So this took a bit longer than expected but we're here now and a happy new year to everyone
Summary: Things keep moving forward
The cool embrace of the water in the pool under her house was the perfect antidote to wash away the stresses of the day. To say she was exhausted was an understatement. Rita closed her eyes and leaned back against the stone ledge trying to block out the resurfacing memories of the day.
In all, her first day back hadn't been as bad as she thought it would be. She still had a job, that new teacher Erin had settled in well and she managed to avoid Ms Trumble after that meeting in the morning.
The house had been empty when she arrived back, the walk home less interesting without Nixie and her commentary. The young Mermaid did her best to hide her curiosity by wording every question somewhat negatively like "why do land people make such noisy things?" or "why do they build things so ugly looking?"
It reminded Rita of herself at that age, minus the negativity. She always wanted to know more and never let anyone shame her for that. Nixie however seemed to be projecting the image that she didn't really care in order to mask her interest.
She saw a lot of herself in Nixie and saw the potential the Mermaid had, if only she'd apply herself. Nixie hated the idea of school and had some protest to every lesson Rita tried with her. Still nothing wrong with a challenge every now and then, she'd ensure Nixie became fully trained if it was the last thing she did. There were other methods than the standard teaching form that could work for Nixie; it was just going to be a bit harder given her current circumstances.
The tranquillity of the grotto's pool was disturbed by her own stomach announcing it was empty. She'd been too worked up to eat her usual breakfast - the normal land people food of toast but with a Mermaid twist - and had made the conscious decision to work through her lunch break and ignore the need for food. She was regretting that now.
After the long and laborious process of drying out Rita made her way back up to the kitchen, grabbed a random assortment of food in a random bowl and headed for her room. She was generally against eating food in bed but there were some times that called for it.
She'd changed the sheets since Veridia had been but couldn't bring herself to do the same to the pillowcase. It was the exact same as the other ones but this one smelled like the Sea, the salt and sandy shores, like Veridia.
Rita laid her head on the pillow, and ran her fingers over the fabric, feeling every woven thread under her fingertips as she breathed in that scent. It made her heart ache.
She didn't even realise she'd fallen asleep until she woke up with a start, her mind fogged by images of endless dark water, to someone pressed in against her. Her heart instantly went to Veridia and was shattered when she looked over her shoulder to see a dark haired Mermaid beside her.
Rita didn't even try to stop the tears that fell down her cheeks.
Nixie forced herself out of bed that morning and got changed in record time. Rita had already gotten up and Nixie was determined to walk with her again. She hadn't quite given up on the idea of convincing Rita to stay home and rest, the Mermaid had been exhausted when Nixie saw her last night, in that she was sleeping in her work clothes well before the evening food time. Nixie had checked on her a few times across the evening before staying with Rita, just in case.
Nixie darted out the front door just as Rita was about to close it, almost crashing into her and sending them both to the ground.
"Good morning."
"You never said you were leaving," Nixie offered as a half explanation.
"You were still sleeping. And I didn't realise you were wanting to come along."
Nixie shrugged, "could do with the exercise."
There was also the little matter of delaying the inevitable fight with Lyla when she went to get that Moon Ring off her. It had been on the agenda for yesterday but Nixie ended up going for a much needed swim and spent the whole day just past Mako hanging with some dolphins. It had been the break she needed.
"Come on then."
The walk was nice. As nice as walking on land with legs and land people could be. Rita knew a lot about the land world and Nixie used this time to subtly get information from the other Mermaid in order to answer her many questions about land. Nixie was trying to think of something else to ask when Rita interrupted her thought formation.
"Is everything alright with Sirena and Lyla?" Rita asked.
"They're fine. I think," Nixie pursed her lips slightly as she spoke, she hadn't really seen them much. "Why?"
"I haven't seen them recently," Rita answered. "I saw Lyla when she gave me my necklace but I haven't seen Sirena."
Ah. She was wondering if Rita had noticed. Sirena felt bad about what had happened and was coping with it by avoiding Rita. Lyla was mostly trailing after Zac.
"They've just been dealing with Zac and the Trident and everything," Nixie said. It wasn't a total lie… wait, did Rita even remember that Nixie had told her it was Lyla and Sirena who activated the Moon Ring and was therefore partially responsible for what happened to her?
She had told Rita, back before Nixie found the Mermaid collapsed on the bathroom floor after that whole salve thing - she still harboured a belief that Veridia was responsible for that no matter what Rita said. That memory had stuck with Nixie for once reason - the way those lights had flickered. They had flickered a couple times and always - and only - around Rita. Mermaids did have some power of electricity but -
Nixie's long winded thought was rudely interrupted by a woman with cropped ginger hair joining them on the path.
"Miss Santos, good morning," the woman greeted Rita.
"Good morning," Rita smiled at the woman, "just Rita is fine."
"Oh, okay," the woman adjusted her handbag, seemingly unsure of what to say next.
"This is my niece, Nixie," Rita deflected the attention onto Nixie, stopping the silence from building. "Nixie, this is Erin, she works at the school as well."
Nixie just waved at the woman.
"That is such a cool name!" Erin gushed.
"Um, thanks?" Nixie gave Rita a sideways glance as Erin continued on.
"Nixies are those German river Mermaids right? I think I remember studying them in this Mythology class I took at college."
"I think so?" First she'd heard of it but she supposed it was possible.
"Well I think they're more -" Erin's rambling was interrupted by her phone ringing from inside her handbag. The woman apologised and stepped off to the side to answer the call.
"My name means Mermaid?" Nixie whispered to Rita. Seemed a bit… uncreative.
Rita gave a slight shrug, "so does Sirena's. Sirena is the Spanish word for Mermaid."
"So imaginative."
"There's worse. Isn't there a Mermaid in your class called 'Ocean'?"
"Yup," Nixie nodded. "Wait, how did you know that?"
Erin chose that moment to come back over.
"Now that you said it I can really see the resemblance between you two."
"Really?" Nixie questioned.
Her and Rita were very different. Rita had red hair, Nixie brown, and they had different eyes too - Rita's were more of a grey-green while Nixie had the more common blue eyes. The majority of Mermaids across Northern and Southern Pods had blue eyes, Rita was among the few Nixie had met without the typical blue. And sure they were about similar heights but that was it.
Plus they weren't even related.
Nixie pouted slightly while Rita simply laughed and played it off with a joking remark.
"At least you didn't take after your dad's side of the family."
Nixie gave a fake laugh. She still didn't quite understand the whole thing behind land people family relations but she supposed it helped that people thought her and Rita looked alike.
"I've always been told I look just like my dad, but I don't really see it," Erin said.
"Oh I'm the opposite, I'm my mother's double," Rita said.
Nixie suppressed a laugh. Rita literally would be. Mermaids always looked incredibly similar to their mothers, to the point of almost being literal doubles.
"Well I might just head off and find Lyla, if you're okay?" Nixie asked, she didn't want this woman to get back on the conversation of Mermaids, best to just leave before that happened.
"I'll be fine Nixie," Rita gave Nixie's arm a light squeeze. "I think Lyla said something about going to the cafe."
Lyla spoke to Rita? Miracles do happen.
"I'll go there first, need to see if I can borrow her ring," Nixie stressed the last word hoping Rita would catch her meaning.
"Good luck with that one."
"I'll need it."
Lyla was as stubborn as she was, especially when Lyla believed that she was in the right.
"Nixie!" Sirena tackled Nixie the moment she saw her. Nixie had tried the cafe first in her search for Lyla, only for David to inform her on his way out the door that Sirena and Lyla had already left.
Nixie had tried the Moon Pool next with the same result - no Mermaids. A wandering seal told her she'd seen two Mermaids heading back to the Mainland. After a quick belly rub to say thank you Nixie sped back over the Mainland and in through the hidden tunnel under Rita's house.
"Oof, watch it," Nixie grumped but returned Sirena's hug, just with a touch less enthusiasm than the blonde Mermaid.
"We've hardly seen you," Sirena wrapped her arms tighter around Nixie until Nixie pushed her off. "You've not been coming to the Moon Pool."
"I've been with Rita," Nixie shrugged, "making sure she's still okay."
"And is she?" Lyla asked. Lyla was sitting on the edge of the round table where Sirena had apparently been at her bracelet making again; pieces of shell and land people beads in large scallop shells were arranged in a semi circle beside Lyla.
"She is. Not that you care."
"I do."
Despite her claim, Lyla's voice lacked any conviction
"Then why are you still wearing that ring?" Nixie asked, crossing her arms. "That's what caused all of this and you're flaunting it on your finger the whole time."
Lyla wouldn't do anything she asked, might as well try guilting her into doing something. Was it ethical? Not really but then Mermaids used to drown people so was this really any worse?
"I am not!"
"Then take it off," Nixie said, keeping her voice calm. It only annoyed Lyla more when she did that.
"I'm not just going to take it off."
"Why not?"
"I - …" Lyla looked away.
"Rita almost died because of that ring," Nixie reminded her.
"Nixie's right," Sirena piped in.
"Fine," Lyla slipped the ring off and set it down on the table. "Better?"
"Much," Nixie flashed her the fakest smile she could manage.
"Thanks for your help by the way," Lyla said, "me and Sirena put the trident back in the chamber, no thanks to you."
So that's what happened to the Trident.
"No thanks to me?" Nixie questioned. "I was making sure the Mermaid you almost killed was fit enough to go back to work."
"It wasn't my fault."
"Then why have you been avoiding Rita? She's noticed that she's hardly seen you two. She was asking if you were okay because she's worried about you."
"Does she know it was us that activated the ring?" Sirena asked quietly.
"I haven't told her. It's up to you if you tell her or not."
Nixie held the Moon Ring up to the light, watching as the light faintly glowed through the stone. How could something so beautiful be so dangerous? Nixie lowered the ring as the faint sound of heels clicking on stone echoed down the stairs leading to the grotto.
"I got the ring back from Lyla," Nixie held up the Moon Ring as she heard Rita come into the grotto.
"Can I see it?" Rita came down the stairs, taking her time in those heeled shoes. Nixie and Sirena borrowed them once - not the pale ones Rita had on just now but another pair, slightly higher and red. It had ended with both of them almost snapping their ankles trying to walk.
Nixie handed over the ring, missing the little buzz of power as soon as it left her hand. She never noticed that feeling until the ring was gone. Nixie carefully watched Rita's face as she studied the ring but the Mermaid gave nothing away.
"What are you going to do with it?"
"Keep it in the box with my one. Safest place for it."
"Hmm. That's true. How was school?" Nixie called out as Rita disappeared into one of the alcoves on the top level of the grotto.
"It was fine, just paperwork and meetings. How was your day?"
"Eh. It was fine too."
"Good days all round." Rita had returned from the alcove and made her way back down the steps to take a seat next to Nixie.
"Seems like it," Nixie nodded, "so you never answered my question earlier, how did you know about Ocean?"
"I used to look after your class, when you were little. There was this one little Mermaid in particular who used to spend every night cuddled beside me instead of in her own bed."
"Who?" It sounded like something Sirena would do.
"Dark hair, blue eyes, and sitting next to me right now."
"Oh," Nixie's face flushed pink as realised just who Rita was talking about, "wait that was you?!"
She had a faint memory of those nights Rita was talking about. There were a few Mermaids that looked after the little ones in the shared caves. She remembered Una, Una always played games with them and told them exciting stories of wrestling with sharks and chasing seals when she was meant to be getting them to go to sleep. She remembered Kelpie too, the Pod's healer had the best bedtime stories, not as exciting as Una's but more calming.
Then there was a Mermaid who's name she never knew, but Nixie remembered the red hair. She had been the only one who would let the little ones share with her whenever they got scared during the night.
"You remember me?" Rita seemed genuinely surprised that Nixie had remembered her.
"Very vaguely. I think you sang to me once, I can't remember the song but no one else ever sang anything like it."
"It was from my old Pod, one of the few things I remember from that time."
"You're not from Mako?"
"Not originally, no. My mother was from Northern Pod."
"You're Northern? No wonder you know so much - they have the best spells!"
The Northern Pod had a reputation for holding more power and knowledge than many of the other Pods, with the exception of the Eastern Pod. Nixie had never met a Northern Pod Mermaids, aside from Mimmi but she had met a Mermaid from the Eastern Pod who came to visit on a diplomatic mission a few years ago.
"Not much more than any Southern Pod, you'd be surprised how many Southern recipes come out with the same results. It's all fairytales to make the Northern Pod seem more dangerous than they are."
"Really? Can you show me some?"
Nixie loved the potions and learning about them, it was the only lesson she paid attention too in Mermaid school.
"Another day Nix, I'm too tired tonight; things will just go wrong if I try when tired."
"I'll hold you to that," Nixie joked.
"I'm sure you will."