The Orcus Games: Blood Moon (Book 1 in The Orcus Games Trilogy) - COMPLETE

The Orcus Games: Blood Moon (Chapter 1)

******

<CLICK ON THE YOUTUBE VIDEO AT THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THIS PAGE WHILST READING THIS CHAPTER TO ENHANCE THE EXPERIENCE>

THE CRAFT

CHAPTER ONE - THE SCENA

Looking at my husband, as he ran his hands through his dark brown cropped hair and helped the other wizards prepare for the Blood Moon ceremony; I could not believe how lucky I was.

Many of my fellow witches were unhappy with their arranged marriages and even more discontented with the lack of attraction they felt towards their husbands. But not me. From the moment my mother introduced me to Phoenix, I knew he would be the love of my life.

Following the final stage of our marriage, it was only a few months until I was pregnant with my first daughter, and the coven blessed us with another child the following year.

With my family complete and our coven going from strength to strength, nothing could affect my happiness. ‘Heather, I need you to make more bread. We’re going to run out, with the other coven now coming too!’ Phoenix shouted over to me as I dashed to the kitchen to get started before time ticked on any further.

The kitchen was a buzz of activity. The other witches had managed to get there first and had taken up all the available surface space with their stacks of family recipe books, chopped meats and sweet, devilish desserts. ‘Can I use this area? I need to make more bread,’ I asked one of the younger witches.

She looked at me with a deadly glare. ‘I need this space. Go make your bricks somewhere else!’ she snapped. I merely stood there in shock.

I gritted my teeth and stood my ground. ‘Move your items over before I move them for you…’ I growled. All movement in the kitchen came to a standstill; everyone turned to look at the commotion.

After a few minutes of a stand-off, she wafted back her long blonde hair and accepted defeat.

As I moved my items in to my newly acquired bench space, an older woman with bushy red hair whispered, ‘Don’t worry about Venus. She’s just having marital problems.’ Not one to gossip, I smiled and nodded, before getting on with making my magical herb-encrusted bread loaves.

The smells of rabbit and heart stew danced around the room, battling with those of sweet, sticky pastries and homemade brews, as the witches became competitive - each wanted her creation to be complimented upon at the feast.

Observing my competition, I went to the pantry to refill my flour and was confronted by whispers from within.

I put my ear to the thin, wooden door and listened. ‘Just put a little in there. No one will know until it’s too late…’ a husky voice said as there was some shuffling. All went silent.

Fearing they were about to make their exit and I would be caught out, I ran round the corner and watched as Venus and an older, dark haired woman exited the cupboard, full of mischief.

Waiting until they were out of sight, I crept in and started my investigation. There was nothing unusual to be seen.

Feeling deflated, I went back to my work station and continued to make my show-stopping bread.

******

The courtyard was ablaze with beautiful, floating coloured lanterns, radiating rich reds, oranges, blues and yellows around the richly decorated camp.

Streamers of glittering silver lights sparkled above the camp, creating a scene suitable for any festivity.

Phoenix stood behind me and wrapped his fair, brawny arms around my slender body. ‘It looks beautiful, doesn’t it?’ he asked as he kissed my neck and gazed up at the moonlit sky.