A/N Ok, I admit, I am a terrible author. You know how I know? Because I left this story so long I had to re-read the whole thing to remember what has happened. Bad bad bad. But I am very sorry, and I shall make this update extra special for you ok? Please forgiven me!
Keaira's feet throbbed as she and Kai finally stopped dancing. It was 3am but the Ceilidh was still in full swing. She had never seen her Mum and Dad dancing so wildly, or any of the members of Belwicket to be quite honest. The moon shone brightly and the band played excellently, but she couldn't help feeling tired.
"Want me to take you home?" Kai asked, seeing her tired face,
She nodded, wondering how she could be so tired when no-one else was. Then she remembered that she had woken up early, and why. "Yes please,"
Just then Moira came over to her. "Keaira, are you going home?"
"I think so," Keaira wondered why her sister sounded so wooden. What was wrong with her?
"I'll take you," Moira said, grabbing Keaira's hand and leading her away from Kai.
"It's fine, Kai can take me,"
"No, we need to talk," Moira said, glaring at Keaira in a way she hadn't done since they had lived together and had been fighting over the bathroom. Moira always won those arguments.
"Bye Kai, I'll... see you tomorrow ok? After college,"
"Sure," he said, looking a little puzzled, but he shrugged and went to find Sarah. Moira dragged Keaira to where Morgan and Hunter were dancing.
"I'm taking Keaira home ok?"
"Sure, you two be careful ok?" Morgan said, looking lovingly at her daughters. She didn't notice the frosty air between them.
Once they had said their goodbyes to Effie, who had tried to persuade them to stay a little longer, the two sisters began to walk back to the cottage, along the country road. Keaira thought back to when they had walked here that evening and realised that Moira had spoken to her then. Something was definitely wrong.
"So... why isn't Ian with us? I though he'd be going home with you,"
"I asked him to come pick me up at the cottage later... I wanted to talk to you,"
"Well... what about... I mean you aren't exactly talking,"
Moira swung round to face her, "I hate it when you are so..." she groaned, "you can be so annoying."
"I think it's my job, being your sister and all,"
"Being my sister means you should care about me, care about me enough to tell me you aren't going to be able to make our arrangements."
"What?" Keaira asked, still feeling in the dark, then she remembered Moira asking her to help with engagement plans. Oops. No wonder she was mad. "Oh Moira I'm sorry! I totally forgot. I mean, when I said yes, I had forgotten about the Ceilidh and then I remembered this morning, and remembered I had to meet Yasmin and I... I'm sorry ok?"
"I just feel that we... we don't get to spend any time together, and I wanted to today, but... I was so mad when you didn't turn up. And when you didn't even mention it tonight, I just got madder and madder." She sighed, "I'm sorry though, I over-reacted."
"No, it's me that should be sorry," Keaira gave her sister a big hug, "I want to see you more too, I am so sorry I forgot, and, this isn't an excuse, but I guess I just got distracted with the circle and everything..."
"Yes I know, I shouldn't be so hard on you, come on, let's get home, it's cold out here!"
When they got to the cottage they both went into the living room to sit. They slumped onto the comfy sofa and leaned against each other, as they had done so much when they were younger. Especially after they had argued.
"So, when are you actually going to do the deed and get hand fasted? You've been going out for long enough! You must know whether you are muirn beatha dans or not!" Keaira said, so bluntly that Moira laughed,
"Of course I do! I couldn't live without Ian, and he is very eager to get hand fasted, but I have to say, I'm not sure, I want to, don't get me wrong," she added, at the panicked look on Keaira's face, "I just want to wait a little while, enjoy just being us. I mean... what if people expect us to have children straight away?"
"Don't be silly!" Keaira laughed, "No one would expect that, and I bet Ian just wants to do that to you know," she pulled a face, "express his love, etc. etc."
Moira laughed again, "I know, and you're right, I'm being silly aren't I? And we could all do with something to celebrate. Ok I'm going to name a date... how about..." she thought for a moment, "How about... Yule?"
"I think that is a great plan, winter weddings are cool right," Keaira grinned, "and I will definitely help you with the organising. Don't worry, and I won't forget this time,"
"Good, you had better not," Moira said, bearing her teeth, "so, you want to talk about the circle last night or anything?"
"No, it's fine... Mum and Dad are on the case, who better? They're like... I can't think of anyone, but they're great when it comes to dark magick!"
"What about Kai then?" Moira wiggled her eyebrows, in a suggestive manner,
"Shut-up!" Keaira said, feeling herself blush, "We are fine. Leading the circle is hard, but it's fun, and I couldn't do it with anyone else. I mean I know Sarah is leader too, but because she was in hospital and such like... it's mainly me and Kai."
"Is he your muirn beatha dan then?"
"I... I think so... he says he is, and I do love him, but I loved Dylan too... I guess I'm not completely over him yet,"
"That's ok you know? I mean take Mum and Dad, they are so obviously muirn beatha dans, but when they first got together, Mum didn't know it. I mean she hated him at first..." Keaira nodded and thought back to the time she has seen the vision of her mum throwing an Athame at her dad. "But they got through it, together, she got over Cal right?"
Keaira shuddered at the thought of Cal.
"What is it?" Moira asked, looking concerned,
"I... I sometimes go to the Summer lands, in my dreams I mean... and I see Dylan... anyway last night I went and talked to him but after he went I didn't disappear as normal I... I saw Cal,"
"You what?" Moira gasped. That was a lot of information to take in at once Keaira realised.
"Ok... ignore the talking to Dylan bit, as that is sort of confusing, but yes I saw Cal... he said how we were related and... I left as soon as I could..."
"Do Mum and Dad know?"
"About Cal?" Moira nodded, "No, they don't... I didn't want to worry them... I know that is stupid but... I didn't want to bring up bad memories. They deserve a break."
"I know that as much as anyone, but not telling them something that could be as important as this isn't giving them a break, it is making it harder for them in the long run. What if this turns out to be something important? How guilty will they, and you feel then?"
Keaira sighed, "I know, I know I'll tell them ok?"
"Ok..." There was a knock on the door, "That'll be Ian, you sure your ok for now? I'll see you tomorrow ok?"
"Yeah, sure, and Moira, don't worry about me, I'm fine ok?" Moira nodded and gave her a hug. "Oh, say hey to Ian for me, and don't forget to tell him you set a date,"
Moira grinned, "I have a better memory than you actually!" then she headed out of the living room. Keaira heard murmured voices, then the door shutting. She got up and locked it behind them. Then she sighed, she really was tired. She headed up the stairs to her cosy bedroom. She quickly changed and slipped under the covers just as a wave of tiredness overtook her.
She was standing in a misty field. She could hear voices around her, some faint, others louder.
"Keaira, Keaira! Don't do it!" Some one yelled at her,
"I shall do what I like!" A familiar voice she recognised as her own replied.
Then she heard a blood curdling scream.
"What is going on!" She shouted, her voice reverberating back at her in the mist.
"Come with me girl," a familiar, yet strange voice said.
"Help me! Keaira, help me!"
"I don't know what to do!" She replied, screaming the words,
"I'm here now, it's ok,"
"Help me!" The voice echoed over and over again, until it pounded in her ears and she wasn't sure whether it was her imagination or reality.
"Keaira, I'm here! Come with me,"
"I need help!"
"What can I do?"
"I need you!"
"I love you... but I must go,"
"Kai! No, don't go!" Keaira shouted, interrupting the conversation between her boyfriend's voice, and one she thought was her own.
"I love you," it echoed, only this echo got quieter and quieter as if the speaker was getting further away.
"Somebody help me!" She screamed, not knowing what she could do,
"Keaira, Keaira, can you hear me?" She woke, sweat pouring down her face, to see her mother standing over her, shaking her awake.
"Mum!" She wailed, before pressing herself against her mother, tears now mixing with the sweat. "Help me,"
"I'm here now, it's ok," her mother's voice echoed the words of her dream. And she knew from past experience how important dreams were, and how powerful.
A/N Well? I hope you liked it, nice and dramatic I thought anyway. Review please!