Rite of Passage (17 page)

“Yes, Robbie. You’re one of us, too. A very special one.” He fixed me with a stare.

I pushed the wine back toward Courtney. “Jesus.” I was still in shock. “I want to stay sober to hear what you have to tell me. But hold on.” I wondered how deep the deception went. “What about the newspaper clippings, Jonathan’s warnings. Was that all a charade?”

“Well”—Courtney watched me, an anxious expression crossing her face—“We had to be sure of you. We threw things in your way—mysteries, clues, obstacles. If they’d frightened you or driven you away, we would have modified our plan.” She stopped, shaking her head. “But I knew from the moment I saw you that we were…” Her words trailed off. “Let’s just say I never had any doubt.” Courtney reached over and ran her fingers into mine, squeezing my hand.

Clues, obstacles, frightened me away, modified the plan?
I suppose that made sense. To them. To me, this was uncharted territory. I was confused, curious, and more than a little frightened. My brother and the girl I loved were staring at me, involved in something mysterious and unless I was off
my
nut, supernatural. My throat tightened.

“Robbie, please, trust me. There’s absolutely nothing to be afraid of.” Courtney looked at Michael.

I sat staring, frozen, shaking my head.

“Please believe me. What I told you today was the truth about my state of mind, my mother’s ashes, all of it. The wine was mead—an ancient drink made from honey and spices. We’ve used it for centuries. It is very strong, but it wasn’t drugged. I have
never
lied to you,” she assured me. “There are things that I haven’t told you—about who and what we really are.” She gestured toward Michael.

I looked back and forth between them. “What if I told you I don’t want to hear any more? That I want to get up, head down the mountain, and go back to my life—the dull, normal life I had when I arrived here four days ago.”

Courtney looked toward Michael, then at the ground, bringing her hand to her cheek.

“Go ahead. If that’s what you want.” She frowned, her head sinking lower. “I won’t stop you and neither will Michael. But if you stay, we’ll tell you everything and remember, I promised that you wouldn’t be disappointed,” she continued.

Damn! I looked into her velvet-brown eyes, reflecting the moon rising behind me.

Michael nodded.

I grabbed the wine and took a swallow.

“All right.” I shrugged. “Whatever you have to tell me can’t be any stranger than what’s going through my head.”

Courtney moved closer, taking my hand again.

“Robbie, do you believe that good and evil exist in the universe?” she asked, eyes focused and intense.

“I don’t know. Are you talking good and bad people, like the Allies and Nazis, or something more abstract?”

She looked at Michael. “Both. The World War II analogy is all right, but it’s oversimplified.” Courtney took a deep breath. “Our family worships the good in our world, the beauty and purity of nature. We love and respect one another, living in harmony the way the gods and goddesses intended.”

“Gods and goddesses?” I asked.

“Yes,” Michael answered. “We believe in nature, the Earth, and all living things. Not one omniscient being who controls the universe.”

“All right.” I nodded. “So this is a religion? Like Judaism or Christianity?”

“Yes.” She nodded. “Only more so. We have a unique philosophy and strict code of behavior. It demands far more discipline and study than anything Sunday-morning Christians observe. Those of us descended from the ancient ones have special abilities.” She smiled. “But we’ve had a long time to refine them. The essence of our being, what you’d call our soul, has been reborn many times. We spend years studying our craft—the practice that you know as witchcraft. You might find the things we do difficult to grasp, darling.” She shrugged, looking at Michael. “Let’s leave that for another time.”

I sat looking at the two of them, wondering if I was going to wake up in my apartment. “That’s fine. But what does any of this have to do with me?”

“There are thousands of us, but we are a tight-knit group, a very
tight-knit group.” She gave me a kind, patronizing smile like one would a slow student. “And the truth, the reason that we kept challenging you, testing you, is that we need you.” She sighed deeply. “
I
need you. To be my consort. My lover, if that makes it more graphic.”

Courtney’s voice grew soft. She blushed. “You and I must celebrate my emergence into womanhood by joining on litha, the night of the summer solstice, when the full moon rises.” Her fingers wrapped around mine as she squeezed my hand tightly.

Was I really hearing this? No, I’d gone insane. It was the only explanation. “All right, all right. Nice try. You had me going for a while. I think this charade has gone on long enough. Any second you’re both going to laugh and tell me this is an elaborate joke.” I searched their eyes but saw no humor. “Aren’t you?”

Courtney looked at Michael. “No, Robbie. This is what you Yanks call the real deal. I know it’s difficult to process and you need time to grasp it, but I swear this is no joke.”

I looked at Michael. He nodded. “The lovely lady speaks the truth. That birthmark on your shoulder? It identifies you. You’re special. We both are. But you’re the chosen one. I understand how hard this is for you, but like Courtney, you were destined for this since birth.”

“Since birth?” I was dumbfounded. This could not be happening. Could it? “All right. I’m the chosen one. Now that I’ve heard the punch line, suppose I decide to go back to the estate and head home?”

“You can leave, Robbie. You’re not a prisoner. We’d erase your memory. We’d have to. You’d never remember any of this, meeting me, Simon, Michael’s true identity. You’d simply remember a pleasant weekend in the country,” Courtney whispered, her eyes studying the ground again. Her words stung. The thought of losing Courtney, of erasing any memory of her and everything that accompanied this surreal weekend was something I refused to think about. Whatever else it was, I found it fascinating beyond anything my imagination could have conjured up. I had to admit, I wanted to know more.

“You can really do that? Make me forget all this?”

She nodded.

“All right.” I shrugged, still unconvinced. “If I’m free to leave, and I won’t remember any of this, why all the scheming, subterfuge, and mystery? What’s the punch line?”

Courtney frowned, perhaps afraid I was about to get up and leave. She had no worries. I was completely captivated. By Courtney and the strange fascination for the occult that had risen and stirred me in ways I could never have imagined. It was heady, like an adrenaline surge that kept growing as they spoke. Leaving was the farthest thing from my mind. Even if I was put off by the danger I suspected was involved, I was so much in love with her and so intrigued by their story, heading back to my former reality was not an option.

“Robbie, dear, I asked you before about good and evil. Our family and thousands of other witches represent good. But evil does exist. It’s insidious and pervasive. Let me explain. There’s a prophecy that dates to antiquity. It foretells the coming of a very powerful witch—my coming—and warns that if I don’t join with my chosen mate on the night of the solstice, evil will have free rein to loose itself on the world. Even we don’t know what that may mean. We do know that it may lead to chaos and anarchy to make past evils pale by comparison.”

“Courtney. I trust you and Michael, but please understand this sounds like something out of a cheap horror movie. And why me? How is it that I’ve been thrust into the role of savior?”

“I know this is difficult to grasp, darling, and there isn’t time to give you a primer tonight. Why you? Because you fulfill the prophecy. Simon will explain it to you in more detail. And as to evil, it not only exists, it’s been growing on an unprecedented scale. Think about the evidence. The Great Depression, the World Wars, the Holocaust. Michael had a front row seat. He bore witness to man’s cruelty. Would you like him to relate what he saw at Auschwitz and Belsen?”

I looked at my brother’s face. He blanched and looked away, his eyes moist in the moonlight.

“No.”

“Wise choice.” He nodded, touching my shoulder. “What I saw defies description.”

“And now a more sinister threat.” Courtney continued, sadness in her expressive eyes. “Unlike anything we could ever have dreamt of. Atomic energy could be a powerful tool, a windfall, something wonderful to produce new science and energy sources for humanity if used by good men in the proper hands. But the atomic bomb is the most destructive device ever created. One that could destroy the world. And it’s found its way into the hands of cruel, aggressive, and greedy men. Please, Robert. You must believe us.”

“My God. You really are serious.”

“Deadly serious.” Courtney nodded.

“So I become your consort, or the world goes to hell.” I clenched my fists. Confusion and anger swept over me. “That’s some choice.”

“I know, darling. I wish there was an easier way but…”

“You can stop using the endearing terms, Courtney. I understand. I’m the lucky one. I’ve been chosen as your mate for this bizarre ceremony. We’re going to save the world. You don’t have to play the affectionate admirer.”

Courtney stood and turned, looking at me as she put her hands to her cheeks again. She walked to the edge of the small outcropping overlooking the lake. Shoulders dropping, she stared into the still night sky.

“You fool.” Michael grabbed me by the arm, pulled me up and pushed me toward her. When she turned, her face was covered with tears. Falling into me, Courtney threw her arms around me tightly.

“Don’t you understand what’s going on here?” Michael’s voice rose while she held me. “This has been the most difficult thing Courtney’s ever had to do. It may mean nothing to you yet, but she’ll be the embodiment of a goddess, the fortieth in a long line of goddesses. That’s an extraordinary position. She’s what Christians refer to as
divine
. But in the same way that Jesus was both human and divine, Courtney has a human side. A deeply sensitive and passionate human side. One that’s fallen desperately in love with you, brother. She’s a beautiful, sensitive young woman. The most difficult part of this is that the depth of her love has created a terrible conflict. Treat her with the respect she deserves!” His words were deadly serious. “She’s willing to sacrifice everything to love you.”

Courtney nodded shyly. “Oh Robbie,” she whispered, face streaked with tears. “Robbie, dearest, there
are
things I kept from you, but not my feelings. Never my feelings. When I told you that I loved you more than I ever thought it possible to love anyone, it was the truth.”

“It’s your choice, brother. If you think she’s lied, get in your convertible and go back to hobnobbing with your rich friends. The world will go on. At least for a while. But no one will ever love you the way Courtney does nor, I suspect, the way you love her.

“This union has been foretold for centuries. And no one and nothing can keep you two apart.” He put his massive arms around us.

She looked back at me. “I don’t blame you, Robbie. For not trusting me. I’ve botched this. I love you so much, I let my emotions muck it up.” She looked up at the twinkling Milky Way, now dimmed by the bright circle of the moon. “We need you. But you mean so much to me.” She lowered her eyes, a desperate smile crossing her face. “I want you to stay, Robbie. Not for any cosmic purpose but simply for me,” she whispered, shoulders sagging as she looked at Michael. “I swear, if you doubt that, ask me to go anywhere with you. I’ll be packed and ready in fifteen minutes. We’ll find a way. We’ll make a life for ourselves.”

“Courtney!” Michael protested. “You can’t do that. We need both of you to fulfill the prophecy.”

“I’m sorry, Michael.” She held up her hand. “I love him that much.”

I looked at them. If this was rehearsed, they deserved the Academy Award. My eyes searched Courtney’s. “So if we don’t perform this ceremony, it could wreak havoc?”

She nodded. “Yes. The ritual and my ascendance will curb the evil or so the prophecy says. It’s complicated. But I don’t care anymore. I just want to be with you.”

“I assume there’s more to tell. But don’t worry. I won’t leave. I’m committed to you and the ritual. I’ve never felt anything like this before and I never want the feeling to end.”

“Then you’ll stay with me?” Courtney asked. I let her soft lips melt into mine.

“I never had any doubts.” Michael ruined the idyllic moment, slapping me on the back so hard I almost fell.

I held Courtney, taking in her magnificent face and nodding.

Michael squeezed my shoulder and beamed. “That’s my man.”

Courtney closed her eyes, grinning as she clung to me. “No, Michael. He’s all mine.”

Chapter Twenty-Six

What had I promised? Was this real? I was tempted to run to a church and find a crucifix, but they were used to ward off vampires, not witches. There would be excuses, a conversation with Rachel. And yet somehow, despite the complications, I was at peace. Happy. I had no right to be, but I was. We saddled the horses, and the three of us walked back down the steep, rocky trail. Courtney and I led our mounts, Michael followed. No one spoke until we reached the clearing at the bottom. Michael patted me on the back and kissed Courtney on the cheek.

“Quite a night, huh?” He grinned as he hopped into his jeep. He looked at Courtney. “Now don’t get lost on the way home.” Michael narrowed his eyes and grinned. “You do make a handsome couple.” He started the jeep, put it into gear, and headed north toward Route 302, throwing up a trail of gravel.

I watched and laughed, shaking my head. “My brother’s a witch! I’m a witch?”

Courtney put her arm around me, squeezing me. She laughed. “Things are never what they appear. I promised you wouldn’t be sorry.” Courtney raised her eyebrows.

“I knew you were a goddess the moment I saw you.” I beamed at her. “I suppose I should be overcome with fear, guilt, and misgivings.”

“And?” She looked at me.

“I don’t feel any of those things.” I shrugged. “Actually, I feel energized. From the first time I heard about witchcraft and the fact that you might be connected, it’s excited me.”