Sitting on the floor of the pavilion ledge, Y/N dangles her feet in the water. The domed, painted night sky stretches above her.

Lysanthir had brought her here following breakfast, but not before he had presented her with new clothing. She had chosen the flowing blue gown, its feathery material purposefully woven to facilitate swimming.

Then her merman had disappeared off again, leaving her alone. He clearly isn't worried about her making an escape. She knows herself it is hopeless. She'd never even be able to reach Athtar's gates without getting caught.

And if she miraculously does manage to escape, what then? Y/N doesn't even know if she has a home to go back to. With Katerina's revelation last night that Ryfon had slaughtered her parents, Lysanthir may well have—

Y/N shakes her head, banishing the nightmares. She knows giving into them would break her.

A small head pops out of the water, brown hair flowing in a halo around her.

"Katerina," Y/N smiles at the rosy-cheeked mermaid.

"I wanted to come and see you again," Katerina smiles back, light pink tail shimmering just under the surface as she swims to Y/N.

Y/N is relieved to see that Katerina's bruises are gone. Ryfon must have finally healed them.

She can see Katerina's gills flare under the water. Unlike Lysanthir's and Ryfon's, which are dark red, hers are a pale blue.

Following Y/N's gaze, Katerina glances down, then trails a hand delicately over her gills.

"They feel weird at first, but you get used to them. And it's pretty nice to be able to breathe underwater," she says.

Then, after a pause, "A little birdie told me yours are starting to appear, too."

"How do you know?" Y/N asks. Katerina seems to know everything that happens around here.

"You'd be surprised how much I overhear," the mermaid laughs softly, then shrugs, "Ryfon likes to keep me close."

"I'm glad you're here now," she continues, a twinge of sadness still veiling her eyes, "Neither of us have to go through this alone anymore."

Y/N nods wordlessly. Most of her is glad to have a friend in Katerina, someone to talk to and commiserate with. But a small part of her can't look at the mermaid without shuddering internally.

Because when she looks at the girl with the swirling tail, she sees her future. A future where she is forever stuck in the ocean with Lysanthir.

Y/N thinks back to last night—Lysanthir's cold touch, his hands roaming freely over her body. She hesitates, knowing the question she wants to ask Katerina is a delicate one.

"Does he," Y/N lowers her voice as she sees Katerina's cautious expression, "does he touch you often?"

Katerina bites her lip, hand going to her face as if she can still feel the bruises.

"A murdukann can't resist their mate," she says wryly.

Y/N takes that to mean yes.

"Sometimes he's gentle, other times..." Katerina closes her eyes, "other times not so much. He says it's to remind me who I belong to."

Y/N visibly recoils. The more she learns about Ryfon, the more disgusted she becomes.

At least Lysanthir doesn't hurt me for the mere pleasure of it.

But Y/N won't let herself become foolish and complacent. She knows that one wrong move could very well set off her murdukann's violent, unpredictable temper.

The catch is that in order to avoid that happening, she would need to play into his every whim and desire. His every touch.

Fear flutters in her stomach, a paralysing, icy fear that summons waves of nausea. She knows Lysanthir won't be satisfied with stolen kisses and tender caresses. He wants more. Wants to have her entirely.

The thought makes her throat tighten in sick apprehension.

But she would be lying if she said she didn't feel a slight twinge of anticipation there too. And Y/N hates herself for it. Hates that Lysanthir can make her body respond to him like this.

Katerina turns to the side, listening intently to something off in the distance.

"Someone's coming," she murmurs.

Y/N watches as the skittish mermaid swims downwards, ducking into the nearest hallway.

She wonders why they aren't allowed to be seen together. Surely, it—

Her thoughts are interrupted by the appearance of a scintillating red and black tail, undulating lazily below the surface.

A pair of pale, toned arms take hold of Y/N's waist and deftly lift her into the water.

Lysanthir hugs her tightly, nuzzling her hair. It's as if this little time apart has been too much to bear.

"My darling," he purrs, the back of his hand stroking her cheek. She tenses, even this small touch too intimate for comfort.

His black eyes run longingly down her body, his desire barely contained.

"Come now, I have something to show you," Lysanthir gives a pointed smile and takes her by the hand, pulling her underwater before she can take a breath.

Instead of leading her through one of the doorways, he holds her down and drives her deeper.

Y/N's back hits the chamber floor with a thud, the impact forcing any remaining air out of her lungs. Her heart leaps into her throat as icy panic sets in. She tries to pry Lysanthir's hands off her, but to no avail. Why is he doing this? Has he forgotten she needs to breath?

Y/N struggles against him. He tilts his head to the side, observing her calmly, curiously even. Blood rushes to her head as her lungs constrict. Every muscle in her body screams for air.

Darkness begins to pepper her vision. She needs to take a breath, she needs to inhale. But if she does...she will drown, suffocating.

Unable to resist the urge any longer, Y/N breathes in, sea water flooding her lungs. The pain is white hot. She hacks and splutters violently, trying to cough it out only for more saltwater to invade her body.

Pain. That's all she can feel.

Then the pain intensifies. The ridges along her ribs sear, tearing open. Water floods into them as they pulsate.

The tightness in her lungs subsides, and her body no longer begs for air. She looks down to see silvery gills thrumming.

Lysanthir releases his hold on her, looking rather pleased with himself.

Y/N is furious. Without thinking, she raises her arms and shoves him backwards.

The murdukann looks stunned, then clasps his hands around her wrists, pulling her back to him.

"No need for these hysterics," he raises an eyebrow, "It had to be done."

"Hysterics?" Y/N seethes, "I almost drowned."

She is amazed that she is talking underwater—and breathing underwater. But her anger at Lysanthir takes precedent.

"Yet, you didn't drown," he smiles.

"You should have told me what you were doing," Y/N retorts, "instead of lying."

"I didn't lie," Lysanthir counters, "I do have something to show you. We just had to do this first."

Y/N opens her mouth to respond, but the murdukann growls, digging his sharp nails into her skin.

"Enough."

Annoyance flashes across his features. He had tolerated her outburst until now, but Y/N can tell his patience has run out.

She purses her lips, trembling and remaining silent. He takes her hand once more.

"Now, follow me."

He leads her to a corridor heading out of the chamber. Y/N flares her gills, feeling them expand shakily as she lets Lysanthir pull her further into Athtar.