Everything happened so fast. A blanket was thrown over her then she felt rough hands dragged her away. She tried to free herself from whoever it was, only to get yelled at. Althea calmed down when she heard a woman's voice.
Finally, they reached a small, hidden room that was far away from the market.
The woman shoved Althea down on a rough wooden stool and without a word began to wipe at her wet skin with the blanket that was rough against her skin.
"You can't be careless like this." The woman said, furiously patting her dry. The blanket fell off her head, the sudden rush of light blinding her momentarily.
Her eyes fell on her tail that shimmered as the light seeped on from the tiny holes in the roof. Her mouth opened, and she screamed, her voice high and broken.
"Quiet, child!" the woman hissed. In an instant, her bony hand clamped over Althea's mouth. Her eyes, sharp and burning like dark coals that only made Althea scared instead of making her calm. "If anyone sees you like this, you are as good as dead. Do you understand me?"
Tears filled Althea's eyes, hot and stinging, and she nodded frantically beneath the woman's hand. The woman released her, then continued rubbing her down, pressing hard as though she wanted to remove evrry drop of water on her. After a while, Althea felt the tail disappearing. Her legs came back to normal.
Althea let out a sharp breath, clutching at herself. She moved away from the haggardly looking old woman who was scaring the hell out of her.
Her voice trembled. "Who… who are you? And where am I?" They were in a dilapidated building that looked more like a refuse dump.
The woman's lips curled into something between a frown and a smile. She sat back on the floor, her gray hair falling in messy strands around her aged face. "Well, I'm a messenger or shall I say your guardian angel," she said, her voice low and rough. "And you, child, you are the one chosen to save the mermaids from the suffering we have endured at the hands of the vampires."
Althea's eyes widened. She shook her head quickly, her heart pounding even harder. "You're a mermaid too?" The woman nodded.
"My child," The woman cupped her cheek. "It isn't a mistake, you've been chosen by the water goddess and blessed by Neptune himself."
"Please, I don't even have an idea what is going on with me." She rose up to her feet, ready to leave. "I have to get back to Eloise."
The woman's hand shot out, holding her wrist with surprising strength. "If you do not stop Caysen," the woman said fiercely, "he will kill us all. Every last one."
The name rang like thunder in Althea's ears. That name alone was enough to make her cower in fear. Caysen was killing mermaids?
Slowly, she sat down on the chair, letting her curiousity win. Then Althea swallowed hard and whispered, "Tell me then. Tell me about mermaids… about me. And how can I hide my tail? I cannot be seen like that again."
The woman sighed, her shoulders heavy as if carrying the weight of centuries. "You cannot hide what you are. The sea always claims its children. But I can give you something to help. It will not stop the change, but it will delay it."
She got up, moved to a pile of dirt and she dug through it with her hands before pulling out a torn sack. She reached in and pulled out a small pouch. Inside were crystals of salt, that were shone as if they were crushed stars. She poured some into her hand and pressed it into Althea's palm. The grains were rough and cool, sticking to her skin.
"Use this salt," the woman said. "Sprinkle it in your bath water. It will buy you time to find safety before you transform. But do not waste it—there is not much, and it is precious."
Althea stared at the salt, a fragile hope blooming in her chest, though it was tangled with fear. Her voice was small. "And… what if I fail?"
The woman's expression darkened. She pulled out a necklace from around her neck—a delicate silver chain holding a pendant shaped like a teardrop. The pendant gleamed faintly, as if filled with its own hidden light. She placed it around Althea's neck.
"Protect this with your life," the woman whispered. "It is tied to your destiny. As long as you wear it, the sea will not abandon you, princess Althea."
Before Althea could ask another question, a familiar voice echoed down the alley. "Althea! Where are you?"
It was Eloise.
Althea turned toward the doorway, her heart racing. She looked back—but the woman was gone. Not even a shadow remained. Fear gripped her and she hurried out.
Althea blinked, trembling, clutching the necklace. Her lips parted, but no words came out. She didn't know if she was making the right choice taking something from someone she didn't know.
The woman had called her name. How did she know and why did she refer to her as a princess?
Eloise appeared at the entrance, her brows raised. "There you are! What are you doing here? I was looking everywhere for you."
"I… I was just—" Althea stammered, trying to come up with a lie.
Eloise waved her hand dismissively. "Never mind that," She unwrapped the cloth in her hand, picked two coins and she pressed two gold coins into Althea's palm, her tone lighter. "A reward for following me to the market today."
Althea's eyes widened. The coins felt heavy, warm from Eloise's hand. She shook her head quickly. "No… I don't want this." She handed it back to her. "You don't have to pay me."
"Keep it," Eloise insisted with a smile. "You've earned it."
Althea was happy. She'd never gotten a reward and it made her happy. She tucked the coins into her pocket, the sound of it jingling as she walked was like music to her ears.
They got what they needed from the market, and the goods were loaded into the cart.
On their way home, they passed a beggar sitting by the roadside. He was thin, his clothes torn, his hand trembling as he reached out for mercy. Althea stopped, her heart tightening.
"Please, help this poor old man," he stretched out his shaky hands. Without thinking, she pressed the two coins into his hand. His eyes widened, tears filling them as he whispered his thanks.
Eloise wasn't pleased that she had given away the money but Althea told her it was good to help those in need.
But the lightness did not last. Only if she knew that a storm was raging, and she might not survive it.
When they returned to the palace, the air grew colder. As soon as she stepped inside, Sylvia stood outside the quarters, like a mother who was waiting for her child who'd been out for longer than required.
"Good ev—" Sylvia's right hand landed hard across her cheek.
The sting was immediate, burning. Althea gasped, clutching her cheek that was now red.
"You thief!" Sylvai spat, her voice like venom. "How dare you steal money from the palace?"