Something inside me—an unseen wound in my chest that had started to heal back when we first met Drew and the girls—shattered into a million pieces as I watched Ella's lifeless body fall to the floor. I rushed to catch her before she hit the ground, biting back a sob at her motionless body.

My hands were trembling as I swam out of the house, working quickly to fashion a makeshift grave. Her brown eyes were frozen open, a look of pure terror on her face. I carefully lowered her into the grave, gently closing her eyes.

I swam back inside, blood coating my hands and clothes. When I looked at Noah, rage burned through my body hotter and stronger than I'd ever felt before. He just stared at me, his expression smug. My hands curled into fists as I advanced on him, blocking out everything else, everyone else—

Only to have a strong hand wrap around my wrist, halting me. I whipped my head towards Jay, disbelief written on his face at the anger on my own. His hands moved through the water as he signed four words, each one more pointed than the latter: He's not worth it.

My arms slackened at my sides, the anger slowly draining from my body. It was only then that I remembered Drew and Faye, floating beside me. Jay was already reaching for Drew. Faye was staring at me, the tears forming in those grey eyes so dangerously close to falling.

My hands shook as I picked Faye up, her body trembling. She buried her face into my hair, her body shaking with the force of her tears. I rubbed her back, murmuring soothing words. A flash of movement out of the corner of my eye had me flinching. I turned around in time to see Noah's head snap to the side as Jay delivered a devastating blow.

As Noah turned back to face Jay, he spat blood on the ground, more welling from his split lip. I could tell from the swelling in his face that there were more injuries I couldn't see. The latter opened his mouth, eyes glowing with a kind of malice I'd never seen. Before he could so much as utter a sound, I was beside him, slipping my hand into his.

When he looked at me, it was like flipping a switch. All the anger disappeared from his expression, replaced by concern—and shame. I could tell by his expression that he was replaying his own words in his head.

He completely ignored Noah as he noticed Faye and Drew. The merboy's face was white, the protective stance he'd taken over his sister wavering slightly. Faye had her face buried in his chest, tears leaking from her grey eyes. Without so much as a backward glance, he swam to the children, taking Drew and Faye's hands and leading them into their bedrooms.

I glimpsed their expressions as they swam past me, my heart breaking. The former's face was expressionless, the hand gripping Jay's trembling slightly. Faye's face was tear-streaked and pale; she kept glancing around as we swam, as if looking for someone. I had to bite back tears as I looked away.

As soon as I'd shut Faye's door, he was in front of me. Can we talk about this? My hands were steady, despite the lingering anger in his gaze. Noah was nowhere to be found; I assume he'd slipped out when I'd been with Faye and Drew.

What? The fact that you almost killed your brother? Or the fact that he killed a child? My hands shook as I signed the last word, a tremor running through me.

I wouldn't have killed him. As tenuous as our relationship is... I wouldn't have done that. There was truth in Jay's gaze.

I shook my head, suddenly exhausted. I... I can't talk about this anymore. I'll see you in the morning.

He kissed me on the cheek before letting go of my hand. I swam to our bedroom, closing the door with a trembling hand. The tears were flowing before the door even finished closing. I covered my face with my hands, sobbing. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the light leave Ella's eyes as she fell to the seafloor.

I quickly stripped off my clothes—the blood on them threatening to send me into a full-on panic attack—and swam into the bathing room. I turned the water on as hot as it would go, intending to scrub the blood off my arms and face, but when I reached for the soap, I saw Ella's face. The tears came harder and faster now, to the point where I could hardly see in front of me.

My arms ached when I finished scrubbing, the blood flaking off my face and into the water. I stared at the wall in front of me, not seeing it. Ella stared at me instead, her beautiful brown eyes sparkling as they had whenever she'd seen me. I flinched when I felt a hand wipe a tear off my cheek.

Warm, steady hands lifted me out of the bath, wrapping me up in a towel. I was completely and utterly numb. Claudia didn't so much as open her mouth as she gently led me into our bedroom. Are you okay? She signed.

I opened and closed my mouth several times before finally closing it and glancing at her. I can't believe she's gone.

She led me to my vanity, towel-drying my curls before gently running a brush over them. Her soothing strokes—almost motherly—brought a fresh wave of tears to my eyes. When I looked up, Claudia's lips were trembling, the tears in her own eyes dangerously close to falling.

Are you alright? My hands were surprisingly steady as I signed.

Her chest hitched as she hurriedly blotted at her eyes, trying to compose herself. Yes, my lady. I'm sorry.

The brush shook in her grip as she set it on the vanity. It's my sister. While you were away, I recieved word that Aquireth had been ransacked. By the time anyone remembered to look for survivors, all that was left were bodies. Including that of a fourteen-year-old mermaid with brown hair and storm blue eyes. Jessica Mercer. Maybe—hopefully—my parents managed to flee and take refuge somewhere.

My heart was so broken already, I wondered how it could possibly keep beating. I turned to face Claudia, taking both her hands in mine. You need to be with your family. Go. Take all the time you need.

Though she had already started to shake her head, a small spark of hope remained in her eyes. Are you sure?

I nodded, turning back to the vanity and putting some waterproof concealer on my face. By the time I'd finished, it was dark outside. Jay was already asleep when I swam into bed, the rage and guilt on his face slowly easing as he slept, breathing evenly.

Silent tears leaked down my cheeks as I nestled into the pillows, putting an arm under my head. More than anything, I wished David and Bella were here. Though I craved sleep—the exhaustion that had been gnawing at me all day slowly resurfacing—I dreaded it equally as much. I knew that if I closed my eyes, I'd see Ella.

I didn't flinch as I felt Jay's arms wrap around me and pull me close. My eyes closed a heartbeat later, sweet exhaustion enveloping me.

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