*Ariella*
I step cautiously into the hidden chamber, the air thick with dust, little specs dancing in the dim light that barely penetrates the corners, casting eerie shadows that moves along the walls. My heart races as I take in the sight before me.
Kieran sneezes behind me, breaking the silence, and I turn to give him a playful glare. “Really?” I tease, but the corners of my mouth betray me with a smile.
“Dust allergies,” he mutters, brushing off his shirt. He moves beside me, the warmth of his presence grounding me as we survey the room.
Two low pedestals sit in the center, each adorned with a plush pillow that appears almost regal against the worn stone floor. My heart skips a beat as I approach the first pedestal. Resting atop it is another mermaid pearl, shimmering with an iri
