I turned my attention to the booklet, resuming my studies on the five elements: fire, earth, water, air, and spirit. It had proved more useful than the basic spell books Calandra had given me. It explained how the most important witch symbol was the pentacle—a five-pointed star with a circle around it. Each point represented one of the five elements that were needed to sustain life.
I’d seen the symbol several times at the coven. Some witches wore it as a pendant around their necks or on a ring. Some of them even had the symbol stitched onto their bags, while many warlocks wore a pentacle pinned to their shirt collars.
The lower right-hand point of the star represented the element of fire—symbolizing courage and daring. The lower left-hand point represented earth—stability and physical endurance. The air element, located on the upper left-hand point, covered intelligence and arts, while the water element, on the upper right-hand side, incorporated emotion and intuition. Located at the top, the spirit element was deemed to be most important, as it represented the divine. The surrounding circle reflected light, bringing wisdom and protection to whoever wore the pentacle.
Closing my eyes, I visualized the pentacle and tried to memorize the location of each element. You had to face the correct direction when invoking an element. After this, I needed to learn the invocation words. At least I’d already memorized—
“Girl, what are you doing?” Orla laughed.
I opened my eyes and was happy to see her smiling face. I’d been so busy these past few days, I hadn’t had time to hang out with her. “Studying the elements.”
“Come sit with us.” She grabbed my pile of books and stared at me, refusing to take no for an answer. “I’m sure you could use a break.”
“Okay, but just for a while. Calandra’s given me a lot to learn.” I followed her to a couple of couches facing each other over a coffee table, where Rosella, Cindy, and several other girls sat. They were reading magazines and chatting about the boys in the library.
“Sit here with me.” Having placed my books on the coffee table, Orla sat, patting the empty spot between her and Cindy. “What’s Calandra got you learning?”
“The basics first.” I took a seat. “She wants me to try casting a few spells.”
Rosella tossed her magazine onto the table. “If you need help, you just have to ask. The witches in Hale House stick together.”
A cute guy with short, spiky hair approached us. “Hey, I—”
“No,” Rosella said with a shake of her head.
Looking annoyed, the guy walked away.
“You could’ve at least let him ask,” Orla said.
“What’s the point?” Rosella crossed her legs. “I’m not interested in him, and now he knows.”
“It’s less than two weeks away,” Cindy said as she flipped through a magazine. “You don’t want to be the only one without a date.”
“Sienna doesn’t have a date,” Rosella said.
I looked at her, not liking the idea of needing a date. “A date for what?”
“For the Lughnasadh Feast,” Rosella replied. “But I guess you wouldn’t know about it. Lughnasadh marks the beginning of the harvest season, and the entire coven gets together for a picnic. To celebrate, they used to hold trial marriages, where the couple stayed together until the next harvest, and then they’d decide whether to actually marry or go their separate ways.”
“We haven’t seen a trial marriage in years,” one of the girls said as she inspected her fingernails, which were painted dark purple. “All you have to remember is the harvest season is a celebration. We’re welcoming the fall and all its vibrant colors. You’ll see bright colors all over the coven and ribbons in the trees. It’s so pretty.”
“Oh please, you make it sound like we’re just celebrating the fruits of our labor and welcoming the fall weather.” Rosella sighed. “It’s the time of year when the god of darkness defeats his twin, the god of light. Night conquers day. Witches can choose light and dark magic.”
“Rosella! Don’t fill Sienna’s head with that nonsense,” Orla said. “Lughnasadh’s about light and dark being in balance, not about choosing one over the other. It’s a chance to thank the Goddess for providing us with enough food to get through the winter. An opportunity to ask for a personal blessing, cast a few spells, and enjoy a meal with someone special.”
“Don’t worry, Sienna,” Cindy said. “You’re a Dinescu. The warlocks will work up the nerve to ask you. Many of them have been watching you since you arrived at the coven.”
I looked around, realizing what she’d said was true. Those warlocks wanting to sit with me had probably hoped to ask me to the feast. I’d just assumed they were curious about the new girl. Never had I imagined they’d want to ask me on a date.
“The High Council hasn’t said anything to me about Lughnasadh,” I said. “I’m sure they’re not expecting me to participate.”
“Everyone in the coven’s required to participate in all harvest festivities,” Rosella said. “It’s the only time we can freely cast ancient spells. Besides, you’ll have to attend the Mabon Ball and celebrate Samhain. You’d be best to pick a warlock now and lock him in for everything.”
Other celebrations? The Mabon Ball sounded like a fancy dance, and there was that word Julius had used: Samhain. I’d forgotten to look it up. I groaned.
“It’s not that bad.” Orla patted my knee. “The Lughnasadh Feast is just a casual coven picnic. For the Mabon Ball, we get to dress up in fancy gowns and masks. That’s my favorite part—all the dancing and eating. Trust me, you’re going to love the harvest festivities. Each house throws a party every week until Samhain, to keep the celebrations going. It’s a lot of fun.”
“When’s all this?” I asked. “You said this picnic’s less than two weeks away?”
“Yes, the Lughnasadh Feast is on August first. The Mabon Ball is at the end of September, and Samhain is always on October thirty-first.” Orla slipped her arm around my shoulders. “Don’t worry. We’ll make sure you have a nice date.”
I nodded but was determined to get out of the celebrations. No way would Calandra expect me to attend the Lughnasadh Feast. I had too much studying to do, and spending time with one of these warlocks was not going to happen. I didn’t need someone prying into my mind. Or trying to kiss me.
“What’s Samhain?” I asked. “Is it basically Halloween for witches?”
“I guess that’s one way of looking at it.” Cindy closed the magazine and set it on her lap. “Samhain marks the start of the darker half of the year, and it’s the only time the thin veil between the spirit world and ours is lifted. In the week leading up to Samhain, we light candles in our windows to help guide our dead ancestors back to the coven. Then on the night of Samhain, we dance around enormous bonfires, drink wine, and invite the spirits to join us. It’s a huge celebration, and this year will be extra-special because we’ll have a black moon, which means the veil’s lifting will last longer. That won’t happen again for another seventy years.”
The doors to the library opened, and a group of guys wearing jeans and black polo shirts entered. Laughing loudly, they walked toward a cluster of couches near the spiral staircase. Garrett was with them, and when he looked our way, he said something to his friends before heading toward us.
I sat up straighter, feeling my mood lighten. I hadn’t seen Garrett since my first day at the coven, and I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed him until now.
“Hello, ladies,” Garrett said. He smiled at me, pushing his black hair out of his face. “I heard about the prophecy. The Lost Raven, who’s going to destroy the wolves. Does this mean I can’t call you Wolf Girl anymore?”
I laughed nervously, unsure how to respond and aware that the other girls were giving me funny looks. No doubt they were wondering why I’d have a nickname like Wolf Girl. “How about you call me Sienna?”
“Nah. That’s what your friends call you, but we’re more than friends.” He winked, rubbing his chin. “I li
ke Wolf Girl. Brings back fond memories of Woodlake. Remember that pool party at the hotel? The next day you were—”
“Yes, I remember that night well.” My eyes widened. Was he really going to say I’d woken up in his bed naked? What would his sister and the other Hale House girls think? Nothing had happened between us, but rumors would start and… Wait, Garrett was a warlock, and I needed a date. “Are you going to the Lughnasadh Feast?”
“Of course he’s going. We’re finally meeting his girlfriend.” Rosella smirked at her brother. “She’d better not be some local skank.”
I stared at Garrett, shocked to learn he had a girlfriend. Why hadn’t he told me? Especially when we’d spent almost every waking minute together while I was at Magickal Dreams. Now I understood why he’d never come by Hale House to see me. I definitely didn’t want to end up in the middle of any girlfriend drama.
“I’ll see you around, Wolf Girl.” Ignoring his sister, Garrett walked away. He returned to his friends, who’d now been joined by three girls. He sat next to one of them, smiling at something she said.
“What’s this about a pool party at a hotel?” Cindy teased me. “You don’t seem the wild party-girl type.”
“I’m not.” I shook my head. “A few locals had a party, and Garrett was there.”
Rosella studied my face. “Was he with a girl?”
“No. I mean, there were girls at the party, but he didn’t seem interested in any of them.” I looked in Garrett’s direction and caught him staring at me. He smiled, and I smiled back.
Orla raised her hand, grinning as she wiggled her fingers at Garrett. “Looks like you’ve caught his eye. Is there something you’re not telling us?”
“Absolutely not. Garrett’s been nice to me, but we’re just friends,” I insisted as they looked over at him. Luckily, he’d already turned his attention to the pretty brunette on his left.
“Why did he call you Wolf Girl?” Rosella asked as another guy walked up. She shook her head, sending him on his way.
“It’s a nickname the locals in Woodlake gave me. Your brother finds it amusing.”
“He would,” Rosella muttered. She picked up a magazine off the table and flicked through it.
“Are you sure your brother has a girlfriend?” one of the girls asked as she folded her arms. “I’d love to spend a few minutes alone with him. I bet he’s great in bed.”
“Ew…he’s my brother, remember?” Rosella shook her head.
“You can’t blame her. He’s hot.” Cindy giggled. “He can also control the five elements and cast any spell. It’s a shame he’ll never be on the High Council. His best bet would be to marry a powerful witch.”
Rosella glared at her but said nothing. She was definitely protective of her older brother.
“I don’t understand. Why can’t he be on the High Council?” I asked, stunned to hear how powerful Garrett was.
“He’s only half-warlock,” Orla said. “You can’t be on the High Council if you’re not a pureblood.”
“That doesn’t seem fair.” I glanced in Garrett’s direction. Being a half-warlock must be hard. Julius had even encouraged me not to date one.
“You don’t think he and that hunter are back together?” Cindy asked. “What was her name?”
“Lily Corven,” Orla replied.
“I doubt it. They haven’t even talked since she dumped him,” Rosella said. “I’d rather he dated a local skank than Lily. That girl’s mean and controlling.”
My heart sank as I thought about Garrett’s ex-girlfriend and him being a half-warlock. I realized that although I’d known him for almost a month, I barely knew anything about his life.
Chapter 12
“Sienna, wake up,” Orla whispered as she yanked the blanket off my bed. She tossed some clothes at me. “I can’t believe you fell asleep. Hurry up and get dressed.”
“I was tired from studying all day.” I glanced out the window at the full moon as I quickly changed my clothes. The clock on the nightstand showed eleven o’clock. “I don’t understand. Couldn’t we have done this earlier?”
“We have to do it during the witching hour.”
“Isn’t the witching hour 3 a.m.?” That was four hours from now. How long did it take to break a binding spell? Maybe this was a bad idea. What if we got caught?
“No. You’re thinking of the devil’s hour, and I’m not messing around with demons. True witching hour’s right before midnight; that’s when my fae powers will be at their strongest.”
It still felt strange to think of Orla as half-fae. But I knew nothing about them and wasn’t sure if asking her was inappropriate. I glanced over at Rosella’s empty bed. I hadn’t seen her all day. “Where’s Rosella? I thought she was joining us.”
“She’s meeting us outside.” Orla opened the bedroom door and peeked out into the hallway. “Let’s go. If we run into anybody, we’ll say we’re getting a snack.”
Orla and I tiptoed down the stairs. Several girls were watching a movie in the living room, but none of them looked our way. After hurrying through the kitchen and out the back door, we crept through neighboring backyards, sticking close to the woods.
When we reached the street, I saw a stretch limo golf cart up ahead, with Rosella sitting in the driver seat. I could sense her rebellious excitement as we drew closer. Her smile stretching ear to ear, she beckoned us to hurry.
“This is crazy,” I muttered as I sat next to Orla in the golf cart. “Rosella, did you steal this?”
“It’s not stealing if you return it.” Rosella glanced over her shoulder at us. “Are we ready?”
“Before we go, I need to know that Sienna still wants to do this.” Orla turned to face me and touched my leg. “I’ve never done this before, and I can’t guarantee it’ll work. There are risks with me being half-fae. If you have any doubts, we should go back and just let the spell wear off on its own.”
I thought of Kaleb and how it could take months for the spell to wear off. I needed to know what had happened to him, and I couldn’t do that without my full powers. Leaving the coven wasn’t an option, not until I was a powerful witch and could fight off the Rocklin wolves and the vampires on my own.
“Every spell has risks, and I don’t want to wait,” I finally said. “I trust you, Orla.”
“See. I told you Sienna wouldn’t change her mind. She’s not weak.” Rosella pressed the gas pedal, moving the golf cart forward. She drove in the shadows, avoiding the streetlamps as we headed toward the back of the coven, away from all the buildings. Eventually, she gunned the gas, and we flew over a curb, causing me to bump into Orla.
A soft laugh escaped my lips, and Rosella turned to wink at me before we entered the darkness of the woods. The golf cart’s headlights illuminated the wide dirt path up ahead and the surrounding trees.
“Where exactly are we going?” I asked.
“To the First Altar created by the Raven witches. It’s where they held meetings, performed rituals, and cast group circles. It’s supposed to be haunted, but that’s just a rumor the High Council started so no one would come out here,” Orla said.
“That’s not true.” Rosella stopped the golf cart and got out, taking a bag from the seat next to her. “Everyone knows this place is haunted.”
“Stop scaring her,” Orla scolded. As we both climbed out of the golf cart, Orla turned to me. “Don’t listen to her. We’ve been out here plenty of times and never seen a ghost.”
Rosella stood in front of the headlights, giggling as she searched through her bag.
“Are we doing this in the dark?” Glancing up at the full moon, I wished it wasn’t so high in the sky. I couldn’t see an altar and hoped we weren’t walking the rest of the way blind.
“Hang on.” Rosella dropped her bag on the ground and disappeared into the darkness. One by one, tiki torches appeared in a circle as Rosella walked around, lighting them.
“C’mon, we need to do this before midnight.” Orla entered the circle. “Be care
ful where you step. Don’t move the stones.”
Looking down at the ground as I entered the circle, I realized the stones formed a pentacle. Thirteen tiki torches stood outside the circle of stones, and three half-melted candles, their wicks barely visible, stood on a large altar table in the middle. They looked fairly new, which meant this place wasn’t as off-limits as the High Council wanted.
Orla removed the candles and placed them on the ground. “I need you to sit on the altar.”
“Are you sure? That sounds a bit sacrilegious,” I replied.
“Trust me, you’re fine, except I need you to face the air element, as that’s your strongest. Do you know which direction that is?” Orla asked.
“Yes.” I sat on top of the altar, ensuring I faced the upper-left point of the star.
“That’s perfect.” Orla moved around the altar and stood in front of me. Then she removed several vials from her pockets and set them on the altar.
I glanced in Rosella’s direction. She’d lit all the tiki torches but was still walking around the circle. “What is she doing?”
“Don’t worry about her. I need you to drink this.” Orla handed me one of the vials.
“What’s in it?” I asked, opening the vial. Whatever was inside smelled sweet, like vanilla.
“I’d rather not say, but it won’t harm you. Your tongue should tingle though.”
“Hurry up,” Rosella urged. “It’s already eleven thirty.”
I drank the liquid and handed Orla the empty vial. She was right: my tongue tingled for a few seconds. “Now what?”
“I need to cut one of your hands.” Orla held up a knife. “Don’t worry. If this works, the cut will heal in a few hours.”
“Is that one of those magical knives?” I held out my hand and cursed when she cut across the palm.
“Only High Council witches are allowed magical knives,” Rosella said.
Romani Magic (Shifter Blood: Romani Curse Book 3) Page 7