//Paranormal Paradox\\

Chapter 7

Zac POV:

I was practically shouting at Rita now trying to get a response. She just stared at me, a foggy look in her eyes. She swayed a little, and her eyes drifted shut. Soon after her knees locked, and I grabbed her, before gently lowering her onto the ground. "Rita?" I questioned, shaking her by the shoulders.

This was not the first time I had to deal with her unconcious, but I was really hoping it would be the last time. The sea water had healed her the first time I thought to myself. And so I grabbed her hand and dipped it into the sea entrance, careful not to get any water on myself.

She transformed, but nothing happened. Last time, something had happened pretty much as soon as she had been exposed to water. "Come on rita.." I muttered outloud, carefully removing her arm from the water and using my powers to dry her off. She was still completely unresponsive. I bent down and checked her pulse, it was there but it was faint.

Had the dragon done something to her? I was confused and knew if she didn't wake up soon I'd have to call my dad to come help. He was an expert in human sickness, so he may be no help, but he could at least try. He most likely knew more than I did. After Narissa came back she helped me tell my mom and dad everything.

They were shocked at first to see my birth mother in person, and even more shocked when they learned the truth about me and everyone. I told them practically everything that had happened from day one, and Narissa helped make it very clear to them the improtance of keeping our secret a secret. With that being said, I knew he would help her the best he could, and he wouldn't risk exposing us.

I gently patted Rita's face, trying to get her to stir in some way. She did nothing still, and I was really starting to panic. "Zac?" I heard Mimmi's voice echo through the sea entrance as she surfaced, Narissa and Veridia surfacing behind her. I was trying to work on calling Narissa mom, but it felt odd to me.

"Zac...what happened, are you alright?" She looked at me in curioisty, a relief on her face when she was I was seemlingly okay. But her face fell when she saw Rita completely unconcious on the ground. She pulled herself out of the water and hurriedly began drying off.

Veridia's eyes were daggers as she glared at me. They were icy and cold, I knew she had never came to trust me even after Rita tried to convince her to. "What have you done to her?!" Veridia practically yelled, her firm voice bouncing off the cave walls.

She pulled herself up and began drying off, closely followed by my mother. "I-I didn't do anything..." I stuttered out. I launched into the whole story. I told them of how I had shared the vision with Rita earlier when I touched her shoulder, about the dragon attacking, and about Rita just suddenly collapsing. They paid attention while drying off, although Veridia was still glaring.

Mimmi ran over and pulled me into a tight hug while Veridia knelt next to Rita. Her movements were gentle and it was odd to me to see this softer side of Veridia. She pulled Rita's head into her lap, and closed her eyes in thought. Narissa pulled me close for a hug, telling me about how I had done good despite what happened. I nodded slowly and she pulled Mimmi into the hug as well.

"Maybe I should swim to Shanghai to get Mimmi and Weilan...we need all the backup we can get." Mimmi wondered aloud. "That's a great idea...I'll go with you" I began, but my mother quickly interjected. "Not so fast...you have school Zac." I groaned to myself, but I knew she was right. " Veridia cleared her throat and we all glanced at her. "We should get her up to the grotto..." She stated numbly, I could tell she didn't enjoy seeing Rita in this state at all, it really was odd to see her in such a soft state.

"I should be able to get her up..." I said walking over to Veridia. Rita was much lighter  to carry when she didn't have a tail, I thought wincing to myself at the memory of the day I zapped her unconscious with the moon ring. My father had been so suspicious of what had happened that day, I was thankful he didn't find Rita unconscious. He would have called an ambulance, and surely the testing would have ended the secret.

I laid Rita down on the cushioned bit of the grotto and Mimmi walked over, giving me another tight hug. "How did you get back so swiftly?" I asked her in slight confusion. "I saw a vision of the dragon rising up through your perspective. I could feel your fear." Mimmi said a bit sadly, and Narissa smiled a bit. "I always knew that gift would help you both."

Veridia sighed deeply, twisting her moon ring around on her finger. "If I'm right she just exhausted herself." she announced seeming much more relaxed while she walked down the steps of the grotto. She pointed her moon ring at Rita, inhaling deeply. The moonlight hit Rita, but it looked differently than when I had zapped her. It was white and fluorescent, sparkling. 

Rita inhaled sharply and Veridia hurriedly lowered her hand, before she sat down next to Rita. Rita groaned softly as she stirred, rubbing at her eyes. She yawned and slowly sat upwards, only for Veridia to pull her into a tight hug. Rita squeaked softly as Veridia did so, but she allowed Veridia to, and held her back tightly. 

Mimmi grabbed my hand and smiled, and my mother pulled us in for a hug again. Okay...I thought to myself. As the fear and anxiety left my mind I knew that we would all be okay. We had each other, and right now that was all we needed.