Chapter 12- Cora

The next day at school was pretty much exactly like the first since it was different classes so it was like a second first day. When Sam and I got home and I had put my stuff in my room I went over to her. "Hey, is it alright if I go to the beach? I'm dying to go for a swim."

Sam nodded. "Sure, can I come?"

I smiled. "Yeah, of course. I'll meet you downstairs in five minutes." Sam nodded and I went to get changed into my bikini. Once we were both changed we walked to the beach together.

Sam looked at me. "Oh, hey, could Daemon and Cole join us?"

I frowned slightly. "I wanted to go for a swim in Syrena form."

Sam blinked. "Oh, right, sorry."

"Maybe in a little bit once I've stretched my fin for a little while. Staying in human form for long periods of time is hard."

Sam nodded in understanding. "No problem. Take your time. Cole doesn't like the water much anyways."

I just nodded and went in the water but the moment I touched the water I sensed someone and froze. "What the…" It wasn't familiar which alarmed me.

Sam looked over, concerned. "You okay Cora?"

I didn't answer at first, trying to pinpoint it. I looked in the direction it was coming from, somewhere much farther down the beach.

"Cora?"

"I sense someone…" I had previously explained to Sam how sensing works.

"Oh, who is it?"

"That's the problem, I don't know."

Sam looked confused. "But I thought you said you knew everyone in the kingdom."

"Yeah, I know, that's the point."

"Oh…" She looked around. "Where is it coming from? Should we go check it out?"

I pointed. "Somewhere over there. Stay here, I'll be right back." Sam started to protest but I quicked shifted and swam off. Once I got close I slowed down and looked around. Whoever it was was close. Very close. I saw some toes resting in the water a little ways away and poked my head out. Sitting on the beach was a woman with whitish-blonde hair with her head on her knees, eyes closed, and toes resting in the water. As I got a little closer she opened her eyes and lifted her head, looking around and withdrawing her toes from the water. I was momentarily stunned to see purple eyes. This is the Syrena I sensed. But...she has blonde hair. Syrena don't have blonde hair. Wait...I have blonde hair...she's like me… I blinked in surprise. I quickly looked around to see where I was and was surprised to see Cole's house nearby. Wait...could this be Cole's mom? But if she's Syrena then Dylan… I quickly ducked back under the water as she looked my way. She put her toes back in the water and I sensed her again. She must have sensed me too because she quickly got up and left. I poked my head back out and saw her jog to the house and go inside. I was completely stunned. It took me a few moments of staring at the house before I went back under and swam back to Sam.

Sam ran over when she saw me. "Cora! I was getting so worried, you were gone for so long! Did you find out who it was?"

I slowly walked onto the beach and sat down. "Sam, do you have a picture of Cole's mom?"

Sam nodded in a confused way. "Um, yeah, why?"

"Can I see it?"

"Okay…" She got her phone and showed me a picture. "That's her, Cole's mom, Emma."

I got up. "Come on, let's get back to the house." I started walking.

Sam quickly followed. "Cora, what's going on, who was it?"

I sighed and spoke quietly. "Sam, it was Emma."

Sam temporarily froze and stopped walking before jogging to catch up. "A-are you sure?"

I nodded. "Positive. It's her. She's Syrena."

"But...that means Cole…"

I nodded again.

"But...but he doesn't have purple eyes. And I'm positive he doesn't wear contacts."

"He has the black hair though. I've heard stories of Syrena with blue eyes instead of purple. Unless he's adopted, he's Syrena." We spent the rest of the way back in silence. George was home when we got there and was in the middle of making dinner.

He looked over when we came in. "Hey, dinner will be ready in about 10 minutes. How was the beach?"

I went upstairs to change while Sam talked to her dad before coming up to get changed as well. After getting changed I went back downstairs and sat at the table. Sam came down a minute later and George served dinner. We tried to act normal and make pleasant small talk but fled to Sam's room right after dinner.

Sam sat on her bed. "Should we talk to him about it?"

I shook my head. "No, let me talk to my dad first. He said he'd check in every so often. When I hear from him I'll ask him about it." Sam nodded and we tried to relax for the rest of the night but it was obvious that even though we weren't talking about it that we were both thinking about it. We went to bed early and I laid awake for hours before being able to fall asleep.