Tempted
The crystal glittered and shone, casting intricate patterns of coloured light in a rainbow that pranced from his hand to yours.
You want to reach out and take the crystal, the beautiful lights compel you, but some how you resist.
"What is it?" you ask, hardly daring to listen to the answer.
"It is a crystal, nothing more," he replies, twirling it expertly around his delicate hands.
You watch transfixed as shapes and shadows waltz inside it.
"But if you turn it this way," he continues, holding it up to catch the moonlight. "It will show you your dreams."
You catch your breath as in the crystal the sparkling mists begin to clear. Then he closes his hand on the crystal and it disappears.
"Then forget the child," he orders.
You flounder in indecision.
"I can't," you eventually reply, the word wrenched from your throat.
"Can't you?" he asks.
The crystal is back, dancing across his hands and calling to you, it's lights hypnotically beautiful.
Every atom of your being wants you to take the crystal but you shouldn't.
He holds out the crystal, it's coming closer and closer and inside the swimming images begin to become clear.
You realise you are holding your breath. Your fingers itch and your throat is dry.
He stretches out the crystal to you, offering you your dreams.
You shouldn't take it. Not in exchange for a life.
But will you be able to resist?