Ruby Rising (13 page)

“Thank you to those of you who attended the Feast Day last month. Everyone who attended had an amazing time and your presence was pleasing and satisfying. For those of you who were unable to attend or were not invited, don’t worry your turn will come soon.” I watched mesmerised as she moved around the fire, the flames bending towards her, as if they were attracted to her, following the curves of her body. “For those of you lucky enough to receive instructions for Walpurgis Night for the end of April, you need to speak to me or Scott before the end of the weekend to let me know how you have gone with you preparations and assignments. Tonight, relax and enjoy yourself, tomorrow we will be putting you through your paces and helping you understand why you are here. Please join me in thanking the Great Star for his blessing to be among the chosen few!”

Mikayla raised her hands, the fire flared with her movements and I again found myself joining in with the group acknowledgement of the Great Star which I was yet to figure out what or who it exactly was. 

Maybe Mikayla was a witch. It was no longer as farfetched as I had once believed. Although I could move water and that didn’t make me a witch, so that theory went out the window. My mind drifted off to Paganism. Maybe there was something in that about the Great Star. I added it to my mental list of things to Google once I got home, if I actually remembered to do it, that is. 

I heard some music start playing, and people begun to pair off and dance. Scott pulled me up into a tight embrace moving his hard body against mine in time to the music. My body reacted almost immediately, my pulse increased and butterflies whirled in my stomach. I was alive with need and knew I had made my decision to spend the night
completely
with Scott.

The music grew louder until I could feel the bass thumping through my entire body. Opening my eyes, which I had closed when I rested my head against Scott’s inviting chest, I wasn’t overly surprised to see various couples making out with an intense hunger that aroused and awakened my own desire. I watched, stunned and a little disturbed, as two couples swapped partners before they continued with their frenzied attacks on each other’s bodies. I recognised all four of them from my English class but had never seen any of them together as couples. Until now.

My life in the city had been sheltered and I wondered if this type of behaviour wasn’t the norm now. Lost in my thoughts I felt Scott gently pulling me away, out of the circle. He said something to me, his eyes twinkling from the reflection of the fire, but I couldn’t hear him over the music. Pulling me close his warm breathe heated the skin just underneath my ear as he yelled in my ear. He wanted us to have some alone time together. I blushed and even in the dark I knew that he was laughing at my body’s betrayal of my thoughts and feelings. As we wandered towards our tent, the music trailed off enough for us to have a conversation without yelling.

“Can we go to the shower blocks first? I really want to splash some water on my face.”

“Yeah sure, I’ll wait outside.” True to his word, he kissed me gently on the cheek and leant against the wall.

I put the lid of the toilet seat down, sat and took in a deep breath, suddenly terrified at the thought of being alone with him…all night. I sat there panicking and decided to jump in the shower first hoping that being in the water might cool me off a bit and clear my head.

I stripped off in the shower cubicle and turned the water on, jumping straight in without waiting for the water to warm up. The sudden assault of cold water awoke my entire body, my breasts dimpled as goose bumps rose and my nipples hardened into stiff peaks. I gasped and put my head straight under the cold stream, relishing in it and the calm it provided. After a minute I put the hot water on and started to relax. I knew if I asked Scott to wait he would. The question was did I actually want to wait or was I just nervous about having sex for the first time. Dancing around the bonfire in Scott’s arms I had been so sure that tonight was right time for us. Yet now, minutes before I needed to make a decision, I wasn’t so sure. Maybe it had been easier when the sexual energy coming from those around the bonfire had been at fever pitch.

The overhead lights went out, the blinking fluorescent light above the mirror giving the shower an eerie glow. Turning around I put my hands against the cubicle wall and let the water rain down my back, feeling it ease some of the tension from my shoulders. Feeling a familiar pulse in my hands as I calmed my body, I urged the pulsing to make the water rise and fall off the floor.

“That’s a neat trick you’ve got there.” I froze as I felt Scott’s arms tangle around my waist from behind, he was obviously naked. I hadn’t even heard him come into the shower cubicle. “You are so beautiful, Ruby. You really are precious to me. I want to show you how much.”

I blushed at his comment and inferred plans as I noted his lack of surprise at seeing me controlling the water in the shower.

“Did you already know?” I asked, my voice breathy as I became more and more aware of his arousal.

“I had my suspicions. I guess you saw Mikayla tonight then, the fire thing?” His own voice had taken on a much deeper tone. I could feel it in my feet as he spoke.

“I did…” my voice trailed off as his hand moved to my breast and gently tweaked at the nipple. I moaned and inadvertently pushed my breast into his willing hand as he gently sucked and nibbled on my neck. I was so completely lost as my body screamed for more that I forgot where we were. Turning around I threw my arms around his neck and pulled him to me prying his supple mouth open with my tongue until he granted it access. Our tongues swirled together, fighting and dancing as I fought for control. He pushed me against the wall and I automatically lifted my legs around his waist. I felt him rub against me, his erection hard and ready making me groan into his mouth.

“Not here, Ruby.” Scott pulled away from my mouth, panting and fighting for his own control. “Not here,” he repeated more forcefully as much to himself as me as he reached around by body to turn off the water. Not so subtly brushing the naked cheeks of my ass. Gently putting me down he shook the water from his body and stepped out of the shower to dress.

“Want to see something special?” I felt relieved that he knew about my water ability. At least I didn’t feel like I was lying to him anymore by not telling him. Part of me was still terrified that someone else knew, my mother’s warnings echoing in my head. But I wanted to show off for him a little.

“I’m pretty sure I’m seeing something pretty special all right!” His voice husky, his eyes trailed down my body as he pulled his pants up. It didn’t do much to hide his erection however.

Closing my eyes I harnessed the energy that pulsed through my body, part arousal and part magic. I concentrated on the sensation of the water droplets on my body and the need to push them away from me. As I begun to feel each and every one I commanded my energy to move them. Opening my eyes I watched Scott’s reaction as the water hovered between us, after a few seconds I slowly lowered my hands and the water splashed to the floor wetting the bottom of his pants.

“Very impressive, Rubes. Will you show me some more tomorrow? For now though I’ve got a couple of tricks of my own I’d like to show you in our tent.” He turned around and picked up my clothes. He smiled as he handed me my skirt and singlet. “I think I might hold onto these, I don’t think you’re going to need them.”

I drew in a sharp breath aroused by his words and watching him fondling my bra and knickers in his hands. I dressed quickly, after all not having a lot to put on, and we held hands as we walked to the tent.

Neither of us spoke as Scott zipped up the tent behind him. The music faded completely as I focused on Scott and the tension building between us. All I could hear was my own heavy breaths and the thundering rhythm of my heart as it pounded in my chest. I had a moment of flirty courage before he turned to face me. Taking off my singlet and dropping it on the floor at my feet. I stood topless both excited and terrified at the same time.

Being so dark I couldn’t see the reaction on his face, he was silhouetted by the bonfire that must be massive by now. Then I heard his pants drop and he took a step towards me, leaving only an inch between us. He put one hand behind my head, gripping my hair in his hand, and pulled me to him in a hungry kiss that possessed my mouth and rendered my knees useless. I leaned against him and he pulled me closer with his free hand by grabbing me roughly by my butt cheek. I sucked a breath and groaned in his mouth. His hands moved to my breasts and they were instantly aware of his warm mouth and talented fingers. I felt warmth begin to pool between my legs and I cried out when he took a hardened nipple to his eager mouth, sucking and nibbling lightly. Heat built within me, my core tightening as his hands and mouth tormented my breasts. Having on had one orgasm, in our make out session on his couch, I didn’t know if it was possible to come by someone doing this to your breasts. But the way it heated my core I was definitely on my way.

He pulled away and lowered us to the mattress, which was surprisingly more comfortable than I expected it to be. I lay nervously on my back with one knee bent and my arm resting across my chest, my entire body shaking slightly. I felt completely exposed despite the fact that he had just been suckling at my breast.

Scott rested on his side slightly above me. He ran a solitary finger from my cheek, down my neck and down the path that separated my meagre breasts to my naval, removing my arm from my chest and gently placing it above my head. My hips responded to his tender touch gently tilting upwards as his finger hit the waistband of my skirt.  Only hesitating for a second he continued his torment, gliding his fingers over the smooth fabric of my skirt and down my inner thighs. Even though I anticipated his touch, it still took my breath away when his fingers slid gently over the warmth at my centre. He continued around in tiny circles, the fabric of my skirt creating a sensual feeling. I would never look at this skirt the same way again.

“Ruby, are you sure you want to do this?” I nearly cried when he took his deft fingers away from my core and caressed my face instead. “Because in a few minutes I’m not going to be able to stop, I’m not going to be able to take this back.”

My answer was quick, confident and true, “I’m sure, Scott. I’m…just…nervous.”

“Oh Ruby, don’t be.” Within seconds he had removed my skirt and hovered above me. I ran my fingers down his back, feeling his muscles ripple under my touch and aroused by the groan it elicited from Scott.

His kisses were everywhere at once; my neck, my breasts, my ear, my arm. I cried out softly as he gently rubbed my clitoris, my hips bucking against his hand. In seconds I filled with a fast rising heat and absolute passion as my world exploded. He hungrily possessed my mouth to muffle my cries. Before my climax had ebbed I felt him pause at my opening and then slowly he pushed into me, inch by inch, until he met with resistance. He paused and told me he loved me before he pushed through the barrier. I cried out as the pain registered, for a moment the pain more real than the pleasure.

“Do you want me to stop?” he asked, acknowledging my tense body.

“No…please don’t. I need this, just go slow.” I dug my fingers into his shoulders as he began to move again slowly stretching my body to accommodate the foreign sensation. Slowly the pain disappeared and was replaced once again with pleasure as I felt my body building to climax once again.

After a few minutes he gently pulled out. I looked up at him confused, knowing that he hadn’t finished and hoping that I hadn’t done something wrong.

He coaxed me onto my stomach and kissed his way up and down my spine while I writhed underneath him. Sliding his fingers into me once more I cried out before burying my face into a pillow to muffle myself. It wasn’t as uncomfortable as having him inside me but my virgin body was tender and raw.

Scott continued to move his fingers inside me, nibbling on my ear and kissing my neck. As I became more aroused he gently turned me back over, cupping my face he kissed me so softly, it felt like a whisper on my lips. Lifting himself to his knees he gently rolled his fingers over my sensitive clitoris. The combination had me moving against his fingers in a steady rhythm.

“Scott…” I panted.

“Yes, Ruby?” Bastard, I could
hear
the smirk on his face as he rubbed faster.

“Please...I want…I need you!” In seconds he had pulled his fingers from me, leaving me craving his touch, I heard the crinkle of a packet and realised he was putting a condom on.

“Ready?” Without waiting for an answer he gently pushed into me, the pain wasn’t as intense as the first time he had entered me and I began to respond to his gently thrusts, raising my hips to match his.

“I love you Ruby De Grey, I can’t believe you are part of my life,” his whispered words shattering my nerves and setting my heart to a thunderous pace.

As we climbed a wave of euphoria together I wondered what I had done to be so lucky to find this man. Quickening his pace, he lifted my knees and dove deeper into me. I cried out, digging my nails into his shoulders, my hips frozen with pleasure. With my climax reached so drew it out as he pumped harder and faster, his breath coming in pants and groans, until he called my name and stilled, smiling into my shoulder.

CHAPTER 15

I covered my face with my hands, horrified that Scott had been watching me sleep. I’d opened my heavy eyes to Scott lying on his side, his head leaning on his elbow with a smirk on his face.

“Don’t cover up, Ruby. You’re too beautiful to cover up.” Gently he prized my hands away from my face and kissed me softly. It was a beautiful kiss, sensual, sexy without the passion and need that had consumed our love making the night before. “Plus that little bit of drool that’s been gliding down your face is such a turn on.”

Mortified I swiped at my face as he burst into laughter at my embarrassment.

“That. Was. So. Not. Funny. Mister!” I said as I swatted him playfully. He pulled me to him holding my arms so I couldn’t hit him anymore and kissed me hard on the mouth. I gave in and relaxed into him listening to his heart thump through his chest.

“Was it…you know. Okay?” Tilting my chin up to meet his eyes I was worried at what I might see there.

“Okay? Ruby it was the most amazing sex I’ve ever experienced.
The
most intense I’ve ever felt. I’ve never been that connected to another single person in my life.”

He kissed me again, even more softly than before, I was grateful for the distraction from my extreme blushing.

“Are you sore? I hope I wasn’t too rough,” he asked.

I thought about that for a moment, about how my body was feeling, inside and out. “Actually no, I’ m not. To be honest I thought I would have trouble sitting down when I woke up this morning!”

A small giggle erupted from Scott, I sat slightly on one side and lifted myself up. “Did you just giggle?” I asked incredulously. Scott gave me Mr Innocent eyes, but the slight reddening that had crept up his neck gave him away. “And you’re blushing! Now that is a first.”

Scott jumped up and turned his back pulling out clothes to wear. His nakedness neither shocked me nor embarrassed me and I was quietly enjoying the view.

“When you’re quite finished ogling me, feel free to get dressed. We need to organise the breakfast crew.” He hadn’t even turned around.

“Fine,” I grumbled, gathering the sleeping bag doona around me and pulling my backpack towards me.

“Really? You’re shy?” Scott smirked as he watched me struggle into my underwear whilst trying to be modest.

“Hey, I need to leave something to the imagination.” I made a noise of celebration when I had achieved my goal of dressing behind the sleeping bag, before dropping it to do up my jeans.

“Here, put this on,” he passed me his jacket. “Your thin one you had on last night won’t be enough for this morning.” 

I took it gratefully and we headed out into the morning freshness hand in hand.

The breakfast routine was much like dinner, some people cooked, some organised cereal or toast and others got the clean-up job. I was on clean-up and funnily enough, so was Scott.

The mood was sombre as people woke early after a late night, most still groggy and wearing their bed hair. I notice the partner swap girls from the bonfire the night before were both smiling to themselves as they worked. Both had numerous hickeys of varying sizes on their necks. I wondered which guy they had been with, or if they’d continued on the partner swapping trend further into the night.

Mikayla appeared for the first time that morning freshly showered, her dark hair cascading down her back, perfectly sleek and shiny. She looked like she’d just stepped out of salon, not a tent.

She walked over to one of the girls from the partner swapping couple who had beautiful blonde curls that framed her face perfectly, her green eyes practically popping off her face. She looked to be the younger of the two. Mikayla put her hand into her curls and pulled her in for a kiss, not a soft kiss but a passionate, ‘I want to devour you kiss’.

“Good morning Skye,” Mikayla said as she not so gently or subtly squeezed Skye’s breast. “I hope you had fun last night, I certainly did.” Mikayla gave the crimson Skye another kiss and sauntered off. I was standing there my mouth gaping, trying to look busy standing in the middle of the bonfire area. I caught Scott’s eye and he was smirking a little, his eyes held a wicked spark as he gauged my reaction. I smiled at him then shrugged my shoulders and headed off to the shower block. I was still blushing from what I had seen Mikayla do when I turned the water on.

Everyone gathered at the bonfire at ten and we were giving instructions for a unique hiking trip. The main rule was there was to be absolutely no talking. We were all given a small slip of paper picked from a hat, some were blank and others had instructions for tasks they needed to perform whilst we hiked. There was also no physical contact unless it was necessary for a task to be completed. Everyone needed to either participate or watch each task, so we would have to find a way to signal to the people in front without speaking. We were not to return back to camp until each task was finished. Mikayla said it was a lesson in unspoken communication and to learn to trust each other. I checked my slip which simply said, ‘
remain calm, no matter what happens, one shall be chosen for Him
’. I tucked it into my pocket, feeling a little uneasy. Another rule was no mobile phones or any watches that had GPS capabilities, a tub went around and everyone threw in their phones and watches.

Once the tub was secured we stood in a circle, everyone looking to Mikayla for further instructions. Mikayla held my left hand and Scott my right.

Mikayla bowed her head and closed her eyes, everyone in the group did the same. I waited until everyone had closed their eyes and at the last minute left mine open. I wanted to see what happened next, after all, I was the only one in the group that I knew of that hadn’t ever been on a youth group camping trip.

Everyone remained still and silent for a few minutes, I watched Mikayla intently, she didn’t move, except for her mouth moving slightly, like she was mumbling something. Suddenly I felt a surge of energy run through my left hand, through my body and into Scott through my right hand, and I watched as it rippled throughout the circle.

What the hell was that
? I thought to myself. I turned to look at Scott who was looking at me with such intensity I didn’t know how to interpret it. I didn’t like the feeling that was within me, it felt like someone else was in my head. I whispered to Scott asking him what had just happened. My mouth moved but nothing came out. Scott eyes pleaded with me to calm down and he gave my hand a reassuring squeeze. I still didn’t like the feeling that I had, a sense of dread was growing. Had I made a mistake coming here this weekend knowing that there would be no adult supervision? He pointed towards the others who had dispersed from the circle and were walking in single file down a narrow bush track. Mikayla stood back from the others eyeing Scott and I warily and I wanted to punch the small smirk that she wore off her face.

Reluctantly I followed, my heart thumping in my chest and I wondered what I had gotten myself into. I wished I’d asked more questions before I’d agreed to come.

As we walked my mind whirled with possible scenarios. I managed to keep up despite that storm that was raging in my head. I thought about Mikayla, who could do much more than control fire. My thoughts returned to Mikayla possibly being a witch. Did they really exist? How could I really answer that knowing I could move water, was that witch craft? Even if it wasn’t I was starting to accept the fact that there was elemental magic all around me and something much more. Something that didn’t feel calm. Something that I couldn’t quite put my finger on.

I realised that I hadn’t asked my mother nearly enough questions when she had come to me to explain her earth element ability. She most likely could do a lot more than make things grow. I also hadn’t wanted her to know about my water ability and I now realised what a bad idea holding back that information had been. Maybe if I’d confided in her she might have felt able to confide more in me.

I sighed, although no sound came out, just the whoosh of air.

I looked up and saw that I’d managed to fall behind a little so I jogged ahead to catch up. We hiked for another thirty minutes the only sound our footsteps crunching through the dry bush.  We had been banking up a steep gradient and I’d over taken a few of them as we reached a flat clearing filled with boulders and large rocks.  I looked around for Scott as people passed around water bottles.

He wasn’t anywhere. I went back to where the path had come into the small clearing to see if I could see or hear him coming up the path. I didn’t remember passing him at all, I was too preoccupied with my thoughts to notice much of anything.

I ran to the next section of the path and took off away from the group. I heard them clamouring after me. Desperately I searched for Scott and eventually I stopped, gasping for air. A few minutes later the group caught up with me, Mikayla in the lead as usual.

She raised one eye brow at me and smirked and it finally dawned on me that she had another reason for befriending me. Her obvious contempt for me oozing out of her with just the one look, I wondered how I had not seen it before now.

I stared right back at her, refusing to look away when I noticed Scott pushing past people to get to the front. He looked from me to Mikayla and back to me again, his brow furrowed.

I raised my arms in a questioning gesture and pointed to my eye then back to him. He interpreted fast, immediately understanding what I was trying to tell him. He pointed into the bushes and then made a gesture like he was holding a hose…in front of his pants.

I smiled, and wanted to laugh, he’d gone to pee in the bush. I visibly relaxed and I would have laughed at the absurdity of the situation if I had been able to. I gave Mikayla a death stare and resumed my place in the back of the line.

When I could talk again I wanted to know what her problem with me was. 

I watched as Scott stood in front of Mikayla and they stared at each other. It
looked
like they were deep in conversation. Their facial expressions changing but their mouths remained still. Scott took off in front of Mikayla and stomped into the bush, the path had narrowed out and you had to keep up with the group to make sure you could see where you were going.

I was still reeling at the thought that Mikayla really disliked me, and knew that our entire ‘friendship’ had been manufactured. I wondered if she knew that I could move water before I had. I wondered why it would even matter to her. I questioned the reason we moved here, my father had been
offered
the job here not applied for it. We’d still be in the city waiting for what little time with him we could get. Maybe it was a little convenient that Mikayla’s Uncle was his boss. For a second I questioned the motive behind Scott’s intentions as well, but dismissed them before the fear sitting in the pit of my stomach could grow.

A commotion in front of me brought me thumping back to reality as I walked into the back of curly blonde haired girl. I apologised before remembering that I couldn’t speak. I looked around her to see her raven haired friend fighting with another girl.

I’d never seen two girls fight before, for a few moments I watched in silent awe as they fought in a frenzy of weird quiet and vicious punches and slaps.  Coming to my senses I pushed past everyone who was just as stupefied as I had been and tried pull them apart. Raven Hair turned on me and punched me square in the stomach. I landed on my backside, all the air gone from my lungs. My anger flared and I stood up again and grabbed her by her hair, pulling her off another girl I recognised but didn’t know her name. I pulled her hair until it entwined in my fingers and her face contorted with pain. I put my face against hers and willed her to calm down. I felt my familiar heat burning in me, and knowing there was no water in sight, I didn’t know what type of energy I was desperately trying to control. I was punched in the stomach with such viciousness I lost what little control I had.  Her eyes widened with fear as she felt the pulses of energy reach in to her from me. Her face went white, her eyes rolling in the back of her head and she slumped to the ground in front of me, my hand still entwined in hair. I pulled back in shock. I only wanted her to calm down, but my anger had triggered another reaction inside me.

Mikayla stepped forward, pushing me aside, although when she felt to see if the young girl was alive, she looked at me her eyes dark, but nodded once. I figured that meant she was alive, I didn’t even know what I had done to her. I knew I felt a similar energy that I did when I moved water, but it was different too, far more intense and wild. I hadn’t been able to control it.

Scott came forward and picked up the unconscious girl and began to carry her down the path. He didn’t look at me or even try to reassure me and I felt my eyes prickle as I held back tears. I moved to go with him but Mikayla held me back, digging her fingers painfully into my arm. I desperately tried to rip my arm free from her grasp before she slapped me hard across the face. I fell to the ground and reached up and rubbed my cheek. I held her stare and got up quickly ready to fight. Looking around I noticed that everyone had moved in closer to us. Looking into their faces I knew I didn’t stand a chance in a fight with Mikayla, especially not with her minions read to back her up.

I looked towards the path that Scott had taken, desperate to be with him and find out what the hell was going on. Instead I fell into line behind Mikayla when she gestured me to do so. She obviously didn’t trust me not to run off to Scott if I was at the back of the line and she was right not to.