Chapter Sixty Nine
I never want to take off this ceremonial vestment…
Although I knew the need was completely psychotic (not to mention impractical), I still never wanted to remove it from my body. Hugging the vestment to me, I tried to concentrate and figure out where this unrealistic need originated from. Thirty minutes later, I was still no closer to understanding the reason.
Practically speaking, wearing it forever would be an impossible thing to occur. First, ritual vestments are meant for ceremonies, not for every day wear. Second, it would need to be cleaned. Third, I would need a shower and vestments can’t get wet. Sadly though, not even those logical thoughts changed my mind – I need to leave this vestment on my body, indefinitely.
It was unexplainable, but I feel so secure while I’m wearing it. Even though I’m no longer standing in the Apex and the spiritual ring is closed, I still feel protected.
So, while I was lying in the Jansens’ den alone, I started to formulate a weird (and totally insane) plan to permanently affix this vestment to my body. Thoughts of super glue and surgical attachment swirled through my mind. I had to dismiss them because eventually glue breaks down and anything surgically attached could be removed. Then, I had a brilliant plan. Maybe I could somehow lift my inner fire, super-heat the vestment material and then, fuse it to my skin?
I was on a ludicrous quest – a psychotic’s mission. I was a girl obsessed to never take off my birthday outfit through heated fusion. Hope a straitjacket will fit over it because I’m headed to a padded room, for sure…
The way I figured, it would be easier to fuse the heated fabric to my skin than to attempt to explain my crazy need to leave this vestment on my body. After all, my cleanliness obsession is legendary. I still had no plan for how to clean it, how to control my inner fire to melt it or take a shower without ruining it when Tray and Willow came back inside.
He looked relieved. When he walked away from the power ring, he had been deathly pale and appeared to be scared senseless. Tray didn’t speak or even look at me, either. Those things had made me extremely anxious. Then, Willow followed him, so my mind was freed up to obsess about how to permanently affix my Vaydem ceremonial vestment to my body.
“Are you ready to go out to eat, Little Girl?” Tray asked.
I looked at him like he was nuts because we already did that last night. I started to protest, but Willow would prevent me.
“Uncle Rave made us reservations and already paid for a meal at an exclusive restaurant on the Vaydem Preserve. It’s a special surprise for your birthday…” Willow explained and I ran outside to find Rave so I could thank him.
I hugged him and he whispered something to me in Vaydem.
I wish I understood that language…I wonder if he’ll teach me someday…
“Let me get my coat on and then, we’ll go,” Willow stated when I walked back inside.
I felt overwhelmed by emotion, but I knew I couldn’t wear my vestment around any food. Although I was almost ready to have a panic attack, I prepared to take it off until Willow reminded me of something critical. She also saved the day – I’ll have to thank her later…
“No, stop! There’s only one person that can remove the ceremonial vestment from you…” Willow reminded me.
“You’re right…Celeste has to do it, but she’s not here. I’m sure she doesn’t want me to wear the vestment to eat in. I could spill something on it,” I stated and had to fight the crushing urge to sigh in relief.
Celeste wouldn’t be back until after 11:00 pm and the restaurant would be closed by then. So Willow called her to find out what we should do.
“We’re gonna meet her at the Arboretum on our way to the restaurant. She’ll be in the downstairs area near the educational classrooms. The women’s league is hosting a charity event inside the sacred forest…”
“I know, Celeste told me all about the event last week. I’m so sorry, I should’ve thought about the vestment before she left. It would’ve saved everyone a bunch of trouble…” I stated and tried to sound normal.
I held onto the dress even tighter like someone was going to rip it off of my body any second. Since I couldn’t find a way to wear it permanently, I would have to settle for discovering a way to wear it until my birthday was over. That would at least give me a few more hours to enjoy the feelings of warmth and safety.
“It’s no trouble at all, Sweetie. It’s on the way, for heaven sakes. Aunt Celeste said it won’t take more than a few minutes at most…”
“I’m worried about wearing it outside because getting in and out of the car can be a very dirty experience – especially with me. I don’t think this beautiful vestment could be washed or even dry-cleaned. So if I mess it up by getting dirty or grimy while I got in and out of the car then I’d be in big trouble. Not to mention, that getting the dress filthy would disappoint Celeste and Rave since I could never wear it again. You know me and how I am and how I can be in reference to…” I declared frantically.
I would have likely continued on my urgent rant, but my brother interrupted me.
So much for not alerting everyone to my ‘crazy-Vaydem-ceremonial-dress-wearing-it-forever-obsession’…
“Comon’ Little Girl – you can wear my gigantic coat until we get there. It’ll protect the vestment from getting dirty,” Tray offered and put it around my shoulders.
Curses…
I couldn’t think of anything else to say on such short notice that wouldn’t get me locked up in a nicely padded room for a good long time. So I accepted my brother’s coat and we waited on Willow to go get something out of her bedroom.
“Ready?” Willow asked when she returned.
“Sure,” I said in a high pitched voice.
I gave my Boo-bear a hug and kiss. Then, I told him that I loved him. I thanked him again for giving me a piece of his spirit to keep with me forever. I would need it too. Maybe Boo-bear’s lucky charm would keep me from falling to pieces when Celeste takes it off of my body.
Boo must have sensed something was wrong because he lifted his aura and wrapped it around me. By the time Tray, Willow and I left Sunridge, I was feeling a little better. My Boo-bear waved at me from the window and I waved back at him as I held his duck charm between my fingers.
It was inexplicable, but no matter how hard I had tried I could never quite convince Boo that I wasn’t the moon…
My inner fire had approved of my wearing the ceremonial dress. This was evidenced by the gently warmed ribbons that surrounded my body. That gentle heat quickly turned into what felt like a possessed electric blanket inside Tray’s coat! I yanked it off the instant we were in the car. Regretting my birthday outfit peace offering to Tray and Willow, I was wearing too many layers now – being scorched, internally.
The vestment dress was very sheer. So if I yanked off my leggings my bare skin would be exposed. The thought was enticing, but I didn’t want to argue with Tray or risk them engaging in another heated debate. No more heated anything…
I will just have to figure out a way to deal with my internal incinerator. At least, no one turned on the heat in the car. Then, suddenly I noticed trickles of sweat pouring down my brother’s face.
“Oh my heavens Tray, you’re sweating!” I exclaimed in fear.
“I do that from time to time, Little Girl,” he offered and then, shut up too quickly.
I was already an emotional wreck over taking the vestment off so soon. Now, he’s anxious about something too. Alarm flooded through me and I felt my own temperature rise in response to my fear. My internal fire blazed with a wicked intensity.
Something has to be wrong – I just know it…
“But why are you sweating??” I asked hurriedly because he said the sky’s the limit on questions today.
“Because I’m nervous…”
“Oh my goodness, what’s there to be nervous about???”
“It’s your 16th birthday
Ember – that’s enough to make me tense…”
“We should just go home right this minute. Maybe we can reschedule our reservations. You’re nervous enough to be sweating. Is there something you’re not telling me?? Are you gonna be okay???”
“Be more specific with your questions, please…” Tray requested as I watched more beads of sweat form and spill.
Red flags went waving all around me. He is being intentionally evasive. That can only mean something’s wrong – very, very wrong. I felt my spirit light and the inner fire react to my sudden panic. They blended together and turned into a nuclear level furnace. I tried to bring myself down a few notches, so I wouldn’t fry my body from the inside. I knew it was a useless effort though. No way could I possibly chill out with my brother sweating bullets in front of my eyes…
“I want to know the reason you look like you’re gonna puke, pass out, flip over the edge or jump outta your skin?? Do you have a fever? What’s going on with you? Something’s gotta be wrong here…”
“He’s fine, Sweetie and he’s not sick with a fever. I shouldn’t have challenged him the few thousand times I did today because he hates being defeated that many times. He’s just on edge. Plus, your Vaydem power circle experience this afternoon freaked him out,” Willow replied for him.
“Well, that crazy Vaydem fire ring of death thing freaked me out too. That was actually kind of mean to do to a girl on her birthday. It could’ve been bad…” I wondered aloud and then, immediately regretted it – my brother would be very worried now.
“Everything turned out just fine – that’s the important thing. We’re so proud of you. That was completely awesome, what you did – right Tray?”
“We’re very proud of you Ember, but I’ll admit it flipped me out – almost made me violently sick, in fact…” Tray said and crossed a look with Willow.
“I love you both and I’m sorry I yelled…” I explained still hugging my dress obsessively.
“No apologies on your birthday – it’s the rule. Why don’t you listen to your iPod and stop worrying so much. Between the two of you, I’m ready to have a nervous breakdown. Listen up Florida and Carolina Blue – everything is fine and it’s gonna stay that way tonight…” Willow announced.
I complied with her request. I turned on my iPod, closed my eyes and felt the light dance with the heat. They gently pressed against the fabric of the vestment.
It would seem my life is destined to be one big apology…
Ember Rising Light (Book One) Page 73
