"Sapphy?" Came a quiet voice. I stirred, and was abruptly aware of a pair of arms wrapped around me; they were tense, yet shaking. "You were screaming, in your sleep, and there was the black flash and then…" Faro trailed off into silence. Glancing down at me legs, I gasped, they were no longer cleft, and it was a shimmering green tail!

"You are truly one of us, Sapphy." Faro beamed, exulted. Before turning serious…"But why the screaming?"

"I…I was dreaming of when Ervys killed Dad." I whispered.

"Oh, Sapphy!" He murmured softly, pulling me tightly against him. "You mustn't ever hurt yourself with that memory…I don't want you hurting!"

"I can't help it; it's like…like it's waiting to play in my head every night…" I burst into sobs against his bare chest.

"Sapphy, you must tell me each time it happens, I want to know, I want to help. I…I need you Sapphy…"

"SAPPHY!" I heard a voice, we were at the furthest depths of the cove, and I could see two small figures on the beach, one staring out to sea, desperately still hoping, the other shaking with fear, and re-opened wounds. I could tell what she was thinking. Not Sapphy too! Please not my daughter! But she wouldn't ever find me, she couldn't go underwater…but Divers could…

"Shit!" I yelled.
"What is it, Sapphy?"
"Divers, they'll search for me, won't they!"

"Let's hide out in a cave, as you may want to watch them, say goodbye." He murmured, pulling me with him, but when we reached the cave, our hands did not separate.

A boat was launched into the water at dawn, and soon I sensed the diver's presence, they were intruding, just to search for me…

I could see mum shaking with sobs on the beach, screaming with them. Conor turned abruptly, and ran, flashing a meaningful glance at the water.

"Faro, we have to go up the river to Granny Carne's!" I murmured.

"Okay, Sapphy." He replied, and together, we powered forwards it took us several minutes, and Conor was waiting at the mouth of the river, stood at the edge. I braced myself, and pushed my head out of the water, drawing in the first, agonising breath, I could hear Faro doing the same by my side.

"Sapphy! Come back, please" Conor began to beg, but I cut him short…

"I have no choice now…"
"God, sis, you sound like one of the Mer!" He hissed.

I glanced down silently at my newly formed tail.

"No…" He gasped…

"Yes, Con, It's too late to go back, Elvira found love in the North by the way, anyway, go help mum, she's going to need it!" I said softly, before turning and plunging back into the depths of the water.

I swam back, hearing the boat docking on the shore.

"I'm afraid there are no signs of your daughter for many miles around, Ma'am." Came a blunt voice.

"NO! SAPPHY! COME BACK, PLEASE BABY!" my mother screamed.

I turned into a hug Faro pulled me into.

"It's okay, Sapphy, it's okay!" He murmured into my hair.

"I did that, I'm horrible, a monster, look at all her pain!" I sobbed into his chest, openly.

"No you aren't to blame; you could never be a monster. You had to choose Ingo, it's not your fault, and it's a problem with being half and half." He spoke firmly, pulling me tighter to him, re-assuring me In any way he could.