This is last chapter I can post for a few days. The rest aren't done. I am not in love with this Chapter. As my twitter followers know I have been struggling with this one. I think it turned out OK just had trouble getting to where I wanted to go in a straight line and taking some feedback into considering I tried to write this as I was a reader and there may be some "why did she do that" moments in here. Please don't let that discourage you from reading onto the next chapters. I'm leading up to a really exciting place with this story!

Xoxo H

I don't own the secret circle but I do own Amanda and I love her!

Amanda POV

I was lying on Nicks bed propped up, leaning against him resting my aching head on his chest. The doctor gave me 25 stitches and thank god that part was still numb from the anesthetic. Everyone had piled back into Nick's room and was sitting quietly. Deb and Chris looked they had been through the ringer and Faye just looked pissed as usual. "before everything happened Suzan had given us some devastating news and we need to address that first" Everyone looked shocked and I felt sad not because I knew Sean well, but because I knew the pain they were feeling. I was envious of them in a way because they were able to mourn together and I was not able to do that with my circle. Sure I talked about Alex but not with people who knew him like I did. My head was killing me and all I wanted to do was sleep but the doctor said I had a concussion and had to stay awake for at least 3 hours. "Suzan went to get Sean and found him drowned in the bathtub. The police were over there when Suzan left." Diana added. "it didn't look like anything was out of place" Suzan said blankly "and even though the police told me it was most likely be ruled an accident, with all the strange things going on and the prophecy hanging over our heads I don't think it was an accident at all" There were murmurs throughout the room. "who would do something like this?" Laurel said. Faye and Suzan looked right at me.

"Enough of that!" nick hollered glaring at the girls. "you do know that whatever it is it used Chris to attempt to kill Amanda right? You do know she was actually dead for 3 minutes before Diana revived her?" The pain in Nick's voice was clear and everyone got quiet after that. I cuddled a little closer to him to let him know I was ok. "that brings us to the next issue- Deborah going after Faye and Chris going after Amanda. Do any of you remember anything about what happened?" Diana asked addressing debroah and Chris. "Deborah said I remember doing it but not being able to stop it" she said "it was like almost like an out of body experience like watching a movie or something" Chris added looking at me apologetically. I mouthed its ok.

"I spoke to Sammy, Amanda. I felt it was really important that she knew her and her circle was facing when they got here tomorrow" Diana said and I nodded. "She said that the reason that they were coming was because Max and Lexie were both taken over and tried to go after her and Steven" I gasped. "She is ok" Diana assured me. "No harm was done. They purified Max and Lexie, however Sammy found something in her book of shadows that said the purification only lets the evil inside rest and prevents any more evil from getting in. There is a ritual we need to do to suck the evil out." I didn't even know what to make of that. I wondered what was meant by suck the evil out it could only be something unpleasant. "The people that we will be doing this ritual on are Max and Lexie from your circle, and Deborah, Chris and Cassie from our circle" Adam looked displeased and Cassie just looked scared. "why Cassie? She didn't do anything." I said "Because I'm Black John's daughter" she said simply. It made sense that they would want to get the evil out of her too. "We will have the ritual tomorrow night then we can be prepared to face the outside entities that are doing this"

No one said a word but Diana wasn't finished. "There's one more thing guys. We discovered something else tonight that everyone must be aware of" she said looking over at Nick and then at me. I looked up at Nick with a what is she talking about look on my face. He just gestured towards her and she continued. "the bond between Nick and Amanda is far stronger than any of us could ever imagine" I glared at nick "what is she talking about?" I whispered. "just listen its ok. She knows but she won't say anything I promise" he whispered. I could feel the heat coming to my cheeks. "when Amanda went down and essentially died, Nick started dying too" she said. "oh my god" laurel said. "what do you mean you almost died too?" I said staring at Nick in disbelief wetness filling my eyes. Nick just squeezed me tighter his eyes looked sad "what does that mean?" Suzan asked.

"When Amanda went down I got the exact same flash or slide show of us that she got. Then it felt like my heart was being torn in pieces and pulled out of my chest. The pain was so great I fell to my knees and couldn't breathe. Just as the blackness was taking me over Amanda woke up and I was fine" he was talking to the group but looking at me. Hot tears flooded from my already tired eyes. He just put his arms around me a little tighter. "So if something happens to one it happens to them both?" Doug said. "Exactly so we need to be extra careful. We don't want to lose any one else let alone two more people" Diana said. "Chris and Doug will be driving me to the airport to pick up your circle tomorrow evening. Nick thought it would be best if you stayed here and rested and I agree" I scowled. I wanted to see Sammy so bad but I needed to get myself better quick if I was going to be able to fight alongside of the circle.

Then out of nowhere, what Nick and Diana had said sunk in. If anything happened to me it happened to Nick. When I almost died Nick almost died. It became that much harder to not fall over the edge I had been teetering on for so long. I started shaking and Nick wrapped his other arm around me being careful of my wound. I tried to compose myself. Tomorrow night my circle would be here and we would have a fighting chance. We would be 18 strong. The minute I thought of 18 the wheels in my head started spinning. "Diana! I just thought of something that may help put these pieces together. Combined, including Alex and Sean, the complete circle was 20 -10 boys and 10 girls. So after Alex and Sean, that left us with 8 boys 10 girls. Then Deborah was taken over to knock Faye out so that would have been 8 boys 8 girls. Then Chris tried to take me out which would have essentially taken Nick out" just the thought of that made me cringe "so that would have left the circle with 6 boys 7 girls, so if the circle was intended to be 20 then what would happen to the 7 empty spots? Would whatever it is trying to defeat the circle take those spots?" Dina's eyes widened. "That sounds quite possible but who are what is this outside entity?" I shook my head I have no idea. "Well that certainly is something to look into" Diana said. Nick smiled proudly "not bad for someone with a minor head injury" Chris joked and I laughed though everyone else rolled their eyes. "well I think that's all for the day Amanda needs to rest" Diana smiled . "and I need to get cleaned up" I said looking down at the dried blood all over my arm and my shirt. Laurel heard me and came over with Melanie. "we will help you clean up" she said "I'll get some clothes for her" Nick kissed my head and got up carefully and went over to the dresser When I got off the bed I almost fell on Laurel I was really dizzy and my head was throbbing. Nick saw this and came quickly over. Handed Melanie the clothes and helped Laurel get me into the bathroom. "Are you going to be alright?" he asked with concern in his eyes. "She'll be fine' Laurel said and closed the door. I was pretty wobbly and my head was pounding. Melanie filled the tub and Laurel helped me get undressed. I didn't bother me for them to see me in my vulnerable state though it probably should have. I felt connected to them maybe because I was accepted into their circle or maybe because of Nick. I wasn't sure and I wasn't trying to figure it out. I sat on the toilet covered in a towel waiting for the bath to be ready. "sorry I shoved him out but we needed to talk to you" laurel said smiling. "so what happened to cause the bond between you to that strong?" Melanie was trying not to laugh. They knew and I was visibly not happy. I was blushing scarlet "can't Nick and I have one thing, one special thing that stays between Nick and I?" I whined and Melanie smirked. "it's all part of being bound to a circle" laurel smiled sympathetically and "so are you going to tell us what happened?" Melanie asked still smirking, "oh come on you guys. I'm not giving you a play by play if that's what you're looking for" I groaned and Melanie laughed. "I'm asking because there is something about this in my book of shadows but I didn't want to say anything in front of everyone as not to embarrass you and piss of Nick" Laurel said as she helped me into a bath "Melanie is asking because she figured it out on her own and finds the bonds between people fascinating. You should see her 2 years later still squinting to see the silver cord that ties Adam and Cassie together" laurel laughed and Melanie smiled. I wanted to avoid the subject and just focus on the bath "this smells so good" I said I was picking up scents of sea salt and eucalyptus and lavender. "this will sooth your aches and pains" Melanie said. As I scrubbed the blood of my arm Laurel was trying to get the blood out of my hair without wetting my incision. "in my book of shadows it say when 2 soul mates um seal the deal so to speak they become one soul so if one dies so does the other that way they are together for eternity" Laurel stated. "as twisted as it is, it's a nice concept. A nice feeling to know your connected that strongly with someone else" Melanie said as she handed her the rosemary and mint conditioner.

I just smiled as my thoughts drifted back to last night. "you love him that much huh?" Melanie said "I sure do" I smiled. "from the minute I saw him I knew he was something special" I said. "that's sweet" Melanie said helping me out of the tub. "I really have never seen Nick like this ever and I've known him my whole life. It's a nice change" Melanie smiled. "I think you are great Amanda I hope you and Nick decide to stick around here instead of New Mexico after this is over" Laurel added and I half smiled in my attempt to hide a frown. We hadn't talked about that yet and for the first time since Nick and I met I was torn. I knew my place in life was by Nick's side that much was clear. What was still blurry was the where would be? Was I ready to give up New Mexico, my dad and my circle and make New Salem my permanent home? I wasn't sure I was and that scared me.