Chapter 29

I walked into an empty house and it gave me the creeps. I called out in fear, "Hello, Grandpa!" I called out to him repeatedly but I received no response. I turned to Drake and asked him to help me find him. I found that nobody was home and Drake said the same. We asked the neighbors and they told me that the last time they saw him he said that he was going to see his friend Aldridge. I knew where he lived but as far as I remember he died when I was ten. I had attended his funeral so we approached the cemetery with caution.

I approached the cemetery and I remembered what I was told about how witches and all sorts of spirits and other beings unknown live and roam freely in the cemetery so I had to be extra careful. There were intricately carved mausoleums and I saw that there were no tombstones. I was shocked at the sight of this. Honestly, I only attended the service at his house. It was explained to me by Grandpa that the water level underground was closer to the soil and not to mention there are no rock beds here so when it rains excessively the roads will flood and the coffins will be seen floating around the street. It stirs fear in the hearts of people. So they built these houses to ensure that it doesn't happen.

I was walking the path that grandpa drew in his diary. I heard a quiet whimper. I saw a scared little girl. She was was sitting on the floor. She was. wearing a plain white dress. Her hair was black and it reached her ankle. I called out to her and there was no response. Suddenly, she saw me and she bolted in pure terror. I tried to follow her but Drake stopped me. He told me that it is a trap. It is a trickster. Her job is to get people to follow her till they run into one of the many cages ready in waiting. They will transported to be eaten by one of the monsters that live in the swamp. I flinched at the thought and thanked him for being there with me. He gave me an encouraging smile and we started searching again.

I walked till I found the tombstone but Grandpa wasn't there. I smelled around and discovered that someone was here but it wasn't grandpa. I walked out of the cemetery and turned into a bunch of bats. I flew as high as I could and searched the place for him. I saw a bunch of bats and I became whole again. I waved at them and asked them to find my grandpa. They flew for a few minutes and when they found him they circled the area above.

I flew to a nearby roof and made myself whole. I walked downstairs and approached Grandpa. Grandpa was surprised to see me. He wasn't expecting me. I hugged him tightly and he laughed at my nervousness. He said that he was fine. He was happy about the surprise visit. He didn't recall asking anyone to call me. He has been fine for the last few months. He was with his new friend Killian Jones. He was a man in his forties. He had one of his hands suspiciously stuffed in his jacket pocket. He was wearing a leather jacket. And a black t-shirt, a pair of faded jeans and heavy leather work boots. He saw Drake and he nod his head. Drake gave him an angry expression that screams murder. I asked him if he was Captain Hook. Drake laughed at me nervously. He wasn't Captain Hook. He was the pirate called Black Beard. He went to the fountain of youth and now he is out looking for men to fill up his new ship. Drake can't allow it since black beard has a knack of attack mermaid settlements.

I whispered in his ear with anger. "If you touch my Grandpa. Or if you approach the mermaids again. I will find you and peel you like an onion." He didn't know what that was so I invited him for dinner and I showed him how I peel off the layers of this huge white bulb. He went from red faced to ghost white. After dinner, I took Killian outside to the park and showed him how fast I was and what I was. I warned him Killian that I am a very effective hunter. My husband is the nightmare of a lot of people. Drake watched me with great amusement. I told Killian that my husband and I don't make idle threats. He swore he will never do anything of the sort. I knew he was looking for loopholes so I made it clear that loopholes won't save him from me. He started to sweat like a melting snowman. He fidgeted for a minute and looked at Drake for relief. He offered him none. I pinned him to the tree and asked him what it would feel like to be eaten by a shark. He asked his first mate to let the captive mermaid go. It was Tiamat. He asked me if things were now even and I told him not. I nod my head and watched as Tiamat invited her fellow sisters to feast on the both of them. She thanked me by giving me a black pearl. I accepted it with a smile. She smiled and left with her family and I left with mine after I burned a few of the corpses.

When I reached for Killian's body. Drake pulled me away from him. Behind me were people from both sides. It turns out that were red and death notices going around on both sides to kill Black Beard. So we had to hand in his body as proof. It turns out he was the one who exposes our world to humans time and time again. Both sides were sick of his knack for using loopholes to cause mayhem. The good side had placed a red notice while the dark side had placed a death notice.

Both sides were so happy that they threw a party after we had returned from Grandpa. Since I didn't sign any contract to seal his safety. The law strongly allows the mermaids to eat their captives. They decided that I should be awarded. They convened a meeting and I was given a mansion. I told him that I don't want to be fighting anymore. I want my mansion to be a neutral zone. They happily agreed as this would stop others from hurting me. I was given a mansion in the lush Amazon rainforests. I will be neighbors with Zuni. So my fears were dissolved for the most part. This will get ugly at times but I will be safe.