Secret Power

Chapter One

Cassie Blake sat on a chair by the window that overlooked Crow haven Road. It was fall outside, the leaves were a rainbow of sparkling gold's, fiery reds and crisp browns. She looked away from the sunlit, golden scene to look at the rest of her room, with its four poster bed, large cupboards and fireplace.

She remembered when she had first moved to New Salem, how scared and naïve she had been about everything. She remembered how much this house and her late grandmother had terrified her. The thought of living forever on an island in a town not even marked on a map….she hadn't wanted to think about it. She had had terrible fights with her mother about her decision to move, until she had eventually found out the real reason.

She looked down at the crystal she held in her hand. The outside looked like just another ordinary rock on the beach, but inside it was beautiful. It was a chalcedony piece, meant for luck and protection. Her boyfriend Adam had given it to her with the promise that if she ever needed him, all she had to do was hold it tightly and think only of him.

She smiled and her heart beat faster when she thought of Adam, and she picked up the phone…again, and dialled his now very familiar mobile number.

"Hi," she said softly. "What are you up to?"

She heard his laugh and felt sad at the thought they were so far apart. "You mean since half an hour ago when you last called?" he asked light heartedly.

She mentally scolded herself for acting this way. When Adam had left for college, she'd sworn she wouldn't be one of those girlfriends who had to call every ten minutes. Who constantly asked questions. And yet here she was…

Diana wouldn't be like this. The thought entered her mind with more force then she'd expected, and it startled her. It worked though! "I'm sorry," she finally whispered. "Just forgot to ask…it doesn't matter."

"I'll be home soon," he told her. "It's just a week until thanksgiving remember?"

She nodded and sighed deeply. "I know. See you later."

Standing up to go downstairs, she told herself not to worry so much. But then, she had so much to loose if she lost him. He was her soul mate, and she wasn't talking symbolically. Because they were real, not a legend or myth. And she knew they were real because of what she had found out about her family, about all the families that lived in this road, they were witches. The last circle of witches in the new world…or at least, so she was told. And she was now one of the leaders of the coven, something she had never imagined to ever happen to her. The rest of the responsibility belonged to her friend Diana Meade, and Diana's cousin Faye Chamberlain, both away at college until their break.

When she entered the kitchen, she found Sean and Laurel had already been let in by her mother, and she smiled at them.

"Hi guys. You want anything?"

Laurel took the offer of herbal tea, Sean shook his head.

"It's strange without the others," he commented.

"They've been gone almost half a year Sean," muttered Laurel. "You say that at every meeting we have!"

Her expression softened a bit though, at his crestfallen look. Since the events of last year, when Black John had used him as spy on the Secret Circle, he'd withdrawn into him self. He still didn't believe that they'd forgiven him. Cassie knew he now doubted himself and his power, his strength. It was something she'd been meaning to talk to him about.

"I just think…we're stronger together is all," he replied.

"Sean, there's nothing to be worried about. We defeated Black John, he's gone forever. Ashes and dust alright?" said Cassie, comfortingly.

Sean looked nervous…but there was nothing unusual about that. "It's just been quiet too long. Something's going to happen soon I know it. Something that'll prove Faye right…"

"No way," said Laurel firmly. "I'm not letting that happen. We've held the fort well enough so far right? The towns still here. She doesn't have anything on us!"

"By the way, I've made a bet with the Henderson twins," Faye had turned to the trio, on their last day together. "I'm betting you won't make it. By the end of the year, you'll be calling me or Diana, begging us to come back and sort out some crisis. I'll be surprised if the town's still standing!" She'd laughed evilly then, before driving off in her flashy red sports car.

Her words echoed in all of their minds, more often then they wanted.

"We haven't called any of them for Circle business," she agreed heatedly with Laurel. "Because there isn't any. So…back to the real reason about this meeting. Thanksgiving Dinner…we're still gonna have it here right? Ok with everyone?"

The others nodded. "Right," said Laurel. "And it's going to be perfect."

"You realized you just jinxed us Laurel," said Sean, gloomily.

Laurel ignored him, sipping her drink.

"By the way…some of my family are coming up this weekend, hope that's ok?" Laurel continued brightly.

Cassie looked up, intrigued. "Who? I don't think you've ever mentioned anything about family before."

Laurel looked away sheepishly. "I haven't seen her in years, it was totally out of the blue. But is it ok if she comes for dinner? I know it'll be awkward but…she said she had a lot to talk about with me, a lot to catch up on so…"

Cassie waved away her friends fears. "Fine. That's fine."

"So who exactly is she?" asked Sean, finally joining in the conversation.

"She's distant family really. Something like a cousin or step cousin…something anyway! Her name is Gillian…."

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Later that night, Cassie thought that she had done a reasonable enough job acting normal in front of her friends. At least she had stayed awake. She knew she had to talk to them about the dreams, at least Laurel or someone! But Sean was right, it had been to quiet and perfect. But she didn't want to be the one who shattered that.

She lay awake deep into the night, fighting the seduction of sleep, but it swept over her eventually….and so she dreamed.

.She was on the beach, just at the back of Crow Haven. The sea was calm.

She saw people she knew where the rest of the Circle, but she couldn't see them clearly. There was someone else…strangers. It was an unnerving scene, but at the moment she didn't feel any fear.

Then, she saw someone walking up the beach towards her, surrounded in a blue/white light, flashing all around them like blue lightening. Blue fire, Cassie thought. In Blue Fire, the final darkness is banished….

The knowledge seeped into her, it was like she had known it all her life. But she knew she would forget it when she woke up. She always did.

She also knew what this person was. One of the Four Wild Powers. The final one that everyone had been searching for. And she knew them.

She then had flashes of images of the other four. Jezebel Redfern, Delos, and Illiana Harman. And now someone was after this Wild Power, someone powerful. It was so important that they protect whoever this person was…if only she could remember. If only she could see….

One from the land from Kings long forgotten. That one was Delos.

One from the hearth that still holds the spark. That was Illiana

One from the day world where two eyes are watching. That one was Jez.

One from the twilight to be one with the dark. That one was….

Cassie snapped awake.

TBC

Lately I felt like a trip down memory lane. I started reading L J Smith books when I was about 10 or 11...and I still like them! But I should makethis a new years resolution…one story at a time! Anyway, there is a reason I chose Gillian as Laurels relative. Technically it's only logical for it to be Gillian. Thea is to obvious, and is part of a very rare family….no way she could have anymore secret relatives. But we don't know about any of Gillian's side of the family. So even though she's not my favourite character, Gillian it is. But don't worry…we will be seeing a lot more of everyone else later on.