Chapter 15

'This is not good!' Dani said, hands on her head. They were standing in the middle of their wrecked living room, and missing a sister.

'That's an understatement.' Lauren said as she picked up some of the shattered glass from the floor, unsure as to what else to do.

'It's going to be okay.' Katherine tried to reason. 'We're going to get her back.'

'Unless he's killed her already.' Lisa said sadly, kicking some debris out of her path.

'No, he wouldn't have taken her if he wanted to kill her.' Dani said. 'Right?' She was trying to reassure herself if no one else.

'I don't think he wants to kill her.' Amy said.

'What do you mean?' Katherine asked.

'Think about it. He tried to take the amulet off of her and it wouldn't let him touch it. It shocked him.' Amy reminded them.

'So Chris has managed to turn the amulet good again?' Lauren wondered.

'Maybe a little, so when she's wearing it I don't think he can get it.' Amy said.

'What about if she takes it off?' Lisa asked.

'She won't, not willingly.' Katherine said.

'That's the part I'm worried about.' Lisa continued.

'He said he had a new plan?' Lauren said. 'What does that mean?'

'I'm not sure, but he almost seemed confused about the way the amulet was interacting with Christina.' Amy said.

'So he's going to keep her alive until he figures it out.' Katherine finished for her.

'Great, she gets to be his science experiment.' Lisa said. 'We have to get her back, fast.'

'We will.' Amy said confidently.

'We don't even know where he's taken her.' Dani said.

'He'll have gone back to his lair I guess, in the underworld.' Lauren said.

'Probably.' Katherine said. 'But where in the underworld? It's a big place.'

'I think I know someone who can help.' Lisa said.

'Who?' Dani asked.

'Mum.' Lisa confirmed.

'Mum is a ghost, who isn't here any more.' Amy reminded her.

'But she is the only person whose been to his lair.' Dani said.

'I saw a spell in the book for conjuring a spirit.' Lisa told them. 'I think we can do it together, all of us.'

'We're missing one though.' Lauren said sadly. 'Will it work without the six of us?'

'We're going to have to try.' Katherine said. 'Lisa, go get everything you need set up and we'll meet you up there.'

Christina opened her eyes slowly. Her head was pounding and her vision was blurry. After a moment she managed to focus on the ceiling above her, but it wasn't the ceiling of her living room. She was in some sort of cave. She rolled onto her side and was met with some steel bars. She gripped onto one of them to make sure they were real before pulling herself into a sitting position. Looking out through the bars she could see an open fire pit and too many tunnel entrances to count. There was a large chair at the far end of the room but no one was sitting it in. For now, she was alone.

Lauren was pacing the room as she waited for Lisa to get the spell ready. Lisa was carefully putting various herbs into a bowl on their table, reading their book of magic as she went. 'How long is this going to take Lisa?' Lauren asked.

'I want to get it right.' Lisa told her. 'I've never done this before.'

'We need to get to Chris now.' Lauren said, pacing a little faster.

'I know you're scared Lauren.' Amy said. 'But we will find her.'

'Yeah, after Belial has done who knows what to her.' Lauren kept pacing. All she was thinking about was her big sister, and how much she wanted to get her back. Suddenly she began to feel light headed. Lauren stopped pacing and put a hand to her head.

'Lauren, you okay?' Dani noticed and stood up, walking over to her.

'I feel...' Lauren started, but before she could finish she collapsed. Dani moved to catch her quickly.

'Oh shit.' Dani said. 'Guys!' She looked back to them.

'Is she okay?' Lisa asked.

'I have no idea she just passed out.' Dani said. Dani set her on the ground gently.

'She's still breathing.' Amy said. 'I can still feel her, she's scared.'

Christina was sitting with her back to the wall, breathing steadily. She had tried to wipe away some blood from her nose and ear, but there was a cut somewhere on her hairline that would not stop bleeding. She still hadn't seen Belial, or anyone for that matter. Suddenly, Lauren appeared across from her. Her eyes widened and she sat up a bit straighter. 'Lauren?' Christina whispered.

'Christina!' Lauren realised where she was and started looking around. Lauren made her way quickly to her sisters side. 'Are you okay?' Lauren asked.

'I think so.' Christina said. 'How are you here?'

'I'm not sure, I was pacing and I was worried about you and then the next thing I know. Here I am.' She shrugged and tried to touch Christina's hair but her hand went right through her.

'Weird.' Christina said.

'I guess I have a new power.' Lauren grinned nervously but her form began to fade and flicker.

'Laur?' Christina went to reach for her.

'Chris, it's wearing off, tell me where you are?' Lauren said quickly.

'I don't know. I just woke up here.' Christina admitted. There was a loud bang from somewhere in the distance. Christina turned her head and saw light coming down one of the corridors. 'You need to go, before they see you.'

'We're going to find you, Chris, I promise.' Lauren said.

'I know, I love you.' Christina said, smiling.

'Love you too.' Lauren whispered as she faded in front of Christina's eyes. And just like that, she was alone again.

Lauren woke up abruptly, shooting into the air and breathing hard. 'Lauren!' Dani said, running over to her side. The rest of the girls gathered around.

'Am I back?' Lauren asked. She was looking around confused.

'You're back.' Amy said.

'Where did you go?' Lisa asked.

'I saw Chris.' Lauren told them.

'How is that possible?' Amy asked.

'I don't know, I think my powers are changing. I was worried, thinking about Chris and then there I was, by her side.'

'I've read about this.' Katherine said. 'It's called astral projection. It's an advanced power in people with remote viewing. Sometimes they can not only find an object or person, but they can actually appear in the place they are.'

'That's cool.' Dani said.

'What about Chris, is she okay?' Lisa asked.

'She's hurt, but she seems alright for now.' Lauren said. 'As I left something was happening, someone was coming.'

'We really need to get to her.' Lisa said. 'Did she tell you where she is?'

'No, she just woke up in this cage. It looked like she was underground though.' Lauren told them.

'Alright, lets try this spell. Everyone needs to really think about mum.' Lisa said. They all moved to sit in a circle around a bowl Lisa had filled with ingredients. 'You all need to put in a drop of blood, and then hold hands.' They did as they were told and after linking hands Lisa began the spell. Most of the girls closed their eyes and concentrated. 'We call out to the spirit we seek, for help and guidance whilst we are weak. Show your form and shine your light, on this dark and dreary night.' She said, the rest of the girls opening their eyes.

'Nothing's happening.' Dani pointed out.

'Did it work?' Lauren asked.

'Girls?' Came a voice from behind them. They jumped and turned to face their mother. She was standing in the back of the room, not a completely solid figure but they could all see her.

'Mum.' Lisa smiled and stood up. They all went over to her. Michelle was smiling.

'I'm so happy to see you again.' Michelle said, looking them all over. 'Did you find the spell in the book?'

'Yeah we need your help mum.' Katherine said.

'Of course, anything.' Michelle said looking around the room. 'Where's Christina?'

'That's why we need your help.' Amy said sadly. 'Belial has her.'

'What?' Michelle put her hands over her mouth.

'He came to the house, they fought, and he took her.' Lisa told her.

'Why didn't he just kill her for her powers? Why take her?' Michelle asked. 'Kidnapping was never his style.'

'Mum, we found the amulet and Chris was wearing it.' Dani said.

'Oh my, is she okay?' Michelle asked.

'Not really, but we think she's turning it good again.' Lisa said. 'The point is, Belial couldn't take it from her. He was curious about her and the amulet.'

'Maybe he wants to figure out how he can merge with the amulet? If it's attaching to Christina then he'd want to know why.' Michelle said.

'What do you know about the amulet mum?' Katherine asked.

'I know it contains enough power to destroy more terrifying creatures than Belial. I know that it's power is so all consuming that not many can withstand it. If it's trying to attach to Christina then she must be able to wield it.'

'Sounds about right.' Lauren said. 'She can do it mum.'

'Then we need to get her back before Belial gets what he wants from her.' Michelle said. 'What do you need from me?'

'We don't know where he's taken her.' Katherine said. 'When you went with him, that night, where did you go?'

'We were underground, but there are so many tunnels.' Michelle stopped to think. 'On the outskirts of town, is there still an abandoned bar?'

'Yeah, there's an old wooden building with rusty neon signs.' Lisa said.

'That's the place.' Michelle said.

'You're sure?' Amy wanted to be certain.

'I am, I remember because it's location of the closest spiritual nexus.'

'A what?' Dani asked.

'A spiritual nexus is a power point, located directly in the middle of the five natural elements. If Belial wants power, he will be there.'

'Great, thanks Mum.' Katherine smiled. 'It's good to see you.' She said after.

'I love you girls so much.' Michelle said. 'Now go and bring your sister home. And remember...'

'You're never too far away.' Lauren finished for her as she faded in front of their eyes.