XXIV

“Come closer”. Its raspy voice said. I didn’t know if it was fear or shock but my feet obeyed the command. “You haven’t changed a bit”. The head on the right said. “She’s not the one, brother”. The left head said. “Oh! she looks like her a lot”. The right head whined. “No! That girl had blonde hair”. The left said rolling his eyes. “I remember brother but they have the same eyes”. “That girl's eyes were green”. “Indeed! But she definitely has…” I cleared my throat very loudly. Both their heads snapped in my direction. “First of all, I never expected to meet a real serpent”, I said trying to put my voice in one piece, “I thought there was a person called Water serpent”. “You thought wrong child”, the left head said, “but tell me, why are you still standing so far away? Are you afraid?” Is that a trick question? I’m standing in front of a gigantic white cobra with two heads and they expect me to be calm? I thought. I exhaled, “not really”, I replied, “I'm just surprised”. “You know we can hear your thoughts?” the right one said. I face palmed myself for forgetting. “So tell us young one, why are you here? Do you have the siren's song gift?” “No” I answered quickly, “I was told by my mother to come here in search of my father's staff”. “Why would your mother want you to retrieve your father's staff? Do you both have a plan against him?” “They’re both dead. I found the note she left me”. “Why did she write the note? Couldn’t your father do it?” “He was probably dead. Our house was on fire and she was human”. Their questions tempted me to be sarcastic but I was also very scared of them. They looked at themselves then at me. “Excuse us but who was your father?” they both asked. “Caleb Ireon?” it came out more like a question than an answer. “The one from Goran I presume?” The left head asked. I nodded my head even if I wasn’t sure what he was talking about. “I should have guessed”. He said, “and you’re here to get his staff of power?” I nodded my head again. Where is he going with this? I thought. “I assume you have something to trade for it”. “Something to trade?” I questioned. “Yes of course! You don’t expect us to just hand over the staff, do you?” “Erm, yes” I answered in a ‘duh’ tone, “it belonged to my Dad “. “Indeed! But we found it fair and square”. “Is this how you trick everyone that comes here for help?" “Certainly! We take powerful instruments and to get it back some give up part of their powers or their valuable possessions but the most popular one is sacrificing your land legs but you’re half breed. That isn’t an option”. “So you rob people of their valuables every time they come here for help?”. I could feel my anger rising. “Rob is a strong word”, the right head said, “think of it as a simple business”. The way he spoke without remorse made me lose it. “You call that business?! Some people don’t have so much, some need their powers to survive and what about those who have families on the surface?!” “None of that is our primary concern”. The left head scoffed. I lost my cool and shouted, “you’re going to return everything you ever stole this instant!” “Or what?” they barked. “Need I remind you that we're powerful beings” the right one added. “Well”, I removed the dagger handle from my pocket. The blade grew to its full length. I held it tightly and said, “I guess we’ll just have to settle this the hard way”. I didn’t believe that I was that threatening but I couldn’t stand for anything unfair. I didn’t know all the people well but most of them were good people and good people shouldn’t suffer at the hands of beings like this. “Okay. Let's not be rational”. The left one said. I smirked, “what’s the matter?” I asked, “are these powerful beings afraid of a little blade?” “Never in all our years have we met anyone of such courage”, the right one said, “you truly are the chosen one”. My anger turned to confusion. “No need to be worried, young one”, he said, “that was a test”. “A test?” I asked. “Yes! And you passed”. The left one cleared his throat, “you see Wiberly, we have been waiting for years to find the one destined to fight the great war that will save Oceania “, he explained, “and you happen to be the one. We wanted to confirm if you had the will and you do”. This was all starting to sound like crazy talk. “I think you have the wrong person”, I said, “I'm not cut out for this crazy destiny you want to give me”. “Your mother said you should find the Clear Spring right?” he asked. “How did you...?” I couldn’t even complete the question. “Come and have a look”. Their body moved from the pool. With trembling hands, I walked slowly to the pool. A white fog cleared from the surface. An image was slowly forming. I could see myself in battle uniform. I was the one calling the shots. Everywhere was dark and stormy but I stood tall. Everything and everyone was covered in blood. I drew my bow and arrow to shoot someone down. I moved away from the pool. I shook my head fervently, “that can't be me”, I said, “that can't be me”. “Why do you still deny your fate?” They asked. “That can’t be me”, I repeated, “that girl is fearless, calm and in control. I can’t even find out the truth behind my birth”. “Never doubt yourself”. “What are you saying?! I don’t even have the power to lead. Everyone here has experience and the full potential of a mermaid. I don’t!” “With the right source of help, you will naturally fall into line”. They assured. Almost immediately, I felt something hovering over my head. I looked up and a golden staff with a lightning bolt at the tip rotated in circles. I opened my right hand and it flew inside. I looked at them again then at the staff. “I don’t deserve this role”. I whispered. “Then why did you open your hand the staff?”. I couldn’t answer. I didn’t know why I did it. “Wiberly, you need to make a choice. And fast”, they said, “the fate of Oceania rests on your shoulders". Their last words were partly faint as they vanished with it. So here I stood. Alone, in front of the clear spring, with my Dad's staff in my hands and a prophecy set to haunt me. I looked at the staff and I faced the ocean behind me. And I thought it was complicated before.