WHEN THE SEA CALLS
Chapter 81: It’s time to tell April and Maia the truth

Chapter 81: It’s time to tell April and Maia the truth

"Ta... Tail?" Rhea stuttered in surprise.

What does April mean?

"Is that really a tail? Is she a mermaid too?" Maia asked.

Rhea looked down on her leg, her heart pounding very fast. Her legs were gone, now replaced by a sleek, shimmering tail. Scales glittered under the afternoon sun, shifting colors with each ripple of the water.

Rhea was scared to death. "Wha... What is this?"

Maia and April moved closer to Rhea. Although they were surprised that Rhea now had a tail, they were still calm. Rhea wasn’t calm. She could not stand still either.

"You need to be calm," Maia told Rhea.

She could tell she was scared and being scared would only make the water unstable.

"Take a deep breath," April said.

Rhea sucked in some air. It was difficult for her to be calm seeing that her legs had suddenly disappeared and now she had a tail. It wasn’t just about her legs turning into a tail. The thought of April and Maia knowing that she was one of them when she was supposed to keep it a secret was another reason for her not to stay calm.

Seeing how unsettled Rhea was, Maia decided to show her tail too.

Maybe that will make her feel better.

"You are not alone in this," Maia said. "Look."

Maia flaunted her tail. She swam in a circle with Rhea in the middle. April saw that Maia had transformed and she did the same too. Seeing both April and Maia’s transformation, Rhea smiled.

This is her friends supporting her.

"Do you want to join us?" April asked. "It’s fun."

Rhea shook her head. She is yet to fully accept that she now has a tail. How is she supposed to join them?

April moved closer to Rhea. "I know it’s your first time and it can be overwhelming. But trust us. It’s fun."

Rhea tried to move but she couldn’t. It was her first time using a tail; she was not used to it yet.

Maia and April helped her through her first process and in a few minutes she was moving as fast as them.

"That is so quick," April said in admiration.

It had taken her about two weeks before she was able to move as fast as she was moving now. How come Rhea is moving so fast in a few minutes already?

Rhea was very happy. She had not thought turning into a mermaid was going to be fun.

She is loving every bit of it.

"It’s time to change back," Maia said. "The sea will be filled with people in a few minutes."

April nodded in agreement. They really need to change back or their secrets will be open to everyone. But how will Rhea do that? It’s her first transformation and she will need to be completely dried before she can change back.

"We need to get Rhea out of the water," April said. "Or Rhea can’t change."

Maia nodded. "I almost forgot that. Let’s change first."

Rhea watched them change back into their human forms and she tried to do the same but she couldn’t. Seeing Rhea copy them, April laughed.

"It doesn’t work that way."

"Then how am I supposed to change back?" Rhea asked.

"For the first time and until you get used to it. You might need to be completely dry before you can change back," April said.

"You also need to stay away from water too," Maia added.

Rhea furrowed her brows. How is she supposed to stay away from water?

"How..."

"Rhea, this is not the time for questions. Let’s get you out of the water first," Maia said. " We will help you get dry faster."

"Let’s find a safe place," April said.

She transformed back into her mermaid form and Maia did the same. The three of them swam to a safe place and April and Maia changed back into their human form.

"Our bags," Maia said. "We left them on the other side. How will Rhea change into a dry cloth?"

"I will go and get them. But first, let’s get her out of the water."

April and Maia helped Rhea out of the water. April left to get their bags while Maia helped Rhea get dry.

"Don’t be shocked," Maia said. "I do have some powers."

Rhea smiled. She has seen April and Maia use their powers before. It’s not a new thing.

She watched Maia help her dry her tail and a lot of thoughts began to rush through her mind.

How is she supposed to stay away from water? What if she can’t control her transformation? What if her secret is leaked so quickly? What will happen to her? What will happen to the rest of the mermaids who had tried their best to stay hidden?

"Rhea?" Maia called waving her hand across Rhea’s face. "Are you okay?"

Rhea nodded. She is fine. She is just worried about a few things.

"What if I can’t stay away from water?" She asked. "Do you think my secret will be open?"

Maia shook her head. "I don’t think so. Let’s speak to my mom when we get back."

Rhea sighed. She hopes Leslie has a solution to that.

"Rhea," Maia called. "Can I ask a question?"

Rhea nodded. Of course.

Her legs have returned now and she just has to wait for April’s return so she can change from her shredded cloth into a new one.

"How long have you known that you are a mermaid? Does my mother know too? Is that the reason she is close to you? You must know we are mermaids too. You weren’t surprised when you saw us change."

Rhea sighed. Maia has a lot of questions. How is she supposed to answer them?

"Maia, can I not answer those questions now?"

Maia sighed. "Fine. You don’t have to."

Rhea could tell that Maia was a bit angry.

"Maia, I am going to answer every one of your questions but can I speak to your mother first?"

Maia nodded. "Sure. I will wait."

"Thank you, Maia," Rhea said, pulling her into a hug.

"That doesn’t mean I forgive you for lying to us," Maia mumbled.

Rhea smiled. "I..."

"Hey, girls." April waved. "I am back." She came out of the water and handed the bags to Maia. "Let’s get changed quickly. I saw some boys coming this way. "

They changed into clean and dry clothes and were ready to go home.

"Rhea, I have some questions though," April said, on their way back home. "But I won’t be asking them now."

Rhea could tell that April’s questions might be similar to Maia’s. They walked in silence for a while until Maia suddenly stopped walking.

She just had a thought. She shook her head. Rhea did not see them. Did she?

"Wait," she mumbled.

Rhea and April stopped. "Is there a problem?" April asked.

Maia turned to face Rhea. "Rhea," she called. "You weren’t hypnotized on the day we used our powers to clean up your locker. Were you?"

Rhea chuckled. She has been caught. "I..."

"As a mermaid, even though she hasn’t transformed then, she must have seen us," April answered. "You did right?"

Rhea nodded. "I am sorry. I..."

Maia frowned. "You what?" She groaned. "Look at me feeling guilty every time I see you for hypnotizing you. You must feel happy..."

Rhea pulled Maia into a hug. "I am so sorry. I have a reason to have kept it away from you girls."

"You have a lot of explanations to do," April said. "You had better have a good one."

Rhea nodded. "I promise."

They got to the house to meet Leslie and April’s mother.

"Mom," Maia called. "We have a new member."

Leslie stared at Maia. "Member?"

"Rhea. She transformed today. Her tail was so beautiful."

"Maia, did you let her go deep into the sea?"

Rhea shook her head quickly. "I did not go deep into the sea."

"April is that true?" Leslie asked.

April nodded. "Yes."

"Is she the one you told me about?" April’s mother, Mira asked.

"Yes. She is," Leslie answered.

Mira stared at Rhea for a while and smiled. "Welcome to the family."

"Thank you, ma’am," Rhea answered.

"You can call me Mira," Mira said.

"Thank you, Mira," Rhea answered.

"Have you told them yet?" Mira asked.

"I haven’t," Leslie answered.

"I think you should," Mira said. "After all they would be working with her. I think it is time they should know their responsibility."

Maia furrowed her brows. What responsibility?

"What do you mean Mom?" April asked.

Mira stared at Leslie. "Do you want to tell them?"

"Look at them. They are not ready yet," Leslie answered. "And she hasn’t merged completely with it."

Rhea knew immediately that Leslie was talking about telling April and Maia that she was the Aqua.

April and Maia looked at their mothers in confusion.

What is going on?

Seeing how confused April and Maia looked, Rhea decided to speak up. She would like to tell April and Maia the truth if that will not bring trouble to anyone.

They have proven to be good friends.

"Leslie? Mira? Is it okay to tell them? I would like to tell them if it is."

"You haven’t completed the merging process yet. Do you trust that they can keep the secret?"

Rhea nodded. She trusts them.

"You should let her tell them. She said she trust them," Mira said.

Leslie sighed. "Fine. Rhea, you can tell them the truth."

Rhea turned to face April and Maia. "April? Maia?" She called. "I am not only a mermaid. I might be the new Aqua."

"What?!" Maia and April said in unison.