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Luna handed it over with a squeak of excitement.
Five minutes later, I was dressed like a belly dancer, and Luna and Tillie were cheering me on as I tried to decide if I could really go through with this. We took two more shots of liquid courage, and in the back of my mind, I was aware that time was passing quickly. It was dark outside. Lucian would be home soon. He’d realize I wasn’t there, and it wouldn’t go over well. It was a recipe for trouble, but Luna was the first friend I could ever remember having besides Birdie.
“Okay,” Tillie said. “We need to go. We’ll be late.”
“There’s no such thing.” Luna giggled as she flew out the door.
We trailed behind her in the direction of the fire, which had grown exponentially in size. The empty chairs from a short time ago were now filled, and it looked like the whole community had come out to watch the event.
My belly was warm, and my nerves were on fire when I saw the other girls already dancing around the fire. The music was upbeat and exotic, and I was relieved to see there wasn’t really any coordinated effort. Like Luna said, everybody was moving to their own beat.
“Jump in,” Luna said. “Watch me, move like this.”
I tried to mirror her movements, but my body felt stiff and awkward. Luna giggled and put her hands on my hips, guiding the movements.
“Close your eyes,” she instructed. “Relax. Just feel.”
I did what she said with little faith that it would change anything, but miraculously, it did. Soon, the weight of her hands disappeared, and I was moving on my own.
“Yes, girl,” she shouted. “Now, you are a gypsy.”
I laughed, and we danced until I was high on adrenaline and drunk on the tequila we’d been drinking. We stumbled back to some empty chairs and sat down around the fire, listening intently as stories began to unfold.
I found myself enrapt as they spoke of their culture and history, losing track of the hours that passed. But I felt comfortable, and I was willing to face Lucian’s wrath if it meant indulging in something of importance.
When the fire had died down to nothing more than coals, three women emerged from the shadows with a kettle in hand, making their way around the circle with a ladle and cups, pouring the concoction for each member of the community. When they came to me, I looked at Luna for guidance.
“What is it?”
“Ayahuasca. It’s a medicinal tea from South America,” she explained. “Some believe that it has healing powers.”
I wasn’t the kind of person to buy into that mentality, but all eyes were on me, and I didn’t see the harm in at least taking the cup they offered. I didn’t have to drink it.
The brew was poured, and when I sniffed it, it smelled foul.
“It’s made from a vine,” Luna said. “There is a cleansing ritual involved in the preparation, but even still, it’s not the most appealing taste.”
I watched as she sipped from her cup and others around the fire did the same. In the span of just a few minutes, the conversation had died, and slowly, the crowd began to dissipate.
“Where is everyone going?” I asked.
Luna stood, and her whole body seemed to vibrate with a new energy. Something intense and focused that I couldn’t understand when she held her hand out to me.
“Come,” she said. “I want to read you.”
I hesitated, and Tillie leaned in close, brushing her fingers over my arm as she whispered in my ear. “She has secrets to tell. You want to hear them.”
I wasn’t sure that I did. Things were getting strange, and I was getting cold. Goose bumps had broken out along my skin, and I thought about telling them I needed to leave. But I didn’t, and I wasn’t sure why.
I felt compelled to know what happened next. Despite what my beliefs were, I still wanted to hear what Luna had to say. I stood and followed her through the darkness into her camp trailer, where she lit a solitary candle and placed it on the table between us. We sat down opposite of each other, and she took my hands in hers, her head falling back as she closed her eyes.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“I’m just trying to get a feel for you,” she whispered. “I can’t understand your future until I understand your past.”
I didn’t believe she could know anything about my past, so even though it felt at odds with what I should do, I remained perfectly still.
Luna’s face was the only thing to change, and the reactions were sharp. Jerky. It was starting to creep me out, but then a solitary tear rolled down her face as she opened her eyes and looked straight at me.
