Chapter Fifteen

She thrashed about wildly and squirmed as she was marched into a room and thrown into a tub, her drying clothes instantly soaking once more. The man still stared at her bewildered. He paused for a moment as if in thought and then dashed back out of the room. Seconds later he returned with a saltshaker and began shaking it vigorously around Suzy. "It's not the sea," he said. "But it's almost just as good". Suzy splashed furiously, desperately trying to convey that she did not like water, or being seasoned for that matter. The man stood back and stared at her again. "Beautiful," he murmured, stepping out of the room once more to grab a square object he focused it on Suzy and pressed a button. He took a minute fiddling around and then sighed. "Just beautiful" He knelt next to the tub and presented the object to her, there was a square on the back of it, and in the square was her image. Genuinely shocked Suzy reeled back at looked up at him in wonder. "It's an old camera," he explained. "But it works just fine" he gazed at the picture a bit longer and then restored to where he had taken it from. "You're in good hands" he assured, drifting his hand lightly in the water. Suzy swatted at him, but he only laughed. "I'll leave you in peace" with that he rose to his feet and left Suzy in the salt-water tub to be at peace.

Morning Glory

For once that week Artemis arose to a normal sky. It was Wednesday, morning, he assured as he looked over at his digital alarm clock. He started getting ready for school, briefly contemplating his encounter with the strange Goddess of Time. He wasn't sure if he wanted to become Time Master, or whatever, and he still couldn't begin to fathom why she had chosen him. He skipped breakfast and didn't bother to tell Leaf when he was leaving as he locked the front door behind him. He glanced across the street to find the House still there, a fact he had managed to dismiss over the past two days. He wondered if he walked towards the front door, if he would disappear too, and maybe join his father. Artemis shook his head. With his luck he would most likely be spat out into some place completely far out and nowhere near Arthur.

He looked next door and decided that he wanted to pay his Uncle Ed a visit. Ed had been out of town for a bit true, but surely, he had noticed that things were strange, and surely, he would have some idea of what was going on too. He rapped on the door and waited for an answer. He heard Ed trampling over the numerous objects always strewn across the floor before grasping the handle and opened. "Hey Artemis," he smiled. His hair was all sorts of unkempt, as though he hadn't slept last night, and he had bags under his eyes. Somehow through it all though, he managed to look rather cheery, bright eyed and bushy-tailed.

"You're back early" Artemis commented. " I didn't think you'd be back till Friday"

Ed shrugged, and then chuckled. "I found something," he said. "Something you won't believe, something incredible. Follow me"

Suzy folded her arms and waited for the door to the room to open again. Her clothing was much too water logged for her to get out of the tub herself, she hoped that when the man came back, he would help her out. The door did open again, but to her dismay a boy accompanied the man. One that looked strikingly a lot like Arthur. She wondered if his younger self had gotten left behind here. No, that wasn't impossible; this had to be Arthur's son, which would mean she was on earth, in Arthur's hometown. That brought her some relief but it quickly dispersed as the man with the boy was gesturing and smiling. The boy ventured over warily. S'alright , I'm a friend of Arthur's she wanted to say, but couldn't, so she tried to make her eyes speak for her.

"I don't think it's a mermaid," the boy said at last.

"What else then? I found her on the street, all soaked." Ed replied.

"There was a storm yesterday" the boy continued, his eyes still fixated on her. As though he was trying to read something there. "Huge flood," he went on, "I even got swept up, good couple of blocks right back home"

Suzy winked. She knew that the boy was lying, she could sense it in the surety of his voice, a liar had to be precise and must believe it themselves, their voice sounding confident. The boy caught the wink and gave a weak smile, none of which Ed caught as he kept his back turned.

What is your name? Suzy thought, hoping against all hope he could read minds.

"Really, I didn't know, but come on Artemis, she doesn't even speak English"

Artemis nodded at the mention of his name and Suzy blinked to show that she understood.

"Maybe she's deaf," Artemis said.

Suzy shook her head.

"Or, sick?" he ventured.

Suzy winked slowly, imperceptibly, reaching up to tap her throat.

"Perhaps, she's lost her voice?"

Suzy splashed to show her agreement.

Ed paused, pondering the possibility. "I never thought of that. But these clothes, they look so,"

"Greek" Artemis cut off. "And strange" he added, noticing the large brightcoat hanging off her shoulders. "But, she almost, almost" he stressed. "Looks like Hera"

"Who?"

Silently Suzy asked the same question.

"The Greek goddess, Zeus's consort…" his voice trailed off. He half recalled a time when Leaf and Arthur had been telling him of their first year of marriage.

"We went as Greek Gods, Arthur Zeus, and I was Hera" Leaf had said.

"What is it?" Ed asked impatiently, evidently deflated having realized he hadn't found a mermaid.

"Nothing" Artemis shook his head. Suzy looked at him quizzically. Artemis waved his hand as a sign to forget what had happened. She still looked at him strange but nodded. "She isn't a mermaid," Artemis confirmed. "But, I think, I know,"

Where I came from, Suzy thought.