Chapter 6: Secrets Beneath the Waves
1171 Words
Chapter 6: Secrets Beneath the Waves
Y E X A
When I was sure my companions were far enough, I turned to face the woman who had been waiting for me.
“Good morning, ma’am,” she greeted me with a warm smile.
“Good morning,” I replied, mirroring her expression before stepping inside.
The moment I entered, an eerie chill settled over me. Black magic saturated the air, clinging to every inch of the restaurant. My eyes flicked to the room’s four corners, where shadowy figures—black magicians disguised as crows—stood watch. They would seem like mere decorations to an ordinary person, but their sinister presence was unmistakable to someone like me.
“Good morning, ma’am. How can I assist you today?” a waitress greeted me brightly and politely.
“I’d like to order some food for takeout, please,” I said with a smile.
“Of course, ma’am. May I have your room number? We can deliver it to your suite,” she replied smoothly.
I frowned slightly. “Actually, my friends and I planned to eat by the seaside.”
The waitress’s smile faltered for the briefest moment before she quickly masked it. “I’m sorry, ma’am, but we don’t allow guests to take food outside. You can either have it delivered to your room or dine here.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Why is that?”
“First time here?” a voice behind me asked. I ignored it, keeping my focus on the waitress.
“Miss, I reviewed the resort’s rules, and nowhere did it say that guests are prohibited from taking their food outside,” I stated firmly.
My suspicions were confirmed. The black magicians stationed in the restaurant were here for more than just security. They had formed an enchantment meant to erase the memories of those who entered. That kind of spell required a fire element to function—something that couldn’t extend to open spaces or water.
“I’m sorry, ma’am, but we simply can’t allow it. If you’d like, you can call your friends to dine here or have it sent to your suite,” the waitress said, her tone still sweet but unwavering.
“Or,” the man from before said, “You could eat with me, and I’ll order enough for your friends too.”
“No, thank you,” I said, returning my attention to the waitress. “I’ll call room service later.”
I pivoted to leave, only to come face-to-face with the man who had spoken earlier. He was smiling, his presence annoyingly persistent.
“Hi! I’m Fred. I’ve been here for quite a while. And you are?” He extended a hand toward me.
I crossed my arms and raised a brow. He spoke fluent Tagalog, but something about his accent told me he was Fil-Am. If I wasn’t mistaken, he was someone who had likely gotten lost on the island and never managed to escape. Wait—had he said his name out loud? A slight headache pricked at my temples, and I shook my head, trying to clear the fog. He’s ‘the Manager’.
“Fred... sure,” I muttered before stepping past him. I had no intention of wasting time on meaningless conversation.
“Whoa, whoa! That’s it? You’re just gonna leave me hanging? Not even a name?” he called after me. “Do you know me?”
“Fred, right?” I asked without looking back.
“Yeah! I mean, obviously, but—”
“Look,” I cut him off. “I have zero interest in introducing myself or talking to you, so do me a favor and get out of my way.”
I walked away quickly, and this time, he didn’t follow.
As I reached the shore, I took in the breathtaking sight before me. People laughed and played in the sand, their faces alight with joy. Whether young or old, the happiness was palpable.
The island was paradise—pristine white sand, handcrafted pearl souvenirs, colorful boats bobbing in the water, and waves large enough to thrill any surfer. But what caught my attention was the grand water fountain at the island’s center. It was a massive mermaid statue encrusted with diamonds, surrounded by smaller statues of mermaids holding a giant shell from which water poured. Real mermaids swam around the fountain, but to the untrained eye, they were nothing more than performers in costume.
I stepped closer, drawn to the statue. Something was wrong. The glint of gold at the statue’s eye caught my attention. A pearl had fallen—a golden pearl. My breath hitched.
“Damn it,” I muttered. “It’s the Queen.”
Marga was ruthless enough to turn the Queen of the mermaids into stone. I scanned the other statues and, sure enough, they weren’t just sculptures—they were real mermaids, cursed into immobility.
A mermaid swam toward me, smiling and waving. I was about to reach out when a voice behind me stopped me.
“If I were you, I wouldn’t do that.”
I turned to see Zane, alone. My stomach twisted.
“Where are they?” I demanded.
“I don’t know. Our friends are gone,” he said grimly.
“Gone? What do you mean?” My pulse quickened.
His thoughts echoed in my mind before his lips could form the words. ‘They vanished into thin air. No one noticed. If anyone did, it was only me.’
My eyes widened. We were communicating telepathically. But how? I wasn’t even trying. I had assumed I was the only one immune to the memory-wiping enchantment. Yet here Zane was, unaffected.
He gently took my arm, leading me away from the fountain. To everyone else, we must have looked like a couple strolling along the beach.
‘What happened?’ I demanded in his mind. ‘I told you not to eat anything!’
‘We didn’t!’ he answered. ‘I have no idea what happened. The moment we got near that fountain, something changed.’
“Why weren’t you affected?” I asked aloud, though I already suspected the answer.
I’m a white witch, remember? He replied. ‘You can manipulate my powers, but you can’t override my instincts.’
‘If everyone had your resistance, the wizards wouldn’t have been able to capture them,’ I muttered bitterly.
‘That’s beside the point. We need to find them—fast,’ he said.
While we continued our telepathic conversation, we maintained our facade of admiration, pretending to marvel at the island’s beauty.
‘Wait,’ I said, forming a plan. ‘We need to go back to the fountain. I might be able to communicate with them without alerting the black magicians.’
Before Zane could respond, I turned and walked back toward the fountain. I had one trick left to try—using my power to send messages through the water’s vibrations. If my friends were still somewhere within this cursed place, I would find them.
- Writer
