Chapter 2
Damien’s fingers dug deep into the shredded flesh of my tail. Blood seeped from the cracks between my scales, dripping onto the
cold stone floor.
I shuddered with pain, biting down hard to keep from crying out.
“Where is she? Where is Liora?”
He yanked my hair, forcing me to meet his eyes. His fury blazed like fire, blind and consuming.
Even now,
he thought I had hidden her. He thought I played tricks.
But Liora had long since become seafoam, scattered to the tides.
“She’s dead,” I whispered.
“Lies!”
His roar shook the chamber. His hand struck across my face, slamming my head against the glass. Darkness swam before my eyes.
The sharp click of heels echoed against the floor. Isolde entered, her painted smile delicate as she looped her arm through
Damien’s.
“Damien, don’t be angry with Sister Seraphina,” she cooed. “If you’re worried about our baby, I’ll give up the mermaid’s blood as
medicine. It’s only a little sacrifice.”
Her voice dripped with sweetness, yet each syllable was a blade twisting in my heart. My daughter was only three when they used
her blood as a cure.
A phantom echoed in my ears–Liora’s laughter, her small palms patting the water.
“Mommy, why doesn’t Daddy love me?”
Her last breath had been choked with determination: I won’t cry, Mommy. Daddy hates when I cry. If I’m good, he’ll love me.
My scales began to fall, shedding under the weight of grief.
Damien recoiled in disgust, shielding Isolde.
“Pathetic. If you won’t give up Liora, then your blood will do.”
He snapped his fingers. The assistants in sterile robes seized me, dragging my tail against the floor. The wounds split anew, exposing raw flesh.
Isolde pointed at the base of my fin, where scales still shimmered.
“There. The blood beneath those scales is the most potent. It keeps the skin young.”
Damien nodded without hesitation. The assistants raised their blades.
When the knife pierced the soft flesh beneath my scale, a scream tore from my throat. My nails clawed helplessly against the glass, leaving shrill marks that set my teeth on edge.
Damien pressed his hand over Isolde’s ear as though shielding her from my voice. His eyes locked on mine–cold, merciless.
“Seraphina, savor the agony. Think of it as penance for your people’s sins.”
Penance? What a cruel joke.
The brine turned crimson, clouding the chamber. Damien reclined on a chaise longue at the pool’s edge, his hand caressing Isolde’s stomach as he watched me writhe.
“Look at her scales, Damien,” Isolde purred. “Aren’t they exquisite?”
Chapter 2
W
WebNovel
4.3 FREE
Google Play
OPEN
It’s been a while, but I’m finding my faith
1.98%
“If you like them,” he said indulgently, “they’re yours.”
I curled in the underground chamber, every nerve ablaze. My memories bled into one another.
Three years ago, I lay weak on a birthing bed, gazing at Damien as he held our newborn with tenderness.
“Seraphina, look–she’s beautiful. She looks just like you.”
But in the next breath his love turned to hatred.
“You wretched mermaid! You killed my sister. I’ll make you pay in blood.”
He had gripped my throat then, hatred drowning out reason.
Even now, I had never known the truth of his sister’s fate. My people had never harmed humans.
A bucket of ice water crashed over me, jerking me back to the present. Damien loomed above, eyes as cold as steel.
“Still refusing to tell me where Liora is?”
I forced myself to look up at him. Despite the pain, I let my lips curve into a hollow smile.
“She is dead. When a mermaid dies, she becomes seafoam. Didn’t you know?”
Chapter 2
