Page 81 of Cursed Sight
“We do,” called every brother in unison, startling the couple.
The guests chuckled, and Brandy shook her head. Junior kissed her cheek and sat next to Debbie in the front row. The guests smiled with pure joy. Serena was honored to perform the ceremony for them.
“Welcome, family, friends, and loved ones. We’ve come here today to witness the joining of Brandy and Ryan. Please raise your hands toward them and shower them with your positive energy,” Serena said and continued with their short handfasting ceremony.
After their first kiss as husband and wife, Serena slid their handfasting ribbons off their hands, careful to not undo the knots, and handed them back.
“Lastly, I’d like to offer one final family blessing to Brandy and Ryan,” she said and grabbed the blessing candle she’d lit before the start of the ceremony and the small satchel next to it. Serena added three pinches of the sage, oil, and lemon mixture to the candle’s wax, and the flame sparked. The crowd gasped, and Brandy’s eyes widened with surprise.
“May the goddess be with you and bless you always. May you overcome obstacles as one and lead peaceful, happy lives. May your children’s children dance in the light of the moon and your lives be rich with blessings from this day forward. So mote it be!” Serena stated, and the flame swirled high before returning to its natural height.
“So mote it be!” witches among the guests shouted.
“I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Ryan Palfrey!”
Brandy and Ryan raised their united hands, which clasped their handfasting ribbons, high into the air and walked down the aisle toward the house.
Once the couple disappeared inside, Serena stepped forward and was met by Ethan. She slipped her arm into his and grinned.
“Are you sure you want to wait to do this walk for real?”he asked.
“As ready as I am to call you my husband, we aren’t in any rush,”she answered back.
Ethan kissed her temple, and they followed the same path the newlyweds had taken. The guests exited their seats and made their way to the open bar in the corner.
“Hey!”
Serena turned and found Andrea and James. “Hi! Beautiful wedding, right?”
“Small talk?”Ethan chuckled.
Serena slapped him in the gut.“I’m trying, all right?”
“Did you know that there are like fifty spirits milling around?” James stated, his eyes round with nerves.
Serena glanced around the crowd of living guests. “Are there? I can’t see…” She stopped and met Ethan’s gaze. “Do you see them?”
“No, I sensed a few familiar ones, but I haven’t seen any.”
“Seen any what?” Peter asked around a chicken wing.
Serena scoffed. “You’re about to get sauce on your nice tie.”
Peter caught the drop with a finger before it hit his clothes. “Thanks. What are we talking about?”
A caterer stopped by their small group with a tray of a variety of hors d’oeuvres. Each person grabbed an item and smiled politely.
“James noticed there was in influx of guests of the spiritual kind,” Ethan whispered.
“Actually…” James said before his attention was drawn to something past Peter.
“What?” Peter asked, glancing around him.
James’s eyebrows narrowed as he nodded. “There’s a woman behind you who’s begging you to help with the lost.”
“The lost?” Peter and Ethan repeated.
“That’s twice now,” Serena stated.
