[MariJ]

and a bright light shone directly on Serena. She screamed and a voice said -

[ValerieT]

"Ah, there you are. You couldn't help me find my Grimoire could you?"

[MariJ]

"But, please..." Serena stammered, "What IS a Grimoire?"....

[ValerieT]

"what do they teach kids at school these days?" the old lady replied. "A Grimoire is a book of magic, my dear. You have your magic stone, don't you?"

[Jenna]

Selena's face flushed with relief and embarassment. She had heard of a Grimoire before but in her panic it had slipped her mind. Still a bit flustered, she slowly rose to her feet & started looking around her.

"What does it look like?"

[ValerieT]

"It's brown leather with a gold clasp." The old lady replied. "I wanted pink, but the council wouldn't let me. If you help me find it I will give you.........."

[BetC]

It looks different for each person who see it. It reflects......

[ValerieT]

your inner personality.

[Sherry Lynn]

you just can't hide it Selene, the truth will emerge when you touch the book, you have to really be sure this is what you want --- well?

[MariJ]

Serena gulped.. She thought loud and hard and said "Yes. Yes, I do want it - I do want to know and understand more about magic and my stone."

[butterflykisses]

The practice of magic is an old and mythical art said the old lady. Once you have started the journey there is no going back. It will change your life forever. The first task for you is to help me find my book.

[MariJ]

"Ok" said Serena thoughtfully, because she sensed the woman meant her no harm. Have you looked all around this basement? Could it be in a trunk? Where did you last see it and what more can you tell me about it, please? The woman looked at Serena, searched her face and answered ---

[butterflykisses]

Let me answer your first question about whether it could be in a trunk. It could be but a wicked witch cast a spell over the trunks and each trunk takes a special incantation to open. My magic may not be strong enough to open them all.

[MariJ]

That's why we need to find the Grimoire. It will tell us the proper words to use. "Isn't there any other way?" asked Serena. "Or is there another way to search for the Grimoire?"
"well", said the woman. "There is a way, but it's very difficult and entails a lot of bravery and knowledge. Do you think you might try to help me?" Serena thought carefully as she was getting a bit overwhelmed.
"all right" she said, "I'll help you under one condition"........

[butterflykisses]

every day we search for the Grimoire I can ask you one question & you must answer. If you agree my first question is

[debikins]

but before she could get it out, they were interrupted by...

[butterflykisses]

a bright flash of light and a loud clap of thunder. To Selena's wonderment .....

[MariJ]

The old woman disappeared and in her place was an old, worn book. Serena gasped! Could it BE?????

[butterflykisses]

the Grimoire? Selena knelt down and carefully place the book on one of the many chests. Brushing off the dust from cover the title said

[ValerieT]

Dreamworld

[MariJ]

"Dreamworld?" Serena gasped. "what can that mean?". She slumped in discouragement. It wasn't the Grimoire... But, maybe it could help anyway? Serena gingerly opened the first page and saw the words "How to Understand Your Dreams" written in fancy script across the page. But, how could that help? Serena sighed and sat down on the floor with the book in her lap. She leaned back against the wall, closed her eyes and soon was in a deep sleep.......

[ValerieT]

She could hear a whispered voice, was it real, was she dreaming? Slowly a shape formed in front of her, was it still a dream? The voice came from the indistinct shape, and said......

[Jenna]

"There you are!" Selene groaned, felt hands on her shoulders gently shaking her.

She cracked her eyes a bit, dappled light filtered through the leaves of the tree & slowly a face emerged from the blurred shapes in front of her. It was her mother! Selene sat bolt upright, the thin silken strands of web still entwined her fingers and she sat precariously near the edge of the bough. Still disoriented, she squinted up at her mother again.

"I asked you what you were trying this time? Honestly, Selene, you have to stop setting traps for her! I'm sure she didn't mean to hurt you. We have been looking for you all night, you had us worried!"

[Sara Arell]

You are alll so talented - i've tried to think of an additon to this fun storyk=, but you all jut blow me out of the water! Great story, ladies and I'm enjoyeing reading it very mcch!

[ValerieT]

Now Selene was really confused. How had she got back home? Was it her dream, was it the book? She looked down at the book still in her lap, and turned the page.....

[butterflykisses]

The second page was quite simply a list of chapters, each one titled by types of dreams. She quickly scanned the page looking for one that might help her to find the Grimoire. She knew that as long as she had the book the previous night could not have been a dream but surely there was a clue in the book or the old lady would not have left it in her care. She stopped scanning at a chapter titled

[ValerieT]

Travelling Dreams. Was that how she got home? She hurriedly turned the pages to that chapter and began to read.

To travel while dreaming requires two things, you must have spider silk on your person and.....

[MariJ]

You had to be part sprite. OK.. Well she qualified on both counts. But, what was she doing back here again? Why did her mother not want her to set traps? DIdn't she realize what had been done? Didn't she remember that -----

[ValerieT]

this all started with her Grandfather? Selene made up her mind, she would find the grimoire and learn magic no matter what her mother said.

Selene turned back to the book, and continued to read. The first step to dream travel is....

[MariJ]

... to believe in magic. "In order for the Grimoire to work, you must first believe in magic", Serena read. Ok, well, I believe, thought Serena. What next?
She continued. "In order to dream travel, you must first learn the proper chant." "But HOW?", Serena thought wildly. "HOW do I learn the chant if I can't decipher the Grimoire?"
Serena put the book down in frustration and as she did she noticed a spider sitting on the bottom corner of the page. "EEEEcccchkk" she thought, but then noticed although it was moving, it was not REAL! Well, it HAD to be real. didn't it? But Serena couldn't touch it - only watch it move around the page as if on film... Suddenly the spider stopped and peered up at her.
"Are you Serena?" he asked. Serena nodded but clutched herself in fear. "I have a message for you" the spider said, "In order to understand dream travel and the first chant, you must first obtain ------