The waters were dark as I swam, the sun not having risen yet. After coming back to our rooms last night, all I remembered was falling asleep. I couldn't stop thinking about Uncle Noah, the words we'd exchanged playing in my head on repeat. "'I know that it'll take some time for you to forgive me, but I hope that we can be a family again someday.'"

Hearing those words took me back. To a manor once imposing in all its glory. To a lady-in-waiting who had become like a sister to me. Thinking about Nadia sent a dagger of pain straight into my heart.

The thought hadn't finished crossing my mind before I was moving, swimming farther and farther away. My chest was heaving, my lungs working tirelessly to pull water in and push it out as I breathed. There was one other person I hadn't yet spoken to, whom I knew could give me the answers I sought.

When I arrived in Nepptheas, the sun had just barely risen, faint streaks of light staining the surface. I was thankful, as always, for the anonymity my cloak gave me. The few mermaids and mermen I passed barely glanced at me. Anger quickly replaced the pain in my heart, piercing it with dagger-like sharpness.

There were so many families that had to wake up every day without their loved ones. Who'd had to learn to carry on without their family. Mothers. Fathers. Sisters. Brothers. It wasn't until I'd reached the palace that I realized I was trembling with barely-restrained anger.

Two guards floated at the entrance, dressed in matching uniforms of green and blue. Their eyes searched my face, their chins dipping ever-so-slightly in acknowledgement as they recognized me. "Princess," one of them said. "To what do we owe the honor?"

I nearly gagged at the fake politeness oozing from his tone. "I'm here to see Queen Naia." I didn't let any of the disgust I felt cross my face as the name left my mouth.

The guard who had spoken nodded, catching the eye of the guard next to him and jerking his chin toward the entrance. They didn't spare me a second glance as they swam inside. On the outside, my face was a mask of calm, but on the inside I was a scared mess.

Several minutes passed before the doors opened again, a mermaid swimming outside. Clothed in a dress of green and blue, she resembled the changing colors of the ocean. The stormy expression on her face never faltered as she scanned my own. "Isadora," she said, her tone icy. "What do you want?"

"Why?" I choked out, voice breaking as the emotions I'd kept at bay so long rushed to the surface. Anger slammed into sadness, who in turn pummeled guilt. "What was in it for you?" When I looked at the mermaid in front of me (she'd lost the right to be called my aunt a long time ago), I didn't see a proud queen who loved her subjects. I saw a jealous, weak mermaid who was willing to betray anyone in order to achieve her own goals. Including her family.

"I'm assuming you're referring to the attack," she replied, her voice even. When I didn't answer, she let out a harsh laugh. "It was simple, really. Stella was more than happy to be the distraction, while I myself executed the plan. You unknowingly helped speed the plan along by forming a plan with the guards to get everyone else out. You really are a smart girl."

I brushed off the backhanded compliment, eyes blazing with anger. "Not everyone escaped, though. Was that part of your plan? Or were you too consumed with vengeance to check behind you?"

For the first time, I saw her mask of anger falter, a sliver of guilt appearing on her face. "While Nadia's death was unfortunate, it couldn't be helped. Her compassion for others was so strong, it overrode any sense of safety in the moment." The way she spoke so baldly about Nadia made me want to strangle her.

"What about Uncle Noah?" I fired back, my words dagger-sharp. "Was him coming over to our side a part of your plan? Because he was more than happy to betray you."

I felt more than saw the words hit their mark. Her face was twisted in anger, eyes alight with fury. "Noah was a great loss to us, but no matter. We have plenty more like him to use when the need arises."

A shiver ran down my spine as I realized she was talking about the Loyalty and Lost Soul Pendants. "What about Dad? In your misguided plan to tear our family apart, you unknowingly reunited two brothers." My words never lost their sharpness as I spoke.

She swam up to me, face inches from mine. "Oh, Isadora. I don't need to do anything. My goal has already been achieved." A triumphant smile was on her face as she stared at me.

All the color drained from my face as recognition dawned on me. The repeated uses of the Lost Soul Pendant over the years had caused my deepest fears, my deepest insecurities, to manifest in the form of mermaids and mermen. That's what the faces were. As if summoned by her words, they reappeared, eyes locked on mine. "'You can't escape us, Isadora.'" "'We're not going anywhere.'"

I fell to the ground, face twisted in pain. My hands clutched my head, willing the voices to quiet, the overall sense of wrongness to cease. "'Weak.'" "Pathetic.'"

All I knew were the voices, their words blending together until I couldn't decipher them. Through the haze, I dimly felt hands reaching for me, grabbing my hands and pulling me off the ground. "Isadora? Can you hear me?"

I couldn't answer. My body shuddered as I resisted the urge to cry out. My eyes were open, but I couldn't focus on anything in front of me. "Go away!" I screamed, putting all the anger and exhaustion into those two words. I don't remember falling asleep, but when I opened my eyes again, I was in our bed.

A splitting headache formed between my eyes and I groaned. An ice-cold hand grasped mine as I looked at a blurry face. Little by little, my vision cleared to reveal worried eyes staring at me. "We'll talk in the morning. Just sleep, Izzy." While Kai's words were gentle, there was an undercurrent of anger in his voice. Again, not directed at me, but I shuddered nonetheless.

Despite the images from the nightmare that haunted me, I was exhausted. I closed my eyes and fell asleep instantly.

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