The Celtic Knot. Shannon MacLeod

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      After work, Lily headed straight for the mall. Beth was already there, engrossed in a romance novel and sipping one of two sodas on the table. Lily grabbed the other and took a pull on the plastic straw, plopping down in the booth across from her friend. “God, it’s good to be out of there.” She sighed. “I think Lucas is still mad. He didn’t even speak to me today.”

      “Help me out with the part where that makes for a bad day,” Beth said, rolling her eyes. She tucked her napkin inside the paperback and stowed in away her backpack. “Okay, topic switch. Have you picked out a name yet?”

      “Name for what?” Lily asked.

      “A lot of the people at the park use stage names,” Beth explained. “Get in touch with your inner witch and pick out a good name to go with your new persona.”

      Lily shushed her, glancing around nervously at the mere mention of the W word. “Keep your voice down before you get us both burned at the stake,” she warned, only half joking.

      Beth smiled and adjusted the topic. “I’ve got some costumes for you,” she said, “and a gypsy wig to cover up all your gadjo hair.”

      After grabbing some chicken-fried rice, they drove back to Lily’s apartment. “I figured if I couldn’t breathe in them, they’d fit you,” Beth joked. Lily had always been on the slender side but at five-six matched Beth in height if not in weight.

      The gathered costume skirts were elegant and Lily chose two for the weekend, one in deep burgundy and the other one a smoky indigo. “This outfit rocks,” she said, giving the gauzy skirt an experimental twirl. The off-the-shoulder peasant blouse was a little more daring than she was accustomed to, and when she laced up the matching vest that caught her just under the breasts, pushing them up…wow. Just. Wow.

      “Those vests are like the old song Rawhide–head ’em up and move ’em out,” Beth said between giggles.

      Lily practiced her curtsey, getting more and more excited about Friday night. “I’m glad the skirts are adjustable, I’m a little…puffy right now,” she said, admiring her reflection. “The new pills are making my periods more regular, though.”

      “I’m telling you–it’s stress. I blame Lucas, the root of all evil. No,” Beth said when Lily opened her mouth to protest, “I promise I’m not going to say another disparaging word about him…tonight.” She smiled. “Here’s the coup de grace. Try this on.”

      Whipping it out of the plastic bag with a magician’s flourish, Beth handed Lily the large mound of curls. Lily dutifully piled her hair under the heavy wig and slipped it on. Both women gasped aloud at the immediate and profound change. Before she’d had a bright crown of straight blond hair. Now a black mass of wild, untamed tresses curled beguilingly around her shoulders and fell nearly to her waist in the back.

      “Wow. All you need is some dark red lipstick and you are set,” Beth said, giving her a nod of approval. “You still need a name, though. You look like something out of an old gothic movie with that hair.” She looked thoughtful. “Pale white skin, hair black as a raven’s wing.”

      “Perfecto,” said Lily, snapping her fingers. “Raven.”

      * * * *

       The brilliant light was just ahead and when she drew closer, she realized it wasn’t a light at all, but a clearing. From the edge of the trees, a beautiful verdant meadow covered in sweet smelling wildflowers lay before her, tall grass swaying in the gentle breeze.

       And she was not alone.

       A tall and muscular man stood in the field, his back to her., His long auburn curls tossed about him in the light breeze. On his right hand he wore a single leather gauntlet, the jesses dangling loose from his wrist. Looking upward into the cloudless sky, he raised his arm and a majestic hawk landed upon it. He stroked the bird with a gentle touch then flung his arm up, allowing it to fly free. The raptor circled the field twice, landed again and again was released. Lily called to the falconer, but he either did not or could not hear her. Creeping out of СКАЧАТЬ