The last mermaid

Chapter 14

The inside of the lodge felt just as overwhelming as the outside.

Warm golden light filled the great hall.

Massive stone fireplaces crackled along the walls.

Paintings covered nearly every surface.

Kings.

Queens.

Warriors.

Generations of history stared down from gilded frames.

Daisy turned slowly in a circle.

Everything felt impossibly strange.

The ceiling alone seemed taller than some sections of the sanctuary.

Servants moved through the hall carrying trays of food and drinks.

They paused when they noticed her.

Curiosity flashed across their faces.

Daisy immediately became self-conscious.

"Why are they staring?"

Cassian glanced around.

"Because they have never seen you before."

That wasn't comforting.

"Is that normal?"

"Very."

Daisy sighed.

The surface world apparently involved a lot of staring.

A servant approached cautiously.

"Your Highness."

Cassian nodded.

"Prepare a guest room."

The servant looked surprised.

Then his gaze shifted toward Daisy.

Understanding dawned immediately.

His eyebrows nearly disappeared into his hairline.

But to his credit, he said nothing.

"At once, Your Highness."

The servant hurried away.

Daisy watched him go.

"Does everyone listen to you?"

Cassian looked amused.

"Most of the time."

"That sounds dangerous."

Rowan laughed from nearby.

"For everyone else, yes."

Cassian shot him a look.

Rowan looked completely unrepentant.

---

Later that evening, Daisy stood alone on a balcony overlooking the forest.

Night had fallen.

Moonlight silvered the treetops.

The air felt cool against her skin.

Far below, countless insects sang in the darkness.

The sounds reminded her of the ocean.

Not the same.

But similar enough to ease the ache in her chest.

The sanctuary.

Her home.

She missed it already.

Missed the coral gardens.

Missed the familiar currents.

Missed the feeling of belonging somewhere.

A lump formed in her throat.

The loneliness returned.

Stronger than before.

"You're thinking too loudly."

Daisy turned.

Cassian stood in the doorway.

A faint smile touched his lips.

She raised an eyebrow.

"Thinking loudly?"

"It's a talent."

"I wasn't aware thoughts made noise."

"Yours do."

To her annoyance, she almost smiled.

Almost.

Cassian stepped onto the balcony.

For several moments they stood in silence.

Watching the moon.

Watching the forest.

Listening to the night.

Eventually, Cassian spoke.

"You lost someone."

The statement surprised her.

She looked away.

"A lot of people."

His expression softened.

"I know."

Something in his voice made her look back.

Pain lingered behind his golden eyes.

Old pain.

Ancient pain.

"What about you?" she asked quietly.

The prince hesitated.

For a moment she thought he wouldn't answer.

Then he sighed.

"I've lost more people than I can remember."

The words sounded strange.

Who could lose more people than they could remember?

Then she remembered.

Immortal Prince.

The title suddenly felt very real.

"You really are immortal."

Cassian laughed softly.

"Unfortunately."

The answer raised even more questions.

But Daisy sensed this wasn't the right moment to ask them.

Not yet.

Instead she looked toward the stars.

"They're beautiful."

Cassian followed her gaze.

"The stars?"

She nodded.

"It's my first time seeing them."

Silence.

Then another silence.

Longer.

Cassian slowly turned toward her.

"Your first time?"

Daisy immediately realized her mistake.

Too late.

Way too late.

She scrambled for an explanation.

"I mean..."

Cassian waited.

"Well..."

Still waiting.

Daisy groaned internally.

This was going badly.

Very badly.

Fortunately, Lyra appeared through the balcony wall.

"Hello."

Cassian jumped.

Daisy nearly laughed.

The prince stared.

Lyra smiled cheerfully.

"You're easier to surprise than I expected."

The moment was broken.

Daisy silently thanked every sea spirit in existence.

Especially this one.

---

Far away, beneath the ocean's darkest depths, Queen Morvana stood before a pool of black water.

Its surface showed images.

The lodge.

The forest.

The prince.

And Daisy.

Morvana watched silently.

A cold fury burned within her.

The prophecy was unfolding.

The very thing she had spent centuries trying to prevent.

The Last Mermaid.

The Immortal Prince.

Together.

"No."

The word echoed through the chamber.

The water darkened.

Around her, shadows writhed like serpents.

A massive creature emerged from the darkness behind her.

Golden eyes opened.

The same eyes that had watched the sanctuary fall.

The abyssal beast lowered its head.

Waiting.

Listening.

Morvana placed a hand upon its scales.

"Gather them."

The beast rumbled.

Ancient power shook the fortress.

"The time for hiding is over."

Dark magic spread through the ocean.

Across kingdoms.

Across forests.

Across forgotten ruins.

Something was awakening.

Something old.

Something terrible.

Morvana smiled.

If destiny wished to challenge her, then destiny would learn fear.

"Let the war begin."

---

Unaware of the danger gathering beyond the horizon, Daisy stood beneath the stars.

For the first time in days, she felt safe.

Not completely.

Not permanently.

But enough.

Enough to breathe.

Enough to hope.

Enough to believe that perhaps she wasn't alone anymore.

Beside her, Cassian looked toward the same moonlit sky.

Neither knew what the future held.

Neither knew how deeply their lives would become entwined.

But fate knew.

And somewhere among the stars, the first threads of an ancient destiny were already being woven together.