Authors: Jess Parry
Shawn closes his eyes picturing the warmth of fire surrounding him, protecting him. Opening his eyes as he feels the heat of a raging fire surrounding him before it spreads to the rest. Smiling, Siobhan draws the flame into the fire element’s candle.
Stepping over to Sarah who is standing in the western point of the circle, she watches as Sarah circles the blue candle in front of her. Closing her eyes, Sarah pictures the coolness of water, the sounds of water running through a brook. Opening her eyes, she watches as gentle raindrops fall over her before moving to the rest. Siobhan leaned in and lightly kissed Sarah on the cheek.
“I love you” Siobhan whispered
“Love you too” Sarah answered smiling as her nerves calmed
Stepping to Claire who was standing at the northern point of the circle, Siobhan smiled as Claire circled her green candle in front of her. Claire silently called the earth’s warmth into their circle to give them strength. Feeling the ground rumble under their feet as earth entered.
Everything around them suddenly fell silent as Siobhan walked to the center of the circle raising her candle above her.
“Rising moon, in this circle I call to you” Siobhan’s voice rang clear
“Stop” Marcus voice boomed over them
Turning, they watched as the air shimmered and Jason emerged with Moria behind him.
“Jason” Siobhan cried
“Siobhan” Jason answered as he stepped toward her. His body slammed into the shield protecting them stopping his entry.
“Ah, I think you forgot one” Marcus bellowed
“He made his choice” Shawn yelled to Marcus
“Did he?” Marcus asked as he walked over to Jason. Touching his shoulder Marcus sent a burst of energy into Jason.
Screaming in pain, Jason fell to the ground writhing in agony. Moira stepped away from Jason, smiling wickedly at Siobhan.
“He is mine to do with as I please” Moira called to Siobhan “I think I will take his very essence and leave the shell of this fool for you”
“No” screamed Siobhan stepping to the edge of her circle.
“You are the only one who can open your circle to let him in” Ash spoke quietly to Siobhan striding through the shimmering air.
“Why are you doing this?” Siobhan screamed
“Simply, because I can.” Ash answered
“Don’t break the circle Siobhan” Claire called “It’s what they want”
“I can’t watch them kill Jason” Siobhan sobbed as she stepped over the line of salt around them. Instantly the shield of energy shattered around them. Running to Jason, Siobhan pulled him into her arms. Shaking with the aftershocks of energy, Jason moaned.
“Siobhan, what have you done” he whispered
“Saved your stupid ass because I do love you, idiot” Siobhan answered
“You have destroyed the only chance you had” Jason cried
“I can’t lose you” Siobhan cried into his hair
“Can you get up?” Sarah called to them
Grunting with the effort, Jason rose off the ground leaning on Siobhan. Turning he stared at Moira with hate in his eyes.
“Why” he screamed at Moira
“You were the ends to a mean” Moira replied calmly
“I loved you” his words washed over Moira pushes her bac
k
with power. Eyes widening as she felt the pain radiating through her.
Pulling Jason closer, Siobhan stepped over the circle turning to Ash. She let the wildness running through her take over. She felt the pull of the darkness seep into her. The power closing the opening she had created as the circle’s shield again went up.
Screaming in anger, Ash threw hoarfrost at the shield. Watching as the coldness spread around them encasing them circle in a wall of hoarfrost. Siobhan watched as the circle began to close in around them slowly.
“Hurry child, say the spell now before the circle closes” Claire yelled
Running back to the middle of the circle, Siobhan lit all the candles again raising hers above her head.
“Rising moon, in this circle I call to you. Air I call you to come to me. Fire, I call you to come to me. Water, I call you to come to me. Earth, I call you to come to me. Goddess I call you to come to me in spirit I invoke thee. From our untold past, protect us. Unbind the knots that hold. Spark to life, our future unfolding. Rising moon, Goddess hold the magick folds. To my heart unbound, free to choose. As I will, this shall be”
“What have you done” Ash bellowed as the hoarfrost flew from his fingers wildly
“Let me go” Siobhan whispered as the darkness closed around her.
The early morning sun broke through the curtains caressing Siobhan as she slept. The warmth, bringing her out of her dreams as she pushed the covers off her. Opening her eyes, she yawned as she sat up stretching. The aroma of fresh coffee tickled her nose as she rose to make her bed. Dressing, she watched the cows grazing in the pasture outside her window.
Racing downstairs to the kitchen, she saw her grandmother sitting at the kitchen table laughing at something her husband said. Turning, Siobhan’s grandfather’s twinkling brown eyes light up at the sight of his granddaughter.
“Good Morning” his gravelly voice beckoning Siobhan into the kitchen
“Morning Grandpa” Siobhan answers as she kisses him scruffy cheek.
Walking over to the counter, Siobhan pours herself a cup of coffee and sits at the table between her grandparents.
“Why didn’t you wake me this morning to help with the feeding?” Siobhan asks
“Ah, you were sleeping so soundly, little fairy, we didn’t want to disturb you” Siobhan’s grandmother answers
“Besides, it’s your last day here and we wanted you rested before you head back to the city” Siobhan’s grandfather says as he rises to dump the rest of his coffee into the sink.
“I know that’s why I wanted to help. I can’t believe I start school next week, where has the month gone?” Siobhan asks wistfully
Laughing, Siobhan’s grandmother reaches over and clasps Siobhan’s hand tightly. “The young always say time passes so slowly, but not you”
“I know I really should be looking forward to school starting and my senior year” Siobhan replies
“Yes and this year will be turning point when you pass from a teenager into an adult” Siobhan’s grandfather says
“I know” Siobhan mumbles as she finishes the last of her coffee.
“I talked to you mother last night, she isn’t happy about the new addition to the family, but has agreed to let you bring her”
“Oh grandmother, thank you!” Siobhan exclaims as she jumps from her chair and encircles her grandmother in a tight hug.
“Come on, we still have a couple of things to do before packing you up to head home” Siobhan’s grandfather says as he heads to the door
Siobhan spent the rest of the afternoon helping her grandfather around the farm, happily enjoying his company. She watched as her grandmother walked hand in hand with her grandpa along the edge of the wheat crop. The love she felt radiating off them filled the emptiness in her heart.
She had returned from Ireland lost and empty, crawling into her bed, sleeping for almost two days straight. Her mother had called her father in from his golf trip early her concern with how much Siobhan had been sleeping, overriding everything else. Siobhan’s father had returned to say that Siobhan was just exhausted nothing to be concerned about.
Siobhan had gotten up on the fourth day home telling her parents she was going to her grandparents. They hadn’t balked as she had expected, but actually agreed that getting away from everything for a while might be just what was needed.
She had arrived on her grandparent’s front stairs, pale and shadowed; they had enveloped her in a warm cocoon of love slowly bringing the color and life back to her. They hadn’t asked any questions, just embraced her as they always did with unconditional love.
Standing outside her Jeep, Siobhan hugged both her grandparents tightly, fighting back the tears that always threatened to fall whenever she had to return to the city.
“I’m going to miss you guys” Siobhan shakily spoke
“Oh we’ll see in a few month’s little fairy. We’re coming up for Thanksgiving” her grandfather huskily replied as he squeezed Siobhan tightly to him
Sniffling softly, Siobhan’s grandmother bent down and picked up a small ball of white fluff. Placing it carefully into Siobhan’s arms, Siobhan felt the little bundle vibrating contently in her arms.
“What have you named her” Siobhan’s grandmother asked
“Maggie” Siobhan answered as the bundle of white fur stirred in her arms. Lifting her head the kitten looked up at Siobhan with one blue eye and one green eye. Yawning, the kitten stretched and curled back into a ball closing its eyes to sleep.
Laughing, Siobhan climbed into the Jeep, placing the sleeping kitten on the pillow in the passenger seat. She waved to her grandparents as she pulled out of the drive to head back to the city.
The first day of school is always a mad house of noises, freshmen running around trying to figure out what floor and room they needed to be in. Standing at her locker, Siobhan chuckled watching the chaos around her unfold, shaking her head as she heard Sarah calling to her.
She felt Sarah’s body slam into her as she wrapped her arms around Siobhan in a tight hug.
“Girl I missed you” Sarah whined loudly
“Me too” Siobhan answered
“You look better” Jason’s voice softly called as he stepped in front of Siobhan.
“As do you” Siobhan smiled as Jason took her hand
“This year is so going to rock!” Sarah bellowed
Laughing they made way to first period English. They only had one class each that the other wasn’t in this year, so Siobhan knew the race was on for them to get the grades their parents were expecting. Walking into the crowded classroom as fellow students searched out the seats they would have for the year. Finding three open spaces they sat with Siobhan in the middle.
Sarah’s phone chimed with an incoming text, she quickly dug it out of her purse flipping it open.
“Damn Sarah, you know you can’t have that thing on” Jason strongly whispered
“Oh bite me!” Sarah hissed “The last bell hasn’t rung. Besides it’s from Shawn, he says hi and can’t wait to see us in a couple of days”
Just as Sarah closed her phone, the last bell rang throughout the school signally the start of classes. A few hoots and hollers rang around the room as the seniors welcomed the last year for them. Leaning over Jason gently squeezed Siobhan’s shoulders.
“Class, I realize it’s your senior year, but we do have a lot to cover in a short period of time. I would suggest you turn off your phones and pull out your notebooks.” Mr. Goodman called out to the class silencing the callers
Looking into her bag for a pen, Siobhan heard the door to class opening followed by soft murmurs between Mr. Goodman and a lilting deep voice. Sitting up sharply, she took in the tall boy standing at the front of class. His back to her, so all she could see was shoulder length jet black hair, with blonde and silver streaks woven through out. He was standing with his feet slightly apart, but what she could see of he was well built. He was dressed in tight jeans riding low on his hips, a tight fitting black t-shirt that hugged the muscles in his strong back.
“Oh my…now that’s a drink of water” Sarah whispered
“Shh..what about Shawn” Siobhan whispered harshly
“Oh he is my man, but damn I can still look” Sarah squeaked
Chuckling, Siobhan looked over to see Jason’s brows pulled together tightly.
Leaning over to ask Jason what was wrong, as he sat in a rigid position staring ahead, Mr. Goodman’s voice boomed over the room once again.
“Class, we have a new student. Please welcome...ah how do you pronounce your name?”
“K.a.l.” a deep lilting voice filled the silence of the room.
Turning, the boy looked straight into Siobhan’s widening eyes. Cobalt eyes smoldering as Siobhan let the scream bubble out of her lips.
Kal laughed softly as he winked at Siobhan before making his way to the chair behind her. Closing her eyes as Kal passed her, he lightly touched her shoulders, pushing a memory to Siobhan.
She heard the sound of running water flowing easily down a stream, the clean air filling her senses. Sunlight warming her as she turned into its warmth, low moans falling softly from her lips. She could feel the feather light touch of lips trailing along her throat. Teasingly running closer to her waiting lips, tensing as every fiber in her body screamed for release.
A low chuckle whispered seductively in her ear, as she felt strong cool fingers lifting her chin, opening her eyes to gaze into cool blue eyes.
“Ghra” hoarsely filling her sense as lips captured hers possessing her
Shivering as she felt chaos tickling the edges of her mind, she felt the coldness surrounding her cooling her heated senses.