I stare blankly at the dimming light. The Fallen City hath fallen at last.

A wet appendage wrapped itself around my neck. Another held my waist. A whisper in my ear. "Come with us. Don't you want to?"

The source of the voice kissed me on my neck, and on my chest. It held my face with its claws and stared seductively into my eyes.

"DON'T YOU WANT TO?!"

I jerk awake. A palace of white marble. I look down. I'm in a pool.

"Ah, so you are finally awake, dear Traveler."

I shudder in fright. The woman before me is the one from my dream. Was it a dream?

"It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Dahut, the Queen of all you see before you."

I peer into the waters and notice the woman has no feet. She smiles. "You must have heard terrible tales about my kind. But worry not, we are not your enemies.

"Esmerelda!" She whistled for someone.

Faint splashes grew louder and louder until a woman manifested in front of us seemingly out of nowhere.

Dahut cupped the girl's face in her hand. "Darling, do me a favor and bring our guest some entertainment, will you?"

The girl nodded, glanced towards me, and shot away as nimbly as she had arrived.

"I do hope you enjoy." Dahut smiled through rotten teeth.

After she had left, I pulled myself out of the pool. It appeared more like a spring, a Roman bath of sorts. The ceiling of the palace was rich with exquisite patterns. Rings upon rings, with a fractal in the center.

"Sir."

I startled backward.

"Sorry. Sir, your maidens have arrived."

"...Pardon?"

Three morgens bobbed in the water behind her, all exceptionally beautiful. The girl bowed. "I shall take my leave."

"Wait. Esmerelda right?"

The girl looked confused.

"Esme, may I call you that? Esme, I have a question for you."

Esme looked at the morgens and back at me.

I stare at the three morgens and gesture them away. Surprisingly, they obey, albeit begrudgingly.

"What is it you wish to ask me, sir?"

"How did you get here? You certainly weren't born here. Were you cursed?"

A bout of anger overcame the girl. "What makes you believe I would not be born here?!"

"I'm not certain, but I've read that the morgens do not procreate."

"Read...?"

"Nevermind. So were you born here?"

"No."

"..."

She turned around, blushing. "You are correct. I was cursed. But it was not my fault. You see, I had a lover. We were passionate about one another. But then my parents found out and..."

"I understand."

"But they aren't bad people, you know, the mari-morgans. They are like a family I never had. A family I will never be able to have.

"Their hatred is just misguided. You see, a lot of them faced tragedies much worse than mine. But living for centuries with a heart full of regret and vengeance... that is no way to live."

I could see tears beginning to form in her eyes. She was being truthful.

"May I help?"

She looked at me, confused.

"I want to help you. Help your family get better. Honestly, I miss my family too. I miss them a lot. But I'm a dead man walking. I don't have any hope of ever returning. So I will do all I can to help you fix the people you care about, it's the least I can do."

Her eyes lit up. "Really? You promise?"

"I promise."

"Uhm... what about..." Her eyes darted back and forth. "Do you want me...?"

"I don't think indulging in pleasures after a genocide sits well with my conscience. And besides, though you may be beautiful, you aren't my type."

Esme flushed red and pouted. A few seconds later, we both began to giggle uncontrollably.

...

I asked Esme for directions to my chambers. Apparently, it was quite a ways away from the baths.

I felt a strange pressure to my left. Someone was following me. I remained calm and continued to walk towards my chambers. The pressure increased.

I come across an open door, and so I enter, hoping to shake them off my trail. The room was blindingly bright, and the reason was soon apparent. A House of Mirrors. Having no other choice, I ventured further. I had seemingly been walking for miles, till I realized that though I had lost my shadower, I was now completely lost.

"Take this."

I turn on my heel, but no one is there. The voice sounded oddly familiar.

"Take this ring, and it shall grant you that which you so wish."

A silver ring with an emerald at its center appeared on the ground before me.

I wondered if this was a test, and suddenly, the oppressive pressure vanished.

...

I somehow managed to get out of the House of Mirrors and I was now in my chambers. I was about to doze off, or perhaps I did doze off when I felt a strange resistance in the lower half of my body. I awoke frantically, and those familiar rotten teeth stared back at me.

"I will make you succumb to me. Your powers will be mine. I shall finally regain my tarnished reputation. I shall finally show my wretched father that I am truly worthy of being a Queen!"

I scrambled to pick up the ring from my desk. I knew I only had one shot and I had made up my mind on what I would wish for. Perhaps this is a better time than ever. If it fails, I'll just have to find another way.

I slipped the ring onto my finger and thought long and hard as the morgen continued to suffocate me. I wish... I wish to rid the morgens of their hate-filled hearts.

Immediately, the monster atop me fell limp. A faint fear built up in my chest.

I rushed out of my chambers and made my way to the pool. I fell to my knees. My mind traveled to Esme, and I dove head first into the sorrowful funerary bath.

She had no hatred. I tried to convince myself.

She had no hatred in her heart. She will live.

I screamed out her name. Once. Twice. Ten times. No one answered. The strange pressure returned. A laugh.

"You really are weak, Captain."