A few moments later, Athena and Chad were sitting alone, in a dark, quiet room, lit only barely by some candles and incense burning.
"No shit, huh?" Chad asked once Athena's tale was finished, sitting cross-legged on the ground directly in front of her and the Ouija board she'd been setting up while talking. "That... sounds... hoo, awful doesn't do it justice, Athena! I don't want some she devil in my girl's head!"
"Trust me Chad, I don't either," Athena replied off-handedly, just finishing up the setup of the Ouija board and smoothing out her newly bought gown. Part of her still worried Miss Fine's magic might do something to her once she slipped it on, but so far no obvious change had manifested itself after wearing a bit. It was basically just her standard outfit, made from whatever Chad had on hand, after all, so the lack of a shakeup hopefully meant little change to her, and so far she was right. "Frankly, though, I can't see that there's anything to be done about it. All she needs to do is talk to you, and it's over, so far as I know, and there doesn't seem to be a thing to be done to answer it. Everyone around her is pretty much under her control. Even if I do get away from her somehow, I have no more friends at school or anywhere anymore...sigh "
"Hey, hey, hey, don't be just giving up on me," Chad encourages, almost oddly coming from such a dark man. "It's not over until the fat lady sings, and you're not down and out yet, Athena. With luck and wit, we can get something figured out. Besides, a direction to start is what the spirit board is for, right?"
"Yeah..." Athena glanced down at the board and what it represented. "The spirits can probably sniff the magic out in better detail, at least, and maybe tell us something that'll give us a leg up. Who knows?"
"That's the spirit. Now, hush... I think it's time we start playing in earnest."
The planchette, in fact, had begun to move about, slowly, eerily, wobbly. It seemed alive, but sluggish. All chatter in the room ceased. It was just them, and the planchette, faint in the candlelight.
"It's me. It's Athena. I'm back. And I need your help. Can you help me?" Her voice was deeper and more solemn than most of those who would have known Athena would expect to hear.
YES, Pointed the planchette.
Athena took a deep breath, considering her next question.
