Saturday Matinee - The Rites of Samhain

This was the third time he'd come with her.....and he always felt a certain unease about it....
Perhaps it was his catholic upbringing.....as much as he tried to put that behind him....he knew that this was a pagan rite....and he could just imagine the beatings the nuns would rain down on him if they were here!!!!!
"Penny for your thoughts Damien?"
"Oh.....I was just lost in the past.....nothing interesting...."
"Thinking about the nuns again I'll bet.....my goodness what did those women do to you?"
"I was just wondering what they would say if they caught me at the ritual for Samhain....I assure you they would not approve!!!!"
Sally laughed her delightful laugh and turned back to her book.....outside the train window the modern world seemed to slip away as the signs of mankind became further and further in between....
Damien must have dozed off for the last leg of the journey but was jarred awake when the train jerked to a stop......
The town of Armagh was like the town that time had forgotten....but it was Sally's hometown and she loved it here.....and judging from the reception she received at the station they loved her too!!!!
Damien guessed that the whole town knew her and by his good fortune to be her boyfriend they loved him too....
The young couple was greeted by hugs and kisses from almost every person they met....the women gushed over Sally's dress and the men took the bags from Damien's hands to carry them for him.....it was almost a parade as they walked through the town square to the small tavern.....
Their room was the same as it was the past two years....cozy and warm.....and once they settled in Sally asked Damien to come to bed with her.....just as she did every year....and he made love with her and she was very loud.....much louder that she was in her flat in Boston.....Damien was sure that all the townsfolk in the tavern could hear her.....but he couldn't stop......apparently the country air agreed with him.....it fueled his libido so that he satisfied her over and over......and over....
After they rested for a couple of hours she wanted to eat....
They went downstairs to the tavern where he couldn't help but notice the grins and whispers as they went by and settled at their table.....
Mrs. Menses....Damien guessed she must be 100 years old.....she smiled as she told them their dinners would be out in a short while as she put their drinks on the table....
"But Mrs.Menses.....we haven't had a chance to even look at the menu...."
"Oh I'm sorry Damien.....we've given up on menus, we only serve one meal per day....I so hope you enjoy the stew the Chef's made for today......it really is special just for the two of you!!!!"
"In that case I'm sure it will be fine.....thank you Mrs. Menses?"
"Oh you're very welcome Damien.....everyone is so happy that you've returned for the third year...."
Sally looked up sharply....
"That will be all thank you Maude......"
"Oh yes Miss Sally.....let me check in the kitchen and see how Chef is coming along!!!"
She dropped a curtsy....as best as her knees would allow....and headed off....
Damien looked across to Sally as she picked up her drink....a potent locally brewed Stout and drank back half of it in one gulp.....slamming her glass down she stared at him....sensing the challenge....Damien picked up his pint and upended it until it was done....
She smiled and finished hers in a second gulp.....
Before they knew it the barman had set two more pints in front of them.....and they repeated their little competition!!!!
"You know I grew up drinking this......it really has no affect on me....."
"None here either...." Damien claimed although his head was spinning already....
"Not too many Damien....the rites are tonight.....we have to be there...."
"We'll be there Sweetheart...."
Sally smiled....such a sweet smile....
"Yes Damien.....we'll be there tonight!!!!"
As the barman was setting down fresh pints for the two of them, Mrs. Menses came toddling out of the kitchen with two deep bowls.....she settled one down in front of each of them....
Damien could swear his bowl was filled with raw meat and blood and pushed it away.....Sally seemed surprised at his reaction....
"Why Damien....what's wrong....."
"It's like a bowl of offal.....just look...."
"Why Damien.....it looks just like mine......and from the taste it's a very nice lamb stew...I'll bet they slaughtered this lamb just for us.....don't be rude...."
She pushed his bowl back to him and he saw that it was a nice looking stew.....maybe he'd had one drink too many.....and he dug in.....he realized he was far hungrier than he'd thought......Sally and Mrs' Menses nodded approvingly as she spooned it up greedily!!!!
Finished and leaning back Damien had another pint of Stout as Sally whispered to Mrs. Menses and they both shared a laugh.....
"What;s so funny?"
"We both like to see a man enjoy his food and drink Damien......and you're so cute...."
"If I wasn't so old young man I'd steal you away from sweet young Sally....."
"Mrs. Menses I'm sure that you had your pick of the men when you were a girl...."
"Oh Damien....you don't know the half of it.....now you two get on and let me clear this up.....I don't want to miss the rites....it is the third year after all!!!!"
Sally frowned and snapped....that will be all Maude.....we'll see you later in the glade...
Damien found walking to be a little difficult.....must be too much of the drink....and suddenly strong arms were supporting him as he walked/stumbled out the door....
Through his foggy eyes Damien watched Sally as she walked before him.....her clothing dropped away until he could see her naked body walking into the woods....
He couldn't understand why he couldn't stand on his own....he'd drank so much more than he had this night and walked home many times.....he felt the mens hands pulling at his clothes and soon he too was completely naked....
When they came to the glade they dropped him.....and as he looked about him he saw several of the townsfolk there.....surrounding him in a circle......then they began to move and dance and sing in a language he'd never heard.....
Then there was Sally.....
"Do you consent....."
"Consent to what....."
"Damien.....I can't do anything.....I can't make love to you unless you consent......"
"I don't know what you mean Sally......what do you want me to do....."
"Damien......consent.....consent.....consent...."
And the people encircling him joined......"Consent Damien consent.....consent....consent...."
"Consent to what.....Sally....what do you want me to do......"
"I want you to say two little words Damien.....I want you to say I consent......I've waited the three years.....now say it.....say it or I'll leave you....."
"Sally.....don't leave me.....please.....I consent.....to whatever you want.....I consent!!!!"
The wind swirled as the magic began....
Damien collapsed as did Maude Menses......the ring of people watched as a glow rose from each body and move toward each other.....they met in the space between the two bodies and merged into a much brighter glow......and then broke apart....and settled into the supine bodies.....the fire roared up and then went out......
In the morning it all seemed like a dream.....when Damien woke his body ached......and he felt so old.....a glance in the mirror revealed the horror to him.....he was her....he had been robbed of his body.....and even though his hearing was not what it was, he could clearly hear Sally moaning so loudly in pleasure......