Gauntlet Rite of Ascension (36 page)

              I was surprised at the vast array of diversity of the members of the Pack. There were people from every inch of the globe here to witness Eavan’s and my Rite. By the time I got back to my room that night I was exhausted. I hadn’t swung a sword or lifted a fist all day but I was beat all the same.

              I woke the next morning and for the first time since being here, looked forward to the new day. Today was the festival for Eavan. I eagerly anticipated spending the day with her, playing games and having fun instead of the constant discussions and debates.

              I ate breakfast and took a long shower. I stepped out of the bathroom and walked past the mirror only to stop and look at myself.

For a second I swore a stranger was looking back at me. I had grown another few inches, my shoulders and chest had filled out as well as my arms and forearms. Swinging a sword all day appeared to be great for getting well-defined muscles. My face was in need of a shave and my eyes no longer had the innocent quality of youth. Instead, they were deeper and harder, full of the truth and pain of reality. My hair was a little shaggy and I needed a haircut. The fullness of youth had left me and I saw a starkness to my features that gave them a hard edge, like a beautiful sword full of sharp lines and deadly intent.

              I shaved my stubble and combed my hair. I got dressed, and found Abaddon had also cleaned himself up.

              His beard was trimmed close and his hair was slicked back. He wore his dark trench coat over a nice dress shirt and dark pants.

              “Don’t we make a fine looking pair?” I asked.

              He smiled and we left our room, making our way outside to the large open grass area on the backside of the Den. I could hear traditional Irish music already playing along with the occasional bout of good natured laughter.

              We walked outside and I was amazed at the layout. There were large tents set up at one end; people were milling about, most of them carrying a large pint of ale. I saw an area set up for tests of strength and skill where a few younger looking men were already trying to best each other at the hammer toss. On the other side of the space was a stage where a band was playing very enjoyable music.

              There were perhaps fifty red-haired members of the O’Sullivan clan here, all seemed to be enjoying themselves.

              Abaddon and I walked over to the tents and were greeted by Eavan and Oengus.

              Eavan sauntered over to me in a tight green dress that hugged her frame well, it had a deep vee in the front the allowed for the emerald necklace she wore to sparkle in the morning air. Her hair was done in a tight pony tail that fell down to her lower back.

              She smiled at me and performed a curtsy. I didn’t know what to do so I bent over in what I thought was a proper bow. Eavan laughed and after greeting Abaddon we walked off together.

              “You look amazing.” I said as we walked together.

              “Thank ye. Ye clean up well.” She answered.

              She took me around the festival and introduced me to every single member of her family. It was the longest and shortest day of my life. I had a wonderful time arguing with her cousins about football vs. soccer. I competed in dozens of competitions and even won some of them. Eavan stayed with me all day and I ate until I thought I was going to burst.

              As the day began to darken I spotted Oengus at a large table filled with older looking men who were engaged in a boisterous game of arm wrestling. He waved me over and I left Eavan, who was talking to one of her cousins, catching up after not seeing her for a few years.

              “Come, sit down. Carrick here has already beaten all of our men. It’s time to see how Abaddon’s newest student can fare.” Oengus bellowed, his voice rose in conjunction with the amount of ale he had consumed.

              I looked over to Carrick and knew he was going to give me run for my money. He wasn’t as tall as me, but his shoulders were wide and very deep. His sleeves were rolled up and I saw dark Celtic style tattoos all over his forearms which rippled with muscle. He had long red hair pulled into a loose ponytail and the beginnings of a deep beard showed the residue of foam from his pint of ale.

              He took a big pull from it and set it on the table, “Aye, let us see if Eavan has picked herself a bull or a cow!” He said, loudly.

              The men around the table all laughed and I felt myself smiling as well. These guys gave each other crap all day long and loved every minute of it. If they were extending that to me that meant I was considered one of them.

              “I don’t know how beating you at arm wrestling will prove my mettle, but if it will shut you up then I’ll be glad to accommodate you.” I teased back.

              Everyone laughed again and this time they added a few insults here or there at Carrick who took it all in stride.

              I sat down across from him and we reached out and grasped hands. His grip was strong and his forearm was a few inches longer than mine, giving him a slight advantage before we even started.

              Oengus reached out and grabbed our hands, acting as referee.

              “I’ll count down from three then ye go, whoever gets the others hand down first wins, if yer elbow raises off the table ye lose, other than that, there are no rules.”

              “Three, two, one GO!” Oengus said and released our hands.

              Carrick twisted his shoulders and put all his force into the first initial push, hoping to end it quickly. He almost succeeded.

              I barely managed to halt his strength with a few inches to spare. His strength was enormous and it took everything I had just to keep him from pinning my hand.

We stayed like that for about twenty seconds, everyone around us cheering. Some for Carrick while others, mostly those he already had beaten, for me. With the power of the Beast I slowly started to gain some ground.

              I brought our arms back to the middle starting position as I felt another surge of strength from Carrick. His eyes flashed a deep yellow as he dipped into the power of his Beast. Not to be outdone, I too drew on more strength and we sat in a stalemate, each of us struggling, neither gaining ground.

              I felt the wood under our elbows creek as we began to actually press into the hard surface. I wasn’t sure if Carrick had more to give so I willed more strength from my Beast and started to slowly turn the tide. Cheers erupted anew as I began to push Carrick’s hand down to the table.

              I got him down to a few inches when he locked his arm up and my advance halted. I wasn’t sure how he did it, but it felt like I was fighting against a steel beam, he was not moving. My Beast screamed at me to push harder and I started to. I felt as his arm slowly started to bend and realized I was actually bending his bones. I knew if I continued I could beat him, but only if I snapped his forearm.

              I looked up and saw a large crowd had gathered, most of the O’Sullivan clan was around and they were cheering me on. I spotted Eavan and saw a look of worried interest. She saw the situation and knew what I had to do to win. I looked at Carrick and saw him struggling to keep me from winning; his face had broken out in a sweat and pain showed as he felt his bone starting to give.

              I could have beaten him, but knew this wasn’t the way. I wasn’t going to break a man’s arm just to win a silly contest. I smiled slightly to myself and prepared for the reactions when I let up and allowed Carrick to push up and pin my hand on the other side of the table, beating me.

              The crowd erupted and Carrick stood up victorious. He turned with both hands in the air and yelled. I nodded once and got up from the table as the crowd applauded his win.

              I stepped away from the group and Oengus grabbed my arm, pulling me close to him and a group of curious elders.

              “Ye had him boy! Why did ye let him win?” He asked.

              “He locked up his arm, the only way to victory was to break it, and I’m not going to break his bones just to win at arm wrestling.” I said.

              “But we heal quickly; ye would have done little damage.” He argued.

              “True, but it’s the principle of the thing, it matters to me.” I answered.

              Oengus looked at me closely then his face stretched into a huge grin, he looked over at his peers and said loudly, “Aye, it does matter, well done me boy, well done.”

              The rest of them looked at me with open agreement. It was a little thing, for sure, but I thought at that moment I won them over better than any argument I could have made.

I found Eavan and she had a pleasant smile waiting for me.

“I guess Carrick is still the undisputed champion?”

“He didn’t win the most important thing.” I said to her.

She looked at me with curiosity, I surprised her by grabbing her pulling her close. I kissed her, showing that she was the true prize, not some dumb arm wrestling competition.

When the sun set Eavan dragged me out to dance and she tried to teach me some traditional Irish moves. I was horrible, but she never complained, hell I think she enjoyed watching me make a fool of myself. All in all, it was one of the best days of my life.

              Eventually, the night began to wind down and some of her family members were completely drunk. The band started playing slower songs and everyone had a toast they had to give, followed by more drinking. I never thought it was going to end when Eavan gently pulled me away from the festivities and we walked together into the woods.

              ‘You have an amazing family.” I told her as we entered a small clearing.

              The moonlight shone through the opening in the trees and highlighted a soft patch of earth covered in deep green grass.

              “Aye, they are a handful. What about ye? Haven’t ye got a family?” She asked.

              I realized I hadn’t told her anything about me really. She knew who my dad was, but that was really all.

              “I have a sister named Susan. She’s a real pain in the ass but she means well. We are twins, but not identical. We were, as you could imagine, real close growing up, but we kind of drifted apart when we became teenagers. I miss her.” I said.

              I hadn’t really thought about her in a while. All the excitement of my life kept me busy, but thinking about her made me realize just how much I missed her.

              “After my dad disappeared my mom really stepped in for him not being there. She’s great; I think she would really like you.” I added.

              As I was talking, Eavan had stopped and turned towards me, we stood facing each other, only a few inches separated us. Without thinking, I drew her to me; the movement seemed as natural as walking.

              “What’s not to like?” She said.

              Her eyes shone with desire as the closeness of the full moon pushed her urges stronger.

              My body responded to hers and she smiled as her soft warm belly pressed against me. I leaned down and kissed her. My head swam with the need to take her, to push her down and take her right here, right now.

              I fought them and pushed away from Eavan.

              “What is it?” She asked, her breathing heavy, her voice husky with sexual energy.

              “I’m afraid of losing control, I don’t want it to be the Beast that is with you, I want it to be me that is in control.” I said, the perfume of her this close was overwhelming.

              She put her hands on my head and drew me back to her.

              “Then make sure it
is
ye who I am with tonight.” She kissed me again.

              Once again the unbridled aggression of the Beast arose but this time I concentrated on it and forced it back. I pushed it to take a back seat and willed myself to take control. The animal drive was replaced by the more complicated human sexual desire and I drew Eavan in closer,

              I found the small zipper at the back of her dress and slowly pulled it down, running my hands down her bare back as she let out a soft moan. The next few hours we spent in the moonlight together making love, each of us rising and falling over and over again as we found sweet release in each others arms.

Chapter 32

              Sometime in the night we dozed off. I awoke as the sun’s rays began to lighten the morning sky. I rolled over and found Eavan had gone, a soft impression of where she lay next to me and the lingering perfume of her showed the evidence of her presence.

              A small piece of paper was tucked under a rock next to my clothes. I picked it up and read it.

Eric,