Chapter 21 Power of the moon part 1

Author's note; Summary; Annie and her friends all find themselves in danger when the full moon comes out; Mrs. Wellington looks for her missing sister; George and Yuria put their plan in action.

After dinner Annie went up to her room to do her homework, Vivian went to the living room to watch tv and Alex cleaned up the kitchen. As Annie worked in her room, she heard the phone in the kitchen ring.

She poked her head downstairs to see what was going on.

"Hello Dawn" she heard her father's voice. Annie realized he was talking to Mrs. Wellington.

But after a few seconds she noticed his voice sounded worried.

Having a bad feeling she ran back upstairs to her room.

When she came downstairs for breakfast the next morning, she noticed Alex and Vivian with worried looks on their faces. But they didn't say anything to her.

Alex and Annie drove to school, without saying a word.

When Annie got out of the car she walked inside, she walked past the principal's office and saw Mrs. Wellington.

"Hey Annie," said Mrs. Wellington worriedly. "Have you seen Melora? She wasn't home last night."

Annie realized that had been what her parents were worried about.

"The stalker must've token her" she gasped.

"Maybe," admitted Mrs. Wellington. "But I'd better look for her. The moon is gonna be full tonight. It'll be dangerous for you girls to go outside. I'm more tolerant of the full moon, so Haru and I will look for Melora."

Annie continued to class, but she felt she couldn't just sit back and forget about Melora.

Annie met Parker and Rachel in Geography.

"Mrs. Wellington called my parents last night," Annie whispered to them. "Melora's disappeared. I think the hunter that's been stalking us has kidnapped her."

Rachel and Parker looked at each other in horror.

"We've got to find her!" hissed Rachel.

"But the moon's going to be full tonight," whispered Parker. "It'll be dangerous for you two to look for her."

"You don't think it's killed her, do you?" asked Rachel worriedly.

"I don't know," replied Annie. "But we have to find her before he gets all of us."

At a warehouse by the harbour, George took Melora out of the trunk of the car and tied her up to a table so she couldn't use her powers.

"Why are you doing this?" cried Melora struggling.

"I know you're a mermaid," said George. He held up a pail of water he got from the sea and poured it on Melora. There was a woosh sound and Melora's legs turned into her tail.

Yuria stepped in, wearing a reddish-orange cashmere sweater and a black coat, her teal Asian scarf wrapped around her neck.

"You're the ones who have been stalking us" gasped Melora in realization.

"Head office wanted us to get information about your sister and those girls being mermaids," explained Yuria in a taunting voice. "And once we've completed our mission of eliminating the mermaids in Florence, we will be promoted to new council members."

"And after we've taken care of those mermaids," added George. "We will finish off the rest of the mermaids."

"That's impossible," growled Melora. "You humans will never be able to open portals into other realms."

"Don't be sure," retorted Yuria with a grin.

She held up the transport pearl.

"We know about transport pearls," explained Yuria. "Supernatural hunters have spent the centuries studying these things about magic, so I did some research."

"When the moon is full tonight," explained George. "The mermaid's powers will be out of control, and will be destroyed."

He turned at his girlfriend.

"Go take care of Annie and her friends," he ordered. "I have some unfinished business to do with this one."

Yuria left the warehouse, looking back she saw George getting out some wires and tying them to Melora.

When school was out Annie, Rachel and Parker were wondering what to do about Melora.

"You girls go home," declared Parker. "I'll look for Melora."

"But it could be dangerous," cried Annie. "And you don't have any powers to defend yourself if the stalker is a hunter."

"I have to," said Parker boldly. "You girls have to stay away from the full moon, and I'm doing this because I love you."

Annie sighed and gravely hugged her boyfriend.

Meanwhile, Trish and Elaine met up after school was out and got into their family's Lexus.

"Mom," asked Trish. "Can Kelsey come over for a sleepover tonight?"

"I don't know," replied Mrs. Callahan unsurely. "You know your father and I are going to that business party at your dad's work tonight."

"But mom," sighed Trish. "We're just going to be studying and hanging out."

Although really, Trish wanted to have someone who knew she was a mermaid over because she didn't want to be alone on the full moon with a stalker.

"Well okay," said Mrs. Callahan.

That evening Parker put on his coat and headed outside.

"Mom," he called. "I'm going out for a while."

"Okay dear," Mrs. Gaxiola called back. "Be back by 9:00."

"I'll try" he replied going out the door.

Meanwhile Kelsey's dad dropped Kelsey off at the Callahan's house. Mr. and Mrs. Callahan were getting ready to go out.

"Now you girls know," instructed Mrs. Callahan, wearing a lavender and white dress. "Trish is in charge. There's money for take out and try not to get too carried away."

"Yes mom" replied Elaine and Cat.

"Don't worry Mrs. Callahan," assured Kelsey. "Trish and I are only going to be studying and hanging out."

"We'll try not to be too late," said Mrs. Callahan. "And we left you the emergency phone number if anything happens."

And with that Mr. and Mrs. Callahan left the house.

For the evening things were very calming and uneventful. Trish and Kelsey did their homework and her sisters watched tv. Trish ordered pizza on the phone.

After dinner, Trish and Kelsey noticed it was getting dark out so they went up to Trish's room and changed into their pajamas. Trish wore pink and blue pajamas with a button up top. And Kelsey wore white pajamas with pink hearts.

The two girls sat in Trish's room studying some more, Elaine and Cat were still downstairs watching tv.

"Thanks for staying over tonight," said Trish as she looked through her book. "The fact that there's a hunter stalking me and the full moon is very traumatizing."

"It's nothing," said Kelsey.

Neither girl noticed Yuria standing outside Trish's window. She was dressed in black so they wouldn't have been able to recognize her.

Yuria used a stick to pry the window open. The girls heard the noise and turned to look. The window was open and the curtains blew in the wind. Moonlight shone inside the room. Yuria had ducked down so the girls wouldn't see her.

Kelsey noticed Trish was starring blankly at the moon.

"Are you okay Trish?" asked Kelsey.

Trish snapped out of her motionless state.

"Yes, I am" declared Trish with a confident smile.

She then started walking out of the room.

Kelsey was concerned for her friend and ran after her.

Elaine and Cat were still in the living room when Trish came in.

"Trish," said Cat. "What are you doing?"

"I'm going out to find the stalker," said Trish enthusiastically.

Elaine and Cat looked at each other in surprise. Cat then looked down and saw the water in her glass had turned into crystal surprising her.

Kelsey came running in.

"Trish!" she cried. "You can't go out there."

"It's time I stood up to the stalker Kelsey," declared Trish. "It's not like I'm powerless against him."

Kelsey knew Trish was moon spelled. Trish had always been the follower type instead of the leader type. So, she wasn't very confident. But the moon had made her headstrong and other confident.

Trish then sneezed and a gelatin like substance went on the floor. Trish then just put her coat on and skipped out.

"What is this stuff?" asked Cat looking at the substance on the floor.

"It looks like some kind of substance," said Elaine. "What's going on with Trish?" she asked looking up at Kelsey.

"Well," said Kelsey. "Your sister is a mermaid."

Elaine and Cat looked at each other in surprise.

"What are you talking about?" asked Elaine.

"It happened earlier this year," explained Kelsey. "Trish and Rachel Yearwood fell into this magic moonpool in the sea lion caves during a full moon and they became mermaids. Annie and Irene are mermaids too, Annie became a mermaid last year and Irene was born a mermaid."

"Is that what you guys are always talking about when you're having secret talks?" asked Cat.

"Yes," replied Kelsey. "Trish has been moonspelled. Mrs. Wellington says the full moon can affect young mermaid's powers and even personalities. She's a mermaid too."

"That's why she always goes to her room on some nights," said Elaine.

"We think that the stalker is a hunter," said Kelsey.

"A hunter?" asked Elaine.

"Supernatural hunters are hunters who hunt magic beings," explained Kelsey. "They hunt magic beings and kill them. It's been stalking the others too, it's like it's been wanting to get proof that Trish and the others are mermaids."

"We've seen the stalker too," admitted Cat. "He sometimes watches us outside the school and we've seen his car outside our house too."

Cat walked to the door and looked outside.

"The car's out there," she called looking back. "It's parked on the side of the road across the street!"

"That means the stalker's out there," cried Kelsey worriedly. "Trish could be in danger!"

"We'd better find her before she does something stupid" sighed Elaine.

The three girls put on their coats and set off into the night.

Over at Annie's house, Annie sat in her room. She had been thinking about when she and the others had discovered the pictures of her on the stalker's computer. She hadn't told her parents because she didn't want to them to worry. But she knew she that she should tell the truth to them since they already knew her secret of the mermaids.

She got up and went downstairs, Alex and Vivian were on the couch watching tv when they saw Annie.

"Annie," said Alex looking up. "What are you doing? You know the full moon is out tonight."

"Dad, Vivian," said Annie softly. "I have to tell you something."

Alex and Vivian got up and faced Annie as she walked to the bottom of the stairs.

"A few days ago, Irene, Parker, Sean and I decided to follow the stalker to find out what he was up to," explained Annie. "We followed him to the inn, we didn't see who it was but we found that there were pictures of me, Irene, Rachel and Trish on his computer."

Alex and Vivian's mouths dropped in shock.

"Why didn't you tell us?" cried Vivian.

"I-I didn't want to worry you," stammered Annie. "I didn't want to make things worse. It's already stressing enough with the stalker."

"Annie, I'm your father," said Alex humorously. "It's my job to worry."

"There's something else," muttered Annie looking down at the ground. "We think the stalker might have a partner. When we were in its room at the inn, we heard the water running, they might be hunters. The reason they've been stalking is because they're trying to get information to give to the organization and confirm we're mermaids."

"Do you know what room they were in?" asked Alex.

"Yes," replied Annie. "Room 203."

"Did you say room 203?" asked Vivian in a soft voice.

Annie and Alex looked at Vivian. She had a troubled look on her face.

"Yes" replied Annie in a confused tone wondering why her stepmother looked worried.

"Annie," said Vivian. "There's something I have to tell you." But then she looked up to see Annie had a blank expression on her face.

Alex and Vivian turned around to look outside the window was the full moon. Annie had looked at it and was now moon spelled.

Annie in a trance like state, started walking towards the door. Alex quickly grabbed her by the arm. Annie flopped a bit as she tried to pull herself free.

"Come on," said Alex. "We've got to get her to the moonpool."

Alex and Vivian carried her out to the car and put her in the back seat. Then they quickly got in and drove off.

At Rachel's house, Rachel was in her room, her parents had gone out and her brother was hanging out with friends. She didn't know that Yuria had parked the car across the street.

Yuria walked around the house and threw a pebble at the kitchen window. Rachel heard the sound from downstairs.

She got up and went downstairs to the kitchen. She looked around, there wasn't any one there.

Yuria held up a hand mirror and held it up at the sky. The moon's reflection bounced off the mirror.

Rachel looked at the window and saw the reflection of the moon in the mirror. Her expression went motionless as she fell under the moon spell.

The house suddenly began to grow hotter, Rachel walked outside and walked down the street.

Irene and Sean were in the living room watching tv. Irene leaned against Sean as the watched the movie.

"Do you think Mrs. Wellington and Haru will find Melora?" asked Sean.

"I'm sure they will," said Irene. "It is dreadful about her being kidnapped. I'm glad I have you here to protect me."

She and Sean rubbed foreheads with each other and kissed.

Irene had closed the curtains in the living room to keep out the moonlight.

Just then the phone in the kitchen rang.

Irene and Sean shot up in confusion and got up to answer it. They didn't see a figure walking in the front door.

Irene picked up the phone off it's charger and answered it.

"Hello?" said Irene.

But there was no answer.

Irene and Sean looked at each other in surprise.

Irene put the phone back on the charger and they walked back into the living room, as soon as they walked inside, they saw that the curtains had been opened and the moonlight was shining inside.

Irene froze in place as she went into a trance like state.

Sean glanced at his girlfriend in concern. Irene started walking forward and going outside. Sean ran after Irene.

Meanwhile, back at the warehouse, George had set up the table Melora was tied to like an electric chair. He had a switch in his hand.

"Now," he said. "I'm going to ask you a question and I want an answer. Since you know I'm the boy who was on the boat you sunk that night, you obviously know the mermaid who killed my father since you're in the same pod. Tell me who he is."

"No," said Melora boldly. "I'm the leader of my pod and I will not betray any members of my pod."

George pushed the button. Melora screamed in pain as she felt a shock from the wires.

"I'll ask you again," said George more demandingly. "Who is the mermaid who killed my father?!"

"I won't tell" replied Melora again, painfully.

"I'm going to keep electrocuting you until you tell me who killed my father," said George crossly. "And each time is going to be worse."

He pushed the button again. Melora screamed in pain it was even more painful then the first one.

Alex and Vivian drove their Chevy down the streets to the beach. Annie was laying all groggily in the back seat.

"Don't worry Annie," said Alex looking back from the driver's seat. "We're almost there."

Annie just slouched groaning.

Just then there was a sound. It sounded like a gun shot. Alex stopped the car and got out to look. One of the tires had exploded. Alex realized that Annie's heat powers had made the tire go pop.

"Annie's powers are going out of control," Alex called to Vivian.

Vivian got out and helped Alex lift Annie out and they carried her the rest of the way to the moonpool.

Parker walked around town, looking to find clues of where the hunters had taken Melora. It was getting late and he knew he'd have to go home soon.

They wouldn't have taken her back to the inn, he thought to himself. They'd attract to much attention.

He thought for a minute and remembered about the warehouse by the harbour. It would be a good place for criminals to hideout and he took off.

When Parker arrived at the harbour, he looked along the warehouses. He then he heard a sound like electrical shocking.

He walked quietly around the side of a warehouse and walked inside.

Parker looked behind a door to see Melora tied to a table with wires attached to her and a man pushing a button activating a machine. He watched in horror as Melora screamed painfully by the shocking.

"Who is the mermaid who killed my father!" the man's voice shouted across the room. Parker's eyes widened; the voice sounded like George's.

"I'm not betraying my pod" groaned Melora.

"Tell me who killed my father or I'll turn the volume up all the way" growled George. He held his hand over the switch.

"Alright," gasped Melora breathlessly. "I'll tell you."

George put down the switch and listened with interest.

"His name is Leo," sighed Melora. "He was the one who made that storm. He's still alive."

George looked at Melora in silence. His expression broke down, his eyes full of tears his face full of hurt. He looked at Melora for a minute and then ran out the warehouse through a side door.

Parker quickly ran in.

"Melora!" he cried.

"Parker" muttered Melora, still in pain from all the shocking.

Parker quickly tried to untie Melora from the table. But suddenly he felt a hit to the head and fell down unconscious. Melora looked up to see Yuria.

Alex and Vivian carried Annie across the beach and into the caves. They ran through the cave until they arrived at the moonpool. They looked up through the roof and saw the moon was over the pool.

Just then they heard footsteps.

They turned around and saw Sean and Irene walking in.

"Did Irene get moonspelled too?" exclaimed Vivian.

"Yes," said Sean.

Just then they saw Rachel walking in also in a trance. And then Kelsey, Elaine and Cat walked in holding on to Trish.

"Let me go!" snapped Trish.

Alex threw Annie into the moonpool, Kelsey pushed Trish and Irene in too and Rachel fell in after, just as the moon moved passed the pool.

The water bubbled and all four girls snapped out of their trance and looked at each other in surprise.

"What am I doing here?" asked Trish. she then looked up to see her sisters seeing her as a mermaid in the moonpool.

"It's okay Trish," said Cat understandingly. "Kelsey told us everything."

"I remember I was telling my parents about what we saw in the stalker's room at the in," said Annie confusedly. "And then I blacked out."

"I was telling you something about the stalker," Vivian spoke up. Everyone turned to look at her. "Annie told me the room number the stalkers were staying in, room 203. That's the same room George and Yuria were staying in at the inn."

Author's note; The gang has figured out that George and Yuria are the ones that have been stalking them. Can they save Melora and Parker before it's too late?

This chapter is based of the episode of Once upon a time Second star to the right.