Chapter 58: A mother’s wish, part 1

They had a quick breakfast and then the bird had flown out of the house. After Azazel and Bjorn assured Nikola they wouldn't let Chen Zhaohui near the forge, Nikola and Wei Caihong were off after the bird.

 Predictably, it took them to the beach. On the shores was a gray figure, a spirit. The mermaid Queen waved them over. Her hand was missing its ring finger. Nikola stopped to stare at the sight.

"Emerald Emperor, approach. There is something I need to ask of you," the waves retracted, and Nikola saw that the tail of the Queen was missing its scales.

There was a gaping hole where her heart should be.

He felt dread pooling in his stomach. Just what had happened to the kind mermaid before she died? He sat on the sand in front of her and looked at her broken form over once more.

"Your highness, just what…?" He didn't know how to finish. The unspoken question hung in the air between them.