What If.
--Dancing With Lightning
Betrayals I stepped out of Da's car and grabbed my black backpack from the seat, slinging it over my back, looking at the school in front of me with disdain. "As if," I said to him. He laughed from his seat behind the wheel, while Ma was busily putting labels on glass bottles. "Enjoy, daughter!" he called in his Scottish accent. As I walked into the school, I wondered how different I'd sound (and look) to the rest of the students, even though they weren't going to see me. I sounded a cross between Irish and Scottish, which was right, because of my parents, but still. and I was wearing tight leather pants, a black top (I'd used a spell to grow my chest, not telling Da) and a black leather jacket. My hair hung around my face, two strands hanging perfectly on either side. Carelessly I ran a hand through my hair and stuffed it up. Now it just looked normal. Oh well. I looked to my right and saw a few short flights of stairs heading to a higher part of the front of the school. I could feel Blaire up there, so I walked up, hitching my pants up a little. At the top, I looked around and spotted Cal. I waited for a moment until he looked at me, then I waved, pressing my finger to my lips and casting a little spell on myself so I would be unseeable. If someone touched me, they'd just feel warmer air. I was basically halfway between one dimension and another, and it felt so cool. I sat next to Cal, running my hand across his face, so he could feel me. He smiled. How are you? He asked. Witch-talk, so his friends wouldn't suspect. The usual. Kinky, loud, annoyed and angry. You? Stressed. I don't think this is going to work. He laughed at a joke a pretty black-haired girl had told him. What, finding a Woodbane? You'll do fine, I crooned, kissing him on the cheek. He smiled again, feeling my lips brush his cheek ever so lightly. I believe in you. Sometimes that's not enough.
* * *
Saturday night. I hadn't seen Cal in a day and a bit, and now I couldn't wait for Da to get ready so we could go. Go do that sacrificial spell we've been waiting to do for years. I jiggled excitedly as I pulled my straight black hair into a high ponytail. Then I pulled on a black mini skirt, a black leather bustier and knee-high leather boots. I made sure my make-up was good, and then walked over to my handbag to start packing a few things. I yelped in surprise as my Da opened the door and strode in. "Your boy has been killed," he said shortly. "What, Cal??" "No, the sacrifice for tonight's circle. Blair did it." "No." "Yes." I cried out in annoyance. "He did it last time!! It's not fair!!! I've had enough, he's dead!!" "What, the sacrifice or Blair?" "CAL!! I haven't killed anyone for forever! It's just not fair!" I stomped down the stairs without my bag and pulled on a black leather coat that reached the bottom of my shoes. It looked quite stylish with my outfit. I strode outside and into my car, pulling out of the driveway.
I was at Cal's within minutes, and I stepped out of the car, not bothering with a hiding spell. I looked around, trying to sense him, and realised he was out back with some teenagers. "BLAIRE!!!!" it was then I realised I still hadn't washed the blood off of my hands and face from the intense spell I had done with my father. I dismissed the problem, and strode around the back, where he noises had stopped. "Did someone say your name?" one asked. "I don't know." Cal answered. Coming around the side of the house, I walked right up to the edge of the pool, glaring at a very naked soaking Cal, swimming in his pool. "What the hell have you done??? You've ruined the spell Da and I were going to do!!" He got out of the pool. "Morgan, what are you talking about?"
"You know what frigging thing I'm talking about!!" I yelled at him. "Over six months we've been waiting! And now you ruin it in less than five minutes!! How could you??" He looked at the ground. "Please Morgan. It's my favourite part of the spell." He pulled on his jeans. "I'll let you do it next time, I promise." "Bored now." was all I managed. I threw out my hand and Cal flew backwards, hitting his precious seómar. The girl with black hair jumped out of the pool and pulled on her dress, stumbling over to Cal, who was sitting against his seómar, groaning. "What are you doing?" she cried. With a look I sent her backwards, falling into the pool.
"Bree!" I heard one cry. I walked forward and knelt next to Cal, smoothing his hair. I pushed his head up to look at me. "Watch your back," I whispered, running a finger down his cheekbone, leaving a raised welt. I held my finger in one place for a moment, and then pulled away, watching the blood blossom on his cheek. "Put another toe out of line and I swear you'll be walking with all your body parts in the wrong places. Use your imagination." He stared at me, frightened. I smiled. "Got it?" "I thought we had something, MacEwan." With an annoyed sigh, I flicked my fingers and the water flew out of the pool, suspended a couple of metres in mid-air. Then another flick and he flew into the deepest part of the now-empty pool, probably three-or-so metres. He landed with a thud and groaned. I jumped down (with infinite grace of course) and landed steadily on my feet, walking over to him. I watched him struggle to his feet with amusement, and then he hissed a spell at me. Instead of brushing it away, like most people would, I absorbed it, sending one back four times the size. He yelled as it hit him in the chest, making him wheeze. I started to send another one when I heard police sirens heading this way. I glared at 'Bree', who was holding a cell phone against her hair and talking into it rapidly. I looked at Cal. "Next time, then. Perhaps." He just stared at me, horror-struck, as I ran up the side of the pool and jumped on to the roof of the house (with magick supporting me, of course), jumping into my convertible car and driving off as I felt the police cars turn onto the street.
* * *
I sat in bed, thinking. My feelings for Cal had changed so fast. An hour ago I'd wanted him. and now he ruined a spell we've been organising for months. We could have strengthened the Dark Wave if he hadn't killed that boy. The phone rang downstairs, and I heard Da answering it, asking his usual, "What is it??" A couple of seconds later he appeared at my door, holding the phone. "Morgan, it's some guy named Kyle. Be fast, though. Or we'll be late for a meeting with Amyranth." "I'll try, Da." I took the phone from him, and didn't hold it to my ear until Da left. "Kyle. Real slick. What kind of a name is that?" "Ha ha," came a dry voice from the other end of the line. "Extremely funny. You don't think I could give my real name, do you? Your Da would kill us both if he found out." "I guess you're right." "And I can't come around, either." "I guess not." "How's everything going??" "Not too bad. I still don't know how to do it, that's all." "Tell him what we went through." "Kay. I'll do it tomorrow. And Hu-Kyle?" "Yeah?" "Thanks for everything. I mean it. Thanks." "You're welcome. Now get some rest. You have a big day tomorrow."
* * *
I woke up in the morning and got out of bed, flinging open my wardrobe. I pulled on a Black white fluffy sweater, faded blue jeans and pulled my hair (once again) into a ponytail. Then I dabbed some makeup over my face and glanced at my watch. It was time.
It was a fairly quick drive to the school, and I got out of my car, walking up the steps I had walked up just a day before. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a blonde-haired guy talking to a blonde-haired girl. "Perfect." I muttered, recognising him. "Cal!" He looked up at me and his eyes changed from happiness to fear in less that half a second. I ran over to him, flinging my arms around his neck. "I'm so sorry!" I cried. "I'm so sorry." "I'm sorry too." he murmured. He pulled away and looked at me intently. "I have something I need to tell you." "So do I." I reached into my back pocket and pulled out a braigh, wrapping it around his wrists. "You're under arrest, by the official order of The Council; I'm here to take you to be questioned." He opened his mouth, and I frowned. "You have the right to remain silent. I wouldn't say anything without your mother, who in fact." I checked my watch, ".is being taken into custody right now, so, if you'll come with me." He stared up at me. "How could you?" he whispered through his tears and cries of pain. The blonde-haired pair that I had seen before walked up behind me. The blonde guy took my spare hand and gave it a squeeze. "It's my job," I told him shortly. I looked up at the blonde-haired guy. "Kyle. thanks. Thanks a lot." "Stop calling me Kyle." I laughed, still keeping a hard grip on the braigh, even though it was reddening my hands. "Hunter, thankyou for what you did. What you and the council did." I tugged on Cal's braigh as a red Four-wheel Drive car pulled up, a big Toyota. Walking over to the car with Cal following me like a dog on a leash, I watched as a short, red-headed woman stepped out of the car, walking around and opening the back. I threw Cal into the back of the car, shutting the doors and spelling them so only the red-head could open them. I smiled at her. "Get this bastard out of here," I said, watching Cal through the glass. He was crying, tugging at the braigh, trying to pull it off his wrists, with no luck. It was stuck there until someone said the correct spell to take it off. "Let him see his mom." I turned to Hunter and slapped his hand in celebration. "Mission accomplished!!"
Betrayals I stepped out of Da's car and grabbed my black backpack from the seat, slinging it over my back, looking at the school in front of me with disdain. "As if," I said to him. He laughed from his seat behind the wheel, while Ma was busily putting labels on glass bottles. "Enjoy, daughter!" he called in his Scottish accent. As I walked into the school, I wondered how different I'd sound (and look) to the rest of the students, even though they weren't going to see me. I sounded a cross between Irish and Scottish, which was right, because of my parents, but still. and I was wearing tight leather pants, a black top (I'd used a spell to grow my chest, not telling Da) and a black leather jacket. My hair hung around my face, two strands hanging perfectly on either side. Carelessly I ran a hand through my hair and stuffed it up. Now it just looked normal. Oh well. I looked to my right and saw a few short flights of stairs heading to a higher part of the front of the school. I could feel Blaire up there, so I walked up, hitching my pants up a little. At the top, I looked around and spotted Cal. I waited for a moment until he looked at me, then I waved, pressing my finger to my lips and casting a little spell on myself so I would be unseeable. If someone touched me, they'd just feel warmer air. I was basically halfway between one dimension and another, and it felt so cool. I sat next to Cal, running my hand across his face, so he could feel me. He smiled. How are you? He asked. Witch-talk, so his friends wouldn't suspect. The usual. Kinky, loud, annoyed and angry. You? Stressed. I don't think this is going to work. He laughed at a joke a pretty black-haired girl had told him. What, finding a Woodbane? You'll do fine, I crooned, kissing him on the cheek. He smiled again, feeling my lips brush his cheek ever so lightly. I believe in you. Sometimes that's not enough.
* * *
Saturday night. I hadn't seen Cal in a day and a bit, and now I couldn't wait for Da to get ready so we could go. Go do that sacrificial spell we've been waiting to do for years. I jiggled excitedly as I pulled my straight black hair into a high ponytail. Then I pulled on a black mini skirt, a black leather bustier and knee-high leather boots. I made sure my make-up was good, and then walked over to my handbag to start packing a few things. I yelped in surprise as my Da opened the door and strode in. "Your boy has been killed," he said shortly. "What, Cal??" "No, the sacrifice for tonight's circle. Blair did it." "No." "Yes." I cried out in annoyance. "He did it last time!! It's not fair!!! I've had enough, he's dead!!" "What, the sacrifice or Blair?" "CAL!! I haven't killed anyone for forever! It's just not fair!" I stomped down the stairs without my bag and pulled on a black leather coat that reached the bottom of my shoes. It looked quite stylish with my outfit. I strode outside and into my car, pulling out of the driveway.
I was at Cal's within minutes, and I stepped out of the car, not bothering with a hiding spell. I looked around, trying to sense him, and realised he was out back with some teenagers. "BLAIRE!!!!" it was then I realised I still hadn't washed the blood off of my hands and face from the intense spell I had done with my father. I dismissed the problem, and strode around the back, where he noises had stopped. "Did someone say your name?" one asked. "I don't know." Cal answered. Coming around the side of the house, I walked right up to the edge of the pool, glaring at a very naked soaking Cal, swimming in his pool. "What the hell have you done??? You've ruined the spell Da and I were going to do!!" He got out of the pool. "Morgan, what are you talking about?"
"You know what frigging thing I'm talking about!!" I yelled at him. "Over six months we've been waiting! And now you ruin it in less than five minutes!! How could you??" He looked at the ground. "Please Morgan. It's my favourite part of the spell." He pulled on his jeans. "I'll let you do it next time, I promise." "Bored now." was all I managed. I threw out my hand and Cal flew backwards, hitting his precious seómar. The girl with black hair jumped out of the pool and pulled on her dress, stumbling over to Cal, who was sitting against his seómar, groaning. "What are you doing?" she cried. With a look I sent her backwards, falling into the pool.
"Bree!" I heard one cry. I walked forward and knelt next to Cal, smoothing his hair. I pushed his head up to look at me. "Watch your back," I whispered, running a finger down his cheekbone, leaving a raised welt. I held my finger in one place for a moment, and then pulled away, watching the blood blossom on his cheek. "Put another toe out of line and I swear you'll be walking with all your body parts in the wrong places. Use your imagination." He stared at me, frightened. I smiled. "Got it?" "I thought we had something, MacEwan." With an annoyed sigh, I flicked my fingers and the water flew out of the pool, suspended a couple of metres in mid-air. Then another flick and he flew into the deepest part of the now-empty pool, probably three-or-so metres. He landed with a thud and groaned. I jumped down (with infinite grace of course) and landed steadily on my feet, walking over to him. I watched him struggle to his feet with amusement, and then he hissed a spell at me. Instead of brushing it away, like most people would, I absorbed it, sending one back four times the size. He yelled as it hit him in the chest, making him wheeze. I started to send another one when I heard police sirens heading this way. I glared at 'Bree', who was holding a cell phone against her hair and talking into it rapidly. I looked at Cal. "Next time, then. Perhaps." He just stared at me, horror-struck, as I ran up the side of the pool and jumped on to the roof of the house (with magick supporting me, of course), jumping into my convertible car and driving off as I felt the police cars turn onto the street.
* * *
I sat in bed, thinking. My feelings for Cal had changed so fast. An hour ago I'd wanted him. and now he ruined a spell we've been organising for months. We could have strengthened the Dark Wave if he hadn't killed that boy. The phone rang downstairs, and I heard Da answering it, asking his usual, "What is it??" A couple of seconds later he appeared at my door, holding the phone. "Morgan, it's some guy named Kyle. Be fast, though. Or we'll be late for a meeting with Amyranth." "I'll try, Da." I took the phone from him, and didn't hold it to my ear until Da left. "Kyle. Real slick. What kind of a name is that?" "Ha ha," came a dry voice from the other end of the line. "Extremely funny. You don't think I could give my real name, do you? Your Da would kill us both if he found out." "I guess you're right." "And I can't come around, either." "I guess not." "How's everything going??" "Not too bad. I still don't know how to do it, that's all." "Tell him what we went through." "Kay. I'll do it tomorrow. And Hu-Kyle?" "Yeah?" "Thanks for everything. I mean it. Thanks." "You're welcome. Now get some rest. You have a big day tomorrow."
* * *
I woke up in the morning and got out of bed, flinging open my wardrobe. I pulled on a Black white fluffy sweater, faded blue jeans and pulled my hair (once again) into a ponytail. Then I dabbed some makeup over my face and glanced at my watch. It was time.
It was a fairly quick drive to the school, and I got out of my car, walking up the steps I had walked up just a day before. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a blonde-haired guy talking to a blonde-haired girl. "Perfect." I muttered, recognising him. "Cal!" He looked up at me and his eyes changed from happiness to fear in less that half a second. I ran over to him, flinging my arms around his neck. "I'm so sorry!" I cried. "I'm so sorry." "I'm sorry too." he murmured. He pulled away and looked at me intently. "I have something I need to tell you." "So do I." I reached into my back pocket and pulled out a braigh, wrapping it around his wrists. "You're under arrest, by the official order of The Council; I'm here to take you to be questioned." He opened his mouth, and I frowned. "You have the right to remain silent. I wouldn't say anything without your mother, who in fact." I checked my watch, ".is being taken into custody right now, so, if you'll come with me." He stared up at me. "How could you?" he whispered through his tears and cries of pain. The blonde-haired pair that I had seen before walked up behind me. The blonde guy took my spare hand and gave it a squeeze. "It's my job," I told him shortly. I looked up at the blonde-haired guy. "Kyle. thanks. Thanks a lot." "Stop calling me Kyle." I laughed, still keeping a hard grip on the braigh, even though it was reddening my hands. "Hunter, thankyou for what you did. What you and the council did." I tugged on Cal's braigh as a red Four-wheel Drive car pulled up, a big Toyota. Walking over to the car with Cal following me like a dog on a leash, I watched as a short, red-headed woman stepped out of the car, walking around and opening the back. I threw Cal into the back of the car, shutting the doors and spelling them so only the red-head could open them. I smiled at her. "Get this bastard out of here," I said, watching Cal through the glass. He was crying, tugging at the braigh, trying to pull it off his wrists, with no luck. It was stuck there until someone said the correct spell to take it off. "Let him see his mom." I turned to Hunter and slapped his hand in celebration. "Mission accomplished!!"
