Chapter 103

"If only it were that simple," Varine said.

"Why isn't it simple? You said we could go," Rikki replied indignant.

"I never said that explicitly," Varine said. "In exchange for our warm hospitality, I would like you to do something for me,"

"But…" Bella started to interrupt. Varine held up her hand before she could continue. The usual air of superior authority that the Queen exuded seemed to lessen for a brief moment as she took a deep breath.

"Look, I need your help," the Queen sighed. "It occurred to me that you might be the miracle I am looking for,"

"Why should we help you? You basically kidnapped us," Emma exclaimed.

Varine shrugged, unapologetic.

"You violate one of our society's most important rules by swimming in our waters with the mermen children you should have surrendered to your mates. I can deal with you according to our decrees – you are acting within my waters of authority. I will tell you now that the first action our people take will be to send your mermen spawn to where they belong," Varine said haughtily.

"You're threatening us?" Cleo asked outraged.

Varine smiled nastily at them.

"I have the power to get you to do what I want, if you do not volunteer yourself for this opportunity. I will use it if I need to,"

"What is it that you will have us do?" Jessie asked warily.

"My mother gave me a precious necklace as my coming of age gift. This necklace had been passed for generations from mermaid to mermaid – mother to eldest daughter. A merman I mated with a few seasons ago stole it from me. It was made from water, water where my ancestresses were born, the cord created with their magic, and a moon jewel held fast in the centre. I need you to retrieve it for me," Varine said. "It is my eldest daughter's coming of age ceremony in a moon's cycle, and it has been impossible to retrieve, but now, you are here,"

"Why didn't you try get it off the merman who stole it in the first place?" Rikki asked.

Varine looked indignant.

"Of course we tried. The merman was banished from his clan once his offence was found out. But he ran with it, and in the swim, the necklace was dropped in the struggle. The dratted humans decided that it was time to do some swimming, so we had to leave it and hide. We had to watch as a diver picked it up and swam away, back to their boat."

"If a human has it, how are we supposed to find it? That thing could be anywhere!" Emma exclaimed.

"I had my best scout follow the boat. Khasha told me that she saw the building of the docks they went into," Varine said.

"It won't be still there," Jessie said. "Humans do temporary very well. Did Khasha see an identifying logo or anything?"

"Logo?" Varine questioned.

"A picture, or…or something distinct marking the boat or the building," Anna added in.

"Khasha," Varine called, gesturing for the mermaid that was just leaving the room to come forward.

"Yes?"

"Did you see anything like that? Any pictures?" Varine asked.

"There was a circular image, a sunken ship and a treasure chest…there was human writing around the outside," Khasha described.

"Was it white writing and a red rim around the circle?" Rikki asked. Khasha thought for a moment.

"Yes," the scout said.

"That's not good," Rikki muttered.

"What was that?" Varine asked.

"I know the group which has your necklace," Rikki said. "I work as a deep sea treasure hunter from time to time, and I sometimes run in with a competing group, they never see me as what I am of course, but they are often after the same artefacts. They are called the Cazadores de tesoros, I think it's Spanish for the Treasure Hunters. They are an international group, but they do focus in the Pacific Ocean mainly."

"Are they well known?" Anna asked.

"Yeah, they have a lot of buyers, that necklace might've been sold, or it might still be being priced – sometimes that takes a while. Only way we'll find out is if we find them," Rikki said.

"If we do this, you will let us go," Emma stated to Varine. Her eyes told the Queen that she was serious.

Varine nodded nonchalantly.

"Khasha shall go with you. She will guide you to the location and be your aid." Varine said. Khasha's eyes widened in surprise and fear, and then softened as the girls saw her acceptance of the task.

"We will look after your children here. The mermaids will play and learn alongside our little girls. The merboys will be separated but you have my word, they will not be badly treated" Varine said. "Go now, say your goodbyes tonight. In the morning, you will be sent with supplies to fuel you with the ability to undertake the task. You may go." The Queen waved her hand at the group.

OoOoO

"Do you really have to go, Mummy?" Andy asked her mother.

"Yeah sweetheart, I'm sorry," Cleo replied, holding her daughter close.

There was crying from some of the children, and stoic resolve from some of the others. They promised their mothers that they would be fine. They had each other.

With heavy hearts, and full water backpacks of food and supplies, the mermaids set off with Khasha to undertake their task.

OoOoO

"How far did you follow the divers in their boat, Khasha?" Jessie asked.

"It felt like a long way, yalewa. It was one of the larger islands - many humans live on it. The place has boats and flying boats leaving from it," Khasha replied.

"We call the flying boats 'planes,'" Anna added in.

The mermaids talked, getting to know about Khasha and her life as part of Varine's world. A world separated from menfolk. Khasha talked about how she enjoyed being a scout as she got to see parts of the ocean other mermaids were not allowed to explore. Khasha in turn asked the girls about how they became mermaids if they were not born that way. Khasha was amazed that all they had to do to become human was to dry out. Khasha had the powers of the original trio. Turns out underwater, they only used the heating power for scaring away sharks and other sea creatures, and for heating when it occasionally became cooler. They very rarely cooked food as it was not a necessity. Khasha had never seen true fire as a result. The clan never really came to the surface, especially during storms. Therefore, the scout had never really seen lightning either. As Rikki was proud of her powers, she promised to show Khasha fire and lightning when they arrived near land.

"It has always been a dream of mine to be able to explore the land and be able to meet land people," Khasha said in a wistful tone. "But it is forbidden. There is too much risk. Do you think that if I dried off like you do, that I could have my own legs?"

The mermaids were surprised at the question.

"Probably, you can't know until you try though," Bella answered her. "We will need to find a secluded area to change anyway, maybe you can try on the beach with us,"

"Really?" Khasha's eyes lit up. "You don't think Varine will be furious?"

"She sent you with us as a guide, maybe we can tell her that it was necessary that our guide come on land with us…otherwise, she might never need to know," Bella said.

"You don't think that's a bit risky?" Emma asked in a private mindspeak with Bella and the other girls, "She'll be looking at everything in awe…it might draw attention."

"Are we really going to deny her her dream though?" Bella questioned.

"I think its sweet, she's lovely," Jessie added in.

"Alright then," Emma said.

They finally made it to the island in question. Emma swam around cautiously, and when she felt it was safe, she poked her head out the water behind one of the boats. Further around the coast, it looked like there was a secluded beach with lots of rocks and trees, and no boats moored near it. Perfect. She ducked beneath the water to lead the way.

They swam up on the empty beach, awkwardly pulling themselves up on the sand to be out of the water's reach. Khasha watched from the water, nervously. She had never even been this close to the shore before, let alone actually on the land. She saw as Anna and Rikki dried themselves off first, then the others off. Before her eyes, Khasha saw mermaids turn into humans. Her eyes were wide. She couldn't believe what she was seeing.

She noticed the mermaids started speaking to her…but they were speaking in that foreign language, English. She thought that was what they called it. They were moving their mouths while talking, like humans did.

"I don't understand you," Khasha told them in mindspeak. They reacted strangely; they started laughing. Khasha was confused.

"Sorry Khasha, we forgot that you couldn't understand spoken language – well, spoken English," Jessie said.

"It just hadn't occurred to us. We only speak in mindspeak when in the water, or if we're talking privately." Bella said.

"Are you going to join us?"

Khasha nodded. She started to pull herself up onto the sand. Wow, this was hard work.

"Are those your human scales?" she asked, gesturing to their clothes.

"No, these are clothes…you buy them and put them on, or make them yourselves," Bella said.

"So that's why you are all 'dressed' so differently?" the scout asked.

"Yes," Bella responded.

Anna gasped in realisation.

"She has never had clothes before…she won't be wearing any when she turns,"

"Oh no," Rikki said.

As she said that, Khasha transformed and laughed in glee as she took in her own pair of legs.

A/N: First off I need to apologise. I am sorry. SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SORRY, for how long it has taken me to update this. What the heck! Time flies. I've been really busy and when I've not been busy I haven't felt like writing. I'm sorry. I've actually been working on this chapter since that last one was updated. That's a long time to work on it :P

I really hope you've enjoyed this chapter. I hope to update again soon. And I mean soon, not like distance between July and FREAKING MARCH. I honestly...I can't believe I left it that long. Plus my other stories the distance is even worse. I'm sorry. I'm in my last semester of my Bachelors Degree, I feel like that should cut me some slack :P

Anyway, thank you so so so much! I love you guys for staying with me. I know I've probably lost a heck of a lot of readers due to my absence or unintentional hiatus, but if you're still with me THANK YOU. And also, please let me know that you're still here by leaving a review. Reviews always make my day :)

Thank you very much to the following people for reviewing, you guys are the reason I keep coming back and updating, even if it takes forever.

Thank you to The Writer Es, CrazyHayniac, YaleAceBella12, , sammiloveschocolate, zikki 3, WannabeeAussie, Angel Ruth, Nessie090603, loveh20, and H2o JAW. I love everyone of you :D

See you all next time,

Krystalslazz