The Mermaid Princess Who Won’t Cry

The agony of my flesh cracking and peeling away under the scorching sun was still fresh in my mind.

I opened my eyes.

Zyphira Torvalith was standing beside me and holding my hand on the altar dais.

Below us, a vast crowd of merfolk elders and subjects stood before the altar.

“Honored elders, Mirelle may have been born without tear ducts and may be unable to produce pearls, but she’s still the queen’s own flesh and blood.”

Zyphira raised her voice.

“I may be an outsider, a sea serpent by birth, but our mother has shown me great kindness. Today, as I’m crowned Holy Maiden, I offer to wear the Pearl of the Sea God in Mirelle’s place.

“I’ll weep for her and shoulder the burden of providing for our people!”

The elders immediately voiced their approval.

“How selfless of you, Holy Maiden Zyphira! That useless princess enjoys all the privileges of her birth and gives nothing in return. She can’t squeeze out so much as a tear. How is she supposed to provide for our people?”

“If Her Majesty weren’t in a coma, that girl would’ve been cast out of the royal family long ago.”

My eldest brother, Althirion Aquarion, stepped onto the dais.

Clad in golden scale armor, he towered over me and looked at me with disdain.

“Did you hear that? Zyphira is taking on all this responsibility for you. Be a good sister and think of our people. Don’t let jealousy get in the way.”

I touched the corners of my eyes, which felt faintly hot.

The poisonous quicksilver churned through my veins.

Good. It had not taken effect yet.

I looked at him and obediently removed the Pearl of the Sea God from around my neck.

“You’re right, Althirion.”

I fastened the pearl around Zyphira’s pale neck myself.

“Zyphira is better suited for this than I am.”

The tension eased from Althirion’s shoulders.

My other seven brothers rushed forward from behind him and surrounded Zyphira.

My second brother, Blysar Aquarion, draped a shawl of cloud silk around Zyphira’s shoulders.

“The Pearl of the Sea God gives off such a chill. We can’t have you freezing.”

My third brother, Ceruleth Aquarion, poured a cup of hot broth and handed it to her.

“You must be tired. Here, have something warm for your throat. Don’t bother with that useless girl.”

My youngest brother, Haelthar Aquarion, stepped in front of me and blocked my way.

“Get lost, you useless leech. You’re nothing but bad luck.”

I stood alone at the deserted edge of the dais.

Surrounded by my brothers, Zyphira smiled at me through the crowd.

Her smile was smug with triumph.

The coronation was over.

I was pouring water in a side chamber.

Zyphira came in and shut the door behind her.

She walked up to me and dragged a long claw on her serpent-scale gauntlet across the back of my hand.

My skin split open. Blood welled from the wound.

It hurt very much, and I bit down hard on my lip.

However, my eyes remained dry. Not even a hint of moisture.

“Oh, Mirelle! I didn’t mean to do that!” Zyphira covered her mouth in a show of alarm.

“Why aren’t you crying? Does it not hurt?”

She leaned close to study my face.

There were no tears.

Satisfied, she let her guard down and dropped all pretense.

“Mirelle, our annual tribute to the dragons is almost due. If you still can’t weep pearls of the finest quality, the elders might show you no mercy and offer you up as a sacrifice.”

Zyphira sighed.

“Don’t be afraid, though. I know of an enchanted spring on land. One dip, and even someone with a heart of stone would cry.”

I looked at her dry, irritated eyes and smiled.

“All right, Zyphira. Take me there.”