Speechless, I stared at the sobbing mermaid in front of me, clutching her nephew like he was a lifeline and she a sinking ship. Despite everything—and based on the story Mom and Dad had just told me—part of me actually felt sorry for Wyatt. More than anyone—besides Drew—I knew firsthand what it was like to lose one or both of your parents.

When they finally broke apart, faces pale and tearstained, Isla swam up to Mom and Dad, her eyes filled with tears of regret. "I'm sorry for everything," she whispered, chest hitching as more tears fell down her cheeks. "But please don't take me away from him." Her hands, clenched tightly at her sides, were trembling as she spoke.

Mom and Dad glanced at one another, a silent conversation passing between them. I dared a glance at Wyatt, but his face was like stone, eyes locked on mine. I held my breath, waiting. My heart was in my throat, fear nearly choking me yet again as my mind conjured up all the ways that Wyatt could continue torturing me—all the while keeping up the 'kind, sympathetic merman' routine in public.

Surely now that his only surviving family had come back, he would see the error of his ways—right? When Dad finally spoke, his eyes and face like stone, I was trembling. "Isla, we will do our best to find you lodgings where you and your nephew can stay together. As for the other issue, we would like to formally offer you a job as Isabella's lady-in-waiting." Isla let out a choked sob at Dad's words, tears of gratitude on her cheeks.

He turned to Wyatt, his expression never faltering. "Wyatt, it will take some time for all of us to get acquainted and reacquainted with each other. That being said, we would like to offer you a job as a chef. Isla has mentioned on more than one occasion your prowess in the kitchen. I have to warn you—it will be very long days and even longer nights, but it's yours if you want it."

For the first time since I'd known him, Wyatt's eyes were filled with such gratitude that it stole the water from my lungs. He bowed his head in thanks. "Your Majesties, I cannot even begin to thank you enough for this opportunity. I promise you, I will treat this job and my lodging with the respect and dignity that they deserve. And as for you, Faye..."

He trailed off as he suddenly turned to me, putting a soft hand on my shoulder. I couldn't help but flinch. Regret flashed across his face at the movement, but he didn't falter. "I'm so sorry for the way I treated you when we first met, and my actions in the past. I had harbored so much hatred and anger towards your family that I automatically lumped you in without even considering getting to know you first. I hope one day you will find it in your heart to forgive me."

His chest hitched as the words left his mouth and, as I really looked into his eyes, I saw something I never thought I'd see—genuine regret and sorrow. He deeply regretted his actions and was honestly trying to make up for them. I'm so sorry, his eyes seemed to say. I know I don't deserve it, but I will do my best to earn you and your family's forgiveness.

When I spoke, my voice was unwavering, deadly soft. "You swear on your aunt's life that you will leave me and my family alone?" My eyes never left his, the look in them daring him to contradict my statement.

He swallowed hard, glancing at his aunt. As he turned his gaze back to me, his eyes were lined with silver. "Yes," he responded, voice unwavering as mine had been.

I turned back around, my eyes sweeping over every face. Dad caught my eye, nodding. "Isabella and I will show you where you will be staying," he announced, voice strong. "As for your jobs, you start tomorrow. If either of you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to let us know."

I had all of a heartbeat to release the tension that had built up over the past few months from my body. In that heartbeat, a single thought crossed my mind, simultaneously filling me with a mixture of hope and fear: Is it possible for things to go back to normal?

I had just allowed a small smile to cross my face when the faint melody reached my ears, growing stronger with every heartbeat. Sister Siren, we call to thee
Join us now, cross the seas
Heed our call, be the voice
Take the vow; make the choice

I froze, the blood draining from my face. "Please," I whimpered, a sob breaking from my lips. "Not now!" The last word was broken, choked.

Sister Siren, we call to thee
Join us now, cross the seas
Heed our call, be the voice
Take the vow; make the choice

Over and over, again and again. Every time. I had no choice but to follow. I sought Mom's eyes, then Dad's. I'm sorry, I mouthed, tears spilling onto my cheeks.

When I turned away, my shoulders shaking with the force of my tears, I felt a featherlight touch on my shoulder. Steeling myself, I clenched my hands into fists as I swam away.

Before I'd even gotten a league away, I saw Mica's auburn hair. "I'm here," I said as I swam up to her. "Now what?"

She smirked, then inclined her head. What I saw made my heart stop dead in my chest, had me stifling a scream. A mermaid (around Mom's age, if I had to guess) was lying motionless on the ground, a crimson bloodstain blooming on the neck of her dress. She was gasping for water, the strain evident in the way her neck muscles bulged slightly when she breathed.

I turned to Mica, confusion in my eyes. I wasn't sure what she wanted me to do. She smirked again, inclining her head. Then, with horrifying, stark clarity, I understood. Not only did Sirens have the power to enchant, mystify—their voices could also be used to harm, even kill.

I'd never heard of it, nor seen it happen, but I knew without a doubt it was what Mica wanted me to do. With trembling hands, tears threatening to spill over, I swam towards the mermaid. When her hand suddenly latched onto my wrist, wide eyes meeting mine, I had to choke back a sob.

She was gasping, trying to speak. I leaned down, straining to hear her. "Make it quick," she whispered. I was crying openly now, tears making it difficult to focus.

I took a deep, steadying breath. When I exhaled, I suddenly remembered a trick that Aunt Izzy had taught me—that her mother had taught her. When faced with impossible circumstances, difficult choices, push all of your emotions into the very back of your heart where they can't touch you. It was how Aunt Izzy and her mother had faced their own impossible circumstances and difficult choices.

It was as if a switch had been flipped. My eyes went blank, my hands unclenching at my sides. With another deep breath, I began to sing, the words coming from a place hidden deep inside my heart—a place I rarely allowed to shine through. It was where I'd stored all the negative emotions that I'd experienced over the years—anger, sadness, fear, anxiety, depression.

I poured every inch of those emotions into the words, never faltering. My voice strengthened until I was shouting, blocking out everything and everyone around me. When the last note was lingering in the water, I merely turned back to Mica and nodded.

"You did well, Sister Siren," she said, voice hushed.

I was numb as I swam home. I knew that Mom, Dad, and Drew had to be frantic, but I couldn't find it in myself to feel even a shred of guilt. I couldn't—didn't—feel anything.

Even as the palace loomed in the distance, the lava torches gleaming in the twilight, my eyes were blank. Even as voices reached my ears, far-away and muffled. As much as it terrified me to admit it, I realized that Mica had exposed the very thing I'd tried my best to hide from everyone—that voice in the back of my head constantly berating me, whispering my flaws and telling me that I'd never be good enough.

That no matter how much I was loved by my parents, Drew, Waverly, I'd still never have the love and approval of the one whose opinion truly mattered—myself. I'd let myself be influenced and manipulated by both Mica and Wyatt, so much so that I'd started to believe that voice.

I felt a gentle arm wrap around my shoulder, lead me to my suite. "I'm here, Faye," Drew whispered, his voice filled with concern. I didn't even have the strength to look up at him, never mind respond.

We'd barely crossed the threshold of my suite before my eyes closed, sleep tugging me down into that blissful darkness.

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