Chapter 2
569words
They turned toward the sound, and I pressed myself flat against the wall, praying they wouldn't investigate.
Footsteps approached, growing louder with each second. Just as discovery seemed inevitable—
—a soft meow echoed from the doorway.
"Just a stray cat. Come on, Lily, don't worry about it. You should rest now."
Julian scooped Lily into his arms and gently tucked her beneath the blanket.
The tenderness in his eyes cut deeper than any knife.
He'd once looked at me that way too, though never with such careful attention to detail.
I raced back to bed before they returned, feigning sleep.
"You saw everything."
Zachary's voice—cold and certain.
"Saw what? What are you talking about? I have no idea what you mean."
Seeing through my act, Zachary smiled darkly and seized my chin.
His grip tightened until I thought my jawbone might crack.
"Do you take Julian and me for complete idiots? We saw you."
"We saw you lurking there."
As I opened my mouth to protest, Julian emerged, hands casually tucked in his pockets.
"That 'cat sound' was just our little mercy—we didn't want Lily to see you spying."
"Lily has always thought of you as her real sister. She treasures you, even now—she can't bear to see you hurt."
"The least you could do is help her. She's your flesh and blood, after all."
As he spoke, Julian stepped forward and seized my arm in an iron grip.
Zachary forced a bowl between my teeth, prying my jaw open.
A foul stench assaulted my nostrils—the medicine was exponentially more potent than before. They'd clearly doubled or tripled the dose.
I thrashed wildly, but my strength was like a child's against theirs.
"Be a good girl and drink your medicine."
The bitter liquid flooded my mouth, burning my throat and triggering violent coughs. I tried to spit it out, but they pinned me down with brutal efficiency.
"As Lily's sister, this is your duty."
"What sister? I've never even met her before today!"
Julian watched coldly until the last drop disappeared down my throat. Only then did his face soften into that familiar mask of gentleness.
"Tara, be good now. The sooner you cooperate, the sooner we can harvest your scale, and Lily's suffering will end."
"You wouldn't want to prolong her suffering, would you?"
Can't bear it? I don't even know this girl. Why should I care about her suffering?
I glared up at them, fury burning in my eyes.
They ignored my rage as if it were nothing.
Zachary traced my cheek with his fingertip, the barest flicker of guilt in his eyes.
"Tara Wilson, you can't be so cruel."
I finally understood who this Lily Wilson truly was.
Nothing but a half-blood bastard born from my father's affair with a human woman.
And this creature dares call herself my sister?
"My parents had only one daughter—me. I am pure-blooded mermaid royalty. She's nothing but a mongrel."
Two vicious slaps cracked across my face before I could blink.
"Listen carefully, Tara. You're the one unworthy of being Lily's sister."
"If not for Lily, do you think you'd be anything to us? Julian and I wouldn't waste a single glance on you."
Julian pinched my face hard, only smiling when angry red welts bloomed across my skin.
"Let that medicine work through your system. We'll continue tonight."
