The couple turned, excited to have a new prized possession. It was the familiar couple. As the couple moved on to the next stall, Ruby wondered who the doll was for. The man cracked his neck and suddenly looked back as if he had forgotten something.
The shiver returned. This time stronger. It was the man from the doctor’s waiting room.
He smiled at Ruby and waved the rag doll at her. Its stringed red hair bounced around.
The cuteness about the doll was gone.
<°)))><
Ruby’s tea light candles lit the living room. The smell was sweet and natural although they had not calmed Ruby’s nerves.
Shoana gave Ruby and Zoe a robe each. They were instructed to put it on once they were at the property where the Circle was being held. Shoana stressed the Circle was by invitation only, so they were all privileged to be attending it.
“Excited, girls?” Shoana asked.
The excitement of the unknown and finding out it was to be a private affair had quietened Ruby’s fear. She was relieved there was a robe as she had some anxiety about the event involving nil clothing. Ruby looked over her robe. It had a large star on the back of it.
“What’s with the star?” Ruby asked, showing the back of her robe.
Zoe looked at her robe and Shoana did the same. They had no star.
“You must be the star attraction,” Shoana said. “Did you want to swap?”
“No, it’s okay. I like stars.”
“You’re a star, Ruby.” Zoe turned to Shoana. “Are there any rules we need to be aware of?”
“No, not really. Just what I’ve told you before. It’s all about getting into the Circle. No talking, no chewing, no phones—we’ll leave the phones at home.” Shoana placed her robe on the couch. “You’ll be anointed with oil as you enter the Circle, then turn left and go with the flow. The pace will be slow at first, then increases. Some will chant. It’s all about raising energy. The high priestess stands in the centre of the circle and does her stuff.”
“What sort of stuff?” Zoe asked.
“She’ll invoke the goddess or various spirits for protection. She calls the elements in.”
Zoe raised her eyebrows. “Elements?”
“Earth, air, fire, and water,” Shoana said. “When she starts doing this, the circle stops moving and we all look towards her.”
“Then she does the call-down-the-moon stuff?” Ruby asked.
“That’s right, Ruby. Then she does the call–down-the-moon stuff.”
Ruby tilted her head. “Only asking. No need to be sarcastic about it.”
“Sorry. Didn’t mean to be. Yes, the high priestess requests the moon goddess to enter her body and speak through her. This is when healing and communicating with those in the Circle take place.”
Doubts crept into Ruby’s mind. She pushed them away. She wanted change in her life and this was the way to go. This had to be the way to go. She needed to conquer fear, and that included dealing with sarcasm.
“Does her voice change or anything?” Ruby asked, but changed her mind. “Ignore that, silly question. I’m just a little nervous.”
“That’s okay, Ruby. You’ll enjoy the experience. Now you’ll receive something to drink—it’ll be juice—don’t drink it straight away. It’s a toast to the goddess so wait until you’re told.”
Shoana walked to the door. “Let’s go girls. And Ruby, I believe you may be in for a special treat. There’s a particular goddess with a liking for red hair. She may turn up.
Ruby wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or bad thing.
8 – Circle of friends
JILL WINTER, THE HIGH PRIESTESS, stood in the park, a lone figure beneath the bare branches of a dead tree, waiting. Motionless. The only sound was the occasional flap of bat wings as they took their role in filling the night airspace, vacated by the daytime creatures, seeking fruit. The bats departed, it grew quieter, the night became still. The occasional pop broke the silence as long, sharp seedling mangrove shoots dropped from branches and speared into the mud. Her heart beat hard against her chest.
The people had set the place up as requested and had left to get prepared for the ritual. The high priestess looked over at the long narrow box and smiled.
“You will be pleased,” she said aloud, and looked to the sky.
She walked over to the circle, marked out by a line of salt and candles. The first candle was green, representing earth. She lit the green candle, then lit the other three in order—yellow representing air, orange representing fire, and blue representing water.
Then she walked back towards the shrubbery and waited for the others to arrive.
A short time later, she heard voices. They were coming. Her heart was racing and she felt the adrenaline rush coming.
“You will be pleased,” she repeated.
<°)))><
The black bitumen road came to an end at the estuary parklands. Ruby saw large trees swaying and bowing against the clear night sky as if inviting them to enter. Enter they did.
The night was silent. The moon shone on the estuary, giving the dark waters a spooky feel. Grassland flickered with coloured candles, which took some of the gloominess away. A tall figure in a long dark gown stood near the shrubbery, beside something resembling a coffin. The figure raised a hood over her hair, leaving her face in a dark shadow. A large necklace on her neck sparkled in the moonlight. It all looked rather medieval.
“What’s with the coffin?” Ruby asked in a low voice.
