With a groan, I lowered the bracelet. I suddenly felt weary, weak. Helpless.
Gripping the amulet in both hands, Simon grinned at me. “Did you honestly think you returned my home to Fear Street tonight? Poor, naive Jamie. The sad truth is, that bracelet is powerless in your hands.”
His smile faded. His mouth formed an angry scowl. “I returned my home tonight,” he growled. “I set the trap for you all. I’m the only one who can use the power of Angelica’s bracelet. Jamie, I used the bracelet to strengthen my power over you. I used it to bring you here tonight.”
“No—!” I cried. “I can feel its power. You didn’t—”
He silenced me with a wave of his hand. “Why do you think I stole it for you? When you wear the bracelet, you are a prisoner of my will.”
I tried to steady my breathing. I suddenly felt as if my chest would burst.
Were the spells I’d carefully taught myself really useless?
I shuddered. The bracelet—it suddenly went cold. The cold penetrated my wrist until I gasped in pain.
“Go!” I motioned to Dana, Nate, and Shark. “Run! I can’t help you! Just run!”
They gazed at me in shock.
“We can’t leave you here!” Dana cried.
“Go!” I shouted, waving frantically. “Go! Hurry!”
They hesitated another second, then took off, scrambling toward the hall.
My arm went up. Against my will, I raised my hand, the hand with the bracelet. The freezing cold bracelet tingled my wrist. And as I raised it high, my friends stopped.
They froze.
Froze in place and didn’t move.
I stared at their horrified, open-mouthed faces.
Simon grabbed my hand and lowered it to my side. He wrapped his hand around the bracelet, and I felt another sharp tingle, like an electrical shock.
“Good work, Jamie.” His hot breath brushed my ear. “Or should I start to call you Angelica?”
“N-no—,” I stammered.
“Good work,” he repeated. “You stopped your friends from escaping. See how easy that was?”
“Simon, please—,” I begged. I couldn’t move, either. Had he frozen me, too?
He slipped the amulet over my neck and arranged it carefully over my throat. “Now, follow the amulet’s will, Angelica’s will,” he whispered. His cheek brushed mine and sent chills down my body. “Follow the amulet’s will, Jamie. Use it to kill all three of them. Then you and I will begin our journey together.”
“Yes, Simon,” I said softly, staring blankly straight ahead. The room was a blur, except for the black figure of the bird in the window.
“Yes, Simon,” I repeated. “I will do the amulet’s bidding.”
I gripped the amulet—the metal so hot between my hands—and began to chant the ancient words.