Chapter Three - Blue Moon Rites

 

After the unsettling lecture about accords and the reality of the watchful gaze of the Conclave, I left the Gallery feeling desperate to find an anchor before my 48-hour glass of sand ran out. I knew I’d have to make a decision fast, and everything in me still wanted to explore what the Aquarius Coven had to offer. Coming fresh off my work at the Obsidian in Chicago, I figured that at least I would have some experience in the sort of debauchery and hormonally-driven environment that this coven offered. Besides, I was feeling rebellious still and wanted to show both my parents and Director Nance that I was completely in control of my own destiny.

Rumors were already spreading about an exclusive gathering on the edge of the dark, misty bayou that evening, under the Blue Moon. What could possibly go wrong, right? I headed out to the location of the gathering, following a few others that were headed that way. The air was thick and filled with humidity deep in the cypress trees, and I was hit with the smell of thick incense and the sound of a pulsing, rhythmic drumbeat. Lanterns hanged from mossy branches lining the path towards the gathering, and cast a surreal blue glow over a hidden wooden pavilion.

I should have been more prepared for what I was about to witness than I actually was. The Aquarius coven sisters were engaged in a mesmerizing, trancelike elemental dance. Oh, and they were entirely topless, wearing only thin, white skirts that flowed in the breeze as they moved. Their skin was painted with glowing, iridescent runes that shimmered with blue magic under the glow of the Blue Moon in the sky. I found myself absolutely spellbound, for lack of a better term, and a little intimidated by the raw, uninhibited power on display.

The music slowed to a heavy, grounding hud, and the dancers parted as the girl who was clearly the leader stepped down from the dais. She was absolutely striking, ethereal, and completely unbothered by her nudity. She moved with absolute confidence, as if she were about to stalk her prey. She surveyed the newcomers carefully, her eyes landing on each of the girls with practiced evaluation.

When her eyes met mine, it felt like she was looking into my soul. She looked down at my hands, where purple energy flowed around my clenched, nervous hands.

“You’re holding it in too tight, little dove. It is suffocating you,” she informed me. Her voice was smooth, like a deep tide.

I couldn’t help but swallow hard, stepping back just an inch. “I was told that I needed to choose a coven within 48-hours… I’m just… studying my options.”

“You have chosen to visit the best coven, in my unbiased opinion,” the girl smiled. “I am Jezebel Locke, head of the Aquarius Coven. The Icarus will build an iron cage around that lightning in your veins until it burns your heart out. We don’t believe in cages… We will never cage up the storm, young one. We let it run wild.”

She reached out to hover her hands just a millimeter above my bare arm, and the air between us crackled violently. “Shed the clothes. Shed the fear. Join the dance and let us help you ground that voltage before your time runs out.”

As Jezebel rejoined the others on the gazebo, I felt the desire to slip away from the main bonfire and wander into the dark shadows behind the wooden structure to clear my head. I was overwhelmed by the intense sensory overload and the pressure of the time limit on my choice for where I’d spend the near future.

I wandered deeper into the shadows, breathing heavily and trying to clear my head. The drumbeat was muffled here, and moonlight filtered through the moss-draped trees. When I caught movement ahead, I froze in my spot.

Jezebel Lock was on her knees in the dirt, now completely naked. Her glowing blue runes shimmered across her skin as her head moved with a fierce, hungry rhythm, taking the man’s hard cock deep into her mouth. When I turned around the corner, I recognized the warden as Nathaniel Caden - the one I had met at the Accords lesson. He looked like he was thoroughly enjoying himself.

As he leaned back against the thick cypress tree, his black duster tossed carelessly over a low branch, his fingers were tangled tightly in Jezebel’s hair. Warm, golden light flared brightly around his hands as he gripped her, and Jezebel’s own deep blue magic surged in response, crackling and intertwining violently with his golden energy. Sparks of mixed light showered down around them every time she took him deeper.

My eyes went wide, breath caught in my throat. I backed up, turning to go back to the Emerald Inn and get out of there quickly. I didn’t want either of them to know I had seen them, but I needed to think. My emotions were running wild - shock, fear of them being caught, and maybe a hint of… jealousy? No, that didn’t make sense… Did it?

One thing was clear… The lines between predator, protector, and law in Acadia Village had just become dangerously blurred, and the clock was still ticking. I needed to make a decision… fast.