Hi, Mr. Niall, I said, trying to sound friendly.
So what did she say? Hunter asked his father.
Mr. Niall paused at the bottom of the steps, looking pained, as if Hunter had prevented him from making a clean escape. She said shed like to, Daniel said.And her school has a break soon.
Da was talking to my sister, Alwyn, Hunter explained. Were trying to get her to come visit.
I knew Alwyn was now sixteen and an initiated witch. Oh, that would be great, I said. Id like to meet her.
Daniel nodded again briefly and headed upstairs. I sighed, unsure if I should mention my unease to Hunter. Did Mr. Niall treat me as he did only because I was related to Ciaran? I mean, parents always like me. Im a math nerd, Im not flashy, and I dont drink or do drugsIm still a virgin, for Gods sake! Not that I wanted to be reminded about that. But I look like I have future librarian stamped on my forehead. What else could Mr. Niall have against me?
Is he settling in better? I asked tactfully once he had gone upstairs.
Hunter shrugged ruefully. More or less. Mostly hes been reading Roses diary.
He was referring to Rose MacEwan, the witch who was responsible for creating the dark wave: an incredibly destructive spell that can pretty much take out a whole town and everyone in it. It didnt thrill me that a blood relative had created such a thing, but she had the same last name as Ciaran, she was Woodbanesounded like family to me. I shuddered momentarily, thinking about her. Her story had seemed so real to meI could almost see myself reacting the same way. It frightened me to think that such unimaginable destruction ran in my blood.
Weirdly enough, Mr. Niall had found Roses diary in Canada, at the house of that witch, Justine Courceau. We had all read it, and then Mr. Niall had taken it back. Da hopes that hell find clues about how to create a spell to disband a dark wave.
I didnt know that was possible. Goddessif we never had to worry about it, it would be incredible. I hope he can do it. I shook my head in wonder.
Look, Hunter said, maybe we should scry right now, see if we can get a handle on where Ciaran is. Do you feel up to it?
He gently brushed my long hair over my shoulder. I had recently lopped off about six inches, and now it hung to the middle of my back.
Yeah, I said, frowning. Maybe we should. I keep feeling like hes going to drop down from the ceiling, like a spider.
I followed Hunter into the large circle room, next to the dining room. The circle room at Hunters had once been a double parlor. Now it was a long, bare rectangle, scented with herbs and candles.There was a wood-burning stove, and in front of it Hunter made a small circle on the floor, big enough for the the two of us. We sat cross-legged inside it, facing each other, our knees touching. Thoughts flew through my head as Hunter took out a large, smooth piece of obsidian: his scrying stone.
Gently we each put two fingers on the stones edges and closed our eyes. This was where you cleared your mind and concentrated, opening yourself to what the stone wants to tell you. But all I could think about was Ciaran coming back for me, how much he scared me even as I felt oddly drawn to him. And Hunterhe wanted Hunter dead. Hunter, who was a beautiful mosaic of contradictions: strong, but infinitely gentle. Kind, but also ruthless and unforgiving when confronted by those who practiced dark magicklike Cal Blaire and Selene Belltower. I had seen Hunter flushed with desire and white-faced with anger and pain. He was my love.
Morgan?
Sorry, I said.
We dont have to do this, he offered.
No, no, I need to.
I closed my eyes again and this time, determinedly shutting out all other thoughts, I sank successfully into a deep meditation. Slowly I opened my eyes to see the smooth plane of the obsidian meditation. Slowly I opened my eyes to see the smooth plane of the obsidian beneath my fingers. Lightly I murmured,
Show me now what I should see,
What was past or what will be.
The stream of time will start to slow;
Show me where I need to go.
Hunter muttered the same words after me, and then there was silence as I focused my gaze on the stone. Minutes went by, yet the stones face remained unchanged. It was oddscrying is always unpredictable, but I usually got a better result than this.
Consciously I let my mind sink deeper into meditation. Everything around me faded out as I concentrated on the stone. My breathing was slow and deliberate, my chest barely moving. I no longer felt my fingers on the stone, my butt on the hard floor, my knees touching Hunters.
The stone was black, blank. Or... looking closer, could I detect the barest, rounded outlines of... what? I looked at the stone so intently, I felt like I had fallen into a well of obsidian, surrounded by cold, hard blackness. Slowly I became aware of movement within the stonethat I was getting a scried vision. A vision of billowing, black, choking smoke.
The blackness is the vision, I murmured. Do you see the huge cloud of smoke?
Not clearly. Is it from a fire?
I shook my head. I cant see a fire. Just billows of black, choking smoke.
An image of my birth mother, who had been killed by fire, came to me, and I frowned. What did it mean? Was this an image of the future? Was this directed at me? Did it mean I would suffer the same fate as Maeve, at Ciarans hands?
For five more minutes I stared at the smoke, willing it to clear, to dissipate, to show me what was behind it. But I saw nothing more, and finally, my eyes stinging, I shook my head and sat back.
I dont know what that was about, I told Hunter in frustration. I didnt get anything besides smoke.
It was a dark wave, Hunter said quietly.
What? I felt my back stiffen with tension. What do you mean? Was this a prediction of a dark wave? It seemed to be about me. I got to my feet, feeling upset. Is a dark wave coming for me?
We dont know for sureyou know scrying can be unpredictable, Hunter said, trying to comfort me.
Yeah, and you know that almost every image Ive ever seen scrying has come true, I said, rubbing my arms with my hands. I felt nervous and frightened, the way Id felt as a kid, playing with a Ouija board, when it had moved on its own.
Ill follow you home, Hunter said, and I nodded. Another downside of Mr. Niall living with him was that Hunter and I had no privacy anymore. It was one thing to be alone in Hunters room when Sky was around, but there was no way I felt comfortable with his father in the next room. I felt depressed as I got into my jacket. Hunter and I really needed time alone to talk, to be together, to hold each other.
Will you be okay at home? he asked as we walked outside.
I thought.Yeah. My house is protected out the wazoo.
Still, I reckon it wouldnt hurt to add another layer of spells.
At my house, though we were both exhausted, Hunter and I made the rounds and added to or increased the protective powers of the spells on my house, on Das Boot, and on my parents cars. When we were done, I felt drained.
Go on inside, Hunter said. Get some sleep. These spells are strong. But dont hesitate to call me if you sense anything odd.
I smiled and leaned against the front door, exhausted, wanting to be safely inside yet reluctant to leave Hunter. He came up the steps and I went into his arms, resting my head against his chest and feeling amazed at how, once again, he had seemed to read my mind.
Itll be okay, my love, he said against my hair. One strong hand stroked my back soothingly while the other held me closely to him.
Im tired of it all, I said, suddenly feeling close to tears.
I know. We havent had a break. Listen, tomorrow why dont we go to Practical Magick, see Alyce? Thatll be nice and normal.
I smiled at his idea of nice and normal: two blood witches going to an occult bookstore.
Sounds good, I said.
Then I lifted my face to his and was at once lost in the heady pleasure of kissing him, his warm lips against mine, the cool night air surrounding us, our bodies pressed together, magick sparking. Oh, yes, I thought. Yes. More of this.
Whats wrong? I asked the next afternoon. Ever since Hunter had picked me up, hed seemed edgy and distracted.
He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. Ive been trying to reach the council for news on Ciaran, he said. But I havent been able to get through to anyonenot Kennet, not Eoife. I talked to some underling who wouldnt tell me anything.
Eoife was a witch who had tried to convince me to go study with Wiccan scholars in the wilds of Scotland. I had said I needed to finish high school first.
Kennet Muir was Hunters mentor in the council and had helped guide him through the hard process of becoming a Seeker. Hunter still spoke to him about council business, but their relationship had been permanently damaged when Hunter realized Kennet had known where his parents were in Canada and hadnt bothered to tell him. If Kennet had let Hunter in on their whereabouts earlier, Hunter might have seen his mother alive. I knew this idea was hard for him to accept. In fact, he was so hurt by Kennets betrayal, he never even confronted him about it. Itll never be the same between us regardless, hed reasoned.
Okay, so we dont know, I said, watching the old farm fields fly past the car window. After being winter brown for months, it was heartening to see tinges and flecks of green here and there. Spring was coming. No matter what.
No. Not yet. Hunter sounded irritated. Then he seemed to make an effort to cheer up. Reaching out one hand, he interlaced his fingers in mine and smiled at me. Its good to spend time with you. I missed you so much when I was in Canada.
I missed you, too. Once again exercising my gift for understatement. Then, taking a breath, I decided to bring up a sensitive subject. HunterIve been wondering about your dad. I mean, he knows Im not in league with Ciaran, right? He knows Ciaran tried to kill me, doesnt he?
Hunter tugged at the neck of his sweater, pretending to not understand me. He just needs more time.
Great. I looked out the window again.
Is it Rose? I asked suddenly, turning back to Hunter. Is it because Im a descendant of the witch who created the dark wave? I mean, he was running from the dark wave for eleven years. Eleven years, while Hunter was separated from his parents, thinking theyd abandoned him and and his brother and sister. My stomach plummeted as I realized yet again how many horrible things my blood relatives were responsible for.
Hunter glanced over at me, taking his eyes off the road, and in that quick glance I caught a world of reassurance. He just needs to get to know you, Morgan. You are not your ancestors. I know that.
I sighed, watching the bare trees pass overhead. If only I could convince myself.
Red Kill, the town where Practical Magick was, came into view slowly, the farm fields giving way to suburban lawns, then more streets and actual neighborhoods. Hunter turned down Main Street and drove almost to its end, where the small building that housed Practical Magick stood. He parked, but I made no move to get out of the car.
Its just, I want your father to like me, I said, feeling self-conscious. And I dont want to come between you and your dad. I dont want you to have to choose. I looked down at my hands, which were twisting nervously in my lap. I forced them to be to be still on my jeans.
Goddess, Hunter muttered, leaning over the gear shift toward me. He took my chin in his hand and looked intently into my eyes. His were the color of olivine, a clear, deep green. I wont need to choose. Like I said, Da just needs more time. He knows how much I love you. He just needs to get used to the idea.
I sighed and nodded. Hunter touched my cheek briefly, and then we opened the doors, climbed out, and headed for the store.
Morgan, Hunter! Good to see you. Alyce Fernbrake waved us in from the back of the store. I havent seen either of you in a while. Hunter, I want to hear all about Canada. I couldnt believe your news.WaitIll fix tea.
We threaded our way through the scented, crowded store: my home away from home. Alyce disappeared into the small back room, separated from the main room by a tattered orange curtain. Her assistant, Finn Foster, nodded at Hunter with reserve: many witches didnt trust Seekers. Lo, Morgan, he said. Have you heard Alyces news? The shop next door is moving to a bigger location. Alyce is going to move to that space and make Practical Magick almost twice as big.
My eyebrows rose. The dry cleaners are moving? What about her debt to Stuart Afton? Can she afford to lose their rent?
Alyce bustled back with three mugs. Well, fortunately, my business has been getting better and better the last couple of months. The real estate market is good enough that if I move into the store next door, I can rent this space for almost as much as the dry cleaners paid. And well just have to keep our fingers crossed that our increased sales will make up for the rest. Its a gamble, but I think it will be worth it in the end. She smiled.
Congratulations, Hunter said, taking his mug. It would be fantastic if the shop were bigger.
Alyce nodded, looking pleased. Its going to be a lot of work, she said, and I really dont know when Ill have the time. But I think the business could support the extra room. I would love to expand what I carry. She gestured to a pile of about five paper grocery bags, each packed with old-looking books. I buy stuff at yard sales, estate sales, things that interest me, but I dont really have the space to put them out. You should see what I have in storage. But now I want to hear about you. Its amazing that your father has come to live with you.
Hunter nodded, and the two of them drifted over to the checkout counter, where Alyce propped herself on a stool and Hunter leaned against the lighted case. I went over to the bags of old books and started poking around, sure that Alyce wouldnt mind. I decided to sort them for her and started making piles of nonoccult books and some history books. Then, in the second bag, I found some titles about Wicca, the history of the sabbats, some spell-crafting guides, some astrology charts. Hunter and Alyce were still chatting, Alyce occasionally taking a break to wait on customers. Finn was reorganizing the essential oils shelves, and everything around me smelled like cloves and vanilla and roses.