Constant Cravings (16 page)

“The white ones are behind the house,” he said.

The trail leading to the house went right through the middle of the field and I continued to smile like a child as I looked at all the pumpkins.

“I love this place already,” I said. “Something about the color orange makes me smile.”

“Me too. This farm has always had that effect on me. It’s been in the family for more than a hundred years. It’s a place that has seen a lot of happiness. I suppose you could say it literally accumulates good cheer.”

“Are you serious?”

“You can’t stop smiling, can you?”

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He had a point. I turned and looked out the window again. “How could that be possible?”

“Because one of the few remaining temples to the old gods is here, on the back side of the property. The farm is located in what is known as a place of power. No one who lives here ever gets sick or dies from anything but old age. Very old age.” I gave him a questioning look and he supplied, “My father lived to be one hundred and two. This place was my mother’s gift to him.”

“Wow. Are pumpkins good luck?”

He smiled. “They are if you like pumpkins.”

We parked behind the house and Liam and I both stepped out of the car. I breathed in the fresh morning air as he walked to the trunk to get the supplies.

“Tara is inside, you’ll meet her later. She’s agreed to have lunch waiting when we’re finished.”

“Lunch?” I looked at the clock on my cell phone. “It’s only seven o’ clock.”

“Time passes differently in the fairy realm. To be in the presence of Cernunnos is to be in the fairy realm.” I gave him a look and he said, “Trust me. You’ll feel like you’ve been gone a few minutes, but it’s actually been a few hours.”

“All right. Are you going to fill me in on the details of this ritual now or what?”

“I’ll explain on the way,” he said.

“On the way where?” I thought we’d already arrived at our destination.

He pointed toward the tree line. “In the woods.” Liam opened the trunk and took out a black bag he’d filled with supplies earlier.

While he did this I’d retrieved a large decorative box from his closet, as he’d instructed.

This box looked like an antique, like something you might expect to contain a fine silk gown. It was white with intricate gold designs and it glimmered in the early morning sun.

“Do I get to see what’s in the box now?” I asked.

Liam tucked the box underneath one arm. “It’s my invisibility cloak, and I’ll be wearing it for the summoning.”

People might think I’m a dork for this, but the thought of an invisibility cloak was so cool to me.

“Is there a particular reason you need to be invisible?” I asked as I followed Liam across the field behind the house.

“Cernunnos is more likely to appear for a solitary summoner. Try to say that fast.” He laughed. “Of course, I’ll eventually take it off. It’s just a courtesy for his preferences.”

“Which are?”

“Naked, human women, alone in the woods.”

“Great.”

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Tracey H. Kitts

It was no longer cold enough for frost, but dew still shimmered on the grass that crunched beneath our feet. White pumpkins glittered on the small hill behind Tara’s house.

“I know the weather report predicted more than one hard freeze in the past few weeks. How come the pumpkins are still growing? The vines still look healthy.”

“It’s part of the magic of this place. It’s also how my aunt Tara has such good luck growing prize-winning pumpkins.”

I laughed. “Would you like me to carry some of that?”

“Nope. I deliberately wanted your hands free.”

I was expecting him to make a naughty suggestion when Liam added, “Could you go over there and pick out a nice white pumpkin?” I paused. “I suppose so, but why?” I laughed softly. “Are we going to sacrifice it?” For some reason the thought of sacrificing a pumpkin was really funny to me. I guess it could’ve been the lack of sleep.

“Close enough,” Liam said. “It’s going to be part of our offering to Cernunnos.”

“And what’s the other part?”

“Some nice wine. And you.”

I was too shocked to do anything but stare openmouthed. After a second I closed my mouth and started walking toward the pumpkins.

“It’s not as bad as it sounds,” Liam called after me. “I’ll meet you just inside the trees.” When I didn’t turn back or respond he said, “Trust me. Oh, and take the knife out of my pocket.”

I walked back, still in shock. “It’s in my right pocket,” he said, nodding downward.

“Cernunnos will not hurt you.”

I didn’t respond. I just took the knife and started back toward the pumpkins.

If I was nervous before, I was scared out of my mind now. Was I seriously supposed to offer myself to a demigod? However, I
did
trust Liam and he didn’t appear concerned. I glanced toward the house and saw no signs of his aunt being awake yet.

The house was a comfortable-looking two-story with pale blue siding that matched what must be the guest house, visible a bit farther across the field to the left. Neatly trimmed hedges separated the house and its surrounding yard from the larger fields out front. The smaller pumpkin patch out back began where the yard ended.

When I finally came to the patch of white pumpkins I saw a small sign beside them that read Lumina. I guessed that was the name of the variety. I’d only seen white pumpkins in pictures before and took a moment to admire them. I wanted the offering to be nice. But I also had to take into consideration how much I could carry through the woods. Who knew how far we’d be walking. Some of these looked as if they might weigh fifty pounds. I picked a perfectly shaped little pumpkin that was probably closer to fifteen pounds. I used Liam’s knife to cut the vine and put the blade in my coat pocket before taking the pumpkin and following Liam into the woods.

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His white hair stood out against the shadows of the trees as I approached, making him easy to find in the semi-darkness.

“Don’t look so frightened,” he said softly. “If I thought this was a bad idea or that you would be harmed in any way, I would never bring you here.” I smiled and regretted my hands being full. Each time I looked at Liam, I wanted to touch him. “I believe you. Let’s get this over with.” We walked for another few minutes and my arms were getting tired when he said,

“We’re here.”

Liam’s broad shoulders were blocking my view. When I stepped beside him and looked around, the enchantment of the place was obvious. There was magic not only in the way things looked, but the way they felt. An old stone carving was most prominent in the small clearing, placed right in the middle like a totem. The image was faded and vines grew over it, making it difficult to see clearly. The only thing I could make out for sure was horns. Great. That was comforting.

“You can place the pumpkin on the altar there,” Liam said, nodding toward the statue. “Be careful of the circle.”

Mushrooms ringed the statue as if a magic circle was permanently in place. “Should I do something first, before entering?” I asked.

“Not yet. Just put the pumpkin down and come here.” Right in front of the statue was a stone altar where I placed the pumpkin. When I turned back to Liam he was searching his pockets and mumbling to himself.

“Is something wrong?”

“I know I brought it.” He checked another pocket. “Ah, here it is.” He passed me a tiny purple vial. “Drink this.”

I laughed. “Again? What does this one do?”

He offered me an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry. I realize I’m asking a lot of you.”

“And making me take a lot of different potions and magical substances.”

“If you don’t drink this one, you won’t be able to stand out here naked for several hours, which is what we need.”

I inspected the bottle again, holding it up to the light. “So this will keep me from freezing?”

Liam had begun to remove white candles and quartz crystals from his black bag. “I don’t mean to rush you, but if you don’t drink it soon, the potion won’t have enough time to work.”

“Got it. We can’t exactly proceed with the ritual until I get naked.”

“Right.”

Before I could put the potion to my lips, Liam pulled me close and gave me a quick kiss. “This won’t hurt a bit,” he said, giving me a playful wink.

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Tracey H. Kitts

I downed the potion in one gulp. “Yum. Tastes like fruit punch.” I rubbed my hands together to fight both the cold and my nervousness. “What can I do to help?” Liam looked down at the supplies as he considered my question. “I’m not sure there’s anything that you need to do until we get started. The wine,” he said, pointing toward the bag, “is part of the ritual and shouldn’t be taken into the circle until everything is in place. I have to set up the crystals and the candles. I know you don’t want to hear it, but all you need to do is get naked, have a drink and say a few words.” I put my hands on my hips and gave him what I hoped was a sarcastic look worthy of Nym.

“Honestly,” Liam said. “Just be patient.”

I found a log not far from where Liam had placed the fancy box and his black bag, sat down and watched. He ringed the circle of mushrooms with white candles. Between the candles he placed quartz stones, speaking words I didn’t understand over each.

When he was finished with this he anointed each candle with oil, also speaking over them in what I assumed was Faerie.

After this he returned to me and put the oil back in the bag. “Open the box please.” I did as he asked. I wasn’t sure what to expect to see inside the box, but I was definitely surprised. He’d said it was his invisibility cloak, so it had occurred to me that I might not see anything at all.

“Wow. This is beautiful.”

Liam offered me a smile before turning his back. “Help me put it on?” The cloak was made of feathers of all different shapes, sizes and colors. I recognized some raven feathers, peacock, turkey and possibly dove. Others must have been dyed because there were colors like purple and lime green mixed in as well. While lime green might be possible for parrots, to my knowledge purple wasn’t. Not this shade. It may not sound possible, but all these different feathers fit together in one of the most beautiful tapestries of color I’d ever seen. It was a work of art and it was well over eight feet long.

I stood on the log so I could hold out the long sleeves well enough for Liam to reach them. I understood then why he needed help. Despite the cloak’s beauty, it was awkward and heavy.

A few minutes later he stood there looking magnificent in the strange cloak, and still completely visible.

“Um, why can I still see you? I thought you said this was an invisibility cloak?” He smiled. “It is and just as soon as I pull up the hood, I’ll disappear. Don’t worry,” he said, bending down to take a plastic bag of dried rose petals from the supplies. “I’ll still be right here with you.”

I started to fan myself and slipped out of my coat. “It’s getting warm out here. How long do I have to wait before that potion starts to work?”

“I think it’s already working.”

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Constant Cravings

Chapter Thirteen

“This is excellent timing,” Liam said. “Take your clothes off and I’ll finish the candles.”

That suited me fine. “I’m burning up,” I said, pulling my sweater off. “How long will this last?”

“About four hours, give or take twenty minutes.” A most unpleasant warming sensation continued to work its way through my body.

Liam was still standing beside me, but I ignored him as I undressed. I was desperate to cool off.

“I don’t ever want to do this again,” I said. “I hate this feeling.” He looked concerned. “I’m really sorry. Most people don’t have an adverse reaction to the warming potion.”

I threw my shoes beside the log and pulled off my socks. I sighed when my bare feet finally touched the cold grass. “It’s not painful,” I said. “I just don’t like feeling the urge to roll naked in snow. I hate the heat.”

“That’s something I can relate to. The good news is, it won’t feel as if you’re burning up for four hours once Cernunnos shows up.” I finished stripping while Liam took hold of the hood on his cloak. The hood was ringed with hot pink feathers that to my thinking would obstruct his view. I only had a moment to notice this before he pulled the hood completely up and in an instant he vanished.

A piece of paper floated toward me. “Take this,” Liam said. “You need to get the wine and step into the circle while I finish lighting the candles. Once the candles are lit, the circle will be complete. Then, while you read this, I’ll spread the dried rose petals around the outside of the circle. Once you’ve spoken the words, take a sip of wine and offer the rest to Cernunnos.”

Talking to an invisible man was strange, but no more so than everything else lately.

It looked as if I was alone, but I could still feel Liam’s comforting presence.

“All right.” I picked up the wine and moved toward the circle. As I entered I tapped the bottle to get Liam’s attention, wherever he was. “How am I supposed to open it?”

“The cork should come out easily enough,” Liam said. “I loosened it with a spell.” The candles burned to life one by one and I could feel the magic closing in around me. It was as if something was growing physically closer with every second. I took a deep breath. Once I got all my clothes off, the warming spell ceased to burn. Now I was just comfortably nude in the freezing cold.

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Tracey H. Kitts

I sat the bottle at my feet and opened the note Liam had given me. I glanced at the words.

“Liam, it’s not night.”

“That doesn’t matter,” he said as the last candle was lit. “Just say the words.” I cleared my throat and directed my words toward the statue in front of me. “By the flame that burneth bright O Horned One, we call thy name into the night. We invoke thee, Cernunnos.”

“Now the wine,” Liam whispered.

I pulled the cork and since we hadn’t brought any glasses, I took a big gulp from the bottle.

“How do I offer it to him?” I asked.

“Get creative.”