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Ceci Masters was presently asleep in bed. However, her dreams were anything but tranquil. After she revealed to her little brother, Danny, about Lady Belladonna, she had a recurring nightmare about how they met.
It had started innocently enough when a carnival came to their small rural town. However, they should've known something was off when it was called the Carnival of Doom! Still, the teens and their younger siblings had gone, mainly because their parents had made them go.
All their younger siblings seemed to be having a good time. Even Charlie, who was unusually mature for his age, was having fun. However, something about the establishment had given her bad vibes. Her ghost sense hadn't gone off. Regardless, she could still distinguish an otherworldly presence.
“Is it just me, or does this place scream creepy or evil to you, girlfriend?” Denise whispered to Ceci. She didn't ask Jamie because he was currently scarfing down as much cotton candy as possible.
“I don't like it either, Denise. Still, we promised our parents, so we've to fulfill that promise. I know your parents are big on keeping promises,” Ceci whispered back.
“You got that right, Ceci. Okay, let's keep our eyes peeled in case of danger.”
“Yes, but first, let's save Jamie from all that cotton candy!” as the girls dragged their gay companion away from the snack bar. Jamie grumbled a bit about being forced away from the snacks.
However, Ceci reminded him that he didn't like what the dentist did last mouth, filling in his cavities, so it was best to avoid repeating it. Begrudgingly nodding, the three teens closely watched their younger siblings.
Everywhere they went, Ceci felt like someone was watching her. Unexpectedly, a mysterious voice called out to her. “My beautiful child, why don't you come and get your fortune told? I sense something special about you,” a ravishing blond-haired woman cooed.
A feeling similar to her ghost sense sent a chill down her spine. Something was seriously amiss with this lady. Ceci tried to excuse herself politely. “I'm sorry, but I'd rather make my own future. Thanks anyway,” as she started to walk away.
She heard the woman whisper something and felt herself forcefully walking back to the fortune teller. The woman had a wicked smirk on her face. “Come, come, young lady. We must show our elders respect. I sense something extraordinary regarding you, so knowing what is in store for you would be useful. COME!” she commanded, and Ceci couldn't control her own body!
She didn't know what was happening, but she knew her friends didn't even know what had happened to her. She attempted to liberate herself from the invisible restraints dragging her away. Unexpectedly, they were in a small black tent.
The woman chuckled as she saw the teen struggle helplessly. “Don't fight it, dear. No one can break free of the spell I cast. Now, let's find out the source of your powers, shall we?”
Ceci tried to feign ignorance. “I don't know what you're talking about! I'm just a sixteen-year-old girl! And what you're doing is called kidnapping! Let me go!” again, she struggled to get away, but her body wouldn't obey her.
“Nice try, dear, but no one lies to me and gets away with it," So she held up a peculiar silver and pink talisman, which glowed as it hovered above Ceci's head. A weird energy shot through Ceci's body, forcing her to transform.
'Well, so you are the mysterious girl known as Spirit. I must admit I'm a bit surprised it's you, considering your folks should've figured that out on their own!”
Again, Ceci strained to utilize her abilities but didn't realize she was ensnared in a binding circle. The amulet continued to hover above her head as the strange lady picked up a spell book.
“Who are you?! What are you doing to me?!” Ceci demanded.
“My name is Lady Belladonna, Spirit, and don't you dare take the tone with me! I may only have a drop of fay blood, but my foremother was still Queen of the Fay! So show some respect!” she snapped as she returned to reading the spell book.
Finally, she snapped it shut. Her blue eyes gleamed wickedly, “Oh, this will be so much fun!” she giggled before uttering, “Tolle voluntatem tuam et fac sicut dixi.”
Immediately, Ceci's mind was wiped as her free will was magically extracted. She then did as her new Mistress commanded, which caused quite a lot of trouble. Luckily, her friends had ultimately found where she'd been taken.
Surprisingly, since Jamie had done one Shakespeare play," A Midsummer Night's Dream,” he instantly knew facts concerning the fay and had also seen an entry in an old book about the Seal of Titania, which is what Lady Belladonna was employing to control her.
They quickly made a makeshift iron bell out of what they could find, thus freeing Ceci and debilitating Lady Belladonna, who vowed vengeance. It was at this point that Ceci woke up in a cold sweat.
She shivered for a moment before trying to go back to sleep. She didn't know the Ancient of Death; Cronos's wife, Dreama, was now standing guard at her dream mirror to ensure she wasn't further ensnared in that horrible nightmare.