Chapter 5 Cyber Soul

Chapter 5

Cyber Soul

  Soft azure phosphorescence transformed William and Sonya’s grotto into an underwater dream.  Lying on their backs they bobbed beneath its’ craggy ceiling holding hands watching the dancing blue light shimmer and slide overhead. Adrift in each other’s hearts they did not notice the odd little golden glow sliding toward them beneath the water, until their seven- year daughter spun out of the water very nearly banging her head on an out cropping of rock.

  “Penny,” Her mother scolded, “be careful, your head is hard, but that rock is much harder.” It was then she noticed Penny’s cheeks were ballooned out, but much stranger than that they glowed yellow.

  “Daughter what have you done to yourself,” William’s heavy deep voice boomed.

  Penny opened her mouth and Kress flew out. “I made a friend Daddy, her names is Kress and he lives in the treetops, but she flies everywhere. I wish I could fly.”

 William and Sonya sat up, looked at one another and laughed. “Our daughter is so very smart,” Sonya said motioning for Penny to swim into her waiting arms, “Come Kress rest on my ear and tell me of your world,” Said Sonya tilting her head toward the tiny creature.

 Kress who had just turned six and was as fearlessly inquisitive as Penny, happily flew up to the beautiful young Mermaid. “Your home is wonderful, not as wonderful as our big trees but I like it.” She said into Sonya’s ear.  

  “She said she wanted to see our grotto Mama, but Sprites can’t breathe water. So I gave her my breath shut her up tight so she nothing bad would happen to her.”

  “You are quite clever, Penelope,” William said, “but I’m sure her parents are worried about her. You must take her back now.”

 Penny little shoulders slumped but she knew he was right.

  “Penny, can you hear me.” Suddenly everything froze. Kian’s voice was everywhere and nowhere.

  “Yes, Kian, what are you doing here?” Penny was suddenly a human teenager. The grotto was gone and she was standing in front of Kian Lunar house by his truck.

  “Do you want to be a mermaid again?”

 “I want to go home Kian. I want to be with my family!”

  “Of course you do sweetie, but your family is gone. I can bring them back but it will not be the same. I can make your memories real again. But they’ll still be memories. You can touch them hold them but it can’t be the same. Do you want that?”   

 “My parents are dead aren’t they?”

 “I’m so sorry Penny, so sorry, yes they are.”

  Penny looked around, placed her on his truck. “It never lived, my family did. No, it’ll will never be the same. I don’t want a lie Kian.”

  “Didn’t think you would, that’s why I asked.”

  “Kress’ family are they dead too?”

 “No, I’ve already sent them back to Chimera with Kress.”

  “Then she’s a Sprite again?”

  "Yes, that's what she wanted." 

 “I’ve never set foot on Chimera, not really I’d really like to do that. Would that be all right?”

  “Of course sweetie.”

  “My name is Penelope not sweet tea.” She said as tears rolled down her cheeks.