All right, Mary K., I said, Ill scrape the dishes if youll clear off the table.
Deal, she said, wiping her hands on a towel.
You scrape, Ill stack, Hunter said. Once Mary K. was out of earshot, he gestured after her. How is she?
I felt a pang. Twice in the last week Mary K. had woken up screaming from a nightmare about being trapped in a small room. I was worried that these dreams were tied to the night months ago when Selene had kidnapped Mary K. and used her as bait to lure me to her house. Mary K., spelled by Selene, had seemed unaware of the horrible battle Hunter and I had fought with Selene, but I always suspected that at least some part of that evening had penetrated her subconscious. Now I was afraid the suppressed knowledge might be boiling up into her conscious mind.
She slept fine last night, as far as I know, I told Hunter.
Morgan, I think you should tell Mary K. the truth.
I know. I shifted uncomfortably. You said that yesterday.
Hunters voice was low but insistent. She deserves to know what happened that nightpartly for her own sanity.
What happened what night?
I wheeled and saw Mary K. standing in the doorway. What night? she repeated, her eyes huge. What were you talking about? What havent you told me?
Her voice seemed to expand and fill the room, like thick smoke, then slowly fade away, seeping into the walls. I felt the color drain from my face.
Iwe just meant I stammered, turning to Hunter for help.
But Mary K. didnt even look at him. She kept her eyes trained on me. What havent you told me, Morgan? she asked again. Its about the night I was with Cals mother, the night they both died. Isnt it?
I didnt answer. The silence hung in the brightly lit kitchen.
Mary K.s nostrils flared. You told me that we were never in any danger.
I bit my lip, hesitating. Tell her, I could almost hear Hunter saying. A quick glance at him and I realized that he was throwing up a blocking spell so that my parents wouldnt be able to hear the argument we both knew was coming.
I sighed. We were in danger, I admitted finally. You remember that you were at Selenes house? I could hear the waver in my own voice.
My sister nodded. A small crease formed between her eyebrows as she struggled with the memory. In addition to Selenes spell, I had thrown up a number of obscuring and look-away spells as Selene attacked me and Hunter with every weapon in her dark arsenal. Mary K., I knew, had seen very little that night and understood even less.
Selene wanted. . I started, but I couldnt force myself to say, to steal my magick. My family was ignorant of my powers as a witch, and that was the way I wanted to keep it. I decided to start over. Selene wanted something from me. She wanted it pretty badly, and she threatened meand youto get it. She would have carried out her threats, but Hunter and I managed to stop her.
And. . Mary K. swallowed hard. Thats how she died?
Yes. The word was a whisper.
You killed her? Mary K.s voice was shrill.
She was going to kill us. The words flew out of my mouth before I could halt them. I stopped her.
My sisters face went pale. I couldnt tell whether it was from fear or rage. Oh my God, Morgan! she cried. When the hell were you going to tell me?
I dont know, I admitted. But were all okay
No, we are not okay! Mary K. burst out. We almost died, and you lied to me, Morgan! You hid this from me! And you would have gone on doing it!
I never lied to you. The words sounded lame even to me.
No, you just never told me the truth. Her eyes flashed.
Mary K. I reached out to grab her shoulder, but she jerked away from me.
Dont touch me, she snarled. The words hit me like a slap, and before I could gather my thoughts to respond, my sister had turned and run out of the kitchen. I stared dumbly after her, hearing her feet thud up the stairs.
Morgan, said a soft voice behind me. Hunter.
I turned to face him, feeling beaten. I think Id better go, he said. His face was grim.
I sighed. Im sorry.
Dont be. Hunter reached out and touched the side of my face softly. I understand. Walk me to the door?
I nodded. As we walked toward the living room, a burst of laughter floated into the hall. Everyone looked up as we stepped into the room.
Hunter has to go, I announced.
Dinner was wonderful, Hunter said warmly. Thanks so much for having me.
Anytime, my father said heartily. He shook Hunters hand and grinned at him.
It was truly our pleasure, my mom agreed as she gave Hunter a kiss on the cheek. I was blown away. My mom who never let me or my sister have guys in our roomswas giving Hunter the seal of approval.
Great meeting you, Aunt Eileen said. She and Paula gave Hunter a friendly wave from the couch.
We turned and walked into the front hall. Morgan dont forget that youve got homework to finish, my mother called after me.
Dont worry, I wont, I promised, grabbing my jacket from a peg in the hallway. As if I could forget. I had a ton of work to do. With all of the stuff that had been going on lately, I had fallen horrendously behind. If I didnt hand in my extra-credit paper for English the next day, I could practically kiss a passing grade good-bye.
Listen, Morgan, theres something I have to tell you, Hunter said as we walked out onto the front stoop. His voice turned serious, and he reached behind me to pull the front door closed. I heard from Eoife just before I came here tonight.
The cold February wind whipped against my face. Isnt she in London?
Hunter nodded. She phoned. She had a message for you.
Eoife McNabb worked for the International Council of Witches, the same group Hunter worked for. She was the one who had recently asked me to help the organization by contacting my birth father. The council had been looking for Ciaran for a long time, believing that he and his coven, Amyranth, were behind the dark wave, a hideous magickal cloud of destruction that had wiped out countless covens over the years. Id almost succeeded in trapping Ciaran, but at the last moment hed managed to slip through all our fingers.
Have they found Ciaran yet? I asked.
Hunter shook his head. Not yet, but the council is working on it. They believe hes somewhere in northern Spain or southern France. Eoife wanted you to know that the watch sigil you placed on him has been enormously helpful.
Hearing this, I felt a rush of contradictory emotions. Ciaran was my birth father, and Id felt a strange sense of connection to him when we were together. Still, I knew he was a dangerous man, that the council needed to find him. . and stop him.
I just wish you had more formal training, Hunter went on. Especially with Ciaran still at large
I know, I snapped. Im a loose cannon. A witch with power as strong as mine has a duty. I need to see the bigger picture. Et cetera. Ive heard it all before.
I dont want anything to happen to you, Hunter whispered.
The cold around me seemed to melt away as he leaned toward me and his lips met mine.
The kiss went on and on, and for a moment I felt a strange sort of nostalgia, knowing that I couldnt be in this moment forever. Soon I would have to go back to the real worldthe world in which I had homework to do and Mary K. was rightfully angry with me. But I pushed that feeling away. Dont think about what will happen when this kiss is over, I told myself.
My heart raced, and I was suddenly aware of the blood coursing through my body. I was aware of every breath of cold air that I drew into my lungs and released into the wintry night in a puff of steam. I could feel the heat that our two bodies were generating at the heart of the frigid darkness. I felt like more than just a person, and the emotions I felt seemed wilder than desire, deeper than love. I felt like I was a force of naturea storm, something unstoppable. I felt connected to Hunter and the world around me in an intricate and inseparable way, and I knew I was part of something greater than myself.
2. Contact
September 3, 1971
I feel sick. This afternoon Sam showed me a book he had just discovered. When I saw the cover, I nearly dropped the book in terror. It was a first edition of Harris Stonghtons book, On the Containement of Magick.
I couldnt figure out where hed found it. My parents havent told him about their library yet, and even if they had, I doubt they own any books by Harris Stonghton. Sam told me that hed found the book in the public library and had just taken it. He stole the book. He told me that he thought the book wanted him to have it.
I couldnt believe this was the brother Id known for his entire life. I asked Sam if he had any idea who Harris Stonghton was, and of course he didnt. I should hope not. I explained that Stonghton was the most notorious witch in New Englandthat he used dark magick and antiwitch hysteria to wipe out as many non-Woodbane witches as he could. He even killed a couple of our blood relatives, although I didnt tell Sam that. I could tell he felt guilty enough as it was.
I thought that would be the end of it, but when I handed him the book and asked him what he planned to do with it, Sam just said that he wasnt sure. I know my brother. If I try to force him to get rid of it, hell only want to hold on to it more. Part of me wants to tell our parentsabout this, but a larger part of me is afraid of how theyll react.
Goddess, grant me wisdom. And grant me courage to live in the house with that evil book.
Sarah Curtis
The tall redbrick form of Widows Vale High School rose bleakly against the gray February sky. I tried to shrug off the feeling of gloom that crept over me as I trudged toward the front door. Morning was never my finest hour, and the short winter days didnt help much. Neither did the fact that Mary K. had gotten a ride to school with her friend Susan Wallace instead of with me. She wasnt speaking to me.
Hey, Morgan! Jenna Ruiz stopped me as I stepped into the front hall. Her blond hair was swept up into a ponytail, and she was wearing a brown sweater and dark jeans. Her tentative smile made her look young and unsure. It was funny to remember that before I had joined the coven, I had found Jenna slightly intimidating. Going my way? she asked, jerking her head toward the stairwell that led down to the basementour covens winter hangout.
I tucked a few strands of hair behind one ear. Where else? I replied, and we fell into step together.
Jenna pushed open the door to the stairwell. Most of our regular coven crowd had already gathered. My good friend Robbie Gurevitch was sitting on the bottom step, leaning against Bree Warrens knees. Her arms were draped over his shoulders. Ethan Sharp and Sharon Goodfine sat higher up and to the left.
Raven Meltzer stood at the bottom of the stairs, by the banister. She was wearing a red velvet shirt and low-slung black leather pants that showed off the flame tattoo around her navel. It was actually a demure look for Raven. I, on the other hand, could never pull off that look in my wildest dreams. As I studied her, I wondered if Raven had gotten my cosmic share of curves.
The pale winter light that leaked in through the window at the top of the landing cast a faint glow on everyones faces. I leaned against the wall by the bottom stair, and Bree smiled at me, taking away at least part of the February chill.
Hey, she said warmly. How did it go last night?
Great, I replied. Everyone was charming, everyone was charmed.
Sharon took off her baby blue cardigan and slung it over her shoulders. What are we talking about? she asked.
Hunter did the official parental dinner last night, Robbie explained.
Oh, man, Ethan said. Cruel and unusual. Sharon dug her elbow into his knee. Ouch! he yelped. I was just saying. .
No, its true, I agreed. It was a little tense at first. But everyone was on their best behavior. It went well.
Not surprising, Robbie said. Hunter is every parents dream.
I looked at him, surprised. How so? I asked.
Robbie shrugged. Hunters responsible, hes generous, hes intelligent. And everyone can see that hes good for you, Morgan.
Besides, hes a witch, Raven added dryly. What parent wouldnt be thrilled?
I ignored Ravens comment, pleased with what Robbie had said. He and I were close friends, but wed had a fight a while back. Hed thought I was misusing my powers, and hed had a point. But I was learning to be more responsible. It was good to know that Robbie realized my relationship with Hunter was a big part of that.
Hey, Morgan, Ethan piped up, have you heard anything from Killian?
Killian was Ciarans son and my half brother. I had gotten to know him slightly over the past few weeks, but after hed come up to visit me in Widows Vale and behaved really badly, hed pretty much dropped out of sight.
No, I said, feeling a twinge of regret. Killian was irresponsible, reckless, possibly even dangerousbut I really liked him. And I liked having a big brother. I dont know where he is. Back in New York, probably.
I heard the door open and looked up to see Alisa Soto, one of the newer members of our coven. She was a sophomore with thick golden brown hair and dark eyes that were so large, she appeared almost owlish. Hi, everyone, she said shyly. She looked at me uncertainly. Hey, Morgan.
Hi, I replied, pleased to see her. She was younger than the rest of us and usually hung out with the other underclassmen before school. I guessed that her appearance meant she was finallyafter weeksstarting to relax around us.
Sharon gave Alisa a bright smile and patted the space beside her. Alisa walked down to sit next to Sharon, murmuring hello to Bree and Robbie along the way.
Robbie glanced at his watch. Ive got to get to the library, he said. Bree released him reluctantly. Ive got to grab these last ten minutes to study before Spanish.
Ill come with you, Bree said quickly.
An odd look flickered across Robbies face, but just as soon as it had come, it was gone. Great, he said. Lets go. Later, guys. He waved and headed up the stairs.