"JACOB!!!"
"CAPTAIN!!!"
I turned to Arella in disbelief. How could she? "He is the payment. His death will let you exit the gulf," she cursed and swam away.
Lowen and Neville were about to jump into the ocean but Coralyn stopped them. "Don't! The waters will kill you! We curse men, remember? No men are allowed in that troubled waters," she said as her final warning before she swam away as well.
I gasped and looked at Qara. She shrugged, "I could only protect you. Not him," she replied then she turned. She, too, swam away.
I shook my head, "NO!!! DON'T LEAVE!!!" But the mermaids were all gone. I turned back at Jacob and saw him struggle to stay on the surface. I quickly took the edge of the rope near me. "PULL US UP WHEN YOU FEEL ME TUG!"
