Selkie Cove - Tuesday Afternoon

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe hadn't slept much the night before as she kept thinking about the argument between her and Cole. She had spent a lot of time staring out the window and trying to work things out in her mind.

He couldn't be honest with her or trust her. He was hiding things from her.

When morning came, she made plans to meet Lana after the other girl's First Aid workshop and she packed a bag to take out to Selkie Cove.

She had chosen Selkie because it was her favourite place on the island. The water was beautiful and the rocks there made a nice place to sit and think.

And think she did, staring at a folded piece of paper in her hand.

She had found the spell in the Book Of Shadows a few weeks ago. She had kept it with her, not sure she could use it.

She was sure, now.

Last night had made the decision for her. She needed to know the truth.



[[For lovelylana]]

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[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

Lana arrived after her workshop. She'd been distracted all morning, wondering how Phoebe was doing and if there was anything that she could do to help her.

She was glad Phoebe had chosen Selkie's Cove. It was quiet and isolated - not as popular as Galactica Point - and it always made her feel more at peace.

She saw Phoebe holding something in her hand and headed towards her. "Hey, Pheebs. How are you doing?"

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe smiled slightly at her best friend. "I'm doing okay. I've been thinking and making some decisions."

She looked at the paper in her hand again.

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

Lana nodded. "And what have you decided?"

[sensethevisions]

"That I have to use my own way to find out what Cole is hiding from me and what he's lying to me about."

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

Lana hesitated. "Are you sure that's a good idea?" she asked after a moment. I mean, you need to be prepared to find out either something you really don't want to know or something that's very private. Either way it could really change things for you."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe nodded. "I don't think that I have much of a choice, Lana," she said sadly. "He's lying to me and shutting me out. I've asked and I've pleaded and he still doesn't come clean. I know that it could change a lot of things for me... but isn't everything changing on me right nnow because of the way things are between us?"

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

Lana sighed. "I guess," she said slowly. "But... I just worry. I wish you'd let me try to talk to him or something."

She shook her head. "But I know you've thought about all that stuff and you have your reasons. So... what exactly are you going to do now?"

[sensethevisions]

"It wouldn't do any good," she said sadly. "I'm going to do an open mind spell... between Cole and I."

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

Lana looked even more unsettled. "With your empathic abilities, do you really want to be in his mind? Not that I don't believe that he's good, but we both know he's done some terrible things. Is your brain going to be able to handle that?"

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe hadn't thought about that part, but she didn't want Lana to worry about her sanity or her safety.

"I think my brain will handle it a lot better than my stomach would," she reassured her. She unfolded the paper and took a deep breath. "Here goes..."

"Open Cole's mind to me
Reveal the secrets he hides from me
Bring forth the truth of his mind,
That I may know what's inside."

She looked up from reading and that's when her body fell off of the rocks and onto the sand.

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

Lana stared in shock. "Phoebe? You're... a mermaid!"

How the hell did that happen? How did an open mind spell translate into turning her best friend into a mermaid?!

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe flailed and her tail hit the sand with a *thwack*.

"But.. but no! I cannot be a mermaid! I'm allergic to shellfish!" She flailed her arms some more, a bit perplexed by this.

"This makes no sense! I cast an open mind spell... not a turn Phoebe into sushi spell!!"

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

"Phoebe, something's gone terribly wrong. What can I do? Should I..." Lana tried desperately to think of something. "Should I get Piper or Cole? Should we get you to the clinic?"

Though how she'd ever manage to carry Mermaid Phoebe to the clinic from here she had no idea. Oh, this was bad. This was very bad!

[sensethevisions]

"I have no legs!" Phoebe wailed, smacking at the tide that was coming up. She looked at Lana. "Piper... Piper will know what to do." She swallowed.

"I can get into the water and stay there until someone comes. Or if I need to I can swim around the island to get to Galactica Point."

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

"Piper, right," Lana said. She pulled out her cell phone and left a message (http://cookinggeek.livejournal.com/2169.html?thread=501369#t501369) for Piper.

"She's not there, but hopefully she'll get the message soon." Lana crouched down on the sand next to Phoebe trying to comfort and calm her. "It will be okay, we'll figure something out, Pheebs."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe shook her head. "I need to get into the water," she said with a slight hitch in her breathing. "It's safer for me there right now."

She looked at Lana. "Can you please go back to the dorms and find Piper? Explain what happened?" She dug her fingers into the wet sand. "And be careful?"

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

Lana nodded, still looking panicked herself. "Of course. I'll find her and... we'll... something."

She watched to make sure Phoebe was safely in the water before running back to the dorms as fast as she could.

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

Lana came back down to the Cove after talking to Piper (http://cookinggeek.livejournal.com/30440.html) and stood on the rocks looking for Phoebe.

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe bounced up from the water. "Lana!"

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

"Phoebe!" Lana looked relieved. "Thank God you're still here? How do you feel? I told Piper adn she's working on a way to reverse the spell."

[sensethevisions]

"I feel great. You should come swimming with me."

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

"Um..." Lana hesitated. "I suppose I could. Do you really think it's a good idea though? Shouldn't we be trying to find some way to get you back to yourself?"

Piper did say to go watch out for her and make sure she stayed nearby. This might be one way to do that.

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe beamed at her.

"Go change and I'll meet you back here." She started to dive back into the water. "Hey, Lana? Can you please do me a big favor?"

Phoebe seemed very cheerful.

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

"Sure. Of course," Lana agreed. "What do you need?"

[sensethevisions]

"My teachers? Could you please tell them that unless they decide to hold class on the beach I won't be able to attend?"

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

"Of course," Lana said, slipping behind one of the rocks to change. She'd brought a suit and towel with her after class in case she and Phoebe had decided to go swimming.

She came out and started to ease herself into the water. God, it was cold compared to the heat of the day. "But don't you think Piper will find a way to fix this before that becomes an issue?"

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe shrugged, moving among the waves.

"It's always nice to be prepared."

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

"Okay," Lana said, ducking under the water to get completely wet. "If you're not back to non-mermaid Phoebe by class tomorrow I'll let them know. You've got Stealth and Sex Ed with me and that Deception class, right?"

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe was really, really cheerful.

"I have Outquipping the Bad Guy with Ivanova, Stealth and Deception with Alfred, Sex Ed with Becky and then Constant Vigilance with The Doctor."

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

Lana nodded. "Outquipping the Bad Guy, right."

She swam out a little further towards Phoebe. "You seem to be taking this all really well. I thought you'd be a lot more upset."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe smiled at her as she bobbed in the water. "I'm feeling very relaxed which is kind of strange. But life is too showrt to be melodramatic and I'm sure things will all work out for the best in the end."

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

Lana looked at her curiously. This just didn't sound right.

"Oh! You know I meant to ask before. Did the spell work? Can you see what Bel was hiding from you?"

[sensethevisions]

"Bel?" She thought for a moment and then sighed. "I don't think I'll know until he comes close."

She dove into the waves and popped up much further out to sea. Then she dove back under the water and was immediately at Lana's side again.

"That's so cool."

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

"Almost makes me wish I was a mermaid myself," Lana said a little wistfully.

[sensethevisions]

"Could ask Piper," she suggested. The afternoon was turning into evening.

"It's getting late," she frowned.

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

Lana nodded. "And I have to get out of the water before I turn into a prune."

She hesitated, looking around. "What should I do? I suppose I could get some blankets or something and stay here overnight. I don't want to leave you on your own."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe swam with Lana to the water's edge.

"I'll be okay," she promised. "I'm safe in the water and I would feel bad if anything happened to you because you were sleeping on the beach to keep me protected or to give me company."

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

Lana nodded, still worried. "I guess," she said quietly. "Okay. I'll be back tomorrow to check on you. Hopefully Piper will have figured something out by then."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe gave her a soft smile. "Lana? Thank you...for being here for me."

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

Lana sighed. "I just wish there was something I could do to help."

She gave her a rueful smile. "Oh, well, being here's better than nothing, right? I'll see you in the morning."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe nodded, squeezing Lana's hand.

She watched her best friend walk away, and then dove into the waves.