Chapter 2

Charlottes Shame

Years went by and the four girls carried on being the best of friends seeing each other as sisters. Now in the midst of childhood Charlotte and Sophie saw even more of their mothers coming through with traces of their fathers too. Coral had brown curls and a tanned complexion, she loves science her two favourite topics are Marine Biology and Astronomy. Eloise resembled her mother as much as Coral resembled hers, she loved horses and was very mature for her age. Roxie has her mothers bright blue eyes, blonde curls and pale skin. She took karate to help herself learn some self-discipline and she's very interested in cars and boats. Bevin was practically a miniature of Bella and was loved the sea and music.

Each of the girls had a desk opposite their beds each one their favourite colour. Coral's desk was pinkish orange colour and had a piece of space rock Sophie got from Will's boat house and a fish bowl on it. Eloise's desk was turquoise and had stuffed ponies and horse ornaments on it. Roxie's desk was crimson and had pictures of Speed Boats and Sport Cars all over it along with karate belts she'd won. Bevin's desk was aqua and was cluttered with shells she got from the beach and music boxes.

Sophie tried to control their lives like she tried to control Will's. She wanted Eloise to become a Steeple Chase Champion, she wanted Roxie to be a Karate Champion and she wanted Bevin to compete in singing competitions. Of course like with Will it made the girls favourite things seem more like a chore. As Charlotte spent most of her time with Coral it was impossible for Sophie to control her life.

Charlotte tried to make time for the other girls too but not as much time as she did for Coral. She treated them like any other little girls and do more motherly things with them which instinctively made them like Charlotte more than Sophie. Every night Charlotte would tell them a story like the one her grandmothers had told her or based on her short time as a mermaid.

On this night Sophie listened in on the story "tonight I'm going to tell you the story of an evil mermaid and three good mermaids," said Charlotte "the three good mermaids were Angelfish, a water and wind mermaid who was as gentle as a rolling wave. Pearl, a ice and snow mermaid who was as calm as the ocean on the horizon. Lastly was Marina a fire and lightning mermaid who was as untameable as a storm but knew to step in if someone need her. The evil mermaid was Aqua who had all the powers the three had and all that power in one mermaids hands was bound in end badly. When a mermaid is dry they grow legs which allowed them to walk among humans and fall in love. Aqua had noticed Angelfish's infatuation with a young fisherman who she revealed her secret to. One night every fifty years when the moon filled over a pool in a cave it would draw away the mer from a maid leaving them a powerless mortal girl. Aqua had for some time believed she should be the only mermaid and used this night as an opportunity to make it so. She lured the young fisherman to the cave which would compel Angelfish to come. Aqua herself was out of the pool and had dried herself off and once Angelfish arrived turned the water around the exit to ice and told her what would happen when the moon filled overhead. As the young fisherman tried to convince Aqua to let Angelfish go she failed to realise the steam coming from the pool when she turned round she couldn't see Angelfish in the water but she knew this steam couldn't happen unless the ice around the exit had melted. Suddenly the steam cleared and standing on the ground in front of her was Angelfish, Pearl and Marina. She smiled this had been her plan the young fisherman would draw Angelfish and she would draw the other two. Aqua created three water snakes from the water in the pool and to try and push them back into the pool. As they got nearer the edge the moon filled overhead. That's when Marina destroyed the water snakes with a lighting bolt and they united their powers to push Aqua into the pool. Part of Aqua was unhappy that she could no longer feel the thrill of using her power but another part of her knew it was better this way and all she hoped now was that someday her past crimes would be forgiven. The End."

"I wouldn't forgive her" said Roxie.

"Well I would" said Coral "she knows what she did was wrong and forgiveness cleanses the soul".

Bevin added "and shows who the bigger person is".

Roxie said "Aqua's a power crazed manic, forgiveness is totally lost on her".

Elosie said "no it's not, everybody in the world deserves a second chance and her plan backfired on her I think she's been punished enough".

Charlotte said "girls, everyone is entitled to her own opinion

and Roxie if you don't want to forgive the evil mermaid fine but I have a feeling she would really appreciate it if you did".

"Aunt Charlotte" asked Coral "does Aqua really exist? and the three good mermaids too? Did this story really happen"?

Charlotte replied "I thinks it's a goods idea to keep an open mind Coral and someday who knows you may find out part of the story is true but that's all for tonight girls" She walked to the door and said "goodnight girls".

They all replied simultaneously "goodnight Aunt Charlotte".

When she got to her room she saw Sophie going through her drawers "What are you doing"?

"Looking for these" Sophie said pulling out Cleo's, Rikki's and Bella's necklaces.

Charlotte said "I was hoping to give them to the girls when they're older. It's odd you didn't know about Emma, Cleo and Rikki asked Will made her one as well."

Sophie replied "I heard your story and I believe I know how you're getting your inside info like just now how you knew Cleo and Rikki and Will to make their friend another necklace like theirs. Ryan did say something extraordinary was going on at Mako. The cave where the crystals are embedded it's the same cave from your story. If I was to take these crystals to that cave what would I find out? My guess is you attacking Cleo, Rikki and Emma like Aqua in your story".Sophie noticed how pale Charlotte had gotten and knew she'd hit the mark. "So here's our new deal, I get full control over their lives, Coral included. You don't have anything to do with their lives except cooking their meals and maybe help with their homework. That means no more mothering, no more stories, no more putting nonsense into their heads. If you break this agreement I won't hesitate to remove you from their lives altogether by any possible means."

After that day the girls lives turned grey and exhausting. It took Sophie some time but she finally got Coral practising her hand at the piano since her dad had been a drummer in the café band for a short time Sophie thought Coral may have some musical talent. The girls didn't realise what had caused their Aunt Charlottes sudden change. More than anything Charlotte wanted to be involved in their lives again but she was too scared of Sophie threat little did she know things would soon compel her to go against Sophie.