- 31 minutes ago
Love That Bites, Pain That Stays
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Short filmTranscript
00:00I am the softest and gentlest princess of the deep sea kingdom, Marina, the mermaid princess
00:05whose very tears turn into pearls. Cyrus, on the other hand, is the alpha king of the werewolf pack,
00:11cold-blooded, ruthless, decisive in killing, the perfect embodiment of hatred. To prevent the
00:17merfolk from being slaughtered, I decided to go ashore and seduce my childhood friend Cyrus,
00:21who had become the alpha king. He still loved me deeply, and we spent three passionate days
00:25and nights together in bed, waking up from a haze of pleasure. I hadn't even had the chance
00:29to rejoice before a corrosive elixir was dunked over my head. Listening to my pained wails,
00:35Cyrus Merv. So even an immortal mermaid can feel pain too? Well, this is just a taste of what's
00:41to come if you don't tell me where my parents are. Yes, he was convinced that the merfolk were behind
00:46his parents' disappearance. From then on, I was forced to watch him flirt with his mistress,
00:51Emily. Had to extract my mermaid pearl to help heal her body. Was forced to dance barefoot to
00:55entertain Emily so that she could sleep. Cyrus hated every fiber of my being, yet always held
01:00me tenderly in his arms whenever I was on the brink of death, carefully feeding me medicine.
01:05Sometimes, he was cruel. Do you think I'll go easy just because I love you? Quick, continue torturing
01:09her. Sometimes, he was gentle. Can't you be good and tell me where my parents are? Silently,
01:14I endured his twisted love without a word. Soon, however, these days would come to an end,
01:19and I wouldn't have to keep that secret any longer. After all, a mermaid who did not return
01:24to the sea after three years on land would turn into seafoam. And now, there were only three days
01:30until my time was up. The moment we reunited, passion exploded between us. For three full days
01:37and nights, we barely left the bed. Cyrus' powerful body slammed me deep into the mattress, his weight
01:44crushing me deliciously as he pinned me beneath him. His hands grift my waist with bruising force,
01:50fingers digging hard into my soft flesh, while our sweat-slicked skin slid and slapped together
01:55with every violent thrust. He devoured my mouth in savage kisses, tongue plunging deep, teeth biting
02:03my lower lip until it swelled. When he pinned my wrists above my head with one hand, his other palm
02:09roughly kneaded my breasts, pinching and rolling my sensitive peaks until I cried out. His hips
02:15pounded against mine in a relentless, deep, rhythm hard, fast, and possessive, making my whole body
02:21jolt and arch violently beneath him. I moaned shamelessly, legs wrapping tightly around his waist
02:28as my nails raked bloody trails down his broad back. He growled against my neck, sinking his teeth
02:34into my shoulder, sucking hard enough to leave dark marks while his body continued slamming into
02:39me without mercy. Over and over he drove me to the edge, until my voice grew hoarse from screaming his
02:46name and my body shook uncontrollably in overwhelming pleasure. Those three days were nothing but sweat,
02:52moans, tangled limbs, and raw animalistic desire. Waking up from that haze of pleasure, I hadn't even had
03:00the chance to rejoice before a corrosive elixir was dunked over my head. So even an immortal
03:05mermaid can feel pain too. This is just a taste of what's to come, if you don't tell me where
03:14my
03:14parents are. Late at night, the doors to the basement were kicked open harshly. In came a tall
03:21werewolf, anking me up from the floor, by my hair, and slapping my face until I woke up. Ignoring my
03:28pained
03:29groans, he grabbed my legs and dragged me out of the basement, cursing as he did.
03:35How dare you sleep so comfortably when Emily's hurt? My body was dragged roughly upon the coarse
03:42gravel road, leaving behind a trail of blood. Eventually, I was drabbed to Saras' feet.
03:51Emily's hurt. He furrowed his brows when he saw my bloodied state, as if he was about to say something,
03:57but seemed to decide against it. Heal her with your mermaid's pearl.
04:01I looked up, my gaze falling on Emily, who was resting on the bed. Her lower belly slightly protruded.
04:10I immediately lowered my head, the slap stinging bitterly on my face.
04:14Where do you think you're looking at? How dare you lay your eyes on Emily? I'm here,
04:20so don't you even think of hurting anyone again.
04:25I'm sorry.
04:28Slowly, I crawled towards the bed and observed the wounds on Emily's hand. Clearly, she'd been teasing
04:34a starving mermaid with food and got bitten as a result. After more than two years of torture,
04:39I was already familiar with how to heal Emily and treat her wounds.
04:42Get out, all of you!
04:43I didn't really understand why he did so, but I'd long since given up on trying to understand his
04:48intentions. I continued, piercing my chest with my sharp nails and extracting the mermaid pearl
04:52from within, trembling from the intense pain that came as a result.
04:55Marina, don't you think you can make me go easy on you by acting pitiful?
05:00My blood had already run out of its healing properties because as I'd become too weak.
05:07Besides, I never intentionally acted to garner any pity from him.
05:11That was Emily's fort, not mine.
05:15Are you alright? Does it still hurt?
05:17It doesn't hurt anymore, but the scent of blood is making me nauseous.
05:25So can you get her out of here, pretty please?
05:29Are you deaf? Get lost!
05:32I crawled out using my arm.
05:35Emily, don't ever go close to those ugly, evil mermaids ever again.
05:39Then, they'll only hurt you.
05:42My heart, already numb with pain, was stabbed with another knife.
05:46The pain going to places I never imagined.
05:49Suddenly, a bucket of ice-cold water splashed onto me.
05:53It was a maid, looking down at me with disdain.
05:55You disgusting monster.
05:57Aren't you supposed to be immortal?
05:59Why are you bleeding all over the floor instead of healing your wounds quickly?
06:03A dirty rag was thrown onto my face, and I was already too weak to even dodge.
06:07Wipe the floor clean.
06:12Or I'll tell the Alpha King to punish you.
06:15I started wiping the floor.
06:17But it was a never-ending task.
06:19The wound won't stop bleeding.
06:21I spent an entire night wiping the floor.
06:26Listening to the obscene sounds of passion spilling from the bedroom.
06:31Emily's loud moans, the wet slap of skin against skin, and the heavy, rhythmic creaking of the bed.
06:38Unwanted memories flooded my mind.
06:41Those three days after I came ashore.
06:44When Cyrus had thrown me onto the bed, and immediately climbed over me.
06:48He ripped my clothes off with impatient hands.
06:51His scorching body fully against mine.
06:53His mouth attacked.
06:54My neck and the breasts, sucking and biting hard enough to leave dark bruises,
06:58while his hips slammed into me with brutal force.
07:01Every deep, punishing thrust made.
07:03My back arched off the mattress.
07:05My legs shaking as rod.
07:07They lucked around him.
07:08He growled my name like a beast.
07:10Nahend trooking my throat lightly, while the other pinched my nipples.
07:14Until I screamed in pleasure and pain.
07:16Sweat poured down our bodies.
07:18As he fucked me senseless.
07:20Fast, hard, and relentless.
07:23Until I came apart beneath him, over and over again.
07:27My voice breaking as I begged and moaned his name.
07:33As Cyrus' disgusted expression appeared in my mind, I thought,
07:38Very soon I would finally be free.
07:41Even mermaids, with their legendary immortality, would still die.
07:45I was finally reaching the last three days of my life.
07:48As I cleaned the final drop of blood on the floor, the wound on my chest healed thoroughly.
07:54At the same time, a new day dawned for the moonshadow pack.
07:58Cyrus emerged from the bedroom, carrying Emily's scent, and saw the rag soaked in dark red blood.
08:06He frowned.
08:07Why is there so much blood?
08:10I didn't explain, only lowering my head.
08:14I'm sorry, I'll deal with this dirty thing immediately.
08:17Outside the window, a maid was watering the garden, and she deliberately raised her voice.
08:21That monster asked me how to please a werewolf, and what gifts to give to a werewolf mate before...
08:27Goodness, is she trying to seduce the Alpha King?
08:30Goodness, she actually thinks a witch like her can be with the Alpha King.
08:34Doesn't she know that those dirty merfish are the reason why the Alpha King's parents disappeared?
08:39She should be spending her entire life repenting.
08:42Hearing those words, I immediately sensed danger and tried to retreat back to the basement, but Cyrus moved faster.
08:49He dragged me straight to the interrogation room, pressing me down on the chair that was carved with lightning runes.
08:55With a mana stone that could activate the runes in hand, he looked down at me darkly.
09:01I just remembered that it was time for me to interrogate you.
09:05Now talk. Where did you bring my parents?
09:10I closed my eyes. Flashes of excruciating pain that I experienced end in this very chair, flashing through my center.
09:19Shuddering, I replied, I don't know.
09:24The moment I finished speaking, strong electrical currents surged through me, making me scream in agony.
09:30My entire body convulsed violently, and the wounds that had scabbed over split open once more.
09:35When it ended, I was so weak that I could barely even breathe.
09:42Cyrus' breaths became heavy.
09:44He leaned in to press his ear on my chest, confirming that my heart was indeed still beating.
09:56Just tell me! Why won't you tell me?
09:59His voice was on the brink of breaking down, as if he was experiencing excruciating pain as well.
10:06I just want to know where my parents are.
10:10Marina!
10:11If you tell me, I'll let you go.
10:13Blood flowed from the edge of my lips, every fiber of my being screaming in pain.
10:17I won't tell you.
10:19I could never let anyone know where Cyrus' parents were.
10:22This was a matter of their safety.
10:25We'll be that way.
10:27Cyrus stared at me for a very long while, before scoffing and ordering for his underlings to bring the mermaid
10:32pearls that I thought I'd kept hidden.
10:33My eyes went wide, and I struggled in the chair.
10:37What are you doing? You can't do that!
10:44Of course I can.
10:46I can do whatever I want to a criminal like you.
10:48Then, he threw a mermaid pearl to the floor and crushed it underfoot.
10:53As I let out a heart-wrenching scream, he continued.
10:58I hear that mermaid pearls contain the souls of you, Merfolk,
11:02and that you'll never be able to revive them ever again if their mermaid pearls were destroyed.
11:09So, does this pearl belong to your father or your mother?
11:14Are you willing to let your family die because of you?
11:20My fingernails dug into my hands, already bloodied.
11:27Tears streamed down my cheeks, falling to the floor and turning into blood-steamed pearls.
11:32I hate you, Cyrus.
11:34In response, I got a kiss that was so fierce I couldn't breathe.
11:39Cyrus growled,
11:40You hate me.
11:43What right do you have to hate me?
11:46His mouth crashed violently against mine.
11:52His tongue forced its way in,
11:55cleaming me with brutal hunger,
11:56while one hand gripped my hair painfully,
11:59and the other squeezed my breast.
12:04For a dizzying moment, the kiss turned into something darker,
12:07his body pressing me hard against the cold chair.
12:10Hips grinding against me with the sane, possessive rhythm from our past.
12:16I could almost feel it again,
12:17the way he used to pin me down and fuck me senseless.
12:23His heavy body slamming into mine, over and over.
12:29Sweat dripping from his chest onto my skin,
12:31as he bit my neck and drove me to the brink with deep, punishing strokes.
12:37I didn't speak, his kiss making me dizzy and confused.
12:41These days, I was less and less conscious and aware,
12:44to the point where I almost forgot how in love we were in the past.
12:47Mermaids had always had the custom of taking human form
12:50and going ashore to look for their true love.
12:53I was three years old, when I first met Cyrus.
12:57The year I turned fifteen, I would sneak back to land just to see him.
13:02One hidden night by the cove,
13:04after our confession,
13:05Cyrus had pushed me down onto the soft sand.
13:12He tore my clothes open,
13:13and covered my body with his.
13:17Mouth sucking greedily on my breasts,
13:19while his hand slid between my thighs.
13:25Fingers stroking me until I was soaking and trembling.
13:29When he finally pushed inside me,
13:31it was slow at first,
13:33then deep and urgent,
13:34his hips rolling powerfully as I moaned and clutched at his shoulders.
13:42Our bodies moving together under the moonlight
13:45until pleasure tore through me.
13:50Later on,
13:51the merfolk and werewolves were involved in a deal.
13:55The representatives for the werewolves were Cyrus' parents,
13:58but they ended up going missing as a result.
14:04I was the princess of the merfolk,
14:05so I was naturally one of the greatest suspects.
14:09Many years later,
14:11Cyrus became the Offa King,
14:12and I had to approach him again for the safety of my people.
14:16Those three days of reunion
14:18were even more intense.
14:20He would throw me onto the bed,
14:22spread my legs wide,
14:23and fuck me like a starving beast,
14:25hard, fast,
14:26and without restraint.
14:29His hands held my hips in a bruising grip
14:31as he pounded into me,
14:33my breasts bouncing with every violent thrust.
14:37I screamed his name,
14:39back arching sharply,
14:40nails digging deep into his flesh,
14:42while wave after wave of blinding pleasure
14:44ripped through my body.
14:46I had two days left.
14:50Cyrus tried to lift me from the chair,
14:52only to find his arms soaked in my blood.
14:56He paused and looked at my ruptured wounds.
15:00It's dirty, isn't it?
15:02But it's fine,
15:03I'm going to die.
15:06I gave him a weak, bitter smile.
15:09I was telling the truth,
15:10but Cyrus acted as if I'd said something incredibly taboo,
15:14and he started a
15:15pouring healing elixirs into my mouth
15:17in a crazed frenzy.
15:19The elixirs barely worked.
15:22You can't die.
15:23Not without my permission.
15:25His voice was icy,
15:26but beneath the frost was sheer panic.
15:29Undoing the shackles on my ankles,
15:30he plunged me into a pool of healing elixir.
15:32I coughed and choked,
15:34and the wounds on my body stopped bleeding.
15:39However,
15:42I felt that there was something wrong
15:43with the healing elixir that I was plunged into.
15:46My body was temporarily healed,
15:48for sure,
15:49but the side effects were going to leave
15:51irreparable damage on my body.
15:53Looking up,
15:54I caught sight of Emily,
15:55hiding behind the door.
15:57Meeting my gaze,
15:58she gave me a twisted,
16:00malicious smile.
16:01Her red lips moved silently,
16:03wording the words she wanted to say to me.
16:06Marina,
16:07I want you dead.
16:09In my days,
16:10I felt someone hold me close,
16:13caressing my hair gently.
16:15Hot tears spilled onto my cheeks,
16:18making my heart shudder.
16:19Marina,
16:20if all of this never happened,
16:23if only things were as they were.
16:27was that Cyrus,
16:28was he crying?
16:31It took an eternity for me to open my eyes,
16:34but Cyrus was no longer there,
16:37only a guard that dragged me to the courtyard.
16:40The scorching sunlight beat down on me relentlessly,
16:43and I quickly felt dehydrated.
16:46Cyrus and Emily were there in the courtyard,
16:48and seeing me,
16:50Emily made a show of looking concerned.
16:52You haven't eaten in a long time, right?
16:56Are you hungry?
16:58My throat was dry,
17:00and it hurt to even draw on a single breath,
17:02so I couldn't respond to her immediately.
17:04At Emily's signal,
17:06a guard kicked me hard.
17:07The kick landed right on an unhealed wound,
17:10and fresh blood stained my clothes again.
17:12Cyrus seemed irritated.
17:14He frowned,
17:15and threw his coat over me.
17:18Enough!
17:20Heal your wound,
17:21and stop playing the victim.
17:23You know that Emily faints at the sight of blood.
17:26A devious glint flashed through Emily's eyes,
17:29as she threw dirty meat and vegetables
17:31onto the ground in front of me.
17:33You must be hungry.
17:35Eat up.
17:36I turned to look at Cyrus,
17:37who only averted his gaze,
17:39as if he didn't want to look at me
17:40for one second longer than was necessary.
17:43From the looks of it,
17:45that moment earlier,
17:46with him holding me and crying,
17:48must have been a dream.
17:50How could he possibly still hold any feelings toward me?
17:53I slowly lowered my head,
17:54and reached for the food on the ground,
17:57pitifully eating like a disgraced mutt.
18:00Suddenly,
18:01Emily's voice,
18:02underlined with malice,
18:04rang in my ears.
18:05Why aren't you eating the meat, Marina?
18:08I'm sure you need the nutrition, right?
18:11Numbly, I placed the meat into my mouth.
18:14My sense of taste had long since been dulled
18:16from all the pain I suffered.
18:18So all I could feel was that the meat
18:20was slightly different
18:21from anything I'd ever eaten before.
18:25Is it good?
18:26They're always in seawater.
18:29Emily smiled brightly.
18:31So I'm sure mermaid flesh is pretty tender, right?
18:35A piece of meat dropped from my mouth
18:37as I raised my head in shock,
18:38looking at Emily,
18:39as if I was processing what she just told me.
18:41Her smile only grew wider,
18:44relishing in my pain.
18:45A wave of nausea rose up,
18:46and I collapsed to the ground.
18:52I had thrown up all over Emily's heels.
18:55Without waiting for orders,
18:57the guards grabbed me by the hair,
18:58and dragged me away,
19:00stuffing a rock into my mouth.
19:01Cyrus held Emily in his arms,
19:03threw away her soiled shoes,
19:05and ordered a servant to fetch her a new pair.
19:07He's to treat me like that, too.
19:09In the past,
19:11pulling me close after passion,
19:13kissing my forehead tenderly,
19:15while our bodies were still entangled
19:18and slick with sweat.
19:19Now all he had for me was hatred.
19:22What's wrong, Marina?
19:23You should have expected this
19:25when you Murphix heard us werewolves.
19:27Since you don't want to eat,
19:29just throw the meat into the rubbish.
19:31Emily wore a new pair of shoes,
19:33and kicked the meat away,
19:34before turning to look at Cyrus.
19:36Alpha King, don't blame Marina.
19:38She's just not hungry, that's all.
19:41How about you let her keep me company
19:43while I paint to make up for it?
19:45Cyrus shook his head helplessly.
19:47You're too kind, Emily.
19:49Then, he took the rock from my mouth,
19:52wiped away the dirt on my face,
19:54and gripped my chin.
19:56Hear that?
19:57You upset Emily,
19:59and now she's giving you
20:01the chance to make up for it.
20:03Keep her company,
20:04and don't make her unhappy.
20:05What else could I do but not?
20:07Cyrus's grip on my chin became tighter,
20:10and he seemed to want to say something,
20:12but he was interrupted
20:13by an incoming call.
20:15He stood up,
20:16and bid farewell to Emily,
20:19before leaning down,
20:21and kissing her pregnant belly.
20:23Watching them,
20:24I couldn't help but feel
20:25a wave of sadness washing over me.
20:27After Cyrus left,
20:29Emily didn't bother
20:30keeping up the act any longer,
20:31only rolling her eyes at me.
20:33I don't like being watched
20:34while I paint.
20:35Go sit by the trash can.
20:37I quietly moved to sit by the trash can.
20:39The sun was far too bright for me today,
20:41and there was at least
20:42some shade by the trash can.
20:45A few moments later,
20:46Emily's maid came over with a bucket.
20:48Pinching her nose into stain,
20:50she looked down at me,
20:51both literally and figuratively.
20:53Hey, monster,
20:54Emily needs red paint for her drawing.
20:56The prettiest red is the color of blood,
20:58so extract a bucket of your blood for her.
21:00Hey, monster,
21:01I need red paint for my drawing.
21:03The prettiest red is the color of blood.
21:08Use this.
21:09I hesitated, Marina,
21:11but it's rusted.
21:12Do you think you're still a princess?
21:16Don't be so picky and cut yourself already,
21:18or I'm not going to go easy on you.
21:21All I could do was take the dagger
21:22and slit my wrist,
21:24allowing the blood to drip into the bucket.
21:28I only stopped when my lips turned purple,
21:30and I was close to passing out,
21:32when the bucket was finally full.
21:34Emily's paintings are just gorgeous.
21:37It's a bit how difficult it is for her
21:39to get the materials she needs for her paints.
21:41Did you know that you get a tiny bottle of pearl powder
21:44after killing several murphage?
21:50The color drained from my already pale face,
21:52and I stood up,
21:54clinging to the wall.
21:55Shrill cries echoed faintly in my ears,
21:57and I prayed to whoever was listening
22:00for it to not be what I thought.
22:01The closer I got to Emily,
22:03the clearer the cries became,
22:05and that's when I saw it.
22:06The pile of mermaid corpses around Emily's feet.
22:09When I got there,
22:10she had her hand around the throat of a mermaid,
22:13her knife stabbing into their chest with precision,
22:16digging out their mermaid pearl
22:17and crushing it in one fluid motion.
22:20Wiping the blood on her hands,
22:22she turned to look at me.
22:23Marina,
22:24I didn't know that you murphish had differently colored pearls.
22:27I just want white ones.
22:29I hear only royalty has pearls of that color, right?
22:33So you must know who's royalty, right?
22:35Could you help me get their white pearls pretty please?
22:38There,
22:39locked in a tank of water,
22:41was my younger brother.
22:42He was only ten,
22:44and no one had the chance to teach him
22:45how to take human form,
22:47so he still had his fishtail.
22:50Fish, fish, save me!
22:52He banked on the glass,
22:54crying and begging for me to save him.
22:56Seeing this,
22:57Emily smiled interestedly.
23:00Ah, so he's your brother.
23:01How cute.
23:05I'll go with him next, then.
23:08By her orders,
23:10two guards dragged my little brother out from the tank
23:12and held his chest up to Emily's knife.
23:17I couldn't take watching it any longer,
23:20kneeling on the ground
23:21and knocking my head over and over again on the ground,
23:25begging.
23:28Please, Emily,
23:30let him go.
23:31He was adopted,
23:31so he isn't royalty.
23:33My pearl is white,
23:34so use mine.
23:35Even as I begged,
23:36Emily pressed her blade down,
23:38drawing blood from my brother's chest.
23:44But you're a filthy little liar,
23:46so who knows if you're lying now, too.
23:49In any case,
23:50I'll know once I see it.
23:51Little boy,
23:52I'll take your pearl.
23:53Then Marina's awe.
23:54You brat.
23:55How dare you?
23:56My brother shook himself free of the guards
23:58and bit Emily's hand as hard as he could.
24:02My brother shook himself free of the guards
24:04and bit Emily's hand as hard as he could.
24:07Don't hurt Marina!
24:09The next second,
24:10he was sent flying by none other than Cyrus,
24:13who'd rushed to the scene.
24:15My brother's teeth knocked out of his mouth,
24:17and he fell right next to me.
24:19Cyrus cradled Emily in his arms,
24:22his eyes burning with rage.
24:29I shielded my brother
24:31and shook my head through my tears.
24:33Please, let him go.
24:35I'll take the punishment,
24:37so take me instead.
24:39Cyrus was so angry that he laughed.
24:41Shut up!
24:43Don't make me repeat myself over and over again!
24:46If you let me know where my parents are,
24:49I'll let go of both him and you.
24:52There was again.
24:54I lost all the strength in my body,
24:56and I glared at Cyrus with hatred
24:59for the very first time.
25:01You don't know a damn thing!
25:03I already told you that you would know
25:05where your parents were when the time was right!
25:08Why did you have to torture me time and time again
25:11and even hurt my family?
25:13I hate you, Cyrus!
25:16Cyrus wouldn't listen.
25:18He turned his head away,
25:19refusing to meet my eyes.
25:20Since you won't talk,
25:23fine.
25:27Let your brother atone your place.
25:30Everything happened so fast.
25:32A sharp dagger plunged into my brother's heart.
25:35I heard the sound of a pearl shattering.
25:38My brother's body quickly turned cold and stiff.
25:41His soul destroyed.
25:42He was truly gone.
25:44I sat there on the ground,
25:45my mind blank.
25:46I had completely lost my ability to think.
25:50Amelie pretended to help me up,
25:51but just as she got close,
25:53she threw herself to the floor.
25:55Clutching her stomach,
25:56she cried and accused me.
25:58Marina,
25:59why did you push me?
26:00I was just joking,
26:02and your brother tried to fight my hand off.
26:05Now you're trying to kill my baby too?
26:07I felt like there was a hole in my hollow heart,
26:09letting the cold wind blow right through.
26:11I didn't know what to say,
26:13because I knew that whatever I said,
26:14Cyrus would never believe me.
26:16So I replied with a hazy voice,
26:18Yes, I want to kill all of you.
26:20Kill me.
26:21Cyrus ground his teeth in fury.
26:23He wanted to punish me,
26:25but at that moment,
26:26Emily went into labor.
26:29Sending a withering glare at me,
26:31he said,
26:32Once Emily's pup comes,
26:33you'll pay the price.
26:35Watching him anxiously leave with Emily,
26:37I chucked bitterly.
26:39That day would never come.
26:41I was about to die, after all.
26:44Once more,
26:44I was dragged into the dark and gloomy basement.
26:47Right above me was the temporary delivery room,
26:50where Emily was giving birth.
26:53She spent an entire day and night giving birth,
26:55while I was locked in the basement
26:57for the same amount of time.
26:59At first,
27:00I could still hear the pained cries Emily let out,
27:03but soon enough,
27:04I couldn't hear anything anymore.
27:07I'd lost all of my senses,
27:09and I could feel my body become lighter and lighter.
27:13Finally,
27:14Emily gave birth safely,
27:15and Cyrus breathed a sigh of relief.
27:18Suddenly,
27:18a guard rushed into the room.
27:20Alpha King,
27:21your parents have returned.
27:22Cyrus rushed to the entrance of the pack in disbelief,
27:25only to see that his parents were there.
27:27His parents' faces were anxious,
27:28and the first thing they said upon seeing Cyrus was,
27:31Where's Marina?
27:32Did she come see you?
27:34Quick,
27:34take her to the sea.
27:35If she doesn't have water,
27:37she'll die.
27:38Sirius's breath hitched as panic filled his heart,
27:40but he still tried to put on a brave front,
27:43replying nonchalantly,
27:44Stop joking, Dad.
27:46Murphid can't die.
27:47She hurt Emily just now,
27:48so I locked her in the basement.
27:52Cyrus' father was furious,
27:54immediately sending a slap across his face.
27:56You idiot!
27:57Enough talk!
27:58Bring us to the basement now!
27:59Thinking of my attitude for the past few days,
28:02Cyrus suddenly had a bad feeling.
28:03As they reached the basement door,
28:05he slowed down and took a few deep breaths,
28:07stiffly pushing the basement door open.
28:09Mom, Dad, look.
28:11She's fine, see?
28:16With a single glance in the door,
28:18both of his parents burst out in tears.
28:21Whipping his head around,
28:23Cyrus saw
28:25that half of my face had already turned into sea foam.
28:29In the next moment, Cyrus fell to his knees,
28:32trembling as he cruddled me in his arms.
28:36He had never knelt to anyone before,
28:38but now he seemed to care about nothing else.
28:41All he could see was me,
28:42gradually fading away.
28:44His arms trembled as he tightened his embrace,
28:46trying to hold on to me.
28:48Marina, you're just pretending to be pitiful again, right?
28:51You're not really hurt, are you?
28:54I wanted to reply to him, but I couldn't.
28:56My mouth had already disappeared,
28:58and my shoulders would soon be gone too,
29:00so he couldn't hold on to me anymore either.
29:03Shaking his head in pain,
29:04he screamed,
29:05Don't die, Marina!
29:07You're not allowed!
29:08I haven't had the chance to see you in a wedding dress.
29:11Nor tell the world that you were my Luna.
29:13We haven't told each other we loved each other yet.
29:16Speak, Marina!
29:17Tell me everything,
29:18and I'll believe you.
29:20Tears slowed down Cyrus' cheeks.
29:22He turned to his father,
29:23clinging to a final shred of hope.
29:25Dad,
29:25you said to put her in seawater.
29:27His father looked at me with a pained expression,
29:29nodding heavily.
29:30Go get her to seawater, right now!
29:32Cyrus dashed out with my broken body in his arms.
29:35The pack had a research lab connected to the ocean,
29:38but it was already too late.
29:40I could no longer be saved.
29:43Cyrus' was trembling,
29:45as if he were on the verge of a breakdown.
29:47Don't scare me, Marina!
29:48Why are you becoming so light?
29:50You still haven't told me the truth,
29:52so don't leave!
29:54I couldn't hear anything beyond that.
29:57My consciousness fading into nothingness.
30:02Cyrus placed me into the research lab's water tank,
30:05watching me float on the water.
30:07My death was already inevitable,
30:09so even if I was placed into seawater,
30:11it only slowed down the speed of me dissolving into foam.
30:14I floated there,
30:15my soul drifting out of my body.
30:18I knew that in a few days,
30:19my soul would disappear too.
30:22Hovering above,
30:23I looked down at Cyrus screaming in anguish
30:25in front of the water tank.
30:27He was the proud Alpha King,
30:29yet now he could do nothing about my death.
30:32It took Cyrus a long time to recover
30:34from the overwhelming pain.
30:36Mom, Dad,
30:37where did the Mirko take you?
30:40Didn't they kidnap you?
30:41Were you hurt?
30:43Cyrus' mother had always loved me like her own dog.
30:48So she couldn't stop crying
30:50as she watched my pitiful aunt.
30:52She raised her hand
30:53and slapped Cyrus' face
30:55as hard as she could.
30:56So you tortured Marina like this,
30:58without even knowing the truth.
31:00Your forefather and I
31:02have never taught you to be like this.
31:04The Merphig didn't hurt us.
31:05In fact,
31:06they're the saviors of our pack.
31:09Marina even saved you too.
31:11There it was dumbfounded,
31:12as if he'd been struck by lightning.
31:14But I saw the Merphish
31:15take you away back then.
31:17Cyrus' mother replied gravely,
31:19that was just an act we put on.
31:22One that we decided on together with the Merphish.
31:26Cyrus,
31:27our ancestors had once offended a powerful dark sorcerer
31:29and so we were cursed.
31:30From then on,
31:31all the werewolves in our pack would have genetic defects.
31:33The Merphish are the only ones who can help to resolve this.
31:36The fact that we have genetic defects
31:37can't be known by outsiders
31:38or our enemies would exploit it as a weakness.
31:41That's why it's always been kept under lock and key
31:43and our research had always been held in secret.
31:45Because we once helped Marina's parents,
31:47they agreed to aid our tribe
31:48in curing the genetic illness.
31:50On top of that,
31:51the one who healed your genetic illness was Marina,
31:53using her own flesh and blood.
31:55We already owe the Merphish too much,
31:56and look what you've done.
31:59Why didn't she tell me the truth?
32:01After all this time?
32:02Cyrus' mother replied gravely,
32:10The research lab was plunged into silence,
32:12leaving only the light sound of popping bubbles
32:13coming from my body.
32:16Cyrus arranged for his parents to go rest
32:18while he came to the basement
32:19that I lived in all this time.
32:21There were no lights installed,
32:23so he walked in with a lamp in hand.
32:25The moment he pushed the door open,
32:26the overwhelming scent of dampness and mold
32:28came flooding out in waves,
32:30and his expression immediately darkened.
32:32Earlier, in his rush to save me,
32:34he'd completely ignored the smell of the basement.
32:36Now looking around,
32:37he realized mode grew all over the damp wooden floors,
32:40and that this place was in no condition
32:42for anyone to live in.
32:43I never had my own room before,
32:44only living in Syroff's wardrobe at night.
32:48Later on, I was kicked out
32:50because Emily didn't want me to sleep
32:51in the same room as Cyrus.
32:53With fake pity,
32:54she had the maids arranged for me
32:55to stay in the basement instead.
32:59There wasn't any furniture
33:00or any blankets in the room,
33:01so Cyrus laid on the floor
33:03to imagine the kind of life I had endured.
33:07Meanwhile,
33:08Emily had just woken up after giving birth
33:09and was demanding to see Cyrus.
33:14A maid searched the entirety of the estate
33:16before finding him in the dark, narrow basement.
33:21Brightened out of her mind,
33:22she kneeled immediately.
33:25Why are you in this place, Alpha King?
33:27Emily wants to see you.
33:31Cyrus looked up at her,
33:32his eyes dark and filled with cold intensity.
33:36Were you the one who put Marina in this place?
33:43The maid was so terrified
33:44that she could barely breathe.
33:46Emily said that a dark and damp place like this
33:48suited Murfolk.
33:50Her voice became lower and lower,
33:52feeling the rage radiating
33:53off the werewolf in front of him.
33:54Cyrus's presence as an Alpha
33:56pressed heavily on her like a giant rock,
33:58and she couldn't even maintain
34:00a kneeling position in front of him,
34:02groveling on the ground in fear.
34:03Cyrus pushed himself off the floor,
34:05his hands covered in moss and mold.
34:07A glint of murderous rage
34:08flickered in his eyes,
34:09and he let out a chilling laugh.
34:10So this is how Emily secretly
34:12tortured Marina behind my back.
34:14How?
34:15Kind of her.
34:16My soul floated in midair,
34:18my emotions no longer stirred
34:20by anything Cyrus did.
34:21In the past few years,
34:23Cyrus had been nothing but obedient to Emily.
34:25But now that I was dead,
34:26his attitude towards her became cold again.
34:29What in the world was going through his mind?
34:31Emily, having just given birth,
34:34wanted to lean on Cyrus's shoulder,
34:35but he avoided her advances immediately.
34:38Cyrus felt like he still had my presence
34:40lingering in his arms,
34:41so he didn't want anyone to disturb it.
34:44Emily chuckled awkwardly,
34:46acting like nothing happened.
34:48Cyrus, I heard that your parents returned.
34:51Is that true?
34:52Inspecting Emily's expression carefully as he did.
34:54It is.
34:55My parents returned,
34:57and they said that we've misunderstood her
34:59all these years,
35:00and that they left because of a deal they made.
35:03I listened to him explain,
35:05but quickly realized that he didn't bring up
35:07a single word about the traitor.
35:09Emily covered her mouth,
35:11fading surprise.
35:12A deal?
35:13Why didn't I know about it?
35:15She seemed to want Cyrus to elaborate more,
35:17but Cyrus cut the conversation short.
35:18Marina's not doing well,
35:20so I need to go take care of her.
35:25Sleep by yourself tonight.
35:27He'd never acted so coldly toward Emily before,
35:29so I was quite shocked.
35:31After Cyrus left the room,
35:32Emily's expression twisted,
35:33and she smashed everything on the table to bits.
35:37Cyrus had gathered all the mages in the pack
35:39to discuss how to resurrect me,
35:41and they looked at each other debulantly,
35:43knowing that I was far beyond saving.
35:45One mage who was most straightforward with his words spoke.
35:47You should know that death
35:49is an irreversible journey.
35:51Marina's mermaid pearl is almost fully sea foam,
35:54so there is no way to resurrect her.
35:57At this point,
35:57it would be simpler to find her a place to rest.
36:00Not able to control his emotions,
36:02Cyrus punched the mage to the ground.
36:04Useless.
36:05All of you.
36:06I didn't spend so much money hiring you
36:08to hear you blabber excuses.
36:11If you can't cure Marina,
36:12then you will be laid to rest with her.
36:14The mages wanted to speak up in resistance,
36:16but cowered at the sight of Cyrus' sharp claws.
36:18Seeing that bloodshed was about to break out,
36:19Cyrus' beta stood in front of him
36:21and spoke his mind.
36:22Alpha King,
36:23what's the use of doing all this after all this time?
36:26You're the one who tortured Marina for all these years,
36:28and the source of all her pain.
36:31What's the point of making yourself look like a heartbroken fool now
36:34when she's already gone?
36:35Finally,
36:36someone put to words what had been bothering me during this entire exchange.
36:39Cyrus treated me like the dirt under his feet
36:41while I was still alive,
36:42yet acted repentant after I was dead.
36:45What was the point?
36:45Hearing the beta's words,
36:46Cyrus stormed out the door in a useless fit of rage,
36:48and the entire path was thrown into chaos.
36:50It was night,
36:51and things had finally quieted down.
36:52While everyone was too preoccupied with what had happened,
36:54Emily sneaked into the research lab,
36:56holding a silver dagger tightly in her hand.
36:58Seeing me,
36:58she smirked,
36:59her red lips glinting like blood.
37:01It's all right,
37:03Marina.
37:03Let me end your life for you.
37:07If I wasn't already dead,
37:08I would probably be scared witless by how Emily was acting.
37:12But now,
37:12I was too tired to care.
37:14Emily stepped closer.
37:16Her sharp,
37:17silver dagger,
37:18glinting,
37:18as she moved.
37:19Seeing that a majority of my body had already turned to sea foam,
37:22made her laugh with glee,
37:24and she reached to scoop me out of the water.
37:26The moment my body came into contact with the air,
37:28I started dissolving even faster.
37:30The dagger lashed out at my heart like a venomous snake,
37:32but before it did,
37:33it was caught midair.
37:35The dagger sliced the hand of the person who caught it,
37:37dripping blood into the tank and dying the seawater red.
37:40Emily hadn't reacted before she was kicked to the ground.
37:44Cyrus' eyes filled with sorrow when he saw the state of my body,
37:47which quickly turned into fury and hatred when directed at Emily.
37:50Emily,
37:51why did you want to kill Marina?
37:53She's never done a thing to you.
37:55Emily sobbed.
37:57I did it to help you.
37:58I know you hate her,
38:00so I killed her for you,
38:02so you didn't need to dirty your hands.
38:05Besides,
38:06she's nothing but a monster,
38:08so she should have died ages ago.
38:10I was only doing the right thing.
38:13Cyrus scoffed,
38:14looking down at Emily in the same manner as he looked at me in the past.
38:18You did it to help me.
38:20Then what about when you locked her up in that narrow basement and used her blood as paint?
38:26You're just a venomous witch who's jealous of Marina!
38:29I chuckled bitterly at Cyrus.
38:31Finally found out about what Emily had been doing to me,
38:34but it was already dead after all.
38:36So what was the use of punishing Emily at this point?
38:40Emily's eyes widened in disbelief,
38:42and she shrieked.
38:43I'm venomous!
38:44How dare you!
38:45If I'm venomous,
38:46then what are you?
38:47Did you forget that you've tortured her not less than I did?
38:50Did you ever try helping her,
38:52even once,
38:53when she was in pain?
38:54Did you forget that you've tortured her not less than I did?
38:57Did you ever try helping her even once when she was in pain?
39:00She's already dead now,
39:01so she can't see anything you do.
39:02Cyrus,
39:03I'll only love you from now on,
39:04so can't we live happily together?
39:06Don't finish talking before Cyrus' parents came in with guards,
39:08cuffing her up in shackles.
39:10Emily was stunned for a moment,
39:11before she struggled against her bounds as hard as she could.
39:14How dare you do this to me!
39:16I'm the future Luna Queen!
39:18Cyrus immediately slapped her across her face,
39:21before throwing a stack of parchment at her.
39:23Are you mad?
39:24Marina's my Luna Queen!
39:26Besides,
39:27you're nothing but a traitor who betrayed the pack!
39:29Emily was pinned to the ground,
39:30her once-dainly face becoming smudged with dirt.
39:33Even when she saw the apartment,
39:34she didn't think that she did anything wrong.
39:36Fine, you can call me a traitor.
39:37So what?
39:38Those merfish are monsters!
39:39They're not from the same race as us,
39:41so they'd never help us out of the goodness of their hearts!
39:43You can't let them trick you!
39:44Alpha King,
39:45are you going to punish me because of those monsters?
39:47All these years,
39:48he'd stubbornly hurt the one who truly loved and cared for him,
39:52all while treating the vicious witch in front of him so well.
39:55He really messed up.
39:56Emily,
39:57you're actually the descendant of the Dark Sorcerer,
40:00and you infiltrated the Moonshadow Pack
40:03so that our deal with the merfish,
40:05the merfish would never come to fruition!
40:08How could you know that?
40:10Who told you?
40:12Everyone looked at Emily in shock.
40:14Now seeing her as the monster she truly was,
40:16Cyrus' father pad his shoulder gently.
40:18Believe me now, son,
40:20Emily did all this because of her plans.
40:24But I really do want it to be with Cyrus!
40:28I do!
40:29Emily cried loudly,
40:31but Cyrus only looked down at her like she was nothing more but trash.
40:34With this sudden burst of strength,
40:36she shook herself free from the werewolf that held her down
40:38and activated black magic toward the water table where I was held.
40:41Here's what you get for not loving me, Cyrus!
40:44No!
40:45Don't!
40:45My body was immediately turned to shreds by the magic,
40:48to the point where one couldn't even tell that it was me anymore.
40:53Here's what you get for not loving me, Cyrus!
40:56No!
40:57Don't!
40:59Marina!
41:00How dare you!
41:03Don't stop me!
41:04Cyrus wanted to jump into the water tank to save me,
41:08but he was held back by the guards.
41:09It was common knowledge, after all,
41:12that touching dark magic was tantamount to a death sentence.
41:16Cyrus still screamed and roared in agony.
41:19How dare you stop me!
41:22Look!
41:23Now her body's gone!
41:26No one dared to speak.
41:27At that moment, Cyrus looked up,
41:30and his eyes precisely met where my soul was floating.
41:33I was surprised.
41:34Could he see me?
41:36Eyes reddened in anguish.
41:38He begged me for the first time in his life.
41:39Please.
41:40Please don't go.
41:42Stay with me.
41:44I shook my head.
41:45Perhaps it was because my body was completely destroyed,
41:48but my soul had started to become lighter and lighter,
41:50as if I was about to fade out of existence.
41:53Cyrus wanted to grab my hand,
41:55but each time he reached for me,
41:57he missed.
41:58In the end,
41:59I was completely out of reach.
42:01As the Alpha came,
42:03he had always faced everything with composure.
42:10I didn't reply,
42:17only closing my eyes silently,
42:19and then,
42:19my soul vanished.
42:20From then on,
42:21the mermaid marina ceased to exist.
42:25Cyrus locked himself in the laboratory for a week.
42:28He didn't eat,
42:29didn't drink,
42:30and ignore anyone who came to see him.
42:32When he finally reappeared,
42:34the aura of an Alpha King was gone.
42:36He looked haggard,
42:37his steps faltering,
42:39leaning on a servant's arm.
42:40I need to atone for what I did.
42:42The gene elixir that the merfolk have researched
42:44was finally released to the public,
42:46saving the lives of the Moonshadow Peck.
42:48As the person who almost ruined everything,
42:51Emily was sentenced with the death penalty.
42:53Afterward,
42:54Cyrus devoted himself to helping the merfolk,
42:57returning those still suffering from cruel experiments
42:59back to the ocean.
43:01In front of everyone else,
43:02he was still the calm,
43:03collected,
43:04and reliable Cyrus.
43:06But in private,
43:07away from the public eye,
43:09Cyrus was consumed with regret
43:10and desperation.
43:13For Marina didn't even leave him
43:14a single thing to remember her by.
43:17After everything was settled,
43:18Cyrus sat on a sailboat
43:19and went out to sea.
43:21He sailed all the way
43:22to the waters belonging to the merfolk,
43:24where Marina belonged.
43:26Marina, wait for me.
43:29I'm coming to see you.
43:33Then he opened his arms wide
43:35and closed his eyes,
43:36before plunging into the sea.
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