The Mermaid

Episode 4

Mama layed on the floor,in the pool of her own blood.

The house was empty and silent.

She was already dead and cold stived.
Cassandra had cleaned the dagger stains on her body, carried her school bag and left the house again, opening the door wide.

When Esther drove into the compound and saw the hall door opened,she knew something was amiss.

Plus,the air that blew around her was strange as she stepped out of the car.

It was half past 6. She had always come home earlier than this from work to prepare dinner but this particular day,work at the office was large so she spent extra two hours sorting out files.

When she climbed up the landing and entered the hall,she stopped, noticing her heart was beating rather too fast.

She expected Cassandra to have been back for school,so she called out her name as she walked through the hall.
“Cassie…. Cassie love..” Esther was calling as she entered the living room and stopped.
Mana was lying on the ground,onmoving,still as death.

At first she did not notice the pool of blood but when she ran forward to help her mother inlaw up,she saw the blood and screamed.
She screamed until she fainted.

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“Who! Just who could have done this to my own mother? Who?” Danny cried as they sat in the doctor’s office who told them mama could never wake up again. She was dead a long hour ago.

Esther could not talk as she sat there. She had already lost her voice to the screams.
“You have to take heart and take this matter to the police. Let them investigate on this very well.”the doctor said as Danny nodded. He was chattered.

Who could have come inside the house and killed his beloved mother?

The time was 8pm when they got home.
Mama’s body was deposited in the mortuary. Danny found it hard to believe that his mother was gone.

Cassandra sat outside the house,her arms wrapped around her with tears in her eyes.
Esther gasped as she saw her and ran to carry her.”Oh my God! I totally forgot that you might be crying…just you alone in the house. Cassandra, grandma is gone!! She’s gone!”Esther cried.

Danny consoled her and took Cassandra from her. They went inside the house and went to bed without even remembering supper.

Four months later, Mama’s burial had taken place two weeks after her death and buried at one of the best private cemetery.

Danny stayed at home for three months mourning his mother before he finally let go and continued with his life.

Esther was asked to quit her job so she could stay at home and take care of the house and Cassandra.

She would have gotten a nanny but Cassandra bluntly refused.

Over and over again,they kept changing Schools for Cassandra because there was always a complain that she was a rebellious child and everything goes wrong around her.
She was already seven and in basic 5 when she was brought to Bright Academy Model School.

The teachers were amazed at the level of the class she was in.

The head mistress thought she was too small for that class and asked her to be put back into basic 3.

Danny was desperate to have her fixed somewhere so he agreed.

To say Cassandra was furious would be an understatement. Her bones were ripping with a livid anger.

She stared at the head mistress,her eyes turning red, promising danger and destruction.

Her class was the first by the corridor. When the teacher brought her into the class,all the kids hushed up and stared at Cassandra.
Cassandra wasn’t staring back at them. Her eyes landed on the wall facing her,half of her ears listening as the teacher introduced her.
“This is Cassandra Daniel and she’s going to be joining your class. Welcome her and make her feel belong.”the class teacher said but nobody talked. They continued looking at Cassandra, especially her long hair.

When she took her seat at the third row at the middle, a girl beside her touched her hair. Cassandra shut her eyes, trying to calm herself. She opened them and looked at her.”Don’t do that again.” She said sternly and the hurl gasped at the tone of her voice.

“Hey! Chill up. Who ate your own share of the cake? I was only admiring your hair, newbie.”

The girl taunted, hissed and faced the board while Cassandra gave her a warning smile and looked away too.

She was boiling with anger. How could that Nan who called himself her father be so dumb to allow them take her back to grade 3?.
She would so deal with him and by the time she was going to finish with him,he would be dead…..

The class teacher suddenly looked at Cassandra and noticed she was not paying attention. She was about to call her when she noticed the medallion she was putting on.
Students were not allowed to put on such things on their uniforms and must follow all the rules and regulations.

“Cassandra.” She called.
No answer.
Everyone turned to look at the new girl.
Cassandra was staring intently at the floor.
“Cassandra!” The teacher called more louder and b@nged her Cain against the table.
Cassandra only looked up as though someone whispered her name.
“What’s your problem.” The teacher asked, annoyed at her non chalant attitude.
The other kids started murmuring, looking at her.

Cassandra ignored the teacher totally. She only continued staring at her.
The teacher, Aunty Aishat decided to ignore her.

“Remove your necklace.” She ordered.
Cassandra’s eyes sparked and flashed with renewed anger.
Her necklace??

Which Would prevent her from turning into a mermaid whenever water touches her?.
Cassandra went still,very still.
“What’s wrong with this girl?” Aunty Aishat asked, furiously standing up from her chair and marching towards Cassandra,with her Cain.

She stopped in front of her.”Stand up and remove that thing on your neck before I wipe you with this. No wonder you were being chased out of your formal school. Don’t you have any home training and respect for elders?

What are you still waiting for? I said you should remove it!” Aunty Aishat shouted and Cassandra became feverish.

What if something happens to the necklace?.
No…..no one should see her as a mermaid now.

That would be the end of her mission on Earth!
Cassandra stood up and as she made to pass the teacher by,Aunty Aishat furiously drew her back with her uniform collar together with the medallion and it came off from her neck …. falling to the ground.

Cassandra turned bright red as she stared at her medallion on the floor….she could not believe it …. could not believe that her medallion which had been on her neck for the past seven years was now on the floor….cut into two….!!