Salvation

Chapter 10 - Althea

Thea followed Daniel down the small trail. While searching the property earlier they had come across a clearing about five minutes walk from the house that would be perfect for Thea's needs. She still wasn't completely certain what she had to do, but Maddy seemed confident that she would when it mattered.

The only thing bothering her was that she was supposed to be naked when she did the "ritual". She was still pretty self-conscious about being nude in front of people but she didn't want to complain in front of Sadena. She knew Daniel would be a perfect gentleman, as he always was, but she still felt extremely awkward.

They came to the clearing. Daniel had stopped by a tree. He plopped down with his back against the trunk. He looked up at her and smiled.

"I'll be waiting right here."

She nodded, turned her back to him and started undressing. She layered her clothing on a low hanging branch beside her. She shivered as the cool night air hit her skin. Goosebumps rose everywhere. She refused to look at Daniel as she walked out into the field before her, grasping the bag in front of her.

She went to the middle of the field and looked up. The full moon was hanging low, seeming to be just over to her left. She unwrapped the necklace and was pleasantly surprised by how beautiful it was. The stones seemed white with a blue flame sheen inside of it. She had never seen anything of the sort. She remembered Maddy calling it Moonstone. She understood why, especially the way the moonlight hit it. The effect was ethereal.

She found a nearby rock and placed the necklace on it. She then sat down beside it and admired the allure of the stones. She sat transfixed by them. In fact it was almost impossible to keep her eyes off the stones.

The stones blazed in the moonlight now. The blue flame in the center of them started casting light further and further out from itself. She could see the area around her bathed in a soft blue, shimmering glow.

She could feel the uncomfortableness of the cold, hard ground beneath her vulnerable body, but she could not move or adjust herself. It was like the stone was a magnate to her gaze. She could feel her heartbeat slow, the rhythmic beating lulling her into a trance. Her breathing slowed and it felt like the world was shifting beneath her.It was almost like vertigo, everything shifting slightly off center.

She could hear singing and drums. It was so faint, but she could just make it out. Voices, getting closer and closer. She still couldn't move. She started to panic a bit. But then she reminded herself that Maddy wouldn't have her do anything that would harm her. She hoped.

She let herself spin deeper and deeper. Soon she couldn't even see the world around her. All she could see was blue flame. She couldn't feel anything. There was nothing to feel. It was like she was in a void. She was weightless. She felt like she was losing herself. She drifted with the singing.

It kept getting louder and louder. She could now make out Maddy's voice in the chorus. It was strong and vibrant. She didn't recognize any of the other voices but she felt so calm now it was unreal. The blue light started lifting her. Higher and higher she rose, into the dark sky.

She felt like she was one with the stars, the immense beauty of the universe amazed her. Thea opened her arms and embraced the cosmos. She felt so happy, so complete! She looked around in wonder at the beauty of it all. She could see the earth getting smaller and smaller below her. She didn't know how it was possible, but she didn't care. She was free! The singing and drums stopped abruptly.

"Child!" A stern voice interrupted her revelry.

She looked around, spinning quickly and all she seen were stars and planets and galaxies in every direction.