Solstice - The Goddess Awakens

She woke again a little later with the moon shining into the caravan, flooding it with a pale white light. Getting out of bed she shuffled to the small cupboard that housed the toilet. Stepping into the small cubicle she closed the door behind her still half asleep.

Far off in the distance she could hear the faint sound of music and singing as it drifted down towards the campsite. Washing her hands in the sink, Lola could hear someone talking close by. Listening closer she could make out Aibgrene and Daithi. It sounded as though they were arguing. Not wanting to eavesdrop, Lola was just about to go back to bed when she heard her name.

‘Lola deserves to know, Aibgrene,’ protested Daithi. ‘You can’t keep this from her forever.’ There was urgency in his voice, but no aggression just gentle reasoning.

‘Not now, Daithi, it’s not the time, plus we’re not sure. Don’t you understand that I’m trying to protect her?’

The emotion and agony in Aibgrene’s voice touched Lola, as she stood motionless listening to the exchange.

‘We have been brought up in this lifestyle, this culture,’ pressed Aibgrene. ‘Can you understand how difficult all this is for her? She must be terrified. She’s lost Arthur and hasn’t even got the chance to truly grieve. Add to that the guilt she feels every time she has to look at me, or hears me talking about my mother. She feels as though it’s all her fault that Celeste was captured. She’s trying so hard to step up, and I don’t want to ruin what little normality and happiness she has at the moment.’

Daithi’s tone was soft and reassuring now. ‘I know, love. I know how important she is to you and how much you care about her, but she could be in danger, you’re playing with fire here.’

‘As long as she wears the ring, she’ll be safe; no one can harm her. Now is not the time. We need to be sure.’

‘That parchment is pretty clear, Aibgrene. This is the start of the battle. I think you could be right about Arthur’s intentions. Looking at his log books he knew this time was coming and he recognised Lola’s importance in all of this. Your mother could see it too, but why didn’t they tell her who and what she really is?’

‘To protect her, I suppose. I don’t know, maybe they weren’t sure either. It’s not exactly something that you throw into normal conversation,’ said Aibgrene.

‘Maybe you’re right, maybe they weren’t sure. But you are, and she’s bound to be wondering what happened up there today.’

‘I wasn’t sure at first. I thought the ring had Arthur’s magick in it, but then I realised that she is the one controlling it. On me or you it would just be a normal signet ring, yet on her it holds such powerful magick, and it’s getting stronger and stronger and she doesn’t even realise it. Then there’s the random Irish she has been speaking. After what happened today there can be no doubt. What she thinks was a dream was actually a glimpse of a previous life, a life she lived over three thousand years ago,’ explained Aibgrene. ‘Arthur’s story was really about her.’

‘So much rests on her shoulders, and I can understand why you want to protect her, but if Celeste figured it out and you figured it out, I’m pretty sure the Hell Fire Club know about Lola Paige,’ warned Daithi, his ominous tone making the hairs on Lola’s neck prickle.

‘They do know about her,’ said Aibgrene wearily, as if she had just revealed a great secret that had been a great burden. ‘That attack outside our shop and the car that followed us today is proof of that. That’s why I made the decision to leave Brook Mill Manor. If I’m right, they know I’m with her but I really don’t think they are fully aware of who she is and what she is capable of.’

Lola sat rigid as the panic rose in waves over her body. All she could hear was her own heartbeat as it accelerated. Yet while she should have been running and screaming for the nearest exit she just sat there. Trying to pick out bits of the conversation, she turned it over and over again in her head. She knew there had to be an explanation for the things that were happening to her.

But Aibgrene was wrong. It wouldn’t be too much for her to take. She was well aware of the way that she was changing and how powerful the ring was becoming. Any doubts she had were eradicated when she stood in front of that ancient stone today. Yet part of her couldn’t really believe it. Lola had felt her soul awaken, yet her mind – especially her ego – struggled to understand. This sort of thing didn’t happen in the REAL world.

Finally getting up off the cold floor Lola climbed into bed. Lying there in the dark, she thought about her questions before the incident at the Lia Fail. She had been asking Arthur for answers and it looked as though she had been given them, however abstract they appeared to be. Even from her bed, Lola could feel the energy of this ancient and sacred site, a place that was so familiar. Clearly part of her soul recognised Teamhair as home.