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6. Bound
Morgan is completely wasted. At first I was angry with her for missing the meeting at my house, but when I looked at her, lying on the ground messed up and drunk, seeing what a mess that bastard of a brother had left her in, it was all I could do not to hold her in my arms and kiss away the pain forever. I now understand why she agreed to take alcohol, having sworn never to drink again. I would probably have done the same. I have asked Da to look into a spell to close the Bith Mearc. But I do not hold out much hope. I found her in the bathroom, collapsed on the floor, her relaxed face betraying her emotions. Sky offered to take her home and put her in bed, I suppose that was more sensible. What will come of her now?
Giomanach.
I woke up this morning to Mary K. bashing on the door feeling like my head had split in two. In a sudden rush memories of last night flooded back. I once again reverted to a world of misery and embarrassment. How did I get back home, I didn't even remember.
Mary K. got out of the car immediately to join her friends and the latest guy, Mark. I was happy that she found someone nice after that bastard of a guy, Bakker. I strolled over to join my friends in our coven's area.
By the afternoon my headache was gone but I still felt weak. I guessed that was caused by the Bith Mearc. During Physics I felt the familiar prickling in my head. Crap, I thought. I ran out of the classroom saying that I needed the bathroom, clutching my head in agony. I ran out to my car, holding off the attack. Finally I let go and I felt a strangely familiar presence occupy my mind. I knew almost instantly that it was some kind of female ancestor. I couldn't do anything, just try to sit it out. They decided to call up my power using an unfamiliar power chant.
"Nal Bith tam, his tar ram …" It went on for a while and I felt my energy being dragged from inside me. There was nothing I could do to stop it. Then she focused my power on a tree outside my car. It burst into flames. Oh Goddess I thought. She sat there watching the burning tree, then left. I collapsed onto the seat.
I managed to drag myself out of the stupor in time to hear firemen approaching. Thank God I hadn't burned the school down or something dreadful like that. I decided to get out of there as quickly as possible. I felt so ill and drained, just like the book said I would, and there was nothing I could do. Maybe I should just drive away, so I didn't hurt anyone, particularly Hunter. I felt a pang in my heart just thinking about him. Goddess I would miss him. Poor Hunter. I didn't get far in my escapades, because as I was driving down the lane from the school I saw Greg Wardoff with his hands signaling me to stop.
Goddess, what if he had seen me burn that tree? I stopped the car at the side of the road and wound down my window.
"Morgan, I believe it was you that caused that tree to go on fire, am I right?" Oh crap.
"It wasn't my fault Mr.Wardoff" I tried to explain myself hopelessly.
"Even so, we at the council believe that you need to have your powers bound to prevent you from harming any innocent people. It will only be a temporary binding, until this matter is resolved. Would you like to follow me."
They couldn't bind my powers, then I would be completely vulnerable to any attacks. I had had my powers bound once before and Hunter had promised me that it would never happen again, it was horrible.
"Mr. Wardoff please no," I attempted in vain to dissuade him.
"Follow me, or will I have to use more forceful methods?"
I got out of Das Boot. Maybe it was best that my powers were bound. At least then I could die without the worry of hurting Hunter or anyone else. I followed him to a clearing by the side of the road. To my horror there were four other witches there already. I realized in sickening humility that they had all been expecting me. I didn't recognize any of them.
They made me sit in the middle of their circle. They began circling almost immediately, chanting some unfamiliar words. Fairly rapidly black smoke started to build up inside the circle, reaching out to me and winding around my body. More and more built up until I couldn't see or breathe. It constricted around my already feeble body, and threatened to kill me.
Suddenly when I thought I would choke, it dissipated. I felt hollowed and weak. I stumbled out of their circle, not looking any of them in the eyes. They didn't stop me, they had done their work.
I got back in my car and fell against the seat, knowing that what had happened was for the best, but I could feel tears prickle behind my eyes. My head felt all clogged up and my senses were numb. I sat there wondering what to do. I couldn't go back to school in the state I was in, nor could I go home, as then my mom would wonder what had happened. Maybe I could go to Hunter's, but I couldn't face him, not after yesterday. Finally I fell asleep, relishing the release from the outside world and from my headache, hollowness and drained energy. Suddenly I was woken by Hunter's voice in my head. Do you want to come round later? I tried to reply that I was too tired, but of course I didn't have any magick left to send a witch message. In the end I decided to go to Hunters otherwise he would worry.
I arrived at Hunter's place and tried to cast my senses to see who was there. But of course that didn't work. I wearily hobbled up to his house, not really caring anymore. Hunter came out to meet me.
"Morgan, are you alright?" He asked me. I probably didn't look much better than last night.
"Mmm," I mumbled.
"Why didn't you answer my witch message? I was getting worried."
"Because I couldn't," I looked down at my feet, knowing what was coming.
"Why do I have a feeling there's something wrong?"
"Probably because I've now had two more little 'episodes' one involving burning down a tree outside school, and then had my power bound by a group of council witches."
He looked at me like I'd just slapped him in the face.
"What, they bound your power? They could have killed you in the state you're in." I could see he was building himself up into a fury.
"Please Hunter, don't shout at me." I muttered, sitting down to steady myself on the doorstep. He seemed to decide against the long rant that was coming, and helped me inside.
"I don't know what to do Morgan." He said, clearly frustrated at not being in control. "I've asked Da to find a spell to close the Bith Mearc…"
"But that's great Hunter," I smiled wanly, "He's bound to find something." I felt relieved and happy, finally there may be an answer.
"But he's not finished yet, and because you're getting weaker all the time, it could be dangerous…" His voice faded as I realized what he meant.
"I don't care about the risks Hunter, it's not like there is any other option."
"Unless we can find whoever set the spell on you in the first place. I'm starting to think that once again Amyranth may be involved." My heart contracted.
"But I thought Amyranth had disbanded now that their leader is gone, it can't be them." Hunter didn't look convinced.
"Let's get some tea." He said.
I suddenly noticed how empty the house was. "Where is everyone?" I asked.
"Da's gone to visit one of the people who wrote that library book you found, he knew him from when he was young. He's trying to find more information about the Bith Mearc. Sky's gone to visit a friend, maybe Raven."
I realized that we were alone in the house. One time I would have been excited, but now I just felt ill and weak, too tired to comprehend even kissing. Hunter passed me a cup of tea. I passed my hand over it, doing a simple spell and was relieved to find that I could manage that. He smiled at me, looking lost.
"Why don't we scry to find out who may have sent this spell on you?" Hunter asked. He looked at me and said, "Sorry, I'll scry and you can watch to see if you recognize the person."
I was happy to be able to do something to help and so I shuffled over to the floor in the living room, as Hunter prepared the circle and got out his stone. We sat opposite each other our foreheads touching, painfully aware of how hot and clammy mine must be. At first I didn't see anything as I watched over the stone, until gradually images came into focus. It was the same group of animals I had seen in my visions. They were all crowded in a circle, chanting, while there was a black fire burning in the middle. The image faded and disappeared.
"I must have been right. Amyranth casting the spell," Hunter said forelawnly. "I guess that rules out the possibility of getting the spell caster to lift the curse." I was still wondering why they would do this to me. How could this be any use to them? Again I felt a piercing pain in my head. Not again, I told myself. I clutched my head and crumpled onto the floor. At the same time I heard Hunter's Da returning looking frustrated. I couldn't hold off the attack any longer and was flooded by the presence of someone unfamiliar.