Page 62 of Marked By Night

“Dammit, Sadie!” Kaos growls then steps toward Bedi menacingly. “If anything happens to her, I’ll kill you myself.”

“Ditto,” Dante agrees.

“If she’s this stupid, it’s on her,” Elian snaps.

“Relax, boys. It’s nothing more than a stronger version of the potion you—and every other Night Weaver—are given as children. Sadie never received those protections and was more vulnerable to mental attacks, especially now that they know about her existence.”

She pauses for a moment, debating with herself before adding, “I also put the Elderroot in for some magical birth control.” She winks, looking pointedly at all the guys behind me.She gave me a… birth control potion?Score.

“I didn’t even know that was a thing,” I say.

She nods. “Whenever you’re ready for it to stop, all you have to do is think about it and the spell will dissipate.”

Fat chance in hell, but I keep that thought to myself.

Ash bursts out laughing. “Dang, Bedi’s got your back, girl! Think about all of the orgies—”

“Enough of that,” Bedi interrupts with a clap of her hands. “Let’s get you moon-blessed and then on your way.”

“Moon-blessed?” I inquire with a frown.

“Yes. All Weavers go through the ritual at some point. Usually when they’re young,” she explains indulgently, writing something down on a piece of parchment. “We must ask the Night Goddess for her blessing before you can receive your full powers and reach your maximum potential. Let’s get on with it, shall we? Right this way.”

Bedi pulls a large glass potion bottle off the shelf next to her fireplace and it swings open, revealing a hidden door behind it. Huh. Never would’ve expected the fireplace. Although, it’s not the strangest thing I’ve seen today. That award goes to the talking dog.

“Isn’t that a fire hazard or something?” Ash asks, eyeing the open flame under the cauldron warily.

Bedi raises her hand making a flame appear at will, then she wiggles her fingers, and it dances across them almost lovingly. If that’s even possible. Unlike Dante’s orangish-blue flames, hers are bright green. “This is my magic, and it won’t harm anything unless I tell it to, would you?” She coos to the flames dancing across her fingers.

Once again, I wonder what the hell I’ve gotten myself into.

Dante places me behind him with Kaos, Elian, and Ash at my back as we follow her down the steps into what looks like the base of the tree. Bedi flicks her hand and candles flare to life around the room.

When the hall ends, a beautiful night sky appears above us with all three moon phases spread out in a semi-circle above where Bedi stands, casting a glow on the altar next to her. Crescent, Half, and Full. The new moon is likely there too but since it’s dark, it doesn’t show.

“Only the Elders may perform the Shadow Sacrament,” Elian says. “Not to mention, it’s normally performed on kids and young adults. Sadie is already past that age. Who knows what it will do to her?”

Does the surly bastard care what happens to me? Gasp.

Bedi sighs. “I had higher hopes for you, Elian. The Night’s blessing is not something age can restrict. Your Circle is too young to remember, but back in the days before the Eldersstoletheir positions of power, a priestess like myself would perform the Shadow Sacrament.”

Bedi doesn’t give him a chance to say anything else. “Quickly now. I need you all to stand in a semi-circle around Sadie. You shall be her witnesses. Is everyone here all right with that?”

Ash nods, eyes alight with wonder. Dante and Kaos grunt their affirmation and after a heavy pause, Elian reluctantly files into the circle. Bedi shuffles me into my position in the center, facing the altar and moon phases.

“Night Goddess, hear my call,” she calls out into the false night, picking up a small wooden bowl from the altar. “We stand before you to ask your blessing on the young Weaver, Sadie.” I jolt as Bedi flicks cool water on me; it tingles as it slides down my skin, but I don’t dare wipe it off for fear of disrupting the ritual.

“Do not fear change, because it is inevitable. The new moon will guide you to new beginnings. Always heed the call.”

She steps toward me, lifting a hand to my forehead, and draws a crescent moon with the strange silver liquid from the wooden bowl. “The crescent moon represents the dark sides of you, while sometimes misconstrued as a dreadful thing, it doesn’t have to be. You can always find the light in the darkness.”

She continues. “The quarter moon represents growth and healing. Don’t be afraid to let go of the negativity bothering you.” She paints a quarter moon on my right cheek.

“And finally, the full moon. It represents maturity and strength. It’s a cause for celebration. Don’t be afraid to dance under the light of the moon.” She pushes her thumb onto my left cheek, leaving the imprint of a full moon.

Bedi returns to her pedestal that almost looks as if it’s carved from the moon’s surface itself. “Night, please bless this child.” The weight of her power carries the words clearly across the room.

The room feels much heavier than it did a moment ago and the air is thick, almost stifling. A breeze kicks up, lifting my hair off my shoulders. The stars and moons grow brighter until it’s almost unbearably luminous.

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