sleeping beauty [the originals]

xlviii.

"You can't be my father." Isla exclaimed. "My father died over a thousand years ago." The man sighed.

"I was dead, but I was brought back this morning." Isla folded her arms.

"So you have been dead for a thousand years, and the first thing you do when you get brought back to life is to follow your daughter, who you have never met, around?" She scoffed. "How do I even know you're telling the truth?"

"Because Esther was the one who brought me back." Isla's jaw dropped. "She said she was sorry I never got the chance to meet you. And she said she hoped that this would be a way to try to make up for what she put you through." Isla sighed.

"So you really are my father." Adair smiled, nodding. "But it still doesn't make sense why she would bring you back. She has done nothing but torment me and my siblings for the past thousand years. Why would she do something nice for me now?"

"I don't know." Adair replied. "But I'm here now, and I want to get to know you. And I'm sure you must have some questions for me. Especially about what you inherited from me." Isla's eyes widened. This was finally her chance to know more about being a mermaid.

"Okay." She looked around. "But we probably shouldn't talk here. Too many people." She started walking to find a spot, Adair following her. She walked until she found a bench in an area that wasn't too crowded. She sighed, sitting down. Adair sat down next to her. "So you said you were watching me on the other side." Adair nodded.

"Yeah, there wasn't much else to do on the other side. I watched over you as you grew up. After you got put under that sleeping spell, I watched over my family until they died, then I really didn't do much for almost a thousand years." He sighed. "I'm so sorry you went through that. If I had been there, I would have taken you away from Esther and Mikael and back to my family."

"It's not your fault." Isla reassured him. "I know you would've been there if you could. And it's not like you were the one who lied to me for most of my life." She looked down at her hands. "How did you die, if you're comfortable answering that?" Adair looked straight ahead of him.

"After your mom got pregnant with you, there was a war that started at my home. I went to go home to fight in the war. I wanted to come back to meet you, but I got stabbed." Isla's eyes widened. "Next thing I knew, I was on the other side watching my own funeral."

"Oh my god. That's awful." Adair nodded.

"I had arranged for one of my friends to tell your mother of my death in case it happened. I watched him tell her, and a few days later, she gave birth to you." He sighed, turning back to her. "Is there anything else you want to ask me?" Isla stayed silent for a minute. She was trying to process what she had just been told.

"Is there anything I should know about being half-mermaid? Like..." She trailed off, trying to think of an example. Then, it hit her. "The tail. Am I just gonna grow a tail every time I touch water?" Adair nodded.

"Yes. Every mermaid can turn their tails into legs when they leave the water, and the tails return when you touch water. Most mermaids live in the water so it isn't really an issue. But one of our witches came up with a way for us to have better control of it." He looked down at the bracelet he was wearing. With one hand, he unclasped the bracelet and held it out.

"This bracelet lets you keep your legs even when you're in water. This one is mine, but I want you to have it." He handed the bracelet to Isla, who accepted it. "The stone is an aquamarine stone. And I think I can still remember the spell that was used on this, if you want it for the future." Isla nodded, smiling. She leaned forward to embrace him in a hug.

"Thank you." Adair beamed, returning the hug. "You know, ever since Esther told me that Mikael wasn't my father, I thought and dreamed about what you would be like. I'm so glad I got to meet you." Adair leaned away from the hug.

"Alright, enough of this sentimental stuff. You want to give me a tour of New Orleans?" Isla chuckled, standing up.

"Okay. Let's go." The two started walking.