WHEN THE SEA CALLS
Chapter 85: Celia is not Surprised

Chapter 85: Celia is not Surprised

Rhea wore the necklace around her neck and stepped out of the water.

Aquamarine did a great job here. She thought. It’s beautiful.

Rhea watched the lake for a few minutes before leaving. She would have loved to stay back a little more but she doesn’t know what the time is saying now. She also doesn’t want Celia to be worried.

Rhea left the House of Seashells and headed back home. She met Reece on the way. Rhea waved at him and then thanked him for calling Leslie for her a day before.

"Oh that," Reece mumbled. "You don’t have to mention. Where are you coming from?"

Rhea pointed. "The sea."

"To do what?" Reece asked.

"I don’t think that is your business," Rhea answered.

"Come on, Rhea. It’s just a question. You don’t have to be..."

Rhea chuckled. "Just joking. I am coming from your land."

"That abandoned land?"

Rhea nodded. "Went to see a friend off. I have to go. My sister is waiting."

Reece smiled. "I saw your dad leaving the house with a bag. Is he traveling?"

"He is."

"Are you going to stay in the house alone with your sister?"

"We are staying with Leslie."

"Too bad," Reece mumbled.

"What did you say?"

"Nothing. When are you coming back?"

"I don’t know. That will depend on my dad’s return. Is there a problem?"

Reece shook his head. "Not really. I wanted to take you to a place but that can wait until you return."

"What place is that?"

"I am not going to tell you," Reece answered. "It’s supposed to be a surprise. Telling you will spoil that."

"Can’t you..."

"Don’t keep your sister waiting."

Rhea sighed. "Fine. I am leaving. Bye."

Reece waved. "See you when you come back."

Rhea returned home to meet Celia seated in the living room.

"Rhea, where are you coming from?"

"I told you I was taking a stroll."

"Do you know what the time says?" Celia asked, pointing at the wall clock. "And why did you not pick up your phone? Did you not hear it ring?"

"I left my phone at home. I am sorry."

Celia sighed and stood up. "I will go heat up your food. Leslie will be here soon. You should get your things ready."

"Thank you, Celia," Rhea mumbled.

After Celia went to the kitchen, Rhea sat on the couch. She could see Celia’s bag on the couch already. Rhea picked up a magazine and began to read it. Celia popped her head out to the kitchen.

"Rhea," she called. "Louie called. He couldn’t get through to you so he called me. You should call him and tell him you are fine."

"I will," Rhea answered. "I will just go upstairs to get my phone."

Rhea went to her room to get her phone. She decided to change her clothes and then bring down her bag when she was done. She had already arranged her bag yesterday. When she got to her room, she placed a quick call to Louie but he did not pick up.

He must be busy. She thought.

She texted him instead, before heading to the bathroom to take a quick shower. The water was cold, Rhea loved it. She began to hum a song, as the water ran down her body.

"Rhea?" She heard Celia’s voice.

"Celia?" Rhea called back.

"Are you still in the bathroom?" Celia asked. "Your food is going to get cold."

"I will be out..."

Rhea felt her legs getting weak and she staggered. She tried to stand straight but she could not. She could feel a tinkling on her legs, just like she felt when she first transformed.

What is going on? Rhea wondered. She is not going to transform, will she?

"Rhea?" Celia called. "Are you okay?" Rhea gave no reply and that made Celia worried. "Rhea? Are you okay? Talk to me."

"I... I am fine," Rhea stuttered.

Celia wasn’t convinced that Rhea was fine. She decided to go into the bathroom to confirm.

"I am coming in," she said.

Rhea shook her head. It’s a bad idea for Celia to come in.

"Don’t come..."

Rhea fell to the ground and she groaned.

"Rhea?" Celia called out. "Are you sure you are fine?"

She had heard Rhea falling down and she was scared. Rhea stared at her legs which had now turned into a tail.

"Oh no," Rhea mumbled.

Why now? What if Celia comes in and sees it?

Rhea looked around for a towel to cover herself with.

Celia opened the door and rushed in. "Are you..." she stopped. "Is that a tail? Is that real?"

Rhea was surprised. Why isn’t Celia surprised or even scared.

"It’s beautiful," Celia mumbled, her eyes filled with admiration.

"Celia?" Rhea called.

"Yes, Rhea?" Celia answered, still looking at Rhea’s tail.

"Celia!" Rhea called out almost in a yell and Celia blinked.

"What?"

"Are you not scared? Are you not surprised?"

"Oh I am," Celia replied. "But I can’t help but admire this. Can I touch it? It’s so beautiful."

Rhea frowned. She has been scared that when Celia comes in and sees her like this, she would be scared or maybe faint but look... Celia doesn’t look surprised or scared at all.

"Celia, is there a thing you are not telling me?" Rhea asked.

"Nothing," Celia answered. "I need to touch this."

"Celia!" Rhea yelled. "Can you focus?"

"Of course I am."

"You are not. Aren’t you supposed to be scared or surprised when you see a thing like this?"

Celia blinked. She was supposed to act surprised. Why did she not?

She moved backward quickly, pretending to be scared. She suddenly lay on the floor and pretended to have fainted.

"Celia," Rhea called. "Get up. There is no point pretending" Celia chuckled and sat up. "How long have you known?" Rhea asked.

Celia sighed. "Maybe a few days," she mumbled.

But she lied. She had known longer than Rhea did. She just could not bring herself to tell Rhea about it.

"How did you know?" Rhea asked.

"I am sorry, Rhea. I can’t say."

"Why?" Rhea asked.

Celia stood up. "Because..."

She sighed. She doesn’t know what to say to Rhea. She would have lied but she can’t think of any.

"Let’s get you dried up first," Celia said. "I will get you some towels."

"Why are you not telling me?" Rhea asked.

"Can we not talk about this? Please."

Rhea sighed. Is Celia hiding something from her?

"Are you a mermaid too?" Rhea asked.

Celia shook her head. "I am not."

"Then why am I..."

"Rhea, please don’t ask further questions," Celia answered.

How is she supposed to tell Rhea that the woman she grew up to know is not her mother? And she who she has always considered a sister is not her real sister? What about their father? He is not her biological father. How is she supposed to tell her all this?

"Are you hiding something from me?" Rhea asked. "Why can’t you tell me."

Celia groaned. If she had not been lost in how beautiful Rhea’s tail was and had acted surprised when she saw it, maybe Rhea would not have suspected a thing.

"Rhea," Celia called. "I am so sorry but I can’t tell you. Can you at least wait until Dad returns?"

Rhea furrowed her brows. "Dad knows too?"

Celia shook her head. She can’t let Rhea know that yet.

"No he doesn’t," she replied. "Are you not planning to tell him about it?"

Rhea shook her head. "Not yet. I don’t think he can take it."

Celia smiled. Then she doesn’t have to tell Rhea the truth either.

She held Rhea’s hands. "Rhea," she called. "You don’t want to scare Dad right?"

Rhea nodded. She doesn’t.

"Then let’s keep this a secret. Let’s not talk about why you are a mermaid and I am not."

Rhea furrowed her brows. Why would Celia insist on that?

"But Celia..."

"No, but, Rhea. Let’s not talk about it."

Rhea sighed. She still isn’t convinced by just keeping quiet and not talking about it. But she will play along.

"Fine," she mumbled. "Can you help me get dried? I am very hungry."

Celia nodded. "Sure."

She left the bathroom to get some dried towels. Rhea tried to drag herself out of the bathroom. She needed to stay in a completely dry place to be able to dry up quickly.

Celia met Rhea on the way and she helped her out of the bathroom. She began to clean Rhea’s tail with the towels. Rhea joined her too.

It took a while before her tail dried up and her legs returned.

"You’re naked?" Celia asked, laughing.

Rhea wrapped herself with the towel in her hand and frowned.

"Am I supposed to be dressed when taking my bath?"

Celia smiled and stood up. "Can you stand up? Do you need me to help you up?"

"I can stand up. Thanks."

Rhea stood up and wrapped herself properly. "I am going to get dressed. Can you take my bag downstairs for me?"

Celia nodded. "Sure."

Celia took the bag and left the room. Rhea picked out new clothes and began to get dressed.

She couldn’t stop thinking about her conversation with Celia. She could tell Celia knows something.

But why is she keeping it a secret from her?