Aura Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
Maria sat at a table in the library, an assortment of books spread out in front of her. She was supposed to be doing research for her history paper, but she was finding it difficult to concentrate. Her mind kept drifting away, to things like Tess and Isabel, Alex and Kyle. To Michael. Valenti, and the FBI. Her own mother. Her other planet.
She was so caught up in her own thoughts that she didn't notice Michael approach her table until he sat down across from her, jarring her from her thoughts. Maria stared across the table at him, unsure of what to do or say. Suddenly he slammed his hand down on the table. When he pulled his hand away Maria spotted her nameplate necklace. “Why did I have this?” He asked.
Maria stared at the necklace. “I...” She bit her lip. How could she explain it away? “I must have left it over there or something, maybe that night I helped with Sarah.”
Michael shook his head. “I don't buy it.”
“Why?”
“Because, I would have just given it back. I found this-” Michael paused, shifting his eyes away for a second. “Someplace I wouldn't have just stuck it if you'd just left it on accident.”
“What do you want me to say Michael?”
“I don't know.” He snatched up the necklace again quickly. “But, I feel like I'm being left out of something.”
Maria looked down at the table, she wasn't sure what to say. She wished she could tell him the truth. She wished she could have him back in her life again.
“Why did you stop coming around? Dylan keeps asking about you.” Michael laughed slightly. “Even Mrs. Pascal is asking about you.”
“I miss you.” Maria said lifting her head up to look at him. “I mean... I liked hanging out. You were there after Liz... and... I miss it.”
“So then what...?” Michael held his hand out, palm up, with the necklace laying in it. “What do we do?”
“Can we be friends?” Maria asked quietly, her eyes shifting to his hand. “Can we just be friends?”
“I would like that.”
Slowly Maria reached her hand out and Michael laid her necklace in her palm. He gently folded his hand over hers, closing her fingers around the necklace. Maria felt her heart flutter at the simple touch. She missed that so much. “Thank you.” She whispered.
Michael smiled at her, and then glanced at the clock on the wall when the bell rang. “I should get to my next class.”
“Actually going to class these days?” Maria smirked.
“Well, yeah... Mrs. Pascal... she...” He shrugged and stood up. “She cares about this stuff.”
“Good. I'm glad.” She looked back at her books. “I should get back to my paper.”
“See you.” Michael waved a little and walked out of the library.
Maria stared after him, feeling a slight feeling of longing. So he was back in her life, but it wasn't the same. But maybe it would be eventually. Maybe it would be better.
Jim Valenti stared at the papers before him. He had several files, on Maria DeLuca, and Liz Parker. He didn't know why. But as he flipped through them, he began to come to a horrifying realization. Something was going on. He knew it. These were his notes. He had written these things. But he had no memory of it. He didn't remember writing it, he didn't remember seeing it. Liz Parker had been listening to a CD without a CD player? It was floating and glowing?
There had been rumors about Maria DeLuca being on drugs, as well as a rumor of her being an alien. Tess had told him that. He had made a note of it. But why didn't he remember? Why didn't Tess know? He had asked Tess earlier that day, she didn't have any idea what he was talking about. He knew that Maria DeLuca was behind it. Alien? Was that it? Had she done something to him... to Tess? The idea made him livid.
He grabbed his jacket and threw it on and grabbed his keys on the way out the door. He was going to find out the truth.
Maria smiled at the only people left in the restaurant. It was just near closing, and Kyle, Tess, Isabel and Alex had come to grab a bite to eat before heading to a late movie. “Are you sure you don't want to come with us?” Isabel suggested again, for what had to be the tenth time that night.
Maria shook her head. “No, I've got too much left to do tonight. After I finish closing up I've gotta go home and finish my homework.”
“You've got all weekend for your homework.” Tess told her.
Maria had never felt more accepted than she had in the last few weeks. “Thanks you guys, but I really can't. You go, have fun.” Maria felt more accepted with them, but she also felt like the fifth wheel. Alex and Isabel were a gooey sweet couple. Not completely sickening. Maria had more than once watched as they simply stared at each other, both seemingly in awe of the other. They adored each other. Tess and Kyle were the King and Queen of PDA's. More than once Maria had come around a corner and found them making out. They were all happy. Maria was jealous of that. She wanted that. She'd never had the chance with Michael.
“Go on, you guys are going to be late, and I'd really like to lock up.” She pointed to the door and smiled at them. “So, get out.”
The group laughed and jointly tossed money on the table. “Maybe we can drive out to Albuquerque tomorrow.” Tess suggested as they headed for the door. “Spring Formal is coming up. We'll need dresses.”
“Sure.” Maria nodded, though she had no intention of going to the dance. She watched them all disappear out the door and she sighed and headed back behind the counter in search of her purse to find her keys so she could lock the door. She knelt down and dug through her purse for the little green alien keychain that her key was attached to.
Maria heard the bell over the door go off and cursed silently under her breath. “I'm sorry,” she called. “We're closed.” She finally found her key and popped up to see who had walked in. She froze. “Sheriff.” She couldn't help but swallow hard at the sight of him. “Can I … help you?” Her hands were trembling. Even though she knew that he didn't know anything, she was still terrified of him.
“What did you do?” His voice came out harsh and Maria flinched at the sound.
“What?” She asked confused.
“To Tess! My daughter! You did something.”
“I... no... I … what are you talking about? She's out... with Kyle. A movie.” Maria didn't understand. Kyle said he wouldn't remember.
“You did something to me! To my daughter! What is it?! You freak!”
Maria shook her head quickly. Fear was coursing through her veins. “What... what are you talking about?” She mentally berated herself for sounding so scared, so guilty. She hadn't done anything, personally.
Suddenly he pulled his gun from the holster and cocked it.
“Sheriff, what are you doing?” Maria felt the tears begin to roll down her cheeks. “I don't know what you're talking about, I didn't do anything to anyone.”
“You did something to her. I know what you are. She knew, she didn't believe it, but she knew. And now... she doesn't remember any of it. Just thinks its drugs.”
“I swear, I didn't do anything to her!” Maria was frantically thinking, trying to figure out the best way to get out. She glanced towards the door that separated the kitchen from the front of the restaurant and when she glanced back she squeaked in the back of her throat. Jim Valenti had his gun pointed directly at her.
“What. Did. You. Do!?” He yelled at her.
She was going to die, just like Liz. Right where Liz had died.
“Please, don't do this, I don't know... I didn't...”
“You killed my wife!”
Maria's mouth fell open in shock. “No! I never! Please!” She sobbed. She heard the crack of the gun and she just stood there, staring at him in shock. Slowly she looked down and saw the blood oozing from the hole in her uniform. She pulled down the collar and found the hole in her chest, just above her left breast. “You...” She looked back up at Valenti. There was no remorse in his eyes.
“You're a murderer.” He hissed.
“So are you.” Maria whispered, and then coughed. Blood splattered from her mouth and her knees gave out suddenly.
“You're not human, so you don't count.” Jim told her and she heard the bell over the door go off again and the door slammed shut.
Maria began to sob quietly. She was going to die Alone, on the dirty floor of the restaurant. She couldn't call 9-1-1. They would take blood again, they would figure it all out. Her phone was in her purse under the counter. She knew that she wouldn't be able to make it. But after pushing herself up onto her hands and knees she began to crawl, slowly and painfully. It hurt. Every move made her chest explode with fire. Blood was oozing from her mouth, and every breath nearly knocked her unconscious. She could literally feel the blood pumping out of her chest with every beat of her heart. She crawled until she couldn't crawl anymore.
Laying partially behind the counter. Exactly where Liz had died. Tears streamed down her face and she collapsed onto her back and stared up at the ceiling. She did not want to die. Her mother would be heart broken.
“Oh, I forgot my jacket.” Tess told Kyle as they walked down the sidewalk. “I'm going to run back really quick.”
“I'll come with.” He told her.
“No, go buy the movie tickets. It'll only take me a minute.” She gave him a quick kiss and then jogged back in the direction of the Crashdown Cafe. She reached the door quickly and was surprised to find it unlocked. “Maria?” She called as a warning, not wanting to scare her. “I forgot my jacket.” Tess walked inside and towards the booth they had just recently vacated, that was still a mess with dirty plates. She frowned. “Maria?” She called, and then froze when she saw the blood on the floor. “Maria!” Tess screamed and saw her foot around the edge of the counter.
Tess ran to her, and dropped down on her knees. “Oh god, Maria.” She looked over her, and saw the gaping hole in her chest, oozing blood. Quickly she pressed her hands onto the wound hard, and nearly jumped back when she saw Maria's eyes go wide.
“K-k-kyle.” Maria struggled to get out. “Ge-get K-kyle.”
“I need to call an ambulance!”
“Kyle.” Maria managed out again. “Alex.” Her voice was broken, and Tess could see the blood in her mouth. She knew that Maria wouldn't have much time at this rate, with all the blood she'd already lost.
“Okay.” Tess quickly moved one hand from the wound and grabbed her cell phone out of her pocket and dialed Kyle's number.
“Tess?” Kyle sounded confused.
“Get to the Crashdown. Now. Maria's been shot.” Tess' voice came out calm, and clear, but inside she was terrified. Her hands were trembling and now covered in blood. She dropped her phone and pressed her hand back against the wound. “Don't you dare die, Maria. Please don't die.” Tess begged as tears began to stream down her face.
Moments later Alex, Kyle, and Isabel burst through the front door of the diner. “Oh shit.” Kyle exclaimed seeing Maria. Alex quickly took Tess' place, pressing his hands to the wound.
Alex knew there was no way he could heal this. He couldn't heal anything. “Nescedo.” Maria's voice croaked. “Call him.” Alex looked up at Kyle, who was already grabbing his phone.
“What is going on?” Isabel asked in a panic. “You guys need to call 911!”
“Isabel, we can't.” Alex told her calmly. “You two need to just sit down, and let us take care of this. Then we promise we'll explain.” Isabel was shaking her head, but slowly moved to stand beside Tess. “I promise, Isabel. I'll explain.”
“It'll be okay.” Maria told them, her voice was quiet, and the pain was evident on her face.
“Just hold on, Maria.” Kyle said. He focused back to the phone in his hand. “Get to the Crashdown. Now. Maria has been shot.” He hung up the phone and knelt down on the other side of her.
Time seemed to stretch on for hours. What was only a few minutes felt like hours. Tess and Isabel were anxious, knowing that they needed to call 911 but they were trusting what Alex and Kyle said, even if they didn't know why.
Alex and Kyle had their hands pressed against the wound in Maria's chest, desperately trying to send her any bit of energy that might keep her hanging on just enough. Until Nescedo could get there and fix it. The front door opened and all eyes flew to the person walking through the door.
Nescedo glared at Isabel and Tess when he saw them, but ignored them for the moment. They would be dealt with later. He knelt down at Maria's head, and reached into his pocket. “Take these.” He handed them each a pale yellow stone, and held one in his own hand. “Focus all of your energy, through the stone, into Maria..”
Alex stared at the large polished stone, and then looked at Maria's face. She was pale. He was terrified she was going to die. He couldn't loose her like he lost Liz. He focused all of his energy into the stone, hoping and praying that she would be okay. I can't loose you. I can't loose you. I can't loose you. He repeated over and over in his head.
Tess and Isabel looked at each other and then quickly back at the scene before them. It was unbelievable. The stones began to glow after a few seconds, and all was silent. They waited with bated breath, to see if Maria would be okay.
Michael sat at the kitchen table, finishing up his math homework. Dylan sat across from him grumbling over his own homework. Mrs. Pascal was in the kitchen, finishing cleaning up after dinner. Sarah was on the floor banging a wooden spoon on a metal pan. Michael's mind kept drifting away from his homework. To thoughts of Maria. To the feel of her hand under his earlier that day. To the taste of her lips. He didn't remember kissing her, not in real life. In a dream. But it seemed so real. Sitting on the floor of her bedroom, leaning against the bed. The way her hair felt between his fingers. How her lips fit so perfectly against his.
The memory confused him. He knew that he'd never been to her house before that night he'd gone walking. And even then he didn't know how he knew it was her house. To have a memory, so crisp, so clear in his mind. “I'm going for a walk.” Michael said suddenly, slamming his math book shut.
“Did you finish your homework?” Mrs. Pascal asked.
“Yeah.” Michael lied and shoved his book into his bag. “I'll be back.” He stood up and quickly walked out of the house. He wanted to find Maria. He wanted to talk to her. Michael headed for her house, but was surprised not to find the Jetta there. Maybe her mom was gone, and she was home. He walked up and knocked on the door. After a moment her heard shuffling inside, and then the door opened to reveal Ms. DeLuca.
“Michael?”
“Uh... hi. Ms. DeLuca.” He reached up and scratched his eyebrow. “I know it's kind of late... but is Maria home?”
“No,” Amy shook her head. “She's still at work.” Amy smiled a little at him. “Are you and Maria speaking again?”
Michael shrugged a little. “Yeah, I guess we are.”
“Why did you two even stop?” She asked.
“I have no idea.” Michael told her. “Thanks though, I guess I'll go try to catch her over there.”
Aeron stood beside her sister, Iliana, the queen of their home planet, Antar. They were facing a war. A battle with another planet. The man that ruled that planet, Khivar was unlike the other rules of the planets. Aeron and Iliana's family had ruled Antar for centuries. As had the other rulers of the other planets. Khivar had taken over Vasila. He'd been a trusted second, as Aeron was for Iliana. But he was not family. He killed the King in his sleep, along with the King's only son.
And then Khivar had launched a war against all the other planets. Antar was the only one left. The others had fought, and fallen. Aeron knew that the chance of them surviving was slim. She turned her head to look at her sister. “Until the end.” Iliana told her.
“Until the end.” Aeron repeated. Together they looked up to the sky, and could see the blazing lights of Khivars ship approaching. They would fall. Khivar would rule. But they would go down fighting.
Maria gasped suddenly and sat up. She felt strong. She felt good. Her mind was crystal clear. It felt odd to think that seconds earlier she'd been a hairsbreadth away from death, and now she was fine. She was better than fine. “We have to take care of the Valenti problem.” She told them quietly, so that Tess and Isabel wouldn't overhear. “All of the files have to be destroyed. There can't be anything left for him to find, that will make him have a reminder of the truth.” Maria looked down at herself, her uniform was soaked with blood.
She looked at Isabel and Tess, both looking a little terrified, and exhausted. “And now you two know... we're not exactly normal, our lives basically depend on you not telling anyone, anything.”
“Excuse me.” Nescedo interjected. “They cannot be left to remember.”
“I'm the Queen now, right? I make the rules.” Maria snapped at him. “They get to keep their memories. You're not taking that away from them...” She paused and turned back to the two girls in question. “That is, unless you want us to.”
Tess' grip on Kyle's hand visibly tightened. “No.” She said immediately.
Isabel chewed on her lip as she stared at Alex. “If I said yes... what would happen?”
“We'd make you forget. About what happened tonight. And if you want, all about me. I'm sure we could make you remember some horrible fight, where I was terribly mean to you, and you beat the crap out of me, and told me to never come around again.” Alex told her softly.
“You'd give me up?”
“Not easily.” He whispered. “I don't want to, but if it is what you want... if you'd rather not have a green-gilled freak for a boyfriend, I'd understand.”
Isabel slipped her hand into Alex's and shook her head. “No. I don't want to forget. I swear, I won't say a word, to anyone.”
Alex smiled slightly as Isabel and squeezed her hand, and then turned to look at Maria. “Queen?” He asked.
“Liz...Iliana. She was the ruler, I am her sister. You two were our betrothed. Khivar killed us all.” She turned to Nescedo. “And you were sent here to protect us! And you didn't protect her!”
“Blame him.” Nescedo looked at Kyle. “He was supposed to reveal himself to you, long before Liz was shot.”
“No.” Maria snapped. “I blame you. You knew. You knew who we were, and you never said a word. You could have prevented all of this.”
“How could I have stopped Liz from being shot?”
“You could have saved her.” Maria turned away from him and looked at Tess. “Tess... I need your help right now.”
“What?” She asked, a little unsure.
“Do you know where your father would have kept any files that he wanted to keep secret?”
Tess nodded. “Yeah. He's got a drawer in his office at home.”
“We have to destroy them, and then we have to find him.”
“He... did he...?” Tess swallowed hard. “Did he do this to you?”
Maria nodded slightly. “He did. But he's not himself Tess.” Maria didn't want to defend the man. She didn't want to reassure Tess that her father really was a good person. Maria knew that he wasn't. He was far from it. The man had made her life a living hell for months and months, and as far as he knew, he'd just killed her. He was a bad man, but he was all Tess had, so Maria was going to do whatever she could to make sure that Tess got to keep her father.
Tears filled her eyes. “My grandfather, he was kicked off the force years ago, because he shot a man he thought was an alien.” Tess' jaw trembled. “Was he?”
“No. Your grandfather shot an innocent man.” Nescedo spoke up.
“Tess, it'll be okay. We can fix this, we can help him, and then everything will be okay.” Maria tried to reassure her.
Kyle pulled her into his arms and held her against his chest. “It'll be okay. I promise.”
Maria looked at Nescedo. “You clean this mess up here. We're going to go and take care of the rest of this mess.” Maria ducked into the backroom to grab her sweater and tugged it on. It covered most of the blood. She walked back up front and together they walked out of the diner. “Alex, why don't you take Isabel home.”
“Sure.” Alex nodded and nodded towards the car. “Go ahead, I'll be right there.” Isabel nodded and walked the short distance towards Alex's station wagon. Suddenly Alex pulled Maria into a tight hug. “I'm so glad you're okay.” He told her. “Don't you ever do that to me again. I can't loose you.”
Maria hugged him back just as tight. “I'll do my best, Alex. Now go. We've gotta go take care of this.”
“Call me if you need any help.” Alex squeezed her again and stepped back.
Maria watched him walk back to his car and looked at Tess and Kyle. “Alright, lets go.”
Michael approached the diner and paused seeing Maria and the others standing just outside the doors to the restaurant. There was a man Michael had never seen inside, shooting Maria what he could only categorize as a 'death look' as she hugged Alex who quickly walked to his car. Michael was pretty sure he could make out Isabel in the car. Kyle, Tess and Maria started walking towards another car and Michael stepped forward. “Maria?” He called, and they all froze.
“Michael?” Maria asked, she had a deep frown on her face and as Michael made his way towards the car he saw what looked like blood on Maria's uniform. “What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to talk to you.” He scratched his eyebrow. “Is that blood?”
Maria looked down and then quickly tugged her sweater tighter around herself. “Yeah, I uh, got a nosebleed.”
“Nosebleed?”
“Yeah.” She shrugged. “I've got to...” She paused, unsure of what to tell him. “Can I just talk to you later? I'll come over.”
“Sure.” Michael watched her, he knew something was up, but he just didn't know what. The temptation to follow her was nagging at him, he knew it was wrong, he should just stay out of whatever it was that she didn't want him to know about. But he was actually worried about her.
“I'll come to your window.” Maria smiled a little. A little bit of a role reversal. Her going to him, instead of the other way around. “I've gotta go, I'll see you later.”
“Later.” Michael stepped back and watched the trio climb into the car. Tess gave him a little wave as they sped away.
Kyle pulled his car to a stop in front of the Valenti's and they all saw Jim's police cruiser parked in the driveway. Maria couldn't help but gulp quietly. She wasn't sure what she was still so afraid of the man. He'd tried to kill her, and failed. Not by his own fault, but because she had some amazing help. But he'd failed nonetheless. They climbed out of the car and Tess and Kyle went first, walking up to the door. Tess was gripping Kyle's hand so tightly, her knuckles were turning white, and Kyle was wincing.
At the door Tess pushed it open slowly. “Daddy?” She called.
Kyle gave her hand a gentle squeeze, trying to reassure her. “I'm right here.” He said quietly. “It'll be okay.”
Maria followed behind them silently. She was there as a backup measure. Just in case Jim decided to go gun crazy again. She knew that she would be able to heal anything he did, now. She was stronger. Her new connection to their former lives, to Liz, it made her feel amazing.
“Dad?” Tess repeated as they walked towards the partially closed door, to her father's office. Light was spilling out through the crack. Slowly she pushed open the door. “Dad?” She stepped back quickly. She'd never seen him look so out of control. Not even after her mother had been killed. “What are you-”
“She's a liar!” He yelled. “She did it! I know she did!”
“Dad, what are you talking about?” Tess stepped in front of Kyle, knowing that her father would never hurt her.
“That freak. She killed your mother. I know she did!”
“Dad, what are you-”
Maria stepped through the doorway, angry that he was so insistent on the idea of her killing Michelle. “I most certainly did not.” She declared.
“No!” Jim yelled, quickly pulling out his gun.
“Dad!” Tess screamed.
Kyle pulled Tess to him, spinning her farther away from her father.
Maria raised her hand.
The gun went off.
A shield spilled from Maria's hand. Forming a sort of bubble around herself, and Kyle and Tess. The bullet hit it, and stopped.
Tess was still screaming.
Kyle's eyes darted to Maria's face, perfectly calm and serene. As though the man pointing a gun at her had not just tried to kill her. The bullet, and Jim stared in shock. He shot again and again and again. Each bullet simply stopped and fell to the carpet.
“Stop.” Maria commanded. She walked forward and ripped the gun from his hand. “Kyle. Do it.”
Kyle released his hold on Tess and grabbed Jim's hand. He was in his head in an instant. Searching for all the memories. He wouldn't miss anything. Not this time. He wouldn't put Tess through this again.
Maria stood there for a second, watching the scene before her, and then looked at Tess. “You have to help me, hurry. We have to find everything.”
Tess stood frozen for a moment, and then she was scrambling. She ran to the filling cabinet and yanked open the bottom drawer. “He puts everything in here.” She started pulling out files, and found one on her mother, Liz, Maria. Aliens. Sightings. So many files.
Maria stood over the desk, looking at all the files there. Pictures of herself and Liz. Comments. All the words that probably triggered the whole thing. She pulled them into a pile, and threw them into the bottom drawer with the other one. She held her hand over it, and a moment later it all burst into flames. Incinerated in seconds. Nothing but ash. “Kyle, is that everything?”
“Yeah.” He said, stepping back from Jim. “Get out of here, Maria.”
Maria stopped to scoop up the bullets and then walked out of the office. She closed the door behind herself as she left the house and then paused. She had told Michael she would go and see him. She looked down at her still bloodstained uniform and waved her hand over it. Leaving just a trickle of blood, that could be explained away by her supposed nose bleed. But that didn't explain the bullet hole. She frowned and tightened her sweater around herself, tying the belt to keep it closed and started walking to Michael's.
As Maria approached the house she bit her lip and silently snuck around the side of the house. She stood up on her tip toes to peek through the window and hoped that it was Michael's and no one else's. She spotted Michael, laying on his bed, staring up at the ceiling. She reached up and lightly clicked her fingers against the glass.