The Amazing Amethyst

She pointed towards the ceiling, and the mist swirled and spun into a cylinder. As the spotlight on Amethyst faded, bright purple lights began to illuminate the stage. Then the cylinder blew apart, revealing an empty space where Amethyst once stood.

The theater erupted in applause. Caleb found himself joining along. Gotta admit, that was actually a pretty fun show. But now it's time for business.

While the applause started to die down, Caleb was already heading for the back door. Going up on stage would be a more direct route, but then he'd have to use his power on an entire auditorium of people at once. He'd much rather only have to deal with a few guards and crew members.

He made it out to the lobby, and followed the route he planned out ahead of time. He slipped into an "employees-only" door and sent out the signal. As he walked down the plain, industrial corridors, he went unnoticed by the crew members and security guards rushing past him. Caleb smiled to himself. All too easy.

Finally, he made it to Amethyst's dressing room. He reached out to the handle and turned it. Now, time to-

When he opened the door, he paused.

"Why, hello, Caleb." Amethyst grinned at him, lounging in a plush velvet chair.

What is she still doing here? Wasn't she gonna go to the lobby? "I, uh... I'm trying to find the... bathroom."

Amethyst stood up and walked up to Caleb, slamming the door behind him. "You're a very bad liar. Honestly, I don't know how you manage to keep your secret identity hidden."

"My... my what?" ABORT. ABORT. SHE KNOWS. GET OUT OF THERE.

"I'm not an idiot, Caleb." Amethyst pinned him against the door, her body uncomfortable close to his, her voice a low, seductive purr. "No one could come up with that many details about Singularity unless they were a part of it. You're clearly not Sentinel, and you don't really look like Shaman either. And given how you were able to make it all the way back here without getting caught by security, that means you must be Ghost. I'm correct, aren't I?"

"I-I... don't know what you're talking about..." Caleb's heart pounded out of his chest.

Amethyst chuckled. "Alright, Caleb. You still want to hold onto this illusion. That's fine. That just means I get to shatter it."

Suddenly she grabbed Caleb's shoulders and spun him around. Caleb stumbled backwards and landed in the chair. When he looked up, Amethyst was approaching him slowly, holding-

His eyes widened. "Oh, no..."

Amethyst smiled warmly. The pocketwatch swung lazily from her fingers. "Tell me, Caleb. What does this watch do?"

Caleb's eyes were already glued to the watch. He felt the words forcing their way out of his mouth. He tried to hold them back, but the compulsion to speak was too strong. "The... watch... controls my will..."

"And who controls the watch?"

He felt trapped in his own body. Every attempt to get up, or look away, or stay silent, was met with a total lack of response. His body wasn't listening to him anymore. It was listening to her. "Amethyst... controls the watch..."

"And what does that mean, Caleb?"

Don't say it...

Amethyst glared down at him. His body was tense, clearly struggling against her suggestion. "I commend your spirit, Caleb. But you lost the moment you stepped foot on stage. Why are you still fighting? You know how good it feels to submit."

"N-No..." Caleb felt his mind descending into the fog again. That feeling of comfort, of warmth, was enveloping his entire body. He knew he had to resist, but it was so hard to fight against something that felt so good.

"Caleb. It's okay. You can admit it now. Amethyst controls your will."

And then he was gone. Caleb let himself give in to that wonderful, blissful sensation. His body relaxed, his eyelids drooped. "Amethyst controls my will..." he murmured, his jaw hanging slack.

"Good boy. Now, you know I'm definitely not that scary criminal Hypnotica, don't you? What a preposterous idea!"

"Prepostrusss..." Caleb's words slurred as his blank, empty mind absorbed Amethyst's words. A thin line of drool started to drip from the corner of his mouth.

Amethyst smiled. "Has anyone ever told you how cute you are, Caleb?"

"Nnooo..."

"Really?" She moved behind the chair, still swinging the watch in front of Caleb's eyes, and gently stroked his hair. "Because I think you're adorable. Especially when you're so blank and open for me. Do you like feeling like this?"

"Mmm..." A sleepy, dreamy smile formed on Caleb's face. "Yyeaahhh..."

"And... what do you think about me?"

Caleb was silent for a moment. It took some time for the gears in his head to start turning again. When they did, he whispered, "I dunnooo..."

Amethyst chuckled. "Well, let me tell you how you feel, then. You think I'm very pretty, Caleb. Maybe one of the prettiest women you've ever seen. And you know I can make you feel so very good, so blank and obedient and wonderful. And you want me to make you feel this good again, and again, and again. Don't you?"

"Yyesssss..." Caleb gasped, his mind lighting up and searing Amethyst's suggestions into itself.

There was a knock on the door. "Ma'am?" a voice called out. "They're waiting for you in the lobby."

"In a minute." Amethyst kissed Caleb's cheek and put the pocketwatch away, moving to face him again. "Now, my good, obedient boy, I'm going to snap my fingers. When I do, you'll wake up feeling refreshed and happy, remembering only that we had a nice, fruitful conversation that cleared up all your confusion about Hypnotica."

Snap!

Caleb opened his eyes. He looked up at Amethyst and blushed. Gosh, she's so pretty... "U-Um... this was a really... really good chat."

Amethyst smiled. "Yes, it was for me as well. But I'm afraid I have to be going now. Take care, Caleb."

She turned for the door, but Caleb bolted out of the chair and grabbed her wrist. "Wait! I... I want to see you again."

"Oh?" Amethyst tried to look shocked and not bemused. "You really do?"

"Yes! I-I mean, if that's okay with you, of course." His cheeks were bright red, and the nervousness in his voice was impossible to ignore.

"Well," Amethyst said, "I am in town for a few more days... perhaps we could have lunch some time?"

Caleb's face lit up. "Lunch sounds great!"

"Here, let me give you my card." She snapped her fingers, and a purple slip of cardstock appeared in her hand. "I'll let my publicist know to expect your call. Are you free tomorrow?"

"For you? Absolutely." He took the business card, a wide, goofy grin on his face. "Thank you, Amethyst."

Amethyst suddenly leaned in and kissed Caleb on the cheek. "You're welcome," she whispered.

And then she was gone, leaving Caleb standing in the dressing room in a daze.

He looked down at the card and flipped it around in his hand. The back of the card had a white spiral pattern. Hey, that's just like...

Caleb shook his head. Nah, it's just a coincidence. Amethyst couldn't be Hypnotica. Who would ever think something so preposterous?