As the group walked to The Royal Palm, Sapphira couldn't help but look around with fascination. The landscape of the surface was so different from what she remembered. The trees, the buildings that weren't there before, the sounds of life echoing around her, it was all so surreal. As the group led Sapphira through the twisting halls of the abandoned city, the silence was broken only by the sound of their footsteps and the faint hum of the aquatic life surrounding them. Sapphira, feeling a mix of fear and excitement, kept a close distance to the group, her head swirling with thoughts and emotions. The memories of her long-lost life on land came back, and she couldn’t help but feel a pang of nostalgia.
As they navigated through the ruined pathways on the way to the city, Rachel turned and looked at Sapphira, her brows rustled. "So uh, can you tell us your story?" she asked, her voice echoing softly through the empty halls. "You said you spent centuries here. That's a long time.”
Sapphira nodded, a hint of melancholy in her voice. "Yes, it is," she said. "It has been centuries, indeed. I watched as this once-thriving city slowly succumbed to the sea, and I was left behind to watch over the World Core.”
"So," Noelle chimed in, "you were the administrator of the Palace, right? That's a huge responsibility. Why did they leave you behind?”
Sapphira's gaze hardened, a mix of sadness and resentment flickered in her eyes. "When the city fell, everyone fled, except for me. They didn’t think I, a simple mermaid, could do anything. So they left me behind, alone, to watch over the Core.”
Zalgo chuckled, a hint of admiration in her voice. "Well, they were wrong. They clearly underestimated you."
Camilla nodded in agreement. "That's right! You have been here for centuries, all by yourself. We can't even imagine how hard that must have been for you!”
Sapphira's expression softened slightly, touched by their words, but the pain of her past still lingered in her eyes. "It was difficult, yes," she said. "But I had no choice. The Core had to be protected, and someone had to watch over it. So I stayed, alone, for centuries, with only the company of the aquatic life around me.”
"You've been through a lot," Alice said. "You’re incredibly strong to have endured all that time on your own.”
Sapphira glanced at Alice, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Thank you," she whispered. "It's strange, but...your words mean a lot to me. I've been alone for so long, it feels...strange to know that after all this time, I’m not alone anymore.”
"Of course you're not alone!" Rachel said with a kind smile. "We've got you now."
Zalgo nodded. "That's right. We're not going to forget you, not after all that you've been through.”
Sapphira's chest tightened with emotion. The words of acceptance and support from the group were more than she could have ever hoped for. Years of seclusion had left her hardened and weary, and now, with the group’s support, she felt a flicker of hope.
As they continued on, Sapphira couldn’t help but ask a nagging question that had plagued her mind. "May I ask you all a question?" she inquired, her voice soft.
"Of course," Noelle replied, her tone encouraging. "What is it?”
Sapphira glanced down at the floor before looking up, a hint of nervousness in her expression. "Why did you choose to help me? You barely know me. Yet, you still offered me a home with you.”
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Camilla shrugged with a friendly smile. "Well, you need help, don’t you?"
Rachel nodded in agreement. "Exactly! Plus, we know what it’s like to be alone, and the feeling sucks.”
…Which is why I wished Kinsey opened her damn mouth about her feelings- Rachel thought with a mental groan.
Zalgo chuckled, her grin widening. "Besides, something about you just seemed...intriguing. We couldn't just walk away from you.”
Sapphira's heart fluttered with gratitude. She had expected many responses, but the kindness and openness of the group was something she had long forgotten. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice slightly shaky. "You have no idea how much this means to me.”
Alice patted Sapphira on the back. "Don’t worry about it. We’re happy to help."
Noelle smiled warmly. "We’re in this together now, okay?”
The words echoed in Sapphira’s mind, and a small, genuine smile tugged at her lips. "Together," she repeated, the word sounding foreign yet comforting. "I like the sound of that.”
The Royal Palm came into view, and the girls entered the hotel with Sapphira, who received curious stares from the staff members. As they reached the elevator, Camilla pressed the button, waiting for the doors to open. After a few moments, the elevator doors slid open with a soft 'ding,' revealing a spacious and well-lit interior. The group filed inside, taking up positions along the walls. Sapphira hung back slightly, her gaze sweeping over the unfamiliar surroundings.
Alice turned to Sapphira, noticing her hesitance. "It's alright," she said, her tone reassuring. "The elevator is completely safe.”
Sapphira let out a small breath, trying to calm her nerves, and nodded. "I...I trust you," she murmured, floating into the elevator.
The doors slid closed smoothly, and with a soft hum, the elevator began to ascend. As the elevator rose, the group engaged in light conversation, their voices filling the small space with laughter and chatter.
Sapphira listened quietly, taking in the sound of their laughter and casual banter. It was a stark contrast to the silence she had grown accustomed to, and it stirred something within her. The sensation of feeling...alive, once again.
As the elevator continued its ascent, Zalgo looked over at Sapphira, noticing her lost in thought. "Hey, are you doing okay?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern.
Sapphira snapped back to reality, her dark eyes meeting Zalgo's. "Oh, um, yes," she stammered, trying to seem composed. "I apologize. I was just...lost in thought.”
Zalgo chuckled, her grin widening. "No need to apologize," she said. "I get it. This is a lot to take in, especially after centuries alone.”
After a few moments, the elevator came to a gentle halt, and the doors slid open to reveal a long hallway lined with doors. The group stepped out one by one, with Sapphira following closely behind.
The hallway was well-illuminated, with a series of doors lined up on either side. Each door was fitted with a small, circular window, giving a glimpse into various rooms. The hallway was blissfully quiet, save for the soft footsteps echoing with every step.
Camilla led the way, checking the room numbers on the doors as she walked. "227…228…229.
‘Kay, this is it," she said, stopping in front of a door at the end of the hall. She turned the handle, and the door swung open, revealing the cozy, well-furnished room.
Sapphira peered into the room curiously, her gaze flitting from the comfortable-looking beds bedecked with comfortable blankets and fluffy pillows, to the small kitchenette in the corner. It was nothing compared to what she had grown used to, it looked like the most lavish living space she had ever seen.
"This is where you’ll be staying," Camilla said, stepping into the room and dropping her bag on the bed. "We didn't bring much furniture, but you do have a bed, a kitchenette, and a bathroom.”
Sapphira entered the room behind them, her eyes darting around, taking in every detail. "This...this is amazing," she whispered, a mixture of awe and gratitude in her voice. "You have no idea how big of an upgrade this is for me.”
"We figured you'd need a bit of comfort after being stuck in a damp palace like that," Alice said, plopping down on the bed and basking in its softness.
Sapphira chuckled softly, her gaze lingering on the bed, almost as if she was still in disbelief that she had been given such a comfortable space to sleep in after so long. "You've no clue. For centuries, I have been confined to a small, cold cell, hardly more comfortable than a cave.”
"That sounds awful," Noelle said, her eyebrows furrowing in sympathy. "You must really hate small spaces now, huh?”
Sapphira nodded, a hint of irritation in her expression. "I do, to be honest. Centuries of living in a cramped cell, with nothing but four stone walls, and a tiny, barred window to look out at. It was...suffocating, to say the least.”
"Well, fortunately, this room is anything but small," Noelle said, glancing around the open space. "You won't have to feel claustrophobic here.”
Sapphira exhaled deeply, her body visibly relaxing as she looked around the room once more, as if absorbing the comfort that it provided. "It feels like a dream... to have this much space, and comfort, after all these years.”
"You deserve a chance to relax and feel at home," Alice added, reclining on the bed. "Consider this your own little sanctuary.”
Sapphira smiled, the warmth in her heart almost too much to bear. After so many long years, she was finally given a sanctuary, a place of her own. "I... I don't know how to thank you all," she said, her voice cracking slightly with emotion.
"There's no need to thank us," Noelle said, resting a comforting hand on Sapphira's shoulder. "We're a team now. We look out for each other, okay?”
Sapphira's eyes watered a bit, and she swallowed the lump in her throat, nodding. "Okay," she whispered, her voice filled with gratitude. In that moment, she knew the true meaning of the word 'family,' and the depth of the bond that had already started to form between them.