The Setori Sisters' Secret

Chapter 1: It has the Synopsis of this story so far and a short bio about each character. The time for the story is 6 years after graduation from High School. Please keep in mind Kim Setori and Cora Reagan Dean are both mermaids in this tale.

~~OOOOooo~o0o~Chapter 3~o0o~oooOOOO~~

~~Trouble Brewing~~

June 29th ….

Cleo Setori walked swiftly toward the front of the airport terminal desperate to get into the fresh air. The air turbulence the plane had hit just before landing had unnerved her. She felt frazzled and her two companions weren't helping her disposition any, either.

"Cleo, slow up, will you?" Emma called out, "Are you sure you're feeling well enough to drive back to Max's Wharf?"

"Yeah, after all, what's the rush?" Rikki laughed.

Act normal.

"I'm fine, really. The turbulence up there just unnerved me for a few moments." She lied, pretending to laugh. "I didn't expect it to have been so rough."

"You're sure?" She could tell Rikki was pretending to act concerned. Rikki walked as much in a hurry to get away from the crowded terminal as she was.

"Yeah, I'm sure." Cleo gave Rikki one of those comradely grins and her face twitched in responsive amusement.

They walked on.

A couple of minutes later, they exited the terminal and walked into the bright sunshine. Cleo set her bags down, shielding her eyes with her hand for a quick moment to catch her bearings—it was then that Emma noticed that Rikki was missing.

"Rikki?"

Cleo turned around and sighed a bit. Now, what?

"Where did she go?"

"She was right here a minute ago." Emma replied, flustered.

Rikki hurried to them and made a causal gesture that invited her and Emma to continue on ahead. Cleo smiled and turned, but kept an eye on Rikki. She noticed her friend kept looking back over her shoulder.

"Rikki?" Cleo looked hesitant.

"I thought I saw someone we knew… but I guess it wasn't; it couldn't have been."

"Tell me it wasn't Zane." Emma groaned. Rikki shot Emma an angry 'drop-dead' look.

"No. It wasn't. I'm over him. Period. End of story."

A sullen frown replaced Emma's grin.

"Okay, okay. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to touch a sore spot. Anyhow, Cleo – are you sure you're feeling all right?"

"Yes, I'm really fine, guys." Another lie. She was happy being back out in the warm June day. "I just want to get back and take a long nap."

"All right. Well, take care. We'll see you on Friday."

"Right. Friday." Cleo nodded.

"'Bye, Cleo."

"Goodbye, Em … Rikki." Cleo gave what she hoped was a bright happy-go-lucky smile as they parted company. She twisted around; yanking the door of her yellow beetle opened and tossed her bags into the back seat, slipping in behind the wheel.

She was bothered by the look on Rikki's face. Something in the airport bothered her. I've known her too long not to recognize that look. She closed the door putting her hands on the steering wheel

Cleo tightened her grip. Something rattled Rikki; and it wasn't Zane, but something bigger.

God, they can be so… so… irritating at times. Why the million-and-one questions about the night Kim got her tail? That's been, what, nine, nine-an-a half months ago? Why start with the questions again? She thought as she turned the key in the ignition. She looked in the rearview mirror. Emma and Rikki had already gotten into Rikki's jeep and pulled out. She waved to them as they passed by—noticing they were having a heated debate over something. Whatever possessed me to ask them along to the book-signing event I'll never know. It was nothing but questions, questions, questions through the entire trip!

Cleo breathed a sigh of relief as they drove away. She put on her dark glasses.

I wonder if Kimmie has been talking about it. She did promise not to tell more than what we agreed upon. Em, Rikki, Cora … and Lewis would all be furious to find out what really happened— She growled in frustration, Please, Kimmie, don't be saying the wrong things. It would be too difficult to explain away our lies now.

Cleo backed out from the parking space and put the car into drive. She steered her way out of the busy terminal and onto the highway, noticing Rikki and Emma had stopped at the nearby Jiffy Mart—Cleo blew the horn and waved as she passed. They're still arguing. She shook her head. I'll hear about it by tomorrow I'm sure. She headed back to the outer edge of town where Max Thomas's old home used to stand.

It'll be good to get back home. She hit the accelerator.

Twenty minutes later, Cora left her car parked in the driveway. She paused a second, hesitate, looking at the two bags she'd left in the backseat—I'll get them tomorrow; she giggled, turned, and jogged up the steps to the door. Her key fit perfectly into the lock—a few seconds later, she was inside shutting and locking the door behind her. She hung the keys up beneath the foyers' framed mirror. Then she stopped. She heard Lewis humming happily in the kitchen. She groaned; couldn't the lovebirds have gone out?

Cleo managed a rueful smile.

Got to make my appearance and then excuse myself. Maybe there's time for a quick swim before the full Moon rises…

She hurried through the living room and passed the dining table until she stood at the breakfast bar. Lewis was crouched down looking beneath the sink.

"What you're looking for?"

"The picnic basket." He shot her a quick glance.

"It's in the closet by the refrigerator."

"Thanks." Lewis stood, shutting the cabinet doors. "I appreciate the help."

"You're most welcome." Cleo smiled, picking up an apple out of the fruit bowl. "What are you planning?"

Lewis pulled his nose out of the broom closet and his smile grew wider.

"Cora and I are going to the Moon Pool tonight for a midnight swim."

"NO!" Cleo screamed, throwing the fruit down hard. Lewis looked at her with puzzlement at her sudden outburst.

"Cleo?"

"Don't you remember what's tonight?"

"No, not really, but by your reaction, I think you're going to tell me anyway." He replied, blinking at her. Anger simmered in her eyes.

"Well, all I can say is that you're crazy. Cora knows it's a full moon tonight." Cleo rubbed a hand over her face. Her stare froze Lewis to his spot in the kitchen. "That's why we came home today instead of tomorrow." She paused a moment. "Please, tell me you two aren't going to Mako tonight." She couldn't believe what he had told her a few moments ago. She gaped at Lewis with shock.

"Cleo—"

"No, Lewis." She sat on a stool by the countertop. "You and Cora are not going to Mako. There's a full moon out tonight, are you both crazy?"

"But Cleo—" Lewis started again but Cleo quickly cut him off.

"Don't, Lewis." Her eyes hardened. "She has to stay inside like the rest of us."

"Cleo, I didn't--" He began, but she cut him short again.

"I can't believe that you--you of all people—would push her to agree to this."

Complete silence filled the room.

"Cleo, hear me out." Lewis finally half-screamed in frustration. She crossed her arms and eyed him.

"Go ahead, I'm listening ... and this better be good." She raised her eyebrows and stared at him, waiting. He sighed.

"Cleo… something's been bothering Cora. She won't open up about it; well, she has, at least about some of it but I know there's more. I'm concerned about her. That's why I suggested Mako tonight. I didn't think about it being a full moon out. It's just… the water relaxes her, especially the Moon Pool. If you had seen her face this morning by the pool…"

"And?"

"Guys, what's with the arguing?" Cora walked in, stopping a few steps away from them. Worry and fright etched deeply across her face. Cleo caught Cora as she noticed the ruined apple on the countertop. Uh, oh, trouble.

Cora's eyes darted from Lewis to Cleo and back.

"I could feel you arguing all the way down the hall."

Cleo cut her eyes to where her friend stood. She could tell Cora could feel the strain in the room. Cleo recognized that her anger was probably causing Cora a few ill twinges in the stomach, but she couldn't help her emotions.

"I can't believe you agreed with Lewis and his crazy notion of going out to Mako Island tonight on a date. What were you thinking?"

Cora took a startle step back with surprise written across her face.

"I-I..."

Cleo flashed Lewis a quick glance before looking back at her friend.

"It's going to be a full moon tonight! Did you forget?"

"What?!" The color drained from Cora's face. "I-I… Wow. I guess I sorta forgot. Big failure on my part…" She grumbled in disbelief of herself.

"You can't forget something like that, Cora!"

"I know." Cora bowed her head a bit. Her hands clenched the papers she held into a tight wad, "I'm sorry, okay?" Cleo remained silent. Cora looked to Lewis, "She's right, let's put it off until another night."

Cleo caught the nervous glance Lewis gave Cora. Is that disappointment in his eyes?

"Right, okay."He looked to Cleo. "Sorry, I must not have been thinking clearly."

"A date at Mako isn't such a bad idea; but not tonight. Let's not do it on the night of a full moon. You know how it affects me." Cleo thought the smile Cora then gave Lewis was forced.

"What are you researching?" Cleo made her best attempt to change the subject. Something's definitely not right here…

"Just a name, it's been stuck in my head lately."

"It wouldn't happen to be 'Lewis,' would it?" Cleo smirked. Cora's face flushed crimson. Her eyes darted a moment back to Lewis. "No; actually the name I've been researching is 'Heather Faith'—"

"--Dangerfield?" Cleo blurted out, then swallowed uneasily.

"Cleo? Are you alright? You look like you've just seen a ghost?" Cora's hand touched Cleo's on the counter. Cleo stumbled back a step and took her hand away from Cora's. She felt the anger and the astonishment slipping away already from the touch.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just the start of a headache, that's all." The lie came easily. "You know I often get them when I forget to eat breakfast."

She watched Cora nod her head. She doesn't believe me. She knows something's going on. Her touch… Blood pounded through her head leaving her giddy for a few moments. She fought to control the panic. The air in the kitchen was suffocating. Her throat felt tight. In those long, drawn-out seconds she heard Cora talking but did not grasp what she was saying.

Cleo squeezed her eyes shut, feeling Cora's touch. She fought for every breath as familiar images flashed back through her mind.

"The youngest is dying." The forgotten voice rattled through her memories. Her mind saw the anthropomorphic reptilian creature holding a jewel on each side of Kim's head. Her sister did not move.

"Wake up, Kimmie!" Her pleas echoed in her mind. "Please, please save my sister." Her eyes locked on the humanoid-lizard's sauce sized eyes of unblinking darkness. "She can't die. She's too young."

"I cannot interfere in the lives of others." Cleo remembered the dread that had settled into her chest that night when Enik spoke those words. But then she had heard another voice, an unfamiliar one.

"I can."

Cleo had looked up and seen the face of a girl; a face that held a distinct concern – a look of concern that Cleo knew she had seen before…

She opened her eyes and was met with Cora, who wore the identical look on her face. Cleo froze in her spot – now she knew where she had seen that look before.

"Uh, guys? I think I'll head upstairs. I'm kind of tired after the flight." She said, and without another word she turned and bolted.

********************

"Lewis…?" Cora turned to Lewis. "Did I say … or do something wrong?"

Lewis looked just as surprised as she felt.

"No, I don't think that's it."

"I don't understand." Cora complained.

"I think that maybe, just maybe, Cleo has given you your 'Heather's' last name."

"Huh?" She shook her head. "I still don't—"

"--Dangerfield." He smiled wearily. "I think the name you should be researching is 'Heather Faith Dangerfield,' if I don't miss my guess."

"But how would she know?"

"I just don't know, but I need for you to tell me something." He walked over to her, smoothing her hair, vaguely smelling coconut shampoo.

"What?" her voice came out barely a whisper, refusing to meet his eyes.

"Come on, Cora." He tugged lightly on a strand of hair. "You've got to tell me everything about the dreams. There's something you're still not telling me."

~~OOOOooo~o0o~Chapter 3 end~o0o~oooOOOO~~

Another chapter completed and in the book. Who could Rikki have seen in the airport that would've shaken her up? What were Rikki and Emma arguing about? And what was that strange memory Cleo was recalling? I love reviews. Thanks so much for reading. And God bless ya all.