Token, the mysterious and fantastical realm opposite Earth, is home to many creatures. Beasts, devils, goblins, centaurs, and so on. But it is also home to Demons, Elves, and Fairies. And just like Earth, there is war and suffering. Plagues, disease...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Pikseline lit a candle and set it gently atop the coffee table. "Alright. The ritual is quite simple to understand, but requires precise timing. First, we must be calm and must not speak until I finish explaining the steps. Second, we must all link hands to create a circle of energy. Third, we must repeat after me. Are we all ready?"
Everyone nodded their heads silently. Pikseline took a deep breath, closing her eyes. "Jester, stand in the center of the circle. Since you are Annalise's descendant, you are the strongest connection to her.
Jester nodded, standing up from her chair and making her way into the middle of the room. She stood facing Pikseline, her hands folded neatly in front of her. She could barely contain her excitement; her tail wagged and her nerves bounced and jumbled around inside her.
Jester cleared her throat. "Okay. Ready when you are!"
The group linked hands, creating a circle around Jester. There was an awkward silence that followed, so strong that it felt as if time itself stopped. Pikseline cleared her throat, breaking it before speaking once again.
"Repeat after me," Pikseline instructed calmly. "We call upon thee, Annalise, to hear our plea. Your descendant, young Jester Angelica Kere, has come to bring forth your spirit to once again walk this realm of Token. Come forth, and grant us this one wish to rid this land of the evil that plagues it. We ask this of you in hopes of bringing peace and prosperity back to Token. Thank you."
Everyone repeated Pikseline's words, repeating them somewhat awkwardly and off key. Lenix mumbled the words, more bored than he'd ever been in his entire life. Lumi and Lucky, however, said the words loud and strong, filled with passion and conviction. Tiffin and Sarviline were somewhere in between, reciting them clearly but quietly, as if unsure whether or not this whole thing would work. The tension and uncertainty in the air was palpable, and it made Damien nervous. Jester was oblivious to all this, a giddy smile plastered across her face as she waited anxiously for the ritual to begin working.
After a few minutes of silence, Pikseline spoke up. "If we don't receive a response soon, then-"
Suddenly, the candle Pikseline had lit mere minutes ago was snuffed out, extinguishing its flame in a puff of smoke. Everyone jumped at the sudden darkness, except for Pikseline, who, being blind, had no reaction. Jester's excitement began to grow as she watched the candle's flame flicker weakly before finally going out completely. She clapped her hands excitedly, bouncing around in a circle.
"It's working! It's working! I can feel it!" Jester exclaimed happily, giggling wildly.
Lumi looked around the room nervously, gripping Lucky's hand tightly. "I...don't see anything...did it work?"
Sarviline scanned the cottage with narrowed eyes, searching for any signs of movement. "I don't think-"
Suddenly, a chill swept through the room, causing everyone to shiver involuntarily. Pikseline smiled knowingly as goosebumps prickled along her skin. In a bright flash of light in the center of the room, Jester was replaced with a young woman who was much taller than she was. She wore a simple black sleeveless leather coat with high boots and a cropped top, and a pair of shorts to complete the look. Her hair was as white as freshly fallen snow, and her eyes were as red as pure blood. And her face resembled Jester in the strongest way possible, from the same strong chin and round cheeks to the rounded eye shape and tannish-pale skin.
