The last mermaid

Chapter 15: A World Of Strangers

Daisy woke before sunrise.

For several moments, she lay perfectly still.

The room around her was unfamiliar.

A soft bed.

Stone walls.

Heavy curtains.

A fireplace.

Nothing resembled the sanctuary she had known all her life.

Then memory returned.

The sanctuary was gone.

The Temple of Tides.

The prophecy.

The hunters.

Cassian.

The realization chased away the last traces of sleep.

Slowly, Daisy sat up.

Sunlight had not yet reached the room, but pale silver moonlight filtered through the curtains.

The lodge remained quiet.

Most people were still asleep.

Daisy slipped from the bed and crossed to the window.

The sight outside stole her breath.

Mist drifted between towering trees.

The forest stretched endlessly beneath the fading stars.

Somewhere in the distance, a river glittered beneath the moonlight.

Beautiful.

Yet strange.

Everything on land still felt strange.

She rested her hand against the glass.

"I miss the ocean."

The words escaped before she realized she had spoken them.

"You'll always miss it."

Daisy turned.

Lyra floated lazily near the ceiling.

The sea spirit looked entirely too comfortable for someone who technically didn't need sleep.

"How long have you been awake?"

"I wasn't asleep."

"That's unsettling."

Lyra grinned.

"I've heard that before."

Daisy smiled despite herself.

The smile faded quickly.

"What if I'm not supposed to be here?"

The question lingered between them.

Lyra's expression softened.

"Daisy—"

"No, really."

She looked away.

"This isn't my world."

The admission hurt.

"Everything here belongs to someone else."

Humans.

Kings.

Nobles.

Warriors.

She didn't belong among them.

She was the last survivor of a forgotten kingdom.

A relic.

A living memory.

Nothing more.

Lyra drifted closer.

"You're wrong."

Daisy frowned.

"How?"

"Because you're still here."

The answer confused her.

Lyra continued.

"Your people are gone."

Pain flashed through Daisy.

"But you survived."

The sea spirit pointed toward her.

"You are their future now."

Silence followed.

Daisy wasn't sure she was ready for that responsibility.

Or capable of carrying it.

Fortunately, a loud knock interrupted the conversation.

Daisy jumped.

A voice sounded from outside the door.

"Good morning."

Cassian.

Her heart immediately betrayed her by beating faster.

Traitorous organ.

Lyra noticed.

And smirked.

Daisy ignored her.

Mostly because she couldn't throw things at a sea spirit.

"Come in."

The door opened.

Cassian stepped inside.

Morning light framed his silhouette.

For a moment, Daisy forgot what she had intended to say.

Which was becoming an increasingly common problem.

The prince smiled.

"I hope I didn't wake you."

"I've been awake."

"For how long?"

Daisy glanced toward Lyra.

The sea spirit helpfully answered.

"Hours."

Daisy groaned.

Cassian laughed.

The sound warmed the room.

And somehow made Daisy's stomach flutter.

This was becoming a serious problem.

A very serious problem.

Cassian looked between them.

"I've been instructed to show you the lodge."

"By who?"

"Everyone."

Daisy blinked.

"What?"

The prince looked amused.

"You may not realize this, but an unknown girl appeared with me yesterday."

"Oh."

"After fighting shadow creatures."

"Oh."

"And then accidentally used ancient magic."

"Oh."

Cassian smiled.

"Exactly."

Daisy covered her face.

This was horrifying.

Absolutely horrifying.

"Everyone is curious."

"Wonderful."

His smile widened.

"Not helping."

"No, probably not."

For reasons she couldn't explain, she found herself smiling.

The tension that had gripped her since arriving slowly began to ease.

Cassian extended his hand.

The simple gesture reminded her of yesterday.

The moment in the forest.

The pulse of magic.

The strange connection she still couldn't explain.

This time, however, his smile was relaxed.

Friendly.

Safe.

"Would you like to see the world?"

The question caught her off guard.

The world.

Such a simple phrase.

Yet it meant everything.

For nineteen years her world had been limited to the sanctuary.

Now the horizon stretched endlessly before her.

Filled with possibilities.

Filled with dangers.

Filled with mysteries.

And somehow, for the first time since the sanctuary fell, Daisy felt something unexpected.

Excitement.

Real excitement.

She took his hand.

"Yes."

Cassian's smile softened.

"Then let's begin."

Together, they stepped into the corridor.

Neither noticed the servant watching from the shadows.

A servant whose eyes briefly flashed crimson.

A servant who did not belong in the lodge.

Far away, Queen Morvana smiled.

The game had entered its next stage.

And her pieces were already moving.

The corridors of the lodge felt like a maze.

Daisy followed Cassian through hall after hall, struggling not to stare at everything.

Unfortunately, she failed.

Spectacularly.

Paintings lined the walls.

Golden lamps illuminated polished stone floors.

Large windows overlooked endless forests.

Everywhere she looked there was something new.

Something fascinating.

Something completely unfamiliar.

Cassian noticed her expression.

"You look overwhelmed."

Daisy pointed toward a suit of armor standing beside a doorway.

"Is that a person?"

The prince blinked.

"No."

"It looked like one."

"It hasn't moved."

"That doesn't prove anything."

Cassian laughed.

The sound echoed through the corridor.

Several passing servants looked surprised.

Apparently their prince didn't laugh often.

That realization pleased Daisy more than it should have.

They reached a massive set of double doors.

Voices drifted from the room beyond.

Many voices.

Daisy slowed.

"What is this?"

"The dining hall."

The answer immediately filled her with dread.

Cassian noticed.

"You're afraid of breakfast."

"I'm not afraid."

The prince raised an eyebrow.

"Then why do you look like you're about to flee into the forest?"

Daisy frowned.

"Maybe because there are people in there."

"People usually attend breakfast."

"That's not helping."

Cassian's smile widened.

"No, probably not."

Before Daisy could reconsider her life choices, the doors opened.

The conversation inside stopped instantly.

Every head turned.

Every single head.

Daisy froze.

The room was enormous.

A long table stretched through the center.

Nobles.

Officers.

Scholars.

Servants.

All staring.

The urge to dive into the ocean became overwhelming.

Unfortunately, the nearest ocean was nowhere nearby.

Cassian stepped forward as though nothing unusual was happening.

Daisy reluctantly followed.

The silence lingered.

Then Rowan stood.

"Well."

Everyone looked at him.

The captain smiled.

"At least she exists."

The tension shattered immediately.

Several people laughed.

Others resumed eating.

Conversation slowly returned.

Daisy released a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.

"You planned that."

Cassian looked innocent.

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

He was lying.

Badly.

A servant pulled out a chair.

Daisy sat carefully.

Across from her sat an elderly woman with silver hair and sharp blue eyes.

The woman studied her for several moments.

Then smiled.

"I'm Lady Eveline."

Daisy blinked.

"Daisy."

"I know."

The answer startled her.

Lady Eveline laughed softly.

"My dear, everyone in this lodge knows who you are."

That was somehow even worse.

Before Daisy could respond, plates began appearing on the table.

Her eyes widened.

There was so much food.

Fresh bread.

Fruit.

Eggs.

Pastries.

Cheeses.

Things she couldn't even identify.

The ocean had offered many wonderful things.

But it had never offered this.

Cassian noticed her expression.

"You've never seen a breakfast table before."

"No."

"Really?"

Daisy pointed toward a bowl of strawberries.

"What are those?"

The prince nearly dropped his cup.

"You've never eaten strawberries?"

"No."

The entire table went silent again.

Rowan lowered his fork.

Lady Eveline stared.

Even the servants seemed invested.

Daisy looked around nervously.

"What?"

Cassian slowly picked up a strawberry.

"This."

He placed it on her plate.

Daisy examined it suspiciously.

"It isn't poisonous?"

Several people laughed.

"It is not poisonous."

"You're sure?"

"Reasonably."

"Reasonably?"

Cassian was definitely enjoying this.

Daisy narrowed her eyes.

Then took a bite.

Sweetness exploded across her tongue.

Her eyes widened.

The room disappeared.

The table disappeared.

Only the strawberry remained.

"This is incredible."

Cassian grinned.

"I thought you might like it."

Daisy immediately grabbed another.

Then another.

The prince looked entirely too pleased with himself.

Across the table, Lady Eveline exchanged a knowing glance with Rowan.

Neither said anything.

Neither needed to.

Something was clearly happening.

Neither Daisy nor Cassian seemed to realize it yet.

Everyone else did.

The meal continued.

Slowly, Daisy relaxed.

People asked gentle questions.

Nothing intrusive.

Nothing threatening.

For the first time since arriving on land, she began feeling less like an outsider.

Less like a survivor.

More like a person.

Yet beneath the warmth and laughter, danger remained.

From the far end of the hall, a servant quietly watched.

His expression never changed.

His eyes never left Daisy.

And hidden beneath his sleeve, a black crystal pulsed with dark magic.

Far away, Queen Morvana smiled.

Her spy had entered the game.

And soon, the Last Mermaid's sanctuary would become a battlefield.