I was lying awake in bed staring at the ceiling when suddenly a wave of crippling sadness washed over me. Before I could make sense of it, however, it was replaced by overwhelming shock. I quickly woke Jay and started getting dressed.

I could feel the confusion radiating off him, but the expression on my face must've convinced him not to press me. One thought ran through my head on repeat, dread gnawing at me as we left the house: please, please, please, don't let me be too late.

When we arrived in Pelathas, all I could do was stare, struggling to push down the sob building inside me. The aforementioned emotions suddenly became clear. Every building as far as I could see was demolished or had sustained serious damage.

The palace was probably the most heavily damaged. Considering everything inside had already been looted, it was a miracle that there was still anything left. I saw chests and wardrobes that had obviously belonged to David and Bella's parents ripped open and stripped of their contents.

Tiger Shark's words ran through my head on repeat: This should be enough to occupy Nerissa until we finish with Pelathas. Then we can deal with the royal family.

A chill ran through me as I realized the meaning of his words. The bodies yesterday were just a ruse to distract me from his real plan. I was vigilant as I entered the palace, expecting guards to stop me at every corner, but silence was my only companion as I swam. All or most of the servants must have been killed in the attack.

Even though it terrified me, I swam through what was left of the palace, searching for the body of the former queen. Aside from a few nobility members collecting damaged items, I had no interruptions. I had just swam through the ruins of the dining hall when I came across the royal suite. The doors were barely hanging on their hinges. My hands were trembling so much, I could hardly push my way through.

I stopped dead as I came upon the front of the room, numb with grief as I noticed the body in Pelathas' royal colors. The queen was wearing a black and red dress. The king was nowhere to be found.

I couldn't breathe as I swam closer, her body cold and stiff. Whoever had killed her hadn't bothered with her jewelry and personal effects. Queen Miranda's engagement and wedding rings were still on her finger. My heart broke anew as I gazed at her face, eyes frozen open. With trembling hands, I gently slipped her ring off her finger, transferring it into my pocket.

As guilty as I felt, I knew that they would want her children to have something to remember her by. Before I so much as turned around, a hand appeared on my shoulder. I almost jumped out of my skin as I turned around, a merman floating in front of me. I quickly recognized him as a butler. He didn't seem to recognize me, but I didn't have time for introductions.

I pulled my notepad out of my pocket, scribbling a note before handing it to him. I'm friends with the prince and princess. I heard about the attack. When did you find the body?

He read the note, then shook his head, scribbling his response. A couple of hours ago. I'd come to see if there was anything that could be salvaged from the rubble. That's when I found her. A shame, too. She and her husband were the nicest, most kind rulers I'd ever known. As he wrote the last word, he reread my note before adding to his response. You said you are friends with Prince David and Princess Isabella?

I kept my face neutral, even though I was moments away from bursting into tears. Yes. Prince David... helped me during a tough time. I met his sister shortly after.

He nodded. I'll let you pay your respects. As he swam out, a few tears slipped down my cheeks—the calm before the storm. After making sure the ring was still in my pocket, I swam out of the palace, finally surrendering to the torrent of tears that had been threatening to spill over.

I couldn't breathe as I swam home. Before I so much as put my hand on the doorknob, it swung open, revealing familiar faces. David. Jay. Bella. Meri. They all had concerned expressions on their faces as I swam inside.

Are you okay? Bella asked. After meeting me, she'd begged me to teach her sign language. After a few lessons, she was a natural.

I'm so, so sorry. I got there as fast as I could, but I was too late. My hands shook as I pulled the wedding ring out of my pocket. Bella's face went white, a cry escaping her as she collapsed against David. The latter managed to hold her up, but his own expression was filled with shock.

Where did you find it? David's hands shook as he signed, but I understood him well enough.

I took a shaky breath before responding. In the royal suite. I came across a butler who said he'd discovered the body a few hours ago. Suddenly, it became hard to breathe. The oxygen in the water had disappeared. The sweat on my skin felt too much like blood. I swam into the bathing room, stripping off my clothes and scrubbing myself until it hurt. My skin stung as I redressed, but I welcomed the pain.

As I got in bed, I noticed a familiar face in the doorway. Jay swam to me, wrapping his arms around me as he got into bed. Are you okay? He asked.

I turned to face him, propping my head up on a fist. Are they mad?

He shook his head. David's angry at himself for not being there, and Bella... She's in shock.

Fresh tears welled in my eyes and spilled down my cheeks. I don't know how much longer I can keep doing this.

He kissed me, looking into my eyes. You are one of the strongest people I know. You can do anything. We're always here for you.

I didn't think I'd be able to sleep, but exhaustion took over as soon as I'd closed my eyes.

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