64. Bay
Bay
It’s been a month since Alin turned Black Blooded.
Everything at home feels almost normal—except for her rapidly growing belly.
Thanks to Morlay’s heart, her baby is developing faster than anyone expected, kicking around like a little beast. At least, that’s what she’s been complaining about.
Using her baby as the anchor she needed worked.
Now, Luca seems more comfortable having me around; he’s been taking Pedro and me everywhere since Alin can barely sit still.
Cora’s practically glued to her side all day, and I’m grateful to have them both.
Alin hasn’t shown any new powers or looked any different, but every time she’s near, her body emits a strange blue light. Maybe it’s the Coral of Life, but that’s a mystery for another day. I’m done digging under unknown stones.
I think you’re onto something. The Coral of Life feels unusually strong, though it’s still stable, Myko chimes in, though even he doesn’t have a clear answer. I sigh.
“Bay, Alin, come quick!” Mariano bursts into the room from Luca’s office, pulling us in to show us his mother’s case.
“What happened?” I ask, eying it. The case is glowing as usual, untouched. Luca decided to feed the rest of Morlay’s heart to her, but when nothing happened, he left her here in his office, waiting for answers.
“I was just making a call, and when I looked over, I saw this! It nearly gave me a heart attack,” Mariano says, pointing at Florencia’s face, visibly shaken.
Alin and I step closer, but I immediately recoil, my heart racing.
“She looks like a demon!” I squeal, gripping Alin’s arm for balance just as Cora joins us.
“Where did you all g—” Her words catch as her eyes land on Florencia’s face, eyes wide open, pitch black. The body isn’t moving, but it’s the most terrifying death stare I’ve ever seen.
What’s happening? I ask Myko, hoping he might know.
I have no idea. She’s human. I told you this was risky.
I study Florencia’s eyes from a safe distance, but Alin grabs my hand suddenly. “Bay, I think I’m gonna be sick. Let’s get out of here,” she says, half-gagging, and I quickly lead her back to the living room, easing her onto the couch.
“You need any of your mom’s medicine?” I ask, ready to retrieve it from the cabinet. She shakes her head, pale.
“When I got close to her, I felt so sick…” Her voice trails off, interrupted by a loud stomach growl. Cora’s laugh cuts through the tension from behind us. “And now she’s hungry again…” I chuckle, trying to ease the mood.
“I’m so freaking hungry I could eat a whole whale,” now Alin grumbles, her voice dropping an octave, almost predatory. Just a second ago, she was gagging, and now she’s ravenous? Maybe it’s a new power. I hide a grin.
“You just ate ten minutes ago!” Cora teases, almost daring.
“Oh, no, you did not just go there, Mrs. ‘I eat every hour on the hour!’” Alin fires back, finger pointed. Out of nowhere, the water in a nearby glass ripples and splashes over the edge—right onto my lap.
“Was that really necessary?” I sigh, shifting as my tail appears on the sofa, prompting another laugh from Cora.
“Oops, sorry, Bay!” Alin shrugs, giving Cora a playful death glare.
“Okay, I’m sorry! Don’t be mad! You still look gorgeous!” Cora coos, adjusting Alin’s pillow and settling beside her.
“I look like a startled puffer fish,” Alin mopes, her eyes misting over. I can’t help but laugh with Cora as I turn my tail back to legs.
Alin’s never blamed me or Luca for turning her, but I know she hasn’t truly felt happy since. I wish I could change that. And then there’s Luca’s mother—no one’s really spoken about her since that day.
Cora calls the cook to bring some lunch for Alin, along with fruit—and, thankfully, my pancakes. I laugh, though a nagging sense of unease stirs from Myko. His energy has been off and on all month, and he won’t say why. Maybe it’s tied to Luca’s mom.
“So, why did you call us here?” I finally ask Alin, unable to contain my curiosity about the surprise she mentioned. It was enough to get me out of bed with Pedro, so I’m hoping it’s worth it. I’m itching to get back to him.
Hormones, Myko mutters dryly.
Alin grins. “First of all, why would I need a reason to call you?” she teases, and I chuckle. Fair point. “And second, Luca and I finally picked a name!” she squeals, and Cora and I lean in, sharing her excitement.
“Well...?” I urge, grinning.
“If it’s a girl, we’ll call her Kayla.”
“I love it!” Cora claps her hands, delighted.
“And if it’s a merling boy?” I ask, resting my hand on her glowing belly beside me.
“Malec,” she says softly. “Short for Maleciandro.” Her smile falters slightly, and I catch the hint of sadness in her eyes.
“It’s the name my father wanted for me if I’d been born a boy. He always said it was a name fit for a king.” She smiles, but there’s pain beneath it—the ache of knowing she can never go back home. And I know that’s partly on me.
“What’ll happen to the Mal-El lineage now that they don’t have me?” Her voice wavers as she glances between Cora and me, and I can feel the weight of her sorrow mirrored in our eyes.
“I wish I had an answer for that,” I say gently. “But for now, the Coral of Life is still strong, so we know they’re okay.” I try to ease her pain, but I’ve felt it too—that wound of knowing there’s no home to return to. It’s a scar that never fully fades.
Then, out of nowhere, Alin’s scream slices through the quiet, her hands flying to her belly. “I think it’s coming!” she roars, her nails digging into my shoulder.
“Call Luca!” Cora shouts so loudly to the cook, Luca could probably hear her without the phone.
“What do you need?” Cora asks, but Alin’s eyes lock onto mine, desperation in her gaze.
“I’ve got this,” I reassure Cora. I’ve seen enough mermaids give birth to know what to do. It’s never a pleasant sight, but at least I can put that knowledge to use now.
“Warm—not wet—towels, and a few buckets of water,” I instruct Cora.
“Alin will need to heal quickly afterward.” I help Alin lie down on the sofa, and together, we work through the waves of pain.
Myko sends a warm, soothing current through her, surprising me with his ability to dull her pain.
He never mentioned he could do that, but I don’t question it.
Luca bursts into the room with a snack—another craving Alin had demanded earlier.
He’s been running back and forth, looking like a lost puppy desperate to help.
Now seated beside her, he gently cradles her head in his lap, feeding her cherries one by one.
But when another wave of pain hits, she grips his hand so tightly her nails dig into his skin, though he barely flinches.
“For God’s sake, why can’t we have a real doctor here?” he groans, only to be silenced as Alin and I shout in unison, “Shut up!”
“Okay, Alin, it’s time to start pushing,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady and encouraging.
Blood begins to bead on her lip where she’s been biting down, and Pedro rushes in with yet another bucket, just in case.
We used the water with Myko’s soothing energy to ease each unbearable surge of pain.
When combined, it keeps her tail from popping out.
“We weren’t prepared for it to be this soon…” Luca mutters, looking paler and more lost with each moment.
“SHUT UP!” Alin and I shout together again, the tension high as both of us fight to stay focused—it’s a first for us both.
As the baby’s head crowns, and his neck is now seen, I catch sight of something that makes me freeze.
Myko, what is that?
Alin, through labored breaths, catches my expression. “Bay, don’t give me that look…”
“It’s fine,” I lie quickly. “I’m just not used to seeing labor this close.” Myko’s tension is evident, pressing hard in my chest. Please, answer me, I urge him silently.
“One more push, Alin, you’re almost there!” I guide her, and she screams with everything she has left, delivering the baby with a final push. As the tiny merling slips into my hands, I’m struck speechless. I want to tell her it’s a boy, but I can’t even find my voice.
Then, as he starts to cry, I snap back to reality, realizing I’d been holding my breath. “It’s a boy!” I beam as wide a smile as I can manage, but Alin sees straight through my shock.
“Bay, what’s wrong?” She pushes herself up, her hands trembling as she tries to get a better look at her child.
Her gasp is so sharp it catches in her throat, almost choking her.
Pedro and Luca are silent, their faces frozen, the disbelief etched so deeply it looks as though they’ve been struck by something invisible.
The baby’s skin—oh gods, the baby’s skin is covered with symbols. Strange, ancient marks—patterns of all the pods—glowing softly like the sacred marks in Queen Lora’s chamber.
“Myko, what’s going on?” I demand aloud, and finally, his low growl echoes in my mind, the truth unfolding before me.
“The Coral of Life has chosen Malec’s body to be reborn into after the blow it suffered,” I repeat his words aloud in shock, and Alin’s horrified shout fills the room. “That is NOT going to happen!”
I turn to Pedro, feeling like I’ve lost any foothold on reality. According to Myko, there’s nothing we can do. “Malec has to hold the power of the pods from now on. That’s why he’s growing so fast,” I say again, repeating Myko’s words because my mind is too numb to form anything of my own.
Pedro sits behind me, steadying me as I carefully pass Malec to Alin, who cradles him close.
Tears spill down her cheeks, flowing freely as she clutches him to her chest. I take a bucket of water and slowly pour it over Alin’s body, watching as her tail slowly emerges, revealing the scars beneath just begore it fully forms. “Put your tail inside here, keep it wet for some time,” I shove another full bucket her direction and she’s doing as I say.
Pedro, sensing the turmoil in me, pulls me into a tight embrace from behind, careful not to look at the mess left from the birth—the blood-soaked water, the shredded fabric. He holds me firmly, his warmth grounding me, even as his expression mirrors the weight of what’s unfolding.
“He’ll need to consume souls once a month now,” I continue, swallowing hard as I pass on each bit of Myko’s knowledge. Alin’s face is drenched in tears, and Luca wraps his arms tightly around her from behind.
“We’ll figure it out. Our baby is alive and healthy, and that’s enough for now.
” Luca says softly, his voice steady, his breath against Alin’s temple as he kisses her forehead.
His hand reaches out to touch Malec’s cheek—a fragile, delicate gesture.
The only mark on Malec’s face is the crescent moon of the Mal-El pod, shimmering faintly on his forehead.
No! Myko growls suddenly.
“Luca, don’t touch him—wait!” I warn.
Let me out now! His roar is fierce, and my chest glows bright purple. I quickly glance around the room.
“It’ll be tight in here for your huge body, but go on,” I tell Myko. No longer surprised by his sudden appearances, the others brace themselves as he fully emerges.
“Give Malec to him,” I instruct Alin. “Luca, don’t touch him just yet.”
“Hand my merling to the Guardian?” Alin repeats, her eyes widening in shock.
“He’s the guardian of the Coral of Life—or more accurately, of Malec himself. There’s no safer place,” I reassure her. Myko growls softly, annoyed by Alin’s hesitation, and I shoot him a warning look. “Luca, if you touch Malec while his marks are glowing, it could consume your soul.”
Luca pulls his hand back, and though Alin looks uncertain, she carefully extends Malec toward Myko.
Myko reaches out, his massive hand steady as he touches Malec, and their lights merge.
Malec floats gently up, his cries softening as he settles beside Myko’s head, quickly falling asleep on Myko’s scales, looking even smaller now next to the giant beast. The blue glow in Malec’s skin fades into Myko’s, and a few minutes later, only faint scars remain where the marks once glowed.
Thank you, I tell Myko, feeling the weight of his protection for them all.
It’s our family, he replies, and I feel a tear slip down my cheek.
“Looks like you’ve got a built-in babysitter,” Pedro jokes. I laugh nervously as Myko sends Malec back, floating softly into Alin’s arms. She hands him to Luca, who sheds a tear of joy. You can easily tell he is a father who’ve seen worse. He’s not fazed by all of it.
“Hi there, little monster. I’m your dad,” Luca says softly, touching Malec’s nose as the baby opens his silver, gem-like eyes.
“Don’t call him that!” Alin laughs through her tears, nudging him. Pedro leans close to my ear, distracting me as he whispers, “I just hope that when it’s our turn, another Coral of Life isn’t lurking to rebirth.”
I bite my lip, suppressing a laugh, and turn to him. “I can’t make any promises,” I tease, and he pulls me close, kissing me fiercely. I wrap my legs around him as we sit, savoring the moment.
A bright purple glow flares in my chest, making us flinch. Not in front of Malec! Myko’s voice is unmistakably stern, like a worried parent.
You remember that’s not your merling, right? I tease, rolling my eyes. Pedro sighs, exasperated by Myko’s timing.
He’s our responsibility now. You were born to be Black Blooded, the pure side for both me and Malec. He says with a grin. It’s not a curse—it’s a blessing. No force in the ocean could match us now.
I take a deep breath, feeling his words resonate within me. But I was driven by revenge, Myko. I’m not as pure as you always keep saying. If I’d had the chance, I’d probably have killed my mother.
He growls, almost like he’s scolding me. But you put it all aside when those you loved needed you. Even in pain and anger, you chose right every time—exactly as I expected from my chosen one.
So I’m starting to grow on you, huh? I choke on a tear.
My huntress, I never had an issue with you. You were the stubborn one.