Chapter 33
Chapter 33
Anastasia opened her eyes, scanning her surroundings, and her eyes widened in surprise. What was she doing here? She knew someone must have summoned her here, but who?
"Anastasia?"
Just then, she heard a whisper and turned around. Her eyes widened as she saw her mother standing there with her back facing her. Why was her mother here?
"Mama?"
She called out, and her mother turned around with a smile. Anastasia frowned deeply, her hands clenching into tight fists.
"What are you doing here?"
"I came to see you," Irina replied in a gentle voice.
"After everything!" Anastasia seethed. "You left me with the King to die, and now you're here."
"I know I did wrong, and I'm sorry for that. I shouldn't have left you with King Darius. It was selfish of me," Irina said.
"Is this a dream? How did you…..?" Anastasia looked around before returning her gaze back to her mother.
Irina was silent for a moment. "Anastasia, I want to tell you something," Irina spoke up. "Something that you need to know now, before it's too late."
"Come with me for a walk," Irina said, taking a glance at the ocean before she walked away. Anastasia quickly followed her.
"Wait!" Anastasia called out.
"What is it?" Anastasia asked.
"It's about your biological mother," Irina replied.
Anastasia's eyes widened, and she took two steps away from her mother. "What does this mean? Why are you telling me this now?"
Irina took a deep breath. "Do you remember when we used to come here when you were young? How much I loved this ocean. It has been a part of me since your father died."
Anastasia frowned. "Mother, what are you talking about? I don't remember visiting this ocean with you."
"Must be a bad memory, I think," Irina gazed into the ocean. "I stopped coming here when I realized a few things."
"Mother, answer me!" Anastasia demanded.
"This ocean is like a guardian angel, to me and to you. Just as the water feeds the plants every day, it also blesses the people who come to the shore for requests," Irina replied, leaving Anastasia even more confused.
Guardian angel? Feeding the plants? She tried to put two and two together, but she didn't understand anything.
"This ocean is a constant reminder of where we come from and where our spirits would return," Irina smiled sadly.
"Mother, I get that we are mermaids. But what is it you want to say to me? Why did you summon me here?" She questioned.
Irina gazed at her daughter's dress and she smiled sadly. "You are getting married, aren't you? I heard about it. You are marrying the Prince, Anastasia."
"I was hoping to see you," she said, taking one step closer.
"I am hiding for my safety," Irina replied.
Anastasia frowned deeply. "I don't understand."
"I made a deal with something. One day you would understand, and you wouldn't blame me for my actions," Irina replied, and it made Anastasia even angrier. She remembered how her mother had whipped her back and accused her of chasing her lover away. What mother would do such a thing to her own daughter, her own blood? She wanted to spit, but she was holding everything down.
"Actions?" Anastasia scoffed. "How you frequently whip me, or how you left me with King Darius? Tell me, what actions, Mother?"
"And what do you mean by you made a deal with something? You mean someone?"
All of a sudden, Anastasia saw the sky darken again, and this time, thunderstruck. She turned around, feeling surprised. She saw something huge in the water coming from afar. It was killing all the livestock of the ocean. She turned to her mother.
"What's happening?"
"You need to know about it," Irina replied hurriedly.
She held her mother's shoulder. "What is it? Speak to me!"
"I am not your—" All of a sudden, she felt a lump form in her throat, and she began to jerk. "What—what's happening?"
"Your body has stayed here for too long," Irina said.
Anastasia fell to the ground, feeling her body become paralyzed.
"Tell me," Anastasia muttered.
"I am not your biological mother," Irina replied.
"And you must never return to the water again. The last time you went there, it cost me a lot. I don't want to lose you just like her."
"I...I...Don't understand," Anastasia said before her eyes fluttered closed.
"The sooner you understand, the sooner you will realize that everything I am doing is for your benefit and mine. I don't know how much longer I can continue running," Irina said.
"You have suffered a lot in the hands of Prince Cassius, and I take blame for that. Soon we will unite again, and nothing in this world will pull us apart. I love you, Anastasia."