The Witch and the Wolf

The Preparation

[Emi]

Ennis's words scared me. I'm not sure what to think. I know one thing. I'm not ready to die. My life is just beginning. I just got a raise and I'm up for promotion to become the head of the art department at NYU. I can't die yet. I have to return to my life and achieve my goals. I dream of taking over the department by the time I'm thirty. If I don't do this, I can kiss everything goodbye.

I looked at Ennis and took a deep breath. "Okay. What do I need to do?"

Ennis gave a nervous smile. "Well Emilia. You need to offer yourself to the Elders."

"What? Do you mean what I think you mean?" I asked nervously.

"Aye. You must be willing to give yourself fully to keep your spirit elements. This will be your true test to show you are selfless. This is normally done at 18. It marks the day you become a woman and a gifted one." Ennis explains. "I worry for you because of this. It has been almost 10 years since the marking of your 18th birthday. I'm not sure how the elders will feel that you have waited so long and you now have 4 spirits to answer for."

"I understand." I said as I hung my head.

I can feel the warmth and love from my spirit elements. "Don't worry. We are here with you," Esen says.

"That's right! We're here to support you, master!" Celest says.

The other two are smiling and nodding. They give me the strength to lift my head and say, "I'll do it. Not much of a choice, right? Offer yourself or die. Not a hard choice to make."

"That-a girl. Let me get the supplies." Ennis says, confident that things will be fine.

A few minutes later, Ennis and her spirit element came out of the house. Ennis was carrying a medium-sized chest. She walked to the fire and set it down next to it. Her spirit element was carrying a box that looked no larger than half of a dollar bill.

I watch him carefully as he struggles to carry it to the cloth that Ennis placed prior to us beginning the pacts. I cleared my throat to break the awkward silence, then he looked directly at me.

"Umm... Hello there, little guy. You must be Ennis's element spirit. I'm Emilia, but you can call me Emi." I said, smiling, trying to break the ice.

He was clearly unimpressed. With a snobby attitude, he said, "First of all. I'm a spirit element not a element spirit. Those are completely different things. Secondly, I may be a little guy, but I am a man, not a little boy, so do not address me as such. Finally, I don't give two flying flips who you are. I'm not interested in someone who isn't going to be alive in the next hour."

I can hear my spirit elements whispering and grabbing Vesta to hold her back. She looks pissed.

"Shut up! You're actin' like a horse arse, Miniel." Ennis said to her spirit element. She then looked at me and mine and said, "Don't mind him girls. He's just jealous because he didn't get to make his choice. He got sent here with me as punishment. You should at least pity him a bit."

"Shut it you old hag." Miniel said, giving her a dirty look. He then looked at me and stuck his tongue out. I was taken aback for a moment. How could such a handsome little guy be so rude?

He placed the box on the cloth, then turned around and went into the house, slamming the door behind him.

"Really, Emilia. Don't mind him. He's just got a lot of anger, is all. He don't mean it," Ennis said. She then clapped her hands together three times and all of the boxes opened. "Come now. Let's get you ready."

Ennis held out her hand. I walked to her and took it. We walk clock-wise placing the candles that were earlier placed in a larger circle. Once the last candle was placed, She led me to the first box. Inside was a white gown. I was in awe of its beauty. The way it sparkled in the moonlight and it silky, smooth texture. I held the gown up to my body and looked down. There was a large slit in the front that went from the navel to the floor.

"Oh... This must be for the ceremony?" I said with hesitation.

Ennis nods, "Don't you worry one bit. I will be here with you to ensure everything goes the way it should."

I instantly blush. I mean, this isn't my first time, but I have never done anything with another person watching. I don't care who the person was.

"So what will I have to do?" I asked, curious about the answer.

"When the time comes I will explain. This will be a proud moment when you become one with nature. Tonight is a blessed night. The moon is full, and we could not have better weather." Ennis said with a smile.

I tighten my lips to give an unsure smile and nod my head.

We walked to the next box. Ennis kneels down and pulls out a bag. "The salt will protect us during the ceremony."

I nodded, signifying that I understood. She takes the salt and spreads it around in a circle, then replaces the candles on the inner lining of the salt circle.

We proceed to the final box. It was the small box that Miniel had brought out. She pulls out a small vial of something. "This will help you connect fully."

I was so unsure of what that meant. I must have had the stupidest look on my face because Ennis looked at me and laughed. "It has a special oil with a few herbs to make it a little more..." Ennis gave a smirk. "pleasurable."

"Oh? So it's like the K-Y jelly my ex used to get?" I asked, as if she was supposed to even know what K-Y jelly was. After I said that, I instantly shook my head, realizing that I was an i***t.

Ennis just watched me laughing the entire time. "You are a funny one. I'm not sure what K-Y jelly is, but if you think that it might be like that, then maybe it is."

"Alright." Ennis clapped and the boxes closed. "Time to get dressed. We have about 45 minutes to get this done and the elders like to take their time getting here sometimes. Everything off. Only the gown. When I say everything, I mean it, little miss. Everything! We cannot call them until you are ready."

The reality of everything began to sink in. 'If I don't do this, I will die. I have to do this. This is happening.' I thought to myself. I felt as though I was going to have a panic attack. I began taking off my clothes. Once undressed, I hand my clothes to Ennis, who folds them neatly and places them on a stand at the edge of the circle.

I pick up the gown and begin putting it on. The contact of the dress begins to set my skin on fire. I began feeling warm. I looked at Ennis worried.

"Don't be scared, Emilia. The gown is made to make the process easier. It helps you get ready." She says, trying to reassure me that everything will be fine.