Chapter 29 Dio’s Journal - Entry 196
Apparently, it’s been a while since I wrote.
This written account is greatly important as is our work toward the cause, and I’ve been distracted from both, clearly.
I realized a couple of days ago that we hadn’t made any progress on our REAL work in a while.
I told the others that we needed to make time to summon the demon again.
As much as I’d like to avoid him, for now, his help is necessary.
Perhaps once this concert is over, I can talk to the guys about finding a different demon to summon.
For now, the most important thing is making some progress toward the cause again.
I think it’s easy for all of us to want to delay that work for so many reasons, and yet the rationale behind taking on this distasteful and monumental task is sound.
This morning, I saw in the newspaper that food shortages are affecting even bread now.
Yet, when I brought it up, the guys were reluctant to summon the demon again.
I know they didn’t want to take time away from rehearsing.
I know how important this concert is to them, and we are playing a lot of new material.
I know we all still feel unprepared, but if we aren’t able to figure out the weather magic we need for the cause soon, all of this might cease to exist. Our work on magic needs to come first. They did finally see reason, and the day was determined, which was today.
It might be the lack of sleep from all the hours spent rehearsing, but the energy felt weird leading up to Malam’s arrival.
We successfully completed the ritual the night before, early in the morning, actually, since we were up late rehearsing.
When Malam showed up around midday, he asked to see Chaosta first. I thought he’d just want to check on her in passing and then move on, but instead, he cloistered himself in the office with her.
He included Fem for some reason. They weren’t in there for long, but it still took more time than I expected.
While they were otherwise occupied, Lent, Reem, and I set up our space in the basement ballroom.
When they joined us (without Chaosta, of course), Fem had a weird expression on his face.
I think frustration, but maybe also confusion?
I need to remember to ask him what happened.
At the time, that’s not what I was focused on.
We were just about to begin our magic work when Lent grabbed a book out of somewhere and brought it over to Malam.
When Lent asked him if it might help, the demon paused and read through a passage.
Malam looked surprised, which is not an expression I’ve ever seen on his smug face.
He said it would help and asked where Lent had found the book.
I was surprised when Lent said Chaosta had found it AND pointed out the passage to him.
Either he was lying and trying to win her favor (likely) or I’ve underestimated the girl again (unlikely).
If she did find it, I’m confident it was just luck.
We spent the rest of our time working through that passage, and it actually helped.
We produced real, soaking rain for the first time.
I was elated. There is no fucking way it was Chaosta who found that passage.
At this point, I doubt it was Lent. While I initially thought he was a decent researcher, now that I know more, I’m not so sure.
He acts like such a moron, especially when he’s around her.
As we wrapped up our practice and began to pack up, things took another turn.
I was focused on cleaning the runes off the floor with Reem while Lent and Fem packed up the items we used.
Malam was just leaving when Fem asked him about something Chaosta said.
Last night, when she said she’d seen trees, I thought it was a drug-induced hallucination and had immediately dismissed it.
At the time she said it, I was more focused on the fact that she was beginning to say something else and then changed it.
I tried to get her to admit to what she was starting to say.
However, Reem interrupted me, and she, of course, responded to him.
I didn’t want to make a scene, but it’s things like this that the guys should pay more attention to.
I’m fairly certain that before she caught herself, she was going to say she kissed someone in the crowd at that concert before she got hurt.
Maybe, while the guys have been feeling like it’s their fault, it’s actually been her fault all along for toying with someone’s emotions.
She’s not unattractive, and with her ability to manipulate people, I could see that happening.
Let me get back on topic, fuck the lack of sleep is clearly showing.
When Fem asked Malam about Chaosta saying she’d seen trees, I was sure he was going to laugh it off.
Instead, he got tense and balled up. Then he shared that she had been taken to the demon stronghold for healing, and there are trees there.
I didn’t know what to say or think. Lent, of course, chimed in asking more questions, but Malam refused to answer and left shortly after.
I can’t speak for all of us, but I was shocked.
Chaosta? At the demon stronghold? Perhaps she’s more manipulative than even I thought.
Either that or I have grossly misjudged her.
I need to figure out what she is up to quickly before it negatively impacts all of us. After hearing that she was brought to the demon stronghold, I almost hope it is “just” drugs. If she’s manipulating a demon into bringing her there, this might be worse than I thought.