Love That Bites, Pain That Stays

There, locked in a tank of water, was my younger brother.

He was only ten, and no one had the chance to teach him how to take human form, so he still had his fish tail.

"Big sis, save me!" He banged on the glass, crying and begging for me to save him.

Seeing this, Emily smiled interestedly. "Ah, so he's your brother? How cute! I'll go with him next, then."

By her orders, two guards dragged my little brother out from the tank and held his chest up to Emily's knife.

I couldn't take watching it any longer, kneeling on the ground and knocking my head over and over again on the ground, begging, "Please, Emily! Let him go! He was adopted, so he isn't royalty! My pearl is white, so use mine!"

Even as I begged, Emily pressed her blade down, drawing blood from my brother's chest.

"But you're a filthy little liar, so who knows if you're lying now, too? In any case, I'll know once I see it.

"Little boy, I'll take your pearl, then Marina's… Ow! You brat, how dare you?!"

My brother shook himself free of the guards and bit Emily's hand as hard as he could!

"Don't hurt Marina!"

The next second, he was sent flying by none other than Cyrus, who'd rushed to the scene.

My brother's teeth knocked out of his mouth, and he fell right next to me.

Cyrus cradled Emily in his arms, his eyes burning with rage.

"Marina! You already hurt my parents, so are you going to do the same to Emily?!"

I shielded my brother and shook my head through my tears. "Please, let him go! I'll take the punishment, so take me instead…"

"Shut up!" Cyrus was so angry that he laughed. "Don't make me repeat myself over and over again! If you let me know where my parents are, I'll let go of both him and you!"

There it was again.

I lost all the strength in my body, and I glared at Cyrus with hatred for the very first time.

"...You don't know a damn thing. I already told you that you would know where your parents were when the time was right! Why did you have to torture me time and time again, and even hurt my family?!

"I hate you, Cyrus!"

Cyrus wouldn’t listen. He turned his head away, refusing to meet my eyes.

“Since you won’t talk, fine. Let your brother atone in your place!”

Everything happened so fast.

A sharp dagger plunged into my brother’s heart.

I heard the sound of a pearl shattering.

My brother's body quickly turned cold and stiff, his soul destroyed.

He was truly gone.

I sat there on the ground, my mind blank. I had completely lost my ability to think.

Emily pretended to help me up, but just as she got close, she threw herself to the floor.

Clutching her stomach, she cried and accused me. “Marina, why did you push me? I was just joking, and your brother tried to bite my hand off. Now you’re trying to kill my baby too?”

I felt like there was a hole in my hollow heart, letting the cold wind blow right through. I didn't know what to say, because I knew that whatever I said, Cyrus would never believe me.

So, I replied with a hoarse voice, "Yes, I want to kill all of you. Kill me."

Cyrus ground his teeth in fury. He wanted to punish me, but at that moment, Emily went into labor. Sending a withering glare at me, he said, "Once Emily's pup comes, you'll pay the price!"

Watching him anxiously leave with Emily, I chuckled bitterly.

That day would never come. I was about to die, after all.

Once more, I was dragged into the dark and gloomy basement.

Right above me was the temporary delivery room, where Emily was giving birth. She spent an entire day and night giving birth, while I was locked in the basement for the same amount of time.

At first, I could still hear the pained cries Emily let out, but soon enough, I couldn't hear anything anymore.

I'd lost all of my senses, and I could feel my body become lighter and lighter…

Finally, Emily gave birth safely, and Cyrus breathed a sigh of relief.

Suddenly, a guard rushed into the room. "Alpha King, your parents have returned!"

Cyrus rushed to the entrance of the pack in disbelief, only to see that his parents were there!

His parents' faces were anxious, and the first thing they said upon seeing Cyrus was: "Where's Marina? Did she come see you? Quick, take her to the sea! If she doesn't have water, she'll die!"

Cyrus' breath hitched as panic filled his heart, but he still tried to put on a brave front, replying nonchalantly, "Stop joking, Dad. Merfolk can't die! She hurt Emily just now, so I locked her in the basement!"

Cyrus' father was furious, immediately sending a slap across his face. "You idiot! Enough talk, bring us to the basement now!"

Thinking of my attitude for the past few days, Cyrus suddenly had a bad feeling. As they reached the basement door, he slowed down and took a few deep breaths, stiffly pushing the basement door open.

"Mom, dad, look. She's fine, see?"

WIth a single glance in the door, both of his parents burst out in tears.

Whipping his head around, Cyrus saw…

That half of my face had turned into seafoam.