The Alpha's Temptation

There was no one in the throne hall at this hour. Eltanin and Tania followed her and sat confidently beside her as Nerina watched them. Nerina knew what it meant. They were all showing that they were the rulers of Stourin. She was shivering on the inside, but she kept her chin high.

Taiyi leaned forward. "Did you think that you could abduct my daughter-in-law and I would not even notice? Were you that confident in your sirens?"

"I didn't do anything of the sort," Nerina said. "Your daughter-in-law is sitting right here. Unless you are accusing me of being an imposter?"

"Lusitania is gullible. She doesn't know how things work in the world of mermaids and sirens. This was her first day in the kingdom and you took advantage of her naivety?" Taiyi said, her voice growing heated.

"What are you even talking about? I didn't abduct her!"

Taiyi tilted her head to the side. "Have you forgotten Nerina, that I am a goddess? A pure-blooded goddess? My father is the primal of life in this world. I know each and every nook and cranny that exists in and around Stourin. But you have forgotten that I know every place that exists in the Jade Sea, as well!"

Nerina crossed her arms across her chest. "So? Even I am a Goddess."

"You enticed Tania and then took her to a cavern you thought was your hideout?" Taiyi snarled. "Nothing is hidden from me, Nerina. The moment I found out that Lusitania was missing, I personally followed the trail. I reached your cavern and casted a sleeping spell on all of you. It was easy to get Tania back, but it will be difficult to send you back."

Nerina's shoulders tensed. "You can't do a thing to me, Taiyi," she retorted. "If you even harm a hair on my head, my father will attack Stourin. Think what King Izo would do. Have you forgotten that I am the Princess of Murel?"

"My father has left Stourin. He lost all hope when he found out that Lusitania was already married to Eltanin. He will return later. So, tell me who is going to save you? I know that your parents will not  come to find you once I tell them of the crime you committed against Lusitania!"

Chill broke out on her skin.

Taiyi flicked her wrist again and she found herself in a cavernous chamber that had craggy rocks along with glass on all sides as walls. "Where am I?" she bristled with tension.

"You are in my private torture cell, Nerina," said Taiyi as she stalked towards her.

Nerine backed away as Taiyi continued to advance towards her. Nerina darted a glance out of the glass to her right, as if trying to find help, but there was none. Suddenly, she heard a muffled shriek that vibrated the glass. A splatter of bubbles drew her gaze and her eyes widened with shock.

Right below those bubbles were her four friends. Their long hair streamed across their breasts and floated over their heads. The strands were coated by some kind of iridescence. It made their pale faces illuminate. Their eyes looked haunted. Their hands were shackled by chains that were so long that she couldn't see their end. Their tails were kept locked by more chains so that they couldn't sway them.

She ran to look at them. "What have you done to them?" She asked in a shaky voice.

The mermaids were immortal creatures. It's not as if they could drown in water, but Nerina realized that the phosphorescence on their head was intentionally coated before they were chained to the rocks. It was a toxic layer of a moss that would kill them. So, every few minutes the mermaids died and then because of their immortality, they were revived. As soon as they revive, they breathe in the poisonous moss. The process would go on and on and on. The mermaids wouldn't be able to die or live, it would be a constant cycle.

Nerina locked eyes with her friends and found that their gazes were filled with insanity, but they stared into blankness. Chained at the bottom of the ocean. They would never be able to get out of here. She backed away from the glass, whipping her head to Taiyi.

"This is the place I have chosen for you, Nerina," Taiyi said, her eyes burning with rage. "You would never know where you are. Escape is impossible. You will die and live, and then repeat, it will go on forever . That is the punishment I am going to give you!"

Shocked and stunned as hell, Nerina started running away from her to find an exit. Any exit. She screamed and screamed, but no one heard her. Taiyi caught her hand and pulled her towards a stone basin, in which the iridescent moss was frothing. She plucked off Nerina's veil and tossed it aside. Then she grabbed her neck and plunged her head into the basin. Nerina's hair was coated by the moss. When Taiyi pulled her out, she said, "Now do you know that I am a better goddess than you are? And you are no goddess. Every child born in our bloodline isn't a god or a goddess. You are just a fake who poses as a goddess."

"You will pay a heavy price for this, Taiyi!" Nerina said hoarsely.

Taiyi chuckled, but her humor didn't reach her eyes. "I am ready, but in order to pay the heavy price, your parents have to want to exact their revenge. Will they?" Saying that she flicked her wrist and in the next moment Nerina found herself on the other side of the glass, shackled by chains that didn't have an end. She shrieked, but it came out as bubbles in the water. She whipped her head to the side to look at her friends and then at Taiyi who was standing in the cavernous chamber, glaring at her. Dense smoke rose from her feet and when it cleared, Taiyi was gone.

Nerine pulled at her hands as the poison started floating around her in the water. She knew that this poison would never diminish. She choked as she thrashed against the chains, but she was completely locked. Tears poured out of her eyes that mingled with the water around her. She looked at her bridal attire. The pearls broke free from her one by one.

When Taiyi reached the throne hall, she saw that Eltanin was pacing back and forth with his hands clasped at the back. As soon as he saw Taiyi, he rushed to her. "Nerina?" he asked.

"Gone," she replied nonchalantly.

"But mother—"

"No one messes with my children. If I had punished her at the cavern, we would have been delayed for your wedding!"

Eltanin let out a rough exhale.

"Don't worry Eltanin. It will be fine. Go with your bride to your room. There will be a celebration in Stourin in the evening. And there is a surprise for you!" Taiyi winked.

Eltanin let out a short laugh. "Thank you," he said and hugged her.

"Go…" she said again in a reassuring voice.

Tania walked over to him and they walked back to their bedchamber. Eltanin made her sit on the bed and started removing her attire. The veil was the first to go. The clam closed around them.

---

At Cetus Monastery, the spy entered his library. "Your daughter is no more, Your Grace."