“Oh please, you absolutely are.”
From the sliding glass door, Cora leaned in, snickering. “Yeah, that’s definitely her sulking face.”
“Shut up, Cora,” Meiner snapped. She turned back to Dayna, shoving the tray of candles at her. “Bring this out, I’ve got the basket.”
Meiner hooked an arm through the basket and moved out through the sliding door, toward the apple orchard. She elbowed past Cora, and the shorter girl staggered a step back before regaining her balance. Dayna caught her eye and Cora shrugged, turning to follow Meiner outside.
Dayna hurried after her, falling into stride. “Is she always like this?”
“Like what?” Cora didn’t look at her, keeping her eyes fixed on Meiner’s back.
“So bad-tempered.”
Cora gave a short laugh. “You think that was bad? That was nothing. A little hissy fit, that’s all.”
Dayna’s phone vibrated in the pocket of her sweater, but she ignored it, concentrating on balancing the tray of candles. It was probably the reverend, and she wasn’t interested in talking to him.
She tried to push her irritation down while she followed Meiner into the apple orchard. She shouldn’t let it get to her right now, not Meiner’s little hissy fit, as Cora so succinctly put it, or her father’s insistence on checking in. She wasn’t even going to be annoyed at the memory of Sam asking her to take him back, or the surge of guilt and indecision she’d felt in response.
No, tonight was about the ascension. Nobody was going to ruin it.
Reagan was spreading a checkered blanket in the center of the orchard. The trees on either side were bent forward and gnarled, forming a crooked wooden archway framed in orange by the setting sun.
Dayna watched as Reagan handed Cora and Meiner bundles of sage and clematis to distribute in a wide circle around the blanket. She knew some of it. The circle was to keep out negative spirits and energy, and the candles were to light the way for the gods. She set down the tray and began to collect the wax pillars, placing them around the outside.
She wasn’t sure about some of the others—the stone knife Brenna placed on the altar, or the withered branches Bronagh followed with. Seeing her staring, Grandma King—who was helping Cora distribute the herbs—spoke up. “Oak and ash,” she croaked, “for luck and protection.”
Dayna felt a flash of relief that the old woman was acting normal, and she glanced over at Meiner, who looked more at ease than she had a second ago.
“The stone knife for grounding,” Grandma King continued, “for cutting away attachments to this earth. Candles to light the way.” She waited while Faye came forward to place a silver hand mirror on the altar. “And the doorway, though they can use whatever entrance they well please.” She gestured at the apple trees on either side. “We’re at an entrance spot anyway. This works just as well.”
Beside her, Bronagh gave her a sharp, sideways glance and cleared her throat loudly. “If you don’t mind, King, I’ll be running the ceremony.”
Grandma King shrugged and said icily, “Only explaining what the witchlings didn’t seem to know.”
Bronagh set out the rest of the ceremony, scowling at Grandma King all the while. Reagan gave Dayna a wide-eyed look, mouthing, Oh my god, behind her hand, and Dayna bit the inside of her cheek, not sure whether to laugh or roll her eyes.
Thankfully Yemi joined them just then, and she placed the glass basin of oil at the center of the blanket.
“All in a circle, please.” She waved at Reagan, who had stooped down to dig through the picnic basket for cookies. “Enough of that, my girl. Those are for after, when you need a sugar kick. Don’t eat them all now.” She shook her head and sucked her teeth. “Well, come on, then, we’ll start as soon as the sun begins to set. Only a few minutes. Now, I know you girls have picked your goddesses.” She looked pointedly at her daughter.
Reagan nodded, speaking around a mouthful of cookie. “Aye. I was thinking of Moritasgus. You know, the badger god? Just think how fast I could dig tunnels.”
Dayna hid a smile behind her hand as Yemi blinked at her daughter in dismay. “Who?”
“I’m having you on, Ma. You know I’m pledging to Brigid. She’s had her arse appropriated by the church, so I’m taking her back.” Reagan laughed as Yemi shook her head.
“You give me wahala, girl. I’m going to have gray hairs. Dayna, what about you?”
“Danu.”
The others nodded. Danu was powerful and benevolent, the mother god. A good choice. It was hard to tell, but she thought she had the goddess’s approval. Sometimes when she performed simple spells she’d get a rush of power, or warmth flooding through her chest down to the tips of her toes, all signs your god favored you. Danu wouldn’t turn her down…at least she hoped. Her stomach twisted at the thought, as she pictured reaching out and getting nothing back.
She told herself firmly that it was ridiculous. It wouldn’t happen.
She was going to pledge to her goddess, and return home a full witch.
Home, where she could never ever let the reverend know what she’d just done. Where she’d have to be careful to hide her new power.
If he found out, they would have a reckoning far worse than the fight they’d had over Dayna being bisexual. Witchcraft was the ultimate sin. He would probably never speak to her again if he knew.
Dayna bit the inside of her cheek, feeling a little ill.
Yemi reached out, grasping Reagan’s and Dayna’s hands, surveying them both gravely. “Are you ready, girls? You will be full witches after this.”
They both nodded, though Dayna swallowed hard, shifting from one foot to the other. Yemi gave her a reassuring smile.
“You have doubts and fears. Your old friends, maybe, and your father?”
Dayna nodded slowly, and Yemi clasped her hand more firmly. “I was the same way when I ascended. I was sure my mother was rolling in her grave back in Nigeria, she was so Christian. Juju was evil in my house. I never dreamed I’d become a witch when I set up my stand next to this strange old white woman at the market years ago.” Yemi chuckled, tossing a teasing grin at Brenna.
“Aye, I bewitched her with my teas.” Brenna grinned back, and Yemi shook her head, rolling her eyes, before returning her focus back to Dayna and Reagan.
“You have both felt the magic and you know the truth of it. You know it is good, abi?” When they both nodded, she smiled and waved a hand at them. “Oya, we get in the circle now.”
They formed a circle, with Reagan and Dayna standing between Bronagh and Brenna, and Yemi across the basin from her daughter.
Bronagh clasped her hands and intoned, “We shall explain the ceremony. But before that, you’ll need a Second.” When they stared at her blankly she said, “Someone to stand behind you, to make sure you don’t fall during the ceremony. The ascension can be surprisingly powerful.”
Faye pointed a commanding finger at Meiner. “You’ll do, tall one. Go ahead and stand behind her.”
Meiner only glanced briefly at Dayna before obeying, her expression stony. Dayna was grateful the sun was beginning to sink behind the horizon, the shadows of the trees stretching over their circle. Hopefully no one would notice her burning face, or her horrified expression. She could feel how close Meiner was. And there was that laundry-soap-and-peppermint smell again, as the older girl moved past her. Dayna told herself not to think about it. To pretend Meiner wasn’t there.