The Key To Eternity

Chapter 1-6

It’s almost too easy,” Mark said out loud, chuckling as he made threatening clawing motions over the surface of the onyx orb they used to harass people. “She’s so susceptible. A few more days of this and she’ll be running for the hills on her own. Poor, poor Sarah will just have to keep looking for another way to get rid of us. A way she’ll never actually find.”

“Wait,” Earl said, sliding open the hidden panel that concealed the inner network of passages of rooms from which they observed—and sometimes harassed—visitors to their workplace.

“Wait for what?” Mark demanded. His face began to grow hot, and he could feel Hulk mode lurking around the edges of his awareness. “You agreed with me. Burton and Burton could not be involved in this project. Particularly not their young rising star, who has such a knack for ‘feeling’ buildings. If she gets her hands on the house, think of what we lose!”

“Oh, I know,” Earl replied, his voice oozing oily charm as always. “She will never be allowed to order a single renovation. However, have you taken a good look at her?”

“She’s fat,” Mark scoffed. “Not ugly, but definitely too pudgy for my taste.”

“No, you fool,” Earl snapped. “Don’t you ever look beyond the surface? She’s not just pretty. She’s… she’s unique. I’m not sure what she is exactly, though fully human, or even human with abilities doesn’t cover it. Something more powerful than her the air energy rising from her makes me wonder. She of our world, yet not. I think she might be the key.”

Mark’s red face went pale. “Are you sure?” he demanded, surging forward in his comfortable office chair. The mundane seat with its plastic arms and synthetic upholstery clashed terribly with the black velvet tablecloth before him, the black walls painted with esoteric symbols. Only the glaring fluorescent lighting made sense, and they only tolerated that because the dull gleam of their crystal ball required copious light to flash.

“No,” Earl admitted, and Mark sagged in disappointment, “but I don’t think we should run the plumply powerful Miss MacArthur off until we do know for sure. It would be a shame to be so focused on guarding what we have, that we forget to look for what we need.”

“What do you propose?” Mark asked.

“Don’t worry,” Earl oozed. “I have an idea.”