Note to everyone, I do not own any characters mentioned in this story.
They all belong to either Cate Tiernan or Lynne Ewing. Enjoy!
Chapter One
The Atrox
I ran down the street praying that the rain wouldn't completely soak me. Why did I have to crash that stupid car? I thought angrily. A sound made me jump, and I spun around. But there was no one there. Alright, Morgan, calm yourself. Selene and Cal are gone, and so is your Father. Just relax. So why was I so jumpy if I was safe? A shadow ahead flickered. I stopped, and whipped my head around. But of course, there was no one there. Ever since I found out about my Wiccan heritage a year ago, nothing has gone right. But now, things seemed to be clearing up. Almost everything was going perfect, until yesterday afternoon. Yesterday afternoon, when I had been driving home from my boyfriend, Hunter's. We had held our weekly circle (recently changed from Saturday nights to Friday nights). Nothing had seemed out of place. But, as I was driving home, I could have sworn I saw someone – No! There hadn't been anyone. It was just my imagination. Either way, I had swerved off of the road and crashed my car into a tree. I had gotten out alright but ... well, I never did have good luck with cars.
I sighed. Now I was walking home from my best friend, Bree's. She would have given me a ride back home, but I had told her not to worry. When I had left the weather was fine. Halfway home, though, the sky clouded over and rain came pouring down. I quickened my pace as my house came into view.
Thank the goddess, I thought with relief. I hated being out here at the moment. I felt uneasy, and wasn't sure about what. I walked across the lawn as the front door burst open. I looked up to see my younger sister, Mary K. looking out at me.
"Morgan!" She exclaimed. She raced up to me, and rushed me into the house, slamming the door shut behind us. I shuddered, and then pulled my sweatshirt off. Then I pulled the brown and gold leaves stuck to my shoes off of the mud with slight disgust. Mary K. giggled.
"Bree had called a few minutes ago warning us you were out in the rain alone. Mom was just getting ready to come get you."
As if cued, my Mom came strolling into the room, her raincoat glued to her. She looked up.
"Oh Morgan. I was worried about you," She said. I felt like laughing at the comical look on her face. It was a mixture of worry, relief, and anger. I shrugged.
"The weather was fine when I left," I told her. She shook her head.
"You shouldn't be walking home alone," She muttered to herself as she walked away. Mary K. and I shared a secret grin. Mom can be such a worry wart sometimes. I know she was just doing what Mom's do, but it got on my nerves. I started up the stairs to my room, Mary K. following close behind me.
"Unser's garage called," She informed me.
"Before or after Bree?"
"After. That's why we weren't ready to leave yet," She admitted. I sighed as I pushed open my bedroom door.
"What's the estimate?" I asked.
"He said about seven hundred. I cannot belief you busted that hood again. Right after it's paint job and everything," Mary K. said with exasperation.
"It's not like I did it on purpose," I said angrily. Mary K. smirked.
"Are you meeting Hunter tonight?" She asked.
"Yeah. He's picking me up at seven," I said.
"Are you going to the movies? We could double date!" Mary K. said excitedly.
A slight blush rose to my cheeks. "Not exactly. We're going into Red Kill."
Mary K. didn't say anything. She knew what I meant. I was going to Practical Magick. She stood from my bed getting ready to leave. Being a blood witch had put me apart from my family. Even if we weren't related by blood, we were still family.
"Will you help me get ready?" I asked.
A sly grin crossed her face, and I had a moment to wonder what she was thinking before she started throwing out clothes for me to put on.
I glanced over at Hunter in the dry car as we drove. The rain hadn't lessened a bit, but it felt better being in the car with Hunter than walking alone on the road imaging things. Hunter looked over at me and smiled. I hadn't confessed to him my worries about someone following me just yet. That's what I've described it as – the feeling of someone following me. I had had it just as I was walking (well, running) out to get into Hunter's car. Even now, in the car, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was someone in there with us.
My head spun around, nervously searching the backseat.
"What's wrong?" Hunter asked. "You seem tense."
I bit my lip thoughtfully. "Nothing's wrong," I finally said. I tried to smile reassuringly, but it came out seeming forced.
"I thought we weren't going to keep anything from each other," Hunter said angrily.
"It's nothing, really!" I said.
"Morgan," Hunter said warningly.
"Well, I'm just being really paranoid right now, that's all," I confessed.
"About what?"
"I don't know. I've been seeing things."
Hunter's grip on his wheel tightened. "What sort of things?" He asked calmly.
"Well nothing really. Just shadows, I suppose. It really isn't anything at all."
"It's probably that you're remembering all the events that happened around this time last year," Hunter assured me.
Oh goddess, don't remind me of last year. I pushed the thoughts away from my head. There was no way I wanted to remember last year. We pulled into the parking lot at Practical Magick. I grinned. My sanctuary. Well, one of them. We ran into the store where Alyce – the store clerk – greeted us. I gave her a quick hug.
"Long time no see," Alyce said. It had been a while. Ever since school had started again, I'd been busy studying and such. There never seemed enough time for things. We started towards the books catching up, and Hunter drifted off to find some herb. I hardly noticed the man walking into the store and heading over to the candles.
"I have someone here to see you," Alyce told me after a few minutes. I looked up from the book covers with surprise.
"Who?" I asked.
"Little sister!" An obnoxiously delightful voice exclaimed. I groaned before turning around to see Killian walking through the door to the back room. He came up and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek. Hunter came up next to me, glaring slightly at Killian.
"Hello Killian," I said.
"Hello," Hunter said stiffly. He thought Killian was a bad influence and utterly irresponsible. Of course he was, but he was still my half brother.
"What brings you to Widows Vale?" I asked.
"To see you," Killian replied. I shuddered. I didn't like the strange tone in his voice.
"What's wrong now?" I muttered. I had hoped Killian would throw his head back and laugh at my pessimism, but instead he took in a deep breath.
"Maybe we should talk in private?" He suggested, his eyes searching nervously throughout the store. They fell on something, and he grimaced. I turned around to see the man. He couldn't have been much older than myself. Maybe nineteen. There was something about him that sent shivers down my spine. His gaze was frightening, and his smile seemed almost cynical.
"Hello Killian," He said.
I spun back to look at Killian. His face was slightly white. He stepped a little closer.
"Hello Stanton," He muttered. I wasn't used to seeing Killian so serious. He gently pushed a small book into my hand and then quickly walked out the door. The man following soon behind him. I looked down at the little book. Greek Mythology: The Secrets of the Past. I looked confused at Alyce to see her face drained.
"What's this?" I asked with confusion.
Alyce took the book and skimmed through it. "Oh no," She muttered.
"What? What's wrong!?" I demanded. Hunter squeezed my hand. Apparently, he had seen exactly what Alyce had, because his face was paler than usual.
"This is a book about the Atrox," Hunter said.
Chapter One
The Atrox
I ran down the street praying that the rain wouldn't completely soak me. Why did I have to crash that stupid car? I thought angrily. A sound made me jump, and I spun around. But there was no one there. Alright, Morgan, calm yourself. Selene and Cal are gone, and so is your Father. Just relax. So why was I so jumpy if I was safe? A shadow ahead flickered. I stopped, and whipped my head around. But of course, there was no one there. Ever since I found out about my Wiccan heritage a year ago, nothing has gone right. But now, things seemed to be clearing up. Almost everything was going perfect, until yesterday afternoon. Yesterday afternoon, when I had been driving home from my boyfriend, Hunter's. We had held our weekly circle (recently changed from Saturday nights to Friday nights). Nothing had seemed out of place. But, as I was driving home, I could have sworn I saw someone – No! There hadn't been anyone. It was just my imagination. Either way, I had swerved off of the road and crashed my car into a tree. I had gotten out alright but ... well, I never did have good luck with cars.
I sighed. Now I was walking home from my best friend, Bree's. She would have given me a ride back home, but I had told her not to worry. When I had left the weather was fine. Halfway home, though, the sky clouded over and rain came pouring down. I quickened my pace as my house came into view.
Thank the goddess, I thought with relief. I hated being out here at the moment. I felt uneasy, and wasn't sure about what. I walked across the lawn as the front door burst open. I looked up to see my younger sister, Mary K. looking out at me.
"Morgan!" She exclaimed. She raced up to me, and rushed me into the house, slamming the door shut behind us. I shuddered, and then pulled my sweatshirt off. Then I pulled the brown and gold leaves stuck to my shoes off of the mud with slight disgust. Mary K. giggled.
"Bree had called a few minutes ago warning us you were out in the rain alone. Mom was just getting ready to come get you."
As if cued, my Mom came strolling into the room, her raincoat glued to her. She looked up.
"Oh Morgan. I was worried about you," She said. I felt like laughing at the comical look on her face. It was a mixture of worry, relief, and anger. I shrugged.
"The weather was fine when I left," I told her. She shook her head.
"You shouldn't be walking home alone," She muttered to herself as she walked away. Mary K. and I shared a secret grin. Mom can be such a worry wart sometimes. I know she was just doing what Mom's do, but it got on my nerves. I started up the stairs to my room, Mary K. following close behind me.
"Unser's garage called," She informed me.
"Before or after Bree?"
"After. That's why we weren't ready to leave yet," She admitted. I sighed as I pushed open my bedroom door.
"What's the estimate?" I asked.
"He said about seven hundred. I cannot belief you busted that hood again. Right after it's paint job and everything," Mary K. said with exasperation.
"It's not like I did it on purpose," I said angrily. Mary K. smirked.
"Are you meeting Hunter tonight?" She asked.
"Yeah. He's picking me up at seven," I said.
"Are you going to the movies? We could double date!" Mary K. said excitedly.
A slight blush rose to my cheeks. "Not exactly. We're going into Red Kill."
Mary K. didn't say anything. She knew what I meant. I was going to Practical Magick. She stood from my bed getting ready to leave. Being a blood witch had put me apart from my family. Even if we weren't related by blood, we were still family.
"Will you help me get ready?" I asked.
A sly grin crossed her face, and I had a moment to wonder what she was thinking before she started throwing out clothes for me to put on.
I glanced over at Hunter in the dry car as we drove. The rain hadn't lessened a bit, but it felt better being in the car with Hunter than walking alone on the road imaging things. Hunter looked over at me and smiled. I hadn't confessed to him my worries about someone following me just yet. That's what I've described it as – the feeling of someone following me. I had had it just as I was walking (well, running) out to get into Hunter's car. Even now, in the car, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was someone in there with us.
My head spun around, nervously searching the backseat.
"What's wrong?" Hunter asked. "You seem tense."
I bit my lip thoughtfully. "Nothing's wrong," I finally said. I tried to smile reassuringly, but it came out seeming forced.
"I thought we weren't going to keep anything from each other," Hunter said angrily.
"It's nothing, really!" I said.
"Morgan," Hunter said warningly.
"Well, I'm just being really paranoid right now, that's all," I confessed.
"About what?"
"I don't know. I've been seeing things."
Hunter's grip on his wheel tightened. "What sort of things?" He asked calmly.
"Well nothing really. Just shadows, I suppose. It really isn't anything at all."
"It's probably that you're remembering all the events that happened around this time last year," Hunter assured me.
Oh goddess, don't remind me of last year. I pushed the thoughts away from my head. There was no way I wanted to remember last year. We pulled into the parking lot at Practical Magick. I grinned. My sanctuary. Well, one of them. We ran into the store where Alyce – the store clerk – greeted us. I gave her a quick hug.
"Long time no see," Alyce said. It had been a while. Ever since school had started again, I'd been busy studying and such. There never seemed enough time for things. We started towards the books catching up, and Hunter drifted off to find some herb. I hardly noticed the man walking into the store and heading over to the candles.
"I have someone here to see you," Alyce told me after a few minutes. I looked up from the book covers with surprise.
"Who?" I asked.
"Little sister!" An obnoxiously delightful voice exclaimed. I groaned before turning around to see Killian walking through the door to the back room. He came up and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek. Hunter came up next to me, glaring slightly at Killian.
"Hello Killian," I said.
"Hello," Hunter said stiffly. He thought Killian was a bad influence and utterly irresponsible. Of course he was, but he was still my half brother.
"What brings you to Widows Vale?" I asked.
"To see you," Killian replied. I shuddered. I didn't like the strange tone in his voice.
"What's wrong now?" I muttered. I had hoped Killian would throw his head back and laugh at my pessimism, but instead he took in a deep breath.
"Maybe we should talk in private?" He suggested, his eyes searching nervously throughout the store. They fell on something, and he grimaced. I turned around to see the man. He couldn't have been much older than myself. Maybe nineteen. There was something about him that sent shivers down my spine. His gaze was frightening, and his smile seemed almost cynical.
"Hello Killian," He said.
I spun back to look at Killian. His face was slightly white. He stepped a little closer.
"Hello Stanton," He muttered. I wasn't used to seeing Killian so serious. He gently pushed a small book into my hand and then quickly walked out the door. The man following soon behind him. I looked down at the little book. Greek Mythology: The Secrets of the Past. I looked confused at Alyce to see her face drained.
"What's this?" I asked with confusion.
Alyce took the book and skimmed through it. "Oh no," She muttered.
"What? What's wrong!?" I demanded. Hunter squeezed my hand. Apparently, he had seen exactly what Alyce had, because his face was paler than usual.
"This is a book about the Atrox," Hunter said.