3 A nasty scar 

Bonnie adjusted her glasses again before reaching into the drawer attached to the table for a pair of blue surgical gloves. She gently touched the wound and Celeste flinched whilst in her unconscious state, a low groan rumbling in her throat afterward.

"The salt water did a good job cleaning the wound," Bonnie commented before taking a surgical suture from her drawer. "I only have catgut suture," she informed Kole. "The tissues will repair itself over the stitches, but she'll be left with a nasty scar."

"Just do it," Kole told her. Bonnie didn't say anything afterward and worked on carefully stitching Celeste's wound.

Meanwhile, Kole was thinking about what to do next and where to go. He lost the knapsack so they had no food or supplies, and the boat was destroyed when the tide came in.

"All done." Bonnie slipped the suture back into the drawer.

She grabbed a jar of kelp that was floating by and spread some of the brown algae on Celeste's back. Bonnie placed her hand on the stitched wound covered with kelp and the spot briefly glowed with a green light. "The kelp will fall off once the wound heals."

"Thank you." Kole placed Celeste on the table before diving into the rising water. He took the sleeping angel in his arms. "I'll be going now," he told Bonnie.

"It's not safe out there," Bonnie warned him with concern laced in her voice. "You should wait until the island is fully submerged underwater," she advised.

"Thank you for your help," was all Kole said before swimming toward the door. He couldn't tell Bonnie that he couldn't wait since Celeste would need air. To Bonnie's knowledge, there were only merpeople on the island.

Kole was running out of time; most of the buildings were already underwater and the water was rising rapidly. He couldn't swim very fast since Celeste was asleep in his arms, but he did his best to navigate his way through objects, frantic merpeople, and winged devils.

On his way to where he knew multiple boats would be, he came across the red-haired blue doll Celeste was clutching tightly even when she was captured by the vampire. He took the doll from the water and placed it in her arms before continuing.

Some of the boats were damaged, many were broken and others were sinking. There were only a few that were still whole and functional. Merpeople had no use for the boats they took from travelers who found their island hidden in the Atlantic Ocean; they only kept the boats for boat racing, a sport they learned from a human traveler.

Kole placed Celeste into one of the boats before untying it. He was pushing the boat toward the ocean when a familiar feminine voice came from behind him. "Where do you think you're going?"

Recognizing the voice, Kole tightened his grip on the boat before turning around to face the identical twins from the Merfolk council.

"I knew that angel would be the death of us all," the one with the light pink hair started. "The destruction of our home and the death of our family proves it all, but you still don't understand anything, Little Kole. You choose that little girl over your family?"

"People are dying because of her," the red-haired twin interjected. "Your family and friends are suffering."

"Shouldn't her life be used as payment?" the twins questioned in unison. "Shouldn't she be held accountable?"

"They're right," Kole heard Celeste say from behind him. She was awake and heard everything the mermaids were saying. "It's all my fault so I should be held accountable."

Celeste never thought before about how much Kole was sacrificing to keep her safe. She felt so selfish and guilty; it was an awful feeling.

"Please go find your family," Celeste urged with a small smile. "I accept my punishment for being selfish."

If she didn't think about wanting to visit Earth, she wouldn't have left the celestial kingdom and wouldn't have landed on the merpeople's island. Their home wouldn't have been destroyed and their lives wouldn't have been in danger.

"You're quite mature for a little girl," the red-haired twin commented. "I admire and respect your ability to take responsibility for your actions."

Her orange eyes fell on Kole and a smirk upturned her lips. "Don't stand in her way, Kole," she started. "She doesn't need you to protect her anymore."

Kole took a deep breath and his shoulders relaxed as he lowered his guard. "Very well," he simply said. "Can I at least tell her goodbye?"

The twins shrugged and Kole turned to Celeste. His blue eyes stared deeply into her teary silver ones. He wiped the tears from her cheeks, "I don't want you to cry anymore okay?"

Celeste sniffled as she nodded; she couldn't stop the tears rolling down her cheeks. He glanced at the twins before moving closer to Celeste and lowering his voice to a whisper.

"I need you to listen to me very carefully," he told her. "There's nothing wrong with wanting something for yourself." He caressed her damp, dark brown hair. "And I swear to you, none of this is your fault."

He tightened his grip on the sides of the boat, "I want you to never forget what happened here today. Let the scar on your back remind you of the consequence of others knowing what you are."

"Stay alive," were the last words Kole said to Celeste before using all his strength to push the boat as far as he could into the ocean.

"Kole!" Celeste yelled as the boat sped further and further away with the force of his push. "No, Kole!" she screamed with tears streaming from her eyes.