Mako Mermaids: Rita Santos' Daughter

Chapter 22

Caitlan's POV:

I'm at the Ocean Cafe with Cam, Zac, Evie, Carly and David. We have been to the JuiceNet a couple times - Zac and Cam have called a truce with Zane since he's dating Rikki.

Cleo, Emma, Rikki and Charlotte walked in. "Hey guys. What's up?" I asked them. "It's Lewis's birthday tomorrow, we're having a surprise party at my house for him. You guys are invited" Charlotte smiled. The six of us smiled and said we'll be there. Emma, Cleo and Rikki didn't look too thrilled. Charlotte left, but I stopped the other three. "Hey, you guys ok?" I asked. "Is there somewhere we can talk?" Emma asked. "Mako?" I mouthed. The four of us swam to Mako.

"What did you want to talk about?" I asked. "Charlotte. She's being reckless with her powers and she's taking over the plans for Lewis's party. We think he should have a party boat as that is Lewis's vibe, but she's not listening to us" Rikki shrugged annoyed. "We can't just single her out" Cleo said sadly. "It's hard for me to make a judgement, I haven't got any other mermaid friends so I really don't know. Sorry I'm not much more help" I apologised. "Would you be able to help us set up tomorrow?" Cleo asked shyly. "Yeah of course" I smiled.

I swam to the Grotto and told mum what Emma, Cleo and Rikki had told me - and I spotted our Megalodon tooth that we discovered a while ago. I got my moon ring and used the duplication spell. "Birthday present sorted for Lewis" I smiled. Mum laughed. I laid down on mum's knee, I felt mum stroking my face and I dozed off.

I arrived at Charlotte's to help set up. "The other super mermaid is here!" Charlotte said happily and brought me in a hug. I rolled my eyes at Emma and Cleo - Rikki didn't wanna come.

Everyone started to arrive - Cam, Zac, David, Carly and Evie are coming a bit later. Everyone here was all Charlotte's friends from her old school.

We all hid when Lewis arrived and shouted 'surprise'. I could tell this wasn't his scene. But he did look grateful. I gave him his present. "No way! A Megalodon tooth? This is so cool" Lewis smiled and gave me a hug. "Hey Charlotte can I use your bathroom?" I asked and she told me where it was.

I went to the bathroom, and when I was done and saw the coast was clear I made myself invisible. When I came back downstairs, I heard Charlotte say that Cleo and Emma left. Something definitely was off. Thankfully I was still invisible so I jumped into the water and swum near the Ocean Cafe. When I made myself visible, my phone rang. It was Rikki. "Hey Rikki what's up?" I asked. "Cleo and Emma are fine, Charlotte did them dirty. Long story. But I've sent Lewis's friends to the Ocean Cafe, reckon you can get a party boat sorted?" I smiled "leave it to me" I hung up.

Thankfully, Cam, Zac, Evie, David and Carly hadn't left yet. I asked David if his brother Joe could sort us with a party boat and if he'd sort the music. My friends were psyched.

We all got on the party boat on the pier near the cafe, Lewis's friends joined and we set sail - we made a pit stop outside Charlotte's. Lewis, Rikki, Emma, Cleo, Zane and Ash all joined the party. We had an absolute blast!

When I got home, I told mum about my day. "I admit though I've missed you." I smiled sadly. "Oi get your bum here Little Miss Santos" mum chuckled and pulled me into a cuddle. "I've missed you too my baby girl. But I love to see you having fun with your friends and I enjoy hearing your stories" I kissed mum's cheek.

A couple days later, Me and mum went to the kitchen - we craved some seafood (when don't we?) and there was a knock at the door. Both me and mum answered. It was Charlotte.

"Can I talk to you?" She asked. She looked at mum and said "in private" I looked at mum and said "it's fine, mum knows I'm a mermaid. I got wet the other day and she saw me transform. She's promised to keep the secret" I smiled. "Emma, Cleo and Rikki have abandoned me. They can't handle that I'm a better mermaid than them and Lewis dumped me. I think we should team up since we're super mermaids!" Charlotte suggested. I grumbled and snapped. "We are NOT super mermaids! Mermaids are stronger together as a pod! A team. You're just power hungry, manipulative and abusing your powers! Carry on like this and you'll expose us all! If anything you're less mermaid than all of us!" I then saw Cleo's locket around Charlotte's neck. "You stole Cleo's locket?" I asked suspiciously. "It belonged to my grandmother and therefore it's mine!" Charlotte sneered. "If your grandmother threw it away all them years ago, you have no right to it!" Mum pointed out.

Rita's POV:

"Stay out of this Miss Santos - this doesn't concern you!" Charlotte snapped. I saw the anger explode out my Caitlan. "Never talk to my mum like that!" She threatened. "Pfft. Or what? What will you do?" Charlotte stood with her arms crossed. I came out and stood next to Caitlan, she looked at me and we smiled at each other. Caitlan conjured a storm above Charlotte's head, with a crack of thunder and lightning that made her jump and then the rain which transformed her into a mermaid. Caitlan then used her powers to take the locket off Charlotte. "I'll do much worse next time. Now leave" Caitlan warned. Charlotte looked terrified. She dried herself and ran away.

We went inside and Caitlan instantly wrapped her arms around me. I kissed her head and brought her into a hug. "I'm so proud of you sweetheart. And thank you for defending me." I whispered. "Well I'm just as protective of you as you are of me. Nobody talks to my mama like that" Caitlan smiled up at me. "It's my job to protect you darling, besides I was ready to beat her tail. That was a good cover story that you made up by the way." I winked at Caitlan.

Caitlan's POV:
"Thanks mum" I smiled and then my phone rang. "Hey Em, sorry I didn't even know you were ringing" I picked up. "Cleo went missing but she's home. Can we talk?" I put my hand over my phone, "Mum can Rikki, Emma and Cleo come over? We can sit on the sofa." I asked. "Of course darling" mum whispered. "Absolutely, come over to mine. See you in a few." I hung up.

I answered the door, Cleo, Emma, Rikki and Lewis arrived. They looked awkward to my mum. "Don't worry. Mum saw me transform the other day. She's promised to keep our secret." I smiled. "Oh, Cleo. I believe this is yours." I held up the locket and she was shocked. "How-?" She stuttered. "She put Charlotte in her place" mum said proudly - I gave Cleo the locket and Lewis put it around her neck for her. "Back where it belongs" Emma smiled. "Wow you are a super mermaid" Rikki joked. "Oh, it's the full moon tomorrow. A powerful one - according to Lewis. Did you wanna come over to mine for the night and hang out with us?" Emma asked. "I don't get affected by the full moon, and I've never stayed away from mum overnight." I said sadly. "What about that camping trip when you were ten?" Cleo asked. "All of our parents came with us." I shrugged. "Well, Miss Santos you're welcome to come along and make sure we don't get affected?" Emma offered to mum. Mum smiled and said "Sure. I'll make sure Poseidon is sorted out with his food then I'll be there".

Mr and Mrs Gilbert already gave the a-ok for me and my mum to come around, they'd gone out though. There was a knock on the door, it was Ash. He tried getting answers out of Emma.

Weird stuff started happening, all the water appliances were going haywire. "Charlotte" I muttered. Lewis went outside to try and talk to her. A few minutes later, Rikki came downstairs and said that Cleo has gone. Her and Emma ran out instantly. I looked at mum. "Go with them baby girl. Be careful" she smiled, I gave her a massive hug and ran after them.

We swam to Mako. Rikki and Emma used their powers to steam the Moon Pool, Cleo saw us and the four of us got out. Cleo stepped forward and Charlotte went to get the locket back. I stepped forward and she stopped, looking terrified. "I don't think so" I smirked. Emma and Rikki then stepped in line with me and Cleo, the four of us used our powers against Charlotte, she created a three headed water snake, I used my magic to overpower Charlotte and turned the snake into fireworks, which startled her - the four of us then covered the moon to prevent Charlotte using her powers, we then levitated her and dropped her in the pool; Lewis was right: this full moon is extra powerful, it happens every fifty years and removes a mermaids power and tail forever, becoming a land person. Mum told me about this in Mermaid School. "Nice legs" Rikki smirked "I told you, mermaids work better as a team" I glared and when the moon moved from the Moon Pool, I jumped in and swam home.

When I got home, I noticed that mum came back too. I told her everything that happened. "I'm so proud of you my little starfish" she brought me into a hug. "Thanks mum" I smiled and I got a text off Cleo:

Thanks for helping us, don't be a stranger xxx

I smiled and sent a text back:

Happy to help! Back at ya
xxx

Me and mum headed to bed. "I know I've said it but thank you for not exposing me sweetheart." Mum said as we got in bed, Poseidon jumped up and laid on the bottom. "Mum you don't need to thank me. Those girls fell in the Moon Pool so it seemed like the only logical thing would be that I fell in too. Like you always say: it's you and me against both worlds. I love you mama" I cuddled up to mum and saw she had tears, I wiped them away and gave her a kiss. "I love you too baby girl. Always" mum smiled and then we headed to sleep.

Okay that's this chapter guys! Hope y'all like it - I wanted to do something different than H2O but I hope y'all like the wee change!