Page 68 of Peacock Me Like a Hurricane

“Why are you here, Zeus? What led you to inhabit this mechanical equivalent of the Nemean Lion?”

“You know why I am here. You called upon me, and between myself and Tartarus, you know that you will always choose me over Tyche. Do not fight it any longer.” Veruca’s hands are shoved into her pockets, her inner struggle evident as she tries to keep the deity from accessing her wolf form.

With my eyes now being used by Nemesis, a hearty, barking laugh escapes my throat. “Zeus, you old fool. Inhabiting a female body? Do you truly expect me to accept this form? I am not Io; your tricks will not work on me.” As I circle around Veruca, examining her appearance, the Goddess whispers seductively in my mind. “She may be female, but she is a rebellious one. A tasty package indeed. Perhaps we can merge with her.”

A blush creeps across my face at the thought and I cover my mouth in shock. “Did you not expect me? Am I a disappointment?”

“No, never. It is just...unexpected.” I stroke Veruca’s arm gently, trying to convey through touch that I did not know if she felt the same way about me.

She giggles softly and I can sense the displeasure of Zeus within her. But then she tugs on my hand and leads me to the discarded robe from earlier. As we undress by the firelight, her skin glows with an otherworldly luminescence. Nemesis chuckles darkly inside my mind, enjoying the situation.

Our bodies fall together, filled with the innocent wanderings of explorers. My senses are consumed by the longing for her touch, but a not-so-gentle nudge from the Goddess reminds me that she wants more, now.

As our touches and kisses intensify, I can feel the deity within taking over, despite my pleas to hold onto these first moments as my own. Our movements become wild and frenzied, driven by the powerful forces of our mating dance until eventually both of our circuitries gets fried and our physical capabilities are limited. Satisfied, I sense Zeus’ departure - he’s never been one for tenderness or cuddling.

But Nemesis remains in my head, filling my memory banks with information that I have no context for. Her magick is potent and ancient, a gift that will surely assist us in future endeavors. Though I am grateful for her power, all I want is to lie here with my love for just a little longer before the ceremony comes to an end.

I thank Nemesis for her gifts and let out a sigh of relief as she departs, curling up next to Veruca until we are summoned to close the circle. The air around us is still charged with energy as we bask in the afterglow of our divine union

The Outsider Finds Her Purpose

AMANDA

Ever since she was a child, she felt a deep connection to nature. When she walked through the woods, she could hear the trees whispering and feel the pulse of the Earth beneath her feet. But others made fun of her for believing in things that couldn’t be seen or understood.

As she grew older, she sought out places with magical histories, like Stonehenge and Salem, and felt at home among the other visitors who shared her beliefs. She always believed that she had been given a special understanding of the world and its hidden wonders.

So when she was offered the chance to move into the Rift, a place full of mystery and magic, she eagerly accepted. However, she soon discovered that it wasn’t quite what she expected. While the Rift may have been created through science, it held its own kind of magic. And the people there were deeply entrenched in their own family units, making it difficult for her to find her place among them.

Despite her best efforts to connect with those who seemed to hold the keys to belonging, even her custom-made counterpart Constantine didn’t make her feel completely at home. She longed for a deeper connection with someone, like many womenin the Rift had with their mates. But so far, that feeling has eluded her.

I’ve been trying to get closer to the leader of our community, but it seems like she’s always surrounded by her inner circle. Desperate for a sense of belonging, I started reaching out to others in the group instead. I’ve been rejected each time, making me feel even more lonely and isolated.

In an attempt to find my own path and identity, I’ve embarked on personal quests. However, my new friends can’t fill the void of not being part of the “in” crowd. Despite their support, I still long to be a part of the leader’s inner circle.

When Deli invited me to participate in their Beltane ritual, it felt like a ray of sunlight shining on my face. I’ve been a part of similar rituals before, but never in a place as magical and otherworldly as the Rift. The invitation made me feel included and gave me hope that this could be my chance to finally become one of them.

Sari, one of my new friends, offered me a ride with her and Calista to the ritual site. She has been so supportive and her family, as well as her partner Belle’s family, have helped me in my quests. Sari also listens to my frustrations about not fitting in with the leader’s group and gives me advice on how to approach them. Belle, on the other hand, is more rebellious and wants to tear down any barriers that separate us from them.

The tension between Sari and Deli hung thick in the air. As they were all gathered together, preparing for the Queen’s arrival, it was clear that Sari was vying for her attention. The others tried to offer advice, but it seemed like they didn’t truly understand Sari or her family dynamics. She couldn’t help but feel a sense of isolation as she listened to their well-meaning but misguided words. Trying to push those thoughts aside, she focused on the beauty of the nature surrounding them, thanks to Deli’s efforts.

As the ceremony drew closer, Sari couldn’t help but feel a sense of longing for a mate to balance out the light and dark within her. Giving herself over to the Goddess and trusting her to choose a suitable partner felt both exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. Though she had someone in mind that she hoped would be chosen, she couldn’t shake off the fear that they might already be taken by another member of their community before it was her turn.

Once Deli has us consecrate the circle and gives us our positions, I wait eagerly, candle in hand, hoping the influx of power is as real as she led us to believe. While I may have a connection to the world of magick, I’ve never met a real user. I cannot wait to see?—

Holy Hell.

That woman is not a solitary practitioner dancing about the woods like a flower child, as my new cohorts suggested. Sari and Belle scoffed at this, but admitted that because Sari loves the cat, she had to ‘go along’ with this silliness to make her happy. They are gravely mistaken in their judgments.

The second she has us call the quarters, an enormous surge of energy hits the circle and I have to concentrate hard to be an empty vessel to receive it.

Deli is a High Priestess, and she has been keeping it a secret the entire time she’s been living here. That woman, cat—whatever you want to call her—just overflowed with more energy than I’ve felt before, even in a magickal hotspot like Stonehenge. I don’t think she’s tapping the well to do it, either. I don’t know if that’s how she’s always been or if that’s an amplification of the Rift, but methinks the tiny mechanical bulldog might be pulling the tail of a monster.

I’m not saying she’s evil, but I’m saying you don’t tug on Wonder Woman’s lasso, right?

I close my eyes and let out a deep breath, trying to push the thoughts of Constantine’s betrayal out of my mind. I focus on singing my invitation to the goddess, feeling the familiar energy coursing through me. Deli finishes her chant and the fire roars, its flames reaching towards the sky like fiery columns from Olympus.

My whole body tenses as I feel her presence, slithering up my legs and filling every inch of me. She invades my senses and I can sense her exploring every corner of my being. When I open my eyes, they are no longer mine but hers. Instead of connecting with the Celtic goddess I had intended to call upon, I am filled with Laverna, the Roman deity associated with dishonesty and thievery.

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