He could still hear the drumming and wondered if it would stop before dawn. It wasn’t that late, but he was certain midnight had passed and it was heading into morning. “What are we doing again?” he asked, to no one in particular.
Steven grinned, “We’ll let the diehards do their thing at the circle and go challenge fate with the ladies whose flowers we’re wearing...”
Every man grinned. Owen touched the wreath on his head. “Good enough reason for me.” He tried not to notice how odd they looked with the ribbons, and hoped he looked better at least. “How long do we wear these?”
Dade smiled, “Until the woman that put it on takes it off in the morning and puts it around the pole.”
“Do we get a kiss again?”
“Feeling juvenile, Owen?” Chris asked, amused.
“Maybe... a bit... don’t you? I haven’t felt this good, without drinking, since, well, ever.”
Chris nodded. “Yep, and it feels great. If we’re lucky, we’ll get a kiss. If the gods are happy, we’ll get more.”
Steven laughed. “When you figure out which god gets you that Chris, please share with the rest of the class.”
They kept walking away from the circle. The only light was from the flashlights two of them held. Owen looked back toward the camp. “Where are we going exactly?”
“To meet the ladies by an old picnic shelter, away from prying eyes.” Dade motioned to the left, “and they’re already here.”
Kasey hopped off the picnic table. “Good thing we have this shelter; it’s going to really rain soon.” She offered Chris the bottle of mead.
He took it and looked at the sky. “Tell me it’s not going to rain the whole weekend, Kase.” He lifted the bottle to his mouth.
“Would like to, but I’d be lying.” She reached up and took the wreath off his head. “I think you guys could take these off until morning. Seeing you with them outside the circle is a bit distracting.” She grinned at Chris, “wouldn’t want to be distracted and scare Owen.”
Those nerves, the ones Owen never had before, returned. He really was beginning to wonder what everyone was hinting at. He put his hand out for the bottle Chris held. “I don’t scare too easily, Kasey, but you do have me wondering.” He accepted the bottle and took a swallow. “You guys make this? It’s good.”
Leena nodded as she took his wreath off and set it on the table. “We prefer it to the stuff you buy. You never know what’s in that.” She settled against the side of the table. “So, Owen, back to a question asked of you earlier. Do you believe in magic?”
He nodded, “I believe all things are possible. Are you going to show me magic, Leena?” He held her eyes with his, wishing everyone else would disappear.
She grinned, “If your mind is open, you might see some.” She glanced at the barbeque pit in the middle of the shelter. “Do you suppose that’s safe to light? I don’t want to burn down the shelter.”
Steven kicked some sticks into it. “It should be safe. Rach, want to give me a hand?” She shrugged and stepped up.
Rachel smiled and faced Steven across the pit. Owen watched as they both raised their hands a few feet in the air over the sticks, and he blinked when it started to smoke. When flames licked at the wood, he looked around at the smiles and lifted the bottle for another drink.
Leena reached over and took the bottle out of his hand. “I don’t think this will help you believe.”
He opened his mouth, shut it, and thought a moment more. “Are you trying to tell me you all can do that?” He looked at Dade.
Dade shook his head. “I would give anything to do that, pal. All of us here have different talents, and some more than one.”
“Does everyone gathered at this event all have... talents?” He tried to process what that could mean.
Leena stood up and walked over to the fire. “A small number do.” She looked down at the fire for a moment, “but they don’t realize it. Most don’t, but it’s enough that they believe in the spiritual and pagan rituals” She held her hands over the fire, and the smoke began to swirl and rise, then drift into circles that twirled around the shelter.
Turning, Leena sent the smoke to dance in front of Owen. “I believe every person alive has some gift. It’s whether they believe enough to discover what it is.” She dropped her hands, and the smoke fell.
Owen sat down, shocked and processing. “I’ll have questions—later, when my brain kicks back in.”
Chris grinned at him, “Of course.” He turned to the two men still wearing their wreaths and lifted his hands. His mouth moved in a silent incantation as the wreaths lifted off their heads and went to gently rest on the table.
“Talk about being outdone.” Kasey walked over to the fire and put her hands on her hips. She stared down at the fire, then clapped her hands once. The flames went purple. Grinning over at Chris, she lifted her hands and flicked her fingers at him. His hair ruffled up for a moment, then laid back down.
“Ah...” Owen swallowed and glanced at Dade. “Tell me you haven’t been hiding these talents all these years, man.”
Dade grinned again and then laughed. “I wish I could do this cool stuff.” He winked at Cora, “and it is cool. We don’t hide it; and as far as I know we don’t get them until we’re older, which is a good thing. Could you see the playground at school if everyone could do this? As for me, I do some things that are very serious and better left alone most of the time.”
“Like the things your mother did?”
Dade looked back at him. “Yeah, like those things that used to keep us awake all night afraid something was going to come and get us. My talent lies in the instruments. I can call all sorts of spirits. Occasionally, I can get a lady to dance my way with the right sound and instrument, but other than that, I leave the magic to this bunch.”
Owen thought for a moment then turned to Cora. “And you?”
She grinned and walked over to him. Placing her hands on his arms, she closed her eyes. She stood like that for a moment. “I see things, sense things, and know things.” Cora stepped away from him. “You, Mr. Grey, have a talent of your own. I wonder if you are aware of it,” the others turned to look at her.
“Elemental?” Kasey inquired.
Cora shook her head. “No, he can’t play in fires and winds.” She smiled down at him. “I’ve always wanted to also. No, his is something else. Almost on the same level as mine... but not quite.”
“Interesting.” Leena walked over and placed her hand on his shoulder. “Can you sense anything, Owen, or see what I’m thinking?”
Owen sat silently for a moment. “I wish I could get inside your head, Leena. Nope, nothing different.”
“Well, don’t push it. Just stay open and it will come to you,” she suggested.
Cora turned and looked into the darkness as the rain started to sprinkle. “Speaking of feelings, has anyone else picked up something wrong in the circle and this area? It reeks of negative and dark energy, then it’s gone. I felt it several times tonight at dinner, then dancing.”
Dade went over and stood behind her, resting his hands on her shoulders. “And you didn’t say something sooner?”
She shrugged under his hands. “I didn’t want to spoil the dance of May eve. It was fine again until a few minutes ago. It weighs very heavy, though, right now. Almost painful.”
Leena glanced at Chris who was looking out in all directions.
Owen walked over to Cora and took her arm gently. “Is there something we should do?” He had no idea why he was offering to help with something he totally didn’t understand, but he could feel the tension coming off her in waves and didn’t want anything to spoil this oddly wonderful night for everyone.
Cora looked down at his hand for a few moments then back to his face. “Let go for a moment, please.”
Feeling as if he had done something wrong, he dropped his hand and put it in his pocket. “Sorry.”
She smiled and shook her head. “Don’t apologize. Take my arm again.”
Bewildered, he did as asked.
She chuckled, “I think we have found Owen’s talent. He absorbed the negative feelings I was feeling, just by touching me. Of course, it floods right back when he’s not, which worries me. The energy is that strong out there, but at least we know Owen is a very strongly grounded empathic.”
Owen looked down at his hand. “I did what? I’m what?”
Rachel smiled up at him. “You can take the negative and, I’m willing to bet, the pain from others. I’m guessing it doesn’t affect you in any way, or you would have known before now. That is cool, Owen.” She grinned over at Leena, “We could really use him at the factory.”
Leena laughed. “Yes, a resident empath would be easy to explain to the boss.”
Dade was still staring at Owen. “It figures you’d have something cool. I wonder...” He walked over to his pack and pulled out his pocketknife. Dade grinned at Owen as he held up his hands with a startled look on his face. “Relax, it’s for me.” He opened the blade and pulled it over an inch on the back of his arm. “Can you fix stuff, too?” He held his arm out to him.
Owen was thinking he was stuck in a seriously weird dream, but still walked over and placed his hand over the small cut on Dade’s arm. “Is this all I do?” Dade shrugged and looked at his hand. He lifted it to look at the cut. “It’s still there.”
Dade ran his hand over it. “It’s not throbbing now and it’s not bleeding either. So, you can stop the pain but not completely heal.” He shrugged and dropped the knife back in the pack. “Well, it’s still cool.” He slapped Owen on the back, “welcome to our little circle.”
They both turned to watch Cora walk to the fire and place her hands over it. “It’s really damp now that it’s raining.”
Kasey handed her the bottle of mead. “It’s going to get a lot damper.” As she dropped her hand, the rain increased even more. “Did anyone bring umbrellas? We’re going to drown getting back to the cabins.”
Leena walked over and rubbed her hand up Cora’s arm. “It’s really bad isn’t it?” Cora nodded. “Should we try to see where it’s coming from?” She glanced around at the others, then back at Cora.
Cora let out a breath. “It could make it worse.”
Chris walked over and took her hand. “There are eight of us here, we can shield anything together. Do you have what you need with you?” He glanced around at the others who nodded. “Let’s give it a try then, shall we? Maybe we’ll have a breakthrough that will let us know what to expect.”
Owen watched as everyone reached for their backpacks and bags, and within moments there were candles, rattles, dishes, herbs, and more things he couldn’t name. He watched them light herbs and candles. “What should I do?” He knew nothing of this.
Dade looked around. “Well, this wasn’t what we intended to welcome you, but it needs to be done.” He glanced at Cora then back to him. “If it gets to be too much for her, it will cause her a lot of pain. If that happens, I’d like you to go stand behind her and place your hands on her shoulders and see if you can ease it for her.” Cora stopped what she was doing and looked over at Dade. She offered a quiet smile to him then went back to what she was doing.
Owen let out a slow breath, “okay.” Everyone looked so serious. “Just... if you could try not to scare the shit out of me, I’d really appreciate it.” Chris tapped him on the back, and the Doc grinned at him.
Kasey walked over and reached up to kiss him lightly on the cheek. “Just stay in the circle until we’re done, and you’ll be fine.” She turned to Leena and Steven. “You ready?”
They nodded.
The eight stood in a circle around the small fire pit. Outside the shelter, the rain poured so hard it was a steady, deafening sound. Cora stepped closer to the fire and stared into it. She glanced up and nodded to Leena. Taking Dade’s hand, she whispered, “Let’s hope the ancestors are available tonight.”
Dade lifted her hand and kissed it before he let go. “I’ll make sure they are.” He picked up the instrument in front of him and gently began to shake it from side to side. His lips moved in a silent chant, and he closed his eyes.
Owen watched as Leena and Steven both turned their backs to the circle, facing the pouring rain. Raising their hands, they lowered their heads in concentration. If he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, he’d never have believed. As their heads came up, the wind circled the shelter and blocked out the pouring rain. He could no longer see, or hear, the heavy downpour. Not knowing what to expect, he looked at the others. Chris, Kasey, and Rachel were standing with their hands clasped and staring into the fire as the flames rose, flames that were nearly white now. He blinked just to make sure he wasn’t seeing things.
Dade’s motion with the shaker became faster and louder as he moved to stand beside Cora. Her head was thrown back and her eyes closed, she seemed to be shaking with the rhythm of the rattle. Her eyes flew open as she stopped moving and looked into the fire. He could see the sweat beading down her face, and her hands trembled. The look on her face told him she was afraid, but she said nothing. She reached empty hands toward the fire, and the flames flew higher. Not knowing what else to do, Owen went to stand behind her in case he was needed, hoping he would know if he was at some point.
She stepped back and cried out in fear. He caught by the biceps and held her, as Dade instructed. Glancing over her shoulder and into the fire he saw, he blinked again, images. They blurred together and he couldn’t understand them.
Cora cried out again and sagged back against him. He caught her tight against his waist and held her to his chest. His own chest began to burn. He didn’t know what was going on, but he felt compelled to stop it. “Stop now!” He said roughly.
At once, Dade stopped shaking the rattle and the three controlling the fire dropped their hands and gasped when they looked at him holding the slumped woman in his arms.
Leena and Steven settled the wind and turned around to see the others crowding around Owen. He looked at Leena. “I have to set her down, or my legs are going to give out.”
Dade set his instrument on the ground and scooped Cora into his arms. She was still shaking and breathing hard, as if she’d been running. He walked over to the table and sat with her held in his arms.
Leena and Chris helped Owen to sit at the table. “Hell of an initiation.” He put his head down on the table for a moment and then looked over at Dade. “Is she okay?”
Dade looked down at her as her eyes opened. “Yeah, but she didn’t quite share the strength of this with us.” He glanced back at Owen. “If you hadn’t discovered your gift tonight, it would have been a lot worse.”
Owen looked over at Leena, who was looking worried. “Can I drink now?” He let out a long breath and accepted the bottle she handed him. After taking two long swallows, he looked back at Cora. “I dunno what just happened, and I don’t know what I saw, but as soon as I touched Cora, the fire had images in it... images I’m not sure I even want explained.”
Cora sat up slowly in Dade’s arms. “I’m okay now, Dade. Thank you.” She pushed against his arm. “Well, you can just sit here for a moment or two longer. You scared the shit out of me! If Owen hadn’t told us to stop, I don’t know what would have happened. Jesus, Cora, why didn’t you tell us it was that strong?” Dade asked.
She touched his cheek lightly, then rested her head against his shoulder. “I had no idea it was that strong, Dade, or I wouldn’t have exposed all of us.” She took a deep breath, then climbed off Dade’s lap and looked over at Owen. “I owe many thanks to you, Owen Grey. I couldn’t pull back completely, but I felt when you took the burden. You’re going to come in handy when I have seeing to do.”
Owen took another drink, before offering her the bottle. “You’re welcome, and I’ll get back to you on whether I want to help again or not.” He rubbed his chest. “My chest still burns like hell.”
Everyone glanced at Cora then back to Owen as Leena sat beside him and grasped the hem of his sweater. “May I?”
He shrugged as she lifted his sweater. He heard gasps then looked down to see a burn in the shape of a cross on his chest. It covered the skin from his collarbone to the bottom of his rib cage. She touched it lightly. “It’s not hot; does it hurt?”
“It burned like hell when I told you to stop, but it’s fading pretty quickly. Is it permanent? No offense, but I don’t want a cross burned into my chest.”
Everyone looked at Cora. She was running her hand down the outside of her sweater. “I felt the burn, but only briefly.” She pulled her sweater out a bit and looked down it to see if she was marked. She sighed and shook her head. There were no marks.
Owen looked around at everyone as Leena dug around in her backpack. “So, would someone please explain to me what the hell just happened?” He reached for the bottle once again, and then changed his mind. It would not make it any clearer.
Leena was back on the bench in front of him and lifting up his sweater again. He didn’t know what she was rubbing into his chest, but it felt heavenly after the burning, so he didn’t complain. It crossed his mind briefly that it was just the feel of her hands on his chest making him feel better. “That is really helping. Keep slathering it on.” He hesitantly stroked a hand lightly down her long hair. It felt like satin.
Chris dropped onto the bench across from him. “Apparently, during the ritual, your abilities are stronger, and in turn you saved Cora from having a cross burned into her chest. What did you see in the fire, Owen?”
He continued to run his hand down Leena’s hair, encouraging her to continue touching him. “I have no idea. It was like a blurry dream. Were you able to see anything?” He looked up at Cora hopefully.
Cora took an unsteady breath. “I was only able to make out two deaths and blood. That’s when the burning started in my chest, and the next thing I knew you were handing me to Dade.” She walked over and leaned down and kissed his cheek. “Thank you for pulling me out, Owen.”
He smiled up at her as Steven laughed. “Great. The guy finds his gifts and has women kissing and stroking him, all in one night. Talk about luck.”
Leena straightened and took her hand off his chest as everyone burst out laughing. “We’ll talk this through tomorrow. Someone cleanse this area so I can go to the cabin and get some sleep.”
Rachel sobered, “I’m on it.”
They silently gathered up their stuff. The men grabbed the wreaths and stood at the edge watching the rainfall. “We need a canoe,” Steven suggested as he checked his flashlight.
Kasey chuckled and pulled out plastic sheets and handed one to each woman. “I guess we’ll have to walk you back to your cabin, as none of you brought anything to keep you dry.” Chris grabbed the sheet from her hand and held it over her head. Laughing, they walked out into the rain together. “See you at the cabin.” He shone the flashlight ahead.
Dade pulled the still-shaky Cora to his side and took the plastic sheet from her hand. He handed her his flashlight. “Let’s get you back and some tea into you.” She nodded and stepping out into the rain, stayed close to his side.
“Ready to go, Rach?” Steven held out his hand for the sheet when she nodded.
Owen stood in the silence with Leena watching the progress of the others on the slippery ground, except Steven and Rachel, who apparently weren’t using any sort of light.
He turned his flashlight towards Leena and grinned as she handed him the sheet. “A golf cart would be great right about now.” He touched her arm lightly. “Thanks. My chest feels better than it did. Do you think it will disappear?”
“It should. If not, you’ll appear to be a very devout Christian for the rest of your life.” She stepped out of the shelter with him and had to laugh at how loud the rain sounded against the plastic. “That’s going to make quiet conversation hard.”
He laughed and pulled her closer to cover them better. “Sometimes words aren’t needed.”
Leena looked up into his eyes, then quickly back down at the flashlight-lit ground again. The echo of the others from the group laughing could be heard over the rain.
As they neared the cabin area, Owen paused. “I’ll take you to yours, then give you back the sheet tomorrow.” She nodded and looked up at him for a moment.
He slowly backed her under the shelter of the eaves on the back of one of the larger sheds. Letting go of the sheet with one hand, he leaned against the shed and caged her in. “This has been one hell of a night.”
“You’re dealing with it pretty well.”
“Can I ask you something?” He ran his hand down her arm. “If I kiss you again, will you bring a tree down on my head, or something equally as painful?”
She paused to think about it before answering, he hoped that was a good thing. “Well, it is May Eve. I think you’re safe from injury.” She placed her hand lightly on his chest and lifted her face.
Owen leaned down slowly, searching her eyes. She watched him back just as carefully. When he brushed his mouth against hers, he forgot he intended a light, caressing kiss and reached his hand around her to pull her tight against him, deepening the kiss.
When her mouth opened against his, Owen dipped his tongue and tasted the heat of her passion. He felt her body go soft, her every curve fit against his hard outline perfectly. Needing more, he broke the kiss only to pull her head closer and plunder again. Her soft moan sent heat coiling straight through him and settling in his groin. He’d never gotten so hard so quickly in his life.
Leena grasped at his shoulders, wanting to climb him like a tree. His mouth was torturing her with things she hadn’t felt in a long time, and she wasn’t sure she’d felt this hot, ever. His mouth offered a path straight to pleasure that her body wanted to take. His hard body pressing her against the wall was more than she could handle, and she moaned into his mouth as his hand gripped the back of her head, exploring.
She was sure her legs were going to give out when he softened the kiss and loosened his hold, but didn’t release her. His lips brushed lightly against her a few more times before resting his forehead against hers.
“We better get you back before they come looking.” He continued to nuzzle into her hair.
“Yes, they’ll worry,” was her barely audible response. Dropping her hands, she waited for him to step back.
Letting out a ragged breath, he picked up the plastic sheet, holding it open, waiting for her to get under it.
Walking the rest of the way to the cabin was harder than she thought it would be. The silence was strained, as if they were both trying to forget that electrifying kiss.
When they reached her cabin he quickly kissed her so hard and fast it felt like a wave crashing over her. She handed him his wreath and flashlight, then ran the last few steps to the cabin door, not looking back until she was on the other side of the door looking out.
Owen waited until she closed the door, then turned and headed down the line of cabins toward his own.