CHAPTER THREE - A Little Research
"What is that thing?"
Mikel asked, the curiosity in his voice overriding its gruffness for once.
"It's more of a crutch
than anything else." Sarta replied as she took the object from her husband and
held it out for inspection. "Annie is
an 'Empath' and as you all know now, with her power of 'Premonition' Phoebe
was-is, a 'Psychic'. This is a
Gibraltar rock. We're hoping that Annie
will be able to use it to make a psychic link with Phoebe in the dream
dimension."
Turning the rock over in
her hand, small, fossilized shapes were embedded in the glistening black
surface. "Centuries ago, an island priestess made a journey to Morocco and
visited the Rock of Gibraltar. She used
her power to forge a piece of the rock with a piece of obsidian and made this
tool to access the dreamworld. From our
research, it seems that her culture knew of the dream dimension and that their
legends even spoke of communal dreaming."
"Gibraltar is a beacon
which signals the position of the Strait of Gibraltar, the narrow neck which
separates Europe from Africa and provides the only link between the Atlantic
Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Just
as it is a link between those two great bodies of water, this rock can serve as
a link between the waking world and its dream counterpart." Stopping then, she crossed the room to where
the young girl named Annie sat by Claudia's side. "It would be ideal if we had another psychic, especially a
dreamer, and Annie is young, but her empathic talents will have to do. We're hoping that with the Gibraltar rock,
she will be strong enough to contact the Charmed Ones wherever they are."
As everyone took in
Sarta's words, they all looked at Annie appraisingly. Even little Jonathan, who had been using his powers practically
since birth, looked up at the 15 year old girl somberly. Annie was new to the craft, and her powers
of 'Empathy' had only recently surfaced when she underwent puberty. She had no real control over it yet, but
blessedly so far her power only applied to close loved ones, people she was
already emotionally invested in. If she
were empathically open to the entire world, she would be overwhelmed and
quickly go mad from the pressure.
Claudia spoke up then, to
give Annie a moment to process it all. "'Many hands make light work.' Mikel, that is why we need you too. Since Annie is untrained in her gift, and has no experience using a
talisman to augment her powers, we need you to be the stabilizing force." It seemed strange asking the fiery and
quick-tempered man to be a balancing agent. Mikel was more likely than not to erupt in anger than to be a
mediator. But Mikel's talent was
'Focusing'. His sole power was to serve
as a magical "boost" for other witches and spells. Somehow he was able to concentrate and focus any magical effort
to make it double the strength that it would normally be, which was why he and
his twin sister Petra always worked together, despite their constant
quarrelling.
"Without the Charmed Ones,
we are doomed. The fact that they are
gone is a mistake--they must be here to serve in the battle, otherwise our cause
for good is a lost one." Speaking more
fervently, Claudia looked around at each of the people before her in turn,
settling lastly on Mikel's face. "We must do everything possible to bring them
back and set things right!" Petra
glanced at him, and Mikel nodded soberly in agreement, and for once, didn't say
a word.
Turning her attention back
to the round-faced girl who, with her multi-colored strands of hair, and nose
piercings, looked more like a techno club kid than the only hope for the most
powerful witches in the world, Claudia asked if she was ready. Flipping her hair back from her shoulders
and taking a deep breath, Annie spoke for the first time, in a surprisingly
strong and steady voice, "Bring it on."