fanqie novel
EPISODE FIFTY SIX
THEME: A song to the sea
SATURDAY MORNING
Eretia opened her eyes and saw Knox sitting beside her, drinking an orange juice. “Good morning, I got you some too.” He said.
Eretia looked sideways and a glass of orange juice was on the drawer beside the bed. She sat up gently and rested her head on the headboard.
“Here.” He gave her a glass.
“Thank you.” Eretia murmured. She drank little from the glass and gave it back to him.
“You don’t want to talk about it?” He asked.
Eretia closed her eyes. She felt weak as she recalled the nightmare. “I am.. sorry, Knox.” A tear slid down her chin as she knitted her hands together.
Knox moved closer. “Hey.. just tell me about the nightmare.” He wiped her tear with his fingertips.
“I.. have.. to.. go.. back.” Eretia whispered unsteadily.
Knox rested her head on his chest. “They need me in my world. Scylla is alive.” She sobbed.
Eretia couldn’t stop the tears. She didn’t want to leave Knox Martins but not with Scylla alive under the sea probably tormenting her father’s kingdom.
“Who is Scylla?” Knox asked.
“Scylla is a legendary sea monster.” Eretia answered.
“A sea monster? So he is alive.” Knox murmured.
Eretia nodded. “He only wreck havoc on a kingdom.”
“So that means you have to go back there to save your people and also return Neifion.” Knox added.
Eretia held on to the T-shirt. “I am sorry.” She cried.
“I understand.” Knox was heartbroken. He knew she would leave anytime soon. He had to be strong for her.
She would be gone, away from his life and he would be left with nothing but the memories they shared. Knox thought as he blinked back tears. He wasn’t happy that she was leaving him.
Eretia lasted ten minutes in tears before she calmed and said. “I.. I.. can’t go with you to the agency anymore.”
Knox pulled away to look at her. “Why?” He asked.
Eretia didn’t respond. “You are leaving today?!” Panic filled Knox as he looked into her eyes.
“No.. I.. am.. not leaving.” Eretia replied.
“So what?”
Eretia sniffled. “I need to find out if Scylla is truly alive.”
Eretia studied her expression to see if she was telling him the truth. He couldn’t read anything in her eyes.
Her expression was sad. “Please don’t go now… not today.” Knox murmured.
And she nodded. “I am not leaving.”
Knox thought of staying at home to be sure that she won’t leave today.
“You can’t miss your show.” Eretia said as if she had read his mind. “Believe me, I’ll be here waiting for you.” She reassured him.
Knox’s focus was on her face studying her but his gaze moved to her lips. “Eretia…” His lips crashed on hers and she took him in eagerly. His tender and soft kisses breaking her bones, bringing more tears to her eyes.
*****
Knox Martins reluctantly left home to the agency that morning. Eretia had reassure him that she would be at home waiting for him. And some minutes after his departure, Eretia grabbed a bathrobe and moved out of the house.
Eretia walked to the sea and came out of her clothes. She entered into the sea and went deeper for complete transition. The wave of power rippled up her body and her tail appeared. She went farther into the sea.
The sea wasn’t responding to her call. She sensed it was sad when she got to the center. A mackerel fish passed by and she made a sound to it. The fish stopped and turned it tail to her so she could relate with it.
Eretia closed her eyes and listened. “Scylla is alive!” She heard it again clearly.
She trembled in fear. The fish was from her sea. Another sound from her and the mackerel fish went away. Scylla is truly alive!
Eretia continued into the sea. She closed her eyes and she heard another sound. She recognized it almost immediately.
A shark was approaching. These creatures go absolutely nuts when they get a whiff of a mermaid underwater.
Eretia hid behind a sea rock until the shark moved away. Then she began to sing to the sea as she swims higher and back to the shore navigating in the sea.
I am a fair mermaid
Singing under the sea
I would sing to myself the whole day
I would sing and say to the sea
Who is it that loves me?
And who loves me not?
Oh great sea!
A rich and strange Deity!
Mysterious in nature!
I am a mermaid
Emerging from the blue waves
With a fresh pink lips
And an enchanting ivory breast with a splendid hair
Falling on my alabaster shoulders
My eyes have the glow of a star and the flashing fire of love
I am a fair mermaid.
And then Eretia raised her head above the waters.
************
GOLD MYNES MODELLING AGENCY
“Son, what’s going on? I can’t find Eretia anymore.” Mrs Elaina walked faster to meet up with her son.
Knox stopped to attend to her. “Eretia is not feeling well.” He replied.
“Where is she?” Mrs Elaina demanded with a concerned tone.
“She is at home.” Knox tucked his hand into his pocket.
“You should have taken her to the hospital before coming to the show.” Mrs Elaina scolded him.
“No, she’ll be fine. It is just a slight headache and we already administered pain relief.” Knox responded.Content © NôvelDrama.Org.
“Maybe I should go and see her.” Mrs Elaina mumbled.
“No.. no.. you don’t need to see her. Eretia just needs to rest.” Knox didn’t want his mom to go to his home. He knew Eretia might be in the sea swimming and trying to get information about her world.
“Are you sure?” The old lady asked.
“Yes mom, why don’t you just relax and enjoy today.” Knox placed his hand around her shoulder.
“Hello.. please come over.” He gestured at an executive worker.
“Yes sir.”
“Please take my mom to the hall. I’ll be right there with you.” Knox pushed her gently to the worker.
“Please come with me, ma’am Elaina.” The worker smiled heartily at her.
Knox heaved a sigh of relief snd turned towards the dressing room.
“Everything is ready?” He asked the designer in charge.
“Yes. The make up artists are working on the models.” Mrs Ria Robert answered.
“Okay.” Knox glanced around the room. And he brought out his phone to check if there was a missed a call from Eretia but none. He hope that she is doing okay.