XXIII

As promised, Flint did help me. I had to crash with Avari. She’s more friendly than I thought. She and her Dad live above the restaurant. Her room was surprisingly spacious; not that I packed clothes with me. Flint came by in the afternoon to help (at least I think it’s afternoon). “This place is amazing yet filled with so many mysteries”. I blurted while staring at the window. The city was getting darker as it was transforming. “Doesn’t it bother you?” I asked Avari as she was getting ready for bed. “Most of us don’t have any reason to doubt Oceania”, she shrugged, “we trust its people and its leader”. That was blind trust but she wasn’t totally wrong. Unlike her, I don’t have my Dad and I haven’t lived here all my life. “Aren’t you going to bed?” she asked finally looking my way. “It’s made out of wood. Hard wood. I'm not thrilled about it”. I answered. “That’s what the seaweed's for”, she smiled like I was being silly, “don’t bother giving me the look”. “I wasn’t gonna do anything”. I lied. “I know you were. Besides, this place used to be an island before it sunk. So don't expect your comfy mattress or pillow down here”. “Oceania sunk? How? Where?” “It was a long long time ago. I wasn’t born then but I heard they lived in peace in their secluded island. It wasn't even landmarked on any map yet human researchers found the island, kidn*pped some of them for tests and threatened to burn the place down”. “What happened?” “They were lucky that some of their mermaids knew some magicians who could help. Then magic wasn’t a problem. The spell they cast over the cities to protect them came at a heavy price. The city sunk to the bottom and the shield is the only reason why the water turned to walls. The shield helps us keep the furniture and buildings and the roads just the way they were”. “And what about those that were kidn*pped?” “They were turned into stones and when the researchers dumped them in the water, people are sent out to find them so that they can be revived. Some were not lucky. They crashed at the bottom, breaking into a million pieces”. I paused to analyze the story. I can't believe they had to suffer like that. I know humans are nosy but I didn’t know it could be this bad. Avari was in a crop top as her legs started merging. It was creepy watching it slowly attache to the other. Her toes had grown long like those fish feet for swimming. I couldn’t take my eyes off the view. Just as quickly as it turned dark, it turned light again. Her almost formed tail separated to legs. I was a bit disappointed but hey, there’s next time. “Wiberly!” I heard the call. I looked out the window and waved at Flint. “How'd you get here so fast?” I asked. “I was around. Hurry up!” he whined. “I’ll be down in five to ten minutes. And stop whining”. I laughed all the way into the bathroom. I think I’m finally cracking Flint. He was like a brick wall when we first met but now, I can get smiles out of him. I like our friendship a lot. I wore the brown jacket and a pair of black jeans that Avari gave to me. I loved it (if only the jacket was a hoodie). I wore my sneakers and ran down. “Good morning Mr. Renshu” I greeted Avari's dad. He wakes up very early to boil the crabs. Turns out, they eat crustacean. “Morning Wiberly”. He said briefly. “I'm here”. I announced. Flint nodded before he called one of the carriages. “To the Eten cove please”. Flint told the young guy that’s gonna ride us there. We sat in silence for a long time. I was getting ready to doze off when Flint spoke up. “Just as a warning”, he said, “I can't enter the cove with you”. My head snapped in his direction and I asked, “and you can’t because?” “Some special mermaids live there”. “And so? One of them was your ex?” I wanted to laugh. “As if. They are born with the gift of the Siren's song". “What’s the Siren’s song?” I was confused. “The Sirens are creatures that have the power to make any man fall in love with them through their voice. So when they sing any listening man falls in love with the first one he sees”. “So you’re saying some mermaids have that power and they all live at the cove?” “Correct. But they don’t exactly live there. They were all banished after one of the past Lords of Goran lost his second son to one”. “I understand. I’ll be fine”. I forced a smile, “I’m glad you warned me”. I really wanted him to help me but I guess…my mind was clouding up again. I think it’s a memory. The image played itself. We were still on the boat in the middle of the ocean. My head was on Mom's thighs. She was patting my head as the song escaped her mouth. Her voice was thin and beautiful. She sang with a smile even though I knew she was worried sick. Something strange started happening though. The water was calming down. The moon fixed its light on us like a guardian. Mom didn’t stop singing and little me was already sleeping. The boat rowed on its own closer to the dock. The image faded away and I jerked up in my seat. “Are you okay?” Flint asked holding my shoulder. “Yeah. Just had a flashback”. I answered. “We’re here” he announced, “and don’t worry, I’ll be waiting out here for you”. I nodded before stepping out. It was a cave and it looked awfully dark. I wasn’t scared about going alone earlier but that memory made me nervous. Mom had powers! Mom had powers! I thought. I took in deep breaths as I walked inside. I closed my eyes shut. The feeling of fresh air and the sound of waves made me open my eyes. The place was beautiful. Amazing to be exact. The water splashed hard against the rocks inside it. The sand under my feet still felt cold through the shoes. The sky was bright and light blue. The place felt like paradise. “I have been expecting you, Wiberly”. A thunderous voice roared. I was a bit shaken up but I turned around. I wanted to drop dead on the floor. I was just some feet away from a white Two-headed cobra floating above a small pool which was surrounded by little candles of blue fire. Holy s**t!