by Livia Quinn
Dylan threw a military style duffle down at Aurora’s feet. “Careful, Dylan,” Aurora scolded. “Buzzard’s knees, but you can be such a man sometimes. Tempe, please bring the new amphora over here and help Dylan carefully unpack the contents of this bag. I’ll set up the base for the ceremony.”
She gathered several items from the bag and the new amphora and walked out into the center of the flat lifeless swamp, her feet not kicking up the first bit of dust.
“Did you find a Djinni?” I asked Dylan.
“Uh-huh.” He unpacked three more items and followed Aurora across the lake.
“Wait—”
“Is this where the party’s goin’ d-down?” asked a young familiar voice behind me.
I whirled to find Andy Rush standing hands in his pockets, looking out across the old swamp toward Dylan and Aurora.
Of course. Andy was the newest Djinni, and a good choice because he was already connected to River through their training sessions.
Aurora motioned for us to cross over to where she and Dylan had been busy setting up a small altar. “Hurry on over, Andy.”
Aurora placed candles at five points on the perimeter circle Dylan had marked with salt. After Andy and I entered the circle, he closed it with the remaining salt.
“Hand me the other herbs and minerals from the bag please, Tempe.”
I recognized the wolf-bane, mugwort, Job’s Tears, and Cinquefoil. “What are these?” I held the brown pieces of root in one hand and what looked like twigs in the other.
Dylan said, “The one in your left hand is High John the Conqueror, and the ‘twigs’ ironically sometimes called that, are devil’s shoestring. It provides power, while the High John helps with healing. And this little package…” he pulled a mesh bag from his pocket “…will purify River’s new home.”
He bent over to pick up five small stones from the pack. “And these little jewels are boji stones for protection.”
“You two stop gabbing and help me finish setting up before we run out of time,” Aurora said.
I didn’t know we had a time limit. “Midnight?”
Aurora smiled, placing a large clear crystal in the center. “Yes. Andy has a curfew. Andy, stand over there at the South side of the circle where you can hold your arms over those two points. Tempe, over here at the head, and Dylan and I will stand opposite here. We’re one week from the full Quickening Moon and our Para-moon. We’ll pay homage to them as well. Tempe, please light the candles.”
I looked around for matches.
Dylan cleared his throat, and Aurora raised an eyebrow. “As a Tempestaerie, please.”
I swallowed. It was a defining moment, here in the night with two Paramortal pros. They didn’t cajole, or intimidate, or push me to do what I was supposed to be able to do. They simply expected it to be done. Immediately.
So I extended my hand and brought fire from that well of Qi’menori inside me. Like a Zippo in the shape of a finger, my flame blossomed briefly then burned steadily as I lit the five candles representing earth, air, water, fire and spirit. I took my place at the top of the five-pointed star.
There was a bright three quarter moon surrounded by a halo and the stars were so bright and distinct, they seemed pluckable. Pleiades was clearly visible. I loved its nickname—the seven little sisters. It kind of reminded me of the SOAPs.
We held hands. “Damn, Tempe,” Dylan said. “Put the flame out first.” He licked his palm where the fire had left a burn mark. The mark disappeared.
“Sorry.” I extinguished the flame and took his hand and Aurora’s.
“On Freya’s night of Venus, goddess of love and happiness. Under the seven sisters of Pleaides —Maia, Alcyone, Asterope, Taygeta, Celaeno, Merope and Elektra,”
I was counting in my head and lost track. Would that affect the spell? Regardless, Aurora went on…
“On the approach of the Quickening Full Moon,
I call upon the power of Earth to the North.
Hail and Welcome.
I call upon the power of Air to the East.
Hail and Welcome.
I call upon the power of Fire to the South.
Hail and Welcome.
I call upon the power of Water to the West.
Hail and Welcome.
I call upon the powers of our Spirit guides to join us in this circle for the purpose of protection for two of our own.”
I’d never been to one of these ceremonies before, but I felt the connection to the elements Aurora implored. Especially the elements that ruled Tempestaeries like me and Phoebe, air and water. As she called to them, my blood seemed to flow much faster through my veins, and I saw the detail in the landscape around us.
Where the dead swamp had seemed just a flat expanse of grey gumbo, I could suddenly make out the pattern of tiny roots in the surface, and small fissures around the dead stumps in the distance, thirty or forty yards away. She continued.
“Sister, Brother, Djinni kin,
Mentor, guardian, apprentice within
The circle protects, distributes the power
For all supplicants at the appointed hour
That hour we know not but we pray it is soon
For the one endangered to be found by Full Moon”
Aurora lit another white candle and the scent of sage rose with smoke from the small tray in front of her. She dribbled salt around the midnight blue amphora, and placed ladies’ stones at three points on the circle.
“With salt and flame and herbs and metals dear
We purge malevolent spirits
From the hearth of River’s amphora
And call on the three ladies to protect this hearth
Until our Djinn’s son, River comes home.”
She held out her hand. Dylan placed four small cylindrical tubes in her palm. Lighting the herbs in the wide pan near the amphora, she threw the tubes into it. They exploded, sending sparklers and three plumes of light into the air.
“Fair Ladies forgive the inaccuracy of the color.
Fourth of July fireworks were all I could find.”
There was a vibration beneath our feet, and Aurora said, “Stand firm, everyone.” The amphora rocked from side to side, moving faster until it was clearly vibrating on its base like a child’s top.
Andy blanched and said, “Whoa,” as a dark smoky shape exited the top of the navy container, followed by several smaller slender shapes, offspring? Ugh, house cleaning. The three stones glowed red like charcoal briquettes and the shapes dissipated. Another popped out of the back door and was zapped out of existence.
Now I knew why Marty had been terrified of River’s amphora. There had been spirits still left in it that might have enslaved him. The devil’s in the details…
Aurora took my hand again and held it up.
“For the Tempestaerie here
Father Sun and Mars provide protection
Mercury speed healing,
Mental acuity and communication.”
She uncovered a circlet made of vines and placed it on my head, returning to her place.
“We ask for clear answers to find the ‘son’ and
Light surround father, mother, brother.
Bring clarity to the connections within the family bond”
What did that mean? It was all some kind of rhyming astral puzzle, and I didn’t know enough to figure it out. I looked over at Dylan who winked at me and grinned. We both looked at Andy who was getting tired of holding his arms out at the forty-five degree angle.
“Bless the young apprentice and the ‘son’
In whose place he stands,
Make swift and sure discovery of that one
So the evil can be banned.”
“As new life permeates the ground under our feet,
We demand old evil here make a final retreat.”
For the first time, I noticed tiny sprigs of grass bursting forth from the dead earth. Then as quickly, small springs of water spurted from the cracks and ran acr
oss the ground. The years-dead limbs on stumps seemed to inhale and began to extend, twigs becoming thin branches that thickened and turned into limbs as the stumps rose out of the wet muck.
Five inches of water now lapped at the edge of the circle, as if we stood in a glass enclosed cylinder. Aurora lifted her hands and we all followed her lead.
“To the Eastern guardians of the Air,
If you cannot stay, thank you and farewell.
To the Western guardians of the Water,
If you cannot stay, thank you and farewell.
To the Northern guardians of the Earth,
If you cannot stay, thank you and farewell.
To the Southern guardians of the Fire,
If you cannot stay, thank you and farewell.
I bind the Spirit guides of the Paramortal nations to
follow, lead and protect those present in the pursuit and elimination of ones intent on harming River Pomeroy
Blessed Be.”
Dylan chimed in, “Blessed Be.”
I was too late, so I just stood there waiting to see what came next. Hopefully, we’d get out of this cylinder surrounded by growing waves of water before we drowned.
“You have so little faith, Tempest,” said Dylan who kicked the salt line barrier. I gasped expecting the water to pour into our space. I went for River’s bottle and the lids, but Aurora beat me to it. She took her time, pulled a leather tote from under the altar and set it on top as Dylan put the candles out and loaded the supplies into his duffle bag.
“Place the amphora, with the lids removed, into the bag and strap it in. Set the rocks around the base and cover it with the cloth inside, then surround it with the High John, Job’s Tears and Wolf-bane until you get it to River.
She helped me place the items as she described, then flipped her hand in the air and the straps came alive, tucking themselves into buckles and securing the bag for transport.
I stared, dumbfounded realizing there was much I didn’t know about Aurora, or Dylan for that matter. And probably a lot more.
She shrugged. “Now, shouldn’t we get out of here while we can?”
Andy turned and leaped out into the rising water, high-stepping and splashing as he ran toward the bank. “I need to have a talk with that kid,” Dylan muttered. He looked at me and swung his arm out in a courtly gesture. “After you.”
“Thanks. I think.”
I prepared to make a run for it, but Aurora placed a restraining hand on my arm and said something in a strange language. In a matter of seconds the circle of dry ground under our feet transported us to the bank, but the area between each of us was filling in with the fast rising water.
“Hurry up now or you’ll make my spell irrelevant,” Aurora admonished.
We each stepped over onto the bank. I looked back. The Big Dead was no more. It was now brimming with lush trees, with water splashing against the bank and the sound of birds arriving to nest in the freshly reborn cypress and oak.
“It’s wonderful,” I said quietly.
Dylan said, “You can always tell when a spell is done well, the excess pours out into the surrounding environment bringing healing and protection with its overabundance. Good job, A.”
“Thank you, Dylan.” I could tell when the moonlight shown on Aurora’s face that she was pleased with the compliment.
“So, you don’t get a chance to do a ceremonial spell often, huh? As far as I could tell, with my limited experience,” duh, none, “it was a doozie.”
“Let’s hope it was enough.” She looked at Dylan, then me. “I don’t get the chance nearly as often as I used to, but I suspect that might be changing. Come along. I still have stock to price, and you promised to help.”
Oh, that. Good thing I was off on Saturday. It promised to be a late night.
I looked back at La Grand Morte, which was no longer morte. It would have to have a new name. I would have liked to be around the first time someone saw its new abundance.
“I christen you La Belle Copia.” Lovely abundance. I smiled and followed Aurora.
Chapter 32
Tempe
I dreamed of a dozen moons racing toward the Earth like asteroids…not enough time, no way to slow them down and my brother suspended in between. I was there, too, trying to use my mediocre wind power to keep them from smashing him.
Since I couldn’t sleep, I decided to work on the house until time to go to the school. Freddie had left the yard in a jumble of supplies and trash. I figured the physical activity would help clear my mind, maybe give me some new direction to go in. I organized roofing materials, collected trash, and used a metal detector to run over the area to collect nails and tacks. When I thought of how my roof looked from the air I winced. That was just one more thing River would have to fix…
I stopped in the middle of the yard; helplessness surged through me again. And with that thought came the memory of Jack’s strong arms and low soothing voice. In a few hours, I’d see him again without the suspicion that had been present before. I set the trash bag aside. It could wait until Sunday.
Three cotton trailers sat ready for the finishing touches to their Mardi Gras decorations, surrounded by a dozen teenagers and a few adults. Boys hammered, girls strung decorations, and a group played pickup games in the parking lot. A few of the girls simply sat on the bleachers, tanning and trying to look hot
Andy approached me when I arrived, shaking his arms like a swimmer loosening up for a big race, hopping from one foot to the other. “Miss Tempe, any news about River?”
“Not yet, Andy.”
The boy swung away from me, cursing under his breath, his hand gripping the back of his neck. Drugs? Please not.
“Is there a problem?”
“Uh, yes…m-ma’am,” he said. “I, uh, d-d-don’t know wh-what t’ do.”
I took his arm and led him over to one of the temporary bleachers. I suspected Andy’s problem was a mixture of hormones and his blossoming Djinn nature. River had expressly forbidden Andy to use any of his powers unless he was with him.
“Tell me what’s happened.” He seemed to have an easier time talking if I didn’t look at him, so I pretended to be checking out the activities around us, and waited.
“W-well Missie, that is, M-midge Gaines goes to my s-sixth period English c-c-lass…and, uh, I heard her mention that she wished Mr. C-crr-enshaw would lose all the tests because she was p-p-pretty sure she was going to get an F. I didn’t mean to do it, Miss Tempe, but…”
“What did you do, Andy? Exactly.” Wishes were a tricky part of a Djinn’s life. I thought again of what Marty had said. ‘It’s about wishes and power.’
“Andy—”
“I z-z..zapped the English test—all of th-th-them. Phhht…gone.” Then his lips turned up in a mischievous smile. He wasn’t sorry; he was just worried about the consequences.
Oh, boy. Wait until River heard about this. Andy would probably be on probation, or lock down, or whatever River did to rebellious Djinn newbies to make them understand their responsibilities. “What I want to know, is how did this girl know about your abilities?”
“She d-doesn’t. I just heard her w-w-wishing.”
“What do you mean, you heard her wishing?”
“I heard w-what was in her m-mind.” This time he did not look at me. Or smile.
“Zeus’ inbred offspring! Andy…” I lowered my voice. Puberty and genie abilities were a dangerous mix. I remembered, though River had always taken his responsibilities seriously. I said, in as fierce a whisper as I could, “You cannot go around granting wishes willy-nilly, not even when they’re spoken, but especially…tell me this was the first time. No, the only time,” I corrected. I nailed him with a smokin’ hot glare, and he yelped. Don’t mess with me kid. I may not be a Djinni but I’ve got some moves.
He jerked, eyes wide. He’d heard me. Apparently last night’s demonstration of the powerful magic older Paramortals possessed didn’t impress him. Or it had, but in the opposite way
.
“I’m afraid you’re in for some discipline, Andy. For now, I’m warning you. These abilities are not a toy. And there are dire consequences to treating them as such.”
Andy ducked his head, and nodded, but I was pretty sure he was already planning on circumventing the rules. He reminded me a bit of Dervil right then, which made me glad he was someone else’s responsibility.
I found Aurora and Montana attaching purple and green crepe paper to the sides of the downtown development float.
Montana looked bored, Aurora aggravated.
“Montana, quit pulling that down and hold it where I told you to.” She turned to me. “Good thing you’re here. Would you mind…” She caught Montana unawares and tugged the string from her hands.
Relieved, Montana jumped down from the float giving Tempe an eye roll, “Aurora acts like we’re in a blue ribbon competition, or decorating for a real New Orleans parade. I’m going to get a Dr. Pepper. You guys want something?” She took our drink orders and escaped to the concession stand.
“I don’t know why she came,” Aurora said, blowing long strands of silver out of her eyes. “She’s worse than those teens sitting on the bleachers, twitchy. She needs to hammer something.”
“Well, she’s willing at least.”
“Oh, Bailey called and said she’d be here, but late. She got lucky—”
“Again,” we said in unison.
We worked for a couple hours, managing to put Montana to work banging a hammer, using her warrior goddessness for something practical.
As game time approached the crowd grew. Bailey finally showed, and energized by her recent conquest, showed a fair aptitude for float decorating.
“You’re very good at this, Bailey,” Aurora said.
“I love doing this kind of stuff. Liam lets me decorate the bar for Christmas and New Years—Oh. My…” Bailey’s eyes turned into piercing beams of gold. We all turned to see what had gotten her attention. A bronzed figure in knee length shorts and blue Destiny’s Finest t-shirt glided across the parking lot toward us.
