Just a few notes beforehand. I know Cal's a bastard in the books, but it seemed such a waste. Just as he found someone he cared about, he shows it by sacrifices himself. In this version, the blast didn't kill him- though Selene thinks it did so still evaporates- instead it strips him of all magic.

I stretched out on my bed, feeling the small weight of Dagda move as my foot hit him under the covers. The house seemed eerily quiet. I instinctively sent out my senses and found that none of my adoptive family were in. Presumably Mom and Dad were at work, and Mary K. already at Jaycee's. I got up slowly, deciding to face the day.

As I was getting my usual remedy against the morning I felt a presence coming up the garden path. Cal. Dammit what did he want? He had barely left me alone since the incident two months ago. He wasn't coping very well with the loss of his powers. He could still use herbs, some crystals and take part in circles. Yet he would never again feel the connection with the world that I did, and that meant he couldn't use it. To the rest of the school he was Cal, one of the most beautiful guys at school, recently made an orphan- to all purposes. But to myself and the rest of Kithic, he was, well a bit annoying to be honest. They barely tolerated him, I was grateful for my life and wanted to help him. So he came, most days, to see me. Much to the annoyance of Hunter.

He knocked on the door, and a small part of me wanted to ignore it. Just pretend I was out. But the better part of me moved to the door and opened it for him.

"Morgan, you look beautiful today." I looked down, old sweats and one of my dad's rugby shirts. Beautiful? Hardly. Cal was still convinced we were soul mates though.

"What do you want Cal?" It came out a little harsh, but it was the morning and I hadn't had my Diet Coke. Did he expect any different?

"Nothing much, dear, I just wondered if you fancied doing anything today?"

"I have plans I'm afraid. With Hunter."

Anger flashed across his face. He hated Hunter with a passion that was only equalled by Hunter's hatred of Cal. The anger was only there for a second, short enough for me to wonder if it had ever happened. His Tiger's eye iris's became softer then. What was he thinking?

"Well I suppose someone has to keep him busy. Tell me what do you see in him?" he was on dangerous ground here. "I mean you said it yourself, remember, that he put you on edge; that you didn't quite trust him…"

"Yes, well I've never been the best of characters have I? I loved you and you tried to kill me. Now if you'll excuse me I have to get ready." I shut the door sharply in his face. I heard him call through the door. "I would never expect you to try with me hon, you look stunning just as you are." I rolled my eyes. He just didn't get it, and never would I feared.

Later that day Hunter picked me up and we headed out for the day. There was a beautiful little clearing, where Sky had once found me with Maeve's tools, it was now mine and Hunter's getaway place. It was a place of peace and utter calm. Where we could both leave everything else, school, council work and so on behind. Today though I knew we both wanted to discuss Cal. The council had lost interest in him now his powers had gone. But he was obviously still around. Affecting both our lives, and we still weren't sure what he plan was; or if he even had one.

Once we reached the clearing, I rolled out a blanket I had packed and we laid there together, not speaking just watching the clouds through the overhanging branches. I never wanted it to end. Laid there next to my gorgeous boyfriend. It did end though. He lifted himself onto his elbow, and I had a moment to look into his green eyes before he kissed me softly. All too soon he stopped it and, with his uncanny ability to read me, sat up and said;

"We need to talk, about Cal."

"I know." I sat up aswell so I could be on the same level as him.

"Do you care about him, at all?"

"In a way, after all he did save me. I hope he hasn't been irreversibly tainted by Selene's poison. But I fear it's too late for him, that he's a lost cause."

"Hmmm, it's just, although the council have lost immediate interest in him, there is still the concern about what he is capable of. I have never seen someone's magick being ripped from them like that. You saw how it was with David, very different to what happened with Cal." He paused, as if considering his next words. "I've considered asking the council for permission to test him, to find out exactly what he is capable of."

"Why are you asking me?"

"Because…because Cal doesn't like or trust me, you though…"

"You want me to test him? But what would that mean doing?"

"I'll tell you once I've asked the council. If you don't want to do it, they'll send someone else to. But I have a bad feeling you would be the best option. What do you say?"

I thought over what it would mean, another deep connection with Cal. The last time had been the night he had tried to kill me. But now, like then, it's something that needed doing. If nothing else it would make me sleep a little easier. Knowing exactly what Cal was up to.

"I'll do it…"