The endless hallway loomed before me, the doors on either side closed tight, though I had no doubt that the minute I swam toward one of them, it would swing open. A knot in my stomach grew the longer I hesitated. My hands shook as I swam to the closest door, watching as it indeed swung open. And a nightmare came to life in front of me.

The furnished bedroom of the king and queen came into view. The palace in Aegrem, I realised. A black-haired merman with brown eyes clutched the hand of a brown-haired, blue-eyed mermaid; who in turn clutched the hand of a little merboy, who couldn't have been more than seven. His dark green eyes were filled with fear and confusion as he looked at his mother.

Then everything happened at once. The door suddenly flew open as a mermaid with tan skin and bright-red hair swam in, her dark-blue eyes glittering darkly. Alicia screamed, pushing Jay behind her back. Oliver swam in front of Alicia, shielding her and Jay. My heart stopped completely as the red-haired mermaid turned back to the door and nodded at someone just beyond my line of sight.

The colour drained from Alicia and Oliver's faces as a brown-haired merboy with dark green eyes swam in, eliciting a shriek from Alicia. Oliver's face turned bright red with anger as he opened his mouth, roaring something I couldn't hear. However, from my vantage point I could read his lips. "How DARE you come in here," he said through clenched teeth.

The brown-haired merboy just looked at Alyssa expectantly. She smiled at Oliver, but it was tinged with malice. "A few weeks after his 17th birthday," she said, looking at Jay as she spoke, "he will meet a girl who he will eventually marry. However, the marriage will not be without its challenges. The girl whom he will wed is my niece."

Alicia looked at Alyssa, wide-eyed. Oliver had an identical expression on his face. "I didn't know you had a sister," he said.

Alyssa scowled. "She is of no importance. While they will live a long and prosperous life, the marriage will eventually mean the death of your son."

Alicia shrieked, covering her mouth with her hand. Oliver gripped her free one, pulling Jay close. "H-How do you know that?"

Alyssa smirked, fingering a dark-blue pendant at her throat. "It is her destiny."

A scream jerked its way out of me as I woke up, shuddering. Tears ran in rivulets down my face as I struggled to breathe. It was all my fault. If I hadn't had left work right then, I never would have met them. They never would've gotten caught up in this mess. Jay swam in, green eyes wide and tan skin pale as he scanned me.

What happened? Are you okay? His hands were steady as he signed.

When I looked at him, I didn't see the kind-hearted merman who'd stuck with me through thick and thin. I saw the terrified merboy cowering in the corner, pale-faced and wide-eyed. I saw him, years later, getting impaled by a dagger thrown by Barracuda. Maybe worst of all, I saw him in my nightmares surrounded by the bodies of dead mermaids and mermen, the expression of hatred on his face taking my breath away.

My chest rose and fell rapidly as I desperately sucked in water, trying not to give myself over to the panic attack that was this close to forming. When Jay swam to me and gently took my hand, I started shaking. He met my gaze, his green eyes wide and filled with worry.

Tears made my vision blurry as another hand found mine, warm and reassuring. Remembering what had happened at the school, I took deep even breaths—in through the nose, out through the mouth—until I felt my heartbeat slowly return to normal. Felt the panic drain out of me, heavy exhaustion taking its place.

David's worried grey eyes met mine. Are you okay? He signed.

My hands shook as I lifted them, only able to sign five words, each one with more shame than the former. It was all my fault.

His worry transformed into confusion as my words sunk in. He glanced at Jay, but he had an identical expression on his face. I swam to the door, feeling unsteady when I turned the doorknob and swam outside.

I had only gotten a few meters away when a warm hand appeared on my back and I flinched. I knew who it was before I even turned around. I'm so sorry. My face crumpled as tears fell down my cheeks like raindrops.

Jay said nothing, only folded me into his arms, rubbing my back as I cried. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the pain and horror on Alicia and Oliver's faces as Alyssa delivered the devastating blow. Saw the smirk on Alyssa's face as she fingered a familiar pendant at her neck—the Lost Soul Pendant, I realised with a chill.

The tears finally slowed, leaving in their place a heaviness I hadn't felt since Meri had died. I was lightheaded when I lifted my tear-streaked face to his and explained, my hands shaking almost uncontrollably. Jay's face darkened at the mention of his parents. Are you mad at me? I almost hoped he wouldn't answer.

He lifted my chin up, meeting my teary gaze. You did nothing wrong. Alyssa will pay for what she did. We'll make sure of it.

I nodded, smiling at him through my tears. Then a thought occurred to me, the heaviness dissipating as a small smile appeared on my face. I had completely forgotten about it. I have a surprise for you.

He glanced at me, a wary smile on his face. What?

I gripped his hand as we swam through Aegrem, coming upon two headstones, the writing on them clear and distinct. Here lies Oliver James Conway, an amazing husband, father, and friend. May he feel no pain as his soul rests for eternity. He is survived by his two sons, Jay and Noah Conway.

The one directly beside it read, Here lies Alicia Elizabeth Conway, a wonderful wife, mother, and friend. May she feel no pain as her soul rests for eternity. She is survived by her two sons, Jay and Noah Conway.

I swiped at the tears on my cheeks as I looked at Jay. His face was wistful as he gazed at the headstones, his green eyes bright. My own eyes filled with tears as I gazed at him, thankful beyond belief that he was still here with me.

We'd been through a lot these past few years. He'd been by my side through it all, supporting me at every turn. I was snapped out of my thoughts by a pair of arms wrapping around my neck, hugging me tightly.

His green eyes gleaming with tears, he pulled back to look at me, the look of admiration and sadness on his face breaking my heart. I love you so much.

He gently wrapped an arm around my shoulder as we began the long swim home. We'd barely gotten a few strokes when a mermaid with bright-red hair and dark-blue eyes appeared in front of us, a smug smile on her face. My stomach dropped, all the colour draining from my face.

Alyssa smirked at me. Nerissa. Jay. You're both looking well.

The shift from sadness to anger in Jay was instantaneous. I felt it a heartbeat later inside myself, black and angry. What do you want, Alyssa?

Neither of us were prepared for what came out of her mouth. It's time.

My heart stopped completely, my mouth opening and closing. Jay just gripped my hand, his expression bleak. I love you so much. His hands were steady as he signed.

I ran my hand over the ring on my right hand, forcing my expression to remain blank. As I swam away from my husband and into a nightmare.

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