Page 52

Esmyra

T he walls of the castle shimmered as Esmyra and Syrena walked side by side through the grand corridor. The soft pads of her sister’s steps were a whisper against the floor, while the scraping of Esmyra’s boots seemed to reverberate through the fortress.

She glanced down at herself. Her dirty, torn garbs were a stark contrast to the ethereal beauty of the flowing, robe-like dress Syrena wore beside her.

The two were nearly identical, yet couldn’t be any more different.

Esmyra couldn’t believe this was happening. And how did she have a twin ?

As they stepped through the towering, ornate doors and out into the streets of Maerinys, her breath caught in her throat. The city stretched out before her, a blend of coral architecture and the living ocean, bathed in a pale blue glow from the light filtering through the water above.

Her stare lifted as she craned her neck toward the sky. A massive crystalline dome arched overhead, cradling Maerinys in protection from the crushing depths of the sea as schools of fish swam freely just beyond its barrier.

She took a step up to the edge of the stairs and her heart thudded at the sight. It was unlike anything she had ever seen. Overwhelming emotions welled up inside her, feeling as if this place, with its pulsating, ancient power, had once belonged to her, patiently waiting for her to return.

Syrena stepped up beside her. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

“It is,” she breathed.

Esmyra felt hundreds of eyes on her as her vision adjusted and settled on the bustling streets below, where several kinds of creatures watched her intently.

Syrena half-turned to her as she took her first step down the stairs. “Maerinys awaits you.”

The brush of her sister’s fingers slid against her own as she gently grabbed her hand.

Esmyra’s hand jolted back at the touch but gave Syrena a closed-lip smile, hoping she took it for the apology it was.

The queen gave her a dip of her chin before guiding her along to follow her to the streets.

The presence of the guards behind them sent a chill down her spine, and she wondered if she even had a choice to stroll through this place.

But Esmyra’s curiosity got the best of her, and she went without a fight.

Once they descended the stairs, they passed citizens of the hidden kingdom, Maerinyseans, who glanced curiously at her, their eyes gleaming like pearls in the soft light. Some appeared mortal, while others looked like the creatures who had found her and Draevyn in the caves.

Now that Esmyra wasn’t blindfolded and being dragged against her will, she felt uneasy as they gawked and whispered as they passed.

“They’re staring at me like I’m an animal behind bars,” Esmyra said, her tone a mix of caution and annoyance.

A soft giggle left Syrena, and she gently placed her hand on Esmyra’s shoulder. “You must understand, they have been waiting for you for centuries.” Esmyra’s gaze whipped to her. “As have I,” Syrena finished.

Waiting? Esmyra wasn’t sure if the word even left her lips. How could this have been hidden from her for so long? From the world ?

They were nearing towering statues of goddesses that appeared to be dancing atop an open cockle shell, hair flowing around them wildly as if they were within the sea. The sisters came to a halt before them.

“Those are?—”

“Kaelypso and Naerysa,” Esmyra cut her off as her neck remained craned, staring up at the stone statues. “The sea goddesses who abandoned the realm when their kingdom sank, dooming their people with it.” Irritation flared within her, thinking of what the gods had done.

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” Syrena said, earning Esmyra’s attention. “Do we appear doomed to you?” A smirk curved her lips before she began walking once more.

With a final glance up at the statues, Esmyra let out a huff through her nostrils as her lips pressed into a thin line before following. She didn’t know what to think anymore. The impossible was unfolding in front of her as each second passed.

The streets were wide, lined with bioluminescent plants and odd glowing orbs that pulsated softly in the air, casting an almost dreamlike atmosphere around the city.

“Merlights.”

Esmyra blinked, turning toward Syrena. “What?”

Syrena gestured above to the floating orbs with her chin. “Merlights. It’s the most basic magic for our kind. It’s the only reason we haven’t been left in complete darkness.”

Huh . She had never seen such a thing. It must’ve been magic based in this very kingdom, for the elven possessed no light in their magic, nor did the shifters.

They weaved through the narrow streets in silence, and Esmyra wasn’t sure if Syrena was just as speechless as she was or if she was allowing her to take it all in on her own terms. The deeper they walked into the heart of Maerinys, the more she felt a pull—a connection, feeling as though the currents themselves were wrapping around her, drawing her in.

“Do you remember any of this?” Syrena asked softly, her voice almost drowned in the gentle hum of their surroundings .

Esmyra shook her head. “No, but it feels familiar. Like a dream I’ve dreamt countless times throughout my life. It feels like…”

“Home,” Syrena finished for her as her eyes softened, a flicker of understanding passing through them. “It’s in our blood. This kingdom, this power—it’s been waiting for us, for you, to return. You belong here, just as much as I do.”

Esmyra wanted to believe that, but doubt gnawed at her.

The enormity of it all—the lost history, the forgotten magic that had been hidden from her—was too much to grasp at once.

She looked up again, trying to take it all in, to force herself to see this place as home as she watched the merlights flicker off the dome above them.

Their stroll brought them to a large, open square where a small pool of water was filled with children and younglings of all creatures as they played and splashed.

A sea within the sea.

“How can you live down here?” she asked, her voice laced with both wonder and shock. “How is any of this possible?”

“Magic is a curious thing, Esmyra,” Syrena started.

“Its essence cloaked us and our citizens all that time ago, becoming one with the ocean itself.” Sadness crept into Syrena’s eyes.

“You’ll understand in time. I don’t wish to overwhelm you on your first day here with everything you’ve missed these past several centuries. ”

“I’m sorry. I just…I have so many questions that not a single one can even form at the moment.” The last few words left Esmyra with a nervous laugh.

“And that’s okay.” Syrena reached for her hands and they turned to face one another.

Esmyra desperately fought the urge to pull away.

“Now, why don’t we get you cleaned up and brought to your chambers before we have the cooks prepare dinner,” Syrena suggested.

Dinner . Esmyra’s stomach growled ferociously. When was the last time they had eaten?

Her eyes flared then, remembering everything it entailed to get to Maerinys in the first place, and her throat tightened.

“And what of the man who accompanied me here? ”

Syrena’s brows furrowed. “Your captive?”

“Aye,” Esmyra answered. “He…there’s much to the story, but he doesn’t need to be bound and locked behind bars.”

“You’re sure?” Syrena’s tone was worrisome.

Esmyra gave a dip of her chin. “If he does anything to make you believe otherwise, by all means, lock him up once more.”

As much as she wanted to trust this person who claimed to be her sister, who looked nearly identical to her, she just couldn’t—not yet, anyway. And somehow, in a twisted sense of fate, the only one she could trust was Draevyn Rowe.

Syrena nodded, her eyes going distant as if lost in thought. “We shall bring your companion up and give him his own quarters as well, then.”

Something inside of Esmyra relaxed at the words, anticipating no longer being alone with these people in this strange, underwater world.