Stella's words echoed in my nightmares, following me wherever I went. "'They were already dead when I found them. This is all her fault!'" With a chill, I realized she was talking about her parents and brother. But why was she mad at Mom?

From what I'd heard, Stella had always loved and respected Mom, especially when she'd been one of her ladies-in-waiting. After what had happened with Claudia, Stella and Rochelle had stayed by her side through all of it.

I'm sure Mom had been aware that Stella had been in Pelathas, but I wonder if she'd managed to figure out the real reason. Yes, her first objective had been finding her parents and brother. But I think after she'd found them, her goal had changed.

When I woke up the following morning, my head was impossibly heavy, an unseen object weighing it down. Getting dressed took an abnormal amount of energy, as if my very bones were protesting at the movement. My first thought was to go check on Mom, but I hated to wake her if she was still sleeping.

I finally decided to just head down to the dining room and see if anyone else was awake yet. If she was there.... I shook my head, not even letting myself get that far. When I got to the dining room entrance, however, I froze in the doorway. Memories of the previous day washed over me, bringing with them the fear and panic that had overwhelmed me.

Chaos. Shouting. The sound of a crossbow being loaded and firing. The bolt whizzing past me and embedding itself into the wall. Stella's voice, playing over and over in my head. "'They were already dead when I found them. This is all her fault!'"

A hand in mine pulled me out of my thoughts and back into the present, where a pair of worried eyes was studying me. Are you okay? Mom asked.

I exhaled heavily. I should be asking you that question. How are you doing?

She kept pace with me as we swam to the table. Still trying to come to terms with... everything. I just can't believe Stella would do something like that. I'd thought that after Claudia... Mom trailed off, but the unspoken words were reflected in her gaze. I'd thought we'd put an end to any more betrayal.

I squeezed her hand as we sat down. From his seat on my left, Kai was staring at me, his eyes locked on mine. He didn't say anything, but I knew he was thinking the same thing I was—that I needed to tell Mom about what Stella had said. It was all I'd been able to think about.

I gave him an uncertain nod, turning back to Mom. I have to tell you something. To my horror, I realized my hands were shaking.

A warm hand settled on the small of my back, steadying me. Her eyes were full of concern as she looked at me. I took a deep breath before signing. During the attack, when you, me, Dad, and Kai were hiding behind the table, I could hear Stella speaking from where she floated in the center of the room. Her voice was cold and cruel as she spoke, asking where you and I were. Apparently, we were the ones she'd come to see. When I got out from behind the table and met her gaze.... I trailed off.

Her eyes had never left my face. A lump had formed in my throat, preventing me from opening my mouth. Kai squeezed my hand, the sensation giving me the courage to continue. I looked back at Mom, blinking furiously to try and prevent the tears in my eyes from falling.

She was in tears, rage like I'd never seen pouring off her body in waves. I told her that we could help her if she just let us know what was wrong. Apparently, Stella thought that you had something to do with the attack on Pelathas. Her parents and brother were among those killed, and that's why she'd come back. To get revenge. As I lowered my hands, the tears spilled from my eyes, dripping onto my dress.

Mom sighed, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead as she signed. I had no idea about Stella. After breakfast, I'll go down to the dungeons and see if I can speak to her.

I had received a note from Dad late last night telling me that Stella had been transferred to the dungeons. I could see the fear in Mom's eyes, however. She wouldn't say it, but I knew she was terrified at the thought of having to look her in the eyes.

I nodded. I can come with you if you want. Facing her again was not something I was looking forward to, but I knew that Mom wouldn't be able to let this go until she got answers.

The rest of breakfast was quick; I picked at my food, unable to get anything past the knot in my stomach. Quiet conversation flowed easily around me, but I kept to myself unless spoken to. My heart was beating so loud it was a miracle no one else could hear it.

Every bite of food was ash in my mouth, my hand trembling wildly when I lifted the fork to my mouth. Mom's actions were a mirror image of mine, her smile strained. Every time we glanced at one another, I felt the fear radiating off her.

Only when we'd finally left the dining room and were out in the open water did I feel like I could breathe. Kai had begged me to let him go with us, but I had swiftly refused, telling him that we needed to do this on our own. Truthfully, I knew Mom wouldn't want anyone else around during the conversation. I didn't blame her.

When Mom's hand landed on my arm, I flinched. I gave Kai a shaky smile as he gently kissed me on the cheek. "I'll meet you at the school after we finish," I said. After the original building had been destroyed a few months ago, we'd taken an abandoned house and made that a makeshift school. It was only temporary—just until they finished rebuilding.

Luckily, it had plenty of room and was in fairly good condition. After a few weeks, we'd all fallen back into our daily routine. The kids had adapted to the change in venue very well, the eagerness to learn never leaving them.

He nodded, squeezing my hand. "I love you," he said, his eyes searching my face. In that moment, I could read his thoughts as easily as if they were written down: he wanted more than anything to keep me from going, keep me from having to face her.

I kissed him deeply, neither of us pulling away for a few minutes. I finally broke the kiss, studying his face one more time, the love in his eyes giving me newfound courage. Mom squeezed my hand, her mouth set in a firm line.

The swim to the dungeons was uneventful, both of us jumpy and tense. When we swam up to the entrance, the guard at the front bowed to us before unlocking the door. I kept my gaze straight ahead, not daring to meet the eyes of the other prisoners. There was only one mermaid we were here to see. Mom's hand suddenly tightened on mine, her body going rigid.

The last cell on the left was occupied by a reed-thin mermaid, her dress and body covered with silt. Her short hair was limp and lifeless, her eyes hollow. When we swam in front of her cell, however, she straightened, eyes darting from Mom to me. "Nerissa. To what do I owe the pleasure?" While her face was carefully blank, her voice was dripping with cruelty, her hands trembling at her sides.

Mom let go of my hand, her own fisted at her sides as she swam to the bars of Stella's cell, her face a mirror image of the mermaid in front of her. "Why?" The sound of Mom's voice broke my heart all over again. She only ever spoke when she was upset, angry, or scared; I knew that this was really affecting her.

Stella stared at Mom, anger radiating from her body. I could see the warring emotions in her gaze: rage, sadness, grief. Her eyes filled with tears, but she hurriedly swiped at her eyes before they could fall. "Are you really asking me that question? My parents were good people. My brother was only fifteen." On the last word, her voice broke, face crumpling.

I swam up to her cell, hands trembling as I clutched the bars. "Everyone in this city has lost someone. Whether from the numerous attacks or some other reason. Yet none of them resorted to betrayal." My heart clenched as Claudia's face appeared in my mind, but didn't say anything.

Her eyes were filled with anger as she stared at Mom. "The royal family was safe and sound in their palace while the citizens were left to fend for themselves. Where were the king and queen when we really needed them?" That question was obviously a dig at Mom's relationship with Aunt Bella and Uncle David.

Before Mom could answer, Stella was speaking again. "Enjoy the throne while you can, Nerissa. You'd better hope no one takes it from you." Stella's voice was bitter, the words oozing hatred. The tension in the water was palpable.

Mom only turned and swam away. As soon as we'd left the dungeons, that mask fell away. Her face crumpled, shoulders shaking as she cried. I could feel the exhaustion radiating from her.

When her tears finally subsided, we swam back to their suite. Dad's eyes were filled with questions as he scanned our faces, Mom's body language. I gently shook my head.

Dad pressed a kiss to my forehead before ushering Mom inside their suite. I didn't realize I was crying until tears blurred my vision. The door to our suite was open when I neared it, Kai's eyes locked on mine. He wrapped his arms around me, guiding me inside and shutting the door behind us.

"Talk tomorrow?" Kai asked, his voice soft.

I sniffled, hands shaking as I swam into bed. "Sure," I whispered.

After what had just happened, I thought it would be nearly impossible to get to sleep. But my eyes closed as soon as my head hit the pillow.

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