WHEN THE SEA CALLS
Chapter 38: The Beaming Bluestone

Chapter 38: The Beaming Bluestone

Leslie noticed Rhea, who was seated opposite them.

"Rhea," she called. "You are back."

Rhea nodded but said nothing.

Leslie smiled. "Maia, why don’t you chat with Rhea? You can try to get along before class," Leslie said.

Maia who was seated on a couch away from Rhea, stood up to sit with Rhea.

"Is there anything you want to talk about?" Maia asked and Rhea shook her head.

"I do not have anything I want to talk about. But you can ask me questions about school."

Maia sighed. She could tell Rhea wasn’t interested in talking to her.

She rested her back on the couch and decided not to force any conversation on Rhea. An awkward silence lingered between them as they both watched Celia and Leslie get along with each other.

Rhea groaned slightly. Is she going to sit here doing nothing?

Rhea knew it would be rude for her to leave Maia seated and go to her room. She also had nothing to tell Maia and that made things complicated.

She thought about a topic that could be of interest to both of them. After much thought, she settled for one.

Mermaids!

How about they talk about mermaids?

That is one of the things she was sure they were both interested in.

She turned to face Maia. "How about..."

"Can we talk about mermaids? You seemed interested in them." Maia interrupted.

She had also thought of the possible thing they could talk about. And talking about mermaids was the only thing she could think of since she was sure they were both interested in it.

Rhea smiled. "I was about to ask you that. But you beat me to it."

Maia smiled. It is good to finally get Rhea’s attention.

"What do you want to know about them?" She asked.

"Do you know the story about Aqua? Do you think mermaids are real?" Rhea asked.

She was curious to know a lot about mermaids which she could not ask Leslie about. She would have asked Aquamarine about it which would have been the best option for her if Aquamarine had not left the House of Seashells.

But when would she be able to see Aquamarine? She thought. What if she doesn’t come back?

Maia tapped her slightly and she blinked.

"Are you okay?" Maia asked.

"I am fine," Rhea answered. "I am so sorry I got lost in thought."

Maia smiled. "It’s nothing. You were asking about Aqua. How did you get to know her?"

"Your mom told me a story about mermaids, and Aqua’s name was mentioned. I did not get to know about her life. Your mom did not mention it. I am just curious to know how she lived her life before she was killed."

Maia furrowed her brows slightly. How did Rhea know that Aqua was killed? Which of the mermaids’ stories did her mother tell Rhea to have mentioned Aqua?

"Can you briefly tell me what my mom told you about mermaids and also Aqua?" Maia asked. "I need to know every bit of it. That will help me know what story to tell you."

Rhea nodded. "She told me about the mermaids and the mermen. How they had a clash because the mermen wanted the mermaids’ blue sea and..."

Maia furrowed her brows. "She... She told you about the blue sea?"

Rhea nodded in surprise. "Yes, she did."

Is Leslie not supposed to tell her about it? Rhea wondered.

Is Rhea the new Aqua they have been waiting for? Maia wondered. Is that the reason her mother wanted to be close to Mr. Odin?

Her mother was surprised when she knew Rhea was Mr. Odin’s daughter. She also did not mention to her about finding the new Aqua.

Maia shook her head. Maybe she is thinking too much.

"Are you okay?" Rhea asked, wondering why Maia seemed lost in thought.

Maia smiled. "I am fine. I am just thinking of what to tell you."

"Okay?" Rhea mumbled.

"I do not know much about Aqua though. There wasn’t much information about her," Maia lied.

She wasn’t going to tell Rhea about Aqua until she was certain Rhea had a connection with the sea. Maia also wasn’t sure why her mother had decided to tell Rhea about the real history of the mermaids, not the folktale ones almost everybody knew about.

"I think she died at twenty. She was killed by Hel, born the same day as her," Maia added. "My mom must have told you that right?"

Rhea nodded in disappointment. "I think she did," she mumbled.

She had thought Maia would be able to give her the information she needed to know about Aqua and maybe what transpired between her and Hel to have been killed.

Rhea also wanted to know this information so she would know what she was about to face. She was disappointed that she got nothing.

She decided to ask a different question since she could not get the answer she needed.

"Maia," she called. "Do you think Aqua will be back?"

Maia was caught off guard by the question Rhea asked; she stuttered.

"What... What did you say?"

"I am asking if you think Aqua will be back. What if there is a new Aqua? Maybe a new Aqua has been born."

Maia blinked rapidly, her heart beating very fast. Why is Rhea asking such a question? Did her mother tell Rhea about the prophecy of a new Aqua showing up?

Rhea stared at Maia wondering why she was lost in thought. She waited for Maia’s response but when she said nothing, Rhea spoke up instead.

"Maia?" Rhea called, tapping Maia slightly. Maia stared at her. "Are you okay?" Rhea asked.

"I... I am fine," Maia answered. "Can you tell me your question again? I did not seem to get it."

"I am asking if you think that Aqua could come back. Maybe a new Aqua would be born to save the rest of the mermaids scattered abroad. What if she had already been born?"

Maia stared at Rhea. She seemed so convinced about it. It was more like telling her about it rather than asking questions.

Maia sighed. She needs to know why Rhea asked that question.

"Why did you ask that question?"

"Why did you ask that question?"

"I am just curious." Rhea shrugged. "If mermaids exist, a new Aqua could be the..."

"Mermaids don’t exist, Rhea. It’s just a folktale," Maia answered quickly, cutting Rhea short.

"What if they do?" Rhea asked.

Maia shook her head. "They do not. If they do, where is the proof? Do you have one?"

Rhea sighed. She doesn’t have any proof that mermaids exist.

Though she could be the proof Maia wants, she can’t convince Maia yet; she doesn’t know how.

"Maybe they do not exist like you said," Rhea mumbled.

She took a deep breath and said nothing after that.

Maia said nothing too. She only stared at Rhea and then at her mother.

She has yet to wrap her head around why her mother told Rhea their history. A history they had kept hidden for a long time.

Maia decided not to think about it anymore. She will be asking her mother about it when they are alone.

"Do you care for juice?" Rhea asked Maia.

She was about to go to the kitchen to get a glass of juice and maybe cookies for herself.

Maia nodded. "I don’t mind having one. I feel thirsty. Can I go with you?"

"You can," Rhea answered and they left for the kitchen.

They got to the kitchen, and Rhea opened the refrigerator to take a bottle of orange juice, but she suddenly felt dizzy. Maia rushed towards her and held her.

"Are you okay?" She asked.

"I... I think I am," Rhea mumbled, as she tried to stand upright.

Maia noticed something beaming on Rhea’s head and she blinked.

Isn’t that the sign of the bluestone?

"Are you okay?" Rhea asked, wondering why Maia was staring at her.

Maia sighed. The sign she saw had disappeared and that made her wonder if she did not see it right.

"I am fine," she answered.

"Can you get two cups?" Rhea asked.

"I will do that," Maia answered.

Outside the kitchen, Leslie also felt the presence of the bluestone, though she wasn’t sure if she felt it right. When she could not feel the presence anymore, she took a deep breath.

Maybe she did not feel it right. She thought. But where are Rhea and Maia? She wondered.

"Do you think they are getting along already?" She asked.

"I think they are," Odin answered.

Leslie sighed. "I hope they do. I have been worried about Maia getting along with her classmates."

"Rhea doesn’t get along with others too," Odin answered. "I hope she gets comfortable with Maia."

Leslie stared at the wall clock and smiled. "It’s getting late. We should get going."

Celia stood up. "I will go get Maia."

Celia headed for the kitchen but stopped when she saw Rhea and Maia walking out of the kitchen.

"Maia, it’s time to go home," Celia said.

Maia joined her mother in the living room and they were ready to go.

"Thank you for inviting us," Leslie said.

Odin smiled. "You are welcome."

They exchanged goodbyes and Odin saw them off to the door while Celia and Rhea returned to their rooms.

Celia was the first to reach her room. She waved at Rhea who waved back. Rhea got to her room and opened the door. She froze. Her room was filled with blue light.

She was scared to go in but mustered up the courage to do that. She entered her room and headed to the locker where the light was coming from. Rhea opened it slowly and she blinked.

It was the bluestone. Why is it suddenly beaming? Rhea wondered.