Table of Contents
- Home
- Introduction
- Where Goths Come From - Neef
- The Watcher - Hobbes
- The Resurrection Shuffle - Barbarella
- Cassandra - Cosey Mo
- Drunken Old Bastard - Sandro
- Alcohol - Trayce
- Shadows - Entrippy
- Entropy - Kage-Ryu
- Is There A Point - Trajik
- Whispers - Kitsune
- Confessional - Sandro
- Garden - Entrippy
- Radio - Cam
- Cold Spell - Nikolai
- Slices - Neef
- A Bottle of Something Strong - Jraff
- The Light Fades - Tim
- Rain - Tim
- Self Help - Gothic Gallae
- Cato - Trajik
- Addiction/Fragment - Trayce
- Heal Thyself - Nikolai
- Shattered - Hobbes
- Travelling Song - Solitaire
- Distance - Stranger
- Legacy - Stranger
Cold Spell
The last of the firewood burned down just after midnight, leaving a small pile of dark red coals which gave off very little heat. Willow and Tara huddled around the fireplace anyway, wearing almost all of the clothing they'd brought.
Willow's teeth were chattering. "I've been racking my brains for ages, but the only thing I can think of is the Spell of Forlorn Encystment. All that does is transport you deep into the ground."
Tara stared into the glowing coals. "I think I know one. Give me a moment." She breathed deeply for a few seconds then muttered something in old Latin and gestured at the coals. Pale fire flickered around her fingers; bright yellow flames flared up from the coals and died down almost immediately. "It's no good. We need something to burn."
Willow stood up. "I'll get some chairs."
The chairs warmed the room slightly, but they didn't last long. Willow stood back and regarded the dying fire. "I think we should, you know, huddle together beneath the covers to conserve warmth."
Tara smiled and bit her lower lip. "If you think we should, I'm not going to argue with you."
One of the sleeping bags was large enough for three people; the other was too small even for Willow. It had a large hole in the side and at one end, in large black marker, was written A. HARRIS GRADE 2. Willow tossed it onto the fire, looked at the other sleeping bag and then looked at Tara. Tara looked at Willow and smiled bashfully. Together they piled the blankets and all of their spare clothing on the bed around the sleeping bag and got in.
"Do you think I should try that spell again?" Tara murmured in Willow's ear.
"Well, that canopy looks pretty flammable. Why don't you just scratch my back a little and I'll scratch yours?"
"Sounds good." By the time the coals had gone out they were kissing.
"Ooh! Your hands are cold."
"Here, this'll warm 'em up. Ah."
"Hey, I like your socks."
A white hand brushed some of the frost from the outside of the window, a slow circular motion clearing a space about the size of a dinner plate. "Well, well. Isn't this cosy? 'Willow and Tara, 'appy as can be, Bee Oh En Kay Aye En Gee.' Luverly." A few minutes later the voice whispered "Hang on... Bee Oh En Kay Why En Gee?" and a few seconds after that, enviously, "Cor."
"Willow?"
"Mmm?"
"I've... uh, wanted to tell you. Ever since we first met. You have the most beautiful smile. Your lips. They're incredible. I just want to... you know..." Tara put her hand behind Willow's neck and brought her closer. "Oh, and I'm really glad you let your hair grow out. I think it looks -"
Willow closed her eyes, smiled dreamily and gently nibbled Tara's lower lip. A tiny shock ran through Tara as the tips of their tongues met briefly. It reminded them both of the first time they'd kissed, of each occasion when they'd been able to find enough time together to get around to kissing.
Tara paused and lifted her head. "Did you hear something?"