In the distance an howl hooted and the leaves rustled behind her. Erin could hear everything, it was so, abnormally quiet. She was so nervous for something she spent the last month studying for. She took a deep breath readying herself for the figurative plunge.
Erin stood there and waited for the direction that would given shortly by Hattie. She felt like a little child waiting to be instructed by a parent or teacher.
"Just breathe, Erin." Hattie leaned in and whispered as she reached for the knife on the table. "A drop of your blood is all that is needed." Hattie said as she handed the knife carefully to Erin.
Erin nodded and turned her attention to the alter. In the bowl there was water and dirt. Erin took the knife and pricked her finger allowing a single drop of blood to fall into the bowl and mix with the soil and water.
As the blood fell and mixed with the other ingredients there was a quick flash and a small flame dancing within the bowl. Erin set down the knife and picked up the bowl. "To the North:Earth. To the South: Fire. To the East: Air. To the West: Water. My blood is the soul and I bind myself to this coven." Erin spoke firmly, but her voice could barely be heard over the other night sounds because of how quietly she spoke.
Erin took the goblet sitting at the alter and drank the wine within the cup. When she set the empty goblet down, the women all cheered. Erin turned around and smiled. She expected to feel different, but she felt the same.
That was it, that was the ritual. After having completed it she couldn't believe she had actually been nervous! It probably had to be one of the easiest things she had ever done.
The next couple hours were a daze, the coven partied until the sun almost began to make its appearance. Erin wasn't even sure how she made her way back to the house let alone her bedroom. She was still wearing the shift that she wore last night. She rolled to her side to glance out the window. The sun was high in the sky and she was sure that it was past noon.
Erin sat up in her bed and stretched. She had joined the coven and she did feel something, exhaustion! Otherwise she was the same Erin, just with a new family. She lay her head back down on the pillow, she was still so tired from the night prior. The ritual itself was simple and quick. The partying afterward however, was another matter entirely! She didn't know beings so old could party so long! Erin lay her head back on the pillow, wanting to sleep longer alas, her head began to throb. Which basically her throbbing head was saying 'you've slept long enough'.
Erin got up and bathed before she headed downstairs. She could smell food coming from below and like a beacon it guided her to the kitchen. All of the others were already awake. Erin took out a seat and sat down, quickly an omelette was set in front of her. Without hesitation she dug into the food happy to fill her rumbling stomach.
All of them smiled and nodded at Erin happy she was officially apart of their coven, but it was Hattie who spoke. "I know when I say that we are happy to have you within our coven that I speak for all of us. Truly. But, now we begin the real work."
Elizabet who was sitting next to Hattie put her hand on Hattie's forearm. "I think we can enjoy the day, at the very least enjoy this meal?"
Hattie let out a sigh, "of course. We shall begin tomorrow."
The rest of the day was rather lazy and uneventful. The day was warm and she followed Myrtle, Lena, and Flora to the creek to enjoy the nice warm weather.
***
The next day Hattie awoke early and headed down the steps. The sun had yet to rise and the sky was a angry grey color. Hattie poured herself a cup of tea and went to the front porch of the Octagon House. She enjoyed the calm and stillness of the mornings, before the world had yet to wake up. This may be the last peaceful morning she may every have. There was the real possibility that she could die in the upcoming battle.
Hattie shook her mind of those thoughts intent on not letting them interfere with the peaceful morning she now enjoyed.
Hattie sensed that there would be a storm later and she thought of how fitting it would be. This would begin the battle, well at least the planning. They had to save the boy to save the lady of the lakes. There were some many things they had to do and their chances of succeeding were slim to none. But they had to try, because the alternative was bleak and dark.