Third POV.
The air was charged with tension as Zander and Sean faced off, the remnants of their once-close friendship now a distant memory. Zander's eyes blazed with intensity, and Sean's posture was defensive, both men bracing against the emotional storm swirling around them.
"You don't get to act like this is my fault," Sean said, his voice steady but strained. "I never wanted any of this to happen. You made her necklace."
Zander shook his head, his frustration palpable. "It doesn't matter what you wanted. I told you you couldn't tell her! There are no loopholes in magic! What matters is what happened. Savanna is gone, and you can't just brush it off like it was nothing." Sean seething with rage " I'm NOT BRUSHING THIS OFF!"
Brooke and Molly stood off to the side, the weight of their own grief hanging heavily between them as they watched the confrontation unfold. They were caught in the crossfire of emotions, unsure of how to intervene without adding to the chaos.
"I didn't ask for this," Sean replied, his voice tinged with anger, but there was a hint of vulnerability beneath the surface. "I loved her, Zander. I thought she knew that."
"Thought? You thought?" Zander scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief. "You should have shown her, not relied on someone else to do it for you. You can't just let someone you care about slip away and expect it to work out."
The silence that followed was heavy with unspoken words. Sean's eyes dropped to the sand, frustration boiling beneath the surface as he struggled to find a way to articulate his feelings. "I never wanted to hurt her, I tried my best to bring her back to the surface but that damn necklace you, you… cursed it!" He accused. With that Zander charged at him. His fist colliding with Sean's jaw. "Go ahead hit me, kill me if you want, but know that I didn't want her dead! I wanted her to be my Queen an to rule along side her." he finally said, quieter now, the fight leaving his voice.
Zander took a step back, the anger in his expression softening just slightly. "I know you didn't. But she's gone now, and we're left with the mess of it all. I don't know how to deal with this, and I don't think you do either."
As the waves continued to crash against the shore, the reality of their situation settled over them like a heavy fog. The bond they once shared was frayed and fragile, and both knew that the road ahead would be challenging, marked by a grief that they would have to navigate separately.
Zander's POV.
Zander turned to Brooke, his expression shifting from anger to a guarded resolve. He could see the confusion and hurt etched across her face, and he knew he owed her an explanation.
"I'm a merman the same as Sean however I have learned the art of magic. Now Savanna didn't just drown," he said, his voice steady yet somber. "There's more to it than that. The necklace she wore… it gave her lungs the ability to breathe in water." He paused, taking a breath, trying to find the right words. " I had made it with the intention to help Savanna breathe under water, however magic comes at a price if you try to cheat it like that guy over there. The necklace,knew she knew she needed to kid him. Sean purchased the necklace with me knowing I would have her if he failed to receive a kiss from her and I saw that he failed I would have had her. Except I didn't see Sean would cheat, in order to have her.
"I know it sounds unbelievable," Zander replied, his tone calm but firm. "But it's the truth. I'm not just some kid who lets life happen to him. I've seen things… things that would make you question everything you think you know. I'm connected to this in ways that I can't fully explain."
"Connected how?" she pressed, her voice rising slightly. "You can't just drop that and expect us to accept it without any proof!"
Zander met her gaze, his eyes steady. "I wish I could show you everything, but it's complicated" Sean and I both have a connection with her. His connection started the moment he laid eyes on her and as for me mine started the night she jumped into the sea."
The silence that followed was thick with disbelief and uncertainty. Brooke struggled to process his words, her mind racing with questions and doubts. But beneath the anger, she could sense a flicker of sincerity in Zander's voice, and that made her pause. "Oh" was all she said turning back to Molly who continued to cry quietly.