Chapter 8

'You got a good look at this guy then?' Dani asked as they were gathered around the kitchen table.

'Yeah, just as dad said. He was horrible.' Katherine told them.

'His voice was the worst, it was like if a snake could speak.' Christina was leaning her head in her hands as the others were talking, trying to process everything. 'I forgot.' Christina said suddenly. 'I forgot a whole night, probably the most important night of our history and I forgot.'

'It wasn't like you had a choice Chris, mum made us all forget.' Lauren reminded her.

'All she said to you was 'find the amulet.'' Amy asked. 'Couldn't she have said, 'by the way, the amulet is hidden...' and then just told us?'

'I don't think she knew where it was.' Christina said. 'Otherwise she would have gone looking for it. No way she goes along with her plan if she has a chance of finding that amulet.'

'You know what she didn't have?' Lisa said. 'A sister with remote viewing abilities.' She smiled at Lauren. 'You've already had a dream about it.'

'Yeah a dream which came out of nowhere.' Lauren said. 'I don't even know where to start tracking this thing.'

'Maybe you could just try dreaming about it again?' Katherine suggested.

'I have no better options so I guess.' Lauren confirmed.

'We don't even know what this amulet does.' Amy reminded them.

'It must do something if it was important enough to be mums last words.' Dani said.

'Isn't this all a bit strange to you guys?' Lisa asked. 'Finding things in the book written by mum, that we've never seen before, Lauren is having random dreams about magical necklaces?'

'What do you think's going on?' Christina asked.

'I don't know yet, but it all seems like too much of a coincidence.' She said, biting her nails.

'Don't bite your nails.' Christina said.

'Sorry.' Lisa said, dropping her hands.

'Chris you're thinking too hard again.' Amy said. 'Spill.'

'That last night.' Christina said, looking at them all in turn. 'I was there with her and I didn't do anything to stop her.'

'From what I saw there wasn't much anyone could have done. You're being too hard on yourself.' Katherine assured her.

'Maybe, but I still should have done something.' Christina stood up. 'We should all get some sleep.' She said. 'Lauren...'

'Amulet, I know.' Lauren said as they all headed for their rooms.

Lauren was drifting off to sleep trying to focus on the amulet she saw the night before. She tossed and turned for what seemed like hours before she eventually drifted off. She could see the amulet in her mind. It was even more beautiful than she remembered. She tried to focus on its location but it was surrounded in darkness. The colour faded from the necklace as the darkness took over, as if it was being dropped into a deep, dark pit of nothing. And then she woke up. She was breathing heavily as she sat up and looked at her clock. It was 7am. 'Damn.' She whispered as she got up and headed to the shower.

Lisa and Christina were sitting over a pot of coffee talking when Lauren entered the kitchen half an hour later. 'Any luck?' Lisa asked, looking over to her.

'No, sorry guys.' Lauren said. She sat down and Christina poured her a cup of coffee. 'I saw it again but it was just surrounded by darkness.'

'It's okay Lauren, I'm sure you'll get there eventually.' Christina smiled, putting a hand on her arm.

'But we need to know now.' Lauren said. 'What if another demon attacks?'

'Then we'll deal with it, like we always do.' Lisa said confidently. Just then Katherine entered the kitchen.

'By the looks on your faces I guess we don't know where the necklace is?' She asked, sitting down.

'No.' Lauren confirmed as Katherine pulled her into a hug. Katherine's eyes closed and she took in a breath. A moment later she opened them to find her sisters staring at her.

'What?' Christina asked, putting her mug down.

'I just saw Wendy.' Katherine said, confused.

'Crazy demon Wendy?' Lisa said. 'So the amulet must be in her shop?'

'Dani was looking through the amulets, she might have grabbed it before Wendy turned all demony.' Lauren remembered.

'Dani did what?' The youngest Cimorelli asked as she entered the kitchen.

'At Wendy's, did you see anything that looked like the amulet Lauren described?' Lisa asked.

'No, I would have mentioned it before.' Dani said defensively.

'I know you would have, but maybe you forgot?' Lisa continued.

'No way, I would have remembered.'

'Regardless, we didn't get anything on that trip.' Christina interjected. 'We need to go back.'

'Go back where?' Amy asked as she too entered.

'Okay, we should just wait for everyone to be here before we start conversations.' Lisa said.

'We need to go back to Wendy's to find the amulet. Kath had a vision.' Christina told her.

'Alright, but where is it in Wendy's? I'd like to not go in there blind.' Amy said.

'Lauren, now that we know vaguely where it is, can you locate it?' Lisa asked.

'Let me try.' She said, closing her eyes. She focused on the amulet and the shop at the same time. Her mind kept shooting from one part of the store to another, ruling out different places as she went. Until finally she saw a safe at the back of the shop. It was locked but her eyes took her through the steel door. Inside were many amulets of all colours. Then she saw the one they wanted. Her eyes opened and she smiled. 'I've got it.'

'Nice work.' Christina complimented.

'It's in the safe at the back of the shop with lots of other amulets.' Lauren said.

'I always wondered what was in there.' Dani said.

'Okay so we go in, Christina blasts the safe open, and we get out.' Lisa said.

'What about Wendy?' Chris asked. 'She'll be pretty pissed after last time.'

'We can take potions and distract her. Dani can go invisible and we will just keep her busy for you.' Lauren suggested.

'Okay, Amy can you come to the safe with me? Just in case.' Christina asked.

'Of course.' Amy smiled.

'Everyone else, load up on potions.' Christina said.

'Yes! I'll get them.' Dani jumped up and clapped her hands, bounding towards the stairs.

Katherine, Lisa, Dani and Lauren were standing outside Wendy's. The glass was still on the floor but the window had been boarded up since their last visit. 'Chris cashed through there?' Lisa asked.

'Yeah.' Lauren confirmed.

'Okay, let's do this.' Kathrine said. She took one of her potions and threw it against the boards. It exploded on impact and sent a shock wave through the store. A few moments later Wendy stepped out. She looked angry.

'Back for more?' Wendy asked. They knew she was a demon now so she let here eyes stay their natural red.

'We just want to talk to you about Belial.' Katherine said.

'What about him?' Wendy asked, walking from side to side. Before they could respond, Wendy threw her arm out and sent energy directly at them. Lisa was quick enough and smashed a different potion it. The potion exploded when it hit the energy and it all dispersed. 'Clever girl.' Wendy smiled. 'Where's Chris?' She asked. 'I never did get her those healing herbs.'

'She was too hurt from the last visit.' Lauren said angrily.

'Was she though?' Wendy asked. 'I've known you girls for a long time. She's a tough one.'

'Well, this time is different.' Dani said.

'Different because...?' Wendy wondered, still pacing. Then she stopped and looked at them, a big grin on her face. 'Oh it's her. I should have known.'

'Known what?' Lauren asked.

'That she is the one I need to kill. That's why she's not here, you're keeping her safe.' She said. 'Sorry about the other day Lauren, now I know it was a misunderstanding.'

'Yeah well, apology not accepted.' Lauren said. 'And we don't know what you're talking about, we just want to know more about Belial.'

'If Belial has set his sights on your sister you might as well give up and let me kill her. He cannot come to power.'

'Why is he so bad?' Katherine asked.

'Think of the most evil demon you've ever come across, not including me of course, and multiply that by millions. Belial wants to bring the underworld up here. He wants demons to rule and humans to serve.'

'You're a demon, why wouldn't you want that?' Lisa asked.

'I've a good life here on earth.' Wendy said, her voice softening. 'I have a husband and children, friends.' She said. 'I don't want this place burn.'

'Then help us.' Katherine said. 'You said it yourself, you've known us a long time, you know we can defeat him.'

'Sorry girls, no one can defeat him.' She sent another wave of energy towards them, knocking them all back. Dani quickly turned invisible and ran around, throwing potions to distract her whilst her other sisters took cover.

Meanwhile, Amy and Christina were sneaking into the shop through the backdoor. Christina shot a small beam of energy from her hand and the lock on the back door exploded. Amy quietly opened it and peered inside. 'It's clear.' She said, walking in with Christina on her heels.

'There it is.' Christina whispered. They stopped in front of a substantial safe on the back wall. It was locked with a numbered key pad but that didn't matter. 'Okay, here goes.' Christina said. As quietly as she could, she directed her blue energy onto the safe trying to make the door pop open. Amy was watching Christina nervously as well as looking around to make sure Wendy didn't realise what they were doing. Suddenly there was a loud bang from outside.

'They've started fighting Chris, we have to move.' She encouraged. Christina put in a little more energy, not too much because she didn't want to pass out, and eventually the safe exploded. It was a little louder than they anticipated, someone must have heard it. Christina sank to one knee, not exhausted but worn out enough. Amy put a hand on her shoulder. 'You alright?' She asked.

'Yeah, get the amulet.' Christina said, brushing the hair from her face and taking a deep breath. Amy did as she was told and began rooting through the safe. There were lots of amulets.

Wendy looked up at the sound of an explosion from behind her. 'What the hell was that?' She said. 'The others, what are they doing?' She exclaimed, realising the distraction had worked. She was just about to move back into the store when Lisa threw another potion at her. It sent her crashing into the wall. Katherine was messaging Christina and Amy telling them to get out.

Amy finally found the amulet they were after, putting it in her pocket. 'I've got it.' She said to Christina. 'Let's go.' She said, but Christina still wasn't on her feet. 'Chris, come on.' Amy moved and put an arm under her sisters shoulders.

'Aims, go back to the car without me, she'll catch us, I'm too slow.' Christina panted.

'No way.' Amy said. 'Here.' She led them out the back door and down a side street. They slowly made their way to another row of shops. There was a cafe Amy knew, and she led them both back into the customer bathroom. After sitting Christina down she messaged the group. Take the car home and we'll meet you there. We're fine. We have the amulet.

Katherine read the message and called to her sisters. 'Guys, back to the car now.' She yelled. Katherine stood up from her position behind a parked car and threw her final potion at Wendy. Wendy was momentarily stunned. Stunned enough for Dani to reappear and for them to make their get away, running down the street, away from Amy and Christina.