"You've got to be kidding me," Stella said, turning to Simon with wide eyes.
Before her lay a sight straight out of a dream. A sleek, luxurious yacht was anchored near the edge of the water, its polished surface gleaming under the morning sun. The craft looked as though it belonged in a movie, complete with a crew waiting attentively for their arrival. The azure waters reflected the vessel like a mirror, and the horizon stretched endlessly, promising adventure.
Simon, smirking at her reaction, stepped closer. "Do I look like the kind of man who jokes, little fish?"
Still stunned, Stella turned her gaze back to the yacht. "You didn't say anything about this."
"I didn't think I needed to," Simon replied casually. "If we're going to find answers, we're doing it the right way."
Stella let out a breathless laugh, her disbelief turning into a mix of excitement and curiosity. She couldn't deny the growing anticipation in her chest. Whatever Simon had planned, it was clear it would be anything but ordinary.
"Well, I hope this 'right way' includes some explanation soon," she quipped, following him as he led her toward the yacht.
Simon glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "It will," he promised. "Sooner than you think."
The yacht was enormous, every inch of it radiating luxury and elegance. Stella couldn't help but run her fingers along the polished railings as she admired its beauty. The gentle sway of the vessel and the endless blue horizon brought a calm she hadn't felt in a long time.
Simon stood at the helm, effortlessly steering the yacht through the waves, his sharp profile illuminated by the sun. Stella leaned against the railing, sipping her wine and taking in the vast expanse of sea stretching before them.
"Where are we going again?" she asked, her voice light but tinged with curiosity.
Simon didn't glance at her, his focus steady on the water ahead. "To the place where every mermaid seeks her answers."
Stella raised an eyebrow but didn't press further. She knew Simon well enough by now to realize he would only reveal what he wanted, when he wanted. Instead, she turned her attention back to the view, letting the sound of the waves and the wind fill the silence.
They stopped briefly for lunch, Simon joining her at the small table on the deck. Stella noticed his plate—raw meat, as always—and chose not to comment. The sight no longer unsettled her as it once had.
"Can I ask you something?" she said, breaking the quiet as she pushed her plate aside.
Simon looked up from his meal, nodding for her to continue.
"How do you know my parents?"
There was a flicker of something in his eyes, something unguarded that vanished almost as quickly as it appeared. "Your father, Kiaro, and your mother, Anne, were remarkable people. They showed me kindness when the rest of the world turned its back. At a time when I was at my lowest, they saved me."
Stella frowned slightly. "Saved you? From what?"
Simon leaned back in his chair, his gaze shifting to the horizon. "When I returned to the human world from hell, I was captured, tortured, and locked in a coffin. My kind feared me because I was a pure-blooded vampire, born with powers most could only dream of. They thought they could contain me." He let out a low, bitter laugh. "Years later, when I woke, my hunger was uncontrollable. Your parents found me and took me in, despite knowing what I was. Your mother even lifted a spell placed on me, by a few vampires who spelled me to suppress my powers. That was the day I became the strongest vampire."
Stella's chest tightened as she absorbed his words. "And my parents? What happened to them?"
Simon's jaw tightened, his voice growing colder. "When you were born, your father's brother, Milor, discovered your destiny. You, Stella, are the mermaid of the eclipse. Milor saw you as a threat to his ambitions, a danger he needed to eliminate. To protect you, your parents hid you in an orphanage. They never told me they were in danger. By the time I learned the truth, it was too late."
Her breath hitched. The weight of his revelation pressed heavily on her. "Milor… he's the one coming for me, isn't he?"
Simon's lips curved into a faint smirk, though his eyes remained serious. "Smart little girl. Yes. And that's why I've been watching over you all this time."
The pieces clicked together, and realization dawned on her. "We're going to Alloan, aren't we?"
He chuckled softly. "Sharp as ever. Yes, Alloan holds the answers you're seeking."
She narrowed her eyes at him. "But there's something I still don't understand. Why did the other vampires try to kill you? And what about your parents?"
Simon stood, brushing invisible crumbs from his shirt, his expression unreadable. "That's a story for another time."
Stella let out an exasperated sigh. "Why do you always do this?"
"Curiosity killed the cat, Stella," he said with a knowing smile. "For now, let's focus on your mysteries. Mine can wait."
She scowled, frustrated but unwilling to push him further. If there was one thing she had learned about Simon, it was that he would reveal things only when he was ready. For now, she had no choice but to trust him.
Stella stepped out onto the deck after finishing her work, only to find Simon leaning against the railing, staring silently at the horizon. The distant glow of the setting sun painted the sky in hues of orange and pink, casting a serene light over the open ocean. There was an odd calmness about him, a quiet intensity that made her pause for a moment before approaching.
"How long will it take to reach Alloan?" she asked, breaking the silence.
Simon turned his head slightly, his eyes meeting hers. "If the current favors us, we'll probably arrive tomorrow night," he replied, his tone steady and composed.
Stella leaned beside him on the railing, her curiosity bubbling over. "So, what happens tomorrow night? Are we just going to sail in, or is there some grand ritual I should be prepared for?"
Simon smirked, the faintest hint of amusement breaking through his usually stoic demeanor. "You think reaching Alloan is as simple as just arriving?" he asked, shaking his head. "There's a process—one you'll understand when the time comes. But for now, stop overthinking. I have something to show you."
Intrigued, Stella raised an eyebrow as Simon stepped back from the railing and extended his hand toward her. "What now?" she asked, taking his hand hesitantly.
"You'll see," he said, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
He led her to the edge of the yacht, the waves below glimmering in the fading light.
"Are we doing Titanic?" Stella asked, a playful grin spreading across her face as she leaned closer to Simon.
Simon glanced at her, his lips curving into a smirk. "Something much better than that," he said, his tone laced with mischief.
Before she could fully process his words, Simon's hands tightened around hers, and in one swift motion, he launched both of them over the railing.