Chapter 8. Crystals, incense and peppermints
When the girls arrived back at Bell Hall, they were greeted by Officer Todd, the night watchman for the Hall. He tipped his hat to them as they went up the stairs. He reported that all was well at the hall and went about his duty of checking the building.
Sarah noticed a faint aroma when she exited the bath after changing for the night. She looked at where Riha was standing. On the little altar table she had lit an incense cone and the wisps of smoke were curling into the air. "That smells nice."
Riha nodded, "Its Hollyberry, it's used for protection and for purifying a space." She smiled at her American cousin. "Thank you Sarah… for taking me in."
"Riha, I can't think of any other girl I'd rather room with." Sarah said honestly. She closed her eyes and breathed in the scent. "It's so peaceful…"
The Irish girl also closed her eyes. "Yes…it is."
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Sarah awoke to the sounds of movement; she slowly opened a groggy eye. Riha was already up and in the process of dressing. "What time is it?" Sarah rasped.
"Tis early, go back to sleep, Sarah darlin'." Riha whispered.
Sitting up and focusing, Sarah yawned. "Where are you going?"
"Sunrise service." Riha said looking about for her lost shoe.
"There's no sunrise service at the chapel." Sarah stretched.
"No, darlin' I'm going to the Black Unicorn." Finding her shoe she stepped into it. "You go back to sleep."
"To late, I'm awake now." She yawned again. "What kind of service is held at the Black Unicorn?"
Riha bit her lower lip, "A Pagan service." She said at last apprehensively and timid.
Throwing back the blanket Sarah got out of the bed, "Is it open to all or do you have to belong to the ….what is it, a Congregation?"
"It's called a Circle…and no, the Circle at the Black Unicorn is open." Riha watched her cousin move toward the bath room.
"Give me five minutes; I'd like to go too." She stumbled into the bath. Her upbringing had not been very religious. The family attended services only sporadically. So attending service with the company of her cousin was rather a pleasing thought. Riha approved of the pretty skirt and blouse that her cousin was wearing. Both girls pulled on their shawls and headed down the stairs to leave.
Officer Todd was turning the day duties over to Officer Smyth at the main door of the Hall. Todd nodded to the girls. "Where are you two off to so early?"
"Church," Sarah answered pleasantly.
Both officers smiled and wished them a good day.
Stepping quickly, the girls arrived at the Black Unicorn in good time. Mrs. Channing was sweeping with a strange looking broom as they approached. Riha greeted the older woman. "Good morning, Reverend Mother. Sarah wanted to come to service with me this morning. Is that alright?"
Mrs. Channing smiled peacefully at both girls. "Of course it is," she turned to Sarah. "Ye are always welcome. Come… the circle forms, and soon the cock will crow." She led the girls to a path along side the Shop. Behind the shop was a wide open space surrounded by trees and shrubs. Here there were men and women and children gathering in a clay circle that was in the center of the space. Mrs. Channing placed Riha and Sarah and then took her own place. She raised her hands, palms up and began the ritual.
"Oh great mother, we greet thy gift of the dawn."
The members of the circle all answered her with 'Blessed Be.'
Sarah listened to the words of praise and found herself answering with the rest at the right times. The service lasted only a short time, barely thirty minutes, yet when it ended Sarah felt spiritually renewed. She was greeted and welcomed by others who were long time members of the congregation.
Mrs. Channing motioned the girls to join her. "Come," she opened the door that led to the stairs up to her home over the shop. "Break your fast with me." She invited in a motherly tone. "I should enjoy hearing your impressions of our service, Sarah."
The apartment over the shop had a cottage kind of charm. It was open and airy and full of wonderful artifacts. The walls were painted in earthy tones, and the entire place smelled of spices and lemon polish. The kitchen looked out over the wooded park that was behind the shops boundary. It was large and well cared for, with an old world kind of charm.
"Be seated." The older woman invited the girls. She placed fruit laden sweet bread on the table and began to slice it. She poured a large mug of coffee for each of them and then took her own seat, after giving a blessing she sipped her coffee. "So, tell me Sarah, did you enjoy the service?"
"Yes," Sarah nodded quickly. "Very much, but I don't understand all of it…yet…"
The older woman pursed her lips. "You've an inquisitive mind, I can tell. Open to new experiences and new avenues."
Riha took hold of her cousin's hand. "Aye and she's a large and giving heart."
Blushing at the praise Sarah shook her head. "No, I'm not that good… there've been times when I was… as selfish brat…." The pain came to her temple again as it often did when she tried too hard to remember something. She rubbed the one temple and frowned. "I keep feeling like I've forgotten something…something important."
Leaning forward, Mrs. Channing touched the girl's forehead. "Be at peace, Sarah." Her voice was like a soft breeze. "You'll remember what ever it is when the time is right."
Sarah found the pain ease, and she smiled. "Thank you."
The older woman smiled softly.
Sarah looked at the kitchen and then back at the woman. "This place is so full of peace and calm."
"Thank you child," The woman replied as she ate her sweet bread. "I've always maintained that the kitchen is the heart of the home. My son says that I could calm the tempest at sea."
"Your son?" Sarah asked.
A young man who'd been at the service came in the door at just that moment, he bent to greet his mother. "Everything is taken care of, mother." He said in a gentle tone. He looked over at Riha with dark violet eyes. "Hello, Riha…"
Riha shyly looked back. "Hello Conner."
"Conner," Mrs. Channing patted his arm. "This is Sarah Williams, she's Riha's American cousin. Sarah this is my son, Conner."
The boyishly handsome young man extended a hand to Sarah. "Nice to meet you Sarah."
"You too." Sarah shook his hand firmly. "You and your mother have a lovely home."
Conner rested his hands on his mother's shoulders. "That would be all the Lady's doing. She's just wizard at keeping a peaceful home." Looking at the table he smiled. "Mind if I join you ladies?" He took the chair beside Riha and waited for his mother to bring him a cup of coffee. "So you're new to our circle, eh Sarah?"
"New to the whole Pagan scene," Sarah corrected. "I'm learning that I had a lot of misinformation along the way." She sighed deeply. "I mean that service this morning was not the kind of thing that gets reported."
Conner grimaced. "Not all pagans are heathens, we don't eat babies or spread blood on one another…. Or…"
Mrs. Channing silenced him. "That is not our path…"
Sarah looked at the woman, "I'd like to know more about the path you do follow."
The elder at the table graced the girl with a smile. "I can give you some reading material, and I'd be happy to answer any questions you have."
"Do you have sunrise services every Sunday?" Sarah asked munching again on the fruited bread.
"Only the first Sunday of the month," Mrs. Channing stated. "We also meet for the Sabatts. Our holy days, there are eight high feast days in our year. The next one is Samhain, you are welcome to join us, Sarah."
"Thank you." Sarah felt completely at ease. "I'd love to… when is it?"
Conner smiled and said lightly, "It's Halloween Sarah."
"Oh." Sarah giggled, "I think I may need that reading material… So I don't put my foot in my mouth every time I open it."
"My dear you're charming," Mrs. Channing said kindly. "Your innocence is delightfully refreshing."
Sarah looked at her watch, "It was so nice of you to invite us up…but what time do you open up?"
"On Sunday?" Conner asked pretending to be shocked. "My dear Miss Williams, we may be pagans but we are not heathens…."
Mrs. Channing smiled at his quips. "Sarah, I'm an old fashioned woman… I never have my shop open on Sunday. I like having one day of rest. And besides, every time the good Christians in the community start up on my being a pagan, I get to remind them that I keep holy the Sabbath. Some of them can't say the same." She looked at the girl, "would you care to see my home?"
"I'd love to." Sarah rose from the table.
"Conner, you entertain Riha." His mother said softly, taking Sarah's arm and leading her out of the kitchen. "My showing you our home gives them a few moments alone."
Sarah glanced back at her cousin who was listening to something the young man was saying with a soft blush. "You mean… they…"
"Not just yet." Mrs. Channing said softly, also looking back at the couple at the table. "But I have my hopes." She confided. "I would love to someday welcome Riha into my family."
Sarah smiled as well. "That's a lovely thing to say."
They took their time, Mrs. Channing was not a person given to rushing about. She took great pride in showing her home to the younger woman. The rooms were pleasantly appointed, and comfortable. Sarah noticed each room had a crystal display, different colors and textures in each room. Mrs. Channing explained that each of the stones held a specific energy property.
Sarah looked at the collection of crystals in a wooden bowl in the parlor. There was Amber, and Amethyst, and Beryl and Bloodstone and many others. It was a colorful display set in with holly sprigs and in the center a large sweetly scented candle pillar that was a slightly amber hue. "That's so…" she could not find words to describe the feeling evoked.
"If you could have but one of the stones there, Sarah…" Mrs. Channing watched the novice. "Which one would you pick?"
Sarah stepped closer, looked at the bowl and pointed to a large clear Amethyst chard. "That one," she said at last.
Mrs. Channing reached into the bowl and plucked out the chard. "It's yours." She handed it to the younger woman. Closing Sarah's fingers over the stone she prevented the girl from protesting. "I will get you that reading material." She left the girl standing in the parlor. Sarah opened her hand and looked at the chard; it gave her a feeling of peace, and calm.
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Conner offered to drive the girls back to the school when the visit came to an end. He told them he looked forward to seeing both of them again. But it was Riha he gave a quiet smile to. Sarah watched as they said good bye to each other with a feeling of being an intruder.
Officer Smyth opened the door for them as they approached. He smiled at them and asked if they'd enjoyed church. Sarah nodded but kept the books that Mrs. Channing had given her to read under cover.
"Riha," she showed her the crystal the woman had given her. "Mrs. Channing gave me this."
"Oh Sarah, that's Amethyst." She looked at her cousin. "She selected this?"
"No, there was a bowl in the parlor filled with stones…and she asked which one I'd pick…"Sarah raised the chard eye level. "This was the one I was drawn to."
Riha felt a dark shadow dance past them. "Sarah, darlin' do ye suffer with nightmares?"
Sarah nodded. "Yes, Riha… a lot of nightmares… and I can't remember them when I wake up…"
Riha hugged her cousin close. "That stone will help, it's a healing stone you know."
Sarah looked at her with a strange expression. "No, Riha… I don't know…There's so much I don't know."
The Irish girl sighed. "Just keep an open mind, Sarah. The learning time has just begun." &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Sarah sat in under an oak tree that was beginning to shed its foliage. She leaned on the rough trunk and began to read the book 'Path of the Pagan'. Riha lay on the grassy knoll beside her, with a note pad working on a new poem.
Sarah put down the book for a moment and looked at her cousin. "Riha…do you…" she wondered how to ask what was on her mind. "Do you practices…"
Celtic blue eyes sparkled as they met the emerald green ones. "Magic?" she finished for her. "Yes, of course." She went back to her poems. "Every woman in our family does Sarah darlin'. You will too."
Sarah giggled, "Yeah right…Sarah Williams…with powers…" then she paused, and tried to remember something, something important. "Powers?"
Riha looked up and giggled as well. "Wait and see, cousin. Wait and see."
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Megan listened to Ellen complain about the injustice being addressed her while other's had the partiality of the staff. It was favoritism in her opinion and discrimination of the worst kind. "I mean she's not even an American!" Ellen spat out. "And they take her side. She's free to roam about and I'm stuck here on the grounds."
Megan cast an eye up the way to the knoll where the two girls with dark hair sat talking. "I agree, Ellen. It's not fair." She frowned. "My father said we have to let the Headmaster have a few weeks before we can get him to see reason." She felt sorry for her friend. "Mr. Gregory needs to think you've been taught a lesson, daddy said. Once he feels you've suffered he'll relent. By Halloween you'll be free as a bird again."
"I'd better be," warned Ellen shortly. "I kept your name out of this mess, Megan…You owe me! I want to attend the Halloween carnival, and I can't if I'm stuck here on the grounds of this excuse for a girls' prison." She pouted.
"Come now, pet." Megan responded in a dangerous tone. "You don't want to be threatening me, do you?" She motioned toward the pair on the knoll. "Stay focused, I'm not your enemy…they are."
With hot coals for eyes, Ellen glared toward the two unaware girls. "They should have kicked the dirty little papist out. Her kind does not belong here."
Megan nodded, "Don't fret pet, I've got plans for that pair."
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Monday morning came, along with it came the school assembly first thing in the morning. Mr. Gregory read the announcements and gave warnings. When it ended the students were dismissed to classes. Mr. Gregory was walking along the same pathway as Sarah and Riha, he detained them for a moment. "Miss McMannon, are you now settled in with your cousin?"
"Yes, sir." Riha said quietly.
"I didn't see you girls at chapel on Sunday." He remarked reflectively.
"We attended service in town," Sarah said knowing it was mostly true.
"Ah, of course, I forget that the Irish are Roman Catholic by and large. I was not aware that you were Catholic also, Miss Williams." He dismissed them.
Riha breathed a sigh of relief when he was out of earshot. "Best not to argue with one in his position, Sarah, just let him think what gives him peace."
Sarah nodded in agreement. "Amen to that." Then both girls giggled.
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Megan began to accumulate others to do her spying for her. In each class that Sarah and Riha were in, there was at least one of Megan's informers. Sarah didn't take much notice of it as she was not really friendly with any of the other students. Riha was already aware of not being popular and kept to herself when not in Sarah's company.
The week passed at a snails pace until Friday. Sarah's father had instructed both girls to come home, and to buy one way tickets on the train as he and Karen would be driving them back to school on Sunday afternoon. The girls had laundry bags they carried with them, planning of freshening up the garments over the weekend at the Williams home.
Sarah and Riha paid for their tickets and took seats out on the platform to wait for the train to arrive. The bench they chose was out in the open and next to the parking lot. The benches that were nearest the station and under the cover of the wide awning were taken already with passengers awaiting the same train as they. Sarah heard the roar of the motor cycles before she saw them pulling into the lot.
The four bikers parked in spaces just behind the bench, the two biggest bikers set their stands down and walked to the station. The tall lean rider removed his helmet; fine blond hair fell lightly on the wind as he shook out his hair. He ran a gloved hand through it and looked at the girls sitting on the bench. The one with green eyes and an expression that was filled with innocents intrigued him. He winked at her teasingly and was pleased to see her begin to blush before she turned to look at the empty tracks. He parked the bike and moved to the platform.
"Riha, isn't it?" He addressed the Irish girl. "I thought that was you. I heard your poem last Friday at the Millhouse. It was quite good."
Riha blushed. "Thank you ,Mr.….?"
The leather clad man extended a hand. "King, Jareth King…." He looked at Sarah and raised his brows inquisitively.
"Oh this is my cousin, Sarah…Sarah Williams." Riha made the introductions.
"Nice to meet you Sarah," he said offering his hand.
Sarah stared at the hand for a moment before accepting it. "Nice to meet you, Mr. King."
"OHhhh, so formal." He teased. "You can call me Jareth…. Calling me Mr. King makes me feel as old as my father…he's the only one called Mr. King." He looked back at the Irish girl. "Not reading tonight?"
"No." Riha sighed. "But I'm working on a piece. We're spending the weekend at Sarah's home."
"Is that so?" He watched the green eyes with interest. " That must be nice for Sarah's folks."
Riha nodded, while she put her things on the bench. "Sarah, I'm going to make a quick stop…" she inclined her head toward the rest rooms on the side of the station house. "Watch me things would you?"
"Sure." Sarah had an urge to run toward the restrooms as well. She then looked up and realized he was still staring at her. Not knowing what to say, she looked toward the tracks and wondered why the train was taking so long.
The blond man took a seat beside her on the bench. "So you're going home for the weekend…to some boy friend I suppose?"
"No." Sarah said quietly. "I don't have a boy friend."
"Really?" He placed his arm over the back of the bench. "I find that hard to believe."
Sarah blinked, "Why?"
Crooking his arm, he leaned on his hand. "Little girl, you're too precious for words." He flirted.
Sarah blushed. "I am not." She laughed lightly.
The man with mismatched eyes laughed as well. "You certainly are."
Looking away she wondered what the hell was going on, was she really flirting with this handsome stranger?
He reached inside his leather jacket, and pulled out something, his fingers worked at the paper. Slowly he passed the white lifesaver to the girl. "Mint?" he said quietly. Sarah looked at the object being offered and was not sure to accept it. "It's just a mint, Sarah." He took one himself to prove the point, and then placed the mint in his hand to her lips. "Take it, precious, it won't hurt you."
Sarah opened her lips slightly; he pressed the candy into her mouth. She ran her tongue over the peppermint favored lifesaver. "Thank you." She said softly, smiling shyly.
Jareth heard his friends coming, "Time for me to go, precious. Have fun at home." He stood up and moved back to his bike.
Sarah stood up, she could hear the train approaching, but she wanted to take one more look at the man. He was strapping on his helmet but watching her as well. He saluted her lightly as he started up the bike with a roar. The four bikes moved swiftly out of the lot. Riha rejoined Sarah. "Here's our train." She said lightly.
Sarah nodded, running her tongue over the minty lifesaver.