Five minutes later and still nobody had said anything. They all stood there, not moving. It was like a haunting painting. Shrouded in darkness, the landscape all snow and leafless oak trees. The parking lot mostly full with car alarms Aria was only now hearing going off. Aria stood at the edge of it, directly under a streetlight, with Pogue on one side of the parking lot, staring at Branwen on the other. Caleb slumped against a flashing car across from Aria.

It was almost like they were each a point on a compass, not moving an inch less the world fall out of balance. But wasn't it already? This morning when she had gotten out of bed, it was just a normal day. Albeit one where she was a witch and was avoiding a boy she liked, who was also a witch but didn't know she was a witch or that she knew he was too. And she was living with her best friend in a house that belonged to that best friend's fake fiancé. But given all of that, it was a normal day for her.

Now she was standing in the frozen scene, her best friend having just used magic to save her life from the witch boy she liked in front of the boy her best friend liked, but wasn't her fiancé. Another boy who was a witch but hadn't known they were too. Who also didn't know their coven was responsible for cursing the boys' coven.

Just another day in the life of Aria and Branwen, right? Curses, covens and, well, she supposed the cat was out of the bag. At least as far as the magic went.

Suddenly the spell was broken as there was a loud groan and Caleb rolled over. "What the hell was that?" he asked hoarsely before coughing.

His words must have unfrozen everyone. Pogue cautiously moved towards Caleb, helping him up, and Branwen came over to Aria. Aria, however, couldn't stop staring at her best friend.

Branwen never used magic. Other than zapping Aria jokingly every now and then, which was the magical equivalent to a grain of sand. But magic was one of those things that were not like riding a bicycle. If you didn't use it, it didn't just get rusty. It took a lot of work to build it back up. At least it did for most witches. Apparently being a descendant of the first coven had its perks. Aria took a deep breath, feeling every unbroken rib in the process, and was very grateful.

"I'd like to know as well." Pogue said in a deadly calm voice as he helped Caleb stand.

Branwen ignored both of them. "Are you alright?" She asked Aria. "Are you hurt?"

Aria shook her head. "No." Though she imagined when the shock wore off later she might need a paper bag. "How did you know? How did you get here so quickly?"

"I didn't." Branwen said, hugging Aria tightly. "I was already coming here. But I'm so glad I was. I would never forgive myself if I hadn't gotten here."

Branwen's hug, which she didn't give out on a frequent basis, along with her words, made Aria realize just how dangerous things had gotten and she could suddenly feel the sobs vibrating up her throat, threatening to break free.

Branwen must have felt it as well. "We need to get out of here."

"No one is going anywhere until some things are explained." Pogue said, from a lot closer than Aria remembered him being.

Branwen pulled away and turned to look at the boy Aria knew Branwen cared for. And yet Branwen's eyes, back to their normal, abnormal color, were emotionless. "Would you like to be here to explain when campus security comes and finds that car with a Caleb shape in it?"

Pogue's eyes flashed black and the alarms stopped and the car was instantly restored.

Branwen nodded. "Good job. Maybe you can get hooked on it and get power poisoned like your homicidal buddy, here." She motioned towards Caleb.

Pogue's eyes grew dark, but not because of magic. "Clearly there is a lot you haven't felt the need to tell me. Suddenly I'm starting to understand why you're so secretive."

"Yeah because you were just so ready to offer up your soul for perusal."

"I was a hell of a lot more honest about what was going on between us than you were." He said, biting out each word. "What was the tingling thing, if not something to draw me to you?"

Aria grimaced but Branwen didn't even flinch. "That tingling is exactly why there was never going to be anything going on between us."

Pogue's eyes narrowed and he looked like he was going to say something but then they heard voices. They all turned towards the dorms. Someone would be rounding the corner any moment. With Caleb in his current condition, they really couldn't get caught and have to answer questions.

Branwen seemed to realize this at the same time. She and Aria turned towards the Mini cooper but Pogue grabbed Branwen's arm. Aria was surprised he didn't get zapped. "I said you weren't going anywhere until you explained."

She glared at his hand on her arm. "You're welcome to come with us as long as you two keep your magic to yourself. But I do suggest you remove your hand from me now. Caleb might have burnt himself out but I assure you I am still packing and will use it if I need to."

Pogue let his hand drop and the girls moved to the car. Aria got in but Branwen stood at the door and pulled her seat forward before looking at Pogue and then to the corner of the dorms where the voices were getting louder.

Pogue's eyes flashed black before both he and Caleb were sitting in the back seat. "For someone who spent so much time trying to get Caleb to stop using, you sure are getting magic happy now." Branwen said, getting in the car. She looked in the rearview mirror, Aria assumed making eye contact with Pogue, and her pale eyes softened just a bit. But in a matter of seconds they were blank again and she shifted the car into gear before pulling out of the parking lot.

The city was quiet for a weeknight. It was surprisingly warm out for the season but it seemed most people were spending the night in. There were few cars on the streets but most buildings were lit up. Every so often you could catch a glimpse of someone in their home or apartment, sitting at a table with family or watching TV. Almost like you were looking at a picture instead of reality.

But reality didn't seem like reality anymore. Or perhaps it was that reality wasn't very normal anymore. Not that it ever really can be when you're a witch. But despite being a witch and all the drama that comes with it, after you come to terms with that, it becomes your new normal.

Suddenly learning that the crazy doesn't stop there blows the crap out of your normal.

Being faced with Chase and all that he brought with him, as well as all the questions he left behind, had thrown them for a loop. Now, years later, it seemed the roller coaster ride wasn't over yet.

"Nathan. I'm fine. Are you at the house?"

Branwen's voice brought Pogue out of his brooding thoughts and back to his angry feelings of betrayal. It took every ounce of control he had not to use to hang up her phone. But she had been right earlier; he could not start using just because he was angry or he'd be in as deep as Caleb in no time.

Instead he listened to her speak to the man he thought was his main problem a day ago… had it only been a day? Had he really been at the Allen Vintage Motorcycle Museum with Branwen, having the time of his life, only this morning? Had his world seemed so black and white only hours ago?

"I said I'm fine." Branwen said, her voice flat. "We'll be at the house in a couple minutes. Please meet us there. We need your help." Without a second longer Branwen ended the call and dropped her phone into the cup holder.

Her face was blank but the way she dropped her phone like it was nothing… Pogue knew she was more upset than she wanted to appear. He knew her that much at least. Not a lot given recent events.

That thought only angered him more. Here he was, worried about her being upset and yet she had never cared about him enough to tell him the truth. In fact, she had gone out of her way to hide it from him. And his feelings for her had blinded him to the signs. Signs that now seemed so obvious. Like the tingling, he thought, flexing his hand on his leg.

Was he really going to trust her now… again?

The car came to a screeching halt and while Aria glanced at Branwen, Branwen looked at Pogue in the rearview mirror. Pogue told himself he was going to stop using as soon as he got out of whatever mess this was.

Branwen raised a brow at him in the mirror, not saying a word.

"You thought we'd be just fine walking into the wolves den?" Pogue asked, unable to keep the accusation out of his voice. The accusation of pure and utter betrayal.

There was a slight softening to her eyes, similar to earlier when he'd told himself he'd just wanted to see it. This time he knew it was there and he didn't know if it made him feel better or angrier that she felt at least a little bit bad.

But like before, it disappeared. This time replaced with an edge. "In case you haven't noticed, half of your 'we' isn't doing so well."

Pogue looked over to where Caleb was slumped against the side of the car. Pogue had thought he was just tired and worn out, but he'd failed to notice how pale Caleb was. His breathing was shallow and, as the light from a streetlight hit him, Pogue could see a sheen of sweat on Caleb's skin. Reaching over, Pogue felt Caleb's clammy skin, knowing something was definitely wrong.

As he met Branwen's eyes in the mirror again, it irritated him that he was so caught up in her deception that she'd noticed his best friend's condition before him. "And you're housing a medical team that doesn't ask questions at your house?"

"He used too much magic. He can't heal himself. You can't use like that to help him without consequences and Aria and I don't know how. Nathan doesn't have any of these problems. If you don't want to answer the difficult questions then he's Caleb's only hope right now."

Pogue looked at Caleb, his best friend who, granted, had a lot of issues, if tonight had been any indication. But he'd been there a lot for Pogue and there was no way Pogue was going to let him down. He glanced back to Branwen in the mirror and she gave him a look saying "So…?"

A flash of his eyes and they were on their way to Beacon Hill.

There seemed to be a lot of silence going on for a group that had so much drama. Once again everyone was standing apart, not talking but keeping their eyes on everybody at the same time. Most of the focus, however, was on Nate and Caleb.

They had laid Caleb on the dining room table so Nate had better access to him. Branwen, Aria and Pogue stood at different points around the room watching Nate pass his hands over Caleb's body. He kept mumbling things but they were inaudible. Branwen assumed they were spells but didn't know enough about healing spells to be sure.

Unable to watch any longer, Branwen looked around the room. When she had left here earlier there had been books and papers all over. Nate must have cleaned it all up before he left the house. They had made a little progress. With any luck they would be able to figure things out once they dealt with Caleb.

Avoiding looking at said near death person, and definitely not willing to look at the man who continued to shoot her cutting glances, Branwen turned to her best friend. Aria, who was looking at Caleb with a dark expression, was barely holding it together. Branwen couldn't blame her. Only a short while ago the man on the table had been her almost boyfriend. Then that man had been corrupted by power and emotions and almost killed her. There would be a lot to deal with when things settled down.

Again, Branwen avoided the eyes of her own issues.

Instead she walked over to Aria and, despite a little protest, led her out of the room. "You need to go lie down." Branwen said. "You're shaking and you've nearly chewed your fingernails right off."

"So. What good are fingernails anyway?"

"You'll be cursing yourself tomorrow when you try to pick up change from a counter."

Aria shot her a look that was a weak version of her usual 'I-hate-that-you-know-me-so-well' look.

"See, you're too tired to even glare at me correctly."

"I'm not going to be able to sleep."

"Then I guess it's a good thing I said lie down and not sleep."

"What if he doesn't make it? Nathan's been at it a long time."

"And he will continue until Caleb is fine. It's going to take time. He hit himself with a lot of power."

Aria rolled her eyes. "You mean you hit him with a lot of power. I get that he deserved it but it's a little callous to pretend you weren't a part of it."

Branwen stopped. Aria thought Branwen had hit Caleb? Didn't she understand that the whole reason Branwen avoided her magic was because of how easily it could be used for violence? To this day Branwen didn't know a single offensive spell.

"Aria, I didn't use magic on Caleb. I used magic on you."

Aria turned from her door to look at Branwen. "On me?"

Nodding, Branwen took a step closer. "The only power that hit Caleb was his own. I used my magic to put a shield around you. Caleb's magic bounced off it and hit him."

"A shield?" Aria stared at Branwen, mouth open. "But that's advanced magic."

"I know. It's the only spell I ever tried to learn. It was the first thing I did after they killed my father." Because I couldn't save him.

She didn't have to say the last bit. They both knew it was there in her tone.

"You do realize that his powers could have bounced at any angle, right?" Aria said, hesitantly. "They could have hit you or Pogue."

As if that had mattered at all when Branwen had pulled up and seen them standing there in front of her. "I know. But like I said; I'll always choose you."

Smiling, Aria hugged Branwen. When she pulled back, she opened her bedroom door but stopped before entering. "What are we going to do now that the cat's out of the bag?"

That was the question, wasn't it? As if they didn't have enough on their plates. "I'm not sure." Branwen admitted.

Aria nodded. "I'm glad I'm not the only one."

Branwen continued down the hall to her own room to change her clothes and wash her face. The cold water felt nice. It helped to calm her, even if only a little. But the nerves came right back in full force when she walked down the hall to see Pogue waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs. For a moment she thought back to her dream the night of the fire. Now that the secret was out, at least that one, she supposed she could clear some things up.

She continued into the living room, Pogue following silently. When she turned he opened his mouth but she held up her hand. "I know you have questions and I will answer what I can, but I have one question first. The night of the fire at our condo, did you use magic to warn me?"

Pogue narrowed his eyes at her. "What do you mean?" His answer was just cagy enough to make Branwen unsure if he was confused or evasive.

"The night our condo was set on fire, I was warned magically. I need to know if it was you."

"Why would you think it was me?"

"So no, then."

"I didn't say that."

"You didn't have to. If it had been you then you'd know why I would suspect you."

"Cut the cryptic shit, Branwen. I'm sick of all the drama and lies."

"You say that like you didn't also hide the fact that you're a witch."

He shook his head at her. "It's different and you know it. It's not just that you're a witch. You knew about my magic and still didn't say anything. In fact, I'm pretty sure you've known about it since high school." When she didn't say anything he ran his hand through his hair and looked at her, but his eyes were more hesitant than angry. She understood. He was afraid he wouldn't like what he was going to learn if he started asking questions.

"How much do you know?" he asked. "About us. Caleb, Reid, Tyler and me."

Honestly, only the stuff that related to her coven. Sure, she knew some that she wasn't supposed to, but knowing the coven, there was much more. And she didn't know the stories about each descendant. But she could tell you almost every detail about the original founders of his coven. The cursed.

To Pogue, though, she only said, "Enough."

Then his anger was back. "And what the hell is that supposed to mean? I thought you were going to answer what you can?"

"I am. But just like there are things you aren't allowed to tell to protect your coven, I have to do the same."

He got very still. "What do you mean your coven?"

"Exactly what I said."

He opened his mouth before closing it again and beginning to pace. She let him work through his thoughts and eventually he turned to face her again. "So you're from a separate coven? That's why you have magic despite being a girl?"

She then began to realize how completely in the dark his coven had been kept. If her coven had been coming after her and Aria for hanging out with the boys, they certainly weren't going to like it is they every found out Branwen hadn't just let them see behind the curtain, but burned it to ash.

There was no going back.

"Pogue, your coven is the only one whose magic is restricted to the first born male. All the others are every child of any gender."

Right on cue… "All the others?"

Taking a deep breath, Branwen let it all out in a sigh. The cat was out of the bag, right? "Maybe you should sit down for this."