Diana glanced at the group on the beach. Melanie and she had been up all night searching the Internet and had finally found what they were looking for.
Chris moved uncomfortably. "We're all here. Can you tell us why?"
Doug nodded. "We've got stuff to do."
"I believe that this is more important than pipe bombs," Melanie sighed.
"Come on!" Laurel said eagerly. "I'm dying to know what this is about."
Faye turned to Diana. "You called this, you tell."
Diana smiled, taking a deep breath. "We've found another coven."
Other than Melanie and Nick, every jaw fell open.
After a long moment of silence, Adam was the first to speak. "Where?"
"In Ireland, in the city of Salem." Diana looked around to see wonder cross the face of every member. She continued on. "Melanie and I were able to contact a member of their coven. Her name is Katherine. She told us that they have been searching for us for generations, and were never able to find a link from Salem to New Salem."
"How many of them are there?" Laurel asked quietly.
"Too many to count. They have a number of covens coexisting in this town, of all different ages. Nobody's left the town in centuries, unless it was to search for other groups from around the world."
"So what's the next step?" Cassie asked, expectantly.
Diana looked at Melanie and received the okay to continue. Diana sighed, then began to speak. "Since everyone here is still in school, I volunteered to take the trip."
"By yourself?" Faye exclaimed with worry in her voice. "You can't possibly go alone."
"It's just easier this way," Diana explained. "I am the leader in charge of relations, after all."
Cassie looked at her, sadness crossing her face. "What if something happens? You need someone to come with you."
"I will be all right." Diana knew she would have to fight her point.
"I'll go with you," Adam said solemnly.
"No," she replied. "This isn't your job. Cassie and Faye need you here, to take my place while I'm gone. You know everything there is to do in my absence."
"I refuse to let you go without somebody," Cassie said, standing up.
"Who could possibly go with me, Cassie? Every one of you is still in school. I'm as eager as all of you to make a connection with these guys, I don't want to put it off any longer than we need to."
A voice came strongly from an unexpected quarter. "I'll go."
Diana turned slowly to look at Nick. He was standing, making his point more clear. "I never go to school as it is. I'll go."
She shook her head. "I don't need you to go, I'll be fine by myself."
"No, you won't. You're strong, Diana, and hard-willed, but you need someone else. And I need to get out off of this island."
She looked to Melanie for support, but none was there. "They have a point, Diana."
She sighed deeply. "Fine, Nick will go with me. Are you happy?" Everyone in the group looked content, and she shook her head. She sat down next to Melanie, letting out a deep breath of air. "Let's discuss the plans."