Unexpectedly Meeting You

Chapter 10

*William Fox*

"Ermmm...." Art muttered before me when we are all having some breakfast.

"What?" I said with grimace.

"Ermm..."

"Spit it out Art."

"My mom called, she said she wanted to talk to you." He said very quickly.

"I thought they wouldn't notice if you're gone or not?"

"Yeah they do... but Mrs. Ema called them."

"Didn't you inform her that you will be staying here?" I asked.

"I did, but she didn't have her hearing aids when I told her." He casually said.

I shook my head. This kid is unbelievable.

"What? I didn't know that she didn't have it, she seemed to be listening to me while I was talking." He explained.

"Okay let them call me later, after work." I said.

"What time are you coming back?" Larissa asked.

"Well... ammm... I don't know, I will just call you guys on my way home."

"Be careful." Neola said.

"Thanks." There is some seriousness in her eyes. "Don't worry... I'll be fine." I assured her. She smiled.

I went to the office leaving them behind. I feel like an old man going to work for the sake of his children. When I got into my office tons of paper works greeted me. I had to attend meeting here and there. I made some appointments for some clients.

But the thought of Leaving Neola is still on my mind. Yeah Art is there to take care of her while I'm gone... but I don't know... I feel something might happen to her while I'm not around. I've already encountered the Vipers and they really want her dead so badly. Her own relative wants her dead just to become powerful, I guess there are peo- mermaids that are craving for powers for themselves.

The day went by quickly. Before I met those guys I would be partying right now, especially if it's Friday. Some of my acquaintances invited me but I refused. I need to go back home. They teased me for going home early. I wanted to explain but I just ignored them, which would be the best thing to do now.

"Welcome home!" Art and Larissa said with so much enthusiasm. Kids.

"Hey have you heard that there is a big lake near here? Like just 2 and a half hours drive?" Art said.

"What do you want?"

"Can we go there?" Larissa said.

"It's near the River Valley." Art added.

"River Valley?" If it's near there, then it means... that's the place where my first date with Devon. The lake... how can I forget that place.

"Is there something wrong?" I heard Neola in my mind. I looked at her direction, she looked worried.

"I'm fine, don't worry." I said, that made Art and Larissa looked at the both of us.

"Are we interrupting something?" Art said in a teasing way.

I patted his head hard. "OW" he said.

"Did your parents called?" it's like a cue because the phone rang and it was his parents.

I talked to them about Art and that he would be staying with me because he can 'babysit my nieces' and they agreed they told me that finally their son is learning to be independent. I just made some concession to end all the questions that can make me lie to them.

"Thank you." Art said after I hang up the phone.

"You better be good."

I went to my room to take some shower and changed into my sweatshirt. We had dinner and after that I gathered them to the living room to talk about the things that we should do.

"Now, let's talk about the rules." I started. "We have to be vigilant now that we know about the danger that we are facing."

"Time for some action." Art said, and started to listen intently. I rolled my eyes.

"Art, when I'm away you can teach the girls about some basic things about how we, humans do things around here."

"Yes sir!" he said with a hand salute again.

"Larissa and Neola, just... do what he tells you to do and don't do things on your own. Don't go around town alone." I said.

"Yes sir!" they both said with a hand salute and giggled after. Girls.

Now about tomorrow, do you want some ride to the lake?" I said with a smirk.

Their eyes all shimmered when I said that we can go there.

"Really?" Art said and jumped off from his seat.

"Yes we can... I mean I've done all my work in the office."

"Yes!" now he's jumping together with Larissa.

Neola is just smiling but her eyes are green so I know that she's happy.

"Now let's pack some our things for tomorrow."

"What do you mean? We will stay there?!" Art exclaimed.

"Yeah, we can have some overnight stay."

"You are the best man." He said pointing his fingers at me.

"Yeah whatever... so go pack your things."

He went to the other room. Good thing my apartment has two rooms. It was meant for my other stuff. He went in, I got curious and followed him. I thought it would be a mess but I'm wrong.

"Wow." I said. their room is clean, sparkly clean.

"I know... Larissa and Neola keep on cleaning the house; they got curious with the vacuum cleaner that they use it every now and then.  I guess that's how mermaids manage their boredom." Art said. He started packing girls stuff, and all the clothes I see is from expensive brands.

"Did you buy all these for her?" I asked in shocked.

"Yeah." He said shrugging his shoulders.

"So you.... Did your parents knew about you spending so much?"

"I told you many times already... they wouldn't care. They will just fill up my cards and then I can spend it as much as I want to." He said casually, continuing on packing.

"OH..." I said, so he is one heck son of rich folks... I don't know what that means. "So why are you packing her stuff?"

"Duh? As if your Neola would pack her own stuff. Look at them, they will just stare at us. " He said.

Yeah, he was right. Neola would just stare at me just like what she did when I told her to wear some clothes, I actually have to be the one to make her wear clothes... just like dressing up a kid or a doll.

I went back to our room. Yes, our room, Neola and I. I don't why but even if the sisters love and miss each other, they will still cling on me and Art. At first it was suppose to be me and Art in my room. Larissa and Neola would be staying at the other room. But instead they will just sneak in and went to bed with us. So our first plan was not a success. Now Larissa and Art stay together while Neola and me are on the same room. I went in, Neola was there waiting for me with her violet eyes.  I started packing her things first. I am starting to think that I was chosen to be her assistant and not as her knight.

We finished packing our stuff for tomorrow and went to sleep.

We woke up early in the morning. Art and Larissa was the one who cooked our breakfast, they are so excited for this trip. We all travelled for two and a half hour before we arrived at the lake. It was so peaceful. There aren't many people around.

We placed a picnic mat and placed all the food that... Art made. He likes to cook and he drags Larissa into it. Well it's a good thing though, because he is really good.

People started to notice us... the girls I mean. They are both head turners, good thing I made them wear their contacts cause the color of their eyes would be an attraction.

"Let go swimming!" Art exclaimed.

Larissa and Art ran towards the lake but Neola stayed with me.

"Aren't you going to swim?" I asked her.

"But you're going to be alone in here." She said.

"Oh, it's okay. I'm going to watch our stuff, so you go have fun."

"But I want to go swimming with you." She said and she took off one of her earring, she whispered something into it and placed it on the mat.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"Now we can swim together, people can't touch our stuff." She said.

"what was that?"

"It's... a mermaid thing." She said with a smirk on her face.

"Now it's payback time?" I said.

"Let's go." She said and grabbed me up and ran into the water.

We went swimming, but I didn't notice that I went too far and the water lever was beyond me reach, so I swam back to where they are but I had cramps, it hurts.

"Crap! Why did I get a cramp in this situation?" I said to myself.

I went down to the water and started to hold my breath. I can't move my foot. I calmed myself, this is will be okay anytime now and I can still hold my breath. Okay I was wrong, I'm starting to panic, I need to breathe!

"You can breathe." I opened my eyes to see Neola in front of me. Her face is calm that I started to calm down. "Breathe William." She ordered.

I can't hold it anymore so I did what she said even if it was unbelievable for a human to breathe under water I still trusted her word... I breathe... and I did! I breathe underwater! I looked at her, shocked with what I have done, or she had done.

"You can breathe underwater, that's one of your privileges of being my protector." She said.

I'm speechless and amazed at the same time. How could this possibly be true?

"Speak to me." She said.

Huh? How can I talk to her?

"Through your mind." She said.

"Oh, I can breathe and talk under the water?!" I said.

"Yes." She said and smiled at me.

"My eyes didn't even feel the sting." I exclaimed. We are still under the water.

"I'm glad that you're happy." She smiled at me.

We both went back to the surface. And swum back to where Art and Larissa are. I bet Art would be thrilled with I have to tell him. I was right, after he heard what I said; he went diving into the water and was there until he got hungry. Both Larissa and Art went swimming for the whole day. I bet Larissa introduced Art to some underwater creature.

It was late in the afternoon, people are starting to decrease and later we are the only ones left.

"Hey Art! Larissa! Get out from the water already! We have to go now." I said shouting at the water when nobody is around.

Later they went to the surface.

"That was so cool!" Art exclaimed when he got out.

I shook my head, this kid is something. We were walking towards our spot where Neola is. Suddenly a light appeared in our midst. Neola quickly ran into us. Her face is worried. I can't see the color of her eyes she's still wearing the contacts.

"The Vipers are here." Larissa said.

When I heard it, we all ran towards the opposite direction.

"What was that?" Art said but still running.

We ran as fast as we can to reach my car, but some liquid came floating in front of us and blocked our way, we turned back but another water thing is there too. We we're surrounded by it and I knew that we we're trap.

They stopped circling us and transformed into their true form, the ugly form.

"Sa wakas at nagkita tayong muli mahal kong  itinakda." A viper said, but he's features are more like clearer than the others, he's... handsome. (At last, we meet again my beloved chosen one.)

"Layuan mo kami traydor!" Larissa said (stay away from us you traitor!)

"Lumalaban ka na pala ngayon prinsesa Larissa." He said with a smirk. (So you know how to fight now huh princess Larissa.)

I don't know what they are talking about, they are using another language. They are encircling us, I don't know what to do, I still don't know what I'm capable of. Neola ones told me that I can make things or some powers appear when I think about protecting her, and now I really needed some. I need some weapons. Usually I would think of a gun but I thought of sword... and right then and there a sword appeared and I'm holding it in my hand.

They all looked at me, shocked... me too.

The man was taken aback but smirked. "Alam mo na  pala kung pano gamitin ang iyong kapangyarihan. Magaling." (you already know how to use your powers. Good.)

I lift my sword for defense; it is surprisingly light in spite of its big size and heavy look.

"How did you do that?" Art whispered into me.

"Just think of protecting Larissa and think of a weapon." I quickly said, whispering to him back.

Later a big boomerang with silver color and has three sharp edges, it is taller and bigger than a human appeared in Art's hand.

"Cool." I heard him mutter. How did he even think about it and have a cool design in this kind of situation.

The Vipers are now taken aback, now that both of us have our weapons.

"Taposin silang lahat!" The man ordered and he disappeared. (Finish them all!)

At that, the other five Vipers attacked and immediately my body moved to protect Neola. I didn't know that I can hold a sword like this, and I can fight like this. Some Viper went near to Neola but I cut its head just in time. Thankfully instead of red blood... water just came out of them. That was a relief. I saw Art threw his boomerang while his other hand is holding Larissa. His weapon killed two Vipers in one throw.

He looked at me and smirked. "Cool huh." He said.

I raised my eyebrow; he's showing off in the middle of a fight between life and death? This is what he wants, I'll show him. I ran towards the other  two who was left, and stabbed them quickly one by one. They didn't have a chance to avoid me. Hahaha Art's mouth fell. 'In your face' I though.

I was worried about their dead bodies but later they completely turned into water and then evaporate. We all fell silent for a moment.

"That was awesome." Art said, a while after.

"Who was that? He's different form the other Vipers." I asked Neola. She looked at me, she was crying.

She hugged me. "Thank God, your safe!" she said. I hugged her back and stroke her hair, that way I can calm her down.

"We are now all tired, let's go to a hotel and take a rest." I said.

When we all calmed down our weapons disappeared. I heard Art complained, but didn't mind him. We still have a lot of things to talk about tomorrow.