Blood On The Altar

Chapter 13

All around me, I see death. Mermaids and mermen alike, all motionless on the ground. Something is different this time, though. Instead of just having the color drained from their skin, visible wounds can be seen on their chests.

A shudder runs through me as I swim up to each body, checking for any personal effects. Aside from a few trinkets—shells, rings, etc.—there's nothing of importance. When the hand lands on my shoulder, I'm so focused on the bodies that it takes a heartbeat to register the motion. The second I glimpse the familiar platinum eyes, however, my dagger is out. "What do you want, Ronan?" My voice is filled with malice.

He has a sardonic grin on his face as he stares at me. Before I can so much as move, he's behind me. His hand shoots out to grab the back of my shirt, pulling it tight against my throat, quickly restricting my breathing. When he finally responds, his voice is dripping with hatred. "I may not be able to bring my parents back, but at least I can let your parents finally know what it feels like to lose their child."

His words don't register at first. When they do, it's as if a thousand daggers have been shoved into my chest. "Your sibling was one of the..." I swallow hard, dreading my next words, "unfortunate casualties when my mother was under the influence of the Loyalty Pendant."

Ronan nods, anger glinting in his eyes. "Her name was Sophia," he says, his voice ragged as the anger slowly drains from his body, replaced by grief.

"My mother would never kill an innocent person," I say, but as soon as the words leave my mouth, pain begins in my gut. I choke on water as my eyes travel to the wound, the dagger hilt protruding from it. The pain overloads my brain, making any sudden movement or thought impossible. All I can do is stare at Ronan, my eyes wide.

My breathing becomes labored as I struggle to stay conscious. Once again, he's suddenly in front of me, eyes glittering with fury. "I'll be sure to let your parents know what a disappointment you were," he says. Spots swim in my vision as my eyelids flutter. I feebly reach for the hilt, but my arm gives out before my hand so much as brushes against it.

The last thing I see before darkness overtakes me is Ronan's face, his lips still stretched into a grin. But his eyes are filled with grief and heartbreak.

My vision was blurry as I opened my eyes. A phantom pain lingered in my gut as if I could still feel the dagger shoved inside. When I recalled the heartbroken look in Ronan's eyes, my own filled with tears. The door opened then, a merman swimming inside. His eyes were filled with concern and worry, making my heart clench. "Kai," I rasp.

He swam to my side, his gaze sweeping over my body. "How are you feeling?" He asked.

I didn't answer at first, haunted by the heartbroken look in Ronan's eyes. A choked sob escaped me, my chest heaving. Kai gathered me in his arms, rubbing my back as I cried.

As if summoned by the nightmare, the negative thoughts and feelings returned with a vengeance. Murderer. You don't deserve to be called a princess. Just as your mother doesn't deserve to be called a queen.

The hopelessness and depression slowly grew until they were smothering me. "I just want it to stop," I cried. "Please, make it stop."

Kai just continued to hold me, saying nothing, for there was nothing anyone could say that would make this better. When the tears finally dried, I pulled back and looked at him. "My mother killed Ronan's sister," I choked out.

Confusion filled his eyes as he slowly shook his head. "What are you talking about?"

I took a ragged breath, swiping at my eyes. "Mom killed Ronan's sister while under the influence of the Loyalty Pendant. That's why he hates my family. He wants me to pay for what she did."