Chapter 32

It was quiet—too quiet. Aquarius used to buzz with vivaciousness and life, and now everything seemed muted and dead. I swam through the once lively village that encompassed the palace, immediately missing the sound of young sirens at play. Debris littered the sandy bottom like everyone had packed up and left in a hurry. As I passed through, a few sirens that had stayed behind emerged from their homes.

"It's okay. Dark Water is gone," I promised as I lifted my hand, urging a small female from her home.

She rushed from the interior, looping her arms around my middle. Tears stung my eyes as a tremor overtook her body. I held her close as she released her fears.

"It's over. You never have to worry about Dark Water ever again."

"You found her, Orm! What would we do without you?" one of the nearby males said as he ventured from his home, commending Orm's heroics.

Orm smiled at him, and I had to physically hold back the sneer that pulled at my lips. I plastered on a smile for appearance's sake. Orm was anything but a hero, but I refused to correct the notion as it seemed to lift morale. More sirens ventured from their homes, crowding the courtyard.

Orm slowed, basking in the glow of the sirens's praise. I rolled my eyes as I picked up my pace, hurrying through the crystal doors that led inside the palace.

Once inside, the sparse guards"s eyes trailed over my body, their scrutiny leaving a sense of unease in its wake. Their stares lingered on the newly acquired scars on my chest and back. I had been through a lot since meeting Kai, but the scars were just physical reminders of when the world tried to break me and failed. I ignored their gawking, focusing instead on the sandy floor that was the purest of white.

"They're not in there, Princess." Roland, one of the palace guards, spoke up as my hand reached for the heavy doors that led into the throne room.

I turned to him, my hand drifting back to my side. "Where are they?"

Roland nodded his head to the left. "In the dining hall."

I slowly swam in the direction of the dining hall. The thought of food had my stomach grumbling in protest, reminding me that I had not eaten all day. I hovered in the water outside the hall, mentally preparing myself for what I had to do. With a trembling hand, I reached up and pushed the doors open.

Time seemed to move as slowly as a sea snail as all eyes turned to me. My mother dropped the dainty piece of fish she had been devouring, and my father sat up straighter.

"Rhea!" Meleea cried, shoving away from the table. She latched her arms around me before I could swim through the doors. I returned her bone-crushing hug, gathering her closer in my arms as she laid her head on my chest. "Where have you been? We thought you were dead!"

I smiled at her. "I'm fine, and it's a long story."

Meleea moved aside as my mother swam toward me. Her face was solemn, the perfect mask of a queen, but her eyes betrayed her feelings. They glistened and sparked with disbelief.

"My little sea nymph." Her voice broke as she opened her arms, inviting me in.

I rushed forward, momentarily getting lost in the comfort of my mother's arms and her soothing, familiar scent.

"I would like a moment alone with Rhea." My father's deep voice broke the serene moment, and I pushed away from my mother's embrace.

My mother ushered my sister out of the room. "Don't do anything foolish, Manta," my mother warned him as she closed the door behind her.

To my surprise, my father eased toward me, cupping my face in the palm of his hand. "I thought I lost you."

I shook my head. "It's over, Father. Dark Water is no more. We have nothing else to fear."

Something flashed across his eyes, and it wasn't relief or joy. He dropped his hand from my face. "You could have been killed."

"But I wasn't, and everyone is safe."

Everyone except Kai. The thought resurfaced, reminding me of what I was here to do.

A rare smile tugged at my father's lips. "I'm proud of you, Rhea."

A piece of my heart felt like it broke off and floated away in the current. My father never told me he was proud of me, and here I was, getting ready to betray him yet again. Tears clouded my vision. I blinked, and they blended with the salty sea.

The smile on my father's face quickly faded as he glanced down at my waist. "What is this?" he questioned, reaching for the dagger hanging from my middle.

I closed my eyes, scolding myself for not hiding it before entering Aquarius. A million lies flooded my brain, tempting me to take the easy way out, but I grew increasingly tired of lying to my father. I wanted him to know the truth—even if it meant breaking his heart and mine—but I knew that wasn't an option.

"The important question is who gave it to her." Orm's voice slithered into the room, and I turned to find him hovering in the doorway.

Instead of slicing his face, I should have carved his heart from his chest just as Kai had told me to. If I had heeded his words, I wouldn't be in the situation I was in now.

My father's glare ventured between Orm and me. The hue of his irises turned a deeper shade of jade, and the vein above his forehead started to pulsate, hinting at his building rage. I felt a chill crawl up my spine as he focused on me. "Who gave you this weapon, Rhea?"

I glared at Orm, desperately wishing he would drop dead in the doorway to keep me from having to tell my father the truth. Lying was out of the question. No matter what I said at this point, Orm would argue.

I inhaled a shaky breath, meeting my father's scowl. "Blackheart Kai."

I eased back as my father's face reddened to the point it appeared purple. I genuinely feared he might implode. Time seemed to freeze, and its icy fingers gripped my chest as I witnessed every emotion sweep across my father's face simultaneously.

"What…is…he…saying…Rhea?" My father ground out every word like his tongue had swollen in his mouth.

Orm ventured into the room, stopping beside my father. "Yes, what am I saying, Rhea? Tell your father why we are here."

I couldn't even acknowledge Orm or his taunts at the moment. I was too afraid to take my eyes off of my father. Emotion rose with a lump in my throat, and I swallowed. I took my eyes off him for one second to glance at the foreboding golden trident he had a death grip on.

"I came for the trident, Father. I need it to save Kai."

Power exploded from the trident, taking out a column and a chuck of the ceiling, and I ducked. Debris crashed to the ocean floor, engulfing me in a flurry of sand. I was too frightened to move. I had never seen my father lose it like that. He had often lost his temper with his words, but nothing this violent. I blinked up at the hole in the dining hall, still not believing he had destroyed the roof.

My father was directly in front of me and gripping my arm before I could evade him. "How could you even consider betraying your people like this?" he roared in my face, and I just swayed there, taking in his fury. "How could you even speak to someone like Blackheart Kai, let alone try to save him? It was probably he who killed Valeria!"

"It wasn't," I said breathlessly.

My body trembled uncontrollably at his harsh words. I knew he would bring up my elder sister's death. She was his everything, and to him, my actions murdered her all over again, but Kai was not responsible for her death.

"Will you at least let me explain?" I pleaded, hoping for an opportunity to douse some of his rage.

My father released my arm, and I fell backward before catching myself. "No words you speak will ever persuade my forgiveness." Hurt penetrated my heart as his words turned into a spear, making my chest feel like it was being punctured. My father turned to Orm. "Take her to the dungeons and out of my sight before I forget she is of my blood."

Orm rushed forward, gripping my biceps, and leaned forward to whisper in my ear. "Maybe some time in the dungeon will give you a chance to reconsider which male you want to spend the rest of your life with. I would rather see you dead than with anyone other than me."

My body jolted at his words. I knew he wanted the kingdom, but I had no idea that his power-hungry lust had transferred to me. I turned to him, my face calm and utterly void of emotion. "When Kai comes for you, don't beg me to save you. I expect you to die like the strong male you claim to be."

Orm went slack, his eyes boring into mine. "He's not coming for you. In fact, he's probably already dead. No man can survive Dark Water." Orm began dragging me toward the door.

"I'm giving you one last chance to hear my petition," I said, angling my body toward my father as I pulled against Orm's death grip.

He refused to even look in my direction. "Get her out of my sight," he whispered.

Orm pulled harder against my arm, his fingers digging deep into my skin with the promise of leaving behind bruises.

My lips parted, and my siren song hummed in my throat as it left my lips, casting an invisible tether to me and anyone within earshot. Orm's hand fell from my arm, and his head swayed to the side as he went slack-jawed. I focused my attention on my father.

"Don't do this, Rhea," he gritted through clenched teeth as he tried to fight my song.

I eased closer to him. "You gave me no choice." I intensified my song, strumming every note in perfect melody, weaving it through my father's mind. His eyes glazed over, and his body relaxed as I bewitched him with my song. Tears stung my eyes even as I tried to fight them back. I reached for the trident clutched tightly in my father's fist. My hand touched the cool metal, and I snatched it back as power surged against my skin. I hoped I wasn't making a mistake.I quickly grasped the trident, pulling it from my father's hand before I lost all my nerve.

The trident was much heavier than I expected. Father carried it around like it weighed no more than a sand dollar, but I could barely keep the thing from dragging the sandy ocean bottom. I held it close to my body as I eased toward the door, never stopping my song or taking my eyes off of my father or Orm.

"Rhea! What have you done?!" Mother's voice shook me to my core, sending blasts of ice water into my bloodstream. I gripped the trident tighter as I turned to see her in the doorway.

"Mother, please," I begged, choking on a sob. "Don't try to stop me. I have to do this." The thought of bewitching my mother with my song on top of what I had already done was too much for me to bear. If she forced me to, I would, but it would crack my already injured soul in two. "Please trust me."

Her face softened when she took in my pain and sorrow. She reached up, brushing her hand against my face. "I will always trust you. You are my daughter."

Her warmth soaked through my cheek, and I smiled at her. "Thank you."

She dropped her hand, looking back at my father. "I always knew your song was special. I just never realized how powerful it was." She glanced down at the trident in my hands. "I hope you know what you are doing."

"I don't," I answered honestly, "but I have to stop the sea witch and save the one I love."

My mother smiled at me, her eyes—the same color as mine—reflecting a hint of mischief. "Then what are you waiting for?"

I leaned in, brushing my lips across her cheek. A moan escaped my father, telling me he was coming out of his trance.

I turned back to my mother with a sense of urgency. "Don't let him follow me. I—"

"Rhea…" my mother interrupted, her brows scrunched together in concern.

"Give me a week," I pleaded. "If I'm not back by then, he can send his whole brigade to hunt me down."

My mother's eyes flitted between me and my father. She was the only one who could keep him from doing anything he was determined to do. "I'll do everything I can, but you must hurry. I won't be able to hold him back for long."

"Oh, don"t worry," Meleea chimed in, brushing past our mother with an innocent yet determined grin. "If necessary, I"ll find a way to anchor him to the throne."

A comforting warmth filled my chest at the love and trust they displayed. While I understood the impossibility of tying my father to his throne chair, their willingness to attempt it was a testament to their loyalty and support.