WHEN THE SEA CALLS
Chapter 80: Rhea’s First Transformation

Chapter 80: Rhea’s First Transformation

"You girls should not keep Rhea under the sun. You should go in and have your conversation," Leslie said through the car’s window.

"Yes, mom," April and Maia answered in unison.

"Come with us," Maia said, holding Rhea by her hand.

April held her too. They took Rhea into the house talking about how they had spent the last three days of their break. So far, they had so much fun, Rhea wished she had visited them earlier.

She seems to be the only one not having fun. She thought.

Leslie, who had been watching them through the window, finally drove to the garage to park the car after she saw them enter the house.

"Let’s go get some juice from the refrigerator," April said. "I also want a cocktail like Rhea’s."

"I want that too," Maia answered. "I will make the cocktail. April, you get the cakes."

"I will get the cups and tray," Rhea answered.

Maia and April stared at Rhea. She seems active today, unlike the last time she visited and they had to indulge her.

"I like the new you, Rhea," Maia answered and that made Rhea smile.

She seems to like the new her too.

"It’s time to head to the kitchen, girls," April said. "There is so much to do but limited time to do them."

They went to the kitchen and Maia opened the refrigerator to get some bottles of orange juice and pineapple juice. Rhea offered to help her take some of the bottles to the table.

"Do you make this every day?" Rhea asked. "They look fresh."

Maia nodded. "Some of the time they are."

Rhea smiled. Lucky her. She always meets the freshly squeezed juice whenever she comes.

"Do you want to help make the cocktail?" Maia asked.

Rhea nodded. She is good at that.

"Tell me, what is your preference? More orange or more pineapple?" Rhea asked.

"How do you like it?" April asked.

"For orange and pineapple, I love 30:70," Rhea answered.

"That is more pineapple," Maia answered. "I think I will go with that."

"But I want more orange," April whined. "I like the taste of orange."

"I can make your preference for you."

"How about we do 50:50?" Maia asked, her eyes brightening up. "I would like to know what it tastes like. Rhea, have you tried it before?"

Rhea nodded. "I have. That is also a good idea if April is okay with it."

April nodded. That is better than a 30:70 orange and pineapple cocktail.

"I will go with that too," she answered.

"Will you be needing anything?" Maia asked. "I can make that ready for you."

"Do you have measuring cups? If you don’t, I can make use of a glass cup."

"We have Different types of measuring cups. You don’t have to worry about that."

"I have a suggestion though," April answered.

Maia furrowed her brows. "Which is?"

"Let’s make little portions of different ratios. Starting with the orange juice. I would like to know what they all taste like."

"I think that is a good idea. We can try them with different flavors of cakes too," Maia said.

Rhea watched Maia and April talk for a while. They were so happy, it made her smile.

Why has she not thought of the fun she would have with Maia and April? She should have been friendlier to them than she had been.

"Rhea?" April called, waving her hand acrossRhea’s face.

Rhea smiled. "What are you doing?"

April chuckled. "Jolting you back to reality?"

"But I am in reality," Rhea answered.

"What are you thinking about then?" Maia asked.

Rhea smiled. "Why I haven’t been so free with you girls."

"So did you get an answer to that?" Maia asked.

"I haven’t," Rhea answered.

"You can get that over a plate of cakes and a cup of cocktail juice. Can we go on now? I am very hungry," April answered.

"You are always hungry," Maia hit her playfully and they all laughed about it. "Let’s get the measuring cups first," Maia said.

They got the measuring cups and placed them on the table after cleaning them up. Maia and April helped out with measuring both the orange and pineapple juice in different ratios. They tried out the different ratios they had made and for the ones they loved, they made larger portions of it.

"You should go home with some of them," Maia said. "I know Celia will like them."

Rhea nodded. Celia will. And she should make more of these at home for Celia.

They were done after over thirty minutes of working. For the larger portions they made, they placed them in the refrigerator.

"Do you girls still care for some?" April asked. "I don’t think I can take in any."

She was already filled with the different little portions she had.

"I am okay too," Rhea answered.

"Me too," Maia added. "I feel hot right now. I should take a shower. Do you girls want to take a shower too?"

Rhea nodded. She wouldn’t mind.

"How about we go to the sea?" April asked. "We couldn’t go there the last time Rhea was here."

Rhea furrowed her brows. They should go to the sea?

April nodded. "There will be fewer people there now. I think this is the best time to go. Rhea, can you swim?"

Rhea nodded. She can but she hasn’t swum in the sea before.

"I can, but..."

"We can pick up seashells on our way back," Maia said. "Celia told me you like seashells."

Rhea sighed. What about the sun? The weather is hot.

"Isn’t the sun hot?" Rhea asked.

"The more reason we need to go to the sea," April answered.

Rhea wasn’t comfortable with going to the sea, because of the weather. But seeing how happy Maia and April are about it, she decided to go with them. Maia went upstairs to inform her mother about it.

"Is Rhea going to?" Leslie asked.

Maia nodded. "She is."

"Don’t let her go too deep into the sea," Leslie said.

Rhea being the Aqua, the sea will always call her, and with some part of the bluestone already merged with her, the calling of the sea would be stronger.

"And make sure you keep an eye on her, Maia," Leslie added. "I think I should speak to her myself," she mumbled. She stood up. "Come with me."

They went to the living room together and Leslie spoke to Rhea for a few minutes.

"Don’t go too deep into the sea," Lelsie told her. "If you feel uncomfortable ask Maia and April, ask them to bring you back."

Rhea assured Leslie that she was going to stay safe and that with April and Maia with her, everything would be fine. With Rhea’s assurance, Leslie’s mind was at peace.

"Make sure you are back before the sun sets. Rhea needs to go back home."

"We will," Maia and April assured Leslie, before leaving the house with Rhea.

"What a sun," Rhea mumbled as they walked down the street.

The sun was still very hot and, the heat pressed down on them. Thank goodness they had covered themselves.

"I swear, I’m melting," April groaned, fanning herself.

Rhea sighed. That is the main reason she wanted them to stay back in the house.

"I think we should go back," she said.

She was beginning to feel strange about their journey. She could feel a strong presence around her. Just the same way she did when she first saw Aquamarine.

"We are almost there," Maia answered. "We can’t go back now."

Maia who had thought that Rhea was getting bored, decided to tell some stories.

That will keep them busy until they get to the sea.

Maia’s stories were so interesting that April and Rhea totally forgot about the hot sun. Rhea did not remember the strange presence around her either. It was the smell of salt and sunscreen, that made Rhea realize they were finally at their destination. The sand was hot beneath their feet and that made April groan.

"The water better be cold," April mumbled.

"It sure will," Maia answered.

Rhea stared at the sea. It’s been a while. She thought. It’s been a while since she last came close to it.

She had only been to the House of Seashells. She had always seen the sea from there.

Maia and April kept the bags they had come with and ran to the sea, pulling off their shoes. The water rushed over their feet, cool and refreshing. April looked up to see Rhea still standing far off.

"What are you waiting for Rhea?" April asked, almost in a yell. "Come." She gestured.

Rhea joined them in the water and a sigh of relief escaped her lips as she stepped in deeper, letting the sea surround her. April splashed some water on her which caught Rhea by surprise.

"Hey," she said with a smile.

April chuckled and went on to splash Rhea with more water. She poured some on Maia too who in turn did the same to April and Rhea. Rhea decided to join in the fun. She dipped her hands into the sea and it felt so different. She began to splash some on Maia and April. It was more fun than Rhea had expected.

"Rhea?" Rhea heard and she turned quickly.

There wasn’t anyone behind her. It wasn’t April or Maia calling her. She heard her name for the second time and Rhea became worried.

Who could be calling her name?

Rhea took a few steps towards April and Maia but stopped. A strange warmth had spread through her legs, deep and steady, like a pulse and her skin tingled. The waves felt different, almost alive, wrapping around her like an embrace.

Rhea tried to take a step but she could not. Her legs weren’t moving.

"Rhea, are you okay?" April asked.

Rhea wasn’t sure what was going on with her yet and she didn’t want to make April and Maia worry about her.

"Yes... Yes," Rhea nodded, trying to act normal.

"What is that?" Maia pointed.

A soft glow was flickering beneath the surface.

"the glow is increasing," April said. "What is going on?"

"I think it stopped," Maia answered.

Rhea looked down. The glow had faded like Maia said. She sighed. Is it over yet?

She decided to take a step but she tumbled.

"Is that a tail?" April asked in shock.