Trouble in paradise…
Cleo Setori walked peacefully along the gold coast beach.
Time alone felt good but she much preferred a swim with her friends who, at the time were tied up in their own affairs.
The cool breeze ran through her hair, making her feel even more relaxed.
She reached fro her phone and sat down on the soft sand.
Dialling Lewis's number, she blushed knowing he would greet her really sweetly.
"Hi Lewis, I was feeling a bit lonely and wanted some company" She smiled.
Little did she know Nate was strolling around just a few metres away.
He strutted over and began to demonstrate body builders muscles.
This is one thing chicks can't resist he thought confidently.
He'd always had a thing for Cleo, luckily Zane was in the dark about this.
"Yeah, dinner tonight at Mako would be great" Cleo hung up and grinned sheepishly to herself.
She pocketed her phone and turned to see Nate showing off.
She felt her throat throb as if she was about to be sick…
"Oh, hi Nate…" Cleo mumbled uncomfortably.
She tried ignoring him but he was so in your face it was impossible.
Nate was always trying to chat up 'chicks' and basically he just wouldn't shut up and go away until you responded or walked away and hid.
"Couldn't help noticing me could ya?" He posed.
Cleo actually wanted to throw up.
"Look Nate I'm not interested, I'm with Lewis" Cleo got up and began to walk away but Nate grabbed her by the arm.
Cleo closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
Nate wasn't going to leave her alone was he…
Cleo had always felt and known that Lewis was her man and she didn't need another butting in.
She and Lewis had something special and never had she given Nate a romantic thought. Ever.
She'd rather stick pins in her tail than except a date with…Him.
"Nat-a-roo doesn't take no for an answer" Nate tried to pull a charming smile, which would make Rikki faint in disgust. "Come on.."
Cleo slapped her knees and stood up.
The waves crashed behind her softly, agreeing.
"Nate, for the last time, I'm sorry but I'm not interested" She tried to sound sorry even though the thought of dating him was sickening.
She walked away, when out of sight she dove into the water and powered away to Mako island.
You'll change your mind chick, Nate thought determinedly, the Nate-a-roo don't take no for an answer…
He strutted away planning his next move…
Emma finished applying a small layer of gloss to her lips and shrugged to herself smiling.
It smoothed on perfectly and she needed to look perfect for her date.
She wore her best summer dress, threaded with painted, wooden beads.
She pulled it down, loving the feel of it's cotton and knowing it was the perfect choice of clothing for the perfect day.
It was the look and showed off her mood.
Or that's what she thought at least, Cleo was more the fashion type.
She scooped her black bag up from the sofa and pulled open the door, strolling into the sunlight.
Emma arrived at her destination on time as always and took her seat in the juice net.
It was silent apart from Rikki who was sitting a few tables away scribbling something on an essay.
Emma blinked, was Rikki actually completing homework ON TIME?!
She dismissed the unusual sight and sighed, shaking off her worries.
She wanted to be relaxed and happy for her date and concentrate completely on Ash.
Suddenly, Ash slipped through the beaded curtains, an uncomfortable expression on his face.
"Just in time!" Emma beamed. "I prepared your favourite juice!"
She handed him a yellow-in-colour juice and smiled again.
Her own special blend…
Ash smiled weakly back and looked down at his shoes.
He sunk into the chair and stared at the table, trying to look as if he were happy and looking at something fascinating.
Emma's ice-cream sat on the table, slowly melting in the room temperature.
Emma stuck out her palm and re-froze it.
Ash felt a thud against his ribs and a weird sensation run down his body.
"No! please!" Ash stood up from the table. "Emma, can I talk to you?"
Emma felt her stomach lurch, what? He's always been ok with it ever since I told him…
Ash pulled her to the side and gulped slightly.
"What's wrong Ash?" Emma asked.
"I…I've be thinking, about our relationship…" He began cautiously, "You being…a…a mermaid…"
Rikki lifted her eyes from her work.
"What about it?"
Emma suddenly realised, it was obvious.
He thought she was a freak…
"Why Ash?" She choked, eyes prickling.
"I believe, I need some time to think…" Ash continued.
Oh no…I've done it again!
"You're dumping me.." She nodded and turned her head away.
Rikki walked slowly towards them.
"No…I mean…I just…!" he tried to reassure, but Emma had other ideas.
"No Ash I get it…" She nodded again and left, continuously having to wipe her eyes.
She ran out, a few tears trailing behind her, swept back in the breeze of her departure.
"Nice one Ash!" Rikki said sarcastically.
Cleo lay flat on the water, eyes closed in a relaxed state of mind.
The moon pool was quiet and serene, the water silkily sliding across her many scales and fingers.
Her peaceful world was shattered when a loud splash echoed from the tunnel.
Emma rose from the water and swam over to the edge.
She hid her tear-stained face in her arms and sobbed silently.
Cleo turned over onto her stomach and pushed her hair out of her eyes.
Cleo drifted over and spoke softly in her ear.
"What happened Em?"
Emma felt a surge of hurt and exploded.
"Nothing!" She snapped.
Cleo flinched and drew back.
"Is it any of your…business?" Emma sniffled.
Cleo swam over to the other side, her tail bobbing on the water.
Emma turned to face Cleo and folded her arms.
Maybe right now wasn't the best time to ask…Cleo thought to herself.
Rikki raised and eyebrow at Ash after he finished his explanation.
"The next time you plan to talk to your girlfriend, don't make it seem like your breaking up with her!"
Ash slapped his forehead in pure shame.
"The only thing you can do now is try and talk to her" Rikki suggested "I can't help any more than that"
With that she left, strolling over to the dock and jumping into the water.
Ash sighed harshly, why was so hard to get girls to understand?
Cleo swam gently over the reef.
Giving Emma space was the best thing she could do for her right now.
She passed her hand through the seaweed and across the coral, relaxing.
The weed was velvety and felt weird on Cleo slightly shrivelled fingers.
The current was smooth and swept across her skin soothingly.
If only I could convince Emma…she'd love this… Cleo thought.
She spent a long time admiring the reef before emerging from the water to inhale some air.
As she dove down again she noticed Rikki swimming below looking bothered slightly, as if she knew something odd was going to happen.
Cleo swam towards her and Rikki smiled.
Emma felt her eyelids ache slightly.
Her tears had escaped for so long her eyes were sore.
She wiped her eyes again, wincing slightly as it stung.
Maybe a relaxing swim would calm her down, or make it worse knowing Ash had rejected her due to her scaled tail, she pondered on this for a while then sunk beneath the cool, clear water.
Swimming away from Mako, she cleared her mind and tried to ignore the facts…
It had began to darken in the sky.
And that was a bit odd for 12:23 in the afternoon…
Rikki hadn't noticed, though, she had been too busy enjoying the water with Cleo who'd gone to search for odd looking crustaceans.
It was true that being a mermaid was fantastic and this was the perfect example.
The problems of her life had been swept away to the back of her mind as she pelted into the moon pool, slicing her way through the water.
She took in a deep breath as she broke through the surface of the water.
But, she was completely unaware of the terrible mistake she had just made…
Across the Australian sky, darkness fell.
The once bright sun was disappearing behind a shadowy disc.
"I haven't seen a proper eclipse in ages.." Lewis said fascinated.
Max Hamilton nodded in agreement, not really paying attention much.
"Wait hold on though…" Lewis suddenly paused. "Isn't the moon still full?!"
Max nodded again.
He'd had a lot of experience and knew exactly why Lewis would ask.
"Max!" Lewis shook the elderly scientist.
"I know, I know and I didn't warn you…" Max said guiltily.
"About what, Max are the girls in danger because they're out their now, swimming!"
Max's eyes darkened slightly and abruptly he grabbed Lewis by the shoulders.
"Lewis, if you can make it in time, keep the girls away from the moon pool!" He alerted urgently.
Lewis began to panic.
"Why?" Lewis questioned worriedly.
"A full eclipse could have any unpredictable effect on the girls, you must stop them," Max dropped his arms to his sides.
Lewis had no time to argue, Max had experience on mermaids, more then he had had.
Lewis ran backwards, waving goodbye.
He stumbled over a tree root running for his boat.
Heading out to sea, the engine roaring, Lewis feared for his mermaid friends…
Just as she was fully relaxed, Cleo's thoughts were disturbed.
The whirr of the boat ceased and it floated gently on the surface.
Lewis, Cleo thought, he'll keep my mind off Nate…
She swam upwards through the water and lifted her head from the sea.
Lewis breathed a sigh of relief, one mermaid down 2 more to find…
"Cleo, the eclipse!" Lewis babbled urgently.
The moon was fully covering the sun now, coating the gold coast, Mako and the ocean in darkness.
"What about it, wait the full moon's out isn't it?!" Cleo panicked.
What could happen now!
What if something had already happened and her friends were in danger?
"I don't know, but Max, he said…" Lewis's head blocked the remaining sunlight. "The eclipse could have unpredictable effects on any mermaid in the moon pool when it passes over!"
Cleo's heart thudded, hard.
"I'll find Emma and Rikki and warn them!" She said.
"Ok but quick we have only minutes!" Lewis hurried nervously.
Cleo ducked under the water and powered away as quick as she could, to begin the search….
Emma twirled in the water, feeling more content than about half an hour ago.
Suddenly, she heard a strange whoosh, something was speeding towards her.
Cleo, abruptly, emerged from the bubbles and rushed Emma to the surface.
She hurriedly explained everything, knowing they had only minutes to find Rikki, once above the water.
"I'm sure I saw Rikki swim into the moon pool as I left" Emma offered suddenly realising the danger their friend was in.
Oh no…RIKKI! Emma panicked, who knows what the eclipse could do to her, or to them!
Cleo's eyes widened and she dove back under the water.
Only, minutes were left…
Rikki sunk down slightly in the water.
She felt calm and chilled out, the worry of something had dissolved into the tide.
It was dark in the moon pool but it didn't bother her.
Still, something didn't feel right about the darkness…
Suddenly, in the middle of the pool, the water began to bubble.
Rikki pulled away from the edge and stared up through the peak of the volcano.
The full moon, covering the sun, was hovering above the moon pool.
Foam and froth circled around her and thumbnail sized bubbles of water twirled upwards…
Lewis slid down the tunnel, dislodged rocks clattering down after him.
He ran as fast as he could, without bumping into the walls, into the cavern.
Lewis stumbled into the cave met by Rikki, wide eyed in confusion and slight fear.
"Lewis what's happening?!" Rikki demanded.
"Grab my hand!" Lewis instructed urgently.
Rikki reached out but she knew it was already too late.
The display was slowly wilting like a dying rose, back into the moon pool.
"I should've come sooner…" Lewis said under his breath.
Too be continued…what will happen between Emma and Ash? Will Nate win Cleo? And what happens to Rikki?…