Loved (House of Night Other World #1)(93)
“Do people usually have the same auras?” Zo asked.
“Nope,” Shaylin said.
“What about siblings? Other Kevin’s my brother.”
“My answer is still nope. I’ve never seen anyone before with the same aura.”
“Well, that’s weird,” Kevin and Zoey said together.
“Jinx!” Kevin yelled. “Beat ya!”
She shoved his shoulder. “Come on. You’re with me.” Then she gestured at the others. “Okay, circle up.”
It only took a moment. Everyone knew exactly what to do. Well, everyone except Kevin, who stood next to Zoey, watching everything while he cracked his knuckles. When all were in place, Zoey turned to him. They were standing in the middle of the circle between the table and the open fire.
“Hey, stop looking so nervous. This is easy and fun. Just walk with me. Damien, Shaunee, Shaylin, Stevie Rae, and I will do everything. All you need to do is to concentrate on what you’re feeling, and if you feel something—tell me. Ready?”
“Yep,” he lied.
She picked up a long, wooden match and a box to strike it against. Then she walked to Damien, who was holding a yellow candle.
“From the east I summon air—the element that fills us at birth and surrounds us all the days of our lives.” She touched the match to the yellow candle.
Kevin felt his hair flutter and heard the sound of wind sighing through leaves. He looked around, trying to see if he’d missed something. Was a window open?
Zoey and Damien were staring at him.
“Anything?” she asked.
“I—I felt wind in my hair and heard leaves rustling.”
Damien grinned. “That’s one.”
“Seriously? I really have an affinity for wind?”
“Absolutely,” said Zo.
“Wow. Just wow, wow, wow!” Kevin said.
“Come on. Let’s see what else you have.”
Everyone turned to their right while he and Zoey approached Shaunee, who was holding a red candle.
“From the south I summon fire—that element that warms us and gives us light.” She didn’t have to touch the match to the red candle. It spontaneously lit and Kevin jumped. He was surrounded by heat, as if he was standing a little too close to a bonfire. A light sweat broke out on his face, and he automatically wiped at his forehead.
“My guess is that’s two,” Shaunee said.
Zo raised her brows at him.
He nodded, unable to stop his gleeful grin. “Definitely felt that. It’s awesome!”
They turned to their right and walked to Shaylin, who was holding a blue candle.
“From the west I summon water—the element that washes us and quenches us.” She lit the blue candle.
The sound of waves filled Kevin’s ears, and the scent of the sea filled his nose.
“I hear it! I smell it!”
“That’s three,” Shaylin said.
They turned to the right again and ended up in front of Stevie Rae and her green candle.
“Hey there Z and Z’s bro,” she said, smiling at them both.
Kevin thought he automatically liked this girl, and decided right then he wanted to get to know her better.
“From the north I summon earth—we come from you, and return to you.” She lit the green candle.
Kevin could feel the softness of a grassy meadow under his feet. He smelled hay and heard birdsong.
“That’s four. Right, Kev?”
“Right!” Kevin told the little blond.
“Now for the fifth.” Zo led him back to the table and the fat purple candle that rested there. “Last, I summon spirit to our circle—it is our connection to each other and to our Goddess.” Zo lit the purple candle.
Unbelievably, Kevin felt his own spirit leap, like there were birds fluttering around inside his chest. He gazed down at Zoey, surprised to see her eyes filled with tears.
“You feel it, don’t you?”
“Yes. I feel it.” Then something caught his eye and Kevin’s gaze went to the circle itself. All around it was a glowing silver thread, like a ribbon of mercury. “Holy crap! Can you guys see that?”
He heard soft laughter from everyone. They were smiling at him and nodding their heads. G-ma was clapping her hands. Zoey was the only one who looked sad.
“While our circle is open I want to do something,” Zo said. Her eyes traveled the circumference, meeting the gaze of each of her friends. “Help me, okay?”
All four nodded.
Zoey turned to her brother. “Bend down so that I can put my hand on your head.”
Kevin did one better. He knelt before his sister, and as he did so he felt the rightness of it. She rested her hand gently on his head, and when she began to speak, her voice was completely changed—filled with otherworldly power and the strength of a goddess.
For my brother I ask a blessing from elements five
Air, fire, water, earth, spirit
No matter where he might go—what hardships he
might know
Follow him. Strengthen him. If his heart is empty—fill it.
Keep him happy, safe, and alive.
I ask of our Goddess Nyx from above
To hold him close, wrapped in love … always love.
“So she has spoken—so mote it be,” intoned her friends.