Instead the huddled knot of young men sat around their bonfire, drank beers and played guitar. Strains of a Brazilian ballad drifted along the air and out to sea. As she allowed the incoming tide to lap at her bare feet, Erica held aloft her altar tray with the lit candles. Both flames licked and danced in the slight breeze. As per instructions, she had added two star fruit, with a small slit in the center of each, one to represent herself, the other to signify the target of her spell. Next, she counted her steps as she sifted along the sand bottom. The twelfth step brought the sea water to her waist. “Well, here goes nothing!” she proclaimed as she placed her tray on the surface. Remarkably, it stayed afloat and slowly drifted away. She turned back to Sacha. “Am I supposed to do anything else?” “Yes,” he called to her. “Do a back float and splay your arms, then say his name three more times.” Despite a nip in the water, Erica stretched across the waves and allowed them to carry her along.
