SACRIFICE

It was at dawn, when the sun had still not awakened, the gentle and tempting breeze of the wind made everyone fall asleep except for Araxie who had found it strange as breezes carried moisture from the sea which caressed her body instead, making it impossible for her to blink.

"How did they all fall asleep in this coldness! And that too so suddenly!"Araxie wondered and then felt like someone breathing in her hair but she couldn't see anyone after turning around.

"Is that you Trion!"she asked when she was pretty sure that Trion never possessed the powers of invisibility.

"I'm not Trion, gorgeous lady!"the voice spoke from her back. What was this man making her do! I bet she was tired of turning around to see him. She wished she had her bead with her perhaps things could've been different but she had no idea for why the bead wasn't showing up no matter how many times she tried summoning it!

"Don't come close to me!"she warned as if she was seeing him. She was right anyway, although she wasn't seeing him, she still felt his presence right closer to her. She was feeling his magical breathe caressing her moist hair.

"Hmmm! How brave!" Was he mocking her!

It felt strange for Araxie that no matter how louder she spoke, no one heard her. Why was that! What did that invisible creature want from her.-she would wonder and it was like he was seeing through her mind because he answered her questions before she could ever ask.

"Well, I know you're wondering why I'm here at this hour. But don't worry cos I'm not here to harm you. I just came so we can make a deal. A brilliant one in fact."

"What deal. I don't want to make any deal with you."

"You must be joking! Don't you want your husband and son back? Isn't it why you've all spent a night here,huhh? Why am I even forcing you to do this. It's okay... I'll go back and please take these people back home for what they're busy waiting for will never come back and it will be all because of your stubbornness.

Yes... I will make sure that you've told them yourself how you refused to save your husband and son despite having a chance to! And if that doesn't happen, I'll tell them myself as I'll be back to take your daughter as well.

I think I'm going."the man's voice said and soon silence reigned the place for some good seconds before Araxie spoke; " Hold on Mr invisible! What do you know about my son and husband. Where are they. What have you done to them that they're not returning."

She waited for a response as her heart was racing so faster than normal.

"Are you there?"she called out when the man delayed to say out something.

"Hmmm. It's good that you care for your family. I guess it won't be difficult to deal with you."the invisible man finally spoke breaking the silence between them.

"Tell me about the deal."

"Good question!

Well, I accidentally saved your son and husband from the angry and wounded sharks that have survived the destruction in the shark's kingdom and now, I have held your husband captive and your sweet son,.... he's playing inside his tank and do you know what's so interesting, your son cried so tirelessly and I had to throw some fish chips inside that small tank for him. You're so lucky that I didn't kill them.

I simply couldn't do so because I always looked for an opportunity to get to you and now I have it. Yes! I do have something that's so special to you. And I.... I will surely get you to dance to my tunes."

Although Araxie was shaking and shivering so much, she managed to form out some words and was like...,"You've talked a lot and I still haven't got what the deal really is!"

"Don't worry mummy for you're going to get answers to your questions very soon.

And as far as the deal is concerned, I want you to marry me and forget all about your husband Trion and there I'll have to free him up with his baby."

"W-what! I simply can't do this.

like seriously! Aaa..are you crazy?"Araxie could hardly utter out words due to so much shock she was in.

"Maybe I am really out of my mind. And do you know why? Well, it's because I'm crazy about you Araxie. You're a lovely and gorgeous woman. I regret the fact that I didn't get to see you before you became a woman but that still didn't stop my heart from beating for you. I fell in love with you the very first time I saw you and your husband taking sunbathe and since that day, I've been keeping a close eye on you hoping for a miracle to bring you straight to me and here it is!"

"You're crazy."she swallowed her breathe.

Would she agree to the deal and marry that invisible man just to save her husband and child?

"How can I believe that what you're telling me is true. If possible could you please take me to where they are! I will do as you say after that."

"That's very possible mummy! Let's go."the man said and then Araxie felt his metal-like hand grabbing hers and before she realized, she was floating on water and it seemed like she was being pulled by that invisible force.

"Why did I even trust him! What if his stories were all cooked up. What will happen to me."she thought before she shouted for help and then wondered in realization that no one else seemed to know what was going on awhile ago. It was obvious that they wouldn't hear her screams that time as well.

"Oh gosh! Where's he taking me. I need to leave something behind that would help them find me. I simply can't marry this monster!"

Meanwhile on the shores lazily behind the mountains, the sun woke up looming like a bright red balloon, then the scenery momentarily became as vivid as its original life. Everything suddenly became so brilliant in different angles as sparkling diamonds. All created a feeling of cheery and pleasant. The sounds of singing birds, undulating waves, were enough to get these people from their deep sleep and only to find that Araxie was nowhere to be seen.

They began calling out for her, moving up and down around the shores but shockingly she wasn't seen.

Their hearts jumping out of their chests, they came into realization that something must've happened otherwise they wouldn't have fallen asleep suddenly.

They thought they would trace her with her footprints but they weren't there too.

"The one who took her is so cunning. He or she didn't leave footprints behind.

Maybe they didn't go anywhere, they jumped into the Sea, what do you think."Marina asked.

"I think you're right but unfortunately I can't dive in to look for them. I think my grandson Scott summoned my powers as well because I'm too weak to do anything."Tia could hardly speak which left them all wondering what was really going on under their noses.

They were still looking around when Casey showed up carrying baby Mahi in her back!

Mahi had been crying uncontrollably since dawn. Perhaps she had already sensed that her whole family was in danger.

Would that help anyway? She was a total human remember and the little powers she possessed had already been summoned away from her. How would she tell these people what was making her cry that much.

Wait! Why would Scott want all their powers in the first place?