"Next!"  yelled Brian as the girl on stage ended her song.  The Backstreet Boys were holding auditions for their opening act.  So far it wasn't going as well as they had planned.  None of the people seemed able to carry a tune.

"Who's next Kev?"  asked Nick as he played with a slinky.  Kev looked at the clipboard.

"We have a group called Gemini."  he said.  The guys watched as the four girls took the stage in their bubble gum colored outfits.

"Oh boy."  whispered A.j..  Brian elbowed him the in the side.

"Go a head girls."  said Howie.  The music started up and the girls begin to sing.  They weren't that bad, but then again, they weren't that good either.

"Good thing these guys are only on stage for a short time."  whispered Nick.  The song stopped and the girls took a bow.  The guys clapped a little.  The girls just stood there.

"We'll call you."  Kevin finally said.  The girls nodded and then ran off the stage.  They all let out a sigh of relief.

"Is that it?"  asked Brian.  Kevin checked the list again.

"Yeah.  Now for the hard part.  Picking an act."  he said.  The others groaned at the answer.  Suddenly, they heard a voice behind them.

"Excuse me, did I miss the tryouts?"  The guys all turned to see a young girl in the doorway of the theater.  All of their jaws dropped when they saw how beautiful she was.

"Uh, no.  Go right ahead."  said A.j..  The girl took the stage, with the guys still watching her.

"Man, if she can sing as good as she looks, we've got our act."  said Nick.  The music started and the girl began to sing.  The guys were amazed that such a beautiful voice could come out of her.

"Her, her, her."  Howie kept repeating.  Brian was the only one that wasn't so sure about her.  She just gave him this weird vibe.  Like something was wrong.

"Come on now, she's just like anyone else."  he said to Nick.  Nick didn't even turn his head.

"Yeah, but she is a lot better."  he answered.  The song ended and the girl smiled at them.  All except Brian clapped.

"We have our opening act."  said Kevin.  The girl's smile got wider.

"Really?  This is great!"  she said in excitement.  She ran up and gave each of them a hug.  A.j. could have melted in her arms.

"So what's your name?"  asked Howie.

"Savanna.  I'm 24 and I live here in town."  she answered.  A.j. got this really strange smile on his face.

"Perfect name, perfect age, for a perfect lady."  he babbled.  Savanna let out a giggle that just annoyed Brian.

"Come on, we'll show you around the buses."  said Nick.  They began to leave the room when Brian pulled Nick back.  "Hey, what's the big idea?"  he said in surprise.  Brian had a serious look on his face.

"Nick, don't you think we jumped to fast with this?  She only sang one song and we had other auditions."  he asked.

"Bri, you saw how those other acts were.  They were terrible!  What is with you today?  Usually you aren't so worked up about picking an act.  You stressed or something?"  Nick answered.

"No, I am not stressed.  It's just that, I have a bad feeling about this one.  I don't know what it is and I don't think I want to find out."  he said.

"Whatever man.  See you at the bus."  Nick said.  He ran out of the room before Brian could say anything else.  Maybe Nick was right.  Maybe Brian was just stressed out and weird thoughts were entering his brain.  Or did Brian have good intentions?  Whatever it was, none of the others would listen to him.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

It was late in the afternoon and all but Howie had left the bus.  He was working on a few e-mails on his laptop and wanted to get them done.  He typed vigorously when he felt as though someone was watching him.  He looked up quick to see Savanna standing in front of him.

"Savy!  Sorry, I didn't see you there."  he said.  Savanna didn't say a word.  She just slid down into the seat right next to him, gazing into his eyes.

"What are you doing?"  she finally asked sweetly.  Howie again looked up from his work and into her eyes.

"Oh, just some computer stuff.  No big deal."  he said.  Savanna slid closer to him.

"Sounds interesting."  she said.

"Not really."  he answered, still looking at her.  She slid closer still.

"Howie, can I tell you a secret?"  she whispered.

"Sure, go ahead."  he answered.  She pulled herself forward until her nose was almost touching his.

"From the first second I saw you, I have been in love with you.  I know you might not believe in love at first sight but this was certainly it."  she said softly.  Howie's mouth opened but nothing came out.  "What do you say Howie?"  she asked.

"Wow.  The strange part it, I felt the same way."  he said, finally finding his voice.  Savanna giggled.

"Yet, there are so many things about me that you don't even know.  So many things."  she said.

"I don't care.  I want to learn everything about you.  Anything."  he said.  To be honest, Howie didn't know why he was saying these things.  He just had some strange urge to say them.

"Anything?"  she asked.  Howie nodded.  Suddenly, Savanna grabbed his shoulders and pressed her lips against his.  Howie did nothing to stop her.  Then, as soon as it came, she pulled away.  Howie's eyes seemed to glaze over and he stared straight ahead.

"Howie?"  she said.

"Yes."  he answered with no emotion.  Savanna smiled.

"What is your most prized possession?  In the whole world?"  she asked.

"My computer."  he answered.  Savanna laughed.

"Then the deed shall be done."  she said.  No one really knows what happened on the bus after that moment.  Just that when Savanna left it, Howie was no longer anywhere.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A night past and the guys were all very pleased with how Savanna was settling in.  They had their first concert with her tomorrow.

"You think you're ready for the crowd?"  asked Nick.

"Oh yeah.  The only question is, are they ready for me?"  she replied.  Her and Nick laughed, when Brian came into the room.  He had a serious look on his face.

"Hello Brian.  What's up?"  Savanna asked cheerfully.  Brian wouldn't look at her.

"Have any of you seen Howie?  He's been missing since last night."  he explained.  Nick shook his head.

"Sorry B-Rok.  Have you Savy?"  he asked her.

"Why no.  What makes you think i've seen him?"  she said in an innocent voice that pissed Brian off.

"I didn't say you did.  I'm just asking."  snapped Brian.  Savanna shot him a dirty look.

"Hey, knock it off you two!"  said Nick.  Brian backed off a little bit.

"Well, if you see him, let me or the others know.  Everyone is really worried about him."  he said.  With that, he left the room."  Savanna turned her attention back to Nick.

"Where the heck would Howie go for this long?  He's never like this."  Nick said with a confused look on his face.  Savanna wrapped an arm around him.

"We don't need to worry about him.  He's not important."  she said in a soft voice.  Nick turned his confused look to her.

"Not important?  How could you say something like that?  Howie is one of the greatest friends a guy can have.  He's important enough to this group to keep it going and you should see that.  You do remember that you'll be with us for quite sometime."  he exclaimed.  Savanna didn't back down.

"I'm just saying, he's his own person.  He can do whatever he wants.  If he wants to stay out for a long time, he should."  she said.  Nick sighed.

"You're right.  Sorry I snapped at you."  he apologized.  Savanna drew closer.

"That's alright baby.  I always forgive."  she answered.  Nick smiled.

"Baby, is that my new nickname?"  he laughed.

"Oh yeah.  I have a little secret to tell you.  Promise not to repeat it?"  she asked.  Nick nodded.  She put her mouth near his ear.  "From the moment I saw you, I knew it was meant to be."  she whispered.  Nick got a bigger smile on his face.

"Savy.  I felt the same way you did.  You are so beautiful and charming, I couldn't help it."  he replied.  Savanna drew even closer.  Nick gazed into her eyes as if under some strange spell.

"I want to know everything about you."  she said.  (Where have you seen this before?)

"Cool.  So we hitched yet?"  he asked.  Savanna shook her head.

"One more thing."  she said.  She held his hands and embraced him in a kiss.  Nick had no complaints there.  He just went along with it.  Before they released, Nick felt a funny feeling in his gut.  Like he was falling asleep.  Then, the second she let go, his eyes glazed over and he stared straight ahead.  He was under her spell.

"Ha ha!  Two down one to go.  Nicky, what is your more cherished item?  What do you love more than life itself?"  she asked him.  He murmured something under his breath.  A minute later, he was gone.  Savanna laughed to herself.

"This is going to be much easier than I thought.  Now where's the one with the tattoos?"  she said to herself as she left the empty hotel room.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"What the heck is going on here?  First Howie, now Nick.  Is this some kind of sick joke?"  Kevin said to A.j. and Brian.  Nick had been missing for hours and they still couldn't locate Howie.

"Do you think this is a hostage situation?"  asked A.j..

"No.  The person would have taken all of us at the same time if that was the case."  said Brian.  They all knew he was right.

"Well, if this is a joke, i'm going to kill them both when they get back.  They know we have rehearsal."  Kevin said.  Brian chuckled.

"Kev, either way you nearly kill Nick everyday."  he said.  Kevin just gave him a dirty look.

"Speaking of not here, where did Savanna go?  I was going to show her around the stadium."  asked A.j..

"No way, I was going to do that!"  said Kevin.  This start a pretty big argument.

"Hey, cut it out!  This is going absolutely nowhere.  Just ask her what she wants to do and go with it.  Just keep her away from me alright?"  Brian said.

"Why don't you like her?  She's only been here for about three days."  asked Kevin.  Brian let out a sigh.

"I've already explained it to you and i'm not going to say it again.  Now, i'm going to go look for my best friend.  You two can stay here and duke it out over somebody that can't be trusted."  he replied.  Brian turned and started down the hallway.  Kevin and A.j. returned to their fight.

"You do know she likes me a lot better than you right?"  said A.j..  Kevin scoffed at that idea.

"Yeah right!  Her type going for a freak like you is nothing."  he answered.  This continued for quite some time until Savanna came down the halls.

"Oh, hi guys."  she said with a smile.

"Oh, hey Savy.  Brian's been looking for Nick all afternoon.  Have you seen him?"  Kevin asked.  Savanna put a finger to her temple as if to be deep in thought.

"Hmm, let me see.  Nick, Nick, nope.  Haven't seen him."  she lied.  Kevin and A.j. shrugged.

"Oh well, they'll turn up.  Say, would you like to take a walk around the stadium with us?"  asked A.j.  Savanna smiled again.

"I'd love to.  With both of you that is."  she answered.  They began to walk along the long hallway.

"Two boys with one kiss time.  This has got to be my best record yet."  she thought to herself.  If only the guys could read those thoughts right now.

"You know Savy, I would like to be the first to say that you look beautiful when you are performing.  Like an angel."  said Kevin.  She had them both wrapped around her little finger.

"Why, thank you Kevin.  No one has ever said that about me before."  she said in her sickening sweet voice.  Oh yeah, she had them whipped.  They kept walking until Savanna stopped.

"What's wrong?"  asked A.j..

"Oh nothing.  It's just that, i'm really worried about your friends.  It's just ripping me up inside."  she said.  Kevin put an arm around her.

"Hey, it's alright.  Things like this happen.  We'll find them.  Guys like them always come back."  he said in a soothing voice.  Savanna looked into his gorgeous green eyes.

"You don't understand.  I feel totally to blame."  she said.

"Savy, Nick probably went to an electronics store and Howie, well, i'm not to sure where Howie would go for this long but he's bound to come back."  said A.j.  Savanna loosened up a bit.

"Thanks guys.  That really helped."  she said.  She wrapped Kevin in a hug and kissed him on the lips.  That instant, his body froze up.

"Whoa, what's the matter with Kev?"  asked A.j..  He waved a hand in front of his face.  There was no reaction.

"He's fine.  Just relax."  she whispered  A.j. began to back up.

"No, what the heck did you do to him?"  he yelled.  Savanna walked toward him.

"There's no use fighting A.j..  I just want to make this as painless as possible.  Now, stop."  she said.  A.j.'s legs suddenly stopped moving.  He tried to move again but couldn't.  Savanna kept coming closer.

"Get away from me you witch!"  he screamed.

"Awe, I love it when the boys sweet talk me."  she laughed.  She grabbed A.j.'s hair and pulled his head forward.  She fought against him pulling back but succeed to give him the kiss.  Then it was all over.  A.j. looked like a standing zombie.  Savanna led him over to where Kevin stood.  Neither of them move, not even to blink.

"I love this part."  she said to herself.  She cleared her throat.  "This is to both of you.  What is your one possession you cannot live without?"  she asked.

"My books."  Kevin said immediately.  She still had a little trouble with A.j..  He wouldn't answer her.

"A.j., I know you heard me and there is no use with fighting it.  Answer the question."  she ordered.  This time, A.j.'s mouth moved but she couldn't hear the words.  Still, in an instant, A.j. and Kevin were gone.  Leaving the laughing Savanna.

"I hope you like joining your little friends."  she said.  She then began toward the exit of the building.  She was on the hunt for Brian and she would do anything to get him.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Guys?  Guys, are you in here?"  Brian yelled into one of the hotel rooms.  When he didn't get an answer, he shut the door and went to the next room.  There was no one there either.

"Alright, this is getting just plain weird."  he thought out loud.  When he checked the last room, he went into his own.  He began to pace back and forth.

"Think Brian, think!  If I were the four of them, where would I go and not end up killing one another?"  he asked.  Nothing came to him.  Suddenly, he remembered the one spot he hadn't checked yet.

"I bet their having a little jokes on Brian thing.  Their probably on the bus right now laughing at me."  he said.  he then got up and left the room.  he took the elevator down to the lobby and practically ran though it.

"Hello sir.  Off to somewhere?"  asked the lady at the front desk.

"Yeah, my friends are playing a prank on me so I need to go kill them."  he answered.  The lady laughed.

"Well you go do that."  she snickered.  Brian went out the front door and right to the bus parked out in front.  He tried the handle to find it was unlocked.  He opened the door and ran up the steps.

"Got you!"  he yelled.  He then stopped.  The bus was empty.  Brian stood there scratching his head.

"Guys?  Hey, guys!"  he yelled again.  No answer.  He walked into the back.  Still no one there, but there had been.  He found that the pillows on the couch were all bunched up the way Nick usually does it when he's relaxing.  He definitely was there.

"Yo Nick!  Come out here so I can kick your butt!"  he shouted.  This time, he got an answer, but not from Nick.

"Brian, is that you?"  it said.  Brian jumped at it.  He wasn't expecting that.

"Who's there?"  he asked.  The voice came again.

"Brian, it's me!  Get up here!"  it yelled.  Brian finally figured out who it was.

"Howie?  Where are you?"  he asked.

"Up here.  In the front."  Howie answered.

"No your not.  I can see the front from back here and your not there."  Brian said.

"Just get up here!"  Howie yelled.  Brian shrugged and walked toward the front.  There was no Howie but he could still hear him.

"Where are you?"  Brian asked again.

"Down here."  Howie said, no even closer.  Brian turned around to see Howie's laptop on the table.  On it was an image of Howie.

"Cool!  I didn't know you had that camera thing."  Brian exclaimed.  Howie shook his head.

"I don't.  Brian, i'm stuck in here and I can't get out."  he said.  Brian started to laugh until he could see that Howie was serious.

"Stuck?  How the heck do you get stuck in a computer?"  Brian asked.

"It was Savanna.  She did something to me and the guys and well, look."  he answered.

"I knew it!  I knew Savanna was behind this."  Brian said with anger.  Then what Howie said came back to him.  "The guys?"

"Yeah, they're here to.  Although I have no idea where A.j. is exactly."  Howie said.  Brian ran his fingers through his hair.

"Where's Kev?"  he asked.  Howie pointed to the bunks.

"He's in there, but he hasn't woken up from the trance thing yet."  he answered.  Brian almost ran to Kevin's bunk and threw the curtains open.  Kevin wasn't there.

"Howie, there's no one here."  Brian said in frustration.

"Oh, he's in there.  Take another look."  he answered.  Brian looked again.  This time he paid more attention to the book laying on the bed.  he picked it up and brought it over to the table where Howie was.

"He's in here?"  Brian asked again.  Howie nodded.  Brian was a little hesitant, but he opened the book.  He gasped at what he saw.

"Whoa, now that's weird."  Howie said.  Formed by the words in the book was Kevin.  His eyes were closed, but he moved a bit.

"Kev, Kevin, wake up!"  Brian yelled.  Kevin didn't move.  Brian began to shake the book.

"Hey, you don't want to kill the guy!"  Howie laughed.  But it worked.  Kevin's eyes slowly opened and he looked up at Brian.

"What?  Where am I?"  he asked.  Brian couldn't speak.

"Don't you remember?  Savanna, her kissing you?"  asked Howie.  Kevin got an angry look on his face.

"Oh yeah, now I remember."  he said through his teeth.

"Kev, where's Nick and A.j.?"  Brian asked, finally finding his voice.

"Well, she put us in our favorite things so you can guess where Nick is."  he answered.  Of course, Brian knew exactly what that was.  He went into the back and turned on the T.v..  From there, he flipped the switch to the Nintendo.  Just as he thought, Nick appeared on screen.

"Thanks buddy.  I've been stuck in there for a while."  he said.  Brian still couldn't believe his eyes.  His friends, stuck in objects.

"Great, now that i've found you, where's A.j.?"  he asked.  Nick shrugged.

"I didn't even know he got caught.  All I know is that Howie's here."  he answered.

"Yeah, I found him and he found Kevin."  Brian explained.  Nick got a look of shock on his face.

"Kevin got caught too?  Man, I thought he was better than that!"  he yelled.

"I heard that!"  Kevin yelled from the front.  Nick snickered.

"This is so stupid."  Brian whispered to himself.  He began to back up a bit when he accidentally hit the stereo on button with his hand.  It gave of a loud feedback noise.

"Whoa!  What did you do?"  asked Nick.

"I hit the stereo."  Brian answered.  He went to go shut it off when he heard a voice.

"Dude, you turned this thing off and i'm so going to get you when I get out of here."  it said.  Brian got a half smile on his face.

"I found A.j."  he yelled to the front.

"Dang straight!  Now get me out of this thing!"  A.j. screamed.

"Cool your heels, i'm doing the best I can."  Brian shot back.

"Brian!  Come here, i've got something!"  Howie yelled.  Brian went to the front and looked at the computer.  Howie had pulled up a page on the search engines.

"What is it?"  he asked.

"I think this might help us get out of these things."  he answered.  Brian sat down and began to read it out loud.

"The demon witch Seductress was the havoc causer of the sixteenth century.  Her power to put men into a trance and place them into objects played a role in the many deaths that year.  Her kiss was as deadly as her looks.  She was only defeated when Prince Andre resisted her temptations for the only thing he truly valued was his own life and she was banished to the netherworld.  Legend has it that the prince ensured that if the witch was to return in the future, he would place the family crest upon the child's arm and he will be safe."  he read.  Beside it was two pictures.  One of a beautiful woman, the other of a very ugly demon.

"We are in big trouble."  said Kevin.

"I don't know.  I think they did a lovely picture of me right there, but the one before it is way off."  a voice said behind them.  Brian spun around to see Savanna.  She had an evil look in her eyes.

"You!  How did you find me?"  Brian asked.

"It wasn't that hard.  I knew you would find your friends soon enough.  The question is, are you ready to join them?"  she returned.  Brian had to hold back the urge to punch her for fear she might use her powers against him.

"Well, why us?"  Brian asked again.

"I do this to any man I can find.  It's as simple as that."  she answered.

"You can't hurt them without getting through me."  he growled.

"Oh is that so?  Your friend A.j. fought against me too.  You know how that turned out now don't you." she taunted.  Howie and Kevin watched from the table, wishing there was something they could do.  Brian and Savanna began to circle around each other, sizing each other up.

"Don't look into her eyes Bri."  Nick called.  Savanna let out a hiss and Nick shut up.  She turned her attention back to Brian.

"Why do you resist me?  No man can resist my power."  she said.

"What power?  I hate your guts, and that makes it very easy not to go for your temptations."  he answered in a matter-of-fact voice.

"Oh, that will be enough from you.  Time to find out what you'll be spending the rest of your days as."  she laughed.  At that second, Brian's legs froze up and he was unable to move.

"No!"  Kevin yelled.  Savanna turned around and slammed the book Kevin was in shut.  You could hear him let out an ouch noise.

"Stop interfering!"  she yelled.  She turned back around and walked toward Brian.  He struggled against what held him there but it was no use.  Savanna was already nose to nose with him.

"You can't win."  he snapped.  Savanna laughed in his face.

"I'm afraid I already have."  she cackled.  Before either of them said another words, Savanna kissed Brian on the lips.  The others let out a gasp, thinking they knew what would happen next.  They also could hear the muffled sound of Kevin trying to get the book back open.

"He's a goner."  whispered Howie.  Savanna let Brian go.  He stared straight ahead with no emotion.  Savanna laughed again.

"Now, oh strong one.  What is your most prized pocession?"  she asked.  The guys held their breath before hearing the answer.  Suddenly, Brian turned his head and looked into her eyes.

"My life!"  he yelled.  Savanna backed up in horror.

"No, it can't be!  It just can't be!"  she scream.  She pulled Brian's sleeve up and screamed when she saw his tattoo.  "Prince Andre's mark!  No!"

"That's right.  Now, I banish you back to the netherworld, and all those you have trapped are to be set free."  he ordered.  Savanna let out a final scream before her body began to shrivel up.  Her skin began to drop away like dust.

"Now, that is just nasty!"  A.j. yelled.  Finally, there was nothing left but a pile of dust.  Brian stood there all proud of himself when he remembered the others.  He looked at the computer to see Howie wasn't there anymore.  Neither was Kevin in the book.  They were all gone.

"Oh no, I banished them too!"  he cried.  Suddenly, he heard a groan.

"No, you didn't."  he heard.  Then, just when he blinked, Howie appeared.  Sitting at the table just as he had been before all this happened.

"Man, I never thought i'd be so happy to see you."  Brian said.  Him and Howie slapped each other five.

"Thanks dude.  I didn't know that you had the mark.  That's pretty cool."  Howie said.  Brian just laughed.

"Howie, I don't have the mark.  She must have been to scared that it tricked her.  I saw a picture of the sign and it looks nothing like my tattoo." he explained.  Howie's eyes went wide.

"So, she basically banished herself?"  he asked.  Brian nodded.  This time, Howie started laughing.

"Come on, lets go gather up what we can find of the others."  Brian said.  The both turned and began to go to the door when Howie stopped in front of the pile of dust.

"To think I thought she was cute."  he said with anger.  He kicked the pile a little and left to follow Brian.  All of them knew that from now on, someone else is going to be picking their opening act.  Who cares if their bad or not, at least they're not evil.

THE END!