magic2

"Miss? What are you doing?" he asked when he got closer. She whirled,
startled, and her gown caught on the edge of the nearest candle. It quickly
burst into flame, and without hesitation, Joey ran over and knocked her down,
dousing the flame in the sand. For a long moment, he stared down into the
greenest eyes he’d ever seen, then his lips curved into a smile. "I’m
Joey." he said simply. She smiled up at him. "Shannon. Thanks for putting
out the fire, but you broke my circle." She said softly. Joey sighed. "I’m
sorry. I wasn't thinking about that when I saw your dress catch fire. What
were you doing on the beach at midnight with candles?" he asked. She
chuckled softly, the sound making him even harder. "If you help me up, I'll
explain." She said gently, reminding him that he was lying on top of her.
Joey blushed and immediately got to his feet, pulling her up. "I’m so sorry!
God, you must think I’m a total idiot." He muttered in embarrassment. She
chuckled again, and held out her hand, inviting him to join her in the
Circle. He joined her, and they both sat down on the sand.

   "I don’t think you're an idiot at all, Joseph. I think you’re a brave man
to try and help someone you don’t even know."she told him with a warm smile.
He quickly became lost in that smile, and in her eyes. "So....uh....what are you
doing out here like this?" he asked. She sighed and looked at the ocean, and
the full moon. "I came out here to worship. It’s the perfect night, and I
needed to ask the Goddess for help."She said quietly. For a moment Joey
didn’t understand, and he said so. Shannon looked at him out of the corner
of her eyes, and smiled crookedly. "I’m a witch, Joseph. I practice Wicca.
I just moved here, and I don’t know anyone, so I was petitioning for the
strength to go out and meet people. I’m usually very shy." she told him. He
looked at her for a moment, and she could almost hear his thoughts. When he
stood up abruptly, she sighed and closed her eyes. "Goodbye, Joseph, it’s
been nice meeting you.Thank you again for saving me." she said softly. He
hesitated for a moment, then stepped outside the Circle. "Goodnight,
Shannon, it was my pleasure." he said, then he started to walk away. Her
soft voice stopped him when he was only a few yards away.

   "I hope your god sends you the peace you so desperately are seeking." For a
moment he wasn’t sure he’d even heard her, then he turned back. She was
staring at the water again, and her eyes were full of tears, but somehow she
looked radiant. Joey couldn’t understand why, but suddenly he knew that she
was the one who could give him that peace. "Shannon help me." he whispered.
Even though he knew that there was no way she could have heard him, she rose
gracefully to her feet, her long brown hair flowing down her back as she
shook her head, then made a sign and stepped out of her circle. As she
walked toward him, he found himself moving toward her, and opening his arms.
Shannon walked right into them and took his face in her hands, kissing him
with a gentle passion he’d never experienced before. Joey’s arms wrapped
tightly around her, pulling her into the circle of his embrace.

   It was several moments later that he pulled away slightly to look at her.
"Shannon, what are we doing?" he whispered raggedly. She smiled slightly up
at him before replying, "Mending your broken heart, Joseph. You asked for my
help, and I give it freely. Tell me what you need from me." she said softly.
Joey looked down into her eyes incredulously."Just like that. I tell you
what I need, and you give it to me. Are you a hooker or something?" The raw
pain in her eyes just before she turned her head told him that he’d said
exactly the wrong thing."Or something, Joseph. I told you, I’m a witch.
We help those who need it without thought of repayment, because it is what we
do. We help. You asked for my help, so I will do what I can to help, all
you have to do is tell me what you need me to do." she told him in a low,
pained voice. Then she looked up at him again, and he was stunned by the
emotion in her eyes."If what you need from me is someone to hurt, to take
your anger and pain on, please let me know now so that I can prepare. You
caught me off guard that time, and I don’t want it to happen again." she told
him. Joey’s eyes widened, and he blurted out, "What kind of man do you think
I am?" She studied him for a moment before replying.

   "I think that you’re a good man who’s been hurt badly by a woman he loves
very deeply. She left you, and you feel like you haven't got a friend in the
world. You came down here because it calms you. Then you found me, and it
threw you off completely. Now you’re still hurt, and upset, but you’re also
confused by me. I’m sorry." she said softly. Joey sighed and raked his hand
through his hair, standing it on end. "You’re psychic as well. God I’m
sorry I got you into this! Shannon, I don’t know what I need. All I know is
that I need the pain to stop, at least for tonight. I need to feel alive.
Can you help me with that?" he asked. She smiled again, and her eyes shone
like the stars above them. "I can, if you trust me." she told him. He
stared down into her eyes, and before he could stop himself, he said, "I
trust you with my life." She blushed lightly, and he suddenly felt his heart
lurch at the innocence in her face.