Chapter 10: Sea Change

(16 Years Earlier)

Cleo, Bella, Emma and Rikki met up on the empty beach of Mako Island.

'All right, so why are we here again' Rikki said irritably 'we could have met up anywhere, why Mako?'

'We agreed Mako Island would be safer' Emma replied 'no one was going to overhear us.'

'Correction, you agreed that' replied Rikki 'can we just get this over with please, I have both Roxie and Zane to deal with nowadays.'

Bella smiled 'someone isn't handling motherhood so well.'

'We're all stressed' Cleo said sighing, trying to sound calm 'but the kids are why we're here, we want to be sure they're in good hands if anything happens to us.'

Rikki snorted 'like what?'

'It doesn't hurt to be prepared Rikki' Cleo replied.

'Wow you sound way too much like Lewis nowadays…it's creepy' said Rikki.

Sighing Bella pushed her hair out of face 'guys, let's just get to the point.'

'Bella's right' Emma said 'we all know the plan…so now it's all down to the vote.'

They all looked round at each other in silence for a few moments, finally Rikki said 'well I'm still against it, telling people our secret has never been safe and never will be.'

'Max knows what we are' Cleo argued.

'I'm not talking about Max' Rikki argued 'I'm talking about including your step- mom Sam in this…that whole incident with her, Ryan and Sophie almost ended in a catastrophe.'

Cleo stepped forward 'Sam had nothing to do with that, she wanted Ryan to go back to his usual work, not waste time out here at Mako.'

'It's still too risky' Rikki argued 'we should tell someone else.'

'Like who' asked Emma curiously, though her voice had a touch of that patronizing tone.

Unable to think of a reply Rikki shrugged 'I don't know...but Zane and I are against this plan.'

'Well Lewis and I think it'll work' Cleo replied.

'Sorry Rikki but I'm with Cleo on this one' Emma said, standing next to Cleo.

'You don't even have a husband, you only have one vote' Rikki argued.

Emma stepped forward but the other two stepped between them 'hey easy' Bella said 'come on guys.'

'Emma's vote counts for two' Cleo said 'her and Elayne…that is what this all about after all…our kids…right?'

After a pause Rikki nodded 'yeah…sorry.'

'It's ok' Emma replied, turning to Bella she said 'so Bella…what's your vote?'

Bella moved over to stand next to Cleo and Emma 'me and Will agree that this is best…sorry Rikki.'

Sighing, Rikki crossed her arms over her chest 'alright…I guess I'm outvoted…but if anything goes wrong don't say I didn't tell you so.'

The four girls headed back for the water, jumping into the waves one by one.

Cleo led the way as the four of them headed up the cliff to an isolated little vista point 'I asked Sam to meet us here' Cleo said 'she shouldn't be long.'

The girls didn't have to wait long, they'd only been up there about twenty minutes when they saw Sam walking up towards them, she was alone, as Cleo asked. Ever since getting married to Don she and Sam had become fairly close…if there was anyone she felt they could trust she was sure it was Sam.

'What exactly are we going to tell her' Emma asked frowning.

'The truth of course, she needs to know' Cleo replies 'my daughter is right now at home with dad and Sam has no idea what she might grow up to become.'

Bella frowned 'but…how exactly are we going to do this?'

Sighing Cleo thought as Sam got closer, they had a point, this wasn't exactly the easiest news to break to someone.

Finally coming to a stop in front of them Sam smiled 'I got your message, is something wrong girls?'

Stepping forward Cleo said 'we've been thinking…about the future…to make sure our kids are ok…if anything happens to us.'

'What makes you think anything will happen' Sam said with a smile.

'It's just a precaution' Emma explained 'we don't really think we'll need it.'

Sam nodded 'alright, what do you need from me?'

The girls looked at each other nervously and Cleo scratched her neck 'well…there is something you don't know…about me…about us…something only some people know…and you can't tell anyone.'

'Ok, should I be concerned?'

'We're doing this for our kids' Bella added 'one day they might…be like us…they'll need someone to explain it all to them.'

'And you want that someone to be me' Sam asked frowning 'well what are we talking about here?'

'Well you know how I am around water' Cleo said 'there's a reason for that…don't freak out…but we're…mermaids.'

Sam looked at us blinking then smiled and started laughing 'good one, mermaids…that's funny…ah, seriously though what is the problem.'

Rikki rolled her eyes; she reached into Bella's bag and grabbed a bottle of water. She unscrewed the top, hurled it over Cleo making her cry out in surprise.

'Rikki' Bella and Emma yelled simultaneously.

'Someone had to do something' Rikki replied casually.

Cleo transformed before Sam's eyes and fell backwards; the others barely caught her in time.

Sam stared wide eyed 'I…but…what…how.'

'That's a long story' Cleo said 'it happened long before we met…before dad divorced even…it's all to do with Mako Island.'

'Cleo' Rikki frowned, shaking her head.

'No, she needs to know' Cleo insisted.

Rikki shook her disapprovingly and began drying Cleo 'we turn when we get wet…and turn back when dry' she explained.

'So that's why you've been funny around water' Sam said, nodding 'you said some others knew…who?'

'Lewis, Will and Zane' Bella replied 'also this man called…what's his name again?'

'Max Hamilton' Cleo replied 'he is part of this too…you and him both play a part in what we want to do.'

'How do you want Max to help anyway' Emma asked Cleo 'you still haven't explained.'

'Max created the three necklaces…we want him to keep ours safe…for the girls…until they are old enough. Also we want him to create a fourth necklace for Becka.'

Bella smiled 'aw, Cleo, that's sweet, thank you.'

'If he can of course…he's getting quite old…but last time Lewis saw him he said he was still quite fit and healthy for his age' Cleo added, finally turning back to normal.

Later that day Sam and the girls were standing outside Max's hut near the beach and Cleo knocked on the door 'Max, you there?'

There was silence inside for several moments and then Max opened the door 'Cleo, girls, well this is a pleasant surprise, what can I do for you' he asked as he stepped out of the house and into the open air. Cleo felt sad as she looked at him, he really was getting old, he still seemed fairly healthy…but age was getting the better of him.

'Did Lewis speak to you' she asked curiously 'about our general plan?'

Max nodded sighing 'I'm going to try my best, but I made those necklaces a long time ago…I'm not even sure I can remember how I did it.'

'This is the last thing we need from you' Emma said 'we won't ever ask anything from you again.'

Max laughed 'you know that's not it, I'm on your side, Gracie and the others may be gone…but I'll always hold the memories of the secret…in here' he said pointing to his head 'and in here' he pointed to his heart.

'Even so' Bella replied 'I feel guilty burdening you with something like this…guys we can't leave him with the lockets, even once he's built one for Becka.'

'I agree' Rikki replied 'we should find somewhere else to keep them, no offence Max.'

'None taken' Max replied smiling 'I'll get the locket built, I promised you girls that much…but you're on your own after that, I think it's time I put this past behind me…the secret will be safe with me though…don't worry.'

The girls left with Sam following behind them, she been awfully quiet ever since they had spoken earlier.

'Sam, are you alright' Cleo asked frowning.

She nodded at Cleo 'yeah, I'm just taking it all in, thinking about all the times you acted strangely…it makes so much sense now.'

'You can't tell anyone, not dad, not Kim…not anyone' Cleo replied 'please Sam…three times now we've had people who either tried to expose us or risked our exposure. First was a marine biologist, then this girl called Charlotte…and then Ryan and Sophie almost caused a disaster on Mako.'

Sam looked at her 'Ryan, as in the one who works with me?'

'Yes' Rikki said angrily 'he wrecked our home.'

Bella stepped forward as well 'there will always be people like them, always be people trying to expose us…we need to know our kids will have someone.'

Sam nodded 'you're right, so what do you want me to do?'