Chapter Nineteen: Sacrifice

Poseidon took Meria to the sea where leads the way to Oceana. He soaked Meria with salt water and let his powers heal her with water. He stepped back when the waves flashing, taking Meria. No, he can't loose his daughter.

Light started coming out from Meria's body and she was lifted in the air by the water. After a flash of light, Meria's eyes opened.

Poseidon was glad to see his daughter alive in her mermaid form. He want near her and hugged her.

"Meria..." he hugged her. His voice hoarse

"Father..." she recovered easily and felt stronger. She hugged him back.

She double checked herself and remembered what happened. She was choking, and Joseph was asking her to keep her eyes open. That's the last thing she remember.

"How can I...?" she stopped and looked back at her father. That's when she realise what her father did. They look at each other. Her father look and sound tired but he's smiling. "You did not..." she shook her head trying to deny the idea in her mind

Poseidon smiled at his daughter, "Yes, I did. It was the only way I can bring you back."

Meria shooked her head, "No..." she denied. "No! Take it back!" she tried to fought her tears. Her father gave her his strength and power to bring her back to life. She know what it will cost him. They both know it will take his life. She doesn't want that. She doesn't want to live if it means she won't have a father and the Oceana will have no king. "No father, you don't have to do that. You need it more than me..." she said "Please..."

"Hush now child." Poseidon reached for her shoulders and give her a reassuring smile. "Do not worry about me. I will be fine."

"But Father..."

"I know I have not been the best father to you nor your sisters, but know that I always wanted what's best for all of you."

"I am sorry for coming here without permission." she said "I should have listened to you."

"Please, don't." Poseidon countered, "I'm always scared that if you stay in human land for long you wouldn't want to go back. I know it's selfish of me, but I love you. That's why I never allowed you when you ask for it. Then one day I woke up you're not there anymore. I was sad, I don't know what I did for you to break my rules."

He look at her and smiled, "But then I realised something. I did not raised a rule breaker, I raised a strong willed and brave lady that is willing to stand and protect everyone when no one else can."

"Father..." Meria's eyes started to water from her father's words

"I love you, my princess."

"I love you too father" he hugged him

When they broke the hug, Poseidon look at her and smiled, "Everyone in Oceana is putting their faith in you. I'm sorry for not putting mine a long time ago."

"Father..."

"I believe in you Meria. Your bravery is your spirit and your goodness is your power. I've been watching you and I always will. I know you can save Oceana. We know you can."

***

"Where do you think he will take her?" Yula asked

"Back to Oceana" Mellisa answered

Mellisa, Cora, Yula and Joseph is now inside the car to where they think Poseidon took Meria. Joseph is behind the wheel and Mellisa beside him.

"Why is he taking her?" Joseph ask in frustration

"She's her daughter"

"She's your daughter too, isn't it?"

Mellisa nodded, "but I have never been a mother to her." she said sadly "I know Poseidon is more than capable of taking care of her more than me. She's safer in Oceana."

"But this is your chance to be a mother to her and you're letting it go." he said getting more and more frustrated

Mellisa looked at Joseph and said nothing. He is right. Meria came to her to ask for her help. Meria reached out to her when she don't have the courage to do so. Meria did that in order to save Oceana.

"We have to go back to the place where she have to meet the good witch. We don't have much time." Cora said

"Where is that?" Yula asked

"We don't have the exact location but the riddle said 'between the river and the wall'."

Yula's forehead creased in confusion. "That's kind of familiar." she said "Wait, I'll check it." she said and pull her phone out of her pocket and started working on it.

They remained silent until Yula shouted enthusiastically. "Here!"

They look at her in surprise. "I'm not sure if this is the right place, but this is the only place that we can consider. The point where the ocean and the land met. The boundaries."

"That place is forbidden and we're not even sure if that's the place." he said

All eyes turn to Joseph.

"How'd you know it's forbidden, Joseph?"

"My grandfather used to tell me stories about places. He's a sea farer and she had gone to a lot of places. When I was a child he used to tell me stories about amazing things he experienced. He told me about the boundaries. That's where the Ocean and the land meets with a wall in between. My mother told me not to listen to him because those stories aren't true." he explained

The three woman look at each other. Completely surprised by what they heard.

Mellisa was the first one to recover, "I hope you don't mind, but who is your grand father?"

He look at her for a second and back to the road, "Jeffrey Huntington, the captain of the ship Moon of the Sea."

Yula's breath hitched and he looked at Joseph. Mellisa and Cora looked at her.

"Is... is he still...alive?" she said barely heard. Her words chocking her.

Joseph heard her and said, "No. He passed away five years ago."

Yula's eyes started to burn. Her limbs went week and her mouth went dry. She started shaking but she held herself together. "Jeffrey..." the only word that came out of her mouth

"Do you know him?" Joseph curiously asked

Yula didn't answered. She can't find the strength to. Cora know that something is wrong with Yula's reaction to Jeffrey's name but she let it go as they approach the sea.

Big waves are slamming the rocks. Dark clouds are starting to cover the sky, thunder rolled and lightning started striking. They can see three figures from afar.

"What the hell is happening?"