Mermaid Blues: Beasts, Giants and Spirits

A Star Above the Water

Grace Joy was in that unknown place, a place that she was familiar with but didn't know what and where it was. She was standing tall on a land full of ragleafs. The moon was full and bright and its light made her see the place clearly through the dark. Behind her are trees and the hills that surround the entire plain. The most interesting thing in that place was a lake that glimmered in the moonlight. She was facing it. Her feet were just a few meters away from the water.

She slowly moved forward towards it while captivated by the lake's water. But she halted when she suddenly realized that that lake was where she had drowned. Suddenly, the background changed and her surroundings turned underwater. It's like she got teleported into the lake's center. Then, just like the first time, she realized she's got powers. Her feet united like they were stitched up together to form another body structure. Her body lost its garments just when she got teleported. Her breast rapidly grew a 'bra' of scales. Her abdomen part grew some scales except in her navel area. Then, her feet turned into a fish-like tail.

She swam up through the water to the surface. After she took her head above the water with her eyes closed, she opened them slowly. She got frightened because in front of her was a burning creature looking down on her. It was like a wolf or a lion. It's got dimensions that isn't similar to hers. It was burning blue and bright. And it was standing on the lake water, which is like air. It didn't drown nor were its feet soaked. It stood at the very surface like the water was ground. Meanwhile, it snarled, which made Grace Joy startle and yell.

She got up on her bed, catching her breath.

:::::::Blue Water::::::

Inside the room where Gaddo does his meetings, a place where it is circular and surrounded by bookshelves. There's his desk at the center. Behind his desk was a huge window that served as its main ventilation and source of light. He was standing right next to it while holding a glass of whiskey. He was quietly staring at the view outside. The sun is bright and the sky is only filled with cirrus clouds.

Meanwhile, his butler came in. He got annoyed by the screech of the door as it opened, so he turned around to scold his butler. However, when he was about to talk. He sees a familiar person standing behind the butler.

"I am sorry to interrupt, but you have a guest," the butler said.

"What is he doing here?" Gaddo stressfully asked him.

"He said that Mr. Santiago ordered him to come here," he answered.

"Don't be hard on your butler, Gaddo," the guest told him. He is Gabriel Sanchez, a forty-five-year-old man. He is a stocky build hunter like Gaddo. Unlike Gaddo, who is bald, he has bushy black hair with a horseshoe-shaped beard. He came from Mexico. An ex-colleague of Mr. Gaddo.

"Why would the boss who hired me send you here?" Gaddo asked.

"I don't know," the Mexican guy shrugged as he smirked. "But I think Mr. Santiago does not trust you enough with the job so he made me come here to check what you are doing." He squinted at Gaddo's healing face. "But it turns out you are not in a good shape."

" My hunters and I are doing fine, thank you," Gaddo said.

"By the way, Gaddo. Didn't I mention that I am going to work with you starting right now?"

"We don't need your help, Gabe," he insisted.

"You're gonna need my expertise here, Gaddo. After all, two heads work better than one, especially when one of them is burnt and injured. You gotta need an extra arm and an eye."

"I am sorry but I am turning off your proposal," he still insisted.

"It is not a proposal, my friend," Gabriel replied. "It is an order. You are not progressing, and Mr. Santiago is getting more and more impatient."

"I can't believe this," he muttered.

"I am trying to help you here so that you are not going to be humiliated any further," Gabriel added to convince him.

Gaddo was speechless. He was just looking at Gabriel anxiously. He couldn't think of a way to refuse him anymore, especially when it was on the order of his client.

Knowing that Gaddo couldn't counter what he said, he smiled enthusiastically. "Let's get the party started."

:::::::::::

At the residence of the family of Acosta...

"Okay girls! Sir Ian and the young master will be here in a couple of minutes. So, all of you gather up," Naomi, the supervisor of the maids announced. "I want you all to be on your proper behavior when they get here," she instructed.

The maids are outside, on the balcony. They are waiting for their master to arrive home from his two weeks vacation in Singapore. The maids gathered around as they murmur in excitement. Naomi, Indang, Berta, Rosita, and Glenda were all on stand by. All of them were in uniforms. Naomi was the only maid who stayed the longest among them all. She's been there even the birth of Mr. Ian Acosta's son. Eversince Ian's wife died, she's been like a mother for the young master. Glenda was the most recent addition to the Acosta household maids. She's of the same age as Seline.

Naomi then noticed that someone seems missing. And so, she looked around as she wondered. "Where's Seline?" she asked the others. However, none of the fellow maids even noticed her that morning. Naomi gasped in frustration as she tucked her hands inside the pouch of the apron she was wearing. She then looked to the gate at the distance.

Then, the door behind them opened wide. The maids turned back as they are curious on who opened the door. It was the girl Ms. Naomi was looking for. It was Seline. She was in her uniform like the other maids - navy blue blouse and a below-the-knee skirt at the bottom. To top it off, she was wearing a white apron.

Naomi walked toward her. She was looking at her suspiciously, wondering where has she been all morning. She grabbed Seline's arm and she gently pulled her towards the others. "What happened to you? We've never seen you all morning," Nime complained.

"I am so sorry, Tita," she apologized while still being pulled. "I was busy watering the plants in the garden that I didn't realize the time," she reasoned.

Seline and Naomi were with the maids now. Naomi looked at Seline, unconvinced. She noticed Seline's hair was wet. She's smelling chlorine from her. "You didn't water the plants. You swam into the pool, didn't you?"

"Uum..." Seline was hesitant to say 'yes'. "But, least I am here now," she chuckled with optimism.

Then. A luxurious black SUV had entered the gate entrance of the mansion. The maids, and Seline, were watching it slowly approach the balcony where they were standing.

"Hey. Enough talking. Get yourselves ready," Naomi announced.

And so, everyone stood straight and they stopped talking. The SUV has finally parked in front of the balcony. The maids are now waiting for Sir Ian and his son to come out of the van.

Seline focuses her eyes on the silhouette of a person who is moving in the driver's seat through the dark windshield. She can not deny that she doesn't know the man sitting on that front seat. She sighed. She looked at her aunt and she nodded with an uncertain expression on her face. Slowly, she looks at the SUV again.

:::::::::

Inside the black SUV, Mr. Ian Acosta is sitting at the driver's seat while his son is sitting beside him. His son is wearing his headphones while listening to music and gaming on his phone, making him not care about his surroundings.

"Are you okay?" Mr. Ian asked the person sitting beside him.

"Huh?" his son immediately removed his earpiece when he heard him speak.

"I said 'Let's get out of here," he responded.

"Dad. Let me stay here for a minute."

"Suit yourself," he went out of the vehicle. "Just for a minute," he reminded as he pointed at him. Then he walked away heading to the balcony.

:::::::

Seline was staring at the old man approaching. She looks at him nervously. At the same time, she couldn't help her heart racing faster because he's got a good-looking face despite his age. Also, may be because was half foreign that enhanced his looks. The maids are excited. They greeted him just when he stepped on the balcony's tile floor. They approached him.

"How are you, Sir?" Indang asked.

"Stress as hell," he answered, then laughed faintly.

"It seemed like you haven't aged a bit," she joked. The other maids laughed.

"I have been gone for two weeks. Do you think I'll age immediately?"

Seline is keeping her distance. She is watching them joking and laughing. The conversation made her smile slightly.

"Have you already prepared the merienda?" he then asked.

"Oh. We'll just prepare it right now." Naomi, the most trusted housekeeper replied. Then, three maids entered the house. Only three maids remained on the balcony, including Seline's aunt.

Mr. Ian and Naomi hugged each other like long lost siblings. They kept on asking each other 'How are you?' over and over that they laughed beause of it. A few seconds passed, they released each other.

"You are doing well. I thought you were so stressed out," Ian complemented her.

"There's nothing I can't handle," she told him. Then, she gave him a gentle nudge to the chest. "Right?"

"By the way, where is you niece?" he asked.

"I am right here, Sir!," she enthusiastically announced her presence as she stood between Ian and Naomi. "Welcome to my mansion! If you are hungry, don't be afraid to ask Glenda over there because I am busy with my pedicure," she joked while sounding like a proud child.

Ian laughed.

"See? She still annoys me until now," Naomi told him. "By the way, where is he?" Nime asked as she brought her eyebrows together when she noticed that Ian's son wasn't there on the balcony yet. "Where is that handsome devil?"

"Oh come on," Ian muttered in frustration. He realized he was not on that balcony yet. Then, he turned back to see the SUV. Looking through the windshield, he could see that Seyhan was still in there playing with his phone.

"Seyhan!" he called. Seyhan doesn't hear him. His headphones are loud enough to block external sounds. "Seyhan!" he called the second time. Yet, he didn't come out.

"Oh my God. This kid!" Ian facepalmed.

"Seyhan! Seyhan Acosta! Huy!" He called again. "'This kid," he muttered.

Finally, his son opened the door. A handsome boy, who looks similar to his father, has a light skin complexion, about the same age as she is, coming out of the vehicle. She couldn't explain it but her heart suddenly raced faster. The boy is wearing a black leather jacket and black jeans that contrast his complexion. His charm is enhanced further by his hairstyle, a slick back undercut hairstyle, combed to the right.

She is watching him walk closer to them. She couldn't keep her eyes off him.

"Yes. Dad?" He smiled just when he arrived.

"What took you so long?" he complained.

"Just got bored so I did something worth my time," he immediately answered.

"Really. What is it that consumed all your time in that car?" Nime asked with an upset tone in her voice.

"j*********f probably."

Naomi, Glenda, and Seline gasped.

"O...kay?" Seline awkwardly reacted. "I can see you are proud of that."

Ian laughed. Then he slapped Seyhan's back.

"Ah!" Seyhan frustratedly exclaimed. He looked at his father with threatening eyes. His father also looked at him sternly.

"For God's sake, Seyhan. Haven't you realized that we are talking to the ladies here?"

Seyhan chuckled. "I'm sorry," he then apologized as he laughed.

"I am just joking."

The smile on his face suddenly faded into surprise when his eyes brought him to Seline. He looked at her with wonder. He grabbed his hips as he observes the young lady in front of her. He flashed his eyes. "I see you have been swimming all morning".

"It's summer," Seline replied.

"Has Rachel been here or called you?" he asked.

Seline creased her nose and she shook her head. "No. I am afraid she really moved on."

Seyhan responded with a nod. His face was showing disappointment. Seline can see it in his eyes. The past two weeks didn't seem to help him recover from his broken heart.

"Okay!" Ian clapped his hands. "Let's go inside the house so that we can have our merienda. I can't wait ."

Everyone agreed.

Ian went in first, followed by Glenda and Seline. Seyhan and Naomi were left in that balcony. Seyhan greeted Naomi with a hug. "I miss you, Tita."

"Miss you too," she hugged him back. A few seconds later, Seyhan released her from his arms. Then,, he asked a question. "About Rachel and I...did she ever call you?"

"I am afraid not," she replied. "I think you are just hungry from the flight. How about some coffee to cheer you up?"

Seyhan didn't reply. He nodded instead. The answer was enough for Ms. Naomi. She smiled in response.

And so, they went in.

:::::::::::::

Sherdel had just entered the huge library.

"Hello babe?" he immediately held his phone near his ear.

"Hey, where are you?" Alexa responded on the other line.

"At the librarian's desk," Sherdel answered.

"Okay, okay. Just stay in there, okay? I am about to go there anyway."

"Just get in here fast."

"Okay. Just wait for me there." Alexa cut off their conversation.

He hung up his phone. He took a deep breath and then he ballooned his cheeks. He felt frustrated. It felt like he was being bossed around by Alexa. He remained standing in front of the librarian's desk. He held his head down. He remained standing for a couple of minutes more but she wasn't there yet. And so, the impatient Sherdel moved forward and walked along through the spaces between the shelves.

He finally got into the spaces beyond those rows of shelves. He began to search for her from one table to another. He had already cleared five tables. Yet, she wasn't there. He searched further. But instead, he found Grace Joy. He found her at a table. She was asleep. Her hands were crossed together on the table and that's where she lay her head. Beside her head was an open book.

He stopped by just after he saw her. He got a chair from an unoccupied table and he slowly and quietly placed it on the other side of the table from her. He quietly sat down to avoid waking her up. Then, he crossed his arms on his chest and bit his lips. He stared at her for a moment before he noticed what she was reading. On the left page, he saw an image of a mermaid sitting on a rock. Above her is a huge moon as she stares at it. Below her are raging waves. He then looked at the other page on the right - it's the description of the mermaid.

Sherdel creased his forehead, wondering if she was fascinated with mythical stuff. He laughed faintly.

"What a nerd."He smirked.

He slammed his hands on the table as he stood up. Grace Joy woke up after that. She was shocked to death just when she heard the sound Sherdel had caused. It was so unexpected for her. She was more surprised when she saw that Sherdel was in front of her and he was leaving.

"Hayst!" Grace Joy whined in frustration. He left her puzzled. Grace Joy was wondering if he was watching her sleep the whole time. Moreover, she was wondering if he had just sat across from her.

:::::::;:::

In an area right below Mt. Banahaw, there was a small village there where it was hidden and far from the town. That is where Arthur's lover, Edina, and their son ran to. That place is isolated and is a perfect place to hide. Moreover, each house was far away from the other, which was very hard to track if ever there were invaders.

Edina was outside the house. She was in the yard by the clotheslines hanging the clothes she had just washed. Minutes later, she was done. And so, she decided to get inside the house to check on her son, Enzo.

"Enzo?" she called when she entered by the door of the living room.

She checked the living room but Enzo was not there. The T.v. was on so she began to think that he was just in the kitchen making food.

"Enzo. Are you there in the kitchen?"

She headed to the kitchen. But he was not there. Her suspicion has gotten darker. She suddenly felt worried. However, she brushed it aside hoping that he was just playing somewhere.

She decided to head to his room. "Enzo," she kept on calling.

She was now standing in front of his room's door. She took a deep breath to lessen her nervousness. She was hoping that when she opened the door, her son was there, just playing and nothing else happened to him. She slowly opened the door as she entered.

Enzo was really there. But instead of a sigh of relief, she gasped in fear as she looked at her son standing in the corner with a lady in black standing behind him. The lady was holding a dagger to the boy's neck, threatening to slit it.

"Enzo!" Edina yelled in fear.

"Be a good dear and come with me," the lady told her.

:::::::::

Fifteen minutes later, Arthur arrives at the house where Edina and Enzo are staying. He was with Cielo and two agents. He discovered that the door was slightly open. He suddenly had a bad feeling as he pushed it to open further.

"Edina?" he called when he got to the living room. However, no one was answering.

"Edina!" he called further. Yet, no one is still responding. Then he called for his son. "Enzo? Anak!"

No one was responding. The house was empty and quiet. Only the television was making a sound. Enzo's favorite cartoon is on air. However, Enzo was not there on the sofa to watch it.

Cielo and his men are just standing behind him. They, too, are sensing something wrong. They are worried that it is what they think it is - that they have been kidn*pped. While Arthur decided to go to Enzo's room, Cielo ordered his two agents to help Arthur search the other rooms. He went straight to the kitchen.

Arthur opened the door of his son's room. "Enzo?" he called, hoping that he was there. Enzo was not there, instead, he saw something grim. He widened his eyes in horror while he looked at the person lying on Enzo's bed. He immediately went over to him. It was Edwin, the guy who drove the Tamaraw Fx, the guy who sent Edina and Enzo to that very house.

"EDWIN!" Arthur yelled in horror as he gently shook him.

Arthur found a dagger stabbed into his stomach. Blood was coming out of his mouth. He was breathing heavily, gasping for as much air as he could. His eyes are not moving, they are just looking straight at the ceiling.

Cielo heard Arthur's cry from the kitchen. And so, he immediately ran and exited the room. He went to the place where Arthur's voice came from. When he got there, he was horrified when looking at Arthur holding a bleeding person. His agents are already there. One of them is putting a blanket on the bleeding part to stop further loss of blood. The other guy was calling for the medical assistants through his communicator.

"Edwin. Stay with me!" Arthur whispered with desperation. He held Edwin's head and he turned it to his direction so that he could see him.

"I am sorry. I was not able to save them," Edwin whispered. A tear came out of his left eye.

"Sir, please don't speak any further," the agent who was pressing a blanket to his tummy said.

"It's okay. You did what you can," Arthur encouraged. "Just don't leave us yet. Please."

"There's a woman..." he was trying to speak despite his gasping. "She...she's terrifying...magic...I've tried. Stopping her...when I saw her...taking your son."

Then, his eyes closed. His breathing suddenly gets slower.

"Edwin? Ed? EDWIN..."

:::::::::;

Arthur was sitting on one of the chairs in the hallway of the hospital. He is rubbing his palms with his face. He is very stressed due to the fact that Edwin almost died, and Edina and Enzo were nowhere to be seen. He can't think properly, drowned by desperation and fear. Cielo was sitting beside him. He was also quiet, and out of himself. Arthur suddenly stood up.

"Where are you going?"Cielo asked.

"I want some fresh air," he answered.

"Where?"

" On the rooftop," he said. Then, he began to walk.

"Wait. You need someone to look after you," Cielo said.

"Suit yourself!" Then he ran away.

"What? Wait!" Cielo stood up. He was about to run after him. But Nurse Mary Rose came out of the door of the room. When he heard the door open, he turned to see who had just come out. He decided to let Arthur be by himself.

"How is he?" Cielo asked with concern.

"The good news is that he is fine now. His stab wound had been stitched. However, he will be comatose for a week or two," she explained.

Cielo sighed with relief. "Thank God..." he muttered as he looked up and closed his eyes.

"Where's Arthur?" she asked.

"Ahmm...he just went out to get some fresh air. He won't be there long," he replied. "That poor guy is dealing a lot of problems right now."

Mary Rose nodded. "Well, if he comes back, tell him that his friend is fine," she said.

"Of course," Cielo replied with optimism on his face.

Nurse Mary Rose smiled. After that, she went back inside the room.

:::;:::::

The sky was dark, clouds were covering the stars. Even the moon barely shines because of those clouds. Even the moon hardly shined above, the city below was filled with lights. Arthur could see those lights from the rooftop. However, he ignored the magnificent view. Instead, he was there angrily punching the concrete barricade at the corner. His fist was already bruised and blood was dripping out of it, but he still continued punching. A few seconds later, he finally stopped when he felt tired. Tears are coming out of his eyes and his sweat is excessively coming out of his skin. Then, he sat down and leaned his back on the barricade he was punching.

A woman suddenly came. She stood in front of him as she posed confidently like a model. She seems to be an adult. She has a fair complexion. She is a normal-sized woman - not too thin and not fat. She was wearing very thick red lipstick and powder all over her face. She was wearing a black floral dress and a pair of sunglasses. Also, she wears a pair of sandals.

"I told you, I don't need a bodyguard!" he yelled.

"Don't worry. I made them fall asleep on the staircase," she said.

By what she said alone, he immediately felt danger. He got alarmed, so he stood up.

"Who the hell are you?" he asked.

"Who am I? Good question," she replied. "But that is not the topic I am going to discuss with you. Just call me a witch."

"You are the woman my friend told me."

"How is he, by the way?" she asked with a smile. "What is his name again? Edwin?"

"You b***h! Where is my son?" he yelled. He ran and tackled her but, to his surprise, the lady was just a projection. He just passed right through her.

"What are you?" he reacted. "Where is my son? Where is Edina?"

"I'll tell you where they are," she said. "However, you have to promise me you have to keep your mouth shut. And by that, I mean, do not ever tell the association that we had a talk. Are we clear?"

Arthur didn't show any reaction to his face. He gulped deeply. The witch showed him a strip of paper with a cellphone number written on it. She stretched forth her arm to give the paper to him. Arthur couldn't bring himself to take it.

"Why do you want me anyway?" he asked.

"Trust me, Arthur. It is to correct the things that have happened in the past," she said.

"I'll kill you," he glared at her in so much anger. His fangs are showing up. His eyes were turning shiny brown.

"Then I'll make sure your lover and your son will die," she said with a smirk. "Make sure to call me within twelve hours. Or else the mother and son get it."

Suddenly, she disappeared in front of Arthur like a bubble. The paper she was holding fell on the floor. It was the first time Arthur saw a person disappearing into thin air. He was supposed to get startled but his wrath got the better of him. He looked down and saw the paper she had just dropped. With his keen sense of sight, he read what was written on the small strip of paper lying below him.