(You'll be confused what the hell is happening at the beginning of the chapter but as you read further, you'll get the things. If you still have any doubt though, feel free to ask and I'll answer!:)

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"Where are we going?" I ask Layla in a daze as she held my hand and tugged me towards Gods know where.

Something felt off with the whole thing but I couldn't exactly pinpoint what. It didn't feel like compulsion but. . .

I don't know why but it feels like I'm forgetting something very important.

What's Layla doing here? How's she suddenly so nice? Is this even real?

There's a word just at the tip of my tongue-the answer I need-but for some reason, I'm not able to bring that word into in my mind.

A chilly brush of the trickling snowflakes against the skin of my cheek and bare arms has me chattering my teeth. I look over my shoulder at the fading stony entrance of the cave we walked out of a few minutes ago.

Why do I feel like there's someone in there. . .

"Can we go back to the cave once, Ly? I think I missed something there." I say.

Or rather someone? I really don't know.

Layla pauses on her trek. The blue of her eyes the same colour as mine, shift to me and she passes me a bright reassuring smile.

"There's nothing you've forgotten there, Mari. We're going to the lake for a swim. Like old times. Just the two of us sisters." She tucks a strand of her ashen white hair behind her ears and gives me nod.

I stare dumbfoundedly.

Like old times? When was the last time we had a moment?

My memories seem to be castrated. For some reason, no matter how much I tried I couldn't recall the last time we had a moment. Not when Layla was all grown up.

What was happening here? I feel like a confused mess. And there's also the fact....

To the lake? When it's snowing? Wouldn't the water be frozen there?

Even sirens being the creature of water don't mix well with ice. Our cold blood just makes it even more impossible to survive in snow. Well, if you don't wish to freeze to death than you rather stay away from it.

The realization makes me stop on my steps.

"Layla, it's snowing. We can't go in the lake." I try to tug my hand out of her grasp.

Layla's grip on my wrist only tightens. For a bizarre reason, even though I sense the grip, it just doesn't feel. . .real?

"The lake here isn't that cold, Mari. Come on." The tug that follows almost seems forceful.

My brows furrow and I stand my ground, "What are you speaking, Ly? It's freaking snowing. How will the lake not be cold if not frozen?"

"Just trust me, Mari. I would never lie to you." Layla's gaze turning to look back at me is soft and tender.

I suddenly feel guilty for doubting her but in the back of mind, there's a nagging feeling of missing out on something.

Ignoring it, "Fine. Let's go. But I'm not stepping in if it's even little cold."

"As you say, grumpy." She laughs and ushers me ahead with a child-like excitement.

I grin. Maybe I'm just overthinking things here.

But when we grow closer to the lake through the middle road of the two mountains at our sides, the doubt solidifies. Earlier it was cold around the cave and the mountains. But here at the lake, it is freaking freezing.

I yank my hand from Layla's grip and rush towards the bank to peek at the water inside. Layla makes a guttural inhumane sound but I ignore her.

My mouth gapes open like a fish when I notice the shards of extremely thin ice coating the edges of the lake and few of them drowned within the waters inside the huge hole.

"The heck, Layla. This lake is froz-" Before I can completely turn around amd say the sentence, I feel a push against my back.

My eyes widen and a scream escapes my mouth. The suddenness of the unexpected action causes me to stumble forward and fall.

Fall into the icy lake. Fall into my own death.

The chilly water drowns me completely except for my face that tries to look over the surface only to find Layla standing at the bank-smirking.

"W-w-why?" I barely get the words out against the chattering of my teeth.

I try to shift to my siren form but the numbing of my limbs due to the ice water makes it harder. And I think it's better if I stay in my human form right now. My blood is warmer in human form than my siren form. If I want to survive the cold, I'll have to stay warm.

"You know why, siren queen. You know. Or wait, is your memory nulled right now?" Layla flattens her palms against her cheeks displaying shock which looked anything but real.

"You should've known," Layla's voice changes to something inhumane and masculine, "If you royals could have affinities. Then why not high-rank shadow creatures? Illusion isn't the only quality a shadow creature like me possess. I, a high-rank shadow creature, can numb your memories when you're in my area. But that can happen only if I'm able to make you fall for the illusion first. The demon fought his desire and fear but you couldn't. You fell for the illusion of your sister turning good. That's why I couldn't numb the demon's memories but could yours."

I feel my vision blur as the cold water begins to freeze my being slowly by slowly and the remnants of the person in Layla's form starts to fade from my sight as I start drowning lower into the water.

"Tell the demon that he better keep his part of the deal or your memories remains freezed."

With that, the he in the she's form walks away from the bank leaving me to die here alone.

Holy Macaroons, don't tell me I'm going to die like this.

What a shame to die from drowning when you're a siren-a creature of the water itself. It would become a headline.

'The great siren queen died from freezing to death.'

Agh. Even the sound of it is agonizing. I don't want to die like this.

There won't even be anyone to come find my body if I die. Layla is the only one I know.

Or is she?

I've lived. . .I can't reminisce for how many years but it's been long and how is she the only person I know? But she just left me here to die. But that girl just from a few moments ago sounded like a man. God, this is confusing.

Something is definitely not right here.

That's the last thought I had before I felt my body completely immersing in the ice cold water.

***

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My heart felt like it would pop out any moment as I rushed to the source of the scream like a madman.

The cold grew more and more as I tried to winnow towards the place quicker before I would lose track.

A hefty blow of air leaves my mouth as I spot a lone figure at the end of the narrow road between the mountains.

My eyes narrow in realization at the familiar figure standing at the bank of an icy lake.

"Where's she?!" I yell at Swarovski disguised as Charlotte as he turns around intending to walk away from the lake.

The shadow creature all but passes me a glance before attempting to walk past me.

I block his path, "I won't ask you again, Swarovski. Where. Is. She?!"

"Will you keep your part of the deal?" He nonchalantly scans his nails.

I grit my teeth, "After you did this, do you expect me to?"

"Well, I still have the siren's memories tampered. All she remembers about is her lovely sister who wanted to kill her. She doesn't remember anyone else. Not even her parents. Poor girl. Quite pitiful you know."

Her sister wanted to....kill her? Ugh, Zander you can think about it later. You don't have the time here. You have to get to Marilla first.

"She's anything but pitiful." I rebuke instantly before letting out a grumble of my decision, "Fine. I'll keep my part. Tell me where she is and remove the memory tamper."

Swarovski smiles a sly smile and raise his hand. With a flick of his wrist, Charlotte's form dissapears and all I see is a dark shadowy figure in front of me.

"The Siren is in the ice lake, demon." An airy voice whispers around me, "Be sure to save her before she drowns to death in there. Farewell."

With that, the shadow creature is no more. But his parting words has my heart in my throat.

When I teleport to the lake, I see the whispy blue strands of Marilla's hair floating on the water surface. Her entire form is already drowned except her hand that awkwardly remains above as if trying to erupt out of the water. But even they have turned blue probably due to the ice.

I don't know what takes over me but the next moment, I find myself lurching into the water.

The icyness of the lake even has my warm demon blood chill for a moment but I push through the uncomfortable feeling and swim towards Marilla underwater.

Marilla's eyes are droopy and she seems to be confused for a moment about what is happening. Wordlessly, I approach her and wrap an arm around her waist pulling her flush against my body.

Her barely open eyes turn into a frown and she tries to move away but I hold on firmer. My eyes shut close as I will my power to come to the surface.

Somewhere along as I teleport to the cave, Marilla tries to elbow me whilst her frozen state.

I all but glare at her and wrap both my arms around her as if she were a little child and keep her still so she doesn't messes with the teleportation and we don't end up in the Bahamas.

A heavy sigh of relief leaves my mouth when we finally arrive at the closed confines of the cave.

But the moment we actually are save, I feel Marilla's body go slack in my arms.

I feel my heart stop as I glance down at the damp blue haired head laying flat against my chest. I tighten my hold around her so that she doesn't fall.

"Fish?" I ask trying to nudge her awake.

Her body is cold beyond limit in my arms and due to the standing position we're in, I can't even look at her face.

When with another nudge she doesn't move, I lift her up in my arms. Marilla's head lolls back like a rag doll in my arms making me inhale a sharp breath at how lifeless she looks.

Dammit. This is not good.

I've never seen this spitfire so vulnerable.

Lowering myself on the ground into a sitting position, I hold Marilla on my lap and tap her cold cheeks to try to get her to consciousness.

"Marilla, dammit. Get up!" I shake her when she still doesn't make a move.

"Shit. Shit. Shit. Get up, fish! You can't die like this! I'll take all the credit for the mission then!" I shake her again and this time there's a slight movement that follows.

"Iwillkillyou." She mumbles a barely understandable sentence.

"What?!" My voice sounds so loud and buzzing in my own ear at the relief of knowing she's atleast half conscious.

"I will....." She coughs up water before resting her head back on my chest, "Kill you..."

Before I can smile cheekily at the first words she spoke after getting teeniest consciousness, I see her body go limp again but this time it trembles at a horrifying rate.

"I-i-its cold." She mumbles clutching tighter onto me, "The f-f-fuck are you wearing d-dre-drenched clothes."

Despite her complain about my clothes, she still clings on as if to seek some warmth.

My heart beats a little louder and I feel my eyes soften the slightest bit, "Hey, fishy."

"What...?" Her voice drops so slow its almost scary.

She's going to loose consciousness again. No no no.

"Can I do something?" I ask trying to rub her back to provide her some warmth but she still doesn't stop shivering.

"What..." She asks again her voice growing inaudible.

"It'll be very effective if I share my skin-to-skin body heat with you since my blood is warm but promise me you won't kill me when I hold you skin to skin." I hold her against my chest to try and make her to stop trembling.

"Do anything. I don't want to die like this. But if you take advantage of my state....." Her voice goes silent and I almost don't hear the next words, "I'll kick you in your balls."

And then her head drops completely against me.

My heart stills.

God. I don't have any other way.

"Ah don't kill me now, Fish. You gave me the consent."

With that, I inch back from Marilla's figure and gently place her on the cement floor. Taking my leather jacket off, I pull my drenched shirt over my head.

Completely shirtless, I don't feel an inch of cold. But Marilla's form still trembles. I sigh thinking of what I'm going to do next. This is so compromising.

But it's the only way to make her feel better.

So I lift Marilla and place her back on my lap. Shutting my eyes, I try to pull her wet top over her head letting the undergarment stay on.

I bite my lip as my hands slide around the smooth skin of her waist as I hold her against the bare skin of my own upper body.

Marilla feels so delicate under my arms. All soft skin and petite figure. One could be fooled to think she's an innocent little doe looking at how she laid limply right now. But that would be the biggest lie of their life. Because this one was no little deer, she was a wild spitfire.

But the way her skin feels against mine. The way the tingles of the mate bond ignite the feeling of buzzing current. The way I was more bothered by how much I liked it than being worried for her to wake up was concerning.

My heart thunders against my chest for an entirely different reason but I shake my head against it and hold her tight while keeping my eyelids firmly shut during the whole while.

"Well atleast, I can say I didn't see anything, Fish."

With that, I hold her along the night till the sun rises in the morning and the siren in my arms awakens.