So, let's get started.”
One final time we went over the incantation and then we set the offerings before each of the four stones. It was customary before a ritual was performed at the Circle for offerings to be set before the four stones, one for each Elemental. “It's kind of strange placing an offering to myself.” I laughed as I arranged cut flowers and gemstones before the Earth stone.
“Don't think as it as an offering to yourself. Think of it as an offering to those that have come before you, and prey that they guide you in the tests that are to come.”
Nodding, I carried on, spending more time on the Earth alter than any of the others. When we were done, I had just a few more minutes to get ready before the first guests arrived. Stripping quickly, I passed my clothes to Grace, who folded them neatly, placing them in a small holdall I had packed earlier in the day to take with me after the ritual, wherever that may be. Handing me the long full-length robe, I fastened it around myself, shivering from the cool evening air as the sun began to sink over the horizon. By the time everyone would have arrived the Circle would be in complete darkness if not for the moon.
“Underwear, Kaia,” Grace said, holding her hand out waiting for me to give her the one item of clothing I had yet to remove. Reluctantly I removed them, sliding them down my legs and kicking them up from the ground for her to catch. “Don’t give me that look,” she said when she caught the face I was pulling. This really was the worst experience of my life. “At least you have a cloak, that’s more than anyone else has ever gotten.”
“I know, but even with it on I feel so exposed.”
“You’ll be fine. Now let’s fix this hood and get your face concealed before anyone gets here.”
Five minutes later my face was completely hidden by the hood and Grace had placed a concealment charm on it just to make sure that anyone whose eyes were especially good in darkness – the Were ’s for example – wouldn’t be able to see my face either.
Pulling me into a fierce hug, she asked, “You ready for this?”
“Not especially,” I whispered, smiling weakly.
“Well, I do believe our guests have begun to arrive.” Indicating behind me, I turned around to look back towards the path just as the males of the Eastern Coven arrived, all looking upbeat and happy to be there. “You better begin casting the Circle. You remember everything you have to do?”
“Yeah.” Moving away from Grace, I left her to great and welcome the men. They looked so excited, as if they wanted nothing more than to be there and have a chance to be chosen. Did they realise how lucky they would be not to be?
~
Ethan
The day didn’t start out great and it was only getting worse. First my father’s Beta, Ryan, had woken me up at stupid o’clock in the morning to tell me my father demanded that I present myself in his office within the hour. Thinking that I would make it there in plenty of time I’d decided to take a quick shower, but I wasn’t so lucky. Living in a house of this size – with the mass amount of people in it that there was – hot water was not always available. So, of course, it would be just my luck that a bunch of the females with young had decided to get up early so that they could take baths before their day of diapers and bottles commenced. After my freezing cold shower, I’d discovered that I had forgotten to put my laundry out in the hall for collection for the second week running, meaning that it took me a good fifteen minutes to find anything decent to wear. Then it took another ten minutes to track down Jane, to beg her to take pity on me and sneak it into the laundry room without her mother noticing so I wouldn’t have to wait another week to get it there. Jane’s mother was the formidable female in charge of house laundry. If you didn’t stick to the rules and have your basket out in the hall for 7 pm on a Friday night,
One final time we went over the incantation and then we set the offerings before each of the four stones. It was customary before a ritual was performed at the Circle for offerings to be set before the four stones, one for each Elemental. “It's kind of strange placing an offering to myself.” I laughed as I arranged cut flowers and gemstones before the Earth stone.
“Don't think as it as an offering to yourself. Think of it as an offering to those that have come before you, and prey that they guide you in the tests that are to come.”
Nodding, I carried on, spending more time on the Earth alter than any of the others. When we were done, I had just a few more minutes to get ready before the first guests arrived. Stripping quickly, I passed my clothes to Grace, who folded them neatly, placing them in a small holdall I had packed earlier in the day to take with me after the ritual, wherever that may be. Handing me the long full-length robe, I fastened it around myself, shivering from the cool evening air as the sun began to sink over the horizon. By the time everyone would have arrived the Circle would be in complete darkness if not for the moon.
“Underwear, Kaia,” Grace said, holding her hand out waiting for me to give her the one item of clothing I had yet to remove. Reluctantly I removed them, sliding them down my legs and kicking them up from the ground for her to catch. “Don’t give me that look,” she said when she caught the face I was pulling. This really was the worst experience of my life. “At least you have a cloak, that’s more than anyone else has ever gotten.”
“I know, but even with it on I feel so exposed.”
“You’ll be fine. Now let’s fix this hood and get your face concealed before anyone gets here.”
Five minutes later my face was completely hidden by the hood and Grace had placed a concealment charm on it just to make sure that anyone whose eyes were especially good in darkness – the Were ’s for example – wouldn’t be able to see my face either.
Pulling me into a fierce hug, she asked, “You ready for this?”
“Not especially,” I whispered, smiling weakly.
“Well, I do believe our guests have begun to arrive.” Indicating behind me, I turned around to look back towards the path just as the males of the Eastern Coven arrived, all looking upbeat and happy to be there. “You better begin casting the Circle. You remember everything you have to do?”
“Yeah.” Moving away from Grace, I left her to great and welcome the men. They looked so excited, as if they wanted nothing more than to be there and have a chance to be chosen. Did they realise how lucky they would be not to be?
~
Ethan
The day didn’t start out great and it was only getting worse. First my father’s Beta, Ryan, had woken me up at stupid o’clock in the morning to tell me my father demanded that I present myself in his office within the hour. Thinking that I would make it there in plenty of time I’d decided to take a quick shower, but I wasn’t so lucky. Living in a house of this size – with the mass amount of people in it that there was – hot water was not always available. So, of course, it would be just my luck that a bunch of the females with young had decided to get up early so that they could take baths before their day of diapers and bottles commenced. After my freezing cold shower, I’d discovered that I had forgotten to put my laundry out in the hall for collection for the second week running, meaning that it took me a good fifteen minutes to find anything decent to wear. Then it took another ten minutes to track down Jane, to beg her to take pity on me and sneak it into the laundry room without her mother noticing so I wouldn’t have to wait another week to get it there. Jane’s mother was the formidable female in charge of house laundry. If you didn’t stick to the rules and have your basket out in the hall for 7 pm on a Friday night,
Similar Books
