βThis necklace is magical. It can control you.βΒ
Lisa looked up at Mark, scepticism in her bright blue eyes. βThatβs impossible,β she laughed, waving him off. βYouβve been watching too much fantasy porn.β
Mark shifted closer on the sofa, the beautiful pink diamond pendant clutched in his fist. It dangled down and caught the light just so, sending rainbows across Lisaβs face. βOh, no,β he countered, voice dropping a bit. βThis oneβs real. I got it from my great-grandfather. He was a famous illusionist and hypnotist. He used it on many women, controlling their minds and bodies with it.βΒ
βYouβre insane.β Lisa laughed at him, her shoulders shaking against the back of the sofa. When had she sat back? βYou said illusionistβ¦ that right there makes it not real.β The diamond turned in Markβs hands, spinning slowly between his fingers and Lisaβs pupils widened. When had she started staring?
βIllusions can be real,β Mark said, slowly curling his words so they danced like music in her ears. βTheyβre just tricks of the mind, but they can be very, very real.β
βThatβsβ¦just silly,β Lisa slurred, her tongue dragging and heavy in her mouth. Her head fell back against the cushions, sinking in deeper. When had she laid back? βItβs not real.β
Mark smiled and began to swing the pendant slowly, back and forth, right to left. βItβs real if you believe it is,β he crooned, leaning in so his breath tickled her ear. βYou believe itβs real, donβt you, Lisa?βΒ
The light was beautiful, so captivating, dancing through the diamond. βI..I do.β When did her body get so heavy? βI believeβ¦β
βThatβs right you do. Because it feels right. Everything Iβm telling you is the truth.βΒ
Lisaβs eyes felt heavy, her brain fuzzy. When did she start getting so sleepy? βEverything you tell me is theβ¦truth.βΒ
Mark smiled. βThis necklace is magic. It controls you.βΒ
Lisa sighed as an empty smile spread across her lips. βThe necklace isβ¦magic,β she whispered, barely able to keep her eyes open any longer. βIt controls me.βΒ
βVery good.β Mark kept the pendant moving before her eyes as he watched Lisaβs body relax, hands slipping from her lap, shoulders sinking deep into the sofa. βYouβre going to fall into a deep sleep for me, and when you do, youβll be open to see all the magical things that I can do.β
Lisa exhaled slowly as her eyes rolled back. βDeepβ¦o-openβ¦β When had she started repeating? When had her eyes closed? Why did it feel so good to picture the diamond in her mind?
βVery good.β Mark stopped the swinging and pressed his fingers to Lisaβs forehead. βSleep.β