04.
When Rikki woke up the sun was shining brightly through the window and its rays were fondling her pale skin.
She looked around herself and realized she was still in Zane's room and in his bed, but he wasn't there. In the bed next to her she saw a platter with fresh breakfast and a piece of paper. She took the paper and opened it. It was a note from Zane.
"Rikki,
I'm so sorry, but I can't do what you asked me last night. I also can't tell you why and please, I beg you, don't ask questions and don't try to find out my reasons. I want you to know that last night was the best in my life and I want you to never forget how much you mean to me! One day you'll probably understand why I'm doing what I'm doing. But until then just take care and stay safe, ok?!"
Love, Zane.
P.S. I made you some breakfast. I hope you'll like it. :-)
Rikki looked up from the note and lowered her hands, curling her fingers around the piece of paper. She felt anger bursting in her veins.
She had come here last night against her will and her sanity, to ask Zane not to marry that evil woman who was worse than the devil himself. And Zane had only used the opportunity to have sex with her again not having even the slightest bit of the intention to do what Rikki had asked him.
She swore to herself she would make Zane sorry for using her momentum state of weakness, and she would never ever ask or beg anyone for anything again.
She slid out of the covers and looked around the room. There were only the clothes she had used last night to trick Zane into following her in his room. In other words - the suit and the black wig.
Rikki sighed and walked over to Zane's drawers. Three years ago before she had broken up with him and before she had gone away to America afterwards, it was only natural habit for her to spend the nights with Zane here in this exact room, so she had left some of her thing in one of his drawers, just in case she decided to stay a bit longer and had to change or use the bathroom. She just hoped he was still keeping her stuff and when she opened the drawer she was pleasantly surprised to find everything was still in there.
The blond pulled out a pair of red short shorts and a black tank top and quickly got dressed. When she turned around to close the drawer however, she noticed something had fallen out when she had taken out her clothes. She bent over to take it and put it back when she realized what it was and her heart fastened; it was a small black velvet box and Rikki knew exactly what was inside of it. Her hand was shaking slightly when she reached and opened it. When she saw the small sparkling jewel her heart jumped and she couldn't help but gasp quietly; it was the most beautiful ring she had ever seen! Silver, with big, aquamarine stone, it was shining under the rays of the sun.
Her hands were now shaking so much that she almost dropped it down. She quickly closed it again and put it away in drawer. She was swallowing hard because of the shock and because of the memory of a part of conversation her and Zane have once had floated up in her mind.
"What's your favourite type of a crystal stone?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Because I want to know what should be the stone of the ring I'd use to ask you to marry me one day."
"Well..you'll have to guess."
"Come on, just tell me."
"No. Guess."
"Ok. My guess is aquamarine because its name reflects your mermaid self and because its color is like the color of the ocean."
"Correct."
"What? Really? I was just guessing."
"And your guess is right. I love the aquamarine stone."
"Actually you know what I think?! I think your eyes are with the color of aquamarine. They're beautiful and unique and magical."
"Now you're just trying to make me kiss you, right?!"
"Is it working?!"
"No." Rikki smirked while leaning to kiss him.
She pushed the drawer close, put the suit and the wig in a plastic bag and marched out of the room. She tried to normalize her breathing while walking downstairs. She found the bag with her stuff exactly where she had left it last night, so she grabbed it and walked out of the house.
She didn't want to stay a second longer. The memories were just too many. The pain was too much.
{ * }
Lewis and Will were at Lewis' apartment. That way they could plan everything without worrying of being accidentally interrupted or overheard.
Will had asked Lewis some questions and had told him about his plan. Lewis however had his doubts and didn't exactly agree with the other boy.
"That's ludicrous!" He fumed.
"I can assure you it's brilliant."
"Will, there are too many ways for this plan to become a failure or even worse - a total disaster."
"But it won't. Just trust me on this, ok?!"
Lewis shook his head. It wasn't he didn't trust Will or anything, but he had his reasons of being cautious and he also had a bad feeling of all of that.
"Look, Will, it's not that I don't trust you, but we are taking a really big risk. Not to mention we will put the girls at risk too without them even having the slightest idea."
"Do you think I haven't considered that?! That I haven't considered everything?!"
"I've never said that."
"But that's what you think isn't it?"
"No. But yes. I don't know anymore, I...I hate all that mess."
"Me too." Will nodded and put his hand on Lewis' shoulder. "And that's our only way of putting an end to it."
Lewis sighed and looked in the eyes of the other boy. "Fine. You convinced me. I'm in."
{ * }
Cleo was still at the Marine park, hanging out around Ronnie's pool when Laurie came to her.
"What are you still doing here?!" He asked her lifting his eyebrows. "You finished like half an hour ago."
"I know. I just...needed to think and hanging out around Ronnie always helps."
"Yeah, he's a real charmer, isn't he?!" Laurie smiled. "The next few days we should prepare him for the show next week. We'll have a special guest attending it."
"Really?! Who?"
"Just some marine biologist, I don't really remember her name."
"Linda Denman." Cleo breathed and her heart fell.
"Yeah, that's her name. How did you know, do you know her?!"
"Yeah, well...sort of. We've...met before." Cleo swallowed hard trying to compress the memories that floated before her eyes. "Laurie, I've got to go, now. See you tomorrow! Bye!" And she ran out of the marina, not waiting for his response.
She just ran and ran not knowing where she was going, when suddenly she collided hard with someone and they both ended up falling on the ground with a loud thud.
"You should watch where you're going!" The other person spat and Cleo could swear that when she heard the voice, she almost stopped breathing.
She lifted her eyes and watched as the woman in front of her stood off the ground fixing her clothes.
It was then when the other woman's eyes fell on the brunette.
"Cleo?!" She said, her voice a bit shocked. "Where the hell were you? I spent the last few days looking everywhere for you and the others!"
And she stretched her hand to Cleo, but the brunette's big eyes were wide open and filled with panic. She clumsily stood off the ground and made a step away from the other girl, who looked at her stunned.
"Cleo, are you ok?! It's me, Rikki!"
And the blond made a step towards Cleo but she frantically stepped back. She couldn't.
"Cleo, what the hell is wrong with you?! Talk to me. Say something!"
Slowly Cleo's mind took form and her eyes filled with tears.
"For goodness sake, why aren't you talking to me?! Did something happened while I was away? Did you or the others got hurt? Did something happened on Mako?"
The brunette started shaking her head and the tears started rolling down her cheeks.
Rikki was shocked and extremely confused by Cleo's behaviour.
"Look if you don't want to talk here want we can talk at the moon pool."
"NO!" The brunette suddenly cried with desperation.
"Did something happened to the moon pool? Is that what you are so afraid to tell me?!"
Cleo shook her head. She shouldn't be standing there, face to face with the curly blond.
"Than what is it?!" Rikki yelled frustrated. "Just tell me!"
Cleo just continued staring at her with so much fear written in her eyes.
"You know what?! I'm going for a swim and if you decide you want to talk to me I'll be at the moon pool!"
With that Rikki turned to walk away, but she felt one soft, warm hand grabbing hers. She spun around; it was Cleo. The brunette was looking a lot more terrified than before a couple of minutes, if that was even possible.
When Rikki turned around to look at her the brunette quickly dropped her hand and backed away.
"Whatever you do, stay away from Mako Island, especially the moon pool. It's not safe out there anymore." She whispered, her voice filled with panic.
Rikki was taken aback by what Cleo had just said.
"What? Why?!"
Cleo now gave her a look that was a mixture of sadness and fear.
"Denman's back." Was all she whispered, before turning around and running away.
{ * }
Cleo ran into the boatshed, trying to take a breath.
Bella and Emma were there, but there was no sign of Will and Lewis.
The brunette started talking fastly, almost hysterically and it was like should run out of air any minute now.
"Cleo!" Both Emma and Bella shouted over her cries and took her arms leading her to the couch. "Breathe!"
Cleo took a deep breath and started explaining everything again, this time a bit calmer.
"Laurie told me that next week Denman will watch our dolphin show and I freaked out and ran away. But then I..I ran into Rikki and I..I couldn't...she quickly made sense that something was going on and started asking me questions and when I didn't answer she..she told me she'd go to Mako for a swim and I...I couldn't let her and...I told her about D-Denman." Cleo had started now crying and it was a bit harder for Emma and Bella, but they managed to catch her every word.
Emma hugged Cleo, while Bella took the brunette's hands.
"Shh, Cleo, calm down." Emma said to her softly and Bella rubbed Cleo's back.
As if on cue Lewis and Will came bursting through the door. It took them a few seconds to assimilate the scene before them.
Lewis ran to Cleo and Emma moved so he could hug his girlfriend. Will sat down to Bella, taking her hand in his and asking her what has happened.
Emma and Bella told the boys everything Cleo had told them before that.
After receiving the new information, Lewis and Will exchanged hidden looks. They knew they had to act fast and bring their plan into action immediately.
Emma looked at her watch and gasped. "Will, we should've left half an hour ago!"
"What? Why?!"
"For the wedding, remember?!"
Everyone exchanged silent looks. This was just another goddamn thing to go through, but if they knew something it was they didn't have another choice.
{ * }
Zane was standing in the church dressed in a black suit and a red tie. He had put a fake smile on his face, but inside he was falling apart.
He hated, absolutely loathed that whole situation, this circus he had been dragged into. That devilish woman that after tonight was going to call herself his wife was disgusting him; he couldn't stand her cheesy smiles, high-pitched talking, her whole presence even.
The wedding melody was turned on and here she was walking slowly towards him, looking like a cake in her big, fatty dress. He closed his eyes to take a breath, and not to look at her, when suddenly a whole other image floated before his eyes. Image of the one woman he truly loved with his whole heart lying on his chest, tight in his embrace. He felt his heart ache and pain jolted in his chest.
When he opened his eyes again, Sophie was already standing next to him, waiting for Zane to take her hand. He reached and reluctantly did it. Then they turned their backs to her witnesses, to stand up face to face with the priest.
Everyone were so caught up in their emotions, that they didn't notice a shadow sneaking at the back. A shadow in black, that hid in the darkness of one of the corners and that witnessed the whole ceremony. A shadow that was waiting with breath caught in her throat to see if he will do it. If he will say "I do" and kill the last glimpse of hope that had left to them both.
During the whole ceremony Zane managed to pull a cold, tempted expression on his face and when he heard the priest ask the question he closed his eyes again. He didn't want to do it, but he had no choice. "You're doing it for the love of your life." He reminded himself. He then opened his eyes again and looked at Sophie, then back at the priest and finally nodded. "I do." He said and he felt his heart break on two.
It was done now and there was no going back. But if that way he would keep her alive and safe, then throwing himself into the hands of misery was all worth it.
He didn't know however, that he had sentenced to misery not only himself, but also a certain someone, who quietly ran out of the church and into the ocean, to dive in and swim off to one of her biggest nightmares.
