Page 2 of Mermaid on Heels
“And why would I give it to you?”
“It is personal, little sister, butmy, my,” Faelina tusked. “I thought the first thing you wanted to ask me was my explanation for declaring myself as your long lost sister. Are you not curious?” She leaned forward to whisper, “Or, are you aware of our dear father’s secret?”
Do not believe her.Liriya urged herself, but gulped and asked, “What secret?”
She was aware of the waiting line behind Faelina, but her once keenness to shove the mermaid out of the castle was now replaced with a dangerous sense of curiosity.
Faelina smirked, pleased. “Hand me the artifact and I will tell you everything. Why, I might even consider waiting until after the well-wishing and you are free. I am a maiden of my word, all you have to do is hand me the artifact.”
Liriya looked down at the small treasure chest in her right hand, ignoring the secretive hand Faelina had stuck out towards her. Inside was the Mermaid’s Mirror—a polished seashell mirror. The artifact was ancient and said to be magical, passed down for generations into the Pearltunian royal family; though, Liriya had no idea what was its importance or its use other than shutting it inside a chest and holding it in her right hand during the well-wishing as customary. She had once even thought it was ridiculous, too.
“I cannot.” Liriya met Faelina’s gaze. “And you cannot threaten me, I will alert the guards.”
Faelina’s smirk only grew. “Do not challenge me, Liriya. You cannot fight me.”
“Whoareyou?” Liriya was frustrated.
“I answered that question already, and I am not open to further details regarding your inquiry unless you hand over the artifact,” Faelina answered casually, her infuriating smirk unwavering.
“I am not giving you my family’s possession.”
“Really? Are you sure you do not want to know the secret you asked me about?”
“I would rather go to the surface and die,” Liriya retorted, tightening her grip on the artifact.
Faelina burst with a musical fit of laughter. “Oh silly, you aresononsensical! The surface is the last place where you would die, but I can help if that is what you wish.”
Liriya chose silence and held her gaze with the menacing mermaid.
“Last chance…”
“Get lost, Faelina.”
“As you wish, little sister. I hope you would regret this,” Faelina said, just before an enchantingly sweet, but alarming, and loud melody burst from her mouth.
Liriya ascended from her throne in the horror of realization, clutching the artifact to her chest.
Siren!
How did she pass the borders? The enchanted pearls burned Sirens. Every mer-kingdom had them surrounding their boundary because Sirens and Merfolk were eternal enemies.
Nonetheless, this siren was stupid. Didn’t she know that their songs didn’t work on Merfolk but only humans? Liriya almost scoffed aloud, but then, she saw the aliveness being sucked out of all the merfolk gathered in the room.
Every merman and mermaid, who had gasped atop their lungs when the melody began and turned to the source in horror, had fallen under the enchantment—all except Liriya.
Liriya’s eyes scanned the ballroom frantically for her family and saw her papa swimming towards her and Faelina with red in his eyes. He wasn’t under the enchantment; she was relieved to know that. Her eyes then found her sisters, quite disenchanted like her, scurrying over to their mama, only to pause in horror.
Liriya’s heart dropped to her stomach in dread and realization; Mama was under the enchantment.
She met her sisters’ wild gazes and waved them over to her. Ella grabbed Sessa’s hand and carefully began weaving their way past each affected merman and mermaid.
“Stop it, Siren! I command you to stop this instant!” Papa roared at Faelina as he neared them.
To Liriya’s utmost surprise, Faelina obeyed. She turned to Papa with a sickeningly sweet smile. “Oh, hello father. Remember this face?”
Papa paused in his tracks and froze in shock. His naturally pale face grew paler. He stared at Faelina with his lips parted slightly.
Ella and Sessa swam towards Liriya and nearly hid themselves behind her. Liriya felt them shaking with fear and wanted to comfort them, but she was too distracted by the unspoken words exchanged between Papa and the young siren.