"I wouldn't dunk you Claudia." He says in a sly tone of voice.
"Oh you're not going to fool me Pete I'm way too smart to fall for that one Pete." Claudia says wise to his ways.
"I guess I can't fool you Claudia can't fool a genius wiz kid your way too smart to fall for any of my tricks." He says sighing.
"Indeed I am Pete. Ok so is there anything I can get for you or are you just going to float up a can of soda up the stairs?"
"I think I'll float one up the stairs I like these new powers its fun maybe even to use them to pick on Myka a little bit." Pete says laughing.
"Try not to pick on her too much Pete you don't really want to make her mad at you she's trying to help you get your feet back after all. Sorry I know I said that before I'm tired I need to get some sleep." Claudia says grumbling slightly.
"You do look a little tired go get some sleep Claudia you can work more tomorrow to try to find a way to help me tell Myka to stop working if she is still pouring over the books downstairs. What am I say if she is I know she is." Pete says with a soft laugh.
"I'll tell her Pete still is there anything I can get you though?" Claudia asks.
"No I'm fine thank you Claudia."
"Ok then stay here and relax for the rest of the night call if you need anything." Claudia says to him before leaving.
"How is he Claudia?"
"Fine still the same Pete just so you know he might use is mental powers to pick on you a bit so just fair warning."
"Still sounds like Pete Claudia he is fine if Pete wants to pick on me and give me a hard time again as always."
"Now he will just be a million times more annoying than before." Claudia says laughing, 'Hey ouch! What in the world was that?"
"What Claudia?"
"I think he just pinched me on my shoulder Myka."
Laughing a little Myka smiles, "That's Pete always finding some excuse to be annoying and to act like a child."
"Don't be too hard on him he has fins instead of feet now this has to have bruised his ego a bit."
"Maybe your right Claudia I think I found more to the paragraph in here I think all we need to do is to translate it."
"Can you tell what language it's written in?"
"I don't know I'd have to look at some books or maybe look up part of this on a computer translator."
"I still have my computer here needs to be hooked up to a wall outlet before it looses power I have been running it on the battery all day." Claudia says her voice sounding tired.
"Were both tired I'll go fix dinner and plug your laptop in and let it charge and we'll work on this tomorrow." Myka says smiling.
"Thanks Myka you're a good friend." Claudia says going to plug her laptop into an outlet to charge. As she plugs the computer into an outlet she reads over the paragraph Myka had found below the one she had found. Reading it she tires to see if she can decipher what language it is and how to translate it.
Taking her notes out of a folder she had written the first paragraph down,
"Upon a day when to spheres pass in front of another shutting out the light from the eyes of those that look up to view this wonderment. This time bringing with it rocks of hail falling from the sky across the endless black that engulfs the land. As the lights slowly fade into the endless back surrounding this rare event so shall you never again stand. Well at lest I have this much written down the other paragraph I am going to look at here I think I might know what language this is written in."
"A través de les edats i les pàgines de les històries de la història han dit de llegendes i mites de la mar. Cap fins a la història perdurable com les va dir de la gent-Mer que viuen a les profunditats dels oceans. Aquests éssers de la mitologia i la meravella i la màgia són veritablement misteriós fet. Pagar el cap a aquestes paraules per a qualsevol persona que acaba amb les aletes. "A través de les edats i les pàgines de les històries de la història han dit de llegendes i mites de la mar. Res pel que ha de trobar la pedra que brilla com una llum plena en el cel anomenat així després d'això a causa del seu brillantor. Això s'ha de fer i trobar altres articles per fer la poció que li lliure de la gàbia amb escates que estan en això vostè ha de fer abans que el temps que porta pedres de calamarsa que cau del cel a través del negre sense fi que envolta la terra com les llums lentament s'esvaeixen en la part posterior sense fi al voltant d'aquest estrany esdeveniment mai abans una altra vegada de peu. "
(Authors Note Translates to) "Through the ages and pages of history stories have been told of legends and myths of the sea. None so story enduring as those told of the mer people that live in the deepest depths of the oceans. These beings of myth and wonder and magic are truly mysterious indeed. Pay head to these words for anyone who ends up with fins. You must find the stone that glows like a full light in the sky so named after this because of its glow. This you must do and find other items to make the potion that will free you from the scaly cage you are in this you must do before the time that brings rocks of hail falling from the sky across the endless black that engulfs the land as the lights slowly fade into the endless back surrounding this rare event before you never again stand."
"Wait a minute this is written in Catalan I thought I recalled studying this a long time ago when I found that old document in the many series of books I have. I can translate this easily now."
"Claudia did you find something?"
"Yes I did a paragraph written in Catalan I can translate this easily this genius wiz kid wins again score." She says smiling.
"Now you're sounding like Pete."
"Eeek." Claudia says joking and smiling and laughing a little.
"You've been working long enough Claudia you can translate it tomorrow stop for a bit and relax for a while I just finished making dinner."
"Smells great what did you make?"
"Chicken marsala with pasta and garlic bread."
"Sounds good and I am hungry thanks Myka for cooking tonight."
"You're welcome Claudia."
"Claudia is it just me or is there a plate and chicken floating on its own?" Myka asks surprised.
"Don't fret Myka your not going crazy or loosing your mind trust me." Claudia says as the spoon in the pan moves on its won serving some of the meal onto a floating plate.
"What's going on Claudia?"
"Let me explain no reason to freak out or anything Myka. Pete has powers mental powers he can move things with his mind telekinetic powers to be technical Myka. Right now I'd guess either he over heard us talking about your dinner or he smelled it from upstairs and is fixing himself a plate."
Staring in wonder Myka can't believe what she is seeing, "What other powers does he have I wonder and how is he going to use them to annoy me?"
"Don't know Myka but I did tell him to go easy on you and not to pick on you so much. As you are trying to help him get his feet back so he doesn't have to hobble around on crutches."
"Thank you Claudia maybe he will listen to you as you're a voice of reason in his child like mind." Myka says laughing.
"You're funny Myka which is one of the many reasons why I like you. Whoa watch out for the flying plate." Claudia says grinning.
"I don't know how I am going to get used to that."
"Well at least he hasn't used his powers to dump a bucket of water over your head yet."
"Don't give him any ideas Claudia."
"I won't Myka anyway this is very good you're a great cook."
"Thanks my mom taught me a few recipes some of her own creation and design she liked to cook when she could find the time to."
"Your really learning how to use your abilities to your full advantage aren't you Pete?" Myka says shouting up to him.
"You bet I am this magic is way too much fun Myka you should try having fun might lighten you up a bit." Pete says shouting back.
"Very funny Pete I have fun in my own way your ideas of fun and mine are two very different things Pete."
"Yes very different where as I like to have fun and your idea of fun is sticking your nose into an old book that was written over a hundred years ago."
"Oh that's it he is getting a punch in the arm." Myka says getting up
"Myka you can punch him later just relax for tonight he can fend for himself fine he has his powers to use to get whatever he needs. He doesn't even need to get up to change the channel on the tv any more he can do it with a single thought now. Still wouldn't it be fun to be able to have that kind of abilities able to find your car keys with a single thought when you can't recall where you put them."
"I have to admit Claudia that would be a lot of fun to be able to move things with a single thought. Not having to go back upstairs to get a book when I have gone out to the porch to enjoy the sounds of the birds in the trees."
"Claudia do you know what other powers he might have?"
"I don't know what other powers he might have it might be that he discovers his magical powers on his own. I'll continue to work with him to control his magic also I'll research a bit more on the artifact and the stories of mercreatures to find out what other powers Pete might have."
"Good idea but we can wait until tomorrow now lets go get some sleep for the night no more work."
"Ok but I can translate the paragraph that we found though I know what it says partly I need to check it against a translator to double check that it's the language that I think it is."
"Not tonight Claudia the genius wiz kid time to get some sleep and rest your mind for the rest of the night."
"Ok mom I'm going." Claudia says teasing as she goes up stairs to her room sneaking the book up with her behind Myka's eyes.
"Claudia."
"Yes Myka?"
"I saw that put the book back you can translate the text in the book tomorrow when your mind is more awake."
"Alright you win." Claudia says putting the book back where it was.
"I know you want to help but you won't be able to help Pete if your falling asleep on the books you're trying to reference and research with if you're asleep on them." Myka says joking making Claudia laugh.
"Good night Myka."
"Good night Claudia go get some sleep."
Turing back to the table and the dishes Myka smiles to herself thinking of how nice it is to have Claudia around her funny sense of humor that always makes her laugh. How funny it was to watch her and Joshua fight back and forth there for a while when he too was living at the bed and breakfast.
"What?" Myka says as she looks back at the table finding it cleared and the dishwasher running.
"You need sleep to Myka go to sleep and I know you will find a way for me to get my feet back don't be so hard on yourself I did this on my own. You were right if I hadn't been playing with artifacts I wouldn't have ended up with fins." He gurglingly admits.
"What I can hear you but you're not downstairs." Myka says out loud as she hears Pete's voice in her mind.
"I can talk to you this way to telepathy its part of the powers I have now. I cleaned up the kitchen for you as a way of saying thank you for helping me."
"You can be really endearing sometimes Pete and thank you."
"Your welcome. Now go upstairs and get some sleep and bury your nose in an old dusty moldy book before falling asleep with it still in your hands." He teases.
"There you go again with giving me a hard time again Pete oh you are so impossible sometimes." She says sighing.
"Myka listen to me for a second please." She hears him beg.
"Ok Pete I'm listening go ahead say what you want to say."
"Little sarcastic there aren't we I was going to say Myka that you're the best partner I could have asked for. Thank you for helping me to trade my fins back in for feet. I didn't mean to insult you Myka I like giving you a little bit of a hard time sometimes. It's all in good fun Myka your smart intelligent and one of the most caring person I know."
"Thank you Pete I promise me and Claudia and Artie will find a way to get you back on your feet instead of your fins."
Smiling Myka goes upstairs and turns in for the night falling asleep with a book in her hands and not one that was written a hundred years ago.
"Myka, Claudia where are you?" Artie calls from the doorway as he enters the house. "Good morning you two where are you?"
"Were in the living room Artie." Both of them call to him in unison.
"There you two are ok what have you found so far on helping Pete get his feet back?"
"You know that rhymes there Artie." Claudia says grinning.
"More of that young wit I enjoy so much."
"Dee deee deeee boom you destroyed my sarcasm detector." She says grinning as she is enjoying giving Artie a hard time.
"Claudia just show me what you and Myka have found so far please." Artie says with a hint of frustration in his voice.
"Alright, alright Artie we found this so far a paragraph saying,
Upon a day when to spheres pass in front of another shutting out the light from the eyes of those that look up to view this wonderment. This time bringing with it rocks of hail falling from the sky across the endless black that engulfs the land. As the lights slowly fade into the endless back surrounding this rare event so shall you never again stand."
"Well that describes what will happen if we don't find a way to help him before the next solar eclipse accompanied by a meteor shower."
"Very well done Artie we figured out that part now for…."
"Claudia don't give me a hard time ok show me what else you have found."
"I found this, A través de les edats i les pàgines de les històries de la història han dit de llegendes i mites de la mar. Cap fins a la història perdurable com les va dir de la gent-Mer que viuen a les profunditats dels oceans. Aquests éssers de la mitologia i la meravella i la màgia són veritablement misteriós fet. Pagar el cap a aquestes paraules per a qualsevol persona que acaba amb les aletes. "A través de les edats i les pàgines de les històries de la història han dit de llegendes i mites de la mar. Res pel que ha de trobar la pedra que brilla com una llum plena en el cel anomenat així després d'això a causa del seu brillantor. Això s'ha de fer i trobar altres articles per fer la poció que li lliure de la gàbia amb escates que estan en això vostè ha de fer abans que el temps que porta pedres de calamarsa que cau del cel a través del negre sense fi que envolta la terra com les llums lentament s'esvaeixen en la part posterior sense fi al voltant d'aquest estrany esdeveniment mai abans una altra vegada de peu. "
Which translates to ready for this Artie?"
"I am all a twitter."
"Sarcasm again Artie if there were a prize for best sarcasm you'd win the gold."
"Just tell me what you found Claudia." Artie slightly shouts irritated with her a bit.
"It translates from the Catalan to this Artie, through the ages and pages of history stories have been told of legends and myths of the sea. None so story enduring as those told of the mer people that live in the deepest depths of the oceans. These beings of myth and wonder and magic are truly mysterious indeed. Pay head to these words for anyone who ends up with fins. You must find the stone that glows like a full light in the sky so named after this because of its glow. This you must do and find other items to make the potion that will free you from the scaly cage you are in this you must do before the time that brings rocks of hail falling from the sky across the endless black that engulfs the land as the lights slowly fade into the endless back surrounding this rare event before you never again stand.
The genius wiz kid does it again." Claudia says smiling.
"Yes, yes very good Claudia now what does it all mean? That's the riddle we need to figure out now." Artie says with a gleam in his eyes with the thought of having a new puzzle to try to figure out.
"We have figured out part of it Artie the first paragraph refers to a lunar eclipse and the meteor shower that will accompany it. All we have to do is figure out what day this falls on so we can find the items we need for the potion to give Pete back his feet." Myka says smiling.
"The stone we have to find out what that stone is and find it and try to get the potion made as it were. I pulled some files from the warehouse it was some historical records on this when a man was turned into a fish like Pete."
"Cool let me see." Claudia says enthusiastically.
"This is a bit more detailed than that book you found over there Claudia but please be careful with these documents their delicate and fragile and irreplaceable." Artie says to Claudia with a warning tone to his voice.
"I'll be careful Artie please let me look at the documents I want to try to help Pete."
"I know just be careful."
"I will Artie no need to go crazy I have had a lot of experience in handling antique documents and historical documents to so come on Artie trust me."
Putting on gloves that allow her to safely handle the antique documents Claudia carefully reviews the papers Artie had brought with him.
"This looks a lot like that journal I had found in the warehouse it was talking about the shell and it read like someone had actually been turned into a fish. By the same magic that turned Pete into a merman." Claudia says reading more in the written pages Claudia sits taking the pages with her she goes into the living room.
"Hey Claudia those are delicate be careful!" Artie grumbles as she walks away from him ignoring him completely.
"Let her go Artie she's only trying to help Pete she I know will be careful with the documents."
"I guess sometimes with her I get over protective with the artifacts in the warehouse especially after she was using that magnetic suit."
"It was just Claudia being herself she was only exploring the warehouse that was her new home at the time. Who wouldn't be curious to see how some of those artifacts work and what they can do."
"Now you're defending her?"
"Artie calm down trust her a little bit I know it's hard for you to trust her as she is new to the warehouse and still learning. You can't tell me in past years when you were at the warehouse that you didn't look at some of the artifacts to see what they could do or try to play with some of the artifacts yourself back then."
"I suppose years ago when I was not as wise as I am now I did as you say play with one of the artifacts to see what it was like to use one of them for a little while." He reluctantly admits this to her but knows she will not tell the others.
"When I first came to the warehouse I found an interesting artifact the shoes worn by the Greek messenger Hermes. I put them on one day I guess I wanted to know what it would be like to be able to fly."
"Sounds like you do have a bit of a fun side Artie and promise I won't tell Pete or Claudia this story either. I know that was hard for you to say that you played with the artifacts to. Pete will never know that otherwise he would tease you about that for who knows how long."
"Thank you Myka."
"You're welcome Artie."
"I'm going back to the warehouse I'm going to see if there are any other artifacts I have missed or something more that can help us with getting Pete back his feet." Artie says turning for the door.
"Myka be sure Claudia is careful with those documents please." Artie says grumbling as he leaves Lennas.
On the sofa comfortable Claudia she reads the documents being careful so she doesn't damage the documents and anger Artie. "This is really interesting."
Reading on she finds herself in the middle of a story of another who had grown fins. "This Lord Darapade was a bit naive with the shell."
"What do you mean Claudia?"
"Hey Myka I'm still reading over the documents Artie brought and yes I am being careful not to tear them or wrinkle them."
"I know Claudia I trust you Artie is just protective of his artifacts they mean a lot to him. So what have you found?"
"I'm reading this story I think it was written by this man Lord Darapade it's like a journal he kept about his time after he found the shell. It ties into what I was reading in the other journal but this is more accurate."
"What does it say?"
Reading some of it as Claudia sits down on the sofa by Claudia's feet. "It says….
This one shell upon the beach Lord Darapade had found seamed beautiful and unique in its look. Not thinking of it he had picked the sea shell up not knowing what secrets were hidden in it.
One night when it was unusually warm and a full moon was shining in the sky he had been out on his balcony over looking the ocean. Lord Darapade had seen what looked like a unique cork in it.
"What's this?" He says pulling the cork out of the vile and seeing an iridescently dark blue liquid falling on his feet.
"I'll have to get a cloth to get this off my feet." He says going inside to his room to retrieve a cloth to get the liquid off his feet.
Walking into his room he stumbles catching himself on the bed post. "Tripping over my own two feet again." He says slightly grumbling as he regains his balance.
"What?" he says in surprise as the liquid slowly soaks into his feet disappearing all together.
"What noooo this is impossible." He screams in pain as his feet grow larger and larger. Slowly he is transformed as his legs become one long scaly tale as he falls to the floor sweat building at his forehead as he struggles to stay awake."
"Sounds like Lord Darapade ran into the same magic that has turned Pete into a merman. Read on Claudia it might give us a hint on how to break this spell on Pete this is going to give us a way to free him maybe even a simpler way than gathering the potion for him."
"Indeed it would be easier than trying to get items to make a potion I guess to create it so Pete can walk again."
"I'll read more in these documents and maybe I can find something that can help us to get Pete walking again instead of him hopping on his fins." Claudia says laughing.
"Agreed thank you for helping you have done a great job."
"Thank you Myka that means a lot coming from you." Claudia says smiling.
"You're learning what its like to be a warehouse agent and your learning well and you'll be a full agent soon. Claudia it's getting late in the afternoon why don't you put the books down and why don't we go have some fun."
"Fun what is that?" Claudia asks teasing.
"I think you know what fun it come let's see if Pete is awake yet."
Going upstairs the two knock on Pete's door to see if he is awake, "Come in." He calls to them.
Going into Pete's room they see him putting his shirt on, "Showing off again Pete." Claudia says giving him a hard time.
"Even though I have fins I still look good and still got moves. I know you were looking and liking." He says in his usual charismatic tone with a grin.
"I've seen better." Claudia quips grinning knowing she's deflated his ego ever so slightly.
"Thank you Claudia good one." Myka says high fiving Claudia.
"Ouch you'd pick on me a poor boy that got stuck with fins how could you?" He says turning away from them not letting them see the broad grin on his face.
"Oh Pete we couldn't have deflated your ego that bad I can see your grin from here Pete." Claudia says with a grin that says I'm wise to you.
"You are uh?" Pete says with a grin hidden from her view. "Well then come here Claudia please."
"Alright Pete you know I care about you it's sometimes you can be a little annoying." Claudia says coming up to him giving him a hug.
"I know you do kid a come here." He says smiling as he hugs her back now not going to dunk her in the water like he was going to.
"Come on downstairs we need to find a way to get you out of those fins and back into a pair of feet again."
"I agree help me up please?"
"Sure Pete Claudia meet us downstairs I'll be down in a minute."
"Ok I'll get breakfast ready pancakes."
"Chocolate chip ones to maybe there Claudia?"
"Sure why not Pete see ya downstairs."
"You were going to toss her into the water bed of yours weren't you?"
"I wouldn't do that."
"Oh yes you would." Myka says giving him a look that says, "Don't lie to me I know you and I know you were going to.
"Alright don't give me that look gessh Myka. I wasn't really going to dunk her probably would have dunked you if I had the chance to."
"That's more like it now your sounding like the mischief maker I know you are Pete. I have known you for years you can't pull the wool over my eyes."
"Never said I could Myka but I am glad you're here to help me I know I give you a hard time all in good fun. Truth is Myka you're a good agent you're talented and I wouldn't want any other partner than you."
"Your getting sentimental on me now I think having fins has made you turn over a new leaf as they say."
"Maybe Myka but I trust you I always have help me with the crutches?"
"Sure Pete." Myka says going over to the edge of the closet door frame to bring Pete the crutches.
"Here you go Pete need some help getting up?"
"Yes please." He says reaching for her outstretched arms.
"There are you steady on the crutches now?"
"Yes thank you Myka." He says staring into her eyes for a minute. Thinking to himself, "Myka you look amazing today I always like it when you're around I never like it when you're not with me."
"Come on Pete lets go downstairs I think Claudia has breakfast ready by now."
"Yes pancakes too good." He says moving to race Myka down the stair case.
"That is all you ever think about is food Pete?"
"Pretty much Myka that another things to which I won't say."
"Good because if you did I'd have to punch you in your shoulder again." Myka says with a grin.
"I'll meet you downstairs Pete you better hurry before all the pancakes are gone." Myka says leaving.
Steadying himself on the crutches he can still the warmth of Myka's hands on his arms still, "Myka you mean a lot to me." He whispers.
"Pete are you coming?"
"Yes." He replies back hurrying down the stairs on the crutches he catches up to Myka and Claudia whom are both gathered at the table with a try full of pancakes.
"Better dig in while there are still some left Pete." Claudia says with a sly grin.
"Don't mind if I do." Pete says sitting down and taking a few pancakes off the try with the serving fork.
"I was thinking today I could help you learn more about your powers and how to use them."
"Sure but breakfast first before work."
"So what's it like having fins Pete?" Claudia asks curious.
"It's interesting but I can't stay out of water for long otherwise I feel like I can't breathe like I'm suffocating."
After breakfast Claudia teaches Pete more on how to use his powers, "Ok try to move that large book on the table where Myka is working concentrate and focus on bringing it to you."
Looking at it Pete focuses his mind on the book slowly it levitates off the table and over to him.
"Hey I needed that book Pete."
"Sorry Myka." He says turning to her as the book falls to the floor almost landing on Claudia's feet.
"Hey be careful you almost got my fee there Pete."
"Sorry Claudia I didn't mean to almost crush your toes."
"It's alright were cool go ahead and float the book back over to Myka."
Watching as the book floats back over to Myka it lands back on the table right beside her and another book she was reading.
"Thank you Pete."
"Your welcome." Pete calls to her.
Reading more into the documents that Artie had brought over Myka finds there more detailed in the telling of Lord Darapades story of how he became a myth of the sea.
"Ok I know we have the Italian figured out by it saying, Upon a day when to spheres pass in front of another shutting out the light from the eyes of those that look up to view this wonderment. This time bringing with it rocks of hail falling from the sky across the endless black that engulfs the land. As the lights slowly fade into the endless back surrounding this rare event so shall you never again stand.
That the meaning behind them is, The lines that say, upon a day when to spheres pass in front of another shutting out the light from the eyes of those that look up to view this wonderment. This refers to a lunar eclipse this is something that people look up at the skies to view while this is going on viewing this wonderment is the lunar eclipse with a meteor shower.
I need to read more in the documents that Artie brought to see how to break this spell and for Pete to have legs again."
Reading further into the old delicate documents Artie had brought from the warehouse,
For years Lord Darapade had lived alone in his grand estate not letting anyone see him as for now he was a myth of the sea. Living this way for years he had to try to find a way to end this spell on him. Bringing in one day an assistant to help him look for a way to break the spell. For weeks she was at the house and he had talked with her over letters that were delivered by his loyal butler Tavrow who had never told her the man she worked for was half fish.
"I can read anymore I'm so tired." Myka says yawning not seeing that day had turned to night and that dinners being prepared in the kitchen.
"Myka you have been working way too hard come you need to stop for the day and come have some dinner with me and relax your mind."
"I could use a break I am tired."
"I know I heard you from the kitchen." Claudia says smiling.
"Where's Pete?"
"He's up in his room he was needed to get back into the water again he waited to long to go back and he almost passed out again."
"Pete he is such a child sometimes never truly listens to me sometimes I told him and I know you did to that if he needed to get back to the water to tell us rather than letting himself get weak from being out of water."
"I know he is but in a way his childish ways are kind of cute and a little charming if you look at it."
"Charming no Pete is more like annoying and hard headed and a little stubborn to."
"Still I know you like him Myka he is a good man underneath it all you know that as well as I do."
"I can't argue with that Claudia he is a good man but sometimes he drives me crazy."
Pete alone in his room the stars showing their silvery eyes from behind night's dark cloak watch all from above. Faintly a figure emerges from the misty night moving closer to Pete. Silently the figure moves closer to him coming up closer to him starting at him she finds herself drawn to him as he is very handsome and she can tell caring to her long iridescent colored almost sea green hair shining in the moonlight swaying in the soft breeze as she moves closer to him staring at him as he lies asleep in his bed.
Softly she whispers to him her voice soft and silky, "Wake up I can help your feet back again please do wake up I wish to help you Pete."
"Myka, Claudia is that you?" He says sleepily as he starts to wake up.
"Neither but still I am one who wishes to help you." She says her voice soft and melodic.
"What ah who are you?"
"No need for alarm I am not here to harm you I am here to help you Pete."
"Who are you tell me now who you are and why you're here."
"So strong I like that I am Travisk I sensed the magic wield upon you and I have come here offering to you my help."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that with my help you can have legs again instead of fins by using my magical help you can be walking again. Take this and drink it and you will have legs and you won't have to use those awful crutches again. Come use this magic I am giving to you walk on feet instead of fins Pete." She says in a wistful voice.
"Travisk thank you." He says with a smile.
"Take this and enjoy being on your feet again Pete you will be free again. Have fun." She says smiling as she disappears into the misty shadows of the night.
Staring at the vile in his hand he sees it's a deep sky blue frosted color the liquid a soft faint glowing blue. "This is so cool score!" He says with a grin as he is finally glad that he will have legs again. "Good bye crutches and hello legs." He says grinning like a little kid as he takes the frosted blue cork out of the vile.
"Time to ditch the fins and get my feet back yes this is going to be good score!" He says to himself smiling.
Drinking down the awful tasting liquid in one gulp, "Oh that was awful yuck even more gross than those bars that little girl made for her father who was never around during Christmas." Pete says grumbling to himself.
Gasping as his tail splits in two screaming against the pain he grinds his teeth against the rushing pain coursing through him. "Ahhh!" screaming as his fins split into toes and his scales sink beneath his skin disappearing. His throat becoming scratchy he sees his voice being pulled from him as it floats away on the wind. He collapses on the bed unconscious and weak and pale from the magic.
"I know your smart Myka but you are no match for me in a poker game of five card draw because I will empty your pockets of your money."
"I'd like to see you try Claudia I maybe be what some would say a nerd girl but I think I'd be a good match for you in a poker game."
"Ok your on Myka lets go you me a game of five card draw then well see who's the best poker player."
High fiving each other they smile and laugh as the walk, "Later this afternoon though Myka I want to see if I can try to decipher the paragraph riddle to try to free Pete from fins so he can have feet again."
"What's up?" Pete tires to say in his usual upbeat way when he says score but he finds he has no voice.
"Pete what did you do how do you have legs again?" Myka asks in a nagging tone of voice.
"What?" he tires to say but can't.
"How are we going to communicate with him Claudia?"
"He said what Myka I can read lips Pete had taught me how and I studied it a bit to Myka."
"Ask again Myka." Claudia says, "I'll translate what he is saying."
"Pete what did you do and how do you have legs again?" Myka asks sounding a little gruff with him.
"He said what are you my mother nag, nag, and nag."
Looking at Pete with an annoyed look she jabs him in the arm, "Ok sorry I had someone come to me to help me."
"He says that someone came to him offering to help him."
"Who Pete?"
"A beautiful lady she had long dark hair almost the color of the sea it self she was elegant. Walked like she was so regal and elegant but yet humble at the same time and a figure wow she was beautiful. He says to Myka." As Claudia translates what he is saying.
"Can you describe her better at all Pete?"
"He says, I don't know I didn't really get a close look at her face she was hidden by shadows and in the night her dark sea hair glistened in the moonlight. Oh she had a figure that just was stunning so beautiful wow!"
"Claudia."
"Hey Myka don't get annoyed with me your annoyed at Pete not me so go punch him in the arm."
"You know your right." Myka says punching Pete in the arm.
"Ouch hey what was that for?"
"He said a…."
"I got that one at least. Pete how could do you do this ah Pete this magic. Pete Ahhh!" Myka says in frustration.
"Ok wait this is kind of mirroring a story here let me see something here." Claudia says as she looks through the old books on the table.
"What are you looking for Claudia?" Myka asks in a more relaxed tone of voice.
"I think I have an idea this is all mirroring a story and old one that has been told many times over by several storytellers. I think yes oh here it is yes this is it." Claudia says with a grin.
Pulling out an old tattered book Claudia thumbs through it, "Yes here it is oh this makes sense. Yes this is it Myka."
"What is Claudia?"
"This Myka it was mirroring a story and this is the story this is the story this is all mirroring. The Little Mermaid in a way but not in the same way as the story but this makes perfect sense Myka. He like the character was approached by a sea witch or a sorceress whichever you want to call it and offered to help him get his legs back. But wasn't done for free but for a price which was his voice and there is more Myka in the story each step she took was like she was walking on sharp knives though she wasn't actually cut on her feet still it was extremely painful."