Chapter 2

The Circle

Rylie

"Wake up!" I gained consciousness but I couldn't bring myself to open my eyes.

Whack! I was hit in the head with a pillow. That was the last straw. I shot up in my bed and found the culprit. Hunter was standing next to my bed holding a pillow in his hands laughing at me.

"Come on," I pleaded "you know I'm not a morning person."

"Ry, its 6:00 at night." He retorted with a smirk.

"And to me it's morning." I flopped back down on my remaining pillow.

He grabbed me by my arms and yanked me out of the bed. I hit the floor with a crash.

"The circle starts in an hour, you have to get up." He demanded.

"Fine." I sighed and went into the bathroom to take a shower.

I changed into jeans and a T-shirt and went down the stairs. When I got there, people were already in the living room having conversations. I introduced myself to the coven members. As I was beginning to hold small conversation when I heard a crash…

Morgan

As I was on the back road on my way to Hunter's, I suddenly heard Cal's voice in my head. He called my name. I was so startled that I violently jerked my car to the side of the road. I had a weird feeling in my stomach, half fear and half hope. I can't deny that I've missed him. I believe that he did love me in some way. I was scared, hearing Cal's voice must mean that Selene isn't far behind.

I pulled my car back onto the road and continued on to Hunter's house. I carefully scanned the road looking for any signs of Cal. I didn't think he would be anywhere near here, but I wanted to make sure. As I drove further the more I relaxed. Hunter's house came into sight and I decided that I won't tell him. He doesn't need to know, it will only make him mad.

I got out of my car seeing that I was the last person there. I saw Hunter at the top of the stair case and smiled. He was growing on me more and more. Now I was always happy to see him.

He walked down the stairs to meet me. That's when I felt the stairs wobble. I saw the fear in Hunter's eyes as we went down.

I woke up on the cold ground. I could see the light from the house and I could hear people's voices. I heard Robbie calling to us.

"I'm o.k.!" I yelled back to him.

I saw Hunter moving on the hill a few yards above me.

"Don't move!" he instructed me. "I'm coming down to get you!"

When he reached me, we both managed to get onto our feet.

"Do you think anything is broken?" he asked concerned.

"No, I'm fine, just shaken up a bit. Are you alright?" I asked.

"Yea." He replied curtly.

He supported me as we walked up the hill to the other door.

Rylie came over with a concerned look on her face.

"Are you alright?" she asked.

"Fine, just banged up." Hunter replied for the both of us.

"Let me see you." She led us both to the down stairs bathroom.

"It's only scrapes and bruises you say?" Rylie said suddenly sounding professional.

"Yes." I spoke for the both of us.

Hunter took his shirt off and I blushed.

"I'll be right back." Rylie said and left the room.

She returned a few moments later with a bottle of something and new clothes for the both of us, as ours were torn.

"Put this on all of your cuts and they will heal in no time. Sky's outside looking at the porch so I'm going to start the circle."

"O.K." Hunter said. "Thanks for your help Ry."

"Please, I barely did anything." She said brushing off the statement.

Just then Sky came into the bathroom holding a piece of the porch.

"There was no magick involved; someone sawed this by hand."

Hunter took the wood in his hand and examined it.

"You're right," he stated, "but who would do something like this?"

"I don't know," Sky pondered, "but I fully intend to find out."

With that Sky made her way to the circle room to find Rylie.

Hunter

Someone sawed the porch steps…

The thought took several minutes to sink in. Someone who's a non-witch may be trying to kill us. I couldn't believe it. I didn't even know anyone who didn't know about Wicca. I searched my brain for a possible suspect. My thoughts were interrupted by Morgan.

"Hunter, I-I," she stuttered and then took a deep breath. "Cal contacted me tonight"

"What!" I yelled all calmness drained from my voice. I was furious.

How dare he contact Morgan. How dare he even think of her. It all made sense now. He sawed the porch. He didn't want to use magick because in a house full of blood witches someone would have noticed, but not using magick? None of us would have suspected that.

In my fury I stormed out of the bathroom. The circle had just ended and the coven was filing out of the circle room. I got awkward glances from Jenna and Simon. I must have looked quite disheveled come to think of it. I still had no shirt on, I had cuts and bruises every where and the look on my face could have made a baby cry in an instant.

Morgan followed me out of the bathroom looking shaken. I know she had never seen me like this before and I wanted to keep it that way but, it was too late.

I turned to face her.

"Why didn't you tell me that when you got here!?" I yelled after everyone had left. I had a feeling she was trying to protect him.

Her expression went from fear to anger.

"If you didn't notice I was a bit busy! I mean I only almost died! What did you expect?" She retorted.

"Oh Hunter, even though I'm unconscious, I just want you to know that Cal contacted me tonight." She said sarcastically.

"No that's not what I expected, but I thought you would tell me sooner, I mean you had plenty of opportunities." I said childishly not wanting to give in and admit that I was wrong.

"Well sorry." She replied just as childishly.

This was getting ridiculous. I took a few deep breaths to calm myself down.

"I'm sorry." I said honestly, I couldn't stand her being mad at me.

"Apology accepted." she replied. "It's not like I kept it from you on purpose, I was scared, and it just slipped my mind."

She looked sad now. I went over and hugged her. She folded into my arms in a comfortingly familiar way. We stood there for a minute, then she looked at her watch and her face fell.

"I have to go." she said slipping from my grasp.

"I'll follow you home." I told her.

"You don't have to." She protested, "I'll be fine. I don't think he's around here anyway."

"Alright," I agreed reluctantly "but, if you feel scared of see anything strange, send me a witch message right away"

"I will." She gave me a swift kiss, then left.

Morgan

I couldn't believe Hunter got so upset over Cal contacting me. I knew he would be mad, but I didn't know he would be that mad.

I was driving very carefully tonight. If Cal tried to contact me again, I wanted to be ready.

What I didn't expect was to see him in the middle of the road.