WHEN THE SEA CALLS
Chapter 26: Storytime with Leslie

Chapter 26: Storytime with Leslie

They cleared up their table and left the cafeteria. On their way, they met with Sasha and Dahlia. Sasha gave Rhea a cold stare but did nothing; Louie was present so she wasn’t going to bully her.

Rhea turned to look at Sasha and Dahlia as they walked away.

She turned to face Louie. "Did you see the way she looked at me?"

"Who?"

"Sasha. I think she still suspected that something was going on between Will and me. What do you think?"

"I think you should ignore her. It doesn’t matter what she thinks."

Rhea sighed. Louie is right. It doesn’t matter what Sasha thinks. What matters is that she did not get bullied.

"We should leave, Rhea. We don’t have much time left."

"You are right," Rhea mumbled.

Louie and Rhea headed to the school clinic together.

"Rhea?" Leslie called when Rhea and Louie walked in. She smiled. "You came with someone.

"Yes. My friend. You remember him right?" Rhea asked.

"Of course I do. He was with you when you got injured. Louie, right?"

Louie nodded. "Yes. Good day, Leslie."

"How was school today?" Leslie asked.

"It was fine, I guess," Rhea mumbled.

"It was awesome," Louie answered.

"You should sit," Leslie gestured to them to sit and they did. "Are you also interested in listening to my mermaid story, Louie?"

"Yes, I am," Louie answered.

"He is just curious," Rhea replied and Leslie smiled.

"Just like you were. Now that I have two curious cats eager to hear my story, I should not be wasting any more time. Rhea, do you remember where I stopped?"

Rhea adjusted herself on the seat. "You were telling me about the mermaids’ secret... I guess."

"You are not sure?" Louie whispered.

Rhea shrugged and whispered back. "I think I am."

Leslie smiled. "You remembered correctly. I was talking about the secret known to the mermaid royals and their lady royals."

Louie stared strangely at the two women in front of him not understanding what they were talking about.

He furrowed his brows. "Now I am confused. What do you mean by the royals and their lady royals?"

"Don’t worry Louie. I won’t continue from where I stopped. I will be starting again, so you will not be confused."

"I already am," Louie answered. "Thank goodness you are starting again."

"Are you ready to listen to my story?" Leslie asked and they nodded.

"We are," they answered in unison.

"A long time ago," Leslie began. "About a thousand centuries ago. There used to be mermaids and mermen. Do you believe that mermaids and mermen exist, Louie?"

He shrugged. " I don’t think so. I have heard stories about them though."

" Well," Leslie continued. "A lot of people believed that they existed before and lived in coexistence too. Each maintained their space and never had reason to get involved with the other. The mermaids called their habitat, the Blue Sea. A blue sea and sometimes greenish blue. It was so beautiful and alluring," Leslie said, dreamingly.

"And the mermen? Where do they live? What did they call theirs?" Louie asked when Leslie said nothing.

He had now become curious to know more.

Leslie smiled. "I see... You are getting more curious."

"I am. Please tell me."

"I told ya. When it gets interesting you would not want to miss it." Rhea whispered.

"I can’t agree less," Louie whispered too.

"The mermen..." Leslie said, and that drew their attention. "The mermen called theirs the Ice Sea. Do you know why Louie?"

Louie nodded. "Theirs must have been filled with Ice."

"You are correct," Leslie said. "Their sea was full of ice and that made it very cold. At first, they could bear with it but soon, It became unbearable that they began to long for the Blue Sea. Who wouldn’t want such a beautiful place? Who wouldn’t prefer a clear sea to a cold one?"

Rhea and Louie nodded in agreement. No one would want an Ice Sea over a Blue clear Sea.

"They began to try to conquer the mermaids but couldn’t. They could not get close to the Blue Sea. Do you know why Louie?"

Louie furrowed his brows. "Because of the secret Rhea talked about?"

Leslie nodded. "Yes. They had a secret others didn’t know about except the royal families. There was also another family that knew about it. They were the lady royals. You can call them the second in command." She took a deep breath. "A sudden war broke out between the mermaids and the mermen and that... was a victory for the mermen."

Rhea furrowed her brows. "How did they succeed?"

"Someone betrayed the mermaids. Someone who knew the secret."

"One of the royals?" Louie asked.

"I don’t think so," Rhea answered.

"Can you guess who it was then, Rhea?" Leslie asked.

"I think it’s someone from the lady royal’s family," Rhea answered.

Louie shook his head. "Why would you think that? One of the royals can betray them too. It could be a fight for the throne."

Rhea nodded. "You could be right though. But I do have a feeling that the person who betrayed them came from the lady royal’s family. They have more to gain from it than anyone."

"Why do you think so?" Louie asked.

"If it’s a fight for the throne, don’t you think it will be an internal war that will not involve the mermen?"

Louie nodded slightly. Rhea seems to be making some sense.

"They would have resulted in hurting themselves rather than letting others hurt them. They must know that the mermen longed for their Sea."

Leslie smiled. She loved how they were both airing their opinions without trying to force each of their thoughts on the other.

"Why do you think the lady royals would betray?" Louie asked. "I want to get that straight."

"Think of it this way. They have been second in command for so long. Would they not also have eyes for the throne. Some might not but there would be someone who does. And that person would do anything to get the throne. Even if it means selling out their secret."

Louie sighed. He is now very curious that he can’t wait.

"Leslie, can you please tell us who betrayed them? I am dying of curiosity" Louie said.

"Well," Leslie began. "Rhea is right. It was one of the lady royals who betrayed them."

"I knew it!" Rhea said happily.

Louie smiled. "You were right after all."

"She was Queen Oceana’s most trusted lady royal and best friend," Leslie continued.

"Queen Oceana?" Rhea asked and Leslie nodded.

"She was the Queen when the war broke out. The mermaids lost hope of ever getting the Blue Sea back and they thought of leaving. But during this period, a great prophecy was said."

Leslie stared at their faces to see how eager they were to hear the prophecy. She could see how anxious they were; she smiled.

"Two daughters of the sea will be born," She continued. "One the bearer of life and light. And the other, the bearer of death and destruction," she sighed. "The prophecy wasn’t a complete one but no one bothered to find out the last part of the prophecy. That part they wouldn’t get was the main part of prophecy. The part which would change everything."

"What happened next?" Rhea asked.

Leslie pointed at the wall clock. "It’s almost time to return to class. I will stop here. You can come back after school for the rest of the story."

Rhea whined slightly. "Can you at least tell us what happened?"

Louie nodded quickly. "Please."

He wasn’t a fan of mermaids and mermen’s stories, but this one hit differently.

Leslie stood up. "I won’t be doing that. If you are curious, you know where to find me after school. Now up and off you go."

Rhea and Louie stood up.

"This was an awesome story. I am glad I was here to listen," Louie said. "Thank you."

"Me too. I am glad I came back. Thank you, Leslie. See you after school."

Leslie waved at them. "Bye."