Chapter 5: Amyranth
It's been close to a month since I updated, due in part to a major test (or MOAT- Mother Of All Tests- I picked it up from a classmate) I had to take on May 5 (aka Cinco de Mayo (don't know if I spelled that right)). Anyway, it was the AP (Advanced Placement) World History exam, and I had to sit in the gym of my school for about four and a half hours. Nightmare. Luckily it's behind me, and I can get back to my normal life. So here's the next chapter. Everyone seems to be doing it lately, so I'm going to thank all those who have reviewed! Keep them coming! Okay, next chapter…
JadeMoon
Morgan's POV
I took my key out of my pocket, trying to juggle the three shopping bags I had in my hands. I finally opened the door and stepped inside, practically dragging the heavy bags behind me. I glanced into the living room and jumped. I had to get used to Hunter living with me. It was what I wanted most, so why was I so jumpy? Maybe we just had to reconnect. Hunter was on the phone, and he looked at me and held up a finger to say, "One minute."
I went into the kitchen and put all the groceries away. When I came back to the living room, Hunter was still on the phone. Not wanting to intrude, I went into my room and sat on the bed to wait for him. Hunter came in a few minutes later and stood in the doorway. "I have some news," he said. "I was talking to Max Davis. He said that he talked to you the other day."
"Yeah," I said. "He didn't seem to care about the accident."
Hunter grinned. "That's the type of person he is. He doesn't let his emotions show, ever. Anyway, you're not going to like this."
I got up. "What? Tell me."
"I've got to go to Waterford. It's about 80 miles from here. I have to go to a headquarters that the New Charter set up a few months ago."
I nodded. "Okay," I said. "I'm coming with you."
Hunter shook his head. "No, Morgan. This is private. Max, a few other members, and I have a very important, what was supposed to be secret meeting. Damn. I shouldn't have told you it was secret."
"Hunter, you know me better than that. I can keep secrets, plus there's something I would like to take up with the New Charter."
"What?"
I grinned. "Maybe that's a secret. No, I want to talk about what I saw when we scried. And another thing. I'm way too stubborn to let you talk me out of coming with you."
"Morgan, I can take it up with the New Charter. It's not a problem. I want you to stay here and watch over the flat. We might be going through a dangerous time again."
"Hunter, I'll have Colm or some other friends keep an eye on the place." I stepped closer to Hunter. "I need to watch over you, so nothing will happen like in Wales. I don't want you to be hurt in a car crash or something."
Hunter grasped me hand with his. "Nothing like that will happen. I can take care of myself. Please Morgan, please stay behind."
I stepped backwards, pulling my hand from Hunter's grip. "I can't do that Hunter. I'm going with you, and that's that."
Hunter shook his head again. I was getting irritated. "Morgan," Hunter said, changing his pleading tone to one of anger. "You're not coming." Now he was almost yelling. "Have you ever thought that I might be doing something dangerous that involves people you have been acquainted with? Have you ever thought that I want you to stay behind in order to protect you? Can't you see that?"
I felt like I had been slapped and walked back to the bed. I sat down and couldn't stop the tears that had begun to roll down my cheeks. I felt Hunter calming himself down, sensed the angry splotches of red disappear from his cheeks. Hunter sat on the bed next to me and put his hand on my shoulder. I got up and crossed to the other side of the room. It seemed like whenever we fought like this, it always ended with me crying and Hunter trying to dampen down his anger. I hated these fights, though thankfully, they didn't happen often.
Hunter sighed. "I'm sorry, Morgan. I've just been under some stress lately. Believe me, I want you to come. If I didn't care about you, then I would have let you come. I know how badly we need to spend time together. But I don't want you involved with what's going on currently at the New Charter."
I stayed rooted to my spot at the window on the other side of the room, wiping my tears away. Hunter came over and put his hand on my shoulders. He turned me around to face him. I kept my eyes down, still sniffling. I summed up the courage to say, "Tell me what you have to do in Waterford." I saw shock in Hunter's eyes. I had gotten bolder over the years. "What's so dangerous? Who are you investigating that I know?" I reached out and grabbed Hunter's arm in a tight grip. I was no longer sniffling, and my eyes were drying. "Please tell me."
Hunter sighed. "I might as well tell you. I've told you too much already. I have to do some investigating on former members of Amyranth."
"Amyranth?" I asked. "Didn't they disband two years ago?"
"Yes. Without Ciaran, they became considerably weaker. Now Amyranth is trying to come together again. They probably have something planned, and the New Charter is trying to get someone to infiltrate."
The news of Amyranth trying to come together again surprised me so much, I completely forgot about how I wanted to go to Waterford with Hunter. "Does the Council know about this?"
Hunter smirked and laughed meanly. "The Council is too caught up in stripping people of their magic that they don't even know about Amyranth. The New Charter has no intention of letting the Council know. It's our case, now. And one other thing, Morgan. You are not to tell anyone about Amyranth. Only a handful of people know, and no one who isn't a New Charter member knows. This is a huge secret."
I nodded and gazed up at Hunter's large green eyes. "I understand why you don't want me to go," I whispered. "I'm sorry for hassling you."
Hunter grinned and leaned down to kiss me. "I'm sorry, too," he said sincerely. "I know that you can keep a secret. I should have told you in the first place. Amyranth has a lot to do with you. You were, after all, supposed to take the position of high priestess after Ciaran died."
My mouth fell open. "What?" I screamed. "High priestess? I never knew this!"
"Oh, um…" Hunter said pathetically. "You never knew? I thought you did. And I thought that you never brought it up because you were angry and hurt about it. I never brought up the whole issue because I didn't want to hurt you again."
I walked past Hunter to the bed and sat down on it heavily. "I can't believe this. How did you find out?"
Hunter walked over and sat down next to me, taking my hand. "About a year ago, a New Charter member went to speak to Ciaran at his rest home. He managed to get some stuff out of Ciaran. Like how Amyranth cast the dark wave spells, some names of members. Most of it we already knew. Then he told the New Charter member that you were lined up for high priestess. From before Ciaran was stripped of his powers. Ciaran was so hoping you would join him so that you could take over leadership of the coven. Plus he wanted to keep Amyranth in the MacEwan name. You are his most powerful child. It doesn't matter if you have the last name Rowlands. Or even Niall, for that matter." He smiled, hoping to cheer me up. But I wasn't feeling better.
"Why did you think that I knew this?" I asked.
"The New Charter, for some reason, thought you should know this. I tried to talk them out of it, saying that you didn't need to know. If the information got out, I was afraid that the Amyranth members would come together and try to get you to take the role of high priestess. Or try and take your powers again, so it would be like Ciaran never left. The New Charter never told me why they wanted you to know. But I knew that I couldn't tell you this. They asked me too, but I knew it would crush you. You thought you were done with Amyranth four years ago. So the New Charter decided to have some secretary tell you. You never got a phone call or letter or anything telling you about you being high priestess?"
I shook my head. "No. I never found out."
"I'll look into it," Hunter said. "I'm leaving tomorrow, but I'll be back in three days. I'll let you know what I find out. Protect yourself. It's vital once again. We don't know what's coming."
Okay, that's all for now. Be sure to review, please!