The Heart of the Ocean
A Complicated Situation

“Chaos is a friend of mine.”

-Bob Dylan

Have you ever felt like too many things are happening at the same time? One event succeeds another with such speed that you have no time to think. You try to deal with things step by step -one thing at a time. You try to deal with the problems that the day will bring you, without thinking about the mountain of problems that you will have to face tomorrow.

It is somehow a coping mechanism. You don’t have the luxury of time -you cannot think for too long. You have to come up with an idea quickly and it better be a smart one. Worst of all, it is usually in these situations that your feelings are put on the back burner. It doesn’t matter if you’re angry, tired, or upset during this time -what truly matters is replaceing a solution.

Aide hadn’t even realized how they got themselves in a situation like this. Everything happened so fast -she didn’t even realize how two weeks had gone by! Life was a mess -no kidding! She was so damn confused -she had so many questions...They could wait, she kept telling herself. They had more pressing matters to attend to -her feelings could wait yet another day.

Let’s take things from the beginning, shouldn’t we?

A few weeks had gone by and Aide had kept a low profile. She decided that it was best if she let things flow naturally instead of trying to control them. Aileen was absent most of the time -her visits to the beach were more frequent than usual. Nana Alexandra had paid her a few visits, believing that Aide knew absolutely nothing about them. Petra continued to visit the mayor’s house, although her actions shattered their friendship.

Then, things started to get crazy.

One fine morning, Seaworth was shaken by an unexpected and truly horrifying event. Aide could feel the blood freezing in her veins -in the middle of the village square, the bodies of two dead mermaids lay for all to see. They were wrapped in nets -their dead eyes empty, their mauled forms terrorizing every man, woman, and child. The cries of a fisherman echoed around the busy streets -these horrid creatures had murdered his son! The danger was surrounding them -they must stay away from the sea!

It wasn’t long before Seaworth was put under lockdown. People were terrified -they didn’t feel safe anymore. What if these creatures could walk on land? What would happen to their families then? How do we even know that they are not already among them? They could be their relatives, their friends...even their neighbors! People had become paranoid -they were seeing monsters everywhere. The mayor had decided that it was forbidden to approach the ocean both for the safety of the villagers but also to replace the beasts among them. Merpeople needed water like humans need air! They would have to return to the sea at some point.

When Aide caught Aileen leaving the house that very same night, she knew she should have stopped her. The situation was already complicated enough -if anyone saw her, things would only get worse. However, she couldn’t help but notice how worried her friend was -her breathing was labored, her emerald eyes glistering. She was obviously worried about her mate -she wanted to make sure he was okay.

She was aware of these emotions. She had pondered over and over again about her own merman -was he alright? Was he angry at her? She wouldn’t blame him if he didn’t want to ever see her or talk to her again. She may have destroyed her relationship with him, but her friend was on the right path. She could only sigh deeply, before smiling at her.

“Just try not to get caught.”

Aileen’s eyes had widened in surprise before she hugged her tightly.

“Go to your man”, Aide gave her a wink, “it isn’t polite to keep him waiting.”

That was definitely a disastrous night. If only Aide could turn the clock backward, she would have made different decisions. Her friend had been caught red-handed by the ‘devil’ himself. Alastor Steel didn’t hesitate even for a single moment -he handcuffed her friend and led her to the police station without a second thought. Both Nana and her had been constantly trying to get in touch with her, only for their requests to be denied.

Rumors started to spread around the village until they reached the Clayton’s household. Was the Mayor’s son getting engaged? Aide knew something wasn’t right -her friend would have never accepted him! She knew what he’d put her through during all those years! He was blackmailing her -it had to be the only logical explanation. They had to get her out of there and fast!

Between Aileen’s arrest and Nana’s increased blood pressure, Aide didn’t believe things could become even crazier. That was until she had a merman in her living room trying to learn how to walk. Yes, you’ve heard that right! Apparently, the Prince of Atlantis could walk on land! She had so many questions and she didn’t know what she wanted to ask first!

Atlantis was real?

Aileen’s merman was a prince?

Merpeople could actually walk on land?!

As she watched Havelock walking through her house, she couldn’t help but become confused. Was Evander able to walk on land too? Did he know that? If the answer to the previous questions was ‘yes’, why hadn’t he followed her? It had been three years -if he wanted to speak to her, to be with her, why didn’t he seek her out? Perhaps, he was angry at her -her departure wasn’t under the best circumstances. Maybe, he had found somebody else -did he lie to her? Was she never his soulmate? Was she just a game to him?

At this point, she was glad that she didn’t have time to think. She didn’t know how she’d handle her thoughts or her feelings. Her priority was getting Aileen as far away as possible from Alastor’s clutches -her safety would always come first. She was both glad and anxious about Havelock’s appearance -apparently, the merman could take her with him back to Atlantis. Aide didn’t want to lose her friend, but she couldn’t be selfish either. As long as she was protected and happy, she didn’t mind being separated from her. Aileen deserved all the happiness in the world and she could only wish she’d get it.

A few days passed and she focused on the task at hand. Between keeping an eye on the strange merman and trying to calm Nana Alexandra’s nerves, they had finally formed a plan. Aide didn’t know if she wanted to laugh or cry -she was still trying to explain the plan to Havelock when Nana had returned from the pharmacy with a look of triumph. It wasn’t long before she was making her famous apple pie, adding a few laxative pills to it for a change!

And now, here she was! Aide could only stare at the folded metal sheets of the front of her car, while her heart was still pounding in her chest. Yes, she had intentionally hit with her car a patrolling vehicle. Yes, it had had “miraculously” happened in front of the police station. Yes, all the stuff had come outside, and was admiring her artwork. And of course, Nana Alexandra was there to give them a hell of a show as she screamed at her like there was no tomorrow.

“Aide Marina Clayton!“, Alexandra screamed at the top of her lungs, “What is the meaning of this?”

As grandmother and granddaughter were bickering with one another, they could only hope that a certain Prince was being a proper knight and saving his princess. They screamed and yelled, hoping that the incident would buy them enough time for them to escape. What they didn’t know though was Petra’s and Alastor’s fate -something that would affect them later on. Because Petra’s life was cut short at the hands of someone, she considered a lover -Alastor had kissed her goodbye long before she’d realized his true intentions.

And Alastor...he found the ending he had wished to give both to Aileen and Aide. He learned that whatever you give in this life comes back for you -whether it is to haunt or please you it is entirely up to you.

And that’s how the next day found Seaworth. With a suspicious car accident, a runaway suspect, and two unexplainable deaths. The villagers were unsettled -the news had shaken them to the bones.

What was worse?

The beasts lurking in the sea’s depths?

Or the monsters walking on land?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

End of chapter 22!!

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