“Here you go.” Jack said, handing her a joint.
“So, what’s new?” she said, lighting it and taking a drag.
“Annabelle and Gaia fucked today.” Jack said casually before I could answer.
“What?” Raina’s eyes went wide. “Okay Witch, spill again.”
So I told her about my dreams, the map of interconnected incarnations, and how close to Gaia I’d become in the past few months.
“It only seemed natural.” I concluded. “She and I have a connection, but not one as deep and scary as… others.”
“You have your first experience with a woman,” Raina said, “and it’s with a super-experienced ancient Fae chick? Annie, you are one spoiled Sorceress!”
We laughed, and it felt good to be sitting with my two oldest friends on that day of change.
* * *
One of the great things about being in a polyamorous relationship with a vampire is that they never need to sleep, so the bed was always free. Gaia and I spent a decent amount of time in there over the next few days, when Vincent and I weren’t using it. My festival experience was quickly becoming spending all night around the fire, mornings with one of my two lovers, and meals at the cafe followed by live music every evening at the stage.
Then it was back to the drumming fire to start it all over again, and I was loving every minute of it!
Angelique still wasn’t around, keeping to the surrounding woods to keep an eye on things and make sure that nothing was trying to find its way past the protection spells surrounding the campground. My anxiety told me that she was avoiding me because she was upset about me and Gaia, but my sensible mind… as well as Vincent and everyone else around me… told me that she was giving me space, so it wasn’t awkward as I started to explore non-monogamy.
Of course, that makes me love her even more I thought. At least the specter of Angelique no longer loomed like an ominous shadow over everything… it looked more like a big hill in the distance: big and not easy but not as scary as before.
Not that I’m rushing to get to the base of the mountain.
I was killing some time back at the campsite, Gaia and I laying on a blanket with my head in her lap, when Jack and Katsu walked in. Jack was wearing a bright new Adf t-shirt in hunter green, while Katsu sported a new pentagram necklace on her otherwise nude form.
“So how’s it hanging, horn-dogs?” Jack asked.
“Delightfully.” Gaia answered, and kissed me sweetly.
“So, you guys going to the Druid blessing rite?” Katsu asked.
“Oak, Nancy, and Angela are all heading down now.” Jack continued. "We thought we'd stop by and remind y'all."
I had forgotten about the Druid blessing rite. With everything happening, it had slipped my mind. I looked up at Gaia, her green hair… she was in her human glamour since we were outside… tickling my cheek.
“What do you think, gorgeous?” I asked her. “Sound fun?”
“Sure does. Let me go change.” She gave me another slow, sensual kiss and I sat up to allow her to leave.
I decided to stay in the clothes I was wearing… a long green skirt and a matching green linen top… because it already felt Druid-like… or "Dru-ish' as Jack and I called it. Gaia soon reappeared in a blue and yellow dress, the colors contrasting with her dark skin beautifully. It was loosely tied around her waist, the front opening to show a glimpse of her breasts that was as tempting as possible.
Maybe we should skip… I thought. Nah. I can continue the sexual fun parade next week… this festival won’t be here then!
We walked down the road away from the pine woods, only instead of turning left at the fork in the road to go to the cafe, we instead walked straight forward, into an area that I hadn’t explored yet.
A clearing opened up ahead, and we soon saw a large stone circle, a fire in the middle. The stones weren't big… they were a foot or two high, so it wasn't Stonehenge… but I could tell that a lot of rituals had been done there. The edge glowed with the light of a thousand energy signatures, faded only by time.
There was a Druidic altar… complete with a large iron cauldron for the well and a wooden post standing in as the world tree… set up by the fire, and a variety of white-tunic clad Druids finishing the set-up. When they saw us, Oak and Angela hurried over.
“Hey, glad you guys could make it!” Oak said.
“I told you I’d drag these folks out of the site!” Jack said.
“We’re almost ready to begin.” Angela said. “Hang tight!”
They returned to the pre-ritual preparations, and I walked to the edge of the stone circle. The late afternoon sun had sunk behind the treeline, covering the entire circle in cool shade. A slight breeze blew from the west, and I could feel spirits moving in the woods just out of sight.
The spirits are getting ready! I thought excitedly.
I hadn’t done a Druid ritual since before my transformation into the Sorceress, and I was curious as to what I’d experience now that my perceptions had been, shall we say, sharpened by my new powers.
I noticed that the attendees were gathering by one particular opening to the stone circle, so my friends and I wandered over to join them. Jack and Katsu, who had been hanging out with Druids all week, chatted easily with several people I didn’t know while I took everyone in.
“I’ve known countless Druids through the centuries.” Gaia said softly in my ear. “I’ve not yet witnessed Adf Druidry… this should be fun.”
“I like it.” I replied. “I worked it a little before my transformation. One thing you’ll appreciate is that, unlike most of the ones you’ve run into since the original Druids died out, these folks admit that they’re not a direct continuance of ancient Druidry. They’re honest about trying to build a new Druidry for the twenty-first century.”
“No bullshit, huh?” Gaia said, nodding. “I’m impressed.”
“Okay, it's time to get going!" a large bearded man said, loudly, from the center. "For those of you that missed the pre-ritual briefing, just try to follow along as best you can, okay?" He started a drumbeat that was picked up by the smattering of drummers that had shown up, and the assembled crowd started to sing:
We approach the sacred grove,
With hearts and minds and flesh and bone
Join us now in ways of old-fashioned
We have come home…
I knew the chant well, it being one of the ones I had to memorize for my own rituals in the recent past. We walked in a rough procession, Gaia at my side, around the circle until we formed a ring around the center.
“We are here to keep the old ways… “ a woman said in the center. As she gave the opening prayer, my attention was drawn to the space we were standing in.
The center of the space was already glowing, light pulses of energy reaching the edge of the stone circle. I knew that I was one of the few who could perceive the energy at that point, but also knew that, as the energy grew, more would be able to feel its effects… even if they couldn’t see them.
The ritual continued, and the energy kept growing. I could see shapes and shadows moving around the edge of the forest, but couldn’t tell if they were spirits or wayward festival-doers.
They did their regular blessing of the three focus points for the ritual: the fire, burning brightly in the center… the well, represented by the cauldron… and the tree, a decorated ritual post that stood in for the mythical tree that connects all of the worlds. They then called on the gates between the world to open, and a most unusual sight greeted me.
Above the fire, well, and tree at the center of the stone circle, I saw rolling clouds form. They flashed with divine light like lightening, and it caused every word spoken to echo like we were in an elaborate stage production.
“What’s with the portal?” Gaia asked quietly in my ear.
“You can see that?” I asked back, surprised.
"It's pretty hard for someone who knows energy as I do to miss." she replied.
�
��It’s so the Gods, Goddesses, and nature spirits can commune with us.” I explained. “It clears the way so that, as they say, ‘the Gods can see our thoughts and know our hearts’… at least, I think that’s how it goes.” I shrugged. “It’s been a while since I did this kind of ritual. I can remember the chants perfectly… other words, not so much.”
I could see energy raining down on everyone there, forming pools of light on the grass. They fell in time with the pulses of energy coming from the center of the circle, pulses that flowed into the surrounding forest and beyond. As every God or Goddess was invoked, as every spirit of the land was invited in, I could see those invited walk out of the surrounding woods and join us around the ritual fire. Soon, I couldn’t always tell who was a spirit and who was an elaborately dressed festival attendee.
I smiled. I couldn’t tell what was really happening… if this was what happened in every Druid ritual, only that most didn’t have Sorceress sight to capture it… or if mine and my supernatural friends’ being there was causing something unusual. Hell, it might even be the land! I thought… it was definitely magickal.
No matter what’s causing it, it’s time to enjoy it! I thought.
I reached over and squeezed Gaia’s hand, and she squeezed back.
* * *
Contact had been made with the tribe of fire-spinners that the Oracle was traveling with, and we had been told that we could come and seek her out Friday night. As we sat at the cafe eating dinner that night, I was getting slightly fidgety.
“When are we going to see the Oracle?” I asked, picking at my food.
“After the concert.” Vincent answered.
“You know, the same answer we’ve given the last twenty times you asked?” Raina added.
“I’m excited, too.” Gaia, in her human glamour, said next. “I’ve been looking into this ‘Oracle’, and she’s supposed to be incredibly accurate.”
“Some of Trevor’s sources have said the same thing.” Evelyn said, finishing up her food.
“Where is your brother?” Raina asked. “I haven’t seen him all week.”
“Ah, a couple of Trevor’s old Starwood girlfriends… from when he was coming to the festival years ago… are camping together.” Evelyn replied. “They’re Morning-tide Fae, so they live to pamper humans. He’s been there all week.”
“Morning-tide Fae?” Drucilla said.
“We haven’t seen any of them… “ Darla continued.
“In forever and a day!” Cordelia finished.
“You know,” Raina said, looking sideways at the blue haired Fae in human glamours, “that whole ‘finishing each other’s sentences’ thing is really starting to annoy me.”
“I really want this to be done with.” I continued. “I’ve been feeling more calm and at peace all week. The Oracle is throwing a variable into the equation, and that bugs me.”
Both Vincent and Gaia put a hand on one of mine, and I instantly felt better.
“Remember to breathe.” Vincent said.
“Don’t forget,” Gaia added, “today and tomorrow are the last two full days of the festival. Enjoy every second.”
“You’re right, you’re both right.” I said, and I lifted each hand to kiss it in turn. “Thank you.”
Tiffany walked into the cafe and up to our table. “Chairs are set up, whenever you guys are done eating. Concert’s going to be a good one tonight!”
“Are Jack and Katsu there already?” I asked.
“They’re hanging with the Druids.” Tiffany replied. “They’ll be at the show, however, because the main act is a Druid band called Wicker Man.”
“I’m going to hang with the Druids as well. I said, rising. “I’m going to smoke a joint and try to get into the flow of things.”
“I’ll join you.” Gaia said, rising as well.
“I’m going to go down and make sure everything’s ready at the fire.” Vincent said.
“We’re… “ Cordelia started.
“Going… “ Darla said next.
“Hooping!” Drucilla finished.
Raina shot them a withering glance before shaking her head. “Y’all have fun… I’m going to go and find the raven-haired Goddess who has been seeing to my needs all week.”
“See you guys at the concert.” Evelyn said, getting out her phone. “I have some texts that need answering.
We split up and Gaia followed me to the encampment across from the stage where the set of Druids that Jack and Katsu had been hanging with were camped. Our friends were curled up in the nest chair again, and I could smell the pungent sweetness of cannabis smoke in the air.
“Hey everyone… “ I said, sitting down. “I didn’t get the chance to make introductions earlier. This is my girlfriend Gaia.”
“Hey.” she said, sitting beside me.
Oak, Angela, and Nancy were seated around the long table again and were joined by a young woman with blue and green hair. She was dressed in a red ADF shirt and jeans, and was busy rolling her own joint. Introductions were made, I discovered that the new Druid was named Mari-Anne, and then Oak looked at me with confusion.
“I thought you had a boyfriend.” he said.
“I do.” I replied. I took Gaia’s hand in mine. “And now I have a girlfriend, too.”
“This is new.” Gaia said.
“In this lifetime, anyway.” Jack added softly.
“I was polyamorous in a past relationship.” Angela said next. “I wound up dumping both guys for being insufferable whiners. Oak and I are monogamous.”
“Maybe I’m insecure,” Oak continued, “But the whole poly thing just never felt right to me.”
“It’s not right for everyone.” Mari-Anne said. “And people trying when they’re not ready or into it at all is what leads to all of the poly horror stories you can find… anywhere, really.”
“Amen to that, sister!” Angela said.
“So what’s new in the field of Celtic archaeology?” I said, shifting the conversation.
“Well, someone’s claimed to have found the medallion of the Tuatha De Dannan.” Oak said. “Or actually, have claimed that they know how to get it.”
“Though that’s as likely as finding living unicorns, it’s such a legend.” Angela added.
Gaia and I smiled at each other.
“There’s a lot of evidence for it’s existence.” Oak continued.
“All hearsay.” Angela countered. “A few diary entries passing on rumors of a mystical object by some Indiana Jones wannabe’s isn’t exactly rock-solid proof.”
“What’s the medallion of the Tuatha De-whatever?” I asked.
“Only the rarest item in Celtic mythology.” Nancy said. “So rare, many experts in the field are sure it doesn’t exist.”
“That’s because it doesn’t.” Angela said. “Look at the legend: a lost object supposed to open a mystical doorway that contains both riches and unimaginable danger. Does that sound even remotely harmonious with any other bit of Celtic mythology?”
“The legend says that it was closely guarded, known to only the inner circle of the Celtic priesthood… “ Oak said.
“Next you’re going to be saying something about jet fuel and steel beams.” Angela said derisively.
The band started their sound-check on the stage, and that caused the conversation to stop as everyone got up to head across the road. The Druids carried chairs, but ours were already set up when we got there.
I sat in my chair , which was next to Tiffany, and watched the crowd grow. The Blue Fae sisters were indeed hula-hooping, and I saw Raina curled up on the grass with the tall brunette I had seen her with all week.
“Ready for tonight?” Tiffany leaned over and asked in my ear.
“As ready as I’ll ever be.” was my response.
* * *
I walked with Vincent and Gaia down the long, winding road through the festival. We were heading to the big bonfire area, where people had been working since before the festival started to build the massive
bonfire that would be lit on Saturday night, the last night of Starwood. The group of fire-spinners that the Oracle was traveling with were camped down there, and we were going to finally meet her.
I looked at the campsites we passed as we walked. Many were decorated with bright colors and reflective surfaces, some with battery-powered strings of Christmas lights shimmering in the dark. Some had people hanging out, eating, partying, and generally having a good time. Others were deserted, their occupants going out for their entertainment.
We eventually got to an area of the festival that I hadn’t explored yet. I hadn’t been avoiding it, I had just never got around to seeing what was there. We passed a large dome made out of PVC pipe with soft lighting, a small fire, and a group already gathering inside.
“What’s that?” I asked Vincent.
"That, so they tell me, is the didge-dome." he replied. "It's where smaller drums and instruments, the kind that would get swallowed up by the thundering drums at the main drum circle, go-to jam. They're having a hafla, or middle-eastern music and dancing gathering, tonight.”
I made a mental note: I’ll have to check that out!
We walked on, me holding Vincent’s hand in one of mine, Gaia’s in the other. I was happy to have them both with me, as they kept me grounded.
We rounded a corner, and I could see the pile of wood for the next night’s big bonfire in the distance. It was lit up with spotlights, and was an impressive sight.
“That pile of wood has to be a story and a half tall.” Gaia said, her eyes wide. “The flames coming off of that thing are going to be ridiculous!”
As we got closer, we could see people in the nearby field practicing routines with flaming objects. Getting closer still, I could see that many of the fire-spinners had a certain look to them: piercings, tattoos, black clothing, different levels of bare skin, and dreadlocks… lots of dreadlocks. Some of them had tied-back long hair, while others looked like theirs was shaved.
I reached out with my senses. I feel no malice coming from them.
We walked to the edge of their practice space, and one young woman walked up to us.
The Witch: Book Two of The Sorceress Saga Page 37