There was a strange ringing sensation inside Mia’s ears. The space around her caved in as if spiralling around her neck. Her head spun like a falling star from the heavens. Things were starting to get ‘Crystal’ clear infront of her eyes. The moment the other mermaid turned around as she was being dragged out of the assembly along with the girl right infront of Mia, she could not dismiss the striking resemblance with her mother. Things started falling into their places. She could understand why she was able to see Anajana. She understood why the mer-boy only communicated with her. She understood why she had no difficulty breathing even when she was under water without any spell. She could also understand the subtle implications her mother use to make.
“What’s on your mind girl? Huh? Wouldn’t you tell? You are all grown up huh? A teenager with temperaments. Aahh! If only we were in the ocean I would instantly know what’s going on in there. ” Mia remembered one of the many conversations her mother had with her when she sat hiding in her house for a week after a fight she had got into on the streets.
She understood how her mother could teach her to channelize and access spirit energy. She understood why she had kept Mia hidden. She could have enjoyed a lavish life in a palace, guarded with luxury, but she chose to struggle and finally wither away, without any complain. Why did she do that. Was it for love? Was it because of her father? She couldn’t understand. If it had been because of him, why would she spent her life alone?
“What are you upto Ruby? ” A sharp voice from behind, pierced the water like blade.
Mia and Ruby both looked at her, startled. There stood infront of Mia, a woman who she would have definitely mistaken for her mother had she not known she was dead. There resemble seemed even more surreal upfront.
“Who? Who is it? ” She asked.
The one named Ruby rushed to her and held both her hands with hers. They shared a few moment of silence and then they both swam towards her.
“I am Jade. ” She introduced herself and looked Mia up and down.
” I am Mia, ” Mia said trying to look for what Jade was looking for. “If you tell me what you want I might help you look for it. ”
” Didn’t you come from the palace? But I don’t see any edict. Also your lower limb. There isn’t any filament joining both your legs. Did anything happen along the way? Did you loose the edict? Were you hurt? ” Jade went on and on as Mia listened baffled.
“I don’t understand what you are looking for, but no, I didn’t come from the palace. And there weren’t any filaments joining my legs im the first place. You might have mistaken me for someone else. “Mia tried explaining as simple as she could.
But it quite had the opposite effect. Jade pulled out a whip made with conch and shells and whipped the water right around Mia into a whirlpool.
” Then who are you? How did you come here? Why? ” She asked as her whip danced right infront of Mia’s eyes.
“Well, I am, I am kind of lost. Could you please show me the way outside? I would leave immediately and never disturb you again. ” Mia said with a quick bow, trying to diffuse the tension as fast as she could.
“Outside? You want me to show a way out side? What outside are you even talking about? ” Jade came close up to Mia’s shoulder and smelled her. She took a step back immediately ans said, ” Who are you? What are you? Why do you smell so familiar yet different? ”
” I do? Do I smell familiar to you? ” Mia could finally relax as she saw Jade soften up. She was family after all.
” There goes nothing. Phewww, ” Mia breathed fast an said, ” May be because we are related? ”
The girl Ruby came upto them now.
“Related? ” She asked.
” Well, I think my mother Crystal, was that sister of yours who ran away. ”
Mia had expected them to be shocked but instead they both burst out laughing after giving her a full stare.
” What original nonsense is that? ” Jade said putting her whip down.
” You are a fugitive, aren’t you? We will let you stay. We don’t like rules anyway. ” Ruby pulled her down with both her hands.
But after they sat, instead of left go, Ruby held tighter to Mia’s hand. Her face slowly changed colour and she yelled, ” It’s Crystal . It’s Crystal no doubt. ”
Jade immediately pulled Mia’s hand and held them tight.
“Where? Where is Crystal? It’s just a fox that I see. ” Mia had immediately started thinking about Lin after Ruby had caught her brooding over her mother’s memories.
“I swear I saw her, ” Ruby vouched.
“Do you want me to think about her? ” Mia asked Jade trying to figure out how the though process worked.
” Yes. Let me see, ” Jade ordered.
Mia thought about her mother. Just random thoughts. Still nothing. She then went back to the time she spent with her together. One incident after another. This had seemed to hit the bulls eye. Jades eyes started getting redder and smaller. Mia held back tighter onto her.
” Are you really her daughter? You couldn’t have been born off her. Did she raise you? ” Jade asked still unbelieving.
” I am her biological daughter. Look I even have her traits. My hair, my smile. And I can even breath under water with no difficulty because I am a half mermaid. I didn’t know this before. But now I do. ” Mia said.
” Half mermaid? What is your other half then? ” Ruby asked.
” A wolf” Mia claimed proudly.