CHAPTER TWENTY SIX

King Neptune Kanelamorus, ruler of the seas, gazed upon his daughter, Zahrasephenia, with a heart full of joy. The infant cradled in his arms was no ordinary child. She was his precious pearl, a being unlike any other, the first of her kind. Born of the union between a former human, Yareli Swan, and Neptune himself, Zahrasephenia was a symbol of love and divine power, carrying the legacy of two worlds within her.

But this extraordinary child also carried a heavy burden. As the first of her kind, she was a beacon of both hope and danger. Her existence was a rare and fragile gift, and it made her a target—particularly for the dark forces that roamed the world, seeking to control or destroy such power. Neptune, fully aware of the looming threat, knew that Zahrasephenia's life was in peril. If anyone, especially the malicious and calculating Enchantress Esmeralda, were to discover her, it would spell disaster for the Kingdom and all who lived in it.

Zahrasephenia wasn't just a child; she was the very lifeblood of Neptune's realm. As long as she lived, the Kingdom would thrive, its waters teeming with life and its shores forever bathed in prosperity. But if harm were to come to her—if the Enchantress or any other dark force succeeded in their hunt—then the Kingdom would wither and die. Neptune and Yareli could not, in good conscience, allow that to happen. They were willing to sacrifice their own happiness, and their connection to their daughter, to ensure that she survived.

And so, the decision was made—Zahrasephenia would be kept hidden from the world. Neptune and Yareli, desperate to protect their daughter, erased her memories of her parents. They did everything in their power to ensure she would be free of the weight of her lineage, though they could never truly erase the legacy that ran through her veins.

They entrusted their precious pearl to one of their most trusted allies—a young and compassionate selkie named Lorelai. Lorelai would take on the role of Zahrasephenia's mother, raising her in secrecy and nurturing her away from the eyes of those who would seek to harm her. Lorelai's love for the child was deep, and she knew the weight of the responsibility that came with caring for Zahrasephenia. She was to protect the child, teach her, and—most importantly—help her understand who she was when the time came.

However, Lorelai's protective care came at a great cost. In an act of ultimate sacrifice, Lorelai gave her life to protect Zahrasephenia when Esmeralda finally uncovered her existence. The Enchantress, always scheming and ever vigilant, had long known that there was something special about Zahrasephenia. It was only a matter of time before she found her, and once she did, the consequences would be catastrophic.

The spell that had kept Zahrasephenia hidden for so long—trapping her in a timeless magical barrier—was weakening, and as Lorelai fell to the forces of Esmeralda's dark magic, Zahrasephenia found herself trapped, bound to a world that sought to consume her.

The curse of Esmeralda had cast its long shadow over the world, and it was this very curse that had led to the long-forgotten city of Atlantis falling into a deep slumber, its inhabitants trapped by the Enchantress's dark magic. Neptune and Yareli, too, were bound by this curse, locked in an eternal sleep that could only be broken if Zahrasephenia's true potential was unlocked.

But Zahrasephenia was not yet ready to awaken this power. As the spell continued to bind her, she remained unaware of her true nature, the memories of her parents and her Kingdom buried deep within her. Esmeralda had believed that the Enchantress's curse would be the end of Zahrasephenia. She thought that by trapping the child in this spell, she could keep her from ever realizing her true power—and with it, the ability to destroy the Enchantress's reign.

Yet, fate is rarely so easily controlled. In a cruel twist of irony, Esmeralda had unwittingly set in motion a chain of events that would lead to her own undoing. Zahrasephenia, despite being trapped in the Enchantress's spell, had always had a way of escaping. Her curiosity, her strength, her will to survive—all of it pushed her forward, even when she knew not why.

When Zahra eventually broke free from the confines of the curse, her memories slowly began to resurface, piece by piece. Her true nature began to awaken, and with it, the realization that she was the key to restoring Atlantis and breaking the curse that had long held her parents in a slumber. But it wasn't just the city of Atlantis at stake—it was the future of the Kingdom and all its inhabitants.

Yet Esmeralda was determined not to let this happen. When she discovered that Zahra had escaped her grip, she was prepared to destroy her once and for all. Esmeralda had grown tired of the game. Her infatuation with the Lonely King had only grown darker over the years, and now that Zahra was standing in front of her, her thoughts turned to a final, decisive end.

Zahra, however, would not let this be her fate. The Enchantress, standing before her, had underestimated the strength of the young Selkie. Though Zahra's body was frail, her spirit was anything but. She had been through too much, suffered too much, to allow herself to fall into the hands of Esmeralda now.

When Esmeralda unleashed the spell that was meant to kill her, Zahra found herself watching in horror as someone else stepped forward to take the fatal blow—Old Quil.

Quil, though old and frail, had known the truth all along. He had understood the danger that Zahra faced, and he had kept his distance, knowing that Esmeralda would strike when she saw an opening. But in the end, Quil had made the ultimate sacrifice. He took the curse that was meant for Zahra, saving her life but at the cost of his own.

Zahra could only watch in disbelief and horror as Old Quil fell, his body cold and lifeless. The Enchantress, who had been so sure of her victory, let out a laugh, but Zahra's grief gave her the strength she needed. The raw emotion she felt—grief, anger, and the sheer force of her will—awakened the powers that had been dormant within her.

With a surge of energy, Zahra pushed back against the Enchantress, sending her sprawling across the room. For the first time in her life, Zahra stood tall, her face streaked with tears, but her eyes burning with newfound strength. She was ready to fight for the life she deserved, for the love she had lost, and for the future she had yet to claim.

But before Zahra could make her next move, the bedroom door swung open, and Quil's voice rang out.

"Zahra!!"

The sight of Zahra—alive, vibrant, and full of life—was a stark contrast to the lifeless form of Old Quil, whose body lay cold on the floor. The room erupted in chaos as Joy entered next, her scream echoing in the room as she took in the scene. The rest of the pack rushed in, each of them shocked and confused by what had unfolded before them. None of them had seen Esmeralda flee, and all assumed the worst.

Zahra, standing in the midst of it all, could only offer a broken, helpless apology as Quil's voice cracked, his pain and disbelief palpable.

"What have you done, Zahra?"