Celebration

"W-what's going on?" Lowena stammered.

  "We need to get you ready for tonight's celebration!" Aiyana eagerly helped Lowena get dressed.

  "This looks ridiculous," Lowena chuckled. "A fox-fur bikini with this weird wolf headdress?"

  "It's tradition," Aiyana reminded.

  "I love yours. The midnight black fur matches your hair; it's stunning," Lowena gawked.

  "It's a red wolf fur you're wearing, not a fox," Aiyana corrected.

  "Really?" Lowena huffed, "I've never seen a red wolf."

  "They are rare and need to be celebrated," Aiyana said while finishing Lowena's makeup.

  "I look like some tribal woman," I groaned.

  "It's-"

  "Tradition," Lowena said in unison with Aiyana.

  "I know," she sighed. "I still don't believe in any of this, but if this is what he needs, then so be it."

  "You still don't believe?" Aiyana shivered. "How? None of them have shown you yet?"

  "Shown me what?" Lowena asked.

  "Wow, you look so much like your mother," Eli commented, standing in the doorway.

  Lowena glanced at him, her jaw dropping in awe. She may have known him her entire life, but she'd never seen his bare torso. Eli was pale, but his six-pack abs glistened in the shadows and ridges. His chest and massive arms were not overlooked, either. His warrior paint accentuated every muscle that needed to be, making it impossible for her to look away. 

  "Everything alright?" Eli asked upon approach.

  Suddenly, a hot heat began burning deep in Lowena's stomach. She began to feel hot, her blood pumping faster and faster each moment, and her heart began to beat quicker in her chest.

  "I never realized how handsome you are," she observed.

  "W-wait, Lowena, I'm your uncle-"

  "But you're not," Lowena corrected, "And I'm glad you aren't."

  Lowena was uncertain why her body responded as it was, but she was excited, anticipating where it could lead her through the night. Lowena was a virgin; after all, having never even been kissed, seeing Eli so exposed made her have urges she'd never felt before, either. 

  "We should get to the celebration," Aiyana deviated, pulling Lowena after her.

  "I'll meet you down there," Eli stated, remaining behind in Lowena's room.

  "Wait, I wanted-"

  "You want Kieran?" Aiyana interrupted.

  "No-"

  "Yes!" Aiyana hissed while pulling Lowena outside.

  The scents, smells, and sounds were overwhelming. Lowena's eyes scoured her surroundings. Multiple bonfires roared, and many people wore different yet similar clothes. Some dressed as sexy bats, some in reptilian, fairy-like garments, and many looked similar to Lowena herself. Hunks of meat were being roasted over open fire pits; the smells made her mouth water in hunger.

  "Lowena!" Cade greeted.

 One of the young men snatched up Aiyana; she laughed as they ran over to one of the bonfires and started drinking and dancing. Everyone looked as if in a euphoric state, which Lowena was eager to experience. These two young females caught her eye; they were both in small black crop tops with keyhole cutouts exposing their voluptuous breasts with bat-like small capes sewn into the sleeves of the tops. They had matching tiny black skirts, which contrasted against their pale skin and dark lips. The way they danced with one another seductively, and their hips swayed in unison to the beat of the drums being played, but there was no band playing music. She couldn't see a speaker being used either. Where was the music coming from?

  Lowena wasn't sure if it was the enchanting sight of the two women together, but she felt compelled to join. Without hesitation, she slowly eased her way closer and closer while moving her hips to the tribal drums being played. Sounds of hissing filled the air around her, and a thick cloud of smoke altered Lowena's headspace. When her eyes opened, she saw both girls dancing around her in seductive circles, caressing her frigid body up and down to soothe her.

  "Shh," one hushed while placing a gauntlet in Lowena's grasp.

  Lowena glanced into the cup to see a thick, dark liquid inside; she couldn't distinguish the color, even with the bellowing flames nearby.

  "Is this what everyone else is drinking?" she asked.

  A strange sound erupted from one of the girl's chests, a growling; the other nodded with an evil smile. Lowena wanted to be afraid, but something compelled her to stay. She drank from the gauntlet, the warm, coppery liquid descending her throat. Lowena threw back her head, her eyes shooting open as she could feel heat radiating around her. It was different from the warmth of the fire. This was internal warmth. One of the girls took the gauntlet from her and began dancing against Lowena's body even closer than before.

  The sound of the drums echoed in Lowena's foggy head. She felt a slight sharpness followed by heat on her neck, but she didn't shy away—it felt good. A hot warmth pulsated to her extremities, causing an aching desire to throb inside of her.

  "Lowena!"