Rocco laughed—sharp, unkind, echoing like a cracked shell against the rocks.
"If that's what you want, then have at it. But in return, I get to keep you as part of my rare collection."
He said it like the outcome was already carved in stone… like he knew I would lose.
And honestly? I might.
A smart person would back out now. A sane person would.
But my pride? My stubborn honor?
Yeah—she's the one driving the ship today.
No way was I letting a man who worships treasure teach me what's valuable in life.
No way was I letting him own me.
"Deal," I said firmly. "But when I win, you let Theo and me leave Mariner's Bay unharmed."
I extended my hand.
Rocco took it—but instead of a simple shake, he yanked me forward until our faces were inches apart. His eyes lit with something wild, dangerous, euphoric.
"Oh, I can't wait to have you," he murmured, licking his lips.
My soul left my body for two seconds.
Do I even have a chance against this guy?
He straightened, smug and unbothered, and walked ahead.
"You know I'm a merciful king," he said without looking back. "I'll even give you an advantage and introduce you to those damn kids."
He sounded way too confident about my impending failure.
We returned to the palace gates. Rocco whistled—sharp and commanding. A guard hurried over with a giant conch shell and blew into it. A booming horn echoed through the entire kingdom, vibrating through my bones.
Within minutes, children poured out from every corner—sea-monster children.
Sharp fins, colorful scales, webbed hands, glowing eyes—each one different, wild, and mischievous. They gathered around, whispering, snickering.
Chills ran down my spine.
Oh no.
They look like trouble. Cute, tiny trouble—but trouble.
Rocco raised his voice, king-like and thunderous.
"Children of Mariner's Bay! In the absence of your hardworking parents, someone kind has stepped in to look after you. Treat her well. Show her the Mariner's way of hospitality."
They giggled.
Giggled.
Like a pack of gremlins ready to terrorize their next victim.
I swallowed.
Hard.
"Who wants to volunteer as leader and help your new caretaker?" Rocco asked.
A single small hand shot up.
"I will, Chief!"
A stubby, adorable boy waddled out. He looked like an otter mixed with a spiky pufferfish—round, chubby, and way too confident. His aura screamed menace.
"The name's Pietri, King Boss at your service!" he announced proudly.
Awww.
My ovaries practically squealed.
Rocco smirked. "Pietri, I hand her over to you. She's your caretaker now."
He pushed me forward.
I, being weak to cute things, immediately hugged the kid.
Everyone stared.
Even Rocco froze.
"How did he get a hug so easily?" he asked, baffled.
"Because he's adorable! Thank you, Rocco. I promise I won't fail you," I said warmly, my heart genuinely full.
He blushed—blushed—and looked away.
"No problem," he muttered.
I introduced myself sweetly, "Hi, I'm Sienna. Thank you for helping me, Pietri."
He snubbed me completely and walked away.
It was a sign.
A warning.
A prophecy that I absolutely ignored.
⸻
A Few Days Later…
I was dying.
Not physically, but in spirit.
My dignity? Gone.
My sanity? Evaporated.
These kids were DEVILS.
They chased me, pranked me, tied my legs with kelp, tripped me, dumped sand on me, and even tried to drown me in a waist-deep tide pool. And who was the mastermind?
Pietri.
He was the leader of chaos.
The CEO of Menace Corp.
The Chairman of "Let's Torture the New Caretaker."
I crawled behind a coral pillar, panting for my life, when—SPLAT.
A bucket of gooey, slimy, sea-mucus sludge hit me square on the head.
Pietri dangled from above, cackling like a tiny villain.
"Why don't you give up already?! We don't need you! We can take care of ourselves! You're wasting your time and OUR time!"
That was it.
I snapped.
"COME DOWN HERE AND YOU'RE GONNA GET IT!" I yelled.
The kids howled with laughter.
I was exhausted. Slimy. Defeated.
I sank to my knees and cried—loud, ugly, frustrated sobs. This wasn't like the kids back home.
They weren't gentle, sweet, or cooperative.
They were feral.
I trudged back to the palace looking like a sea monster's failed experiment—only to run directly into the last person I wanted to see:
Rocco.
He raised a brow. "What happened to you? Oh, you poor creature. Ready to give up and join my collection?"
"Over my dead body," I snapped.
Not now. Not in this state.
I hated this feeling—being trapped, failing, running out of ideas.
As I walked past him, Rocco grabbed my arm—not forcefully, but firmly.
"Hey," he said, voice oddly warm. "Why are you so determined to help the kids? You don't have to. You know that, right? You could give up, sit beside me in the palace, and enjoy everything."
I pulled my arm back.
"Because they don't deserve to live this way. They deserve better!" I said, tears falling freely now. "And I'm going to give them just that."
I stormed off, not even knowing where I was going.
Behind me, Rocco chuckled.
"You're truly something," he said. Then called out louder, "If you need to wash up, there's a lagoon east of the palace!"
I paused, trying to remember which direction was east. Once I figured it out, I marched forward without looking back.
This wasn't over.
Not even close.
I wasn't giving up.
Not on myself.
Not on Theo.
Not on these kids.
This girl?
This librarian who accidentally fell into another world?
She was going to get her shit done.