Mako Mermaids: Rita Santos' Daughter

Chapter 35

Caitlan's POV:

Me and mum are reading Evie's article. She basically stated that mum is probably hiding something, and that she homeschools her nieces when she's the principal of a top high school, that her daughter that is a straight A student attends. "I kind of expected something like this." I sighed. "She did a good job though. I'll give her that" mum replied.

We walked to Chemistry, I waited outside the classroom whilst mum grabbed Zac for a talk. Mum tried to persuade him to put the trident back on Mako. "What do you know about it?" Zac asked. "I can't say, you have to take my word on it" mum said. "Cait? Do you know?" Zac asked me. "Yes. I do. But it's not my place Zac" I said sadly. "You can stay away from me then, like your cousins" Zac scolded. Ouch, I hope he doesn't mean that. We stopped outside Zac's locker. I felt like the life was being sucked out of me. I blacked out briefly and fell. Mum helped me up, she didn't look too good either. "I'll tell the teacher you're sick, Cait" Zac said softly, he may be annoyed at me but he's still brotherly.

I held on to mum, as she did me. "A-are you ok mum?" I said weakly. Mum shook her head. Lyla, Nixie and Sirena then came up to us and held on to us to help us walk. "What are you doing here?" I asked. "Wait until we get in the office" Lyla whispered.

In the office, me and mum sat on the sofa, I rested my head on her chest and mum put her hand to my face. Lyla said that they think Zac brought the trident to school with him. "That might be why it feels like the life has been sucked out of us" mum said weakly. Lyla and Nixie went to find the trident, Sirena stayed with us.

The door flew open, it was Evie. "Principal Santos I have to talk to you". "Sorry Evie, you'll have to make an appointment with my assistant, Anna." Mum replied. "Is Zac in trouble?" Evie asked. "I know you're close, but I'm afraid I can't tell you." Mum said. "Cait, can you please tell me?" Evie looked at me. "It's not my place, Evie. And I don't feel well at all." I told her. "If our friendship means anything to you, you'll tell me!" Evie snapped. "Evie, you've had your opportunity to ask questions. And that is blackmail" mum scolded. "I guess we're no longer friends then" Evie said quietly, with tears in her eyes and stormed out. I burst into tears. "She probably doesn't mean it" Sirena comforted me. I took my bracelet off that Evie and Carly got me for my thirteenth and put it in my bag.

Lyla and Nixie came back in, saying they're going after Zac to get the trident.

Thankfully, me and mum felt better when we got home. "Are you okay, sweetheart?" Mum asked. "I've just lost two of my best friends." I broke down in tears. Mum put her arm around me and we sat cuddled up for a while.

The girls came back, Zac had used the trident against them and Sirena got zapped. I let her lean against me whilst mum tended to her. Mum then revealed to them that if Zac takes the trident into the Moon Pool on a full moon, the Moon Pool and our powers will perish.

It's been a couple days and my phone rang, it was Zac. "Have you mermaids sent for backup from the pod to get the trident off me?" He asked angrily. "You do realise me and mum aren't part of the pod? And no we haven't sent for backup" I snapped. "Well I saw a mermaid in the reef! Cait, I'm giving you one more chance to tell me about how the trident and Mako are connected" Zac warned. "Or what Zac?" I sneered. "You've seen what it did to your fish friends" I heard Cam in the background. "You'd use the trident against me Zac?" I felt myself tear up. "Cait just tell me!" He snapped. "I kept my tail a secret from you for the past sixteen years, I can keep this secret too!" I hung up and saw mum and the girls stood at the Grotto entrance. "How much of that did you hear?" I sniffled. "All of it" mum said sadly. "The mermaid was my sister Aquata. She defended me to the Mermaid Council to lift the banishment" Sirena told us. Nixie and Lyla got excited, but Sirena said that she's the only one that can return. Me, mum, Nixie and Lyla told her that she had to return to the pod and the five of us group hugged.

Later on, me and mum were in the pool, and Lyla and Nixie came in all shaken up. They told us that Zac found the Moon Pool and he expects them gone by tomorrow when the sun sets. They swum back to Mako to Sirena and Aquata. "I'm gonna go check see if they're ok mum" I said. "Be careful sweetheart" mum whispered and I gave her a hug.

I swam to Mako, I heard an unfamiliar voice say "and you associate with them?" I'm guessing that's Aquata. "Associate with who?" I asked. "You and Rita" Nixie said. "I know the pod has views on mermaids like my mum, but please don't judge her for being casted out by Veridia and the Council" I said quietly. "How do you know Veridia?" Aquata asked. "Yeah you still haven't told us that" Lyla pointed out. "Mum and Veridia went to Mermaid School together. They were best friends. But Veridia had to make mum choose between my Dad and the pod. But despite them no longer being friends, Veridia was there for my mum when she was pregnant with me and she's been there for me growing up. Like once when I was ten, I got lost swimming home on my own - it's a long story, but a pod of dolphins alerted Veridia and she helped me home. Her and mum might not be friends anymore, but she's still my Aunty" I smiled slightly. "You're the mermaid that was born and not hatched?" Aquata asked in awe and I nodded. "Before I head back, wanna sing a couple of songs?" I asked. Sirena and Aquata both smiled. "You sing as well?" Aquata asked happily. We sang Shine Your Light and Across the Sea before I headed home.

When I got home, mum was waiting for me. I told her about that I told the mermaids about her and Veridia. "I know it wasn't my story but I hope you're not angry-" I said panicked. "Caitlan sweetheart. It IS your story! My story is your story to tell. Of course I'm not angry" mum smiled and brought me into a hug.

The next day, I said goodbye to Sirena and Aquata with Lyla and Nixie.

I headed home and the other two headed to Mako. Not long after sitting with mum, Nixie and Lyla ran in. "We're fighting Zac for Mako. We won't let him bully us" Lyla told us. "Will you come?" Nixie asked. I looked between them and mum. "Go kick his tail sweetheart, but be careful" mum hugged me tightly and protectively.

The three of us headed to Zac's. Lyla shouted of him and Cam came out. "Look Zac it's the traitor!" He laughed. I fought back tears. I used my powers to fly him across the grass. Zac looked at me, annoyed and hurt but I could tell he still saw me as his sis. "You're with them now?" He snapped. "You let all the trident stuff get between us! You basically threatened me yesterday!" I scolded. Zac used the trident on the three of us but we used our powers against him. "I'm guessing the three of you never learn!" Zac sneered. The trident then flew across the air into the canal. "There's four of us! Remember?" Sirena joined us and Lyla used her powers to send Zac flying. "I couldn't let you three have the fun" Sirena smiled. Lyla then swam to get the trident to hide it.

I swam to Mako with Nixie and Sirena, Lyla joined us after she hid the trident. Sirena said she wasn't going back with Aquata. "The past few months, these three have become like sisters to me. Whether me and Zac will make up, I don't know." I smiled. "You risked a lot for us Cait. You're a sister to us too" Sirena smiled. "I guess that makes you my sister too" Aquata pulled me into a hug. "Before you leave, will you come and meet my mum? If Veridia asks why you're late, just tell her it's my fault. She has a soft spot for her favourite and only niece" I told them, and we laughed. "Sure why not" Aquata replied. "Wanna give legs a go?" Lyla asked, with a smirk. Aquata groaned and said "I don't have a choice do I?"

Thankfully I left some of my clothes in the Grotto, mum looked confused when I came running in. I filled her in that we've persuaded Aquata to meet her.

Aquata used the Legs Spell and we helped her into the clothes. Sirena held onto her as she got used to them. "I prefer my tail" Aquata moaned, but with a small smile.

Aquata thanked my mum and me for taking care of Sirena, Lyla and Nixie. She then pulled me and mum into a hug, which Sirena, Lyla and Nixie joined. Aquata then left.

Will I ever make up with Zac and Evie? I really hope so, but I've gained four sisters. Aquata may be in the South Pacific, but she's accepted me and mum which I'm thankful for.

That's this chapter guys! Let me know your thoughts