AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I want time for me, for my sisters, and I want Greyson to have it, too. I want Aunt Mimi to get more time with Greyson. He’d be the closest thing to a grandson she’d have.
“Where are we setting up?” I ask, to drive the negativity out of my head.
Aviva looks over her shoulder. “Not far past where the field of flowers is.”
“It’s not there,” I say.
“It should be there,” she insists.
Instead of arguing, I lead the way and am prepared to explain that where the field of flowers was is now a forest, but after a few minutes of walking, I see it. It’s dark outside, but that’s definitely a field of flowers.
“It was gone,” I say. “I was here… not long ago.”
“It’s back,” Lucinda says. “I’ll leave it until tomorrow so you can visit it in the day if you like.”
I frown.
She eyes me searchingly. “A little gift to you.”
She can create illusions.
Memories wash over me of that day, gaily prancing in the flowers, singing my heart out, feeling high on life. I was high on the spelled wine, but it felt so good. And now I’m reflecting, because if she intervened in a way to keep me there, blissed out over a field of flowers, then it was likely intended that Riley find me that day. As if I was put there on purpose. By fate or design, though? The fact that she created a field of flowers temporarily and then does it again today sits like a brick in my throat.
“I like flowers, too,” she says with a disarming smile.
But though I’m not fully disarmed, I hide it. I would normally want to explore that large field, but something tells me to stay out of it. Greyson’s eyes meet mine and we communicate nonverbally. I know he agrees.
“This way, everyone,” I say.
“We must ask that you leave us, Greyson Blackwood,” Lucinda requests. “This is a circle for trained witches. Women. Not a mixed witch and warlock circle.”
“Oh, really?” Greyson asks, sounding disappointed. “Thought I could just watch.”
Lucinda remarks, “No observers.”
Greyson shrugs. “Maybe next time. I’ll take you all where you’re going and then I’ll take off. How long do you need, and I’ll come back?”
“Three hours should do,” Aviva tells him.
“Maybe just two,” Lucinda counters.
“Give us three to be safe,” Aviva says with a sweet smile.
“Fine,” he agrees, “I’ll grab a beer and a basket of wings at the tavern. If you need me back early, just call.” He kisses Aunt Mimi’s cheek before he turns and leaves.
Though we agreed to do this, Riley doesn’t entirely trust it and I can tell Greyson feels the same.
I’m a little disappointed that there might be reasons for mistrust, though I’m hiding it. The idea of pooling magic across three covens to provide healing to Aunt Mimi, to get an idea of my abilities? It’s exciting and I’m suddenly wishing we were all going into this completely open-hearted. Because I want this for her. I want to see my new magic, too, in this format, with guidance that can help me learn to manage and wield it in the right ways.
Each of us carries a bag, tote, or basket of the preferred tools of our individual practices.
Aviva abruptly stops and turns her face skyward. “This is perfect. Right here, ladies.”
“Here?” I check.
We’re almost right where Riley and I jumped earlier today.
“Here,” Aviva confirms. “Spread out, ladies and let’s define our circle.”
***
I’ve got Aviva on my right, Aunt Mimi on my left. Lucinda sits directly across from me, and my sisters fill out our circle.
The moon is directly above us, the eclipse lighting the space up well.
The cliff is at my back, about fifty feet behind us, and it strikes me as odd that our surroundings are so quiet. Eerily quiet. I dig my toes into the grass, feeling a lot of the energy around me. All of it available to me if I need it. I send intention to my surroundings, wanting tonight to go well, wanting Aunt Mimi to have whatever she needs to help her stay with us for a long, long time. Wanting this to be good, right, devoid of bad intentions.
Lucinda lights a bundle, smudging a perfect pentacle between us with glowing chalk. Each of us lays our practice tools in front of ourselves. Sage fills the air as some of us have already lit our own bundles. We want to first cleanse our implements and then charge them with the moon.
I unbag my crystals, my altar, and the willow wand Aunt Lyrica and Aunt Mimi made for me. I’m choosing to focus on positivity as Aviva circles us with a bag of salt.
“Lovely altar,” Aviva leans over and caresses Jessica’s altar, then looks to me and observes, watching me sweep mine with my small hand broom. Aviva sets a stone cauldron down in the middle of our circle and pours a bottle of water into it.
