ISLA
The doors slid shut behind us, enclosing Dr. Violet and me in the quiet solitude of the aquarium lab. The weight of the recent revelation pressed heavily upon me. I felt betrayed by someone I’d trusted—once again.
I dropped my hand from the glass, instantly regretting the loss of connection with the being who’d saved my life.
Spinning toward Dr. Violet, my boss and mentor, I couldn’t contain the turmoil boiling within me any longer. “Why didn’t you warn me?” I demanded, my voice tinged with anger and hurt. “You could’ve informed me my grandfather knew who’d saved me all along. Knowing him, he most likely hired someone to find and capture him, and yet you never mentioned a word to me.”
She turned to face me, her expression guarded, then walked away with purpose, heading toward the wall of screens displaying various graphs and information.
Her avoidance only heightened my frustration.It was clear she had her own reasons for keeping me in the dark.
Rolling her eyes, Dr. Violet sighed heavily. “Isla, as much as I respect you, it’s not as if warning you would’ve made a difference,” she said, her voice laced with exasperation. “When your grandfather sets his mind on something, he will do whatever it takes to make it happen. And you, my dear, are living proof of that.”
Her words struck me like a blow to the chest. The truth of them hung heavily in the air. Yes, I had always known my grandfather to be relentless in his pursuits, but to hear it spoken aloud, to have my own existence be used as an example, stung deeply.
My survival, my sheltered life here, was a testament to the overwhelming force of my grandfather’s will. It felt suffocating, as if I had no control over my own destiny, not trapped within this research facility until he finally hunted down those who had tried to end me.
Anger and frustration swirled within me, intertwining with a desperate longing for freedom and independence. “I am more than just a pawn in my grandfather’s plans,” I retorted, my voice quivering with the rage boiling within me. “I deserve to know the truth, so I can be prepared for what lies ahead.”
Dr. Violet’s gaze softened, and for a moment, I caught a glimpse of understanding in her eyes. “I apologize if I seemed dismissive. I understand your concerns, your need for transparency. But sometimes, even the best intentions can complicate matters further. I’ll do my best to be open with you moving forward, but at the end of the day, it’s your grandfather I must report to. He has the final say over what we do, not just here, but in our entire lives. I can’t betray him, or he’ll make finding a new job impossible.”
“I know exactly what you’re talking about,” I said, my voice tinged with a mix of bitterness and resignation. “Living under my grandfather’s influence has been my reality for as long as I can remember, especially after what happened to my parents. He blames himself for introducing me to Sam and Rose, given their families’ previous dealings with him. But that’s all in the past now. I just hope he finds them and deals with them accordingly.”
Dr. Violet’s expression softened, understanding flickering in her eyes. She asked the question that lingered in both our minds, “Do you think your grandfather will do to them what they did to you?”
I shrugged and strolled over to the small dining table, reaching for my breakfast. The comforting aroma of vanilla chai tea and apple cinnamon oatmeal filled the air, momentarily distracting me from the weight of the situation. I picked up a knife and stabbed one of the apples, relishing the satisfying crunch.
“They will get what they deserve,” I replied, my voice firm and resolute. There was no ounce of regret in my words. I was done being controlled by others, done being a victim of their manipulations.
I wanted this chapter of my life to end.
Dr. Violet chuckled, a glimmer of amusement in her eyes. “Feeling feisty today?”
I nodded, setting the knife down and turning to face her. “I’m sick and tired of others dictating my life,” I said, as a determined fire ignited within me. “I want all of this,” I paused, waving my hand around the room, “to end. I want to take back control.”
“Hopefully, they’ll be taken care of soon,” she remarked, nodding. “Their families have abandoned them, and your grandfather has made it known that anyone supporting them will feel his wrath as well.”
“Hopefully,” I echoed. I knew that justice needed to be served, that Sam and Rose needed to face the consequences of their actions.But deep down, a part of me longed for closure, for a sense of healing that extended beyond their punishment.
As I twirled the knife in my hand, my attention was irresistibly drawn back to the tank.
I studied the sharkman’s features, taking in the unique blend of human and aquatic traits that defined him. He was undeniably handsome for a shark merman. His upper body exuded strength and power, with well-defined muscles sculpted like those of a seasoned swimmer. His teal skin, adorned with dark-blue patches and a mesmerizing turquoise speckled pattern, seemed to shimmer in the ambient light of the lab.
His hands, webbed and adorned with black talons, held a strange allure, simultaneously powerful and graceful. Those same traits were reflected in his lower half, resembling that of a shark in all its dark-blue glory. The combination of colors and patterns, overlaid with the glowing turquoise swirl, created an aura of mystery and danger.
Short, spiky, dark-blue hair topped his head, accentuating those burning amber eyes that seemed to hold wisdom and experience. I found myself contemplating the intricacies of his biology, wondering about the number and appearance of his teeth.
Despite his mesmerizing beauty, he was ultimately a predator.
But I wasn’t afraid.
In fact, this predator was the reason I stood here today, alive and filled with a newfound sense of purpose. This creature had risked everything to save me, proving that beneath his primal nature, there existed a capacity for empathy and compassion.
A surge of gratitude welled up within me as I locked eyes with him once again. An unspoken promise lingered between us, an unbreakable bond forged in the depths of that fateful encounter.
He had given me a second chance at life, and in return, I would give him the same.
Tentatively, I approached the glass, the knife still in my hand. My heart pounded in my chest, adrenaline rushing through my veins at the prospect of touching him once more. Not wanting to acknowledge his existence, not because he was another reminder of that night and he wasn’t a fabrication of my imagination, but because I was the one who blamed him for being here.
