"Hello," says the deck of cards, in a slightly robotic voice.

Lexi blinks. She looks around for an electronic device of some sort that could've said that.

The deck unshuffles itself.

"Eep!" exclaims Lexi in a soft voice. It probably won't even carry to Jessica's parents, who are out in the back garden, let alone Jessica herself in the hall bathroom.

"I contain limitless power," it says in that same slightly robotic monotone.

"You're a deck of cards," objects Lexi. "You're talking, and you're a deck of cards."

"I am a magical artifact," says the deck of cards. The cards tuck themselves back into the pack, and the whole thing scoots toward her.

"Bella will just flip," predicts Lexi, and she scoops up the cards into her hand.

"To activate limitless power," says the deck, "speak the activation password."

"The activation password?"

"The activation password is: Of my own heart and will, I choose to command you."

"I dunno, maybe I should wait for Bella," says Lexi.

"I contain limitless power," it reminds her.

"Yeah! She'll know what to do with it," says Lexi. "She'll flip, like I said, I think maybe she should have you."

"To activate limitless power, speak the password."

"I told you I wanna wait for Bella," says Lexi.

"You have the potential," it says.

"Does Bella not?"

"I do not know," it says. "You have the potential. Many people do not."

"Well, can't you check her when I go home later?"

"To speak with you takes power," it says. "If you accept me, we will have more power."

"...Wait, didn't you say limitless, how does more limitless even be an option?"

"I contain limitless power," it says. "Without a master I cannot use it."

"Right, I think Bella would be a good master for limitless power, if I had it instead she'd want to tell me what to do all the time."

"If you do not accept me," it says, "you will not have limitless power."