Daddy has rarely show anger, and if he did, it is mostly towards what I did wrong. Even then, Daddy forgave me easily with a promise that I won't do it again. Today is the first time I see Daddy's face turning as red as blood when his eyes stuck on Aunt Beth and Uncle Seb.

"Of all the places to bring Linda to, Minatours?!" he shouts at them, stomping towards where I sit. One of his shaky hands land on my shoulder and the other hand is on my forehead as if checking whether I have a fever.

Lisbeth is too stunned to say anything. Uncle Seb's mouth opens before Aunt Beth beats him to it.

"You don't understand, Augustus. We had no choice; Linda could have died," Aunt Beth says softly, leaning towards me and Daddy.

"Why didn't you bring her to a human hospital?" Daddy yells back. "They will not be suspicious because she has human anatomy when she's in human form. We talked about this, Beth!"

"She's not human, Augustus!" Aunt Beth yells back. "The stupid sea creature nearly munched her tail off and we couldn't risk her transforming back in case she loses even more blood. Lisbeth is the only one who I know is nearby and can help her."

I cringe when memories of blood and pain hit me. I am never going to the beach ever again.

Daddy sighs out loud, clearly defeated. "What exactly happened?"

Aunt Beth and Uncle Seb explained what happened as I play with Daddy's fingers. There are a few times Daddy would glance down at me with a concerned look and I would snuggle into his warm chest for comfort.

All this while, Lisbeth listens to their conversation quietly.

"Now the Minatours know," Daddy says with fear in his voice.

Lisbeth shakes her head at him. "We don't know, actually," she clarifies, staring at me. "Beth won't say anything until you're here. All I know is that she looks like a Siren."

The way she says Siren has a little hostility in her tone. She still doesn't like the fact of what I am.

"We can't afford to move again, Augustus," Aunt Beth says seriously.

"We have to trust the Minatours to keep Linda's identity a secret," Uncle Seb continues for Aunt Beth.

Daddy looks conflicted, unsure what to do.

Lisbeth gives a tiny nod. "I trust all of you when you say she is no danger to anyone in Newborough. I can also assure you that none of the Minatours will also say a word about her identity if you want to make sure your daughter remains a secret. They won't disobey me."

"How are you going to make sure that no Minatour will blurt out?" Daddy challenges, eyes darken.

"One, you forgot I'm the daughter of the goddess they worship. Two, they trust me and I am part of their family," Lisbeth replies confidently, looking outside where Caleb and their daughter are.

Daddy's tense stance relaxes a little at her words.

"Okay," Daddy tells Lisbeth. "Thank you."

"I still want answers though."

"Ask away," Daddy approves with a nod.

"Her name is Melinda, right?" Lisbeth questions knowingly.

Augustus nods with a small smile. It's a sad small smile. "We – we talked about names before she... "

Lisbeth smiles back as grief silence suffocates the kitchen. I look around in confusion. I wanted to ask Daddy what is he talking about, but I'm still uncomfortable around this Lisbeth person.

"What is she? And don't try to lie because a Peacekeeper would know," Lisbeth warns at the end.

Daddy sighs again. "Half Siren half mermaid."

The shock on Lisbeth's face makes me giggle. She looks like a cartoon when her mouth opens and closes like a fish.

"How...? How is that possible since you're...?"

Daddy looks uncomfortable as his eyes land on my laughing form. Lisbeth seems to understand what's going on.

"Melinda," Lisbeth says gently. Any trace of hostility is not present in her voice. I look up at her curiously. "Do you want to go play with the other children?"

I nod excitedly, but Daddy growls at her, "No."

"Trust me, Augustus. She'll be in safe hands."

Aunt Beth agrees with Lisbeth instantly. Daddy doesn't say anything yet he lets me go when Lisbeth takes my hand and leads me outside where many people are lingering around. I see adults chatting while keeping a close eye on their children. A few elders are sitting on the bench speaking among themselves. Very few people notice Lisbeth and I, and those who do would cast a curious gaze at me.

I am so distracted by the surrounding that I don't realise Lisbeth is leading me towards her husband and daughter. I fear Valerie, and partly because she may do something mean to me for what I did earlier. I didn't mean to make her cry.

Valerie has her doll back and is glowing in happiness. Her father seems to also beam until he sees me with his wife.

"Hi, Linda!" Valerie says enthusiastically. "I got my doll back! Her name is Suzie! Look at her!"

I smile widely and compliment her doll. It is indeed pretty. Maybe I'll be able to make Daddy buy one for me too.

"Come in with me, Caleb," Lisbeth says, dragging her husband away from us. Her husband protests and gives his daughter a worried look.

"I will be okay, dad. Promise!" Valerie assure her father.

Valerie hand me another doll. It's a black haired doll. "That's Sara; Suzie's best friend. Do you want to play with me?"

I take Sara excitedly. "Yes!"

We talk about what the dolls like. Apparently Sara loves the colour pink which matches her pink blonde long hair. Valerie tells me what I'm supposed to do in order to bring Sara to life and we can play once I get Sara's personality right.

While we make Sara and Suzie get angry at each other, I notice other girls our age look at us oddly. Distracted and embarrassed, I look down at the grass I'm sitting on. Valerie instantly notice and glare at the girls. The girls quickly run off away from us.

Valerie raises an eyebrow at me.

"Are you a Minotaur?" she asks me curiously.

My confusion must be evident because she smiles at me.

"That's what my dad and Vaughn are. When they shift, they're big hairy things... kinda like a gorilla!" she explains, putting her hands up to show how big.

I think about how I look like when I shift. I definitely don't grow hairy so I answer, "No."

Valerie's grin grows. "Cool! You're like me then? It's cool because we are the only ones who are not Minatours. That's why Becky and the rest don't really want to play with me. They always shift to their Minatours when they play."

As if on cue, I hear a roar from my left and see a huge scary hairy creature standing on hind legs. The Minotaur looks terrifying with visible long claws and fangs sticking out. The Minotaur ignores the young boys who are flocking the creature as the Minotaur walk towards a house where a lady stands.

My eyes widen when the lady shoos the boys away and takes the Minotaur's fur-filled arm.

"Woah," I say.

"It's so not fair," Valerie continues her story. "Vaughn loves to always take Suzie and shift. He knows I'm not tall enough to reach his height and he makes me jump to get Suzie. That ugly doofus."

Valerie talks non-stop about her family and the Minotaurs until Daddy walks out of the house with Aunt Beth, Uncle Seb and Lisbeth behind him. I jump up and run towards Daddy's awaiting arms.

He picks me up and bury his face into my neck. I giggle when his nose tickles me.

"Is Linda leaving already?" Valerie's face fall at the thought. My sadness also shows on my face.

"Don't worry, Val. We will visit Uncle Augustus and Linda soon," Caleb assures his daughter, giving her a sideway hug.

I grin happily, making Daddy grin at me too.

"It's nice to see you again, Augustus," Lisbeth says, shaking hands with Daddy. "You too, Beth and Sebastian."

"Likewise," Daddy replies. "Let's go home."

While carrying me, we head home.

Author's Note

Stay tuned for more!

-M.