Chapter 2
The Keys to Power
Kendra, Seth, Vanessa, Warren, Tanu, Trask, Elise, Kendra and Seth's parents and both sets of grandparents Dale, Emmeline, Christine, Rhea and Ryan sat around the large, circular coffee table in the living room, staring at the old, peeling journal lying in the middle. The thick book had been found in the bottom of an old trunk of Patton's.
"I'm afraid to touch it." Christine whispered.
Kendra tentatively reached for the journal and examined the lock holding the journal closed. It looked like one of the cheap locks that came on the diary she had purchased at a dollar store once, but, knowing Patton, the key to the lock would need a scavenger hunt to find it.
However, Grandma Larsen produced a intricate, bejeweled key out of her purse.
Kendra took the key, slid it into the lock and turned it.
Click.
Kendra lifted the cover and immediately saw Patton's thin, slightly untidy scrawl.
She cleared her throat and began reading.
"This journal contains the maps and details to The 5 Keys to Power."
"No!" Warren exclaimed, taking the book. "That can't be! I heard them about them in a fairytale when I was little!" He scanned the first page. "What? Are you playing a joke on me, Kendra? This journal isn't about The 10 Keys of Power, it's Lena's diary!"
"What?" Kendra asked, looking at the page, which still read 'This journal contains the maps and details to The 10 Keys of Power.' "What does it say for you?"
"September 11. Patton is getting more senile each day. Yesterday I overheard him talking to himself, and caught him creating a gaseous monologue for somebody named 'Seth'. I am fearing he has gone crazy. Signed, Lena Burgess."
"There may be fairy magic preventing anyone who is not blessed by the magic of the fairies from reading." Warren suggested.
Kendra shrugged, then continued reading.
"The first of the 5 Keys is in Mexico, hidden in cursed Aztec ruins. It is the legendary Tuning Fork, which allows the user to turn water or the plainest food into any food desired, providing the holder or one of their ancestors has tasted the food before.
The second is in Florida, located under the famous Walt Disney statue in Disneyworld, it is the Repairer, which can repair nearly any broken item, as long as the holder has seen it in the restored state.
The third is in Hawaii, located in a hidden tide pool in Hilo. It is known as Khronos' Hourglass, which can stop time.
The fourth is located in New York, in the Museum of Natural History. It is disguised as a normal Egyptian amulet, when in actuality, the Forcefield protects the wearer from any attack.
The fifth and final key is located in Paris, behind the Mona Lisa. It is the Reviver, capable of restoring one from the dead.
Together, the 5 keys of power may open any lock, no matter how impregnable it seems." Kendra finished. "Then, it's all scribbles."
"So, what a road trip" Grandpa Sorrenson mused. "Including most of the ideal vacation spots. I say we devote about a week for each artifact, starting on this continent then moving outwards."
"Sounds good. When do we leave, and where first?" Warren asked.
"We leave to Florida tomorrow morning. I'll phone Aaron Stone." Grandpa Sorrenson exited the room, spoke on his phone for about 20 minutes, then came back, smiling.
"Aaron will be at John F. Kennedy airport tomorrow at 6:00 AM, for the 2 Hours And 45 Minutes flight to Florida. You will have the rest of that day to relax, then start the next day hunting for the artifact."
