AN- ok so I see that a few people liked my story. A few of you added it to their watch list. Thank you to Nicole Star and Spazzysassyangel for reviewing. Again I don't own anything from sweep and I'm doing this for my own enjoyment and not to make money and I have used some of Cate's writing. I'm going to get to the story now because I know that my chapters are long and I need to get them done ASAP. Thanks, read and review.
Hunter's View…..chapter 2 ….Burned on more than one level.
The moment I hit the water it felt like my heart was going to jump out of my chest it was so cold. It took all my energy to try and get to the top of the water. I knew that my only chance at survival was to hold on to something but the water was running so fast that my hands couldn't grab hold of anything. I was loosing energy fast because of the wound on my neck and the exertion of the fight with Cal. How could I have been so stupid to forget about Morgan standing there. Everything was happening in slow motion. Was I dieing? Was this it? I forced my mind to focus on the current situation. Everything else would have to wait. The water finally slowed at what looked like a bay. I used every last effort that I had to get as close to the edge as I could. Magically I was useless. With the last bit of consciousness I had left I pulled myself up onto a bank. I was so cold and didn't know how I would live through this. I left my life in the Goddess' hands and I thought of my family. They everything went black.
I woke to the sound of my name being called. It was still dark out and ice had built up on my face. It could have been minutes or hours for all I knew. Surprisingly nothing felt cold anymore and there was no pain. Was this my Summerland? Could I now get up and walk. I tried to stand but nothing seemed to work. My mind kept telling my legs to move but they wouldn't listen. There was the voice again calling my name but it sounded like I was hearing everything through a pillow over my head. I was sure that after my death my family would be waiting to welcome me. Or at least my brother but this was really different. The voice called my name again and I relised that it was Sky and she was getting closer. I wasn't dead. I was very much alive and I had never been happier in my life.
" I'm here!" I yelled as loud as I could, which wasn't that loud. " I'm here." I tried again but the attempt was as bad as the last. I finally gave up and tried to summon all the magical power left in me. Sky, By the water
For a long while it was silent. I thought that she had left but then loud footsteps came running toward me and the next thing I knew Sky was over me and holding my head while putting her hand on my neck
" Oh, Goddess Hunter. Hunter stay with me." Sky started screaming.
I closed my eyes again because he heat felt so good. I could feel he put her coat around me but that just started my shivering again. I gave myself up to darkness again.
When I woke up again Sky was dragging me upright as much as possible. The pain was almost unbearable. There was nothing I could do to help her, but I still tried to hold my own weight. Sky's breathing was labored and she didn't speak to me as she paid full attention to getting where we were going. Every step was agonizing on the uneven forest ground but eventually we reached what looked like a dirt road. Sky put me down on the road.
"I'll be right back. I'll go get the car." She said and then went running in the other direction.
I was fully uncomfortable. My clothes had frozen to me and Sky's coat didn't fit. On my neck I could still feel the wound from where the Athame hit me. How did I let this happen. Everything that I thought was not true. I let my guard down and almost ended up dead for it. I was wrong about Morgan. Or maybe I was too late. Either way I would have to bring her into the council with Cal and Selene. I could see the head lights of Sky's car and then she got out and helped me into the passenger seat. The warmth from the dashboard hurt. It was making all the nerve endings in my body start working again and they were feeling the pain that I had blocked out for so long. Sky sped of and I passed out again.
I awoke next in my own bed. Every blanket that we owned was on me and I finally felt warm. The cut on my neck was only loosely bandaged and I could hear Sky talking loudly. Healing had never really been Sky's thing but at this point I felt out of the woods. Literally and figuratively. After a while I heard Sky come up the stairs and she carried another blanket into the room.
" your awake, that's good." Sky said as she sat beside my bed. " what happened to you tonight!" she yelled at me.
I smiled to myself. It was typical of Sky to ream me out after all worry had passes. I could see that my smile was just making her mad though. " it's too long a story right now. Please, no more blankets, I'm already too hot."
" no you idiot. It's for me." Sky laughed. " Alice will be here soon. I just called her for help."
We both enjoyed a comfortable silence with me drifting in and out of sleep and Sky checking up on me once in a while. Suddenly Sky sat up and said " Alice is here" and left the room.
I was weaker than I thought because I didn't even get the smallest hint of another witch being here.
Sky and Alice came into the room and Alice rushed over in fear and started to check me over. Alice always was motherly to me. It was nice that she fretted over me and it was nice to have her here now. She pulled the bandage away and looked at the cut.
" Sky can you go get a bowl of hot water and a cup of some and I need towels and bandages." Alice said and Sky complied. Alice took a salve out of her bag and it smelled awful but it was in my experience that the ones that smelled the worse, worked the best.
" what's happened Hunter? Is anyone else in danger?" Alice asked with concern in her face. I knew she was worried about Morgan but I could put her mind at ease in that one. Morgan was defiantly not what any of us thought she was.
Sky came back into the room before I started talking and I figured they should both know what happened. Alice set to work at placing healing spells on me. " I went to Cal's to question him and bring him to the council. When I pulled up Morgan and Cal were both on the walk. I stared talking with Cal and he ran off. I suppose he didn't want Morgan to hear what was being said. It didn't matter she didn't stay put. Cal and I were fighting and I was trying to get the Braigh on him. Finally I got it there but as I stood up Morgan threw a Athame at me." I paused and took in their faces. Sky didn't look surprised but Alice was obviously shocked. She had stopped working on me.
" Not Morgan," she gasped. " are you sure?"
I nodded my head yes. " then Cal kicked me and I fell into the river. After that things are really fuzzy."
" so it must have been you that sent m the message to come find you. I was wondering because the message was so different but strong." Sky said.
" I highly doubt that it was me. It took everything just to swim." I said.
Alice finished bandaging me up. "well let's thank the Goddess for whoever did." For now I want you to dink as much of this tea as you can. Reapply the salve when the wound feels dry and get some sleep." Alice said with a light in her eye.
Alice and sky then left the room so I could get some much needed rest.
I stood in the woods watching as another form of myself fought with Cal. Everything was slowed down. I could see Morgan laying in the snow. She looked so scared. I could see her working hard to break through the binding spell. I could see her slowly get back up and stare at what was going on. I could see her mind register what I was doing to Cal and then I could see her grab the Athame. All the sudden things sped up to a hyper speed. The Athame hitting me, Cal kicking me and my body falling over the edge. I could see the surprise on Morgan's face. I could see the darken figure of Cal get up and walk to Morgan, hugging her. When they turned so I could see Cal's face I was shocked to find it was not Cal's but my own. Morgan said something, " again, you killed your brother."
I woke up with a start. What the hell was that. It had been a long while since I had nightmares. It must be Cal bringing up my brother all the time in our conversations.
The daylight was steaming in my bedroom window and it was nice. I send what little senses I have left into the house and I come back empty. There was no one home. I slowly got myself out of the bed and made it to the washroom. After reliving myself I took a look at my face in the mirror. I was shocked to see the face staring back at me. There were bruises and cuts on my face and I was pale as a ghost. The gash on my neck was disgusting and I knew that I would have a scar there for a long time. at least it would make me seem mysterious. Girls would probably find it hot.
" Hunter I'm home." Sky yells from down stairs. " don't come down, I'll come up."
As I make my way back to my room I hear Sky bound up the stairs. She sees me and helps me to her room with her freezing hands. She get's m e under the blanket.
" Sky, those hands are colder than the water." I laugh.
" I've been outside all morning. I went to the woods by Cal's house. Morgan was there." Sky said and I looked at her expectantly. " she looked perfectly happy with herself. She said she didn't know what happened. I could kill her for what she did to you."
" Sky," I said, " stay away from her. She's dangerous and unpredictable. The council will deal with the both of them. For now we wait."
Sky nodded her head in understanding but I knew that if she had half a chance she would attack Morgan.
" Did you get my car?" I asked
" No, it was gone. Look, you get to sleep and I'll cook something." Sky said as she go up and left the room.
I woke up on Monday feeling only a little better. I look to my side and Alice is sitting there. I try to get up out of bed without waking her but I was unable to complete the task in my current state.
Alice looked at me with her caring eyes, " need help?"
I nodded and she helped me out of the bed and to he washroom which I thankfully could manage on my own. Once back in bed Alice checked my neck and reapplied the salve.
" Sky wanted you to know that she had work but she would be home soon. And I've got to go back to the store soon." Alice passed and seemed to think about something for a while, " Hunter, I can't believe that Morgan did this all on her own. Is it possible that she's being controlled? The council can't take her to task if she's not doing this on her own."
I put my hand on Alice's, " Cal had to put binding spell on her to keep her away. I think they still are using simple methods of control and she's acting of her own free will." I said bitterly.
Alice whipped away a tear and got up. She didn't say a word as she left.
I woke up later in the evening and Sky was in the same spot as Alice had been. I suddenly felt like I was back years ago when I had been near death, like this. I rolled on my side to look a Sky.
" Hey, your awake." She said. " Alice says your in the clear and you should be getting your strength back soon."
" I can't wait to get up and out of this bed." I said
Sky's eyes filled with tears, "don't ever do this again. You scared me. I can't loose you. Hunter I want you to quit this and come home and get a regular job."
"I can't quit this." I said. "I've worked to hard for this. We've worked to hard to just give up now."
Sky looked at me again with her eyes full of tears.
"we've survived worse Sky, well survive this." I said and Sky broke down completely. I hugged her as best as I could.
On Tuesday I woke up to the smell of bacon and eggs. I could feel Sky moving around the kitchen which excited me because I finally was getting my powers stronger. I got up out of bed and changed my clothes. I was starting to really stink but food would be first. I made my way downstairs and Sky was setting the table with bacon, Bangers, and Mash ( Bangers and Mash are sausages and potatoes.) everything looked great.
" Your looking better," Sky said. "here eat. I've got to get to work."
"Thanks," I said and I grabbed her hand as she walked by and gave it a little squeeze, "for everything."
Sky's eyes filled with unshed tears again as she nodded her head and then turned to go upstairs.
A few hours latter I tossed my Book of Shadows onto my bed. I was out of things to do. I already called Kennet in England and took a shower. I read a bunch of books and wrote in my BOS. Now I found myself hoping for Sky to come home so I could have someone to talk to. Looking at the clock I relised that it was almost the time when Cal and Morgan get off school. Grabbing my coat I took off out the door. Before I knew it I had walked all the way to Morgan's home. I hid in the background so that no one would see me and waited for Morgan to get home.
It's already struck me as odd that I'm waiting in the freezing cold for a girl that tried to kill me. If I had any sense at all, I would pack up and leave and have someone else take over. But as I saw Cal's gold truck pull around the corner I knew why I wasn't leaving. And it had nothing to do with Morgan.
I figured there was no chance of hiding from Cal so I started walking in the opposite direction. It was going to be a long walk home but at least I was no longer board. No, now I had a renewed ambition to finish what I started.
The next day was a holiday so everything was closed. They called it thanks giving and everyone celebrated it. Sky and I decided it would be a perfect day to give thanks to the Goddess. It wasn't lost on me how many time Sky said that like she was about to cry. The Goddess kept me alive. Ever since the other night when Sky started crying, things have been different around here. She's forbidden me from going anywhere but what she doesn't know won't hurt her.
As I clime the small snow covered hill behind Morgan's I place concealment spells around me. My power feels amazing to me. I would go insane if I ever had to lose it for an extended length of time. it felt like hours until I saw movement from Morgan's house. Slowly Morgan came into the back yard and drew a small circle by a tree. It was something I could see myself doing and suddenly I had a sense of longing to by Morgan's side. It was ridicules because I know that, given another chance, she would do me in.
Morgan laid out her offering and I could see her begin to meditate. Power was coming off of her in waves. I began to notice Morgan looking through the yard and woods. She could tell I was here. Even at my weakest I was still a great witch but she could still feel me here. As her eyes began to scan the area where I was, I choose to run. The embankment in the woods was steep and I slipped. Narrowly missing a tree, I got up and stared to run towards home. I promised myself that I wouldn't do this again, that this time was too close of a call.
By the time I got home I was exhausted, wet and tired. Sky was standing by the fire place when I got back.
" what the heck Hunter. Where were you?" Sky yelled as Alice and David came out of the kitchen.
"I was out for a walk." I said
"You must be stupider than I thought. Come on. Supper is almost ready."
Hours later David, Alice, Sky and I sat around my worn kitchen table. Alice had made a traditional American thanksgiving dinner which was like everything else, big and far to good to be good for you. it was nice to feel like I had a family night. These were few and far between and I started to think about Alwyn and how much she would have loved the concept of tonight. She always approached everything with a child's enthusiasm even after everything she has been though.
"Earth to Hunter." Sky said.
I looked up to see everyone looking at me. "sorry, just thinking."
Sky looked back at Alice, " I think our best option is to find out what she's really up to. If she's as unknowing in this as you say then some scare tactics so really help."
Alice looked concerned, "there's got to be a better way. Morgan's just lost. What if we get her away from Cal?"
I tried to get a hold of what they were talking about. "if can get her to Practical Magic, without Cal, we may be able to help her. If we hit her with everything we have then eventually she'll come to the store. From there you need to call us and we'll try to talk to her."
David was nodding his head but Alice still seemed scared. After working out a few more details we agreed that we would start tomorrow. slowly Alice and David would get Morgan to open up to them and then we would all approach her.
On the drive to Practical Magic the next day Sky and I talked at great length on how we would approach Morgan. It was obvious that the immediate danger was to me so Sky would be the one to approach her. If the council needed to step in, I would draw on their power to bind her and bring her forward for questioning.
After Alice and David left I called my sister. And was surprised at how much I was missing. She was showing signs of being a strong witch but was really scared of it. She has a boyfriend and is excelling in her regular school classes. I missed her a lot and I couldn't wait to be done here so I could be with her. Help her through the teen years. She was the only blood I had left and I was spending way too much time away.
After he spell was cast, I felt absolutely drained as if it was my first time weaving a spell. David helped me into the office as Alice and Sky went to her apartment to put some of the stuff away. We both sat in silence until we heard a noise at the front door. At first I thought it was just a passer by but hen we heard a firm kick to the door.
"I'll be right back." David said as he got up and left the back room.
I could here David talking to someone up front and when David pushed aside the curtain again I was beyond surprise and I couldn't hide the emotion on my face. Morgan screamed and placed her hands over her mouth like it would stop the sound from coming out. I looked over to David just as Morgan did. It was like a play of Farces.
"Morgan, you've met Hunter, haven't you? Hunter Niall, this is Morgan Rowlands. Maybe you two should shake hands." David said.
I was expecting this, not so soon but I knew it would happen. It didn't stop the fact that at this moment I was petrified.
"You're not dead," Morgan said as she sunk into the metal chair across from me. She looked me over and I figured she was looking for her handy work so I hooked my finger in my scarf and showed her the gash on my neck. "I don't understand." She said as David poured tea.
"You understand parts of it," David told her. He took the other chair and sat down, "but you haven't quite got the big picture.
Morgan looked between us like she was trying to decide if she should run and hide or stay and fight.
"Your wondering what's going on," David massively understated.
"I'm afraid," Morgan admitted in a shaking voice. "I don't know what to believe."
She was just a scared child. A child to witchcraft at least. In the other sense she was defiantly and appealing woman.
"I thought Hunter was dead. And … I thought I could trust you. everything is upsetting me. I don't know who I am or what I'm doing." Morgan said in a rush.
"I'm sorry, Morgan," David said. "I know this is very hard for you. I wish it could be easier, but this is the path you're on, and you have to walk it. My path was much easier."
I thought to myself that it was only Morgan making her path harder but I knew that was being unfair. I wasn't helping any.
"Why aren't you dead?" Morgan blurted out to me.
"Sorry to disappoint you," I said angrily, "Luckily my cousin Sky is an athletic girl. She found me and pulled me out of the river."
"I never meant to- hurt you that badly," Morgan said. "I just wanted to stop what you were doing. You were killing Cal!"
"I was doing my job. I was fighting in self-defense. There was no way Cal would go to the council without my putting a braigh on him." I yelled back.
"You were killing him."
"He was trying to kill me. And then you tried to kill me!" and almost succeeded, I thought.
"Hold it." David said with his hand up. "This is going nowhere. You two are both afraid, and being afraid makes you angry, and being angry makes you lash out."
Not likely. There was no way I was afraid of her.
"Thank you, Dr.Laura," Morgan said in a snippy voice that I had often heard from my sister when I said something she didn't want to hear.
"I'm not afraid of her." I replied
"Yes, you are," David said, looking at me. "You're afraid of her potential, of her possible alliances, of her power and the lack of knowledge she has concerning that power. She threw an Athame into your neck, and you don't know if she'd do it again."
David turned to Morgan, "And you're afraid that Hunter knows something you don't, that he might hurt you or someone you love, that he might be telling the truth."
It was scary how right David was. For a quiet guy he sure knew when to speak and when to stay quiet.
"Well you're both right." David said taking a sip of his tea. "You both have valid reasons to fear each other. But you need to get past it. I believe things are going to be very tough around here very soon, and you two need to be united to face them."
"What are you talking about?" Morgan asked.
"What would it take for you to trust Hunter? To trust me?" David asked.
Wait a second what about me. What if I have no trust in her.
"Everything I know- almost everything- seems to be second hand knowledge. People tell me things. I ask questions, and people answer or don't answer. I've read different books that tell me things about Wicca, about Woodbanes, about magic."
David looked thoughtful. "what would you trust?"
"I trust m. Most of the time." Morgan said truthfully.
"Okay. So you need first hand information. Well, how do you suggest getting it?" David asked and Morgan was silent for a moment.
Morgan stood up and walked around the table toward me. I took a defensive stance. Prepared for what ever she would do. I was sure that David would do what he had to, to keep both of us safe from harm. She reached her hand toward me to touch me. As she was about to touch my skin blue sparks erupted between her hand and my face. I jumped. I had the same feeling I had when I saw her with Cal and she brushed past me. Finally she placed her fingers on my skin. She closed he eyes and then I had the most mind blowing sensation. This untrained witch was connecting with my mind. It was impossible. But I was learning that very few things were not possible for this girl. Slowly I began to let her in. I didn't want her to connect completely because of the fear that she would have total control and she could hurt me in so man ways. Worse than was she already did.
From what she would let me see I saw how much she really knew of her past. She could see my real name. She made the connection that Giomanach means Hunter in English. Not surprisingly she confirmed for herself that I was really a member of the high council and I was really telling the truth about why I was here. She was shaken by that information but kept contact. I took my time reading Morgan. About her motives and I was happy to see that there was nothing to deal with anything Amyranth in those motives. I saw her and Cal together and I wondered if they had made love and like tuning a page she let me know she hadn't. for some reason I was extremely relived. We needed to control this connection. If we continued to shift around like this we would never get anywhere. I concentrated on one thing, one place where we could both go. To my surprise I found myself in the field behind my first home. It was like I always remembered it being. Just the way it was when I would play for hours as a child. The only difference was that I was a fully grown witch now and Morgan was with me. I wasn't embarrassed she was here, wasn't afraid. I felt comfort with her here. Morgan looked to me and she saw my childhood. Growing up with Sky and her sisters. She saw my pain and anger over my parents leaving and then my determination to see what happened to them. She saw my trial in my brothers death and I felt her relive that I had been found innocent. It this she knew I hadn't lied but Cal had. I pushed forward to her. I felt how shocked she was to finding out she was a witch. Where I always knew what I was and would be she lived in the dark for 16 years. Bitterness filled me when I saw the growing love she had for Cal. Cal had shown Morgan his Seomar Morgan found it incredibly uncomfortable. Was she just claustrophobic or was Cal practicing really strong magic. The girl I saw Morgan's sister and I could feel her fear over the relationship between Mary K and another boy. I understood the feeling. She was really telling the truth that what happened to my was more Cal's fault than here want to hurt me.
It was time to go and we both stood. I could feel her pull away and I felt slightly empty without her presence there. David helped Morgan sit down and I tried to control my emotions, connecting minds was hard on all involved.
"That was interesting," said David, breaking the silence. "Morgan I didn't know you knew how to join with Hunter's mind, but I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. What did you learn?"
Morgan cleared her throat, "I saw that Hunter wasn't- bad or anything."
I continued to look at David in shock. "She ought not be able to do that," I said in a low voice. "Only witches with years of training- she got right inside my mind-" Nothing made sense right now.
David patted my hand, "I know" he said like I was being silly.
Morgan leaned toward me and for a second I thought she was going to join with me again. "Well, if you're not evil why have you and Sky been stalking me? I saw you two in my yard a week ago. You left sigils all over the place. What were they for?" she asked.
It was impossible that she found them herself. "They're protection spells," I said as a cold gust of air came in from the back door and I already knew that it was Sky.
"You!" Sky snapped at Morgan and then looked me over. "What is she doing here?" Sky asked David.
"Just visiting," David smiled.
"You shouldn't be here," Sky snarled. "You almost killed him!" I could feel Sky becoming protective of me and more angry at Morgan.
"You made me think I had killed him!" Morgan yelled back at Sky. "You knew what had happened, you knew he was alive, yet you let me think he was dead. I've been sick about it."
"Not sick enough." Sky retorted
"What were you doing at my house yesterday? Why were you spying on me." Morgan asked.
Shit I was caught, I thought
"Spying? Don't flatter yourself, I've had more important things to do." Sky said, flinging her back pack onto the floor.
"Lier! I saw you yesterday." Morgan accused
"No that was me," I put in and when they both looked at me I shrugged. "keeping tabs."
"How dare you-" Morgan began but Sky interrupted her.
"of course he's keeping tabs on you! He's on the council, and you tried to kill him! If another witch hadn't seen what you'd done and sent me a message to go get Hunter, he would have died!" Sky yelled.
Morgan leapt to her feet. "What other witch? I was the one who sent you the message that night! I was the one who told you to go get him! And I called 911, too!"
"Don't be ridiculous, you couldn't have sent that message. You're nowhere near strong enough." Sky said with disdain.
"Oh, yes, she is," I said and then leaned over so that my chin was in my hands. "She just flushed out my brain. I have no secrets anymore."
Sky looked at me with disbelief in her eyes. She knew that I had never allowed anyone to do a tath meanma with me since it was done for my trial. I tried not to make eye contact with her so I took a sip of my tea.
"What are you talking about?" Sky asked.
"She did a tath meanma," I replied.
Sky was taken aback. "But she can't do that." Sky screeched in disbelief and stared Morgan down. Morgan finally sat down again.
"You're Athar, Athar means Sky. Cousin Athar." Morgan said mechanically.
Everyone was silent for a bit. I figured I'd help everyone out by adding my two cents. "She's not in league with Cal and Selene."
"Cal and Selene aren't in league with Cal and Selene, either!" Morgan yelled angrily. "For your info, Cal and I have done …tath menama-" Morgan struggled
"Meanma," I helped her but only seemed to anger her more.
"Whatever," she snapped. "and he wasn't evil, either!"
"Did he lead it or did you?" I asked.
She thought for a moment and then replied, "He Did."
"Did you go as deep as with me?" I pressured. "Did you see childhood and future, wake and sleep?"
"I'm not sure," Morgan replied like she was overwhelmed.
"You need to be sure." David told her.
I didn't want to back Morgan into a corner again. She reacted impulsively and erratically. I saw something cross across her eyes and I realized that we may have her as an ally.
"I heard Bree and Raven talking about how you were teaching them about the dark side." Morgan accused like she was talking about star wars.
"Of course I was, so the could recognize it and fight it!" Sky paused. "It seems someone should have been teaching you the same thing!"
Morgan stood. We lost her. "Thanks for the tea," she told David. "I'm glad your not dead." Then Morgan left out the back door.
"What a bitch." Sky said. She sat down in the seat that Morgan vacated.
"She's just really scared. And really unguided." I told Sky. She looked me like she was just realizing I was still here.
"Are you crazy Hunter. Did you damage your brain or something." Sky gaped at me. "You let her into your mind. Did you even try to protect yourself?"
"Morgan's not like you think she is. And we can't push her too far because she'll just run." I said.
"She didn't even apologize for trying to kill you." Sky yelled.
We both were silent for a long while and David excused himself to go to the front.
"Look, lets get home. I need you to drop me at work anyway." Sky said.
Sky slammed the door of her car after getting out. She hadn't spoken to me the whole ride. Now I had 5 hours to kill before she was home. There wasn't really anything to do right now and the prospect of going and sitting outside Cal's house didn't seem all that exciting. By some strange pull, I found myself driving towards Morgan's home. It wouldn't hurt to see if she was ok. By showing her I care she may be more open to trusting me. And that was what I kept telling myself was the only reason I was going. It was all council business.
I parked outside her quiet home. I could see a few lights on and I figured it wouldn't hurt to see if my Sigils were still protecting the house. As I was walking up to the house I saw Morgan's light go out. Quickly I walked toward the side of the house to check the window sill there. Suddenly the door opened and closed and I could hear Morgan walking toward me. I pushed myself up against the house and tried to stay in the shadows. She walked right up to me and stared right a me with her hand on her hips.
"What the hell are you doing here?" she asked.
I was taken aback. "Can you see in the dark?" I asked.
"Yes, of course. Can't every witch?" She asked like it was the ability to breath or talk.
"No, not every witch has magesight. No uninitiated witch does," I said stepping away from the house and dusting myself off. "And not even every full-blood witch has it. It does seem to run strongly in Woodbanes."
"Then you must have it since you're half Woodbane." Morgan said like she was insulting me.
"Yes, I do." I said. "in me it developed when I was about fifteen. I thought it had to do with puberty, like getting a beard." But the sad part was that I still had trouble growing a beard. No trouble with anything else. Just the beard.
"What are you doing here," She demanded of me.
"Redrawing the protection sigils on your house," I said nonchalantly. "I see Cal laid his own on top of them."
"He was protecting me from you. Who are you protecting me from?" She asked.
I grinned, "Him."
"Your not going to try to bind him again, are you?" Morgan asked and I thought I wanted to bind Cal again as much as I wanted another Athame in my neck.
Morgan continues, "To put the braigh on him? Because you know I won't let you hurt him."
"No fear, I'm not trying that again," I said touching my neck. "I'm just watching- for now, anyway. Until I get proof of what he's up to. Which I will."
"This is great," Morgan said in disgust. "I'm tired of both of you. why don't you two leave me out of whatever big picture you're playing out."
"I wish I could, Morgan, but I'm afraid you're part of the big picture, whether you want to be or not."
"But why?" She asked like a small child.
"Because of who you are, Meave was from Belwicket." I said not even sure if she truly understood how special that made her.
"So?" Morgan replied. She started to rub her arms an I relised it was really cold outside. Being a seeker I never really noticed these things because I was always outside.
"Belwicket was destroyed by a dark wave, people said, right?"
"Yes, In Maeve's book of shadows, she said a dark wave came and wiped out her coven. It killed people and destroyed buildings. My dad went to look at the town. He said there's hardly anything left." Morgan said. She had been hurt just as much or maybe even more than I had by this thing. I could no longer believe that Morgan had a conscious part in Cal and Selene's plan. But it was without a doubt that she played some part in it.
"There isn't," I told her. "I've been there. The thing is, Belwicket wasn't the only coven destroyed by this so-called dark wave. I've found evidence of at least eight others, in Scotland, England, Ireland, and Wales. And those are only the ones where it was obvious. This- force, whatever it is,- could be responsible for much more damage, on a smaller scale."
"But what is it?" Morgan whispered, afraid to know the answer.
"I don't know," I said. I had grabbed a hold of a small branch to fidget with and it snapped in two with my anger over the fact that I couldn't figure the dark wave out.
"I've been studying it for two years now, and I still don't know what the hell I'm dealing with. an evil force of some kind. It destroyed my parents' coven and made my parents go into hiding. I haven't seen them in almost eleven years."
"Are they still alive?" Morgan asked in a voice that was more caring than I had ever heard it.
"I don't know. No one knows." I shrugged. I felt like I was telling her I believed in Santa Claus. There was only a slim chance they were alive. "They went into hiding to protect me, my brother, my sister. No one's seen them since." Some how I knew Morgan understood my pain and loss.
""My birth parents went into hiding, here in America, but they were killed two years later."
"I know. I'm sorry. But they're not the only ones who have died. I've counted over a hundred and forty-five deaths in the eight covens I know about." I told her.
"and no one knows what it is?" Morgan asked but it sounded more of a statement.
"Not yet but I'll find out. I'll chase it till I know." I said
We stood around in silence for a moment.
"What happened with linden?" She asked out of the blue.
There reasons I didn't want people going into my mind. I hated the questions. I hated the accusation I saw in many people's eyes.
"He was also trying to solve the mystery of our parents' disappearance." I explained. "But he called up a force from the other side, and it killed him."
"I don't understand," A breeze came through the yard and chilled the two of us.
"You know, a dark spirit, an evil force. I'm guessing the dark wave is either and incredibly powerful force like that or a group pf many of them, banded together."
"You mean, like a dead person?" Morgan squeaked. "A ghost?"
"No. Something that's never been alive."
Morgan shivered again and wrapped her arms around herself. We were both silent as she looked at me and took me in. suddenly she took a step back like she had changed her mind. I felt her closing herself off to me.
"What will you do with this dark force when you find it?" she asked.
"I won't be able to do anything to it," I sighed. "What I hope to do is to stop the people who keep calling it into existence."
We were silent again. I stared at her. She was so frustrated it was cute. I stared at her mouth and he perfect lips. I must have been crazy. This was my step brother's girlfriend. This was the girl who tried to kill me.
"and then maybe then people who have been hurt by this, like you, like me … will be able to get on with our lives." I said quietly.
We stood staring at each other. Then as if someone else was moving me I placed my hand on her chin. Slowly I tipped her face up toward mine. I was going to kiss her. Of that I was sure. Feelings coursed through me and most of them I couldn't understand. I couldn't stop myself. This was insane. Morgan was my job and nothing more. This need to protect her was only because I worried for all witches who had a lot of power and little training. Morgan looked at me like a deer in the headlights. Neither of us could pull away. Faintly I could hear a car pulling in to the drive. It was like everything outside of us was muffled and all that mattered was this.
Morgan quickly came to her senses and stepped back while pushing against me.
"Stop that!"
"I didn't mean to," I said lamely. It was the truth.
Behind us the car door opened and slammed shut and then opened again. A female voice said something in alarm and then the car door slammed shut again. Morgan took off toward the car and I decided to follow. In the car I could see that two people were fighting and the big brother instinct in me kicked into high gear. Morgan yanked open the door and her sister fell out of the car with half her body still in. I reached down and helped Mary k up. She was crying and her jacket was ripped.
"Morgan" she barely got out.
Morgan leaned into the car and said something that I couldn't make out. I could only imagine what she had to say to this bastard.
"Stay out of it," I heard him say. "Mary K. come back we need to talk!" he yelled. There was more talking and I knew that Morgan was treating this guy. Even though it was wrong, he deserved it and it was what I would do. Finally Morgan pulled out of the car and slammed the door. Mary K was shaking beside me. As Morgan turned around Mary K looked up at me.
"I know you," she said.
"I'm Hunter."
The boy screeched his wheels and pulled away.
"Come on, Mary K." Morgan took her by the arm and went toward the house. She didn't once look back at me.
"I'll see you later, Morgan," I said to her back. I was left alone to process what was going on, on my own.
I went back to Sky's car and started the engine but didn't drive away for a while. There was so much that just happened. I couldn't seem to process anything. If it would have been Alwyn in that car, I would have strangled him. I understood Morgan's reaction. All the sudden I've gone from hating and fearing her to being apathetic. And it wasn't only that. Now I was thinking about her in ways that I shouldn't. I nearly kissed her. I decided that I would call Kennet when I got home. If anything he would get me back in the right direction. Back on the right path which was binding Cal and Selene and then getting my ass back to England.
Sunday I was on the couch, in front of the fire place, writing in my book of shadows. Everything about today felt off. I tried to meditate but it didn't help. It was something in the air and I was smart enough to know that it wasn't a coincidence. The frond door swung open and hit the wall. Sky stood standing there as I looked up.
"well hello," I said.
"We have to get to Cal and Selene." She said in a rush as she came into the house.
I sat up a little and put my BOS aside.
"Morgan has nothing to do with what's going on. But they are going to try and hurt her. We need to stop them." Sky rushed as she threw open the hall closet.
"I don't understand. Sky what's going on." I asked, standing now.
"Hunter you have all the evidence against Selene. Now we have to stop her." Sky said
"It doesn't make sense. Sky stop and tell me what happened," I grabbed her by the arm.
"Not much just made sense……"Sky started to say but the door flung open again.
Bree stomped into the room but Robbie stood at the door like he was questioning weather it was worth it to knock.
"What the hell is going on with Morgan?" Bree asked me. She stared me down.
In Wicca there were no coincidences so something must be up with two women charging into my house without warning and talking about Morgan.
"What happened?" I asked.
Robbie spoke up, "we were going back home and Morgan charged into her car and sped off. She looked rushed."
We were silent for another moment. Where was Morgan going? She wouldn't be that stupid. Almost as if she knew I was thinking about her I could hear Morgan's voice in my head. It was a brief contact but she seemed panicked and in trouble. I looked up and could see that Sky and Bree had heard the same thing.
"Cal, he's probably taking her to Selene," sky said. Bree turned tail and ran to her car with Robbie behind her.
I ran to my room to grab my tools. I had no Idea what I would need to deal with but I couldn't waste any time. Sky was in the car waiting for me I got out of the house. I could already feel power coursing through me. We drove the whole way in silence. I knew that Sky would be there for me if I needed her but I needed to do this myself. I only hoped that Morgan wasn't hurt. When we came toward the house I could see the smoke billowing into the sky. I could feel the car pick up speed. As Sky pulled the car into the back yard I could see Robbie and Bree. The were holding Morgan up. My breath cached. I was too late.
AN ok so another chapter done. Thank you everyone else for reviewing between when I started and now. I've already started on the next chapter so hopefully it will go faster.