Mystery Girl part 3 Selina and Maria.. John Constantine Part 2

Cultivating for the next few hours went by peacefully. At one point, Maria woke up to walk around the place. She spotted her daughter curled up like a cat between Max's legs. Seeing her daughter so peaceful, and comfortable she left the room.

Something telling her she was in a safe place. But that did not change her worry. Or from asking mental questions.

'How in the world did I get here? These people are rich. Did the mob get me? Why is Selina with that boy.' Maria made a note to check in on them every now and then. She was still fussy. It was not until Mr.Vega came over to handle things, did she settle down more.

At first, she was smitten by his looks and soothing voice. But after he explained the contract, she turned angry and depressed. Angry that her daughter had to do this to save them. Depressed because she failed both of her daughters now.

The good news, Mr.Vega was more than able to help her with things. A small look of wonder trying to figure out how she was "normal" already.

.

-The next morning-

.

Waking up, Selina stared at Max who was still meditating. Noticing the drool she left on his leg, she was embarrassed and jumped up. Walking away, she went to get cleaned up and talk to her mother. To read to her really. She was in for a huge surprise.

"Ahh, that was a nice little nap." Max stood up and stretched. Heading to the shower, he cleaned the grime and dressed for the day. Back in the kitchen, he found Selina, her mother, and his spiritual clone. With a quick pass of information, the clone looked at the others waved them goodbye, and went to work. 'Holy shit... that is a trip.'

"You two look very similar." Maria said. "Breakfast is ready by the way." She fell into her role as a maid easily enough. Mr.Vega and herself spoke very detailed about what happened Max found. She was skeptical but, then chalked it away to people with "money" doing things.

"Thanks." Sitting down, Max ate the meal and waited for Selina to ask her questions. It didn't take long.

"So Max… about my mom. What are you going to do?" Selina asked. "She recovered a lot faster than you said. But she is still a little out of it."

"She does not want to press charges still I take it?" Maria nodded to him. "So nothing will be done legally there. The lawyer has filed for divorce on her behalf. She will have a job as a maid here, till you turn 21. You will have full medical and special care still. As well as an appropriate income."

"Thank you. This means a lot." Maria said with a smile. She turned around to Selina. "But at what cost?" A small look of worry passing over.

"You will need to take online courses of study. A self-defense course, counseling, and classes on how to be a better mother to Selina." Seeing her pained look, Max smiled. "You must remember the agreement is for Selina. For her betterment, I am taking care of you. I will provide you with what is needed for you to stand on your feet by the time she is 18 if you no longer wish to stay in my employe.."

"Mom, you can do this!" Selina said determined. "I do not want to go back to that shithole or that life. Your pride may want you to, but I refuse! I won't let him touch me like that. Ever again."

"I.. you dont understand." Maria started to say. Confused a little about what happened. "No this can't be right." Looking at Max she knew something else had to be at work. He wanted something else. "How much?"

"Huh?" Max looked at her with interest.

"How much for my daughter?" Maria said.

"I don't really know? She is worth a few million I suppose." Max blinked at her slightly confused himself.

"Mom.." Selina started to cry a little. She was thinking the worst.

"Fine then. Let's say 15 million then."

"Fair enough."

"Its agreed. You will pay for any and everything my daughter needs. As long as it's under 15 million. This will also go towards anything illegal she gets into." Maria added. "If she is anything like I was when I was her age, she will find some trouble eventually."

"Agreed." Max nodded.

"You can never abandon my daughter or do to her what men with power do to people. In return, I will take her place for any "nasty thing" you wish to do to her." Maria said walking over and kneeling at Max's feet. "Please... just dont touch her."

"Mom!" Selina cried. She was not expecting this at all.

"Be quiet Selina. This all I can do for you. I can only offer this body of mine."

"I agree. Sign here." Making a spiritual parchment. More of a special addendum that tied to Selina's contract. Maria grabbed and signed it. It dissolved immediately after. "Good job. The first thing you are going to go do is to strip and head to my bathroom."

"Of course." Maria stood up wiping her tears away.

"Max.. you cant." Selina got out.

"Of course I can. You strip as well, you are joining her."

"You said you wouldn't lay a hand on her!" Maria said getting in front of her daughter.

"What?!" Max stared at them both. Realizing he should clarify something, he waved his hand trying to placate the two. "I am not joining you in the bath crazy people. The contract she signed will allow you to help heal her faster. Catch this." Tossing some low-level elixirs that way, he sighed. "Haa.. get in the bath which is big enough for two people and drink these two very slowly. They are family elixirs. Relatives acquire a boost with their cultivation when using it togethor."

(Are you trying to determine if they are really related? We have other ways.)

'No shit. But this works to.' Max thought to the A.I. 'Tell me everything that happened while I cultivated earlier.'

"This better not be dual cultivation Max!" Selina had gone through a lot of the information already. "I am not doing "those" things with my mother!" She did not however, read the other parts apparently.

"It is. But dual cultivation does not just mean sex. It is also for double cultivation, friends do it and people who are like-minded do it. As a mother-daughter pair, it should have great results. If you two were close it would have a better effect. However, with what just happen between you two, it should work just as well. Selina I am expecting you to talk to your mother about what I can do in detail. The contract will help protect her." Walking off, Max was stopped.

"Wait. Where are you going?" Selina asked.

"To school. Right now, you have a week off. Your mother will enroll you later this week in a prep school if you want, instead of a different public one."

"Heck no. I am going to a regular school. I will not go to a prep school and pretend to be something I am not." Selina said stomping her feet. Her mother was still slightly daze. She wanted to call Max a devil, but kept quiet.

"Very well. The adjacent apartment room, I will have it set up for your needs. It.."

"Wait. We are staying here. Same area. There are more than enough bedrooms Max. Besides you have to teach me a lot of stuff and will be easier than me coming all the way across the hall at odd hours of the night." Selina said. She would not budge on the matter.

"Makes sense. However, you mother will have her room next to your own. To help "alleviate" her concerns." Walking out the passing door, Max did not hear the conversation between them. 'Time to get busy on a personal level.'

"How did you meet him. Tell me in detail!" Maria said. Selina just smiled and started at the hospital. Then after they left the woman shelter since her mom couldnt tell on her dad. Then how she searched for him at the schools.

.

-Zatara's Place-

.

"Concentrate John, if you do not, you will be a danger to yourself and others." Giovanni spoke softly but firm. Dressed his twin-tailed tux, fingers pulling at his mustache. "Strength is needed to save your mother. But so is skill." A little girl about 6 years old was sipping some juice as she watched.

This was Zatanna Zatara, one of the greatest Magic users that walked the earth. But that was a different life and time. Right now, she was just a little girl happy to watch things.

"Enough darling," the voice of a sweet-sounding woman called. She wheeled over in a wheelchair picking up Zatanna. She was the girl's mother Sindella. One could not tell from the first appearance, but the eyes gave it away. And the attitude. If Max saw the woman he would know she was the version with the "Medulla Jewel" and Zatanna had the same. "He is still young. Let him rest before continueing."

"Very well." Zatara relented. He did not want to start another argument. Walking over, he gave his wife a kiss on the cheek before walking to the back of the stage. 'Your still here, I am so happy. But you were destined to leave me already. Leave Zatanna and return to your Hidden City in Turkey.'

As an Agent of Order, Giovanni was privy to a lot of things. He was one of the "8" to know that the "Source Wall" or "Cosmic Understanding" as they called it was damaged and had been repaired recently. No date or time for that matter when it occurred. But he knew, just like the others something happened.

When stepping into the back, he slipped into a separate realm. A small shift in dimensions was easy enough for someone at his level. Seven other figures were in wait. Completely obscured an unnoticeable in a type of "look-through" mirror. A gold Helmet was visible on one. Whether it was to show there was no fear, or just the effects of the helmet was never determined.

"How goes the training?" The voice from the gold helmet said. "We have not found his mother yet or this cult. But it is real, that is certain."

"I do not know just yet. Slight trouble, but he is strong. Access to almost every form of magic. Not strong in any distinct one. With hard work, he could support a lot in the future. The ability to diversify would work wonders." Giovanni wanted to really train the boy. One to prevent a possible future he saw. Another to actually help. John Constantine reminded him, of a young him. "He has the potential."

"Potential is all well and good.. but the intent is more important." A female's voice came from another mirror. On the bottom, an entwine of peacock feathers and arrows were visible. "You have already declined to allow your daughter to train under my tutelage, in fact, she barely trains at all. Keeping her basic will get her killed."

"I will not do it. It was decided between my wife and myself. Some married couples talk about things. You should try it." It was a slight stab at the woman's personal life, but Giovanni was on edge lately. "The other matter?"

"You two do not start fighting." Gold helmet said. "It was confirmed. The disturbance in the last few days were by the same entity. It plays both sides. Weild's both sides with ease. A creature of Order and Chaos."

"So we are in danger?" Peacock question.

"No. It sent Constantine to me for a reason. From what I checked off his mind, a boy around the same age helped him. He is rich and influential. And.. he lives in a very protected place. More defended than anything I have across. Something may be hiding there, or it may be just for protection for the future." Giovanni said calmly. "I tried to peer into it once. Two words in every known language and every dead language was visible and spoken."

"What was it?" Another voice from a mirror asked. Underneath were a trident, sword, and shield. "The words have to have meaning."

"Dark Justice." Giovanni said. When he said it, the mirror's each received a magical probe, and another formed up.

Opposite of them, a gray rimmed mirror made with every creature in existence bones and a skin-like substance stretched below. Underneath, a black and white skull-faced each other.. With a glance, they could tell the large majority were human bones at the top of the mirror.