Chapter One Hundred and Thirty-Three

Rideten, Five Years Before

A women’s circle involved a gathering of women of all age groups, backgrounds, shapes, and sizes. They arrived alone, or in groups of friends or family. Grandmothers, mothers and daughters, aunts and nieces, childhood friends, schoolteachers, and home makers – women from every walk of life. They entered, carrying with them wine, which they added to the communal table, and drank out of vintage teacups as they giggled and chatted, sharing the news of their week, their family, and their friends.

They accepted Aislen’s presence with warmth and curiosity, and she was passed from group to group, repeating the same information about herself – where she was from, where she was studying, how long she had been in Rideten, and whether she liked it. As she and Bianca circulated, Aislen soon determined that there were three different types of women present – those who came for the socialization and did not truly believe in magic, those who were devotees that believed passionately in magic, but possessed none themselves, and the supernaturals who possessed it, but kept it hidden.

The ladies eventually broke off into smaller groups, filtering through the many rooms of the house.

“Come,” Stella caught Aislen’s attention. “Let’s see what we do tonight,” she offered, gesturing for Aislen to follow her. They stepped into the hallway, where it was quieter. “The kitchen is a natural gathering place, and many prefer to stay there and use this time to socialize amongst themselves,” Stella told Aislen in a low voice. “There is power in women seeking the company of other women, and wisdom in sharing our troubles and woes with sympathetic ears that works its own magic, enabling those troubled to leave lightened of their burdens and with tools by which to overcome their woes. That is the magic of human women.”

“You said… thought, whatever,” Aislen amended. “You said that you know what I am, that I am one of you. I don’t know what I am. Am I a witch?”

“You are not a human," she replied gently. "Which makes you one of us, whether that is a witch, or something else, matters not to us. We recognize you as our sister... What do you think you are?” Stella asked.

“A telepath?” Aislen suggested.

“You are that, apparently, if you read my thoughts,” Stella agreed nodding. “We shall see what else you can do, if you like?”

“So… you don’t actually know what I am, just that I’m something,” Aislen was disappointed.

Stella smiled gently. “Some truths are revealed to us when it’s the right time, sister, and not before. This truth is not mine to share. However, there is much that you can learn from us, and much that you can give to us in return, and that is a wonderful thing, don’t you think?”

“Yes,” Aislen nodded. “I need help. I cannot control what I do. My grandmother was teaching me, but she died too soon, and all I have is her grimoire...”

They paused by a door. Within, a group of women sat in a circle.

“The fire bites, the fire bites. Hogs-turd over it, hogs-turd over it, hogs-turd over it. The Father with thee, the son with me, the Holy Spirit between us both to be,” the women chanted and then spat over each shoulder, and three times towards the center of the circle.

Aislen recoiled in surprise.

Stella chuckled. “A simple good luck charm. Beth is taking an exam tomorrow. We all wish her luck.” She moved on to the next doorway. A woman lay upon the floor whilst a second knelt over, her hands joined, one on top of the other, hovering over the prone woman. The kneeling woman’s eyes were closed and her expression intent. “A healing spell,” Stella murmured. “The passing of energy from one to another.”

In the parlour, another group were reading tarot cards. Stella continued out to the porch, smiling and nodding to the collection of women gathered there, wafting sage over each other. “Smudging,” Stella told Aislen. “Using sage to cleanse each other. You might benefit from participating in this ritual, sister.”

“Alright,” Aislen said dubiously.

“I will leave you here, then,” Stella said with warmth. “Tomorrow is the Sabbath. The inner circle, the coven, gathers on the Sabbath. You should join us. It will enable us to talk more freely, and to discuss learning and rituals that might assist you.”

“Okay,” Aislen nodded. “Thank you, I’d like that.”

“Blessed be, sister.”

Aislen edged into the group on the porch, embarrassed to ask to join, but she found her inclusion immediate, with one of the sage-wielding witches immediately focusing on her. “Oh, sister,” she murmured. “You are very overdue for a good cleansing.”

“I’ve never had one done,” Aislen admitted. “I’m not sure what to do.”

“It’s very simple,” the woman said patiently. “Stand with your eyes closed, and visualize your troubles and worries, and let the smoke take them away into the ether.”

“Okay,” Aislen shrugged slightly and let her arms rest against her sides and closed her eyes. She could hear the murmur of the women’s voices around her, hear their movement on the floorboards of the porch, smell the burning sage as it drifted around her. The witch’s voice was a soft murmur as she intoned a chant.

Visualize your troubles and worries… It was hard to think of how to visualize them. How did you visualize a pregnancy? She wondered. How did she visualize her heart ache and longing for the Triquetra? How did she visualize her hurt over her parents discarding her into Rideten?

“Breathe in,” the witch murmured. “With each breath out, release the negative. With each breath in, embrace the positive. Feel the negative energy leave you and fill the space with positivity.”

As Aislen followed the instructions, she was surprised by how much lighter and easier she felt.

“That’s right,” there was a smile in the witch’s voice. “Very good, sister. We will repeat this, perhaps tomorrow, and each time, you will find you release more and achieve a greater result.”

Aislen opened her eyes. “Thank you,” she said with a euphoric smile. “That really did help.”

“You will find regular meditation will assist you in attaining control, sister,” the witch advised with a warm smile. “It is something that improves with practice. Blessed be.”

Bianca was sitting on the steps and stood as Aislen stepped away. “I was thinking of heading home,” she said. “If you’re okay with that?”

“Sure, I’ll come,” Aislen stepped down to join her. “That was… really good,” she was surprised even as she said it. “Really good,” she repeated.

“I’m glad you found it so,” Bianca’s smile was confused. “Did Daisy call you sister?”

“Yes,” Aislen was hesitant. “Why?”

“Nothing,” Bianca shook her head as they stepped out onto the street and started back towards the school. “It’s just normally a title reserved for the Priestesses of the inner order. The rest of us are normally called daughters. Sister is more… a statement of equality.”

“Oh,” Aislen flushed and shrugged awkwardly. “I’m sure it’s nothing.”

“Daisy also said… tomorrow,” Bianca prompted. “That’s the Sabbath gathering. Only the inner circle is invited to that.” She slid a sideways look at Aislen. “Look… I get it. You don’t really know me, or anything, and the inner circle is the inner circle, the actual coven. I’ve just… It’s a closed coven. People aren’t just invited in,” she said. “People whose families have been part of the circle, for generations, who have attended these gatherings since their first blood… They would love to be invited into the inner circle, and you’re here for one night and you’re being called sister and invited to the Sabbath. That’s all.”

She was jealous, her thoughts told Aislen, and wondering what it was about Aislen that was so special.

Aislen chewed her bottom lip. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I hope this doesn’t… I hope we won’t stop being friends because of this. It’s not something I sought… I guess,” she shrugged. “Like you, my family has a long history in this sort of thing, but we only kept it in our family, and it’s not quite the same. My grandmother was teaching me from the family grimoire. Stella knew, I don’t know how, and she knew that I needed help…”

“Oh,” Bianca was surprised. “I had no idea that your family practiced, you seemed so…”

“Ignorant?” Aislen read the word in Bianca’s thoughts, although the other girl shied from speaking it. “I am, I really am. My grandmother died before she could teach me much, and I’ve just sort of fuddled along ever since. I have no idea what I’m doing.”

“Stella is very wise and observant,” Bianca relaxed. “She must have realized that you needed extra help at the moment.”

“That’s for sure,” Aislen was glad that the tension and jealousy had passed. She laughed dryly. “I’m eighteen, pregnant to a boy who won’t return my calls, and my parents don’t know. That’s pretty much the definition of needing help.”

Even as she spoke, the phone in her bag began to ring. It had happened so infrequently, and happened now so unexpectedly, that Aislen jumped at the sound and was baffled by its origin.

“Maybe it’s him?” Bianca was excited.

“Oh, god,” Aislen fumbled the phone out and answered it. “Hello?"