I waited and waited and after awhile I began to tap my foot, but still nothing happened. Presently I became aware that someone was in the room with me. Looking around I saw another person dressed in black. Figuring it was another mourner, I turned my attention back to Thomas.
I was surprised when a soft voice whispered to me, "It doesn't work that way."
Looking in the direction of the voice, I saw the mourner. Sticking out a hand as if I was suppose to shake it, he told me, "Call me Larry, even though I have no real name."
A bewildered look on my face, I asked him, "Who are you?"
"I told you," he replied back. "You can call me Larry," and then he handed me a business looking card.
Looking at the card, I saw the words 'Order of Zulo' printed on it and nothing else. Handing the card back, I asked him in skeptical tone, "How do you know the amulet wont change him."
"Oh, I didn't say it wouldn't change him," Larry replied. "I just said it wouldn't bring him back. That's not the way the magick works."
Giving him another skeptical look, I turned back to the coffin and gasped. Thomas had started to grow younger before my eyes. Within moments I was looking at an eight year old dead girl. And then the world shifted and the plaque that had the name Thomas on it change to Tina.
Looking at Larry, I asked him, "What just happened?"
Looking down at the dead girl, he whispered, "Reality has shifted. You are here to mourn your dead friend Tina and all those people out there will tell you the same thing."
I could feel the tears welling up in the corners of my eyes as I demanded, "That's not what I wanted. Bring him back. Bring Thomas back right now." And then I realized that I had shouted this last part because someone was running into the room.
I suddenly found myself being hugged and a woman's voice was telling me, "It's all right sweetie. I know you miss her, but no one can bring Tina back."
As she comforted me, I heard her asking Larry, "How are you Larry and how's your mother doing."
Larry responded with, "I'm doing well Aunt Paige and mom is still bed ridden." I was then that I knew that this was Thomas, no, Tina's Aunt comforting me.
And then I realized that Larry was speaking again. "...think we should give Ashely some more time alone with her friend."
With that said, Larry and Aunt Paige left and I was left with Tina. As I looked on, wishing she could come back, I heard someone reenter the room. Turning I saw that it was Larry. Looking at him, I asked, "How is it Paige knows you and why can't the Amulet of Zulo bring back Tina?"
Larry stood next to the coffin, not saying anything. After a bit, he quietly told me, "The magick I can manipulate allows me to be viewed as certain people. Paige sees me as a cousin of the family. As for why the amulet can not bring Tina back, simply put, it wasn't meant for that. It also doesn't help that the soul has departed this world for the next."
Not sure what to say, I merely looked at my friend. After a bit, Larry went on. "You can use the medallion to transform yourself, but not into the previous form you were."
Before I could ask, he held up a hand and continued. "The reason being is that you were transformed under broken magick. It transformed you into your current form, although rather slowly. Because the Amulet of Zulo cracked, the magicks broke. You have the option of transforming yourself into another form or you can just give me the Amulet of Zulo. It's your choice."
Looking down at Tina, something inside me knew that he spoke the truth. Could I really give the amulet up? Or should I have some fun with it before it was lost to me again. Mourning my friend, wishing she was here, knowing that she was gone for good except my memories, tears slid down my cheeks as I saw how pretty she looked in her dress and the way her hair was done up. Inside I was torn up with grief, but there was one question I kept asking myself over and over. "Should I keep the Amulet of Zulo for now or give it up to this strange man?"