Chapter Six :: Siva Magick

Don't forget to Read Ch. 5.

Chapter Six :: Siva Magick

“I don't think this is going to work.” I eyed the toad sitting in the palm of my hand warily. “You want me to talk to this?” I raised an eyebrow in Cerunnos' direction, and he laughed.

“No, little girl, I want you to speak to it. You'll learn that here, talking and speaking are very different things.”

“Either way, I don't know why you think I can do it.” I glowered down at the toad who gave me no sign of acknowledgment.

“Just close your eyes and let feel his energy through your hands. He's a simple creature, but he may hold great wisdom. Never underestimate a toad.” Cerunnos smiled and took a deep swallow from the goblet in his hand. After one more piercing look, I turned my attention to the toad. It wouldn't hurt to give it a try. Theo sat on my shoulder, playing with a strand of my hair, but I could feel his energy pulsing into me. It had taken me long enough to master the energy connection with the sprite, and Theo claimed that he belonged to my element. Now a toad?
I closed my eyes, I pushed my well of energy out toward the toad, and I waited. For long minutes I sat, feeling nothing and then a tiny shimmer of warmth started in the middle of my palm. My eyes flew open.“I felt it!” The warmth vanished and the toad croaked before hopping off my hand and across the floor. Cerunnos sighed.

“Aerveta, you are NEVER going to learn if you don't have a little patience. You can't just break the connection every time you feel a bit of energy. Remember- you have to reemerge slowly, or you're likely to hurt yourself.” He walked toward me and placed his hands over mine. “Let's try this, skin to skin, shall we?” I closed my eyes again and willed my energy up into my palms, I felt his meet mine, a coil of quick-silver dripping into my veins.

“Very good, now I want you to push your energy into me, as I'm doing to you.” He said softly, evenly, not breaking the connection. I did as he said, seeing the green tendrils of my own gift twirling up into his palms. The silver and green twisted about each other forming glowing orbs between our hands. Then, the orbs strengthened. I felt a shiver start in my toes and work it's way higher it was warm and caressing. My lips parted at the pleasure of it as my body shuddered, oh sweet release! My head fell back...

“No!” Cerunnos pulled his hands back abruptly, swaying on his feet, and then he turned on his heel and marched out of the room, Medina following him closely. I felt limp, my energy no more then a small flutter in the center of my chest.
What just happened? I asked Theo, who was still sitting on my shoulder. His energy was just as low as mine.

Siva Magick, who would have thought? I felt him giggling in my mind as he curled in the curve of my neck. I think we need a nap. I felt him close his eyes and shut down. I tried to work out the energy exchange in my mind, but it was too much and soon I followed him into the realms of slumber.

*

“Marguerite, have you ever heard of Siva Magick?” I asked. We sat in the garden and she was brushing out my hair as I leaned back into her legs. It was evening and the sun had just left the sky. So far this had become my favorite part of the day.

“I think I read about it somewhere. It wasn't part of my training, I'm a healer. I remember seeing something about it being a sensual form of the art.” She ran her fingers through my hair, pressing her lips softly against my head. “Why?”

“After practice last night, Theo said something about it.” I snuggled closer.

“ I don't know, ask Cerunnos, he's your teacher.”

“I think he may be avoiding me, I haven't seen him since our training session. Usually he takes me out when I first wake to teach me about the trees and herbs, but this afternoon I slept late.”
“Hmmm...” I had lost Marguerite, she was nibbling my neck now, having moved down to sit beside me on the grass. I took her hand, tracing the lines in the palm.
“You are no help...” but then I was lost in her embrace.

*

“Can you believe her? Pulling that on me. How long have I been here? It must be hundreds upon hundred of years now, to be caught off guard like that by a novice!” Cerunnos paced in front of Serene, who sat, holding a purring white cat in her lap. She was dressed simply, a lilac colored gown that ran to her calves with a silver belt secured about her hips.

“It's been three hundred and forty-four and a half years, if you want to know. My you're still just a baby!” She laughed at the glare he turned her way, “You know that we need some one with power, and you know that Sivas have more power than you and I combined. We can not afford for you to avoid her just because she makes you uncomfortable. If we don't harness that power, and teach her to control it, it will get out of control as her other skills develop. You know that. We've already turned her, there's no going back, and a blood witch with that kind of power could cause more trouble than the Imperial Highness, his troops and his demons combined!” Serene sat forward, a serious look in her eyes.

“Can't you transfer her to Vrita or Anu? I'm sure they'd be more capable of dealing with her!” Cerunnos rested his forehead against the stone wall.
“You know perfectly well that they're both busy. What's more, Vrita knows wind, and she knows it well. Anu knows fire like no other. But only you, my dear, have any experience with Siva Magick.” Serene rose, patting him on the arm.

“I can't control it, you know what happened with Eva!” His hands clenched.

“I know, but you're the only person who can save her...” Serene slipped on a pair of silver satin slippers and walked to the door, “... don't make my turning her a mistake.”

(c) CS