"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."

"What?" Marilla's eyes shooted to the motionless Layla then snapping back to the Sea God.

Poseidon glanced towards Apollo who stared back in shock as if he hadn't known this part either. And Poseidon understood why. Apollo had figured out Marilla was who's daughter but he hadn't known how Poseidon was able to swap Layla's crown for Marilla.

Poseidon sighed. He'd come to tell the truth anyways. Even if the timing turned out to be worse, he had to do it.

"I'll tell you a tale." Poseidon began, kneeling in front of his daughter and gently shutting Layla's opened silver eyes with his palm.

When he averted his gaze up, he found Marilla staring with a furrow to her brows, her wet eyes taking in the blue of his eyes, his oceanic hair identical to hers.

"Centuries ago, Mariana Shellock wasn't meant to be the true heir. She had an elder sister, Heather. . ." Poseidon drawled.

Marilla saw pain flash in Poseidon's eyes but he blinked and casted his gaze on her, "Your mother."

Marilla sucked in a breath. What was he talking about. . . .

Queen Mariana was her and Layla's mother. She didn't even ever hear about any Heather or any sister of her mother.

Poseidon saw the disbelief clear on his daughter's face and it shrunk his heart at how she didn't even know about her own mother.

Nonetheless, he continued, "Mariane wanted to be the ruler. She pledged to do anything to get the throne. Anything. Even if it meant framing her own sister for stealing a sacred heirloom of the merfolks and destroying it and then acting as if Heather attempted to kill Mariane when she found out the truth."

Marilla's head spun. She didn't understand where he was going with his story. But she wanted to listen. Wanted to know why a God would make such a blasphemy up when he had several other thing to do then involve himself in immortal affairs.

"Their parents believed the act. They believed Heather had actually tried to kill Mariane in vengeance of seeing her destroy the heirloom. They were furious. They instantly declared that Heather would never be the queen and Mariane would take it instead. And then they. . . ." Poseidon gulped the lump in his throat, ". . .banished her from the kingdom and left her to die in the sea by tying her down and leaving her for the sea animals to feast on."

Marilla saw the conflict and anger radiate in the God's each word, she could sense it around his aura as he clenched his fists shutting his eyes.

When he opened those orbs again, they were a combination of fondness and sadness, "That's when I met your mother."

Marilla stroked Layla's hair absently. Poseidon's story was the only thing keeping her from breaking down completely at her sister's death. . . .

"You saved her?" She asked softly.

Poseidon was surprised at her talking at all. And something in him clenched at his daughter's voice so much like. . .Heather's.

"She saved herself." Marilla saw a smile pull at the God's lips for the first time since he began narrating the story.

"How?" She wanted to know.

"Your mother was fearless. She fought despite being tied down, despite having very less chances against a troop of sharks surrounding her. And she did defeat them. By her own self." Poseidon's fond smile widened, "I was just passing through the sea and she almost knocked me out thinking I was going to attack her."

Marilla rested her head against Zander's shoulder who held her with his big arms around her and listened with equal curiosity as his mate.

"I assured her I didn't mean harm. After a lot of doubting, she let go. And that was when she realized who I was." Poseidon laughed a bright laugh, "After almost pummeling me, she realized I was the Sea God."

Marilla smiled despite the sadness looming in her heart, "How did she react?"

"She was wholly embarrassed. She claimed she was thrown out of her house and said sorry for a thousand times until my ears bled from the word. To shut her up from more apologizing. . ." Poseidon trailed, scratching the back of his neck coyly as if he were still back in those days.

"You kissed her." Apollo completed, his heart squeezing as he remembered how Layla had done the same thing to shut him up when he'd provoked her.

Poseidon nodded with a flush creeping up his neck, "I proposed she could live on my isle if she had nowhere to go. After almost killing me with a death glare as if to gauge my intentions, she agreed."

This time, Marilla chuckled, "She sounds like a wonderful woman."

Poseidon's eyes softened, "She was. She was amazing. She was everything I'd ever wanted."

"You fell for her, didn't you?" Zander asked this time, recognizing the look on Poseidon's face. It was exactly how he felt when he thought of Marilla.

"I did. She did too despite her heartbreak over leaving someone behind. We both did," Poseidon nodded but something on his face seemed as if a painful memory was soon to follow, "We got married. And lived happily without anyone's notice on our little isle. Then she got pregnant. We knew the risks of what would happen if Zeus found out but we were still willing to take it. Because. . .we were so happy to have you."

Marilla freezed, she had known where the story would go but she hadn't thought she was going to be part of it. If what Poseidon was saying is true, then. . . .

"You're my father." Marilla breathed out and Zander stared up at the God in shock at the same time.

Poseidon took in a long breath, "I am."

Marilla didn't want to believe it. Zander didn't know what to either. But how could they not when Marilla was a spitting image of Poseidon.

The identical facial features—the blue eyes and hair, the smooth skin. Marilla had always wondered why she never shared any features of her parents. Maybe it was because they weren't even her parents. . . .

"What happened after that?" She asked instead.

Hurt seemed to flash in Poseidon's eyes at the question. He looked away from Marilla's gaze and at a faraway wall, "You were just about to be born and we were so over-joyed. Heather was so happy. I'd never seen her so happy. But then. . ." His voice broke when he said the next words, "Zeus found us. He was furious to know I had a wife and would soon have a heir who could compete against his children."

Poseidon's fists clenched, his eyes flashing with anger and pain, "I tried to save her. I tried to fight him. I tried to send her away so she would be saved. But Heather remained back, got caught between my brother and my fight and. . ." He shut his eyes, ". . .Zeus shot her with lightening and fleed. Heather, she couldn't. . ."

A tear slid down the Sea God's eyes but he brushed it away, "I didn't know what to do. Heather had been everything to me. I wanted to kill Zeus. But I couldn't. Gods can't be killed. No one can do anything to us except inflict pain. It sucks to live forever, to live with the memories that could either make you or break you for eternity."

"Heather had already passed to the afterworld. But you. . .Zeus hadn't stayed back to check that the life inside Heather's womb still lived or not. He was too smug you wouldn't. So no matter how much it hurt to greet you to the world alone, no matter how much it hurt to know that Heather had waited so long for this moment but she wasn't there anymore. With my powers, I birthed you.

"You were so little and your mother would've loved you so much. In my own wallow, I'd cursed the very sea where Heather was killed to vent out my remorse for not being able to save her. That was when Mariane and her mate sensed my presence and came to me with a two year old dead child. Her." Poseidon pointed at the motionless Layla rested on Marilla's lap.

Marilla gripped Zander's hand and he gave it a firm squeeze. Layla. . . .

She'd told Marilla of how she'd been dead at the age of two and somehow survived. This tale was stretching towards a known truth. . .

"Mariane begged that I revive her daughter who had drowned to death accidentally and the little one couldn't shift to save herself since she was too young. She'd said she'd do anything in return. I wouldn't have done it. I wouldn't have ever done it knowing what Mariane had done to Heather. But then I saw you crying in my arms and Mariane had asked who you were. I didn't want to loose you like I lost Heather. And I knew if you stayed with me, Zeus would eventually find out. I knew he'd kill you too." Poseidon took in a long breath, "So I striked a bargain with Mariane."

"You gave me to her." Marilla whispered, her voice low.

"I promised to revive Mariane's daughter in return of her letting my daughter grow up in her care as the siren princess, as her own second daughter in front of the mer-court. Mariane agreed without hesitance but I hadn't forgotten what she'd done to Heather. I could never. Even if Heather was no more, I wanted to avenge for what Mariane did to her. I wanted to return the throne where it belonged. Mariane had stolen Heather's rightful place and I knew I couldn't do anything for Heather because she didn't want me to. But I hadn't forgotten." Poseidon sighed, his hand frisking through his shoulder length blue hair.

"You told Queen Mariane to give the throne to your daughter instead of hers when the time comes as a part of the bargain you striked to revive Layla. So that even if Heather never had the chance to fulfill her dream, her daughter could do it for her. Rule over her mother's rightful place." Zander noted, joining the dots.

Poseidon nodded, "To make sure Mariane doesn't hurt or try to kill Marilla in order to hand the throne to Layla, I cursed the sea crown and placed it on Marilla's head so that anyone who tried to kill her, would die themself. Then I handed the crown to Mariane to keep it safe with her until Marilla takes the throne."

Marilla's ears buzzed with all the information but despite it, she remembered something she'd been looking for a while, "What about the birth and death certificate that had my name in it?'

Poseidon seemed stunned that she knew but he answered anyways, "That was a farse to trick Zeus if he ever found out about you. We'd replaced Layla's death certificate with your name so that if Zeus ever figured out my daughter lived, he'd be tricked to believe she died at the age of two by drowning without him having to do anything. And the birth certificate, it was to proove your birth as Mariane's daughter to her court."

"Wouldn't Zeus figure out that the timing of your daughter and Mariane's supposed daughter's birth is same? And that when he killed Heather, her child wasn't even born, let alone be of two years old?" Marilla questioned with a tilt to her head.

"Zeus thinks too highly of himself, child." Poseidon muttered under his breath, "He'd not even consider the child he killed survived. If he somehow ever finds out that I have a daughter, he'd think that daughter was born before he killed Heather. And I made sure he'd believe just that by swapping all of Layla's death evidence with your name to match the theory. Mariane easily provided them too."

"Why would she do that?" Marilla frowned.

"Asking a God to revive a dead person is against all the creatures laws, its punishable and considered as treacherous. If it were so easy, every merfolk would come to me asking for me to revive their lost ones. It's also why I live out of people's sight among the sea. If people came to know Mariane, the sea queen herself, had broken the laws the ancient laws to save her daughter, do you think her folks would tolerate it?"

"I get it. . ." Marilla's eyes shut as she held Layla tighter, "Why would she lead Layla on that she'd be the queen when she already knew she had to pass the crown to me? Why feed her with false hopes? But then. . .why did everyone hate Layla when she was young? What was Ursula's problem? Why did she sell Layla. . . I don't get it."

Poseidon's brows furrowed at the mention of that name just as Apollo's gaze slid to Layla as his hands fisted. She had been sold? To whom? Is that why she'd been so filled with pain? Because whatever happened haunted her?

The seven centuries he couldn't find information about. . .was she enslaved all those while. . . .had she ever truly lived? Guilt of not arriving on time hit him again as he glanced at Layla's form then Azriel still dragging her soul at snail's pace. Something clicked in his head.

But then just as Poseidon was about to point out where he'd heard the name, a feminine voice spoke,

"Because Heather was my mate. Because the merfolks eventually realized that Mariane had lied. Mariane wrenched Heather away from all of us." Ursula said emerging from her hiding place, "And we wanted to take revenge from her."

Remember when Ursula was like, 'It's karma. Mariane's daughter suffered the exact same fate she inflicted on someone.'? So this is it. Mariane framed Heather for killing her and banished her from the kingdom. And return karma, Mariane's daughter suffered the same fate by being banished from the kingdom for attempting to kill her sister.

This chapter was so much information. Phew. I hope y'all got everything though. If there's any doubt, feel free to point out!

Do you think what Poseidon did to save Marilla was right?

Lemme know your thoughts on the chapter👀👍