Mercy backed toward the bonfire where football players coupled up with cheerleaders and the pom squad, who’d just arrived amidst a lot of squeals and whoops.
“I do not stripper dance,” Mercy said as she gyrated her hips and flung her hair around—like a stripper. “Plus, it’s our birthday! Dance with me, woman!”
“She’s definitely stripper dancing,” said Jax, smiling crooked teeth at Hunter.
“As always,” laughed Hunter, and she looked up at her tall best friend. “There’s no way I’m going out there.”
Jax leaned into Hunter. “Stop turtling and go and birthday dance with your sister!”
Hunter frowned and stared down at her feet as if the earth below would supply her with answers. She shook her head and sighed, the corner of her mouth lifting a little as her hips began to twitch. As Hunter started to dance her way toward Mercy the music abruptly changed and “Witchy Woman” blasted across the campground.
“Yaaasss! That’s my song!” Mercy twirled around, getting closer to the fire.
“That’s right, it is, babe! That’s why I played it.” Fireside, Kirk crooked a finger at her.
As Mercy danced to him she surreptitiously stuck her hand into an outer pocket of her purse and spun her way closer to the fire. She flicked a handful of club moss quickly into the blaze as she raised her hands over her head and moved liquidly with the music, whispering to the fire, “By tree and leaf—wood and fire—burn bright, burn brilliant then fade to ghostly wisps of what you once were and what you shall be again.” Mercy felt earth energy lift around her, like fireflies darting into the night sky.
There was a big flash and a fireball shot up, making everyone—except Mercy and Hunter—gasp.
“Come here, my little witch!” Kirk danced with her as the fireball gave way to white smoke that billowed up from the bonfire, forming the outline of the big oak that the logs had once been.
“Hey, that’s cool! Doesn’t it look like a tree?” someone shouted over the music.
Mercy smiled to herself as she let Kirk run his hands down her hips to cup her ass. Gracefully, she spun away from him, and as she did she caught a glimpse of her sister’s face. Hunter had been watching the smoke with a knowing smile, but that smile suddenly changed to openmouthed shock. Her eye found Mercy and she jerked her chin at the bonfire as several of the kids shouted.
Mercy turned to the fire in time to see that the smoky outline of the oak had changed to become a nightmarish face that looked like a slavering wolf—or worse. Something with impossibly long teeth that shouldn’t exist in this world. Quickly, Mercy plunged her hand back into the outside pouch of her purse and snagged the little bag of copper chloride she’d prepared for later. While everyone was gaping at the fanged thing in the smoke, Mercy threw the bag into the fire. Instantly the flames changed from yellow to blue, dissipating the smoke and sending the creature back to whatever hell it came from.
Mercy spun around, meeting her sister’s gaze again. Hunter gestured for her to come here, but Kirk was there again. He pulled her against him and nuzzled her neck while he sang, “Oooh, oooh, witchy woman,” out of key into her ear. Over Kirk’s shoulder she mouthed to Hunter, I don’t know what that was! Hang on—be there in a sec!
Hunter rolled her eyes and mouthed, never mind. Before she turned her back on Mercy to take a hot dog from Jax she pulled Tyr’s pendant out from under the collar of her tee and let it fall against her chest like it was a shield.
Well, she’s pissed, but how am I supposed to know what that was? Mercy stewed as Kirk moved her around the bonfire. Probably something to do with what’s happening with our powers tonight, but I don’t know any more than Hunter about it. Goddess! She’s such a worrier. I really wish she’d learn to loosen up. Instantly Mercy felt crappy about being frustrated with her sister. Of course Hunter worried—that’s what happened when girls got bullied. Even when they weren’t so little anymore they still had to deal with the emotional garbage left by jerks and assholes. Mercy sighed. I tried to protect her, but I was only a kid, too …
“Hey, are you not into dancing?” Kirk asked as he pulled a little away from her.
“I am. It’s just…” Mercy’s gaze automatically found her sister.
Kirk took her chin in his hand and gently turned her face up. “Don’t let Hunter stress you out. I’ll try harder to make her like me. Promise. And you know how charming I am.” He kissed her then, softly—sweetly.
“I absolutely do and you absolutely are.”
“Sorry I was kinda douchey before,” he whispered as they swayed together. “I’m a dick when I’m nervous.”
She pulled back to look into his eyes. “You were nervous?”
His blue eyes pulled her in and trapped her. “Yeah, of course. I know I’m not your sister’s favorite person and I wanted everything to be perfect for you tonight. I shoulda gotten you something besides my ring. It was stupid of me to think that—”
“Shh.” Mercy cut his words off by pressing her finger against his lips. “I love that you gave me your ring. Best present ever. And don’t worry about H. She’ll come around. Now I need a wiener!” He opened his mouth to say something she was sure would be douchey—again—and she pressed her finger back against his lips. “This is one of those learning experiences we talked about. Every time I say wiener you don’t have to make a dick joke.”
He laughed. “Got it! Now let’s go get you some sausage!”
Mercy decided that was an improvement, albeit small. She searched for Hunter as she and Kirk made their way to the grills and the hotdog dressing station, but her sister had her head together with Jax and didn’t look her way. Mercy squelched a sigh. It’s going to be okay. Hunter will get used to Kirk and Kirk will get used to Hunter, and I’ll get my happily ever after.
Three
Mercy finally spotted her bestie coming from the direction of the porta potties and hurried to intercept her. “Hey Em, have you seen Hunter?”
“God those things are so fucking gross.” Emily grimaced and wiped her hands delicately on her jeans. “Sorry, what’d you say?”
Mercy sighed. “Hunter. Have you seen her?”
“Oh, yeah, she’s been with Jax all night.” She fluttered her fingers at the lake. “I think they’re taking pics of the moon over by the dock, which is weird, but definitely the norm for your sis.”
“Mom’s present to her was a bunch of attachments for her phone so Hunter can take night sky pictures.” Mercy dug into her bottomless bag and checked her phone. “Sod it! It’s eleven thirty! We gotta get outta here now so we can be home before midnight.” Quickly, she texted:
WHERE R U?!
Then Mercy looked around the groups of semi-drunk kids. Some danced by the fire—some made out in the shadows—and a big group of the pom squad was skinny-dipping—or whatever it was called when you left your panties and bra on and jumped, squealing, into the lake from the dock. “Oh, bloody buggering hell! Is that Hunter over at the edge of the dock? She’s not skinny-dipping, is she? She’ll never dry before Abigail sees her!” Mercy started to rush toward the water, but Kirk’s big hand on her shoulder stopped her.