CHAPTER SIX
JOHANNA
The sunrise had indescribable beauty but we didn't have time to sit back with coffee and biscuits like a regular Saturday morning, instead we sped our actions, packing the tent, cleaning the area and pretending we weren't even here.
Today was the day I would see the holy ground, the community that Aiden so perfectly would reminisce about that I practically felt like it was my home too. At first I was worried that Aidens friends wouldn't like me, but he quickly reminded me that there were only good people there with inviting energies that made you feel warm and safe. I was so excited I could barely hold my energy inside my body and I sang until my throat was dry.
The drive was long but our weary bodies perked up when we seen the gate. It was massive and majestic; almost as if it was reaching for the heavens. The large gate was made of all different sizes of wood, and it continued over the hills surrounding it. Aiden beeped the horn and slowly and steadily the gate opened. My nerves got the better of me and I was silent, soaking in the view as he carefully drove in with the gate shutting behind us.
The houses really were beautiful, It made our cottage back home look like a shack.
The whole place basically lined up to the one road ahead, and it gave it an old western style town look. We drove up the the furthest house past the other homes, and what looked like a small market. Aiden was right about the meadows surrounding the area; they were gorgeous and flowing freely everywhere you looked, except a small rocky area near what looked like a cliff.People surrounded us and battled to hug Aiden and shake his hand before we had the chance to unpack.
'You must be Johanna.' A small perky voice revealed a pretty girl, looking about fifteen.
'I am, and I'm sorry but I don't know your name?' She giggled and pulled her soft blonde hair behind her ears.
'I am Garnet'
Garnet helped me with our belongings while Aiden went with some of the locals to their hall.
The house was so amazing and I couldn't believe this was our new home.
'I'll show you to yours and Aidens room, the the one right at the top of the stairs!' She boasted.
'We won't be here alone?'
'No I live here too, and so does grandpapa and my husband.' She smiled and waddled down the hall, towards the stairs expecting me to follow. I picked up my things and did so. Before the stairs was a closed door which Garnet instructed to never go in without permission because it was grandpapas. Half way up the stairs was an evened level with another door; this was Garnets.
Finally reaching the top I dropped my things on to the beautiful wooden king sized bed and looked around. There was a large window at the end of the bed that leaned out enough that pillows sat on the ledge, forming a seat. Large floral curtains boasted the outer skirts of the window, help by a thick golden rod.
'You are so pretty, I can't believe I'm meeting you in person!' Garnet spoke as if we'd been pen pals for years.
'I'm sorry, how do you know me?'
'I am Aidens cousin, and I guess your cousin too! His uncle is my father.'
I giggled. 'I know how cousins work'
'Yes well Aiden spoke of you so much when he called home, and I've just grown to love you over his stories!' She shyly explained. I knew he spoke to his friends here once a month but I never knew of any extended family, or that I was the point of conversation at any time. It made me feel like a princess meeting her subjects for the first time.
'My husband is cooking us a wonderful feast tonight, you're going to love it.'
'How are you married? You look like your too young!' My words must have offended her because she looked at me confused and kind of frustrated.
'I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings.'
'No! Of course not Johanna! I just find it hard to talk to townies sometimes, they're so close minded.' She sat on the bed, shuffling my things around and continued to explain
'Love needs no boundaries, Johanna, you mustn't worry of age, colour, gender or wealth. My husband is a loving man, and when he asked for my hand in marriage I agreed, I knew I would be with him the rest of my life, so why wait to say so in front of the gods? We don't worry about that kind of thing around here.'
'Woah, that was beautiful, Garnet! I wish we had of come here a long time ago so I could have married Aiden earlier.' She seemed relieved I understood and we packed my things away happily, dancing around before returning downstairs.Once we had arrived at the bottom I was caught by surprise to see Aiden play wrestling with another man. The other man was wearing a white singlet and blue jeans, and his hair was as long as Aidens, just hitting his shoulders. I was surprised to see that he was an older gentleman.
'Oh boys, that's enough!' Garnet playfully yelled and jumping onto the other man. Aiden caught sight of me and picked me up and swirled me around giving me a tender kiss.
'Johanna, this is Mark, my husband.' Garnet brushed of some lint on his top and basically showed him to me like a trophy. He was polite and bowed down and reached his arm out, revealing his open hand, I grabbed it and curtsied back. They really did make me feel like a princess.Most of the afternoon consisted of meeting everyone else in the town, and getting shown around the commune. They explained that it used to be an old miners town but when the gold rush was over it was deserted. Aidens grandfather bought the property many years ago and planted the seeds that are here today. Most of the food was grown here at the commune and they had a small farm just passed the sugar canes. I felt like I was in heaven.
By nine o'clock it was time for a prayer and when Aiden directed me to their hall I felt strange. I had never prayed in front of anyone else except Aiden, and now it was to be with an entire commune. Aiden was to be at the front with a few other people because he was a corrector. I sat next to Garnet and some other members on an old wooden seat that filed halfway along the hall, and tried to catch up on the prayer said in unison by everyone, but I wasn't embarrassed, I was happy, I was with the people that I belonged with.======================================================
Well well well! Looks like Jo has got herself into a cult! I've been holding this back and been wanting to scream it out, but the clues have finally came together! The cult doesn't have a name yet coz I haven't thought of one, suggestions would be nice!
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