by Robin Roseau
"I would consider you a package deal, Lyra."
"Seriously?"
"Yeah."
"That's why no U-Hauls."
"It's part of it. Maybe that's where we'll end up, but it would take time. We can make it work, but it would be a fairly significant conversation, and it's far too soon."
And so I nodded and let her soothe me further.
Halloween
Raelyn and I continued to date. In the time leading up to Halloween, we didn't see each other every day, but nearly so. The sex continued to be amazing, even without magic most of the time.
We spent a few nights together, some at her place, some at mine. And we found a lot of stolen moments.
She seemed to like joining me at the shop, and if she did, she frequently would take over at the cash register if we were at all busy. I quietly whispered to her, "So, joining my little collection of worker bees?"
She laughed at that. We were currently without customers, so she pulled me into her arms and gave me a deep kiss. "Yes," she said. But then she grinned. "But as much as you're claiming me, I'm claiming you, too, and if this continues, you'd find yourself helping me with recruiting or anything else I wanted."
I smiled. "I'd like that."
"And I like this." She returned my smile. "You're wearing portions of my aura."
"I am?" She nodded sagely.
"Want me to prove it?"
"Sure."
"Move away." She pointed, and I stepped away from her. "Close your eyes. I'm going to tug on my aura, and you're going to find yourself following me around the shop. Keep your eyes closed."
A moment later, I did, indeed, feel a tug, a fairly strong tug, and I took a step forward. She spent the next ten minutes leading me all over the shop. I should have been intimidated, but I found it amusing and awfully sexy.
I was hers, at least a little bit, and I didn't mind at all.
* * * *
She encouraged me to try to manipulate my magic. "You can try to stir someone else's aura like I told you, or you can try to tug on that portion of your aura wrapped around Jaime and Felicity. You'll have a hard time trying to manipulate magic until you do this, because you can't see what you're doing. But you can see their aura."
And so I did.
Felicity caught me at it. It took her days to say something. Whenever we were close together, I tried pushing her aura around. Finally she turned to me. "Just what are you doing?"
"Can you feel it?"
"You aren't touching me."
"I have my hands in your aura."
"You do?" I nodded. "Do it again."
So I did, trying to stir the aura over her arms. I did it for a minute or two, and then suddenly she rubbed her arms.
"You felt something?"
"I don't know. Maybe. Why are you doing that?"
"I'm learning magic."
Her voice rose. "You're practicing on me?"
"I have to learn to manipulate aura before I can learn magic," I said. "I'd do my own, but I can't see mine. I can see yours. Do you mind?"
She thought about it. "Will it hurt?"
"If I do it right, it will feel really, really good. Well, based on how it feels when Raelyn does it to me."
"Would you be seducing me?"
"No."
She thought about it. "I want to see this for myself the next time she's here."
"All right."
And so I didn't practice any more, but Raelyn stopped by the shop to take me to lunch the next day, and I asked her to show Felicity what it was like.
Felicity eyed both of us nervously when I told her what we were going to do. But finally she nodded.
It was very strange to watch. Raelyn stepped away from me, and then she began to brush her hands through Felicity's aura. Felicity closed her eyes, and her lips parted, making an "oh" shape. Finally Raelyn stepped back, and Felicity slowly opened her eyes.
"Is that what Lyra is trying to do?"
"Yes," said Raelyn. "It's possible to do it so it hurts, but Lyra isn't that kind of witch. If she does anything that hurts, tell her to stop."
"You weren't casting some spell?"
"No."
"It felt nice. Lyra, you can practice all you want." She turned her gaze back on Raelyn and smiled. "And you can do that to me, too, any time you want. It was nice."
Raelyn smiled. "Then I will, but not too often." She glanced at me. "It's actually a little personal, and most witches would be upset if I did that to their, um, friends." She gave me a look that said, "don't ask in front of her".
After that, Felicity and Raelyn began hugging their greetings, and I could see Raelyn brushing Felicity's aura when she did it.
* * * *
It was three days later before I saw Felicity's aura swirl around my fingertips. Before, it had always been as if there was no interaction. I'd never felt like I'd affected someone's aura before. But I saw it swirl like smoke. I was behind Felicity at the time, and she spun to face me.
"What did you do?"
"Did it hurt?"
"No. What did you do? Did you touch me? It felt like you touched me."
"Did you like it?"
"Do it again." She held out her hand. But when I tried, nothing happened. After a minute or two, we both grew frustrated.
"Sorry," I said.
"Keep practicing." She grinned.
It was two days later on the sofa before I was able to do it again. We were watching some television show. I wasn't at all into it. But Felicity had offered her arm to me, and I'd spent the last hour and a half trying to affect her aura. Then suddenly, I did.
"Oh wow," she said, looking over at me. "Weird."
I concentrated, and I slowly was able to drag some of her aura from near her hand up her arm before it got away from me and flowed back where it belonged.
"Oh, that was really weird," she said. "It felt like you rolled a sleeve up."
"In a way, I did, I guess," I said.
"Do the caress thing again. I liked that."
It took a few tries, but I was able to caress her with her aura, but I didn't really understand what I was doing, and I wasn't consistent about it.
But after that, I became obsessed with it. I was a child with a new toy, and if I wasn't very good at playing with that toy, it didn't matter. Felicity and Jaime were deeply amused, but they were both cooperative. But when I got caught by a customer trying to stroke Felicity's arm, they made a simple rule: not in front of anyone else.
I showed Raelyn what I could do. It was a lot, lot harder to do to her than to Felicity, and I wasn't very good or consistent with my best friend. But when I finally swirled Raelyn's magic, the congratulations I received included a hug, a kiss, and one strenuous lovemaking session.
When finally we lay together, both exhausted, I asked her, "When do I learn to cast spells?"
"When you can stroke and swirl my aura without thinking about it, you're ready to begin learning spells. Lyra, do not be in a hurry. It's going to take a long time. Certainly months, but probably years."
"Years?"
"I was a young girl when I learned I could manipulate auras. I didn't know it was actually magic I was manipulating. But I was sixteen when I learned to cast my first spell, and it was a very, very simple spell."
"You're telling me it will take ten years?"
"It could. I don't think it will be that long. If I had to guess, I'd say two or three. It could be sooner if this is all you worked on, or if you had someone who knew how to teach you. I don't. But I know you need to learn this before you can learn spells."
"Will you let me practice on you?"
"Practice on Felicity and Jaime," she replied. "When you can caress their aura or take some of it and twirl it like I showed you, and when you can get them to follow you around by tugging on your portion of their aura, then we'll see."
* * * *
Halloween arrived. I appeared on Raelyn's doorstep at four, a little earlier than she expected. We smiled at eac
h other, and then I stepped past her into her house. She pressed me up against the closed door and delivered a soul-wrenching kiss. We clung to each other afterwards.
Raelyn was wearing a costume. We separated, and I looked her over.
She looked like Morticia from Addam's Family. She had a long, black wig and wore a long, black gown.
She looked great.
"You told me to wear street clothes."
"That's because I have a costume for you." She grinned. "You're going to look so cute."
"If you have some princess costume waiting for me..."
She laughed. "Nope."
"You said cute."
"I sure did." She grinned. She stepped closer and began caressing my aura, and she was serious about it. My eyes lidded, then closed.
"You cheat," I whispered.
"Going to fight me on this?"
"I haven't even seen it."
She stepped up what she was doing.
"Raelyn-"
"You know you're going to do whatever I want, Lyra."
"You don't have to be so cocky," I said. "Oh god, don't stop."
She caressed my aura for a while, my arms, my sides, my face. She kept it up as she drew me to her bedroom. I stood still while she undressed me, and she never stopped caressing my aura. I was completely aquiver long before she had me down to my undies.
"You're going to do whatever I want, aren't you, Lyra?"
"Yes," I whispered.
"If I dress you in like a pink-haired anime nymph, you'll smile and love it, won't you?"
"Yes."
She kissed me. "Good. Your wig isn't pink." She chuckled at me. She sat me down at her dressing table and did my makeup first. She went for understated and tasteful, and she was far better at it than I was. Somehow she made me look younger and innocent. I couldn't have explained how.
Then she ordered me to stand and close my eyes while she dressed me. She started with stockings. Then she added a dress with an integrated corset that she laced up. The dress only made it partway down my thighs, and I knew I was showing far more leg than I normally would choose. And more of my chest was visible than made me comfortable, too.
"Raelyn," I whined.
"Trust me, Lyra."
"This isn't me."
"It's Halloween. It's not supposed to be you."
"I don't want to look cheap, Raelyn."
"You don't look cheap," she replied. "You are wearing far, far more than you might at the beach."
"Raelyn..."
"Trust me, Lyra. Almost ready."
She set me back in the chair but ordered me to continue to keep my eyes closed. Then she began on my hair, pulling it tight to the back of my head, pinning it there, and then pulling some sort of tight cap over it. Then she added a wig, a long, long wig.
I'd never worn a wig before.
She spent time adjusting it, making sure it was secure and playing with the lay. Most of it fell down my back, but she arranged some to fall in front of my shoulders.
"Stand up."
She moved me away from the dressing table. She added a hat, and a moment later she was kneeling in front of me, helping me into a pair of heels. She stood, took my hand, and led me several steps.
"Ready?"
"I guess."
"So little trust? I'm hurt, Lyra."
"I trust you, Raelyn."
"Open your eyes."
I found myself standing in front of a full-length mirror. The dress was purple and shimmered. It was a beautiful color. The wig was rusty red; I had never envisioned myself in that color. The stockings weren't stockings. They were dance tights, semi-sheer for most of their length, but opaque where it counted. I wouldn't be flashing my undies at anyone. And the large hat was pointed and matched the color of the dress.
"You look very cute," Raelyn said.
"I look like..." She let me think of it. "You made me look young. Somehow."
She grinned. "Have you figured it out?"
"I'm a witch. But-"
"You're an apprentice witch," she said with a grin. "And sexy, but not slutty. It's a cliché, and it's perfect for the party tonight."
"Party?"
"Later tonight," she said. "After the kids have come and gone."
"Kids?"
"Trick or treaters. You do understand about Halloween customs, don't you?" She laughed. "You look amazing, Lyra."
I looked myself up and down. She had transformed me. I was, well, pudgy. Soft. I was a complete bookworm, after all. But she had transformed me. I looked good. Innocent.
"This doesn't fit what we did last time we were together."
She laughed. "You look perfect, Lyra. Absolutely perfect."
"I-" I looked back at the mirror. "You're making me go to a party like this?"
"Yes. The host does this party every year. Everyone comes in costume, and they are traditional but cliché or sarcastic at the same time. Clearly witches have never dressed in a hat such as this, but this is the cliché, and yours is not the only hat like this we'll see tonight."
I nodded then turned back and forth, examining myself in the mirror. Finally I turned to Raelyn. "I love it. I'm sorry I was a poop."
"You're self-conscious about your appearance. I don't think you should be, but I understand. Well, we're just in time. The kids will start ringing the doorbell any minute."
* * * *
We worked the door together. Sometimes we took turns answering it. Sometimes we did it together. Raelyn lived in a family neighborhood, and there were a lot of kids that stopped by. The younger kids were accompanied by their parents, and Raelyn greeted many of them by name. And clearly some of the older kids knew her. A few called out, "Great costume, Ms. Woods!"
In between visits from kids, she teased me. She stroked my aura often, although not to the point of distraction. I also got my fanny fondled, which I loved. But then I realized something.
"If anyone but you does that tonight, I'm going to be pissed."
"If anyone does it, be gracious about it," she replied.
I offered her the stink eye.
"This is a case where you're going to do what you're told, Lyra."
"We might have that sort of relationship in the bedroom, Raelyn, but-"
She covered my lips with her fingers, moving very close to me. "Please, Lyra. I'll explain more during the drive."
I stared into her eyes then reached up and pulled her fingers away. "Who is hosting the party?"
"An old friend and one of the most powerful witches I know. It's time you met more of us."
"When were you going to tell me that?"
"During the drive."
"Once it was too late to decline?"
"You do not decline an invitation to one of Cybele's events, Lyra."
"I don't know Cybele," I said. "Nor did I receive an invitation. I'm you're plus one."
"She is looking forward to meeting you, Lyra."
"I don't want to go, Raelyn. Tell her I got sick."
The doorbell chose that moment to ring. I was ready to flee to the bedroom and remove the costume, but Raelyn grabbed my hand, and the two of us answered the door together. It was a fairy princess and a cowboy, along with their mother. We handed out candy and waved goodbye. As soon as the door was closed, I said, "I'm not going. Have a nice time."
I tried to flee to her bedroom, but she moved in front of me, blocking the path. "What are you afraid of?"
"Being noticed."
"You'll be with me."
"You should have told me, Raelyn."
She stared at me for a minute then lowered her eyes. "I'm sorry. I wanted it to be a surprise. I'm sorry." Then she looked up. "Please, Lyra. It's important."
"Why?"
"Because Cybele expects you, and she is not a woman you want to disappoint. She is not a woman I want to disappoint."
"It sounds like it will be a full party; she won't notice one more or less."
"She expects to meet you, Lyra."
"She knows
my name?"
"Yes."
"You shouldn't have told her!" I said. "That was wrong of you."
"I didn't tell her of you. She knows everything, Lyra. She called me and asked if I was bringing you."
"Who have you told about me?"
"I talked to her about you, but she brought it up. She already knew who you were and that we were dating. She has eyes everywhere, Lyra."
"Who else have you told about me?"
"Just Cybele."
"I don't want to go," I said in a small voice. Raelyn waited. And then I said, "I don't have a choice, do I?"
"I'm sorry. If you hadn't received an invitation through me, it is very likely you would have received one more directly. This is better, Lyra. I'll keep you safe."
"I-" I closed my mouth and shook my head. I looked down at the floor between us. "Fine."
But I moved away from her, and I stopped answering the door. I went into her kitchen and found a bottle of wine. I poured myself a glass, and then I nursed it.
I didn't think it would be a good idea to arrive tipsy. I thought I was going to need my faculties about me.
I didn't bring a glass to Raelyn. If she wanted one, she could pour it herself. And I kept a piece of furniture between us, too. I wasn't interested in being soothed into submission.
I was angry with her, but more than that, I was frightened.
Raelyn hadn't been one of the witches that Verity had warned me about, but I wondered about this Cybele person. What kind of name was that? Raelyn had pronounced it as "Sy-bel-lee". But then who was I to talk? My mother had named me Lyra.
Raelyn left me alone, although she made a point of keeping an eye on me. Perhaps she was worried I'd make a break for it, and the thought had certainly crossed my mind. But when it became apparent I wasn't letting her near me, she gave me the space I needed.
The ringing began to trail off. Promptly at nine, Raelyn said, "I'm going to turn off all the decorations outside and we're going to talk for a few minutes. Then it is time to go."
"Fine," I said.
She was gone only a minute or two. When she stepped back into the house, we stared at each other.
"Lyra, you're going to have a nice time."
"I doubt it."
"I thought you said you trusted me."
"I did until you sprang this on me. You should have told me."
"If I had, would you have agreed to go?"