darker_london | Renee / Scarlett - Lycanthropy

The hemlock was sitting on her bedside table, just asking to be used. It had looked a lot like a stick of ginger when Ry had given it to her, but since then she had ground it down to a thick paste, just like the book on lycanthropy had instructed. Ry hadn't seemed entirely pleased about the entire situation. Renee didn't entirely blame him, either. Hemlock was not your run-of-the-mill mind-altering fare by any stretch of the imagination. Still, it was natural, which was more than could be said for some things.

Of course, Ry wasn't exactly in the best state of mind right now. Poor boy.

Her hand was trembling as she picked up the phone. After Ry's reaction, part of her didn't even want to mention the hemlock to Scarlett... let alone invite her to use it. But Scarlett was the only witch she knew, and if she wasn't willing to do something a little bit edgy, then who would be?

Despite the shaking in her fingers, she managed to dial Scarlett's mobile number. She didn't want anybody else picking up this call.

Scarlett was being tackled by two boys when she heard her phone ringing. "Oi, Dean! Marco! My phone's ringing."

Dean laughed, continuing to tickle her. "Maybe you should have thought of that before you started this." Marco laughed as well and Scarlett grinned at the both of them.

"Let me get my phone, you giant dorks!" She wriggled herself free, leaving them sitting on the floor, breathing hard. She was breathing just as heavily as she answered the call. "Hellooo, the divine Miss Scarlett speaking."

A smile instantly formed on Renee's lips as she heard Scarlett's voice. Divine... Did Scarlett even have any idea how true that was?

"Hello," Renee said quickly, realising that if she let the silence go on any longer, Scarlett might well hang up. She just couldn't resist savouring that voice. "It-it's Renee. Am I... interrupting something?"

She hated sounding flustered on the phone, but it was her own fault for turning into one of those silly little crushy girls every time she spoke to Scarlett. Scarlett was breathing heavily. What on earth had she been doing?

Goddess, I hope I didn't interrupt her and Kait... Oh, as if she would have answered the phone if she had!

Scarlett grinned down the phone line. "Nope, nothing important." She tossed a look at the boys still on the floor and poked out her tongue. "My bandmates were just trying to rip all my clothing off."

"Ha!" Dean cried, obviously trying to be loud enough for Renee to hear. "You wish!"

She grinned at them and then focused more fully on Renee. "So what's up, mon cherie?" Instantly she felt stupid. Yeah, Scarlett, use the French accent on someone's who's actually French. Dumbarse.

Rip all her clothes off? Lucky bastards! Renee felt herself melt a little as Scarlett slipped in a little French. Two little words just for her. She called me 'mon cherie'... She couldn't help it. She giggled.

"Well, I was wondering if you would like to do some magickal work with me tonight. It is... a little bit edgy. Nothing like last time, but I did have to go through some colourful sources to get the right ingredients. I- I'd understand if it wasn't something you would be comfortable with..."

Again, she found herself beating about the bush, rather than just saying it and getting it over with. But then, Scarlett was probably savvy enough to have a reasonable idea of what she was getting at, anyway. A little bit mad, a little bit bad...

Scarlett grinned widely into the phone at Renee's giggle. "You have the cutest laugh," she told her and heard one of the boys- probably Marco- make 'ooooo' noises.

As Renee spoke about plans, Scarlett turned her back on her bandmates and lowered her voice to answer. "This sounds intriguing. I don't think I could possibly say no to at least having a look at this."

She thinks I'm cute! She could hear the boys in the background, being typically male. What was it about a sexy woman trying to talk on the phone that made men become so... insufferable? Well... moreso than they were already...

"Excellent," Renee smiled, the tension draining out of her shoulders. At least now, she could do this in person. "Feel free to make your way down to my house whenever you like. I promise we will be all alone this time," she said, her voice a sultry purr. "No rudeness from little sister."

"Alone?" She made a mock gasp. "I simply must be chaperoned by someone then! How can I know you won't take advantage of a sweet innocent girl?" She laughed softly and nodded. "Alright, I've got a few things to finish off here-" she looked at Marco and Dean with a smirk "-like proving to these lads who is the Almighty Queen of the World- but then I'll be on my way." She looked at her watch. "Give it an hour?"

Renee smiled. Scarlett had the most beautiful way of approaching... everything. It seemed as if to her, all life was bright and brilliant.

"Perfect," she said. "See you soon, mon amour."

After saying their goodbyes, Renee set about preparing the ritual space. She cleared all of her clutter to one side of the room and lit five candles upon the altar, one for each element - earth, air, fire, water and spirit. She placed the bowl of hemlock upon the altar with them. There were many ways to apply the crushed root, and she had chosen the one that best served a blend of sharing and decorum. She wanted this ritual to be done in love, an experience for her and Scarlett alone... something to bring them closer not only to each other, but to earth, spirit and their animal nature...

The hour passed more quickly than she could have expected any hour to pass that she awaited Scarlett's presence. But when your room was in as much a state of disarray as Renee's, tidying up could kill a hell of a lot of time.

Not long now at all. The moments ticked by as she headed downstairs to the lounge to wait, dressed in a long velvet skirt and a small top that left her mid-riff well exposed.

She lay down on the couch and waited.

Once she'd finished teaching the boys a lesson and showered she changed into something that felt more suitable than her jeans and t-shirt. From her waredrobe she pulled her long ankle-length white dress. She'd always loved this dress. It felt so dramatic with its low cut laced bodice and flowing skirt. She looked at herself in the mirror and approved of how she looked. Perfect for ritual work. She pushed her hair up into a loose bun, letting a few tendrils fall free.

She grabbed her coat and bounced down the stairs.

"Where you going all dressed up?" her mother asked her, looking curious.

Scarlett did a little spin. "Going to meet my friend Renee for magic work."

Her mother smiled. "Alright love, have fun and be safe."

Scarlett blew her mother a kiss as she dissapeared out the front door and down the path. At the gate she paused and yanked a handful of jasmine flowers off the bush to put through her hair.

She walked quickly, the white skirt moving like water around her ankles, and the walk to Renee's took a shorter time than she expected- especially since she had the company of so many lovely Europeans singing to her. When she knocked on Renee's door she was flushed and energetic from her walk and ready to have some fun.

Renee bounded over to the door and swung it open, immediately pulling Scarlett into her embrace. She had only glimpsed her before burying her face against Scarlett's neck, but Goddess she looked beautiful. Goddess... really was the only word for it. And the red tint in her cheeks was just so very adorable!

"Mmmm... I missed you, dear," she whispered before pulling back a little. "I'm sorry... I was just feeling cuddle-deprived," she said with a cute little grin.

Scarlett smiled, tugging out her earphones. "Cuddle deprived? That's awful." and with that she pulled Renee back to hug her tightly. "Missed you too, darling." she pulled back a little "Now invite me inside before I get cold."

"Oh, of course!" she said, taking Scarlett's hand and leading her inside. "The last thing I want is for you to fall ill on my account. Would you like some tea to warm you up? Or we can just head upstairs, it's warmer and I have pretty candles."

There she was, babbling again. But she couldn't help it... she just felt so driven to do anything to make Scarlett smile.

She shook her head. "No, I'm not thirsty," she said, taking off her coat. "Upstairs works perfectly. I shall follow you."

Renee smiled and led Scarlett up to her room once more. She had cleared a large space in the centre, easily big enough to cast a circle. The five candles burned merrily on the altar, where the crushed hemlock awaited. It almost seemed to be mocking her, sitting there, its potential unrealised. What wonders did this strange root hold?

"I suppose I should tell you now... the reason I said this might be somewhat edgy... well, it's in that bowl. That is crushed hemlock root. I have never known anyone to use it, except in the literature... but it should help the user to get in touch with their animal soul. It is... a very earthy ritual. And I need to ground, to find my primal self. Lycanthropy is the technical term. I... wanted to share that with you, Scarlett. In love, I wanted to share that with you."

She looked into the other witch's eyes, hoping that she wouldn't disapprove. Goddess, how she wanted to this to go well. Nothing less than perfection could sate her soul this night.

Scarlett looked over at the bowl. "Hemlock?" Her gaze shifted warily to Renee. "Isn't Hemlock poisonous?" Her mind tripped back to history classes and the downfall of Socrates, and the names of a dozen plants that one shouldn't try to eat. Belladonna, Mandrake, Tonka...Hemlock.

"It is if you ingest it," Renee nodded soberly. "But that is not the witch's way of working with this."

She knelt down before the altar and picked up the bowl. "I smoked a little of it with Ry. It didn't produce any ill effects. But for the purposes of lycanthropy... it is applied to the skin. It would be... quite an experience," she said with a smile she was unable to suppress. "There is no real danger as long as you don't overdo it."

A small part of Scarlett was still wary but another, larger, part of her wanted to try this.

A slow smile graced her lips. "Alright. Let's do it."

Renee grinned and set the hemlock down before her, motioning Scarlett to sit with her. The first part was out of the way. Now for the second, which she had given relatively little thought, fretful enough that the very presence of the hemlock would scare Scarlett off. And now...

She cleared her throat a little nervously. "The way I would like to do this... if it is okay with you..." She looked into Scarlett's eyes and blushed, having to look away again. She was so very beautiful, sitting there so serenely and patiently. It almost made Renee feel as though she lived to make the girl smile.

"That is to say... if you were comfortable with it... I would like us to give it to each other. As a gift. If I were to spread it on your body, your stomach, and you were to spread it on mine. I think it would be lovely. The symbolism, I mean. Something we could share in love. Like coven sisters," she finished with a small smile. She wanted this so desperately. She could feel the smile pulling at the corners of her mouth, wanting to grow, just from being in Scarlett's beautiful presence. But she couldn't let her hopes rise too high. Not until Scarlett said yes...

The nervousness in Renee's voice made Scarlett want to smile all the more warmly at her and she sat down as she was told to. There was so much good in this girl. "I think that sounds perfect. I couldn't imagine doing it any other way." She looked around the room slowly. She'd missed this. She'd missed, so much, doing things like this without someone like minded.

Carefully she slipped her dress off, wriggling a little to get it over her bust, and then started to unhook her bra, giving Renee a questioning look. "Where do you want me to put my clothes so they're out of the way?"

Renee's heart leapt as Scarlett unhooked her bra. As natural as it was, this was completely unexpected! She was in danger of being captivated immediately by the girl's beautiful, almost-naked form. Those breasts, that body she had fantasised about so often in this very room...

"Um... on the bed is fine," she responded, other thoughts involving the phrase on the bed clamouring for her mind's attention. Not now!

She smiled and pulled off her own velvet top and skirt. She hadn't left an inordinate amount to the imagination, but there was still plenty more to see as she removed her clothes. She thanked the stars that she was born under that she had never been self-conscious about her body, no matter how unfriendly her mother's comments had been. She removed her bra, exposing her voluptuous breasts, and piled her clothes on the bed next to Scarlett's. She reached over and turned up the heater a little, winter's cold still somewhat of an issue to two naked girls... though the room was heating up quite nicely all on its own.

"Would you like it first?" Renee asked with a smile and nothing but the deepest love in her eyes. Goddess... Scarlett was beauty itself...