Page 26 of The 13th Daughter
I couldn't breathe.
Hurricane force winds crashed into me and I staggered under their force.
The ground rumbled beneath my feet and a misty rain started to fall around me.
The air blazed hotter than the August sun.
I felt dizzy, but then the world righted itself and a sense of peace settled within me. The same calm that this place always offered me was back and air filled my lungs again.
"Very good, Cassie," Ethan told me and took my arm.
"What the hell was that?" I gasped. I felt weird, excited...sick.
"The five Elements greeted you," Kay laughed and pulled me into a fierce hug. "You came! I can't believe you came!"
"What are you talking about?" I'd spent a lot of time here and that had never happened before.
"We began the invocation of a circle," she explained and pulled me along with her towards the front of the clearing. "The five Elements we use for our spelling are present and when you came into the circle, they said hello and welcome."
"Is it always that...disorienting?" I still wasn't so sure about the Element thing, but I had definitely felt something. Even I couldn't deny that.
"They don't greet everyone, CJ," she sighed. "Only a handful of people have received that kind of welcome since the founding of the town. Emily was the last to receive it until now."
"But you..."
"Can manipulate them and get them to do my bidding, yes, but have never been greeted by them." A look of sadness crossed her face, but she pushed it aside and beamed at me. I felt her sadness stab through me. It made me feel guilty. Insane, as I never asked for the Elements to greet me, but Kay wanted their greeting. I felt no malice or envy from her, just a deep sadness. It made me feel all the more guilty. "I'm so glad you came. Megan is going to flip when she sees you."
I glanced over her shoulder and saw my mom. She was talking to Kay's dad and leaning in very close. I frowned. They looked more than just friendly. What was that about?
"CJ?" Kay moved and blocked my view of them.
"I had a reason for coming," I told her distractedly. Why did Mom and Mr. Martin look so cozy? "I need to talk to you later."
"What's wrong?" she frowned and threw her heavy mane of hair over her shoulder.
I opened my mouth and then closed it as I got a good look at her. She wore a white dress similar to the one Emily had given me, but hers was made of satin and lace. It came to about three inches below her bottom and was held up by two spaghetti straps. Small crystals were sewn into the bodice and shimmered in the light. The stark contrast to her dark hair and skin created a devastating effect. A sort of energy radiated off her. She stood tall and proud, every inch the Coven leader she was.
"Kay, you look amazing."
She smiled. "Thanks, but don't deter. What's wrong?"
"Later," I told her as I was knocked over by Megan as she hurled herself at me. Jeff caught me from behind and steadied me.
"You're here! At my initiation! I can't believe it!"
"I think she gets the point, Meg," Jeff laughed. "She might turn around and leave if you don't let go. You're choking her."
"Sorry!" She turned me loose, her blonde hair swaying as she bounced on her feet. "I'm just so excited you came."
"I wouldn't have missed your initiation for the world, Meg," I told her. "Now, shouldn't you be getting ready?"
"Oh, yeah!" Her eyes widened and she hurried back to where her mom waited with an indulgent expression on her face. Kay followed her over.
"Thanks for that," Jeff told me. "It meant the world to her to think you came just for her initiation."
I nodded and looked up at him. He wore an expression of concern tinged with a sprinkle of fear. His blue eyes were wary as he gazed around us. He leaned down. "You shouldn't have come, though."
"What?" I asked, but Kay was back and Jeff's perpetual smile was firmly in place. His eyes warned me not to say anything. I pasted a smile on my own face and made a mental note to grill Jeffrey later. Why wouldn't he want me here? He'd always been one of the worst hagglers trying to get me to attend a meeting.
