Page 39 of Haunted Hearts

“I am no different from anyone else, and grew up more like my father than my mother. I wouldn’t call my mother a witch either. That has such a negative connotation.”

“Then what would you call her?”

“She is more of a . . . nature healer. She knows how to use plants and herbs and gives thanks to all living things. You see, some people are more in tune with the earth than others.”

“That’s odd to hear you talk that way. Are you sure you’re not more like your mother than you think?”

“I don’t condone everything my mother does, believe me.”

“Like her card readings?”

“Aye. But I swear she does no harm and never makes anything bad happen even though it seems no one believes her.”

“Well, what is this circle used for?” She ambled inside and Blaze followed.

“It is used for ceremonies at certain times of the year. One being Beltane, which happens in May, between spring and summer. Another important one is Samhain, that happens after the harvest and before the dead of winter, which is now.”

“Like All Hallows’ Day,” said Lillith.

“Yes. Sort of. That is the Christian’s version. Samhain is an ancient Celtic tradition. It’s a time to prepare for winter, when the summer has ended. Crops are harvested and the livestock is brought down from the hills for slaughtering or breeding.”

“And sacrificing? With a bonfire?” she asked.

“I know what you’re thinking, Lilly. It is just a way of giving thanks to the land and ensuring a bountiful harvest next year. In ancient times the bonfire was even called bone fire, you know.”

“But sacrificing?” She looked up to him with wide, innocent eyes, and blinked twice in succession, waiting for his answer.

“You eat meat, don’t you?”

“Yes. Of course.”

“We are talking about the livestock here. Pigs and sheep, not people.”

A loud crash of thunder made them both jump. It even scared the horses. Unfortunately, they hadn’t secured the reins to a tree, and the horses took off through the woods without them.

“Nay!” cried Lillith, starting to go after them, but Blaze grabbed her arm to stop her. “What are you doing, Blaze? We need to go find them.”

“We will. Later. My horse will most likely go back to the manor. Yours will go too since they are hitched together. Right now, the sky is about to open up, and I suggest we take cover fast.”

“Take cover? Where?” she asked, just as the rain came pouring down.

“This way,” he told her, taking her by the hand and running toward a hill. They didn’t stop until they were inside a small cave, and out of the pouring rain.

“We will stay dry here,” said Blaze, looking out of the cave into the downpour. “Hopefully, it won’t take too long for the storm to pass.” He stared up at the sky.

“I’m not in a hurry.” She walked over and looped her arm through his. “It gives me more time to spend with you.”

He looked over to her and shook his head. “Lilly, you know I cherish every moment we are together. But it will not last. And we can’t change things that are already in motion, though I tried my best to do so.” He sat down on the floor of the cave and she sat down next to him, staring out at the rain, waiting for it to end.

“I know you’re right. Thank you for trying, Blaze.”

“I haven’t given up yet,” he said softly, playing with a twig he found on the cave floor.

They sat in silence for a few minutes, just watching the rain fall outside the cave entrance. It reminded Blaze of the times in the past when they’d been on an outing and gotten caught in a storm before they returned. He chuckled.

“What’s so funny?” she asked.

“Do you remember that time we were caught in the rain and were so drenched we looked like drowned rats?”