Page 60 of The Secret Mate Society

Things were getting complicated.Andfast.

THE PORTLAND GAZETTE: Tuesday, October 27th, 2009

Witches Take to the Streets in Celebration of Community and Tradition

-Ethan Murphy, Staff Reporter

PORTLAND, MAINE Downtown Portland glowed Monday night as the flicker of lanterns and the scent of burning sage filled the air for the city's annual Witch's Walk, a community parade and gathering honoring the traditions of modern witchcraft and neopaganism.More than 150 participants—many dressed in flowing robes, pointed hats, wreaths of autumn leaves, and jingling belts of charms—marched from Monument Square to the Eastern Promenade under a crisp October moon.The air was alive with the beat of hand drums, the hum of chanting, and the occasional peal of laughter as parade-goers traded blessings and sweets with curious onlookers.

The Greater Portland Neopagan Alliance, a coalition of covens from across southern Maine, has organized the Witch's Walk for the past seven years.The group says its goal is simple: celebrate their traditions openly while engaging with the wider Portland community.

"Our goal is to share the joy of our practice with the wider community," said Rowan Blackthorn, high priestess of the Moon's Gate Coven."Modern witchcraft is about harmony with nature, mutual respect, and giving back.Events like this let us show that we're part of Portland's heart and history."

While some attendees were longtime practitioners, others came simply to experience the magic of the night.Families with children dressed as miniature witches, wizards, and woodland creatures lined the sidewalks to watch the procession, collecting small charms, acorns, and wrapped candies offered by participants.

At the Eastern Promenade, the celebration transformed into an open-air festival.Rows of craft stalls displayed handmade candles, protective talismans, herbal teas, and spell jars filled with dried flowers and sea glass from Maine's rocky shores.A storyteller from the Willow Hearth Circle told folk tales about the origins of Samhain, while musicians played a mix of folk and Celtic-inspired tunes.

This year's event also included a charitable component.Vendors and attendees raised over $3,000 for the Portland Food Co-Op and the Maine Coastal Conservation Alliance, with many covens pledging a portion of their seasonal earnings to both organizations.

"Witches have always been a part of Portland's cultural fabric," said City Councilor Ellen Price, who attended in a green velvet cloak adorned with bronze leaves."This parade is a reminder that diverse beliefs and traditions make our city richer and more vibrant.You can feel the sense of connection in the air."

Local businesses joined the celebration, decorating storefronts with pumpkins, gourds, and harvest wreaths.Several cafés offered "witch's brew" coffee specials made with cinnamon and cardamom, while a bakery on Exchange Street sold out of its maple-ginger "spell cookies" less than an hour into the event.

Despite the lively crowd, organizers emphasized that the Witch's Walk is as much about reflection as it is about revelry."This is our way of honoring the turning of the year," said Lydia Hawthorne, a herbalist and member of the Brackentide Circle."We celebrate the harvest, remember those we've lost, and welcome what's to come."

As the night drew to a close, participants gathered in a massive circle overlooking Casco Bay.The ocean breeze carried the scent of clove and cedar as coven leaders offered blessings for health, prosperity, and peace in the coming year.Passersby were invited to join hands for the final cheer: "Blessed be!"The sound rolled across the promenade, echoing faintly against the dark waves.

The Witch's Walk will return next October, with organizers already discussing plans for an expanded route and additional community workshops in the days leading up to the parade.

Chapter26

Calder

Christ…” I groaned, wrinkling my nose in disgust as I handed the helmet over to Ethan.“Did you fuck a bottle of Abercrombie and Fitch cologne while you were in there?”

Ethan just laughed.“No.I just have some co-workers that like to smell nice.”He gave me a wry look.“Unlikesomepeople…”

“Are you saying I stink?”I growled back, climbing onto the bike.

“Not at all,” he replied, settling in behind me and wrapping his arms around me.

I felt him tense for a moment, then back away, like he’d just stopped himself from saying something.

“What is it?”I asked, turning back to him.“What’s wrong?”

He shook his head.“Nothing… I just…”

“Just what?”

“Calder… you… you aren’t trying to hurt me, are you?”

The question hit me like a physical blow.I twisted around on the bike seat to face him fully, my heart suddenly hammering against my ribs."What?No!Why would you even ask that?"

Ethan's green eyes searched mine, uncertainty clouding them."Just something Jake said.He thinks it's weird how you're always around when I need help.How you got to my apartment so fast that night."

A low growl rumbled in my chest before I could stop it.Jake.Of course it was fucking Jake.The human who thought he had a claim on my mate."And you believe him?"I managed to keep my voice steady despite the rage building inside me.

"I don't know what to believe anymore," Ethan said softly."You have to admit, there's a lot you're not telling me.You show up exactly when I need you.You're secretive about your past, your work.You knew about that heart before the police did.You seem to have heard of this monster that’s after me… it’s a lot of coincidence."