WHEN THE SEA CALLS
Chapter 67: Clearing up the Air

Chapter 67: Clearing up the Air

"That is a good one, Rhea. But if you want to protect your family, you have to merge with the bluestone quickly and also discover your powers."

Rhea nodded. She can think about trying to merge with the bluestone quickly but what about discovering her powers? How is she supposed to do that?

"Are you wondering how you will discover your powers?" Leslie asked and Rhea nodded.

Leslie got it right.

She moved herself forward slightly. "Is there a way to do that?"

"That will depend on you, Rhea, and how much you desire the powers."

It depends on her and how much she desires the powers? Rhea rolled her eyes and sat down properly. She hasn’t desired any power. But can she really get her powers just by desiring them? Rhea was confused.

"Are you okay?" Leslie asked. "You seem confused."

Rhea stared at the wall clock and sighed. "I have a lot of questions to ask but time is far spent already. Have you spoken to my dad about tomorrow’s visitation?"

Leslie nodded. "He hasn’t spoken to you about it?"

Rhea nodded. They haven’t really had the time to sit and talk.

When she got back home yesterday, she was invited for dinner and before dinner was over, their father left for his room. He had some things to work on.

"I haven’t spoken to my dad yet. He has been busy."

Leslie sighed. "I will drop him a message to remind him but if you can’t make it tomorrow. We can always reschedule it."

Rhea shook her head slightly. That is a good idea but she doesn’t hope to reschedule it.

She has been curious as to what Leslie wants to ask her. She also has lots of questions for her; she will be telling Aquamarine some of the answers she gets.

"Thank you, Leslie, for your time. I should take my leave."

"You are welcome, Rhea." Rhea stood up. "Rhea?" Leslie called. "Have you been speaking to Maia and April lately?"

Rhea shook her head. They have really not spoken in the last few days.

"No."

Leslie smiled. "Okay."

Rhea wondered why Leslie had asked her that question but she did not pursue the conversation further. Instead, she waved at Leslie and left the clinic, finding her way to the cafeteria.

First, she went in search of Louie’s table, and when she found it, she went back to get herself something to eat.

"I am so sorry I took some time," she apologized to Louie when she finally settled down.

"You don’t have to," Louie answered. "Whatever you went there to do must be very important."

Rhea nodded. Speaking to Leslie about it was the best decision she made.

Now she can freely tell Louie who she is. Though she hopes he won’t freak out.

"Louie, I..."

Louie shook his head. "You should eat first. I will wait."

"But the time..."

"It doesn’t matter," Louie answered. "I will wait. But if you think the time frame is too short, you can at least eat a little first before talking. I do not want the lunch break ending without you filling your stomach."

Rhea smiled. Louie is finally caring about her and not her relationship with Reece.

"Thank you, Louie. I will eat now."

Rhea began to eat while Louie scrolled through his phone. He asked Rhea a few questions about the party and she answered him.

When Rhea was done, she tapped the table to draw Louie’s attention; he seemed to be lost in his phone. He looked at Rhea.

"Done?" He asked and she nodded.

"I am. Are you ready to talk?" She asked.

Louie nodded. "Sure. Do you want to go first?"

Rhea nodded. Her story might be longer than Louie’s. She has a lot of secrets she has kept from him.

Rhea made it as short as she could while hiding all the necessary information she shouldn’t share. Louie only stared at her calmly. Though he did not expect Rhea to be a mermaid, he wasn’t surprised. She has always been interested in their stories.

"And I might be the new Aqua," Rhea ended her story.

The last part of Rhea’s story caught Louie’s attention.

The Aqua? Isn’t that name from the story Leslie told them about?

He furrowed his brows. "Aqua? The same one from Leslie’s story!"

Rhea nodded. "What do you think?"

"Did she not die by the sword of... What is her name... Hel?"

Rhea rolled her eyes slightly. She had predicted Louie’s reaction to be like this and promised herself not to tell him but she couldn’t help it.

He is going to find out about it, sooner than later. She had thought. Why keep it away from him?

"Mine might be different," Rhea answered.

"What if it’s not?"

"Be positive Louie. You can’t..."

"I want to be positive, Rhea but..."

"You have nothing to worry about though. It hasn’t been confirmed yet," Rhea lied.

She needed to calm Louie down, and this was the only way she could think of.

Louie furrowed his brows. "It hasn’t? Does that mean there might be another Aqua aside from you?"

Rhea nodded. "We have to wait for the prophecy that will confirm that."

Louie sighed. "But what if it becomes true? I mean what if you are the chosen Aqua?"

Rhea smiled. "I have you. I shouldn’t be worried. Should I?"

Louie furrowed his brows. Him? Why him?

"Me?"

Rhea nodded. "You are a wizard. You..."

"I might be a wizard but I have no power, Rhea."

Rhea smiled and patted Louie’s hand. "You will get your powers. I am sure of that."

Louie sighed. How is he supposed to do that?

He might need to speak to Myles and his parents. If he wants to protect Rhea, he needs to get his power soon and begin to work on it.

"I will try my best to get my powers so I can protect you," Louie said and Rhea smiled.

It’s good to hear that Louie is willing to protect her.

"Have you found your Hel yet?" He asked.

Rhea shook her head. "No."

"Do you plan to find her?"

Rhea shook her head. She can’t look for Hel now. She hasn’t even merged with the stone, let alone gained her powers.

"Not yet, Louie. Not until I can protect myself and the people around me."

Louie nodded. Rhea is right. She needs to be able to protect herself and the people around her. He, in turn, also needs his power to protect his best friend.

They spoke about a few other things and the lunch break ended. They left the cafeteria and returned to their homeroom.

The rest of the day at school was a fun one for Rhea and Louie. With the problem between them solved, they had become closer to each other.

Reece was happy they had finally settled their differences. He also apologized for causing the misunderstanding between them.

Louie told him that he wasn’t totally the cause of their misunderstanding.

He shouldn’t have doubted his best friend in the first place.

When Reece found out that Louie knew who Rhea was, he was skeptical at first, but when she told him she hadn’t told Louie about the bluestone and her merging with it, he was calm.

"What was his reaction when he found out?" He asked.

"He was calm. But when he found out I could be the Aqua he became worried. He promised to find a way to get his powers quickly so he could protect me"

Reece was happy to hear that. "You might not need to sit with me in class," he said. "I think with your protection in mind, Louie should be getting his power soon."

They went about their business for the day and school finally ended for the day. Rhea and Celia returned home to prepare for Louie’s party. They met their father in the house. He told Rhea about her visit to Leslie’s place.

"I forgot to tell you that," he said. "Leslie told me she wants you to visit her. Would you like to go, Rhea?"

"I will love it. Is Celia coming with me?" Rhea asked.

Celia shook her head. "I can’t. I made plans with Rosa already."

Rhea sighed. She would have to visit Leslie alone. But that is not a bad idea though.

"You should go and get ready," their father said. "I will drop you off."

Rhea and Celia went to their rooms to get dressed.

"I am coming over to make your hair. Don’t leave your room," Celia told her.

Rhea got dressed in the blue gown she had bought for Louie’s birthday. She waited for Celia to come and style her hair and when they were done, they joined their father in the living room. Their father complimented them on how beautiful they looked and it was time to go. They entered his car and he drove them to Louie’s house.

"I will come and pick you up at ten. Have fun."

Their father left and they entered the house. A few people were already in the house. They exchanged greetings and found a place to sit.

Celia excused herself after a while to speak to Rosa leaving Rhea seated alone. Will, who had been staring at Rhea, decided to walk up to her but stopped when he saw Louie speaking to her. The party started and they had a lot of fun.

When the party finally ended, most people wished they could spend more time. Mr. Odin came to pick up his daughters as he had promised. Rhea returned home feeling so happy and tired from all the fun she had at the party.

That was her first time attending a friend’s party, and she loved it.