Solstice - The Goddess Awakens

‘It’s amazing, Mum,’ beamed Lola, as she turned from side to side surveying herself in the long antique mirror. ‘You could be designing haute couture at one of the top fashion houses, Eileen Paige.’ Lola ran her hands over the light golden fabric of the long debonair skill gown, smoothing it out as she traced over her hips and curves. ‘It feels great on, Mum, it fits like a glove.’ She had always told her mum that her talents were wasted and this piece of artwork was evidence of that.

‘Are you sure, pet? Does it fit okay?’ asked Eileen, her face furrowed with uncertainty.

‘Look at it, Mum,’ chided Lola. ‘It’s perfect!’

Usually Lola didn’t like to spend too much time in front of the mirror, but she couldn’t take her eyes off the dress. It was the most beautiful hue of liquid gold, which almost looked molten when she moved, accentuating her slim figure and curvaceous hips. The high, square neckline was lightly embellished with intricate gold and green beading, which had been hand stitched. From the front her dress looked modest as it hugged Lola’s slim waistline, falling seductively over her hips and thighs and fanning out at the knees. The subtle embellishment along the top of the dress guided the eye towards the thick shoulder straps to the back of the dress for the pièce de résistance – the rear view. The dress took a dramatic turn as it plunged to the bottom of her back, the green and golden stones framing the contours of her pale frame.

‘The green brings out your eyes,’ said her mother, who, standing up, laid her hand tenderly on her daughter’s face. ‘You look so beautiful, Lo. I know this has been a really tough year for you, honey, losing Arthur and then having your heart broken by some boy who will never be worthy of you, but things will get better. I promise. I can see that sparkle back in your eyes tonight. It hasn’t been there for such a long time.’

The emotion in her mother’s voice almost brought Lola to tears.

There was so much that she didn’t know, that she could never know. Lola wasn’t the same person that she had been a year ago – her world and life were so comparatively simple back then. Her only worries had been exams, clothes and having enough money to go out. She had changed so much since Arthur’s death, her mother was right about that. But the old Lola would never return again, she was gone forever. Yet, tonight, for the first time in months, Lola actually felt light and happy, determined to enjoy her night out with her friends, banishing the uneasiness that had settled deep inside her for so long now. After all nothing had been resolved. The Hell Fire Club had not gone away, and while Aibgrene and Celeste were now safe, she knew that this would not deter Carl Stein from getting what he wanted, and now that was her.

‘Do you know how much I love you, Mum? I know I’ve been a bit distant, but I need to figure things out for myself.’

‘That you do, Lo! You were always the same, pet,’ said Eileen. Kneeling down she fought back the tears as she fussed around the hem of the gown.

The door to the dressing room creaked open as Cuchulain came padding in, dropping himself at Lola’s feet, and bringing a smile to her face that broke the uneasy silence that hung in the air between her mum and her.

‘Well, boy, what d’ya think?’ laughed Lola. ‘How do I look?’

Looking up through his brow of wiry grey hair, the dog barked his approval, reaching up to lick Lola’s hand. The light was beginning to fade outside and Lola could see a light crust of frost begin to settle on the lawn of Brook Mill Manor.

‘Come on, Lo, let’s get you out of that, it’s nearly five o’clock, you need to get a move on.’

Lola raised her arms to let her mum unzip the dress. Stepping out of the gown, she quickly dressed, slipping on a pair of baggy grey track bottoms, a matching hooded top and her favourite pair of winter boots. Feeling uncharacteristically organised, Lola lifted her bag packed with her shoes, make-up and her change of clothes, and scanned the room one last time to make sure she had everything. She descended the stairs and went out through the front door to her parked car, with her mother and father following.

‘Here, honey, you daren’t go without this!’ Lola took the long dress, now wrapped in a dress cover, from her father, draping it along the back seat of the car. ‘Now, are you sure you’ve everything? You know what you’re like. You’ve a head like a sieve.’

‘Yes, Mum, the hair’s done, the make-up is almost sorted, I’ve got the dress, and the overnight bag. That’s everything!’ confirmed Lola with a nod of her head.

Cuchulain, trotted out to join the sending off party sniffing the cold night air, as he stood like a sentry by Lola’s side.

‘How’s my big wooliff?’ said Lola, as she ruffled his hair, scratching behind the large dog’s ears, much to his delight. ‘Now, will you look after them all while I’m gone?’ she whispered.

A light chill fluttered over Lola’s body, which made her reach for the talisman around her neck. Cuchulain seemed to share her unease, as his ears pricked up, looking towards the large circle of trees that surrounded the walled garden. He let out a deep growl. Instinctively, Lola raised her head towards the sky, her eyes searching for the invisible force field that had protected her family and Brook Mill Manor since Arthur’s death.

‘What is it, boy? Are you after more rabbits?’ said her dad lightly, looking down towards the bottom of the garden in search of whatever had stirred Cuchulain’s interest. But it was impossible to see anything in the fading light.

‘Lo. Don’t forget these, love.’ Lola didn’t answer her mother as she was concentrating hard to find what she was looking for. Then in the falling dusk, she caught a faint shimmer as her eyes gratefully traced the almost invisible line from one side of the estate to the other. Satisfied that her family were safe, Lola finally turned to her mother.

‘Sorry, Mum, just looking at the stars. It’s a beautiful night.’

‘Okay,’ said her mother, not entirely satisfied with her daughter’s answer. ‘Your shoes for tonight.’

‘I thought they were in the bag already,’ grinned Lola sheepishly. ‘Sorry, Mum.’

‘Where’s Liam?’ asked Lola. It wasn’t like him not to be in the middle of everything.

‘He must be in the house somewhere,’ said her dad. ‘Be careful going down that road tonight, love. You hear me now? They said there’s a chance of snow.’

‘Okay, Da, I will,’ replied Lola, reaching over to give her parents a kiss and hug. ‘Big loves, and I’ll see you tomorrow!’ Lola’s stomach was alight as she pressed against the accelerator, watching in her rear-view mirror as her mum and dad disappeared back into the house.

The clock on the dashboard read five thirty as Lola made her way onto the main carriageway towards Belfast. She was delighted to find that the traffic was very light heading city-bound as most of the daily commuters headed out of the city after their day’s work. The sky had turned a deep dusky pink with splashes of blue and crimson as the last vestiges of light began to fade away.

Glancing ahead, Lola could see Venus as it shone like a beacon guiding her towards Belfast and the Vintage Ball. It was taking the car ages to heat up and Lola was fumbling with the heating switch when her mobile phone began to whir. Hitting the answer button on her hands free set, she was greeted by an unusually jittery Ruby.

‘Lola, where are you, it’s nearly 6 o’clock!’ demanded Ruby anxiously.

‘I’m on my way up the road now, Rubes, I’ll be there in about twenty minutes or so. What’s the panic?’

‘The limo’s coming around seven o’clock,’ continued Ruby, clearly annoyed by Lola’s flippancy. ‘And we’re all heading around to Luke’s place first, remember?’

The truth was that Lola didn’t remember. She had quite a lot on her mind at the moment, between exams, saving the world and having her heart broken, she was sure that she had a justifiable excuse.

‘Of course I remember,’ she lied. ‘I’ll be there soon, and if I’m not then you guys just go on, I can meet you all in there.’

This was actually a preferable option for Lola, as she was the only one out of the group that would be going without a partner. Up until a few weeks ago, she, Ruby and Clara had planned to go as a threesome, but then Dave asked Clara, and Ruby met Luke. Lola had toyed with the idea of not going at all, but she knew that this would only upset the girls, and more to the point, her mum had spent ages on her dress, so she decided to do the right thing and tag along with the rest of them.

‘I don’t want you in the house on your own, Lo, so hurry up, okay?’ said Ruby.

‘Okay, boss. I’ll see you soon.’

Just as Lola hung up the phone, the stream of traffic ahead began to slow, their red brake lights blinking in synchronisation. Slowing to a crawl, Lola began to curse her luck. As she rounded the corner, she caught sight of the flashing blue lights of an ambulance crew and the police up ahead. There had been a car crash and the emergency services were working to move the wreckage off the motorway and on to the hard shoulder. Turning on the radio, Lola listened to end of the 6 o’clock news bulletin for any information. By now the traffic had come to a halt, only edging forward every now and then. Lola’s mobile lit up again indicating another incoming call.

‘I’m stuck in traffic, Ruby, there’s been an accident, and I’ll be there ASAP,’ answered Lola urgently.

‘Lola,’ said the voice one the other end of the line, startling her momentarily as she had not heard it in weeks.

‘Hello, Lo, it’s Aibgrene, are you okay?’

‘Yeah, yeah, I’m fine I thought you were Ruby. Are you okay, where are you? I’ve been worried sick, Aibgrene, you could have at least called me, or something.’

Lola hadn’t heard from Aibgrene since she had left Brook Mill Manor with her new husband and Celeste a number of weeks ago.

‘I mean, you all just disappeared and left me to deal with all that shit on my own,’ continued Lola, a lump growing in her throat, as she tried to fight back what she had been clearly suppressing for the last few weeks.

‘I’m really sorry, Lo, but I knew you would be safe as long as you had Arthur’s ring and were still at Brook Mill Manor. Besides, my first priority was my mum,’ replied Aibgrene defensively.

Embarrassed by her own outburst, Lola’s thoughts immediately turned to Celeste. She had never been as scared as she was when she saw her that night on the large stone table in Mussenden Temple. She recalled seeing the faint glow of her violet aura disappear as Carl Stein’s dense cloak of dark magick began to choke and kill it. She had watched in horror as the last remnants of Celeste’s life spark began to fade from her golden hazel eyes.

‘Celeste, how is she?’ whispered Lola.

‘She’s getting there! It’s going to take some time before she is back to normal. Stein’s magick has become very dark and extremely potent, but we are both safe and with friends. I can’t talk for long, they could be listening in on our call. I just want to warn you to be careful tonight and be vigilant.’

Lola began to reassure her that she would be fine, but Aibgrene cut in before she could answer.

’I know you’re fine and capable of looking after yourself, Lo, but you know that tomorrow is the 21st December, the Winter Solstice. Mum and a few others of the Order think that the Hell Fire Club could have something planned. So make sure you have Arthur’s ring on you at all times, and return to the Manor as soon as possible. Okay?’

Lola sat in silence for a moment, absorbing Aibgrene’s words. She wanted so desperately to reassure her friend, but something deep in her heart told Lola that she could be right. She had felt it, she was sure of it, so she must be prepared.

‘Okay, I will. Thanks.’

‘I mean it, Lola,’ urged Aibgrene, her voice thick with concern.

Lola suddenly realised how much she had missed her, and how much she needed her support right now.

‘Have you heard from him? I mean has he tried to contact you?’ continued Aibgrene.

Lola knew exactly who ‘he’ was, and the name Alex Stein cut like a dagger through her heart every time she heard or thought it.

‘No. Nothing,’ murmured Lola. She had to continually remind herself that Alex Stein was the enemy.

‘Good. If he tries to contact you, Lola, don’t believe him!’ warned Aibgrene. ‘I know you loved him, Lo,’ Aibgrene’s tone was softer now, ‘but he’s no different than his father. No matter what my mum says, he’s nothing to me.’ There was a light whisper in the background; someone was urging Aibgrene to get off the line.

‘Listen, Lo, I have to go. We love you and please take care. I promise I’ll be in touch soon.’

A car horn sounded, alerting Lola that the traffic had begun to move again. Both lanes reopened as they passed the spot where the accident occurred. Lola hit the accelerator, hoping the girls would still be home. She was disappointed to pull up outside an empty house. Struggling to carry all her bags inside, Lola kicked the door shut behind her before climbing the stairs towards her room, which lay at the end of the dark hall. A crashing sound from the direction of her bedroom startled Lola, rooting her to the spot in panic. Lola held her breath as her eyes adjusted to the enveloping darkness. Her mind raced while her hands groped blindly around the hallway for something of substance to lift but all she could find was an umbrella. Slowly dropping her bags to the floor, Lola slid her keys between her fingers, each acting like a knife. They would at least allow her to put up a fight. Lola crept forward in silence; the only noise now was the sound of her racing heart, clanging in her ear. Approaching the bedroom door gingerly, she listened hard to see if anyone was there. With her tooled fist in front and her other hand resting on the ring and chain around her neck, she edged into the room tentatively. If there was any danger the ring had not sensed it yet.

Lola scanned the dark room. Suddenly there was a flapping noise, which made her jump. Her porcelain jewellery box, which normally sat on her windowsill, lay smashed in a hundred pieces on the floor. Looking up she realised that her bedroom window was wide open and the curtains and blinds were fluttering in the chilly breeze. Relieved, Lola flicked on the light and closed the window tight before drawing the curtains. Ruby’s bathrobe lay on her bed so she deduced that her friend had got ready in her room and left the window open. Taking a quick inventory, Lola was satisfied that all was as it should be and began to get dressed. It didn’t take long, and while touching up her make-up and hair, she called a taxi. Slipping on her coat and shoes, she crammed the essentials into her small golden clutch bag, which resembled an oyster shell. Switching off the light, Lola headed for the door, relieved when she heard the sound of the taxi pulling up outside the house.