CHAPTER 32: CHAPTER 32

As she carved her way through the water, she dragged a floating chair and stopped until the water was up to her shoulders.

"This is perfect," she said breathlessly. "Tia, come on! The water’s amazing."

"Coming."

As Rhea relaxed her body and turned to swim back, the current shifted—stronger, more violent. The surrounding water beneath her began to bubble unnaturally.

Rhea struggled to breathe as the wave overpowered her. Panic rose in her throat. She tried to swim, but her limbs felt like they were sinking, not moving.

"HELP! ME!" she managed, but no one saw, nor did they hear her.

Is this how I’m going to die? But I don’t want to die. I truly don’t want to die.

She thought, still struggling with the current.

Then suddenly, she was yanked under. But it wasn’t her body that was pulled; it was her very essence. Below, she felt the chilling pressure of the depths, the darkness wrapping around her like a blanket. At the same moment, on the surface, her physical body was lying on the floater.

"Rhea, take this. You have been here for long," Tia said, moving towards Rhea and the floating chair with a cold homemade beverage.

But she didn’t respond, though the floater was shaking vigorously.

"Rhea?" Tia called, dropping the cups on the cup holders, moving cautiously towards Rhea.

Rhea’s pupils had moved behind her head, with only the sclera visible, her body convulsing uncontrollably.

A raw, animalistic shriek tore from Tia’s chest. It shredded her throat—a sound of pure agony that bowed her body backward and made her hands fly to her head, fists clenching in her hair. Her eyes, wide and wild, were fixed on the scene, seeing Rhea like that.

Meanwhile, Rhea was still being pulled into the depths of the ocean.

Her limbs were stretched straight, her eyes closed shut. Her mouth held the taste of salt as the ocean found its way into her mouth. Her ears echoed with wavelength as the speed of the water passed through them.

As Rhea opened her eyes again, she noticed she wasn’t in the beach waters.

This place was different. It was strange. It was as if she was inside a cave within the waters, but she could breathe like on land.

As she adjusted her eyes, she saw that there were different beautiful colors of glowing orbs, and diamonds on the walls of the cave. Further deep down was a blinding, shining light. As she moved closer, it became clearer. It was a glowing fountain with shimmering waters like glitter but more sparkly.

She didn’t know where she was, but she wasn’t scared to be there. Instead, it beckoned her. And she felt drawn to it.

Stepped further into the light, she stopped at an arched door, leading directly to the fountain. On the floor after the arched door was a big drawn circle, in gold inscription.

It felt like it was drawn there on purpose.

Immediately, Rhea stepped inside. The gold circle lit up, forming extra straight lines from the initial circle directly towards the fountain.

After the lines completed, all the water within that circle drained. Tiny little bubbles emerged from the fountain water. A tiny blue human creature formed from the popping bubbles.

The creature had the shape of a human body, small in size and entirely blue, with also blue eyes and a little star as its pupils, and its eyes were pointy. Its body was covered with unique white-colored markings. It had no hair.

The creature didn’t have wings, but it floated.

"Welcome, welcome," it announced in a soft, melodious, happy female voice.

"Where am I?" Rhea asked.

"Fairy Clouds!!" She said happily, circling Rhea.

"Who are you? And why am I here?" Rhea asked cautiously stepping away.

*

Meanwhile, in the Gunther manor, Zeenare and Hexma were at the runway.

Both men strode into the premises as soon as the jet opened.

An elderly man who appeared to be the butler of the Gunther household rushed to Mr. Gunther, who was amongst the chaos, and whispered in his ear, "Sir, there’s a plane at the runway."

"I’m not expecting anyone until two days from now," he replied, glancing at the door before standing up.

"Where is Rhea?" Zeenare asked. His voice was a clashing thunder, his face a stormy shadow.

"Sir, you can’t barge inside like this. Let the Master come," the senior head maid tried to obstruct Zeenare and Hexma’s entrance.

As Zeenare turned his attention to the maid, a cold dread ran down her spine. Her voice caught in her throat. She stopped moving and gave them entry, shaking in cold sweat.

Zeenare stormed into the manor, making his way towards Rhea as if he knew exactly where she was.

And he actually did.

His eyes never trailed away from his path, his jaw clenched tightly, his fists rock-breaking.

As he stomped on each step towards her, his breath hitched, and his body shook slightly.

Her presence is faint. Rhea, where are you? I can’t lose you like this.

Hexma took a step back from Zeenare. The room was getting colder, and his hair was extending. He felt the shift, and he knew that if anything beyond redemption happened to her, there’d be death.

And he had to be able to stop whatever catastrophic event was going to happen.

"I curse the gods—nothing must happen to her."

As Zeenare got to the door, reaching for it, it opened from the other side. Mr. Gunther stood before him.

"Do I know you?" he asked, brow furrowed, clearly pondering why strangers were marching through his house like they owned it.

But Zeenare paid him no mind, not a single look. His gaze was searching for Rhea, after her struggling groan met his ears.

As his eyes trailed through the room, he noticed that three men were holding her down while another held a syringe in his hand.

His reasoning snapped. His blood boiled like lava.

Zeenare sprang toward them in an instant, knocking them off her.

Tia and her mom flinched at the loud thumping sound from the impact of the four men.

He moved swiftly to her side and placed her gently in his arms.

"Mr. Zeenare?! What the—" she blinked back in confusion. "How the hell did you get here?"

"What in the name of those cursed gods were you all trying to inject into her?" Zeenare sneered.

"And what is your business with that? Why the fuck am I even talking to you? You stalking her at school was not enough—now you’re at my house!" Tia walked up to Zeenare, her steps measured.

"You have the nerve to come here? What effrontery!" Tia scowled, but her lips trembled, betraying the conflict within her. "Not only did you come alone, you brought this thug to my house!" She pointed at Hexma.

Hexma looked at Tia with disbelief but with intrigue.

"I don’t care what fucked-up stunts you’re playing at right now," she continued. "I want you to drop her and get the hell out of this place."

"Why did you have to bring her here?" Zeenare snapped at Tia, his eyes a thunderous gaze.

"You have no right to know that," Tia stated.

"Look at the damage this has caused her!" he snarled, his face contorted into a grimace.

He scooped Rhea up and took a step forward, but Tia stopped him.

"You can’t take her!" She stood firmly in his path. "Dad, call the cops."

"They are already coming," her father noted.

"Touch her," he taunted, "and you will lose those fingers."

Zeenare turned to Hexma. "You know what to do." He stated.

Hexma began as he brushed his way past them all.

Then he walked out.

After he got to the jet, he laid the still-convulsing Rhea gently on the bed.

I swore to protect you, yet this happened. How I which I could take this suffering from you.

Then took a bottle out of his pocket and placed it on Rhea’s lips, pouring the contents into her mouth.

And she immediately calmed down.

Zeenare took off his jacket and placed it over her, also tucking her scattered hair behind her ears.

Zeenare fell to his knees. A soft breath fell from his lips as his lungs released the choking air in his throat.

Zeenare placed his hands over her head. A soft glowing light, like dust, fell on her face, then spread to her entire body, swallowing it whole.

His brow creased. Then he added more intensity.

"Rhea, where is your soul?"

**

Back to Fairy Clouds

"My name is Sisi. I’m the keeper of this fountain." She pointed to it. "I’ve been expecting you. There’s a lot I have to tell you, but you aren’t ready yet." The little creature flew right to Rhea’s face, staring at her.

"What do you mean?" Rhea enquired.

"All you need to know is that you have to remember. Remember. REMEMBER."

Suddenly, Rhea was drawn out of everything—as if she was being sucked out, in full force.

"That’s the only way forward." Sisi added her voice echoing.