Chapter 2

His dad had made his way down to Tala, because they could still hear his voice. By this point, the older children had realized that something was wrong; the younger ones were under the impression that this was a game. The nanny slowly turned to them. "Hello children," the voice that came from within the bonnet was that of Broadway singer. Rich, full of warmth, the voice did not match the body. "My name is Mrs. Drishmel. I'm going to be your new nanny."

Tristan could tell the woman had a smug smile on her face. He could hear it in her voice.

Callia looked up at her and demanded in her fake British accent, "Where is my father? You old witch, I know you did something to him. Where did he go?"

"Callia, sweetheart, you can't talk to the new nanny like that."

She looked up at me and I saw tears in her bright green eyes. "But Tristan, where's daddy?"

I looked up at Mrs. Dreshmel, "It's a pleasure to meet you ma'am. If you would excuse us, I need to take the children upstairs. Hazel needs her nap. The kitchen is that way, and the living room is in there," he said as he pointed down the hallway. "Please make yourself comfortable."

With that he herded his siblings back up the stairs.

"Tristan - "

"Shh, it's okay Cali. Here, go sit in my room. I'll make us some popcorn and we can all watch a movie. Heath, Basil, will you help the smaller ones? Kaie, will you grab some blankets? Tala and Cali, will you help me bring in some drinks?"

Tristan wearily ran his fingers through his mess of curls. Their parents were missing and he had the sneaking suspicion that the nanny was the cause of their disappearance. He shook his head. But that was ridiculous. There was no way Mrs. Dreshmel was the reason their parents were gone. That would mean she had supernatural powers and that was just ridiculous. He quickly made three large bowls of popcorn and brought them into his room.

"Okay you guys, you know my rule. If you spill the popcorn, you have to clean it up before you leave ok?"

"We know hotshot, give me the popcorn!"

"Aithne, you never fail to make me laugh." He chuckled as he scooped up Hazel from where she had been lying. "I'm going to go put Hazel in her crib. You guys pick out a movie okay?"

With that he walked out of his room and down the hall. To get to Hazel's nursery he had to walk past the staircase to downstairs. As he was passing, he heard the nanny talking. At first he thought she was on the phone and thought nothing of it. Then he heard the response. "Those kids really have no idea what's going on do they?"

"No, the don't!" Mrs. Dreshmel cackled. "They think I'm the new nanny! Can you believe that?"

"They don't realize they're special?" The other person had a deep oily voice. It conjured up pictures of a pale man with long dark oily hair. Tristan shook his head; he was being ridiculous. Just as he started to move again, the next words made him freeze.

"They don't know they have powers?"

"No! And the best part is, because they don't know, it makes it easier for us!"

"Do you know what powers they have?" Oily man asked eagerly.

"Not yet. When I finish this brew, their powers will manifest. Only they won't know what's going on. And because I'm the new nanny, they'll run to me for comfort. And I'll comfort them all right!" She screeched. "I'll take their stupid powers and then I will become invincible!"

"Yeah, that sounds like something those stupid children would do." Oily man's laugh was disgusting. It sounded like a mix between a car with no muffler and a sick elephant.

Tristan ran back to his room, forgetting he still had Hazel in his arms.

"Tristan! Hey, I thought you were going to put Hazel in her crib. You know we can't watch this movie if she's here!"

Shakily, Tristan moved to his bed and sat. He wasn't sure how to do this, but he needed to ask his siblings. "Did you guys feel anything weird about the new nanny?"

Immediately Cali responded, "She made daddy and mommy disappear."

"Yeah, that's what I'm talking about. I don't know how you guys are going to take this, but -" Tristan quickly recounted the conversation he had just overheard. "I don't know about you guys, but I feel like this is serious. We don't know where our parents are. They were standing next to us one minute, and then the next, they were gone."

"What do you suggest we do?" Basil asked. The movie lay forgotten in his lap.

"My suggestion is, what is my suggestion?" Tristan looked around his room and his gaze fastened on the window. He looked back at his siblings. "How do you guys feel like going on an adventure?" he asked.

The looks on their faces told him they were up for it.