New chapter already…Hope this was faster updating

New chapter…hope this was faster updating than before. : )

I know she does not approve, but there is not much I can do. I think this Seeker might be the only chance that we may have at survival. I will do whatever it takes to protect her from this; to not let her get involved before she can not turn back.

- Brahadair

Hunter and Sky's house was small and miserable. I did not see how four of us could live in this one house; it was small and cramped, and the windows were dirty, and the roof looked blackened with soot and dirt. Hunter dismally looked at it, not looking at my mom's or my disbelieving expressions.

"It's not much," he said: Understatement of the year.

My mom and I both moved with slow motions as we took our few suitcases and headed forwards, looking up at the miserable house as it shadowed us. We exchanged quick glances before taking a deep breath simultaneously and followed Hunter and Sky the rest of the way up the walk. They seemed to be looking at each other, passing messages with their eyes.

Hunter opened the door wide for me, and I accidentally brushed his arm as I was walking through. Snapping my arm to my side as something crackled along it, I glared at him before scurrying in at a faster pace, although I could sense that Hunter felt mystified.

Mom's and Sky's voices drifted in, warm and mellow and somehow the opposite of everything I seemed to stand for. It was frustrating yet calming at the same time; she was someone I knew and I should feel proud to be related and close to her, yet it was unfair that I could not be like her, happy and cheerful when my temper gets the best of me.

"This is only a two bedroom house," said Hunter, taking my suitcase from me, and I didn't even protest, more concerned with getting my fingers away from his. "So, Sky and your mum decided that you should share with Sky. Your mum will be able to take the couch."

"No." I shook my head immediately, and Hunter frowned.

"Why do you have to argue with everything? Your mum already said this would be best." He was glaring at me now, and my hands involuntarily curled into fists.

"She should get the bedroom," I argued, "I'll get the couch." He looked at me warily, as if I was just trying to trick him. "Really," I insisted, "I'd rather my mom share with Sky."

It would be awkward between me and Sky. I can already feel negative vibes coming from her; they're pointed at me, too.

"Fine," snapped Hunter, his cheeks flushing red. I had the oddest thought that he was angry because he couldn't argue, and deep inside it made me smile, even though my face was positioned perfectly neutral. "Athar," he called out, and Sky's voice came back softly. Athar? "Morgan has decided she'll take the couch, so Maeve will share with you."

Why the heck had he called her "Athar"? There was a grunt and a squeak in reply, but my stubborn energy seemed to fill up the house and in a few moments it was silent.

"Athar is Sky's coven name." Hunter was replying to my earlier unasked question, but knowing that it was her coven name did not help. I'd probably read it in some book somewhere, but…

My cell phone rang loudly in my pocket, an embarrassing jingle with a mix of notes that sounded like a piccolo and a tuba playing together. My cheeks flushing red as I determinedly did not look at Hunter's face, I extracted the phone from my pocket and pressed the green phone button (it wasn't a flip phone) and brought it to my ear without even looking at the number. "Hello?"

It could have been some stalker movie and a freaky raspy voice was heard on the other end, telling me they were watching me, but instead I got bubbly and bright and energetic and somehow I knew it was Joey Ryan before he even spoke. "Um, hey, Joey," I said nervously, lifting my finger to my mouth and beginning to bite my nail. And old habit has risen from the dead.

"Hey, Morg-er-an," he said uncertainly, and I bit the inside of my cheek to stop from laughing. He had been striving for a nickname, and that hadn't turned out too well. "I was wondering if you wanted to go see a movie with me."

There was a sticky moment of silence where Hunter was giving me an unreadable look. "Um," I squeaked, and hated myself for seeming so vulnerable, "I don't think this is a good time for me to be in a relationship, Joey." Hunter's golden eyebrows rose and I glared at him.

Joey was silent on the other end. "Is there another guy?"

I sputtered for a moment. "Another guy?" I laughed maniacally, glaring at Hunter as he moved closer. What on earth was he doing?

"Morrrrrrggggaaaannnn," called out Hunter, and he was close enough that I knew Joey could hear him. "Come back to bed, honey."

Absolutely mortified, my mouth hung open and my cheeks flamed red while Hunter gave a satisfied smirk. I'd never wanted to punch someone more. "You slut!" Joey's voice echoed angrily. "I don't even know why you asked me out in the first place!"

Crap. I'd forgotten that had been me. I opened my mouth to retort but the phone clicked and I realized with a whoosh of anger he had hung up on me. Clicking the red phone button, I glared at Hunter with my arms crossed. "What the hell was that for?" I asked. Truly stung, I just glared at him.

Hunter shrugged, a boyish smirk crossing his face. "You wanted to dump him," he said, "and he's been dumped. I don't see the problem."

Anger spammed across my face as my arms uncrossed and I stepped toward him. "You jerk!" I half-growled, half-screamed, pounding him on the chest with my fists. He looked surprised that I was resorting to such low measures – I was surprised myself. "You had sexual intentions while I was dumping a boy, making me look like a total tramp!"

He blinked at me, his sea green eyes narrowing, and suddenly he looked more serious. Stiffly, he said, "Morgan, I was helping the problem be solved. You can't have contact with anyone when we're here; we're supposed to keep you hidden and away from the tainted side. So, give me the phone."

"Whaaat?" I drawled angrily, cuddling my phone close to my chest. He was not taking this away from me! My last piece of sanity…my phone. What, were witches able to send secret messages so they didn't need cell phones? Hunter sure seemed interested in seeing my phone…

Hunter snatched the phone from my hand, not even caring that I was clutching it close. I protested squeakily, but he ignored me and I just gave up, knowing it was a lost cause. He examined the phone carefully before sticking it in his pocket, and I glared at him once more. He was such a jerk! Couldn't he just mind his own business?

Grumbling angrily, telling him he had to call the school and tell them I'd be going away unexpectedly, I curled up in front of the fire on the couch and ignored the others until dinner time, when I was just too hungry to ignore anymore.

After dinner Hunter and Sky announced that we were going to perform a Wiccan circle. My mom nodded, looking happy and pleased, but I just kind of stared at them. What was I to expect? A Wiccan circle already, along with becoming adjusted to this new life plan? It was just moving too fast for me. I never much liked change to begin with.

But my mom took my hand gently and led me to the living room, where Hunter began to draw a circle with chalk. He left a bit open and we all stepped in, and then he closed it. We joined hands; well, they joined hands and looked at me expectantly. I grimaced but held my mom's hand and Hunter's, trying to ignore those damned shocks that went up my forearm from being in contact with Hunter.

"Goddess," said Hunter clearly but softly, "as the evils grow we pray that we can withhold against them. We ask for patience and guidance. Blessed be."

"Blessed be," Sky and Mom echoed, and embarrassedly I muttered, "Blessed be," quickly after them. Then they started to move around in a circle, and I was dragged along around and around, and I felt something uprising in me. Something powerful; something so strong that it was unbearable, hard to contain. It flew out of me like streaming ribbons, and I dropped Hunter's and Mom's hands to reach upwards, and I noticed everyone else was reaching towards the sky as well. Feeling dizzy and sick but wonderful, I found myself laughing as I got the sensation of shooting upwards. I then noticed we were in what seemed like Outer Space; we were surrounded by twinkling stars, but then my mom, Sky, and Hunter flickered from view.

"Hello?" I whispered. "Mom?" No reply. Nervously, I reached out for a star. As soon as my fingers touched it, it turned black and fell into ash, dropping at my feet. The other stars transformed as well, looking as though this was the remains of a fire.

"Morgan!" The voice seemed to rise from the ashes, shaking at quivering and weak, but nonetheless holding power. "I am searching for you, Morgan!"

I could feel myself shake, could feel myself screaming even as everything became brighter.

"Morgan!" someone was screaming. "Morgan!"

"She's coming to," murmured Sky comfortingly, and I realized my cheeks were wet and someone's hands were on my shoulders and my head was on someone's lap.

My eyes peeked open; my mom was standing over me, the one who had been shaking my shoulders gently, and my head was in Hunter's lap.

"The circle was infiltrated." Well, Sky certainly is a blunt person. "Someone really wants you, Morgan. More then they want your mother, it seems."

Mom bit her lip and looked away.

It hit me with a weird reality that someone was trying to kill me. At the same time, I realized I must look like hell and my eyeliner and mascara must have run. It was a weird combination to realize, and I found myself blinking as I stared up at Hunter, my eyes big.

"What's going to happen to me?" I faltered, and Hunter looked down at me.

"Nothing," Hunter said sternly. "We'll protect you at all costs, Morgan."

The seriousness of his tone made me give him a watery smile. "But I can't promise I'll let you."

Hunter gave me a confused look as he tried to grasp the meaning with Sky and Mom staring at me. Ignoring them all, I went and curled up on the couch, begging for sleep to take me.

At least there, for now, it was peaceful.