A/N Happy Halloween! My Coauthor, KurtandBlaineGleek and I have been working hard on this special treat for you all, and had hoped to post it in its entirety today, but unfortunately time ran out, so we will be posting what we have completed so far, and the last few chapters as they are completed over the next couple of days. We hope you enjoy the story !
Reviews always welcome!
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The Dalton Circle
Prologue
Dalton Academy, Westerville, November 3rd, 1901
Eyes followed Raymond Montgomery as he paced the center of the room. Samuel Thompson remained at the podium at the front of the room, the grimoire open in front of him, but he ignored the words on the page, in favor of joining the rest of the boys in watching Raymond pace.
"I give up," Raymond finally said, throwing his hands up in defeat. "How they could miss the clear signs that he didn't jump still evades my understanding."
Samuel sighed. "The room was locked from the inside, there was no sign of anyone else having been in the room. They say the other wounds may have come from an earlier altercation that preceded his taking his life."
Gregory Sterling wasn't certain if it was his place to speak, as he was not from one of the Founding Lines, but decided to add his two cents worth. "The police are merely human. They do not comprehend what they cannot see."
Alexander Duval took that as his cue to speak up as well. "I guess we should at least look at the positive. If they don't suspect murder, they can't suspect Devon and Ethan of being involved. Their disappearances at the same time make them look awfully suspicious."
Raymond paused in his pacing, shaking his head. "Are we certain we've searched everywhere for them? I can't fathom why they would just disappear like this."
"They didn't leave a trace for us to follow either," Samuel said. "And come to think of it, Andrew Smythe also hasn't been seen since that day."
Raymond moved to stand in front of the young boy who sat alone in the corner, looking lost and alone. "John, did your brother give you any indication that he was leaving?"
Johnathon Anderson shook his head. "He told me he received a note from Ethan to meet him at midnight in the west wing, that there was a rune he wanted to show him. I had a bad feeling about it, and begged him not to go."
Raymond knelt down to be more on level with the boy. "I know you are worried, but I need you to See for me. Can you do that?"
The black haired boy sighed, and closed his hazel eyes, taking several deep breaths. When he opened his eyes again a few moments later, they glowed with a golden light.
"The fourth shall walk among you again, but will not know his nature. Only when he is united with the third heir will they unravel the secrets."
Samuel's eyes went wide as the prophecy was spoken to the room. "Okay, but what does that mean? Heir? What heir is it referring to?"
Johnathan blinked his eyes, which had now returned to their normal color. "You know I cannot interpret the visions. All I can tell you is that one day, the truth will be revealed."
At that moment the door banged open, and Charles Smythe wandered in. "Is it common practice among this Circle to hold meetings without the full membership? Or perhaps it was just a slip of the memory to notify me? My Line is rather new here."
Raymond impressively held back a sneer at the boy. "Apologies, Smythe. We weren't informed that you were concerned about Winston's death. Though, perhaps you can enlighten us on where your brother went."
"Am I my brother's keeper? Andrew comes and goes as he pleases. Perhaps you should be more concerned with why Devon and Ethan have run off."
"Are you accusing them, Charles?" Samuel said, narrowing his eyes. "Frankly, it's just as concerning that no one has seen or heard from Andrew, either, since the morning Winston's body was found. Accusing Devon and Ethan of murder is a heavy accusation and will warrant a strike against this Circle's code of conduct. You may be new, but you are no more above the rules of this coven than the rest of us are."
Charles rolled his eyes. "I forget what a gaggle of boring old women you all are. We have been given power because we are better than those mere humans. We should use them to take control of this world and bring it out of chaos."
"And that, right there, is exactly why so many witches have been burned at the stake. We don't stand for control, Smythe," Raymond said. "You knew that when you took the Circle's vow."
Alexander studied the other man. "Why did you and your twin decide to come here, anyway? You knew our Circle stood as guardians of the powerless. Your reputations in Europe preceded you here. The only reason we granted you both permission to stay is that there are so few Circles left in this country."
Charles looked Alexander up and down with a bored expression on his face. "You just answered your own question. There are so few Circles left in this country and us Smythes have come to repopulate. There are more of us everywhere. Don't forget, we were an entire Circle all our own."
"How could we forget when it was your line that caused the mass execution of our people in Europe during the witch hunts?" Gregory said with contempt. "How much of our kind's blood is on your Lines' hands?"
"That was a lesson meant to be taught!" Charles replied, growling just a little. "Light users have no business having power in this world."
Several of the gathered young men stormed to their feet, shouting in anger at the man's callousness. Raymond shouted for them to calm down. "Perhaps you are the one who has no business within this Circle," he said. "You have shown little regard for the rules that have protected these lines for centuries, and both you and your brother have behaved with contempt for the humans among us. It is within our rights to banish you and yours from these shores. Go back to Europe, and may the High Council have mercy on you if you harm another."
Charles let out another growl. "You will regret this, Raymond Montgomery. Maybe not today, and maybe not tomorrow, but you will regret this!" With a menacing glare at the rest of the gathered boys, he turned and fled the room.