“Forgive me if I embarrassed you.” His hand moved toward her, fingers brushing the warmth of her cheek. “I’ll be honest with you, Breanna. I noticed you the moment I set foot in the apothecary the other day. If not for Nadyia tearing my attention from you, we would have had this conversation much sooner than the present.”
His warm smile lit her insides with nervous tension. His touch stayed upon her cheek, yet he now held his beer once again. She met his gaze. “I am glad we ran into each other,” was all she said. The tension inside confused her. Her intuition told her he spoke the truth. Her heart bid her beware. She thought about her first impression. She still saw he was split somehow. Aggression and frustration, though buried deep within, burned. He had two distinct faces. “Hunter? Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.” He leaned forward expectantly.
She wanted to ask him if he felt a compulsion toward her as she did to him but lost her nerve. Instead, she asked, “How old do you think Nadyia is?”
Hunter burst out in laughter. Tension broken, so did Breanna.
“No one knows for sure, but that woman has been around for what seems forever, and I don’t remember her looking any different than she looks today.” Hunter leaned back once more. “She is an awesome lady and a wonderful friend.”
“I get that from her.” Brea smiled. “She has made me feel at home here.” Brea noticed darkness of the early evening beginning to settle in and said, “Well, it’s getting late. I’m going to head home.” Brea stood. “It has been fun. Thanks for the drinks and conversation.”
Hunter stood as well. “Can I walk you to your truck?”
“I’d like that.” Brea consented, not truly ready to leave his company as yet.
He took the empties to the counter and fell into step with her. Comfortable silence accompanied their walk to Breanna’s SUV. The deepening evening sky was clear and the newly risen moon’s light shone down along the sidewalk. Hunter’s warmth beside her felt nice.
“Here I am,” she said, clicking her key fob. “I really enjoyed your comp—”
His lips moved over hers gently as his arms wrapped around her. She welcomed his kiss and parted her lips as he deepened it. Her blood flowed like molten lava and her heartbeat sped as a rush of excitement lit through her body. Her hands moved up his back to claw his shoulders.
He broke the kiss and moved slightly away, leaning his forehead to hers. “I am so sorry,” he whispered, the warmth of his breath spread over her face.
“Don’t be.” She nudged him closer and kissed him softly.
He released her, regrouped and said, “Brea, I would like to see you again.”
“Yes.” She smiled, her voice breathy. “I would like that.”
The flap of large wings interrupted the moment as they both peered skyward. A large bird flew off into the twilight, leaving the couple amidst the song of crickets once more.
****
Hunter needed a good run on all fours when he’d arrived home. He jumped a fallen tree at a good clip. In wolf form, the sexual tension still burned hot. He’d shifted as soon as he had gotten home. He never should have given in to the desire to kiss her. Especially in light of the new facts disclosed by Mica. This—whatever this relationship might become could not happen—was dangerous. He would not put Breanna in danger if he hadn’t already. The dream was a warning, crystal clear, the sikkqui would come for her. Like his mother, she was a strong witch. He’d felt her power.
He’d heard the heavy flap of wings above as he watched the tail lights of Breanna’s vehicle disappear. He knew now what the raven was. It appeared too coincidental not to be connected. The fucking bird was the sikkqui.
Watching. Waiting.
Hunter had run as fast as he possibly could for the last two hours. It had relieved some tension and helped to exhaust him. He turned and headed home. One thing he knew for sure; he needed a plan, and he needed it now.
As he loped through the forest toward the cabin, he thought back to the stories his father had told him about the sikkqui. Mainly, how to put the son of a bitch down. If he remembered correctly, it was a dark spell cast on Samhain, when the veils to the dead were open or on a waning new moon. The question was: had his father recorded the spell in his journal?
****
Later that evening, Hunter settled in bed with his father’s journal open upon his lap. He turned pages, slowly perusing its entries. He tapped a finger to a page and mumbled, “Ah, here it is.”
He read the entry carefully. His dad explained the ritual, then noted the tools and herbs needed:
To banish the sikkqui—
Salt
Blood of the entity/focus of sikkqui
Herbs for banishing sprinkled into blood
Offering bowl
Moon stage: Waning new moon
Dagger
Pentagram with appropriate symbols etched within
Flame
Hunter dog-eared the page and set the journal on the night stand. He settled back and turned off the lamp. Closing his eyes, he thought about Breanna. Hunter yearned to see her again. However, until he destroyed the sikkqui, she would be off limits. He would not bring harm to her nor see her destroyed by an entity bent on revenge for him. He’d die first.
****
Breanna prepared for the ritual to draw her familiar forth. The new moon would be tonight. She would have preferred a waxing moon but waning would be sufficient, at least she hoped as she collected the altar tools and supplies: herbs, candles, cakes and wine. She’d already set the altar cloth and elementals. For a moment, her mind wandered to Hunter. She’d not heard from him, but every time she closed her eyes, she saw his face and oooh, that kiss…a million gossamer wings tickled her belly, nervous energy jarred her away from her thoughts. This ritual needs to be done. Once I call my familiar to me, then I can concentrate on Hunter.
Brea carried the rest of her wares out to the clearing, laid the circle and lit Lady and Lord, then the elemental candles while inviting each element to join and aid in her ritual.
After her offering, Brea spoke softly, “Welcome, my Lady and Lord. I ask you here this eve of the new moon to witness my union with my given familiar.” She held the chalice overhead, then lowered it. Taking a small sip, she set the goblet on the altar surface in offering to the Lady and Lord. Candlelight swayed in the light breeze and night creatures sang in the background. She picked up the tiny crystal bell, feeling comfort in its sweet tinkle. She turned toward a subtle snap of twig and smiled.
“Hello again, my wolf. My familiar. On this, the new moon, we begin anew. You and I will be as one, yet we are two. My powers stored in the earth will run through you as well. This is true from the powers that be, the Goddess and God have blessed you and me. All this I say this eve is true. Let us join, come to me, so mote it be.”
She toed an opening in the circle and reached out, drawing the gray to her. Gently, she ruffled the fur between its ears and ran her hand along its flank. She bent and nuzzled her face into the fur of his neck.
“Blessings, my Lady and Lord, for this night you have sealed me to my familiar and the means to which to share my magick that it may not overflow and stale. My wolf and I say thee, Hail! For so mote it be.” She thanked and gave leave to each element as she snuffed its light. While she moved to complete the opening of the circle, another gray broke through the tree line into the clearing.
Brea looked from wolf to wolf in confusion. Whispering a protection spell, she backed against the altar as the wolves postured. Growls erupted and the animals paced around each other in opposite directions.
This is not your wolf, whispered into her mind. Fear prickled along her spine. She glanced around.
No one.
I am your wolf.
Brea met the amber eyes of the late arrived gray as the other circled to attack. “What?”
But no answer came as the animals charged one another.
“Stop!” Breanna screamed. The animals stilled and t
urned to her. She held her hands out, her gathering power pushing each out to opposite laterals in a signal to separate the animals. Each stepped the appropriate direction. She stood motionless trying to understand what happened. And how she could have controlled the wolves, when one of the animals began to shimmer. “What the hell…?”
The other wolf began to pace, then it stilled and looked directly at her. Then the words, Run, Breanna! screamed into her mind. As the directive settled her into action, the shimmering animal changed. It appeared translucent as if not fully there, then floated, its feet not touching the earth, continuing to morph into a hideous hag-like figure. The eyes bled to red embers in an ancient and wrinkled face. The mouth had no lips but horrible rows of sharp yellowed teeth that appeared circular. And the thing was moving toward her!
The wolf had disappeared. She spun her head fully around, looking for the animal, but it was gone. Oh my Goddess…
Brea tried to run. No…
Her feet would not move. The creature was only several feet away now.
“Please, Lady, Lord. Please, help me against this dark creature. Protect me. Aid me in banishing this thing that wishes me harm,” Brea chanted over and over.
The winds picked up. The flames of the still lit deity candles danced. As the creature slid forward, Hunter sprinted out of the forest carrying a shotgun in one hand and a back pack hanging from the opposite shoulder. “Breanna, I need you to call the elements. Now!”
“I can’t move to light the candles,” she yelled back to him, confusion clouding her mind. How is he even here? His next directive pulled her out of her thoughts.
“Light them with your mind. Concentrate.”
Brea chanted, drew power from the ley line below and concentrated on the flames. She continued to chant, sinking into herself, her secret place. She imagined the candles lighting. Suddenly, each elemental candle wavered to life. “Thank the Goddess,” she whispered.
She heard the explosion of a shotgun round and saw the creature dissipate.
“Rock salt,” Hunter called as he placed the gun and the backpack on the ground beside him. He pulled a black pillar candle out and set it on the ground then took a dagger out of a sheath on his belt. “It won’t keep the sikkqui down for long. Hurry, we need to draw a pentacle and perform a banishing spell.” He drew the pentacle and placed a wooden bowl at its center. “I need to inscribe the symbols within the pentacle. Please close a circle around us.”
Breanna didn’t move. Blood spells. Can’t do this… A green witch vows harm to none.
“Brea, please do as I say.”
“I won’t perform dark spells. And what are you doing here?” Her mind tried to process, but stuck on total confusion. Harm none…echoed through her mind. But this entity will harm us. I must do this to save the threat to us—our lives. Surely…
“You just need to close the circle. I will perform the spell. We don’t have time to talk about it. Please, just do as I ask.” He cut the inside of his forearm with the knife, then allowed his blood to flow into the bowl.
“Omigoddess…” Brea whispered. She turned to set the circle and called to each of the elements. “Earth, my body. Air, my breath. Water, my blood. Fire, my spirit… Please, I call upon you yet again, attend us and keep us safe. We wish no harm but will to keep ourselves safe. Aid Hunter’s spell with me, so mote it be!”
She watched Hunter sprinkle herbs into the blood. He began to chant in an unfamiliar language, then tossed a lit matchstick into the bowl.
A small flare of fire lit the night, then simmered, while Hunter continued to chant in a language Brea did not understand. The sikkqui reappeared behind Hunter, and a horrible banshee wail emitted from its mouth. Brea covered her ears and fell to her knees within the circle.
Turning to the creature, Hunter continued to chant. The sikkqui continued to writhe and scream.
“I will it done. I banish thee with the aid of a green witch and the elements. I beseech the Goddess, sweet Mother of this Earth, and the God, the Horned One, who is king over the banished and dead veils. As I ask, so mote it be.” Hunter spoke now in English and tossed one more powdery substance into the bowl. The fire arced, then died. The sikkqui let out one last blood-curdling scream and vanished into a smoldering patch on the ground.
Brea uncovered her ears and slowly stood. She stared at the smoldering patch of earth just outside the circle and listened as the normal night sounds returned. Crickets chirped, and a light breeze teased the candle flames. She glanced to Hunter who swept the pentagram away with a besom and returned the contents of the offering bowl to the earth, whispering a closing chant.
Moving to release the elements, give thanks and finally leave to the Lady and Lord, Brea nudged an opening in the circle and then gathered the altar cloth to attend to Hunter’s still bleeding wound. She knelt beside him and gently took his arm in hand.
“Here. Let me wrap your arm.” She tied the cloth as a tourniquet about his forearm. “Thank you… How did you know to come?”
Hunter grazed the fingers of his good hand down her cheek. “I am your familiar, the wolf.”
“Aahhh… Now I understand.” Two faces. Man and wolf… She searched his gaze. “When I first met you, I puzzled at the sense that you had two faces. I felt your frustration and aggression.” She touched his face. “So…The Lady and Lord have brought us together three-fold.”
“Three-fold?” Hunter stood bringing her with him. “How so?”
“First, tell me about this sikkqui and how it came to haunt you, Hunter.”
“I have hunted this creature, the sikkqui, for most of my life. I was only a boy, seven years old, when the sikkqui took my mother and twin brother. I couldn’t do a thing… My father was away.” He told her everything, even what Nadyia and Mica had told him.
Brea gasped at the knowledge that her beloved property was part of the hellish backdrop of the gruesome tale, but she kept quiet.
“The sikkqui had been unable to torture my father, so the thing pointed its revenge at me, which I now understand is why I was left alive.”
Breanna reached out to take his hand. “I am so sorry… How horrible for you and to waste so much of your life on this specter. I knew there was more to your story.”
“I am only glad it is finally done. So, tell me what you mean by three-fold?”
“It seems your beast was given to me as my familiar. Your strength and persistence have destroyed the beast that created so much havoc in your life and presently mine.” She smiled. “And it seems our hearts sing for one another. But tell me. How is it you knew to be here? Now?”
“I feared the sikkqui would harm you. It vowed to go after all I cared for. I will stop at nothing to protect you. You are the only thing that has ever soothed my beast.” He smiled, squeezed her hand and pulled her to him. “Come here. I would do it all again to finally have you here now. One day I will explain it all to you, but now, I just want to kiss you…” His head dropped, his lips lightly touching hers.
Brea melted into his embrace and drew comfort and security in his arms. She slid her hands behind his neck and touched her lips to his. He hungrily met her kiss, his palm cradling her head closer. His tongue slid along the seam of her mouth, then pushed through. She opened to him. Her tongue moved to wrap with his in a slow dance.
Hunter pulled back and gazed into her eyes. “Now my greatest job is to get to know you.” His hands massaged gentle circles on her back.
She smiled. “My wolf, my protector. I look forward to getting to know all of you.” She shifted, feeling the desire physically as well emotionally emanating from him. She breathed deeply to stifle her own desire.
“I plan to take this slow and easy.” He caressed her face and pushed a stray strand of silken hair behind her ear. “We have forever.”
“Yes, we do.”
Hauntings in the Garden, Volume One Page 22