Crustel

Chapter 37

     "Hey! Be quiet. Well, the Captain was searching for you." He told with his cold voice. "I heard someone crying," before I finished telling, he cut me, "Since when you became so brave? Usually, the moment I mention Captain called you, you would run before you get punished!" He raised one of his brows. I didn't answer him. "Come on," He said as he went through a hidden door between the bookshelves. I was gazing at the books. Some were in Ard but some weren't. I caught up with him. "Why are you silent?" He asked as we were passing through an enormous hallway. It was like we were in a humungous ship. "Hey!" He stopped and shook me. I stared at him. "What?" I asked him with anger in my voice. "This is not Zoya that I know! Who are you?" He asked me as he stopped and turned towards me. We were too near till I could hear his breath. I looked into his eyes, just the same as his mother's. It was true. It was Lexter. He was still alive. 

           I looked away. "Answer me, Zoya!" He hissed through his gritted teeth. "Lexter, we don't have much time. You have to meet your mother! She's here," I told him quickly. All he did was bursting into laughter. "That was a good one, Zoya. I wondered where was the Zoya I knew. Luckily, I found her back," He still was laughing. "What? Why are you even laughing?" I asked him in a serious tone. He tried to speak but ended up laughing again. Somehow, he pulled himself together. "My mother?" He tried not to laugh. "What's so funny, Lexter?" I asked him furiously. He was quite startled. "You're serious? There's no way that my mom would be here!" He said with disappointment on his face. "Follow me then!" I said as I headed back. He didn't follow me. The moment I pressed the doorknob, I heard him calling me, "Wait! You're not Zoya. Who are you? How do you know about my mother?" He asked concernedly. When I was trying to take off my bracelet, well I mean the wand that I bent, I heard footsteps. "It must be the captain! He's searching Zoya." He whispered. I took my wand and cast an invisibility spell. He was frightened at first.

    They were coming towards us. A huge man with a frog-like face and long beard entered with some servants. He held a scroll. I peeked at the scroll. It was about Ardian's Heir of Throne. When I looked at the captain's face, his face was familiar with a scar below his right eye. I saw Lexter. He was noticeable to me because I was the one who cast the spell. He was startled. "I went near him, "Who's this?" I whispered to him. "The Captain!" He whispered back. "We should follow him. I need to get that scroll." I whispered. I could see the shock in his eyes. "Are you serious? Since when you are fearless of him?" He whispered as he ensured that he was not too loud. Unfortunately, Lexter stepped backwards and hit an ancient glass vase. "Who was it? This is my father's gift!" The Captain thundered. "Oops," Lexter whispered. When the captain kneed down, he accidentally dropped the scroll. "Run to that way!" I whispered to him as I pointed to the place we met. He nodded and ran towards the door. I followed him after taking the scroll. I cast an invisibility spell on it. When Lexter opened the knob, one of the servants noticed us. "Captain! The door is opening by itself." He gasped. Everyone was frightened. 

     "AAAAHHH! Our ship is haunted!" Another servant screamed. Lexter and I laughed too loud till the captain ended up hugging another completely puzzled servant. "AAAAHHH! Ghosts! Our ship is haunted." Everyone started screaming after the Captain cried. We laughed even louder. We ran towards the room we met as the Captain and others ran towards somewhere far away from us. "This was really a good one, Zoya!" Lexter said as he tapped my shoulder. I took his hand off and told calmly, "Don't call me Zoya. I am Cora!" He blinked quickly. "Now, let's meet your mom! We have so many things to do! Come on," I pressed the doorknob. The steel door opened but the water didn't flow in. Lexter was stunned. I turned into my mermaid form. Lexter was still standing. "What are you waiting for?" I asked him. He gasped. He came nearer. The moment his feet touched the water, I turned him into a merman. I forgot the fact that he was literally an Aquanyahan but I couldn't explain much. It was still dark. I didn't know whether he was following me or not. I swam till I saw light. "Lexter? You still following me?" I asked. He answered, "Yes, Cora! This place is too dark. Where's my mother?" He asked curiously. "You have to wait," I answered him. "I've done my waiting for 14 years. The last day I saw mom was when that Captain kidnapped me! I was just four and still remember everything vividly," He said with sorrow in his tone. "You'll meet her soon!" I replied to him.

     All of sudden, my amulet glowed in purple. I was confused. The light enabled me to witness Lexter. Both of us were quite relieved. He swam nearer. "That's," He trembled with his words. I didn't want to continue. My eyes met the purple beam. I knew that it must be Isa. We followed the purple beam. I saw Lexter turning into his human form. "Aquanyahan!" He whispered. I was glad that I didn't have to explain to him. He remembered everything. We finally swam till we came to the surface. I couldn't find Isa and Flexner. "Isa! Flexner! Where are you guys?" I shouted. "Mom?" Lexter was shouting too. I felt the curiosity in him. It was the first time in 14 years, he was going to meet his mom again. Then, I recalled that his father was no more. "Uhmm, Lexter! I have to tell you something," I ran out of words. To my surprise, he ignored me. "Lexter! I have to tell you something," I raised my voice a bit. "You think I am deaf? I can hear clearly, Cora!" Lexter was quite angry. "Why are you talking so... so... so rude?" I asked him. He didn't even see my face. "Well, Cora, you're the reason my mother and father live separately. Well, I know that you're the reason that mom couldn't control her magic. She turned dad into a panther! The cruellest thing you did was..." He took a deep breath and continued, "My dad neglected me, to make you stronger!" His words were too sharp. Even sharper than the sword in our palace weapon room.