Chapter One- Reflections in the water
Isabella Kaioh waited out in the school's lobby for Madelyn and Emily to come out of their classrooms. Isabella was suppose to be at the pool with her sister and some of their friends, but she had escaped when her sister wasn't looking, contacted Emily and explained to her that she was going to walk home with her first. Emily had been invited to go swimming, but had refused.
Madelyn came into the lobby with Emily right behind her. "You know, Isabella, for as many times as you run off you're lucky to have such generous sisters who defend you sometimes. Michiru and Haruka wouldn't be happy if they knew you ran off without telling Hope and Faith first."
Isabella hugged Emily. "I know Miss Madelyn." Isabella giggled.
"Goof ball." Madelyn shook her head, smiling.
The three girls headed toward the palace. Isabella skipped merrily down the sidewalk, avoiding the cracks on the cement. Madelyn had to grab a hold of the girl's collar once because she almost ran out in front of a car from not paying attention.
"Isabella you might wanna watch where you're going." Emily confronted her friend.
"Oh, right." Isabella agreed.
"Hey, Isabella, Usagi's going to be at the pool today, right?" Madelyn questioned.
Isabella nodded. "Well, if my mom gets home in time, I might come by. But… my mom's shopping with the Queen, Princess, and Minako today, so chances are slim."
Isabella giggled. Madelyn sometimes wondered how Emily and Isabella became friends. Isabella was outgoing and Emily was shy. Madelyn didn't bother questioning it any further, as the girls came up to the palace gate. The guards did a random scan on the girls and allowed them in. Madelyn glanced back at the entrance worried, they only did scans when something bad was happening or they feared that something bad might happen.
Madelyn brushed the thought off and headed toward her corridor. She glanced down at the bouncing Isabella and realized she hadn't taken her home. Madelyn felt exhausted, so asked the child if she could walk herself to her house. Isabella nodded and took off toward her quarters.
Isabella quickly arrived at her quarters and changed into her blue sparkly bathing suit. Haruka or Michiru were not home at the mean time, as Faith had baseball practice and Jordan had soccer. Isabella scurried down to the indoor pool. When she arrived Hope, Annika, Ariel, Usagi, Maia, and Julia were all in the pool. Julia was sitting on the steps observing everyone as they played around. Maia was sitting on a float. Ariel herself had to wear floaties, even though her mother knew she was an excellent swimmer, but it was just incase as none of the parents were there.
Lydia, herself, had decided to join the little get together. Only she did not get in the pool; instead she sat on the lounge chair with her eyes closed. Usagi being the oldest was keeping in eye on everyone. Hope got out of the pool and greeted her sister. Isabella smiled weekly and walked over to the pool with Hope. Hope dived in, when she came back up, she looked to see if her sister had gotten in yet.
"Come on Isabella." Hope called out.
"Is it cold?" Isabella questioned.
Hope gave Isabella a funny look, and then splashed her with the water. "You tell me?"
"I guess not." Isabella replied. "I'll get in, in a minute."
"Okay." Hope replied and swam to the other side where all the girls were. Isabella walked over toward where Lydia was, near the deep end. Isabella heard something calling her name. She gulped and looked at the pool. She knelt down beside it and quickly glanced over to see if anyone was watching her, luckily no one was. Of course, Lydia who was only a few feet away from her was, but Isabella didn't notice that.
Isabella stared into the water. She watched as the water played a motion picture. It was the nightmare Isabella had last night. She was walking through the palace, when water just came crashing in and swallowed her up. It didn't seem to matter where she had been; the water always came after her. Isabella tried to snap herself away from the reflection in the water, but it wouldn't allow her.
"Come on, jump in. The waters warm," a cold voice spoke to Isabella. Lydia stood up and started to walk over toward her.
The water slowly started to grab on to Isabella's wrist. Isabella's hands slipped and she fell into the water. Lydia kneeled down to the area where Isabella had just fallen. She was trying to see through the water, but with all the bubbles and the darkness of the water it was hard. She reached for her transformer when she realized it wasn't on her.
"Some one, help me!" Lydia cried out, as she dove into the water going after Isabella. The girls at the other side of the pool quickly rushed to the other side of the pool, all except for Maia. Ariel had taken the floats off, and went without them. Lydia brought Isabella back up on her back. Usagi quickly climbed out of the pool and helped the two girls out of the pool.
"What happened?" Usagi questioned, concerned.
Lydia didn't bother to answer; she helped Isabella cough up all the water by pounding on her back. Hope and Annika sat on the side of the pool. Ariel went back to get Maia.
"Isabella what happened?" Usagi questioned again.
"I just slipped and it scared me." Isabella lied.
Lydia sat back and watched. She was surprised that Annika and Hope hadn't felt the evil presence. Usagi turned to Lydia asking her for her help, Lydia only shrugged.
Julia went and sat by her best friend. Ariel helped dry Maia off. Usagi wrapped a towel around Isabella, she felt her head as if checking to see if she had a fever, with no sign of warmth to the child's forehead, she sighed and told Hope she needed to bring her home anyways. Usagi made sure the girls were out of the pool area, to make sure there were no more incidents. Hope took Isabella into her arms and walked home.
Julia and Lydia insisted on going to the food bar and getting something to eat, so Annika and Usagi allowed them. They instead, helped Ariel get Maia home, knowing that Julia and Lydia would be able to get home on their own.
Julia immediately questioned Lydia. "What do you know?" Lydia shrugged.
"Come on Lydia, I felt something while we there, but it was really faint and then it was gone." Julia edged on.
"Julia it's really up to Isabella to tell. She didn't seem to want to tell." Lydia explained.
"So then you admit that something with in evil presence was indeed there?" Julia questioned.
Lydia nodded. "I didn't see what happened; only Isabella could see it."
Julia hesitated. "Alright."
Lydia laughed a little.
"What?" Julia asked, puzzled.
"My mom says to my dad that the younger siblings are a lot different then their older siblings. Like for instance my sister will go to my mother when she has a problem. All of them do it, Gloria, Annika, Daisy, and Madelyn. But we don't." Lydia explained. "Although, I have noticed Maggie's beginning to change on that one, she doesn't tell mother everything now as she use to."
"Well, I don't really think about telling my momma or dad all my problems. Sometimes it's just better to be left with that person." Julia mentioned.
"Good, then you'll know not to mention anything about the pool incident, even if asked?" Lydia questioned.
"You're awful Lydia." Julia joked, bopping her friend on the head. "No, I won't. It's up to Isabella, but it's going to bug me."
"Good my little spawn." Lydia patted Julia's headed. "Well, we should probably go get ready for the dinner."
Julia nodded.