Authors: Jess Parry
“Hi” Siobhan mutters
“I was starting to worry” Claire answers with looking over at Siobhan
Shawn turns to glance at Siobhan, his eyes widening as he watches her eyes slowing turning back to their forest green. “Oh aye, I seen he has brought out the chaos within you”
“What” Sarah screeches as she tears her eyes from the journal to watch Siobhan warily “Oh, goddess I’m not dealing with vixen Becky!” Jumping from the chair she runs to Siobhan throwing her arms around her “Please give me my Becky back” she whispers
“I’m back, I promise” Siobhan chuckles as she squeezes Sarah back
“Good. Cause I really don’t like that other Becky too much”
“Dinner is almost ready” Claire calmly says as she turns to look over Siobhan
“That’s good because I am starving” Siobhan answers
Grabbing the bowls from the adjacent cabinet, Shawn quietly ladles up some soup, placing the semi full bowls onto the kitchen table before Siobhan and Sarah.
“Inhaling the warm aroma of the steaming soup, Siobhan lifts a spoonful to her lips. Closing her eyes as the soup warms her from the inside.
“This is delicious” Siobhan mutters between bites
“Thank you” Shawn replies between spoonful’s “It’s a recipe I picked up from Gran years ago”
“The rosemary plays well with the chicken broth” Claire says softly
“Rosemary?” Sarah asks “Wait, isn’t that used as protection? I thought I read that in the journal I was looking through”
“Aye, it is dear” Claire answers
“So, you are basically filling us with as much protection woo-woo as possible?” Sarah mumbled
“Aye” Claire chuckled
Silently everyone finished their meal, clearing the dishes, Sarah washed in silence as Shawn dried. Siobhan watched as her best friend would glance at Shawn when their fingers would touch. A smile would play at the corners of their lips, as Sarah would toss a bubble of soap at Shawn.
She felt the energy around them slowly seeping into her tired heart, strengthening her resolve that she to, would one day have that love. To have the chance to choose her soul’s desired mate, not be told who that mate was, because some foolish boy deign it so.
“Come Siobhan, I need to talk to you” Claire spoke softly into Siobhan’s ear
Nodding Siobhan rose quietly from the chair, trying not to disturb the peaceful play between the two lovers in front of her. Following Claire into the back room of the kitchen, blackness enfolded her as Claire shut the door closing out the light from the warm kitchen.
Blinking to adjust her eyes to the sudden blackness around her, Siobhan instinctively puts her hands out to feel for anything solid. Feeling the shelves just in front of her, she grabs onto the strong wood, careful not to disturb the jars resting on top.
“Claire, it’s pretty dark in here” Siobhan whispers
“I know, you will need to call for the light child”
“Where is the switch for the light?”
“There isn’t one, but there is a candle to your right, picture the flame in your mind and will it to the candle”
Forcing the hysterical laugh back down, closing her eyes, Siobhan started picturing the flame of a lit candle in her mind. Holding in her breath, Siobhan tried to send the image of the flame to the candle, beads of sweat forming on her brow. Energy flows from her wavering in the air before dispersing around her.
“Concentrate Siobhan, the power is within you” Claire’s voice fills Siobhan’s ears
Sighing, Siobhan again pulls the image of the candle to her mind. She pictures the flame dancing wildly, the heat of the single flame warming her hands as she plays her fingers across its peak. She watches as the flame dances higher to meet her fingertips.
Letting go of the shelf, Siobhan reaches over to the unlit candle, her fingers play across the unlit wick as she pictures the flame glowing brightly in her mind. Beads of sweat break out on her upper lip, as she pushes the fire warming inside her to the candle. The energy rushes from her to the candle, the wick snapping from the crackling energy pushing the flame to life.
The room blooms into light as the flame of the candle rises higher, the fire touching Siobhan’s finger burning her. Gasping, Siobhan drops her hands, her eyes opening wide to stare into the dancing flame she just felt ignite.
“Good job” Claire beamed
“How did I do that?” Siobhan asks in awe
“Your power pushed the image of the flame to the candle, the energy of magick is all around us. It surrounds us, the power to protect, to heal, to even bring harm. We must respect its presence and also keeps its balance. For power that is given, there must always be something given back in return.” Claire answered
“So what must I give it for giving me the fire?” Claire responded
“That is for you to decide, you will know in your heart what must be given in return to balance power”
Siobhan watched the flame dance cloying to the wick seductively calling her to bring her finger back into its warmth. The pull to reach out to the flame was indescribable to Siobhan, she felt her fingers twitching to reach up and touch the flame. Shaking her head, she turned and looked at Claire, who returned her gaze.
“Why do I feel this incredible urge to touch the flame again?”
“You have darkness running through you, your urge isn’t to touch the flame, but extinguish it. As you are able to push the light into dark, you are also afraid to be within the lights protection”
“But how come I couldn’t see anything in the darkness?”
“That is from your mind telling you, that you can’t see in the dark, but if you had pushed that thought out and opened your true eyes, you would have seen everything in the room as if there was a light”
“So I’m evil?”
“No, you simply have darkness inside of you; you have not chosen to let the darkness engulf your heart. I believe that is why you have been so unaware of the power. You have pushed it so far inside yourself that it wasn’t until Ash touched you that it awakened.”
“So if he had never found me, this would never have happened?”
“Which means what?”
“That every time you are reborn, you are born with the same tattered soul”
“So is that how Ash always finds me?”
“Partly yes, as I said I don’t know the whole story that ties you two together. A part of you is knotted to him as he is to you.”
“So the protection I am doing tonight will break that?” Siobhan quietly asks
“I don’t know if will truly break the knot, but it will protect you from the power Ash holds to you”
Sighing heavily, Siobhan leans over blowing out the candle extinguishing the light within the room. Instinctively her eyes unfocused to the darkness around her, closing her eyes she letting her mind clear of thoughts. Feeling her body relaxing the tension of fear from the darkness leaving, she opens her eyes. Blinking as she looks around the room that is now glowing in an eerily hue around her. The shelves, jars illuminated before her, turning she sees Claire standing before her. Claire is looking in the direction Siobhan is standing, but not seeing her. She can see the curiosity on the older woman’s face as she tries to focus on Siobhan.
“I can see you” Siobhan whispers hoarsely
“Good, you will need that power tonight. As you cast your circle, there will be energy flowing around you both light and dark. You will need to see the dark and understand it’s power as well as the lights”
Turning Claire opened the door and stepped through as light rushed into the darkened room. Siobhan blinked rapidly against its brightness as she followed Claire out.
“Tonight is going to be interesting” Shawn says as he watches Siobhan emerge from the back room
“Oh you think” Sarah smirks
Bringing his gaze slowly back to Sarah, Shawn watches her eyes shimmering brightly from the kitchen light above them. Worry dancing around the edges of her blue eyes, as she stares back at Shawn, her lips quivering lightly with the fear she tries to push down.
Taking her hand, he pulls her up the stairs into his room. Quietly shutting the door, he places a finger on Sarah’s lips to quiet her. Shaking his head, to keep her quiet, he removes his finger bringing his hands to the sides of her face. Lifting her face to his, watching as a tear slowly slides down her cheek.
“Tonight, it’s going to be wild, are you willing to be had?” Shawn quietly asks
Sarah silently nods yes
“I want to stay here, I want to lose the logical choice, I want to make you feel alive even with the tears I know you will shed. The wildness inside me wants to give you everything I am, even though it will give you pain.” Sighing loudly as Sarah gasp eyes widening as the words Shawn just spoke sink in.
Resting his forehead on Sarah’s, shaking with the wildness raging inside him.
“God, the way I want you right now is unfathomable” Shawn mumbles hoarsely
“Shawn” Sarah starts to speak, but is silenced by Shawn’s lips pressing against hers. Unable to say no, she sighs into the kiss. Wrapping her around tightly around Shawn, she closes the distance between them.
Groaning, Shawn lifts Sarah into his arms falling onto his bed, deepening the kiss as the wildness flowing languidly out of him into her.
Desire exploding inside Sarah as the heat rises around them, covering their bodies in sheen of sweat. She can feel the heat of Shawn’s wants trailing paths of fire down her body as he touches her. The pleasure overpowering her senses as aching need consumes her. Pulling Shawn’s shirt over his body, she touches his chest feeling his body quiver from her touch.
“Sarah, open your eyes” Shawn begs “I need you to see me”
Opening her eyes, she stares into the kaleidoscope of colors swirling in her lovers eyes. Smiling she reaches up to caress his cheek.
“I did this to you?” Sarah quietly asks
“Every time you touch me, kiss me, bloody hell you damn near undid me the first time you kissed me in he pub” Shawn replies huskily
“I love you” Sarah whispers before pulling Shawn’s lips back to hers
“Always” Shawn answers
The moonlight easily lighting their path as they made their way towards the darkened entrance of the woods. Siobhan could feel the energy dancing around her. The air quivering with the anticipation of the unfolding changes around her as she quietly let the wildness envelop her.
“Siobhan you must be the one to cast the circle of protection, the magick will be the strongest with you tonight” Claire’s voice carried to Siobhan on the wind
Standing next to each other
they watched as Siobhan bent down laying crystal blue gemstones in a wide circle around them. Turning, Siobhan walked clockwise of the full moon, picturing an invisible wall surrounding them in protection. In the distance they all could hear the wind racing towards them, screaming in protest of the circle being cast.
Grabbing the bag of herbs and salt, Siobhan quickly closes the circle around them. The wind rages around them, batting at the shield protecting them. Searching for a weak point to seep into the circle and disperse the protective magick.
“You’ll not find a weakness in my circle” Siobhan screams
“There is always a weak point” Marcus answers as he steps through the air before them. Marcus starts walking the length of the circle surrounding them, touching the invisible wall, pressing it in towards them.
They watch as the energy shimmers with each gently push from Marcus but the energy doesn’t weaken. Siobhan feels each gently pull on her energy from Marcus. A small tickle of power pulls at her, calling her darkness forward. The ring on her finger begins warming with each quiet call from Marcus, anger pushing Siobhan to let go and embrace the wildness.
“Hold tightly to the light child” Claire calls above the raging winds screaming around them
Reaching into her bag, Claire hands a blue candle to Sarah, a red candle to Shawn, a white candle to Siobhan and keeps the green candle in her hand. Nodding to Siobhan, Claire raises the green candle to the north. Shawn, Sarah and Siobhan raise their candles to their directions.
Closing her eyes, Siobhan facing east, circles her white candle in front of her as she pictures the wind of the air element. Feeling a light breeze caress her cheek she opens her eyes to watch as the breeze circles the others. Closing her open hand over the top of her candle she draws the flame from within igniting the air element’s candle. Turning she walks to Shawn who is standing in the southern point of the circle. Watching as Shawn circles the red candle in front of him.