The Mermaid

Episode 12

“You have to believe me,Agnes!! That girl tried to kill me! Her powers…she was so powerful!” Osmond shouted, breathing fire and brimstone.

Agnes laughed at her husband.”Osmond,you are always drinking doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have common sense.

Please,if you are drunk and trying to make sense,just ho and sleep. I’m sure Cassandra will have a good reason to stay out late like this.” Agnes said, dismissively.

“Believe me Agnes. Although I was drunk,I know what I saw. She ran out of the house…she…”

“Osmond, please. Give me a break! Haah!” Agnes said, hissed and left the sitting room. Osmond felt like going crazy.
Or was he really dreaming?.

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Cassandra walked so slowly on the road, thinking. She felt like crying but she fought back the tears that threatened to fall out.

When she got in front of the house, she stood outside,resting against the wall.

She brought out the jewelry box and looked at it.

Then the tears pored out. She couldn’t hold it anymore.

Johnny…how could she kill him?

Cassandra cleaned her tears and entered inside the compound.

Victoria was washing her school uniform outside when she walked in.

She looked up and wondered at her reddened eyes.

“Aunty Cassandra,are you crying.” Victoria asked but got snubbed.
“Why can’t you just answer a question for once in your life? I’m seek and tired of your snubbish character.” Victoria pouted.
Cassandra ignored her and entered the house.

As soon as she entered, Osmond jumped up from the chair he was sitting, pointing at her.
“You…you! Do t think I don’t know ow what you did to me! You tried to kill me.” Osmond raved on.
“You must be dreaming sir.” Cassandra quickly said when she saw Agnes coming out of the kitchen.

“I told you so. Please, Cassandra! Don’t mind him.

But why are you coming home by this time?” Agnes asked.

“I went out.” Was all Cassandra said and entered her room, locking the door.

She put down her bag on the bed and brought out the jewelry box, hardening her face and getting herself ready for the task ahead.

Tommorow…. tommorow…she will begin her newest mission.

Osmond spat walked quietly and slowly to the passage leading to Cassandra’s room around 12pm. He needed to see things himself if possible.

He knew what he saw.

Even if he was drunk,he knew what that girl did to him.

He tiptoed to her door and put his ear on her door but heard nothing.

He listened again but everywhere was as still as ever.

He turned to go and almost screamed when he cane face to face with Cassandra who stared at him with an expressionless countenance.

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Mrs Adeola came into the class early the next morning, to teach her subject, Literature.
Students settled down,happy to see her. They love seeing her talking for her own accent was so sweet and different.

Cassandra’s mind drifted away from class and entirely from school, thinking about how best to go about her mission.

She glanced back and her eyes met Johnny’s. He looked at her too and smiled.

She smiled back and turned to see the teacher, looking in her direction.

“Get up,young lady.” Mrs Adeola said a d Cassandra stared at her, wondering whether to one for the first time or do what she was best at.

“I said,get up, young lady.” The teacher says again and Cassandra breathed in, getting up.

“Are you new here?”
Isn’t that obvious. Cassandra wanted to ask but she refrained herself.

“Yes.”she answered.
“Okay. Try a different concentrate when in class, okay?” The teacher asked.
Cassandra sat back down looking at the wall clock.

She couldn’t wait for lunchtime.
When the bell finally rang lunchtime, Cassandra reached into her bag and brought out the jewelry box.

She had a perfect idea on how to go about it.
“Hi, Cassandra.” Johnny said behind her and she quickly dropped back the Jewelry box inside her bag.

She tried her best to be conversant.
“Hi”she replied, feeling her heart beating fast.

Johnny sat next to her, looking curiously at her.”You look like you want to tell me something. What’s it?” Johnny asked and Cassandra looked at him.

Only if he knew he was sitting with the devil who’s going to send him to an early grave.” I only wanted to show gratitude for your help yesterday when I collapsed. I’m… really grateful. Thanks.” Cassandra said, trying everything possible to avoid eye contact with him.

Johnny stared at her medallion.”I haven’t seen something like that before. Where did you get it from? To me it doesn’t look ordinary.” Johnny said and Cassandra looked straight into his eyes.

She could not help it.”It’s…it’s…from.my mother….I…it…was actually a gift.” Cassandra replied, looking away from him immediately.

Johnny shrugged and looked down at his wrist watch.”Care fur lunch? There is still plenty of time.” He said and Cassandra’s heart beat a fast retreat.
It was time……

They made their way to the cafeteria and found an empty seat.
“I will go to the counter and get our food.” Johnny said and started to stand up when Cassandra he his hand and made him sit back.
“I will go instead.” She said, secretly bringing out the jewelry box from her bag.
As soon as it reached her hand,she covered it tightly with her hand.

Johnny smiled at her.”Okay,I will be waiting.”he said,suspecting absolutely nothing.

Cassandra stood up abruptly and walked to the counter,her back turned against Johnny.
Johnny’s food came first…Jollof rice and fish. Ever gently and quietly,she brought out the ring inside the jewelry box and wore it, tapping it twice on Johnny’s food so some drops of poison would drop inside the food.
she quickly put it back as her own food also got ready. She carried the tray to Johnny who took his own food with delight.

“That is what I like most about this school. They have the best eatery time and place.” Johnny said,taking his spoon and getting ready to eat.

Cassandra looked away, unable to look. She could not.

He was going to eat it and die.
It was such a powerful one. Cassandra wanted to stand up,
to run away from ever but she couldn’t as she quietly sat there,her while body paralysed.
How can I watch him die?

The very first person I tried to run to,for help?
Who made me felt what I have been able to feel in a whole lot of years.

How is he going to cause my downfall?
No…. queen mother…I’m sorry. I can’t do this!
Please!!

“Come on.whats wrong? Let’s eat.” Johnny said and lifted a spoonful of rice to his mouth.

As if in a slow motion, Cassandra’s eyes jammed with the speed of the spoon and before she could stop herself,she jumped up and knocked the spoon out of his hand.
As soon as she jumped up,the rice in the plate tumbled over and scattered all over the place together with the spoon……