Jazlee almost feels like she's in a dream, looking at a golden-haired woman with such defiance in her eyes that it sets her siren's heart ablaze.

"Kaia," Kendall, somewhere deep in her heart whispers, but fades as quickly as it came, "What are you doing?"

"Don't do this… Please, don't bring the child here. Don't condemn yourself more than you already have."

A trickle of warmth seeps back into her, trying to thaw the icy fury that has replaced her siren's wrath. Her oldest and dearest friends has always had such a kind heart, has always been so smart… it's not surprising that she's figured out what Jazlee wants to do.

But…

"I am owed." She hisses, "We are owed. Don't even try to pretend you don't know what I mean."

"We don't even fully remember who we were, or what we lived. Humans that no longer exist can't interfere with what was left behind-"

"We can when all they do is further shatter that which has been broken!"

"It's not your place!" Kaia shouts, and Jazlee can't help that her feathers bristle in response as her friend continues, "And if you do this then-!"

"A small price to pay to finally have that which should've been mine!"

"How can you say that!? How can you be so willing to leave me behind?!" Kaia wails, tears suddenly streaming down her face and the shock of it is enough to calm the winds that had begun howling with Jazlee's anger.

I would never. She thinks but doesn't say, because part of her is willing, if it means finally finally finally getting that female to leave and never come back. To stop taking and hurting and ruining the people she cares about. To feel just how much her mother had suffered because of his selfish-

And maybe she would've chosen instead to move forward and leave everything behind… but something whispers to her in a voice filled with so much righteous indignation that it reignites the dimming flame of her anger.

"Mercy is for the weak."

Kaia's tears keep falling, but she gives Jazlee a look so fierce it almost seems like she's looking at another person-

No. She's looking at Kendall. Tough, bossy and tomboyish, always willing to stand her ground and win at all costs.

And it's as this last thought quietly settles that Kaia takes a deep breath and pulls herself from the sea.

"… What have you done…! What did you-!"

"You have until the third sunset to stop this, or you won't be the only one to pay the price."