Wiccan Ch. 8

         Aisling awoke to an urgent knock at her door. Opening her eyes, she saw dimmed light coming in through the windows. Realizing that she must have slept through school, Aisling told the person knocking to come in.

         Taylor walked into her room, and then strolled over to her bed, sitting down on the edge facing her. Aisling pulled herself into a sitting position and smiled.

          “Taylor, Bailey, what in the world are you doing here?” Aisling asked, glancing at the clock which stated that it was noon. “Why aren’t you still in school?”

         Taylor’s eyes were shadowed and worried. Glancing at Bailey, Aisling realized that something was incredibly wrong.

         Quietly, she requested that Taylor move. He complied as he watched her get gingerly out of bed. His heart started beating a little bit faster when he saw what she was wearing. She had on a purple tank top with a green frog stitched in the center and the pajama bottoms were white with green and purple frogs all over. He gulped, realizing that this was way more of her body than he had ever seen.

         However, before his mind had a chance to travel any further than that, Bailey stated in a concerned voice, “Aisling, I know who’s been attacking you.”

         Panic hit Aisling and she closed her eyes for several seconds, then slid to the floor, leaning her back against her bed.

          “Who?” she asked, not caring at this point how Bailey knew; presumably Taylor had told her which really didn’t bother Aisling.

         Taylor slid down on the floor next to her, gently wrapping his arms around her waist in order to pull her right up against his body. The familiar tingling sensation immediately followed, along with a surge of electricity that flowed straight into his body.

          “She kind of figured out what was happening and I confirmed it,” he whispered worriedly, “I hope you’re not mad.”

         Aisling looked up at him and smiled, “No, I’m not. Just who is it?”

          “It’s Mr. Haese, Aisling,” Bailey stated, watching the shocked look on her face melt into one of terror.

          “But why? I don’t understand. What have I ever done to him?” Aisling pronounced as fear surged through her body. She had expected this to be someone she knew or that knew her. She had been totally unprepared for it to be someone from around here.

         Taylor felt Aisling shudder, and he tightened his grip. “Aisling, can you think of any reason that Mr. Haese would want to harm you?”

         Aisling looked up at him, bewildered and scared, causing his heart to lurch. Leaning down, he kissed her, easing his lips gently over hers in a reassuring way.

         Bailey smiled at her brother’s sudden action and turned away in order to give the two some privacy. Glancing around, Bailey found herself looking closely at the things Aisling owned.

         Suddenly she froze, her heart beating faster. “Aisling,” she asked abruptly, startling them out of their kiss, “How long have you known Mr. Haese?”

         Both heard the strangled tone in Bailey’s voice. Aisling looked over at her to reply, “I met Mr. Haese for the first time this fall. I’ve never seen him before in my life.”

         Bailey moved toward Aisling bookshelf, “Are you sure about that?” she queried, as she picked up a framed photograph. Bailey didn’t even hear Aisling’s reply; she was already lost in thought. In the photo was a man and woman holding hands and smiling, possibly from a vacation of some kind.

         Closing her eyes, Bailey pulled the man’s picture into her head. He was about 5’5” with light brown hair, dark almost black eyes, and a dark creamy complexion. He had an auburn mustache and goatee, and he was extremely well groomed and fit. Once she had that image in her minds eye, Bailey darkened the man’s hair to a deep chestnut brown and lightened his complexion to an extremely light creamy color. His mustache and goatee she changed to a full beard, making the color a more deep brown and lightening the red hairs. Finally she added about 20 pounds to the body and face, messing up the hair a little and adding glasses. Staring back at her was a perfect replica of Mr. Haese.

         Neither Taylor nor Aisling could see what Bailey was looking at so intensely, so they were startled when she turned around suddenly and demanded, “Who is this?”

         Aisling felt her stomach drop and her hand unconsciously went up to the scar just above her right breast as she informed her, “That’s my mother and father, the day they got engaged.”

         Bailey walked over and knelt down in front of the two, saying, “Aisling, if you take your father, deepen his hair color, add glasses, lighten his complexion, change the mustache to a full beard with darker coloring, and add about 20 pounds, who do you get?”

         Aisling mentally did as she was told, then shrunk against Taylor as she whispered, “Mr. Haese.

          “But it can’t be, he died, right?” she asked, even though she knew the answer to that.

         Taylor had tightened his grip and now he listened, his heart breaking, as Aisling’s voice trembled, “Except no one ever told me he died. I just assumed. Oh, Goddess. It is him. I should have paid more attention,” then looking suddenly up at Taylor and over at Bailey she said, “You can’t be involved in this. He’ll kill you too.”

         However Bailey wasn’t going to be deterred that easily, because in the two minutes since her realization, she’d come up with a plan that she knew would work. The only problem would be getting these two to agree to it.

          “I don’t think so. I’m already involved. You’re my friend and I never ever turn my back when my friends need help. Besides, I think I have an idea that’ll work, if you’ll just listen…” Bailey started to explain.


         An hour later, Aisling stood tugging at her clothes in front of the mirror.

          “Are you sure this is a good idea? I mean, this is awfully…revealing,” Aisling asked worriedly.

         Bailey smiled saying, “That’s the whole point. The more revealing, the more it’ll needle him.”

         Aisling looked at Bailey uncomfortably. It wasn’t really her father that she was concerned about; she trusted Bailey. It was Taylor’s reaction to the whole thing. Bailey had sent him out of the room while Aisling changed, telling him to go make himself a sandwich. It was only a matter of time before he came back and saw her like this. What would he think?

          “What’s he going to think?” Aisling inquired, not bothering to identify who ‘he’ was.

          “To answer your question, Taylor will be beside himself. You look absolutely gorgeous, hon, and incredibly sexy,” Bailey told her, as she watched Aisling’s hand float up to a cross-shaped scar above her right breast. Aisling unconsciously traced it with her fingers.

          “What about the other kids at school? What will they think about this?” Aisling asked as she pointed to the scar, worried her classmates would ask questions or think she was a masochist. .

         Smiling, she told her, “To be honest, everyone’s going to think that it’s a tattoo. It really looks like one.”

         Aisling nodded. Sighing she turned back to the mirror, at the same time feeling Taylor coming up the steps. She turned towards the door.

         Taylor walked in saying, “I stayed away as long as possible, Bailey, but it’s pretty boring…” he trailed off as he caught sight of Aisling, “…by yourself.” He finished quietly.

         Aisling’s hair had been brushed back from her eyes, only her purple locks hung loose around her face. Her body was covered by an extremely low-cut silky brown and orange splashed tank top paired with light brown corduroys that showed off every single curve. Taylor gulped, his eyes traveling up and down Aisling’s body as his own became aroused. Taking the few steps needed he stopped abruptly in front of her as he brushed his fingers lightly over her scar.

          “Won’t she be cold?” he asked, letting his hand drop to his side.

         Bailey laughed at her brother’s lame attempt to cover up his shock and held up a patchwork brown flannel, saying, “She’s going to be wearing this over it.”

         Taylor nodded, still uncertain of his sister’s plan. What she wanted him to do with Aisling…he wasn’t sure he should.

         Bailey saw the look in Taylor’s eyes and decided that he needed to talk to Aisling without her. Moving quickly, she reached into his pocket and pulled out the keys to the mustang.

          “Hey,” Taylor exclaimed, “what do you think you’re doing?”

         Bailey just smiled sweetly at her brother and replied, “I am going to go put the finishing touches on my plan. Don’t worry; I’ll be back in an hour.”

         Taylor gave his sister a glare. Why did she have to play matchmaker right now? He wasn’t too sure it was even a good idea to be alone with Aisling, and here she was insisting that she leave.

         Aisling just nodded as Bailey left.

         Talk to him, Bailey’s voice commanded.

         Be safe, Aisling thought back as the door shut behind her.

         The minute he heard the click, Taylor wrapped his arms around Aisling, backing up with her to her bed. Pulling her down on top of him, Taylor stared up into her startled green eyes. The feel of her body against his sent powerful sensations coursing through his limbs. He reached up and gently tucked a purple strand of hair behind her ear.

         Taylor gulped, then quietly begged, “Don’t hate me.”

         Without further warning, he captured her lips with his in an almost desperate kiss. Aisling responded immediately, feeling her blood pounding in her veins as the kiss deepened. He rolled over so that he was on top, propping himself up with one arm and running his other hand gently through her hair. He gently slid his tongue in her mouth for a few moments, then succumbed to the need to breathe.

         Aisling inhaling deeply brought him back to himself, realizing exactly what he had done. He was about to apologize when Aisling spoke.

          “Why,” she gasped, “would I hate you?”

          “Well, for…” Taylor started, but was interrupted when Aisling’s arms snaked up around his neck and pulled him down for another kiss.


         Bailey stood with her arms crossed and her left foot impatiently tapping the ground.

         “So, will you do it?” she demanded of the young man in front of her.

         “You promise you can protect me from him?” he worried, “Just because I was in charge of the spells doesn’t mean he isn’t capable…and dangerous. More so cause he doesn’t know what he’s doing.”

         Bailey opened her mouth to yell impatiently at him and suddenly caught look of his face. His normally handsome features were shadowed with fear and concern. Realizing how scared Kent had to have been to agree to help Mr. Haese harm another being, she softened her voice and expression. True, Kent was cocky, but he had a soft side.

         “I promise you won’t get hurt. Please Kent, this whole thing falls to pieces without you,” Bailey pleaded, locking his eyes with hers.

         The desperation in her voice prompted his agreement. Leaning back against the wall, he listened to what he needed to do.


         He was drowning. The feel of Aisling’s soft lips combined with her body pressed under his made all rational thought flee his mind. Slowly he ran his left hand down her side stopping at her hip. His right slid smoothly under her top, causing her satiny skin to quiver. Aisling slid her hands up his chest, one tangling in his hair. A shock wave followed her caress and he lost himself in the moment as his fingertips lightly brushed the underside of her breast. It was only when he felt her gasp against his lips did he realize what he was doing.

         Taylor pulled back abruptly, gasping as his lungs pulled in much wanted air and met Aisling’s questioning stare.

         “We have to stop,” he panted, fully aware now that she didn’t know where they’d been headed. “It…I…we’ll lose control if we don’t.”

         Aisling’s confusion lasted a second longer, then understanding dawned on her face. At the same time, her heart filled at the realization that he’d stopped them from going over the edge when most young men would have taken full advantage.

         Aisling met his eyes and smiled, “Thank you.”

         Taylor had rolled off her and was in the process of sitting up when her words registered. He turned toward her.

         “Thank you?” he asked, startled. “Why are you thanking me?”

         Aisling laughed at the look on his face and pulled herself into a sitting position facing him.
         “Because,” she stated quietly, “you didn’t have to stop. I know you realized how little experience I have in this area. Plenty of males would have used that to their advantage. You didn’t. So thank you.”

         Taylor shook his head. She would never cease to amaze him. Here he was worried that she was going to slap him for where he’d allowed his hands to wander to and instead she was thanking him.

         “Don’t thank me. There’s no way I could take advantage of my girlfriend,” he told her absentmindedly, lingering sensations still coursing through his limbs.

         Abruptly he froze as he realized what he’d just let slip. He felt his face burn and dropped his head so he wouldn’t have to meet her gaze. Mentally he berated himself for being so foolish. ‘Way to go and scare her away!’ he thought to himself.

         Aisling stared at Taylor for long moments as his words sunk in. Quietly, she scooted forward until she was practically on top of him. Cupping his chin with one hand, she forced him to look up into her face.

         “Do you mean that?” she whispered, “I mean, am I?”

         Taylor gazed into intense emerald eyes and nodded.

         His voice croaked as he replied, “That is, if you want to be.”

         Aisling lit up and threw herself at him, knocking them both backwards. She hugged Taylor tightly for a while before they both stretched out on the bed, Aisling resting her head on his chest. They lay in silence like that for a while.