Chapter 2!!!

--

"Amen." Linda said, shaking the other. "Amen!"

"I'm not sleeping." Amen said. "Don't move me."

Linda removed her hand from the others shoulder and looked back at the boys, who were too busy looking at the courthouse to see. The blonde enchanter lifted the necklace out of Amen's shirt and gasped quietly. It looked worse than ever.

"The crack's extending." Linda said.

"I know." Amen opened her dark-green eyes. "This one was really big. So it, ah, hurts a lot." Amen gasped from the pain as she shifted her weight in the seat.

"Maybe you should stay here." Linda suggested, her blue-gold eyes filled with worry.

"That's not a good idea." Amen said, lifting herself out of the car. She felt something and knew it wasn't good. "Is the boy wearing his vest?"

"Yes, he is."

"He'll need it."

The boys got out of the white landrover and looked up at the courthouse. It was like they were captivated by it.

"You guys act like you've never seen one before." Amen said.

"Never seen one this old." Jack said.

"Let's go." Linda said, leading the group down an alleyway. At the end, stairs led down to a wooden door and into the basement of the courthouse.

They filed down the stairs after Linda and opened the door. It was dark, damp, and musty in the basement. Thick volumes lined the shelves and papers scattered across the floor and littered the few tables. The lights were switched on and the search began.

"What're we looking for?" Jack asked.

"Death record. Cemetery record." Linda answered.

"So you were being literal when you said we'd be 'digging up dead relatives'?" Amen asked.

There was a moment of silence. "What else would that mean?" Linda asked.

"I just thought you were speaking figuratively." Amen said. "Grave robbing isn't something I do very often."

"We're not grave robbing," Linda insisted. "It's more like borrowing."

"Borrowing without permission." Amen said quietly.

"What?"

"I asked who're we looking for." Amen lied.

"Susannah Downey." Linda said.

"Okay, what time period do you guestimate she'll be in?" Amen asked.

Every sound of movement stopped. Amen continued to look and froze when she heard nothing. She looked up to have everyone staring at her.

"What?"

"What was that?"

"A question?" Amen guessed.

Linda sighed, shook her head, and put her face in her hands. "Never mind, Amen. She'll be in the time period around the 1900's."

"Thank you." Amen said.

Jack found a paper on someone named Susannah Downey. He read it aloud, but Linda said it was too young to be the one they were looking for. Suddenly, footsteps sounded from upstairs. Amen leaped from one end of the room to the other and slammed the light switch down. She returned to the group.

"Amen, what're you-," Amen clamped a hand over Linda's mouth and made a soft shushing sound.

The footsteps carried around the room upstairs. There was only one person and they walked from one end to the other, then there was silence. The door from inside the courthouse flew open, light poured in and a silhouette of a person stood at the top of the stairs. Whoever it was tall and spare, dressed in a black cloak. Immediately, Amen heard the person muttering a spell and she quickly spoke the counter charm. The wizard cocked his head to the side, wondering why his charm didn't work. He peered into the room.

Amen and everyone else was already scattering across the room to the door out into the alley. He fired a spell at them, hitting Jack right in the back. Amen heard him hit the floor, but she knew it hit the vest and protected him. Amen roughly picked him up off the ground and shoved him forward. Linda told him something and the three boys escaped through the door, shutting it. With the boys gone, Amen and Linda faced the wizard.

"Amen Cross, is that you?" The wizard's hoarse voice toyed the air. "I thought it was you who disabled my charm. Very clever to give the boy a vest to protect himself."

"I don't know who you are," Amen said. "But come down here and so I can tear your throat out!"

"Let's not be hasty, Amen." The wizard mocked. "Let me see if you're really what your reputation says you are."

The wizard was muttering another charm. Amen muttered the counter charm and spoke a spell that sent flames from her fingers at the man. The wizard had no time to block the spell, it came too quick, and the flames licked his face, leaving a good burn. The wizard lost his temper and attacked with blue lightning he shot from his fingers. Amen held up her hand, two fingers closed to her palm, and the other two raised. The lightning was stopped by her hand and harmlessly rebounded off.

"So you are a wizard." The man said. "Things just became a little more interesting." the man was engulfed in darkness and disappeared, leaving only light to come through the door.

"Who was that?" Amen asked.

"I have a pretty good idea." Linda said gravely.

"Where'd you send Jack and the others?" Amen asked.

"To a small café in town, not too far away. Let's go." Linda said, taking Amen's hand and dragging her up the stairs.

--

Amen and Linda walked into the small café and spotted Jack and the others near the very corner farthest from the door. The two sat opposite the three boys, who'd miraculously scrunched themselves into a single seat on the booth.

"What happened?" Jack asked.

"Nothing." Amen said.

"Who was that?" Jack asked. "What was that? Why was he shooting us? Do you know who he is?"

"Yes, I know who he is." Linda answered.

"You do?" Amen asked. Linda cast her a glance.

"He's after the same thing we are and we can't let him have it." Linda said.

"He's following you." Amen said.

"How can you tell?"

"I can feel him," Amen said. "And I can see him out the window."

"Me and Amen will lead him away," Linda said. "You three go to the hotel and stay there for the night, you should be safe there."

"I'm coming with you," Jack said. "You'll need me."

"No she won't." Amen cut in. "As long as I'm around, nothing will happen to her. Any of you, for that matter."

Jack sat back in his seat, not taking his eyes off Amen. Linda used her powers so the waitress would allow Jack, Will, and Fitch to leave through the back door. Linda and Amen left through the front door, getting into the landrover and driving away.

--

After hours of driving, they made a huge circle and came around to the ruins of a house. It was charred to nothing, stone foundation that came from the hills around it was all that was left standing and the remnants of a stonewall. Linda ran her hand along the ashes, leaving marks in the black substance. Amen watched her, mystified.

"Amen," She began, but was lost for words. Finally, she just said, "Stop looking at me like that."

Amen sighed. She stalked through the ruins and back to the car. It was evident to her that Linda wanted to be left alone while they were here. She sat in the landrover for half and hour before she knew something must be up.

Amen got out of the car and stealthily stalked the stone wall for cover of the forest. A man in a black cloak was talking to Linda. Amen recognized him as Wylie, premier wizard of the Red Rose. She grit her teeth. As soon as he took one step towards Linda, Amen leapt out from the forest and ran silently toward him. He didn't hear her coming until she was upon him. A kick nailed him right in the face, the side that was burned as an added bonus, and sent him flying into a trap. He writhed on the ground, alternating between holding his face and everywhere else on his body.

"Amen!" Linda sounded surprised.

"I'll be damned if I'm gonna let some wizard get his hands on you." Amen said, grabbing her hand as the two careened to the car. Amen leapt into the driver's seat and Linda on the passenger's side. The key was in the ignition and they were speeding off down the road. Silence filled the cabin. Unexpectedly, Linda leaned over and kissed Amen on the cheek.

"Thank you." She said.

Amen just smiled and continued driving.

--

They drove in silence for hours until they could find a secluded spot to hide the car and get some sleep. Linda called the boys first to make sure they were alright. After persuading the clerk at the hotel to let the boys check in, they were inside the hotel room. Linda hung up the phone and sighed. Amen sat comfortably in the back seat, stretched out completely across the chair.

"Well, the boys are in the hotel room." Linda said. "They're going to the library tomorrow to find Susannah's records. They'll call us with any information."

"Good." Amen said. "I'm beat."

"I'm tired as hell." Linda said. "Do you think the boys will be okay?"

"Jack may be untrained," Amen pondered."but untapped energy is in there . . . somewhere. They'll be fine."

Linda climbed into the backseat next to Amen. The green-eyed girl moved over to give the other space. The blue-eyed enchanter pulled the other's arm around her shoulders.

"It gets cold in here," Linda explained. "And you're nice and warm."

Amen's brows furrowed and a smirked crawled on her face. "I've never been told that before."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"Well, it's true." Linda said.

Amen stared at the ceiling. She absent mindedly picked up her necklace and pulled it out of her shirt, examining it in the dim light. It shone in the darkness, creating it's own light despite it's broken state. Linda caught sight of it.

"It doesn't look good for me." Amen said.

"It's never looked good for you," Linda said. "But here you are know, three times older than the doctors estimated and still going strong."

"For now." Amen said.

"Let's not think about that." Linda said, pushing Amen's hand holding the necklace down.

Within minutes of silence, the two were fast asleep. Worries of the day faded as darkness came to reign outside, terror and fright ironically fading in the darkness.

--

Amen awoke to the sound of Linda's voice and Jack's faint voice over a cell phone. She sat up and rubbed her eyes, the sun was already high in the sky. Linda hung up the phone and turned to Amen.

"The boys found something." Linda said. "We're heading there now. But they think someone is onto them."

"I'm a little tired to be tearing throats out." Amen joked. "Or driving." The last part was in complete seriousness.

"That's why I'm driving." Linda said, getting out of the car.

Amen groaned and fell out of the car and onto the ground on her back. She groaned again and rolled over on her side. Linda came around the side of the car and sighed.

"You were always over dramatic when it came to waking up." Linda shook her head.

"Well, we can't all get eight hours of sleep like some people." Amen said, lifting herself out of the dirt.

"Just get in the car and stop complaining." Linda said, patting Amen on the shoulder.

Amen groaned again as she stomped around the car and fell into the passenger's seat. She buckled the belt and put her back straight against the leather seat of the landrover, tilting her chin up and closing her eyes. The car started and pulled out of the hiding place and onto the road.

--

It was almost dark by the time they were even nearing the town the cemetery was in. Amen still had her eyes closed and Linda was focusing on the road. Amen's eyes twitched as visions flooded her dreams.

Jack, blue eyes burning with confidence, stands opposite an unknown opponent dressed all in black. He holds a glimmering sword with a swirling, golden hilt with a set ruby. Shadowslayer. Flames swirled around the tip and his opponent laughed, shooting fire from his finger tips at Jack. His opponent was obviously a wizard. Suddenly, Amen could see from Jack's point of view, the flames licked the air hungrily as they careened toward him.

"WOAH!" Amen shouted and was shaken from the dream.

Linda freaked out and skidded to a stop. Amen was covered in sweat and her green eyes were bloodshot. She ran a hand through her hair and her breath was coming in shallow, ragged gasps.

"Oh my god," Linda shouted in surprise. "What is it?!"

"It's Jack." Amen said, looking into her blue and gold eyes. "He's in trouble."

At that very moment, Linda's phone rang. It was Jack. Linda picked up and Jack was frantically yelling into the phone, obviously panicked. Linda spoke calmly to him, as if wizard attacks happen every week. Amen watched as she hung up the phone and drove down the stretch of road faster than they had a few seconds ago.

"You were right," Linda said. "They've been attacked by a wizard. Wylie, no doubt. They're hiding in a church, but they don't know how long they can stay there. How did you know?"

"I saw it." Amen said. "In my dream. I saw Jack fighting a wizard."

Linda didn't say anything for a long time. She was thinking what she and Amen both knew: The wizard Jack was fighting was Wylie.

"Are you up to fight Wylie?" She asked finally. "Or at least distract him until I can get the boys to the car?"

"I'm always up for it." Amen said. "I kill Wylie or die trying."

"Not too much effort there, killer," Linda joked, patting Amen's hand. "Just a distraction. No need for the whole 'die trying' thing. What would I do if you died?"

"You tell me." Amen said.

Linda rolled her eyes and continued driving down the street at a dangerously fast rate. They skidded to a stop in front of a small church with a graveyard visible in the back. A figure stalked out of sight. Linda picked up the phone and dialed Jack.

"We're here." Linda said.

There was silence.

"What do you mean a signal? You'll know damn well when to go." Linda said into the phone, evidently in a bad mood. Amen looked at her in bewilderment, Linda noticed her and flipped out. "What are you staring at?! Go, go!"

"What was th-,"

"Just go!" Linda shouted. Amen sighed. She patted Linda on the shoulder.

"Go easy on Jack. He's had a rough day. And when I come back, please don't rip my throat out." Amen smiled and Linda couldn't help but smile back.

Shutting the car door, Amen walked toward the church. She reached over her shoulder and a sword materialized out black flame, as if some invisible scabbard was on her back. The blade was made of almost pure white steel, meaning that it was folded numerous times and more powerful, a black metal was fashioned into rolling flames on the opposite side of the sword. The hilt was a swirl of black and gold with an emerald as green as Amen's eyes set in the center.

"Ja-ck!" Amen shouted. "Get out of the church, Jack."

"Well, well," Wylie's raspy voice came from behind the church. "If it isn't the infamous Amen Cross. Fancy meeting you here."

"Wylie," Amen said. "It'd be a shame to slaughter you on holy grounds."

"I believe it's against the rules."

"Rules." Amen scoffed. "Like they were made for, I live to break 'em."

Wylie and a rather large cowboy stepped out from behind the building at the same time Jack and the others ran out to the car. Wylie spotted Jack and shot flames at him. Amen easily parried the flames away from Jack and caught them in her own hand, sending them back as Wylie even stronger. Wylie tried to back away, but he was too slow and another burn was added to his face courtesy of Amen.

"Why you little pig," Wylie screamed. "I'll kill you for that!"

"Go on, try it." Amen said. "It's a buy two get one burn free deal today."

Wylie fumed and sparks crackled in the air around him. Amen smirked.

"Well, look at you with you little power. Ha." Amen shrugged. "It wouldn't be worth burning you again. Wasted magic is all it would be."

"You little-," Wylie was positively red in the face. "I may be old, but you don't have the experience to top me, nor the power."

"Oh please," Amen laughed, back pedaling unnoticeably from Wylie as she spoke. "You think this is all I got? Ha! Don't make me laugh."

"Then show me what you've got!"

"Sorry," Amen shrugged again. "If I did I'd blow you to fractions right here. Where would be the fun in that? I like to at least toy with my kills before I actually end it."

"Come here you little Warrior! I'll put you in your place!" Wylie said.

"Linda," Amen voice reached inside the car. "Start the car."

Linda's hands were shaking. It took three tries to get the keys in the ignition. The engine roared to life as Amen neared the car from Wylie.

"Don't even think about it!" Wylie shouted, screaming an immobilization charm at Amen.

"Drive!" Amen shouted. She muttered the counter charm easily, standing stone still to trick Wylie.

Linda complied with the command, backing out and driving away at top speed with Jack and Shadowslayer in the car. Amen's eyes lingered on Wylie who was cackling madly thinking he'd caught Amen in his charm. Amen never got caught in charms, and this was no exception.

"You think you're so great," Wylie said, the laughter completely gone from his voice. "You think you're just untouchable with that stone and that sword of yours."

Amen remained silent, pretending to be immobilized. Wylie took a step closer and was sauntering in her direction at a slow pace, as if to enjoy his victory.

"The great Amen Cross," Wylie said. "Never to be caught in a charm. Well, guess what, Amen?" Wylie asked rhetorically. "I got you."

Yeah right. Amen rolled her eyes. The day I get caught in a charm is the same day you finally grow some hair.

Wylie was in front of her now, savoring the fake triumph. Amen stared at him, unflinchingly. Her sword gripped in her hand glittered with it's own light. Wylie stared at it.

"One of the Great Blades." Wylie said. "Very nice. Which one is this?" He examined it with great interest.

"Darkness' Bane." Amen answered.

"Ah, that sounds nice. Very nice indeed. I think I'll just-," Wylie's eyes shifted furiously at Amen's face, which was smirking at him. "Wait a minute!"

Amen swung the sword over her head and down on Wylie, cutting through his arm and forcing him to the ground. Amen's sword flamed at the tip and put it to Wylie's throat.

"Number one," Amen said in a low voice. "The day I get caught in the charm will the day the world ends and it will most certainly not be a charm cast by the likes of a weakling like you. Two, this is one of the Great Blade and unfortunately not for sale. Three, the reason I'm not going to blow you to pieces right here and right now is because I know somebody who would enjoy it so much more. Four, here's your free burn."

The flames from Amen's sword leapt off the cold steel and onto Wylie, setting him alight. The flames hungrily burnt his flesh as Amen walked down the road, sword in hand. Fueled by hatred, Wylie forced the flames back at Amen, who swiped her sword in an arc, dissipating the flames into the air. Even so, the move caught Amen off guard and burnt a hole in her shirt on her shoulder. It never reached flesh, but burnt the red shirt to ashes, leaving only the white shirt underneath to show.

Holding out her hand, Amen muttered a charm quickly and inaudibly at Wylie. Seconds after finishing the charm, Wylie screamed and writhed in pain on the ground he lay. He screamed threats, curses, and even begged a little as the pain in his body spread. The charm would wear off after she got too far away, but even then it was too light a punishment for him.

--

After walking for hours, Amen finally came to a town. She used a pay phone outside the limits, as the burns on her shirt were, as of now, unexplainable. She rang the hotel Linda said they were staying at. Nothing. She rang Jack's phone. Nothing. She finally rang Linda's cell phone. She picked up and was practically crying over the phone. A dozen questions and barely any time to answer any of them.

"Where are you?!" She asked. Exhaustion and worry were present in her voice, she'd evidently been crying. "Are you okay?"

"I'm, ah, alright." Amen thought the groan of pain immediately countered the statement. She looked around the small pay phone box for any indication as to where she was. "Apparently I'm about twenty miles north of Coal Grove."

"Don't move!" Linda said, as if Amen wasn't good with directions. "I'll be right there!"

Linda hung up the phone and Amen walked outside. She sat down next to the pay phone booth and waited for Linda to show. Three hours passed and still no sign of the blonde enchanter. Amen stared lazily out into the sunset, watching it paint the sky shades of orange and pink. She put moved a hand in front of her forehead to shield her eyes from the bright light. She sighed and looked both ways down the road. Nothing either way.

Finally, the white landrover came barreling down the road at a rate of speed that had to illegal. Amen lifted herself off the ground and walked forward in anticipation for the stop. It screeched forward and it slide to a stop in front of her. The door flew open and Linda threw her arms around the taller warrior, sobbing.

"I knew I shouldn't have left you." She said.

"I'm fine." Amen said, patting her on the back. "It's okay now. As long as Jack's okay and he's got the sword."

"He's got it." Linda said, holding Amen at arm's length. "It's with the case. As long as it's in the case, nobody can take it away."

"That's all that matters." Amen said.

"What happened to you?" Linda asked, examining Amen's burnt shirt.

"Wylie's not completely weak," Amen said. "But he still go his deal."

"Deal?"

"Yeah," Amen said in a matter of fact tone. "Get two burns and get the third free!"

Linda stared at Amen for a moment, with a look on her face that asked if she were serious. Then she broke out into a smile and laughed. Amen smiled and chuckled. The blonde pushed the other into the car and got in the driver's seat. Amen immediately fell asleep, relaxing as soon as she rested into the seat. Linda smiled and brushed her hand against Amen's.

"The sword is not the only thing that matters," She said softly. "But how could I ever expect you to understand that."