Kyria's Absolution

James stood on the back deck of their river cabin and watched the fog envelop the river. The fog moved slowly like a living thing curling around trees and covering the river like a soft downy blanket. He watched as the fog obscured rocks, trees and even entire boat docks. It moved deliberately as it filled the river gorge with its white cloak. The fog’s leisurely pace was somehow calming. It seemed to know exactly what it was doing as it nonchalantly engulfed the river and the forest surrounding it.

Occasionally a cool misty breeze would swirl around his feet. The cool foggy mist felt almost sensuous as it wrapped around his feet. James opened a bottle of wine and poured a glass. He sat down on the edge of the deck allowing his body to be swaddled in the cool, downy, foggy fleece. It was like a cool lover’s caress on a hot summer’s day. It was then that the love of his life, lover and wife sat beside him on the deck.

As the fog encased her as well, she felt like they were hiding from the world. No one could see them, and they were alone with their hearts joined together and bound by nature. As she touched the fog around her, she thought she could feel God’s breath breathing life back into their soul. In moments like this she felt like they could jump off the top of the deck and God’s blanket of fog would catch them. It would envelop them in its cotton-like softness and sweep them away down the river into the unknown but blissful future.

To James the fog felt like one of God’s purification tools. In his mind’s eye the fog would cleanse any pain, leaving him renewed and ready to move forward again. If only it were that easy. He had fought through all the stages of grief when his father died and tried to move forward, but little things always brought back the memories.

James and Charlie were in their retreat cabin next to a state forest in Tennessee. He was sitting on the deck watching the fog cascade down the hills snaking between the trees joining the fog on the river. It was a gorgeous sight with the vibrant fall colors glistening against the white fog just before the trees were hidden by the mist. The beauty and vibrance of nature were an incredible spectacle.

The vibrant trees, rushing water and fog always created special times for James and Charlie. This time was no exception, but soon their attention turned to each other. Their love was truly what bound them and their family together. After snuggling on the deck and drinking a couple of glasses of wine, they longingly stared into each other’s eyes. With the love, desire and passion building, they slowly and lovingly stripped each other naked and made love out in natures grandeur. To James there was something about watching the woman you love writhing amid back-to-back orgasms that filled his heart. James could never get enough of Charlie’s wildly expressive climaxes; it was at those moments she was the most beautiful woman in the world.

From the first time they made love it was always spectacular and even twenty years later it still was. After James filled Charlie with multiple leg-shaking orgasms, she and James snuggled on the deck until the sun began to set, then they gathered their clothes, went inside the cabin and renewed snuggling in James’ easy chair.

The cabin was still close enough to Nashville to enjoy the music, food and entertainment scene, but far enough away to commune with nature. As the Arch-Druid he was the leader of his druid order, a title and function he had taken over after the death of his father. James’s father had been the Archdruid before him and leader of their clan before James took over. James’ wife, Charlie (her druid name is Bronwyn) and his mother were the high Priestess’ of the order. Their daughter Kyria was learning the family trade and was an apprentice priestess.

Kyria had been conceived during the rite of Union ceremony, which was part of James and Charlie’s wedding during the summer solstice. She had grown up in the Druid culture and knew that being a Druid was a spiritual practice that is used to bring harmony, reverence, and spiritual connection between humans and the magic of nature. Her mother and grandmother taught her well and since she had been conceived during the Rites of Union, she had special abilities that she had not yet experienced.

Currently Kyria was in their house located outside of Nashville studying for her finals at Vanderbilt University. James and Charlie were using her study time to relax and retreat in the woods, while enjoying and communing with nature. As a druid family their time in nature was important to their spiritual side and it kept them grounded. Charlie had learned to cook from James’ mother and was in the process of creating an incredible meal out of many of the items they brought with them, when James’s phone rang.

It was not a number he recognized, but he decided to answer anyway, “Hello, who is this?”

“Your daughter Kyria had been chosen as the satanic virgin sacrifice for the summer solstice. She was chosen because of the aborted sacrifice of your now wife twenty years ago. The sacrifice will not be at Kimball castle, but at an unknown location. If you’re going to save her you must do it quickly!”

The phone call went dead as the person hung up. James’s face went white as he looked at the phone as if it were a snake that had bitten him. Charlie looked at James, saw the stricken look on his face and asked, “What was the phone call about? Why do you look so troubled?”

Charlie’s words jolted James out of his stupor and he began running around packing for the trip back to Nashville. During his packing he gave Charlie an overview of the call and as soon as he did, Charlie began helping him pack. Both had vivid memories of the kidnap attempts on Charlie and they took this warning very seriously.

Thirty minutes later they were in the SUV on their way back to Nashville. Charlie broached the issue first during the ride back, “Should we warn Kyria?”

James sat, paying attention to the road for several minutes before answering, “She is very much like you, so how would you react?”

Charlie looked at James and then the road before answering, “Your mother and I have most likely spoiled her, but letting her know just how beautiful she is. At the same time, we gave her an independence that could be a positive and a negative in this situation.” After a long pause she continued, “I don’t think she will see it coming and I think we need to talk with her. You have to save her and keep her safe like you did me.”

Charlie dialed Kyria’s phone but after five rings it went to voice mail. They both looked at each other with worried looks on their faces. Were they too late?