A/n: Oh wow…. This is my seventh chapter… This is my longest story by far, and has the greatest number of reviews I've ever gotten. (pathetic, huh?) I just want to say thank you so much… You guys blow me away. I don't know what'd I do without you… my readers, my friends, my life.
Liam: A little emotional, Dream?
Dream: You know what? You can just shut up!
Aurelia: Hey! Don't yell at him! (looks at him fondly)
Dream: (throws out arm) Wait a second! No, no way! We will not have cross-story relationships! And you- (points to Aurelia) I have plans for you!
Aurelia: (squeak!)
Liam: (takes a drink) Hey now…
(Dream turns and drop-kicks him back into his own story)
Liam: Hey, no, wait- AHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Aurelia: (runs away, frightened)
Dream: Well, what can I say? I must rule with an iron hand! O_O ~_~ O_O
Please R&R! You get a pretty surprise in the next chapter I post if I see you have! Donuts for all! Merry Meet and Merry Part until we Merry Meet again!
Chapter Seven: Of Phone Calls and Thickening Plots!
"Merry Meet, On this day, Talon officially became Phoenix Starwing. I am proud of my sibling beyond all reason, but he is ill, it seems, and drawn. He speaks no word of his initiation, only lays on his bed, recovering from a bout of sudden illness. His skin is clammy and cold and his fever is high. He is delirious, but there is nothing we can do for him. This too, it seems, is a part of his initiation into the Craft. It hurts me to see him like this. Meredith asked me about my future today. Strange words, coming from such a small child. But she is a very intelligent girl, and she seems much older than she already is. To me, she seems my elder, though I am her senior by six years. I love her dearly. On the latter page I've listed the higher properties of power stones, and how to use them. I was starting to confuse Bloodstone and Carnelian's magickal properties. They're so close that in ritual I would use the wrong stone, and have to break the spell. Until we meet again, I pray for my brother's well-being.
~Dragon Starwing"
***
It was dark when Aurelia drove into her driveway later that night, and only Julian's car was in the driveway. The house was dark; Aurelia assumed that they were celebrated Julian's job. She mentally winced for not being there.
As soon as she opened the door she heard the phone. She dropped her bag and ran for the one in the kitchen. She picked it up, panting. "Hello…(pant) Dawson residence."
"Aurelia?" The voice was hesitant, unsure…
But familiar.
"Morgan!" she almost screamed. "Oh Goddess… I was just going to call you!"
Morgan chuckled on the other end. "Yeah, well… I felt like I needed to talk to you. I have no idea way, but I've been taught to trust my instincts these days." Her voice seemed to tweak, and Aurelia hinted a little sarcasm.
She twisted her finger in the phone cord. "So… what's up?"
"Not much. I had nothing to do, so I called you. Did… you need to talk to me?"
Aurelia bit her lip. "Yeah, a little."
"What is it?"
Aurelia hesitated, and decided not to say it. "My… my History teacher's a witch."
"Really? That's really cool. Must be nice having a teacher you can really trust."
"Yeah, it's great. He's the coolest guy I know. He's so nice, and the greatest teacher. And he's a blood witch," she added as almost an afterthought.
"Whoa! Does he know his clan?"
"Yeah, he says he half Wykendell and half Leapvaugh. What a mix, huh?"
Morgan gave a low whistle. "Tell me about it. That's definitely a different one."
"So… you're a Woodbane, right?"
"Yeah, but I'm not evil. There were good ones out there. I come from them." Morgan rushed.
"Oh, you mean like Belwicket?"
Morgan's voice turned shocked. "What! How do you know about Belwicket?"
Aurelia shrugged, forgetting that Morgan couldn't see her. "Yeah. Drag - my teacher told me about them. He says that they were one of the few good Woodbane clans left, and they were destroyed by a dark wave sent by a powerful witch."
Morgan sounded shaken. "Yeah. Yeah they were."
Aurelia's eyebrow's furrowed. "What is it?"
Morgan took a deep breath. "My mother… She was the last of Belwicket."
Aurelia almost dropped the phone. "You're serious, aren't you." It wasn't a question.
"Yep. I'm the…heiress of the coven, I guess."
"Whoa…" Aurelia felt she was talking to a Goddess.
Morgan shifted at the other end. "You know, it's creepy. I really feel like I can talk to you about anything. I've haven't been able to do that with another girl for a long long time." She seemed deep in thought.
Aurelia looked out the window, where the wind blew in the trees. "Yeah, I know. I feel the same way. It's almost like… almost like it's magick."
***
"I believe I've found her." The man set down two mugs on the table and followed suit with himself.
"Found who?" An irritated voice answered, taking a mug.
The first man rolled his eyes. "You know… **her**" He emphasized the word.
The other man looked up from his mug. "You mean, his daughter?"
Man one shook his head and sipped his beer. "No, grand-daughter. He had a son, not a girl."
"So Moonblade, what's she?"
"No real strength. His son didn't know. Never tried it."
"Pity," the other one sighed.
"Pity? What if he had? He might have been able-"
"No he wouldn't. The power skips a generation each time."
"So **she** has it?" Moonblade looked intrigued.
The other man shrugged. "Don't know. It may have diluted."
"May have."
"But…" The second man leaned in, and the first did the same. "I would be pleased, Moonblade, if this all went away. I don't want to take any chances."
Moonblade nodded. "I'll handle it myself."
***
The phone rang again. Aurelia's head jumped up from where it rested on the counter. She yawned as she answered, "Hehwo?"
Will's voice sounded confused. "Rail, are you drunk?"
Her eyes flew open as she went wide awake. "Will! Hell no I'm not drunk! Why would you ask me that!?!"
"Dunno. You sounded drunk."
Aurelia sighed and shook her head. "Will…"
Will laughed. "See? I know how to wake you up."
She voiced disbelief. "You knew? I can't believe you…I ought to turn you into a toad or a rabbit or a worm or something. Let's try."
The man on the other end cleared. "I called you for a reason, you know."
"Naw Will, I thought you called because you accidentally hit my number on the speed dial - that you had no intention of calling me whatsoever-"
"Ouch. Damn woman, you're grouchy late at night."
"I tend to be that way when people wake me up."
"Do you wanna hear what I've got to say or what?"
"What?"
"You wanna come with me on Sunday to a Pagan convention upstate? I'd like to go, but I don't want to go alone."
"I don't know… why don't you ask James or Adam?"
His voice got quieter. "Because, Skysong, I'd rather go with you."
Aurelia blinked. Suddenly, with realization, her heart started pounding against her chest. "Oh…" She said the only thing she could think of. "Uh… you sure?"
She instantly smacked her forehead.
Will's deep tones stayed the same. "Yes Skysong, I'm definitely sure. I don't want to go with anyone but you."
Oh my, oh my, oh my, oh Goddess and glory, she thought. Help me help me help me. "Um… okay. I'll go. Sounds cool. When and where?"
Will let out a breath. "Don't worry, I'll pick you up at your house. Say about… noon?"
"Yeah, hon. Noon sounds great."
"It's a date. See ya in the morning." He hug up the phone.
Aurelia slowly put the phone back on the hook and clapped a hand to her forehead. "Oh no… It's a date?"
***
Reader Responses (AKA DONUTS!!!!!):
Saz: Oh Saz you rock! You have been here throughout my entire story, giving your comments faithfully on every chapter in a beautiful review, and oh my Goddess, I have never had such a faithful REVIEWING reader. At this point in time, you're the only person I can respond to, because you're the only one good enough to review when you're done reading. I'm so so so so so so so so so so SO glad to have you here reading this for me, and I want to let you know that if there's anything I can reasonably do for you, just ask! You are so COOL!
Liam: A little emotional, Dream?
Dream: You know what? You can just shut up!
Aurelia: Hey! Don't yell at him! (looks at him fondly)
Dream: (throws out arm) Wait a second! No, no way! We will not have cross-story relationships! And you- (points to Aurelia) I have plans for you!
Aurelia: (squeak!)
Liam: (takes a drink) Hey now…
(Dream turns and drop-kicks him back into his own story)
Liam: Hey, no, wait- AHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Aurelia: (runs away, frightened)
Dream: Well, what can I say? I must rule with an iron hand! O_O ~_~ O_O
Please R&R! You get a pretty surprise in the next chapter I post if I see you have! Donuts for all! Merry Meet and Merry Part until we Merry Meet again!
Chapter Seven: Of Phone Calls and Thickening Plots!
"Merry Meet, On this day, Talon officially became Phoenix Starwing. I am proud of my sibling beyond all reason, but he is ill, it seems, and drawn. He speaks no word of his initiation, only lays on his bed, recovering from a bout of sudden illness. His skin is clammy and cold and his fever is high. He is delirious, but there is nothing we can do for him. This too, it seems, is a part of his initiation into the Craft. It hurts me to see him like this. Meredith asked me about my future today. Strange words, coming from such a small child. But she is a very intelligent girl, and she seems much older than she already is. To me, she seems my elder, though I am her senior by six years. I love her dearly. On the latter page I've listed the higher properties of power stones, and how to use them. I was starting to confuse Bloodstone and Carnelian's magickal properties. They're so close that in ritual I would use the wrong stone, and have to break the spell. Until we meet again, I pray for my brother's well-being.
~Dragon Starwing"
***
It was dark when Aurelia drove into her driveway later that night, and only Julian's car was in the driveway. The house was dark; Aurelia assumed that they were celebrated Julian's job. She mentally winced for not being there.
As soon as she opened the door she heard the phone. She dropped her bag and ran for the one in the kitchen. She picked it up, panting. "Hello…(pant) Dawson residence."
"Aurelia?" The voice was hesitant, unsure…
But familiar.
"Morgan!" she almost screamed. "Oh Goddess… I was just going to call you!"
Morgan chuckled on the other end. "Yeah, well… I felt like I needed to talk to you. I have no idea way, but I've been taught to trust my instincts these days." Her voice seemed to tweak, and Aurelia hinted a little sarcasm.
She twisted her finger in the phone cord. "So… what's up?"
"Not much. I had nothing to do, so I called you. Did… you need to talk to me?"
Aurelia bit her lip. "Yeah, a little."
"What is it?"
Aurelia hesitated, and decided not to say it. "My… my History teacher's a witch."
"Really? That's really cool. Must be nice having a teacher you can really trust."
"Yeah, it's great. He's the coolest guy I know. He's so nice, and the greatest teacher. And he's a blood witch," she added as almost an afterthought.
"Whoa! Does he know his clan?"
"Yeah, he says he half Wykendell and half Leapvaugh. What a mix, huh?"
Morgan gave a low whistle. "Tell me about it. That's definitely a different one."
"So… you're a Woodbane, right?"
"Yeah, but I'm not evil. There were good ones out there. I come from them." Morgan rushed.
"Oh, you mean like Belwicket?"
Morgan's voice turned shocked. "What! How do you know about Belwicket?"
Aurelia shrugged, forgetting that Morgan couldn't see her. "Yeah. Drag - my teacher told me about them. He says that they were one of the few good Woodbane clans left, and they were destroyed by a dark wave sent by a powerful witch."
Morgan sounded shaken. "Yeah. Yeah they were."
Aurelia's eyebrow's furrowed. "What is it?"
Morgan took a deep breath. "My mother… She was the last of Belwicket."
Aurelia almost dropped the phone. "You're serious, aren't you." It wasn't a question.
"Yep. I'm the…heiress of the coven, I guess."
"Whoa…" Aurelia felt she was talking to a Goddess.
Morgan shifted at the other end. "You know, it's creepy. I really feel like I can talk to you about anything. I've haven't been able to do that with another girl for a long long time." She seemed deep in thought.
Aurelia looked out the window, where the wind blew in the trees. "Yeah, I know. I feel the same way. It's almost like… almost like it's magick."
***
"I believe I've found her." The man set down two mugs on the table and followed suit with himself.
"Found who?" An irritated voice answered, taking a mug.
The first man rolled his eyes. "You know… **her**" He emphasized the word.
The other man looked up from his mug. "You mean, his daughter?"
Man one shook his head and sipped his beer. "No, grand-daughter. He had a son, not a girl."
"So Moonblade, what's she?"
"No real strength. His son didn't know. Never tried it."
"Pity," the other one sighed.
"Pity? What if he had? He might have been able-"
"No he wouldn't. The power skips a generation each time."
"So **she** has it?" Moonblade looked intrigued.
The other man shrugged. "Don't know. It may have diluted."
"May have."
"But…" The second man leaned in, and the first did the same. "I would be pleased, Moonblade, if this all went away. I don't want to take any chances."
Moonblade nodded. "I'll handle it myself."
***
The phone rang again. Aurelia's head jumped up from where it rested on the counter. She yawned as she answered, "Hehwo?"
Will's voice sounded confused. "Rail, are you drunk?"
Her eyes flew open as she went wide awake. "Will! Hell no I'm not drunk! Why would you ask me that!?!"
"Dunno. You sounded drunk."
Aurelia sighed and shook her head. "Will…"
Will laughed. "See? I know how to wake you up."
She voiced disbelief. "You knew? I can't believe you…I ought to turn you into a toad or a rabbit or a worm or something. Let's try."
The man on the other end cleared. "I called you for a reason, you know."
"Naw Will, I thought you called because you accidentally hit my number on the speed dial - that you had no intention of calling me whatsoever-"
"Ouch. Damn woman, you're grouchy late at night."
"I tend to be that way when people wake me up."
"Do you wanna hear what I've got to say or what?"
"What?"
"You wanna come with me on Sunday to a Pagan convention upstate? I'd like to go, but I don't want to go alone."
"I don't know… why don't you ask James or Adam?"
His voice got quieter. "Because, Skysong, I'd rather go with you."
Aurelia blinked. Suddenly, with realization, her heart started pounding against her chest. "Oh…" She said the only thing she could think of. "Uh… you sure?"
She instantly smacked her forehead.
Will's deep tones stayed the same. "Yes Skysong, I'm definitely sure. I don't want to go with anyone but you."
Oh my, oh my, oh my, oh Goddess and glory, she thought. Help me help me help me. "Um… okay. I'll go. Sounds cool. When and where?"
Will let out a breath. "Don't worry, I'll pick you up at your house. Say about… noon?"
"Yeah, hon. Noon sounds great."
"It's a date. See ya in the morning." He hug up the phone.
Aurelia slowly put the phone back on the hook and clapped a hand to her forehead. "Oh no… It's a date?"
***
Reader Responses (AKA DONUTS!!!!!):
Saz: Oh Saz you rock! You have been here throughout my entire story, giving your comments faithfully on every chapter in a beautiful review, and oh my Goddess, I have never had such a faithful REVIEWING reader. At this point in time, you're the only person I can respond to, because you're the only one good enough to review when you're done reading. I'm so so so so so so so so so so SO glad to have you here reading this for me, and I want to let you know that if there's anything I can reasonably do for you, just ask! You are so COOL!