Chapter 3: The Truth

6 years later

Roxie and Becky sat watching TV, Roxie wasn't really as interested in the programs as Becky; music and dance, sure she liked music but it wasn't her kind of music.

Roxie was coming to that age and maturity where boys were a lot more interesting, whether it was to tease and play pranks on or other more awkward reasons was another matter though. Becka on the other hand was a lot more shy and awkward around boys for the most part.

As the years had gone by the two girls had seen Kayla and Elayne many times…but they were kind of like the friends they knew but yet knew nothing about; they saw them in school, passed each other at all the local places and even occasionally hung out but it was soon interrupted by their Aunt Sophie.

Roxie had slowly begun to become suspicious and curious as to why this was, she was also more rebellious and liked to defy Sophie by nature. When Sophie wasn't around Becka had to admit she was highly curious too but she wasn't willing to do anything that would anger Sophie.

Watching her sister Roxie sighed thoughtfully 'when does Sophie get home?'

Becka looked back at her from where she was lying flat, watching TV 'not for another hour I think, why?'

'Because I'm bored, I want to go out and do something, something fun' Roxie said, uncrossing her legs and standing up. Roxie has stopped wearing skirts or girly sort of clothes long ago; she was all about pants or shorts now.

Becka stood up, unlike her sister she was still quite into dresses, but at least she had good fashion tastes 'Sophie said we weren't to leave the house while she was gone.'

'Sophie isn't going to know about it, right' Roxie said putting her hand on Becka's shoulder.

Becka bit her lip, looking uncertain 'what do you want to do?'

Taking her sister by the hand Roxie guided her out the house 'come on, I got an idea.'

Charlotte sat outside in her back yard with Eliot, 'so, how are things going Eliot.'

'Not bad thanks, so where is my niece?'

'She's probably swimming, she spends all her time at the local swim pool nowadays, either that or the ocean' Charlotte replied.

Eliot laughed 'just like Emma, like mother like daughter.'

After a long silence Charlotte said 'yeah, there has been a lot of that…a really strange amount.'

Eliot frowned 'what do you mean?'

Looking inside the house to make sure they were alone Charlotte said 'they are so similar to Cleo and Emma, not just physically but in personality as well; Kayla is practically a clone of Cleo and she loves dolphins, fishing and science. I suspect some of that is Lewis but…still.'

'Don Sertori said that Cleo used to be scared of water, Kayla doesn't seem to have that problem' Eliot said reasonably.

Charlotte shrugged 'I guess, then there is Elayne, not only does she look like Emma but she loves swimming, she's smart and mature for her age.'

'That does sound a lot like Emma, no idea who the father is then…you never looked into that?'

Charlotte shook her head 'maybe one day…I'll let her make that decision once she's a little older.'

Kayla came round the side of the house 'Aunt Charlotte, I'm home' seeing Eliot she made a girly squeal that reminded both the adults of Cleo way too much 'Eliot' she ran over to him and gave him a hug where he sat.

'Is your sister with you Kayla' Charlotte asked.

'No, but I passed by the pool, I think she was almost finished, they were all getting out and going to get changed' Kayla replied as she let go of Eliot.

Charlotte nodded 'alright, I better start preparing some lunch, Eliot you're welcome to stay if you want.'

Eliot smiled 'I would, but I have somewhere I have to be, I'll come back another time soon to see Elayne, I promise.'

Charlotte followed Eliot to the front door to say goodbye to him, leaving Kayla alone in the back yard where she sat on a rock, sighing and fidgeting with her hands.

It was just then she heard a noise coming from the bushes opposite her and she looked over at them, frowning, she moved over to them and she heard the bushes rustle and the sound of feet rapidly moving 'hey' she said 'who's there?'

Kayla grabbed a bucket of water and poured it over the bush, two figures screamed and jumped out collapsing over each other 'hey who…Roxie…Becka?'

'Was that really necessary' said Roxie looking really irritated as she pulled herself off her sister and helped Becka to her feet.

'Sorry' Kayla said rubbing the back of her neck awkwardly 'but what were you doing back there?'

Becka looked like she was about to speak but she was interrupted by Elayne's arrival 'hey I'm home…what are you two doing here?'

'Well…' said Becka but again was cut off by Roxie.

'We were spying on you, but only cause we're curious, we know…nothing about you even though we see you plenty of times'

Elayne frowned 'you shouldn't spy on people, it's wrong you know?'

'Yeah, whatever blah blah blah' Roxie said 'we just wanted to hang, get to know each other a bit.'

Coming back out of the house Charlotte appeared 'what's going on here?'

Becka gasped, clearly worried she and Roxie were busted 'we're sorry; it was Roxie she made me come.'

Charlotte smiled 'I don't doubt that, if Roxie is anything like her mother…'

Roxie's eyes went wide 'you knew my mom?'

Moving out into the backyard to stand properly in front of the four girls Charlotte nodded 'that's right; I also knew Elayne and Kayla's, which is why I now take care of them.'

'Aunt Sophie said my parents died when I was very young' Roxie said 'she said she knew them too.'

Charlotte nodded 'yes…I don't know Sophie very well…but…' she wasn't sure if she should say anything…was now really the right time.

'But what' Becka asked curiously.

Charlotte stepped aside and gestured for them go inside 'come inside girls…I think it's time I told you everything.'

They all moved inside and got settled in the living room, the four girls sat awkwardly around the room and Charlotte sat on the main chair, feeling uncomfortable…oh where to begin.

'Is this the time you're finally going to tell us more' Elayne asked, referring back to the stories they'd been told and small bits about their parents.

Becka looked at Elayne 'what are you talking about?'

Charlotte sighed and began 'alright girls, this is a very difficult and long story, but I can promise you it is all true, every word of it. Kayla, Roxie and Elayne…I knew your mothers and you fathers too actually, we all lived here on the Gold Coast.'

'What about my parents' asked Becka'

Charlotte looked at the young girl 'I'm afraid I didn't know yours, they arrived after I left the Gold Coast.'

'I thought you didn't know my father' Elayne said frowning in confusion.

Charlotte nodded 'yes, your right, but I knew Lewis, who was your father Kayla and a boy I loved as well. I also knew Zane, your father Roxie.'

'But if you knew my parents, why am I living with Sophie' Roxie asked.

Charlotte watched Becka and Roxie 'don't you like Sophie?'

They both kind of shrugged 'she can be kind of mean and bossy' Becka said 'but she means well I think.'

'I think she is just plain mean' Roxie replied 'can't we live with you Charlotte?'

Shaking her head Charlotte sighed 'it's not that easy, Sophie is your real Aunt Becka, your father's sister, she has a right to look after you.'

'And what about me' asked Roxie, her eyebrow raised.

'Your parents left instructions, if anything happened to them, you were to live with her' Charlotte explained 'I tried to convince her when you were young…but she wouldn't haven't it.'

'So that is why she is avoiding you all the time, and telling us to stay away from you' Roxie said.

Kayla raised her hand 'so…about our parents…'

Charlotte nodded 'yes…where was I, ah yes, you see when I first arrived here, you mother and father were already together Kayla, but it didn't stop me liking Lewis.'

The girls listened as I thought how best to explain this 'the three of them were like…sisters and were always so secretive, and Lewis was in on this secret club of theirs, whatever it was, and I always felt jealous.'

'Jealous' said Kayla, sounding surprised.

'There is one thing you must understand girls, I wasn't always such a nice person…I've made many mistakes and I paid a great price for them; taking care of you is part of how I hope to make up for the things I've done.'

Moving closer to Charlotte, Elayne asked 'you can tell us Auntie, what happened?'

'I grew to dislike your parents…almost hate them but that isn't how I feel anymore, now I truly respect them, what they achieved.'

The girls looked at each other, clearly confused 'what do you mean by that, what did they achieve' Kayla asked.

Charlotte looked at Kayla and Elayne 'do the two of you remember the story I told you, the one about the mermaids?'

They both nodded 'yeah' Elayne said 'Ilana, Coral and Anne with the evil mermaid Aqua.'

Roxie rolled her eyes 'mermaids…come on, you can't be serious.'

Charlotte raised her finger to silence them 'think back on the story and what I have just told you now.'

Her eyes going wide Elayne said 'oh wow, wait a minute.'

'What' Kayla looked terribly confused.

'Are you trying to tell us the story was true' Elayne asked 'but that's…'

Charlotte nodded 'you have no reason to believe me, but I promise you it's true; your mothers were mermaids…and once, so was I.'

Roxie laughed 'this is utterly ridiculous, why should I believe you?'

Elayne gave an exasperated noise 'the story, it all makes sense now but…who was who?'

Sitting back in the chair Charlotte sighed, she'd been dreaded this part 'Ilana was Cleo, Coral was Emma and Anne was Rikki.'

She let the kids register that for a moment 'which means I was Aqua.'

'Wow' said Kayla 'this is amazing, so are we going to be mermaids too?'

Roxie stood up 'I don't know about you three but this is all ridiculous, there is no such thing as mermaids' turning to Becka she said 'come on, we should get going.'

Becka didn't look so sure 'what about my mum was she a mermaid too?'

'I'm sorry Becka, I don't know but I suspect she was' Charlotte said.

Roxie looked impatient and Charlotte was about to say something when she saw something that made her gasp, a jar of water on the counter top was bubbling and steaming so furiously it looked like it might explode.

'Oh my goodness, Roxie look' Charlotte pointed at the jar, she hadn't needed to though, the girls had already noticed it by the time she had.

Staring speechless at the boiling jar of water Roxie said 'did…did I do that?'

Charlotte nodded, she had hardly expected the girl's powers to start surfacing naturally or this early in life for that matter, she figured she'd have to take them to Mako Island one day before their powers came. They swam without a problem so…she was highly confused right now. Then it came to her…it must be genetic, they don't have the ability to transform yet, but their powers must have been passed on genetically as the girls were all still mermaids when the kids were born.

'Roxie' said Becka with amazement 'you just boiled water, like magic or something.'

Still standing, Roxie was just looking at the jar, clearly at a loss for words.

'Your mother could do the exact same thing' Charlotte said 'she had the power to boil water, dry up a whole pool if she wanted too.'

Roxie looked at Charlotte 'wow, that is kind of cool.'

'So…like the story' Kayla said 'my mom could move water right?'

Charlotte nodded 'that's right, not just move it but shift it into various forms, a very useful power but not one to be abused.'

'So I'm the one who can freeze things am I' Elayne asked sounding rather excited.

Becka looked a little put out so Charlotte looked over at her 'what's the matter Becka?'

'I don't know if I'm a mermaid let alone have powers, I guess I just would like to find out for sure' Becka explained.

'You mustn't get ahead of yourselves girls' Charlotte said 'you must be responsible with these powers and keep them secret, it is not a game.'

'When do you think they'll appear' asked Elayne curiously 'I can't believe Roxie got hers already.'

'I don't know' Charlotte said 'just be careful, strong emotions is what will cause it to happen probably.'

There was suddenly a rapid knocking at the front door and Charlotte got up to answer it, standing on the front doorstep was Sophie looking utterly furious, seeing Becka and Roxie she pointed at them 'you two get over here NOW!'

Roxie finally spoke 'why didn't you tell us Sophie, why have you kept me and Becka in the dark?'

Sophie narrowed her eyes and looked at Charlotte 'what have you been telling them? What ridiculous stories have you been filling their heads with?'

'I merely told them what they deserve to know, the truth' Charlotte said her arms folded across her chest 'regardless of what you think these four girls belong together.'

Sophie didn't say anything she just guided Roxie and Becka out and they left without another word, but Charlotte could see the two girls look back at her, clearly uncertain and slightly longing.