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Apollo's brows furrowed, his body stilling as Poseidon halted on his swim the exact same moment.

They were headed towards the castle to keep an eye on anyone who intended to kill. Also because Poseidon had finally decided to tell Marilla about him being her father.

They'd thought whoever was to die would pass away after the engagement was preceded. But as they neared the sea shore at the front of the castle grounds, they caught sight of Hades' apex grim reaper, Azriel, looming over the castle like a bird flocking around.

Only Gods had the ability to see a reaper. No other creatures did.

Azriel's cloaked form held a scythe in his hand as he circled the air around the castle walls silently, his dark gaze sweeping his surroundings. If the grim reaper noticed the two gods at the sea shore, he didn't seem to bother.

"Shit. Azriel's already here. Do you think we're late?" Apollo asked frantically, trying to match Poseidon's fast swimming.

The God of the seas made no effort to slow down so the other God could catch up. Poseidon simply said, "Let's get to the island faster. You teleport yourself inside the ballroom. I'll shift and be there in a minute."

Apollo nodded. Instantly shutting his eyes, he willed his powers feeling the golden aura cover him. When he opened those lids, he was at a corner of the ballroom.

Zander and Derek didn't even seem to notice him as they descended down the dais in a hurry and stalked towards the drinks counter, their eyes striken with shock. When they approached the drinks counter was when Apollo noticed. . . .

Marilla's eyes were wide in horror as Layla slumped forward falling on top of her. Grabbing her sister's body, Marilla slid to the floor with Layla.

Blood puddled around them. Lots and lots of blood jutting out from the wound in Layla's chest. The wound that was inflicted by a sharp crystal dagger pierced right into her beating organ.

Apollo's heart sunk. She wouldn't make it. . .the reaper looming over the castle was a stark proof of that.

Tears streamed down Marilla's eyes as she clung onto her bleeding sister. Layla coughed, sputtering blood. Her eyelids fluttered as if it took a lot of effort to keep them open.

Even from feets away, Apollo could sense the amount of physical pain she was in. His fists clenched. Why did she have to die with pain too? Couldn't she get a rest from that emotion for once?!

But he stood still as ever as Layla slowly lifted a hand and brushed away a tear on Marilla's cheek, "It was meant for me. You came in front of me at the wrong time. Do not ever blame yourself for it." She said breathlessly as if she knew Marilla would do just that.

"I guess the time came earlier than later." Layla chuckled humourlessly before coughing up more blood.

Marilla hugged Layla's form, "You're not going anywhere. We'll get you to a doctor and you'll be fine."

"I don't have a doctor here." Layla whispered.

"Doesn't matter. Zander will teleport us to a doctor." Marilla retorted stubbornly trying to get up holding Layla.

On cue, Zander stepped forward, "Yes. Come on."

Layla's drowsy eyes sweeped to Zander then shifting to Marilla. She looked between them once more before placing a hand on Marilla's arm, "It was a crystal dagger. I won't make it. No need to go anywhere." She said firmly.

Apollo frowned the same time Marilla did.

Marilla shook her head stubbornly, "You will make it!" She yelled.

But Layla just stood her ground, her head lolling back tiredly, "I won't. . ." She whispered again, "Just. . .stop."

Apollo's heart thudded with unease when he saw a gentle smile pull at Layla's lips as she lifted a weak hand to hold her younger sister's face. He'd never seen her smile. Not so sincerely.

Marilla's eyes strained with more tears still trying to move but Layla mumbled, "Mari. . ."

Marilla halted and stared, tears running down her eyes again.

"I love you." Layla's smile stretched as she wiped away the tears from Marilla's cheek, "I always did. Even when I thought I hated you, I did love you. Somewhere along in my heart, you were always dear to me even if I tried to conceal it with anger. . . .I'm sorry. . ." She took in a deep breath, "For everything I did. I. . .I'm messed up. Living there ruined me. I don't even know what I should be feeling, so I just focused on the only emotion I could truly feel and let it drive me. I'm. . .sorry I couldn't be the sister you adored back when we were kids."

Marilla's throat clogged up with so many emotions as she slid back to the floor, tears running free.

Layla swiped at them again resting her head on Marilla's lap, "Know that, if I had a different life, if I wasn't sent away, I would've been there for you. I would've never left you. And. . ." She coughed up more blood as her eyes shuttered in pain but she still spoke, "I would've been proud of you. I still am. Even if you think you're not fit for it, I don't think Seagill could get a better queen. I know deep down you don't pay heed because you're guilty, because you think you're ruling in my place. But don't be. You deserve it, more than me. So be proud of it, Sea Doll."

Layla's head slumped against Marilla's abdomen as her gaze then slid to a saddened Zander and she passed him a smile, "Thank you." She told him, "Thank you for granting me those few moments of joy. You don't realize how much I treasure them. How much I craved them. I did really love you even if you returned the feelings back then just because of the love spell Charlotte casted on you. But I know you truly love Marilla. Keep her happy." Her eyes dropped from Zander and back to Marilla, "I wish you both a happy life. Trust me, not everyone gets a chance at happiness. You're both lucky."

Layla's chest rose as she took a long breath but she spared one last glance towards the man beside Zander, "You," She spoke to Derek who was stunned by the attention, "Your sister is alive."

Derek's eyes widened in shock as he staggered back a step at the revelation.

"I'm sorry I had to hide her for a decade. But it was for the best. So Charlotte didn't kill her for her own motives. After Charlotte's death, I did tell her she could go but she stuck by my side. Tell Laira. . ." Layla's eyes shuttered, "She's been the bestest friend I could ever have. Even if I never admitted, I do love her for that. And tell her I'm thankful for her to stick by me even when I never told her what I did. Tell her I'm glad of the trust she had on me and I'm grateful of her for yesterday. Because if she hadn't pulled me back then, I would've never gotten a chance to tell all this today."

Apollo's heart twisted as he saw her shut her eyes. As he caught sight of Azriel making his way towards Layla with slow, steady steps.

He couldn't do anything. Even if he tried to stop Azriel, he'd just pass through thin air. No mortal or immortal power could stop a grim reaper and Layla would be the one to suffer in more pain.

But. . .he could do something. Layla was a sea creature. Poseidon. . .

Marilla weeped holding on tight to her sister, "I love you, Ly ly. I love you so much. I always trusted you. Even when you tried to act as if you meant wrong, I knew there must be some reason. I'm. . .sorry I couldn't save you. I'm....so sorry. Don't go. . .please. Don't leave me. . ."

Layla just returned a sad smile, "I love you, Mari." She said one last time before her arms falling limply at her sides as Azriel hovered over her form and pulled her soul out of her body.

'Where the fuck is Poseidon?!' Apollo hollered in his head, frantically looking around.

But instead of catching sight of the blue haired God, he saw someone at the end of the drinks counter. . .

A green-haired woman smiling like a maniac at the view of Layla's life leaving her. She held a crystal dagger in her other hand, the same as the one burried in Layla's chest. The same like the one that is the cause the siren was dying. Ursula then hurriedly went to hide behind a pillar of wall as if to flee away.

Apollo's hands fisted in pure anger. He felt his eyes switch to gold but right when he was going to storm towards the pathetic woman, he felt a hand clutch on his shoulder just as Marilla's loud scream of sadness followed,

"No!" She yelled shaking Layla who now lay lifeless in her lap.

Zander scooted over to Marilla as she thrashed Layla trying to wake her up, "You can't leave me!"

With a lot of effort, Apollo shifted his gaze away from Marilla, away from Azriel walking away with a translucent form of Layla next to him who kept glancing behind at her hysterical sister once in a while despite being dragged by the grim reaper by her wrist.

Apollo looked towards the man who clutched his shoulder in a death grip.

Poseidon stared not saying a word. Apollo didn't know what had struck him that he grabbed the Sea God's arm pulling him towards Marilla crying with Layla in her arms.

Marilla was too busy in her sadness to see the approaching man and Zander was too engrossed in comforting her, his own eyes tear-strained, that none of the two noticed the two gods stand in front of them.

But Derek did. And his eyes widened as if he'd seen a dead man.

Well, with Apollo, he could tell the reaction was understandable since he was a dead man in this realm. But Derek's eyes were more focused on Poseidon, gawking and staring in terror.

"God Poseidon." Derek instantly bowed.

He'd seen the Sea God before. He'd seen Poseidon on visits when he served for Hades for a century.

Poseidon gave him a sideways glance with a nod of his head before passing Apollo a questioning look just as Zander looked up at the two Gods.

Unlike Derek, Zander looked more terrified at the sight of Apollo, a presumably dead morsel to him.

Apollo didn't pay heed to that and gave Poseidon a firm look, "Revive her." He gestured towards the lifeless Layla.

Poseidon's eyes widened, "What?"

"You're the Sea God. You can revive the sea creatures. Revive her." He said again, pushing Poseidon towards Layla'd form.

"I can't." Poseidon stood his ground just as Marilla finally looked up, her eyes teary and swollen.

Poseidon's heart shrunk at the look on his daughter's face. Heart-broken, she looked so much like. . .

"Can you?" Marilla didn't seem to care that Apollo who she'd thought was dead is alive, she didn't seem to care that the Sea God the merfolks worshipped stood in front of her.

All she cared was the words Dilin uttered : You're the Sea God. You can revive the sea creatures.

Poseidon's heart shrunk some more at the hope in his daughter's teary eyes.

"I really can't." He passed her a sad shake of his head.

"Why?! Why won't you?!" Marilla yelled, desperately clinging to Layla before her eyes grew pleading, "Please, I beg you."

"A person can be revived only one time," Poseidon let out an agonized breath, "And I'd already revived her once when she was two."

Lemme know your theories regarding the chapter end👀👍

This chapter got me emotional🥲

Althoughyou'll finally get to know the whole fiasco with the certificates and a grand revealation👀

Finally, about Layla, I feel so sad....😭