I think of movement and invisible power. It is a contradiction—a paradox. It cannot be contained, but it can

be harnessed. It can gently fill a newborn’s lungs, and it can destroy cities.” Suddenly, the ethereal yellow silk

that clothed Aeras began to lift and stir, and then, in a rush of white sound, wind whipped around the

handmaiden like she stood in the vortex of a magick tornado. Wind moved against Mikki’s skin, too, but not

as violently. It felt caressing, causing her bare nipple to harden in response. Surprisingly, Mikki didn’t feel

embarrassed or exposed. Instead, the nakedness of her body seemed natural, and the fact that the element had

come at her call and touched her body so lovingly, bolstered her confidence. She smiled and met Aeras’s

shining eyes. “Welcome, Wind!”

Then she turned to the right. Her steps were much surer as she approached the scarlet-clad handmaiden.

“Hello, Floga.”

“Empousa,” she said. And she, too, sank to the floor in a respectful curtsey.

“I call to the circle the element Flame.” As Aeras had, Floga stood, lifting her arms and closing her eyes.

Mikki thought the handmaiden’s face look rapturously expectant, as if she was prepared to greet a lover.

Inspired by the element’s personification, Mikki continued, “Fire is passion and heat. It consumes, but it also

fe Wien I ki eds and warms. Without fire our nights would be dark and cold.” Floga’s glossy scarlet hair

began to lift, and in a whirl of heat the girl’s body became outlined by a luminous glow. Mikki could feel the

heat radiate from Floga. It licked against her skin, too, causing a fine sheen of dewy sweat to glisten over her

body. “Welcome Flame!”

When she turned to her right again she thought she caught a glimpse of a delicate silver thread of light

stretching between Aeras and Floga.

“Hello, Nera.”

“Empousa.” Nera dropped to the floor. Her thick, blond-white hair covered her face like a wave.

“I call the element of Water to the circle. It surrounds us before we are born, and it nourishes us during our

life. It cleans and purifies, feeds and soothes.” Nera stood slowly, and Mikki watched as the voluptuous

outline of her body appeared to liquefy. And then her hair really was sea foam and waves, and the blue of her

silk robes rippled like the changing tide. Mikki was engulfed in a misty coolness that smelled of spring rains

and warm, tropical beaches. “Welcome, Water!”

Mikki’s feet felt incredibly light as she hurried to where Gii waited. And this time she clearly saw the

sparkling silver ribbon that connected Aeras to Floga and now also Nera.

“Hello, Gii.”

“Empousa.” She curtseyed as had the other handmaidens.

“I call to the circle the element Earth.” Mikki smiled fondly at Gii as the handmaiden stood, lifting her arms

and awaiting the approach of the spirit of her element. “Earth is really our mother. It’s as fertile and nurturing

as farmland, as moist as soil and as dry as sand. It’s home for all the other elements.” Gii’s mossy robes

shifted and changed until they were more ivy than silk. Her dark hair seemed to lengthen, blanketing her

shoulders and falling down her back with the richness of a newly ploughed field. Mikki’s senses were filled

with images of Earth. She smelled the sweetness of cut hay. She tasted ripe fruit and berries. She felt cradled