The Arrival (Birthright Trilogy #1) (5 page)

We laughed and Brad promised to spread the news which made Kassie perk up as we walked to the jeep.

The drive home was quick and we gossiped about the costumes, avoiding any mention of the annoying incident. I pulled into the driveway and the others clambered out, then I locked the garage and followed them inside. Audi whined at the back door. I let her in and she followed me to the lounge where the others gathered.

'So? What’s the plan, Siany? What do you want us to do?'

Sian smiled at them.

'Actually, if you can grab all the candles in holders and bring them into the lounge, that’d be a good start.'

The girls disappeared off down the corridor and Sian turned her attention to moving the couches and chairs back, out of the way.

I flicked the light on in my room and stared around it. Yikes, I gulped. I have A LOT of candles in holders; it seemed to be the one present anyone could fall back on for me. My gaze dropped to the edge of the box hidden under my bed. It too was crammed full of even more candles and holders that I could no longer (sensibly) fit in my room.

I’ll just grab the ones that are out, surely that’ll be enough for Sian, I thought as I collected them.

Staggering to the lounge, I stumbled and ended up dumping them on the ground making Audi leap out of the way.

'Whoops, sorry Audi.'

The dog grumbled then stomped to the couch and climbed on it, glaring at us as we set up the room. Sian glanced over and laughed.

'She really hates it when we move stuff around doesn’t she?'

'It’s her farm dog breeding. She dislikes anything out of the ordinary happening.'

Sian watched in amusement as Loi climbed on the couch and curled herself around Audi who gave her little kisses and whined in excitement at the attention.

'That has to be the nosiest dog I’ve ever known, Cat. She seems to have an opinion about everything.'

Cat laughed.

'Audi is definitely one of a kind. Now what else shall I do?'

Sian gazed about the room for a moment, the candles had been set about in a large circle on the floor and Loi placed a crystal vase filled with water at the west position.

'We need something to represent Earth, Air, and Fire.' Sian frowned as she thought through her options.

'Won’t all the candles cover fire?' Cat asked.

Sian smiled.

'The candles are just to mark the circle, you can use them to represent fire as well but I like using something else.'

She went to her room to fetch the items, then came back and placed them at their correct positions. Cat walked in from the kitchen as she straightened up.

'Oh,' I stared at the fire position; a delicate wand was set in its place. The brilliant citrine and garnet crystals at its tip glowed in the candle light.

'It’s beautiful,' I breathed.

Crafted out of silver about ten inches long, with a straight cylindrical handle. A narrow cable of the metal was twisted around the length of it. A quartz crystal sphere was set at the base and its tip was created by the crystals. Both stones were faceted, their flat halves pressed against each other so it appeared like they were one stone.

Sian was pleased with Cat’s reaction, the wand had been expensive but she just had to have it.

Cat looked up.

'Can I pick it up?'

'Of course, you’ll be holding it during the spell.' She ducked to the kitchen for the earth and air items.

Oh right, Leo, the fire sign
. The wand was weighty and cool to the touch. I ran my fingers over the metal as I studied it.

Beautiful workmanship, it certainly isn’t like the cheap clay wands I’ve seen
. I twisted it and watched as the crystals sparkled in the candlelight.

Sian came out of the kitchen with a small dish of rock salt and placed it at the earth position, then lit the charcoal in her incense burner, sprinkling herbs over it. A fragrant scent came with the smoke that drifted about the room. Another glance around the room satisfied her that all was in place and that they were ready. She smiled at the others and turned to the coffee table, removing a pile of cards from it.

'Here.'

Sian handed them each two cards, Loi’s were green, Kassie’s, yellow, Cat’s, red and she was left with blue.

'Your first card is to call your quarter North, East, South or West. The second card is to join in with the ritual at the end. I’ll perform the majority of the spell.' The look of relief on their faces amused her.

'Read through the cards until you are comfortable with them, then let me know. Kassie, you start first.'

I read through mine a couple of times, then nodded to Sian.

She stood.

'Ready? Right, then in your quarters and I’ll cast the circle.'

We shifted to our appropriate positions. Audi sat between my legs and watched curiously while Lucky purred in her usual spot about Kassie’s neck. Sian had her wand in hand as she paced her way around the circle chanting, once, twice, thrice around it, then she stood in the center and declared it cast. She handed the wand to me and took her position at West.

Kassie looked at Sian who nodded, and in a clear voice Kassie began.

'Watchtowers of the East, element of Air, we invite you into our circle to witness and aid us in our rite. Welcome.'

I lifted the wand and spoke,
'Watchtowers of the South, element of Fire, we invite you into our circle to witness and aid us in our rite. Welcome.'

Then it was Sian’s turn,
'Watchtowers of the West, element of Water, we invite you into our circle to witness and aid us in our rite. Welcome.'

And lastly, Loi.

'Watchtowers of the North, element of Earth, we invite you into our circle to witness and aid us in our rite. Welcome.'

She paused then continued,
'The circle is cast, the quarters are called. The rite may begin.'

Sian stepped into the center once again.

'Mighty Khronos

Father of time and space

Hear us.

Glorious Ananke

Wielder of destiny

Hear us.

Reveal our soul mates

Their time and place

Entwine our lives

As our souls are embraced

Open the Portal of Time and Space

Carry us to our meant to be

Glorious Ananke, make this our destiny'

Together we spoke the last line, declaring, 'This is our will, we mote it be.'

The words rang out and we stared wide eyed at each other. Kassie went to speak when Sian put her finger to her lips.

'Shh. Now we will thank our quarters and then I shall close the circle. This time Loi starts.'

Loi blinked in surprise, there hadn’t been a thank you part written on the card. Thinking quickly she stepped forward.

'Watchtowers of the North, thank you for attending our rite.'

We copied Loi’s format then Sian paced the circle three times again, though in the opposite direction and blew out the candles on her final loop.

'There. All done,' said Sian.

'So now we meet our significant other?' Kassie teased

We sat on the carpet, still in our positions and chatted, questioning Sian about the spell. Leaning back against the couch I stroked Audi's head as I listened. Loi and Kassie lay on the floor, heads on hands as they conversed. Sian was the only perky one, sitting up, chatting away.

The dim light from the candles at the corners of the room made me sleepier and sleepier. Without intending to, I dozed off.

Ugh—my back was killing me.

Why the heck didn’t I just go to my bed? Man this floor feels lumpy.
I shifted position.

Five more minutes, then I’ll get up, I thought before dozing off again. Some time later I went to roll over, but jammed up against a large warm shape. Patting blindly down my side I felt Audi lying next to me. Cracking open an eye I peered down at her.

'Audi,' I mumbled. 'You’re blocking me again.'

She gazed up at me and her tail thumped in the dirt.

Dirt?

My scrambled brain registered that I, too, lay in the dirt.

'Whhatt?' I croaked.

Hearing something move, I pushed up onto my elbows. The world spun before my eyes.

'Ooooh dizzy.'

I slumped back down and held my head with both hands.

'Helloooo?' I called. 'Sian? Kassie? Loi?'

The shuffling sound started again.

Kassie heard a voice call her name and woke up.

Why do I feel so tired?
Her whole body felt as though it weighed twice what it should.

'Sian? Kassie? Loi?'

Was that Catherine? Kassie opened her eyes and squinted at the light. She blinked in surprise.

Are those trees? What are we doing outside?

'Cat?' mumbled Kassie. 'Why are we outside?'

'We’re outside?' Sian sounded confused.

Loi groaned, 'I’m so dizzy. Guys, are you dizzy?'

The others made noises of agreement.

Cautious, I opened my eyes. I could just make out the tops of trees.

Whoa, that's weird.

'We ARE outside.'

I eased up to sitting and blinked as I looked around. The others seemed as groggy as I was.