Blessed (22 page)

“Too big, too small, too plain, too plaid, too worn, too cheap, too fluffy,” Chrissy mumbled to herself as she studied at each dress.

“What are you looking for?” she asked as she browsed through a rack of silk scarves.

“I'll know it when I see it. My mama couldn't afford a new pageant dress for me at every competition, so she would take homecoming and bridesmaid gowns we found at thrift stores in the rich part of town and make me dresses out of them. She got good at it, so good that my friends asked her to make their prom dresses for them.” Chrissy snatched out a shimmering canary yellow dress and tossed it to Eliana.

Eliana caught the dress and laid it over her arm with the other two Chrissy had selected.

“She taught me how to sew too, and I bought my first glue gun with my allowance money when I was thirteen. It saved us a lot of money over the years, and I like having my own touch on the clothes I wear.”

With a final flick of the rack, Chrissy turned to her with an appraising eye. She grabbed her arm and turned her around, looking at her from all angles. Eliana felt strangely like a horse being considered for purchase.

Chrissy grabbed the pink, the canary yellow, and the silver dress with purple geometric designs on it. “Okay, go try these on. All of them go well with your coloring, and we have to show off that lovely butt of yours.”

“Yes, ma'am,” she said with a mock salute and marched into the dressing room with her arms full of glittering fabric.

She was trying on the canary yellow dress when her cell phone rang. Looking at the display, she saw it was Aiden calling.

“Hello?”

“Hello, Eliana. Where are you?” he asked in his warm voice.

Stepping out of the dressing room, she stood before Chrissy, waiting for her inspection. “I'm out with Chrissy doing some shopping.”

“Good. I'm glad you're not out with that puppy that was waiting for you after class.”

She laughed and turned around as Chrissy tugged at the dress and talked to herself. “Nope, no puppies here. I need to get back in the dressing room and try on a few more things. What's up?”

“I wanted to make sure you were all right.” His voice dipped lower as he said, “And I wanted to let you know next time I get you alone I'm going to pay you back for that little performance in class. Slowly, and with great interest. I almost came in my pants watching you lick your lips.”

“Ha! Like you were much better.” Darting back into the dressing room, she let out a shaky laugh. “Well, that payback is going to have to wait. I have a ton of homework to do tonight, and Chrissy is going to help me with my dress for tomorrow.”

He growled with disappointment. “Are you sure?”

Smiling as she removed the dress, she said in a low voice, “Yes. Trying to appear normal, remember? It's not normal if I disappear two nights in a row to a friend's house without giving Chrissy some dirt. She’s already suspicious and if I take off tonight she’s liable to throw a tracking spell on me just to see where I’m going. Besides, I have this real dickhead of a professor for my religious studies class that is demanding a paper written on Neolithic gods that’s due in two days.”

He laughed and she couldn’t help but grin. “A dickhead, huh?”

“Complete dickhead, but he’s totally hot so I forgive him.”

“You think he’s hot?”

“Panty melting.”

“Sure you can’t come over? Just for an hour…make that two hours?”

“No, because if I come over I won’t want to leave.” She picked up the purple and silver dress and stepped into it.

With a sigh, he replied, “You’re right, I don’t like it, but you’re right. Please take care of yourself. I don't like you being out there without me.”

She watched herself in the dressing room mirror as she smiled over his concern. “I'll be okay, and I'll see you tomorrow at the charity dinner.”

“That reminds me. Jack will be coming by your dorm to pick you up at seven. I've asked him to behave...but you know Jack,” he said with a laugh in his voice.

“Thank you. I have to run. Chrissy's waiting for me.” She held the phone with her shoulder and wiggled the dress up her hips.

“Eliana…” He hesitated. “I'll miss you tonight.”

“Me too, Aiden.” She beamed at her reflection as she got dressed. “Bye.”

“Goodnight, Eliana.”

Chrissy gave her an odd look when she came out of the dressing room. “Who was that on the phone that made you all glowy?”

“Oh, just a guy I knew from high school,” she replied casually. “So, which one do you think I should wear?”

Chrissy took the bait and turned her attention back to the gowns. “I think we can work with the yellow one. I'm going to need to change the collar and make a few quick alterations, but it's a classic Oscar de la Renta. Probably cost an arm and a leg when it was made, but thanks to someone not knowing what they had, it's now yours for $15.99.” Chrissy smiled as she ran her hand down the canary yellow dress.

It was beaded and came to Eliana’s knees, with a daring open back cut all the way to the top of her butt. The front was a halter-top, but the rhinestones that decorated the collar of the dress were old and cloudy from time. She had to admit the color brought out her tan and she rather liked the way it made her waist look tiny. While it could use a major overhaul, she trusted Chrissy.

After they paid for the dress and stepped outside, Chrissy smiled at Eliana. “We need to stop at a store that sells beads, rhinestones, and girly things. I know just the place.”

Eliana had kept an eye on her ring throughout the day, but it remained a subtle swirl of blue and green. Thankfully nothing had seemed out of place while they were shopping. That is, if one didn't count the forty-year-old man trying on women's dresses at the thrift store. No one acted as though it was a big deal, so she had tried not to stare. She was surprised Chrissy didn't offer to help him find something that flattered his build and complexion.

Following Chrissy's directions, they arrived at the Egyptian section of the Temple District. It took some work, but she managed to parallel park Big Fran without taking out any innocent bystanders. She’d never been in this part of D.C. before, since she wasn’t practicing any religion she’d had no need to, but now that she was here she couldn’t help but stare in amazement. It was nothing like she expected, especially considering her parents had always described religious districts as being filled with crazy people and shysters.

The crowded sidewalks were filled with people of every nationality, enjoying the warm sun as they went about their business, but they looked like normal people to her. It was the setting that was abnormal, but not in a bad way. She felt as if she’d stepped into some kind of time vortex that mixed ancient Egypt with modern day life. If she looked straight down the street she could see the Washington Monument, but to her left and right giant buildings that she assumed were temples dominated the landscape among the smaller shops.

Street vendors sold all kinds of items in the green spaces between the temples, everything from earthenware jars to clothing and posters. Exotic smells filled the air from the patio areas of the restaurants and her stomach rumbled, reminding her it was getting near time for dinner. They passed a group of men smoking from a hookah while they drank tea out of elaborate silver cups and debated animatedly with each other in a foreign language.

Chrissy led them to a huge open courtyard a few blocks from where they parked. It was easily the size of a city block and Eliana let out a silent gasp of wonder. In the center stood a giant black stone obelisk, and the ground consisted of different colored tiles that formed intricate patterns. Temples of various size and details stood around the edges of the central square, each dedicated to a different god or goddess. Some people wore modern clothes. Others were dressed in everything from white desert nomad robes to full ancient Egyptian regalia.

Chrissy and Eliana strolled across the square, past a belly dancing class full of women of every age and size that were laughing as they tried to follow the graceful movements of the instructor. Eliana stopped, fascinated by the scene of the square. This was beyond anything she had ever imagined. These weren't the cheap and tawdry temples that her parents had described to her. The temples were magnificent, built with an obvious care and attention to detail. And the people walking around didn't look like weirdoes. They seemed like normal people. Well, normal people in robes and beaded wigs in some cases. There was an energy to the air like nothing she’d ever experienced, a sense of…power. Like standing in on the beach, battered by the wind while a storm rolled in over the ocean.

Chrissy grabbed her hand with a laugh and tugged her along toward a large white stone building. Carved pillars flanked the front of the two-story building. Elaborate mosaics decorated each pillar. The frieze depicted a goddess with outstretched wings on her arms. On her head, the goddess wore a golden U-shaped crown that held a large red circle in the middle.

Walking up the steps to the front doors, Eliana noted with amusement that the glass and bronze doors were automatic. A security camera recorded everyone entering and exiting the building and a man and a woman dressed in what looked like some kind of black armor scanned everyone entering. They had swords sheathed across their backs, but the guns attached to their belts were thoroughly modern.

I guess the Ye Olde Egypt theme only goes so far.

“Where are we?” Eliana asked, her hair blowing around as she entered the front door. “This doesn't look like a craft store.”

“It's not,” Chrissy said with a laugh as her blond curls flew about in the cool breeze. “It's a temple to the goddess Isis.”

The main foyer of the temple was huge, with tall palm trees rising out of giant bronze pots. A statue of what she assumed was Isis stood in the center of the room, nursing a baby in her arms. They paused before entering the main part of the building to talk.

“Dumb question, but why would we be going to a temple of Isis for my dress?” she asked in a dry voice.

Chrissy waved off a woman trying to sell them devotional incense. “Because, in addition to being a temple and a midwifery, it also sells belly dancing accessories. And it has the best selection of beads and rhinestones outside of Las Vegas. Wait until you see the store, it is out of this world.”

“Oh.” She looked around with wide eyes. “Why do they have midwives and belly dancers here?”

“Because Isis is the Egyptian goddess of motherhood, marital devotion, healing the sick, and the working of magic and charms. A powerful goddess. They have a birthing center in the temple where her worshipers can choose to have their baby delivered by a priestess, who is also a certified midwife and nurse.”

Chrissy paused to move aside as a man dressed in an expensive pinstripe suit carried a large bouquet of flowers toward one of the alcoves off the main foyer.

Chrissy continued to move through the vast space and Eliana hurried to keep up. “Belly dancing originally wasn't a sexual dance. It used to be a way to teach women to strengthen their bodies for giving birth. It shows them how to use their stomach and pelvic muscles, how to move with contractions.”

Eliana felt increasingly naive as she entered the main foyer of the temple, passing beneath a giant sandstone arch inscribed with hieroglyphs. A small shiver raced over her as she stepped across the threshold. She looked down and was surprised to see that the hair on her arms was standing straight on end.

Chrissy saw her shiver. “Warding spells against evil are inscribed on the arch. I'm surprised you noticed them though. Usually you have to be trained in magic to be able to detect them. You must have a naturally sensitive aura.”

She shrugged and tried to resist the urge to tell Chrissy just how involved in magic she was. Not being able to confide in her best friend really sucked. Giving the other woman a smile she said, “Lucky me, I get to feel like a spider is crawling up my back when we go through a ward.”

Two carved sandstone pillars flanked the entrance, and a woman dressed in a traditional white Egyptian robe approached them. Her hair hung in long black braids and she had an easy smile, but her dark eyes studied them carefully. Power brushed over Eliana’s body and she kept her shields tightly in place, but it was hard. Her concentration was constantly being pulled in different directions as she tried to figure out what she was feeling. There was so much magic here that she felt as if she were drowning in it.

“Welcome to the Temple of Isis, how may we be of service to you today?” the woman asked in a warm voice.

“Blessed be,” Chrissy said with a small bow. Eliana raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything. “We're here to visit the store.”

“Be welcome, little witch. If you or your friend have any questions, please ask,” the woman said with a kind smile. She held out her arm to the left, showing the way to the store.

“What was that all about...little witch?” Eliana whispered as they moved down the hall. On the wall were different pictures of the goddess Isis and she slowed to examine them. Some images stood sheltered behind heavy glass and protective lighting, looking delicate enough to flake away at a mere touch, while others were of a clearly more modern design.

Chrissy darted a glance at her. “I let the priestess know that I'm already pledged to the Mother Goddess. That I'm Wiccan.”

“I thought you hadn't decided yet?” Eliana asked as they neared the entrance to the store.

“I didn't want to tell you until I was sure you wouldn't freak out. Nothing like telling your roommate you’ve taken the vows to be a priestess of the Mother Goddess and have them try to convert you or burn you in your sleep for being a sinner,” Chrissy said as she gave Eliana a gentle poke.

Laughing, she shook her head. “Nah, I won't burn you in your sleep. As long as you don't turn me into a frog.”

“Yeah, well, I wasn't too sure at first. Especially after I met your mother and father and they threw a fit about you being placed in a room with a witch.”

“I'm so sorry about that, Chrissy. I didn't know you could hear them.”