Chapter two: The One Who Should've Died
Three manly creatures surrounded Nadeira.
Their hair floated in the current, long and dark as night and their eyes glowed in different colors like silver, blue, and violet…and their strong arms moved in water so easily as if the sea belonged to them.
"Mate," one of them spoke again, having a deep voice that vibrated through the water like thunder.
Nadeira not understanding what was happening, kicked back, her arms thrashed. "Stay away from me!" she shouted, though she didn't understand how her words carried underwater.
The one with silver eyes reached toward her. His hand was webbed, he had long and sharp nails, yet his touch seemed careful. "You should not fight us. The sea chose you."
"I didn't choose anything!" Nadeira snapped back. Her voice shook, every single emotion her mind could produce were showing up now. "I don't even know what you are."
The second one, with stormy blue eyes, lifted his head. His hair that looked darker than the depths, coiled around his shoulders. "We are princes of the ocean. Caspian," he nodded, gesturing to himself.
Then, he motioned to the silver-eyed one. "Orrisian."
Then to the violet-eyed one who stayed quiet. "And Nyxmaris."
Nyxmaris smirked just a little bit, but smoothly like silk yet dangerous as a blade. "And you are ours."
"I am no one's!" Nadeira's cry tore from her. "You saved me, fine. But leave me alone. I don't believe in mates or fish and sea stories. I don't want this."
The glow around her vanished as if reacting to her words.
Orrisian's brow furrowed, as if confusion went across his face.
Caspian sighed, running a hand through his drifting hair.
Nyxmaris only chuckled low in his throat.
"You can deny it all you want," his voice curled like smoke. "But your blood belongs to the sea now."
Nadeira shook her head, pushed backward. Her heart pounded way faster. 'No… I can't… I don't belong to them. I don't belong to anyone. I just want to be free.'
The water around her shimmered, and suddenly the pull of the ocean loosened.
She blinked, and in the next moment she was coughing on sand, the waves crashed behind her.
Finally heaving, Nadeira noticed that a fine layer of goosebumps rose on her arms. The golden glow disappeared.
And the three princes were gone, as if they had been nothing more than a dream.
Her fingers dug into the sand. "I-I'm a-alive…" she stuttered, realising that her chest kept rising and falling-Nadeira calmed herself down.
A little laugh slipped out, sounding more broken than humourous. "I'm alive!"
But her joy quickly hardened into rage. Her father… Harriet. Victoria. They had thrown her away like trash. They had tried to kill and bury her beneath the ocean.
Her nails bit into her palms. "They will pay."
By morning, Nadeira walked through the market, her hair was still dripping with seawater.
She kept her head low, hiding her face. Every stall smelled of spice, smoke, and fish, but she searched for something far darker.
"Do you sell burning powder?" Nadeira asked a hunched man behind a stall stacked with jars.
The man looked up and furrowed his brow, narrowing his eyes. "Dangerous request, girl."
"I'll pay." Nadeira's tone was confident. She dropped her last coins onto the table. "Give it to me."
The man studied her, then finally pulled out a small pouch. "Don't spill it…Touch it, and your skin will scream."
She snatched the pouch and stuffed it under her cloak.
Her eyes lost their gentle blue colour. This was not only revenge. It was justice for her mother…
Inside the grand Mancini estate, laughter continued for hours. The dining hall was lit with all the candlelights they had.
Harriet poured herself a cup of red wine, her jeweled hands didn't even tremble.
"To Nadeira's end," she yelled, raising her glass.
Victoria's lips were painted in deep crimson. "Finally, our name is clean again. No one will remember her. The Baron will have no complaint."
Duke Ricardo Mancini leaned back in his chair, stroking his beard. "The prince will see Victoria as the shining choice now. Soon, our family will stand beside the royal bloodline once again."
"Imagine it," Harriet added with a giggle. "Victoria as queen, and us above all."
Victoria's eyes looked like they were just filled with pride. "It is what I deserve."
A small voice cut through their amazing conversation.
"You deserve nothing."
All three froze to their seats like the winter itself was forced onto them.
Slowly, that voice stepped into the hall. Her somehow wet cloak trailed behind her…When she pushed back her hood, they all gasped.
Nadeira was before them with hair that no longer looked like the dark blonde they remembered but streaked through with shades of violet, catching the light like fire and dusk.
"You…" Harriet stammered, her glass shattered on the floor. "You should be-"
"Dead?" Nadeira's reply was calm, but stricter than any command from the king. "You tried... You failed."
Her father rose quickly, his face paling. "Impossible. No one survives the sea."
"I did," Nadeira said. Her hand slipped into her cloak, pulling free the small pouch. "And I brought a gift."
Before he could move, Nadeira hurled the powder!
The pouch burst in his face, and Ricardo Mancini screamed, "aaaaagh! What did you do to me?!!!" He was clawing at his skin as angry red burns spread across his cheek.
"You dare!" he bellowed, stumbling back.
Victoria rushed forward. "You filthy witch!"
Harriet snatched a knife from the table, her eyes looked wide with madness. "We should have drowned you deeper!"
Nadeira's lips curled into a thin smile. "Try it."
Duke Mancini growled, pointing at her with blistered fingers. "You will regret coming back, girl. You will regret crossing me."
Nadeira tightened her grip on the pouch, ready to throw again if she must.
From outside, a sudden crash echoed, like something striking the gates of the estate. The candles died as if a storm had entered the hall.
Harriet's hand shook on the knife. Victoria's eyes darted to the door. Lord Mancini hissed at his daughter. "What did you bring with you, Nadeira?"
Nadeira's jaw clenched, but she couldn't answer. She wasn't sure herself.
The crash came again, louder, and closer…followed by a roar that rattled the walls.
And then the doors behind her widened and opened, filling the mansion with water.
"My mates."