The last mermaid

Chapter 11

For several minutes, Daisy remained sitting on the sand.

Partly because she was fascinated.

Mostly because standing seemed impossible.

"I don't understand how humans do this," she muttered.

Lyra was still laughing.

"You've been walking for less than a minute."

"I wasn't walking."

"Fair point."

Daisy glared at her.

The sea spirit only laughed harder.

Carefully, Daisy attempted to stand again.

One foot.

Then the other.

Her legs trembled beneath her.

The sensation felt completely unnatural.

For nineteen years she had moved effortlessly through water.

Swimming had been as natural as breathing.

This?

This felt like balancing on two sticks.

Slowly, she straightened.

A smile spread across her face.

"I'm doing it."

"You are."

Daisy took a cautious step forward.

Then another.

Then immediately stumbled.

Lyra caught her before she hit the ground.

"Perhaps don't celebrate yet."

Daisy sighed dramatically.

"This is humiliating."

"It is a little."

After several more attempts, she finally managed to walk without falling.

The achievement filled her with ridiculous pride.

By the time she reached the edge of the forest, she was moving with something resembling confidence.

The trees towered above her.

Massive trunks stretched toward the sky.

Sunlight filtered through emerald leaves.

Birdsong echoed through the branches.

The forest felt alive.

Different from the ocean.

But alive nonetheless.

Daisy stepped beneath the canopy.

Cool shadows welcomed her.

She touched the bark of the nearest tree.

The rough texture surprised her.

Everything here felt strange.

The ground didn't move.

The air didn't ripple.

Nothing floated.

Yet there was beauty in its stillness.

A deer suddenly emerged from between the trees.

Daisy froze.

The animal froze too.

For several heartbeats they simply stared at one another.

Then the deer bounded away.

Disappearing into the forest.

Daisy laughed.

"What was that?"

"A deer."

"It was beautiful."

"There are many more."

The thought amazed her.

The world seemed endless.

Everywhere she looked there was something new.

Something she had never imagined.

For a brief moment, she almost forgot the danger.

Almost.

Then the forest grew quiet.

The birds stopped singing.

The breeze faded.

Even the insects fell silent.

Daisy stopped walking.

Fear tightened her chest.

Something was wrong.

Very wrong.

"Lyra."

The sea spirit immediately became alert.

"I know."

The silence deepened.

An unnatural silence.

The kind predators brought with them.

Then came the sound.

A twig snapping.

Not far away.

Daisy turned sharply.

Nothing.

Only trees.

Only shadows.

Yet she could feel eyes watching her.

A cold sensation crawled along her spine.

The hunters.

They had found her.

A figure stepped from behind a tree.

Dark cloak.

Pale skin.

Eyes glowing crimson.

The same eyes she had seen in the sanctuary.

Another figure appeared.

Then another.

Then another.

Four of them surrounded the clearing.

Daisy's pulse raced.

"Who are you?"

The tallest hunter smiled.

It was not a pleasant smile.

"Our queen wishes to meet you."

Daisy already knew which queen.

Morvana.

The hunters began moving forward.

Slowly.

Confidently.

As though her capture was inevitable.

Perhaps they believed it was.

Unfortunately for them, Daisy had spent her entire life surviving.

And she had no intention of surrendering.

"Run," Lyra whispered.

Daisy didn't need to be told twice.

She turned and sprinted deeper into the forest.

The hunters followed instantly.

Branches whipped past her face.

Roots threatened to trip her.

Her unfamiliar legs protested every step.

Yet fear kept her moving.

Behind her, the hunters gained ground.

They moved with unnatural speed.

Dark magic flowed around them.

One raised his hand.

A spear of shadow shot through the trees.

Daisy barely dodged.

The attack shattered a nearby trunk.

Wood exploded everywhere.

Her heart hammered.

They weren't trying to capture her anymore.

They were trying to kill her.

A second attack flew toward her.

Then a third.

The forest erupted with dark energy.

Daisy stumbled over a root.

The world tilted.

She hit the ground hard.

Pain shot through her shoulder.

The hunters closed in.

Too close.

She scrambled backward.

Desperation surged through her.

The ocean was nowhere nearby.

There was no water to command.

No sanctuary to protect her.

No escape.

The lead hunter lifted his weapon.

Victory gleamed in his crimson eyes.

Then an arrow struck him in the chest.

Everyone froze.

The hunter staggered backward.

A second arrow followed.

Then a third.

The remaining hunters spun around.

A group of mounted riders emerged from the trees.

Silver armor flashed in the sunlight.

Royal soldiers.

At their head rode a man with dark hair and golden eyes.

Prince Cassian Aurelius.

His gaze swept across the clearing.

For a brief moment, everything seemed to stop.

The forest.

The hunters.

Even Daisy's breathing.

The prince looked directly at her.

Recognition flashed in his eyes.

The same recognition she felt.

The mysterious girl from the shoreline.

The prince from the vision.

At last, destiny had brought them face to face.

And neither of them looked away.