The circle commands your attention fully, for reasons you can’t immediately comprehend. You take steady, unwavering steps toward the outline.
Charles looks up from a handheld meter with telescoping lighted arms. It flashes, but does not quiver. “What are you…”
You take two clean steps inside the markings as he finishes. You feel a slight buzz, but nothing out of the ordinary happens.
“Hmph.” Charles shrugs before refocusing his attention on the strange device.
Your interest remains fixed on the book, heavy and yellowed with age. Its pedestal is a permanent fixture of the floor; indeed, it is carved directly from the floor.
Two divots are carved into the stone on either side of the book. The small jar rests at its base. You step before it, placing your feet on either side of the pedestal
base.
You glance over the writing, foreign and undecipherable. You squint and lean into the bracing, not realizing your hands are pressing perfectly inside the divots.
A surge of power riots through your mind and body, electrocuting you with strange energy. Black power cascades down the pedestal, flooding into the floor. The
dark energy rolls like quicksilver into the chalk outline, blackening the circle with flickering cold fire until it fills itself in completely.
The meter in Charles’ hand rages to life and your friend snaps to attention to see you surrounded by a circle of black flame. His mouth is agape as the dark fire
streams from five points into the circle, each neatly crossing the diameter as they intersect.
You stand at the epicenter of the inverted pentagram that has formed, oblivious to anything but the ancient text that now is clear as your native language to you.
You read aloud word after word through a black haze, aware that your eyes are now as black as the mystical flame that surrounds you. Page after page is
absorbed into your mind, the licking flame opening previously untouchable portions of your intelligence. You study the spell book diligently, turning each page
through mental commands as you feel your magickal knowledge grow.
Charles panics at the sight of the raw power. Desperately, he hurls the meter at the wall of black fire. It sizzles into nothingness.
Angrily, you gaze in his direction. A single thought is enough to immolate him in the black flame. He flails in agony, screaming his soul against the stone walls. You
quickly lose interest in watching him die.
The flames intensify as you reach the final page. They wrap you in a chilling embrace, disintegrating your clothes as they lick at your bare breasts and vagina. Your
privates and nipples are now black as midnight, as are your nails and hair.
You shudder with excitement as you read aloud the last spell. The clay jar pries itself open as you recite the spell, releasing a thick black haze into your body.
You smile, knowing that the ancient incantation will make you…