This is the start of my first fanfiction in a VERY long time. I kind of lost heart after my other stories got flamed so often, so I stopped writing and went back to just reading fanfics. Anyway, this is for a friend, who introduced me to "Sweep" or Wicca, as it's called in England. Hopefully the people who read this will like it, I tried to do it justice.
Anyway, Morgan isn't around. I've never really liked her, so I got rid of her, and put Maeve and Ciaran together. They live in Ballynigel, with their daughter Mackenzie (Max) and this story picks up where Max's life gets interesting :D Enjoy! Reviews are love and cookies xx
*Disclaimer: I have never, will never and don't own the Sweep series. It belongs to Cate Tiernan, the brilliant writer who created the stories.*
P.S. I'm so sorry about the format of this bloody thing. I've tried spacing it, I've tried shortening it, I've tried everything. This is how it turns out EVERY TIME. : I'm annoyed. But please give it a go - I'm aware of how horrendous it looks :( xXx
'Sweetie?' I dimly recognised the voice, but I couldn't prise my eyes open for all the coffee in the world.
'Mackenzie, darling?' I recognised that voice as well. Someone gently shook my shoulder. I rolled over, away from the disturbances, and an enraged yowl preceded a severe slash at my arm. I yelped and jumped awake, staring at my pure black kitten. Well, he wasn't a kitten anymore. He was a huge ball of fur and muscle.
'What? Where's the fire?' I asked stupidly, looking around. Dad's eyes crinkled as he chuckled at me, and Mama rolled her eyes.
'Nowhere. You're going to be late to meet Seb, dear. Don't forget.' She pointed to my clock, which read half seven.
'Of course.' I grumbled, stroking Ash (my cat) to appease him. He purred softly, easily forgiving me. I shooed my parents out of my room and took a shower, quickly dressing. Glancing outside, I sighed as I rooted around my wardrobe for my bright yellow coat and my combat boots, slinging my bag over my shoulder. It was raining in Ballynigel – shocker. 'Are you coming?' I enquired of Ash. He flicked his tail thoughtfully, before leaping up and wrapping himself around my neck like a scarf. 'Thought so.' I smiled smugly as I jogged downstairs.
'That cat is spoiled rotten.' Mama observed dryly as she handed me some toast.
'Not as much as Dagda.' I pointed out to where Dad was feeding Dagda tuna off a fork. She gave a disgruntled huff, but her eyes were sparkling happily. I was glad they'd finally worked out their differences. Maeve Riordan and Ciaran MacEwan were, in all senses of the word, opposite. And yet, the Goddess had made them soul mates. Amazing then that they survived under the same roof as each other for longer than ten minutes when both of their tempers flared bright and sudden.
'Go on. Send our love to Seb.'
'Will do.' I took a bite of my toast and pulled my hood up as I stepped out of the door, covering Ash and my hair. It was chilly, but I hardly noticed now – Ballynigel was a beautiful place and it was worth the unpredictable weather.
On my way to find Seb, my piano teacher, best friend and member of Belwicket, I reflected on my life. It had been pretty boring up until now. I know that Mama was getting ready to pass on the High Priestess role to me, but I wasn't sure that it was what I wanted. I knew I could do it – I was well liked and respected enough, and I knew the stuff, but did I really want to stay here and heal old people for the rest of my life?
I squashed those thoughts immediately and with ease. Of course I did. Ballynigel is my home, and Belwicket is my family. I wouldn't just leave them on a whim, and that was known throughout the town. Mackenzie Ava MacEwan is here to Stay.
I reached the little café on the corner of Central Avenue, and stepped inside, feeling warmth flood through me. I grinned happily, wandering over to the counter between half-filled tables.
'Hey Sarah. Usual.' I greeted the shop owner. She was short staffed, and so had taken to running the shop herself on weekends. I'd offered to help out, but she knew how busy my schedule was.
'Sure thing Max.' She grinned, already filling up a tall paper cup with my favourite order – sweet strong tea with strawberry infusion. I accepted it and paid, and then climbed the small staircase to the landing upstairs, which was a favourite place of Seb's. Sure enough, I found him sat in the corner, tapping his fingers and watching the street below.
I sank into the seat opposite him and pulled a book out of my bag quietly, waiting until he brought himself out of his contemplative mood. Seb, though a year older than me, was extremely temperamental. I blamed it on his being gay, but I always thought he loved overplaying it. He needed careful handling from most people, but I seemed to manage quite well on my own.
Ten minutes and a refill later, he eventually stirred and pointed out of the window.
'Those two have been stood outside for five minutes.' He mused. I peered out with him and saw the people he was pointing at. The woman was tall and beautiful, almost as beautiful as Mama. She had amber eyes and thin lips, and a curvy figure. She was quite obviously a witch – her magickal aura was carefully controlled and tinged with warmth.
The guy… he was her son, I guessed. Either that or that was one HUGE age gap. He had dark brown hair and a golden tan, with gold tiger eyes and a handsome smile that he flashed at something his mother said. He was quite tall, not the tallest guy I'd seen, but quite well-built and casually dressed in dark clothes. I could spy a leather loop around his neck with a silver pentacle hung on it. His aura was hot, and less controlled.
'Whoa.' I murmured, raising an eyebrow.
'Whoa indeed missy.' Seb grinned. 'Luckily I already have Damien; otherwise I'd revert to my predatory gay ways.' I laughed with him, shaking my head and sitting back in my chair.
'I'll tell Damien he has competition shall I?' I teased. He paled slightly in mock horror.
'Actually, yeah, do that. I like him when he's jealous.' He winked at me, and I grimaced.
'Ok, too much. Just because I don't have a love life, doesn't mean I want to share yours.' He shrugged and sipped his tea. 'So. What's going on with everyone?' He launched into an enthusiastic relay of the days' events. I had no idea so much could go on before half seven in the morning, but apparently three people had managed to fall out, a couple had announced they were going steady and Damien's Mam had sprained her wrist.
When Seb left to refill our orders, I went back to reading my book. He and I could easily waste a day away in this steamy little café, reading and talking and sitting quietly, happily, just enjoying each other's company.
'Hey Max, guess who I found?' Seb called as he approached with two new cups. I looked up, and my gaze connected with melting honey eyes that sparkled happily at me. 'This is Cal Blaire; he's joining the school here. I told him we'd show him round.' Seb explained. 'Cal, this is Max, my best friend. Don't worry Max, I told him about us being Belwicket.'
'Hi, it's nice to meet you.' He held out his hand, so I shook it and managed to coax a smile to cover my stunned expression.
'It's nice to meet you too. Take a seat. Did you order? Seb takes ages to drink his tea.' Cal grinned crookedly, and I swear my heart stammered.
'Yeah, I did. I'd like to return blood to my extremities before braving this horrid weather again.' I rolled my eyes and tutted.
'Winter's not even started yet. Just wait until there's three feet of snow on the ground.' He gave a visible shudder and sat down at the end of our table, facing the window.
'Can't wait.' His obvious reluctance made Seb chuckle. I shut my book and tucked it back into my bag. 'Hey, is that… is that a cat?' Cal pointed to my neck.
'His name is Ash.' I poked at him, and he lifted his head off my shoulder, disgruntled. 'Wake up. Someone wants to say hi.' I told him. He hefted his body out of my coat and walked down my arm onto the table, where he stretched and let Cal scratch him gently.
'Do you carry him everywhere?' He asked, amused.
'Most of the time. He gets too lazy to walk. I swear he'll lose the use of his legs sometimes, but he disagrees.' Tiger eyes darted up to mine, shocked slightly.
'Yeah, Max can connect with animals if she concentrates.' Seb observed quietly, turning back to look out of the window, giving us a measure of privacy.
'Really? That's fascinating! How do you do it?' I shrugged, reaching out stroke Ash.
'I don't know. I've always been able to do it with Ash, but other animals take a lot more concentrating. Like Dagda, my Mama's cat, he doesn't like it when I do it and he blocks me. Cats are a lot more magical than most people realise.' I mused. I blushed when Cal's fingers brushed against mine accidentally, and retrieved my hand reluctantly. Ash followed, tucking himself around my neck again.
'Amazing. I've never met anyone who can do that.'
'Well, now you have.' I grinned. 'Drink up. It won't take long to show you around, and then we can come back if you want.'
'Sure.' I turned to look out of the window like Seb, and silence fell as we drank. I could feel Cal observing us, our relationship. When I finished and set my cup down, Seb followed suit and we stood up in tandem.
'Ready?' He nodded and stood up, following as we led him out of the café. 'Goodbye Sarah.' I waved as we left. She waved back, smiling tiredly. Stepping out into the cold air, Seb and I linked an arm through Cal's, and grinned at him.
'I feel slightly worried.' He observed jokingly.
'Don't worry. We'll be gentle.' Seb winked, and we began to pull him along between us, pointing out the perks of Ballynigel.
So that was it, first chapter :D Just to warn you, I have written this as one long word document and then dissected it, so please feel free to point out if it jumps about a bit. xx