WHEN THE SEA CALLS
Chapter 32: No More Aquamarine

Chapter 32: No More Aquamarine

Rhea would not stop looking through the window. It’s been three days since the acidic rain began and they had all been indoors.

The past three days had been packed up with work; they attended classes just like every other day and went on break just like they would on a normal school day.

Rhea had thought their classes would be on hold until the rain stopped, but the parents had agreed on online classes, and surprisingly, they had not experienced a blackout. The only thing they had to do was make sure their windows and doors were properly locked and the curtains closed.

Rosa told Celia it had always been like that. Rhea was surprised about that.

"Don’t worry, you will get used to that," Rosa had told them during one of their calls.

"I do not want to get used to that," Celia had answered. "I thought we would get some space from school stuff and just have fun."

Rhea thought so too. She had thought they would have nothing to do aside from sleeping and eating. And maybe press their phones.

Their Dad was busy with work too. Rosa said no one gets lazy when it rains. They have to go about their daily business for as long as it doesn’t require them to come out.

"Don’t you think this community is a bit strange?" Celia had asked Rhea a day before.

"Why do you say that?" Rhea had asked curiously.

"Everything about it is very strange. We have been to so many communities but we have never experienced a pink cloud. Or have you?"

"I haven’t. Maybe there has always been one but we do not notice it."

Rhea’s answer to Celia’s question wasn’t convincing enough. Rhea was not convinced about it either. She also has her doubts. So she wrote down all the possible questions she would love to ask Aquamarine.

If she can’t visit the House of Seashells again, she might as well ask Aquamarine all the questions she thinks she should ask until they think of a way and a place to meet again.

She had been looking forward to the rain stopping soon so she could visit Aquamarine. She planned to visit the House of Seashells without Reece’s knowledge.

Maybe she might have the opportunity to visit again on the pretense of finding her necklace.

She took a deep breath and returned to finish up her assignments. There had been news that the rain would stop today by noon and everyone would be out soon.

When she was done with her assignments, she brought out the seashells she had brought and decided to make some designs on them; she would be giving them to Celia and Rosa too. Rhea worked on the seashells, drawing beautiful designs on them.

She dropped the last seashell on the table and smiled.

It’s finally over!

She looked through the window. The rain had reduced greatly. Rhea decided to take a quick shower and maybe take a nap. Classes had ended for the day; It ended quickly.

She went into the bathroom and was out in a few minutes. Rhea got dressed in a shirt and trousers and packed her hair into a ponytail. She looked through the window and realized that the rain had stopped and the sun was out already.

She smiled. They can finally go out!

There was a knock on the door. "Rhea? Are you up?" Celia knocked on her door.

"Of course I am," Rhea answered.

"Are you not coming out? Everyone is out already."

Rhea took her phone and dashed out of her room. She had thought about taking a nap but now she has decided to go out and have fun. She can also use the opportunity to visit Aquamarine.

"Let’s go," she mumbled to Celia. "What about Dad?" She asked as they walked down the stairs.

"He left for work," Celia answered. "But he promised to be back before dinner." Rhea nodded but said nothing. "What do you plan to do when we go out?"

"I will take a stroll," Rhea answered. "What about you?"

"I am going to visit Rosa. We are going shopping. Do you want to come with us?"

Rhea shook her head. "Louie is coming over," she lied.

She needed to stay back so she could visit the House of Seashells without any problem.

"Too bad. I thought you would come with us. We can check out the gift we want to get for Dad."

"We can do that tomorrow," Rhea answered.

Celia nodded. "That is right. Send my regards to Louie when he comes."

They said goodbye to each other and Celia left. Rhea waited in front of the house, looking around for Reece, who never showed up.

Rhea headed to the House of Seashells, following her usual path. She got there and was surprised to meet Aquamarine.

"You are finally here," Aquamarine said.

"I did not expect to meet you here. Did you know I was coming?"

"Of course, I do. I sensed it."

"It’s good to see you, Aquamarine. I have been thinking of how I will get your attention when I get here. Do you know this place has been sold and bought by someone?"

"Yes. By those two strange boys, you were talking to them the other day."

Rhea furrowed her brows. "You saw me with them?"

"Of course."

"Were you here?"

"I was. I saw you talking to the one with blue hair. How did you know them?"

"They are some strange boys who just joined my school. The one with the blue hair is my classmate. I don’t know who the other boy is. I think he is a friend. Why did you ask?"

"I could sense some strange aura around them. Especially the one with black hair. I think he saw me."

Rhea furrowed his brows. "How is that possible?"

"I can’t say. But Rhea... You should stay away from them."

Rhea smiled. "Don’t worry, Aquamarine. I do not have a good relationship with them."

"Why do you want to see me?"

"I met with a lady in pink. She called me Aqua. And asked me to visit the House of Seashells if I would like to save my people. I also had a dream, after I opened up the blue seashell you gave me. I met with a figure who claimed to be the last fragment from the seashell. I..."

"Rhea, I know you have a lot to talk about and a lot to ask. But there isn’t much time. I am going on a trip and will not be back in a while."

Rhea blinked. "You are? I won’t have access to you?"

"You won’t be needing me for a while. You will meet people who will put you through."

"Do you have to leave?" Rhea asked.

"I have to. It’s for your safety. I don’t trust those two boys. They must have a reason why they brought the land. We have to stay away from each other to avoid suspicion."

Rhea took a deep breath. "I am going to miss you, Aquamarine."

"I am going to miss you too but I hope when I am back, you would have been better. So tell me, what do you want to know?"

"Why did she call me Aqua? I mean the pink lady."

"Because you are Aqua."

Rhea furrowed her brows. What does that mean?

"What do you mean?"

"Did you remember the dream you had?"

"Yes, I do. It was the same as the one Leslie told me."

"Leslie? Who is Leslie?"

"A new nurse in my school. She seems to know a lot about mermaids."

"Leslie? That name sounds familiar. But that is by the way. Do you remember Hel killing Aqua?"

Rhea nodded. "Yes. I remember that."

"Well, you are the new Aqua. And..."

Rhea busted into laughter. How is she supposed to be the new Aqua?

She doesn’t belong to the sea. She has no star symbol on her shoulder.

"You must be mistaken, Aquamarine. I am not the new Aqua."

"Well, you are. I know it is difficult to believe it now. You will get to understand soon."

Rhea shook her head. "Aquamarine, I do not have any star symbol inscribed on my shoulder. Aqua has that."

"I do not have time to explain to you why things are different now. But you have to trust me. I think someone is coming. I have to leave."

"Can I ask a question before you leave?"

"Sure, you can."

"Would the prophecy that was said about the last Aqua and Hel be the same for me?"

"I do not know Rhea. If a new prophecy is not said soon, then the same will happen. But you don’t have to worry, Aqua. A lot of people are out there to protect you until your power is fully recovered."

"But I don’t have any power."

"You will soon, Rhea. See you when I get back."

"I hope to see you soon too, Aquamarine."

Rhea left the House of Seashells and returned home with a lot of thoughts in her mind.

Why was she chosen as the Aqua and what would be her fate now?