She reached for it. "My pendant...it is supposed to protect me from magic."
"Well, it isn't doing a good job."
"Give me your hand," she demanded.
Sam did it. Athena squeezed it, and closed her eyes, the other hand grasping her pendant. It was warm to her touch. "What are you doing?" Sam asked.
"My pendant...it's warm...whatever this is that is happening is more powerful than it is....it's like a machine overheating....it can't handle it. If it keeps happening, it might break and I'll have no protection at all."
"That doesn't explain the hand holding..."
"I need you to be quiet," she said. "So I can concentrate."
Sam tried to stay quiet, but he...or rather she was still having odd feelings. "Are you sure this is going to work?"
"Tell me what you see in here that isn't supposed to be," she said.
"Well...other than my entire body...the bathroom looks brand new...the tile colors are different. And there's a handicap stall...that wasn't there before. Why are you holding my hand?"
"You see what I don't...as long as I'm holding your hand...I can focus on that...I cast a spell. If I start to doubt you...you can just grab my hand...and that will help me focus."
"What is that going to do?"
She looked at the newly minted girl. "I have no idea...but what if I start changing? I just wish I could do it for other people..." But she only had one pendant and its power clearly waning trying to protect her fully.
