Moon Stones Gone Missing

Chapter 17

"So it will be me, Cleo... and Bella and Rikki... And a few other people too," Emma said to her parents. She was trying to convince her parents to let her go to Rita's house with Zac and everyone else.

"I don't know Emma," her Mum said, drying up the plates from dinner that day. "How long will the trip last?"

Emma paused for a moment. "No longer then three days," she replied, though it sounded more like a question.

Emma's mother sighed.

"She's growing up," Emma's Dad called from the sofa. "Maybe we should let her go."

Elliot, Emma's younger brother looked up from reading his book. "Can I have Emma's room?"

"I'm not going away for ever," Emma told him.

"Who knows?" Elliot grinned. "You might like it so much you don't want to leave."

Emma shook her head. "I don't think that would be the case."

"When will you be leaving?" Emma's Mum asked, picking up a pottery cup from the drying rack.

"Tomorrow."

Emma's Mum almost dropped the cup. "Tomorrow? That's a bit short notice, don't you think?"

"I only got told today," Emma shrugged.

Emma's Mum looked to her husband, and sighed. "You best go and pack then."

Emma smiled. "Thank you!!" She planted a kiss on her Mum's cheek before running up the stairs and into her bedroom.

*****

The next day Emma and Cleo were walking down to the café together with a small suitcase each. There they were meeting Lewis, Zac, Evie and the rest of the mermaids. Emma had received a call from Zac, saying that Sirena and Bella seemed to be okay, but Rikki wasn't making any improvement.

"Poor Rikki," Cleo sighed.

"I know," Emma agreed sadly.

"Do you think this Rita person will be able to help her?" Cleo asked.

"Hopefully," Emma responded. "They were her potions that made Rikki like this, she must have a cure."

Cleo and Emma turned the corner to the café, and they saw Mrs Chatham. She wasn't looking at them, she was looking out at the sea.

Cleo and Emma looked where Mrs Chatham was looking, and they was a white boat, by Mako Island.

"Who does that boat belong too?" Emma asked.

Cleo had a feeling something bad was about to happen. She recognised the boat, but she couldn't remember who it belonged too...

"I'm not sure." Cleo looked in the side pocket of her suitcase. "But I think I've forgotten my phone..."

"Really!?" Emma asked, unimpressed.

"I'll run, I'll be no more then five minutes." Cleo handed her suitcase to Emma, and Cleo turned on her heels and ran.

Emma rolled her eyes slightly, and turned back to walk to the café.

Mrs Chatham had gone...

*****

Cleo's phone was actually in her pocket, but she ran down to the docking station, to get another look at the boat. She just needed to get closer...