Buttercup cornered his time talker. “Where the hell is that amulet?”
The time talker backed away. “I d-d-don’t know. I’ve searched everywhere and talked to everyone I can remotely think of and no one has seen the thing. It’s as if it never existed. Either that or a fairy tale. The most I can get from anyone was that it was buried in a steel box.”
Buttercup slammed the Time Talker against the wall in a fit of rage. “I already know that. But the box was empty. Which means the damn thing is floating around somewhere and who knows who has their hands on it. That was meant for me and I want it back NOW! So I suggest you find it or someone will find a few million pieces of you all over the floor.”
“Y-y-yes Sir. I’ll go now.” The Time Talker sped away, hoping that the amulet would just show up somewhere.

********************************

Eric and Cyn finished their breakfast before heading downstairs to Paul’s room. Eric wanted to go over the schedule for the concert that night. G.O.O.D. was pulling out everything to protect Kiss and Girltalk. Buttercup was sure to be at the top of his game at the concert since it would be the most vulnerable time for the groups and especially since he was still reeling from the destruction of his headquarters.
The six heard the knock on the door as the mist disappeared along with the funny looking person talking about the amulet. Paul answered the door to see Eric and Cyn standing in the hall. “Hey man. Come in and close the door quick.”
“What’s going on? Oh hey everyone.” Eric gave a quick wave to everyone.
Paul tried to explain. “Well apparently the six of us here hold some kind of power.”
“Power? What are you talking about?”
“This piece of glass.” Gene held up the amulet. “This is supposed to be some kind of power. I think it’s all bullshit. This is just a trick of Buttercup’s to capture us.”
Eric took the amulet from Gene. “Uh, Gene. I hate to tell you this, but this thing doesn’t belong to Buttercup. He wishes he had it, but it’s not his. And this is the power.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Ana looked at Eric, waiting on an answer.
“G.O.O.D. has known about the amulet for a couple of hundred years, but no one knew where it was at or if it really existed. According to legend, the person who possesses the amulet holds all of the power. I guess that means that whoever has it can basically save the earth or destroy it. Take your pick.”
“Oh my God.” SiLK sat down on the bed. “You’re joking, right? This can’t be happening. Hasn’t there been enough this weekend already? After I get home, I don’t think I’ll ever leave Louisiana again.”
“Sure you will,” Cyn said as she sat down beside SiLK. “We’re sisters and you have to come visit me sometime. I won’t let you stay holed up in Cajun Country.” SiLK laughed at Cyn.
“And Buttercup isn’t getting his hands on the amulet, so you don’t have to worry about the earth blowing up either.” Peter laughed.
“Oh hush. Don’t you take this stuff seriously?” Ana swatted Peter on the arm. “Eric, if this thing has this power you are talking about, why is it that the six of us found different pieces and when the pieces were put back together, it melded itself into one piece?”
“I wish I could answer, but I can’t. And I don’t know what it takes to make the thing work either. I only know what the legend said.”
Gene took the amulet back from Eric. “Well I think I’ll hold all of the power for a while. Maybe you can find out what the hell this thing can really do and what it’ll take to make it work.”
“Gene, you will not hold on to that thing. I think we need to stash it away somewhere and maybe put some kind of force field around it so that no one can find it or take. We do not want anyone getting their hands on this. Imagine what could happen if some woman with PMS got her hands on this. Buttercup would never be able to do the damage compared to what a pissed off woman could do.” Gena took the amulet from Gene and handed it to Paul. “Now use some of those powers you have and see if you can find a place for this thing til we can figure out what to do with it.”

******************

She knew visitors had thwarted her help, but she wasn’t going to give up. She would never let E.V.I.L. win. She had watched his destruction of earth over and over again and she would not allow it to happen another time. He had to be stopped and the amulet was the only way.
They had waited for eons for the right person or persons to come along who could wield the power in a way that would signal the end of E.V.I.L. and now they had six. There was something about the six who would do what needed to be done. Now they just needed to be guided in the right direction. She didn’t care what he said. She was going to help.

*****************

The mist formed around the ankles of everyone in Paul’s room. “What is going on?” Cyn asked with a shocked look on her face.
“The same thing happened before you two came in here. It’s over there in the corner. Look!” SiLK pointed to a figure in the mist.
“For the wisdom you seek, you must free yourself of the binds that hold you to another. You must become one. For the power of one will yield the desires you seek.” The mist disappeared again and in its place, was a huge book.
Gena tried to pick up the book, but it was too heavy. “I think I need some help here. This thing is really heavy.” Gene came over and helped her lift it. They carried the book over to the table and sat it down.
Ana and Gena began analyzing the book, looking for answers or clues of what they needed to do next and how the amulet could finally bring Buttercup down. “I think I got it here,” Ana said. She started reading off a passage in the book. Suddenly, SiLK dropped to the bed, holding her ears. Everyone stopped what they were doing and rushed to SiLK’s side.
Paul touched her on the arm. “Are you okay? What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know. When Ana started reading the book, I suddenly heard a piercing noise and what sounded like faint gurgles amongst the strangest music. If I didn’t know better, I could have sworn it was something off of the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack or something. Kinda disco-ish. It’s hard to describe. And I think Sapho sensed it too. Look.” SiLK pointed at the fiery beast that had become her constant companion. The animal was sniffing around and whimpering.
“I don’t think we should just read passages aloud from the book again. If we are getting a reaction like that from Sapho, there is no telling what we may be doing.” Gena looked at the others in the room as they all nodded in agreement.

******************

Cats within the hotel’s vicinity stopped what they were doing and began to sniff. Their common prey was suddenly off the radar. They could not sense the smell or feel of vermin. Something was wrong in the animal realm and humans had no idea.
The pet store around the corner from the hotel suddenly had a mess of goo and guts to clean. The entire rodent section had unexplainably exploded. The owner stood looking at his entire selection of hamsters, pet mice, gerbils and snake food gone. He didn’t know what to do. He had seen some weird things in his life, but nothing like this had ever happened before.

****************

The glitter disco ball rolled down the hall into the oncoming path of Eric Singer. He bent down to pick it up, instantly recognizing it as the ball that held the mice that had saved Raven’s life. He didn’t like what he saw. Inside were tiny bits of cloth and what looked like remains. He knew that he could never let Pete or Raven see this. He decided he would dispose of the ball and no one would have to know what he saw. They would just think the tiny creatures had gone back to their own kind.

******************

“I’ve found something I think.” Gena showed Ana.
“Just paraphrasing, I think it says that we have to all expend our energies before we can figure out the answers we need. And I think we have to do it by pairing off with someone of like mind and spirit. What do you think Gena?”
“I agree. And I think that we have to use our gifts to hide this thing so no one else can get to it.”
“Gena’s right. This amulet does not need to get into Buttercup’s hands. He would destroy us.”
“Well while you all are doing your business, I guess Cyn and I will head back to our room. We still have some things to do.” Eric wrapped his arm around Cyn’s waist and headed for the door. Everyone knew they were trying to spend as much time as they could together to make up for lost years so they just waved goodbye and went back to their business.

*******************

Gena and Ana continued to look through the book, while the men conferred about what to do with the amulet, drawing SiLK into the conversation.
“Think you can pull this off?” Peter asked.
“Not alone. I could only enhance it,” Paul replied.
SiLK turned her attention from the amulet to go over to the guys. “What are you planning?” she asked.
“I can alter minds that come near it so they don’t detect it,” Paul replied.
“But that’s going to be extremely stressful,” Gene protested.
“And are you planning on sitting near the amulet all the time?” SiLK asked Paul in concern.
Paul shook his head. “No. Like I said, I could enhance...” he looked over to Ana and Gena. “A spell,” he said.
Peter smiled. “You mean like an invisibility spell?”
“That’s it,” Paul said. “I could enhance the spell, if the spell could amplify my gift on it.”
“Kind of like a force field of sorts, “ Gene said, nodding his head approvingly. “And I know just the person to work this with. Gena, sweetheart, can you spare a few minutes from the book. We need some help from you.”
“Okay, something is adding up,” Peter said as Gena approached them, “but not enough yet.” He looked from Gena to Paul.
“What?” Gena asked.
Gene placed his arm around her and started to explain what they discussed. Gena stood staring at the amulet. “I understand what you’re talking about, but do you really think I can do such a spell? It’s going to be complicated. I’m going to have to merge my magic with Paul’s gift.”
“I have complete faith in you,” Gene assured her, lifting her head and kissed her nose.
Gena gazed into Gene’s eyes, before looking at the amulet again, then at Paul. Her eyes went to SilK and Peter, with Ana now standing at his side. Everyone was waiting for her reply. She looked back to the amulet. “Okay, let’s give this a try. I just don’t want to blow this sucker up or anything.”
“You won’t,” Gene said, turning her to face the amulet, while Paul moved to stand beside her.
Gene placed his arms around her waist and stood close so she could lean against him, feel his support and hopefully draw some strength from him. SiLK came up behind Paul, while Ana and Peter held hands. Peter’s free hand rested on SiLK’s shoulder as added support, while Ana did the same for Gene. Paul and Gena looked at each other and held hands. By unspoken consent the six become one group, four lending strength and support to the two.
Gena started to weave her spell, Paul intricately weaving his own abilities through her web. How they saw what they were doing, Paul had no idea, but from the little grunts of “now go there,” and other comments coming from Gene and SiLK, Paul guessed that they all saw the intricities of the spell combine until, to their new sight, they saw what looked like a force field.
Gena leaned more onto Gene, letting out a sigh, while Paul reached for SiLK’s hand. “It should work. It should be invisible to sight and undectable to any sort of probing.
Peter chuckled. “If they do, they’ll get more than a little scoarched.”
Gena laughed along with the others. “Thank Gene for helping me add that little last minute booby trap into our spell.”
“Now what?” Ana asked.
“Both Paul and Gena go get comfortable and rest, while the rest of us get comfortable and see if we can sort out any of the mysteries of the book.”
Paul and Gena were about to protest but SiLK and Gene were quicker and were already leading them toward the bed. “But I don’t want to lay down next to Paul,” Gena potesting, her eyes teasing Paul.
“Don’t worry,” Gene said, stroking her hair. “Paul will get the bed. We’ll go over to the couch.”
Ana studied the two couples. “Looks like we were the least affected by the spell,” she said to Peter.
“Why don’t you four take a little nap,” Peter suggested. “If Ana and I think we found something, we’ll wake you up.”
This time there was no protest from the four who were snuggling up in their respective spots to settle down for some needed rest.

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