Shattered Souls

Chapter 7

Sometime during the night, all of us retired to our respective suites. Despite the lingering exhaustion from the nightmare and the fear and anxiety from the harrowing announcement, sleep didn't come easy for me—or Jonah. The few times I'd rolled over on my side or my back, I'd seen him lying awake, staring at the ceiling. He was indecisive; it was written all over his face.

I had the same indecision curled in my gut now, yet that wasn't the only thing occupying my thoughts. I knew better than anyone how far Jonah would go to protect those he loved, but how far was too far? When did it become not just about the safety of those he loved, but also his own?

As if he heard my thoughts, he rolled over to face me, folding an arm under his head. "What's up?" His voice was barely a whisper, yet it felt extra loud in the silence of our suite.

I didn't have to glance out the window to know it was late—if I had to guess, I'd say midnight or later. Yet I was wide awake. I couldn't stop replaying that moment from the nightmare: seeing Drew unconscious in my arms and hearing his wet, raspy breathing. Unconsciously, my hands balled into fists until my fingernails cut into my palms.

It wasn't until Jonah put a hand on my arm that I realized I was trembling. "Whatever it is, you can tell me." He had such an earnest look in his eyes that I found the words rising to my tongue unbidden.

"H-he told me I had to choose," I whispered, voice breaking. "But there was no way I could make that choice—it was an impossible decision." When I met Jonah's gaze again, I started pleading, sobbing as I tried to get the words out. "Please, you have to believe me. I told him that I couldn't, but then he... He..." I trailed off as I burst into tears.

I choked on the words, unable to get them past the lump in my throat. Jonah moved one hand to the small of my back and rubbed gentle strokes up and down. "He killed Drew," I breathed, crumpling as the words left my mouth. "And I couldn't save him."

Jonah's hand stilled on my back, his eyes hardening. He opened his mouth, but I rushed on before he could utter a sound. I was rambling, but I couldn't stop. "What are we going to do?" I asked, my voice rising in fear. "H-he already killed Mica. Who's to say he won't come after one of us next?"

He squeezed my hand. "We'll follow your parents' instructions and stay inside for now. And then, if Zander is still an issue after a few weeks, we'll deal with it. I swear to you, Faye, I will do whatever it takes to make sure you and your family are safe."

I shuddered as a tear slipped down my cheek. Jonah's eyes searched my face, softening as they tracked the motion. "No one could make that choice—nor would they ever ask you to. You love your brother with everything in you. That's one of the best things about you."

The last word had barely left his mouth before I heard it—the faint sound of singing. I choked on a sob as I took his face between my hands and kissed him, slow and sweet. I was the one who broke the kiss, albeit reluctantly.

With my parents' warning in the back of my head, I dressed quickly and swam down to the entryway. The palace was silent, everyone safe in their beds. The same was true for the exterior, save for the occasional sea creature. Except for a lone figure out one of the windows near the front doors.

A chill shuddered down my spine as I swam closer, cautiously peering out into the open water. Shoring up my courage, I took a deep breath and swam outside, closing the large front doors soundlessly behind me.

"Hello?" I called out, my voice loud in the silence that had settled over the water. When the figure appeared in front of me, I tensed, grabbing the closest weapon I could find—a particularly large rock—and brandishing it menacingly. It was a mermaid around my age, with black hair and bronze eyes.