Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to the Covenant movie except for the original characters and the plot.
Step 2: Breaking the News (part 2)
No one said anything for what seemed like an eternity. Looking at their various looks of incredulity and shock, I could almost find the situation comical.
If only I hadn't been part of the plot.
I'd originally planned on cornering Reid at school to tell him who I really was and explain to him my reasons for lying when he asked about "Rosamund Gentry." Instead, here we were in a crowded movie theater with every one of his friends present, standing in an uneasy silence because I hadn't been able to keep my big mouth shut for a few more hours.
My only defense: it'd made sense in my head.
"Um, I take it you're a fan of Reid?" Tyler asked, at long last breaking the silence.
It was now my turn to be confused. I looked around the rest of the group and realized for the first time how my announcement might have sounded to someone who didn't have my extensive knowledge of the situation. Now they probably all thought I was a crazed groupie and part of one of Reid's Spenser fan clubs.
Crap.
"Um…not really," I replied struggling to find the right words. I had no idea how to go about explaining myself. They already thought I wasn't right in the head. What would they think if I were to tell them I needed to get married to Reid within the next two and a half months because the leading body of the magical community demanded it?
Someone bumped into me, a nagging reminder that we were still at the movies. "Could we do this somewhere else?" I asked, directing my question at Reid.
His eyes met mine and I knew that he'd gotten my meaning the first time around and was not happy about it.
"Please?"
I wasn't sure what he was going to do, but the rest of the group remained quiet and I knew that they would back up whatever he decided. Finally making up his mind, he let out a frustrated growl before dragging me out of the movie theater to a huge black jeep. I followed, trying not to trip, knowing that he would probably just continue pulling me along if I did. I wondered if this was the last time anyone would see me alive. He propelled me towards the passenger door as he made his way to the driver's side. I stood there for a second, deliberating whether or not to get in. My timing had been, to say the least, undeniably bad and right this instant going anywhere with my future husband appeared to be a really bad idea. I took in my surroundings and tried to calculate my chances of escape.
As if reading my mind, he rolled down the window and warned: "Chasing you down will just make me angrier."
Seeing little choice in the matter, I climbed in the passenger side, buckled my seat belt, and resolved myself to my fate. The back doors opened on both sides as Tyler, Pogue, and Kate came in. I sighed; I'd hoped that we would be alone when the moment came for me to tell Reid about the situation.
But then again, feeling the animosity he was emanating made me glad that there would be people there.
I looked out the window trying to concentrate on the landscape, futilely willing my heart to stop beating so hard against my rib cage. I needed to be calm to do this. I peeked at Reid from the corner of my eye, his gaze was fixed on the road ahead, jaw tightly clenched. I could almost see the outline of a nerve jutting from his temple. He looked so much like an anime character, I almost laughed for a second. That was until he turned to stare at me.
After about fifteen more minutes, a large house came into view. As Reid turned into the driveway, I noticed that Caleb's silver car was already parked there. I wondered whose home it was.
Shutting off the engine, Reid shot out of the car without looking to see if I would follow. Pogue and Kate did the same, sending me curious looks, obviously still believing that I was some kind of groupie. Tyler, on the other hand, gave me a lingering look I didn't quite know how to interpret before joining his friends.
Breathing unevenly, I made my way to the door.
I walked down the main hallway, not knowing where else to go. The house had an old feel to it, most of it probably contributed by the architecture, which was much different from that of the more modern houses people seemed to favor these days. The walls were richly decorated with paintings from different eras and chandeliers loomed overhead. From the glimpses of rooms I caught as I walked by, the rest of the housed was pretty much the same, and I gathered that whoever lived here, came from old money. Reaching the end of the corridor, I entered the living room, hoping that they would be there so I wouldn't need to keep wondering through the mansion alone.
And they were. All eyes turned to me, wondering, I'm sure, why Reid had accepted my request. I dreaded having to answer their questions. I looked here and there, taking in the surroundings, noticing everything from the color of the window drapes, to that of the Victorian couches they were sitting on, stalling as much as I could. What I dreaded most of all was Reid's reaction and his unwavering angry gaze.
I opened my mouth, my eyes resting on my husband-to-be who was deceptively calm, leaning against the fireplace, but no words would come. I didn't know where to start. "I'm not crazy," I managed finding my voice.
Someone snorted.
"And I know you're witches."
That got their attention, but they were now also weary of my intentions; I could see it in their eyes.
"So am I, well…partially anyways. But that's not the reason why I'm here, I came to Spenser to look for Reid because I got a letter from the Council about two and a half weeks ago telling me that we were supposed to get married."
Reid was the only one who didn't seem surprised by the news. "Your name?"
"I lied. Micah's my second name. I dropped Rosamund to be less identifiable. I didn't know how much weight you'd put in that letter, not knowing about the magical community. More to the point, I didn't think that announcing my presence in the middle of the school yard would have been a very good idea."
It was Caleb who spoke this time. "Did you just say magical community?"
I nodded.
"You mean there are more people out there with powers like us?" Tyler half stated, half asked.
"Not quite like yours, but there are others with magical abilities."
"Why have we never come across anyone else then?" Pogue asked, and then amended, "Well, other than Chase."
I didn't know who Chase was, but I thought about this for a second. "You might have. The thing is that most magic users don't really get along with the general population and often live apart. They basically only come in contact with others of the magical community, plus they usually hide their identity if they do decide to visit the human world. Besides, most humans don't have any telltale sign that marks them as magic users. Even if they aren't human or human-like, they can just glamour themselves. it makes them undetectable," I answered truthfully. Remembering my first day at Spenser and how easily Sarah had spotted me, I corrected myself. "Well, practically undetectable anyway."
Caleb and Pogue seemed to find it a viable answer, but their expressions were still guarded. I still couldn't gauge Tyler's reaction, however, turned away from me as he was; I couldn't see his usually expressive eyes. Sarah and Kate seemed to be the most accepting of all, they weren't quite smiling but neither were they unfriendly.
"Fey? As in fairies?" I turned slightly to face Reid.
I shrugged. "Or elves."
"That's bullshit." I'd been waiting for him to say something of the kind.
"Did you really believe that out of six and a half billion humans, only the four of you had powers?" I could see both the arrogance and the doubt on his face. He didn't want to believe I was right.
"Other witches, I could accept. But fairies? Elves? What next?" he asked sarcastically, moving towards me. "Are you going to tell me that the Easter bunny really exists?"
"You're real, aren't you?," I countered.
He said nothing, but I could see that he wanted to argue. "Let's say I believe you are who you say you are. What then? I'm not going to marry you because some 'council' says so."
"I thought you might feel that way. But I have to let you know that it's in your best interest to do as they say."
"Is that a threat?" he demanded, now only two steps from me.
"No, it's a warning Reid. The Council is powerful; in fact they're the most powerful members of each race. You don't want to go against them. There's a reason they're the ruling body." I turned towards the other to make that point clear to all of them, but found that only Reid and I remained in the room.
"Did Pogue, Caleb, and Tyler also get letters?" Reid nodded, answering for the group. "If I found you, then their individual… 'assigned partners' shouldn't, or rather won't, have a problem finding them." I continued, "maybe not as quickly as I did, but they eventually will. And things might not be as peaceful for your friends as it was for you. I've been around humans before. Others, especially if they're not human, might not be as sensitive or subtle, and won't mind using force to get what they want."
He'd listened to what I had to say, but the arrogance was still there. "Thanks for the concern, but we can take care of ourselves."
I was getting annoyed. "I don't doubt that you could take care of yourselves against most. But as powerful as your lineages are, your families have been banished for a long time. No one knows how you would rank now. Not to mention that those who are going to come here looking for their mates won't be cursed like you guys, which means that their power won't be limited."
That threw him. "What do you mean 'banished'? 'Cursed'?"
"There's a lot that you don't know, but I don't have the time to explain everything. I'll try to get the archives that relate to your covenant. But seriously Reid, you didn't grow up around enough magical beings. Some of them are more powerful than you could ever imagine… "
"What are you? You said you were partially a witch," he interrupted.
I hadn't pegged him as the observant one. "I'm half witch, half Seelie Sidhe, or a light fairy, if you want."
"What, no wings?" Reid taunted.
In no mood to put up with him, I began to unbutton my shirt, much to his alarm.
"What are you doing?" he asked quickly.
"Giving you your answer," I replied as I turned around and let the top half of my shirt fall below my shoulder blades where my wings started.
"Are those tattoos?"
"Yes. Not all Sidhe have wings," I began explaining. "For those that do their wings begin as tattoos and develop as they grow older until they have full wings. But I'm only half Sidhe, which is why mine never became full-fledged wings."
I hadn't realized that he'd come closer until his fingers touched my skin. "How do I know this isn't just a regular tattoo?"
"You don't," I said moving away. "Believe me or not; it's up to you, but pass on the warning to the others." I quickly buttoned up my dress-shirt and turned to leave.
"What about Kate and Sarah? Are Pogue and Caleb just supposed to dump them and get married?" he asked heatedly.
He really was a lost cause. "I don't make up the rules, I just follow them. And so should you," I replied not bothering to stop or turn around.
"Do you always do what you're told?"
I wasn't going to take the bait. "Someone watched X-men one too many time," I replied instead, my humor returning with the bulk of the problem having been dumped in his lap. I'd done my part.
A/N: As you may have noticed, I am a really slow writer, add the fact that I'm back at school and that means…really slow updates. I will try my best for the next chapter. Review!
P.S. Would you rather have quicker updates and shorter chapters or longer chapters and slower updates?