Heart of the Sea

CHAPTER SIX

Thalassa stared as Penny McMillians danced in front of her; beckoning her to join as their parents watched. The nine years old child just stood still with no expression on her face. Penny’s laugh had filled the air.

The Haskells, satisfied that Penny was the right friend for their shy daughter, left the room to leave them to play as Penny’s parents and older brother, as old as Aeras, started to work. And no sooner than the adult had left, Penny stopped dancing and glared at Thalassa who barely said a word to her.

“I like your necklace,” Penny had said as she walked towards Thalassa; staring at the simple, yet eye catching necklace of the younger child. “Give it to me,”

The gold chain of the necklace was intricatedly woven into each other as if they cannot be separated from each other. But- it was the pendant that caught Penny’s attention. It was no more than a couple of inches, rounded and shiny. The stone Sapphire was impossible not to notice; especially at Thalassa’s pale features.

Thalassa shook her head. “No. This is my favorite. My mamma had given it to me for my birthday,”

The older one of the two rolled her eyes. She crossed her small, petite arms as she huffed; stomping her feet in irritation at not getting what she wanted. “I told you give it to me!”

“No!” Thalassa cried as the older girl neared her in her attempt to take the necklace. But- Thalassa, despite appearing weak and sick, was faster than Penny.

In her anger at not getting what she wanted, Penny started for, not the necklace, but at the very girl wearing it. She started pulling at her hair, her dress, anything she could get her hands on. Thalassa, instead of screaming, started to contradict her actions.

Despite being young and aloof, her father, Mr. Haskell, had made sure Thalassa can protect herself. He started training her and her sister, Aeras as soon as the former could understand and comprehend. So, with a calm mind, Thalassa found her way out of Penny’s hand. But- it had ended with the older girl on the floor; crying her defeat. Her loud cries had alerted the adults and Thalassa could hear the rush of footsteps outside the living room.

The door was pushed open by Mr. Haskell. And despite being young, Thalassa knew what the sight would look from someone’s point of view. After all- she was the one standing and Penny was the one crying.

“Thalassa!” her father reprimanded, not giving her a chance to explain. “I taught you the arts of fighting not so you can hurt the weak but so you can protect yourself!”

Thalassa could not understand why the past she tried her best to forget was occupying her mind. Penny McMillians and every memory with her was something she does not like to dwell at. So, what was triggering them?

She looked up at the pale light of the moon hiding behind a thin, strand of clouds that somehow looked like a sea serpent. Like always, she felt the pull of the moon; its aura beckoning her and its soft, pale light embracing her- covering her like a protective mother.

“Thalassa!” Aeras’ voice interrupted the connection Thalassa had with the moon.

She spun around to see her sister making her way towards her. She had a small candle lamp in her hand to illuminate her way through the dark forest. The sight made Thalassa’s heart constrict into something she could not understand. Aeras had looked so pale behind the flickering fire that Thalassa could not avoid imagining some unlikely scenarios.

“Thalassa, I can understand you wanting to be surrounded by nature when the sun hides but you must understand- these late night walks without telling any of us worries us,” Aeras continued as she stopped in front of her sister.

“Forgive me, my dear Aeras. It was not my intention to worry any of you. I merely could not resist the serene call of the moon,”

Aeras smiled knowingly at her sister. But- despite knowing full well about her sister’s uncanny but unquestionably strange character, she could not help but love her more for it.

She then looked up at the moon, to try and see if it calls to her too. But- despite being mesmerized with its soft, pale light Aeras felt no connection like her sister had said.

“Come, let us go back. It is getting late,” she ushered but Thalassa gently shook her head.

“You go ahead, Aeras. I am going to stay a little more. I promise, I shall return safe and sound,”

“Should I leave the lamp?” Aeras worriedly offered.

“I can navigate my way through this wood with my eyes close, my dear sister. Do not worry,”

With one last promise from Thalassa, Aeras started to retrace her steps out of the woods. Even though she had played with Thalassa in the woods when they were young, she had not memorized it the way her sister had.

Once left alone, Thalassa smiled to herself as she set off towards the deeper parts of the forest. She glided effortlessly through the dark forest with nothing but the moonlight shining her way. She could already hear the sounds of water after a five minutes’ walk.

After removing a tree branch gently away, Thalassa saw the river she had always played when she was young. It was her sanctuary. Her own little world. It was where she would go to escape and vent her feelings out since she felt she was burdening her sister too much.

Yet, there- in her own little bubble of safety, she found a friend she thought she would never have and never expected since Penny McMillians was someone that destroyed friendship for her. She had found that someone who she felt comfortable with other than those of her family members. And despite being older than her by a few years, he stayed by her side.

Until- his family left.

Thalassa still comes to the falls every time something bothers her. But- most of her reasons consisted of thoughts of the friend she gained and lost in a short amount of time. Those memories she made with him was the only thing that kept her going despite being so unbelieving in other people.

Climbing up the falls like it was no fret; Thalassa could confidently say that she knew every nook and cranny of the place. Upon reaching the top, Thalassa closed her eyes and spread her arms, looking up at the moon.

But- again, something interrupted their silent connection. Thalassa’s eyes quickly darted towards the direction of the sound yet she saw nothing. Worried someone might have seen her, with her hair down and all, Thalassa jumped down the tall rock and silently made her way home.