Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 The Priestess, Part 2 of 6
   by Nysidra
   Occult Fantasy (MF, prosexual, group, magic, drugs, oani)
   <->
   -_ Initiation _Kohia's mid-summer festival was a joint venture by the
three Kohia families: Araceli, Oliphant, and Hoku.  The festival was one of
the biggest of the year, giving tribute to the Oani through dance, art,
music, and celebration.  People came dressed in all kinds of bold colors
done up with feathers, ribbons, bells, and baubles.
   Soraya had on a flowing red sun dress.  She tied a bright yellow ribbon
around her waist and finished it off in a bow.  Bright magenta strands had
been woven into her braids.
   "You all ready?" Zarina shouted.
   They all piled into the van.  It was still early, but Soraya had already
been assigned a booth to help with for the first three hours of the
festival.
   She worked with Deven selling the clay and glass 'spirit pots.' She
mostly processed the transactions while Deven consulted with people
regarding which one they'd need.
   He'd take each pot and toss certain ingredients in: herbs, oils, tiny
figurines.  As he did, Soraya kept tabs of everything, creating the total.
When he put the top on the bottle she rang up the ticket and handled the
money.
   At some point, when there weren't any customers around, Soraya was going
to ask Deven if those pots actually worked, but that never happened.  Deven
had a steady stream of customers, the line was always two to five people
deep.
   Soraya only had to spend three hours with him, but it was well into
afternoon.
   "You go on and enjoy yourself.  This is your first festival.  You don't
need to spend it with me."
   "Who's going to help you?"
   He chuckled.  "I can handle it just fine.  That's how I know you've done
such a good job.  I've been doing the sums in my head for years now." He
winked at her.  "You've got quite the mind for numbers."
   "Thank you!" Soraya practically skipped through the crowd.  Each block
had a different band, singing and entertaining a fluid crowd of spectators.
She paused at the art display of two Sidra.  They were 'throwing' water
back and forth between each other.  For a moment, while it was suspended in
air, the water would change shape before falling back into a bucket.
   The display captured and kept her attention for several long minutes. 
On the other side, Soraya met a familiar pair of eyes.  She searched her
memory for his name.  They'd danced together.  He'd been out by the shed
with Richard putting a new coat of paint on the exterior.  Tall, muscular.
He had a million dollar smile.
   Darius.
   She made her way around the display, through the crowd.  He walked over
to the face painting booth.  His shorts were slightly damp from his sweat,
hugging each delicious ass muscle.
   What would she say to him?  Maybe she could entice him into having
another dance with her.  Her skin felt warm all over, and it wasn't just
the heat of the sun.
   Soraya was only a few feet away from speaking distance when Adrienne
walked over.
   "Hey there, having fun?"
   "Yes."
   Darius broke from his conversation and walked over to them.
   "You've met Darius, right?" Adrienne asked.
   "Yes."
   "Isn't he dreamy?" She chuckled.  "How much longer before we can ditch
this place?"
   "Give me another hour, all right?"
   Adrienne rolled her eyes.  "You're teasing me on purpose."
   "Maybe so.  You could stand to learn some patience."
   Soraya looked at Adrienne.  "Is he your boyfriend?"
   Her smile grew larger and she nodded.  "We only started dating last
weekend, but he's always so damned busy.  I'll wear him down though, just
you wait and see."
   The three of them continued with their conversation.  Soraya made nice
and waited for her way out.  At first she thought it was a great thing to
belong to such a beautiful, charismatic family.  All it managed to do was
keep her in a perpetual state of longing.
   She needed to give up on the sexual stirring.  She'd managed it before,
set aside her personal needs.  Put her time and energy elsewhere.  There
wasn't the rigor of her studies or stress of caring for her mother to
subjugate her idle mind.  Now it was like a constant hum, a tune that
wanted to be carried, to get carried away.
   Maybe she'd find Deven's booth again, help him out.  She wanted to hear
more about how he created the spirit jars and created the charms for other
people.
   She worked her way back to one of the stages she'd passed earlier
playing heavier music.  She let herself get swept away by the sounds.  She
hummed and keyed in on the guitarist.  He wasn't just playing the song, but
putting his own spin on the music.
   She closed her eyes and drifted away on the music.  Why had her mother
left such a wonderful place?  What if she'd grown up here?  She'd know
exactly who was available, who to approach or avoid.
   Men always caught her eye, especially handsome men, but it had little to
do with looks.  There was something about their personality, charisma, or
just the smell.  It was odd, given how Soraya only had a couple of partners
to her name, but the pull, the pull came from everyone.
   Just now the pull came from one place in particular.  She stopped
dancing and opened her eyes.
   His head was shaven, muscles bigger, but she knew him.  Her heart
skipped a beat and her stomach flipped.  That night her mother had called,
she was going to do whatever he wanted, be whatever he wanted her to be.
   This was fate.
   He wasn't her family.  His family lived in Marjan.  She remembered that
much about him.
   So much for trying to party alone, Soraya grinned.  Not but half an hour
later her clitoris was trying to seek out new opportunities.
   She didn't have a plan.  She just wanted to get close to him, call his
name.
   A petite young woman put her arm around his waist, staring up at him
with that 'look' that said she thought the world of him.
   Strike three.  Damn it.  Damn her luck.
   All of the festive mood drained down her body into the street beneath
her feet.
   ***
   Egan, Omari's room mate, returned from the vendor with a slice of cake
covered in fruit compote.  "I didn't even finish my sentence.  All she
wanted to know was what time and if she needed to bring anything."
   "Did you tell her to bring anything?"
   "Her friends." Egan handed over the second utensil.
   "No.  That's all you." Omari scanned the crowd for any other familiar
faces to invite back to his apartment.  During summer festival he was like
a light in the dark, drawing all the best women to him.  He had his pick of
beautiful people in bright clothing with plenty skin showing.  Late into
the evening that scant amount of clothing came off as food and drink made
the people giddy with vitality.
   By then Omari culled the most interesting and fresh of those crowds to
relax and unwind at his place.  Unlike most of his gatherings, Omari's
post-festival party was by invitation only and among the most decadent of
the year.
   That's why the gorgeous woman in the red and yellow caught his eye.  She
danced with her eyes closed, tiny braids swaying counter to her broad hips.
He couldn't take his eyes off her, not just yet.  Omari didn't know why she
captivated him so much until he got a good look at her face.
   Memories of holding her, the way she cried onto his chest, confessed her
troubles, the way she kissed him so deep and passionately.  That night he'd
been sure he'd end up falling asleep on her breast, nestled deep between
her thighs, but she'd taken the call and disappeared from his life almost a
year ago.
   Time and missed opportunities didn't matter.  They kept meeting each
other which meant they he needed to see it through.  He remembered the fire
in her eye when he propositioned her, the heat in her body when he kissed
her.
   Would she still turn him away?
   Only one way to find out.
   "Mar!" Lisa bounded over and wrapped her arms around him.  "I didn't
know you were going to be here?  Why haven't I heard from you?  You're
still having your party aren't you?  When do I get my invite, Mar?" She
sang her words as she typically did after she'd been drinking.  "Have you
been busy?  That's okay, you know.  You could just leave me a message when
you're thinking of me."
   Goodness, Lisa.  He hadn't even slept with the girl.  Two dates and he'd
simply lost interest in her and the airs she put on.  And yet, she kept
turning up like a bad penny all over town.
   "Lisa, I'm not interested in seeing you anymore."
   She dropped the hand around his waist.  "Why you gotta be an asshole
about it?"
   "You haven't understood the kind and nice methods.  Do not show up at my
apartment."
   Omari headed for the stage where he saw Soraya, dressed in that fire
engine red dress, but she was gone.  He walked through the festival,
keeping his eye sharp for the easy dress with its bright yellow ribbon, the
coffee colored skin with a sea of black braids.
   Gone.
   Omari cursed and swore an oath, "If I ever see her again, she's mine."
   ***
   The excitement and hunger from earlier in the day was absent by evening.
Omari's apartment had a steady stream of visitors.  Even people within the
complex made plans to stop by and share food and stories.
   Omari served drinks, cleaned as he mingled, picking up trash and empty
dishes.  All the gorgeous women he, Egan, and his other room mate, Damon,
had picked from the various public festivals, no longer held the same
appeal.  Goodness knows they were all wonderful in their own way, a sunny
smile, lush breasts, uplifting laughter, beautiful eyes, and engaging
conversation.  Any other day, any given day, Omari would fill his bed and
his weekend with their lustful, boundless company.
   After seeing her, knowing she was somewhere in Kohia, knowing how she
felt, Omari was only in the mood to play host and spectator.
   ***
   'Near future, new opportunity.  A blocked path will open.'
   A knock just outside Soraya's desk prompted her to look up from her
report.
   "How's the Evergreen project?" Marcus asked.
   "I'm finishing up the report now.  Anna sent the signed document back to
me.  I'm going to send you a link to the repository once I have it
uploaded."
   "Wow?  Already, and here I was ready to help you out.  You're a rock
star."
   Soraya smiled.  "Thanks."
   "We've having drinks at the Ale House tomorrow night.  You should join
us."
   Soraya offered a gracious smile.  "No thanks.  I'm kept too busy by my
family."
   "When you get a break we'd love to see you.  I can introduce you to some
people from the main office."
   "Thanks.  I'll think about it." Her coworkers were okay people, but she
had no desire to make friends out of them.  Her family truly did take up
most of her free time, which was a blessing.  Once she got used to the
constant activity, Soraya found herself enjoying it: always having someone
to talk to, do work with, share responsibilities.
   Then there was her role as a devotee.  She learned the songs and
invocations, began to pick up some of the musical cadence.  Just last night
they sat around the dinner table teaching her the words.
   Zarina's reading about her new opportunity had Soraya keen to find out
what that was.  She had a meeting with Hugo soon.  Taking on a project by
herself would be pretty awesome.
   New project, new opportunity.  That would put her on the path to
advancement.
   Soraya submitted the report and sent the link to Marcus.  She had a few
minutes before her meeting.  Soraya checked herself in the mirror and went
into his office with a radiant smile.
   "Good morning, Mister Hugo."
   Hugo nodded.  "Have a seat.  I have a new assignment I need to discuss
with you."
   Soraya nodded expectantly.
   "Are you going to have Evergreen finished up this week?"
   "Already done."
   "Great.  We're going to pitch Global Circuitry on taking over some of
their legacy applications.  Pamela will meet with them tomorrow.  I want
you to work with her, assist her in any manner possible.  Come up with a
few cost projections.  I've been impressed with your work thus far and I
know that you're going to do great work with Pamela."
   Pamela?  With Pamela?  Soraya avoided frowning.  Pamela was okay in her
book because she barely had to work with the woman.  She seemed to get by
with just such 'assistance' from others.  She wasn't sure how the woman
been working here so long.
   "I was hoping to take this project on by myself.  I'm ready.  I'm
familiar with the technical aspects as well, and I can work with clients. I
did plenty of advisory meetings during my previous internship."
   Hugo nodded, but not in an encouraging way.  "I appreciate your
initiative, and I'm sure you think you are ready, but this is a different
field and we do different work than you're used to.  I want Pamela on this
one.  Help her out, assist her in any manner possible."
   Broken record.  Soraya had only been with the company a few months.  It
was too soon to point out problems or make trouble for herself.  She'd help
Pamela.  It wasn't that big a deal.  Everyone did it, maybe it was just her
turn.
   Her turn to do most of the work and not get any of the credit.  She'd
heard much of the same from Reuben and Marcus.  This couldn't be a new
opportunity.
   "I'll do what I can, sir."
   "That's a great attitude.  You've been a great help to the company."
   Great help.  Soraya didn't want to help the company, she wanted to be an
asset.  Lunch time came and she didn't feel like sitting around the office
listening to Pamela coo about her meeting with Global Circuitry.
   Soraya decided to walk for lunch.  Fifteen minutes later she had a deli
sandwich and a quiet, shaded spot on a bench.  It was hard to sulk about
the job.  She'd barely had to work to get it, and most of her fulfillment
was with her family anyway.
   If only her personal life could work out that well.  Soraya had the
worse luck finding someone not single, not related, not too young or too
old.
   She stretched out on the bench, her feet propped up on the far end.  It
was weird, physically craving the touch of another, heat, warmth, intimacy.
   Foot steps drew closer, but Soraya waited for them to pass.  They
didn't.
   Light blue jeans, black shoes, brick red button shirt.
   She rolled her head up and her breath caught in her throat.  Mr. 
Handsome was standing right over her.  Soraya swung around and sat up.  Her
heart beat triple time.
   "Hi."
   "Soraya, yes?"
   He remembered her?  All her calm and tamping had come undone.  She
grinned and took a slow breath calming herself.  "Omari, it's been a
while."
   "Yes, it has." He sat down on the bench beside her.  "I saw you at the
festival, red dress, yellow ribbon?"
   She nodded.
   "You disappeared before I could say hello."
   "Yeah, about that.  I wasn't sure if I recognized you." She reached up
and her fingers brushed the fresh stubble of his scalp.  "You shaved off
all your hair, and I saw you with your girlfriend, and I thought it would
be awkward, especially if I was wrong or you didn't remember me."
   "Girlfriend?" Omari shook his head.  "Don't have one of those."
   "Oh," Soraya nodded.  Yeah, that was the thing about him she'd
forgotten, the way he infuriated her with the harem invitation, the way she
nearly gave into that invitation.  She still might.
   Might?  Who was she kidding?
   "I'm not interested in that either.  How's your mother?"
   Not interested in her, not anymore.  It stung.  No way around that one.
She hadn't counted that as one of the many reasons for her relationship
failures.  Soraya couldn't be upset.  She was the one who abandoned him
after practically sucking his tongue out of his mouth.  Did he ask her a
question?  Oh yeah.  Her mother.
   "She died a while back.  Turns out I had family after all, so I moved up
here." It wouldn't matter if he was related to her at this point.  "You a
member of Araceli?"
   He huffed.  "No.  You?"
   "Yeah.  My mother's family.  She didn't even mention them until she was
about to die.  I'm sorry about that night.  Emergency.  I didn't have time
to say good bye."
   Just sitting near him felt like being near a fire, no, not the heat,
just the energy, the connection.  He made her warm and tight and she felt
like her skin was humming with new energy.
   ***
   Araceli?  That's the last house he would have guessed for her.  He felt
a boulder in his gut grow heavy and cold as realization dawned.  Of course.
This was why he'd been drawn to her, why he was here now, why they kept
meeting and missing each other.
   His attraction to her had nothing to do with giving the girlfriend thing
a try.  He must have misread the signs.  Soraya was the crowbar to weaken
and destroy the shallow and corrupt house that was Araceli.
   If that's what his avatar wanted, then he wasn't going to fight.  It was
Omari's calling to expose the secrets.  Nothing good came from fighting his
gift.  He'd never done so before and he wouldn't now.
   "When can I take you out?"
   She nearly dropped the sandwich resting on her lap.  "What?"
   Omari repeated the question, slower this time.  Her confusion led to his
own.
   The frown on her face deepened.  "Why?"
   "Uh?" He chuckled.  "Because I like you." And he wanted to fuck her.
   "That's not what you said a moment ago.  Why the sudden change of heart?
Just because Araceli put this bracelet on me?"
   He'd done it again, pissed her off, even better, she seemed to know
about the corruption in her house.  He thought back.  He said or did
something to confuse her?
   "Soraya, I'm not interested in sport-fucking you.  I'm not interested in
recruiting you into a harem.  I want to date you, and yes, fuck you, but I
know how to start with dinner, conversation, and friendship.  That's what
I'm interested in." He laughed and shook his head.  "I'm sorry.  Here I am
assuming you don't already have a partner."
   "Let's start over." The anger melted from her face, finally, and
goodness, the fact that she thought even for a moment that he wouldn't want
to get hot and sweaty with her was maddening.  Those bright green eyes
smiled.  "When?"
   "Friday night?" He couldn't resist, he reached out and touched her
thigh, near her knee, but he said ...  right.  Dinner, conversation,
friendship.
   "Thursday night would work better for me."
   "Meet you after work?" Omari pointed to the building just across the
block.  "I'm in that building over there."
   "Really?"
   He grinned.  "Exactly.  Can you imagine how quickly I got out of there
when I saw you walking by?"
   Soraya blushed.  She wasn't going to be able to eat anything now.  "What
do you do?"
   "I'm a security tech.  You?"
   "Software management."
   "A little different than finance.  Do you like it?"
   "I'm still getting used to everything, but it's all right." She grinned.
"I owe you for helping me, listening to me."
   "Don't disappear on me again and I'll consider the debt paid."
   She giggled.  "I won't.  I promise.  Did you hear what happened to that
advisor?"
   "Yeah.  He got arrested with a bunch of the other professors.  Selling
student labor for accreditation, right?"
   "I think that was at the top of a very long list." Soraya's cheeks were
beginning to hurt from all her stupid grinning, but knowing she looked like
a fool didn't wipe the smile from her face.  "I'm so glad you're not
family. Not sure I could have survived being disappointed again."
   He crooked his finger and she leaned closer.  He moved in and his lips
brushed hers.
   "Omari."
   He hummed, but didn't back away from her.
   "I really appreciate the whole friendship and going slow and wanted to
date me, but I'm not a teenager anymore." She swallowed.  "I want to be
with you exclusively, just ...  faster."
   "Take the rest of the day off faster?"
   Soraya groaned and giggled.  "No, um," She didn't finish, he pressed his
lips to hers and his tongue snaked out of his mouth.
   "Thursday after work then.  Guess we better get back."
   Soraya didn't know how she was going to get back, much less stand. 
Kissing him made her feel light headed, like she was drugged and floating
through reality.
   "I'll walk you back." Omari put his arm around her waist and did just
that.
   ***
   Sidra Deven used cards as his oracle.  He'd created the deck himself
years ago.  Several of the cards had faded with time, but he'd formed a
bond with them, come to understand the intersection of energies as easily
as talking to a close friend.
   His morning reading spoke of a potential vand.
   "I'd like that," he spoke softly.  "I need a palate cleanser after that
last one." He chuckled and drew the next card.  He saw plainly what the
card predicted, but the revelation sobered him and killed the joke.
   A Sidra serving a spirit under Ustufu.  Deven drew the next card seeking
what other spirits would accompany the new Sidra.  A Sidra made a bond with
three major spirits or Pasebs.  Through a Sidra's life, most of their
lessons and energy were gained from these spirits.
   Another spirit under Ustufu.
   Deven's finger trembled as he hovered over the next card.
   The next card was not Ustufu, but it's signifier would direct the primal
energies, and it wasn't in a palatable manner.
   "All right then," Deven pat the sweat from his brow.  "Who will the
rambunctious Sidra be?  If I am being called to tame him, I will."
   He frowned at the card indicating youth and newness.  The names of
various family members came to mind, but the personalities didn't quite gel
with his reading.
   The small bell connected to the front door of his shop sang out.
   "Mister Deven?"
   "Reading room," Deven called as he collected his cards.  The Vonia card
fell from the deck, brilliant reds and rich earthy browns and greens.
   A hellion indeed.  Deven collected the card and placed it into the deck.
   Soraya entered his office with a stack of mail and two packages.  "Where
do you want me to put these?"
   She had on a blood red shirt, hugging her body and making her breast
stand out.
   Young, new.
   No.  Not her, not a female.  Anyone but a female.
   "Um, ah, place them on my desk."
   She turned as his eyes refused to rest anywhere but on the sway of her
hips under that skirt.
   "Do you mind if I help out here today?"
   "Not at all."
   "Is this your oracle?" She sat down across from him.  Her nipples stood
out, defying the attempts of her bra and shirt to hide them from view. 
Large, hard nubs, probably begging for a tongue to lave at them.
   "Yes." Deven shuffled the cards.  Damned Vonia.  This was just a joke on
an old man.  She couldn't become a Sidra, she'd only just joined the
family. The girl hadn't even received her selbram.  How was she going to
form a bond with spirits she'd yet to meet?  "Would you like me to do a
reading for you?"
   Those brilliant green eyes of hers glimmered with hope.  No guile to
her, innocent and youthful.  "Please?"
   "Sure." Deven dried his sweating palms on his slacks and shuffled the
deck again.  He'd need to talk to Zarina about that.  Someone other than
him needed to do a reading on her, see if they got the same results.  No
sense in him jumping to conclusions before then.
   "Have you have a reading done for you before?"
   "Not like this, you know, outside of initiation.  The one my mother did,
I guess.  She said I had spirits close around me or something.  The thing
that makes me not a Niralen anymore."
   No.  That wasn't what that meant at all.  Deven drew the cards, her
bosom as a back drop for his reading.  It was as if he hadn't touched the
cards at all.  Once by one the song played the same notes in the same way.
She was to be his vand toward receiving the selbram.  The spirit wasn't
just close, it had already made contact.
   Lust lay buried inside her, lava rolling under the volcanic cool.  When
the energies finally erupted, she would become irresistible, and her
passions will carry the illusion burning acid, stripping others raw.
   A harrowing proposition.
   "Well," Deven sighed and swallowed.  "You understand how an oracle can
reveal truths about a person?"
   "Yes."
   "And ...  letting a person do a reading for you, it implies an exchange
of trust."
   She nodded again, those wide eyes waiting for his explanation.
   "Do you have a boyfriend, Soraya?"
   Her face turned scarlet, right down to her neck and chest.  "Oh, um ...
not for lack of looking."
   "You've felt the need to look." He held his finger up.  "I can see why,
and I hope you aren't embarrassed by that."
   "No, not, I mean, it ...  sometimes I get so distracted, like I can't
concentrate on anything." Her words were soft, whispered.  "But I have a
date later this week.  I'm hoping it helps."
   It won't.  She needed more than a date.  Why would such spirits descend
on her so quickly?  What did her mother see?  His lecherous mind must have
been working overtime.  This couldn't be what the spirits wanted to say.
   Deven pulled another card and the rest of the message made itself known.
No imagination, no trickery.  The Paseb had chosen her long before this
moment.  Destiny marked her path, not choices nor desires.  They would have
to play catch up.
   Was he sure?  No.  Not about something like this.  How was her libido
anything but normal for a young woman like herself?
   "Your work situation.  How is that going?"
   "Eh."
   "You shouldn't let other people take all the credit for your
accomplishments."
   "I just got there though.  I've been learning a lot by helping out, but
yeah, I'm bummed that I haven't received any recognition for my work."
   Then she wasn't using her physical sway at work.  That was a relief. 
"You don't want to establish yourself as someone who can be used.  I'll
give you something."
   Deven made notes for a tincture.  It had nothing to do with work, but it
would help him establish the validity of the reading.  If she took the
tincture it would open her to the influence of the spirit, but only if one
was attempting to reach her.  If nothing happened then Deven would know
that it was only a future seeing, something he could avoid.  Of course, if
it worked...
   No.  It wouldn't.
   "You seem to take a liking to my little shop here.  Would you mind
helping me out more?"
   "Yes," she grinned.  "That's what I wanted to ask you about.  I hardly
get any time to myself in Zarina's house.  I like it, but I also like
hearing myself think."
   What else did she want alone time for?  Deven nodded and yoked his
thoughts back toward helping her.  "I'm going to mix a tincture for you. 
Take a couple drops a day.  It will help balance you out."
   "Is that your way of saying you're going to turn down the loud siren in
my head screaming for..." Soraya cleared her throat and stood.  "Thank
you."
   "I can't promise that.  This will help others see your value.  Take a
sip each morning, just a tiny amount.  Too much more might make you ill."
   Deven pinched and dabbled ingredients into the bottle.  Only one Paseb
had stood out under one Oani.  By opening her spirit, hopefully the other
two that would balance her out would make themselves known.
   "How much do I owe you?"
   "You don't owe me a thing.  You've already done so much to help me, and
if you don't mind me saying, having you in my shop makes an old man like me
very happy.
   "Oh yeah?  How happy?" She giggled and gave him an exaggerated wink, but
then she rocked back on her heels and looked chagrin as she accepted the
elixir.  "Sorry, that was rude of me."
   "I'm still a man, but as your second vath, I am also someone you can
come to if you ever need anything."
   "My ...  my second?  You think I should have my selbram?"
   He nodded.  "Working here, helping me work with clients.  You'll come to
understand the energies and Pasebs well enough to hear the ones calling to
you.  The reading I did was the first indication that you should choose
your selbram.  So, I'll expect you to study and apply yourself.  Your job
may not see your worth, but I assure you that I do."
   She made a squealing sound and threw her arms around him.  "Um, I can't
stop thinking about something.  If I'm wrong just tell me, okay?"
   "Okay."
   She turned around, put her back to him, and brought his hands up to her
breasts.  Each of his hands over each of her swollen mounds.  "Just trying
to bring an old man some joy."
   "Rays of Atraya could not best this gift.  All yours?"
   "Yes sir."
   "You'll get me in trouble like this." He wanted to take those nubs
between his thumb and fore finger, pinch and roll them hard enough to make
her moan.
   "I saw you staring at them, which isn't a big deal.  Plenty of people
stare.  They're big.  I know that."
   "Sensitive?"
   "Yes, sir."
   He kissed her neck and took his hands away.  He spun her around to look
at him.  "Thank you, Soraya.  I appreciate the moment.  I need to get back
to work now."
   She grinned again and pocketed the vial.  "Yes sir."
   "Gather to me spirits of the Oani for I enter into battle unprepared,
but strong of heart." Deven whispered as he headed toward the front of the
shop.
   ***
   Soraya's heart just wouldn't stop thundering in her chest.  She couldn't
believe she'd actually done that.  When had she ever been so bold?  So
brazen?
   From the moment Soraya entered the shop and sat across from Deven it was
as if she could feel him wanting her.  For a while, all she could see was
his mouth latched onto her naked breast, sucking her into his mouth,
nursing from her.
   Soraya entered the customer data into his laptop while he worked with
the recent influx of customers.  She'd been helping him build a financial
backlog to make doing his taxes easier, and yes, she'd been able to learn a
lot more about the family and the Pasebs by being so near his store.  He
carried everything a person might need for small rituals to large callings.
All kinds of associations and harmonies right in the store.
   The monotony of work brought the raucous of her hormones in line.  She
felt bad about teasing him, but Deven was truly a mature man, he'd didn't
take advantage or try to shame her.
   A second vath, and so soon?  She felt giddy with happiness.  Even if
work was only so-so, her family was a place of refuge and joy.
   Now all she had to do was make sure Omari didn't get away from her. 
Then the throbbing problem between her legs would make a hasty retreat.
   ***
   "There he is," Nigel called out.  He kicked out the chair at the table
and waved Deven over.
   "Sorry I'm running late." Deven set the bottle of liquor down on the
table before taking his seat at the card table.
   "No problem.  I do like the way you apologize." Nigel set the deck of
playing cards down in front of Colin then pointed his thumb at Deven. 
"Guess who got himself a hot, young shop assistant?"
   Colin cut the deck and handed it back to Nigel.  "Your shop?  Better be
family."
   Deven nodded.  He wanted to be proud of the very hot and very nubile
assistant, but the details of her reading still worried him.  "Yeah, about
her.  She's an interesting one."
   "You getting much work done with her around?" Anton, the other Sidra at
the table asked.
   "I wouldn't," said Colin.  "I danced with her the night she took the
oath.  Ten minutes more and that soft ass of her would have blown me over."
Colin looked at Deven over his hand and frowned.  "What?"
   "As enticing as she is physically, I have another concern I want to talk
to you all about.  One of the family is reading to take the elements."
   "That's good," said Anton.  He set out his card.  "Why does a new Sidra
take precedence over some good card game banter?"
   "One leading influence, missing the typical host."
   "Leading Oani?" Colin asked.  "Fold." He set his cards down on the
table.
   "Yes, a single leading Oani, Ustufu."
   Nigel and Colin were already shaking their heads.
   "Ustufu doesn't lead," Anton said.
   "I'm not saying lead.  I said single influence.  The spirit was of
Ustufu and it was the only one, other energies ...  were working factors."
   "Who have you told?"
   "No one."
   "You did the right thing by keeping it to yourself."
   "That's not why I kept it to myself.  The leading factor, I could have
worked around it," Deven saw the questioning looked and answered with a
sigh, "Vonia."
   "Lock up your girls," Colin said with a hoarse laugh.
   "I wish," Deven lay out his winning hand.  "Pour us a drink?" He said to
Colin.
   "Sure thing.  What you got here?" Colin held up the bottle Deven had
brought in.
   "You wish?" Nigel gathered the cards and began to shuffle the deck. 
"Stop being vague and tell us the whole deal.  There's no need for the
dramatics.  It's just us here.  If there's a problem, we'll solve it."
   "I don't even know if I'm right.  Let me sit on this a few days.  I've
taken steps to get the other Pasebs to speak up."
   "I'll do a supporting reading if you need it," said Nigel.
   Colin set down a round of drinks.  "How are things going with Javier?"
   "Quiet," Deven answered.  "Hardly work at all.  Got the last installment
on his payment just last week.  I'm scheduling his ceremony in a few
months. All of you available, yeah?"
   The other men answered in affirmative.
   "Meek one.  He hasn't been as much of a complainer as I thought he
would. Seems to be taking it seriously, even if he's attaching to the
Pasebs for his career."
   "He's got time yet.  Those final weeks are a crucible of pain." Colin
sipped from his drink.  "I thought I was going to lose my mind."
   Anton nodded in agreement.  "At least he has that gorgeous woman of his
to look forward to when it's all over." Deven, Colin, and Nigel laughed.
   "That's the best part.  Post-shadow pussy."
   "All right," Anton dealt out the next hand.  "I got one question then
I'll leave the new girl alone.  He looked at Nigel.  You give life to
Soraya?"
   Nigel shook his head.  "I don't care what I'm told or by who, but hear
me on this.  I never lay pipe to Amira.  It wasn't me, but as far as the
story goes, then yes, I supposed to take credit."
   "Looks like you."
   "I see it.  Believe me before the circle, I see it."
   "Who do you think it was?  Only men left that were around during that
time was your brother and your father."
   "Both dead and gone, so I don't know."
   Colin coughed again and took a sip of his drink.  "I know why you
wouldn't claim her.  Don't blame you one bit."
   Deven looked back and forth from Colin.
   "Man don't want to be her daddy, he wants to play her daddy."
   Nigel shook his head, but he couldn't keep the smirk off his face. 
"Someone here at this table wouldn't?"
   They all looked to Deven.  He was staring at his cards as if they were
his oracle.  He wore his best poker face, keeping inside the knowledge that
his hands hand hefted, circled, felt up her gorgeous breast.  That he got
to see her two and three times a week and every time she left his presence
he was as hard as a boy, aching to fill her needs with his lust.
   "You think any harder and blood going to drip from those ears of yours."
Nigel said as they took a break from the cards.
   From the other room, Anton had the ballgame on and Colin was accepting
the delivery of ribs and salad from next door.
   "You serious about helping me with that reading?"
   "For the Ustufu Sidra?  Of course.  Morathi will want to know we did it
three times over before we put anyone forward.  You going to tell me who it
is?"
   Deven shook is head.  "I'll call you to come by the house.  Give my
tincture some time to work itself through.  Hopefully the other Pasebs will
make themselves known and we can move forward without any unbalance."
   Nigel finished clearing off the table with a nod.  "Give me the word and
I'll be there."
   ***
   Sharing a room with a girl just out of high school didn't leave much
time or room for personal space.  Hazel kept a string of family and friends
coming through their room.  The bathroom wasn't much of a refuge.  A house
full of people meant she had to get a shower and dress in a conservative
amount of time.
   Soraya had taken to going to work early just to get those few moments of
clarity.  She retreated to the women's bathroom and just stared at herself
in the mirror.  Something was different, but she couldn't see what, not
exactly.  She'd been taking the elixir Deven made for her.  She wasn't sure
how it affected other people, but it made Soraya's emotions feel more on
the surface, raw.
   Like the way her body flushed when she thought about her date with Omari
this evening.  Where would he take her?
   As long as it had a bed, she didn't care.  The randy thought made her
giggle.  He only worked in a building nearby.
   No.  Don't seem desperate.  Last thing Omari would want was a clingy
woman.
   She had dreamed of him last night, leaning on his chest, breathing him
deep.  No clothing between them.  She remembered feeling his erection
against her backside all those years ago.
   Thanks goodness there were things that time could not change.
   Soraya blushed at her reflection.  No matter what happened at work
today, she had the evening to look forward to.  Omari wasn't the playboy he
used to be.  He wasn't related to her.  No matter what happened, at least
she could relax around him.
   Unlike working at Deven's shop.  She felt like tiny ropes were wrapped
around her body, binding her, constricting her ability to say and think
what was on her mind.
   Mostly because her mind had become an elaborate pornographic reel of
crazy.  The man had already agreed to be her vath.  Why was she so
attracted to him?  A man old enough to be her father?
   The work day passed in a blur.  Soraya even worked her way through
lunch, reading up on Global Circuitry, learning about their suite of
software, taking notes on how the company could best serve their needs.
   She giggled to herself.
   Maybe this was how the elixir helped - opening her mind to
possibilities. She needed to tell Deven everything though, try to keep her
words above board.
   What would she say about Omari?  Well, there was nothing to say.  Her
obsession with him was no different than the others.  There was no reason
to avoid him, worry about him.
   "Her desk is over here," Pamela looked to be eating Omari up with her
eyes.
   "Thank you." Omari didn't pay her attention in return.  "Ready?"
   "Yes.  Let me just shut this down." Soraya's heart thundered.  Goodness
he smelled good enough to eat.  What was that he was wearing?  It should be
criminal for him to be so sexy.
   With a leading hand on the small of her back he walked her out the
building and to his car.
   Soraya hopped in and felt mortified as she felt the moisture between her
legs.  This was going to be a hard date to get through.
   "You all right?"
   "I think I'm going crazy actually." She laughed and rolled her eyes. 
"Can I let the windows down?"
   "No."
   Soraya blinked, her finger hovered over the button.
   He flipped the air conditioner on.  Cool air blasted her neck and chest.
"Why do you think you're going crazy?"
   "Um, my brain.  It's ...  betraying me or something.  I can't think
straight, can't get my mind out of the gutter.  I'm," Soraya laughed and
shook her face in the cool air, "like a dog in heat."
   "You aren't kidding me, are you?"
   "I've never felt like this in my life, so, no, I wouldn't know how. 
Maybe I'm coming down with something.  Bet you wish I had this problem when
you first met me."
   "No.  Now is the perfect time."
   Soraya peeked through her closed lids at him.  His eyes were on the
road, and he looked great in those soft olive jeans and deep violet shirt.
"Where are we headed?"
   "Lycom Park.  It's in South Kohia."
   "I haven't been there yet.  How long until we're there?" Soraya shook
her head.  "Sorry.  I feel dizzy.  I must have taken too much of that
stuff."
   "What stuff?"
   "My Sidra gave me this stuff to take.  It's supposed to up help others
see my worth or..." She put her hand to her heart, leaned back, but then
like finding home, she leaned on his shoulder.  For a moment, the chaos
passed, her mind cleared.
   "Do you feel sick?"
   "Not anymore." She angled her head to whisper in his ear.  "I have an
urgent need to be fucked by you."
   "I know." Even if it hadn't been Omari's exact skill to know, the smell
of her arousal filled the car.  See her worth?  No, that's not what she was
on at all.  "Do you feel like this around other people?"
   "Not like this ...  not exactly.  Horny?  That's normal, less crazy
normal.  Um, there are a few people that I can't stop thinking really bad
thoughts about."
   "Have you explored that?"
   "No." She grinned and her hand nearly went for his crotch, but she
balled her hand into a fist instead.
   "Why not?"
   "They're family.  You just encouraged me to have sex with a man old
enough to be my father."
   "See?  You do have someone in mind."
   "A few."
   "Sex or a relationship?"
   "Dirty and inappropriate thoughts given the current relationship."
   "Would you really do it?"
   "In this state, maybe."
   He chuckled.  "Well, I think you should explore your sexuality when you
are pulled to - especially if there are very particular people bringing
that out in you.  If you do, tell me about it?"
   "All the details?"
   "Everything."
   "If, yeah." Soraya huffed.  "I share a room with a 19 year old and I
can't masturbate.  Maybe that's why I'm so wound up."
   "What do you use?"
   "Just my fingers." Soraya inwardly cheered the fact that they were
parking, though that meant she had to sit up and stop leaning on him.
   Omari shut the car off.  "When was the last time you got laid,
gorgeous?"
   "Three or four years ago.  Wow, yeah, no, five years."
   "Glad I asked."
   "Why?"
   "That's a good thing to know."
   They walked to the trunk of the car and she helped him.  He carried the
cooler and she hefted the long camper-style backpack.  It was large but fit
easier over her shoulder.
   "You take every horny date out for a hike?"
   "No, gorgeous.  Just you." He hooked his arm around her waist and they
made speedy progress along the path toward a gate that said: Private
Property.
   Omari set the cooler down and pulled out a set of keys.
   "Yours?"
   "Friend of mine.  He rents the property out for parties and get
togethers.  There's a lodge back here I use when I need private space."
   The lodge was cozy, a couple rooms, small kitchen, but large sprawling
windows overlooking the woods and the lake.
   He took the pack from her and pulled out the blankets.  He spread them
on the floor in front of the bank of windows.  The he walked over to her
and began to untie the back of her dress.  "Hands up."
   She lifted her arms and he lifted the dress up and off, unfastened her
bra and slipped her panties down.
   Omari stepped back and looked her over.  "You are truly gorgeous."
   "Thank you, handsome."
   He eased her down onto the comforter and began to kiss her.
   Goodness she missed this.  It was even better than the last time.  She
moaned into the kiss as his fingers parted her wet folds, up and down he
caressed her before sinking two fingers inside her.  His thumb worked her
clitoris.
   Soraya's hands gripped his shoulders tight.  Her orgasm was so close,
just a few more.  Please, please.  Her whole body tightened and shuddered
with the much needed release.  "Fuck," she sighed as her head relaxed on
his arm.
   "Better?"
   "Yes.  Wow, I must really have a problem."
   Omari kissed her neck.  "Nonsense." His fingers had come to a rest but
he didn't move his hand.  "You may not know this about me, but I love sex.
I love to fuck, and I have been waiting a very long time for you."
   "I just met you.  How long could you have been waiting?"
   "We met in college.  I wanted you since that day."
   She reached down and stroked his erection.  "I've never had someone that
large."
   "I'm very careful with it." He leaned over and kissed her and his
fingers began to stroke her again.  "You'll be ready for me."
   "I think I'm ready now.  All I've been able to think about is you.  I
really need you."
   "I am officially flattered." He sat up and began to peel off his
clothes.
   Soraya watched with rapt interest.  The late afternoon light looked good
on him.  Every dark hair, every crease of muscle, the hungry look in his
eyes.  She was going to remember this moment for weeks to come.
   "Spread your legs."
   When he spoke her stomach fluttered like butterflies had taken flight.
She spread her thighs wide, tilted her hips, the perfect pose of wanton
lust.
   "What do you want?"
   "You."
   "What do you want from me?"
   "Use me.  Do whatever you want with me."
   "In time," he crawled up her body until his legs were on either side of
her chest.  He gathered her breasts and squeezed them around his shaft.  He
lifted her head and she sucked on the head of his dick.  "Whatever I want
with you?"
   She hummed as her tongue lapped at the underside of his dick.
   Poor girl.  Whatever her Sidra gave her had her intoxicated.  He felt
her openness, the raw exposure of her soul.  What would she be like right
now with anyone else?  Any other influences?
   He felt the ire of his avatar, and answered the concern.  No, he wasn't
going to let her out of his sight.  He was more than capable of seeing
exactly what she was made of.  He pulled back and got back between her
legs. He gathered his hips and began to press inside.
   "My goodness, you are," She rolled her hips and her head back.  "This
feels too good.  Why are you so big?"
   "The better to tempt evil doers."
   "Am I being tempted?"
   "Oh no, you are being fucked." Omari buried his face in his shoulder. 
Yes, he may have had the length and girth, but damn her heat and the way
those muscles gripped him gave him one hell of an experience.  She was
tight and so aroused that she was practically milking him.  Omari couldn't
move due to the grip of her pussy as she rolled her hips.
   He took hold of her hips and stroked her, but slowly, building each one
until she accepted his thrusts, their breaths filled the room, moaning and
grunting between kisses.  If he'd been with her years ago?  Omari wouldn't
have been able to think straight.  Forget the harem.  He would have made
her his queen.
   "Ride me."
   They rolled until he was on his back and she straddled him, reached down
and positioned him to rise inside her.
   "I want to watch you bounce on my dick." Omari rested his hands on her
hips while she did exactly that.  His voice had turned thick, he heard the
lower timber.  Why would he manifest the spirit now?  There was nothing
wrong with her?  But he didn't feel himself losing control.  This was
different.  He felt the spirit rising to meet her, to be fucked by her.  "I
want you to take what you need."
   "I need you," she breathed in answer.
   Her high moan caused him to feel a tightening sensation just behind his
balls.  Omari rolled his eyes and clenched his jaw.  "Say it again," he
growled.
   "I need you, Omari.  I need you to fuck me." She slowed down, each time
she dragged herself up and then slammed down.  "Fuck yes.  Oh fuck." She
hissed as she impaled herself again.
   Omari took note, that wasn't half as good in this position, but they had
many more rounds to go before sunrise.
   "I'm not a whore."
   "Why would I think any such thing about you?"
   "I mean.  I-I like you.  I've felt something weird for you since the
first time I saw you and it's gotten out of hand.  I can't describe how
good you feel inside me right now."
   Omari pulled her down and he rolled back on top of her.  He was going to
cum inside her soon, but he wanted to feel her come the way she had on his
finger, tight, taunt muscles threatening to cut off his blood supply.  He
didn't answer her delirious words, just fucked her.  Slammed into her body
turning those moans into screams, screams that no one would be around to
hear.
   When she came she pulled him over the edge with her, panting and
grunting and emptying himself into her body.
   "Since the day," he paused to catch his breath and moved so that he
wasn't crushing her with his weight.  "Since the day I saw you, that's what
I wanted, and now that I've fucked you, do you know what I want?"
   She turned to look at him, her expression wary, but patient.
   "Again and again," Omari said between gulps of breath.  He pulled her
close and kissed her.  "And again."
   Not a word of embellishment to be had.  Omari could have a salesman's
pitch when he needed, charm a person out of their lies and secrets, but
Omari didn't have to think to talk to her.  He felt her like an inviting
pool, begging him to dive deep inside and relax.
   "I need you again," she moaned as her wet pussy humped against his
thigh. Omari closed his eyes and sent a heart felt thanks to his avatar.
   ***
   It was after sunset when the cooler finally opened.  They lay out on the
blanket drinking water and eating the cold noodle salad, sliced peaches,
and veggie sticks.
   "How are you liking your job?"
   "Not so much.  I wanted to have my own project by now, but I'm greedy.
Right now my job is to help this other woman look good.  It doesn't make me
feel very good at the moment, but I'm trying to be patient." Soraya turned
on her side, ripples of muscles down his back to his tight ass, down his
thighs.  "Yours?"
   "I love it.  Complete accident.  I have my accreditation in
communications, but system security won me over.  I test networks for
flaws, put together security testing protocols."
   "I had you figured for a gym rat in college."
   "Almost.  I'm active, but I prefer to get my activity done the honest
way.  Being in a gym makes me feel like a hamster on a wheel."
   "Sport fucking though."
   "Sex is very good exercise." He wiped his hands and turned onto his side
facing her.  "When do you have to be at work tomorrow?" Soraya rolled her
eyes.  "I should have waited until Friday." She giggled.
   "How many days have you taken off since working there?"
   "None." Soraya preferred to make up the hours rather than take them off.
She had a few days, but her family had warned her to save them up for
festivals and rites that sometimes depended on a particular time and date.
"I'm afraid of pushing my luck with you."
   "Can't happen."
   "Why not?"
   "You're too fucking honest." Omari knocked his erection against his
stomach.  "By too fucking honest, I mean that if you could be more honest
I'm craving to see it."
   "Being blunt and tactless a turn on for you?"
   "Yes.  Fuck yes, it is."
   "Poor baby."
   He laughed and turned on his back.  "Yes."
   "I want you to teach me to suck your dick." She pinned him on his back
and brushed her nipples against his chest.  "I want you to do to me
everything you've ever done with any woman.  Everything.  I was laying
there..." she stretched out over him.  "Are you sure you want me to do
this?"
   "Please do, Soraya.  Please."
   "I think you only like my honesty because I'm having a lust imbalance."
She played with the tiny hairs on his chest.  "I was laying there thinking
...  wishing I knew all the stuff that people who've had sex more than a
handful of times would know so that I could do them with you.  I want to
serve you, like there's this clamoring in my chest to tell you yes,
whatever you want, yes.  I've never felt this way, and it's fucking
terrifying.  What if I feel this way about anyone?  What if your advice
about following my clitoris around means you end up being disgusted with
me?"
   "There is nothing, nothing.  I would ever ask you to do that I'd later
blame you for." Omari lifted her chin so that he could look at her.  "I
swear that to you." His thumb smoothed over her bottom lip.  "I bet you
suck dick just fine.  Now if what you want is practice, I can give you
plenty."
   She began to back away from him, but he held her still by the shoulders.
   "But I get the some opportunity."
   "To what?"
   Omari must have been catching her sickness, because he felt that same
crazy pull, that draw to just lose himself in her presence.  "To get you
off with my mouth."
   "You want to?"
   Omari rolled her onto her back and snatched a small blanket over.  He
rolled it into a pillow and placed it under her hips.
   "Wait!  What are you doing?"
   "I could eat you for dinner, dessert, breakfast.  Want to?  Yes, Soraya,
I want to lick and suck on your pussy." He stretched out and kissed each of
her thighs.
   She grinned and he felt her whole body go slack.  "Yes, whatever you
want."
   For the second time that night, Omari sent words of praise to his
avatar. He was going to love working on her.
   ***
   Omari put his hand on either side of her head and pulled her away from
his dick.  "I don't like neat.  Sex is messy, primal, uncaring.  Drool on
me, take me too deep.  Strive for imperfection."
   "Bite you?"
   "If your teeth graze me in the heat of the moment, don't slow down to
care, because I won't."
   "Wild abandon."
   "Yes, in any thing."
   "Because," she lay her head on his thigh while her hand cupped and
rolled his balls.  "It's honest.  That's why?  You can't be calm and
calculated when you don't slow down enough to think."
   "You are smart, and I'm going to enjoy getting you to a place where you
forget to think."
   "Do you forget to think?"
   "Quite often, and most people I'm around don't like it."
   "People like what they can predict." She put her hands under his thighs
and pushed them back.  She took his balls in her mouth, sucking and
tonguing them.
   Omari closed his eyes and reveled in the feeling.  That sloppy smacking
wet sound of her mouth held far more eroticism than the act, but that was
until he felt her finger working its way into his anus.
   His Oani had the best devotees.
   ***
   "It's open," Deven called from somewhere inside his house.
   Nigel opened the door and stepped inside.  So tonight was the night he
was going to meet the potential Ustufu Sidra, or at least the one with a
heavy influence.
   Deven came out of the back patting his face dry.  "I've nearly got the
table finished.  Want to check it out?"
   "Sure.  I brought the extract you wanted."
   "Just put it in the fridge.  I'm going to use it later."
   Nigel went back into Deven's work room.  He built furniture as a side
hobby.  He sold most of his pieces in the showroom of his shop and the rest
he created for the family.
   "The grooves here are for the selbram to naturally settle into." Deven
indicated the various patterns and disarray.  "I'm thinking if we can get a
full sell of selbram, they could be used as an oracle, let them roll into
place and read based on their distance."
   "Wow," Nigel breathed.  The wood was still unfinished, but many of the
places were sanded smooth as silk.  "When did you get time to focus on this
one?"
   "Life is good with an assistant."
   Nigel chuckled.  "So, is this mystery person here?"
   Deven looked at the clock.  "Soon."
   "Always the flair for theater.  Want me to do the reading now?"
   "Please.  I want as neutral an opinion as possible."
   Nigel lifted the bag from around his neck and stood over to one of
Deven's high tables.  He covered it with his cloth and let the small,
lacquered butterfly wings fall onto the cloth.
   Deven kept working on the table.  Of all Sidra, Deven trusted Nigel not
only to see what was coming but know what they could do to head the storm
off at the pass.
   "A female.  Fuck."
   "Yes."
   "That's what had you so nervous?"
   "That and more."
   "No other Pasebs have stepped up.  This one is too strong.  If there are
others, it would cut them down too quickly.  It wants to be the only
voice."
   Deven made a humming sound.
   "Whoever she is, taking the elements would help.  The period of
isolation will allow us invite our spirits to intercede for her protection.
That would give us time to--" Nigel looked up from his scattered wings at
the knock on the door.
   "I'll get it," said Deven.  He walked to the front door and opened it
for Soraya.
   "Zarina said to drop this by for you." She balanced the baking tray in
her right palm and campus bag on her left shoulder.
   Deven took the baking tray and led her into the house.  Nigel stood in
the foyer, and Deven could see by the look in his eye that he understood
the problem facing them.  A young woman who didn't grow up in the family,
whose mother left in the middle of the night just before taking the
elements, who only received her bracelet a couple months ago.
   A simply stunning young woman.
   Deven set the tray down and peaked at the setting pack of herbal
tincture.  Once it was fully dry he'd be able to cut them into tiny
squares.
   Soraya set the bag on the table.  "Hello Mister Nigel." She walked over
to him and hugged him.
   "How have you been, Soraya?" Nigel looked up as if beseeching the Oani.
"Are you going to stick around for dinner?"
   Soraya looked up and back to Deven.
   "There's plenty for you.  You walked all the way here.  Can't promise
it'll be as chaotic as Zarina's table."
   She chuckled.  "If you two don't mind, I'm not that thrilled to walk
back."
   "Come on.  Help me get the table set." Deven cast Nigel a questioning
look.  What was he thinking?
   ***
   "Feeling it now," Soraya sent the text to Omari's cell.  At different
times, both Deven and Nigel had ticked the meter on Soraya's libido.  Now
that both of them were here together, the only thing Soraya could think
about was running in the opposite direction.  One of them was supposed to
be her father, pretending to be her father, and the other had taken on the
role of her spiritual father.  "Both mentors."
Omari: "Do you want to test them?"
Soraya: "No.  I wouldn't even know how."
   "Make the suggestion only.  Follow the lead."
   They sat down to dinner and she talked with Nigel and Deven about work.
She didn't think his elixir was working, but she had been enjoying her time
there so far.
   Nigel nodded.  "I don't have to be your father to tell you how proud I
am of you."
   "Ah, but don't you have to be if you want to spank me when I act up?"
   Nigel raised a brow and smirked into his drink.  "Oh no, I don't have to
be.  I'm going to remember that comment."
   "Soraya," Deven stood up and cleared the table of empty plates and
brought out the evening drinks.  "Since you've been working in the shop,
then you'll be able to prepare for your initiation faster.  The only issue
is one of cost."
   "Yeah.  I have a little saved up from work, but I won't have the amount
needed in time."
   "Don't worry about that.  Zarina will help me find what you need."
   "I could pay it eventually," said Soraya.
   "Let me know if you need any help from me.  I'd be remiss to abandon my
own little girl."
   Soraya blushed and swirled her drink around in her glass.
   Deven cleared his throat and they were back to talking about her
upcoming second initiation.
   The money would eat up her plans to get a new apartment and then some,
but Soraya truly wanted to get further in the family.  She'd been studying
very hard and loved everyone she was around.  Also, if this new found surge
of emotions were something she could control, the faster she could figure
that out, the better.
   She understood the expense, with all the preparation, celebrants, and
materials involved.  Many Sidra lived off the family and Niralens -
performing acts on behalf of patrons, initiations, and providing spiritual
guidance.
   The sacred guild of professional glassblowers were one of the major
expenses.  A particular set of Sidra used their ability and apprenticeship
in glassblowing to create the selbram that she would pick to go on her
bracelet.  The second initiation was a profound experience, the selbram
picked on that day she would spend the rest of her life getting to know and
becoming familiar with.  Some of the selbram were created and rarely
picked, others were only hours old before a person felt drawn to them.
   Soraya wondered which nine selbram would call to her, which Pasebs they
were represent, which Oani she would gain the powers of?
   "What are you thinking about so hard?" Nigel had got up from the table.
Deven was in the kitchen washing the dishes.  He put his hands on her
shoulders and began to massage her muscles.
   She let her head roll forward.  "The selbram, the cost, whether or not
I'm ready."
   "Don't worry about all that.  When the day comes you'll be ready."
   "Do you have any vand?"
   "A few, all much older than you, but I don't have anyone preparing to
pick their selbram."
   "What's it like?"
   His thumbs worked along the back of her neck.  "That's something you can
only learn through experience.  No matter what it was like for me or for
Deven, or for Zarina - your experience will be unique.  How's that feel?"
   "Magical." Soraya didn't have to lie.  His fingers worked the kinks in
her neck and shoulders.  All she wanted was for him to continue.
   Nigel tapped her on the shoulder.  "Want another drink?"
   "No, I walked here and," Soraya looked up at the clock.  "I should
probably get back."
   "I'll take you." Nigel helped her to her feet.  "Deven, I'm taking
Soraya home."
   "All right." Deven walked to the kitchen doorway drying his hands on a
towel.  "I'll see you tomorrow, all right?"
   "Yes, sir."
   Nigel held the door open for Soraya and he led her to his vehicle.
   Soraya had felt an intense attraction for Nigel, with his dark thick
hair just like hers, and bright green eyes, but now that she was alone with
him, now that this was real, she wasn't sure what to do next.
   Nothing.  She sat on her hands.
   "How have you been feeling?  Not about work or being in Zarina's house,
but just you?  Any confusing emotions or something you want to talk about -
not to your vath, but well, I guess I can help you from a Sidra
perspective."
   "Deven told you." Soraya couldn't look at him.  She just looked out the
window.  They weren't headed straight for Zarina's house, but they were in
the neighborhood.
   "Deven and I talked, but if you told him something in confidence, I
assure you, he didn't tell me."
   "Oh." That made her feel better.  "Thank you, but I'll stick to keeping
the sharing of my dark secrets to a minimum."
   "I'm here for you if you need me.  That's all I want you to know."
   "Thank you."
   Nigel dropped her off at Zarina's house and Soraya made her way up the
path.  Thinking about something and doing it were completely different. 
She couldn't tempt her mentors like that.  Her family had been kind to her,
opened their home and religion to her.
   Soraya sent a text to Omari once she was in bed: "Chickened out."
Omari: "Not about brave or cowardly."
Soraya: "??"
"If you want something, you should have it.  You didn't want to?  Then
it was good you didn't."
   "I didn't, not really, when the time came for me to give 'the signal' I
couldn't do it."
   ***
   For Soraya's second ceremony, the picking of the selbram, Deven was the
one taking charge of her cleansing and preparation.  Elder Morathi read out
the invocation for the entire crowd, but this time it was to music. 
Several other Sidra joined in the singing.
   The ceremony took place at a larger venue, the temple house.  Several of
the altars to the Pasebs of other Sidra were placed here so that people
could make tributes and sacrifices to the spirits of Nysidra.
   There was nothing to prepare her for the difference of this ceremony
from the first one.  There were more people, the music seemed to move her
from one emotion to the other.  The temple house seemed to exist in a place
separate from reality.  For a moment, she was in the home of the spirits,
surrounded by them, enticed by them.
   Soraya stood in front of the cloth covered table.  It was covered in
glass beads, waiting for someone to choose them.  Only nine out of the
hundreds displayed.  After choosing the selbram, it might take her years to
understand the significance of the colors.  It was impossible to be
considered a Sidra until a person knew the Paseb they served.
   Nerves had her shaking.  How was she going to make a decision when faced
with so many choices?
   For the moment, that wasn't a problem.  Three selbram stood out
immediately, almost as if they were bigger, brighter, more vibrant than all
the others.  She picked the one that looked almost black-blue, but once it
was away from the others a plum color reflected in her hand.  The other had
a deep crimson like freshly drawn blood with a milky green flakes.  The
other had a milky lavender with a swirl of darker brown.  It was like there
were things to be seen through the lavender fog.
   Soraya held the foggy one in her finger for several minutes, almost lost
in its secrets.  Three of nine.
   She looked over the table, but nothing else had the same draw.
   She scanned to her left, then to her right, but the nothing seemed
right. Deven had counseled her about the choice.  He warned her that the
first few might come easy, but that she had to keep trying, to let go and
go with what felt right.
   The first three selbram rolled around in her palm, warmed by her body
heat as she searched for the next six orbs.
   Nothing else spoke to her as clear and loudly as the ones she held in
her hand.
   To her left and right the other two people taking their selbram picked
theirs and began to move along, but Soraya was stuck, trying to find
something else, listen for something else.
   "Just take your time," Deven said.  "Relax."
   It didn't seem this hard for the others.
   Zarina looked on, smiling through her singing.  The song was meant to
entice the spirits to influence these new devotees to find their way.
   Soraya tried to focus on every single other glass orb sitting on the
table.  She had to pick nine of them.  The rules regarding the ceremony
were strict about this point.  She had to pick nine, but she'd only felt
something for three of them.
   Had to.  Not an option.
   Soraya picked one then another, knowing that the only reason she liked
them was due to the similarity to the first three.  Similar color, similar
feel, similar scheme.  She even held them in a different hand.  If these
six had to go on her bracelet, they would do so separately.
   Soraya joined the others and joined the beads to her bracelet, sliding
them on - the first three exactly the way she wanted and then the other
six.
   Each person did this in a privacy booth that lacked all light.  It was
supposed to be random, letting the selbram find their own way.  Soraya
didn't need to see.  She'd kept the beads separate in her hand and knew
which three needed to go on first.
   After all that was done, she took up the then cloth and wrapped it
around her wrist, a crude fashion for the ceremony, but there would be
several others offered, as varied as the clothes she would wear, all
designed to keep the selbram hidden until she formed a greater bond with
the spirits.  Soraya wrapped the cloth around her wrist twice before tying
it in a knot.
   One by one the initiates emerged from the darkness, bracelets assembled
and covered to the celebration continued.
   It was called the second initiation because everyone was expected to
come to this point, to find the spirits and elements that most aligned with
them.  Therefore, this was a time for celebration, feasting, and music. 
The animals, slain prior to their entrance into the ceremony, were roasting
over an open fire while the Sidra danced, calling down the elemental
spirits into their bodies, offering their bodies as host to be among the
people who give them greater power.
   Zarina and Deven had each explained that with each devotee, the Paseb of
a Sidra grew a little more powerful, more able to help their people, better
able to answer the requests.  Soraya's dedication to their Pasebs would be
that extra amount of power.
   Soraya and the other two initiates sat to the table while others came by
and congratulated them, hugged them, and said other words of encouragement.
   To Soraya, this moment was worth going into debt, almost worth losing
her mother in order to gain a family as unified and wonderful as this one.
   As the music grew and changed she felt an itch to dance, to get out
there with the other Sidra and let the energy of the Oani flow through her
body, but she knew that was wrong.  This moment was about the praise and
respect for the Pasebs that have chosen to work with them.
   As evening descended, everyone gathered around the table.  Great bowls
of vegetables, grains, stews, and baked sweets lined the table.  Each house
brought a dish, prepared by the family.  Soraya didn't help to prepare any
of these foods because she was being prepared spiritually to receive the
gifts from the family.
   "Don't worry," said Deven.  "Your time to contribute will come.  This is
the way of family, take when you need, give when you have."
   Soraya's eyes misted over.  He must have known what she was thinking and
wondering.  Maybe everyone felt that way during their second initiation.
   Most people naturally separated into their little groups, mostly by
houses and by age, even by their roles in the family.  Laughter and chatter
filled the hall while people with plates piled high with food ate of the
offerings.  A few people took out their instruments and little snippets of
song broke out until it became a full jam session.
   "How are you doing?" Hazel asked.
   "Great.  I was so nervous for a moment.  I couldn't figure out which
selbram to pick."
   Hazel smiled.  "So how did you do it?"
   "I just let go and picked whatever I could.  There's no doubt about the
first three though.  So gorgeous."
   "Can I see them?"
   Soraya shook her head.  "Maybe later." She'd only just gotten the beads,
but she understood the purpose for hiding them.  If Hazel understood more
about the colors and connections, then she would know which Pasebs affected
her.  It wasn't something Soraya was willing to share.  Even though Hazel
hadn't done her second initiation yet, Soraya preferred to keep to the
tradition.
   Voices rose in frustration down the table.  Soraya leaned forward to see
two of her siblings growing angrier with disagreement.  Each of them seemed
to be trying to hold in their temper but it didn't pan out.
   "Don't mind him.  He gets like that when he's been drinking."
   "I told you I haven't been drinking!  I could though.  Goodness knows
being around you all is enough to test a man."
   "Respect the Pasebs for today, why don't you?"
   "Why don't I?" He huffed and went back to stuffing his face with food.
"My apologies to the initiates and the Pasebs." He stood and carried his
plate with him.  He get didn't more than a few steps before throwing a
glare over his shoulder.
   The rest of the table continued with their conversation as if nothing
had happened only moments ago.
   Soraya turned to Hazel.
   Hazel shook her head.  "He's never happy for long.  Put him in a crowd
for over an hour and he's going to start an argument.
   "Does he have a problem with drinking?"
   "Oh yeah.  But he's been getting better with it.  I think.  Maybe he had
something before the ceremony.  You can never tell with him.  He'll work it
out."
   "Are you going to remove him from the family if he doesn't," Soraya
couldn't find the right word.  Behave?  Improve?  How did her mother end up
leaving the family?  Soraya had been so busy enjoying her time, she still
hadn't learn what a punishable offense was.
   "Oh no.  Having a conflict that needs to be solved isn't a bad thing. 
He'll be all right.  As long as we work with out first and second vaths and
work out our problems, then the spirits and the family will see that and
forgive everything." Hazel turned to her with a knowing smile.  "Is that
what you're worried about?"
   Soraya smirked.  "I guess I am."
   "Wow.  Don't worry about that." Hazel giggled.  "As many times as people
get in trouble around here, we'll be fine."
   "You look radiant tonight, Soraya." Nigel came over to the table and
kneeled down.  "I told you it was nothing to worry about, didn't I?"
   "And you were right.  It's not something I could ever describe to
someone else."
   "Enjoy yourself.  I don't want to see you trying to sneak out of here
early.  Eat and drink until you can't stand on your feet anymore.  It's
expected."
   "Well, how am I supposed to pick myself up off my ass when I fall down?"
   Nigel grinned and stood up.  He leaned over and whispered in her ear. 
"I'll be right there." He gave her shoulder a squeeze and moved down the
table to talk to the other initiates.
   ***
   Omari and Soraya sat on the hill overlooking the penned farm animals
running back and forth.  They had been dating this whole time, but their
dates had grown further apart while she was preparing for her second
initiation.
   "What happened after that?"
   "I didn't fall on my ass.  I didn't eat or drink anything else.  I mean
I just don't feel comfortable letting go like that.  I hear it's a great
experience - getting trashed, but I just met them.  Araceli has been
welcoming, and I do adore them, but it seems like every day I'm learning
something or someone new.  How am I supposed to be comfortable with losing
my faculties around people I want to impress?  Then there's the make up for
my baggage."
   He reached over for another kiwi slice and dipped it into the melted
bowl of chocolate.  "I don't know what you're talking about."
   "My mother.  I've been trying to figure out and avoid whatever she did
to get kicked out or evicted."
   "Why are you so sure that's what happened?"
   Soraya opened her mouth to receive the kiwi.  "I can't see any other
reason to leave such a place.  You don't know how hard she worked, what she
went through.  Who would willingly choose to live like that?"
   Omari shrugged.  "I guess you have a point.  So you didn't eat and drink
until the world was spinning under your feet.  What did you do?"
   "I went out on the dance floor and made a fool of myself, completely
sober.  It wasn't the same as when the ceremony was going at full swing.  I
wanted to be out there with the Sidra.  I wanted to have a Paseb to praise,
but I'd just picked the selbram and I didn't want to make them upset with
me."
   "Children end up running out there all the time."
   "Children.  I should know better.  I do know better." Soraya leaned over
and licked the stray bit of chocolate from his chin.  Stubble brushed
against her tongue.
   Omari turned her head and kissed her.  "Back to this man they've saddled
with being your pretend father."
   "Right.  Nigel.  For a while I thought about pretending to be more
messed up than I was, to see what would happen, but even if I was
pretending, that would be dishonest, and again, I can't.  I do wonder
what's it's like to let go and just be ...  whatever it is you're feeling
at the time.  I never partied like that, not college, not after." She
sighed heavily.  "I feel like I haven't had a life yet.  Everything I
want..."
   "If you want to go to a party where you can let go, all you have to do
is ask.  Partying is my favorite past time.  I'll catch you up on that
quick like."
   "Favorite?"
   "This is still considered partying, gorgeous."
   Soraya smiled.  "Have you only been partying with me?"
   "This kind of party?  Just you and me until you tell me otherwise."
   "I think I could enjoy a party like that with you." She laughed.  "Not
the sex, the you know, not-sex partying.  I wouldn't have to worry about
what anyone thinks of me."
   "Not even me?"
   "Nope." She grinned at him.  "Especially not you.  I just feel so
comfortable around you.  I can't explain it.  You're like my best friend,
Meara.  I feel the same way ...  minus the drum beat of wanting to fuck you
all the time."
   Omari nodded.  "That drum beat can be hard to ignore."
   She chuckled.  "I don't think Nigel will do anything, not with the
family watching, and I don't have any reason to be alone with him."
   "Do you want to be alone with him?"
   "It's like I have this urge to find out what might happen."
   "You should figure out a way to be in a time and place where whatever
he's thinking he can act on your invitation."
   Soraya nodded.  She could already see that particular time and place. 
She had been visiting a lot of the Sidra already, getting to know them,
making herself available to help them.  But she didn't want all of that
volunteering to get in the way of her being with Omari.
   "I want you, not him."
   "I know that.  This isn't about being with him.  This is about getting
to know him."
   "Through being a tease?"
   "You were planning to tease him?"
   "You know what I mean, through throwing myself at him, or opening my
arms or however we're putting this."
   "Yes, I think you should do it.  I'm curious about what's going to
happen.  You can tell me all about while I'm licking your delicious pussy."
   She giggled.  "I feel like I'd do anything just because you suggest it.
That sounds a little crazy, but I like the way it feels."
   "Really?  Take your shirt off."
   Soraya reached up to unbutton her green blouse.  She leaned forward and
shrugged out of it leaving her in the pink bra underneath.  She leaned back
on the blanket and looked over to him.
   "If I bought you a different bra, would you wear it?"
   "What wrong with this one?"
   "It's not in my favorite color."
   "Buy away.  I'm not going to turn down a new boulder holster."
   Omari got swept up in a fit of giggles.  "So, other than your not-really
father alluding to taking advantage of you, how did the ceremony go?"
   Soraya set her arm on her knees.  She had a dark purple cloth wrapped
around it today.  "Picking the first three were easy, but anything after
that was hard.  I took the longest out of all of them.  I thought they
would all be that easy, but they just weren't.  It almost felt like I only
had one spirit that wanted anything from me.  The other six felt forced."
   "Maybe you only have one spirit."
   "That's what I thought, but it can't be that way.  Everyone has at least
three."
   Omari began to put the chocolate and last of the fruit away.  "Says
who?"
   "My second vath, Deven."
   "The one you think wants to jump you as well?"
   "Well, not exactly.  Lately I think he's been wary of me, like he
watching to see if I'll mess up or something.  Anyway, he says I can't know
that because I'm only a devotee."
   "It's possible, and forcing you to take on Pasebs who haven't expressed
an interest is ridiculous." Omari put the food away.  "Get your shirt on
and let's go."
   Soraya sat up and got into her clothes.  The timing was near perfect, as
soon as she had herself put together a group of people came along the same
off shoot of the path.  She busied herself with getting the blanket
gathered.  Hopefully none of those people were family and they didn't come
over and ask her a bunch of questions.
   Omari drove back to his house and they were on his couch making out. 
Soraya's hand snaked into his pants.  His eyes closed as her hand wrapped
around his girth.
   Soraya loved the sound of his moan, low and languid, cherishing each
moment.
   The morning after their first night together, drunk from orgasms and
lost in his embrace, she had admitted that being with him had been the best
sex she'd ever had.  A naive move, perhaps, but also very true.
   It was more than just the sex.  Being with him was an oasis, a serenity,
lack of worry or stress about doing well, impressing others.  Soraya felt a
freedom with him she'd never experienced before.
   Very much like the freedom to reach down into his clothes and begin to
stroke him.  Her hand grazed the head and hugged him on the way down.
   Another thing she liked about Omari was his willingness to enjoy sex as
a slow event.  He never rushed to a conclusion getting to the next part. 
The rising lust was part of the charm for him.
   "You never seem to be in a rush."
   "When I am, you'll know it."
   The lock on the front door turned and before Soraya could snatch her
hand back, he held her in place.
   "Don't stop, please," he finished the plea with a nip of her earlobe.
   Fine by her.  She didn't know his room mates.
   Egan and Damon stepped inside the open door carrying three large pizzas.
Each of them gave that single nod in greeting, but otherwise said nothing,
taking their food and beverages into the kitchen.
   Soraya took his pants down.  She turned on the couch until she was able
to take him into her mouth.  She reached for his hand and placed it on the
back of his head.  She could be his whole harem, all by herself.
   ***
   Soraya answered her work phone without checking the caller ID.
   "What are you up to?"
   The sound of his voice put a flutter in her belly, set her heart to
beating faster, and a smile on her face.  The document on the screen faded
from view.  "Creating a presentation."
   "For Pamela?"
   "Yeah.  Her." Soraya lowered her voice to a whisper.  "She's more
useless than I thought." She shook herself and got back to work.  "What are
you up to?"
   "Running a pen-test.  Sitting here thinking about you."
   She wore a fool's grin, eating up his complements.  "What time to you
want to go to lunch?"
   "Can't.  I need to get this and three more tests done before the end of
the day, so I'm just going to grab something from the vending machine."
   "Don't do that.  I can run out and pick something up for you.  I won't
stick around."
   "You sure?"
   "I need to get out of here, and I would be okay seeing you, even for a
few minutes while you're too distracted to pay me any attention."
   Omari chuckled.  "Go to Michelle's and get me the club, extra bacon.  We
can have lunch in my office.  Promise to be good though?"
   "No," Soraya said with mock indignation.
   Omari laughed for several seconds.  "Looking forward to seeing you."
   Soraya counted the minutes until lunch time.  The powerpoint needed a
lot of work.  Soraya probably could have done more to spruce it up, but
Pamela and her ineptitude wasn't Soraya's responsibility.  Falling on her
face would be good.  Maybe that way Hugo would stop thinking the world of
her.
   Soraya attached the presentation to the email.  She'd ask Pamela if
that's what she wanted.  If she liked it, then it wouldn't matter.  The
responsibility would be on Pamela.
   "Hey, you going to lunch?" Reuben asked.
   "Yeah, I'm going to get something for a friend and drop it off."
   "The same friend that has you all starry eyed?"
   Soraya lifted a brow.  "Excuse me?"
   He grinned.  "Anyone can see it.  You even look starry eyed when you're
trying to play coy.  What's his name?"
   Soraya struggled not to smile.  She rolled her eyes.  "I'd rather keep
that to myself."
   "Nice that you've met someone.  I know this is terrible of me, but I'm
so glad that you've got Pamela duty.  I might have jumped out a window if I
had to hold her hand through another project."
   Soraya's smile was fake, because she didn't have much more to offer than
that.  "Yeah.  Well, guess that officially makes me part of the team."
   "One day, you should bring your friend around.  We'll have a few drinks
together when this project is over."
   "I'll think about it.  See you around."
   Soraya picked up the phone and placed an order to Michelle's.  She
didn't want to bring Omari around these people.  Any time she spent with
him she cherished most when they were alone.
   She picked up the sandwiches and walked back to Omari's building.  He
buzzed her in and she sat beside him at the desk while they ate.
   "There a party in Marjan.  I want you to come with me."
   "What time?"
   "I want to leave early, maybe an hour after work.  It's going to be a
lot of people there.  I don't know most of them, but I'm friends with the
host.  You should get to know some people outside of your circle."
   Soraya grinned.  "Thanks, but I know the one person that matters." She
looked down at her sandwich.  Way to sound like a teenager.  Maybe she
really was starry eyed around him.
   "Then the people I introduce you to should help." He put his arm around
her shoulder.  "You can be honest with me.  You know that."
   "I'm glad.  I'm not sure I can stop running my mouth around you."
   "I can pick you up or...?"
   "Eh.  I'd rather drive over to your place and leave from there.  The
people living in Zarina's house are avid gossips."
   Omari set his food aside to work for several quiet minutes.  Then he
went back to eating.  "Works for me.  Do you have anything to do tomorrow?"
   "Not until evening."
   "If you still want to know what it's like to let go, this is going to be
the place."
   "That kind of party huh?"
   "Oh yes."
   "I'm ready for that."
   He kissed her cheek.  "I need to get back to work.  If you stick around
any longer I might need to bend you over and take you on this desk."
   Soraya gathered their garbage and disposed of it.  "Perhaps next time
then."
   Soraya gasped as two arms wrapped around her body and spun her around.
She used her hands to brace herself against the bookshelf as Omari kissed
her.
   Omari set her back on her feet and walked her to the door.  "I'm going
to hold you to that."
   <->
   Vocabulary Review: vath: Mentor, advisor.  One for each phase of
initiation Oani: An 'archetype' spirit, similar to a ruling power
Paseb: A spirit embodying the power of 1-3 Oani.
Sidra: Similar to witch, priest, sorcerer.  Plural: Sidran
selbram: A set of 9 beads which represent the Pasebs a Sidra will work
with.
Epilogue: Large social communities can swallow people whole.  The hive
mind mentality abrades the uniqueness in return for security and love.  For
some it is a small thing to give, for others, it can be all they have.
Written: November 2013
   Contact: nysidra at hot mail dot com
  
Priestess_02