CHAPTER 13
Maria woke up the next morning to find that her mother wasn't anywhere in the house. She called her mother gift shop and no one picked up.
Liz walked into the living room running a hand through her messy hair. "What's going on?"
"I can't find my mom. She didn't leave a note and she's not at the shop. Usually I wouldn't think anything of it, but after all the new 'developments' I figured she'd want to talk to us a little more"
"Well, um, then let's just go to the Crashdown and maybe my parents know something" suggested Liz heading to Maria's room to get dressed.
"Hey you guys" greeted Maria when she saw the Pod Squad sitting at their usual booth.
She grabbed three vanilla milkshakes from the counter and 3 Tabasco bottles and brought them to the booth. She could see Isabel staring at her from the corner of her eye. Obviously she hadn't forgotten what she'd seen the night that she dreamwalked Maria's mother.
Michael glanced up at her and looked back down at his Tabasco filled shake.
Isabel took a sip of the shake and passed it back to Maria. "It's too high in calories".
Liz smiled at Max, who smiled back. Maria rolled her eyes. Her and Liz hadn't been here more than five minutes and the dreamers were already making googly eyes and at one another.
Maria looked down her hands for a second, noticing her gold nail polish was beginning to chip. The bell jingled, signaling another customer had entered. She turned around, it was her mother. She touched Liz's arm and took a step towards Ms. DeLuca.
Suddenly a searing pain shot through her head and the glass of milkshake slipped from her hand and shattered onto the floor. Gripping her temples with her hands, she sank into the floor with a moan.
Liz held on to her shoulders as Isabel touched her forehead and connected. There wasn't anything at first, but then she began to feel the pain Maria was experiencing. There was laughter. Then she a face, a man's, he looked fortyish. It was the same man from Ms. DeLuca's dream, she assumed it was Maria's father.
He began speaking, "Maria, you're mother's wrong. You'd be safe with me. Join my side. You'll become stronger then you'd ever imagine. Without rules or limitations, you'd grow to your full potential". His image faded away, as a pair of eyes showed themselves out of the darkness.
*No* thought Isabel. She opened her eyes and backed up like she had before.
Amy looked at her, "What , what did you see?"
"I-I saw Maria's father. He wants her to come with him or something. I saw the eyes again, they're snake-like and horrible. God, there was pain too. Like they were sending waves of pain or something to punish Maria, or-or I- I don't know"
Maria lay passed out on Liz's lap. Luckily there were no customers in the cafe at the time. Mr. Parker carried Maria up to Liz's room and set her down on the bed.
Amy walked straight up to him and Nancy Parker. "It's happening, my husband and evil wizards, they're coming to get Maria. The only way to keep her safe is to send her to Hogwarts. Liz should go too, just to be safe. I know they'd be safe there. Albus Dumbledore is a friend of mine and he'll protect them with his life"
"Are you sure this is the only way?" asked Nancy looking at her daughter and Maria.
Amy nodded, "It's a safest, they'd be much safer there than they'd be here".
Both the Parkers nodded. "Good, I'll send all the papers and documents to the school today. We need to get them there as soon as possible. I have no idea how fast the evil forces are working" said Amy. "Begin packing Liz's stuff, everything. Don't tell anyone else about this. Normal humans aren't to know that any of this even exists. I'll go back to my house and pack all of Maria's things. I'll have to make arrangements to have the girls stay at Hogwarts."
And with that she rushed out of the cafe. She walked past the booth where the four aliens were seated waiting to know if Maria was all right.
Especially Michael who was practically trembling. Isabel had told them what she saw and they couldn't make anything of it.
Mr. Parker came down the stairs. Max got up and headed over to him. "Mr. Parker, is Maria ok?"
Liz's father looked at the boy who had his daughter so smitten. He gave him a shaky smile. "Yes, she's fine. Just a migraine that struck unexpectantly. Well, I'm going to have to close the cafe early so I'll need to ask you guys to leave".
The four teens nodded and paid the bill and left. None of them really believed Mr. Parker explanation for Maria's sudden attack, especially Isabel, who herself had seen first-hand what Maria was going through.
