Chapter 20 Bourbon and Curses #3
Bunches of herbs were laid on the tops of graves in offering, and the women, now appropriately tipsy on drunken blackberries and good conversation, danced around as music started to play from nowhere, the notes gentle and calming, as the smells of spiced bourbon and rosemary filled the air.
"Speak his name, take away his power," Crystal said to a swaying Eloise. Before, Crystal hadn't asked for his name. Before, she'd simply charmed what he left behind turning an omen into a shield.
She was holding her bound sage up in the air like a lighter at an outdoor concert, her face clear of concern and her eyes closed.
She said his name, the fear behind her tongue almost stopping the words from leaving her mouth but then the protective world around them took the words, wrapped them in the wind and spread them like ashes around them.
This was a place, and these were the souls, that saw these women as precious. The magic here listened to them as they laughed, as they held hands, as they joined in the age-old tradition that created more magic than they realized: community among women.
The chill left the air for them and wove between their fingers, caressing their smiling cheeks and left behind promises of protection and peace.
The lily of the valley lifted their little bowed heads to give the air its scent and the early spring frogs came out to sing their low-pitched croaks as the crickets joined and the moon shone just a little brighter for them.
The world and its magic came to attention around women like these; women who understood the potency of joining together.
The night ended in the kind of laughter that mends things and leaves ribs feeling the best kind of bruised. The women safely parted ways, and all that was left was a more than tipsy Ursula and Eloise, a sleepy Casper with Sulphur curled up against his grey belly, and a few of the souls.
"Think they'll kick us out of town?"
Ursula pursed her lips. "Legally no."
"But they're right. Socially, the town could make us pariahs and we'd be as good as kicked out."
"I think I have too many blackberries in me to think clearly about it."
Eloise laughed. "I think it was the bourbon they were soaked in. Need me to walk you home?"
"Nah, I've got Casper," she said and the wolfhound lifted his head and yawned before he slowly pressed his long, lanky body up from the dew-covered ground. "You going to be okay out here?"
"Yes," she said with confidence. Tonight she felt a gossamer cloak of protection over her.
Though they never talked about Eloise's sleeping habits, Ursula had been able to fill in the blanks after she was told the entire, sordid story. She hugged her friend in an overwhelming rush of affection.
Ursula looked unsure but then the air was disturbed and a creaking branch drew their bright eyes up.
"Is that-"
"Cleo," Eloise said with a smile. The great hunter swooped down drawing out a gasp from Ursula as she landed on Eloise's shoulder. They both stared wide-eyed at the bird who looked between the two women with sharp eyes ringed in marigold.
Ursula pointed. "That," she said slowly, "is very cool. I would ask to pet her but I feel as though that would be offensive."
The bird tilted her head then turned her eyes toward Eloise where they connected for a religious moment. She would be okay.
Then the beast pushed off of her shoulder before soaring back into the sky, causing Eloise to dip dramatically from the bourbon running like a lazy river through her body dulling her senses.
Ursula caught her elbow as both women laughed and Casper, ever the responsible one, pressed his tall body against Ursula to steady both women.
"I think you're my greatest love story," she whispered against her black hair.
Ursula pulled back, diamond tears in her eyes. "You'll always be mine too."
And then they parted ways, Ursula, Sulphur and Casper making their way to the Lost Souls House while Eloise made her very zig-zagging way to the cabin, hoping she could find it again in this state, but she felt a sense of calm take over her as the magic floating around the world spun its invisible threads and kept that quilt of protection over her.
She was humming and walking, not in a predictable straight manner at all, when she heard a kik kik sound.
She smiled up at her guardian hawk as the bird soared gracefully overhead.
" How are you tonight, Cleo?"
She thought that perhaps guardian angels came in all forms and hers was a rugged and sharp bird with pillowy feathers and marigold eyes.
When she saw a window, lit and buttery in the distance, she smiled and worked her way up the hill.
By the time she was standing on the stone walkway she was bent over, hands on her knees and nearly wheezing.
Her mental faculties were not up to par at the moment and everything seemed to spin and tilt just the slightest so that when she stood straight, she had to take a moment to let the world right itself.
She made it a habit to never drink more than her balance would allow, but tonight had been a cozy exception.
What a lovely thing to be in the company of women who were hell-bent on protecting and healing each other. Was there anything more fierce than a woman who has squared her shoulders against the brutality and pain given to one of their own?
The sound of a shuffling bush grabbed her attention, which caught up after a moment when she swiveled her head, and she saw the sweetest, most plump-looking grey cat looking at her.
"Oh hello." She looked around then back at the feline who had stepped closer to her warily.
"Well, you look well-fed, but do you belong to someone?
" She thought of the town and its abundance of cats.
And then she thought of one of her friends, she couldn't remember which one at the moment, who had said that cats here adopt them, not the other way around and as this one made its tentative way closer to her, she bent down slowly so as not to spook the creature.
"I've never been good with cats. I grew up more of a dog person to be completely transparent here, which I feel is important at the beginning of a relationship.
" And then a brisk breeze rolled against her and knocked her back onto her backside pulling an, "oomph!
" and then a giggle from her. The cat tilted its head watching her.
The hawk was resting high above on the gabled roof watching the scene below.
"I'm fine, Cleo. Don't worry." The hawk merely watched her with golden eyes. She turned back to the cat and smiled.
"Alright. I need cold water and to lay down. Do you want to come inside?"
And then Eloise Willow and an unnamed grey cat with a striped tail made their way into the cabin with the windows so large she wouldn't feel penned in. Taylor had left a thick cream blanket on the couch with a note.
I hope you feel safe here.
-Taylor
And she had the thought as she drifted into a hazy sleep next to her new cat and feeling warm and protected that he had no idea that in a way, he had just left her a small love letter.