All right guys I'm really sorry i'm doing this to you and not at the end of the story. like most people. But a friend of mine who reads my stuff whether i want her to or not actually sat me down and had me reread the story. i know alot of told about the spelling and Grammar mistakes and there still might be some. but i had know idea it was that bad. so i went through to correct it and then found somethings that seemd good before in the long run weren't going to work out for who i planned this story.

IN SHORT. first three chapters no real changes after that you may want to read it. i've only got the first six updated the chages came around midterm and i didn't want to up date until i could give you the 9 chapters i already had.

so I'M REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY SORRY.

It was a dark alley. There was the sound of cars driving by and cats jumping on to trashcans how had I missed the obviousness that he was leading me here I have no idea. Why I had been stupid enough to follow him in…I was even more clueless? I mean he’s a demon it wasn’t like he was going to try and lose me at the Hilton.
My target was a Coluber demon. A Snake. So of course my body heat and Odor were a most defiant give away. Still I moved slowly through the alley I’d already come this far, turning back would do nothing but prove once again that unlike my brother’s I wasn’t good enough to go on patrol. Studying the walls of the alley, I stepped on a cat, falling flat on my ass as it screamed and bolted further into the shadows.

That’s when I saw it.

He’d camouflaged himself into the wall to my right. His leg was bleeding, and the blood was mingling with the water in the alley, pooling down the center of the alley floor.

“Shit.” I spat coming out of my vision just in time to roll out his range as he launched himself at me like a cartoon snake spring. He was already changing. His legs and lower torso now one very large scaled over tail, only the upper half of his body still looked human.

You know how in the movies when the villain misses their target and they end up in one of those five second stare downs.

That didn’t happen here.

He turned split second, no slipping or sliding, and caught me with his tail wrapping around me squeezing. So of course it was getting really hard to breath. But then was getting just as hard to control the fire. It was building, faster, higher, hotter. His shriek was my only clue that he’d let go. I could see I was on fire. I couldn’t feel it. I never could. And just when I thought I was getting it under control the resident Aqua kinetics dosed me.

“What the hell!?” I yelled as the illusion fell away and Mr. Jacobs a thin man in his late twenties walked over to me. He wasn’t and all together bad looking guy. But like most of the teachers at my school Mr. Jacobs didn’t look like the kind of guy who could have you thinking you were a six year-old girl.

He looked as exasperated as he always did I when sighed up for patrol. “I all most had it.” I snapped at him. Knowing a second later that if I had, had it, he wouldn’t have ordered the Aqua’s to dose me.

Again.

“Angelica. I’m sorry. But you know the rules.” He said. Yeah I knew the rules. After trying each year, for the last four years, the four times a year they held the tryouts. I knew the rules well. But it was always the first one that screwed me. You must have a controllable active power in order to sign up.

And while I had the active part down pat, the controlling of it was another matter. As far as keeping the fire with me it was easy but when I had to extend it to something else. That’s when I had problems. I never knew when hot was too hot. And not being able to feel it wasn’t helping.

“Maybe next time.” He added with that ‘please stop trying’ look in his eyes.

“Yeah maybe.” I nodded then squished off the football field. Hating every squish squash my sneakers made on the way to my bag.

“Hey Lizzy why don’t you give up before you burn the whole school down.” Michelle Caroline called from the nosebleed section of the bleachers. “Oh wait you already did.” I wouldn’t say Michelle didn’t have a reason to give me a hard time. It’s just that when her reason was a Tiffanies watch, a Prada backpack, and an Abercrombie and Fitch pair of shoes I got a little annoyed. I mean it’s not like burned off half her face. Though thinking about it now I really wish I had. At least then she’d have a legitimate reason to hate me.

Opening my mouth to tell her off. Which I’m fairly certain I’d make a fool of myself doing. Mat chimed in.

Wonderful meddling brother that he is.

“Hey Michelle. Why don’t you do something useful with that big mouth of yours? Like what I’m thinking.” Mat yelled. Knowing that the exact second he said it Michelle would see whatever it was he was thinking and that would be her punishment for picking on his baby sitter. Though technically speaking I was only a day younger then him. I had two ideas of what he’d meant and was seriously trying not to think of either. But Michelle was and man if she didn’t looked pissed. Course as quickly as her mouth opened to tell, it closed as she forgot completely what it was she was going to say. As such was Mat’s power, Memory erasing and replacing. I was more then a little certain he’d replaced rather then erased that one. So I took some joy in thought that a little later she’d get to suffer from what she’d just forgot.

“Why can’t you ever do that when I’m not around?” I whined glaring at him.

“Two birds. Piss off Michelle gross out baby sister.” He smiled. Mat had a smile no one was immune to not even Mark the eldest of us triplets, and the most serious. In a lot of ways Mat and Mark were Ying and Yang. Mat was easy going and a total clown, Mark was steadfast and while every one said stick in the mud we said stick up his ass. “So how’d it go?” he asked shoving his hands into his pockets as he did.

I glared yanking a towel from my pack. Mat also had 180 effect when it came to me. No sooner would he make me smile with the joy of seeing him, then he’d say something stupid and make me want to punch him.

South of the equator.

“Oh sorry.” he said walking over the other side of me tossing his bag on the bleachers before sprawling out on them in true guy fashion. Mat was 6’3” with short curly black hair all three of us had black hair our father’s heavy Italian blood had made sure of that, he also had warm chocolaty eyes, and as much of a tan as you could get in Vermont. Most of which hidden under a school uniform of Navy slacks, a powder blue long sleeve button up shirt, and a navy knit sweater, which was tied around his waist, the tie that went along with this ensemble was probably stuffed in his bag never to be flat again.

“Where’s Mark?” I asked finally. Sitting next him rubbing the towel furiously against my head, knowing that once I was done I’d look like I’d gone through and electro shock session. Course there is something to be said about having volumeless hair. For one it doesn’t tangle easily least mine never did.

“Said something about running errands for Mrs. Harper.”

“How long is that going to take?” it’s not that I didn’t mind waiting. It was just that I didn’t want to wait there. Ever since my Pyro powers manifested the first time and I ended up burning down half the school. Not all of it like some people kept saying. Most of the kids kept their distance and any who thought being friends with me would be cool were quickly told what I’d done and joined their ranks. Not that I really blamed them.

Seventeen kids got third degree burns that day. One died. They were all my classmates and if it hadn’t been for my brothers being in the same class that one death would have been eighteen.

“I’m going to go ahead and head home.” I said pushing off the bleachers tossing my bag over my shoulder.

“Angi you know you can’t go anywhere without one of us with you.” Mat stated as he watched me. Yes, ever since that day my brother/s had gone with me just about everywhere. For some reason only blood relations were immune to my powers. The principal said it wasn’t that uncommon and that it was either a psychological thing or genetic hard wiring. I’ll go with the wiring.

“I don’t want to wait.” I stated tossing my brush back into my bag and tied my hair back into loss ponytail.

“You don’t have a choice. Mark’s got the keys.”

“Fine where’s Mark?”

I opened the door to the copy room and instantly wished myself blind for what I saw next. Mark and Anita Montoya making it against a file cabinet. Turing on my heel I shut the door behind me. I blinked several times over the space of and eternity in which I tried to rid myself of the image of my eldest brother… Oooohh I don’t even want to finish that sentence. As far as sibling blackmail went this was pure gold. But I had the sinking feel I was going to need years of therapy before I’d even think of touching it.

“Oh this just isn’t my day.” I said letting a small shutter run over me as the scene did a quick play back. Releasing the doorknob I hadn’t even realized I been clutching I walked down the hall with a red face and eyes I’m sure could have passed for golf balls. Because no matter how I tried they just wouldn’t relax. Not without seeing that run past them. So of course when I try to shake it off I bump into someone.

“Oh I’m so—“

“Emile do you love me?” asked a woman she had and accent European. She was sitting in a bathtub her hands stroking and bathing the chest of the men whose memory I was seeing.

“No.” he said short and simple, his voice was like ice. It sounded to painful and stiff.

“Liar.” She said as if making his tone out to be him teasing her. Poor woman she didn’t have a clue. “If you didn’t love me. You wouldn’t make love to me as if you do.” She purred I could picture a small smug smile of success on her face. I really couldn’t help be feel sorry for her. I felt no love for her with this memory, just hollowness and pain.

“What makes you think it is you I am making love to.” He responded. Okay, I don’t care how much he didn’t love her that’s just wrong.

“Bastard!” She yelled shock, hurt, and anger filling her voice but without seeing her face I could which was stronger the hurt or the anger. She pushed him away the water splashing over the sides a she got out.

He didn’t try to stop her or go after her. He just let her go. Moving to the back of the tub as she slammed the door on her way out. Running a hand through his hair with a tired sigh before picking up the ring connected to a thin chain. It was a small ring, a woman’s ring. He stared at it a long time, feelings of longing, love, regret. Whoever that ring had belonged to he missed her terribly.

“Forgive me .” He said placing a soft kiss to the ring then dropping it still clutched in his hand to his chest. It was a bitter memory. Yet sweet that he still thought of only her.

“sorry.” I finished as his memory faded and my eyes cleared to see him. Somehow gorgeous seemed like a severe understatement. An inch or so taller then my brothers, long dark gold blond hair like when you see gold shining against fire light in medieval movies and amber eyes the color of honey.

We locked eyes and time seemed to freeze. It didn’t though. A second after our eyes met.

He looked away and continued walking down the hall as if nothing had happened stopping when the principal came around the corner. I continued to watch him. Until I realized I was staring and shook my head. Hot as he was.

I didn’t stand a chance in hell.

“Whoa who I’m going to Paris. I’m going to Paris. I’m going to Paris” I cheered literally bouncing up and down in a circle. The ticket for seat 5G in coach clutched tightly to my chest.

“Angie…stop…bouncing—“Mat started.

“You’re making us sick.” Mark finished both nodding with the beat of my bouncing as they watched.

“But I’m going to Paris.” I stopped in front of my brothers, to happy to take advantage of their annoyed states.

“We know we’re going with you.” they stated in flat no way out of it voices. That little bit of news totally crushed my happy Christmas vacation plans. Of course they were going with me. They always went with me.

“What?” I snapped. “Mom!” I yelled tossing the ticket to my brothers knowing one of them would catch it.

“Kitchen.” She yelled back. Which was totally evil of her being that my weakness was food and Mom being in the kitchen meant there would be something yummy.

“Why the hell do they have to come with me?” I snapped pointing to Dumb and Dumber as they followed me to the kitchen and trying really hard to stay angry while ignoring the smell of lasagna. Which if it hadn’t been in the oven I would have been all over. Okay so I was few hairs shy of have Garfield’s lasagnaism. But it’s so ‘yummy, yummy I got lasagna in my tummy’ good.

“Angelica Bosco language.” Mom snapped.

“Busted.” Dumb and Dumber chimed silencing when they received the look from both mom and me. “Sorry.”

“Homework now. And don’t say you don’t have any. I didn’t get called into a parent teacher conference last week to hear about a glowing review on your grades.” She stated. Looking at each other then back to Mom who’s ‘Now’ expression still hadn’t changed they left. Grumbling about how they never got to stick around for the good stuff.

“Why do they have to come?” I whined when I was sure they were out of hearing range, secretly hoping that for once it would move her enough to not send them with me.

“Angie. You know why.” She said handing me a towel to help her dry off the dishes she’d just washed, to make room for the dishes that would stack up after dinner.

“And what Gran and Granp’s powers aren’t enough to take care of mine?”

“Baby.” I hate it when she calls me that. It means she’s going to boil all my problems down to my inability to control a power that I’ve had since I was 13. “It’s a fourteen hour trip most of it over an ocean. If your power acts up I’d rather that your brothers are there to take care of it. Even more that they’ll be in France with you, it’ll help your grandparents out. Your Pryo abilities have grown a lot since the last time they saw you. They might need help if something happens.” If with her meant will. And was I right or was I right, all about how I couldn’t control my power.

For the last four years I’ve been a Pyro kinetic and every time I think my power have reached it’s height it decides to kick it up a notch… or six.

And no I don’t go to Xavier’s school for gifted youngsters. I go to Praesus

Academy a school specifically for the children of Guardians. Cause here’s the deal, how X-men come into their power/s and Guardians is pretty much the same. Puberty or some form of trauma. Only Guardians aren’t some random genetic thing. You have to be of Atlantian descent in order to be a guardian and whether you want it or not you do get a power sometimes two. Like me and my dweeb brothers. I’m retro-cognitive a.k.a. I see the past and then there’s the fire starter thing. Mat has a sort of sub telepathy he can replace or easer memory, Mark can stop time. But I guess because they were born on the same day and they’re both guys they have a shared power they can fold time, make it go forward or back but only by a few hours. It kind of makes since when you think about it. It also make’s them the perfect clean up crew for when ever their pyro baby sister has a fire attack. Technically speaking we’re triplets. But I was somewhat of a problem child and came a day late.

“I hate my power.” I grumbled mindlessly drying dishes and putting them away. Funny how she always managed to rope me into helping with the dishes.

“I know Sweety. Makes you feel any better the lasagna been done for the last five minutes.” she whispered slyly. I stopped drying my dish looking to her with a big smile on my face.

“Mine.” She laughed kissing my cheek.

“There’s my baby girl. Oh before I forget.” She put her towel down heading toward the in table by the front door. “This came for you today.” She said handing me a small card broad box with no return address.

“Doesn’t say who it’s from.” I mumbled brushing my fingers over my address.

“Well open it. Lets see what’s inside.” Mom poked handing me a knife to cut through the tape.

“Yeah okay.” I shrugged cutting into the cardboard to find a small polished box of dark wood nestled in plastic peanuts. There were no designs on it. No carvings, or paintings, not even a makers seal at the bottom. There was just a small button that I assumed would open it. It did. There was nothing inside but a slot that was too thin and too short for a coin. But it did start playing the music box version of Que Sera Sera. I couldn’t help but smile at the image it brought.

“Quit being such a baby. You agreed to the rules and you lost. This is your punishment.” A woman with the sound of laughter and mischief in her voice said. She’d planned this.

“Oui, but I didn’t think you’d be punishing me like this.” Came the reply of a man french and nervous by the sound of it, and a little annoyed that he’d realized her plan too late.

“Angi.” I jumped nearly dropping the box. “Sorry Sweety. What did you see?” she asked looking a little concerned. Mom was always concerned about what I saw in my visions. They didn’t always come out quite as nice as this one did.

“I think it was Gran forcing Gramps to dance.” I smiled laughing to my self.

“Really. But your Grandfather loves to dance.” Mom stated as if there was no question about it. Then she shrugged and walked off. Leaving me in the kitchen with my mystery box. And the occurring thought of Grandpa does love to dance. He made me save the at least three dances for him whenever I went to see him and Gran. So who was the guy that didn’t?

Dumb and Dumber and myself got to Paris a week later for Christmas vacation. We sat in couch right in front of the flight Attendants little area the Twins in the row behind me while I got the window seat and the one next to me. Score. Now I can stretch out and read.

“Excusez- quemoi le manqué.” So much for that. “This seat. It is empty?” Yes he was French, no he didn’t look like the guy from French Kiss, but he did have really oily hair and a bad suit with a few food stains on it, and no as much as I wanted to wake Mat up and have him send this guy packing I didn’t. I nodded and grabbed my bag moving it out of the seat. “Eh… if you do not mind. Could I have the window seat. The aisle it is…makes me sick.” I really wasn’t buying his crap story, but then I really wasn’t going to get all worked about it. If I did then I’d lose control proving Mom’s point for having sent my brothers. Biting my tongue I smiled and said “Sure go ahead.”

“Merci.” He nodded as I pulled my stuff together, getting out of the way so he could take my seat. And he certainly took his precious time in doing it. Waiting I turned as a Flight Attendant tapped my shoulder. Biting my lip, cause knowing my luck she’d probably tell I needed to take my seat.

“Excuse me miss. We has free seat in first class if you’d like it.” she said. Looking to my snoozing brothers I bit my lip a little harder, then nodded. It was a fourteen-hour flight I didn’t want to spend sitting next to an oily Frenchmen while listening to my brothers snore.

“Sure but, umm if they wake up,” I pointed to my brothers. “Could you tell them where I am? There my brothers they’ll get worried if they don’t know where I am.” I explained.

She smiled before telling me it wouldn’t be a problem. Quickly I put my stuff in the overhead compartment then off to first class I went happy as a clam. Whatever that meant.

To be awakened seven hours later by Mark dropping my bag in my lap.

“Mark.” I snapped causing five the passengers near me to stop and look while I glared at him oh so much more then mad. I wanted to rip his head off.

“Flights over. We’re here.” He said moving past two of the passengers who were still staring. I wanted to snap at them to, but Mat grabbed my bag and my hand towing me out of my seat and of the plane with a big smile in place.

“Ah my babies.” Gran cheered as Mat and I finally got off the plane. As always Gran was looking sheik, her sliver gray hair done up in a simple yet elegant bun, the same as her gray jacket pants combo with a silk shell pink shirt under and black heels. Gran was a firm believer in the less was more especially if you had looks. And looks was one thing Gran had never lacked. Pity her granddaughter couldn’t say the same. My looks were about on par with just about every other girl my age. It didn’t matter that I had Atlantian blood.

“Hi Gran.” Mat said after a hug.

“Matthew. In French. In French. Or you’re never going to get that grade up.” Gran scolded making it very clear whom Mom had gotten that look from.

“Ah man. She told you?” he whined misery warping his face since now he knew what he’d be spending most of his time on while here.

“Of course. You honestly think your mother would send you over here with your grades as they are and not tell me?” she asked giving the ‘I know all’ look our mother had so inherited from her. “Matter of fact the way I hear it the only one whose grades aren’t in trouble are Angi’s. So you two are under house arrest. Per your mother’s orders.”

“Gran.” They whined trying their puppy eyes on her. Even I knew that was hopeless this was Gran and while we may have been her Gran babies she was the original version of Mom.

“No. You have to learn to speak descent French” she pointed to Mat. “You to finish two essays for English literature. Which I’m sure your grandfather will love.” She turned to Mark rolling her eyes at the last statement. “And you.” she turned to me with the same no if ands or buts look. “Have to come shopping with me.”

“Damn, and here I was thinking I’d be getting off Scott free.” I snapped my fingers. She laughed wrapping an arm my shoulders before herding us to customs.

Gran and Granp’s lived in a Chateaux nearly three hours out side of Paris. So our vacation wasn’t in Paris per say but it was close enough. The Chateaux itself had been in my grandfather family for nearly ten generations. At least I think it was ten. I was into designs not family trees. Knowing who I was sending a thank you note to for Christmas and who the most frequent faces in my family’s photo album were, was about as far as my family knowledge went. But still the Chateaux was considered a family heirloom and was maintained as such. With about thirty hired hands to help in doing so. As well as a long list of guests who could spend their summers, winters, springs, and falls there so long as they donated to its upkeep. And the more they donated the longer they got to stay.

From what Gran had told us on the ride home. There was a man who had been so generous with his donation that they were having a party for him. Or something like that. I hadn’t really been listening. Due to the fact that as much as I loved my Gran when it came to her and parties, she always had a second agenda and I just wasn’t in the mood to try and figure out what this one was. But either way once we got to our home away from home. We’d have to be ready for the party whether we wanted to attend or not.

This was a law of the Bellmonte household.

Our rooms were the same as they were when we’d been given them when we were little. Filled with anything we had bought or brought. Mine hadn’t really changed it was still as classically French as it had been when I’d gotten it. I liked the old ornamental styles. The four-poster bed with the curtains trimmed with gold lace, the huge four pane balcony windows, the decorative mantle above the fireplace, the antique furniture, most of all I loved the painting on the ceiling. Mine was a dusk to dusk with dawn in the middle and my bedroom light were the sun would be, sliver gray trim ran along the ceiling where my walls met it.

I loved it. The detail and workmanship, too many things now a days were made by machine and still considered beautiful. But these were made by hand. Thinking about all the time that must have been spent on them just made me admire the person’s skill.

Staring up at my ceiling as I walked in I dropping my bag by my bed, falling face first into the mattress. It was good to be back here.

“Angi.” Gran called shortly before coming to my room. I smiled when I saw her. “I need you to answer three things for me. Then I need you to take a shower.” She said pointing to my bathroom as she walked in a man behind her placing my suitcase on the chest at the end of my bed. Then leaving with a nod to me.

“Sure shoot.” I said watching as she unzipped my bag and started unpacking for me.

“Shoulders or neck?”

“Shoulders.”

“Billowy or form fitting?

“Something in the middle.”

“Color?”

“Doesn’t Matter.” I shrugged. With Gran it really didn’t matter I knew she’d pick put something I look good in. She always did, even with my average looks.

“All right.” she smiled tossing my robe to me. “Your dress will here when you get out of the shower. But make it quick. ”

“Kay.” I said hopping off the bed heading for the bathroom.

Twenty minutes later I was headed for the ballroom.

“I will not do this to her!” someone yelled from the hall to my left. It was Gramps voice. He was angry something he seldom was. Looking down the hall I spotted his office light on. Sneaking closer I spotted him standing in front of a book shell talking to someone off to the left. The crack in the door having limited visual range, made it so I couldn’t see the other person. So I had to settle for listening instead of seeing as the other person spoke.

“You have no choice Bellmonte. In happiness and peace the Bellemonte shall live. Until to a daughter there are born three. Two boys one day a girl the next then 17 years shall past. Until at last the tribute be made and by such you shall pay.” He stated his voice was calm and lifeless, giving no room for argument despite Gramps efforts. “This was the arrangement made between guardians. To go back on it now would only enrage the Powers. Your Granddaughters hand is mine Bellemonte this is the tribute I make. And what you shall pay.” My eyes widen at the other man’s words.

Was he meaning what I thought he was? No he couldn’t. Getting closer I tried to see who it was that had said I was supposed to marry them. Not that I wasn’t horrified at the thought. I was still in school and barely legal. I didn’t even know what this guy looked like and I sure as hell didn’t know anything about him or this bullshit arrangement my grandfather was having recited to him.

But judging by Gramps face he knew about it. Suddenly Gramps looked toward the door, stepping back I accidentally knocked into the table behind me making the flower vase on it wobble and fall to the floor.

Smooth Angi. I cringed I didn’t even look to see if the they were coming I bolted down the hall to the ballroom weaving through the crowd until I bumped into Mat.

“Hey, watch it Sis. Your gonna.” He stopped taking in my look of fear and meeting it with one of concern and a whole lot of anger for who ever had put it there. “What’s wrong? What happened?”

“We need to find Mark.” I didn’t know what else to say. Mark was the eldest and I was the baby he’d know what to do. And if not I knew at the very least they would try to do something, protect me, save me, something, anything. Mat nodded before wrapping and arm around my shoulders guiding me through the crowd to find Mark.

After we found Mark and found a quite place where no one would disturb us, I told the both of them what I had over heard Gramps and the guy in his office talking about. Now Mat stood silently against the library’s desk looking like he was about to kill someone, while Mark sat in a high back chair by the window with a face that looked like he’d locked himself in a tower of deep thought as he stared a hole into the floor.

“How could Gramps agree to this?” Mat snapped looking between the two of us. “You don’t even know the guy.” He said to me. “She’s not even legal.” He snapped at Mark directing a hand to me.

“He didn’t a agree to this.” Mark stated his tone neither angry nor blaming; his eyes however were still glued to the floor. “It was some dickhead ancestor of ours who probably thought making a deal with the devil was easier than what he was already doing.”

Well at least now I knew Mark was pissed to. He never insulted our ancestry, worshiped it more likely.

“What I don’t get is why he said the Powers would be enraged. The Powers barely do anything but send cryptic if not nearly indecipherable messages. Why would Gramps not keeping this arrangement make them mad?” I asked.

“You know the phrase ‘promises between men’?” Mat asked I nodded. “It came from the Atlantains. Because of all the advanced powers flying around they made promises, packs, agreements that kind of stuff. To go back on one was consider punishable by death. To go back as a Guardian is considered punishable by the Powers.” He explained.

“Oh.” I mouthed. ”Shit.”

“Yeah. And we can’t do a damn thing about it.” he bit slamming his hand against the table he’d been leaning on. “This sucks.” I felt bad about this. Not the marrying a total stranger. Well, no I still didn’t want to do that. But if I had known that no use would come from telling my brothers about this. I still would have if only for the assurance that they’d be mad that I hadn’t told them sooner. And that at least by then I’d know who it was I was going to flambé on my wedding night. Not that I wasn’t going to.

“Man what good is it having the power to fold time if you can only go a few hours?” Mat continued looking to the wall decorated with artifacts Gramps claimed had once had magical properties. “It’d be nice if these still worked. Then we might—“

“They do still work.” Mark cut in both Mat and I locked gazes on Mark waiting for an explanation. “Gramps said they didn’t because he was afraid of what would happened if you tried to use them.” He said to me. “And what would happen if you did.” He said to Mat in an accusing voice, receiving an annoyed glare in response. “Angi you helped Gramps keep inventory of the artifacts right?”

I nodded thinking of all the hours I had put in helping him only because had managed to keep my grades up. “Most of them.”

“Do you know where he keeps the inventory?” they both asked eyes wide. I didn’t know what they were thinking but it could only have two results, from the two of them good and bad or bad and really bad.

Guess which one my money was on.

“In his office in the top drawer of his desk.” I said without thinking. They both smiled. Normally a hell freezing event, but since their smile was directed toward my benefit I didn’t really think much of it.

“Show us.” They said.

Sneaking into Gramps office wasn’t hard he never locked the door. Getting to the inventory books wasn’t either since Mark picked the lock to Gramps desk.

“How’d you know how to do that?” I asked finding it hard to see Mark as the juvenile delinquent in our family.

“My first girl friend Sarah Herman showed me.” he said cracking a small smile when he pulled the drawer open handing each of us a books. “Look for anything pertaining to time or power increase.”

“This is in Latin. I flunked Latin.” Mat stated as he thumbed through the pages looking to us hopelessly. Sighing I took his book and pointed to the door.

“Go keep watch.” I snapped.

For nearly three hours Mark and I skimmed through the thin long books. I guess at some point Mark had frozen time because not once had Gran come looking for us.

“I think I’ve got something. Aerial’s scepter, power-enhancing qualities, more then one user.” He smiled then frowned. “But it’s out on loan to a museum in England.”

“Let me see.” I waved for the book. There was picture next to the information a tarnished brass scepter that kind of reminded of the scepter in the last ninja turtles movie only smaller and with out the egg timer.

“Mark light.” Mat whispered harshly. Quickly he reached over to the desk turning out the light as Mat disappeared out the door. Opening my mouth to call him back. Mark covered it.

“Shh.”

I could hear voices outside the door. Mat and Gran.

“Well I found one of you. Now would you happen to know where Mark and Angi are?”

“I saw Mark talking to some girl in the ballroom and I think Angi’s was on her way.” I never knew my brother could lie so well especially to our Grandmother the families resident telepath.

“Really I haven’t seen either of them.” She replied sounding a bit annoyed.

“If you want I can help you look for them?”

“No, I need you to go back to the Party. What were you doing in your Grandpa’s office anyway?”

“Oh I was looking for a English to French dictionary. I thought he still might have one.” Wow he was really good at this. Casting an accusing look at Mark wondering what they’d been doing to have this covert thing down to so well.

“All right get back to the Party I’ll keep looking for your wayward siblings.” She said.

“Kay.” We watched as Gran went one way and Mat went the other, neither one of us moved until the door opened a few minutes later. “I really wish you two would hurry up and find something.” Mat bit as he flipped on the light switch glaring at us. “I hate manipulating Gran memories. It’s not easy.”

“Yeah well it might go faster if you hadn’t flunked Latin. Besides half these artifacts are out of Country.” I snapped holding up the photo to Mat. He squinted at the photo the yanked it from my hand.

“This isn’t out of the country.” He said handing it back to me. Both Mark and I stared at Mat torn between killing him and kissing him.

“Then where is it!” we snapped.

“In Gramps shop. I saw it when Gran asked me to get some silver polish for her.” He explained.

Nearly flying out of my chair I pushed past him out the door and ran for the Shop. It was at the back of the house across the garden from the kitchen. I slammed into the door red faced and heaving as I tried to get it open.

Of all the doors to keep locked.

“Angi move.” Mat said pulling me back as Mark got in front kneeling down to pick the lock. Then pushed the door open so I wouldn’t ram it and him down. I looked around the dark shop. Gramps was a restoration expert. He did everything from paintings, to doorknobs. So it made since that his shop was littered with them. Old books on one side, paintings lined up on another, little odds and end in different drawers, string tags to label the owner and agreed price.

“Where is it?” I snapped at Mat. I hadn’t meant to but he hadn’t seemed to notice. He looked around a moment then walked over to Gramps desk grabbing the keys off it and walking over to the storage room door. Unlocking it, going in and coming out a few seconds later with a long wooden book he took the lid off and there it was the scepter. That’s when it hit me.

“This isn’t going to work.” The words trailed out. My brothers sharing a ‘what are you talking about’ look. “You don’t know the details.” I said looking between the two of them. “You don’t know who you’re looking for or when, you don’t know which ancestor made this agreement.”

Mat understood his eyes taking on a dark misery to match my own. Mark on the other hand, stood smiling shaking his head as he pulled a folded sheet of paper from his pocket.

“You honestly think I’d have us chasing a scepter for nothing Ang?” he asked. “This scepter amplifies your power to make it possible for you to do what it is you need to. All Mat and I need to do is hold on to it think of the person who started this. Our power will take us back the scepter will take us where we need to go. “ He explained. “We’ll take care of this baby sister don’t worry.” He smiled grabbing hold of the scepter. I watched them as they concentrated. Why did I have to get stuck in this marriage. Why I was the one the arrangement had been made for. The room began to blur before my brothers.

Then I felt dizzy and sick to my stomach. It was like a bad case of carsickness. What was happening? I ‘d watched my brothers fold time dozens of times and never gotten sick. Now I just wanted to throw up.

Falling to my knees I clutched at the hand fulls of grass beneath them. Grass. What grass? This was supposed to be a tile floor. Not Grass. Slowly looking up I saw a black sky, blurry white dots, and the darker shadows of trees.

“Oh shit.” I gasped out before passing out from the dizziness.