Andrea trained furiously in the courtyard of the Amazon stronghold. The sound of her fists colliding with a wooden training dummy echoed across the grounds, but her mind wasn't entirely focused on her strikes. Her mother's words still lingered, their weight pressing down on her pride.
"You will not lose again."
The humiliation of her defeats burned in her chest. She couldn't let Alice—whatever she was—make a fool of her again.
Andrea wiped the sweat from her brow, her breathing heavy. She had been at it for hours, but her frustration refused to dissipate. She clenched her fists, her green eyes blazing with determination.
"I'll show her," she muttered.
As if on cue, Lyanna approached, her golden hair shining in the afternoon light. She was flanked by two Amazon guards, their expressions stoic.
"Andrea," Lyanna called.
Andrea turned, standing at attention. "Mother."
Lyanna studied her for a moment, then motioned for the guards to leave. Once they were alone, she spoke.
"There's something you need to know," Lyanna said, her tone unusually serious.
Andrea frowned, confused by her mother's sudden change in demeanor. "What is it?"
Lyanna stepped closer, lowering her voice. "The girl you fought... she's more than just a witch."
Andrea's confusion deepened. "What do you mean?"
"There are whispers," Lyanna said, her eyes narrowing. "She may be the last of the mermaids."
Andrea's mouth fell open in shock. "The last... mermaid? But I thought they were all—"
"So did we all," Lyanna interrupted. "But it seems one survived. If the whispers are true, then she is far more dangerous than you realize."
Andrea's mind raced. A mermaid? The very creatures who had betrayed all others by opening the Gate of Baal? If Alice truly was one of them, then defeating her wasn't just about pride—it was a matter of honor and justice.
"What do you want me to do?" Andrea asked, her voice trembling with a mix of excitement and apprehension.
Lyanna's expression hardened. "You will train harder than ever before. But this time, your goal isn't just to beat her. You must expose her. Prove to everyone who and what she truly is."
Andrea nodded, her resolve strengthening. "I won't let you down, Mother."
Lyanna placed a hand on Andrea's shoulder, her grip firm. "See that you don't."
---
Meanwhile, back at Blackthorn Academy, Alice walked through the dimly lit halls, her mind elsewhere. The events of the past few days had left her with more questions than answers.
Why had Demian retreated during their confrontation? What was this power he claimed to sense in her?
She glanced down at her bracelet, the silver band snug around her wrist. Her grandmother had insisted she wear it every day, though she had never explained why.
"It's for your protection," her grandmother had said. "Don't ever take it off."
Alice had never questioned her before, but now she wondered what the bracelet was really hiding.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a voice behind her.
"Daydreaming, Alice?"
She turned to see Michael leaning casually against a locker, his trademark smirk in place.
"Just thinking," she said, rolling her eyes.
Michael fell into step beside her as they walked. "About what? Demian? Or maybe Andrea?"
"Neither," Alice said, though her tone wasn't convincing.
Michael chuckled. "You're terrible at lying, you know."
Alice sighed, stopping to face him. "Fine. I'm thinking about why everyone seems so interested in me lately. First Andrea, then Demian... and now you."
Michael's smirk faded, replaced by a more serious expression. "You're different, Alice. People can sense it. And in a place like this, being different makes you a target."
Alice crossed her arms. "And what about you? Why are you so interested in me?"
Michael hesitated for a moment, then shrugged. "Maybe I like a good mystery."
Alice rolled her eyes but couldn't help the small smile that tugged at her lips.
---
As night fell, Andrea returned to the academy with renewed determination. She walked the halls with her head held high, ignoring the stares and whispers of other students.
She knew what she had to do now. If Alice was truly a mermaid, then Andrea would expose her for what she was.
But Andrea wasn't the only one with plans that night.
In the shadows of the forest surrounding Blackthorn Academy, the messenger from Lucifer lingered. He watched the school with sharp, glowing eyes, his dark cloak blending seamlessly with the night.
"The last mermaid," he murmured to himself, a cruel smile spreading across his face. "How fitting that she's here, of all places."
He turned and disappeared into the darkness, his mission clear. The forces of Hell would not rest until the mermaid was found—and destroyed.
---