The Sea and The Shells: A Mermaid Story

The Investigation (5)

Isabella was standing outside of the local library with Sabrina. They had devised a plan to research all they could about mermaids and caverns. They were determined to figure out why and how this happened to them. First, they started in the fantasy and folklore section of the library.

Isabella scanned the rows of bookshelves, her eyes darting from one title to another. She pulled out a book titled "Legends of the Sea: Mythical Creatures and Their Tales" and handed it to Sabrina, who was equally engrossed in her search for answers.

The girls settled into a cozy corner of the library, their excitement palpable as they flipped through the pages, searching for any mention of mermaids and magical caverns. As they delved deeper into the book, they came across ancient stories and folklore from different cultures, each with its own interpretation of mermaids and their enchanting realms.

Isabella began to stumble upon a particular legend set in Hawaii. The tale spoke of a hidden underwater cavern known as Kaikala, said to be the dwelling place of the mermaids. It was rumored to possess mystical powers. It was only activated by a water spirit every five years when it is low in magic.

Both girls read in astonishment that the story so perfectly matched what had happened.

"This all makes sense now. But, what about the water spirit? Maybe it has something to do with what's happening with the drownings.?" Sabrina inquired.

Isabella turned the page to see an old manuscript titled "Aquaia." Their interest now peeked the girls read eagerly through the passage:

"Aquaia, the water spirit, is known for her penchant for drowning humans. It is said she feeds off the energy of the deceased to sustain herself. Legends claim that humans were the ones who initially trapped her. Once a beautiful mermaid, Aquaia became consumed by a hunger for power, delving into a forbidden type of magic that required human lives as fuel."

Before their quest for knowledge could reach a satisfying conclusion, the rest of the article faded away, leaving the girls frustrated and wanting more.

"Seriously? That's all it tells us?" Sabrina sighed, closing the book.

Isabella nodded in agreement. "We should take this book with us. Maybe we can find more information at home or try to fill in the missing pieces."

With the book in hand, Isabella headed toward the check-out counter. To her surprise, Koa stood there, holding a marine life book, his hair still damp from surfing, and wearing a Hawaiian button-up shirt. His face lit up as he spotted Isabella.

"Hey," Koa greeted while checking out his book.

Isabella felt a pang of guilt for having left him abruptly the day before, seeking solace in the surfing community. She mustered up the courage to apologize, realizing her excuse was feeble.

"Hey, I'm sorry I left you hanging yesterday. Sabrina's surfboard actually broke," Isabella explained, feeling a little pathetic as she sensed Sabrina's confused gaze from the corner of her eye. Isabella's admission hung in the air for a moment as Koa processed her words. A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips, showing understanding.

"No worries, We can always hang out another time." Koa pulled out his phone from his pocket and handed it to Isabella "Here you can put your number in."
Isabella punched in her number and handed the phone back to Koa.

As they finalized the book checkout, Koa seemed to be eyeing the mermaid book. He had a peculiar look on his face.

"What book is that?" He said looking down at the book Isabella was trying not to show much.

"Oh, it's for my little sister. She asked us to pick it up. She has this crazy obsession with mermaids lately." Sabrina explained.

Koa nodded, accepting their explanation with a friendly smile. "Ah, I see. Well, I hope she enjoys the book. I'll see you two another day." He glanced at Isabella, his eyes twinkling with curiosity.