Chapter 26
Skeletons
While in the Aula, Haruto rose up from his bed. He scanned his room to see if anyone was there and swam to the door scanning to see if anyone was there as well. After he saw the coast was clear, he snuck around the halls eyeing the designs that were created. He made it to the grande hall with a throne made of smoothened quartz and limestone. He swam to get a closer look at the throne noticing that the throne had intricate detailing of moonstones, pearls, and sunstones. He was reaching towards touching the throne until...
"I see you admire my lady's craftmanship on the throne she had designed." Rimulus said coming out of another corridor.
"I've noticed how she symbolized her rightful place with stones that match her portrayal both hers and Cirra's."
"Yes, it symbolizes her powers which are both dark and light equally. The two create a balance within her. Without one or the other, she would most likely meet her fate," Rimulus explained Amelia's choice.
"Have they found the fire princess yet?" Haruto asked.
"No, we suspected there weren't any other reincarnates but themselves. Plus, we've had other obligations ahead at the time."
"We need to find the fire princess. With her on our side, as five, we will be able to keep the peace of the seven seas. I would tell you to deliver that message to her Highness, but she probably heard it as I spoke," Haruto stated his urgency in his message.
"Of course, should I escort you back into bed? Surely you must need your rest?" Rimulus recommended.
"I'm alright, I need to stretch my fins out. Besides, if I'm going to stay here at her Highness' request, I may as well know my way around the Aula. Wouldn't you agree, Rimulus?" Haruto grinned jovially.
"Of course, holler if you need anything, I have a few tasks I need to do before I get dinner ready," Rimulus said taking his leave while Haruto waved and went another way.
Rimulus was in the kitchens preparing for dinner for the rest. While he was focused on his task on chopping the ingredients. A loud scream rang out that he heard. "RIIIIIIMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!"
He dropped everything and swam at the direction at where he heard the distressing cry.
On dry land in Lewes, Delaware, Amelia and Lynae met up with Eddie for some lunch.
"It's finally nice to meet you Lynae, sorry your sister could not join us," Eddie said while sipping his soda.
"Yes, well, being on the run has its downfalls. I'm glad that you aren't freaked out about everything that has happened so far," Lynae sighed.
"Oh, he was, but I underestimated him and his reactions to everything. All I can say is I'm lucky to find a guy that loves me for well me being both human and the other latter." Amelia said caressing Eddie's hair.
"So, what are you and Meredith are going to do? Are you guys going to be on the run still underwater? How are you guys getting along with Haruto, is that his name?"
"Yes, indeed, he's practical to put it that way, but he's the least of our problems," Lynae stated.
"How so? Is it that woman Allura?"
"Eddie..." Amelia said placing her hand on his shoulder.
"I don't know what to think of her, her intentions and authenticity are dubious. Amelia may have different thoughts about her given that she has a connection with her, but I cannot sit here idly without saying my greatest concerns in regards to Amelia's safety and for all of ours as well. Amelia, just, be careful around her," Lynae said.
"I know you don't like her. I haven't questioned her motives up until now, but right now we cannot afford another dispute especially one who has abilities like us. Right now, we need to focus on the best path to take if we are to guarantee these mers' future to be more promising and prosperous than now. We saw what they deal with every day. Let's focus on them and then focus on us later."
"Alright, I just wanted you to hear me out even though you may know what I'm feeling right now."
"If you guys need anything, let me know. I'll do my best, but I'm here for you guys," Eddie said.
"I'll keep that in mind, Eddie. Thank you, Amelia is lucky to have you as a caring boyfriend and knowing a caring individual like yourself." Lynae smiled at him.
"I'm no saint, Amelia can tell you that much knowing how far back we go in time from when we first known one another." Eddie chuckled.
"It's true, I mostly keep him in line," Amelia said lightly pushing his shoulder.
"Still wish I can see this kingdom of yours. I bet it is fascinating."
"I think we can arrange that," Amelia said slyly.
"Um, do you think that might be a good idea? I mean, I'm not against it, but the vast majority might,"
"We'll figure something out, in the meantime, we have some business to do. Love you." Amelia kissed Eddie.
"Love you too, be careful," Eddie bid his farewells to the girls.
The girls headed off to the post office with Lynae's written letter that was intended to be for her parents back in Oahu. Amelia gave her some cash she had on hand and waited for her to send that letter off. After it was done, they headed back to the ocean where the rest would be meeting them.
Back at the Aula, Rimulus tried calming Haruto down after feeling traumatized from what he saw. "Calm down, breathe, it'll be alright."
"She cannot find out; she cannot know about what I saw." Haruto said gasping for water.
"Saw what?" Meredith intervened.
"You don't want to know," Haruto said with terror in his eyes still. "Haruto, this involves her theoretically. Plus neither Allura nor Amelia can read her thoughts if she doesn't tell. She is reliable."
"Meredith, before I show you, do you swear not to tell Allura nor Amelia any of what you are about to see?"
"I swear on my life. Why are you wanting me to keep this from her?" Meredith asked quizzically. "If she saw what was down below the aula, this may trigger her connection with Cirra and her being and possibly all hell breaks loose. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
"It must be pretty bad then if you are trusting on me. Yeah, I'm ready, not a word to Allura or Amelia, cross my heart." Meredith swore and clenched her fists in anticipation as she followed the two down below the main floor. The torch in Rimulus' hand stopped moving light and Meredith took a look at the sight she was anticipating to see.
"Dear... is that?" Meredith gasped in shock. She saw bone fragments and a rusty sword.
"Those are the remains of Cirra and Lachlan," Haruto said with grim.
"But are you sure they're them?" Meredith questioned them both. "Cirra died when she was still in the Dracona formation, these are much larger bones than a regular mer's anatomy would normally be. The other siblings and relatives were all rounded up and executed elsewhere. There's no doubt that these are the remains of the two eldest siblings."
After hearing these words, Meredith gaped her mouth trying to hold back from the sensations of vomiting. She quivered in shock at the heart-wrenching view of their gravesite.
"She won't hear a peep from me. Because I've made my decision of going to Samudra to do some damage control alongside with Ernest.
"You're leaving?" Haruto asked in shock.
"Not for long, from what I see Atlantica is not so bad. Also given my experience dealing with the bandits in Oceanus, God knows how much trouble Samudra is in. I need to take some time away to do some damage control. Ernest has agreed to come with me as an escort. If I'm going to be the ruler of Samudra, my people must come first and foremost. Can you tell her, Rimulus?" Meredith explained her reasoning of her going and inquired.
"Tell her there is no need, I heard the conversation, I may not be able to read her thoughts but I can hear conversations that is in everyone else's memory. She should go, she's right, knowing Samudra, they're probably a lot worse than Oceanus and Atlantica combined." Amelia intervened in Rimulus' and Haruto's mind.
"Gah! Will you tell me before you butt in?" Haruto shouted towards nowhere speaking to Amelia.
"Sorry, Haruto, I only telepath when I'm not around or when someone asks another person to deliver a message to me." Amelia explained.
"Well, you don't need Amelia's okay to go apparently and we're not going to stop you," Rimulus stated. "Last time I went to Samudra, I barely made it out alive. You may have seen things at Oceanus, but Samudra makes Panama look like a cake walk." Haruto said sharing his past adventure going there.
"I have to, Haruto. The people need me. While it would be nice to get a grand tour of Samudra in general, however, I need to do this." Meredith stated the urgency in her mission.
"At least you won't be going alone, when will you leave?" Rimulus asked. "Low tide before day breaks," Meredith answered swiftly. "We hope you wouldn't mind if we took some of the weapons we forged while we travel." Ernest said hoping they would not be offended.
"Not at all, you'll need what you can get your hands on if you're going where you say you are," Rimulus said giving them permission. "I wish I could escort you both, but right now, I think it would be best for me to stay alongside with Amelia and your sister to hash out things here in Atlantica." Haruto stated.
"You're not going back to Oceanus to seek your claim to the throne?" Meredith asked. "Not right now anyway, I want to focus on my mission in finding the final sibling reincarnate hoping there is one existing and alive." Haruto responded. "How can you be sure she or he is out there?"
"I found, you three, didn't I? That gave me hope that it is possible they are out there somewhere in this world." Haruto smiled gently. "You did, now if you excuse me I'm going to have to find a way to break the news to my sister about me leaving for a bit," Meredith said taking her leave.
"Good luck, given my impressions of her, I feel you're going to need it," Haruto said looking apprehensive.
Hours have passed and dinner was being served at the dining hall with everyone eating away at the oysters and mackerel. And Lynae found out about Meredith's plans.
"You are WHAT?!"
Meredith finished her mackerel, "I'm leaving for Samudra at half tide tomorrow. Ernest is coming with me, you don't need to worry." "That's not for you to decide! You're fourteen, and Samudra is known to be dangerous much more than Oceanus!" Lynae chided her.
"Actually, I was six when I was on my own and made it through Samudra alive. Your sister can take care of herself let alone Ernest as well. Samudra is her kingdom, and she has every right to go to it as she needs or wants to." Haruto said advising Lynae.
"What about Amelia? What about the Aula and Atlantica?" Lynae asked her. "I've already given my blessing for her to go. I can manage without the two here." Amelia responded. "I..." Lynae was cut off. "There's no more excuses for her not to go, Lynae. Please respect your sister's wishes in helping her people in her kingdom," Haruto advised Lynae further.
"Mere, we've been inseparable since you were born, and now, you'll be on your own without me there. Please come back soon and write to me often." Lynae said hugging Meredith tight.
"I will, sis, I will." Meredith said reassuring her. The group chattered for the rest of the evening. They also made a toast to Meredith's and Ernest's safe voyage to Samudra and success on their mission. The rest head for bed while Lynae stayed up thinking to herself while Amelia came into her room.
"Still thinking about that letter?" Amelia asked.
"Do you think that will work? A message in a bottle seems far fetched if you ask me."
"Eddie sends me bottle of letters all the time and I've received all of them. Haruto even told me that a message in a bottle was how the humans and mer communicated with one another despite the strain of the overall opinion of one another." Amelia said explaining her reasoning behind this. "Besides, if a mer knows it is not for them, then they send it directly through their mailing system and the messenger will deliver it with what they have down for your general location."
"I hope this is all true, cause I sure miss them," Lynae sighed.
"I'm sure they miss you and Mere deeply and would appreciate the update," Amelia said placing her hand on Lynae's shoulder.
"I'll leave you to retire for the evening, I have some things I need to handle before turning in myself." Amelia said bidding good night.
"Good night, Amelia," Lynae smiled as she saw Amelia leaving her room. She then focused on what she wrote towards her parents.
Dear Mom and Dad:
How are you guys? I'm doing fine along with Meredith. No, we did not get kidnapped. We ran off to somewhere we felt much safer. I cannot give the details of the location I am currently, but don't worry, I am not being held against my will. I am actually quite relieved of getting out of the situation I was at while in school. Meredith is quite happy doing whatever she is doing. I can't exactly explain what she is into. Not because I can't, but because it's kind of hard to explain. It's nothing illegal, just not what you would expect from her.
You can write me back through a letter in a bottle and drop it into the ocean. I know that sounds quite absurd and more pirate like than anything, but where ever you drop the bottle, it'll come to me no matter where I am. I hope to hear back from you guys soon and about everything that has been going on since I have been gone for the past few months. I really miss you and cannot wait for your next letter.
Your Loving Daughter,
Lynae