Cailín (Lass) (Anam Céile Chronicles) Read online

  All around, in a large circle there be people— male and female alike— every one of them nude. They light their torches. The men, they all don wreaths of leaves in their hair; in the women’s there be vibrantly coloured flowers.

  Although I do not quite understand what be ensuing, willingly I acquiesce to the occasion, fer me cleansing ceremony by the females has me pleasurably disoriented. Once they have me settled upon the altar, one at a time the women light a white candle, smiling, and then turn to kiss me tenderly upon me cheek or lips. I smile and kiss them in response.

  Once again their chanting fills me ears:

  “Blessed be this day of Beltane,

  Wedding day of the Goddess and God;

  Holy day of sacred marriage,

  Holy night of sacred union.”

  The men from the circle then gather around me to light the green ritual candles also surrounding the altar upon which I lay. Yet again, one by one, they move forward, light a green candle, smile at me, and kiss me upon the mouth. Me enthusiasm rising, I respond to their kisses more ardently. I feel I be adrift in a progressively pervasive haze of exultation!

  The chanting continues:

  “Tonight I celebrate the union of our Mother Earth to Her consort,

  our Father God,

  the Green Man and Great Lord of the Forests,

  as nature rejoices in a blaze of colour and life.”

  ‘Tis then I see him hovering near me. Man or creature, of that I cannot be certain. Fearsome he be, having the face of an unknown beast, long horns sprouting from his head. He be cloaked in a deep emerald robe. His eyes, they do not appear to be that of a man— far too brutish, primeval they be.

  One of the female chanters approaches the altar and lifts the chalice of water upwards saying:

  “Blessed be the sacred union which manifests all creation!

  Behold the womb of the Mother,

  The entity from which all life flows,

  Blessed be the Lady!”

  A male approaches the altar and picks up the athame, holding it upwards and says:

  “Behold the phallus of the God,

  Fruitful principle of the universe,

  Blessed be the Lord!”

  As they chant these words, the creature he drops the emerald cochall he wore from his towering and brawny, green skinned physique, revolving to exhibit his enormous phallus to all.

  The people in the circle they all hail him, raising their torches high toward the sky as me eyes amplify in panic fer suddenly I comprehend what me purpose here is to be.

  Now the chanters they lift up their chalice of wine saying:

  “Blessed be you, my Lady,

  The Holy Bride of Heaven and Earth,

  Come unite with Thy Lord in the ancient rite of sacred marriage!”

  The words in their incantations verify the objective of this ritual I have so willingly participated in ‘til this point. Now, here I lay upon this altar, awaiting the surrender of me virginity to this frightening creature in witness of this circle of strangers! I sense I must arise and escape, but paralysed I be by the panic now spreading through me.

  They pick up the athame and chant on:

  “Blessed be you, my Lord,

  The Holy Groom of Heaven and Earth,

  Come unite with Thy Lady Goddess in this ancient rite of sacred marriage!”

  With a fiercely carnal expression, the creature approaches me with clear anticipation. Reaching me, he peers into me eyes savagely, and casts the fabric of me billowy gown up to reveal me. With an animalistic grunt, he plunges his head to me never before bared flesh and commences to devouring it greedily.

  Chilling screams fill me ears, only to realise they be coming from me! First in horror, then bizarrely transforming to cries of pleasure as me body embraces the vehement tongue of this formidable green creature skillfully lapping the warm fluids that now be incessantly seeping from somewhere within the folds of me flesh— though bid them flow forth, surely I have not!

  The urge to struggle or flee now lost, I begin squirming from the overcoming pleasure in me flesh under his tongue. As the desire rapidly escalates, in reprisal, me body grows ever more restless. The next moment, in an attempt to liberate the sensations trapped within, me body is impelled into uncontrollable writhing, rhythmically with the surging pulsations of me almost excruciating pleasure. As me essences flow forth, thus harmoniously do the vociferous cries flow from me mouth.

  The creature arises, his face dripping, and placing his hands upon me hips, wrenches me to the edge where his enflamed phallus is demanding to enter me. I know I should be terrified, yet in the submission to the betraying desires of me body, readily I spread me self to indulge him.

  The creature looks upon me satisfied, as he presses himself against me aching flesh. I return his gaze with one of both trepidation and intrigue. While me mind tells me I should be fighting to retreat, me body be screaming out fer more.

  Suspending that which we both crave, he interposes to tear open the front of me gown, releasing me breasts which had been straining against the delicate, translucent fabric. Their ample flesh eagerly spring forth toward his face, where his rapacious mouth awaits. The creature commences to biting and sucking upon me nipples robustly. I draw away from his teeth, but then arch up against his tongue, me body captured by the enigma of the conflicting amalgamation of pain and pleasure. Wavering I be whether relieved or thwarted I be once he sojourns his blitzing of me breasts.

  Urging his engorged phallus into me narrow opening, ‘tis temporarily halted by some concealed structure. Twisting, I let out a moan, except this time ‘tis in discomfort, as fixedly the creature perseveres with the forcing of himself to be within me. Me panic charging back in, I thrash about in an attempt to retreat, from him as well as the distress of the hurt. Undaunted, the creature reaches forward and effortlessly restrains me with his prominently strong hands.

  Powerless under the clutch of those hands, I suddenly be stricken with fear.

  What be me rationalization in this? Why I be ensnared here, freely lying upon this alter, jubilantly sacrificing meself? I must battle fer me escape lest I become prey to this creature hungry to devour me flesh! I cannot take any more of this pain, his blade stabbing into me, seeking to rupture through me!

  And then, with a single decisive vigourous thrust of his pelvis toward mine, he breaks through the barrier, his phallus piercing into me, boring ever deeper within. The acute agony of it triggers from me a bloodcurdling scream shattering the illusory atmosphere; the onlookers all pause their ritual, staring in momentary horror. Vocally I cry out, imploring someone to halt this torment, to please unshackle me from this arracht! Yet, without any further unease, promptly they all resume their ritual and chanting, still observing.

  With the next drive of him into me a final squeal escapes me. Any hope remaining in me spiraling downward, under his unrelenting motion, I weep through the prevailing pain. Me cries simmer to sobs as he initiates a slighter pace of thrusting of his enormous phallus into me. The rhythmic friction at first dulling the excruciating tenderness of me wounded flesh; and yet then eventually, bit by bit, bringing to life sensations within me I never knew I did possess.

  Me whimpers gradually become little moans of proclivity as timidly I accept his motion. Steadily, I effusively embrace the phallus, feeling me insides ease to oblige its excessive mass; reciprocally beckoning him in ever deeper within me with each successive thrust. Holding me legs spread wide, the creature persists in the driving of his phallus into me incessantly, grunting and snorting rather savagely.

  Though I not be frightened by him anymore, as far too lost I be in me own pleasurable frenzy. Instead, I now be urging me hips toward him to meet his every thrust, luring him to plunge that phallus ever deeper within me abyss.

  I sense all eyes watching us as they persist with their chanting, the male standing near me slowly dipping his athame into the chalice held by the female:

  “Chalice to athame,
r />   As Goddess is to God;

  Father is to Mother,

  As man is to woman,

  Behold the sacred union of The One!”

  The chanting seems so far away now, less voices perhaps . . .

  “By this act of love, all life comes to be;

  By this act of faith, I proclaim my place on the eternal cycle of life,

  The Lord and Lady reign eternal!”

  The chanting be steadily diminishing. Fleetingly I glance over to see that many members of the circle now be together in the centre, intertwined in passionate embraces with one another, as the creature and I be. Some still chant whilst simultaneously engaged.

  Enduringly, the creature and I continue our synchronized motions. Me moans now be cries of ecstasy as me body begins to quiver, then convulse, gripping tight his phallus, so that he can hardly move within me. Me arms flail about uncontrollably, me hands scratching powerlessly at his shoulders and chest, and then his face, attempting to tear off the mask he wears to reveal who be this man beneath.

  In me peripheral vision, I note a stunning tall, dark-haired woman approaching. Fear grips hold of me once more, as I be certain this she be one and the same I had seen in me dreams afore. I blink and at once, upon me she be.

  As the beast persists driving himself into me madly, the woman hovers over me, leans in and places her lips full upon mine. Cold they be. Her tongue she impels into me mouth and aberrant it feels, fer it too, be cold. Her chilled hands move to me breasts, squeezing them hard, making me cry out in pain.

  Relieved I be when she withdraws her tongue of stone from me mouth. I see her glance up at the beast, a wicked smile dancing upon her lips, which affects him to snort in laughter; though whether out of amusement or mockery, I not be sure.

  She lowers her face to the curve of me neck, running her icy tongue down the length of it to the base of me throat, eliciting in me to shiver. There her lips pull back to reveal a set of gleaming fangs, and as a demon her eyes convert to coal black. Before I can scream, I feel the piercing of me flesh, and her mouth pulling taut against me skin, as she extracts me blood down her own throat.

  I hear her moan as though in ecstasy as she sucks the blood from me. Helpless, me face falls to the side. ‘Twas then I be met with a most disturbing scene. The circle— which moments before be filled with the arousing scene of countless nude bodies uniting as one beautiful organism— now exhibits each of the women feeding upon their erstwhile lovers, casting them off to the ground as they be sapped of their life force.

  Me eyes scan over the scene to land upon that of a group of females suckling upon a single man, each with her mouth latched to a different part of his body, as they drain him of his blood in unison.

  Oh! They all be vampires!

  The creature then reaches his climax within me, bellowing the ultimate growl as he plummets too deep inside, eliciting from me a final cry of pain. He collapses atop me.

  The vampire woman disengages her mouth from me throat, me blood dribbling out at the corner of her lips. She moves around me to stand before him, her tongue slithering out from her mouth— still swathed in me blood— wiggling tauntingly before his insatiable eyes. He parts his lips with longing, projecting his tongue from his mouth. The tip of it touches to hers.

  Upon tasting me blood, the creature grunts ferociously and grabbing her by the hair, forces her face to his. She sniggers as he crushes his mouth to hers, their tongues mingling fiercely as he becomes ravenous to swipe her mouth of any residual coating of me blood.

  When evidently he had cleansed her mouth thoroughly of any remnants of me blood, he casts her aside and moves toward the head of the boulder where still I lie. I stiffen under his savage eyes as he lunges his face to me neck and proceeds to lap gluttonously at the wound from which me blood still did ooze, savouring it immensely.

  “I am a child of deity,

  I am part of the creative life force which moves the universe;

  I am part of all that is—

  Though we are apart we are always together,

  For we are one in the spirit of our Goddess and God;

  Merry meet, merry part and merry meet again—

  Blessed be!”

  Again, I let me head fall to the side to avoid his face. The females they be leaping over the fire to assure good fortune, fertility and happiness through the coming year.

  Now we close the ritual, thank the deities

  and remember to give back to the Earth!

  We thank you!"

  "Sidhe and Ancestors"

  "We thank you!"

  "Ancestors and Kindred"

  "We thank you!"

  "Mannanan Mac Lir, Gatekeeper, Guide and God.

  We thank you for guiding our way."

  "We thank you!"

  "May the gates be closed,

  May the fire be flame,

  May the well be simple water,

  May this space be mundane."

  "Let the gates be closed.

  So be it."

  The scent of rose burning with sage in a cauldron permeates the surrounding air. In their hands they hold chalices of what one would assume to be a dark wine, though of that I cannot be certain.

  They all drink.

  ‘Tis in the early hours just preceding dawn when I awaken with a jolt, chills shuddering throughout me body. Me thighs be drenched with the fluids emanating from within. Not that I required that reminder. That ominous dream, its occurrences still pervading me mind, seemed ultimately more real than I wished. I shriveled with the revulsion of it, each and every vivid detail . . . wishing I were able to expunge it from me memory.

  Petrified, I lay, quite awake, yet still imprisoned within that restless dream. I cannot escape; it lingers within, inhabiting me, disturbing me. Seeking the meaning of it all— or so I thought— I remain there in bed as that fer hours, curled up tight against meself, holding onto me knees, afraid to let me eyes fall closed again, ‘til the light of the morn be radiating through me window, affecting me increasingly sensitive eyes to squint.

  Pray, let me have dreamt up that horrifying manifestation. Yet, I fear I have not, fer too tangible it all seems. Be it possible I have been abducted in the midst of the night and just now replaced?

  I reach down to feel of meself to determine whether I indeed be raw from the assault; swear I can still feel the stinging upon me breasts from his bites. The mere thought made me wince as simultaneously I felt an involuntary rush go through me.

  Nevertheless, had I indeed merely dreamt it, why on Earth would me mind have invented such hideous visions? And why must I be so aroused, from that appalling occurrence? Whatever be the matter with me?! Penitent, I should feel, dreaming of an encounter of this sort not only with someone other than me beloved Donovan; but far worse— some fearsome creature! Yet rather, still I feel the ache blitzing me below, simultaneous to the torment it be producing within me mind!

  I rolled over and curled up unto meself snugly, closing me eyes in attempt to shut it out. Try as I might, will it from me mind I could not. I looked to the window to witness the sun rising ever higher into the sky, promising a bright new day.

  Me birthday . . .

  Chapter Eleven

  Donovan had come to Deirdre’s to visit me as often as he be able, although it be less frequent than when I lived at me father’s, only once during the cycle of each moon. Although, when he did come to see me, we were able to enjoy longer stretches of time together, uninterrupted, fer the most part. Deirdre always be lingering about, and ever so often I would glimpse her curiously peering in to take note of our progress.

  The year now be 1708, and Donovan would be twenty years old and then midway through his apprenticeship. He had fast become the best friend ever I had.

  Recollecting me awe in seeing them from Árainn, Donovan surprised me by endeavouring to take me on a trip to the Cliffs of Moher fer me birthday!

  Whilst I looked forward to the many hours of sitting beside him fer the long journ
ey, likewise did I hold uncertainties. With ever increasing fleshly urges looming to sweep over me, I hoped I would be able to conduct meself as expected of a proper lass and not alarm him, instigating his retreat from me.

  “Happy Birthday, love!” Donovan called upon his arrival, throwing his arms about me most enthusiastically and spinning me around. “Fer your gift you’ll have to be patient as I have planned to take you somewhere special, if you be agreeable to that.”

  Clearly, he still had not the slightest idea how much he meant to me! I just shook me head, only wishing I could convey to him the depth of me feelings.

  “You be all the gifts I could wish fer, Donovan, fer this and every other birthday.” I gazed meaningfully into his eyes to try to share me message. “Time spent with you ‘tis more than ever I could ask fer.”

  “Then, forever yours I be!” he stated exultantly.

  I smiled contentedly, and clung tight to him, laying the side of me cheek against the warmth if his neck.

  I giggled with glee. “Where will you take me, then?”

  “’Tis a surprise, Aislinn,” Donovan scolded playfully, tapping me upon the tip of the nose.

  Undoubtedly this shall be me grandest birthday thus far! To spend it with me Donovan, mine at last! Still, I cannot believe he loves me, but that is not to say I doubt it one bit! Only that I appreciate how very fortunate I be to have a man as wonderful as he.

  And me, the plain lass that I be, still though he treats me as the most beautiful creature in all the world! As if I be his mistress and he be me loyal servant devoted solely to me happiness. The way in which he treats me makes me feel as the richest, most cherished woman in all the world! His unconditional love lifts me to an indescribable paradise.

  Afore I knew him, I shunned the idea of giving meself to a man fer life, as I understood it in vastly a different manner. Yet with him, I would give him everything of me and only feel that I had never enough to give him fer I will have gained so much more in return; purely fer the honour of loving him and breathing the same air as him every day of me life, drinking it in as wine.