____________________

_

_______________________

Dark clouds hung overhead shrouding the sea below in a dull grey hue. The waves clatter against the shore taking the crispy sand along the land into the sea's endless abyss.

The Black Sea is said to be cursed by one of the Gods. This part of the seven seas suffers from acute gloomy and thundering weather and lacks of any salt in its waters-because of which if anything every falls into the sea it'd drown to the deepest pits.

Merfolks maintained distance because we can't shift to our siren or mermaid or nymph forms in the Black Sea. No merfolk could go into the seas and return back alive without the chances of drowning. Even if we knew swimming in our human forms, the sea pulls you into its pits due to the curse.

I hadn't understood how Layla had stayed here all these years along with all the other abducted merfolks.

But now I did get it as I stared up at the desolate isle to the eastern-most part of the black sea. There wasn't an isle here before. Any chances of an isle would be diminished because the sea's curse would pull the entire isle under the waves.

But somehow the isle still stood, no matter however small.

A tall castle made of stone walls the darkest shade of grey stood proud on four pillars. The bottom part of the palace where the stones were rigged into the ground were adorned with sea shells of different shades-the shells stretching from the bottom of the cement stone walls and scattering around the dreary land below.

I couldn't see a soul out here. But I knew better than to assume there wasn't anyone inside the castle.

The moment I'd voiced out my decision to indeed follow Layla to the Black Sea, she'd held out a parchment towards Zander. The isle was roughly painted on the paper and I'd wondered whether Zander could really teleport with such a rough picture in mind but he'd been able to do it anyways.

When he'd held his hand out for me to take while he gripped Layla's on the other, I'd wanted nothing more than to just rather travel two hours to the Black Sea on my own. But then after much consideration, I'd kept my hand on his and ignored every spark that tingled at the bond.

He'd given me a brief glance and I'd thought some strange emotion had flickered within those grey eyes but then it was gone and darkness enveloped. The next thing, I was at the sea shore of the isle staring up at the castle.

"Come along, sister. I don't have the whole day to wait here. My court awaits." Layla doesn't spare me a glance. She loops her arm with Zander's and tugs him along.

I follow them with a roll of my eyes. The ground underneath my feet is rocky and muddy at the same time, wind a chilly chime. We pass through a garden with dead roses and withering plants and up the few flight of stairs.

Layla pushes open the double doors leading to the interior of the castle.

It is much like the outside. Dark and dimly lit. A hall with furnishing of the darkest wood is stretched out wide. There are doors on either sides of the hall which either lead to more rooms or kitchen and other areas of the castle.

But none of it shocks me as much as the spectacle showcased right in front of me. There near the staircase at the hall's center were two horrendously large glass tubes filled with water and red berry plants. And inside those glass tubes.....

My heart clenches as I take in the way Avyanna and Ursula float inside the glass tubes. Their eyes fluttered shut in unconsciousness and their skin pale.

"How could you do this to them?!" I turn around to Layla, my eyes blazing, "They could die! Rowan berries are dangerous to merfolks!"

Layla shrugs and Zander's eyes remains fixated on the glass tubes. Those orbs flicker to me but I don't let him hold my gaze and instead take a step towards Layla.

"You said you'd let them go if I came with you." I remind her, my words calm and eerie.

"Correction sister. I said I'd release them if you be a doll and do as I ask of you. And there's still a lot of doing left as we speak. First starting with you meeting your to-be husband. So go get ready." She flicks her fingers and two nymphs chained with handcuffs arrive from one of the many rooms on the ground floor.

"Dilin is eager to meet you. He hates tardiness though. So don't make him wait." She then turns around, her hand going down to grab Zander's, "We'll have a date too." She tells him so softly I'd almost believe she isn't the same person who has merfolks captured in glass tubes, barely alive.

That tug at my heart returns but I don't let it bother. Instead I grill holes at them both. As if sensing my hatred filled gaze, Layla looks over at me just as Zander's eyes connect with mine.

"I'll do you a favor. Each task I tell you and you do it, one element will be lessened from them." She points towards the many floating plants inside the glass tubes, "Now go get ready like the doll you are."

I bite back profanities I want to curse at her. I didn't want to do this but I knew I had to. For my people, if not anything. For Avyanna and Ursula, their safety is my duty.

And getting Layla angered wouldn't get me anywhere no matter how badly I wanted to lash out and bring the old Layla back.

I'd known she had done some terrible things while she was away from Seagill but watching her be like this with my own eyes bought a dull ache to my heart.

What happened for her to change so much?

But Zander. . . .

I sense his gaze settled on me, staring with a strange intensity. What was wrong with him?

I don't expect him to become a massive rescuer here but he could atleast not act so ignorant. He had a choice to come along or stay. Layla wouldn't have forced him to accompany her here, that much I could tell. But he'd still thought to show up here, see all this and act blatant.

Averting my sight from his, I pass Layla one last look before storming past her towards the stairways where the nymphs waited for me to follow them.

As the nymphs lead me up the stairs to the right wing of the second floor and push open the wooden door, I don't bother to take in my room.

I just shut the door behind me ushering the nymphs out. Once their footsteps fade into the background, I fish out the paper from my robe pocket which I'd torn in a haste secrecy while we were leaving the store room.

In the shock of finding the death certificate, Zander and I hadn't paid attention to the another paper attached to it. My heart thrums in my chest as I take in the new information we hadn't noticed earlier.

This page was a birth certificate with my name again.

'Marilla Shellock. Born at 16:00'

But what was more confusing was that both of the certificates were of the same day and same time. In one, the child's age was specified as two years old and the other one the child was a just born.

But both the children had my name. . . .

One lived and one died. . .

Which one is the real one?

Also it's my cousin's wedding so I might one HELL of a car ride since we were visiting the place for the first time and we almost reached a dead end at some forsaken river in the middle of a dense forest-courtesies of trusting Google map offline. There wasn't even a single mortal there or any network so we could call someone💀✋)

But that aside, we reached the destination prior than everyone else and the first wedding function was so very fun. Now it's the reception back at our hometown and other wedding functions I had no idea even existed💀✋

Now thank you for listening to the TED talk😂

I hope you liked the chapter even though there wasn't much in it and I hope you have a nice day!🤧