Sitting
at the breakfast table Skye debated about going to Gene's house. How would she react when she saw Paul again?
"Skye
you should go." Daphne told
Skye. "You are representing your
people."
"I
know Mother, I know."
"Mommy,
are we going someplace today?"
Star asked.
"Yes
sweetheart. We are going to a bar-b-que
today. Now Star,” Skye picked up her
daughter and set he on her lap. “You
have to be very good today. If mommy
tells you to do something you have to mind me.
No arguments."
"Yes
Mommy." Star said seriously.
"Star
there is a pool where we are going but you cannot go swimming."
"But
why Mommy?” Star asked confused. “I can
swim really good."
"Sweetheart,
we do not swim around strangers remember?
I promise we will go swimming after we get home."
“With
Cuppy and Mallow?” Star asked.
“Yes.”
Skye smiled as her daughter ran off to play.
*****
Daphne
and Adkins accompanied Skye, Andre, and Star to Gene's house. Skye was anxious about running into Paul and
Andre was not sure exactly how he was supposed to act now that he was going to
marry Skye.
"I
am so glad you could come." Gene
told his guests. They followed Gene as
he escorted them to the backyard.
Star held tightly to Skye's hand and Andre stayed very close to Skye.
All
afternoon Skye mingled with the crowd constantly keeping an eye out for Paul.
"Hi
Evan." Gene called. "Where is
your dad?"
"He’s
coming."
"Hello
Skye." It was a voice she did not
want to hear.
"Hello
Paul. I didn’t know you were going to
be here." She lied. ‘Why is it
every time I get around this man I lie?’ she thought.
"Gene
insisted."
Their
conversation was cut short when Star cam running up to her mother.
"Mommy,
can I go swimming with everyone else?"
"No
Star. No swimming. We have already talked about
this." Skye replied sternly.
Star
reluctantly went and stood by the pool watching all the other kids swimming.
As
Skye and Paul resumed their talk there was a scream then a splash. Skye looked across the backyard she found
Star in the middle of the pool surrounded by children splashing her. Seeing her child in danger Skye panicked.
"No
Skye." Andre yelled as Skye dashed
to the pool. "Don't do it!"
Too
late. Skye dove into the pool. The second Skye hit the water, like her daughter
she transformed. She swam quickly to
her daughter using her tail to splash the children who were threatening
Star. Skye held Star in her arms
sinking to the bottom of the pool while holding her daughter close.
Except
for flashbulbs going off, all noise stopped.
People were quiet; no one said a word as they watched the mother and
daughter become mermaids in front of them.
Daphne and Adkins looked at each other.
They understood the ramifications of what Skye had just done. Andre stood in silence as he watched Skye
and Star at the bottom of the pool.
Adkins
moved to stand by Andre. "We must
leave immediately. This is not
good."
"I
understand." Andre's eyes never
left Skye and Star.
"Wait
for them to surface then we will leave.
Skye must go home to the island."
Andre
nodded as he took Skye's cape from Adkins and waited for them to surface.
Paul
was pacing. ‘How could she have done
this? In front of all these
people? She could have hurt Evan; she
could have hurt any of the children.’
Slowly,
Skye and Star headed for the surface to exit the pool. Skye helped Star to sit on the step in the
deep end of the pool then sat down next to her daughter. She picked up Star and handed her to
Andre. Star transformed a soon as she
was out of the water. Andre made sure
she was okay then sat her down and moved to help Skye.
Skye
lifted herself onto the decking and lifting her tail out of the water she swung
her legs on to the deck. Andre helped
her to stand.
Pushing
Andre out of the way, "What do you think you are doing?” Paul was in her face. "You could have hurt someone. You could have hurt Evan."
Anger
filling her entire body, Skye stood up to Paul looking him directly in the eye.
"Your
son started this. Was I just supposed
to let them attack Star? Is Evan more
important than Star?" Skye was
yelling at Paul.
"He
is my son." Paul regained his
composure realizing that a crowd was gathering around them.
"And
she is your daughter." Skye said
quietly through clenched teeth, just loud enough to be heard by Paul and Andre.
Paul
stared at Skye in shock and disbelief.
Andre draped Skye's cloak around her shoulders and started to lead her
away trying to ignore what he had just heard.
"It
is time to go your Majesty."
Clutching
Star's hand, Skye allowed Andre to lead her away.
Paul
could not move. He watched as Andre led
Skye and Star away. Finally realization
set in. Paul started after them, when a
hand on his arm stopped him. Paul turned to see Daphne holding him back.
"Let
her go."
"But
she said…"
"It
is too late. She waited, hoping you
would return. We will return to the
island and Skye will marry Andre. It is
how it must be."
"Will
I ever see her?"
"It
would be better if you did not. You
have a wife and son. What could you
offer her?"
Paul
looked at Daphne as she smiled sadly both of them understanding the
situation. Daphne and Adkins walked
past Paul and headed to the car. The
car that would take Skye and Star away from him forever.
In
the car, Star sat huddled in her mother's lap.
Skye sat close to Andre, who placed his arm protectively around her, a
move he had never made before. Andre
held Skye close with one arm and the other arm he wrapped around Star. Skye was exhausted, not only physically but
also emotionally. She had finally told
Paul. She didn’t want to tell him but
tonight it just came out.
Andre
had heard, but he was still here with her.
She would talk to him later but right now, it felt good to be safe and
protected in his arms. Maybe he could
make her forget.
The
car arrived at the beach house. They
entered quickly in case they had been followed. The phone was ringing as they entered. Adkins answered the pone speaking in a hushed voice. The phone call ended Adkins took a deep
breath and went in search of Skye.
"Your
Majesty, we must leave quickly. I have
gotten word that government officials are on their way here. We have to get you out of here now." Adkins told Skye.
"I
want all of our people out of here.” Skye instructed. “They are to head back to the island. Make sure they understand that if they choose to stay we cannot
help them if there is trouble."
"Yes
Majesty."
"Mother,
we have to go." Skye looked to her mother in concern. "You take Star and I will be right
behind you."
Skye
took Star by the hand and kneeling down said, "We are going home now
sweetheart."
"Skye!"
It
was Paul. What could she say to him?
Skye
stepped outside, "Andre, take Star I will be right behind you."
Andre
hesitated for a moment, and then he took Star's hand and headed to the rocks
and the ocean beyond.
"I
thought I would miss you." Paul said as Skye approached him.
"We
have to go now, they are coming for us."
Skye would not get too close for fear of her reaction to him.
"Stay.”
Paul pleaded.
"People
are on their way Paul. If they find any of us they will want to run tests and
experiments. Is that what you
want?"
"No
I don’t want that. I needed to see
you. To tell you I’m sorry." Paul
stepped closer to Skye.
"There
is no need. It is all in the past. Andre loves Star. He has been a father to her.
He will take care of her."
"What
about you?" Paul caressed her cheek.
Skye
stepped back, "He loves me too. In
time I will love him. Things will be as
they should be."
"Will
I ever see you again? Will I see my
daughter?"
"Star
will know of you when she is old enough.
She will be queen after me."
Their
eyes met and Paul nodded in understanding
"Daughter,
we must go." It was Daphne.
"I
am coming."
Daphne
and Adkins headed for the rocks and the open ocean.
"I
must go now." She turned and
headed toward the ocean. She dove in
the water as Paul stood on the shore watching her.
She
disappeared under the waves then she broke the water in a jump. She looked at Paul and for a split second
their eyes met. Then she was gone.
A
tear trickled down Paul's face as he realized that the one true love of his
life was gone forever and with her the daughter he would never know.
Another tear trickled down his cheek then another and another as he grieved for a love that could not be.