When Kailey had toweled off outside the shower, she smelled the sweet scent of incense. Nag Champa. She wrapped and tied the towel around her, stepped to the edge of the bathroom, and peered into the bedroom. Lit candles flickered softly on the two nightstands and along the shelf of the headboard. A porcelain tea decanter and teacup set on the shelf as well.
Luna sat on the bed with her legs in a Lotus pose and regarded Kailey with a gentle smile. Luna had shed her clothes and wore a thin nightshirt with nothing underneath.
The alarm she had seen in Luna’s face earlier had faded, perhaps because Luna felt safer being at the estate with other pack members who could readily protect them from the coming threat. But, Luna’s change might have also occurred because she had time to draw upon her magic and fortify a better circle of protection.
Kailey glanced around the room nervously. “Blaze isn’t in here, is he?”
“No. I insisted he give us some girl time. He’s okay with it.”
“What is all of this?” Kailey asked.
Luna patted the mattress. “Come. Sit down.”
“Let me put on some clothes.”
“Magic works best while we’re skyclad,” Luna said softly.
A nervous smile curled on Kailey’s lips. She felt heat rise in her cheeks. “While that may be, I’d feel more comfortable wearing clothes. Besides, you’re the witch, not me.”
“Didn’t Raven ever do her rituals in the nude?”
“Whatever rituals Raven performed, she did in the privacy of her own room. Alone. So, I don’t know if she was nude or not.”
“I understand,” Luna said. “It’s not meant to be sexual. It’s more … natural.”
“Luna, I’ve had a rough day. Whatever reason behind it isn’t the issue. Seriously, it’s not. But right now, I want to be covered.” Kailey pulled open a dresser drawer and found a pair of Brady’s sweatpants. She slipped into those and then grabbed one of his T-shirts. She pulled it over her head as she walked to the bed. “What exactly are you doing anyway?”
“Sit across from me,” she replied in her sweet voice. “I’ll explain before we begin.”
Kailey eased onto the bed and crawled to the center, where she sat on her knees across from Luna. The candlelight caused odd shadows across Luna’s face, but with her pale complexion, the shadows didn’t obscure her beauty.
Luna looked into Kailey’s eyes, almost tearful. “Raven … she really hurt you.”
“I’m okay,” Kailey said, forcing a smile, which stung instantly.
Luna brought her hands slowly toward Kailey’s cheeks. Kailey flinched and stiffened, but Luna didn’t touch her. “With your permission, I’d like to perform a healing ritual.”
Kailey shrugged and then gave a simple nod. “Sure.”
Anything to stop the throbbing pain.
It wasn’t a matter of faith or doubt because she knew Luna’s elemental powers were increasing. She had witnessed her maturity, and Kailey was thankful that Luna didn’t possess the same insane jealousy Raven had. Luna seemed pure at heart and wanted to use her magic to help others any way she could. She was a gentle spirit filled with love and generosity.
Luna took a small glass vial of oil and uncorked it. She placed her forefinger to the opening and tipped the bottle to the side, allowing a thick drop of oil to bead on her finger. She dabbed the oil near the center of Kailey’s forehead. “Close your eyes.”
The oil heated suddenly, almost like it pierced into her flesh and began permeating through her skin. Luna spoke softly, offering a prayer to the Goddess in a gentle tone, quietly whispering. Warmth spread throughout Kailey’s body. Her body jerked. An invisible force enveloped her. Thousands of tiny unseen sensations prickled her skin. These felt like gentle caressing kisses, causing goose bumps to rise on her arms.
Her heartbeat increased. Excitement rushed through her. The warmth cascaded through her in such peaceful waves. White light shone around her, but she held no fear. She was in great comfort, indescribable bliss, and felt lightness as though she were floating. She wanted to open her eyes but feared doing so might cause these pleasurable sensations to vanish and the pain to return.
The words Luna spoke grew fainter and fainter until no sound from the young witch came at all. An extreme calm encapsulated Kailey. For several moments she wondered if she had died and was passing into another realm or dimension or whatever else might await one after death, but strangely she didn’t have any sense of dread. She had never known such tranquility. There wasn’t even a hint of her pain. No anxiety at all.
Lazily, she allowed herself to be consumed by the heated light, lost inside its shelter, and nothing else existed while she succumbed to the energy. She was adrift, submissive to the force tugging her spirit, her mind, and her soul. She had never yielded herself to any deity, struggled to even consider doing so, and for the first time in her life, she released her apprehensions and lack of trust. At this point, nothing else mattered. If this was dying and passing through into an afterlife, she was content knowing she was free from all the worries, pains, and heartaches she had already endured during her short life. If what existed beyond her world felt this wonderful, she’d never hope to turn back as long as Brady was where she was headed.
The thought of Brady reeled her back, made her hesitant to keep drifting within the delightful shroud around her. She wasn’t certain if what she was feeling was temporary or not. Was this simply a part of the healing process due to Luna’s spell? She needed to know.
Kailey opened her eyes but the bruises and swelling hadn’t lessened. Her vision was narrow, hardly a sliver, but she could see Luna seated before her with arms stretched upwards and her eyes closed. Luna’s face looked veiled by peace, radiance. Magic flowed around her. Kailey felt it. Chills rushed through her.
Although she had witnessed some of Raven’s rituals, she had never experienced a soothing ecstasy of comfort. Often it was quite the opposite. Raven’s lust was a thirst for control and possession, and during those times, Kailey had never suspected Raven was using her magic for selfish reasons.
With a tearstained heart, Kailey understood the unseen dangers but only far too late. Even if Raven hadn’t been turned into a vampire, she’d have never been content knowing Kailey had rejected her and found another. Most likely, Raven would have placed a curse upon Kailey, perhaps she already had, instead of inflicting the direct brutal assault.
The loftiness that had buoyed her into her tranquil state of mind deflated, much like releasing an untied balloon expelled its air and shrank. She sank quickly inside, filled with sudden sorrow. She sobbed, her body quaking.
Luna opened her eyes and without any hesitation she wrapped her arms around Kailey, hugging her.
“It’s okay,” Luna whispered. “What’s wrong?”
“Everything,” Kailey replied softly. Although her physical pain had numbed and was unnoticeable, her heart ached. Her mind hurt, wanting Brady and wanting to know he was safe and still alive.
Luna kissed Kailey’s cheek, slowly brushed her lips to the side of Kailey’s ear and gently shushed. “I’m here, Kailey. You’re safe.”
Luna cradled Kailey in her arms and eased her back on the bed, lying beside her. Kailey turned her back toward Luna and hugged a pillow. Her hot tears soaked into the pillowcase. Luna slid up against Kailey, spooning her. She combed Kailey’s hair with her fingers while kissing the back of Kailey’s neck.
“Go to sleep, Kailey,” Luna said softly. She kissed from the curve of her neck along the edge of Kailey’s shoulder. “I’ll watch over you while you sleep. The spell is in place. Now, you must sleep to allow the healing to begin.”
Luna pressed her hot lips against the center of Kailey’s back. Then kissed a couple of inches lower, and even lower.
Kailey stiffened and took a deep breath. “What … are you doing?”
“Trying to make you feel better,” she replied.
Kailey scooted away from Luna and rolled over to face her. “In what way?”
Luna’s eyes widened, suddenly understanding what Kailey’s insinuation meant. “Not like that. I was trying to comfort you. Honest.”
“The magic I appreciate,” Kailey said. “Your concern for my wellbeing touches me. Truly, it does. I’m more than flattered. But, you’re with Blaze and I’m with Brady—”
“Kailey, no. Really, I wasn’t trying to become romantic or arouse you. Goodness, certainly not in the shape you’re in. I would never take advantage of anyone, especially not you. While I do love you, it’s more a sisterly kind of love.” Tears formed at the edges of Luna’s eyes. “My heart breaks inside because of what Raven did to you. She’s the most deplorable person I’ve ever encountered. I’ve never said that I hate anyone, and to remain pure in heart, it’s something I cannot say or do, but she brings me to the edge of hatred.”
Kailey stared at Luna for several long seconds. This young witch did indeed possess a heart of gold. The hurt expression and the pain in her eyes indicated Kailey had mistook her affection, but under the circumstances, Kailey also needed to admit that she was on the edge of mistrust, staring down into the bottomless pit caused by Raven’s betrayal. Combined with all the losses in her life, Kailey took every action of friendliness as suspect. She had even done the same with Brady, too. Am I really this broken?
Kailey reached up and placed her hand against Luna’s cheek. “I’m sorry, Luna. I overreacted. I love you like a sister, too. Thank you for doing what you’ve done.”
Luna offered a tired smile but uncertainty lingered in her gaze. “If you want me to leave, I understand.”
Kailey shook her head. “No. Please stay. I really would feel safer if you slept beside me tonight. I’m too tired to keep my eyes open. The doctor … he … had told Brady to keep a close eye on me whenever I fell asleep.”
Luna took Kailey’s hand and squeezed. “He’s okay. I sense that in my spirit.”
“I wish I could. I wish I could feel something … anything … other than loss, heartache, and pain.”
“You know what I wish?” Luna said, looking into Kailey’s eyes.
“What?”
“I wish you could believe the world isn’t out to get you, that life isn’t set against you. I know it’s hard when tragedy has struck repeatedly in your life.”
“Faith that things will ever truly get better doesn’t exist for me right now. I don’t know that I can ever expect better things to come my direction, Luna. More bad has occurred than good in my life. I fight—” She pointed at her face. “Not just physically, but I fight mentally to get through each passing day.”
“You’re alive because you’re strong,” Luna said.
“Let’s face it,” Kailey replied. “Had Brady not come into my life when he did, I might be in the cemetery plot beside my brother. He rescued me without knowing it. I ache at the loss of my brother, but fate has a strange way of working at times. I’d have never met you, Blaze, and the others had I not arrived at Seattle when I did.”
“I know you better than that. You’d never have killed yourself.”
“No, I wouldn’t have. I didn’t mean to imply I would. But Cassie would have done it. It’s because of Brady and everyone else that we were able to save Cassie, which essentially saved me. And now—”
“Raven.”
Kailey nodded. “Not to mention Flora. When does it ever end?”
“When they are turned to ash,” Luna replied. “Please, lie down and get some sleep. Maybe by morning Brady will have returned.”
“I hope so.”