Bree reached out and squeezed my arm. Well talk at lunch, okay? I want to hear all the details.
Sure, I said. I watched, puzzled, as she turned and trotted after Robbie. It struck me as odd that Bree wanted to go with Robbie instead of hanging out with the rest of us. It wasnt really Brees style to seek out extra study time.
So Morgan, did you study for the test? Jenna asked, slipping into Robbies seat.
My stomach dropped. Test? I asked.
Jenna bit her lip. Youve got Powell, right? she asked. I thought he was giving all of his sections a test on the Civil War today.
It came back to me with sudden vividness and I groaned. I thought that was next Thursday, I said. I was totally screwed.
Jenna touched my arm. What period do you have history?she asked.
Fifth.
Greatthats not until after lunch, she said reassuringly. Ill give you my notes on the reading and you can study them then, along with your class notes. She dug in her backpack and pulled out the notes. Here, she said, handing them over. Dont worry, its going to be fine.
I really had no choice but to try to believe her. Thanks, I said as the first bell rang. I had the feeling it was going to be a very long day.
By the time I slid into my 1971 Plymouth Valiantaffectionately nicknamed Das Bootmy arms were practically shaking with exhaustion. Id hidden Jennas notes behind my textbook in every class. Unfortunately, the cramming hadnt helped. Id wanted to tell Mr. Powell not to bother grading my exam. I knew Id flunked.
I turned the key in the ignition and smiled as it turned over immediately. Old reliable. Mary K. was at cheerleading practice and had told me shed catch a ride with one of her friends. It was the only thing shed said to me all day.
Suddenly I didnt want to go home. I could picture myself all alone in the quiet house. My parents wouldnt be home for hours, and I had no one to talk to about my horrible day. Not that I wanted to tell my parents about flunking a test.
I started for Hunters house. Please be home, I thought, remembering the sense of calm Id felt with him the night before.
Hunter was standing in the front doorway as I pulled into his driveway, gravel crunching beneath my tires.
Rough day? he asked, leaning in to kiss me as I climbed the front steps.
Horrendous. I wrapped my arms around his neck. His lips tasted like cinnamon tea.
He smiled. Why dont you come in and tell me about it? The warm scent of cinnamon wafted past my nose as we stepped into the worn, comfortable living room. I knew without casting out my senses that Sky, Hunters cousin, was upstairs.
Should I say hello? I asked.
Hunter hesitated. I think shell come down if she feels like it. Shes been pretty low lately.
I nodded. Sky and Raven had been a couple for a while, but theyd recently broken upthanks mostly to my half brother Killian. I wasnt sure how Raven feltit was hard to break through her tough-girl exteriorbut I knew Sky was in a lot of pain. I felt a pang of sympathy as I imagined Sky going through a breakup halfway around the world from most of her friends.
I shrugged off my coat. Hunter took it and hung it up next to his in the hall closet. Then he came and pulled me down beside him on the threadbare couch.
I spoke with Eoife again this morning, he said. Shes concerned about you. She would like for you to learn more about magickal defenses, and so would I.
Whats that? I asked. Like, self-defense for witches or something?
Hunter nodded without humor. Thats exactly what it is. His green eyes seemed to deepen in color as he added, Given your history, Morgan, it seems like a good thing for you to study. Also, its one of the topics covered in the preinitiation rites.
I thought I would be initiated as a witch a year and a day from the time of my first circle. I didnt realize I had to prepare for it.
You dont, Hunter said. Thats a simple ceremony. Im talking about your initiation as a blood witch, which isnt so simple. Once youre initiated into the coven, then you begin preparing for your preapprentice rites, which are a series of magickal power and knowledge tests. Theyre supposed to screen out blood witches who arent yet serious enough or in tune with their power enough for apprenticeships. I stifled a groan at the thought of more tests as Hunter went on, Once you pass those rites, youll be paired as an apprentice with a blood witch who will guide you until youre ready for the full blood witch initiation.
How long will that take?
Hunter shrugged. It depends, he said. A few years.
I struggled to hide my disappointment. A few years?
Anyway, Hunter said. Eoife has found someone who can come here to tutor you in magickal defenses for two weeks. Shes going to stay with Sky and me. Her name is Erin Murphy, and shell be here this weekend.
Is she good? I asked.
The best, he said. In his clipped English accent, the statement seemed to leave no room for doubt. In the meantime Eoife asked me to show you the basics. He stood up and crossed the room. There was a dinged-up sideboard along the wall leading to the kitchen, and Hunter pulled out a small bronze dish and a piece of chalk. He drew a small circle on the floor on the other side of the coffee table. I stepped inside, and he drew the last piece closed. Then he took a pinch of salt from the dish and sprinkled it around the circle. With this salt I purify our circle, he said.
We joined hands, closed our eyes, and breathed deeply for a few moments. With every breath I could feel my senses expanding. It was as if I was growing and reaching out, as if the house and everything in it was a living, breathing extension of myself. I felt myself draw power from the breath, and I sensed that Hunter was drawing the same power. Our bodies, joined at the fingertips, had become one, lost in the connection we felt with everything around us, including each other. Then we both dropped hands and found ourselves staring into each others eyes.
It was as if a window opened, and I could see the true depths of Hunters emotionshis fierce sense of protection, his trustworthiness, his love for me, and his appreciation for our connection. I also saw harsh and unyielding anger, and I knew that what I was seeing was the rage Hunter felt at what the dark forces had done to his family. Hunters parents, pursued by the dark wave, had left him at a young age. I saw that Hunter believed they were still alive and that he could help them. I also saw his frustration at not being able to do more, his stubborn belief that if only he tried hard enough, he could put everything right. I saw these things, and I sucked in my breath.
Suddenly the window closed, and he was simply Hunter again.
The first lesson is in something called tàth meànma divagnth, he explained.
Is that like tàth meànma brach? I asked, recalling the ceremony that I still thought of as the Wiccan mind meld. Tàth meànma was a ritual through which two people could look into each others minds and share thoughts, memories, beliefs. Tàth meànma brach was a sort of turbocharged version of regular tàth meànma, in which you exchanged basically everything that was in your brains. Alyce Fernbrake, a blood witch who ran an occult bookstore called Practical Magick, had gone through the ceremony with me.
Not exactly, Hunter said. The object of the divagnth is to use someones power and divert it so that it cant hurt you.
So its sort of like witch tae kwon do?
Hunter smiled. Then he grabbed my wrist lightly with his right hand and pointed to the wall with his left. I felt a quick rush through my body, as if I had touched an electric current. A sizzling bolt of blue fire exploded from Hunters left index finger. It hit the wall and dissolved harmlessly.
I felt dizzy and struggled to suck oxygen into my lungs. Are you all right? Hunter asked, placing his hands on my hips.
I took a few deep breaths. Yeah, but it kind of knocks the wind out of you.
Hunter nodded. It can be very effective when youre dealing with an enemy. His voice was grim, and as I felt his strong hands on my hips, I realized yet again that Hunter had years of training and knowledge that I could hardly even begin to imagine.
I looked him in the eye. Teach me, I said.
Hunter spent the better part of an hour showing me different techniques for deflecting power. Although he claimed that these were pretty basic self-defense moves, all of them were completely unknown to me. It was fascinating to realize thateven with all of Alyces knowledge, which was considerablethere were entire worlds left to learn.
Excellent work, Hunter said as I used one of his blocks.
Now that the energy wasnt flying around the room, I felt the exhaustion of the day settle on me like a heavy blanket. Hunter touched my hair. Should I take you home? he asked.
No, I said quickly. I definitely didnt want to go home now. Maybe. . maybe we could go to a movie? I suggested.
Sky came down the stairs. She was naturally fair but looked even paler than usual. Hello, Sky, I said.
Oh, hello, Morgan, Sky said, looking surprised. I didnt realize you were here. That struck me as odd. Sky was a powerful blood witch. She should have sensed my presence. But as I looked at her drawn face, it was pretty clear that she was off in her own world. Am I interrupting? she asked, glancing from my face to Hunters.
Im just trying to talk Hunter into going to a movie, I said. Theres aa great new foreign film playing at the Pavilion, I said. Actually, what was playing there was an action adventure Id been dying to see that I knew Hunter would never go for. But it was made in Hong Kongthat made it foreign, right? Its still early, I went on, glancing at the clock on the mantel. It was only six-fifteen. We can grab a slice of pizza before the movie, and I can still be home by ten. I put on my best overeager face and batted my eyelashes.
Hunter laughed and gave in. All right, he said, holding up his hands.
Great! I rushed to the kitchen to use his phone while Sky wandered back upstairs. I punched in the number for my house and listened as it rang a few times and the machine picked up. I left a message explaining that I was going to a movie with Hunter. Considering the way my parents had reacted to him last night, I figured theyd be okay with me spending some quality time with him. At least, until I got my history grade.
Hunter and I grabbed a quick slice at Pinos Pizza, then drove over to the theater. When we walked up to the ticket window, Hunter said, Two for Fire Dragons, please. I gaped at him as he pulled out his wallet. He noticed the look on my face, and the corners of his mouth twitched up into a smile. What? he said. You didnt actually think you had me fooled with that line about going to see a foreign film, did you?
I laughed and shook my head. The more I felt I knew Hunter, the more capable he was of surprising me.
The wind was blowing my hair around my face, and I pushed it back with both hands as we walked inside. The Pavilion used to be a real theater, the kind where you see plays and stuff, and the interior is decorated with images from Greek myths. I always liked to sit in the front of the balcony because the view is great and hardly anyone likes to sit there but me.
We made a quick stop at the concession stand for a medium popcorn and a Diet Coke for me. When I turned around, I came face-to-face with Bree and Robbie.
Hey, guys, Robbie said. He pulled a few kernels from the top of my bag of popcorn and stuffed them in his mouth.
Watch it, I joked. Do you know how much that popcorn costs?
Ill pay you back, Robbie promised, and placed his order for a large popcorn and two sodas.
And a box of Raisinets, Bree added. I smiled at her.
The blond girl gathered their order and lined everything up on the counter. As she was ringing their total, she said shyly, Robbie?
Robbie gave her a blank look. Yes?
The girl blushed. Im Jessica Watts. . from Mrs. Carlesons class? Fifth grade? You sat next to me.
Jessica Watts? Robbie repeated. He sounded shocked.
I felt my own mouth drop open. Jessica Watts? I thought. As in Mega Watts? Bree and I had been in Mrs. Nortons class in the fifth grade, while Robbie was across the hall with Mrs. Carleson. The classes didnt really mix much, but Jessica Watts had been famous at our school. At the age of ten she had already weighed over 150 pounds. She got teased a lot and bullied because of her weight. Now it looked like she had lost thirty poundsand grown four inches. She looked great.
Wow, Jessica, Robbie said, you look terrific! I dont know if you remember Bree and Morgan, he went on, waving a hand at us. They went to Widows Vale Elementary, too. And this is Hunter Niall, he added.
Hey, I said.
Hi, Bree said, checking her watch. Robbie, the movies going to start in five minutes.
Robbie looked at her. For a minute I expected him to protest, but instead he just said, Yeah, okay. Wed better find a seat. Great to see you, Jessica.
Jessica grinned. See you around.
As we stepped away from the counter, Robbie was still shaking his head. God, I cant believe how great Jessica looks, he said.
Bree snorted impatiently. She went on a dietbig deal.
Bree! I tossed a kernel of popcorn at her. She batted it away with annoyance.
Robbie gave Bree a look. Im not just talking about the weight, he insisted. Back in fifth grade, Jessica always looked like a dog who was expecting to get kicked. She looks so much more confident now. .His voice trailed off, but I knew what he meant, and he was right.
Bree didnt answer, and I wondered why. She usually had an opinion to voice. I glanced at her sideways and noticed her fiddling with one strand of her dark, perfectly tousled hair. I had known Bree a long time, since we were little kids, and I knew what that gesture meant. She was worried.
But what about? I wondered. It wasnt like Bree to get jealous or possessive. In fact, Bree had a history of never letting any guy get too close. She had left a string of love casualties in her wake. I decided to ask her later what was up. Bree didnt have the worlds greatest family life. I wondered whether everything was okay with her.