Ava didn't know what was happening to her. One moment, she had surged with power, adrenaline coursing through her veins like the currents of the ocean, and the next, her strength faltered, hesitation washing over her like a tide pulling her back to shore. Her blades, poised to strike the human down, had faltered. Something deep within her, primal and inexplicable, had stirred to life and stopped her from delivering the fatal blow.

Her chest heaved as she crouched on the ice, her golden scales shimmering faintly under the pale moonlight. She snarled, baring her sharp teeth at the man before her—a creature of land, an enemy to her people. Yet, when her eyes met his, something shifted.

His green eyes, vivid and deep, were unlike any she had seen. They reminded her of the precious emeralds traded among the royal courts, glimmering with raw intensity. His hair, a rich gold cropped close to his head, caught the moonlight. A faint scar ran from his temple to his earlobe, jagged and imperfect, telling a tale of violence and survival. Ava's breath hitched, and a foreign thought crossed her mind, unbidden and unwelcome: Beautiful.

She recoiled internally, horror flooding her veins. What is wrong with me?

What kind of game is this kingdom playing?

The man had released her wrists, and she shot back into the water, her body slicing through the icy depths. The salt stung her wrists where his grip had left marks, but the physical pain was nothing compared to the storm raging inside her.

She had failed. Not just in her strike but in her resolve. For a moment—just a moment—she had hesitated, and that hesitation haunted her. And those eyes, those damned green eyes, refused to leave her mind.

Back in her quarters, Ava paced, her tail swishing in agitation. She felt Roni's embrace before she heard his voice, his jewelry cool against her skin.

"Ava!" Roni squealed, clinging to her. "I was so worried when you didn't come back soon."

The warmth of his concern softened her, but only slightly. She hugged him back, half-hearted but protective. "I'm alright, love."

Roni pulled back just enough to peer into her face. "You seem odd," he murmured, his large brown eyes filled with worry.

Ava smiled faintly, leading him toward the bed. "It's nothing important, just something unexpected. I'll manage."

Roni curled up in her lap, his golden tail wrapping neatly beneath him as he rested his head on her shoulder. "Does Ava want to tell Roni a story?" he asked, his voice soft and childlike.

She chuckled, kissing the crown of his head. "How about I tell you a story, hmm? We have a busy day tomorrow. It's the king's wedding, after all."

Roni nodded, his lips pursed in a slight pout. Ava tucked him into the plush bed, pulling the sheets snugly around him. She smoothed his hair, the familiar gesture calming her as much as it did him.

"What story do you want to hear?" she asked gently.

Roni's voice was soft, almost hesitant. "The story of the little boy."

Ava froze, her heart squeezing painfully. For a moment, she couldn't speak. The weight of the past settled on her chest, heavier than ever. But she forced a smile and began, her voice steady, though her heart ached.

"Once upon a time," she started, "there was a boy. He was a prince, loved by all who met him. Fortune followed the young lad, bringing everyone around him happiness."

Roni's eyes grew heavy, his lashes fluttering as he listened. Ava continued, her fingers combing through his golden hair.

"But on the twelfth year of his life, the prince's aura changed. No longer did he bring fortune. Darkness followed him instead. His parents were killed, and his friends succumbed to an illness that plagued the kingdom. In desperation, he sought out a witch."

"Ursula," Roni whispered sleepily, his voice tinged with awe.

Ava nodded, smiling despite the tightness in her chest. "He begged the witch to make the bad things stop. She agreed, but it came with a price. Fortune returned to the kingdom, and the boy grew into a king. He found love with a beautiful mermaid and had two children—a boy and a girl with golden hair. They were dearly loved, but the king never forgot the price of his wish."

Her voice softened as she neared the end. "On the two hundredth year of his son's life, the son's light was extinguished, along with his wife. They left behind a child—a boy with golden hair, much like his father."

She glanced down at Roni, his small frame nestled against her. His eyes were closed, his breathing soft and even.

Ava leaned down, pressing a tender kiss to his forehead. Her voice dropped to a whisper, so quiet it wouldn't disturb him.

"Goodnight, my little nephew," she murmured, a tear slipping down her cheek. "You are more precious to me than you'll ever know."

****

Here's a longer version with more depth to Jonas's persona, delving into his thoughts and internal conflicts:

"I think that went well," Marcus said, leaning forward, his silver-blue eyes scanning the water for any sign of the mermaid's return.

Jonas snorted, crossing his arms. "She tried to kill me."

"But she didn't," Morgan chimed in, his ever-present smirk curling his lips. "She's a strong mermaid, sure, but the fact that you brought her down so easily? That probably knocked her ego down a peg or two."

Jonas's thoughts drifted despite himself. The mermaid's image surfaced in his mind—her striking eyes, golden flecks dancing in warm brown orbs, accentuated by a gilded ring around her irises. She had been beautiful in a way that was almost hypnotic, otherworldly. But the memory left a bitter taste in his mouth. He hated the pull she'd had on him, how easily he'd let his guard down.

He'd always prided himself on being the controlled one, the measured one. Between him and Agent 47—God, how many missions had they pulled off together?—he was the moral compass. Where 47 was brash, unpredictable, and often downright ruthless, Jonas was the calm negotiator, the gentleman. So what the hell had he been doing back there, staring into her eyes like some lovesick fool?

"Jonas?"

Marcus's voice cut through his spiraling thoughts, bringing him back to the present. Jonas blinked, realizing he'd been staring blankly at the ice. He cleared his throat, suddenly self-conscious. "Sorry," he muttered.

Marcus chuckled, the sound warm and unbothered. "It's alright. Anyway, I was wondering—would you like to join me below?"

Jonas frowned, his brows knitting together in confusion. "Join you?" He let out a short laugh, shaking his head. "Marcus, humans can't breathe underwater without an oxygen tank. You know that."

The way Marcus glanced at Morgan made Jonas's stomach tighten. There was something in that look—a quiet understanding, a secret they weren't sharing. It set Jonas on edge. He didn't like being out of the loop, especially not when it came to things as bizarre as... whatever this situation was.

Morgan's grin widened, the sharpness of his features making him look more serpentine than human. His snake-like eyes glittered with mischief. "What if we told you we could change that?"

Jonas's breath hitched. For a moment, he forgot to exhale. Change that? The idea was absurd. Humans couldn't just... breathe underwater. It went against everything he knew about biology, about science. And yet, here he was, standing on ice in the middle of nowhere, talking to two literal sea creatures. Rationality felt like a flimsy concept at best.

"I don't know," Jonas muttered, dragging a hand through his hair. The motion was familiar, grounding. "This feels... I mean, it sounds insane."

"It's not insane," Marcus said earnestly, his silver-blue eyes wide with excitement. "It's real. And it's safe. We'd never suggest it if it wasn't."

Morgan bobbed in the water, his energy almost childlike. "Oh, do say yes, Jonas! You'll love it, I promise. The world below is... well, it's like nothing you've ever seen. It's alive in a way the surface isn't. You'll feel it."

Jonas hesitated, his gaze flickering between them. Part of him wanted to laugh in their faces, to call the whole thing ridiculous and walk away. But another part—the part he tried to ignore most of the time—was curious. What would it be like? To leave the weight of the surface world behind, even just for a while? To see this other world they spoke of? He'd spent his whole life chasing answers, chasing mysteries, and now one was staring him in the face.

He sighed heavily, his shoulders sagging under the weight of his decision. "Aw, shit," he muttered, his voice tinged with reluctant amusement. "Fine. I'll bite. What's the catch?"

Marcus's face lit up, and he slipped further into the water, until only the top of his head was visible above the ice. "No catch," he said eagerly. "Just trust us."

Morgan's grin stretched impossibly wide. "Oh, this is going to be fun."

As Jonas looked at them—Marcus practically vibrating with excitement and Morgan radiating his usual unsettling charm—he felt a familiar pang of doubt. He'd been down this road before, letting curiosity lead him into things he probably shouldn't have. But it was too late now. He'd already said yes.

And, for better or worse, he wasn't the type to back out.