Author's Note: Oh so sorry I haven't posted in a while, but you guys know what irritants schools can be and they just won't let me off, I tell you. THEY JUST WON'T LET ME OFF!!!! WAAAHHHHHH!!! Okay, so here's chapter four, I believe. Thanks for all the great reviews!!!!!!! ____________________________________________________________

Chapter Four: Scotland

"We ready to go?" Hunter asked as he loaded the last of their things on top of the car roof. Mr. Niall hoisted a large duffel bag up top, dusted off his hands and nodded.

"Ready to go," Morgan said, but her voice was far from chirper. She climbed into the car with a sense of dread hanging about her shoulders and a heaviness clinging to her heart, knowing, without a doubt, that this day was going to end bad.

Hunter reasoned it was going to take them a full day traveling from England to Scotland, and that it wouldn't make much sense in paying for room and board at the town, in a hotel they would've left after a few days anyway. Morgan's trip to Europe was only supposed to last a week and a half, and the week was almost over. Her family, Bree and Robbie would've expected her back, but the council's newest meddling in her life put a big dent in her plans.

Morgan sighed and strapped into her seat as Hunter started the car, thinking back on the conversation she'd had with Bree over the phone the night before.

//"So, how's England?" Bree asked, a distant sound of music filling the phone with background noise.

Morgan sighed.

"That sigh can't be good," Bree commented with some concern. Morgan nibbled her lip, debating whether or not to tell Bree about the council's orders-- she wasn't even going to dignify this invasion of her life by calling it a request.

Finally," It has something to do with the council and their latest in screwing with my life."

This time Bree sighed. "What is it?"

Morgan nibbled her lip again. Should she tell her? She swallowed a dry throat. After all, Bree and Cal had...had...done...things. She shouldn't keep her friend out of this. But, then again, Cal had been the main reason why she and Bree had split in the first place. Making her decision, Morgan said," It deals with Cal."

There was a long silence over the phone. Morgan's brow furrowed as the silence lengthened, then," What do they want to dig up the past for?"

Morgan gave a relieved sigh, and said,"It's what's in Cal's past that can save us."

"What?" Bree asked, her voice sounding puzzled. Morgan went on to explain why the council had summoned her, Hunter and Danial Niall, and even as far as to say that the council needed Killian and Ciaran. She told her about the ritual and what it would entail. And about the next dark wave.

Bree went silent again. Then,"But why do they need Ciaran and Killian?"

Morgan shrugged even though Bree couldn't see it. "I never asked, but I don't think they'd tell us anyway."

"Why?"

Morgan shrugged again."I get the feeling that alot of this is all hush- hush."

"Cal's life? But didn't they do investigations? Didn't they burn his body? Why do they want to do this?"

"Dark Wave," Morgan said. "It all has something to do with stopping another dark wave."

"Who could possibly have enough power to bring about another one?"

"Maybe some old Amyranth members? Who knows," Morgan replied.

"Look, I gotta go," Bree said slowly. "Mom's calling, but hey! D'you want me to tell Robbie? Or Kithic?"

"I don't know," Morgan said doubtfully. "I think you should wait to tell Kithic, but tell Robbie. He should know about this."

"Right. Bye."

"Bye."//

Thinking back on it now, Morgan had to wonder what Bree was doing right now- -what Robbie could be doing right now. If either were preparing for the worst. Was she even right in telling her friend? Maybe she should've waited until everything was confirmed.

Morgan nibbled her lip.

They left the small, quaint township, driving into the deep country of England. They made few pit stops on the way, and Morgan contented herself with just staring out the window at the changing landscape. They spotted few farms, just open country and changing roads--some paved, some asphalt and some made of wide, dirt paths.

Morgan sighed and settled into her seat, dreading when they'd cross the border of England and enter Scotland. ***********

He was expecting the worst.

And typically when he expected the worst, fate never failed him.

Killian sat on the floor of his apartment, cross-legged, twiddling his fingers, a beer--rapidly turning lukewarm--at his side. He just stared at his fingers, brows creased in a frown, thinking--or at least trying not to.

Outside his apartment, down on the streets below, there were tell-tale signs that a storm had hit. Debris--tree branches, signs, trash, a few patches of overturned earth--were flung this way and that, some blocking the roads, lying in doorways, or on roof tops. It were as if Mother Nature had taken her fury out on mankind that night, and left a little reminder of her power.

Killian gave a shaken sigh.

Tried to empty his mind.

Couldn't.

Cal kept on showing up. Smiling. Eyes sparkling.

Memories after memories, pouring themselves into his mind.

Killian bit his lip until it hurt.

"*Sitting there's not gonna help.*" It was the faintest, amused whisper, but Killian snapped his head up fearfully and looked around for the source of the voice.

What the fu--

"*We have a ritual. And you've gotta help.*"

Killain turned wildly, looking everywhere--the corners, his closet, the kitchen, his living room--trying to find the owner of that....that...that...voice.

"*It'll be Yule officially in a couple of hours, Kill.*"

Killian shot up from the floor, sending his beer bottle toppling over and spilling its contents on the floor. He spun wildly, lost his balance and landed on his rear, facing the door.

His eyes widened.

"What the fu--"

"*We'll need your help.*"

"Oh Goddess, no--" Killian's mouth fell open.

He blinked.

Stared.

Blinked some more.

This could not be happening, he reasoned. It was just the beer talking.

Despite the fact that he'd only taken one sip. But a sip could affect someone's brain, right?

Oh Goddess.

"D-d-don't c-c-come any c-closer!" Killian croaked, backing away.

"*Don't forget about the ritual. Ciaran won't ask for help, but I'm not so high and mighty that I won't. We'll need a look out*"

"Please don't come any closer," Killian begged, burying his face in his hands.

He felt the lightest caress on his shoulder.

He screamed and looked up.

Golden eyes.

Wide lips.

A familiar face.

Oh Goddess.

Oh shit.

"But you're dead."

"*Don't forget about the ritual. It's tonight.*"

"You're dead."

Killian watched as the olive-skinned apparition moved about his apartment, picking up things and putting them down. Golden eyes turned to his frozen figure on the floor. The wide mouth smiled wickedly.

"*I can't wait.*"

"C-C-Cal?" Killian finally asked. The apparition looked at him imploringly. "You're dead."

"*It'll be Yule officially in a couple of hours, Kill.*"

"No, Cal, Yule's over. You're dead."

"*It'll be Yule officially...*"

It was game. A sick and twisted game.

"Cal, please...Just go."

"*...in a couple of hours, Kill.*"

"Cal-"

"*....Yule officially...*"

"Cal-"

"*...in a couple of...*"

Like a broken record of time, a single memory captured, played out before him, like a sick, twisted movie, a single moment, played over and over and over and over.........

He didn't want to live this again.

"*It'll be Yule officially in a couple of hours, Kill.*"

"Go away."

"*...Yule...*"

"Go 'way."

"*...in a couple of...*"

"Go...away."

"*...of hours, Kill.*"

"GO AWAY!!!!"

It was then that Killian awoke, alone and shivering in his apartment, a light sheen of rain, falling cold against his window, blurring the dark, nighttime sky outside.

He'd been asleep all day.

His head snapped this way and that, wildly searching for....Him. But He wasn't there. He wasn't anywhere.

It was all a dream.

A dream.

Killian breathed deeply and shivered again.

"Where are you Cal?"

And then the door bell rang. ************

It hadn't taken them as long as she thought to get to Scotland. By the time they arrived, the sky was cloudy with a ligh rain falling in tiny droplets from the churning heavens. The sun, where ever it was hiding behind the clouds, was just starting to set as Hunter pulled onto a busy street of an obvious Scottish suburbia.

And then it was Morgan's turn to take over.

In addition to his phone number, Killian had also given her his home address, just in case she was "ever in Europe and wanted to get away from her uptight, prick of a boyfriend." Killian's words, not her's.

Morgan, armed with a map, directed them to a nice apartment complex, the apartments looking much like they do in America. Morgan was greatful for that. At least there was some resemblance to home.

They got out of the car, squinting against the rain.

Hunter stood beside her as Mr. Niall surveyed the apartments.

"Which one's his?" Hunter asked. Morgan frowned, then pointed. Hunter nodded, waved to his father and the three set off.

She had been expceting a jovial older brother to meet her at the door, with a grin that seemed perpetual. She did not expcet a wreck.

When they got to they door, they rang the bell.

It opened.

Killian looked like a caged animal, circles around his eyes and his hair a mess. He kept on darting looks over his shoulder and everywhere beyond their little trio standing outside his door, and when his eyes finally settled on Morgan, she saw a maniacal glint in them.

"Killian, are you-"

"Fine? Fine? Oh, I'm just peachy, love." He ushered them inside. The place was a mess.

He didn't seem to care.

"So, what're you doing here?" He sounded nervous and shot scared looks around his own apartment.

"We're here for Ciaran," Mr. Niall said unkindly. Killian didn't notice. His eyes instead widened and he turned to Morgan.

"He won't see you," Killian said, almost in panic. "He won't. I asked him, Morgan. He's f-f-furious." Killian began to shake.

"Killian," Morgan grabbed him and sat him down on a nearby couch. "What's wrong? I've never seen you like this."

"Storm's got me jumpy," he replied and tried for a weak grin that looked more like a grimace. Eventually, he just stopped trying.

"We can't leave without his help, Killian," Hunter said, his tone of voice in the same fashion as his father's. Morgan shot him an angry look.

"You can try all you like," Killian said, shoting a glare at Hunter. And while Morgan knew she should've been ashamed, she was glad that Killian had mustered up even that much enmity to snap at Hunter. "He's not going to listen to you. He hates you."

"Regardless," Mr. Niall said tightly. "He has to come."

Killian shrugged.

"Will you take us to see him?" Morgan asked. Killian shrugged again.

"Please, Killian."

Her half-brother looked at her strangely for a moment, then passed her to something on the wall, frowned, then nodded.

"O-o-okay."

But she wasn't sure if it was her he was saying yes to, or this strange affliction that had taken hold of him. _________________________________________________

Author's Note: Oh gosh, I'm so sorry I haven't posted in a while, but now I'm back at school. I think I've said this before. Oh well. Like what I did to Killian? I made him paranoid. Don't worry. I've got to build him up in order for the next chapter to make some semblance of sense. Note I said some. Anyway, reviews are golden.