Chapter 10 Reunions
Author's note; Summary: Annie and Irene return to Florence; Mrs. Wellington reunites with her sister.
Alex and Vivian were in the kitchen quietly. Alex was grading reports on the civil war and Vivian was doing the dishes.
Suddenly they heard a knock on the door. Alex got up to answer it.
It was Parker and Rachel.
"Hello Mr. Yesconis," said Parker.
"Hello Parker, Rachel," said Alex. "What are you doing here?"
"Annie spoke to us," explained Parker. "She and Irene are coming home today. They found a way to get back."
Alex gave a cry of excitement which made Vivian run to the door.
"Did you hear Vivian?" cried Alex happily. "Annie's coming home today!"
Vivian hugged her husband affectionately.
"She told us to meet them at the moonpool" said Rachel.
"Well, what are we waiting for?" retorted Alex. "Let's go."
…
Annie and Irene swum to the surface towards a small island. They crawled on to the island and Annie used her heat powers to dry themselves off.
Celina and her sisters and Sean surfaced.
"Didn't think you were leaving without letting us say goodbye did you?" asked Celina.
"It's been fun hanging out with you the past month," said Annie with a smile. "But it's time we were getting back." She added with a bit of sadness.
Irene and Sean looked at each other longingly.
"I hope one day we'll meet again," said Sean.
"We will" said Irene smiling.
"Come on girls," called Melora. "We should be going now."
"Goodbye" said Lacey.
"It's been great," said Anemone.
"We really appreciate all you've done" added Jade.
"Good luck," said Layla.
"Come back soon," said Tessa.
"Goodbye Annie, Irene" said Celina softly. "I hope we'll see you again."
Annie threw the pearl into the water and just as soon as it touched the water, a hole appeared making the portal.
Annie and Irene exchanged looks and then holding hands jumped into the portal. Melora followed them inside and the portal closed. The three mermaids (in mermaid form) flew threw a vortex of water screaming.
…
Alex, Vivian, Rachel and Parker arrived at the beach in the Yesconises chevy at the same time as Lydia's BMW. Mrs. Frost, Trish and Kelsey.
The group met up and went inside the caves and to the moonpool.
"They should be here by now," said Rachel.
Just then the portal opened up in the moonpool and Annie and Irene flew out of the portal and landed on the ground.
"Annie!" cried Alex and Vivian happily.
Irene!" cried Lydia hugging her daughter. Irene smiled and returned her mother's hug.
Alex and Vivian dried Annie off with towels and Annie transformed back into human form. Lydia did the same with Irene. everyone starred impressed at the gowns they had gotten in Avalon.
"Where did you get those gowns!" exclaimed Vivian.
"In Avalon" replied Annie.
Irene hugged Trish and Kelsey.
"We've missed you," said Kelsey.
"So have I," declared Irene. "I don't how I survived without you two."
"Who's that?" asked Trish pointing.
The others turned around to look to see Melora in the moonpool.
"Everyone," said Annie. "This is Mrs. Wellington's sister Melora."
Everyone starred at the mermaid in surprise. They knew about Mrs. Wellington's sister, but they didn't think they'd ever meet her.
"Melora," introduced Annie. "This is my father Alex and my stepmother Vivian, and my boyfriend Parker and my best friend Rachel. And these are Irene's friends Trish and Kelsey and Irene's mom Mrs. Frost."
"Nice to meet you" said Lydia kindly, shaking Melora's hand.
"We met her in the oceanic realm," explained Annie. "And we told her about Mrs. Wellington and she really wanted to see her again."
"Just so you know Annie," said Irene. "That time we spent in the realm doesn't make us friends. But I'm gracious that you helped me survive there."
"Thanks Irene" retorted Annie.
She looked back at Melora.
"Wait here Melora," said Annie. "I'll be right back."
The group left the cave, a few minutes later, Annie returned with some clothes. She had a cashmere sweater top, dark blue capris and sandal heels.
"These are some of my stepmother's clothes," she explained. "She said you could burrow them for when you go on land."
Melora climbed out of the water and Annie used her heat powers to dry Melora off so she'd transform into human form.
She then got dressed.
"Do you want me to take you to Mrs. Wellington?" asked Annie.
"No," replied Dawn. "I need to do this alone."
Annie nodded in agreement, she told Melora Mrs. Wellington's address and they parted ways.
When Annie got home she was talking on the phone with her mother Theresa in Alberta on the phone hanging on the wall in the kitchen.
"Yes mom," said Annie humorously. "I'm fine. I was just in the oceanic realm. I know you were worried about me, and thanks for helping dad covering up my absence by saying I was staying with you in Alberta. Love you too mom."
And then she hung up.
Annie then went to her room and wrote in her diary.
October 2nd, 2016
Dear diary, it's been a while since I wrote in you, but for the past month I've been in the oceanic realm with Irene. It was beautiful with all the mermaids and other creatures. But there's a sidhe named Ava, she was banished from Avalon and is trying to take over the magical world. We were able to catch her but she escaped. My friend Rachel and Irene's friend Trish became mermaids by accident, Rachel now has fire powers and Trish has substance powers.
…
Melora walked down the street Annie told her Mrs. Wellington lived on. Finally, she came to the house with the number Annie had told her was Mrs. Wellington's house.
Melora took a deep breath and walked up the drive way and on to the front porch and knocked on the door.
Mrs. Wellington walked up to the door and opened it and stared in surprise at what she saw.
"I see you've managed to survive on land for all these years" mused Melora.
"Melora?" exclaimed Mrs. Wellington.
"Hello Dawn" said Melora softly.
"I-I didn't think you'd want anything to do with me anymore," said Mrs. Wellington in a speechless tone. "How did you even find me?"
"Your students Annie and Irene told me about you," replied Melora. "They made me realize how much I miss you."
Mrs. Wellington smiled softly.
"I missed you too." She replied.
And the two sisters hugged.
Haru stepped outside to see the sisters in surprise. Mrs. Wellington and Melora looked up at him.
"You must be Haru," said Melora. "The kappa Annie told me about."
Haru nodded.
"Haru, this is my sister Melora," introduced Mrs. Wellington.
"Dawn told me about you," replied Haru. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you."
That evening as the sun was setting near the beach, a portal opened between two trees and Ava stepped out closing the portal behind her.
"This is where those mermaids live," said Ava. "This will be the star of my plan to overthrow those humans and make magic rule the world. But first I'll need to blend in with the humans."
She waved her hand over her head and snapped her thumb. A gold line of magic swirled around the sidhe and her gown transformed into a black top with thin straps, a yellow jacket and black tights.
Ava then walked off to find a place to stay.
…
The next morning both Annie and Irene got up, ready for their first day back at school. Irene went through her closet and put on a blue dress with a short lavender sweeter.
Annie got up to brave the first day again. It was strange to be back at Buchanan high after being away for a month.
Annie and Rachel held hands and walked inside. They quickly saw Amelia; her curly blond hair and white outfit made her look bright.
"Hey Amelia," said Annie.
"Annie!" exclaimed Amelia excitedly. "Rachel told us you were coming back."
"I know," said Annie. "It's good to be home."
The morning went by well for Annie despite that she had no problem catching up with work during her absence, she was a very good student. When Annie and her friends sat down in the cafeteria that afternoon, the other girls were talking to her endlessly.
"So, Annie, how was Jasper?" asked Toni.
"Oh, it was nice," Annie lied awkwardly. "It was kind of like the old days, and got to see some old friends."
"How's your mom?" asked Muffy.
"She's fine," said Annie. "She told me to tell you she said hi."
Annie looked over at the drama club table. Irene seemed to enjoy being back at Buchanan high and taking charge of the club again. She sat between Trish and Kelsey eating froyos.
"I'm going to be helping my mom in her boutique after school" she heard Trish saying, taking a bite out of her strawberry froyo. "Elaine's going over to her friend's house, so mom asked if I'd like to help out."
After school Trish walked over to her mother's boutique. There were racks of beautiful dresses and shelves of shoes and make up. People were browsing through the racks and trying on clothes.
Mrs. Callahan put Trish to work and as Trish worked in the store, she noticed a woman walking in. She had auburn hair and wore black and yellow.
"Hello," said the woman politely. "Do you work here?"
"My mom owns the boutique," said Trish. "Can I help you?"
"I'd like to apply for a job" replied the woman.
"Oh okay," said Trish. "I'll see what my mom has to say."
She lead the lady to the check out area where her mother was.
"Mom," called Trish. "There's a woman here looking for a job."
Mrs. Callahan turned to look at the woman behind her daughter.
"Ms. This is my mother Hillary Callahan," said Trish. "The owner of Callahan's boutique."
"What's your name?" asked Mrs. Callahan.
"Ava," replied the lady. "Ava Goldin."
"Well Ava," said Mrs. Callahan smiling. "Why'd you like a job?"
"I just moved to Florence and I need a job," replied Ava. "I love your boutique it's very fashionable."
"Thank you," laughed Mrs. Callahan.
The two ladies talked for a while longer before Mrs. Callahan agreed to hire Ava.
"So, I'll see you tomorrow?" asked Mrs. Callahan.
"Of course," replied Ava.
Mrs. Callahan held out her hand. Trish noticed Ava had a hesitant look as she saw her hand held out. But Ava shock it forcefully putting on a smile. While they shook hands, Trish noticed Ava's face looking confused.
…
That night Trish was asleep, Irene had told her the moon was going to be full that night and she had closed her curtains.
But outside, nobody noticed that Ava was outside in her sidhe form floating around the side of the house.
"I can't understand how I could sense magic on that girl but not the rest of her family," she said to herself. "But it's obvious that this mermaid is friends with Annie and Irene."
She flew up to Trish's window and used her magic to open the window and curtains.
The moonlight shone into the room, Trish tossed and turned in her bed and opened her eyes and starred into the moon. She climbed out of her bed in a trance and walked out her bedroom door.
…
Annie shot up in her bed. She had a bad feeling in her stomach, it was like a vision had flashed in her sleep.
She climbed out of her bed and scrambled downstairs.
Annie looked out the living room window. Out on the streets she could see someone walking, although it was dark, Annie could see it looked like a girl with dark brown hair and wore white pajamas with pink hearts.
"Trish?" exclaimed Annie.
Trish walked past Annie's house; Annie could tell Trish looked like she was in a trance.
It's a full moon tonight, she thought. She must have been moon spelled.
Annie grabbed her sweater, put her shoes on and ran down the street as fast as she could.
Annie followed Trish to the beach and saw her going into the sea lion caves. Annie ran into the cave feeling relieved, she just had to get Trish into the moonpool and she would snap out of her moon spelled state.
Trish was getting closer to the moonpool, and had no idea Annie was following her.
Annie then suddenly ran up behind Trish and pushed her, making her fall towards the moonpool.
Annie looked relieved thinking that Trish would snap out of her state, but as soon as Trish touched the water, it turned into the gelatin substance and she was stuck in the middle of the pool.
Annie tried to turn the water back, but the moon spell had made Trish's powers out of control and was to strong to change back.
"Hold on Annie" called a voice.
Annie turned around to see Mrs. Wellington and Melora in the cave.
"Mrs. Wellington, Melora!" exclaimed Annie. "What are you doing here?"
"We had a vision at home that Trish was moon spelled," explained Melora. "It was like a dream so we decided to come down and see for ourselves. I have substance powers like you do Annie. Maybe if we work together it will turn the substance back into water."
Annie nodded.
Annie and Melora held their hands out and in a few seconds the substance turned back into water. Trish went underwater as soon as the water changed back.
Annie and Melora smiled at each other proudly.
Trish resurfaced in mermaid form.
"Annie?" muttered Trish looking around the cave. "Did I get moon spelled?"
"It's a good thing Annie got up and saw you walking by" replied Mrs. Wellington.
"I don't understand," said Trish dumbfounded. "I closed my window. I remember waking up and seeing my bedroom window and curtains open."
Annie, Melora and Mrs. Wellington exchanged looks. Then Annie helped Trish out of the water and used her heat powers to dry her up and regain her legs.
Trish was able to return home and sneak back to her room without anyone waking up. And the next day at school she told Irene and Kelsey everything.
"Did you see anything?" asked Irene suspiciously.
"I don't remember," said Trish. "But before I blacked out, I thought I saw a figure in the window."
Irene thought for a minute. She wondered if Ava was behind this.
…
After school that afternoon, Annie and Rachel went down to the beach and starred ahead at the water. It was one of those days in early fall where the weather was not to hot and not to cold so the girls decided to go for their first swim as mermaids together.
The two girls held hands and walked into the water counting to ten and their legs turned into tails and they swum into the sea racing each other and laughing.
After a while they saw Mrs. Wellington and Melora swimming in the water surprising them.
"Mrs. Wellington, Melora!" exclaimed Rachel. "What are you doing here?"
"We're swimming together" chuckled Mrs. Wellington.
"Just like the old days" added Melora.
The four mermaids laughed and swum through the ocean together.