“Hurry up Lizzy, I won’t hesitate to leave you behind!” Sara yelled to her younger sister as she hustled through the forest. “Wait up sis, slow down!” Lizzy hollered back, struggling to keep up. “We have to make it to the cave before dark or I won’t be able to show you what I found,” Sara said without hesitation. “Cave?” questioned Lizzy panting as she moved her little legs as fast as she could, “Did you say cave?” Sara finally slowed her pace, looked back and said, “come on Lizzy, catch up, we’re almost there.” As Lizzy got closer, Sara reached a hand out to her and looked her sister in the eye saying, “let’s go lil sis, it’s right around the corner.” Lizzy hesitated a moment then reached out to grab her big sister’s hand and said “I hope you know what you’re doing Sara, I’ve never been out this far in the woods.” “Don’t be scared Lizzy, everything will be fine!” Sara assured her. “I’m not scared,” Lizzy fired back, “it’s just that it’s getting late and we didn’t tell mom, and it’s going to be dinner time soon, and…” “Stop worrying, we’re there,” Sara interrupted Lizzy pointing towards the mouth of a large cave about twenty yards away, “see it’s right in front of us, we’ll be home before mom has dinner ready. Now let’s go in.”

Sara began walking swiftly towards the cave entrance with Lizzy in tow, holding her hand tightly to ensure she kept pace. It was obvious to Sara that Lizzy was nervous and scared so she looked her in the eye again as they entered the cold, damp cave and said with confidence, “don’t worry sis, we’ll be safe, there is nothing dangerous in here and we’re not as far from home as you think.” Although Sara believed what she was saying she didn’t want to admit that she too was a little nervous but she knew that she couldn’t allow Lizzy to see any fear in her. “Look, I have a flashlight and the knife that dad gave me for my 15th birthday,” Sara said while illuminating the 4-inch blade strapped to her belt that she received from their late father. What Sara wasn’t letting her 12-year-old sister know was that she also brought the “forbidden book” that their mother had hidden away in the basement. Sara was certain that Lizzy would not have come with her if she was aware that they were searching for the “Idol of Sultani,” but she also knew that she couldn’t summon the spirits without help from her sister.

As they explored deeper into the cave Lizzy finally asked, “what are we doing here anyway?” She had been so caught up in the excitement of hanging out with her big sister that she never bothered to think about what they were doing. The past year had been hard on the entire family since the accident. Just as Lizzy finished her question, Sara pointed the flashlight to a small hole in the cave wall where a six-inch statue sat and said “that, that is why we’re here.” Sara handed the flashlight to Lizzy saying, “here hold this,” then removed her backpack and set it on the dusty cave floor. “What is that? What are we doing? Why are we here? What are you getting out of your bag?” Lizzy rapidly fired off questions as her voice quivered nervously. “Shhh, be quiet Lizzy, everything is going to be fine,” Sara replied as she unzipped her bag and removed the book from inside. Lizzy knew exactly which book it was, and it finally became clear to her why they were there. “Where did you get that? Mom said…” before Lizzy could finish Sara abruptly stopped her with a “shhh! I said, Mom doesn’t understand, and besides, by time she finds out it will be too late! Now shine the light on the book so I can read this.”

Lizzy didn’t want to upset Sara so she did as she was asked and shined the light onto the page, not muttering another word. Sara began to recite the incantation from the book, following the sentences with a finger while trying to pronounce words in a language she had never before heard spoken or seen written. With her free hand, Sara reached and clutched the Idol of Sultani. Although she was not familiar with these words she felt as though she understood them, she couldn’t explain how but she felt something special was happening to her. As she spoke the final words magic poured from her fingertips. She knew the power would be intense, but she hadn’t expected it to manifest like this.