A/N: I have recently been drawn back into the Covenant fandom in an attempt at inspiration so I could continue Crossroads of Destiny which I started a LONG time ago. While I WILL return to that story (and very soon), I was also struck with a new idea and this is the result.
I do not own anything Covenant related nor am I making any money from this completely fictional work. All I own are any unrecognized characters, places & settings etc.
Warning: There will be disturbing content in this story and is rated for such. You have been warned.
F.L.
Prologue
"No. I willna do it! What about Da?!" A young raven haired girl of nine years cried out in desperate rage gesturing to the solemn grave marker from the family burial grounds that could barely be seen through the morning mist.
"Avery, your father passed on two years ago. I have tried to make it work here but Ireland is not my home. I want to go back to the States and start new memories for us, better ones."
"Why cannna I not stay here?" The young girl snapped angrily, tears streaming down her face as she turned to stare out the car window.
"Because you belong with me, your mother." Patricia Callaghan née Stevens said tiredly.
"But Máthair says I should stay here. That I belong here."
"Morrigan Avery Callaghan, you are MY daughter so you will do as I say! We are leaving the day after tomorrow and moving to New York. A week from today you will be starting your new school and that is the end of this discussion!" Patricia said firmly as she pulled the car up into the circular driveway.
"I HATE YOU!!" the young girl screamed jumping out and slamming the door before her mother could even turn off the engine. Quickly exiting the car, the blond woman shouted after her angry daughter.
"Avery! Avery come back here! I am not done talking to you young lady!"
The young girl raced into the house nearly colliding with the family butler. Not stopping to apologize she continued on until she came to her Grandmother's sitting room.
"Máthair! Máthair! I have to go! Mother says I canna stay!" The distraught girl wailed as she came to a stop flinging herself on the floor and resting her face in the silken skirts of her grandmother's dress.
"Shhh…darling. It will be alright. Your mother wants what 'tis best for ye and she believes in her course o'action."
"B..b..but ye said I could stay here!"
"Come now child, o'course ye are welcome to stay here. But I canna interfere with ye're mother's decision."
Patricia stood silently in the entrance way watching her daughter cry into her grandmother's lap. Stoically, the pretty blond woman eyed her mother-in-law carefully, knowing full well that the older lady knew she was there.
She took no pleasure in the pain her decision was causing her daughter, but she had to get Avery out of there. While she was a pragmatic and sensible woman, not believing in the old tales of the Callaghan's, she still could sense the strange aura around her mother-in-law as well as Avery which almost had her believing as the rest of the clan did. She hoped that by separating the two of them that nothing would come of anything, whether she truly believed in fey tales or not.
Steely grey orbs met her blue ones and Patricia found herself lowering her head at the blazing anger in the Callaghan Matriarch's eyes. She knew that nothing less than her own death would prevent Avery from leaving so she would be on her guard until it was time to go. She wouldn't put it past the old woman to stoop to murder, such was her desire for her granddaughter to stay as well as her hatred for Patricia.
Straightening her spine she met her mother-in-law's fierce gaze with one of her own. She would not back down in this like she had in so many other things in the past. Seeing a flash of something in the older woman eyes, caused Patricia to question her sanity. If she wasn't mistaken she could've sworn that she saw….respect.
"Morrigan, ye need to go and help pack your things. Brennan will help ye child. I need to talk to your mother." Sniffling the young girl raised her head, her eyes disbelieving and brimming with tears. She didn't argue though heart screamed at her to do so. She slowly stood and woodenly walked out of the room, ignoring her mother in the doorway.
Her heart was broken and there was no fixing it.
THREE YEARS LATER………
Avery swallowed nervously as she smoothed out the crimson taffeta of her dress. She could hear the strains of the string quartet at the front of the church. She watched as her mother, beautiful in her white dress was surrounded by her bridesmaids as they fussed over her. She saw her soon-to-be new stepsister glaring at her across the room and she swallowed again.
Oh how she desperately wanted to get out of this room that seemed stifling with all of the giggling women. She briefly wondered if her best friend of almost three years, Cheyenne Taylor was here yet. She could only imagine the look on her friend's face at seeing the normally tomboyish Morrigan Avery Callaghan dressed like a young woman. Heels and all.
She gulped when she saw her rather snotty and rude stepsister approach. While she liked her mother's fiancé just fine, she despised his daughter, and the feeling was mutual.
"So Ave, I must admit I am surprised that you actually look like a girl, what with that dress and all. Definitely not your type. It makes you look flat as a board."
"As opposed to the hippopotamus that you look like?"
Hazel eyes narrowed in anger as the frizzy haired girl hissed at her. "I can't believe that Daddy likes you and your whore of a mother! Go back to Ireland you stupid Mick!"
Grey eyes glaring in anger, the raven haired girl stepped forward. "Kira, shut your mouth. You are naught but a hateful bitch. Ye have despised me since day one when some stupid boy ye liked ditched ye to speak wit' me. It 'tis time ye got over it and moved on!"
Shoving her way past the irate girl, Avery snuck out of the room and into the hallway. Leaning back against the wall she sighed in relief for the not so stuffy air in the corridor. While she and her mother were moving in with Daniel in his upper Manhattan penthouse, she would still attend the same boarding school with Cheyenne so she was happy. She would not have to put up with Kira all that much as they attended separate schools that were in different states and had their own group of friends.
Sighing, she closed her eyes in longing for the green hills of the Callaghan estate back in Ireland. She hadn't visited since she left three years ago and longed to return for a visit. Strangely enough, her mother did not outright forbid it, she would only say that it was not time yet.
Whatever that meant.
"Avery? What are you doing out here?" A deep voice asked her with concern.
She opened her eyes to take in the tall man in front of her. "Mr. Collins? What are you doing here sir?"
He chuckled briefly. "Well, I AM your mothers partner at the firm."
Avery blushed in embarrassment as she realized her faux pas. Robert Collins was a senior partner at the law firm her mother worked for and had taken Patricia under his wing when they had returned to the States three years ago. It was due to his guidance and tutelage that her mother had made partner.
"I'm..I'm so sorry sir. My mind is a wee bit muddled with all of the going ons aroun' here."
His smile deepened. "Of course you are my dear. It is a big day after all." She nodded in response. "Say there is someone I would like for you to meet." He motioned down the hall and Avery could see a handsome women accompanied by a boy around her age. He had brown hair and brilliant blue eyes.
"Louise, darling I want you to meet Patricia Stevens's daughter…..Avery."
Avery shook the woman's hand with a smile before turning her attention to the boy in front of her.
"I'm Avery." She offered her hand to him in greeting. He slowly reached out and took it before shaking it firmly.
"Chase."
She was startled at the tingling feeling that enveloped her at the feel of his hand and she gasped silently at the strange pleasantness of it all. Peering into his eyes, she could see a similar unsettled feeling as he regarded her with equal parts of wariness and awe.
Disengaging her hand, she smiled. "It was nice meeting you but I have to return to my mother. I just stepped outside for some breathing room."
"Avery! There you are. Patricia is looking for you so get your butt in here so the damned wedding can start!" Kira said as she poked her head out of the door. Seeing that her soon-to-be stepsister was conversing with an older man and woman who had a cute son she slid out the door and approached the small group. She thrust out her hand towards the young man.
"Hi! I'm Kira. Kira Snider. My dad's the groom."
Slightly bewildered, Chase shook her hand slowly. "Chase."
"Well Chase, I am happy to meet you! Save me a dance at the reception I look forward to talking with you." She said twirling a loose strand of hair around her finger giggling flirtatiously.
Avery gritted her teeth as white hot anger enveloped her. She wanted to yank that strand of hair out her stepsister's head.
"Of course Kira. I would be happy to talk with you after I have finished the dances and conversation I promised Avery."
Avery gaped in wonder as she caught his blue eyes. He winked at her and she found herself blushing again.
"Well, it was a pleasure to meet you Avery dear, oh and you Kira, but now we must find our seats as the wedding will begin shortly. We will see you ladies later."
Murmuring goodbye's Avery watched as the threesome made their way towards the Sanctuary ignoring how Kira huffed angrily next to her.
Tuning out her stepsisters barbed remarks, the raven haired girl entered the room where her mother and her friends stood ready and waiting. Catching her mother's eye, she smiled in genuine happiness at the look of excitement on her mother's face.
Everything would be alright.
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A/N: Well this does it for the Prologue. Chapter One will take place present day, or rather right before/at the beginning of the movie. Throughout the story there will be scenes of Flashback to cover the interim years or certain happenings and events. It should be posted very soon (within the next couple of days). Let me know what you think so far.
Thanks for Reading Everyone!
F.L.