Mermaids Vs Mermen (A 'Moon Stones Gone Missing' Sequel)

Chapter 24

"What?" He asked.

Zac raised his hands and clenched his fists. "You did what?" He asked angrily.

Cameron nodded. "I did," he said. "It was about two days ago."

"Why didn't you tell us?!" Zac carried out in frustration.

Cameron shrugged. "I completely forgot, sorry."

"What did he say?" Carly asked.

Cameron thought back to that last afternoon. "He said... He said that if I work for him, he would allow me to go to the Moon Pool and become a merman."

"What?!?!" Zac cried. "Cam, why didn't you tell us this before?!"

"I forgot," Cameron repeated casually.

"Hold on," Sirena said. "If Cameron goes to pretend to work for Erik, he could find some information regarding their new plan and report back to us."

Carly nodded. "Good idea, Sirena. And, Cameron could also free Nixie and Weilan and Evie whilst finding out all about Erik's plans."

"Hold on, what?" Cameron asked, blinking at his friend.

"Well, you have frequently complained that you never get to help the mermaids," David reminded Cameron.

"Yeah, but - " Cameron began.

Zac tried to force a smile as he calmed his nerves. "Okay, Cameron goes to work for Erik, to tell us information. You should probably go now."

*****

Cameron had reluctantly gone to find Erik, and Zac and Sirena headed to Rita's, to tell them what Cameron was doing, and about Evie's disappearance.

But when they got to Rita's house, she wasn't there. Lyla, Ondina and Mimmi were in the grotto. Mabel was there too.

"Where's Rita?" Sirena asked them, as she sat down and picked up Poseidon, Rita's cat, and placed him on her knee.

Ondina shuffled away from Sirena. Ondina had never liked Poseidon. "She went out again," Ondina sighed. "I think she went to meet Veridia. But we weren't allowed to go. We had to wait for you guys."

Zac sat down besides Lyla. "Evie's gone missing," he said slowly.

"What?!" Everyone cried.

"And Erik took her?" Mimmi asked.

Zac nodded. "I think so."

"Why would Erik want Evie?" Mabel asked. "Unless - "

Zac nodded. "I bet he's going to threaten to hurt her unless we let him activate the Chamber."

Just then there was a splash coming from Rita's pool. Everyone looked at the doorway, ready to tell her about Evie, but then they heard another splash... And then another... Ams another... And one more...

"Four," Mabel whispered.

"Erik, Josh, Gareth and Matteo," Zac whispered.

Everyone stood up and readied their moon rings, except Mabel and Zac, and they waited for Erik to appear...

Except it wasn't Erik... It was Rikki.

Rikki looked around blankly, then looked at her mermaid friends and smiled.

"Guess who came to save the day?!" Rikki exclaimed happily, almost singing.

"Rikki!" Mimmi laughed. "What are you doing here?"

Rikki entered the grotto, followed by Cleo, Emma and Bella. Hugs and handshakes were exchanged (and Mabel was introduced) and everyone sat down to converse.

"Isn't it obvious?" Bella asked. "We're here to help you!"

"Yeah, with your 'little' Erik problem," Rikki added.

"You know that Erik's back?" Ondina asked.

Cleo nodded. "Yes. Rita has been training us with our moon rings for the past six months!"

"We were hoping to surprise you," Emma said. "Unfortunately, Rita came and told us about Erik. So we quickened up the lessons, and now here we are!"

"Wait," Mimmi said. "So, every time Rita left unexplained, she was really going to see you?!"

Rikki nodded. "Yeah, it was all part of the surprise."

"Where's Rita now?" Mabel asked timidly.

"We ran - well, swam - into Veridia on the way here. They went off to talk," Rikki replied.

"So how has your training been?" Sirena asked.

"It's been awesome," Bella smiled. "We've improved our magic greatly, and we have learnt lots of new spells and tricks."

"Good," Zac said. "Because we'll need them."

"Tell us what's been happening," Emma said.

Zac, with the help of the mermaids, enlightened Cleo, Emma, Rikki and Bella about everything that had happened, including: the three new merman; Nixie, Weilan and Evie being kidnapped; Erik's plan in full detail and Cameron's conversation with Erik.

"And Nixie, Weilan and Evie are still on Dr Denman's boat?" Cleo asked, hatred in her voice.

Lyla nodded. "First it was Nixie, then Weilan, and finally Evie yesterday."

"So what's our first plan?" Emma asked.

"I found a way to contact Nixie and the others," Mimmi said. "They aren't hurt, which is great to hear. Anyway, we are going to let Cameron work for Erik, and he will report information to us, and try save Nixie, Weilan and Evie. Then, on the full moon, we will all be waiting outside the Merman Chamber for Erik and the others."

"How long have they been gone?" Emma asked.

"Nixie has been gone for about two months," Sirena said.

Rikki paused. "... It's been two months and you haven't been able to save them? That's pretty poor work..."

"RIKKI!!" Cleo hissed angrily.

Rikki held up her hands. "I'm sorry! Look, contact Nixie and the others, and Cameron will set them free. Then during the full moon we will go to the Merman Chamber and stop them in their tracks... Let's go!!"