R/N - For Caylen Vicious - since she is doing me a HUGE favour - thanks honey; I am so excited!!!! But you already know that haha! xoxoxo

Chapter 25 – Birth Right!

An hour later;

Claire's POV;

My life had changed and I had no way to slow down my thoughts. There was so much running rampant through my brain right now. I had always known that I was adopted; my adoptive Parent's had always been completely up front with me about that. However, they had no idea who my birth Mother was or why she had abandoned me that night when I was merely 2 months old.

Standing in the attic space of Jeff's girlfriend's house, I felt weirdly calm and as if for the first time in my life; a part of something. Something bigger than I had ever thought possible.

Not that I had ever felt purposefully left out of things in my life but most of the time, it felt like I was just standing on the outside looking in. I had always known that I was different; I don't know how but it was like a current or chemistry flowing through my veins that told me I wasn't like the other people in my life. Then I had met Shannon and I thought that I was finally with someone who understood and he did, he knew that I had a hard time fitting in with people because I always had this vague sense that I had somewhere else that I needed to be.

"Have you had any strange things happen to you honey?" Selena's Mom, Lillian asked me.

There was a familiar kindness to her face, something that I couldn't quite put my finger on but there was something there that made me feel safe and peaceful when I knew that my entire world had just been shaken up.

"Mom slow down; she's got a lot to think about; this is huge for her and as much as we are calm about it; she hasn't had much time to get used to this," Selena said reaching for my hand and steering me to the large corner style sofa in the corner of the room. "Come sit down honey,"

From the minute that I had met Selena; I had liked her. There was a calmness about her that I hadn't really ever felt around anyone and now I knew that it was because we were Family. My birth Mother was Selena's Mom's sister; that made Selena and me cousins. We were Family. I had a real birth Family. My mind was still reeling.

How am I meant to deal with this?

Was I supposed to ask questions?

Sure, I should be asking about everything there was to know about my Mother; but my mind seemed to be bogged down with details and thoughts. My life would never be the same again after finding this out. I was a part of the Supernatural world; a world that I had always felt strangely drawn too. I think that was why I never found it weird to be around other Supernatural creatures.

"Why don't you just start with telling her about Aunt Raven?" Selena suggested softly as she held my hand, "that way things can settle in her mind before she has to start answering questions,"

Selena, Talia and I had wanted to know what had happened when the 3 of us came together downstairs. Annabella, Talia's Mother, had explained that our Coven had become complete. Apparently, I was the missing link; I was the final member that made it all complete. In Witch lore 3 was a magical number and was the bear minimum for a Coven.

From what I had been able to make out; Talia and Selena were always going to be in the same Coven. I knew that Covens were what Witches had to keep routine with their magic and that they were spiritually bound connections between each member; for Talia and Selena; they had been raised as sisters and that meant that they already had the bond that they needed to start their own Coven.

"Alright – Raven was my sister, my younger sister by 2 years," Lillian started to talk slowly and precisely, "we were the best of friends, we did everything together. We even came into our Powers at the exact same time; that was how strong our bond was. We excelled at the same things and we developed a lot of the same Powers but her prominent Power was premonition. At first it scared the Hell out of her but slowly she began to get used to it.

"In fact I remember that she started charging kids at school for a peak into their future – you should have heard the roasting that she got from our Parent's for that," Lillian was smiling fondly; the memories were clear in her head as she spoke, I don't know how I knew that but I did, "but she wouldn't back down, she insisted that she was using her intuitive nature to make herself more money instead of asking for it from our Parent's. Most people thought that her Power was flaky and not to be relied but I knew better than that.

"There were just too many things that had come true for me to think that it wasn't a Power to be trusted. Raven was stronger than most adult seers and that grated on a lot of people's nerves with in the magical community. She had told me that I was going to meet Elias and that there would be hard times ahead for us – I didn't know at the time that she meant – well you know.

"I just figured that we would hit on some hard times but we'd work through it – anyway this isn't about me, this is about Raven. So she continued to charge people for her insight to what was going to happen in the future; she earned herself quite the reputation and eventually she had more Powerful people coming to her for advice and guidance on what they should do and what the future held for them. I really was so proud of her and I believed everything that she said; there was just no way that I couldn't.

"Then about 24 years ago; she came to me and told me that she was pregnant. Your Father was a mortal, his name is; Liam Butler but as far as I am aware; he went back to live in Ireland with his Family. Liam was a nice guy; he was funny and he dotted on your Mother and you when he found out that she was pregnant. I would visit and if he was there; I always found him talking to your Mom's bump; promising all the things in the world for you; I have no doubt that had he been able to stop her; you would never have been adopted.

"But the thing was – the day you were born; she had a premonition; it was while she was actually in labour with you. Everything that she saw scared her at first, she was terrified and then stressed with giving labour so she was incoherent for a long time and then once you were taken away to be weighed and cleaned up she asked Liam to come and get me. The minute I walked in to the birthing suite, I knew that she had, had a vision. Despite hours of painful labour; she was as white as a sheet and she was rocking herself back and forth – another sign that she had a vision. What I heard scared the Hell out of me,"

My eyes were fixed on my Aunt and I was lost in the story that she was telling – for the first time in my life; I was with Family, real, blood Family and I was eager to hear everything there was to know. I was soaking it up as if I were a sponge soaking up spilled water.

"What was it?" I asked timidly. The smile that Lillian cast in my direction made the room appear less stuffy and heavy, the air lightened around me and I felt like I could breathe properly once again.

"She saw this – the way the world is now. In her vision, which she believed you gave her – was of the Supernatural world coming out into the open, she saw the way most people welcomed it but how others shied away.

"Then she saw the jury and all the laws that they were going to put into place, she saw the way people would be judged and treated unfairly and eventually she saw that half breeds were going to be hunted down and tested upon; she didn't want that for you. In fact she was almost delirious with fear and the Doctor's thought that it was just because she had suddenly been weighed down by what a huge responsibility it was to be a Mother.

"When in actual fact all she had ever wanted was to be a Mother – she didn't want you to be treated like some kind of science project gone wrong, so she bound your Powers and kept you a little longer than she should have but she needed to be sure that your Powers were indeed bound, then she took you and left you at a Church over in Charlotte, which was far enough away so people didn't know who you were and close enough that she could always keep an eye on you,"

"Di-did she?" I asked my voice merely even a whisper.

"What?"

"Did she keep an-an eye on me?" I asked finding a little more strength to put behind my words.

"Yes she did – she was always around; if she couldn't be there in person; she cast spells to check in with you and she was so proud of you and so completely in love with you that every time she talked about or saw you; she beamed brightly," my Aunt Lillian informed me.

I nodded and took in the surroundings of the room – my thoughts a jumbled maze of uncertainty mixed with the feeling that I was right where I belonged and where I was meant to be. Meeting Selena and Talia hadn't been coincidence – I had the feeling that it had been manipulated to happen a certain way.

But by whom?

My Mother – it seemed unlikely considering why she abandoned me but then maybe she felt with the help from my Family; I would be protected and no harm would come to me! Was I being Naïve?

"What do we – do you know what my Power is?" I asked shyly feeling an excitement bubble in the pit of my stomach.

"Because you are still bound; I don't know but I am fairly certain that your Power would be similar to that of your Mom's," Lillian said confidently.

It was clear that this woman was in charge of herself and she didn't doubt who she was or her Power – I couldn't help but wonder if my Mother was the same!

"Can I meet my Mom?" I asked and that was when the faces in the room fell.

I watched as the eyes that had been on me started to move away and I had a feeling that I was about to receive some very bad news. My Mom was dead! I don't know how I knew that but deep down, I had a feeling of complete emptiness that had been there for just over a year now and I knew that it was because I had felt her death – a hidden part of me had always been connected to her and when that had died, I didn't know what it was. The doctors had thought that it was depression from being adopted and not knowing where I came from but now I could see that it had been more than that.

"Claire – I am so sorry but your Mom died 14 months ago," Selena said softly wrapping her arm around me and holding me close to her, "we tried everything that we could to help her – magic, the best health care that we could afford but – it was cancer and in the end we just weren't strong enough,"

I could see from my cousin's face that it was still raw for her – clearly we were a close Family and we did everything together. I could feel my own tears welling for a woman that I hadn't even known but she was a part of me, she was a huge part of what and who I was. How could I not be upset about that?

For another 15 minutes they all left me to my thoughts and I was more than grateful for that – I needed time to process some of what I had been told. I was a Witch from what appeared to be a very Powerful Family and I was now left with people who knew everything there was to know about my Mother and my heritage; I felt like I couldn't have been in a more safe place.

"What-what do we do-do now?" I asked shakily.

"We need to cloak you from the jury's view," my Aunt Lillian said.

All this time; Talia and her Mother Annabella had been silent. They obviously knew the story and they had listened intently like it was some form of bedtime story but now they were moving. All 4 of them actually were moving as if they had silently come to the same decision. I just sat there for a few moments before my mind caught up with the rest of my body.

"How do we do that?" I asked hoping that I was about to witness some form of magic.

I really had no idea why or how I was so calm but deep down I had the feeling that I had always descended from something more than just a Human heritage.

"Come over here," Selena said smiling at me, "just stand within the circle and remain still, whatever happens; don't try to move out of the circle ok?"

"You got it," I smiled once again as I did as was asked of me.

All 4 women surrounded me and clasped hands; their eyes were closed and their breathing slowed down until it was in harmony with one another's. The air seemed to ripple with Power that was untapped for the moment and I could feel my flesh prickle with goose bumps and adrenaline seemed to shoot through my veins.

"In this place and in this hour, we call upon the ancient power – come to us and help us hide, this Witch from those on the outside, make her strong and make her proud, so she can't be broken and found!" the women chanted and it was like my body suddenly started to feel like I was being wrapped in an invisible cloak from the feet upwards. I was tingling and I was feeling the pull of magic – the kind of magic that I had only ever hoped to be witness too. Now I knew that I was a part of this, I had a real background and I had a real Family who were willing to help me and keep me safe.

Slowly the feeling settled deep in my bones and I felt a strong wind blow around us – locking the magic within. How did I know that? I didn't know, I just did and I felt safe and I felt protected.

This was where I belonged and this was where I definitely wanted to be.

A couple of hours later;

Shannon's House;

Shannon's POV;

Lillian and Annabella pulled out of my driveway and headed off into the night. Matt, Talia, Jeff and Selena were still sat in the front room of my house just as a loud pop and a flash of light seemed to seal the magic around the house.

I still couldn't believe it – my girlfriend was a Witch. A full blown, member of a Coven Witch. It was kind of hard to believe but as I watched her laughing and chatting with the 2 women who had helped her come into her own; I knew that she had finally filled the missing part of her soul and I was happy for that.

"So has anything weird ever happened with Claire?" Jeff asked me as he and Matt followed me into the kitchen.

"I don't know -,"

"Meaning?" Matt asked.

"Well there has been certain things that I have always put down to coincidence,"

"Like what?" Jeff asked lighting a cigarette and opening the back door so that he was essentially smoking outside.

"Like sometimes; she will be looking for something that I have lost and she'll mumble something about me being brainless and all of a sudden its like I have no thoughts, I can't remember stuff and as quickly as it occurs – it's gone,"

"Anything else?" Jeff asked through his rumble of laughter.

"One time she told me to shut up in an argument and I literally couldn't talk for 3 days until she told me that she hated the silent treatment and it was like a spell being lifted and I could talk again,"

I watched and listened to my friends crack up with laughter; neither could talk because they were laughing so hard and so completely that nothing would have gotten through to them anyway. I knew that it was funny to them because no one could shut me up when I got going but Claire had certainly made me shut up that day.

"Welcome to the weird and wonderful Supe world Shan," Jeff finally managed to talk through his laughter, "things are never gonna be the same again dude,"

"I don't doubt that," I admitted honestly.

I was more than happy for Claire – she had always felt like there was a part of her missing and I just figured that it was something that all adopted kids went through but this was much more than that – I had always known it but now I could see it. There was a light in my girlfriend that hadn't been there before; she was literally glowing with untapped energy and Power.

What did this mean for us?

I was mortal – she was a Supe; the jury could order us apart if they so desired. That thought scared the Hell outta me. I couldn't give her up – not now, not ever! Claire was my world; she had always been there for me and she had given me so much and shown me so much that I couldn't let her be taken away, but did I have the right to ask her not to give in to her Powers?

With those thoughts jogging through my brain in an exhausting routine, I allowed myself to turn quiet and just bask in the company that we had until it was time for them all to go, which came when Jeff announced that he needed to go hunting because he was hungry. That still freaked me out but he was still my best friend – and not some weird eating habit was going to change that.

"Oh my God, can you believe this?" Claire asked excitedly when I closed the door behind our guests.

"You're happy?" I asked back smiling and finding her mood infectious.

"More than I have ever been about anything baby. I have things to learn about my Family, I have cousins and Aunts – who knew?" she smiled infectiously as she literally bounced on the balls of her feet.

Taking my seat on the sofa, I watched and listened to her recount everything that her Aunt Lillian and cousin Selena had told her and then she had told me about all the things that she felt were opening up to her and the reason why her Mother had put her up for adoption.

I can't say as I was surprised – the word was that the jury had labs in places all over the world where they took half breeds and did experiments on them. Cruel experiments that could basically kill if they wanted too. Not that the jury ever confirmed it or denied it.

"So not to be a damper or anything – but what happens with us?" I asked nervously.

My eyes followed her every move, I watched the way her cloths seemed to highlight every sinful curve of her body, the way her energy seemed to sparkle like a star in the clear night and the way she seemed so hyped up.

"I thought about that too – Aunt Lillian and cousin Selena put a spell on me to keep me hidden from the jury and the Supe world for now until we can figure something out so we can just carry on as normal," she smiled once again seemingly calm about all of this.

What if they couldn't figure something out?

What if I had to give her up?

'Then make the best of a bad situation while you can,' a small and fragile voice sounded in my ear. Suddenly alert and on edge, I looked around the room to find nothing and no one there.

Great – now I am losing my mind! I thought to myself but taking the words literally, I reached for my girlfriend and pulled her down on to my lap. My hands wiping the long blood red hair from her eyes and smiling at her happily.

"You still love me then?"

"Why would you ask that?" she asked me.

"Well now that you're this powerful Witch and I am just a mere mortal,"

"Well see I have a theory on that,"

"You do? Care to enlighten me?"

"I think that I take after my Mom; she fell for a Human and had me – seems only fitting that I should follow in her footsteps don't you think?"

The smile on my face grew and I pulled her into the deepest and the most erotic kiss that I could. Our eyes blazed with the building hunger that we always seemed to feel for one another, my body called for her and as if she could read the signs, she moved closer all the while rubbing herself against my shaft and it was all I could do to keep from erupting in a second.

For now, I was happy to remain in bliss with the hope shining brightly that things would work out perfectly for all of us.

R/N - THANK YOU guys so much for the support and the reviews - they truly do mean more than I can say; I love you guys for the patience that you have with me and the continued support that you all show me whenever I post a new chapter or a new fic - you truly blow me away. I love you loads; please if you want more just let me know :D

Harley
xoxox