WHEN THE SEA CALLS
Chapter 52: How the Bluestone Works

Chapter 52: How the Bluestone Works

After Louie left, Rhea opened her eyes and sat up. She stared at Celia who was now sleeping peacefully. The dark clouds had almost cleared up and Celia was breathing again.

How long would she stay away from her best friend? Rhea thought.

Tomorrow is his birthday; she can’t ignore him. They are also going to be celebrating it on Friday; she needs to continue making plans with him.

It was Maya’s fault. Rhea thought.

If Maya had not tried to push her down the stairs and Myles tried to save her from falling, she would not have found out he was a wizard. She would not have suspected Louie could be one either.

Louie wasn’t the only one who hid a secret. Rhea’s thoughts were wide. She did too. But why would Maya attack her just because she made new friends?

Rhea was certain it was more than that and Maya would not have thought about bullying her in that manner if someone did not suggest it.

The only person who came to her mind was Sasha. Sasha is the only one who can try to hurt her in that way.

But why would Sasha suddenly want to hurt her?

She sighed. She needed to know why but she knew Maya would not expose Sasha as the one behind her.

Rhea was angry. Angry that she can’t find out the truth.

"Rhea? You are awake," Celia said, stretching. "Are you okay now?"

Rhea nodded. "I am fine."

Celia stood up. "I will go and get Leslie."

Rhea watched Celia leave and she sighed. She has been keeping a lot of secrets from her family. How will they react when they find out?

Rhea wished Aquamarine was back. She would have asked her if she could tell her family about it.

Rhea doesn’t want to keep it a secret anymore. She wants to tell her family what is going on with her. She also wants to tell Louie what she has gone through, but she can’t yet. Not until she confirms from Aqua or Aquamarine if she can.

"Rhea?" Leslie called and she looked up. Leslie smiled at her. "How are you feeling now?"

"Better," Rhea mumbled.

Now that Leslie and Reece know that she is the Aqua, Rhea doesn’t know how she is going to relate to them.

"Good to hear that," Leslie said. "Celia, can you wait outside. I need to speak to Rhea."

Celia nodded and left. Leslie moved closer to Rhea.

"I know you have a lot of questions to ask me. But we can’t talk about it here. Do you want to come to my home?"

Rhea furrowed her brows. Leslie wants her to come to her house?

"Will that be okay?" Rhea asked.

Leslie nodded. "Of course. I will tell your dad about it." Rhea nodded but said nothing. "Rhea, I also have a lot of questions to ask you. I hope you will be willing to answer me?"

What questions does Leslie want to ask her? Rhea wondered.

"I will try my best," Rhea answered.

"Can I touch you?" Leslie asked.

She was staring at Rhea differently now and Rhea was beginning to wonder if it was more than just being the Aqua.

She nodded slightly. Leslie won’t hurt her. It’s not a bad idea to let her touch her, right?

Leslie smiled and placed her hand on Rhea’s face.

"Is she really my sister’s daughter?" Rhea heard and she blinked.

She was certain Leslie’s mouth did not move. It can’t be Celia talking right?

Rhea suddenly felt some strange sound in her head and she held her head.

"Are you okay?" Leslie asked.

She was worried now.

"Don’t touch me!" Rhea said almost in a yell and that pushed Leslie backward slightly.

"The bluestone," Leslie mumbled.

Rhea was hearing every thought in Leslie’s mind and that was driving her crazy. She could hear Celia’s thoughts too.

What is going on? Is that the bluestone working?

Leslie, who knew what was going on, placed her hand on Rhea’s shoulder.

"Take a deep breath, Rhea," Leslie said.

Rhea took a deep breath and stared at Leslie. She wasn’t seeing Leslie clearly now. All she could see was Leslie’s shadow in a blue light.

It has to be the bluestone. Rhea assured herself. But why can’t she see?

Rhea wanted to scream. She did not bargain for this.

What if she ends up becoming blind? What if her sight worsens?

Leslie could see that Rhea was getting scared and that would only make the matter worse.

"Rhea, you can’t freak out. The bluestone is only playing some pranks on you. You can’t let it control you."

Leslie was lying to Rhea. The bluestone was not playing any pranks on her. The bluestone was indeed trying to control her and she can’t let that happen.

Leslie was surprised the bluestone was manifesting so quickly on Rhea when it had not fully merged with her.

"Rhea, calm down, okay?" Leslie said.

If Rhea let the stone control her it would be a disaster.

"Think of any beautiful moments, Rhea," Leslie said.

Rhea closed her eyes to think about one of her beautiful moments. There were so many that Rhea could not settle for one.

The voices in her head were increasing. They were becoming louder too.

Think. Rhea. Think.

Rhea thought about her most recent happy moment. It was preparing for Louie’s birthday party. She was very happy that Louie trusted her so much to let her plan such a day for him.

She smiled. The voices were reducing now. Preparing Louie’s birthday party was indeed a happy moment for her.

She thought about other beautiful moments she had with her family and she smiled. The voices had completely died down now.

Rhea opened her eyes. "Thank you, Leslie. I am sorry I..."

Leslie smiled. "You do not have to be sorry, okay? The bluestone is only trying to control you by using your emotions. I know you do not get angry easily and you are not controlled by your emotions. But now..."

Leslie sighed and stared at Rhea. She is about to tell Rhea that her life will now be controlled by a stone. She needed to know if Rhea was emotionally stable so she wouldn’t trigger the bluestone again.

Rhea stared at Leslie. Why is she not saying anything?

She has been waiting for Leslie to finish up her sentence but it seems she won’t be doing that anytime soon.

"Leslie?" She called. "Why aren’t you saying anything?"

Leslie smiled. "I am thinking of how to put it down so I do not scare you."

"Don’t worry, I won’t be scared," Rhea answered.

Leslie sighed. Though Rhea promised not to be scared, she still needs a good way to tell her what is about to happen to her.

"Rhea," Leslie called as she held Rhea’s hand. "A lot is going to happen now that the bluestone is still merging with you. And it will have a lot to do with your emotions. It will try to control you, using your emotions. You have to try your best not to let it control you. If you lose yourself to it..."

Leslie sighed. How can she tell Rhea that if she loses control of herself to the bluestone, it might affect her mental health?

"Rhea," Leslie began. "Do you watch movies?"

Rhea nodded. She does watch a few of them.

"You must have watched a magical movie where those who let dark magic control them become obsessed with it. You know what happens to them right?"

Rhea nodded. They lose their mind, right?

"They lose their minds," Rhea answered.

Leslie nodded. "Exactly. Not only do they lose their minds. They lose everything dear to them."

"That would happen to me too?" Rhea asked. "If I let it control me?"

Leslie nodded. "Yes. But I know you won’t let it happen. I won’t let it either."

Rhea smiled. She can trust Leslie on that.

"The bluestone will be manifesting in you," Leslie continued. "You might be able to control water, hear people’s thoughts, and so on. I don’t know which other powers will manifest. That will depend on the powers you possess yourself."

Rhea shook her head. She doesn’t possess any.

"I don’t possess..."

"You will soon. Aren’t you up to sixteen now?"

Rhea nodded. "I am sixteen?"

Leslie, who had released Rhea’s hand a while ago, held it again. "Any strange thing you see or feel, make sure you tell me, okay? Don’t hide anything from me. I do not want you to lose your mind."

Rhea nodded. "I will."

"One more thing," Leslie said. "Nobody can know what is going on with you. Not even Maia or April, okay?"

Rhea furrowed her brows. April? Is April a mermaid too?

"Is April a mermaid too?"

Leslie nodded. "She is. She is sent here to protect you alongside Maia but you can’t let them know who you are until the bluestone merges completely with you."

"What about Reece?" Rhea asked. "He already knows who I am. Can I speak to him whenever you are not available? He stays closer to my house."

Leslie nodded. "You can. But we can’t trust him completely yet. So you should know what to tell him and what not to."

Rhea nodded. She wanted to ask if she could tell her family but she decided against it.

Since Leslie says nobody needs to know about it then nobody will. Not even Louie.