Hallowed Circle

Chapter 34

Xerxadrea took center stage with all the slow pomp of an Eldrenne in full dress. The assembled crowd gave her the respectful silence she deserved, until she said, "I'd wager you didn't think an old crone could do her own stunts."

The laughter and applause she received in response fully restored the party mood of the room.

I watched from under the catwalk, undetected by the camera crews above me. I'd put the mask back on, simply because it made me feel safer and hidden. Johnny brought Beverley to me then hurried backstage. She clung to my arm and whispered, "Johnny called Demeter to let her know I'm okay."

"Good."

"I can't believe it! Did you see Aquula?"

I went down on one knee beside her, to hear her better. "I did."

"She's a real mermaid! Did you see her skin, all glittery? And her eyes? Wow! She was sooo much cooler than Ariel."

"Did she like your costume?"

Beverley nodded. "She said I was adorable."

I stood, rubbed her hair, and pulled her closer to me, relaxing some muscles I hadn't realized were still taut. But in my heart, I still worried. How could I be the Lustrata and avoid endangering her over and over? I had to figure out an answer to that.

"I'm delighted you enjoyed our show," Xerxadrea was saying as I focused on the stage again, "but I am even more delighted to introduce to you the new High Priestess of Venefica Coven… Hunter Hopewell."

Hunter crossed the stage, at ease under the bright lights. The applause seemed to embolden her, where it had embarrassed me. Yes, she was perfect for the job. She declared her gratefulness to all the appropriate people, dropping the names of those who donated to the party—who were surely satisfied to hear themselves called out—and singled out those who gave of their time. Then, she announced the band to riotous applause and cheers.

Only a few measures into the first song, the Eldrenne and a handful of other women were making their way toward us, going down the steps into the office where most of the music's volume would be blocked. I stayed under the catwalk, knowing Beverley wanted to listen to at least a few songs.

Momentarily Goliath, minus his master, joined us. The armor part of his knight costume had been removed, leaving only the undergear. Though I knew the specific names of the pieces he wore, I couldn't recall them just then. My brain was too preoccupied by the many trains of thought zooming about on multiple tracks inside my head and trying to figure out which of them to follow. Goliath lifted Beverley onto his shoulders so she could get a better view of the band.

I stood there, letting my mind wander a bit, as I watched the crowd for a sign that someone among them had understood that what they'd seen wasn't a show. All eyes were on the band.

All eyes, that is, except Menessos's. Moving directly toward me, I let him have my attention. Beverley was alive because of him. He had red marks on his face, thin burns from the fairy. The crown was gone. In a torn tunic, he should have seemed haggard; but he didn't. He looked battle-worn, but victory clothed him as clearly as the fabric. It made heat rush through me like a jolt of courage.

Then I remembered myself and pulled the shield around my aura like a curtain.

But Menessos wasn't one to let a little metaphysical shielding get in the way. Stopping with only inches between us, he raised one finger and traced my jaw from chin to earlobe. My shields held off the effects until he touched my neck. I felt too tired to fight anymore, and ripples of heat crossed my body. I couldn't stop the sigh from escaping my lips.

"You're more than I dared to hope for," he whispered.

"What does that mean?"

He took my hands and kissed the back of each. "It means enjoy the rest of your evening, Persephone. Goliath." At his name, the other vampire turned. "It is time to go."

Goliath set Beverley down, said something in her ear. She grinned and nodded in response. Then Goliath joined his master in leaving.

I watched them go, not sure if I was sad or relieved.

When I turned back, Beverley was yawning. It was late and technically a school night, though after all she'd been through, I wasn't sure I could make her go to school tomorrow.

Then she put her hand in mine and said, "I'm tired."

I led her down to the office. Surrounded by the light of a dozen candles placed around the room, the Elders sat on chairs arranged in a circle. Vilna-Daluca immediately announced, with a knowing smile, that she'd fetch a cot for Beverley. I pulled the mask off and tucked it into my Tarot pouch.

"This is part of my lucusi," Xerxadrea said. "You know Vilna-Daluca. This is Silvana, Jeanine, Celeste, and Ludovika." Each nodded at me as their names were said. I tried to repeat their names to myself so I'd not forget. Talk quickly turned back to commenting on the wonderful turnout, the lovely decorations, and the loud music. Through it all, Vilna-Daluca smoothed Beverley's hair over and over until the girl was sleeping.

I was about to nod off too, when Hunter and Lydia finally joined us. From the buzz of the outer office's windowed door, it was clear the band's second set was roaring. Introductions were made again for Hunter, as the newcomers took the open seats.

"The Ball proceeding well?" Celeste asked politely.

Pleased by the inquiry, Hunter gave her a brief rundown. When she finished, though, Xerxadrea impatiently pointed to me and said, "Tell them."

They all turned to me expectantly. My chest went tight. A cleansing breath—in, then out—helped as I willed myself to relax. I stood, because, well, it felt appropriate to say this on my feet. "I… am the Lustrata," I said.

For a moment there was silence. Only Lydia and Hunter looked surprised. I don't know what I expected, but something would have been better than the nothing I got. In the silence that followed, I resisted the compelling urge to start spewing reasons and citing occurrences from my life that seemed to validate the claim. Keeping my mouth shut wouldn't give them ammunition to tear me down.

At first they were all openly staring at me, then, moment by moment and one by one, they turned to Xerxadrea. She sat with her head angled so the brim of her hat hid her face. The raven upon her shoulder resettled its feathers but was silent.

"The Redeemer? The Bringer of Justice and Light?" Lydia asked, finding her voice.

I wondered if everyone was going to have a different moniker for me.

"Yes," Xerxadrea said.

"Are you certain?"

The Eldrenne tapped her staff and held her hand out toward me, murmuring. The orb atop the staff began to glow softly and I felt a glittery, shimmering cold upon my skin. I began to glow and those gathered gasped as the Goddess's mantle appeared on my shoulders. Each circle of the armor that had come to me under that blue moon gleamed in the soft orb-light.

When their shock ebbed, the light faded.

I asked. "So… did I screw everything up out there?"

Silence.

"You killed a fairy on these grounds," Ludovika said.

"An act of war," Celeste murmured.

"It was not my intention to start a war," I said firmly. "I was ending the threat they posed to Beverley." My eyes went to the girl sleeping on the cot.

"It was inevitable," Xerxadrea said.

"The fairies will retaliate," Jeanine said.

"Earlier, Xerxadrea, you said I'd protected those I care about with my anonymity. But the fey took Beverley, they already know who I am."

"Other witches do not. The news media do not."

My brows furrowed. "Are you suggesting that other witches and humans are more dangerous than the fairies?"

"I am saying the fey will make a grand plan and they will use a secret to their advantage, as leverage. And knowing that, we can use it too."

"Beverley and my Nana must be safe." I disliked how thin my voice sounded.

"We will see to that," Vilna-Daluca said. She and Xerxadrea exchanged nods.

"Hunter, you and Lydia will be conducting the public ritual shortly," Xerxadrea said. "Afterward, Hunter, you must remain."

"You want to clean up tonight?" she asked with slight exasperation. "I hired a crew to come in tomorrow to do that."

I remembered her cleanser allergies and wasn't surprised by her strategy.

"This isn't cleanup," Vilna said. "We're initiating you and Persephone into the lucusi tonight."

I stayed with Beverley. Johnny, hair dripping with stage sweat, peeked in for an instant to say he'd be back in an hour when the ritual was concluded. "Don't leave without me," he said and shut the door. I didn't get to say anything before he'd taken off again.

With the comfy desk chair near Beverley, I arranged another chair so I could prop my feet in it. My fingers stroked Beverley's head as Vilna's had.

She had to be safe.

I killed a fairy. I took a life! Instigated war. Nana had warned me.

The weight of it all filled my chest, tightened my throat.

I won't cry. I'll fix it. No matter what. I'll find a way.

I drifted to sleep. Even when Johnny's voice whispered my name, even when I smelled the cedar and sage and freshly shampooed aroma of him, even as I felt his callused fingers on my cheek, I thought it was a dream. Then Beverley giggled and called me "Sleepyhead."

I sat up.

Johnny kissed my cheek. "They wanted me to leave, but I insisted I had to see you."

"Who wanted you to leave?"

"The witches. They're getting ready to do something up there, so I can't stay. They allowed me to come and wake you, but they also said I could take this drowsy mermaid with me." He poked Beverley in the ribs.

"Do I get to ride your motorcycle?" Beverley asked, eyes widening.

"No, take my car," I said quickly, reaching into the Tarot pouch for my car keys.

"Aw," Beverley whined.

"I don't have a helmet that'd fit you, anyway," Johnny said. "And your eyes won't stay open. You nod off on a bike wearing an oversize helmet and you'll dump yourself on the road!"

"Then how will Seph get home?"

Johnny said, "We could wait?"

"We'll see that she gets home," Vilna-Daluca said from the doorway. "Come with me, Beverley, and give them a moment?"

She followed Vilna from the office.

I stood, stretched my arms high. Johnny's warm hands on my waist preceded the kiss he planted on my cheek.

My arms fell about his shoulders.

His arms wrapped around me too, then his hands cupped my backside. "Oooo. Velvet."

When we left the office and emerged at the base of the eastern stairwell, a black-robed woman whose face was hidden in the depths of her hood stood silently waiting.

"This is where I move along," Johnny said. He squeezed my hand and took the steps two at a time with Beverley running and giggling behind him. "See you at the house."

The woman before me, obviously one of the lucusi, lifted another cape just like her own and offered it in a manner that said she would put it on me. I went forward and slipped into the soft cape. She then turned me, fastened the front at my throat, and lifted the hood, positioning it to hide my face. I could see out clearly even though my eyes were hidden in the depths. Lastly, she pushed the cape's length behind my shoulders, so my arms could move freely.

She led me up the stairs, where another cloaked woman stood beside Hunter, who I recognized only because of what I could see of her Isis costume.

I took in the Covenstead. The hush of emptiness had fallen and four women, all cloaked with hoods up, waited around the pentacle in the floor. It was only the eight of us now.

The two women led Hunter and me across the Covenstead floor and indicated where we should stand. I was surprised our places were not on any of the star's points, but rather in between them.

The women who'd led us took places at the points, and the other four filled in the other points, leaving one, where Xerxadrea with her staff and raven took up a position to triangulate mine and Hunter's.

Xerxadrea called up a circle, then strode around us making her quarter calls and Goddess invocation. Then, around us, the five women on the points began chanting. Their movements were stiff, but it was clear they were calling up energy from the nucleus below. I could feel something physical manifesting with their sorcery. In moments I could see a dark mist floating in the center, but where Xerxadrea stood she blocked what was forming from my view.

The Eldrenne chanted with them, a separate chant, one that almost mocked the meter and tone of their chant, but her words were old words and they worked efficiently.

"For you," the ley line whispered. Power shot upward, like a geyser erupting at the center. White light shone from it. Mist curled around our feet.

The chant ended and the hooded women stood with their arms outstretched before them.

"A gift," Xerxadrea called. "By accepting this gift, you are inducted into my lucusi," she said. "And on your honor you vow to follow my commands." She paused. "Do you so swear, Hunter Hopewell?"

"So I swear," she said.

"Do you so swear, Persephone Alcmedi?"

I wanted to know what they had created, but I trusted Xerxadrea. "So I swear."

Immediately, two brooms skittered across the floor and rose up, broomsticks in Xerxadrea's hands. She offered the brooms to us.

From the broomstick tip to the dried straw making its base, it was black. In my palm, the broomstick was smooth despite the beautiful symbols etched along its length. And, as newly created matter, it was warm. This symbol of women's labor tingled in my hand.

"Thank you," I said. Hunter did likewise.

"You are welcome," Xerxadrea said. Then each of the lucusi members repeated her. They had all created these, for us.

"Awaken them," Vilna-Daluca said.

Holding the broom before me, I whispered, "Awaken ye to life."

The end lifted into the air. The broom floated in front of me, suspended horizontally about two feet above the floor. I looked up to the assembled women, to Hunter. They laughed. So did I.

"Is this what I think it is?" Hunter asked.

Xerxadrea gestured to the eastern doors and they flung open. "Try them out," she said.

And the lucusi materialized their brooms, spoke the awakening, and sat on their floating broomsticks. Hunter and I still stood stunned and motionless.

Then the witches flew out into the night.

Hunter and I exchanged a look before hurriedly mounting our brooms.

I sat upon the straw where it was bound to the broomstick. It held my weight easily, steadily. Copying what I had seen the others do, my legs bent so my knees pointed down, and, hovering there, I tucked my toes under my bottom. "East," I said.

I rode the broom from the Covenstead as if I'd been doing it all my life.