Of Fangs & Fins ✔

49. Metamorphosis

SR: girl in red-  I'll die anyway 

Forty nine.

Eryn.

"What do you mean Marina is long gone by now?" I asked, letting her go and taking a few steps back. If I were any closer to her I'd kill her, and right now she had information.

I couldn't kill her.

The realization of having to keep her alive rooted me to the ground.

Lucinda straightened up and smoothed the folds on her dress. She adjusted her laced sleeves and raised her head in defiance. "She made a deal with me."

I clenched my fists and ground my teeth together tightly, forcing myself to stay far away from Luce.

"What deal!? Does this have to with her Nerissa?"

Luce smirked. Her volcanic eyes danced in merriment at the mention of Nerissa.

"Marina is such an interesting soul. She selfless, that one. Tell me, how does it feel to be such a shitty person living with a bright soul as that one?"

I arched my brow. Lucinda had two centuries on me. The chances of me winning this fight would be slim. I kept a widened stance, ready to pummel in Luce's doll-like face to get the answers I needed. "Cut your shit, love. Bullshit doesn't look fitting on you."

"Marina agreed to stay with Nerissa. She wants to be with her sister, no matter what the conditions are," Luce settled into a recliner. It was in the corner of the room, and a puff of drywall burst from her as she sat down. As she touched her hair, powder came falling down on her lap.

I bit my lip to keep from smirking. Perhaps I'd crack a smile if she didn't have Marina. "What conditions you gave her?"

"It's our contract. You have nothing to do with it."

I tilted my head, leaning forward slightly. "I'm sorry, what? I think you're going to have to say that again because there's no way you said that. I have every part of it. You were drugging me with mermaid blood, trying to get me to hurt her. Is that what her sister wants? Does Nerissa really want to risk Marina's life?"

"I don't think Nerissa really cares. I made sure to that," Lucinda stood up, "now why don't you—"

Fury rippled through me as Luce's words echoed in my head. Nerissa was turned, and of course, Marina would want to stay with her sister. Especially if she didn't remember anything about her.

When I was turned, Sybil warned me I could lose my memories of my human life, due to the intense trauma I'd experienced moments before. As I descended into unconsciousness, I wanted to lose it. I thought I did, but it all came washing back. It wasn't impossible for Nerissa to lose hers.

I cursed. "Tell me where Marina is. I don't care whatever deal you made with her. You know you can only use them as leverage against one another for so long. You can force Marina to stay there, but she'll never do it because of you. She'll do it for her sister." I took a step forward, "now what will happen if Nerissa wasn't going back with her? I'm sure Hades is already gone with Nerissa. You and I both know that we don't hear them."

Lucinda threw her head back and laughed. "Wow, do you really think I care about that mermaid turned vampire? She's no use of me. You can have her for all I care. She led me into the person I really wanted all along."

Ice coursed through my veins. This wasn't about Hades or Nerissa. Lucinda wanted Marina and nothing else. Her blood...

"Did you know that she's the only mermaid for miles in Seattle? The kingdoms probably issued an order for no merperson to leave the waters. I'm sure you know how I obtained that information," Luce sauntered toward me, her eyes full of something I couldn't quite place.