Returned by Keeley Smith

her but his eyes were focused on Eli’s face. He felt the relief, a heavy weight he didn’t know he’d harboured, leave his body when he caught the twitch in Eli’s lips and the smile in his eyes.
                  Jack felt the tug and pull as his power weaved in and around the people and the table trying to bring them down safely. The table landed with a thump as they touched down on the floor awkwardly.
    “Need to work on the landing,” he chuckled.
    “Yes, you still need to work on your gift,” Eli remarked. “But you also need to stop letting your anger rule you. It gets you into trouble, just look where your temper has got you so far.” Eli gave him the look; it was the kind a parent would give to their misbehaving child.
    He knew such a look.
    The look usually came just before gut wrenching pain.
    “Are you ready for your induction, High Priest?”
    Jack coughed to clear his throat which suddenly felt very tight. “Yes.”
    “Clay, if you will.” Eli gestured with his hand.
    Clay bent to the floor and then stood holding several thick candles in his hands. Moving around the table in a clock wise direction, he placed a candle on each corner of the star inside the circle. Clay then moved around the table, now anti-clockwise, and lit each. Tiny flames sparked instantly burning a brilliant deep red. 
                  The flames from the candles danced higher, the tips licking hungrily at the ceiling. Clay placed two gold candles in front of him and then walked back to his chair and placed a tarnished dish on the table. Holding his hands palm up and resting them on the table, Clay looked like he was ready to begin. Jack held his breath. His heart was racing with excitement.
    “O God within, I am created from your essence. I thank you for the gift I hold dear within me. I offer you my gift on this night in welcome of our new Priest who has joined us at long last. Blessed Be.”
    Clay moved his left hand over the bowl once and laid it back on the table. Jack sat bolt upright in his chair to look in the bowl. The bowl was now brimming with water but he held back the rush of questions.
                  Movement from Clio caught his attention. Reluctantly tearing his gaze away from the dish he watched as Clio placed her hands in her robes. He felt giddy just thinking about what Clio would do.  Would she produce a sword and go all samurai on them? She looked like the sort, lean, dangerous, sexy. She pulled out her hand and dusted her side of the table with small red crystals. What could crystals do?
    “O God within, I am created from your essence. Nourish me with your love. I hold your earth’s power in my heart. I offer this gift in welcome of our new Priest. Blessed Be.”
    He felt the earth respond to her. Little tremors vibrated becoming greater in strength. Was that an earthquake? She could create earthquakes? His chair started moving; his hands grasped the table for support as his heart leapt into his throat. He had a feeling if this continued the room was going to cave in. A new terrifying fear rushed to the forefront of his mind. Death by earthquake.
    Her gift was amazing despite his fear.
    “O God within, I am created from your essence. I offer you my gift as a celebration of this night. We welcome our new Priest, my brother.” Eli stopped speaking and looked at him.
    A lump the size of London dropped heavily in his throat.  He had a brother, a family. He'd never had a family, one to make sure he was safe and cared for. Pushing past the iron lump in his throat and ignoring the burn behind his eyelids, he smiled at Eli.
    Eli continued. “My gift to you is the athame. May you accept this gift with my love and protection. Blessed Be.”
                  Something flew across the room and came to an abrupt halt in the middle of the table. He barely managed to stop himself from jumping out of his seat. It was a knife, and not any old knife by the look of it. The