Page 40 of Under a Dancing Star

“That was excellent,” I whisper as she takes a seat beside me. “Very dramatic.”

“I wanted to say it in Latin, but I couldn’t remember my declensions and I didn’t want to mess it up,” she murmurs, her face intent. “I wouldn’t want to do anything to anger the gods.”

“I thought it was a very effective toast. Poetic, even.” I reassure Hero before turning to Ben, who is holding the bowl out to me. I take it from him, lift it to my mouth and take a sip before handing it back to Hero.

“And now…” Hero pauses dramatically. “The feast BEGINS!” and with that she hurls the bowl into the fire where it cracks in two.

Her audience cheer loudly, though I can’t help but think it was a waste of a perfectly nice fruit bowl. Still, I suppose it all adds to the drama.

Great platters of chicken are passed around and we fall on the food, laughing and throwing the chicken bones into the flames as further evidence of our sacrifice.

When we have finished, Filomena stands and recites a poem in Latin. She’s much more convincing than Ben, when it comes to the drama; her voice is low, but compelling and I can just about understand the words.

“Da mi basia mille, deinde centum,

dein mille altera, dein secunda centum,

deinde usque altera mille, deinde centum.

dein, cum milia multa fecerimus,

conturbabimus illa, ne sciamus.”

“What is she saying?” Ben whispers, his voice warm on my neck.

“Give me a thousand kisses, then a hundred,” I begin, and then I turn to see him looking at me, the flames from the fire dancing in his eyes, and my mouth goes dry. I shake my head. “I-I’m not sure about the rest,” I finish weakly. The truth is that the parts that I do understand are so achingly romantic that I can’t bear to say them out loud, particularly to him.

The wine flows. They have brought out the wind-up gramophone and Hero puts on a record. The music sounds wilder out here, all shrieking brass and jangling piano. The crackle of the needle over the record echoes the sound of the flames, as though the music itself is burning. We dance barefoot around the fire, happy and dusty and raising our glasses over and over again to the God of thunderstorms. It feels a bit magical, this, a little like we really are in touch with the elements. As if anything could happen.

The flames twist higher and higher, sparks flashing in the air like pieces of copper foil falling around us. Klaus grasps my hands between his own and reels me round and round until I am doubled over, laughing and breathless. It’s feverishly hot now; the air is smothering, thick with the taste of smoke, and the stars have begun to disappear as clouds roll in across the sky.

A hand grabs mine and I spin around to find myself looking up at Ben. He takes me in his arms and the music slows down, a dreamy melody with a man singing about lovers and starlight. Ben’s hand is tight on my waist, and as I put my palm on his chest I can feel his heart beating as fast as my own. We come to a halt and when I look up I see his eyes are on mine.

“It’s working, it’s working!” Hero cries as a rumble of thunder groans and the air around us trembles. I pull away from Ben as the first drops of rain start to fall. With a crack of lightning scissoring through the sky in the distance, the heavens finally open.

“Yarooooo!” the cry goes up and the others dance, laughing, half-running back towards the house, their arms in the air and their delighted screams echoing around us.

I go to follow them, but Ben stops me, putting a hand on my arm.

“What is it?” I ask, looking up at him. A nervous feeling shivers through me.

“It’s about the experiment,” he says, drawing me closer. “I think there’s something that Ursula mentioned that we haven’t tried yet.” The briefest glimpse of uncertainty flashes in his eyes. “If you’re interested, I mean.”

Suddenly I’m not afraid at all. I feel utterly, uncontrollably alive. Rain drips from his curling gold hair, and an unstoppable grin spreads over my face.

“You look pleased with yourself,” he murmurs.

I lean towards him, my hand going to his cheek to pull him towards me, my lips against his ear. “Do you want me to kiss you, Ben?” I whisper softly, and I feel him freeze. “You only need to ask.” I fight the laughter rising inside me; the joy of turning the tables is so complete. “Nicely.”

There is a pause, half a second that feels like for ever.

“Yes,” he replies. “Please.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

There’s a split second where I can’t believe it’s really going to happen and then, just like that, it is. I am kissing Ben, and it turns out that kissing Ben is magic.

His mouth brushes against mine, soft at first, and my arms twine around his neck seemingly of their own accord. I lean towards him with a little sigh and feel his smile against my lips. I pull him closer to me, my eyes fluttering closed as I enjoy the sensation of being so near. He tastes of wine and something sweet and spicy, like cinnamon.