The Witch: Book Two of The Sorceress Saga by Taliesin Govannon (top 10 novels of all time .txt) 📗

Even with all of the nudity, three gorgeous, naked black women with varying shades of blue hair stick out I thought with a grin.

                “We were walking around… “ Cordelia began this time.

                “... and ran into Vincent.” Darla continued.

                “He wants Annabelle to come down to the drum fire area.” Drucilla finished.

                “Okay.” I replied. I looked at Tiffany and Raina. “You guys want to join me?”

                “Sure!” Tiffany said. Raina, however, was distracted.

                “Where are, uh, you three going?” she asked the trio.

                “There’s an ice cream social happening… “ Darla said, excited.

                “... in the woods.” Cordelia said next.

                “Yeah, where people put ice cream on your body… Drucilla continued.

                “... and lick it off!” they finished together.

                “I’m in!” Raina said, getting up. I had to laugh again.

                                                                                                *                *                *

                While the fire wasn’t lit yet, the evening drumming area was already a hive of activity. Nestled in a clearing in the woods, it was being festooned with glitter, shiny decorations, and some tarps in the trees for shelter in case of rain. Drums sat in clumps around where the fire would go, and the whine of chainsaws could be heard from just beyond the clearing.

                That was where I found Vincent. He was working with several other men, all shirtless, as they cut and hauled wood for the night’s fire.

                Well hello sailor I thought as I watched him work. His well-developed muscles rippled beneath his skin as he picked up cut log after cut log and hauled them to the growing pile of wood.

                He looked up and smiled at me. Damn!

                “I’m going to check out the decorations.” Tiffany said with a grin.

                “So, how was your trip?” he asked as he walked up to me.

                “Uneventful.” I replied, looking around. “How’s our tent?”

                “Stupidly opulent.” he said. “I take it you saw Trevor’s mead hall?”

                “Oh, so that was his idea?”

                “His idea, Cordelia’s execution. It’s not bad to have places to go for private conversation, though. Nylon tents give the illusion of privacy only.”

                “I’m sure Jack likes the comfort.”

                “Are you kidding? His tent has its own WiFi."

                I looked at him. “Any word on the Oracle?”

                “Her crew gets in tomorrow night.” he replied. “So tonight it’s time to unwind a little.”

                I leaned in and kissed him, running my hand over his chest. “Want to unwind a little now?” I asked.

                He smiled. “Guys?” he called to the others cutting wood. “I’m gonna be back in a few.”

                                                                                                *                *                *

                After night fell, the fire was lit and festivities commenced. Vincent and I returned sometime later, walking down a steep forest path to get to the drum circle.

                I could see the energy before I saw the fire. In addition to the glow surrounding every living thing in the forest, I could see waves of different colors rippling along the ground. It washed across my feet like the tide, and I started to giggle.

                I had changed my clothes again, this time surrendering to Raina's insistence that I 'spice things up a little'. I wore a wrap-around tie-dye skirt and a matching strapless top, showing far more midriff than I ever had before.

                I started resonating with the energy washing over my feet, and I almost felt like I could glide like Angelique.

                The fire soon blinked into view, the drums getting louder with every step. I saw shadows moving across the light, and soon joined others walking the same way. We turned a bend and walked into the main drum circle area.

                The entire space had been transformed. The decorations were the same, though a few more had been added. In the firelight, however, the shiny bits seemed to glow with their own light, and streamers danced in the updraft of the fire. Shapes and shadows danced with people, forming a living circle surrounding the flames in the center.

                Some people were naked, others wore skirts, and some were dressed in elaborate outfits only seen in spaces like that. Still, other people looked like they had just walked in off of the street… jeans, t-shirts, shorts, even polo shirts!

                The drummers were spread around the circle, though the biggest clump of about thirty or so stood at one end. There were big drums, small drums, drums played with sticks, as well as drums played with bare hands. Some drums were hand-held while others stood on stands. Some people sat and played while others stood, some sitting on the larger drums to play them.

                The fire in the center had a chest-height pile of burning wood, while the flames danced above, almost in time with the rhythm. In addition to the firelight, I saw incredible waves of energy, dancing and twirling like sparks on the wind, spiraling into the sky. It also pulsed out from the fire into the surrounding woods, creating the energy tide that had greeted me on my way there.

                I studied the ring of dancers that were moving to the rhythm that the drummers were laying down. I saw Raina there, dancing in between the brunette from earlier and Gaia, who had shed her clothing and was dancing naked, her long green hair swaying in time with her hips. I also saw Drucilla and Darla, Cordelia hanging with the drummers with a shaker in her hand.

                Evelyn danced by, wearing short leather shorts and an embroidered top, dancing very close to a short-haired woman in a belly dancing outfit. She caught my eye and winked.

                I caught a whiff of cannabis and felt Vincent’s hand on my shoulder. I reached behind me and took the lit joint from his other hand.

                “Thanks.” I said, taking a hit.

                “Are you going to dance?” he asked me.

                “Not yet.”

                “Do you feel like drumming?”

                “Maybe later.”

                “You’re already stoned off of the energy, aren’t you?”

                “Lords yes.”

                He squeezed my shoulder, and I smiled.