- 5 hours ago
i won't settle for pretend love [Full Movie]
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00I cast the bloodthrall curse on Adrian, binding his body to mine.
00:03For that, he hates me for five long years.
00:05Before he dies, he refuses to even glance at our child.
00:08The first bond ends here.
00:10I open my eyes again.
00:11I found a way to break the bloodthrall.
00:13Blood.
00:14The blood of the one your heart truly beats for.
00:16Adrian's heart beats for Vivienne.
00:18Vivienne won't marry him.
00:19I will.
00:20This time, Ben scoffs, like he has just heard a cruel joke.
00:24You do that out of the goodness of your heart?
00:26What is this, another scheme?
00:27You'll have her.
00:28I cast the bloodthrall curse on Adrian, binding his body to mine.
00:32For that, he hates me for five long years.
00:34By day, he cuts me down with cruel words.
00:37Yet at night, he comes to my bed like an addict, lost in me.
00:40Later, I am pregnant.
00:42On the day of my deadly labor, he forces a witch to cast a spell.
00:45Before he dies, he refuses to even glance at our child.
00:48This cursed bond ends here.
00:50Next life, let me be with her.
00:52I'm begging you, please.
00:54Tears run down my face as I nod.
00:56Satisfied at last, he closes his eyes.
00:59The Wren family hates me and casts me out.
01:01I hate myself, too.
01:02If I had only let him be with my sister, Vivienne, none of this would have happened.
01:06The agonizing pain of the mother curse tears through my heart.
01:09I don't resist.
01:10I let it carry me after Adrian into death.
01:12I open my eyes again.
01:14Adrian pins me against the wall, crushing my throat.
01:17His eyes blood-red.
01:20The bloodthrall is acting up.
01:22His breath is heavy.
01:23His body aches to get near me, but his will resists.
01:26How dare you!
01:27Just to keep me from marrying Vivienne.
01:29You cursed me with the bloodthrust?
01:31Five years I couldn't sleep without crawling to your door.
01:34My own body betrayed everything I am.
01:36Vivienne.
01:37She's your sister.
01:38You'd watch her walk into her own grave by marrying that... that thing?
01:42The man Vivienne is meant to marry is the Duke of Ravenhollow Lord Cassian Vyre, the true
01:46power behind the bloodthrall.
01:48His three human brides all died on their wedding notes.
01:51Whispers say he drained them dry.
01:52Two centuries ago, the great war between humans and vampires ended with the Accord.
01:57It decreed vampires may not feed on humans at will.
01:59Any who do would be put to death by the bloodcourt.
02:02The human crown recognizes the bloodcourt's political authority and may not refuse its marriage
02:06decrees.
02:07Countless hunters died for this peace.
02:08The greatest sacrifice came from the oldest hunter bloodline, my family, the Ashvords.
02:13For two centuries, humans and vampire lords have ruled side by side under your core.
02:18Over the years, the vampires have recovered their strength, while the hunter families have
02:22steadily declined under restraint.
02:24Now the Duke of Ravenhollow asks our family for a bride.
02:27It is a pure, calculated insult.
02:28But if we refuse, humanity can't bear his wrath, nor can we bear the price of breaking
02:33the treaty first.
02:34Father and mother have no power to fight, only to agree.
02:36But he named no specific daughter.
02:39Any Ashford girl may wed him.
02:40In my past life, I cast the bloodthrall on Adrian.
02:43What I had done could not be undone.
02:45That left only Vivienne to marry the Duke.
02:47Right now, I calmly pull my wrist from his grip.
02:50Vivienne won't marry him.
02:52I will.
02:53This time, I will give you what you want.
02:58Adrian freezes, then scoffs, like he has just heard a cruel joke.
03:03You?
03:04What nonsense?
03:05Do you even hear yourself?
03:06The Duke is a 600-year-old vampire.
03:09He killed his three wives and countless hunters.
03:11All of Ravenhollow fears him.
03:13Every family with a daughter prays to stay out of his sight.
03:16I keep my word.
03:17Seeing how sure I am, Adrian looks away in disgust.
03:20Break this damn curse.
03:21Vivienne is none of your concern.
03:23I will break the bloodthrall and marry the Duke in Vivienne's place.
03:26Adrian laughs again, sharp with mockery.
03:28He taps my shoulder and jerks his hand back in revulsion.
03:31You'd do that out of the goodness of your heart?
03:33What is this, another scheme?
03:35Some new way to torment her?
03:37Scorn fills his face.
03:38Poison laces his voice.
03:39He is all barbs, refusing to let me near.
03:42A sharp pain hits my chest, stealing my breath.
03:45I bury the last trace of my love for him in my eyes, looking straight at him.
03:48You'll have her.
03:50Just wait.
03:50Only seven days left until the Duke's wedding.
03:53By then, the bloodthrall inside us will reach its peak.
03:55The thrall surge will shatter both our minds.
03:58I need to act fast.
04:02I track down the hidden shop beneath gallows.
04:04Lena Black Rose hangs over the door.
04:06It never withers.
04:07Madame Voss sits behind the counter.
04:09She is the witch who helped me cast the spell.
04:11Her single eye gleams in the candlelight.
04:13Another Ashfield girl.
04:15She doesn't even look up.
04:16You hunters always end up at my door eventually.
04:19I tell her what I need.
04:21She pulls a dark red flower from a glass cloche.
04:23Veins running through its petals like living flesh.
04:26The oblivion bloom.
04:27It can devour the power of the bloodthrall.
04:28Madame Voss twirls the stem.
04:30But I only have one.
04:31It breaks the bond for one person.
04:33The other suffers double the backlash.
04:36It doesn't matter.
04:37Tell me how to use it.
04:38Heart's blood.
04:39The blood of the one your heart truly beats for.
04:42Feed it to the flower.
04:44Watch the petals turn from black to red.
04:47Then eat it.
04:48The curse will break.
04:49My heart beats for Adrienne.
04:51Adrienne's heart beats for Vivienne.
04:52If I hurt Vivienne for her blood,
04:54Adrienne will probably kill me.
04:56My head pounds with exhaustion.
04:58Yet I don't stop to rest.
04:59Getting on my horse,
05:00I ride alone across the moors back to Raven Hollow.
05:02I return to Ashford House.
05:04Adrienne is already there.
05:05At once,
05:06I hold the oblivion bloom out before him.
05:08I found a way to break the bloodthrall.
05:10Feed this flower with your heart's blood and Vivienne's.
05:12Before I can finish,
05:13Adrienne strikes my hand away.
05:15The obsidian box hits the ground.
05:16The oblivion bloom rolls out.
05:17It falls into the thick bushes of the black rose garden.
05:23Are you quite finished?
05:24Heart's blood!
05:26Only you could conceive of something so twisted.
05:28You might as well just ask for our lives.
05:32We are the ones under the bloodthrall.
05:34Why do you need Vivienne's blood?
05:37You can't even make your lies sound convincing.
05:39I feel a sudden lurch,
05:41like stepping off a cliff.
05:42My throat goes tight and I swallow hard.
05:44My hands drop to my sides.
05:46The bloom drinks from the one your heart beats for.
05:49And yours?
05:51Beats for Vivienne.
05:52I give up trying to explain.
05:53I throw myself into the black rose bushes,
05:55searching for the oblivion bloom.
05:57Thorns slash my arms and cheek.
05:58The sting comes again and again.
06:00Seeing me bleed,
06:01Adrien jumps in after me.
06:03He hauls me to my feet
06:04and locks his arms around my waist.
06:06What are you doing?
06:06You've lost your mind.
06:08Every time he touches me,
06:09I mistake it for love.
06:11Then Vivienne appears.
06:12And every mistake shatters.
06:13I wrench free of his arms.
06:15As I fall to the ground,
06:16my palm lands upon the missing flower.
06:18A soft whimper escapes my throat.
06:20Is it joy or pain?
06:21I can't tell.
06:22Adrien thinks I am insane.
06:24He turns and leaves without a backward glance.
06:26So I have to go to Vivienne first.
06:30The bloodthrall is acting up.
06:32His breath is heavy.
06:33His body aches to get near me,
06:35but his will resists.
06:36How dare you!
06:37Just to keep me from marrying Vivienne.
06:39You cursed me with the bloodthrust?
06:41Five years I couldn't sleep
06:43without crawling to your door.
06:44My own body betrayed everything I am.
06:46Vivienne, she's your sister.
06:48You'd watch her walk into her own grave
06:50by marrying that, that thing?
06:52The man Vivienne is meant to marry
06:53is the Duke of Ravenhollow Lord Cassian Vyre,
06:56the true power behind the bloodthrall.
06:58His three human brides
06:59all died on their wetting notes.
07:01Whispers say he drained them dry.
07:02Two centuries ago,
07:04the great war between humans and vampires
07:05ended with the accord.
07:07It decreed vampires may not feed on humans at will.
07:09Any who do would be put to death
07:11by the blood court.
07:12The human crown recognizes
07:13the blood court's political authority
07:14and may not refuse its marriage decrees.
07:17Countless hunters died for this peace.
07:19The greatest sacrifice came
07:20from the oldest hunter bloodline,
07:22my family, the Ashvords.
07:23For two centuries,
07:24humans and vampire lords
07:26have ruled side by side and we recall.
07:28Over the years,
07:29the vampires have recovered their strength.
07:31While the hunter families
07:32have steadily declined under restraint,
07:34now the Duke of Ravenhollow
07:35asks our family for a bride.
07:36It is a pure, calculated insult.
07:38But if we refuse,
07:40humanity can't bear his wrath.
07:41Nor can we bear the price
07:42of breaking the treaty first.
07:44Father and mother have no power to fight,
07:46only to agree.
07:47But he named no specific daughter.
07:48Any Ashford girl may wed him.
07:50In my past life,
07:51I cast the bloodthrall on Adrienne.
07:53What I had done could not be undone.
07:55That left only Vivienne to marry the Duke.
07:57Right now,
07:58I calmly pull my wrist from his grip.
08:00Vivienne won't marry him.
08:02I will.
08:03This time,
08:04I will give you what you want.
08:08Adrienne freezes,
08:09then scoffs,
08:10like he has just heard a cruel joke.
08:12You?
08:14What nonsense?
08:15Do you even hear yourself?
08:16The Duke is a 600-year-old vampire.
08:19He killed his three wives
08:20and countless hunters.
08:21All of Ravenhollow fears him.
08:23Every family with a daughter
08:24prays to stay out of his sight.
08:26I keep my word.
08:27Seeing how sure I am,
08:29Adrienne looks away in disgust.
08:30Break this damn curse.
08:31Vivienne is none of your concern.
08:33I will break the bloodthrall
08:34and marry the Duke in Vivienne's place.
08:36Adrienne laughs again,
08:37sharp with mockery.
08:38He taps my shoulder
08:39and jerks his hand back in revulsion.
08:41You'd do that out of the goodness of your heart?
08:43What is this,
08:44another scheme?
08:45Some new way to torment her?
08:47Scorn fills his face.
08:48Poison laces his voice.
08:49He is all barbs,
08:51refusing to let me near.
08:52A sharp pain hits my chest,
08:54stealing my breath.
08:55I bury the last trace of my love for him
08:57in my eyes,
08:57looking straight at him.
08:58You'll have her.
08:59Just wait.
09:00Only seven days left
09:02until the Duke's wedding.
09:03By then,
09:03the bloodthrall inside us
09:05will reach its peak.
09:06The thrall surge
09:07will shatter both our minds.
09:08I need to act fast.
09:12I track down the hidden shop beneath gallows.
09:14Lena Black Rose hangs over the door.
09:16It never withers.
09:17Madame Voss sits behind the counter.
09:19She is the witch
09:20who helped me cast the spell.
09:21Her single eye gleams
09:22in the candlelight.
09:23Another Ashfield girl.
09:25She doesn't even look up.
09:26You hunters always end up
09:28at my door eventually.
09:29I tell her what I need.
09:30She pulls a dark red flower
09:32from a glass cloche,
09:33veins running through its petals
09:34like living flesh,
09:35the oblivion bloom.
09:36It can devour the power
09:37of the bloodthrall.
09:38Madame Voss twirls the stem.
09:40But I only have one.
09:41It breaks the bond
09:42for one person.
09:43The other suffers
09:44double the backlash.
09:46It doesn't matter.
09:47Tell me how to use it.
09:48Heart's blood.
09:49The blood of the one
09:50your heart truly beats for.
09:52Feed it to the flower.
09:54Watch the petals turn
09:56from black to red.
09:57Then eat it.
09:58The curse will break.
09:59My heart beats for Adrienne.
10:01Adrienne's heart beats for Vivienne.
10:02If I hurt Vivienne for her blood,
10:04Adrienne will probably kill me.
10:06My head pounds with exhaustion.
10:07Yet I don't stop to rest.
10:09Getting on my horse,
10:10I ride alone across the moors
10:11back to Raven Hollow.
10:12I return to Ashford House.
10:14Adrienne is already there.
10:15At once,
10:16I hold the oblivion bloom
10:17out before him.
10:18I found a way
10:18to break the bloodthrall.
10:20Feed this flower
10:20with your heart's blood
10:21and Vivienne's.
10:22Before I can finish,
10:23Adrienne strikes my hand away.
10:25The obsidian box
10:25hits the ground.
10:26The oblivion bloom rolls out.
10:27It falls into the thick bushes
10:29of the black rose garden.
10:32Are you quite finished?
10:34Heart's blood!
10:36Only you could conceive
10:37of something so twisted.
10:38You might as well
10:39just ask for our lives.
10:42We are the ones
10:43under the bloodthrall.
10:44Why do you need Vivienne's blood?
10:47You can't even make
10:48your lies sound convincing.
10:49I feel a sudden lurch
10:50like stepping off a cliff.
10:52My throat goes tight
10:53and I swallow hard.
10:54My hands drop to my sides.
10:56The bloom drinks
10:57from the one your heart beats for.
10:59And yours beats for Vivienne.
11:02I give up trying to explain.
11:03I throw myself
11:04into the black rose bushes
11:05searching for the oblivion bloom.
11:07Thorns slash my arms and cheek.
11:08The sting comes again and again.
11:10Seeing me bleed,
11:11Adrienne jumps in after me.
11:13He hauls me to my feet
11:14and locks his arms
11:15around my waist.
11:15What are you doing?
11:16You've lost your mind.
11:18Every time he touches me,
11:19I mistake it for love.
11:20Then Vivienne appears
11:21and every mistake shatters.
11:23I wrench free of his arms.
11:25As I fall to the ground,
11:26my palm lands
11:27upon the missing flower.
11:28A soft whimper
11:29escapes my throat.
11:30Is it joy or pain?
11:31I can't tell.
11:32Adrienne thinks I am insane.
11:34He turns and leaves
11:35without a backward glance.
11:36So I have to go
11:37to Vivienne first.
11:40The night I left
11:41my marriage with nothing,
11:42I wandered the streets
11:43of New York alone.
11:44A small ad on the side
11:45of the road caught my eye.
11:46Room and board included.
11:47That's what got me.
11:48I walked straight into
11:49the mansion of Nathan Sterling,
11:50the richest man in New York.
11:52We're locked in a silent battle.
11:53No!
11:54Make her leave!
11:54I don't want her!
11:55They're all bad women!
11:57Relax, I'm not here
11:58to feed you.
11:58I'm feeding Spider-Man.
11:59Eat more.
12:00You need to be full
12:00to save the world.
12:01There's a baby Spider-Man
12:02here too?
12:03Can you share
12:04some of your food with him?
12:05Well, since Spider-Man
12:06said so,
12:07I guess you can have a little.
12:08As I said this,
12:09Luca came over
12:10and grabbed my right hand.
12:11Three days after my divorce,
12:13I was married again.
12:14The night I left
12:14my marriage with nothing,
12:15I wandered the streets
12:16of New York alone.
12:17A small ad on the side
12:18of the road caught my eye.
12:23Room and board included.
12:24That's what got me.
12:25That same night,
12:26I dragged my suitcase
12:27to the address on the ad.
12:28I walked straight into
12:29the mansion of Nathan Sterling,
12:30the richest man in New York.
12:34Mr. Sterling is looking
12:35for a mother for his child.
12:37Not a wife for himself.
12:38I need you to be
12:39very clear on that.
12:40Mr. Sterling is an
12:41exceptional man.
12:42Don't get any ideas.
12:44I kept my head slightly down,
12:46eyes forward.
12:46Honestly,
12:47this job was perfect for me.
12:48To put it simply,
12:49they just needed
12:50a high-end nanny.
12:50I had only gotten
12:51divorced that morning.
12:52Remarriage?
12:53Couldn't be further
12:54from my mind.
12:55I nodded respectfully.
12:56I understand.
12:57I won't get any ideas.
12:58You have my word.
13:00But taking care of a kid
13:01and having a roof
13:02was a lifeline for me.
13:03George gave a curt nod
13:04and led me to the dining room.
13:05At a massive long table,
13:06a young father and his son
13:07were locked in a silent battle.
13:10He man sat there
13:11holding a bowl and a spoon,
13:12his expression dark.
13:14Just one bite.
13:15Luca.
13:16One tiny bite.
13:17Can you do that for me?
13:21Sir, another applicant is here.
13:23This one seems honest.
13:25That face,
13:26I'd seen it on the cover
13:27of Forbes before.
13:28Unfairly handsome.
13:29The kind of face
13:30you don't forget.
13:31What's your name?
13:32Claire Bennett.
13:34Give it a try.
13:39So this was the job interview.
13:40I had to nail this.
13:42If I could stay,
13:43at least I wouldn't be
13:44sleeping on the street tonight.
13:45I put on what I hoped
13:46was a warm, motherly smile
13:47and walked toward the boy.
13:55No!
13:56Make her leave!
13:57I don't want her!
13:57They're all bad women!
14:00So before me,
14:01this kid had already been
14:02through who knows
14:02how many stepmoms.
14:04Relax.
14:05I'm not here to feed you.
14:05I'm feeding Spider-Man.
14:06You're fine.
14:07Eat more.
14:08You need to be full
14:08to save the world.
14:09Kids who don't eat
14:10are too weak.
14:11Can't even protect themselves,
14:13let alone own all of humanity.
14:15Oh, you want the potatoes?
14:16The boy lay there
14:17looking dejected.
14:18Potatoes give you strike.
14:19But I pretended not to see.
14:21Not until his nose turned red
14:22and his eyes got watery
14:23did I act like
14:24I just spotted him.
14:25There's a baby Spider-Man
14:26here too?
14:27Peter Parker,
14:28can you share
14:29some of your food with him?
14:30He needs to eat
14:31so he can grow up
14:32big and strong like you.
14:34Sure.
14:36Well, since Spider-Man said so,
14:38I guess you can have a little,
14:40but don't eat too much, okay?
14:42If you get stronger than him,
14:43he'll be sad.
14:55That night I stayed in the villa.
14:57Luca and I were on the second floor.
14:59Nathan Sterling had the third floor
15:00to himself.
15:03You are never to go up
15:04to the third floor.
15:05A woman once snuck up
15:06to climb into Mr. Sterling's bed
15:08in the middle of the night
15:08and was thrown out the window.
15:11I won't, I promise.
15:14Luca was only four,
15:15but he could already sleep
15:16in his own room.
15:17That made my work a lot easier.
15:23Claire, let's talk.
15:24Sure, Mr. Sterling.
15:26You're good with kids.
15:28Have you had any of your own?
15:30No, but I helped look
15:31after my ex-husband's sister's kids
15:33for two years.
15:34Back then,
15:35my ex's family thought
15:36I didn't make enough money,
15:37so they made me quit my job.
15:38After I quit,
15:39they said I was lazy
15:40and had nothing to do.
15:41So they fired the sister's nanny
15:43and made me take over.
15:45You're divorced, why?
15:47We came from different worlds.
15:52You know,
15:52I need to find a mother for Luca.
15:54He has no sense of security.
15:55He won't leave the house,
15:57won't go to preschool.
15:58I'm busy with work,
15:58so I need someone patient
15:59to be his mother.
16:01I'll have you sign a prenup.
16:02Everything stays separate.
16:05I understand.
16:08Rich people are all like this.
16:09My first marriage was for love,
16:11but because the gap
16:12between our families
16:13was too big,
16:13I signed a prenup too,
16:14so when the love ran out
16:15and we divorced,
16:16I had nothing left,
16:17not even my wedding ring,
16:18let alone someone like Nathan,
16:20a man at the very top.
16:21Of course he'd be careful
16:22about marriage.
16:23Honestly,
16:23I'd be happy just having
16:24a place to stay.
16:25We don't have to make it official.
16:26The marriage is for Luca.
16:28I want him to have
16:28a long-term mother,
16:29and marriage is the strongest
16:30contract there is.
16:31Then we'll do it your way.
16:33Don't worry.
16:34I'll give you $50,000 a month
16:36for personal spending.
16:38Mr. Sterling,
16:39can I ask,
16:40if we divorce someday,
16:42can I keep the money
16:43you've given me?
16:43Of course.
16:44That money is yours.
16:46Okay, then.
16:47I don't have any needs
16:48in our sex life right now,
16:49so you'll stay on the second floor.
16:51Okay.
16:51I don't either.
16:52Just like that,
16:53three days after my divorce,
16:54I was married again.
16:55Same as the first time,
16:56no wedding.
16:59Take this.
17:02No need.
17:03For Luca.
17:05Oh, okay.
17:06Thank you for your ring.
17:14What's wrong?
17:15Claire,
17:16can you read me
17:17a bedtime story?
17:18I'll get my dad
17:19to pay you more,
17:20but if you don't want to,
17:21that's fine.
17:22Come here.
17:26That night,
17:27Luca fell asleep
17:27in my bed after his book.
17:29The next morning,
17:30when Nathan heard,
17:31he was genuinely surprised.
17:32Claire,
17:33thank you.
17:34I'll add 10,000 a month.
17:36Mr. Sterling,
17:36that's way too much.
17:38It really was.
17:39In my last marriage,
17:41I did so much more than this.
17:42During the day,
17:43I watched my ex's sister's kids.
17:45At night,
17:46I cooked for my ex,
17:47satisfying his needs in bed,
17:48then got up in the middle of the night
17:49to clean the house.
17:54It's not like we can't afford a maid.
17:56But Claire just sitting all day
17:57doing nothing,
17:58that doesn't seem right.
17:59Even after all that,
18:00when we divorced,
18:01they said I'd been living
18:02the good life for three years.
18:04And they sent me out with nothing.
18:08Mr. Sterling,
18:09that's too much.
18:10This is just what I should be doing.
18:11As I said this,
18:12Luca came over
18:12and grabbed my right hand.
18:14The women came before you
18:15only cared about pleasing me,
18:16ignoring Luca's feelings.
18:18The extra $10,000 is settled.
18:20Thank you, Mr. Sterling.
18:22From that day on,
18:23Luca was glued to me.
18:24Nathan was busy,
18:25so most of the time,
18:27it was just the two of us at home.
18:28I tried my best to play with him
18:29and made him happy every day.
18:31When he got scared,
18:32I held him tightly
18:32and comforted him gently.
18:34But he still didn't want
18:35to leave the villa
18:36until the day I needed
18:37to go to the hospital
18:37for a follow-up.
18:39Wait for me at home?
18:40I'll be back soon.
18:42He grabbed my hand
18:43and wouldn't let go.
18:44He didn't say anything.
18:45Just looked up at me
18:46with those big, sad eyes.
18:50He's afraid you'll leave
18:51and not come back.
18:53I'm not leaving.
18:54I'll be back after my appointment
18:56and then we'll read together.
18:57You play by yourself
18:57for a little while?
19:03Luca,
19:04you want to go to the hospital
19:05with Claire?
19:09My God!
19:10He is finally willing
19:12to leave the house!
19:17The night I left my marriage
19:18with nothing,
19:19I wandered the streets
19:20of New York alone.
19:21A small ad
19:22on the side of the road
19:22caught my eye.
19:26Room and board included.
19:28That's what got me.
19:29That same night,
19:30I dragged my suitcase
19:30to the address on the ad.
19:32I walked straight into
19:32the mansion of Nathan Sterling,
19:34the richest man in New York.
19:37Mr. Sterling is looking
19:39for a mother for his child.
19:41Not a wife for himself.
19:42I need you to be
19:42very clear on that.
19:43Mr. Sterling is an
19:44exceptional man.
19:46Don't get any ideas.
19:48I kept my head
19:48slightly down,
19:49eyes forward.
19:50Honestly,
19:50this job was perfect for me.
19:52To put it simply,
19:53they just needed
19:53a high-end nanny.
19:54I had only gotten
19:55divorced that morning.
19:56Remarriage?
19:57Couldn't be further
19:57from my mind.
19:58I nodded respectfully.
20:00I understand
20:00I won't get any ideas.
20:02You have my word.
20:03But taking care of a kid
20:04and having a roof
20:05was a lifeline for me.
20:06George gave a curt nod
20:07and led me to the dining room.
20:09At a massive long table,
20:10a young father and his son
20:11were locked in a silent battle.
20:14He mansat there
20:15holding a bowl and a spoon,
20:16his expression dark.
20:17Just one bite.
20:18Luca,
20:19one tiny bite.
20:21Can you do that for me?
20:25Sir, another applicant is here.
20:27This one seems honest.
20:29That face,
20:29I've seen it on the cover
20:30of Forbes before.
20:31Unfairly handsome.
20:33The kind of face
20:33you don't forget.
20:35What's your name?
20:36Claire Bennett.
20:37Give it a try.
20:42So this was the job interview.
20:44I had to nail this.
20:45If I could stay,
20:47at least I wouldn't be
20:47sleeping on the street tonight.
20:49I put on what I hoped
20:50was a warm, motherly smile
20:51and walked toward the boy.
20:59No!
20:59Make her leave!
21:00I don't want her!
21:01They're all bad women!
21:04So before me,
21:05this kid had already been
21:06through who knows
21:06how many stepmoms.
21:08Relax.
21:08I'm not here to feed you.
21:09I'm feeding Spider-Man.
21:10You're fine.
21:11Eat more.
21:11You need to be full
21:12to save the world.
21:13Kids who don't eat
21:14are too weak.
21:15Can't even protect themselves,
21:16let alone own
21:17all of humanity.
21:19Oh, you want the potatoes?
21:20The boy lay there
21:21looking dejected.
21:22Potatoes give you strike.
21:23But I pretended not to see.
21:25Not until his nose turned red
21:26and his eyes got watery
21:27did I act like
21:27I just spotted him.
21:28There's a baby Spider-Man
21:29here too?
21:31Peter Parker,
21:31can you share
21:32some of your food
21:33with him?
21:34He needs to eat
21:35so he can grow up
21:36big and strong
21:36like you.
21:38Sure.
21:40Well, since Spider-Man
21:41said so,
21:42I guess you can have
21:43a little,
21:43but don't eat too much,
21:45okay?
21:45If you get stronger
21:46than him,
21:47he'll be sad.
21:59That night I stayed
22:00in the villa.
22:01Luca and I
22:01were on the second floor.
22:03Nathan Sterling
22:03had the third floor
22:04to himself.
22:07You are never
22:07to go up
22:08to the third floor.
22:09A woman once
22:09snuck up to climb
22:10into Mr. Sterling's bed
22:11in the middle of the night
22:12and was thrown
22:13out the window.
22:15I won't,
22:16I promise.
22:17Luca was only four,
22:19but he could already
22:20sleep in his own room.
22:21That made my work
22:22a lot easier.
22:26Claire,
22:27let's talk.
22:28Sure,
22:28Mr. Sterling.
22:30You're good with kids?
22:32Have you had
22:32any of your own?
22:33No,
22:34but I helped look
22:35after my ex-husband's
22:36sister's kids
22:37for two years.
22:38Back then,
22:39my ex's family
22:39thought I didn't
22:40make enough money,
22:41so they made me
22:41quit my job.
22:42After I quit,
22:43they said I was lazy
22:44and had nothing to do.
22:45So they fired
22:46the sister's nanny
22:47and made me take over.
22:49You're divorced,
22:50why?
22:51We came from
22:52different worlds.
22:55You know,
22:56I need to find
22:56a mother for Luca.
22:57He has no sense
22:58of security,
22:59he won't leave the house,
23:00won't go to preschool.
23:01I'm busy with work,
23:02so I need someone
23:03patient to be his mother.
23:04I'll have you sign
23:05a prenup.
23:06Everything stays separate.
23:08I understand.
23:11Rich people
23:12are all like this.
23:13My first marriage
23:14was for love,
23:15but because the gap
23:16between our families
23:16was too big,
23:17I signed a prenup too.
23:18So when the love
23:19ran out and we divorced,
23:20I had nothing left,
23:21not even my wedding ring,
23:22let alone someone
23:23like Nathan,
23:23a man at the very top.
23:24Of course he'd be
23:25careful about marriage.
23:27Honestly,
23:27I'd be happy
23:28just having a place to stay.
23:29We don't have to
23:29make it official.
23:30The marriage is for Luca.
23:31I want him to have
23:32a long-term mother,
23:33and marriage is the
23:33strongest contract there is.
23:35Then we'll do it
23:36your way.
23:37Don't worry.
23:38I'll give you
23:38$50,000 a month
23:39for personal spending.
23:42Mr. Sterling,
23:43can I ask,
23:44if we divorce someday,
23:45can I keep the money
23:46you've given me?
23:47Of course.
23:48That money is yours.
23:49Okay, then.
23:51I don't have any needs
23:52in our sex life right now,
23:53so you'll stay
23:54on the second floor.
23:54Okay.
23:55I don't either.
23:56Just like that,
23:56three days after my divorce,
23:58I was married again.
23:59Same as the first time,
24:00no wedding.
24:02Take this.
24:05No need.
24:07For Luca.
24:08Oh, okay.
24:10Thank you for your ring.
24:17What's wrong?
24:19Claire,
24:19can you read me
24:20a bedtime story?
24:22I'll get my dad
24:23to pay you more,
24:24but if you don't want to,
24:25that's fine.
24:25Come here.
24:30That night,
24:31Luca fell asleep
24:31in my bed
24:32after his book.
24:33The next morning,
24:34when Nathan heard,
24:34he was genuinely surprised.
24:36Claire,
24:37thank you.
24:38I'll add $10,000 a month.
24:39Mr. Sterling,
24:40that's way too much.
24:42It really was.
24:43In my last marriage,
24:44I did so much more than this.
24:46During the day,
24:47I watched my ex's sister's kids.
24:49At night,
24:49I cooked for my ex,
24:50satisfying his needs in bed,
24:52then got up in the middle
24:53of the night
24:53to clean the house.
24:57It's not like
24:58we can't afford a maid.
24:59But Claire,
25:00just sitting all day
25:01doing nothing,
25:01that doesn't seem right.
25:03Even after all that,
25:04when we divorced,
25:05they said I'd been living
25:06the good life for three years.
25:07And they sent me out
25:08with nothing.
25:11Mr. Sterling,
25:12that's too much.
25:13This is just what
25:14I should be doing.
25:15As I said this,
25:16Luca came over
25:16and grabbed my right hand.
25:17The women came before you
25:18only cared about pleasing me,
25:20ignoring Luca's feelings.
25:21The extra $10,000
25:22is settled.
25:24Thank you,
25:25Mr. Sterling.
25:26From that day on,
25:27Luca was glued to me.
25:28Nathan was busy,
25:29so most of the time,
25:30it was just the two of us
25:31at home.
25:32I tried my best
25:32to play with him
25:33and made him happy every day.
25:34When he got scared,
25:35I held him tightly
25:36and comforted him gently.
25:38But he still didn't want
25:39to leave the villa
25:39until the day I needed
25:40to go to the hospital
25:41for a follow-up.
25:43Wait for me at home?
25:44I'll be back soon.
25:45He grabbed my hand
25:46and wouldn't let go.
25:48He didn't say anything.
25:49Just looked up at me
25:50with those big,
25:51sad eyes.
25:54He's afraid you'll leave
25:55and not come back.
25:57I'm not leaving.
25:58I'll be back
25:59after my appointment
25:59and then we'll read together.
26:00You play by yourself
26:01for a little while?
26:07Luca,
26:08you want to go to the hospital
26:09with Claire?
26:13My God!
26:14He is finally willing
26:15to leave the house!
26:18Eight years ago,
26:19I was the best
26:20salvage diver
26:20on the West Coast.
26:22Then they called me
26:22a murderer.
26:23I spent eight years
26:24in prison,
26:24but I didn't kill Zach.
26:26Jasmine went down
26:26two hours ago!
26:27She still hasn't
26:28come back up!
26:29Go get your sister!
26:30She's not my sister.
26:31My ears are damaged.
26:32The pressure could kill me.
26:33Five million.
26:34That should cover
26:35one dive.
26:35Eight years ago,
26:37Jasmine saved my life
26:38and I married you.
26:39You got that scar
26:40saving me for me
26:41and for yourself.
26:42That scar?
26:43She got it after
26:44I saved both of you.
26:45Ten years ago,
26:46we found the dive site!
26:47Eight years ago,
26:48I was the best
26:48salvage diver
26:49on the West Coast.
26:50Then they called me
26:51a murderer.
26:52They said I cut my
26:53dive partner Zach's
26:54air hose for gold
26:54from a sunken wreck.
26:55I spent eight years
26:56in prison,
26:57but I didn't kill Zach.
26:59Jasmine did.
27:00That morning,
27:00I was getting
27:01fresh at the dock.
27:02My mother ran toward me.
27:04Elena!
27:05Jasmine went down
27:06two hours ago!
27:07She still hasn't
27:08come back up!
27:09Go get your sister!
27:11She's not my sister.
27:13And I can't dive anymore.
27:15My ears are damaged.
27:16The pressure could kill me.
27:19Severe eardrum damage.
27:20Deep pressure exposure
27:22could be fatal.
27:22I'm not refusing to save her.
27:24I'm telling you
27:25I could die.
27:26Adrian Lane
27:27stepped out of a black car.
27:28My ex-husband,
27:29he held my old wedding ring.
27:31Bring Jasmine back.
27:32If you save her,
27:33I'll marry you again.
27:36I'm not going.
27:39You're going down stroll,
27:41whether you want to or not.
27:44My father snatched the report
27:45and threw it into the fish blood.
27:47Prison taught you nothing.
27:48You're still heartless.
27:50Five million.
27:51That should cover one dive.
27:55Isn't she that murderer?
27:56Her sister is dying,
27:57and she's talking about money?
27:58For eight years,
27:59Adrian never visited me.
28:00Now he came to pay me to die.
28:02I'm not going.
28:05No.
28:09You are going down today,
28:10or I'll make sure
28:11the whole city knows one thing.
28:13You let another person die.
28:15Oh.
28:16You are my daughter,
28:17and you won't even
28:19save your own sister.
28:21Recorder!
28:22I ran.
28:23Behind me,
28:24Adrian shouted,
28:25whoever finds Elena Cole,
28:27I'll pay one million dollars.
28:29Bring her back.
28:30Now.
28:32I ran back to my rental.
28:34My phone kept buzzing.
28:41I turn on the video.
28:43My mother was crying on camera.
28:45Elena killed a man once.
28:47Now poor Jasmine is trapped underwater.
28:49Elena can save her,
28:51but she ran.
28:52If anyone knows where Elena is,
28:53tell me.
28:54I'll pay one million dollars.
28:56Find her.
28:56She thinks she can hide.
28:58Elena Cole!
28:59Come back!
28:59Elena Cole!
29:00Come out!
29:08Apologize.
29:09Say you left Jasmine to die.
29:13I didn't kill anyone!
29:17If she won't walk,
29:19drag her.
29:20Dad, I could die!
29:23Jasmine may not be my blood,
29:25but she is a better daughter
29:27than you ever were.
29:31Elena,
29:33don't make this worse.
29:34Jasmine is almost out of oxygen!
29:37If Jasmine dies,
29:38I will never forgive you.
29:45Take her to the boat.
29:50Bring Jasmine back.
29:52You kidnapped me!
29:53If you save her,
29:54I'll marry you again.
29:55My hearing aid was gone.
29:56It lay on the deck.
29:57Cracked.
29:58Barely working.
29:59I crawled toward it.
30:00Adrian stepped on it.
30:01Your sister is dying,
30:02and you care about this piece of junk?
30:04I need it to hear.
30:06Oh my God!
30:07You can hear me right now!
30:09Eight years ago,
30:10Jasmine saved my life!
30:12And I married you!
30:13You already owe her!
30:14Now you still refuse to save her?
30:16How can a woman be this cruel?
30:19You're her sister.
30:20You're my ex-wife.
30:21Didn't you see the scar on her shoulder?
30:23She got that scar saving me.
30:24For me?
30:25And for yourself!
30:26You should go down there
30:27and bring Jasmine back!
30:28That scar?
30:28She got it after I saved both of you.
30:30Ten years ago,
30:31the current dragged Adrian under.
30:33I pushed Adrian back to the surface.
30:35Then I pushed Jasmine up too.
30:37I was the one left underwater.
30:39Three days later,
30:40Jasmine stole my story,
30:41and Adrian believed her.
30:43He grabbed my chin.
30:44What the hell is wrong with you?
30:46Even now,
30:47you're still trying to smear your sister?
30:48Do you even have a heart?
30:50Hey!
30:51We found the dive site!
30:55My father snatched the report
30:56and threw it into the fish blood.
30:58Prison taught you nothing.
30:59You're still heartless.
31:02Five million.
31:02That should cover one dive.
31:06Isn't she that murderer?
31:07Her sister is dying
31:08and she's talking about money?
31:09For eight years,
31:10Adrian never visited me.
31:11Now he came to pay me to die.
31:17No.
31:20You are going down today
31:21or I'll make sure
31:22the whole city knows one thing.
31:24You let another person die.
31:26Oh.
31:26You are my daughter
31:28and you won't even save
31:30your own sister.
31:32Recorder!
31:33I ran.
31:34Behind me,
31:35Adrian shouted.
31:36Whoever finds Elena Cole,
31:38I'll pay one million dollars.
31:40Bring her back.
31:41Now.
31:43I ran back to my rental.
31:45My phone kept buzzing.
31:52I turn on the video.
31:54My mother was crying on camera.
31:56Elena killed a man once.
31:58Now poor Jasmine
31:59is trapped underwater.
32:01Elena can save her
32:02but she ran.
32:03If anyone knows
32:04where Elena is,
32:05tell me.
32:05I'll pay one million dollars.
32:07Find her.
32:08She thinks she can hide.
32:09Elena Cole!
32:10Come out!
32:10Elena Cole!
32:11Come out!
32:19Apologize.
32:21Say you left Jasmine to die.
32:24I didn't kill anyone!
32:28If she won't walk,
32:30drag her.
32:31Dad, I could die!
32:34Jasmine may not be my blood
32:36but she is a better daughter
32:38than you ever will.
32:42Elena,
32:44don't make this worse.
32:46Jasmine is almost
32:47out of oxygen!
32:48If Jasmine dies,
32:50I will never forgive you.
32:56Take her to the boat.
33:01Bring Jasmine back.
33:03You kidnapped me!
33:04If you save her,
33:05I'll marry you again.
33:06My hearing aid was gone.
33:08It lay on the deck.
33:09Cracked.
33:09Barely working.
33:10I crawled toward it.
33:11Adrienne stepped on it.
33:13Your sister is dying
33:13and you care about
33:14this piece of junk?
33:16I need it to hear.
33:17Oh my god!
33:18You can hear me right now!
33:20Eight years ago,
33:22Jasmine saved my life
33:23and I married you!
33:24You already owe her!
33:26Now you still refuse
33:27to save her?
33:28How can a woman
33:29be this cruel?
33:30You're her sister.
33:31You're my ex-wife.
33:32Didn't you see
33:33the scar on her shoulder?
33:34She got that scar
33:35saving me.
33:35For me
33:36and for yourself,
33:37you should go down there
33:38and bring Jasmine back.
33:39That scar?
33:40She got it
33:40after I saved both of you.
33:42Ten years ago,
33:42the currant dragged
33:43Adrienne under.
33:44I pushed Adrienne
33:45back to the surface.
33:46Then I pushed Jasmine up too.
33:48I was the one
33:49left underwater.
33:50Three days later,
33:51Jasmine stole my story
33:52and Adrienne believed her.
33:54He grabbed my chin.
33:55What the hell
33:55is wrong with you?
33:57Even now,
33:58you're still trying
33:58to smear your sister?
34:00Do you even have a heart?
34:01Hey!
34:02We found the dive site!
34:07It was the day
34:08of the ride again
34:09and he had his arm
34:10around my sister's waist.
34:12She thought she'd won.
34:13It's a slow execution.
34:15I swam.
34:16The sacred reef
34:17was burning hard
34:18when I arrived.
34:19Then Thessaly pointed at me.
34:20Ash everywhere!
34:22Burned scales!
34:23It had to be her!
34:24Not one of them
34:25spoke for me.
34:26The sea serpent
34:27spoke again,
34:28quieter this time.
34:29Enough.
34:29The girl comes with me.
34:31This scene
34:32is exactly as it was
34:33in my previous life.
34:34The sky outside
34:35has turned
34:36the color of a wound.
34:37The shark lord
34:38stands before us
34:39in his full power,
34:40in surface form.
34:41But how could it be
34:42Thessaly in his arms?
34:43In my previous life,
34:45on the day
34:45of the title covenant rite,
34:47my sister chose
34:47the lionfish fae.
34:49She left
34:49the whale shifter,
34:50the one nobody wanted
34:52for me.
34:53It was fate.
34:54A drift born
34:55for a beast.
34:57Instead,
34:57I saved a shark lord
34:58by accident.
34:59He took me
35:00as his queen.
35:01After the bonding,
35:02I bore five heirs
35:03for the shark bloodline.
35:05My sister
35:05bonded to the lionfish fae.
35:07was cast out
35:08for barrenness.
35:09And I woke.
35:10It was the day
35:11of the rite again.
35:12Everyone present
35:12is a worthy son
35:13of their bloodline.
35:15Choose freely.
35:16The hall filled
35:16with glances,
35:17with offered flowers,
35:19with quiet negotiations
35:20between bodies
35:21and bloodlines.
35:22I didn't want
35:23any of it.
35:24Then the doors
35:25blew open.
35:25He arrived
35:26in a surge
35:27of volcanic current,
35:29a shark lord
35:29in his full power,
35:31and he had his arm
35:32around my sister's waist.
35:34Thessaly saved my life.
35:35From this day forward,
35:36she is my true mate.
35:38A shark lord
35:39choosing one of ours,
35:40choosing her
35:41as first and only.
35:43It hadn't happened
35:44in living memory.
35:45I knew then.
35:45She'd been reborn too.
35:47Now I looked at her,
35:48draped against the shark lord,
35:50already victorious.
35:51She thought she'd won.
35:53She hadn't thought through
35:54what it would cost her.
35:55Shark lords are
35:56of the volcanic current element.
35:58Their mates sleep
35:59in volcanic current,
36:00bathe in volcanic current,
36:02eat volcanic current food.
36:03For a bloodline like ours,
36:05deep current by nature,
36:07that's not a marriage.
36:08It's a slow execution.
36:09Last time,
36:10I had no choice
36:11but to pretend to like it.
36:12Every day,
36:13I smiled through
36:13the sacred thermal vent walks,
36:15through the scalding baths,
36:17through the meals
36:18that felt like swallowing coals.
36:19By the time I was pregnant,
36:21my core was already cracked.
36:22Thessaly was deep current too.
36:24She just didn't know
36:25what she'd agreed to yet.
36:27The whole keep celebrated.
36:29Every unmated girl
36:30in the order
36:31delayed her own bonding
36:32to help prepare Thessaly's.
36:34The gift list
36:34ran ten feet long.
36:36The high warden
36:37nearly emptied
36:38the sanctuary's vaults.
36:39I was the only
36:40unmated woman left.
36:41That made me
36:42the obvious choice
36:43for handmaid.
36:45Thessaly stood over me
36:46and smiled.
36:47Before you were the elder,
36:48I deferred to you.
36:49How does this feel, sister?
36:51I said nothing.
36:51She stepped forward
36:52and struck my face.
36:53The high warden
36:54has already agreed.
36:55You belong to me now.
36:57I'll hit you when I want.
36:58Praise you when I want.
37:00You have no say.
37:01Start learning.
37:02A courier arrived
37:03from the Shark Lord.
37:04A volcanic silk mantle,
37:06white as seafoam,
37:07heat-resistant,
37:08enchanted for speed.
37:09Thessaly touched it
37:10with both hands.
37:12I knew that mantle.
37:13For volcanic current bloodlines,
37:15it was a treasure.
37:16For deep current bloodlines,
37:18it was a punishment.
37:19I'd worn it
37:20every day
37:21of my first marriage.
37:22It had carved away
37:23at my core
37:23for years.
37:24Thessaly would find
37:25that out eventually.
37:27Then a girl came
37:28swimming fast.
37:28Volcanic current damage
37:29on the Sacred Wreath!
37:30What an awful omen.
37:32Today of all days.
37:34I didn't wait.
37:35I swam.
37:36The Sacred Wreath
37:37was burning hard
37:38when I arrived.
37:39Black clouds of silt
37:40screaming from
37:41inside the coral night.
37:43The Covenant Warden
37:43stood at the edge
37:44and wouldn't move.
37:46That volcanic current
37:47belongs to a Shark Lord.
37:48We interfere,
37:48we offend him.
37:49One of them said,
37:50Your sister's bonding
37:51is today.
37:52Don't make trouble.
37:53They're only low-rank
37:54for Liliev's.
37:55I looked at him
37:55for a long moment.
37:56Then I went in.
37:58The silt blinded me fast.
38:00The thermal current
38:01scorched my scales.
38:02But I was deep current.
38:03Wherever I moved,
38:05cold spread behind me.
38:06It slowed the thermal currents
38:07enough to matter.
38:08I remembered
38:08what my foster mother
38:09taught me.
38:10Clear a line.
38:12Deny the thermal current
38:13somewhere to go.
38:14I tide shifted
38:14to full form
38:15and called out.
38:16Shark,
38:17Manta Ray,
38:18Swordfish,
38:19Sea Turd,
38:19they came.
38:20They carried
38:20cold hardy vessels
38:22in their jaws.
38:23A whale used its mouth.
38:24Sea urchins
38:25and mantis shrimp
38:26worked the thermal breaks.
38:27We were losing.
38:28Then we weren't.
38:29Then the reef shook.
38:31The seabeds
38:32split open.
38:33A sea serpent
38:34came out that black.
38:35Ancient Marjana
38:36took block the light
38:37from above.
38:38He opened his mouth
38:39and cold water poured.
38:41The thermal current
38:42died.
38:43The sea serpent's voice
38:44didn't come from
38:45one direction.
38:45This reef is mine.
38:47Who damaged it?
38:49The covenant wardens
38:51said nothing.
38:52A thousand tidal cycles
38:53in this valley
38:54and nobody had thought
38:55to check whether
38:55something older
38:56already lived here.
38:57Then Thessaly pointed at me.
38:59Look at her.
39:00Ash everywhere.
39:01Burned scales.
39:02It had to be her.
39:04Every eye turned.
39:05I was standing there
39:05with my hands at my sides.
39:07Charred.
39:07Bleeding in two places.
39:09The same hands
39:10that had just spent
39:10an hour fighting
39:11the thermal current.
39:12I was certain
39:13someone would say it.
39:14Any of them.
39:15They'd all see me swim in.
39:16The covenant warden
39:17looked at me
39:18for a long time.
39:19Then he bowed.
39:21The sea rank and sovereign.
39:22Our wayward daughter
39:23did this.
39:24She is yours to punish.
39:25We offer her freely.
39:26I stood still.
39:27Not one of them
39:28spoke for me.
39:29I had bent myself in half
39:31for these people
39:32in my last life.
39:33I had scalded
39:34from volcanic current.
39:36From the inside out.
39:37Carrying children
39:38for a clan
39:39that wasn't mine.
39:40For a man
39:41who never once
39:42made me warm.
39:43I'd done it for them.
39:44Kept them safe.
39:46Kept them proud.
39:47And now
39:47they were handing me
39:49to a sea serpent
39:50just to buy themselves
39:51quiet.
39:52I looked at the
39:52covenant warden.
39:53The volcanic current
39:54was shark made.
39:56Everyone here knows that.
39:57I'm deep current.
39:59How would I produce
40:00sacred thermal current?
40:01Thessaly cut in immediately.
40:03You're my handmaid.
40:04You had access
40:05to my husband's
40:06tide brands.
40:06Easy enough
40:07to steal a spark.
40:08Sea serpent sovereign.
40:09The evidence speaks
40:10for itself.
40:10She damaged
40:11your sacred wreath.
40:12I held up my hands.
40:13The skin had peeled
40:14back in places.
40:16If I started it
40:17why did I try
40:18to stop it?
40:20To look innocent.
40:23I laughed.
40:24It came out wrong.
40:26Too much feeling in it.
40:27What do I have to gain?
40:28Any of it.
40:30What exactly
40:31do you think I wanted?
40:32The covenant
40:33warden stood.
40:34Sylvain.
40:35Just admit it.
40:36That was my name.
40:38Sylvain.
40:39I looked at him
40:39for a long moment.
40:40I'm done with this covenant.
40:42All of it.
40:44Every debt
40:44between us is settled.
40:46The sea serpent
40:46spoke again.
40:47Quieter this time.
40:48Enough.
40:49The girl comes with me.
40:51Whatever she is to you
40:52she isn't anymore.
40:53The darkness
40:54rolled toward me.
40:55I closed my eyes.
40:59This scene
41:00is exactly
41:01as it was
41:01in my previous life.
41:03The sky outside
41:04has turned
41:04the color of a wound.
41:05The shark lord
41:06stands before us
41:07in his full power.
41:08In surface form.
41:09But how could it
41:10be Thessaly
41:11in his arms?
41:12In my previous life
41:13on the day
41:14of the title covenant rite
41:15my sister chose
41:16the lionfish fay.
41:17She left
41:18the whale shifter.
41:19The one nobody
41:20wanted for me.
41:21It was fate.
41:22A drift born
41:23for a beast.
41:25Instead
41:25I saved a shark lord
41:27by accident.
41:28He took me
41:28as his queen.
41:29After the bonding
41:30I bore five heirs
41:32for the shark bloodline.
41:33My sister
41:33bonded to the lionfish fay
41:35was cast out
41:36for barrenness.
41:37And I woke.
41:38It was the day
41:39of the rite again.
41:40Everyone present
41:41is a worthy son
41:42of their bloodline.
41:43Choose freely.
41:44The hall filled
41:45with glances.
41:46With offered flowers.
41:47With quiet negotiations
41:49between bodies
41:50and bloodlines.
41:51I didn't want
41:52any of it.
41:52Then the doors
41:53blew open.
41:54He arrived
41:55in a surge
41:55of volcanic current.
41:57A shark lord
41:58in his full power.
41:59And he had his arm
42:00around my sister's waist.
42:02Thessaly saved my life.
42:04From this day forward
42:05she is my true mate.
42:06A shark lord
42:07choosing one of ours.
42:09Choosing her
42:09as first
42:10and only.
42:11It hadn't happened
42:12in living memory.
42:13I knew then.
42:14She'd been reborn too.
42:15Now I looked at her.
42:17Draped against the shark lord.
42:18Already victorious.
42:20She thought she'd won.
42:21She hadn't thought through
42:22what it would cost her.
42:23Shark lords are
42:24of the volcanic current element.
42:26Their mates sleep
42:27in volcanic current.
42:28Bathe in volcanic current.
42:30Eat volcanic current food.
42:32For a bloodline like ours.
42:33Deep current by nature.
42:35That's not a marriage.
42:36It's a slow execution.
42:38Last time I had no choice
42:39but to pretend to like it.
42:40Every day.
42:41I smiled through
42:42the sacred thermal vent walks.
42:44Through the scalding baths.
42:45Through the meals
42:46that felt like swallowing coals.
42:48By the time I was pregnant
42:49my core was already cracked.
42:51Thessaly was deep current too.
42:53She just didn't know
42:53what she'd agreed to yet.
42:55The whole keep celebrated.
42:58Every unmated girl
42:59in the order
42:59delayed her own bonding
43:00to help prepare Thessaly's.
43:02The gift list ran
43:03ten feet long.
43:04The high warden
43:05nearly emptied
43:06the sanctuary's vaults.
43:07I was the only
43:08unmated woman left.
43:10That made me
43:11the obvious choice
43:12for handmaid.
43:13Thessaly stood over me
43:14and smiled.
43:15Before you were the elder
43:16I deferred to you.
43:18How does this feel sister?
43:19I said nothing.
43:20She stepped forward
43:20and struck my face.
43:22The high warden
43:22has already agreed.
43:23You belong to me now.
43:25I'll hit you when I want.
43:27Praise you when I want.
43:28You have no say.
43:29Start learning.
43:30A courier arrived
43:31from the Shark Lord.
43:32A volcanic silk mantle
43:34white as seafoam
43:35heat resistant
43:36enchanted for speed.
43:38Thessaly touched it
43:39with both hands.
43:40I knew that mantle.
43:42For volcanic current bloodlines
43:43it was a treasure.
43:45For deep current bloodlines
43:46it was a punishment.
43:47I'd worn it
43:48every day
43:49of my first marriage.
43:50It had carved away
43:51at my core
43:52for years.
43:53Thessaly would find
43:54that out eventually.
43:55Then a girl
43:56came swimming fast.
43:57Volcanic current damage
43:57on the sacred wreath!
43:58What an awful omen.
44:00Today of all days.
44:02I didn't wait.
44:03I swear.
44:04The sacred wreath
44:05was burning hard
44:06when I arrived.
44:07Black clouds of silt
44:09screaming from
44:10inside the coral light.
44:11The Covenant Warden
44:12stood at the edge
44:13and wouldn't move.
44:14That volcanic current
44:15belongs to a Shark Lord.
44:16We interfere,
44:17we offend him.
44:18One of them said,
44:18Your sister's bonding
44:19is today.
44:20Don't make trouble.
44:21They're only low-rank
44:22Falilius.
44:23I looked at him
44:23for a long moment.
44:25Then I went in.
44:26The silt blinded me fast.
44:28The thermal current
44:29scorched my scales.
44:30But I was deep current.
44:32Wherever I moved,
44:33cold spread behind me.
44:34It slowed the thermal currents
44:35enough to matter.
44:36I remembered what
44:37my foster mother taught me.
44:39Clear a line.
44:40Deny the thermal current
44:41somewhere to go.
44:42I tide shifted
44:43to full form
44:44and called out.
44:45Shark.
44:45Manta ray.
44:46Swordfish.
44:47Sea turd they came.
44:48They carried cold
44:49hardy vessels
44:50in their jaws.
44:51A whale used its mouth.
44:52Sea urchins
44:53and mantis shrimp
44:54worked the thermal breaks.
44:55We were losing.
44:56Then we weren't.
44:58Then the reef
44:59shook.
44:59The seabed
45:00split open.
45:01A sea serpent
45:02came out that black.
45:04Ancient Marjana
45:04took block the light
45:06from above.
45:06He opened his mouth
45:07and cold water poured.
45:09The thermal current
45:10died.
45:11The sea serpent's voice
45:12didn't come from
45:13one direction.
45:14This reef is mine.
45:16Who damaged it?
45:18The covenant wardens
45:19said nothing.
45:20A thousand tidal cycles
45:21in this valley.
45:22And nobody had thought
45:23to check whether
45:24something older
45:24already lived here.
45:26Then Thessaly
45:26pointed at me.
45:27Look at her.
45:28Ash everywhere.
45:30Burned scales.
45:31It had to be her.
45:32Every eye turned.
45:33I was standing there
45:34with my hands
45:34at my sides.
45:35Charred.
45:36Bleeding in two places.
45:37The same hands
45:38that had just spent
45:39an hour fighting
45:40the thermal current.
45:41I was certain
45:41someone would say it.
45:43Any of them.
45:43They'd all seen me
45:44swim in.
45:44The covenant warden
45:45looked at me
45:46for a long time.
45:48Then he bowed.
45:49The sea rank
45:50and sovereign.
45:50Our wayward daughter
45:52did this.
45:52She is yours to punish.
45:53We offer her freely.
45:54I stood still.
45:55Not one of them
45:56spoke for me.
45:58I had bent myself
45:59in half for these
46:00people in my last life.
46:01I had scalded
46:02from volcanic current
46:04from the inside out.
46:06Carrying children
46:07for a clan
46:07that wasn't mine.
46:09For a man
46:09who never once
46:10made me warm.
46:11I'd done it
46:12for them.
46:13Kept them safe.
46:14Kept them proud.
46:15And now
46:16they were handing me
46:17to a sea serpent
46:18just to buy
46:19themselves quiet.
46:20I looked at
46:21the covenant warden.
46:22The volcanic current
46:23was shark made.
46:24Everyone here
46:25knows that.
46:26I'm deep current.
46:27How would I produce
46:28sacred thermal current?
46:30Thessaly cut in
46:31immediately.
46:31You're my handmaid.
46:33You had access
46:33to my husband's
46:34tide brands.
46:35Easy enough
46:35to steal a spark.
46:36Sea serpent sovereign.
46:37The evidence
46:38speaks for itself.
46:39She damaged
46:39your sacred wreath.
46:40I held up my hands.
46:42The skin had
46:43peeled back in places.
46:44If I started it,
46:45why did I try
46:46to stop it?
46:48To look
46:49innocent.
46:51I laughed.
46:52It came out
46:53wrong.
46:54Too much
46:54feeling in it.
46:55What do I have
46:56to gain?
46:57Any of it.
46:58What exactly
46:59do you think
46:59I wanted?
47:00The covenant
47:01warden stood.
47:02Sylvain.
47:03Just admit it.
47:05That was my name.
47:06Sylvain.
47:07I looked at him
47:08for a long moment.
47:09I'm done
47:10with this covenant.
47:11All of it.
47:12Every debt
47:13between us
47:13is settled.
47:14The sea serpent
47:15spoke again.
47:16Quieter this time.
47:17Enough.
47:17The girl
47:18comes with me.
47:19Whatever she is
47:20to you,
47:20she isn't anymore.
47:21The darkness
47:22rolled toward me.
47:24I closed my eyes.
47:27This scene
47:28is exactly
47:29as it was
47:30in my previous life.
47:31The sky outside
47:32has turned
47:33the color of a wound.
47:34The shark lord
47:34stands before us
47:35in his full power.
47:37In surface form.
47:38But how could it be
47:38Thessaly in his arms?
47:40In my previous life,
47:42on the day of the
47:42title covenant rite,
47:43my sister chose
47:44the lionfish fay.
47:45She left
47:46the whale shifter,
47:47the one nobody
47:48wanted for me.
47:49It was fate.
47:51A drift born
47:52for a beast.
47:53Instead,
47:54I saved a shark lord
47:55by accident.
47:56He took me
47:57as his queen.
47:58After the bonding,
47:59I bore five heirs
48:00for the shark bloodline.
48:01My sister,
48:02bonded to the lionfish fay,
48:04was cast out
48:05for barrenness.
48:06And I woke.
48:07It was the day
48:07of the rite again.
48:08Everyone present
48:09is a worthy son
48:10of their bloodline.
48:11Choose freely.
48:12The hall filled
48:13with glances,
48:14with offered flowers,
48:16with quiet negotiations
48:17between bodies
48:18and bloodlines.
48:19I didn't want
48:20any of it.
48:21Then the doors
48:21blew open.
48:22He arrived
48:23in a surge
48:24of volcanic current,
48:25a shark lord
48:26in his full power,
48:28and he had his arm
48:29around my sister's waist.
48:31Thessaly saved my life.
48:32From this day forward,
48:33she is my true mate.
48:34A shark lord
48:35choosing one of ours,
48:37choosing her
48:38as first and only.
48:39It hadn't happened
48:40in living memory.
48:41I knew then.
48:42She'd been reborn too.
48:44Now I looked at her,
48:45draped against the shark lord,
48:47already victorious.
48:48She thought she'd won.
48:49She hadn't thought through
48:51what it would cost her.
48:52Shark lords are of
48:53the volcanic current element.
48:54Their mates sleep
48:55in volcanic current.
48:57Bathe in volcanic current.
48:59Eat volcanic current food.
49:00For a bloodline like ours,
49:02deep current by nature,
49:03that's not a marriage.
49:04It's a slow execution.
49:06Last time I had no choice
49:07but to pretend to like it.
49:09Every day,
49:09I smiled through
49:10the sacred thermal vent walks,
49:12through the scalding baths,
49:14through the meals
49:14that felt like swallowing coals.
49:16By the time I was pregnant,
49:17my core was already cracked.
49:19Thessaly was deep current too.
49:21She just didn't know
49:22what she'd agreed to yet.
49:24The whole keep celebrated.
49:26Every unmated girl
49:27in the order
49:28delayed her own bonding
49:29to help prepare Thessaly's.
49:30The gift list
49:31ran ten feet long.
49:33The high warden
49:34nearly emptied
49:34the sanctuary's vaults.
49:36I was the only
49:37unmated woman left.
49:38That made me
49:39the obvious choice
49:40for handmaid.
49:41Thessaly stood over me
49:43and smiled.
49:43Before you were the elder,
49:45I deferred to you.
49:46How does this feel, sister?
49:47I said nothing.
49:48She stepped forward
49:49and struck my face.
49:50The high warden
49:51has already agreed.
49:52You belong to me now.
49:54I'll hit you when I want.
49:55Praise you when I want.
49:56You have no say.
49:58Start learning.
49:59A courier arrived
50:00from the shark lord.
50:01A volcanic silk mantle,
50:03white as sea foam,
50:03heat-resistant,
50:05enchanted for speed.
50:06Thessaly touched it
50:07with both hands.
50:08I knew that mantle.
50:10For volcanic current bloodlines,
50:12it was a treasure.
50:13For deep current bloodlines,
50:15it was a punishment.
50:16I'd worn it
50:17every day
50:17of my first marriage.
50:19It had carved away
50:19at my core
50:20for years.
50:21Thessaly would find
50:22that out eventually.
50:23Then a girl
50:24came swimming fast.
50:25Volcanic current damage
50:26on the sacred wreath!
50:27What an awful omen.
50:28Today of all days.
50:31I didn't wait.
50:32I swam.
50:33The sacred wreath
50:34was burning hard
50:35when I arrived.
50:36Black clouds of silt
50:37screaming from inside
50:38the coral night.
50:39The Covenant Warden
50:40stood at the edge
50:41and wouldn't move.
50:42That volcanic current
50:43belongs to a shark lord.
50:45We interfere,
50:45we offend him.
50:46One of them said,
50:47Your sister's bonding
50:48is today.
50:49Don't make trouble.
50:50They're only low-rank
50:51phililius.
50:51I looked at him
50:52for a long moment.
50:53Then I went in.
50:55The silt blinded me fast.
50:57The thermal current
50:58scorched my scales.
50:59But I was deep current.
51:00Wherever I moved,
51:01cold spread behind me.
51:03It slowed the thermal currents
51:04enough to matter.
51:05I remembered what my foster
51:06mother taught me.
51:07Clear a line.
51:08Deny the thermal current
51:10somewhere to go.
51:10I tide shifted to full form
51:12and called out.
51:13Shark.
51:14Manta ray.
51:15Swordfish.
51:15Sea turd,
51:16they came.
51:17They carried cold hardy
51:18vessels in their jaws.
51:19A whale used its mouth.
51:21Sea urchins and mantis shrimp
51:22worked the thermal breaks.
51:24We were boozing.
51:25Then we weren't.
51:26Then the reef shook.
51:28The seabeds split open.
51:30A sea serpent
51:30came out of that black.
51:32Ancient Marjana
51:33took block the light
51:34from above.
51:35He opened his mouth
51:36and cold water poured.
51:37The thermal current died.
51:39The sea serpent's voice
51:41didn't come from one direction.
51:42This reef is mine.
51:44Who damaged it?