The Lure of Chocolate

The five of them sat in a circle on the floor in Dianna and Fey’s room. In front of them lay a piece of paper and …

“Is that a pen holder?” asked Nathaniel.

“Oh be quiet,” answered Fey. “It was all we could find.”

“Ok,” said Charlie. “How are we meant to do this?”

Dianna consulted the book. “It says here we should…” her brow wrinkled. “Place the paper inside the cup.” She spoke hesitantly. “Does this sound weird to anyone else?” she asked.

“A bit,” Fey answered. “Let me see.” She flicked through the pages in the book. “Here,” she looked up from one of the pages. “Let’s try this instead.” She moved the pen holder and paper aside. “Now,” she said. “We each need to sit so that we’re in a star formation.” She waited as Aoife, Nathaniel and Charlie shifted their positions. “Ok, now we need to link hands.” She held out her hands to each side of her, and watched as everyone clasped everyone else’s hands. She looked down at the book on her lap. “Ok, now we need to summon the spirit by calling it forth and offering it something. I’ll go first so that you know what I mean.

“I call upon the spirits to come forth, and in return I offer you hope.”

She nodded to Nathaniel, who sat to her left, indicating that he should go next.

“I call upon the spirits to come forth, and in return I offer you love.”

They both looked at Dianna.

“I call upon the spirits to come forth, and in return I offer you acceptance.”

Charlie was next.

“I call upon the spirits to come forth, and in return I offer you chocolate.”

Dianna and Fey glared at him, Dianna squeezing his hand tightly in warning. “Be serious!” she warned. “Otherwise you’ll wreck it!”

“What?” said Charlie, feigning indignation. “You guys are always going on about how great chocolate is, maybe the spirits want some.”

“Charlie!” The twins yelled again.

“Oh all right,” he said. “I call upon the spirits to come forth, and in return I offer you life.” He turned to look at Dianna. “Happy now?” he asked.

“Better,” she agreed.

Finally, it was Aoife’s turn.

“I call upon the spirits to come forth, and in return I offer you power.”

Everyone turned and looked at Fey. She looked around the room. “We should be able to hear the spirits speaking, now,” she said. She leant down to look at the book again when:

“What have you summoned me for?” A demon stood in the centre of the ring of hands, skin fiery red, hair pointed and black.

“Ummm,” said Fey. “We’re not really sure. It was sort of an accident.” She glared at Charlie, who blushed slightly.

“I see,” replied the demon. He shrugged and sat down, making himself comfortable. “Well, since I am here, anything you want to know?”

Everyone looked awkwardly at each other. They weren’t really sure how one was meant to treat an inappropriately summoned demon, but they’re pretty sure this wasn’t it.

“Aren’t there meant to be like incantations, and stuff?” asked Nathaniel.

“Only if you absolutely insist,” replied the demon. “This is much more fun, you know.” He looked around the room. “Anyone got a light?” he asked.

“We’re thirteen,” said Dianna, outraged.

“Oh,” said the demon. “So that’s a no, then? Shame.” He flicked his fingers, and the cigarette he had been rolling between them disappeared.

“Actually,” said Charlie. “There is something we wanted to know.”

“Oh yes,” the demon stopped examining his fingernails and looked up. “Ask away,” he prompted.

“We were practicing summoning earlier,” began Charlie.

“Oh, so that was you lot causing all those disturbances earlier. Quite annoying, really, spirits zipping in and out. Interrupted my game of Doom no end, lucky I can hit the save button in a hurry, let me tell you!”

“Yes,” tried Charlie again. “Anyway, the first spirit that was summoned said something interesting. Something about not following a path, because it would lead them to danger. We wanted to know what that was about.”

“I see,” said the demon. “Well, I don’t think I’m meant to tell you, but there’s nothing on tv, and Zieke is hogging the computer tonight. Listen carefully,” he said. “I’m about to give you An Important Clue”.

“The spirits are unhappy. There is talk of an uprising, of a plan to re-gain entry to Mt Olympus. They feel a wrong needs to be righted.” He looked around the ring, his eyes stopping on Aoife. “I can’t say more.” His voice had dropped to an eerie low. Suddenly he stood up. “Well, must dash,” he said, his voice chirpy once more. "Never mind about the chocolate." He winked, and with a sudden motion that called up th ideas of smoke and flashes, without ever actually producing any, he was gone.

The novices looked at each other.

“Someone is planning something,” Nathaniel said slowly.

“An uprising,” added Charlie.

“Here,” Aoife agreed. We have to stop them!" The others nodded. "But how?" she finished contemplatively.