Author's Note:

This is - I don't know - long...maybe...anyway, to Witchyliz, in answer of your question - which is partially spoiling the plot, but eh...i like your question, gives me the chance to rant...okay, now...to answer your quesion without a long philosophy: Are they gay?...no....wait...yes...wait...no...wait...yes....

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm ??, urh...i wouldn't say they're gay, parse (Not to mention if Ciaran did actually exist he'd probably hunt me out and skin me alive for even alluding to homosexuality...eeeek!), they just have my philosophy on life: there is no homosexuality, there is no lesbianism, there is no heterosexuality...there is just (urg, I'm gonna be sappy) LOVE ..... ...

THERE! YOU MADE ME SAY IT!!! o.0 ;).

I mean, Ciaran loves women..if i read all of his bios right, and probably has alot of experience, but then there was Cal. And so too did Cal have experiences with women, but then there was Ciaran...and......... You'll see how it works out...SHHHHHH! Don't make me say anymore or i'll ruin the plot. Anyway, i believe that - in the world of fiction - any character can find and be paired with another that is good and right for my works...So, I think, i made them this way to give a different perspective and because the wicked plot bunnies wouldn't leave me alone.

My rant is done....ON WITH THE SHOW!!!

THIS IS FOR YOU, VIC...FOR ME NOT UPDATING SOONER!!

Chapter Six: SECRETS

Yule, 1998, Seattle

There's magick in the air. Pure, unbridled, unbound magick. It's like someone suddenly released the floodgates and let the mighty river's waters come rushing through. I don't know how to describe this happiness I feel, this elation. I haven't been this happy since...since...Well, I can't remember.

Finally, I can take a break from all the draining magickal workings we've been doing here in Seattle and focus my energies on this wintery celebration. There are so many faces to see and sounds and voices. Many of the guests are my mother's; people she hasn't spoken to in years. Old friends, really. People that have the same belief as Amyranth about our Clan and a true Woodbane's calling.

The Yule fires burn and people are dancing, ceremonial robes flapping in the wind. And the evening gets even more exciting when more members of Amyranth, finally, arrive. My mother's been brimming with excitement, even if she tries to hide it. Me, I'm not as bashful. It'd be my second time seeing Ciaran McEwan since last year in New York. The last time, we'd been attacked by a rival coven of Rowanwands that had wanted us dead: me, because it would hurt my mother; my mother, because of some vendetta.

I had already had pre-concieved notions about Ciaran, before last year, but nothing had prepared me for the man upclose, nor did it prepare me again when he arrived.

I had snuck upon him and his select group, as they were being greeted by some members of Turneval and some members of my mother's newest formed coven in this city, Blight. His voice was smooth, as I remembered. And it sent shivers up and down my spine as I watched him from my hideaway under the cover of a bush.

But my staring must've hit some primal cord because soon -when the others were distracted - Ciaran turned his beautiful face to my hideout, his dark, smoldering eyes staring piercingly into the pocket of leaves and twig, where I was hidden.

Guiltily, I moved slightly into view. His eyes took me in slowly, with appraising familiarity. Then he smirked, eyes lingering on mine for just the briefest of moments, a strange sort of amusement flickering through them, then disappearing as he turned back to Turneval, Blight and the others that had come with him, moving to join the festivities.

My soul holds so much elation in it tonight. So much, I think, I'm going to burst from the sheer joy and immensity of it.

Yes, this, indeed, is a good Yule.

- Sgath

"Almost time," Hunter said quietly, seated with Morgan, holding her hand tightly in his own. She nodded and sighed.

He watched her.

He would've - if he could have - taken her away from all of this. Away from having to be wrapped up in the council's schemes, from having to relive all of Cal's memories and knowing what he had thought of her. He didn't want for her to be apart of this, no matter how long ago the past had been buried.

When he thought of all the things that had gone on between Cal and Morgan, the things that could've happened, the dark plans Selene had made, the lies and deceit, an overwhelming sense of rage filled him. Even now, Hunter could feel the boiling anger rising in his sytem, moving through his blood stream. He swallowed the lump in his throat and pushed the anger aside.

He couldn't afford that here. He had to be as neutral and objective as possible or he wouldn't find out anything. He couldn't afford being emotional - it was everyone's lives at stake, because if another dark wave was coming.....

Hunter held back a shudder.

"In an hour or so," Killian replied to Hunter's earlier observation, standing a way from Morgan, Hunter and Danial Niall. He was at a window, looking out over the horizon, where the clouds were gathered, churning and frothing as they had been for the past couple of days.

'A bad omen,' Hunter thought vaguely and put his arm around Morgan. She leaned into his chest and sighed.

"An hour," she mumbled."Great."

They were seated in a smaller room than the council's library, having arrived earlier that day, driving non-stop to get back in time, weary, but determined. The room was a type of study with dark hued wall paper and pictures of some of the council's older, deceased patrons hanging proudly on the walls. There were a few small, squat book shelves around the room and a few display cases housing other, older books and a few gem stones. In the center was a table, large enough to seat seven; there Morgan, Hunter and Danial sat. And on its surface, propped on a small platform, was Cal's Book.

It didn't look as worn or battered as Kennet had said. It was old, with the frayed corners books would normally get from the weathering of time, but the words that still proclaimed it as a "Book of Shadows" were still written in their silvery letterings and the binding of the Book was still as shiningly gold as it had been, with Celtic symbols still intact.

Hunter had the strangest feeling that that Book was glaring at him. He looked away from it and instead turned his attention to Killian.

He looked uneasy as he stared out the window, arms crossed, gaze shadowed. In a few hours, the ritual was to be preformed, and Ciaran MacEwan was no where in sight. But, for some reason, Hunter wasn't alarmed. Whatever, Killian had done the day before, made Hunter trust his word. He still didn't trust him as far as he could throw him, but... it was enough.

The door to the small study came open, the creaking of its hinges shattering the silence that lay blanketed around them. Kennet stepped through the door, carrying a small chest with ancient writing, and took stock of the gathered and sighed.

"We are missing one," he said gravely, laying his wooded chest on the table.

"Yes, Ciaran," Danial spat, like it was a curse.

"But he will come?" Kennet pressed, turning to Killian. The other man nodded slowly.

"He should - "

Hunter turned at the sound of heavy footfalls coming from outside, in the hallway, echoing and re-echoing, reverbrating from wall to wall. It sounded like the march of a thousand angry horses and suddenly his heart sped up to match the sound of those angry steps.

Thumpthumpthumpthumpthump.

It was like a thundercloud of tension had settled over the room as Killian froze, standing stock still, staring at the door from which Kennet had emerged with both fear and apprehension.

"He's...here."

Hunter turned to Killian as Morgan trembled slightly in his arms. He pulled her tighter to him, wrapping her in a cave of warmth.

He would protect her.

He would protect her. He would. He would.

He would, dammit!

He turned back to the door. His eyes widened as his face drained of color.

Here it comes.....

It was like the force of a freight train barrelling through the door, nearly ripping it from its hinges and falling to the floor with a crash. It swung open violently and admitted one very wrathful Ciaran McEwan.

It didn't matter that he had been stripped of his magick. It didn't matter that Hunter had been there, had been the one to do it. It didn't matter that the Council had thoroughly investigated Ciaran McEwan before ever letting him proceed to having a "normal" existence.

No, none of that mattered.

Because Ciaran McEwan was not to be trifled with. He stood in the doorway, an awesome figure, face twisted into a snarl of angry rage. He rushed at Killian before anyone could stop him, grabbing a fistful of the younger man's shirt and slamming him into a wall.

Hunter paused in momentary shock, hearing the angrily hissed words ground out from Ciaran's lips, "If you ever pull a stunt like you did yesterday, Killian. Goddess help you, the damn Council won't even be able to save you from my wrath...."

And then he was moving, with his Da and Kennet to get Ciaran off of his youngest born. And there were shivers running up and down Hunter's spine as he lay a hand on Ciaran's arm and felt the muscles rippling underneath his clothing and skin. He swallowed, very much afraid.

"Ciaran - " His father started venomously.

The older McEwan whirled on Danial Niall, as Killian slumped to the floor, with a glare that could light hell's inferno. Hunter fell back and watched in awe as his father stood tall, glaring at McEwan with as much glacial ice to meet his angry fire. They just stood there, glaring at each other with such intensity and such hatred, until Kennet cleared his throat and said, "If you'll please have a seat?"

Ciaran broke contact enough to glance at Kennet. A dismissive glance that told the older Seeker exactly what Ciaran thought of him and this little setup that the council had arranged, and exactly where he could shove that setup too. He sent Danial one last look before complying and sitting down and crossing his arms over his chest.

Hunter went over to Killian, who had not moved through out the entire exchange, seated where he had sank, on the small study's floor.

"C'mon, Killian," Hunter said softly. "We've got to get started."

The other man nodded slowly, his face such a gray mask of solemnity that even Hunter had to blink in surprise and wonder what the hell this situation was doing to all them. At the end of this, would they all be solemn-eyed? Was Cal's affect on people just that bad?

It must've been, if this entire situation were any indication. Just three days ago, they were happily enjoying a vacation away from the stresses of Widow's Vale, but now....

Hunter turned to Morgan as Killian slowly rose and took his place at the table beside Danial. She met his gaze worriedly. He produced a weak grin for her benefit, re-enforcing in his mind: 'I will protect you, love. If it's the last thing I do...'

He took a seat beside her as everyone got quiet, even Ciaran McEwan, and Kennet stood to speak.

The silence was heavy.

And it seemed that Killian's and Ciaran's shock was greater than Hunter's, Morgan's or Danial's had been when the spell had been explained to them days ago. Ciaran sat rigidly in his chair, a rush of emotions going through his eyes like a monsoon at full force. His jaw worked and there was something...just something...

Hunter couldn't put his finger on it.

Just...something odd....

Maybe the way Ciaran was sitting, maybe the way his fist clenched and his knuckles turned white. Maybe it was the sudden glance that he darted at Killian and the look of understanding that had passed in their eyes when their gazes had met....

Wait, look of understanding?

How could those too possibly understand anything about the other? And it made Hunter wonder for the veryfirst itme since all this had started: what ties did Ciaran and Killian share with Cal?

Could it have been Amyranth?

No, no. Hunter dismissed that immediately. Maybe....

Maybe, a favor? But then what would that have to do with the both of them? Maybe it was a spell or something? Hunter banished that idea immediately. It just didn't seem logical for either one of them to be present.

Hunter and Danial were blood.....

Morgan love....

Ciaran and Killian...hmmmmm...Friendship, perhaps?

Hunter banished that too. It was just too weird.

"Do you understand what is being required of you?" Kennet asked both McEwan males. Killian gave a hard swallow and nodded.

"I - I under - understand."

Kennet turned to Ciaran expectantly. The other man's jaw worked, but his lips didn't part to say a word. His eyes were still blazing with emotions, but these seemed to be of a different sort. They were the kind that happened in lonely musing, when one thinks of the transgressions of the past and wonders, in all of life's profound glory: why did I make that mistake? And why can't I change it? His brown eyes drifted to Cal's Book that rested at the center of the table.

Ciaran's jaw worked again, and this time he said, in a hardened tone," I understand."

Kennet nodded slowly as if he were some judge, finally able to close a most unpleasant case.

"Then we shall begin...." He retrieved the wooded chest he had brought in earlier, laying all but forgotten to side, and opened it. He pulled out two candle holders and set them on the table, then the candles, thin and white, and placed them in the candle holders. "We shall need to hold hands, the connection must be strong and unbroken. Remember, it is with our hearts beating as one that we can hope to achieve the success of this spell."

Hunter nodded in agreement and took a deep breath. He watched Morgan take hold of Killian's hand and then Killian take Danial's. Danial and Ciaran looked at each other with disgust for a moment, before swallowing and sparingly grasping the other's hand. Hunter would have laughed, had it not been Ciaran and his father. He remembered once his Uncle Beck doing the same thing to him and Linden when they'd gotten into a nasty fight over something insignificat and hardly worth remembering. They'd refused to go near each at first, but evetually they knew Uncle Beck's patient would run out sometime. So, they swallowed their pride and shook the other's hand.

The memory brought back a pain so deep and sharp and profound that Hunter had to hold back a sob and grasped Morgan's hand tightly. Then took hold Ciaran's.

It was warm to the touch, and solid, and he felt a spark of electricity run through him as the older man's skin brushed against his.

Now, he wanted Linden back more than ever. To see his brother's smiling face, to maybe wake up and know that everything that had happened was a dream....Maybe not Morgan, maybe not finding his Da, but everything else... Finding out about Cal, having to deal with the lose of his mother, having to deal with Ciaran McEwan and Amyranth and the lies and the deceit and the pain, and those nights when sometimes he'd still wake up in a cold sweat, hearing the sobs around him and seeing Alwyn's face across his memory telling him that Linden was gone forever.

They'd lost so much. Were they going to lose more now that they were plunging into Cal's secrets? Submerging into the brain of the prodigal child of Woodbane's darkest terrors and magick?

He was interrupted by Kennet's voice, outside of their circle, softly rushing through his mind,"You are now bound as one. Feel your hearts slow, your mind to cease all functions save to breathe and feel...Now, reach your energies out, find the lingering sources of magick from Calhoun Blaire's Book of Shadows....Find his magick and let it draw you into his world..."

Hunter felt Morgan shiver beside him and squeezed her hand reassuringly. She squeezed back.

With an inaudible sigh, Hunter reached his magick out. The other's were reaching too, even Ciaran, although his magick was faint, useless, almost as if he were a a non-blood witch trying to cast a major spell in the first year of their initiation.

And then he tasted it: Cal's specific brand of magick. Surprisingly, it wasn't what he had imagined. It wasn't harsh or deceptive...Just...sort of...lulling almost...pulling him into...Hunter felt his eyes flutter shut.....

"Feel his magick..."

Hunter was drifting farther away from consciousness.

"Feel his magick..."

Drifting...

Drifting...

Until, finally, he was gone...

A/N: YAY! I'm DONE!!!! WOO-hoo!!!

Tell me whatcha think? Good? Bad? Horrible? Okay, don't tell me the last one...But please tell me if you liked this one...(gives puppy dog eyes) Tis the only one with a chapter that was exclusively Hunter's 3rd person POV.

R&R's are golden!!!