Mako Secrets - The last merman

The fourth mermaid.

"Hey guys." Emma flashed a bright smile as strolled inside from the open shed door.

Everyone was looking at the door eagerly waiting to see the familiar blond hair and blue eyes stepping in to erase all the worries from their heart. But as they saw who it was. Disappointment washed through like a wave and for a moment awkward silence filled the room as Will and Lewis looked at each other momentarily before Cleo's bright voice cut the cold air with an chuckle.

"Surprise..." Searching for approvement from Lewis her gaze automatically wandered to his, but before he had a time to react Bella's icy tone sliced through the room.

"You?" It had been hard enough to hide the disappointment that they still didn't know the whereabouts of Rikki, but to be face to face in the edge of the full moon with the girl who didn't just try to steal Rikki's place in the cafe and Zane's heart, but now here in the shed too. Not many people has had a chance to see Bella that cold. Only her voice sent chills to the small space everyone had gathered to avoid the moonlight.

"You know her?" Will asked then confused and turned to look at Bella as Cleo and everyone else in the room as well tried to figure out what caused such icy welcome to the fourth mermaid.

"Were you perhaps waiting for someone else?" Emma then spoke figuring out the situation faster than others. Bella had already seemed rather distant and awkward at the cafe. Now seeing her reaction could only tell one story. She didn't know who Emma is.

"I think there's a huge misunderstanding here." Lewis suddenly interrupted as he usually is the one solving all the misunderstandings and cleaning the air. "Emma here. Used to be one of the three mermaids before you came along." He blurted out casually walking to Emma and friendly wrapping his arm around her shoulders.

Just then Cleo realized what was going on as well. She had been so excited to introduce Emma to Bella and Will that she had completely forgotten that Rikki was still missing and that Bella had been very worried about her the past hours.

"You thought she's Rikki?" Cleo then sighed feeling embarrassed of her own stupidity not realizing how excited Bella must have been when she announced that someone was joining them.

"I'm sorry to disappoint. I get you're worried about Rikki, but if you know her you'd know she's probably fine just avoiding everyone for her own reasons." Emma then spoke reassurance in her voice. Trying to calm her newly found rival down from her suspicions.

"Anyone but her." Bella suddenly sliced the air with her still cold tone. Everyone looked at her shocked. She was just told that Emma was another mermaid, but she still seemed hostile. Emma had even tried to explain friendly that she shouldn't be too worried about Rikki. They all new Rikki tended to distance herself when she needed space. It shouldn't be new to anyone. Now it was Will's turn to speak up.

"What's going on? Have you guys some unfinished business or something?" His voice was clearly confused, but Cleo was the most shocked. Her gaze wandered from Emma to Lewis and back to Emma.

"We met at the cafe today." Emma spoke casually holding her gaze on Bella. She didn't have anything against the girl earlier, but now the ice between those two could almost be cut with a knife in the air. Emma having the ability to turn water into ice could almost feel the shards striking from her eyes to Bella's. How dare this girl so easily stand against her after she had tried to be nice to her. Who does she think she is?

Others started to feel rather worried. Full moon was almost up and the safe and comfortable environment in the shed had turned into a battle zone. Cleo's excitement had turned into sadness and her wide smile into a disappointed frown. Could it be Rikki was right before when Charlotte joined the crew? Four mermaids in one group was just too much.

"Guys calm down. I'm sure there's a logical explanation for this all." Lewis then tried yet again to ease the tension.

"Logical indeed. First she's taking Zane and the cafe and now she just shows up as the missing mermaid with no worries when no one knows what happened to Rikki." Bella finally got out everything she had been holding on and Cleo finally got her answers.

"What?" Her voice was genuinely surprised "Emma? You and Zane? What is she talking about?" Even Lewis now let go of Emma's shoulder and looks at her confused.

Emma could barely hold in laughter. She tried so hard to keep her cool, but Bella's angry face was too amusing. And especially the fact she had thought there was something between her and Zane.

"Oh god no! Never ever in this lifetime." She then bursted out unable to hold the laughter anymore. "Did you honestly think I would date Zane? We've known each other since we were 2 and he was never my type." Emma laughed now louder as Cleo and Lewis joined the laugher as well realizing it truly was only a misunderstanding.

"Oh no Bella. First you thought I was dating my sister then Rikki and now you made this assumption of Zane's childhood friend that happens to be friends with Rikki and Cleo too. You really need to stop coming into these false conclusions on your own." Will then spoke up slightly chuckling himself as well.

Now it was Bella's turn to be surprised and confused. Will was right. She tended to get into conclusions too fast. And assume things easily. But everyone laughing was just too much. She felt her insides boiling and at that moment she was lucky that she didn't have the ability to set things on fire.

"Fine! Maybe you didn't try to get with Zane, but you are the new manager of the cafe anyway." She then spoke silencing the room yet again as everyone stared at her shaking their head. Was she on purpose finding reasons to make Emma seem the bad guy? Was she jealous? Perhaps having the original trio around made her feel outsider. Except the original third mermaid Rikki was still missing.

"You're the Manager?" Cleo then suddenly popped the question excited hearing Bella's words and looked at Emma surprised. "Does this mean you're gonna stay?"

Emma smiled warmly hugging her friend and nodding happily ignoring all Bella's rude remarks. "Yes! I will be co owner of the cafe with Zane. He called me for help and since I missed you guys a lot I thought why not."

Cleo and Lewis began chatting excited about Emma's return. Will was introduced to the discussion as well, but Bella. She couldn't help the gnawing feeling in her heart that something didn't add up. Why would Zane call for help? He had decided to wait for Rikki to come back. And why would Emma so easily come back if she had been already gone so long?

But most of all. Where is Rikki and why hasn't she come back yet? And why didn't her absence seem to bother anyone else, but Bella?

She sat down on the couch sighing ignoring the discussion and started to nibble on the snacks. It was going to be a long night for her.

~~~~~~~~

Full moon had already passed the pool laying deep in a sleeping volcano as a figure swam through the waters with a speed of light barely leaving a trail of bubbles behind for creatures to wonder what caused it.

A turtle was laying eggs on the shore in the moonlight as the creature finally stood up from the water in a cloud of steam wide smile on her face.

She had finally found a reason to stay. Mako was healed and they all could go back to normal life again. At least others could. Her. Rikki Chadwick had a secret that would change her life for good, but as she walked to the boat shed she knew everyone usually gathered on the full moon she was excited of the news she was about to share with her friends.

Little did she know others had some news on their own too.