I was on edge and jumpy the rest of the day, flinching at every noise and sudden movement. As much as I craved sleep, I dreaded it too. It gave me a reprieve from the emptiness inside me, the yawning chasm threatening to smother me with every breath.

Every time I closed my eyes, however, I was thrust back into my nightmare. I saw Wyatt pull out the hidden dagger, heard my choked voice as I pleaded with him. "What did I ever do to make you hate me so much?"

His answering scowl had been filled with such hatred, such malice that I'd shivered. "Ask your parents if they're familiar with the name 'Isla Flannery.'"

A shudder had run down my spine even as confusion had appeared on my face. I wanted to ask him what he meant, but he'd swum away before I could. Several times throughout the day, I'd been pulled out of my thoughts by a hand on my arm, a concerned look.

I blinked now, glancing up at the surface. We'd left the palace and were approaching the current that led to the school. I swallowed hard when I met Mom's gaze, biting my tongue to avoid voicing the words that all but leapt from my mouth. Who's Isla Flannery?

"Are you okay, honey? You've barely said two words today." Her voice was filled with so much concern that I almost confessed everything right there and then. Instead, I took a breath, exhaling deeply.

"I need to talk to you and Dad." By sheer will, I managed to keep my voice steady. The latter swam beside Mom, glancing at her, then flicking his eyes to mine.

"What's this about, Faye? Is everything okay?" His deep voice was soothing, comforting in a way I hadn't realized before.

The words burst from me, as if a dam had been unleashed. "Who's Isla Flannery?"

Mom's eyes widened, all the color draining from her face as she faltered. Dad steadied her with a hand on her back, though his reaction was nearly identical. He swallowed hard, the sound audible in the silence that had fallen as my question hung in the water.

I hadn't realized it until then, but my hands were clenched at my sides and I was tense. I looked between them, hoping that either of them would fill in the blank. Dad recovered first, reached out to me. "Let's go to our suite and talk privately." The way he glanced around as the words left his mouth told me enough: he didn't want the conversation that was to come getting out.

I nodded as I gestured for him to lead the way. Mom was trembling as she swam, her own hands clenched at her sides. Dad's eyes were hard, his mouth set in a firm line. The distance from the dining hall to their suite had never seemed so endless. When we finally got to the door, I was so tense my muscles were all but vibrating.

Dad swam in first, ushered us in before closing the door. He took a deep breath, exhaling deeply. "Isla was a mermaid your mother used to play with when we were little. Her parents served as a maid and a butler, respectively. Years ago, she reached out to us, claiming she had news about a merman known as 'Barracuda.'" His jaw tightened as the word left his mouth.

Mom squeezed his hand, but didn't say anything. He took a deep breath before continuing. "When your mother and I met up with her, I immediately noticed the change in her appearance. Her usual attire—dresses and jewellery—was gone, replaced with a short black shirt and a dagger at her hip. Before either of us had time to react, a merman appeared at her side, a sadistic grin on his face."

Anger flashed in his eyes, across his face as he struggled to control himself. I didn't press him, just waited patiently. "She swam to us, a mocking grin on her face. We learned something new that day—there was more than one pendant. That's when we first heard about the Loyalty Pendant. Identical to the Lost Soul Pendant in every way except one. Instead of taking souls, it swore them into the service of whomever was wearing the pendant."

I let out a shocked breath, my eyes wide. Dad swallowed hard, steeling himself. A cold dread took root in my stomach, like a rock settling on the seafloor. I knew that I would never be able to unhear what was coming.

Mom's eyes filled with tears, but she furiously swiped them away. "Later, she kidnapped Meribella—your Aunt Nerissa's younger sister. To this day, we don't know if it was revenge or something else, but when we found out and Nerissa came to rescue her..." She broke off, covering her face with her hands as she sobbed.

My heart stopped dead in my chest. When I looked at Dad, his face was solemn, but there were tears in his eyes. "H—How would Wyatt even know who she was? This was decades ago." I bit down on a sob as the word left my mouth.

Mom and Dad both shook their heads. "I have no idea," Dad admitted. "After Meri's death, she went off the grid—no one's heard from her since." Fear surfaced in his eyes, however—from the realization that she could be and likely still was alive. The only question was, would she be brave enough to show her face here?

The thought hadn't even fully formed when we heard a frantic pounding on the front doors. Dad was already moving, Mom and I on his tail. The three of us swam down to the entryway, taut and tense. A flash of blonde hair appeared in my vision, vanishing a heartbeat later. When a raised voice reached our ears, Mom and Dad both went rigid. "Where are David and Isabella Solomon? I need to see them. Now!"

The front doors were wide open, fresh water seeping inside. Merrick and Nerio were blocking them, however, their strong bodies a solid wall between us and whomever was in front of them. Dad swam up behind the guards, face solemn despite the fear in his eyes. "Let her through," he commanded, his voice strong and unwavering. After a moment, the guards reluctantly parted, revealing a mermaid around Mom and Dad's age, her eyes wide and frantic.

Her hands were rough as she gripped a messenger bag slung over her shoulder. Wide, frightened eyes darted around warily, taking in their surroundings. When they fell on Mom and Dad, the mermaid let out a cry, rushing towards the latter. Dad put up his hands before the mermaid got within a foot of him, his eyes wary. Guarded. "What are you doing here, Isla?" His voice was cold. Unfriendly.

"Have you seen him? Is he alive?" She was frantic, her body trembling as tears filled her eyes. The three of us exchanged a glance.

I swam towards her, stopping before I got too close. I had a sinking feeling that I knew exactly who she was talking about, but wanted to confirm it before I jumped to any conclusions. "Wyatt?" My voice was barely a whisper, the word itself barely a push of breath.

She let out a sob at his name. Dad's face softened, concern filling his eyes as he extended a hand towards her. "Come with me," he said softly, beckoning her inside. Mom was still beside me, eyes wary and face pale.

We followed him wordlessly into the dining hall, Isla's quiet sobs the only sound. When he'd shut the door behind us, he turned back to Isla. "What are you doing here, Isla?" He asked again, softer this time.

"And how do you know Wyatt?" I asked, unable to help myself.

Her eyes snapped to mine, recognition flashing across her face. "Y—you're Faye," she whispered. "The Siren."

A chill, cold as the bottom of the ocean, jolted through me. I just stared at her, my mouth opening and closing. "I'd heard the rumors that the king and queen of Pelathas had adopted children, but I never thought..." She trailed off, staring at me long enough to make me uncomfortable.

She blanched under the scrutiny of both Mom and Dad's stares. Taking a deep breath, she exhaled slowly before speaking. "Wyatt is my nephew. My sister's son." At our shocked faces, she quickly clarified, "After what happened, I went off the grid. I knew that I wouldn't be welcome in the palace anymore, but I hoped that I might still find refuge in Pelathas. I squatted in several abandoned houses, never staying in one place too long."

She took a shaky breath. "A few months later, a mermaid showed up at my door, face nearly purple with rage. It was my sister. She basically disowned me, never even hinting that she'd had a child. I didn't even know she'd gotten married. It wasn't until a few weeks ago—I'd been able to find a job at a clothing store near Pelathas' border, Fit Sew Good—that I heard whispers of a merman spotted near the palace."

The tears began anew, spilling down her cheeks. Isla shook her head, voice breaking as she spoke through her tears. "My sister died a year ago after a massive heart attack. Please. I just need to know he's okay."

Shaking my head, I looked from Mom to Dad, unsure what to do next. They looked just as lost, but the latter recovered first, opening his mouth. "I'm sure we can find somewhere for you to stay. As for the rest—"

He didn't get a chance to finish. A blur suddenly zoomed past me, colliding with Isla. She was sobbing again, clutching the merman tightly. When they finally broke apart, she clutched his hand tightly, as if afraid he'd vanish if she let go.

Despite everything, something inside me had softened hearing Isla's story. Dad pulled Mom and me close, kissing our heads.

Wyatt finally faced me, shame and gratitude lining his eyes. "Thank you," he whispered.

Even after what we'd just witnessed, a part of me couldn't help but worry that Wyatt would continue to torment me—now that he, like me, had something to lose.

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