Chapter 4: The Price of Loyalty

His voice had a rough edge, like gravel under water. He glared at me, chest heaving. He was always dramatic.

He was a merman I had rescued from the old forest creek. I used the best medicine I had to save him and let him recover in this hidden pond.

I remembered how pitiful he'd been when I first found him—half-dead, tangled in fishing line. I nursed him back, gave him a place to hide. Maybe I should've left him there.

Every month, right in the middle, I brought him a rare healing pill for his recovery.

I marked it on my calendar, always careful to keep the pills hidden. If anyone found out, they'd think I was crazy—or worse.

I smiled. "Luca, your temper's getting worse. Healing herbs are rare, and those pills are really hard to make." He never appreciated it.

I tossed the pill bottle in my hand, watching his eyes follow it hungrily. "You know how it is. Supply chain issues."

Seeing him act all entitled, I remembered the first day I met him.

He'd been so small then, so desperate. Now he acted like he owned the place. Funny how things change.

He had clung pitifully to my jeans, face twisted with pain, begging me to save him, promising to be loyal forever. He promised everything.

His voice had been so soft, trembling with fear. He swore he'd do anything, be anything, if I just helped him.

...even gave her my silver locket. As a token.

The memory was like a knife. He'd turned on me so easily, handing over the one thing that mattered most.

I was driven out, left with nothing. Just like that.

After that, it was like I never existed. He and Savannah went on without me, happy as could be.

Routine. As usual, I took out a pill and fed it to him.

He opened his mouth obediently, trusting as ever. It almost made me hesitate. Almost.

But this time, what I gave him was a poison that rotted the heart and lungs. No more mercy.

The capsule dissolved on his tongue, and within seconds, his face twisted in pain. He doubled over, gasping.

The merman thrashed in agony, dragging himself ashore, tail lashing.

He clawed at the muddy bank, his tail sending water flying. His cries echoed across the pond, wild and raw.

His face twisted, blood streaming from his eyes, nose, mouth, and ears, his gaze full of confusion:

"Why... why are you doing this to me?"

His voice was barely a whisper, choked with pain. He looked at me like I was a stranger.

"Save me, Mariah, you just gave me the wrong pill, right?"

He reached for me, his hand shaking. "Please."

"Mariah, it hurts so much."

His words were thick with tears, his breath coming in shallow, ragged bursts.

Luca reached weakly toward me, blue eyes full of tears, fragile and affectionate. I didn't care.

It was pitiful. And beautiful. In a way.

The water around him turned a deep, unnatural blue, streaked with silver. It was almost hypnotic.

"The barrier to the inheritance vault inside the locket requires a merman's heart blood to open. Luca, you really hid it from me, huh?"

I held up the locket, watching his eyes widen in fear. "You thought I'd never figure it out."

Luca's face changed. Through the pain, he asked, "How... how did you find out?"

He deserved to know. I said slowly:

"I pitied you. Didn't make you sign anything. But you knew exactly how to use the locket. Only let me claim it with a drop of blood."

I let the words hang in the air, heavy and final. "You played me from the start."

I should've known. In my previous life, after I was ruined, he came to see me.

I remembered the way he stood in the doorway, eyes cold, voice mocking. I thought he was there to help. He wasn't.

He took the locket from my chest, smug as ever.

He smiled, triumphant, as he slipped the chain from my neck. "Just business," he said.

He scoffed at my kindness, but was completely honest with delicate Savannah—even willing to cut out his own heart and bleed for her to enter the inheritance vault.

He never hesitated for her. Not once.

He was afraid Savannah was weak, so he wanted to sign a contract with her. To always protect her.

He'd do anything for her. Anything.

Not for me. He really thought of everything for her.

Meanwhile, I was thrown out, like a stray dog. It stung.

It was humiliating. I swore I'd never let it happen again.

Call me cruel. So, the more I watched Luca struggle in pain, the happier I felt.

There was a twisted satisfaction in watching him suffer. I let myself enjoy it.

He was still bargaining. Seeing that I was unmoved, he shouted angrily:

"I just wanted to survive, so I didn't tell you! Besides, isn't the spring water enough for you?"

Too late. Luca was almost gone, but still clung to hope:

"Save me, Mariah. When I recover, I'll help you open the inheritance vault, okay?"

His voice cracked, but he tried to sound sincere. It was almost funny.

No. When you recover, you'll just go back to Savannah.

I shook my head, my voice flat. "You never cared about me."

Not once. "You once swore you'd be loyal, but you hid things from me from the start. You were never loyal."

I felt the words settle in my chest, heavy but true. I wouldn't be fooled again.

No hesitation. I picked up a fallen scale and, under his desperate, helpless gaze, cut open his chest.