Chapter 10

'The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity and an understanding of life that fills them with compassions, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen. The greatest healing therapy is friendship and love.' ❤❤❤❤ A SURPRISE VISIT ❤❤❤❤ Continuation from Rae and Lillian: "By the way granny, how come you know Avonmora gave birth to a daughter?" Rae asked. "Because you just told me not to tell anyone, which means you're the only one who know." "That's because I don't want anyone to know about her existence therefore putting her in grave danger." Lillian responded. "Start eating your food before it gets cold." She added. "You speak of Avonmora daughter as if you knew her whereabouts grandma." Rae said going back to her food and started eating. "I don't know her whereabouts and even if I do, I won't revealed that to anyone." "And why is that? If I were to be Avonmora's daughter, I will reveal myself to everyone. By my calculations, she is the last mermaid and a half demon, it's not everyday you see such species." Rae said "What if she had found out her life would be in danger if she revealed herself, and decided to keep herself hidden." Lillian said. "If you are in her shoes won't you do the same Rae?" "Well that depends on the kind of danger I find myself in which I am not at the moment, but if the danger is bigger than me, then I will hide ." Rae answered. "So what of danger can Avonmora daughter be hiding from, that would prevent her from showing herself?" Lillian took a deep breath as she tried to come up with something intelligent, knowing Rae, she won't let the matter rest until she had gotten her answer. Rae was as stubborn as her father. "You know that gate you saw, the Gate of Darkness." Lillian said to which Rae nodded her head. "Well, if Avonmora daughter is found, she shall be sacrificed and her blood used in closing the Gate Of Darkness forever. Tamara the priestess told the council of elders and everyone has been on the lookout to find the last mermaid. Though no one knows she is Avonmora daughter, they all assumed that they're looking for an ordinary mermaid." "If that's the danger Avonmora daughter is, surely I will hide. But why would she revealed herself to you, I mean there are others out there she can choose to reveal herself to, why you?" Another intelligent question. "Well that's because her mother and I were good friends, that was why Avonmora confided in me when she was pregnant and perhaps, her daughter felt that same connection with me." "Oh, so when I can see her?" Rae asked with hopes high, she would like to make friends with the last mermaid. "Soon I guess, it's been long she revealed herself to me." Lillian lied quickly. Rae didn't say anything afterwards, she continued her food and finished it at last. "Don't worry about the plate my child, I will wash it, go and rest, you need." Lillian said as soon as Rae reaches for her empty plate. "Thank you granny." Rae said, stood up from her seat and started going towards the staircase but stopped, turning to face her grandmother. "What happened to the mermaid kingdom?" "It's still there but isolated. By now it must have grown into a forest since we were banned from going nearer to it." "I guess it's the Priestess who also said that." "Yes, it was a message from the gods." "So how can one find their way to the mermaid kingdom?" "It isn't far from here, just follow the part that leads to that forest behind the witches kingdom, and follow the right road, you will see the caves where all the Mermaids once lived but….." Lillian started to describe the place and stopped. "Why are you asking about the road to the Mermaids kingdom? Don't tell me you plan on going there?" Rae laughed out loud as if what she heard was hilarious. "Who wants to go there before, I wouldn't even dream of going there if I was paid." Rae said with a disgusted look on her face and then pretended to yawn. "Okay, go and rest, you won't be attending any school till next week." Lillian said. Rae nodded her head and quickly climbed the stairs and entered her room, collapsing on her bed she started setting her plans. She only said that so that her grandmother won't suspect a thing. She planned on going to the mermaid Kingdom later on, and since she won't attend school for now, she will use one of the days to go to the mermaid Kingdom. Rae closed her eyes to sleep, for now, she needed her beauty sleep. **** Lolly snarled at whoever that stood in her way as she match to Jason class. When she got there, the door was closed and she entered it without even knocking. Jason was at the center of the class, reading a book. He was the only one in that class. "Yes, what can I do for you Lolly?" Jason asked without lifting up his face from the book. "You didn't punish that stupid girl for what she did to me." Lolly said in anger. "And why should I punish her?" Jason asked absentminded. "Because she disgraced me in front of the whole school Jason, and I am your bride. Whoever offends me should be punished!" Lolly yelled. "Well said Lolly, what's stopping you from punishing her then?" Jason asked and this time, he stares at her with his coldest look that makes people tremble in fear whenever they stare at him. Lolly quickly removed her eyes from him and faces another direction. She was terrified whenever she saw that look. "Because you are my husband to be and since everyone feared you except Jorkallun, you could have at least shaken her a little bit." "I see, it's all about your reputation. If you had really cared about your reputation, you wouldn't have engage her in a fight with your three best warriors. You should be ashamed that as my bride to be that she beat the four of you together." Jason said calmly and return back to his book. His mother that has been bedridden and couldn't speak for years was the actual reason he accepted to be engaged to Lolly. It was her wish, she wrote it out for him and his father to see, when Tamara had gone inside her chamber to speak with her. He doesn't love her, but he would do anything for his mother. Tamara had told him once that Tribrid species doesn't have a mate. He doesn't believe in the gods and cared less about what they say, but this was his mother. And his decision has cost him his friendship with Jorkallun. "So are you trying to say you won't do anything to that stupid girl?" Lolly asked, she was not that surprised. "Fight your fight yourself Lolly, now get out of here, don't make me repeat myself." Jason said quietly. Lolly left the classroom faster than her shadows. She will have to deal with the new girl herself. A plan began to form in her head. *** Two Days Later: It was evening. It has been two days since she had left the house. Rae had tried all her technique on Lillian to allow her to go outside but to no avail. "I don't want you to go outside Rae, don't ask me why, if you love your grandmother like you claimed, you will do as I have instructed." Lillian had told Rae. She doesn't want her to meet with the priestess. Tamara had made the announcement that she would be visiting all the witches school and the supernaturals to check their gifts, every single one of them as long as you're a witch. Allowing Rae to go out there is a possibility that she may meet Tamara and that is what she is avoiding. Rae was still in her room- sulking and disappointed that her grandma won't allow her to go outside- when she heard someone knocking at the front door, she didn't move an inch since she knows Lillian will answer the door. She soon heard voices and she was curious to know who was that. Her curiosity won, she left her bed and tip toe out of her room and down the stairs, she followed the voices to their living room. She was surprised when she recognized a voice speaking with her grandmother, she hid herself and then started eavesdropping on their conversation. ____ Opening the door, Lillian was very surprised when she saw her visitor. She had to clear her throat a multiple times before she could say anything. Opening the door wider for her visitor to enter. "Jorkallun, what a very surprised visit." Lillian said with a smile as she usher the dragon boy in. "Please sit down." Jorkallun had sat down on one of the chairs he saw, making himself at home before Lillian had even say 'Please sit down'. "What can I offer you Jorkallun?" "I am okay, thank you." "So why are you here?" Lillian said going straight to the point. "I came to check on Rae, she hasn't been to school for the past two days now." Jorkallun said and made some notes appeared and floating in front of him. "These are what she missed in school for the two days she stayed at home." Surprised but collected the books. "Thank you. She was sick that is why she couldn't make it, but I can assure you that she will resume fully next week." Lillian said with a smile. "Okay, I also came here to discuss something important with you." Jorkallun said. "And what can that be?" Lillian demanded. "I don't know if you're aware of this, but there is a hidden spell in Rae. My dragon sense the magic the first day he saw her. The spell makes someone appear what they are not, and hide their real identity." Lillian was very shocked, as much as she tried to keep the shock away from her face, she couldn't. "By your look, I am now certain you know about the hidden spell. If you are trying to hide something away from her, then you better double up the spell. If I can be able to sense it, whosoever that you're hiding it from can also sense it." Jorkallun said. "Thank you Jorkallun, I really appreciate. I will double the spell on her. I hope you won't tell anyone." Lillian said in fear. "It's not my secret to tell, so I won't." Jorkallun gave out his word. What secret and why would her grandmother place a hidden spell on her. She decided to make her presence known without pretending. "What secret?" Rae asked as she came out of her hiding place. "Hello Jorkallun." She added as she went to sit right next to him. Lillian was surprised when she saw Rae. "No secret dear, I thought you were sleeping?" "Yeah I was but I decided to come down for a drink, and I overheard you talking." "Why didn't you use your magic to teleport water to your room." "Stop changing the topic granny, I heard everything." Facing Jorkallun she asked. "What hidden spell are you talking about?" "It's not my place to tell." Jorkallun said, he also wanted to know why Rae had that spell in her. Rae faced her grandmother. "I am now old enough to keep secrets too granny, so what spell did you place on me and why would you do that?" "Like I said, there is no secret Rae, get it out of your mind." Standing up angrily. "Grandmother, I am not a little kid anymore. Why would you put a hidden spell on me? What are your reason exactly?" Lillian couldn't answer. "WHY IS IT SO HARD FOR YOU TO SAY IT!" Rae yelled. Lillian stood up and slap Rae hard on her face. "You do not speak to me in such manner young lady, I am saving your neck and that is it. You can't force me to say what I don't want to say in my own home. THERE IS NO SECRET." Without saying a word back, Rae ran out of the house that night, ignoring the calling of her name from Lillian. Lillian started crying. "Crying won't solve it. I will bring her back, but you have to tell her your reason, letting her know will remove a lot of burden from your shoulder." Jorkallun said and went after Rae. ____ Rae didn't know where she was going, she needed to find a place and clear her mind, she didn't mean to shout at her grandmother. The moon helped her in seeing her way. She was running when suddenly a very huge red dragon blocked her path. She wanted to scream but stopped when she saw the dragon transformed back to the pretty boy she knew from school. Rae hasn't seen that she was heading straight to the Mountain where the Crocottas lives, if Jorkallun hadn't blocked her, she would have fallen over the mountain and get eaten together with her soul. "Come with me." Jorkallun said and started leading the way, turning briefly to see if Rae was following, which she was. Higher they went until they reached the top of the mountain. Jorkallun sat down over the edge of the mountain and didn't say a word. Rae sat down beside him. They sat side by side, looking over the mountain below, blanketed by the night as they faced the horizon. "So, is this your super secret thinking spot?" Rae asked with a side-long glimpse at Jorkallun, her anger forgotten. "Yes, I stumbled on it by accident one day when I was alone and upset, and looking to escape." Rae looked out into the distance, but it just looked black to Rae. Bleak. She could barely make out the Crocottas she knew lay below. "Escape from what?" "From everyone and everything. That night, I left and ended up here. I sat right where we are. I looked out on the horizon, and tried to figure out the best time..." Jorkallun's words drifted. "Best time to what?" Rae ventured. Jorkallun looked at Rae who was staring at him, then he looked away and swallowed. "To jump."