by TJ Green
6
Avery used witch-flight again to take her to The Wayward Son, where she’d arranged to meet the other witches after the meeting.
She arrived in Alex’s uninhabited flat above the pub, slightly disorientated, as the room was in near darkness, illuminated only by the street lights which slanted in through the blinds. It was strange to be here again, without Alex’s personal items. Her old sofa stood in place of Alex’s tan leather one that was now in her flat. A couple of prints were still on the walls, and a few books in the bookcase, ready for if he decided to rent the place out. As yet, he wasn’t sure what to do with it.
Avery headed downstairs to the pub, noting that it was after nine o’clock. No wonder she felt drained. El, Reuben, and Briar were already sitting around the table under the window in the quiet back room, and Avery slid into a seat next to them.
“Hi, guys!”
“Long meeting?” El asked, pushing a glass of red wine in front of her. She nodded at the drink. “We got you one in.”
Avery reached for it and took a long sip. “Thank you. I needed that! Yes, it was very long.” She looked around. “Where’s Alex?”
“At the bar, helping Zee,” Reuben said. “It’s been a bit tense in here tonight.”
“What? Why?” Avery looked at their faces, finally observing their grim expressions now she’d gathered herself together.
“A couple of guys started to argue over a woman,” Briar explained. “Zee reacted really quickly and stepped in, and they asked one guy to leave—well, told him to leave.” She shook her head. “The woman was really shaken up, actually. It was a bit unpleasant.”
Avery couldn’t believe that Alex’s normally relaxed pub had seen such an incident, and released a flurry of questions. “Was she hurt? I mean, did it get violent? Was the woman even with them?”
“The woman was with her boyfriend, or maybe husband,” Briar told her, “and this guy at another table just got up, came over, and hit on the woman when her partner went to the bar. She basically gave him the brush off, but he became insistent, well, persistent is probably the better word. She raised her voice, telling him to leave her alone, but—”
“It was like he had no control,” El finished as Briar floundered. “Her partner came back from the bar, but the guy still wouldn’t back off, and the next thing you know, Zee is in his face and had propelled him out the door, along with his mates.”
Reuben nodded. “I followed them outside, and questioned one of his friends while they were trying to calm him down. Apparently, this is really unlike him. I sent a little calming spell his way, hopefully it will work.” He stood up. “I’m going to get another round, and I’ll get Alex while I’m there.”
Reuben headed to the bar, leaving Avery looking at El and Briar, stunned. “Wow!” She leaned forward, intrigued. “What kind of things was the man saying to her?”
Briar rolled her eyes. “‘You’re the woman of my dreams,’ ‘please go out with me,’ ‘I’m better than that loser,’ ‘I can’t live without you...’ You get the picture. Well, that’s how it started. Then he got nasty. Started accusing her of toying with him and leading him on. His mates tried to intervene too, and had no luck.”
El laughed, despite the events. “You should have seen Zee! He literally picked him up by the collar, like actually lifted him off the floor, and just carried him across the room like he was a kid. It was seriously impressive! Everyone was watching, and there were quite a few checking his ass and pecs out on the way.”
“More fans for Zee!” Avery said, trying to brush off the feeling of impending doom, and hoping that this was not going to be a regular occurrence for the next few weeks. “You weren’t tempted to step in and hex the annoying dickhead, then?” she asked El and Briar with a wry smile.
“Very tempted,” Briar said, a fire burning behind her eyes. “I hate to see women treated like that. But I was slow to react compared to Reuben, Alex, and Zee.” She sipped her white wine, still annoyed, and then looked beyond Avery’s shoulder with a nod. “And here’s Alex!”
Avery looked around to see Alex and Reuben enter the small room together, both carrying drinks. Alex’s expression was tight, but he sat next to Avery, planted a kiss on her cheek, and put down a pint and another glass of red wine. “Here you go, Ave. I thought you’d need a second. I gather you’ve heard our news.”
“I have. Sounds awful!”
“Could have been worse,” he said, shrugging. “The girl’s boyfriend was annoyed but wasn’t about to start swinging punches, and as you’ve heard, Zee just took the other bloke outside.” He sipped his pint and leaned back with sigh. “I gave them drinks on the house.”
“Nice move, mate,” Reuben said, approvingly. “Just wondered, are they all regulars?”
“Yeah, I recognised all of them. Don’t know their names, but they come in reasonably frequently. And no, that guy has never caused trouble before,” he said, guessing Reuben’s next question.
Avery hardly dared asked the question, but she swallowed and said, “Beltane magic, or something unrelated?”
Alex shook his head. “You’re going to think I’m mad, but over the last couple of days, things have been feeling distinctly off in here. Not Beltane, something else.” He held his hand up to ward off the questions. “I can’t explain it any other way, so let me think on it. I presume you don’t feel anything?” They shook their heads, worried, and he smiled wanly at Avery. “Anyway, that was our fun night. How was yours?”
“Well, it was great to catch up with everyone, but I guess the good news is that we are not the only ones affected.” Avery repeated the evening’s discussions, saving the news about Ulysses until last. She knew Reuben wouldn’t stop laughing, and she was right, but his laughter was infectious, and soon they were all giggling.
“You are kidding, right?” El said, her eyes wide with surprise.
“No! Mevagissey is a hotbed of lust—I think those were Oswald’s exact words!”
“That’s the best thing I’ve heard all day! No, all year!” Reuben exclaimed. “I wonder if all the old people in the rest homes are affected.” He sniggered again, and almost spat out his pint. “I can see the headlines now. ‘Unknown affliction turns Mevagissey into the porn capital of Cornwall!’”
“But this really isn’t funny,” Briar said, trying to control her own giggles. “This could break up peoples’ relationships!”
“Or start them,” Reuben pointed out. “This isn’t all bad, Briar.”
“But it’s unnatural,” she persisted. “No good can come of it.”
“It’s not like Ulysses can control his Siren blood,” Alex pointed out. “Well, not completely. But, yes, it’s worrying.” And then he sniggered, too. “I’d love to see Oswald having sweats about his erotic thoughts, though.”
That set Reuben off again, and they were both giggling like schoolboys.
“This is going to be an intense two weeks,” Briar said with a wry smile at El and Avery. “What if Hunter is affected? His libido really doesn’t need any help!” And then she bit her lip as if she’d said too much.
El’s mouth fell open. “Briar! You little minx.”
“Well, I may as well be honest,” she said, shrugging it off, and knowing it was pointless to deny what she’d said. She glanced up at Avery, and it seemed as if the ring of green around her pupils flashed like emeralds.
“Do you think we’re already affected?” Avery asked, worried. “It’s like we’re in a Carry On film,” she said, referring to the series of classic English comedy films filled with double entendres. “Look at us! All we need is for Sid James to walk through the door.”
“No, of course we’re not affected,” Reuben said, sobering up. “We’re just seeing the funny side of what could turn into a nightmare. So, what was Genevieve’s suggestion?”
“Be watchful. Investigate for spells cast by whoever it may be. The other covens will ensure any young witches haven’t got carried away, and in the meantime, try
to negate the effects of the Goddess and Green Man in their ascension.” She paused, wondering what she’d missed, and then said, “I should tell you about Zane, too.”
She related what he’d said about Ravens’ Wood, and the general reactions of the council.
“That weasly-faced little bastard will always cause problems,” Alex conceded. “You say Caspian backed you up?”
“Yes, of course.”
Alex merely nodded in response, giving Avery the faintest flash of concern. She hoped his antagonistic attitude toward Caspian had subsided, but maybe not.
“Where’s he been?” Briar asked. “Eli tells me he’s been travelling for business.”
“I have no idea,” Avery admitted. “We didn’t really chat.” She pushed all thoughts of the kiss to the back of her mind.
“At least we can plan our celebrations for Beltane,” El said, pleased. “Beltane Eve is Thursday, which is perfect. The town’s celebrations won’t be happening until two days later, on the following Saturday. We should have the wood to ourselves.”
“I wouldn’t bet on it,” Reuben said, draining his pint. “I reckon quite a few people from the town will head up for their own private celebrations. Ravens’ Wood is perfect for it. The good thing is that it’s pretty big, and densely planted. We could spell ourselves into our own protected space. No one will see us.”
Alex finished his pint too, looking tired. “Let’s hope you’re right. At this moment, next week feels like a long way away, and who knows what will happen in between now and then.”
***
Avery noticed that Alex was subdued on their walk home, and she snuggled under his arm as he pulled her close.
“What’s wrong?” she asked. “Are you worried about that fight?”
“A bit,” he admitted. “It’s weird how that man was singled out. I mean, why was he affected, and his mates were fine? And as I said earlier, something feels a little off in the pub, but I can’t quite place why, and neither can Zee.”
“Maybe the guy was just being a jerk,” Avery suggested. “Some men are.”
Alex shook his head. “But his mates said he wasn’t normally.”
“Some mates don’t always tell the truth.”
He looked down at her, and kissed her cheek. “You’re right, but I have this feeling they weren’t lying. They genuinely looked shocked.”
“Well,” she said resolutely, “I’ve decided to head into my garden tomorrow. I have some hawthorn I’m going to cut and put in the shop, for protection. I’m going to cut some for you too, to put in the pub. Briar told me tonight that she’s put some in her shop, and I think it’s a good idea. The more I can do, the better. I want my shop and our home to be a safe haven.”
“It is a safe haven,” he said, pausing and turning her to face him, his arms encircling her. “You’re there.”
“You say the sweetest things,” she told him, feeling a wave a both contentment and desire sweep over her.
Alex leaned in, kissing her until she was breathless. As he pulled away, Avery had the strangest sensation of being watched, and she looked around suspiciously at the other people who were leaving pubs and restaurants, filling the air with a high-spirited chatter. They were in the square where the maypole was erected. A colourful collection of containers filled with spring plants were placed around it, and the long ribbons for the dancers were tied beneath the crown of flowers at the top of the pole. The air smelt sweet, like honey, and it felt as if there was promise in the air, a sense of expectation; but the promise of what?
“Did you feel that?” she asked him.
“The aching in my pants? Yes,” he said, grinning.
“No! I meant like being watched!”
“Let them watch,” he teased.
“I don’t think it’s people I can sense. It’s her—the Maiden Goddess.”
As soon as Avery said her name, a wave of longing seemed to intensify around them, and it affected everyone. Couples and groups paused, confused, and the heady scent of honeysuckle became stronger. The night had been still, but now a breeze eddied around them, making the hanging baskets in front of the shops sway, and ruffling the plants. Avery felt her hair lift, as if someone was caressing the back of her neck, and a wild passion bubbled up inside her. Avery’s arm was still wrapped around Alex’s waist, and she felt him shudder as the feeling gripped him. She met his eyes, dark as night, and for a moment felt lost in them.
Alex grabbed her hand, and pulled her up the street towards home. The primal desire the Goddess had left burning within her was blazing now, and she knew Alex was experiencing it, too. By the time they reached the door of their flat, they were running. They had barely stepped inside when they started tearing each other’s clothes off, falling onto the floor of the living room in an effort to slake their desire, both of them lost in wild abandon.
Alex’s skin felt hot, as if he was going to burst into flames, and his corded muscles felt like steel. As her hands slid over him, gripping the hard planes of his body, she was aware only of his touch stoking the flames of her desire, and she lost herself, completely.
***
When Avery woke the next morning, it was with a sense of confusion, as if she was emerging out of a deeper than normal sleep. Her head was groggy, and her limbs felt heavy, and she tried to recall how much alcohol she had drunk the night before.
And then she remembered: the Goddess had filled her with a wild passion she had never experienced before.
Avery turned to look at Alex who slept next to her, lost within a tangle of blankets, and felt another wave of elation flash over her. She flopped back on the pillow, trying to sort through her memories of the night before—the sense of the Goddess in the town square, and then the race home. Alex’s groan broke into her thoughts, and he turned to look at her, blinking.
“What the hell happened last night? Did I get drunk?”
She rolled over, her hand on his chest. “No, the Goddess happened.”
He was silent for a moment before he said, “Holy shit! I remember. How could I forget last night? That was incredible!”
She laughed. “It really was. I’m just glad we managed to hold it together before we got home.”
He rolled onto his back and looked up at the ceiling that was brindled with stripes from the pale grey light filtering through the wooden blinds, and Avery propped herself up on her elbow to watch his face.
“That was the most intense feeling I’ve ever had,” he exclaimed. “Terrifyingly so, in fact. I’m not entirely sure I had control of myself last night.” He looked at her, his dark eyes serious. “Did I hurt you?”
“Of course you didn’t,” she answered, surprised. “You would never hurt me!”
“But I had no control. I acted out of pure, blind lust.”
“We both did. Trust me, I enjoyed every second of it—what I can remember, anyway. Things are a bit foggy.” Avery still couldn’t really remember details, except for the fact that they seemed to have had sex for hours, starting in the living room, and working their way upstairs, finally.
Alex pushed himself upright, stacked pillows behind him, and leaned back, still looking perplexed. “But that’s it, Ave. I can’t remember much at all, except this absolute need to have sex. I’m not sure I could have stopped myself if you would have said no!”
“There was no way I’d have said no,” she said, laughing. “You’re worrying too much!”
“What if I hadn’t been with you?”
A slow, insidious curl of fear started coiling in the pit of Avery’s stomach. “I’m presuming we felt that way because we were together.”
“But what if we weren’t? What if I’d been with Briar or El—or even Sally? Or if you’d been with Newton or Reuben...or Caspian?” His eyes hardened for a second.
The memory of Caspian’s kiss flooded her mind. That was the Goddess, but she’d been able to resist that—she’d pushed him away, and he’d accepted it, too. But she couldn’t tell Alex. Not now, at leas
t.
“I think,” she said cautiously, “that we abandoned ourselves to it, because we were together. We had no internal brakes...since we didn’t need to have them. I am not about to have sex with Reuben, Newton, or Caspian! Or Dan, for that matter,” she added, reflexively.
Alex relaxed and grinned. “You’re probably right. It will be interesting to see if anyone else had the same experience, though.”
“It will! I’ll ask Sally and Dan later.”
Then Alex’s face fell again. “I had another weirdly vivid dream again, too.”
“The same as last time?”
“Yeah. This feeling of being smothered by vines and branches, and people wearing strange clothing, as if I’d gone back in time. And then,” his face creased with confusion, “I was looking at the sea, and this mist was thick over it, as if something was there.”
“Is the dream of the sea new?”
“I think so.”
“Was it a dream or psychic vision, though?”
“I’m not sure. It doesn’t feel like my normal visions, but I don’t normally get recurring dreams, either.”
“Well, I’d better head into the shower,” Avery said, turning to get out of bed, and trying to dispel her worry about Alex’s dreams. “I need to get to work.”
But before she could go far, Alex pulled her back to him. “Oh, no! We’ve got time for round two before work.”
And with a squeal of pleasure, Avery allowed herself to be pulled back beneath the sheets.
7
Avery and Alex found Sally and Dan already in the kitchen at the rear of the shop when they arrived downstairs.
“Morning, you two,” Sally said, breaking away from her conversation with Dan. “How are you, Alex? Haven’t seen you for a while.”