Hi! Ready to get thrown into this magical world again? This is the most personal chapter for me so far, it has my actual Full Moon Esbat casting ritual (an Esbat is a coven meeting or ritual held on a day other than one of the main 8 Sabbats, in this case for the Full Moon). I am a Solitary Eclectic, and have never been a member of a coven, so if I screwed it up...I'm sorry. If you have any questions I encourage you to ask away. It not only helps me, but it is fun for you as well.
Melanie is enjoying the hell out of this story so far, which I couldn't be happier about. While she still holds 'From my Window' as her favorite, this is creeping up there. Just wait till our mystery handsome one meets our Bella. "Awaken' is updating twice more this week...we are getting spoiled.
Dalloway5906 is keeping me on the straight and narrow and has killed me dead with her latest 'Reboot' update. Seriously...I died.
Okay...here we go.
"Bella…we need to get to school." Alice yelled into Bella's bedroom. After the flashback or vision or whatever that was the night before, Esme had insisted that she go to bed. She slept like the dead and now was being rather rudely awakened.
"Alice…I'm a freaking witch. I don't need to go to school." Bella grumbled into her pillow, but just as she got comfortable, the blankets were ripped off her bed. She turned over to see Alice smiling down at her.
"Bella, I'm a freaking witch too, yet I still have to go to school. Now get your ass up and get ready." She giggled.
When Bella walked into the kitchen, she could tell that something had changed overnight. The usual metal tea kettle was replaced with a clay pot. There were jars of different herbs strewn all over the counter and several crystals were sitting in bags on the table.
"Good morning Bella, how are you feeling today?" Esme asked sweetly as she placed a steaming mug of tea in front of her. Bella wrapped her hand around the cup and put her face in the fragrant steam. Alice looked at her expectantly.
"Um…chamomile, peppermint and um, lavender?" She asked and Alice smiled widely.
"You forgot rosemary, but I'll give you it." She laughed as she gathered her books and packed her bag. Bella was moving slowly as she tried to wrap her head around how she was supposed to go about her normal life now that everything had changed. She ran into her room to get her sweatshirt and stopped when she caught her reflection in the mirror above her dresser.
She looked the same. On the outside there was no way you could tell that her life was counting down. She splayed her hand over her lower belly and tried to imagine how it would feel to be pregnant. And then the thoughts of how she would become pregnant invaded her mind and chills ran up and down her spine. To have something like that taken from her…and to not know who the father of her child was…it was a nightmare. But it seemed she was powerless to stop it.
*()*()*
"So the party is going to be so awesome!" Angela raved as she pulled Bella into the classroom. She had been in a daze most of the day, trying to merge her old life together with her new life. It was not going very well. Her mind kept straying to those jars and books in the basement and all she wanted to do was learn everything she could about her destiny. But she was still a senior in high school, and her imminent death did not matter to her teachers.
"So, you're coming right?" Angela asked, sticking her face right in front of Bella's to get her attention.
"What Ange?" Bella replied, totally distracted. Her friend sighed dramatically.
"Bella, this is only the biggest event of the year. You have to come!" Bella looked across the desk to try and catch Alice's eye, desperate for some help. She did not want to go but hated disappointing her friend. Alice was busy making googly eyes at Jasper, and was oblivious.
"Fine Angela…count me in." She relented.
*()*()*
"Bella, did you want to wear your mother's robe for the Esbat tonight?" Esme called up the stairs. It was a full moon and they were going to cast a circle, Bella's first experience with the ritual. She was both excited and nervous.
"Is that what I'm supposed to do?" She yelled down and Esme told her it was completely up to her. But as she held the dark red fabric in her hands she knew there was really no choice. And when she took off her clothes and slipped the robe over her head she knew she had made the right decision.
"So the first thing we need to do is decide what ritual work we are going to do. Since we are so close to Yule, we are going to be working on spells to strengthen loving relationships and celebrate new beginnings. After you have written your spells we gather the objects we need. For my love spell I need apple, catnip, jasmine, patchouli and a rose quartz. Mom is doing a new beginning spell to welcome you into the Wiccan way, so she needs vervain, sage and mugwort. Is there anything you want to work on?" Alice asked as she pulled jars down off the shelf and set them on the table. Bella was overwhelmed. She was supposed to know how to do this? But as she walked over to the shelves, her hands moved on their own accord. She soon found a piece of citrine and black agate in her hand as well as a jar of thyme, sweet pea and wolfs bane. As she looked down at the objects on the table, the words came to her.
As I start this journey forth
Herbs and crystals point me north
Courage and chastity lead the way
While protecting me both night and day
Goddess keep me at your knee
As is my will…so mote it be.
Bella blinked and realized it was silent in the room. She looked over at Alice and found her just staring back at her.
"What?" Bella asked, suddenly embarrassed that she had zoned out.
"How did you do that?" Alice asked, awestruck.
"Do what?"
"That spell, it takes me days to come up with the words I want to use and sometimes even then I have to use a spell book to get it just right but you…you just did it." She whispered.
Bella looked down at the table shyly. She had no idea how she did it, the words just popped into her head.
"Alice, leave her alone. It's in her blood." Esme scolded gently as she finished getting everything ready in the other room. The altar was set up and the quarter candles were ready. Each woman had their supplies ready for their spells and Esme was going to cast the circle. Bella stood back and watched as Esme took a moment to prepare herself. She could almost see the stress melting out of her as she stood before the altar.
Esme explained everything as she went. Showing Bella how she used the broom, or bessom, to clean the circle both physically and spiritually. Next the altar and tools were blessed and the elements were consecrated. And finally, Esme picked up her ritual knife, or her athame as she called it and held it waist high. She faced east and started chanting as she walked around the invisible circle.
Maiden cast your circle white
Weave a web of healing light
Round and round the circle cast
Joining present, future, past
Mother cast your circle red
Weave the strands of family thread
This sacred space shall now be bound
As I cast this circle round
Old Crone cast your circle black
Weave the wisdom that we lack
Thrice is the circle cast this night
And now begins our magic rite
Bella watched in awe as the woman she knew as her Aunt transformed. The power was there within her and as she used the knife to cut an opening in the circle, she invited Bella and Alice inside. And then she closed the doorway she had created and their spell work began.
*()*()*
"Bella that was amazing! You are such a natural. You never stuttered or anything! I am so jealous!" Alice cried as they cleaned up. The circle had been unbelievable. She had finally felt at home within the magical environment. She couldn't wait to do it again.
"Oh Mom, I forgot to tell you. Bella and I are going to a party at Lauren's house next Saturday." Alice said. Her tone should have been casual but Bella could hear something lurking beneath the simple words. As Bella looked up at Esme she could see the shadow pass across her face but just as quickly it was gone and she smiled.
"Well I'm sure you'll both have fun." She said as she turned around to put the jars away.
*()*()*
His clothes were waterlogged and ruined as he came up on shore.
The journey had taken him the better part of a week.
But now as he set foot on the sand he felt like he was where he was supposed to be.
He had missed his homeland and wanted to return, but something pulled him here.
And now he just needed to find some place to settle.
His shoes squished as he walked and he knew he would need to get some new clothes soon.
The dark of night was limitless as he made his way up from the rocky beach.
He ducked down behind a sign as light approached, only coming back out after the vehicle had passed.
His eyes strayed to the sign he had used as cover.
Entering Salem
Hmmm…
Yes...hmmm indeed.
So this is a VERY personal story for me. Please be kind in your reviews.
See you next Wednesday!