Chapter 34 VOL II: The Trip to Calma.
Chapter 34 VOL II: The Trip to Calma.
VOL II: The Trip to Calma
“I don't care. I'll accept the powers to heal my mother, then when I'm done helping her, I'll ask to get rid of them.”
“I'm no witch.”
“But you are, Luana, you—”
“That's what I'm going to do, and that's final,” I cut her off.
“Very well, then,” she said with a gentle smile.
“You'll need this.”
She brought out a paper rolled up and tied with a red thread.
Probably a map.
I walked closer to her and took it, spreading it open. It was a map.
“Your cousin lives in Calma. The map will help you get there. Here, have this.”
She brought out a pearl-shaped necklace and handed it over to me.
“What's it for?” I asked, examining the necklace.
“For protection. You don't have your powers now, so things are going to be a little difficult. This will help.”
I nodded.
“Thank you. I'll make sure to return it when I—”
“No. Please, Lua. It already hurts that you don't remember me, so please don't return my gift too. You never did that. Just... keep it, okay?”
A small tear escaped her eyes, dropping onto her lap. It formed into a small pearl.
I widened my eyes in surprise.
“I'll keep it. No need to cry,” I said, a small smile spreading across my face.
She smiled widely.
“Thank you.”
“So, about my papa. Does he know about this? About me being able to save my mother?”
“Maybe, maybe not. I don't really know, But I know that after destroying Vacuità, he locked away his powers too, but he can still remember everything he did,” she said.
“Will he approve of me going on my own?” I asked. “Important information about Mother shouldn't be hidden from him.”
“That, I don't know. You can try and see if he sees reason. But time is against us.”
I nodded.
“Noted.”
“I'll be leaving now, Andressa,” I said, waving.
“Goodbye, Lua. May the echoes of the mermaids be with you.”
\~~~~~~
I reached home quite late. The stream was pretty far from the house.
It seemed everyone was already asleep because the house was quiet.
I opened the front door quietly and stepped inside.
Lily was already asleep when I checked her room.
As I returned to the sitting room, I saw Papa sitting there.
“Marcella, where have you been?” he asked.
“Papa... I...”
I took a deep breath.
“Papa, there's something I need to tell you.”
I told him everything, not leaving out a single detail.
He looked completely unfazed by what I said.
So he did know everything.
“You're not strong enough. It might not work,” he said.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“Your powers. They're not strong enough. Even when you still had them, you weren't using them to their fullest potential.”
He sighed.
“Your mother is being taken care of back in my hometown.”
“But Andressa said her condition has gotten worse.”
He raised a brow.
“No one has reported that to me. How do we know the mermaid princess isn't lying?”
“Well... you can check it out yourself,” I said.
He looked away, staring at the fireplace.
“I locked away my powers. I can't go there now.”
“When are you supposed to get them back?” I asked.
“In a year.”
He raked a hand through his hair.
“Fuck those demons for putting us in this mess.”
He turned to me, his eyes softening.
“Being magical and powerful like us comes with a heavy price. We are better off without magic, my dear.”
I crouched down and placed my hand on his lap.
“I know, Papa, and I don't plan on becoming a witch or keeping my powers either.”
“Then how do you intend to save your mother?”
“Once I learn what I need to know from Aurelio and heal Mother, I'll bring her back home. Then we can all live like a normal family.”
I paused before continuing.
“And then I'll ask him to take my powers away.”
Papa's eyes widened slightly.
“Are you sure, child?”
“Yes, Papa. You're right. If we were normal people with no magic, no one would have poisoned Mother.”
He nodded in agreement.
“But Calma is far away. The journey is long and tedious. It will be even worse because you don't have your powers,” he said, his brow creasing with worry.
I smiled.
“I can manage. I can do this. I need you to trust me, Papa. Don't you want to see Mother again?”
“More than anything, child. But I can't just let you go with nothing to help you. Wait here.”
He went into his room and came back holding a small brown box.
He handed it to me.
“What is it?” I asked.
“Open it,” he said.
I opened the box, and inside lay a star-shaped rock.
“What's this, Papa?” I asked.
“I might not have my powers anymore, but if you need help, rub the stone three times and help will find you wherever you are.”
He smiled.
“You're a Vercelli. Help will always find you.”
The Vercellis again.
Just how great were we?
“Thank you, Papa,” I said, closing the box.
“May the stars be with you, child.”
\~~~~~~
Back in my room, I packed my things for the trip.
I was to leave tomorrow morning.
I heard a noise from downstairs. It was coming from the backyard.
I took a lamp and went out to check.
The air was cold.
I saw a hooded figure standing in the backyard.
I almost dropped the lamp out of fear.
“Who... who are you?” I asked.
My hands were shaking slightly.
Why did this person have such an effect on me?
He turned around, his blue eyes locking with mine.
Then he slowly pulled back his hood.
I gasped.
It was the man I had seen from my window.
The one with silver and dark hair.
The one whose mother had poisoned mine.
The Demon King of Vacuità.
“Hello, Luana.
We need to talk.”