Chapter 38 (actually this time :P)

One week later…

Alan had finally adjusted to the idea that mythological creatures did in fact exist. He, of course, took a scientific stance as Lewis had done when he was young. He asked if he could run a few tests, purely for scientific curiosity and personal gain.
Bella and Cleo volunteered; they didn't mind helping him out. Cleo knew what scientific curiosity felt like. Alan had been shocked when they told him the full story of their relationship with Denman.

Flashback

"…and that is the tale of our two run-ins with your aunt." Emma finished.

"Wow." Alan said simply, "I can see how you lost your cool for a second there Cleo,"

Cleo blushed and looked at her feet, "It was an accident," she muttered.

"How could she have been so set capturing you?" he muttered to himself.

End Flashback

Lewis had showed Alan his aunt's notes from that short testing session many years earlier.

"Is any of it fact?" Alan had asked.

"Pretty much all it has proven correct," Lewis replied, "Mermaid DNA must be the dominant gene because all our kids were born mers." He said pointing to one line in particular.

OoOoO

Bella and Cleo met Alan on the beach on the far side of the island where he had anchored his boat.

"Has your speed ever been fully tested?"

"Not in the ocean," Bella replied.

"With your aunt, she tested our endurance in our human form, but we would have escaped if she tested us in the ocean," Cleo said.

"Do you have any idea?" Alan asked.

"Not really. We know that it only takes five minutes to get to Mako at turbo speed, closer to twenty minutes, swimming for enjoyment." Cleo said. Bella nodded.

"Do you mind swimming around Mako for me?" Alan asked, "It would be a decent distance for measurement, about six kilometres. Could you go as fast as you can?"

"Sure."

Cleo and Bella got in the water. When Alan said go, they sped off and he started the timers and got back to his boat to wait for them to arrive. They were back before he knew it. He stopped the timers. It only took them a minute and a half. He was absolutely amazed. They would have to be travelling at about 120km/h. (A/N: Apologies, I know the math is absolutely appalling, just bear with me; let's just say they travel extremely fast = faster than boats.

"How was that?" Bella asked. She and Cleo were resting their arms on the stern of the boat.

"Incredible!" he exclaimed. "You aren't even breathless!"

"Yeah. Mermaid capabilities still amaze me, even though I am one!" Cleo replied.

"Could you hold your breath for me underwater, so I can time it?"

"Okay. You may want to get a book out or something, it'll probably be longer than twenty minutes." Bella said. As they had matured, they had noticed they could stay underwater for much longer without effort. Their kids tended to go to the surface more frequently.

Alan again started a timer each as Cleo and Bella submerged.

Thirty-nine minutes and ten seconds later Cleo came to the surface. Bella followed at forty minutes and three seconds. This time Bella and Cleo were sucking in air. It seemed however, that they still were not exerted. Alan shook his head in wonder. "You both stayed under the water for over thirty-nine minutes. That is incredible."

The mermaids too were shocked. They had not expected to be under that long; it didn't actually feel very long, they had been absorbed by the serene ocean and talked to each other via mind speak about various things in life.

"I don't think we've ever stayed under that long! Even the book's record was only just over half an hour." Cleo said.

Alan offered his hand to Bella to help pull her into the boat. She was much heavier than he anticipated. He pulled and grunted by Bella didn't seem to get onto the boat, it ended up bruising her tail.

"Ow!"

"So, so sorry Bella!"

After watching the scene for a few minutes, the amused Cleo decided to give them a hand. She used the water to lift Bella effortlessly onto the boat. "Thank you Cleo!" Bella said.

Cleo then lifted herself onto the boat; the water spilt on the deck was flicked back into the sea. With a flick of her hand, the two women were humans again.

"Amazing. Cleo, why didn't you help me sooner?"

"You never asked, beside the struggle was quite amusing."

"Great." Alan muttered, he was wet from the ordeal. Cleo flicked the water out of his trousers and he was much happier and drier. Still on the boat, Alan asked whether he could test the gelatine substance Bella created. She of course said yes. After a few more tests like his, Bella and Cleo jumped off the boat and Alan pulled up the anchor and sailed back to the mainland.

OoOoO

After dinner that night...

"How was the tests today?" Emma asked Bella and Cleo.

"Good. We learnt new stuff. We swim at about 120km/h while at moderate turbo speed – we didn't really go our fastest, we were turning a corner." Cleo said

"I held my breath for forty minutes. Cleo did so for almost forty. Amazing, huh?" Bella said

"Yeah, that is something," Will said. "Forty minutes..." he trailed off.

"Did you guys do anything else?" Ben asked.

"He tested my gelatine," Bella said.

"Anything abnormal?" Anna asked.

"He actually said it was pure H20, and somehow it had got to be in that state of matter."

"And that's where the magic comes in," Lewis said.

"Rikki? You haven't said a word. Is something wrong?" Cleo asked. She just shook her head. The whole table had now turned to her.

"Rikki?" Zane asked.

"How can you just trust him like that?" Rikki burst out suddenly. "He finds out and almost immediately you invite him to Mako and let him experiment on you! He's Denman's nephew for heaven's sake!"

"Rikki..." Emma began

"Don't Rikki me!" she exclaimed. "You let him experiment on you! Does no one else hear alarm bells?"

"No. You don't know him from a bar of soap Rikki," Lewis said.

"You haven't even given him a chance. Not all scientists are mermaid hunters." Cleo said. Rikki put her head in her hands.

"If you didn't want him to come here, why didn't you say something?" Ash said. "We all voted on it."

"Yeah and if I could quote you, 'Fine then, you don't involve me and if anything comes of it, I swear I'll boil him alive'" Cleo said.

"I just don't trust him." She sighed.

"You've judged him before you've known him." Lewis said.

"I may have, yeah, but guess who said Denman 'wasn't like that'? Oh, yeah, it was you!" she retorted.

"Guys! Cut it out," Anna said. "Rikki, he's invited over next week, along with Fred, Kelly and Perry – maybe you guys could have a chat and sort out your issues? I'm sure he's harmless."

"Fine. I'll give him a shot, but if he blows it..." she trailed off for effect. "I'm going to bed." She muttered. Zane gave everyone an apologetic smile and headed out with his wife.

"She sure still had trust issues." Emma said.

"She's just Rikki." Cleo said resigned.

A/N: Here is that long awaited chapter. Since there is only one day left of school, I believe I'll have a bit more time in the near future to update again, no promises though – it will be as soon as possible however. Anyway, I hope you're enjoying the story and as always, please review :D

Kia Ora. E kauanuanu ana nga kaipānui. Ka mutu pea. Ka kite anō au i a koutou