//Paranormal Paradox\\

Chapter 14

Mimmi POV:

It was early the next morning, the sunrise barely breaking across the sky. Ondina and I had been watching it, fascinated by the way the colors mixed together, so lovely and flawless. We always had been. Ever sense we were little we'd wake up earlier than the rest of the pod and watch the sunset from the rocks...and somehow still manage to be late for mermaid school.

The light began to spread across Rita's balcony, invading the light shadows of darkness that hid in mere corners, before evaporating them. Unsurprisingly, we turned to see Poseidon had stretched himself out across the balcony, practically bathing in the fresh sunlight. It made me feel warm and safe as it touched my hand, spreading across my arm. Ondina and I shared wordless smiles, the memories in our minds saying all we needed to say.

The two of us stood there for a few moments later, before she sighed deeply, running a hand through her curly mess of blonde hair. The two of us began to walk back inside, as the cool morning began to shift into the humid day. Australia, always so humid.

We made our way down to the grotto to see Rita asleep on the couch. Veridia sat next to her, a book open in her lap. She was flipping through the pages hurriedly, as though it could answer our dragon issue. Who knows, maybe she had found the answer. She had been spending a lot of time on land recently, which I found sweet. It made me happy  to see how much she still cared for Rita even after their rocky past. I hoped Ondina and I would be like that when we got older.

Veridia smiled at us as we walked into the grotto, her eyes a bit distant. "Where's Weilan?" She questioned in confusion. "Probably asleep in the moon pool, she's pretty lazy" I said, causing Veridia to laugh, as well as Ondina and I. "You gonna wake her up?" Questioned Ondina.

"No, beauty sleep is important." Said Veridia with a soft chuckle, closing the book an setting it on the table nearby. "Find anything?" Ondina asked. "I thought I might have...But tuned out to be nothing." Veridia said disappointedly, setting back on the couch. Ondina walked over to the potion bowl. "So what about that potion? Not gonna make it now?" She asked.

"It's no use...the connection is physical now. The potion was gonna help try to keep the dragon away from her, but it has her scent now. There isn't really a way to keep her safe from it, we just have to hold on until the full moon. Whatever it wants from her, we can't let it get it" Veridia said, pain and disappointment mixing in her normally firm voice, making it soft and sad.

Ondina and I nodded, looking around the grotto. So quickly the mood had been brought from positive and happy to saddening. Rita stirred a little, her eyes slowly opening. She went to sit up, but Veridia gently pushed her back down. "You really should get some rest Rita...I know you haven't been sleeping well lately."

Rita opened her mouth to interject, but was interrupted by a yawn. Veridia gave her a knowing look, and Rita curled back up on the couch, her eyes drifting shut again. A few minutes of silence passed. Ondina and I exchanged awkward glances, while Veridia gently stroked Rita's hair, comforting and calmly.

"You two are really close aren't you?" I asked before I could think. Veridia nodded. "I'd like to think so, especially after recently. it's odd, I've never seen her like this, she's stressing so much." Veridia said, a sigh escaping her lips. "The full moon will be here soon enough."

And we all stood there silently. The same thing on our minds, Eagerness for the full moon, for this whole thing to be over. But also fear, who knew how powerful this thing could be under the full moon? And what if it got what it wanted with Rita? Before I allowed my mind to think anymore, I sat down on the floor, hoping everything would be okay.