she be happy that we are avenging her death even if that means death for us?

She needs to know, Uncle told me not to tell her because he was always babying her, always trying to protect her and so was I. But she needs to know the real reason this war keeps going on all these years and the real reason why I am being bound for the sake of our kingdom and our armies. They are taking our people, Luna.

Her eyes widen and then her brows furrow in confusion when she gasps, What?

Through the years we have been losing so many of our people, but they haven’t been dying in battle like everyone has told you. The humans don’t kill our kind, at least not right away. We have discovered that they take us somewhere and must kill us later. We have found many of the bodies.

Luna’s lips begin to quiver, Why?

I shrug. Because they are monsters; monsters I need to help fight. If not for Mother, then for everyone we have lost. They need to stop.

Luna gives me a far-off look, like her mind is elsewhere, taking in everything I just told her and processing it. I reach over, giving her arm a gentle, loving squeeze before turning to swim upwards.

After flicking my tail once, thinking that was it, Luna speaks up once again, saying the last thing I expect her to say.

You’re wrong, you know.

I turn back to her, furrowing my brow when she elaborates, Not all humans are monsters.

What? I gasp, thinking I must’ve misheard her.

Sebastian once told me about the humans who saved us. They tried to help Mom get away, get her back home with us. Humans saved us, Braelyn.

Why are you defending them?

I’m not. I’m just saying that not all humans are monsters. Yes, most appear to be, but I never forget about that group of humans who worked to save Mom.

I can’t help the anger leaking through my words as I hiss, Well, they didn’t do a good job because Mom’s still gone.

Luna flinches again, genuine hurt and shock at how I spoke to her appearing on her face. I’ve never spoken to her like that, but this day… it was all just too much.

I feel the pain at hurting her spreading through my chest the second I see her turn, flicking her tail in my face and moving to swim back towards Kymora.

I go to apologize but am silenced by a distantly loud bang making me stiffen and Luna freeze a second before a large net encircles Luna, sealing itself and trapping her inside.

It all happens so fast; she was there swimming away from me, and the next moment she’s trapped with the net being pulled in rapid speed towards one of the ships floating above us.

No!

Flicking my tail, stretching out my arms, I move faster than I’ve ever moved in my life with Luna’s cries screaming in my head and her terrified eyes peeking out through the net as she tries and fails at tearing the net.

When I finally reach her, I hold the net with one hand while using my other hand to grab the small sword I have strapped to my back. With one quick slice, I break the hold of the net, reaching in and pulling Luna from its clutches, my sword fumbling from my grasp and falling to the ocean floor as I did so. 

I look down, silently cursing but know I can’t dwell on it too long.

Swim! I tell Luna, but when I go to swim, I can’t.

Instead I’m being dragged. I look back to see my tail is tangled in the broken net. I wiggle and squirm, only making it tighter.

I wince against the grip, looking back to see Luna swimming for me the same way I had done for her, but she doesn’t have her weapon on her, nothing to cut me free.

When I’m finally able to meet her eyes, feeling the surface getting closer, I tell her, Swim! Go back! Tell Uncle! Just go, Luna!

I see the heartbreak in her eyes a second before I break through to the surface and am met with the sun’s warmth as it sits high in the sky, blindingly bright.

I blink against the sun as I swing from the ship, still seeing Luna beneath the ocean surface when my sword’s empty sheath slips from where it sits on my back.

My heart breaks that little bit more as I am pulled onto the deck of the ship, hitting the wooden surface with a wet thump, already feeling my tail start to fade back into legs.

I sit up where I lay, finally able to wiggle my legs free and quickly standing, remembering everything Sebastian had told me.

Don’t go down, stay standing.

I can’t help the gasp that escapes my chattering lips as I look around me.

So many humans. Bald ones, fat ones, young ones, dirty ones. All men. All different kinds looking at me with an array of expressions. None I know how to react to except to be fully aware that I have no weapon on me and I’m now naked.

Most of the men look at me both with a mix of disgust and appreciation, while some look dangerous with their lips curled back in a grimace and their weapons out and ready. Only a few just stand and look at me with a look of disbelief. All are waiting to see how I would react.

My options are limited. I’m surrounded by human men, all adorning weapons, swords hang from their belts, bow and arrows slung over shoulders, and some twirl daggers between their fingers. If only I could get one of their weapons.

The second the thought enters my mind, a flash of something catches my eye as the men start talking in indecipherable hushed whispers, their eyes never leaving mine.

My eyes zero in on the knife sticking out of a barrel just to my right. I make sure not to look for long in case the men catch on and attack before I do. But I do know that I