Erin's Awakening (12 page)

"Don't forget you have a fitting tomorrow right after lunch
,” Kira reminded her.

Ari nodded and Sheela chimed in, "I will meet you there so we can go look at bouquet samples."

"What about the caterer?” Erin asked.

"Ah, Mrs. O'Leary is catering, of course.  She is getting a plan together, we meet with her day after tomorrow
," Ari said.  "Would you all mind coming with me to the fitting?  I want you to see if you like the dresses I chose for you as my bridesmaids."

The sisters all agreed and Ari told them Calli
, as well as their grandmother, were already coming with her.  Their grandmother wanted to find the right dress for the wedding, as she wanted something new.

Just then, the front door opened and Ari said, "Uh oh, here it comes.  Or should I say, here they come."

The men walked through into the kitchen and took in the scene.  "Okay if we come in?" Aedan said.

Erin smiled at him and held out her hand.  "Sure.  We were just munching."

Aedan walked over to her and took her hand to kiss.  Her sisters giggled and Kira said, "Aedan, do you and Myles have any brothers?"

Reilly stepped further into the room and said, "Don't answer that, she is already gunning to meet our brothers and one is married."

Aedan laughed and said, "We don't have any brothers, only a sister."

"Damn.  Well, fine
," Kira said and turned to Sheela.  "Looks like we will be sharing dances."

Sheela laughed.  "You go ahead.  I'm good.  I don't want a man in my life.  No offense, guys."

"None taken," Myles said.

Kira stood.  "I'm going to bed.  Ari, come get me when you are ready to go tomorrow.  I will be back in the back garden, practicing."

Ari nodded.  "Night, sleep well."

Everyone else chimed in saying good night to Kira and Sheela as she
, too, said good night.  Then it was the men with Erin and Ari.  The men split up to set the wards around the castle as Ari and Erin said good night.

"You really are happy with them, aren't you?" Ari said to Erin.

Erin smiled.  "Yeah, they are great.  They make me very happy.  You know, before things get crazy, I just want to say I love you and I am so happy that you have found love.  No one deserves it more."

Ari got tears in her eyes and began to wave a hand in front of her face.  "Thank you
, honey, I love you, too.  Now, stop or I'm going to be blotchy and I really want some sex tonight."

Erin burst out laughing.  "Okay, okay.  I'm going up, good night.  See you tomorrow.  I will be at the fitting.  I'm dying to see the dress."

They hugged each other and Ari left.  Erin had realized when she stood to hug Ari that she had drank more than she thought and was past tipsy.  She tried to breathe slowly through her nose to try to center herself, but it wasn't doing much good.  She walked, stumbled really, to the stairs.  As she looked up to the top, it looked very high up there.  Just when she was trying to get the nerve to climb and at the same time thinking the couch in the living room was pretty comfortable, two strong arms swept her up.

She looked up into Myles'
s face and laid her head on his shoulder.  "My hero."

He chuckled and said, "Come on,
kitten.  Let's get you to bed."

He carried her to her room and stood her on her feet.  Aedan entered and they began to undress her.  She tried several times to lean in and kiss one or the other.  They chuckled at her and indulged her by kissing her back.  When they were finished, they gently laid her in bed and climbed in beside her.

She turned and cuddled up to Myles while Aedan snuggled behind her.  She fell fast asleep within moments, happy and warm between her men.

Erin woke and groaned as she rolled over.  Her men weren't in bed with her
, but they were sweet enough to leave her a glass of water and aspirin beside the bed.  She quickly took the pills and downed the glass of water.  She slowly got out of bed and went to take a long, hot shower.

She felt much better after her shower and got dressed quickly before heading downstairs to grab some food
, knowing she could recover faster if she had food in her.  When she entered the kitchen, Myles and Aedan were waiting on her.  They had poured her coffee and had made her some food.  She kissed each one of them thoroughly in thanks and sat down to eat.

They chatted about plans for the day and Myles argued with her about all the sisters going to the fitting.  Erin had told them no men were allowed.  He was really unhappy about that.  So were Reilly and Lachlan as they came in and heard the conversation.

"You all need protection,” Myles insisted.

"I know that, but we will be together.  There's nothing to worry about
," Erin told him.

"There is everything to worry about.  There has already been an attack when all of you were together
," Reilly said calmly.

"Yes, but we are stronger now and we defeated him then.  Please, this is important to Ari.  You two can't see her in her dress before the wedding
," Erin said.  "How about if I call you when we arrive and when we leave?” she tried to compromise.

Lachlan sighed.  "They are all determined to do this and she's right, Ari would be upset if we saw the dress."

"I can see it.  Both of us can, we can protect them,” Myles insisted.

"We can't be imprisoned because of whatever threat is out there
,” Erin told him.

"She's right
,” Aedan said calmly.  "They need to do this.  Erin, you will call us when you arrive and when you leave.  Right?" he said firmly.

Erin nodded.  "I promise.
”  She looked around at the men.

She could tell
they weren't happy about the arrangements, but she was determined that Ari would be able to do everything a bride would do without the interference of the men.  She wanted her to enjoy this time, it was supposed to be a happy one for a bride.  She was going to make sure Ari had that and more.

****

He stood and straightened his suit as he entered the darkened bar.  He glanced around and looked toward the back.  He walked to the back corner that held a booth one could sit and talk in relative privacy.  He sat down and waited for his appointment to arrive.  They had never met in person, always speaking on the phone, but time was running out and he needed to finish this with those women so he could move on with his plans.

He looked up as the Dark One entered.  He was known in the
Wiccan world as a very dangerous and vicious Wiccan who had turned against the Council years ago.  He hoped they could continue their relationship once the Five were defeated and he was in power.

The Dark One sat down and they began to speak of the one thing that could bring them both what they wanted.  He wanted the power the Five could bring him and the Dark One wanted the death of the Council.  If they worked together, both could be achieved.  He outlined what he needed from the Dark One and then told him all the details of how to go about getting the women alone.

The Dark One agreed to the terms he laid out.  He sent men with him to ensure it was done.  He trusted the Dark One only so far.  Now he had to make contact with his lady.  She would help him set his plan in action.  Finally, everything was set.  He grinned as he thought,
Poor Adrianna, no wedding for you
.

****

The sisters and their grandmother got into the SUV, waving goodbye to the men who looked very unhappy.  They arrived at the shop with no problems and Erin did as promised, calling Myles to let them know they were fine.  Then they all sat around the seating area, waiting while Ari changed.               When Ari stepped out, wearing her gown, all the women squealed in delight.

Her grandmother approached her and said, "You look just like your mother did on her wedding day.  The dress turned out beautiful.
”  The two women hugged as all the women wiped at the tears in their eyes.

Coni had given her their mother's wedding dress with her sisters
' blessing and it had been slightly altered to look a little more modern.  It was ivory with an allover beaded Irish lace trumpet gown with empire waist and cap sleeves that had originally been long.  It also had a chapel train.  Ari kept everything original except for shortening the sleeves, it was a simple change but made the dress modern.  She looked exquisite.

As the seamstress got to work making sure the fit was perfect, one of her helpers brought out the bridesmaids
’ dresses.  They were done in a pale blue, like the sky in the glen, and were sleeveless, V-neck, cotton sateen dresses.  They had pleating at the bodices and waists that helped to create a flattering silhouette while the full cotton sateen skirt added movement.  It flowed over each sister, looking graceful and sexy.  Ari told them that she had picked those particular dresses because they could be used for other occasions.

Everyone was fitted and happy with how everything had turned out.  Coni had gotten a beautiful dress in peach that fit her perfectly with no alterations necessary.  They all headed out of the shop as Erin called Myles as promised, letting him know they were on their way back.  They just had to stop at the florist and he told her to call when they were heading to the castle.  She rolled her eyes but promised she would.

The florist had several bouquets all set up for Ari to look over when they arrived at the shop.  Ari loved Calla Lilies, so she had the florist make up a bouquet that had deep purple Calla Lilies, her favorite, with a mix of English lavender to symbolize love and devotion.  The florist reminded Ari it was tradition for the bridesmaids to carry Myrtle to plant after the ceremony so they, too, would marry someday.  Her sisters all had something to say about that, mostly protesting, and then they all laughed.  They decided they would carry Blue Bells with Sweet Alyssum in small bouquets. 

After everything was finally decided upon, the women left the little shop in town and headed back to the castle.  Erin texted Myles this time as they were all discussing the arrangements for the wedding.  As they piled into the SUV, Calli won the toss to drive with Kira in the passenger seat.  No one would even
consider Sheela to drive, as they were all terrified of her driving.  Due to her profession, she tended to go fast and furious.

They were all in a debate about a bachelorette night when Calli suddenly swerved off the road and ran straight into a tree.  They hit hard and Erin threw herself over her grandmother sitting next to her.

As the initial shock wore off, Ari yelled, "Is everyone okay?"

Erin said, "I'm good.  Are you okay, Mamo?"

"Yes, child, just a little shaken,” their grandmother said.

"We're okay back here
,” Sheela said, answering for her and Ari.  "Kira?"

"I'm fine, bumped my head.  Calli is out cold
," Kira answered.

Erin grabbed her phone and called Myles, when he answered, she said, "We were in an accident."

"Are you hurt?  Where are you?" Myles demanded.

Erin looked around.  "Everyone seems fine.  Next to Bannion Lake.  Not far."

"Stay there.  We are on our way,” Myles told her and hung up.

Erin opened the door and stepped out.  She went around to the driver's door and saw that Calli was back against the seat, so she opened the door.  She checked Calli's pulse and breathing, finding her just passed out with no visible injuries.  By that time, all the other sisters got out, while their grandmother remained in the car with Calli.

The wind suddenly picked up speed, furiously knocking the sisters back a step.  Erin glanced around quickly and saw Ari go on alert as well.

Kira pointed across the lake.  "T
here.  Who is that?"

As the sister
s stood outside the SUV, they all gasped as their Blessed Five marks began to heat up at the same time. It only happened to them when there was power around them or they were using their own.

The four sisters all looked and s
aw a figure of a man standing across the lake.  He was dressed all in black with a black hat pulled low on his face to cover his identity.  The sisters all stood side by side facing him.  He raised his hand and another blast of air came from him.

Erin shut the car doors telling Mamo to stay
inside with Calli.  Ari raised her hand and blasted the man back with a blast of air stronger than what he had sent over.  Erin raised her hands and called down the rain.  It began to storm over the man, raining harder and harder.  With the combined rain and Ari's wind, he was being knocked off his feet time and again.  Suddenly, he threw up his hand and it seemed that he had some sort of shield around him, which stopped the weather from getting to him.

Sheela stepped up and threw her hand at him like she was throwing a baseball.  From the center of her hand came a ball of flame, which flew straight toward the man.  The first one hit the shield then the second penetrated it, knocking the man off balance.  He stumbled back into a group of trees and began to raise his hands at once toward the sisters.