Dying?”

            The room became stuffed with the choked sobs of both Taura and Talya. The word would not register with the mermaid unless uttered from her own lips. Its bitter taste all too familiar on her tongue and she wanted to spit it out and wipe it clean from her pallet, not wanting to say or experience it again. She stumbled close to Talya, feeling her legs begin to give out under her. Taura caught herself on the back of a chair and stared down at her feet. The blue and green veins prominent against the stark contrast of her pale skin, just wiggling her toes sent a shock of sharp pain up her leg causing her to bend over. All the pain she constantly felt and the onetime Sehun had to save her finally registering in her mind as an omen to her near end.

            “I warned you of the affects of the potion if you took it excessively. I warned you.” Talya spoke with her head down. Her words coming out soft as if they were meant for only her to hear. Clawing at her hair, loose strands of it fell from her braid. She wanted to punish herself for putting the poor girl’s life in this kind of position. If she could, Talya would turn back time and try to find a way to save her but it was too late. Talya didn’t know how long Taura would have, but she promised herself she would do what she could in her power to keep Taura alive as long as possible.

            “What’s going to happen to me?” The breathy whisper struck the siren and knocked her back to the reality that now faced her and Taura. Again, Talya’s eyes s