Thanks for the feedback! I took into consideration a formatting issue that was brought to my attention. Hopefully this format will be easier to follow. I may up load chapter 11 today if I have time, if not more chapters will be uploaded over the weekend.

Xoxo H

Again I don't own the Secret Circle and all other characters I made up myself.

Amanda POV

Nick had run across the hall to do sweep his room before we got out of there. The building was eerily silent. I did another sweep of mine and was satisfied I had everything I needed. I went over to the door to see the only picture I had of my Circle that had hung on my wall was on the floor. I picked it up and gasped. There were only 7 people in this photo when there were 8 only hours earlier. Alexander was no longer there. I think I went into shock or something. It was like time stood still. The next thing I know Nick was grabbing the picture from me. The look on his face when realization hit was somber.

"i have to call Sammy" I yelled. "we don't have time for that we need to get to New Salem now" he said tossing the bags over is shoulder.

He handed me my purse and lead me out by the hand. The hallway was quiet. We made our way to the stairwell and other students we trickling down the stairs carrying bags as well. Most looked unharmed and I was grateful for that but I was not prepared for what we would see when we got outside. We got into the lobby and the windows had been blown out and there people lying on the floor moaning in pain being attended to by paramedics and other students. We got out side and it was sheer chaos. People crying, people talking frantically into cell phones, people hugging each other and people that were visibly injured. My heart sank. We went to leave, to go to Nick's car in the lot and a police office said we had to stay until our names were taken down because they needed to account for everyone in the dorm. Nick walked over to a less crowded corner of the building and put the bags down not letting go of my hand. My phone was ringing. It was my dad.

"Daddy! I'm alright" I said into the phone. "Alex is gone" he said somberly. "I know" I replied and I told him about the picture he proceeded to tell me that on the news it said 2 simultaneous earthquakes hit MA and NM and that Alex was on the roof of his grandma's house replacing clay shingles when the quake hit. He was thrown from the roof and landed on his head. He died instantly.

"oh my god. Is everyone else ok?" I asked "yes honey everyone is ok. Sammy is here and she told me about your Nick and the prophecy. Hold on" he said I could tell he was listening to something I couldn't make out in the background.

"Ok the news just said BU has cancelled all classes for at least a week. What's your game plan?" he asked. "I was going to head to New Salem with Nick as soon as we got the OK to go" I replied "are you going to come back for the burial?" my dad asked and I just sobbed into the phone "I don't know dad this is my fault. I can't face this" I croaked.

I was crying almost uncontrollably and nick came behind me and wrapped his arms around me. "This is not your fault Amanda. It has got to be all part of the prophecy" my dad said.

He thought for a moment "I think you should stay in New Salem" my dad said reluctantly. "Not because anyone blames you but so you can prepare the New Salem witches and they can prepare you. The circles are indeed coming together" he was resolved. I just told my dad I had to go. I couldn't handle this. I hung up and turned into Nick. He just held me.

"Nick! Amanda!" we heard and turned around to see Allie, Molly and Stephanie coming towards us. "Thank god you are ok!" Allie said.

They looked they got away unscathed as well except for a huge gash that was bleeding heavily on Allie's forearm. "Oh my Allie! You're bleeding!" I exclaimed resisting the urge to grab her arm and heal it with magic.

"yeah I know I was on line for triage when I spotted you. I'm ok. Just got cut on a rock" she said. I dug into the duffle bag and found an old t-shirt of mine and tied it around the gash as a tunicate.

"Where were you when the quake hit?" Nick asked. "

"We were walking through the courtyard back from getting food. What about you guys?" Allie asked.

"We were in Amanda's room" Nick replied.

"Most people that were inside at least have bumps and bruises" she noticed suspiciously. "Being from New Mexico we get a lot of California quakes so we learn at an early age what to do during them" I quickly responded. Nick's eyebrows raised.

"We just huddled in my bathroom doorway until it stopped" I said. "yeah I heard about that before" Stephanie chimed in.

Relief washed over me when Brett came over came over holding a clipboard. "You get to triage" he said to Allie noticing her arm. "Can my friends come?" He got their information and the 3 of them left. "Name and room number" he said addressing the both of us.

" Nicholas Armstrong 405 Amanda Morris 402" nick answered for the both of us. "classes are canceled for at least a week. Do you guys need accomondations?" he asked.

"No I'm from a little town a few hours north of here we are going to head there" Nick said uncomfortably. "ok then you are free to go" Brett said and walked away. We headed through the parking lot and were relieved that all the cars looked ok. No damage out here. It made me feel very uneasy. "This is me" nick said stopping at a black mustang. He put our bags in the trunk and back seat and I climbed in the passenger side. Nick drove off and I called Sammy.

"Oh Amanda are you ok?" she sounded relieved and scared at the same time. "Just a little shaken up" I choked out "Are you? How is everyone? I can't believe this is happening" there was panic and shame in my voice.

Sammy was trying not to cry. "yes I'm ok" She proceeded to tell me what my father had already told me and she also tried to make me feel better. "No one blames you or Nick so you need to stop blaming yourself" she demanded.

She also said I should in New Salem and learn the craft of their circle and that she thought it would better if our circle came to New Salem since that's where white and black originated. The earth shifted ever so slightly.

"Did you feel that?" Sammy asked "yes but what does it mean?" I was bewildered "Well with you on your way to New Salem it could only mean one thing. the circles are coming together" and she quickly hung up as her circle meeting was about to stat.

"well" I said to Nick half smiling "Looks like you're stuck with me for a little while" He squeezed my hand and smiled "I can live with that" he chuckled.

I laid my head back on my seat and was deep in thought. I couldn't get the vision I saw deep within Nicks eyes of the 2 of us hand in hand with what seemed to be a dark haired boy off of my mind. The magnetic pull was gone and it was if were just connected and we always have been.

"what do you think caused the Earthquake?" I asked Nick curious to hear his theory as I was too exhausted to come up with my own.

"well, I think it was a combination of things. I mean when I saw the vision I knew that everything I felt for you was true and right and I could no longer hide the fact that I am deeply in love with you" he said and I smiled. "so when I told you how I truly felt deep within myself and you responded forever that set it all in motion. The magnetic pull was no longer there because we solidified our connection with those words." The sound of his voice when he spoke was so tender and the look in his eye was one of adoration and I'm sure the look in mine was the same.

I was meant to be here with him heading to New Salem to meet a circle I was bound to already. I loved Nick with all my heart and soul and the word casualties in the prophecy had me really on edge. Even though I had that vision, it didn't mean it to be true. I wasn't going to say this out loud but I think the vision was a symbol to show each of us how we really felt and that if we complete the tasks set forth then that is a future we could have. We already lost one member of the circle who is to say that there weren't going to be more casualties. We were at an odd number and covens were always even numbers. I would die if something happened to Nick. He was a part of me and I him. And I came to a resolution If it would spare Nick's life, then I would gladly give up mine.