The Deception of Magic

Ciara: You need to read this

She had stopped reading the book for the next two nights, opting instead for re-runs of her favourite sitcom, losing herself in the lives of people more beautiful and interesting than her. Ciara hadn’t noticed that the book had opened on the dresser to a completely different section than what she was reading three nights ago. She ignored it completely as she hoped into bed that evening and fell asleep in exhaustion. This time, the dream continued after she got to see the pond, and the weird tree. Next to the tree a blanket and basket of food had materialised, with a bottle of wine opened and a single glass sitting invitingly next to it. She could smell warm bread and with her mouth beginning to water, she walked over towards it. Only as she got closer did she realise that there was also a book sitting on the red and white checked blanket. It was opened and drawing her curiosity to find out what wanted to be read. It was The Deception of Magic. Ciara didn’t seem startled at all when she saw that the book was the same as the one on her dresser. It seemed to not register at all, as if it had been forgotten, deliberately or by accident. She sat down on the blanket, her dress billowing out as she plonked herself down. It was pleated and light pink with a buckle around the middle. She blinked and thought to herself that she hadn’t seen the dress before. Maybe it was a sign that she needed to buy one similar? She looked down at the book and the words were clear as much as they were distressing. There were only five printed on the entire page.

CIARA: YOU NEED TO READ THIS…

The glass of wine was already poured as she turned away from the book. She picked it up and tasted it, distracting her from a million questions that that one page had created in her mind. The sweet tasting bubbles tickled as they floated down her throat. It was delicious. She took another mouthful and then realised that the entire glass was drunk. Her head, feeling warm and confident, turned itself back to those five words. She touched the book and the words, to see if they would disappear on finding out she was reading them. They didn’t. The breeze wafted a scent of bread to her nose and she looked at the basket. Opening it she found a collection of cheese, olives and bread. Putting cheese to bread, and eating the olives straight, she soon felt comfortable enough to turn the page and see what was so important for her to read. The breeze was picking up and whipped the pages over in the book. The shadow grew dark over the book as if something or someone was trying to stop her from reading. The storm overhead appeared from nowhere and then nothing.