Last time Bloom and the others watched helplessly as Layla continued to oversleep. Each day found Layla with less and less energy, while she kept sleeping more and more. Bloom and the others finally agreed that they should ask Professor Faragonda for help. Layla however, had fallen asleep and wouldn't wake up. On with the show!
Chapter 4: Concerning The Incubus
"You should have come to me with this earlier," said Professor Faragonda as she examined Layla's sleeping form, "This could have been avoided." "We're sorry Professor," said Bloom, "We were hesitant to ask for help." "Afraid I'd sick Griselda on you?" asked Professor Faragonda. "Well," said Bloom, Tecna, Flora, Stella and Musa at the same time, "Well yes," finished Bloom.
"You can breath easy, this isn't an expellable offense. However, it is Layla you should be worried about. She is under an enchanted sleep. I admit that I'm a bit rusty on such matters, but I believe I know the source of Layla's affliction. I won't know for sure until I check with a certain book, and said book is currently on loan at Cloud Tower. I'll have Professor Griffin send it over at once."
Less than an hour later the book requested by Faragonda had arrived form Cloud Tower, and the book was escorted by three familiar witches: Carmen Dawson, Cloud Tower Student Body President; Morgan Rogers, Cloud Tower Prankster; and Elise Caplin, Cloud Tower Genius.
"How's your friend?" asked Carmen. "Layla is stuck in an enchanted sleep," said Musa, "How do you think she is?" "Please excuse Musa," said Flora, "She's still uncomfortable around witches." "No offence taken," said Elise.
As Morgan saw Musa and Stella, she burst into a sudden fit of the giggles. "What's so funny?" asked Stella. "I'm sorry," said Morgan as she continued o giggle, "But you two, you screwed up so bad! I mean, leaving the heat on under a cauldron and leaving the room is one thing, but covering it first? Now that's comedy!"
"I'll show you comedy!" exclaimed Stella as she prepared to attack, but was interrupted by Bloom, "This isn't the time or the place for petty fighting Stella!" Bloom turned to look at Morgan, "Morgan, tell Stella and Musa you're sorry, now!" "Do it," said Carmen, "It really wasn't that funny." "Oh all right," said Morgan, "I'm sorry." "Apology accepted," said Stella. "Apology accepted," said Musa, "This time."
"So what are we really dealing with here?" asked Flora. "As I suspected," said Professor Faragonda as she finished checking the book, "What we are dealing with here is an incubus." "And what is an incubus?" asked Bloom. "An incubus," said Professor Faragonda, "Is a demon that preys on the loneliness of young women."
"Like a succubus," said Tecna, "But in with a completely different method of attack." "Exactly," said Faragonda as she read form the book: "'while a succubus can take physical form, an incubus can only attack in dreams. The demon invades the dreams of its victim, assuming the form of the young girl's vision of the perfect man. The incubus then proceeds to sap the energy of its victim. With each passing night, more and more energy is drained. If enough time passes, the victim will have lost so much energy, she'll be trapped in a never ending dream, which then turns into an endless nightmare.'"
"How can we stop this?" asked Bloom. "'The only way the incubus can be defeated,'" continued Faragonda, "'is for the victim to realize that her 'perfect man' is a demon. Once the truth is revealed, then the victim can force the demon out from her mind. However, if too much energy has been taken, then the demon has gained enough strength to take permanent hold on its victim.'"
"You mean Layla could be stuck like this forever?" asked Flora. "Not forever," said Elise grimly, "Eventually the demon will consume so much energy the body will lose its ability to function. A month, maybe six weeks, and Layla will no longer have enough life energy to stay alive. I should know, my sister Elsa fell prey to an incubus five years ago."
"Elise," said Morgan in a shocked and surprised voice, "I didn't know. I'm so sorry." "Don't be sorry for me," said Elise, "My sister didn't know what was happening to her. Nobody in my family knew. The Incubus is a rare creature indeed; their attacks seldom go reported. It was only after extensive research that I discovered what happened to my sister."
She looked at the sleeping form of Layla, "When did this start? Friday night?" "Yes," answered Bloom. "Then there's not much time. The only chance Layla has of ever waking up again is if you five," she pointed at Bloom, Flora, Stella, Tecna and Musa, "Go inside her dream and fight the incubus."
"You mean entering the dreams of another?" asked Flora, "Is that possible?" "More than possible," said Tecna, "It was common practice for people to experience each others dreams. But it was discouraged when people began to die. If you die in the dream world, you die in the real world."
"If we don't do something to help Layla," said Bloom, "Then she is as good as dead. Tonight we go into her dream, but we're not going alone." Bloom pulled out her cell phone and hit the speed dial, "Hello Sky? The girls and I need you and the boys more than ever."
The end of chapter 4. Next chapter, Bloom and the others enter the land of dreams. See you next time!