Zac's parents had noticed an unhappy change in their son, after he told them everything. They decided to make him join them for dinner at the club. They went to his boat house and told him that the family was going to have dinner, and they wouldn't take no for an answer. Reluctantly, Zac agreed to go. He didn't feel like talking, but he appreciated that they were trying, and that they were so amazingly cool about his life.
As the sun went down, Lyla went to Zac's boat house. She knocked and waited. There was no answer. She tried the door and went inside. She looked around and remembered all the time she used to spend there years ago. She saw a box on the table of pics and stuff from Evie. She saw the candy bowl that Sirena loved to steal candy from and smiled.
She sat on the couch and remembered how Zac always smiled at her, how he held hands with her while swimming, and how he always seemed to know when she was coming and going. She was pretty sure that's why Evie looked at her like that even after they had a moment of truce. After all, Evie had looked at her like that for almost a full year. She was pretty sure she would have looked even meaner, if she had ever seen Lyla and Zac underwater.
She got up, looked around one more time, and smiled. She left the boat house and went to Rita's to see if the girls were around. She had time. She'd meet Zac again soon.
Zac and his parents ate dinner at the club. Zac had the swordfish, while his dad ate steak, and his mom a salad. They talked about school and his plans for the future. He decided to work on a liberal arts degree at a local college, while figuring out what he wanted to do. His dad was not happy that Zac wasn't focused on school, but he was glad that Zac agreed to go to college.
His Parents asked about Evie, and Zac told them, "I guess I should have seen this coming. Evie always had a plan. She wanted to start her label, and travel. She never wanted to be a mermaid. She just wanted to be normal. He added, "In the end, I don't think she wanted a merman either."
Zac's dad put his hand on Zac's shoulder. Dr Blakely told his son, "I'm sorry it didn't work out, son, but there are plenty of fish in the sea."
Zac gave him a wry smile, "Really Dad?!"
Zac's mother said, " What your father is trying to say is that you may date a lot of different people before you find the one, or it may be the next one you meet. Love is complicated, wonderful, and devastating." She gave her son a hug.
Zac told them, "Thanks mom and dad. I appreciate your concern. I just need time, okay."
The waiter stopped by to see if they wanted dessert, but the Blakely family declined. Dr. Blakely paid the bill and asked if Zac wanted to go for a walk on the beach. He told them that he would see them at home and just wanted to go for a swim.
His mom told him, "Go on Zac, just be careful, and check in with us when you get home.
He hugged his parents then went jogging down the shore until he found a safe place to go into the surf. His parents took a long evening stroll down the beach and talked about life. Eventually Zac and his parents made it home.
The next day, Lewis had an interview with Dr. Ross, and the girls were headed to Mako, to meet Ondina and her friends, then Rita. Lewis' interview went very well. Dr. Ross was impressed by the work Lewis had done in America. He told him that he had one more interview, but to not leave the Gold Coast. He scheduled Lewis for a final interview in a few days.
Cleo, Emma, Bella, and Rikki met at Lewis' old secret spot and raced to Mako. Having spent a lot of her work time and most of her free time in the ocean, Rikki won by a mile. Bella and Emma tied for a contested second place, and Cleo came in last, claiming she stopped to see a dolphin and her baby. They were so cute.
Weilan, Ondina, and Mimmi were waiting at the moon pool for them to arrive. Rikki introduced her friends to the girls and they went to Rita's house. At Rita's house, Nixie, Lyla, and Sirena were talking to Rita, Nerissa, and Veridia. Once everyone arrived, introductions were made again.
Rikki, Cleo, and Bella told the story of the night of the comet. They showed Rita, and Veridia the crystal necklaces and asked if they could be used to focus energy like the moon rings. Rita and Veridia weren't sure, but were willing to teach them mermaid magic. Cleo asked about having children. They said they did not know how it would work for a Mako made mermaid and a land person. However, Rita did tell them about Dr Blakely. Perhaps the Dr could do a physical on Cleo in both mermaid and human form, and give his opinion.
Sirena, Weilan, Ondina, and Mimmi decided to go to the cafe. Nerissa went to go see Zac. She didn't know how long she would stay with the Southern Pod, but was making time for her children. Rita and Veridia decided to teach Rikki, Cleo, Bella, and Emma the disappear wave to see if they could pick up magic like other mermaids. Rikki, and Bella got it but only for a second. Emma couldn't get the arm movement right, she wasn't holding it at the end. The problem was the mermaids disappeared before finishing the move. Cleo got the move first try.
Rita and Veridia explained that every mermaid is not good at every move. Sometimes you need a lot of practice, and sometimes it comes easy. It was difficult to know what your strengths and weaknesses were until you tried. They slowed the move down and tried again. The girls all got it and were extremely excited.
They asked if the crystals would work like moon rings. So, Rita had them try levitation. Both Rikki and Cleo got it, but Bella had problems. The pillow only went up a little, and then it didn't go at all. Rita asked Rikki to let her try with Rikki's crystal. It worked. Rita explained they needed to charge the crystals by the light of a full moon. Emma used Cleo's and it worked. They agreed to meet late in the next afternoon to go to Mako for a crystal for Emma. Cleo and Emma both had family obligations earlier in the day.
Veridia asked if the girls wanted to try moon rings to see if they worked the same way as the crystal pendants. It turned out that they did work, but not as well as the pendants. Veridia then tried the pendant, and it did have more power. However, she had less control. She could feel the power, but not direct it as easily.
The girls tried to do each others powers using the crystals, with some success. Emma and Rikki had the most difficult time with each others powers. Rita explained that since they were very differently elementally based that it made sense, but she was sure after the next full moon in a two weeks, they would be able to do a lot more. She was sure once the necklaces were fully charged the girls would find it a lot easier. Two half charged crystals were not enough for the four girls.
Since the crystals were weakened, the girls decided to take a break. Rita invited everyone upstairs for lunch. Rikki, Cleo, Emma, Bella, Veridia, and Rita went upstairs. Rita explained that they only had seafood and juice in the house. So, everyone with the help of Poseidon ate lunch. Nerissa came back to Rita's house and all the mermaids went to the living room to talk.
Rikki started the story of how the girls got their tails, from taking the Zodiac to falling in the moon pool. She told them about the girls upgrades and being affected by the moon pool. When she told them she must have kissed the boy and knocked him out, Veridia said that he was very lucky he didn't die. There is a lot of unfocused magic that happens during certain times.
Rita asked, "Are you sure you kissed?"
"Well, actually I don't remember that night at all, but Zane said we talked then we kissed and that's all he remembered."
Rita exchanged looks with Veridia who shook her head no. Rita asked, "Zane who?"
Rikki answered, "Zane Bennett. We dated on and off through out high school. He's actually a large part of our Mako story. In fact, it was his Zodiac that we took to Mako that first night. Let me tell you the whole story..."
Rikki told them about the first year with Zane, Lewis, Ms Chatham, Dr Denman, Dr Harrison Bennett, and the eclipse. Cleo told them about the second year with the guys and Ash and Charlotte, Max, and the mermaids from the moon pool 50 years ago, and the planetary alignments. Bella told them about Zane, Will, Sophie, and Ryan, the tentacle and comet and graduation. By the time they were finished, it was getting late. Rikki had told her dad that she would bring the girls and Lewis by for a barbecue dinner. They got up to go. Rita asked Rikki if she ever talked to Zane anymore, but she said she hadn't seen him since leaving the Gold Coast years ago.
After the girls left, Veridia said, "I know what you're thinking. Maybe it's time to talk about it."
Rita said, "Zane is my son, and a merman. I bet the night he met Rikki was the night I was waiting in the moon pool. If the moon pool revealed Zac, then it should reveal Zane."
"If he had been a land boy without Mako magic in him, Rikki would have killed him that night. She is a very powerful mermaid. She seems more connected to Mako than some of our pod's mermaids." Veridia said thoughtfully, "I wonder about her family."
"It's past time for me to find Zane, but I don't want to have to go through Harrison, I don't want him to remember me. One of my biggest regrets is not what I did by leaving the pod, but is what I didn't do, which is fight for my family." Rita told her friend. She sighed.
"If you do find him, then we'll have to tell everyone the story. Harry died isn't going to work anymore." Veridia said, then added, "I will have to answer questions from the rest of the council about doing magic with a Northern Mermaid, and an outcast. I'm ready to face the consequences."
"Thank you Veridia. No one could question your loyalty. You are a true friend."
The women went to the kitchen to make their own diners.
authors note- I've been really sick the past few days, which explains the slow down. I have dyslexia and typing requires way too much concentration and energy. If you notice a glaring error please, please tell me and I will fix it. The next few chapters will be fun. I may have been too sick to type, but I thought out some interesting story scenes. We getting closer to the end of my first story. Thank you Ottsel Cath and MermaidByHeart for your reviews. I appreciate it.
