Raven of Water

Chapter 2: Ominous Doubting

The next evening, not even the memories of the day's special lesson about loving yourself could cheer me as I slipped on the white satin gown. Frowning, I closed the armoire and did up the last few buttons on the front of the dress before striding over to the full length oval mirror and checking my reflection. If I didn't know better, I'd say the white outfit, with its ornate lace and bodice, made me look like a bride. In reality, I was a servant of evil about to give herself over to the dark.

Well, perhaps that was a little melodramatic. If the ceremony worked, which it wouldn't, I, as the blood letter, would just have to play servant to a demon for a little while. It wasn't as if I was a sacrifice in the traditional sense of the word. My role was ceremonial more than anything.

The sound of my phone ringing jolted me from my musings, and I shook off my apprehension as I grabbed my cellphone from the bedside table. The caller ID made my heart beat faster, but I didn't know whether it was nerves or fear.

"Hi, Jackson."

"Alexandra," the way he said my name made my heart continue to stutter, but he kept speaking, unaware of the reaction his tone was causing my body, "Your grandfather told me you're preparing for the ceremony."

"Yes." I faltered, sitting on the edge of the bed of the large guest room I used whenever I stayed over to work on organization business.

"He said..." Jackson trailed off as he placed his hand over the microphone and barked some orders at his assistant. There was some shuffling, muttered apologies from the other person, and then Jackson's return. "Alexandra, are you still there?"

"Yes."

"Good. Jacaro said he's worried you'll fuck it up."

"I won't fuck it up, Jackson."

"You..." I bit my lip as he grew distracted once more, talking to someone else on the other end of the line before returning his attention to me, "You have to be careful to not screw this up, Alexandra. Your people and mine would be very unhappy, and there won't be anything I can do to help you if you upset them."

"I know that."

"Good. As long as you know." I frowned at the turn of this conversation before Jackson continued. "Listen, I'm going to be in town in two weeks. I've booked us dinner reservations at that place that I like. Wear the green dress I bought you."

"Oh. Actually, I was thinking—"

"What?" Jackson barked, making me jump until I realized he hadn't even been listening to me. He was again speaking to someone on the other end of the line. When he returned his attention to our conversation, my heart hurt, although I pushed aside whatever emotion was creeping into my consciousness. I didn't have the time or energy for that kind of confusion.

"I'm out of time, Alexandra. I'll see you in two weeks. Your grandfather will let me know how your group's summoning goes."

"Okay, Jackson."

He hung up the phone before I could say anything else, leaving me blinking absently at the intricate oriental carpet covering the scarred wooden floors.

Was this the way relationships were supposed to go?

I didn't know.

I mean, Jackson and I had been dating for a year ever since our collectives had set us up. He was the heir to a more powerful magical group, one which used to be our rival. Elysium was a group dominated by an ancient lineage of magic users whose most common powers involved the control of fire. My organization, translated to The Shadowmoon Circle in English, primarily included earth magic users with control over rocks and soil and minerals. I, however, was the only one with powers over plant life.