WHEN THE SEA CALLS
Chapter 57: A Seatmate Bargain

Chapter 57: A Seatmate Bargain

Reece and Rhea stood by the window as they waited outside the class for a while. As they waited, Reece asked Rhea if she had anything she wanted to say to him or wanted him to tell her.

"I do not have any," Rhea replied.

"You can always come to me if you have any problems," Reece told her.

Rhea nodded. She would do that but not now. She needed to be sure that she could trust Reece. She also wants to visit Leslie’s home first then she would know what to do.

"Are you not curious who I am or how I became the bearer of the seal?" Reece asked.

Rhea furrowed her brows. Why is Reece talking about this now?

"I... I..."

Rhea sighed. She wants to know everything but now isn’t the right time.

"Can we not talk about this now?" Rhea answered.

"Of course. We can always talk about it whenever you are ready. And lest I forget, you can’t wear clothes with smaller hands until I make your star invisible."

"Do you have to do that?" Rhea asked.

"Until you merge completely with the stone. Nobody can know about it. Did you speak to Louie about it yet?"

Rhea shook her head. "No. I promise Leslie not to talk about it to anyone."

"But you are talking to me," Reece answered.

"That is because you know about it already, and Leslie said, as the bearer of the seal, I can trust you."

Reece nodded. "She must have warned you not to trust me completely. Didn’t she?"

Rhea was surprised by Reece. How did he know that? Maybe he guessed. She thought.

"You think I guess?" Reece asked and Rhea blinked.

How did Reece know what she was thinking in her mind?

"You want to know why? Because I have some connection with the bluestone too."

Rhea furrowed her brows. Because he absorbed some light of it?

Reece shook his head. "No. Because I do have a real connection with it. Have you ever thought, why not everyone can absorb its light?"

Rhea shook her head. She hasn’t thought about that. She thought everyone could absorb it as she and Reece did.

"There are only a few people who can. We are one of them. I know someone who can do that, too, but I am not telling you who he or she is. For the rest, you will find out along the way when they try to steal it from you."

Rhea sighed. There are a lot of things she doesn’t know yet. How long would it take her to know everything that she needs to know?

Reece patted her. "Do not worry, Aqua. I am here to help."

Rhea frowned. For how long would Reece continue to hear her thoughts?

Reece smiled. "Are you afraid I might hear some weird ones?"

"I do not have weird thoughts. Even if I do. It’s none of your business!!" Rhea said almost in a yell.

Reece shook his head. "Nah.... Don’t let it control you."

"You know it can control me?"

"Of course I do. Leslie did not tell you?"

"She did. I am just curious to know how you knew that too. She told you?"

"She did not," Reece answered. "I have seen it control someone before. I know what it is like. I do not want you to pass through that same ordeal."

Rhea sighed. Why does she feel like Reece is sad? And whatever had happened had something to do with someone close to him.

Reece nodded. "You are right. It involves someone very close and dear to me."

Who could...

"Don’t think about it. I won’t be telling you who she is."

Rhea groaned. "Can you stop reading my thoughts?"

Reece smiled. "I can’t help it."

"How long have you been listening to it?" Rhea asked.

"A day I guess. From the moment you began to merge with the stone."

Rhea groaned. "Is there a way to stop this or even limit it? You can’t keep listening to my thoughts."

Reece shrugged. "There should be a way but that would depend on you."

"What do you mean?"

"There are two ways to do that. But I don’t know if you can."

"Tell me," Rhea answered.

"You can either merge with the stone quickly and take control of it then you can decide who listens to your thoughts and who doesn’t. But that would be difficult, you know. Your body is too weak to merge with the stone at once. It has to be done gradually."

"What is the second way?"

"You try to control the stone now. Although the chances of getting the stone to obey you are very slim. If you succeed, you will not only control the stone, it will also help build your body and you will be able to merge quickly with the stone."

"I want to try out the second way," Rhea said. Reece stared at Rhea and busted into laughter. Rhea felt hurt. "Why are you laughing?"

"Do you even know what you are talking about? Do you know the pain that comes with it?"

Rhea rolled her eyes slightly. But she doesn’t want Reece to keep reading her thoughts.

"Don’t tell me you want to pass through that pain because of me. It’s not worth it."

Rhea sighed. "Then you should stop listening to my thoughts."

"I can promise you that but only on one condition."

"What condition is that?"

"Become my new seatmate."

Rhea furrowed her brows. Why would Reece want to do that? Isn’t Alan his seatmate?

"I know. Alan is my seatmate and Louie is your seatmate. I not trying to take you away from Louie, trust me. I just want to help him."

"What help does he need? Why do you want to help him?"

"You know he is a wizard right?" Rhea nodded. "But I think he is yet to possess his powers. You..."

Rhea was surprised. Louie doesn’t have any power yet?

"He doesn’t. I don’t know why though. In his family, they get their powers at thirteen."

"How do I come in?" Rhea asked.

"I want to take you away from him for a while. Maybe if his emotions are unstable. He might develop them."

"Why do you want to help him?"

"We don’t know what the future holds Rhea. We need as many people as we can to help you fulfill your destiny."

"What destiny?" Rhea asked.

"The one associated with the name Aqua. You know what happened to the last Aqua right?"

Rhea nodded. She does. She was killed by Hel.

"Leslie told you the story?" Reece asked.

"She did."

"There isn’t any prophecy about you yet but we can as well prepare."

"Can you tell me why you are doing this?"

Reece smiled. "Because if you die, a lot of people will be affected."

Rhea sighed. Why...

She took a deep breath. "I will try my best to..."

Reece stopped her. "Don’t make any promises yet. It’s going to be a long journey. I am going to stop listening to your thoughts. But if you want to always speak to me through it. I can teach you what to do. Knowing how to do it depends on you."

Rhea sighed. What if she doesn’t know how to do it?

"You can’t know until you try," Reece answered.

"You just listened to my thoughts. You promised you won’t."

Reece nodded. "I did but you haven’t promised to be my seatmate yet."

"What about Alan. He won’t..."

"Do not worry. Alan is not a problem. He is actually a nice person if you get close to him."

Rhea shook her head. She doesn’t want to get close to him. Never!!!

"Are you scared of him?" Reece answered.

"Am I not supposed to be scared? I have never heard him talk before. Do you see how he looks at others? He has a strange aura around him. Who would not be scared?"

Reece smiled. "Were you scared of me too?"

"Was I?" Rhea asked. "I just think you are strange and annoying. You totally ignored me when we first met. I was only trying to help."

Reece laughed slightly. "I just thought you were too weak."

Rhea rolled her eyes. And now?

"You are still weak but at least you have some courage now."

Rhea scoffed but said nothing. She tried not to think about anything either or Reece would be listening to her thoughts. Rhea began to sing in her mind.

"Are you scared I will listen to your thoughts?"

"I am not scared. You are invading my privacy," Rhea answered.

"Do you agree with my terms?" Reece asked.

"Fine. I will sit with you. I am not doing that because of you though. I am doing it for Louie."

Reece smiled and stretched his hands. "It’s nice doing business with you."

Rhea hit his hand slightly. "I am not doing any business with you."

"Of course you are." Reece stared at his wristwatch. "I think we can go in now."