

TALENT

By Ariana Kenny

Published by Ariana Kenny at Smashwords

Smashwords Edition

Copyright by Ariana Kenny March 2011

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Table of Contents:

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

There was once a man named Julian the Apostate who died in 363AD, some time after being wounded in battle. It is said that when he died, the true pagan world died with him. That it was the herald of a new era, a new time for mankind. The man may have taken his last breath in 363AD, but by the time the world I lived in had started to change, it was over 500 years later. I guess the pain of so-called civilization being re-birthed takes time to sweep across nations, command people in the name of justice and righteousness. At least that's what they said as I was taking my last breath....

# Prologue

On an Autumn night in 836 AD a small town lay in quiet sleep, while the candles of the newly built church still flickered. The church itself was simple, built of basic stone, with a dirt floor and an aisle delineated only by soft light of animal fat candles that lead from the double wooden doors to the alter. On the alter lay a young woman, her body still, and her face covered with a thin white veil, barely obscuring her features and dark tumbling hair. A priest prayed over her body, while an older woman with greying hair - the girl's mother - wept at the side of the alter. Only just visible through the veil a single tear rolled down the side of the woman's flawless face, and past the alter she lay on. "Please mama. Please. Help me." She whispered.

"You cannot be helped by anyone but The Lord now." muttered the priest leaning over her. "If we pray for you, your soul may yet be saved." The mother wailed and bowed her head.

The girl, too weak to move, started to beg. "Please mama, she can help me, get Aunty Es..."

"Stop. Don't say her name." the mother hissed through tears.

The priest took the mother's hand before speaking to the girl. "She is a witch, and you have been taken in by her. That is what led you to this place. Her power comes from darkness and you need all the goodness you can get if you want our God to take you to him." He continued on to sprinkle water over the altar and girl. "Lord, please accept this wayward girl in to your fold. Judge her as you will, but bear mercy."

The girl wept softly, realizing there was no help, as a powerful wind built outside. The doors shook, and the priest looked them over, alarmed. The wind rose again, and the door shook once more. The priest pulled the mother back and to her feet, as a moment of eerie silence descended.

The doors blew open, causing the priest and the mother to take a sharp breath. In the doorway, a tall dark figure loomed. The girl lolled her head to the side, closing her eyes, finally out of the energy to struggle to keep herself from death.

The wind died down, and the dark figure strode purposefully down the aisle and as he walked, the candles on either side of him extinguished themselves. They sizzled out, untouched by hand or element, and the priest crossed himself. The figure seemed larger than life as he reached the altar and looked down at the girl, then back at her mother and the priest. A soft growl emerged from the man's throat. But this was not a man exactly. His name was Lormorian.

The mother rushed forward to reach the girl, but was knocked down by an invisible force as Lormorian waved a hand at her. In response, the priest took a roughly carved wooden candle holder from the wall behind him and ran, ready to strike. Again, Lormorian simply flicked his wrist, and the priest flew against a far stone wall. Disgusted Lormorian spat his words out. "You would let her die! Your kin? Your blood?"

The mother shrank back, raising an arm to defend herself. "I love her."

Lormorian never gratified her with a response. Instead, saying nothing he leaned forward and scooped the girl from the table.

"Don't take her. Don't condemn her." pleaded the mother, crawling a few inches forward on her hands and knees.

Lormorian turned to face her, dark rage awash his features. "I am her salvation." he said, ire seated in his voice. With a rush, he whirled around to face the door and advanced down the aisle toward the door. The candles relit in the wake of his steps, and as Lormorian reached the doors, flames engulfed the structure.

# Chapter 1.

Present day.

Marianne darted around her kitchen the way she always did on the mornings she thought she had time to squeeze in a cooked breakfast before getting Sarah to school. Not that she minded. Marianne had it made. She only did what she wanted- her house attested to that – everything crisp, clean and perfect, everything with a place. If it wasn't the maid's annual break, she wouldn't even have to worry about the housework, but today she had company arriving, and she wanted things to look as immaculate as she always strived for. Perfection. But first breakfast.

Money or not, Marianne always made time to make breakfast, to do homework, to spend time with Sarah. Looking up form whisking eggs, Marianne smiled as she gazed at Sarah sitting at the breakfast table engrossed in rote memorizing her times tables. Sarah had just turned twelve and to Marianne, she was her everything. She had been older than she would have liked when she had Sarah, still Marianne only looked around her mid forties so she had only had off the cuff comments about there not being a man around to play dad. Fact was, Marianne never found it important to complete herself with a Mr. in her life. Nor had it ever been an important thing to hear a Mrs. before her name, Marianne could have whatever she wanted, whenever, no limits -well nearly no limits. Having a child had been difficult, none of the regular avenues had worked – traditional, IVF, naturopathy, acupuncture and the like. Marianne had been deemed barren until the day the unbelievable happened. Sarah had always been her little piece of magic, her miracle.

The bacon popped in the pan bringing Marianne back to her task. Giving the final whisk to the eggs, Marianne realized that the butter had burnt in the pan. Huffing, Marianne was just toweling up the butter when the toast popped up. Near losing her cool, she was relieved when Keterlyn walked in to the room.

No matter how long she knew Keterlyn, her confident, relaxed demeanor gave Marianne a twinge of jealousy. She treated Keterlyn like her sister, and had since the moment they met. Keterlyn strode over, looking all of twenty one, dressed in cargo pants and a tank top to reflect the unseasonable warmth they had been experiencing this autumn.

As soon as Keterlyn saw Marianne's distress she redirected her path, pausing briefly to kiss Sarah on the head as she headed to the kitchen. Sarah adored Keterlyn, and why not? Quite frankly Marianne did too. Her attitude, her strength. Marianne trusted Keterlyn implicitly, even with her life, with Sarah's, though she knew she shouldn't take such liberties.

"Good morning. Could you use a hand?" came Keterlyn's silky tone as she sidled up next to Marianne in the kitchen.

Marianne sighed in audible relief. "Yes please. If you get the toast, I'll work on saving the eggs." With that, Marianne and Keterlyn worked together in a unison that could only reflect their utter familiarity forged over time passed in each other's company.

In no time, breakfast was on the table, though Keterlyn never sat. Instead, she chatted as she picked from the bacon, eggs, waffles, sausages and toast and placed items in a napkin to take with her. Today she would find a few supporting references for her latest university essay. She was smugly looking forward to a familiar essay topic that would see a comfortable win of a high distinction for her-one to add to the collection. The sooner she got to it, the better.

Marianne sat, polite and poised as always, while Sarah gleefully abandoned reading the times tables out loud to load up on eggs and toast. Since she turned vegetarian, she had been nearly insufferable in her preaching about the woes of animal farming, but at least, Marianne reasoned, she hadn't opted for vegan. That she would have struggled with, besides, eventually a hamburger or meat lovers pizza would win her over.

"What does your day look like?" Marianne quizzed Keterlyn.

"I'm going to the library to start working on my project." Keterlyn's tone held the smarminess that reflected back in Marianne's raised eyebrow.

"The history of the Manx?" Marianne more stated than asked, already knowing the answer. Keterlyn smiled back with amusement.

"Every time?" Marianne teased.

In between sips of juice, Keterlyn passively argued her point. "Meh. Gets me marks for originality. Every time."

With fake nostalgia Marianne swallowed her mouthful of eggs and mused out loud. "Ah, I remember the first time you wrote on the subject they failed you."

Keterlyn laughed. "I don't remember it that way."

"Ha. You wouldn't!"

"I can't help it if I was on the cutting edge of history's greatest findings."

"Hmm. Call it what you will." Marianne dismissed before turning to her daughter.

"Sarah, how's the practice going honey?"

Sarah took a deep breath before announcing with confidence her deepest wish. "I'm nervous, but I think I've got it."

"You'll do fine." assured Keterlyn before draining her glass of juice. "What about you. What are you doing today Mar?"

"Cameron and Ida are coming over with Amy and Josh."

Keterlyn rolled her eyes, "You mean Mr and Mrs insufferably perfect." Sarah giggled.

Marianne sighed, "Yeah, I'm fairly certain it's just Cameron and Ida nowadays."

Keterlyn picked up her piled high breakfast with some difficulty, Sarah watching on as Keterlyn gave her a wink. With a feigned aloofness Keterlyn added to her commentary. "Cool, then I'll see you this afternoon. I'll be back to show you how to make that sauce for your dinner with Toni." Sarah immediately jumped in with a woo hoo sound which almost caused Marianne's cheeks to redden. All these years, independent as she was, she still blushed when people pointed out her romantic liaisons. With a flurry, Keterlyn left, balancing her bag over her shoulder, her breakfast in one hand and messing up Sarah's hair with the other. In the wake of her exit Marianne sipped her coffee and gave Sarah a mock scolding look. "I don't know what you're grinning about. I'll be making woo hoo sounds at you when I see you and Benji holding hands next." Sarah blushed as she bit into a piece of toast. She blushes just like me -Magic, Marianne thought.

A little later, Sarah now at school, Marianne vacuumed in the den. As she did, she failed to hear the phone ring, though she did stop the machine for a moment, thinking she had heard something, but it had already diverted to the answering machine. By then, she couldn't hear the trembling voice on the answering machine left by one of the school personnel asking Marianne to call a mobile number as soon as possible. Marianne resumed vacuuming and finished with enough time to hit the button on the coffee machine to get the milk heating. She smooth back a strand of her hair just as the doorbell rang.

Answering the door, two middle aged, well dressed men, Josh and Cameron arrived, both looked similar and could have passed for brothers except from the fact Josh carried a Canadian accent, unlike Cameron's low toned Australian drawl.

Amy and Ida, who were huddled between their respective partners, both almost rushed Marianne hysterically.

"Oh my God are you OK?" gushed Ida.

"We couldn't believe it. I was sure you wouldn't still be here!" Amy said, grasping Marianne to her. Marianne looked closer at Cameron and Josh. Both wore looks etched of serious concern. Marianne's heart sank. A creeping cold swept over her skin.

Pushing Amy back, Marianne stepped backwards into her home. The four followed her inside. The words nearly choked in Marianne's throat. "Why, what is it?"

A new look of sympathy and realization washed over their faces.

"It's all over the news. Sarah's school." Cameron offered before he and Josh headed to the den to turn on the television.

Marianne steeled. "What's happened?" she demanded.

The sound of the television blared in the momentary silence as Cameron flicked through channels finding the news station.

Amy broke the pause. "There's a hostage taker. He has Sarah's class and the next year down. Shots were fired. How do you not know this?"

Not that she wouldn't believe her friends, but in disbelieving fear, Marianne walked over to the television screen. As she watched the images on the television she sank to her knees horrified.

The journalist's hair flew about in the breeze as she spoke from outside the school Marianne had been to for so many occasions. The first day of school when she straightened Sarah's hat and held her hand as she stood next to her in the line in the schoolyard. The same place her little girl had danced her first dance, confessed her first light kiss on the cheek just last month with a boy in her class. In that moment, watching the police tape flutter, the crowds mill about and be held back by officers of the law, Marianne broke.

Ida, and Amy had known Marianne for almost ten years, since she moved into the neighborhood. The three had bonded over tennis, over Friday night TV dramas, and parent committee activities until their children had gone to different high schools, but neither of them truly knew Marianne. But then, Marianne had taken careful time and trouble not to be fully known, not to let them know all of her facets, or her strengths.

Marianne was unequivocally resolute in that moment, staring at the television she couldn't hear for the blood pumping through her ears, couldn't see clearly for the blinding rage that built up. By the time Marianne stood, her body was pure will, power coursing through her being, every vein bursting with pressure. The capillaries in her eyes gave way. Although she had always considered herself the weaker of her clandestine group, as she stood there, she knew nothing would stand between her and her child, no force, no evil, no promises made. Right now though, she wished her particular talents had allowed her to will herself to Sarah's side, make the person who held her against her will implode into mincemeat...how she wished for the dark things she could do if she had the power, but right now she had to focus on what she actually could do.

Marianne summoned the resolve to speak. "I'm going there now." Remaining disturbingly calm, she left the room for the kitchen.

"All the roads around are sectioned off. There's gridlock for blocks. I think you might be better staying here Mar." called Cameron, though Marianne was already busy pulling herbs out from where she hung them to dry on the back of her pantry door, freshly taken from her garden. Using a mortar and pestle she quickly ground them, before deftly throwing open her window. Ida and Amy, tearing themselves from the television, approached their friend with caution.

Muttering in an inaudible tone, Marianne mumbled under her breath, though grew louder as she closed her eyes, keeping her right hand held over the contents of the pestle. Her voice continued to grow until Marianne yelled out as she threw the herbs from the pestle to the wind. "...Come to me...come to me Martin. Come now. As I will so mote it be!"

Ida, and Amy exchanged a look of pity mixed with concern. Ida reached out for their tormented friend, but Marianne just shook her off, stalking to a chest sitting under a window, and wrenching the knick knacks off it, throwing open the lid with abandon. "Marianne." ventured Ida. "What are you doing? Sweetie. We'll get in the car and go now. We can sit in traffic."

"Whatever we can we do to help?" added Cameron who had seen the commotion and joined his wife. Josh remained rooted to the screen.

"Nothing. Nothing at all." muttered Marianne who rummaged through the contents of the chest. Her three friends peered at the contents curiously. Strange bottles, old books and long knives sat next to velvet bags, talismans and small carved figurines. Marianne pulled out a jar of acorns, tossing the contents into a small material bag she slung over one shoulder. Next, Marianne pulled out a long black handled dagger. Her friends took a step back.

"Marianne. Put that down. Stop and talk to us." begged Amy nervously. Ignoring her, Marianne put the dagger to her right arm, pulling tight the material. Cameron reached out, and Ida winced, but all was too late as Marianne pulled the blade back. Then they realized that Marianne had just cut through the material on her shirt, almost separating it from the rest of the garment.

The point was lost on them, along with the other behaviours, but before any of them had a chance to ask Marianne what the hell was going on, a motorbike sounded, halting outside the house. A tall bald man, Martin, stepped off the bike and moved to the front door in time for Marianne to open the door before he had a chance to knock. Martin stood with a bemused look on his face.

Cameron, Ida and Amy shared a look that reflected their own state of confusion.

"I'm not quite sure why I'm here." a bewildered Martin confessed.

Marianne took his face in her hands and looked him deep in his eyes. "I'm really sorry Marti. I need your help. Take me to Sarah's school. Forget laws and rules. Take me to the school as fast as you can." As if in a daze, Martin responded, unquestioning, returning to his bike.

Marianne looked back to her friends. "I'm sorry to frighten you. I have to take care of this." Marianne turned on her heel and walked out, hopping on the bike before Martin tore off in to the distance.

Josh peered out from the den in time to see Amy, Ida and Cameron's aghast face. "What did I miss?" the others looked back at him, unsure what to explain.

Marianne and Martin ignored red lights, ripped up turf and scared pedestrians off the sidewalk on their journey. Marianne knew there was no going back, no explaining, not really. Did she regret doing this to Martin, bending him to her will, knowing he would cop fines, charges for doing this? Yes and no. For the first time since she had joined her coven, she understood why you could turn your back on everything and everyone in the interests of surviving. Losing Sarah meant losing herself. There was no point without her, and if she had been hurt, she would boil the guilty alive. Another light changed to orange, but she willed it green, closing in on the school.

Coming to a screeching halt, Marianne jumped off the bike, swiftly closing the distance from the parkland they had halted on towards the throng of people that separated her from the school, from Sarah. Police and people created a barrier, the police preventing people from passing the flimsy tape towards the shoulder-high stone wall that outlined the school gardens. As Marianne closed in she visually sought out an area less dense with people, and when she did, she moved a hand to her side, causing several people to be knocked off their feet, and out of her way. A path to the wall now opened up, Marianne gripped her hands into fists, knuckles white.

Back at the house, Ida, Amy, Cameron and Josh all watched the TV anxiously.

Cameron squinted at the screen. "Is that Marianne?" They all looked closely. "How did they get there so fast?"

Marianne walked towards a line of a few officers, passing them barely noticed- except by one. The officer yelled for her to stop though Marianne ignored him, instead ducking under the police tape and leaping over the stone wall. Before she made it over the wall though, the police officer her had run up to reach her and extended his arm out, trying to grab her before she made it. Taking hold of her right sleeve, it ripped away and he was left with nothing but the sleeve in his hand, and Marianne was over the wall and moving fast.

Amy sunk onto her haunches looking taken aback. "Oh my God! Did she know that was going to happen? She cut the sleeve so it would rip!"

Marianne continued towards the main school building, as a man appeared at one of the windows. Pulling out a gun, he started firing at her as she approached the doors to the school, but the shots scattered about her, missing their target and hitting the ground at her feet. Though Marianne continued to trudge forward until she reached the door of the school, when she arrived she didn't enter the building, but instead threw the bag she carried to the ground. Sinking down, she removing the acorns and the knife, made a circle from the acorns before slamming the knife to the hilt in the ground within the circle. The acorns disappeared into the ground, and cracks radiated inwards towards the dagger. Standing, Marianne entered the building.

Ida, Amy, Josh and Cameron watched anxiously, barely breathing, waiting to see what would happen next. Minutes passed, everyone waiting with breath bated.

Ida jumped to her feet as a flurry of thirty five school children burst out of the doors, rushing towards the police. Amy laughed in relief and Josh ran his hands through his hair sighing in relief.

Cameron still stared intently at the screen. "Where is she?" he asked. A moment later the coverage had switched to an overhead helicopter, when glass shattered across all the windows on the upper floor. As the crowd below peered into the darkness of the open window, there was a flash and the gunman flew out of the window backwards, flailing his arms as he did until he dropped and hit the stone walkway halfway across the grounds.

Walking out a few minutes later, a stoic Marianne put her hands out in surrender as police swarmed around her. Looking fervently across the crowd, Marianne locked on Sarah and a smile parted her lips as the cuffs snapped around her wrists. Police instructed her on her rights but it just blurred into the background. Taking a few steps to run for her mother, Sarah was stopped by another parent, fear in the grown woman's eyes as she turned Sarah away. The crowd was quiet as Marianne let herself be led to the police car, content in knowing Sarah is safe, in spite of the fear people would instill in her about what her mother did, despite of the rumours, the gossip, and the fact that everything was going to change with what was going to happen next.

***

The police officer regarded Marianne stoically from across the table. She looked back at him, unmoving. She needed to get to a phone though, and time was important. At least she could keep up this part of the deal, and really, she knew Sarah wouldn't be out of the woods until she made that call.

"Listen, we just want some basic answers, then we can let you go." he said encouragingly. He probably meant it too. "We all appreciate you did what you had to do to save your daughter. You need to appreciate that you also put a lot of lives in danger though. You need to talk to us, now. Get the record straight."

Marianne pursed her lips before tentatively testing him. "I need to make a call."

"If you want a lawyer I can contact them for you. Just give me a name." How helpful she rued. If only.

"I have someone I need to call myself. I get a call don't I? Then I'll answer whatever questions you have."

The man paused for a moment before nodding and rising to stand. "Sure, come with me."

Escorting Marianne to a small glass room which held a desk with nothing on it save a phone, he excused himself just far enough to remain out of hearing, but still keep her in his sights. "Go ahead. I'll be out here. Make it quick."

Without hesitation Marianne dialed quickly before holding the handset close to her. Hands trembling, she had to use her second hand to steady the one holding the receiver. As the phone rang, she closed her eyes.

Keterlyn answered.

Whispering, Marianne fought the urge to cry. "I'm so sorry. I really am. She's my baby. I couldn't risk it."

In the corridor leading to the entrance of the Library, Keterlyn slumped against the wall, still holding the mobile to her ear. She tried to steady her breath, brace for what she knew was coming. Although she may not have seen the event on the news stations, she had felt a darkness, a warning pull within her, but ignoring it, she had dismissed the feeling. Keterlyn truly did love Marianne, but love, as she so well knew wasn't always enough.

Marianne stumbled in the silence on the other end of the phone. "Please, say something. I know I promised you, but I had to save her. I'm so sorry."

Keterlyn took a deep breath. "I understand little sister. I do." She knew how hard this was already, for Marianne to be calling was a testament to her strength.

Relieved, Marianne stopped trembling. "Thank you. Thank you for everything."

"I'm really going to miss you." admitted Keterlyn.

"Me too. I don't have much time so let's do this." Marianne wiped her tears.

"Yes." said Keterlyn simply, and readied herself.

"I relinquish...." began Marianne.

"I recall..." continued Keterlyn.

"All that which you bequeathed..."

"All that I endowed...."

The lights in the room where Marianne sat started to shine brighter as she spoke. "Take the power from my being."

"I take the power back to me." concluded Keterlyn as they together said the last line that would break their bond.

"As I will so mote it be." came their synchronous words as the lights in the interview room burst, the glass shattering as Marianne yelled in pain.

Marianne fell to the table, the policeman who had interviewed her arriving from the other room. He reached for her, lifting her head from where it lay motionless on the table, but as he pulled up Marianne's unconscious head though, he dropped it almost as quickly. In just a few moments, Marianne had aged twenty years. He stepped back in shock before calling out for an ambulance to be called.

Meanwhile, slumping to the floor, Keterlyn sobbed before she realized that people were staring at her. Rising from the ground, and wiping her tears, she ran down the hall.

# Chapter 2

Trudging through the well kept gravel in the graveyard, Keterlyn found her emergency site easily, in spite of the years that had past since she had last updated the contents of her kit. She had learned early enough that an emergency kit was handy, a few protein bars, some water and a mobile, with some cash to tide her over. Not like she needed a mobile phone charger, she carried enough power to light cities if she wanted, if she could. But while using that much power might not be feasible for her, she could at least recharge a phone to make a call, but not until the morning, not until she had rest, and time to travel. Breaking the seal on the crypt door, she ventured in and pulled out a stone slab that kept her cloth bag hidden. Emptying the contents, she retrieved a vial of salt, and one of ash, a phone number on a piece of paper, as well as some candles to complement the other items.

Retrieving the salt and ash, she interwove the contents of the vials in an interlaced pattern across the doorway. Using her forefingers she scraped the remaining contents out and made a large sharp edged infinity sign on the back of the door before dusting off her hands and making her way to the darkening corner.

Lighting three of the candles, she melted the wax on the bottoms and affixed the molten end to the stone floor to give her illumination. Keterlyn leaned against the back of the crypt wall, lost deep in thought, in grief for the sudden loss of her way of life. She closed her eyes, recalling her last, fond, real memory.

Keterlyn remembered back to when she was young. She might not look any older now, but she certainly wasn't the same child she was in 836AD, naive, trusting and adoring of her aunt. She and her aunt would spend countless long days in the woods together, Keterlyn carving, weaving or learning some new trick, while her aunt gathered herbs, roots or small animals for their skins and meat.

Inhaling deeply, Keterlyn could practically smell the European evergreens, the earth, the sun. Maybe because this was her last favorite memory, she held on to it so well, bittersweet as it was, or maybe because she willed it into being.

(836AD)

Her last good day had seen Keterlyn with her aunt in the woods, Keterlyn carving a boxwood necklace, her aunt preparing a range of roots and herbs for drying which she laid on the makeshift table of a larger tree stump. Keterlyn was aware of her aunt glancing over towards her as she finished her artwork lovingly.

"You have a real talent for this Keterlyn" her aunt would always say when Keterlyn mastered a new skill. Keterlyn had always wished her mother had had such praise for her rather than focus on trying to learn new preachings that had come in to her town the year before last. Since her father had died two winters before, Keterlyn's mother had focused on spiritual things more so than ever, and the arrival of the preacher had been timely for her. He spoke of new ways, the sins of the old ways, damnation and salvation. Keterlyn had always grown up with the old ways, as had the rest of her family, but her mother and many of the villagers had been quick to let go of the natural arts that had kept them alive for so long. Some, like her aunt, had moved out of the town itself, to the outskirts where there was more peace for those who continued old traditions. It never felt evil when her aunt dressed wound with a local leaf when she was stung. It never felt wrong to sink her feet and hands in the earth and connect with the lessons it taught, the fruits it bore. As good a child as Keterlyn was, she stole these precious moments away with her aunt had made her feel renewed. They also allowed her to escape the gossip, the rumors.

As Keterlyn held up her carving, blowing dust from the etchings, she looks pleased. The carving was of a boar etched on one side, and a flame on the other. Strength had passion. She sighed. "At least this will explain where I have been all day when I should have been helping set up for the festival." she remarked to her aunt's knowing smile.

Out of the corner of her eye Keterlyn saw her aunt pull a leaf from one of the plants she collected. Keterlyn lowered the carving piece and waited for the test that was coming.

"Keterlyn. What plant is this?" came the inevitable question.

"That's easy it's Hyssop." she had quipped.

"Well done. And this one?" Her aunt had picked up a root from the table that Keterlyn was less sure of.

"Angelica?"

"Is that your answer or a question?" her aunt teased.

A less than confident Keterlyn replied: "My answer." to which her aunt shook her head.

Disappointed, Keterlyn scolded herself. "Ah. The herbs I have a good feel for, but not the mushrooms, roots and berries yet. I'll practice tonight and tomorrow, then you can test me again in a couple of days."

Giving Keterlyn a doubtful look, her aunt grew serious in her tone. "Are you sure about that Keterlyn? Your mother cornered me at the market last week. She was very plain she did not want me encouraging you in the old ways."

Keterlyn looked at the carving in her lap and muttered what she knew was a lie. "My life is my own."

"At least until you marry." came her aunt's remark.

"After what happened to my last betrothed I doubt I have to worry about that for a while." Keterlyn had been given to a local boy, a furrier, for marriage a few months past, but on the eve of their wedding the boy had been struck by lightning, seemingly out of nowhere as he walked to his home after visiting her house. That had raised the eyebrow of the preacher, and of more than a few gossiping families. As if she had had anything to do with a force of nature. "They think I am cursed. It's been six months, and no one has stepped forward to make an offer for me."

"You are a beautiful girl. Rumors won't last forever. Even ones about lightning striking them down for taking your hand." She may have joked, but Keterlyn's Aunt's words held a truth.

"There is someone else." Keterlyn shared for the first time.

Her aunt beamed. On the subject of marriage, she and Keterlyn's mother agreed. "See. I told you. Who is he?"

The question Keterlyn wanted to avoid. "He is not from the village."

Her aunt had scrunched up her brows. There was rarely regular enough contact with the next village to see a blossoming love affair between youths. "Truth? With whom is he staying?"

"No one." She hesitated. "He stays in the woods."

There it had been, the sudden cautionary look her aunt shot towards her, warning inherent.

"Truth auntie." Keterlyn scrambled. "I wouldn't lie. Not to you."

Her aunt explored the matter further. With the old ways came old superstitions, and Keterlyn almost wished she could lie when the next question came. "When do you see him then?"

Hesitantly she answered. "At night, he calls to me softly so Mama won't hear."

"Keti. Maybe it is best not to spend so much time with strangers." her aunt voiced concern, but Keterlyn had known if he had meant her harm, he would have had many chances by now.

"Now you sound like Mama." Keterlyn scolded.

There was a lightening in her aunt almost immediately. "I suppose I do, just...be careful."

Keterlyn stood, brushing remnants of the carving from her lap. "I better go, but I'll see you in two days." she announced before giving her aunt a hug, and disappearing down the light path into the brush.

On the way home Keterlyn practiced naming plants, mosses, mushrooms and berries. She put some in a pouch that sat at her hip to nibble on and take home to accompany dinner. Halfway home, Keterlyn ate a few berries- fateful morsels she regarded them now.

By the time she approached the village, Keterlyn was ill, staggering to push forward, her skin clammy and her pulse weak. Looking through bleary eyes she saw the little boy who was so intent to fight with the best of warriors on day that he practiced hitting targets with a stick on the edge of the village. He stopped his target practice as he saw her stumble from the brush. Her body trembling from the inside, Keterlyn tried in vain to hold on to a tree. She fell to her knees, unable to even cry out. Through her fading vision she saw the boy run for help and closed her eyes expectantly.

(Present)

Opening her eyes again, Keterlyn looked about the crypt to see the candles extinguished, and daylight creeping in. Gathering her few belongings in the bag, Keterlyn retrieved the mobile phone and paper with the number. Those she would need now.

Walking out through the graveyard, Keterlyn had a different step to her stride. Meaningful, determined and business like. In the times between covens Keterlyn always went in to darkness mode. It kept her safe, people would rather get out of her way than walk in front of her. She shut off, put her head down and did what she had to, to get things done. Once upon a time, before she had known the subtleties of what she could get away with, what she had to do, she had perpetually been in this frame of mind. Useful as it was, in truth, Keterlyn didn't like it. Right now she had bile rising in her throat and a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach to match the darkness. That was new, well, not entirely, but she hadn't felt it in what seemed like forever. She had become particularly attached to her last coven, Marianne in particular.

Swallowing back her emotions again, Keterlyn brought the phone to life in her hand, charging it from herself, and then promptly dialed the number on the piece of paper. Calling for help wasn't something Keterlyn would ever do, but she felt it was important to keep in touch with someone when she changed cities, identities, all in the name of starting new. At least there was one person she didn't have to lie to, one person who knew all about her. Wherever her friend was, Keterlyn would hop a bus, a plane and head for her to touch base before she had to disappear again.

After leaving a message with what seemed the new beau in her long time friend's life, Keterlyn found a bus headed in the right direction and surreptitiously found her way to a back seat. Settling in, she resented the fact she had to catch a bus at all. Soon enough she would just be able to think herself to any location, but in the meantime she couldn't risk using her magic to it's full potential. Small things she could do with care, charge a phone, produce a ticket out of thin air, but the rest would have to wait. No breaking out the big guns. Not until she had a new coven in place.

Keterlyn knew she could spend the day long bus ride planning, or sinking into post reflection and brooding. As much as she wanted to start planning her next move, the event with Marianne had thrown Keterlyn's plans out by about twenty years. She had no location set, no new group she had been grooming in the sidelines...there was that broodiness setting in. At least she knew Sarah would be alright. Probably, most likely. Marianne had been the oldest, though she never looked it. She had also been very ill, though she never showed it, and the magic covered up the symptoms nicely. These were both reasons Marianne had openly embraced the opportunity of joining the coven so many years ago. In giving up the power though, Keterlyn had no doubt that Marianne would be in hospital right now undergoing tests, which meant when they came for her, Sarah wouldn't be with Marianne. They wouldn't be able to take Sarah, but Marianne... Keterlyn shook off the thought. What would happen to her would be the same thing that had happened to every other coven member when the circle, their link, was severed. Still, usually people had time to prepare. Patrick and the others hadn't even known about what exactly she was running from. Having been sick of explaining it over and over, Keterlyn had just implicated a range of underlings that they should be scared of - leeches, wraith, vampires and other nasties. Marianne had been the only one she trusted with the whole story. She knew the stakes. Next time, she would have to be clear, that would help her burning conscience. Telling them what exactly the nasty thing in the dark was that was looking for them if they slipped up. Not that they would ever really understand, not truly, not like she did.

Still, where was she going to find twelve individuals willing to sign up for a trade like that which she had to offer in just two weeks. It was exhausting thinking about it. Perhaps she couldn't be so gracious as to give them a choice this time. She would have to force the issue. She could be upfront, let them know the danger of the situation, the truth, but giving them a choice wasn't going to be an option.

Keterlyn nodded to herself as she made the decision. Yes, two weeks to get twelve people in a room together to bind them to each other, and to her. Twelve unwilling participants was a set up fraught with difficulty, but it wouldn't be the first time. In 1654, before she had a grip on what to do she had done the same and not explained much of anything to those she had chosen. The difficulties in getting them to work together with only half an idea of the threat had been almost insurmountable. Again in 1867, she chose to omit certain truths until there had been that horrible accident that saw one of them try and take the power for themselves and shut out the others. The ripple effect was everyone had died in brutal fashion, essentially imploding from misdirected power. This time she would be 100 percent open. Sort of.

Never mind. Keterlyn knew she would feel more settled in just a few hours. She would be able to talk it out, and look at her options.

The high school kid in the seat in front of her was busy talking up the girl across the aisle. Sneaking a peak, Keterlyn eyed off his mp3 player laying on top of his open bag. She knew she shouldn't, but she put her hand out and the item slinked towards her, earpiece first. Securing the player in her hand, she ran the other hand over it and the shade changed from charcoal to red, her favourite colour.

At nightfall, Keterlyn hopped off the bus as the high school kid lagged behind her, rummaging through his bag for his lost mp3 player. Keterlyn didn't trouble herself though. She had places to be.

***

Keterlyn yawned as she lingered in the park, slowly walking towards the fountain where she had said she would wait. As she strolled leisurely she became aware of soft, hesitant footsteps approaching. It was a nice enough park, but given the size of it, she didn't doubt for a moment that it would be the perfect site for trouble. She stole a discrete glance over her shoulder.

The footsteps accompanied a man, in his late thirties dressed in an unseasonable heavy, long overcoat. He also looked haggard. Not the sort of haggard from living rough so much as stress, or emotional disturbance, like a weight hung from his slumped shoulders. He was jittery too, his steps nervous. Keterlyn noted to some irritation he was making efforts to conceal something behind the length of his arm. Experience told her it was a knife, not that it alarmed her, it was just another thing on her list of exasperating things to deal with.

The man must have noticed that she had glanced back, because he sped up until he was right behind her.

"You got the time girlie?" came his insincere request.

Keterlyn sighed before responding accusingly. "No. I don't have cash either."

The man jumped in front of Keterlyn, causing her to stop. Brandishing the knife with little confidence. "Sure you do. Hand it over." he demanded. Keterlyn wondered if he had even done this before.

"You so have the wrong person."

"I said hand it over."

Indignant, Keterlyn squared him. "No. Whatcha gonna do? You really going to knife me for a few dollars?"

"I got needs." he stumbled.

Needs? She thought. An odd word to use but she wasn't going to quibble the issue here and now. She placed her hands behind her. She knew she should avoid any dramatic displays, but there wasn't anyone else around and it wasn't like he was going to tell. Besides, it wasn't going to take a lot of energy to do what she needed to. Better warn him anyway she decided. "Yeah? Well a need for self preservation is clearly lacking. So show me...how are you planning on making good on your threats. I have some pent up frustration happening. I could actually use a good fight. Or obliteration in your case."

Behind her, Keterlyn's hand sparked blue electricity which built into small balls of dancing light.

Nervous, the man glanced from side to side, before doing the entirely unexpected. In an anxious flurry he threw his overcoat open. The only thing that caught Keterlyn's eye other than the sheen on his forehead and the shine of the knife in the moonlight was that the would be attacker had his pant open under the coat, with his member on full display. For the first time on an easy hundred years, Keterlyn was rendered speechless. Once the initial shock wore off, Keterlyn rolled her eyes before shaking her head.

Just then a figure familiar to Keterlyn arrived stealthily behind the flasher. Keterlyn almost smiled, which the flasher misinterpreted. For a shaky moment he relaxed that was until he felt the cold breath on his neck and realised Keterlyn was looking over his shoulder not at him.

Swinging around, the man yelped and snapped his coat shut. Keterlyn's friend, Violet stood a commanding sight, tall with olive toned skin and a mass of red curly hair demurely showcased by her dark jacket and dark pants.

"See that's just wrong." Violet directed accusingly to the man, who now stood shaking in part due to the unexpected company, in part to her encroaching on his personal space. "You have to have something," Violet continued stepping so close he had to take a step backwards. "to actually offer a lady if your going to do something like that."

"Violet!" Keterlyn exclaimed, happy to see her friend after so many years. Violet winked back at her.

"I was so pleased to hear that you called, Ket. When Viktor gave me the message, I came straight away. And just in time to save you I see."

In a scramble, the man fled.

"You had dinner yet Vi?" Keterlyn asked ignoring the insinuation she would have to be saved from anything.

"Not yet." there was a darker, knowing tone to Violet's silken voice.

Facing the escaping offensive flasher, Keterlyn let loose an energy charge rom her palm, that whipped around him causing him to fall face first, before slowly dragging him back to the two women. He clawed desperately at the ground.

Violet gave Keterlyn a confused look. "Should you be doing that?" she asked.

Keterlyn shrugged. "It's lower level magic tricks. He won't pick up on it. Besides, I hate flashers. It's just rude."

As the squirming man came to a stop in front of them, Violet put her boot on him to stop him squirming to get away. "I know what you mean." She concurred with Keterlyn. Violet leaned down to the man as he sobbed, and turned his head to face her. "Do you understand doing things like that puts me off my food? Do you?" Violet accused before she paused to grin at him. Two fangs protruded from her lips, growing as the man halted his breath, eyes becoming large circles of fear. The man shrieked and started praying. Violet looked up at Keterlyn with feigned disappointment. "Bit like pulling the wings off a pinned butterfly." She commented before standing up to regard her friend again.

"This is no butterfly honey." remarked Keterlyn.

Violet took her foot off the man and he scrambled away. "You're right, I think I might look for something a little more upmarket."

In delayed reaction, Keterlyn rushed towards Violet and threw her arms around her. Violet's fangs retracted and she returned the embrace.

"Oh Vi." Keterlyn nearly sobbed. "You're a sight for sore eyes."

Violet looked her friend over with concern. "What happened Ket?"

Standing back, Keterlyn sighed. "Marianne broke the circle early. She used magic, in public– but she couldn't help it. Something happened, she had to save her daughter. Matters of the heart always lead to... issues."

Violet smiled sympathetically. She had never shared Keterlyn's fear of opening up to others, of caring. She tried not to sound pitying though. "Yeah, but its fun. Loving people. You should try it."

Frustrated, Keterlyn gave Violet a look that said she should know better. "I tried that, and it got me in this mess. What am I going to do? I thought I had at least another twenty years before I had to find another coven. Now I only have two weeks before the full moon."

"It will be fine." soothed Violet.

Keterlyn arched a brow. "Two weeks to find and bring 12 individuals together and bind us all together in magic?"

Violet linked her arm with Keterlyn's and led her for a stroll. "There are some upsides to living in this time. There is less need for secrecy, more witches willing to identify themselves."

"More weirdos too." Keterlyn said, causing Violet to smile again.

"Maybe not, maybe they are just less secretive now too." reasoned Violet. "But you can do something you couldn't last time - advertise. It's been what, 25, 26 years since you last recruited?"

"And I thought I would get at least forty or fifty years out of them. I am unprepared. Last time I had a chance to find a group with special needs, time to romance them a little into it." Keterlyn thought back to her last recruitment phase.

"The sleep clinic people? Talk about weirdos." Toyed Violet.

In the 1960s Keterlyn had had a brief meeting with a man by the name of Uther. Uther was no ordinary soul though, and seeing as supernatural beings could detect eachother through the energy they emitted, he had tweaked Keterlyn's interest the moment she saw him posting flyers at the local supermarket. Once upon a time he had been human too, just like her. She could tell.

When she followed him, her curiosity getting the better of her, Uther had known, yet he played anyway. He was in his late 40s, stocky, with a pleasant and trusting face. Turned out he was just as trustworthy to know as well. Uther had been born a human much like herself, and had been wandering in various groups, cults and organizations for even longer than Keterlyn. Uther had been blessed with an indefinite life span when he helped an underling, a supernatural creature of a lower order, escape capture. The deal was that as long as he didn't harm another paranormal creature, he could live his life as long as possible. A gift that came of course with the inevitable curse of watching those you cared for die, get sick, or leave you. For that reason, Keterlyn and Uther had enjoyed a short but understanding friendship.

In the time Keterlyn knew Uther he had opened her eyes to compassion she wished she could share if she wasn't so busy looking over her shoulder. Uther had decided to try to identify weaknesses in humans that made them vulnerable to psychic attacks, possession and the like. The idea was to identify commonalities such as genetic pre-disposition, or personal experiences that triggered the changes which attracted creatures such as wraiths and leeches that could use them. Uther planned then to try to manipulate the variable to extinguish the behaviour, or alternatively build them up so they could be more consciously accessed. At first he had tried to tap the skills, to help them defend themselves, after a time he had become less focused on finding out how their skills worked, and more bent on suppressing them. After his number one student Rachael had been taken, he had changed entirely, becoming darker, disillusioned and he had grown far more desperate.

Keterlyn had seen it of course, saw the signs, and felt the Wraith coming for Rachael. As such, she had said her goodbyes before Rachel was taken, before the beginning of the end for Uther. Keterlyn often thought back to the last day she spent with Rachael. She had considered telling her or Uther that the Wraith was going to take her, but Uther knew, he felt it as did Keterlyn and perhaps she could have warned her, but why alarm the girl. She could at least teach the kids in her school, carry on with her wedding plans without knowing what was going to happen. Rachael had been taken, possessed by the Wraith that stalked her on the eve of her wedding. Keterlyn had been gone by then, but had left Rachael a ring in honor of their friendship. Truth was there was always a chance of running into each other again, and Keterlyn had hoped the ring might somehow remind Rachael of the friendship they once had, or of who she used to be. Once taken by a Wraith, the host failed to be able to act or exert themselves unless voluntarily abandoned. From what she had heard in the rumblings of the creatures she did encounter though, it seemed Uther had been killed after all. And in her gut, Keterlyn suspected Rachael would have been the one. Always his soft spot – Rachael, his favourite.

There had been a positive side to the heartache though. Keterlyn had met many of her last coven based in the sleep clinic that Uther had run. All there in the hopes their nightmares, sleep disorders, visions or voices in their head would be exorcised from them. In them though, Keterlyn had found that the people she met in the clinic were already open to the possibilities of the other side, of magic, of mysticism, so enticing them by offering them power, control, self healing and knowledge made them one of the easiest groups she had brought together. Perhaps, Keterlyn considered, that was why she felt so very at odds about the fact that she was left unexpectedly putting together a new group now. She had had it so easy last time, she resented the extra work this time.

In the meantime Keterlyn tried to remind Violet of the advantages of the half walkers to her. "Because of their experiences Violet, they were open minded. They weren't weird, they just had sleeping issues."

"Mental health issues...." Violet counteracted doubtfully.

It was Keterlyn's turn to look at her friend in sympathy. Keterlyn always thought Violet maintained this suspiciousness around people with experiences that did not quite fall in to a category she could acknowledge or label. People with a pre-existing connection with their talents were known of half walkers in their circles, and Violet was not a fan. The attitude had often, in Keterlyn's point of view, sold her short of experiences. Perhaps it was because Keteryln had started out already exploring her skills in magic when she had been altered. Violet had always just been an ordinary girl until she had been changed in to a vampire, and the formidable creature she was now. Keterlyn had assumed it was the reason behind Violet rejecting what was affectionately termed in their world as half walkers as being unpredictable. In her world you either were, or you were not. It had been the subject of their meeting in Mercia many years before, and the first time Keterlyn considered the possibility she could change her fate. "Say what you want, but it helps to have a slightly bent view of the world when you're asked to deal with things like us."

"See, there you go again. Stop being so angry at what you are. Embrace it." Violet quipped back.

"That's fine to say when you don't have Lormorian breathing down your neck." Keterlyn paused, consciously aware of the sudden space created by her uttering his name. She tried to deflect. "The world we belong in....its...its."

"I know." Violet responded in comfort. There wasn't really the need for explanation between them. "Come stay with me for a while. Has to be better than the nasty energy places you have to hide out in. Tell me crypt, cemetery or haunted house this time?" Violet was right of course. Keterlyn didn't like it, but the fact was the safest places for her to hide were the ones already heavily teeming with spirits that could confuse her energy if anyone was looking close enough for her. Keterlyn deflected again not wanting to acknowledge openly to Violet that she would never put her in harm's way just for a roof over her head. Keterlyn always went it alone. A painful lesson learned time and time again. Connect with others, and they were inevitably ruined or killed. Keterlyn was never going to let anything like that happen again. To see those she loved suffer, or feel the pain of loss. Not again.

True to herself though, that wasn't the reason she gave for avoiding staying with Violet. "I somehow don't think that Viktor would be such a fan. Does he know about us?"

Violet seemed surprised at the suggestion of Viktor's discomfort, as if the very thought was unfathomable. "Us? You mean our time in France? That was so long ago, I don't think Viktor would feel threatened by a little quality time between friends – albeit naughty as much as nice." Violet giggled and drew Keterlyn's arm closer.

"I think I'll stick to the graveyards and crypts until I sort myself out." Keterlyn insisted then.

Violet gave her a cynical tone, knowing better than to argue. "Lovely."

"It does. I'm safe there – he can't tell me from the spirits that live there. And its not so bad, just for a couple of weeks."

As they walked Violet cocked her head, a thought occurring to her. "What if I knew of a place that would be safe. Somewhere already so well hidden with magic you couldn't be found."

Keterlyn attempted to hide the intrigue in her voice. "If such a place exists? Ideal – but how could you be sure?"

"It used to be owned by my niece, before she went AWOL. She is incredibly gifted, powerful, but she deserted us a long time ago." Violet must have been speaking about Myria, Keterlyn considered. Although Keterlyn had never met Myria, she had heard a great deal about the half walker who was so able to access her powers you couldn't tell the difference between her and an underling. "There is a catch though." Continued Violet.

Keterlyn laughed. "Of course there is."

Violet stopped walking to face Keterlyn, an excited undertone to her voice. "Actually, it might work out. It's an apartment at a campus about an hour from here."

Keterlyn almost cringed at the thought of yet more study, but she wasn't about to be picky. "I'm listening."

"The spell cast on it is valid for the whole building – not just the apartment, so you can sleep in peace. There are lots of graduates with lots of open minds – a prerequisite for you I believe. The place is fully set up with everything, we never got anything disconnected in case Myria ever came back there so there is access to the net so you can facebook or blog, or whatever you kids do nowadays, to your heart's content."

Keterlyn smiled in amusement. This might be the break she was looking for. "You always pull through for me Violet."

"It's settled then." Violet seemed happy with herself.

"But what happened to Mryia? She won't mind me using her place?" Last thing Keterlyn wanted was to piss off someone with enough power to compromise her.

Violet grimaced. "Long story short. She became crazy stalker over my brother in law, bit off more than she could chew and now she's busy coming to terms with being a member of the undead. She's far to busy trying to hunt down the man who killed her and run her club then be worried about coming back here. The place is all yours."

"You live the life don't you Vi?" teased Keterlyn.

"Wouldn't have it any other way." Violet recommenced walking, this time the two of them walking beside eachother a small distance between them. "What name will you use next?"

"I am thinking Caitlin."

"Nice. Hey, what happens to the others now?" Violet had to ask the question Keterlyn was trying to ignore.

"Rena, Patrick and the others?" she spoke of her recent coven as though they were from a long abandoned memory. "The connection was lost with the members of my old coven when Marianne broke the circle, so I guess....hopefully Lor will leave them alone."

"You think that's likely?" Violet was dubious. She knew the stakes too well.

"Not so much." admitted Keterlyn.

"You are going to help them then?"

"There's nothing short of giving myself up that I can do. There will be too many people to protect, too many of the underlings coming for them." Keterlyn offered by way of reason. Violet looked accusingly at Keterlyn who immediately went on the defensive. "There's a reason I imposed the rule. Reveal yourself, and we can all be found. If I'm found, I'm lost. So I take the power back. That gives me until the full moon to find more people to disperse the power to. It isn't like they didn't get a good deal while it lasted."

"But if he comes for them...they will only have their natural abilities to protect themselves...they will die." Violet indicated, hitting home to Keterlyn the truth she tried so hard to overlook.

Keterlyn didn't even try to hide her irritation. "Why do you do this every time?"

"Violet. I lived in absolute hell for so long. You know that. I'm not going back, and I can't defeat him, so if I have to run, and keep running, so be it. I cast hope and anything other than the desire to live, aside long ago, I can't remember anything more. And don't be so high and mighty – you wouldn't go there again if you could help it either."

Violet had to admit that. She herself had only recently been released from captivity in a dimension that had seen her tortured, flayed, beaten and near broken by the time she had been rescued. She wasn't going to be casting any stones. Violet put her arm around Keterlyn. "Your life my sweet. I just don't want you to be alone."

Keterlyn sunk into Violet. "I've got you. Even if it is just for tonight. We do give a new meaning to friends forever."

Violet chuckled as they walked away together, arm in arm once more. "You ever miss Mercia?" Violet asked.

"Never, except I'm glad I met you there."

"Caused a stir didn't we?" Violet recalled of their first meeting. Keterlyn had met Violet on a random visit as she tagged along with Lormorian. Violet had been bleeding dry the local artisans at a festival when Keterlyn's curiosity had been tweaked. A violent fight had erupted between them nearly destroying the town. Keterlyn had not at that time needed to worry about revealing her supernatural abilities, and Lormorian had leveled the town afterwards anyhow, destroying any chance of people telling. Keterlyn had hated the killings, the waste of life, not that she hadn't become used to it by then, but Violet, acting on her own, tethered to no one, had got her thinking. Until she had met Violet, Keterlyn had assumed that every changed being was tied to another, more powerful being that controlled them. By the time Violet and Keterlyn crossed paths again in France some centuries later, Keterlyn was a changed person, and the two had been best friends since.

"I don't think the world was ready for us then." mused Keterlyn.

"Well, ready or not, here we are."

Violet and Keterlyn strolled away, Keterlyn clearing her mind in preparation for everything she was going to be driving forward in the next few weeks. In this she couldn't fail, because to do so literally meant sacrificing her soul.

# Chapter 3.

Keterlyn looked about the lecture hall at the room. The anthropology teacher, as engaging as she was, had still managed to lull a number of students into a state of catatonia. Sporadic heads would bob in a sudden jerk as they were thrown from their daydream that had turned to sleep. Inevitably, this was accompanied by a reshuffling in their seat, an express effort to force their eyes wide open and the amused smirks of those who sat closest to them. Keterlyn gazed past them. If their attention span was so short, or their nights so exciting, that they couldn't make it through the lecture, she didn't want them.

Relatively speaking, she had had some success since starting semester so late. It had taken forged ID, as usual, and a fairly convincing effort on her part to be accepted into the semester so late, but nothing a little mind meddling hadn't accomplished in the end. She hated doing that, messing about in people's heads, but it was a necessary means to an end. Since starting Keterlyn had met Micala, an early twenties hippy-esque character who almost reminded her of Marianne back in the day. Micala was actually quite the activist and a closet socialite, which meant she had helped Keterlyn become familiar with the campus set up and some key persons in record time. Through Micala, she had met Anise and Will who had already agreed to experimenting by attending a full moon ritual. She had also found out that the lecturer, Zara was in the middle of a research topic for her book on modern pagan rituals, which had meant that approaching her to attend another ritual to add substance to her collection of case studies had been a relatively easy event. To add to these potential candidates, Micala had found out the local emo, Diana, whom Katerlyn remained dubious about to say the least, but also Jake, an ardent student, with a painfully introverted streak, as well as Ashleigh, a cheerleader who actually cared more for study than looking pretty and batting lashes. That still left an awful lot of spots to fill but here she was working on it.

Keterlyn eyed off someone who had arrived just as late as she had, Daniel. Also in his early twenties, she sensed something about him. He was definitely someone to add to her list of must meet in the next 48 hours, but what peaked her curiosity the most, was not being sure how he had managed to waltz in so late in the semester when it had taken her so much effort. She watched him sitting there looking so astute, serious and taking notes as Zara continued addressing her class. He was curious. She tried to read his face, his stoic expression and slightly tired looking grey eyes. He had seen some difficult times, Keterlyn decided. What a shame, almost, to have someone so appealing feel weighed down by something in his life. Still, she reasoned, that might make him a viable option for targeting. Essentially, if curiosity was not something she could appeal to, Keterlyn wasn't above bribing people to join their group with money, fame, health, or love. Those were the front contenders, but unless someone was in some kind of emotional pain, or just plain greedy enough, bribery didn't hold water for the long run.

Speaking of, the anthropology lecturer, raised her voice to draw the attention of Jake who had been watching Ashleigh with a painfully pining look in his eye. Clearly he had been lost in thought about her, and a flush rose in his cheeks at the attention the lecturer brought towards him. It was no secret that Jake had been interested in Ashleigh for some time, but being the shy and slightly insecure type, coupled with the social pressures of Ashleigh being in the cheerleading squad and thereby perceivably unattainable except by the social elite, Jake had yet to act on his wants. Zara's uninvited attention to his gawking had caused Ashleigh to notice of course. With a friend giggling beside her and jotting something on paper, Ashleigh had simply smiled back at him and given Jake a cheeky wink. Jake went a marginally deeper shade of crimson in response, and looked diligently at his notebook.

Keterlyn smiled to herself as the bell went and there was a flurry of scattering people picking up books and bags as they fled through the two lecture hall doors at the top of the steep incline towards the back of the room. Micala, who had been waiting outside in the hall, caught up with Keterlyn, heading straight for her as soon as she spotted her. In her wake followed a demure looking, thin girl with a shock of bright red curls and green eyes.

Almost without any greeting, Micala launched into introductions. "This is my friend Molly I was telling you about. She used to be in like a coven before she moved here." Micala had taken an avid interest in setting up this full moon ritual with Keterlyn. So much so, she was continually on the hunt for prospective members to introduce Keterlyn to. At first, Keterlyn being Keterlyn, she had been highly suspicious, but Micala liked to talk, and in her constant ramblings, Keterlyn had become aware of a few points about her newfound comrade.

Micala had grown up the daughter of a well known business man who was perpetually busy. Her mother had been equally well known as a mid range model for a successful clothing line, but after having Micala, and as she aged, moved in to lesser known brand shampoo commercials and eventually began investing her time and money into eco-friendly initiatives and charitable campaigns. Following a much unmentioned affair her father had, Micala had ended up trying to make her own unique mark for herself by incorporating what she felt was the best of both her parents – the conservationist and the entrepreneur. How aware Micala was of it, Keterlyn wasn't exactly sure, however the toll of hearing about how her mother's life had changed post Micala was evident in that although it wasn't expressly mentioned that Micala was to blame for her mother's downturn in career, her loss of social status and the seemingly inevitable affair brought about through her mother's neuroticism, and her father's ethical failings, the insinuation that things had 'changed' was enough to leave Micala with a slightly unhealthy insecurity she fought with abandon to hide from others and ignore in herself. Keterlyn then had become in a very short span of time Micala's pseudo mother figure whom Micala was currently working overtime to please.

Keterlyn rewarded Micala's latest effort to find people for her ritual with a well earned look of pride. Keterlyn almost wished she could tell Micala why she needed these people, why twelve exactly, but all things in good time. Extending a hand out to Molly, Molly grabbed it back, giving one formal shake before retreating back to clutching books to her chest. Molly looked as serious as they came. Staunch, tight lipped and an ever present accusing eye roaming over the people passing them by. When she spoke though, Molly had a lush, rich voice that instantly won over Keterlyn.

"I hear you are putting together a full moon celebration." Molly began.

"I am." Keterlyn replied.

"Cool, I miss the coven in my home town, but there hasn't been anything decent around here for me so far. I'm looking forward to it. If you need help calling the quarters, I'm your girl."

Keterlyn fought smiling on the off chance Molly might find amusement displeasing in others. Her intensity even beat Diana's, but only, Keterlyn supposed, because Molly could easily pull off glamour queen over Emo, and at least with Emos, Grunge-ers or Goths you could see it coming. Keterlyn decided keeping it brief now would be a good thing for later. "I'll keep that in mind Molly." Another one down.

In an unexpected about turn, Molly gave Micala a sudden smile, bright teeth glinting behind her blush rose lips. "Great. See you then - Ciao Micala." With that Molly departed and Keterlyn and Micala walked together down the corridor.

"What's her story?" Keterlyn queried.

"She is a little intense." Smiled Micala. "I'm not sure but once you know her and she can tell what's going on with you, she seems to be a little more...."

"Amicable?" offered up Keterlyn.

Micala nodded. "And a little less...."

"Asinine?" finished Keterlyn causing Micala to bump her shoulder into Keterlyn.

"I was going to say staunch." clarified Micala. "How was class?" she redirected. "Zara is amazing isn't she."

"She knows her material, that's for sure." Keterlyn added to the conversation.

"It's been so great having someone else who is taking this class to actually learn something. One of these days I'll have to get you to tell me about how you got to know so much already. I swear Zara winced when you corrected her at the start of the lecture." Keterlyn hadn't meant to of course, but Zara had referenced something regarding the timelines for the Moorish invasion of Spain that had seen her dates mixed up. On automatic pilot, distracted by taking in those persons around her, Keterlyn had mumbled under her breath the correction. Zara had taken note and quickly corrected herself, however the apparently random piece of knowledge had earned Keterlyn more that a few impressed looks amongst her classmates.

As they walked in pleasant discussion, Daniel rushed past Keterlyn, accidentally brushing past her and pushing her out of the way. When his shoulder made contact Keterlyn received an electric shock, like static only worse. She rubbed her shoulder in response, recognizing the feeling well.

Also bothered by the electric shock, Daniel held his arm, and half looking back at Keterlyn, he made a near inaudible sound that resembled an apology, as he continued walking ahead of her and Micala.

Micala, being the verbal equivalent of an inner monologue called after him. "How rude! Who does he think he is doing that – just pushing past!"

Rebecca, a quiet girl, not quite 19 yet leaned forwards from behind them, voicing concern in a hushed tone. "Hey don't insult him – he just got released from jail – for killing someone no less."

Keterlyn and Micala turned their attention to Rebecca. Keterlyn had met her once at the library where Rebecca had been immersed in researching the paranormal. Micala didn't know it yet, but Rebecca had been her first recruit for the ritual.

Keterlyn couldn't help but smile. "Killing someone? He only looks like he's twenty."

"He just got out of Juvie." Rebecca insisted. It could be true reasoned Keterlyn. Juvenile detention and parole might explain why he had been let in so late in to the semester. Maybe someone had brokered him an opportunity to be busy when he was released. Something else to think about. Regardless, she had to meet him now. The only other times she had felt that spark of a connection was when people were already working on developing their natural gifts of the seemingly unnatural. Missing a heart beat, Keterlyn wondered how much success he had already experienced in using his skills.

Micala clearly didn't have the time of day for Rebecca. It made sense. Something had happened earlier in the year that had made Rebecca a social outcast, and Micala couldn't help but respond negatively to her. "You would know I suppose, you do see dead people – maybe the ghosts of his victims came back to tell you their stories."

An indignant Rebecca glared at Micala. "Fine, don't believe me, go insult him some more." At least Keterlyn knew something now about Rebecca being ostracized. Before she had a chance to defend Rebecca, the girl was gone leaving a smug Micala behind her.

"Dead people?" asked Keterlyn hoping for elaboration.

Keterlyn got her explanation. "She got wasted at a party last semester," expanded Micala. "She ended up freaked out saying she was seeing dead people around her. Since then she's been stuck with everyone reminding her."

"Hmm. I think she might still be under the influence, he doesn't look like a killer to me." Keterlyn put forward.

"You seem interested in him. You want his email?" Micala had a knowing tone to her voice that made Keterlyn chuckle on the inside. This girl thought she knew so much.

No use denying it, thought Keterlyn, though her interest wasn't for the same reason Micala surmised. "You happen to have it handy?"

"No but I know a guy who knows a guy..."

"Don't worry – I have my own sources." Keterlyn announced before moving on to another topic. No need to worry about Daniel. She would find him later, and in the meanwhile she had a few others to meet and confirm the get together. Full moon was just around the corner. Three nights before she had to have everyone lined up, and so far she only had Micala, Rebecca, Zara, Molly, Anise, Diana and William. Five people still remained outstanding and she had her eyes on Jake, Ashleigh, and Daniel tonight and tomorrow as well as a girl named Lily. Lily worked the local bar where she happened to be meeting Anise tonight. That would just leave one more to find and seal the deal before the full moon.

At the bar, Keterlyn waited patiently to order her drinks as the post lecture five thirty throng of students crammed the place from door to door. The Est. as the name above the door identified it was a medium sized, student – oriented locale with dark wooden furniture, orange and beige walls and an array of license plates posted up on the walls by graduating students. It had become a right of passage for the college, and the owners had jumped right on board. Keterlyn watched Lily as she waited. Lily was another who interested Keterlyn, and Keterlyn had done her research. Lily had graduated high school 18 months early and been granted a scholarship. Lily also had passed up on said scholarship however, mainly due to the fact she cared for her mother during the day while her father worked, and tended bar at night for extra cash. Lily's mother had been in a particularly bad car accident just 14 months ago, and when it became clear that they would have to move to accommodate the wheelchair and access ongoing medical assistance, they had sold the house and moved nearby. Goodbye scholarship, because there was no way the family could afford either a nurse, or a tertiary education for Lily. Putting two and two together, Lily, now only just eighteen had opted to miss out on the key to a better life in order to care for her mother and relieve her father to work days at the local processing plant. She was brilliant though, hence the scholarship, but furthermore, Lily exuded a confident, self contentment that Keterlyn almost couldn't resist. She had given up so much, yet didn't regret it, did not resent it. Lily was just a kind person with a sense of honor and duty. Keterlyn couldn't wait to see what she could do with what she could give her.

Rounding the corner, Lily came up to Keterlyn, who smiled pleasantly back at Lily. "Hi Lily, I'll have three vodka Red Bulls."

Lily looked slightly surprised. "Do I know you?"

Keterlyn stole a glance at the tattoos that snaked their way around Lily's body. A delicate lily flower curved around her upper arm and a Chinese dragon peeked out from under her singlet shirt and over her shoulder. Her blond hair was pulled back in a ponytail that gave the definition of her face clarity. That and the dark eyeliner which showcased her blue eyes caused Keterlyn to be almost envious of her.

"We haven't met, but I'm hoping I can help you with your deepest, darkest." Keterlyn knew Lily would appreciate her candor.

Keterlyn slid a flyer over to Lily, the same she had opted to place around the campus. 'Full Moon Circle, Don't Dream it Do it!" The flyer read. The details of the time and place followed the title. Lily took a quick glance, smiled like Keterlyn was a kook, and repeated. "Red Bull and Vodka times three."

Lily left to accomplish the task and as she waited for her drinks, Keterlyn let her attention be drawn over to the pool tables in the far right of the bar. Daniel was there with two non college friends, one of whom was clearly winning the game and looking smug. There was a sudden cheer and Daniel, looking chivalrous in his defeat, headed to the bar a few people down from where Keterlyn sat.

He was served much faster than she had, by the six foot two bartender who wore a white Calvin Klien shirt just tight enough to make the college girls sigh as they waited for their drinks. By the time Keterlyn was given her drinks and left a $50.00 note on the table so Lily could pocket the ample tip, Daniel was just balancing three beers in his hands. "Keep the change Keterlyn said and she left the note purposefully on the flyer. Lily looked after Keterlyn inquisitively but she had already left, set on a path to intercept Daniel as he headed back towards the pool table.

Keterlyn cleared her throat and summoned confidence. "I know you. You're the guy who ploughs into women in the corridor." As the words left her lips she could feel the warmth creep up her neck and face. Almost one and a half thousand years old and she could still look like an amateur when it came to introducing herself to males. She willed the moment to still, but of course she couldn't do that for real yet.

Daniel stood partially open mouthed as though he was tying very hard to tell if Keterlyn had made a joke, or meant it as it sounded. After what felt like an eternity to Keterlyn a faint curve of his lips was evident. "Excuse me?"

Basting in mortification, she stammered to save the interaction. "That absolutely came out wrong."

Still smirking, Daniel nodded in acknowledgement. "I am actually glad to hear that."

"Shit. Usually I am a lot more competent than that." she apologised.

"Start again?" he offered, smiling broadly now. "I'm Daniel." He looked different to this afternoon. More upbeat, more engaging, more appealing than she remembered.

"I'm Caitlin."

"Nice meeting you Caitlin, but I have to go – I'm in the middle of a game and I have to redeem myself." Daniel motioned behind him towards the table. Keterlyn glanced over to see his two friends waiting impatiently.

Thrown by her own sudden loss of social skills, Keterlyn was all too happy to part. "Sure, sorry. See you around." With that. Keterlyn left, holding her drinks and shaking her head at her own behaviour as she approached the table that had Will and Anise sitting at it.

Daniel cast a brief look at Keterlyn before getting involved with his friends again, and picked up the pool cue as soon as he left the drinks on the table.

Keterlyn sat herself next to Anise, a young dark haired Indian girl, dressed in name labels and brandishing a face well maintained by a team of skin professionals. She came from money, she didn't apologise for it, and cared less for people who mentioned her well off background. Attending college had been an expectation for her family but also an essential component of her ongoing financial support by them. In fact, as recently as today, her aunt and uncle had been in her ear complaining bitterly of her lack of commitment, her sense of privilege and entitlement , as well as making it clear her boyfriend Will was an unacceptable choice for her. Will, like her however was the one thing she truly did care about, and Anise wasn't about to give him up. He understood how she longed for her parents company, how growing up with pseudo parents left a space for her that remained unfulfilled until she met him, and how his adoring and uncompromising love made her feel like she had already accomplished everything she needed to. Anise did however still recognize that in order to gain access to her family wealth she would have to meet certain criteria, so attending school, obtaining a degree was one of those steps. Anise was far from superficial, though to the casual onlooker she did appear to be. She cared about the environment, business and competition, market shares and of course Will's happiness. As much as he doted upon her, she wanted to take care of him the same way. She wanted Will to never have to worry about anything, so the two of them could be blissfully and ridiculously in love, happily ever after, and quite frankly, she didn't think that was all too much to ask for.

Will held her hand even as Keterlyn slid the drink across the table towards Anise. The two of them nearly always touched eachother, and Will didn't care what other people said. Since he met Anise, he had known she was the only thing precious to him, wth his own and his brother's life a close second. If people made comments about him holding her hand, wrapping his arm around her, he simply shot them a look that said Yep, she's mine, and I'm the luckiest bastard on earth, and I know you wish you had this, to which there were very few who would continue to be a thorn in his side. Those who did he simply cut out, a skill he had learned a long time ago.

"So we're all on for Friday night then?" Keterlyn confirmed.

"Of course!" Anise replied eagerly. "Did you get enough people?"

"Not yet, I'm still short, but I'm working on it. It can work with less, but I prefer 13 – I'm a traditionalist." While Keterlyn spoke, Will kissed Anise's fingers and Keterlyn had to fight the urge to roll her eyes. It was sweet, but love like that just didn't last forever.

"I am so excited. My first witches meeting." Anise could hardly contain herself, actually jumping up and down on the seat.

"I haven't seen you this worked up in months." remarked Will.

"It's exciting don't you think Will? So different. A full moon ritual. I can't wait."

"Then I can't wait." Will said and Anise leaned into him, he kissing her in response.

Keterlyn sipped her drink and looked over towards Daniel as much out of curiosity as to have something else less gushy to look at. Keterlyn almost longed for the restrictions placed on emotional displays and touching that dogged the Victorian era.

Keterlyn had spent a little longer on staring at Daniel than she had expected though. Anise's voice drew her back to the table at hand. "You aren't thinking of asking him are you? I heard..."

"I know, I heard too. Fact is, I still need more people." Keterlyn confessed.

"If you are considering Daniel, you should ask Abel. He certainly is desperate enough to try anything." Will chimed in.

Keterlyn frowned. "I don't know him."

"He was some rising star footballer they took on last year. Word is he is losing his scholarship, and that's all he has keeping him away from a lifetime of working behind the register of some small town burger shop." Anise added.

Keterlyn turned her attention back to Will. "So you think he'll come if you ask?"

Will made an unsure expression. "I can ask. He's tried every psych trick and protein concoction in the book so far. I'll catch him in the morning."

Keterlyn considered she may have sold William short. He was astute, wiley, street smart as well as book smart. That was a difficult combination to achieve. In his spare time Will, William, tried to fix his car which should have been on the condemned list when he first bought it, but which, aside from the frequent break downs, actually had been brought back from the brink of death. When he wasn't studying, and wasn't spending time adoring Anise, he worked at a local garage for cash and parts. Will had also been one of the few white foster boys in the area he had grown up in for the last few years until he turned 18 and realized he had no plan or place to be.

Although his foster parents had taught him the basics, his older foster brother Tempe had been the one to guide him, and Tempe, standup guy that he was, had never had a plan. He had wished he had one, and at times he had even believed that he did until he realized otherwise, but again Tempe had difficulty with the follow through, because really, no one had ever shown him how. William had always looked to Tempe for support, so when he turned 18 and was asked where he was moving out to the following week, with no plan and no ties, William had joined Tempe just in time to save him from losing the rental unit Tempe had been holed up in. Now the two brothers had managed to stabilize eachother, Will had started studying and with Anise, there wasn't a lot of down time for the two to get in each other's way. Both still managed to get into equal measure of trouble though.

Whereas Tempe carried himself to meet his six foot built build, laboured long hours during the day, and only had to give a stern look to silence a man, he also had a tendency to enjoy female company. Many mornings he had woken up to Will asking who the latest conquest was, only to barely recall the night before. Tempe never meant harm though, and reveled in the chance to connect with people. He spent so much time shutting off to those who called him family over the years, people who had lied and manipulated him, and those who he worked with and expected him to act a certain way because of his large size and tough look. It had become an art, and it took people to be as close as Will to really know him.

To the contrary, William carried his heart on his sleeve, and got carried away on a whim, most lately drag racing to the detriment of his license. Now, William was dependent on Tempe for pick ups and drop offs for the next six months, a situation William resented, and Tempe endured – barely. William's similar experiences with a string of poor interpersonal relationships with parental figures and peers meant he was suited to take in good stride Tempe's variable moods.

Daniel walked past drawing Keterlyn's attention again and the three at the table finished up their drinks. Exiting into the brisk night air, Anise and Will stepped to the curb awaiting Tempe to give them a lift home. Keterlyn took a step down the road. "You're waiting for your ride?" she asked.

Will obliged by answering. "Yeah, he'll be here in a minute. Need a lift Caitlin?"

Keterlyn shook her head. "Nah, I'm going to visit a friend before I get home." Walking down the street and into the fog, Keterlyn was looking forward to the rest of the night, and regaining some even ground.

# Chapter 4

At the end of a winding road that led to the top of a tall hill, Daniel sat on the hood of his car, listening to the radio. The sky, clear and sparkling with stars held his pensive gaze over the town below.

"You here with all your friends?" Keterlyn asked, appearing out of nowhere behind him. In fact, Keterlyn had been watching him for about fifteen minutes, trying to gauge what he might have been thinking about. After coming to terms that mind reading wasn't in her MO, now, or when she could fully use her power, she had decided it was time to announce herself.

Daniel turns surprised. "Where did you come from?"

Confidently, Keterlyn closed the distance between them. "I'm back to redeem myself." she said as aloof as possible as she hopped on the hood of the car next to Daniel. She stared straight ahead and found a relaxed position for her body before continuing. Daniel simply looked her over with mirth. "Did you know that in medieval times a true gentleman would never have let me make a fool of myself like that. He would have jumped in with some prose or gallant gesture."

Fighting amused surprise Daniel struggled to keep a straight face, and racked his mind to counter her with something equally abstract and meaningless. He refrained from letting any hint of smugness enter his voice. "Did you know that in medieval times some women would pluck their hairline to make their foreheads seem larger."

Keterlyn had in fact not recalled that. Surprised she gave a "Huh." Before resuming her silent stare ahead. Daniel smiled at her momentary silence. "Well, plucking aside, I miss the medieval era. I always felt most comfortable there." she announced.

Daniel looked at Keterlyn with confusion etched on his brow. Keterlyn was testing him. It wasn't as if she would make that kind of mistake, but she wanted to know what his reactions would be like. In every group she brought together, every coven, for lack of a better tem to describe it, there was always one she trusted above the rest. One who could understand her more so, and someone she could confide everything in. Last time it was Marianne. Marianne had played the role of best friend to Keterlyn, then older cousin, then, as the years went by, Marianne eventually played the role of her mother in society's eyes. Keterlyn didn't need to do this of course, but she felt it kept her grounded, connected. While the last coven hadn't been told what exactly would be coming for them in the dark once the circle was ended, Marianne had known.

Keterlyn sensed now that Daniel would be her confident, the person to trust with it all. This time though, she decided after a few years, she would tell the others as well. It was only fair they knew the real stakes - eventually.

In spite of her dropping the fact she had lived in the middle ages though, Keterlyn was not about to have a deep and meaningful honest discussion about the details here and now. She just wanted to take good measure of how he reacted. Clearly, he reacted in good stride. Logic, not tricks then to connect with him.

Daniel didn't bother hiding the amusement in his voice this time. "You miss the era? That was a long time ago. I think you missed the boat by a few hundred years or so."

Keterlyn compensated for the 'slip up'. "I used to work a live village... We did all kinds of recreations... It was fun. It's weird, I know."

Daniel smiled. He had a nice smile she thought. One she could get used to over the years. White teeth peeking out from his lips, giving away a part of himself he would normally be switching off in the interests of keeping up a façade.

"Trust me, I know weird, you ain't it." was all he said. So he was in touch with his inner power Keterlyn deduced. Everyone had it, but few could actually use it properly and a few more were aware of it. Knowing the force of what was within was often too much for people to accept and resulted in a range of neuroses, denials, and acting out behaviours. Daniel was aware of his inner 'weirdness' she was certain, but if nothing else tonight, she would push and see if he could tell her that he had used it. That would give her enough information to know how to proceed.

"I'll take that bet." Keterlyn pauses before continuing, and relaxing back against the car. "Tell me something you've never told anyone else."

"What so you can tell one of your lackey friends and brand me?"

"You care what my lackey friends think do you? I just want to get to know you better."

"Why?" he asked suspiciously.

Keterlyn put on a fake superficial quality to her voice. "I'm new, you're new," she joked, but then seriousness crept back in. "Besides I don't think you are exactly what people say you are. I figure though, what with the kind of lies and gossip flying around about you, no one's taken the time to actually talk to you."

Daniel took a few thoughtful moments. "Something I've never told someone else huh."

Keterlyn's excitement grew, knowing he was going to comply. Tonight he would tell her what she wanted to know if to do nothing else but test her. "And something worthwhile. Go for gold, I don't scare easily."

"You heard I just got out of jail right. You know what the offence was?"

Keterlyn feigned boredom. "Murder, but I don't know...you don't seem the killing type."

"It's true, I killed my dad." Daniel paused clearly waiting for the shock to sink in.

"I'm sure you had very good reasons." Keterlyn replied, secretly delighted at the surprised look on Daniel's face. Shock turned to cynical very quickly though.

"My reasons?" Daniel asked doubtfully. "Are you one of those people who gets off on bad boys, always looking for the next greatest thrill."

"No. I definitely don't fit that category, but I do feel I have to point out that you telling me this hardly qualifies as some thing no one knows though. So test me."

"Test you?" Daniel sounded taken aback. "OK." he proceeded cautiously. "I did it, I killed him, no question, but I never touched him. All I did was think it. I was cleaning up this vase that broke when I saw him standing outside. He was leaning over the pool."

"That bastard. He clearly had it coming." interjected Keterlyn knowing it would have the effect of lightening the moment and prompting him to continue to prove his point.

"You don't understand. There he was, after he put my mum in hospital, cleaning the pool like it was a regular Sunday afternoon you know. I hated him. So I put my hand on the window and I let it creep up inside me, I imagined him slipping, drowning. I didn't even realize it was actually happening until the glass broke under my hand." Daniel it seemed had used telekenesis then. That meant he was strong, stronger than Marianne had been. Perhaps he could even be able to channel all the gifts Keterlyn could bestow. "I still hate him." Daniel said more calmly, looking at the paintwork between his feet. Waiting for ridicule, waiting for her to run. "So go ahead and tell me I don't fall into the crazy category."

"That's a lot to hold on to Daniel." Keterlyn extended. "Did you say you did it?"

"Yes. I called the police and I told them."

"Why? You could have walked away." Keterlyn already knew the answer. Justice, honesty, concepts she sorely missed in herself most days.

"Because...I did it, doesn't matter how. And I scared the shit out of myself."

"Did it help? Being honest like that."

"No."

"What did your mother say?" she probed.

With poorly guarded resentment Daniel looked away. "Nothing. She did nothing, said nothing. You know what that's like?"

He hit a nerve and Keterlyn squirmed uncontrollably inside. "As a matter of fact I do."

Looking back at her neutral expression, Daniel regarded her curiously. "You're right – you don't scare easy do you?"

"Told you. Besides, all you told me is you have a strong connection to your natural gifts, your talent."

Daniel laughed out loud. Keterlyn liked the sound. It suited him more than the brooding seriousness she had seen in the halls of the school earlier that day. Or the day before really, given it was in the early hours of the next day. "My natural gifts?" he mocked playfully.

Keterlyn remained calm and unresponsive. "We all have them. Just some are more attuned than others. Don't let it frighten you. You control it. I'll show you how."

Daniel took a second take, all boundaries down as he screwed up his face in perplexion. "I thought you were a history major." He said eventually, trying to determine what exactly she had meant. He evidently thought she was pushing his buttons and he meant to bounce back the pressure.

"I am, I just have ....other interests as well. And how did you know I was a history major anyway? Been asking around about me?" There was an awkward pause Keterlyn saved him from. "That's so sweet."

"What about you?" Daniel jumped in, puffing out his chest more confidently.

Keterlyn smiled. "What about me?"

"Don't play. What's some deep dark secret you never told someone before?"

"Ah, I don't have a lot of secrets, not really ones no one knows." Keterlyn was brutally honest most of the time, but that didn't strike a chord with Daniel.

"There has to be something."

"I'm tired..." Keterlyn indicated, and she moved to hop off the bonnet intending to make a timely get away. Daniel caught her arm instead though. Her skin wouldn't shock in response again, but she felt something like a current which stopped her from wanting to move away from the car. Daniel must have felt it as well because he gave an inquisitive glance towards his hand.

"Tired isn't a secret, it's a byproduct of three AM in the morning!" Daniel joked. "C'mon. You owe me a story. And don't hold back. Test me!"

Keterlyn weighed the consequences. "What if I told you something no one has heard in a lifetime? That do?"

Clearly thinking it was a game, Daniel relented. "That would qualify."

Taking a breath, Keterlyn confessed. "I'm a 1,450 year old witch, whose immortal soul has been damned because I married a demon."

Daniel looked unimpressed. "Fine don't tell me. Make fun of me."

"Can't say I didn't warn you." Keterlyn said in a sing song voice before she leaned over and quickly kissed Daniel on the cheek before rolling off the car. "I had better be going. See ya." Keterlyn looked back at Daniel and instantly wished she hadn't. Daniel had an infatuated look on his face as he stared at her retreating towards the tree line. He jumped off the car and called after her.

"Wait, I'll give you a lift."

"No need. Thanks." Keterlyn said it smiling but inside she was grappling with the fact she had sent out the wrong messages. She shouldn't have kissed him. Now there would be the ride home, the 'can I see you again' conversation to which what was she supposed to say? Sure, love to. Let's go someplace you can give me a cover for the next 60 years or so. You can pretend to be some distant relation to me, and I can use you as a human shield until you're to old, or slip up and make a mistake! If he felt romantically inclined, he would want to do more than share her time, and that led to complications. She had tried it before 550 years ago and it had ended in the boy being turned inside out. Not that it was likely to happen again now she knew what she was doing, and certainly not once Daniel was in the coven, but still. There was a risk.

Daniel opened a door for her even as she walked away. "It will take you an hour just to walk down this hill. Let me take you home." Daniel still stared after her, enthralled and waiting for her to skip back so he could give her a lift home. Instinctively he knew she wouldn't, but he could hope. He also didn't want to leave her out in the woods, trudging down a steep embankment at three AM in the morning. By the time he walked around the car, tripping on a stone as he rounded the front, she was gone, not unexpectedly.

Keterlyn could hear Daniel through the bushes calling for her by her fake name. "Caitlin! Caitlin!" but instead of turning around, which to be honest was what her instincts were telling her to do, she proceeded on, sliding down an embankment confidently to disappear home. A short while later as she stealthily picked her way through the trees by the road, she heard his car driving slowly past looking for her. "Where are you?" she heard him say to himself. She sighed. In purgatory she thought to herself.

The next day, back in Zara's lecture theatre, Keterlyn had come in late on purpose, to queried looks by Micala. Keterlyn took a desk half way down the theatre and a long way back from where Daniel was. Distance was good. She made eye contact though as she was checking where he was and he had smiled back at her, that same damned look on his face. Yes, distance was good. No more sneaking off for midnight rendezvous. Even if she wanted to. Clearly, he wouldn't be the one she should make that bond with, because it wasn't going to be that simple. Really she should have known. Men and women were not notoriously well known for being able to be friends without the baggage.

Daniel, must have been reading her thoughts, because he had this smug unfurling of confidence. 'Caitlin' was embarrassed to look at him. At first he had thought maybe he shouldn't have been so honest, should have lied and given her a different deep dark secret she had asked for, but she had taken it so well. Looking at her now, he was suddenly certain that she had simply reverted back to some safe place where she didn't have to deal with the reality of last night. She liked him, he had felt it in the current like sensation when he took her arm, when she had kissed him, when she had looked in his eyes and spoken to him like a human being. That was something he didn't often get, even with the so called friends he played pool with. Anyone who knew about him, and it seemed like everyone did, was full of tentative conversation and made an active effort to walk on eggshells around him. Not Keterlyn. He needed to get to know her better, and he had found the perfect option this morning.

Determined, Daniel picked up his books and bag and made a less than ninja-esque attempt to escape his desk. The lecturer ran a scolding set of eyes at him as she continued to address the students, and when Keterlyn saw him move, she ducked her head down. Why after so many centuries was she acting like a teenager. The answer occurred to her but she dismissed it anxiously.

Tripping over two desks and finally arriving on the other side of the lecture theatre, Daniel took a seat directly behind Keterlyn, who had decided to suck it up and pretend everything was fine. Her heart was beating as normal, not at all like the first time she had to face a clan of shadow people when Lormorian had dragged her into their home camp to force her in to killing something. Breath in, breath out, she said to herself. Be nonchalant.

"Hey." Whispered Daniel, clearly ignoring her attempt at detachment.

"Hey." Keterlyn responded as neutrally as possible and with the least amount of attention. She took a note she didn't need to in her book and stared ahead.

"I thought you and I might do something tonight." Daniel offered. She winced, knowing this was going to happen. Both Micala and Rebecca gave her puzzled looks from their respective positions across the room. Keterlyn had to fight the sudden urge to laugh out loud in a bout of misdirected anxious emotion.

"I think that might be a mistake Daniel." Was all she said to try and retain her solidarity.

"I can be persistent." he responded almost immediately.

"Daniel. Are you with us?" Zara's incensed voice resounded through the room even without the microphone.

Daniel made a surrender sign with his hands before passing Keterlyn a folded piece of paper over her shoulder. She thought twice about opening it up. She imagined turning it in to ashes in her fingers so she didn't go down the path it offered, but instead, she opened it up. If she didn't respond positively to what was inside, she could set the scales in balance again. He might not want to follow her into a moonlight ritual, but then, there were other people. Best candidate or not, there were less complex relationships to manage.

As soon as she read the note she felt like that child in the woods with her aunt. She bit her lip and couldn't help but smile. The note read: Prose was your request, and my ego and mind make wrest. I plead for time, both yours and mine, so at your leisure, I would steal you away for your pleasure.

Keterlyn folded the note back up trying to think of something sensible to say. Something the opposite of what she wanted to. There were no happily ever afters for her, she knew that, and time spent with her meant there would be none for him either.

Daniel interpreted her hesitation perfectly. He licked his lips nervously and leaned forward admitting guiltily his schoolboy nervousness. "What do you say? Corny I know but you can't say I didn't try."

Zara snapped finally at the interruption to her lecture. "Daniel. Stop now before I make you stay back and help catalogue random field note diaries. Remember, if you're here past ten there is a good chance you'll get stuck on the bus with Shawn the creepy. Nothing like a random stranger with bug eyes breathing down your neck to round out an evening. You look like you have other things you would rather do."

The rest of the students laughed quietly and Zara resumed her lecture.

Pushing the boundary, Daniel pressed on. "Come out with me Caitlin." Zara cast a gorgon like look at him and Keterlyn used it as an excuse to surrender.

"Okay, Okay, Seven O'Clock, outside the library."

"Excellent." Enthused Daniel leaning back in his chair triumphant.

A short while later the bell rang and Zara called Daniel to the lecture podium for a chastising. Keterlyn escaped before Micala or Rebecca could reach her. The great Keterlyn running and hiding from a bunch of college brats. Lor would laugh his guts out if he knew.

Keterlyn didn't answer her phone and proceeded throughout the day in a vague haze until around six thirty when she finally had to pick something to wear and commit. On the eve of the most important event in a lifetime here she was worrying over what to wear. In essence though, she reasoned with herself, she did not have enough time to find another person. The ritual was tomorrow night, Will had managed to get his friend Able, the football guy, to commit to coming, so if Daniel agreed, she would have her twelve participants. Tonight could just be a friendly venture and a way of ensuring she got the last person she needed for tomorrow.

By the time Keterlyn reached the library, Daniel was already out the front, car ticking away. Hopping in the front seat, they talked about Zara's class, the stats teacher's rumoured checkered past, Daniel's interest in the philosophical writings of Adorno to Cixous. Conversation eventually drifted towards Zara's comments about 'Shawn the creepy'. Having been too busy with her own focus, Keterlyn had yet to find out what he was all about. Daniel, although not wanting to find out, had been told anyway.

"Shawn the creepy" began Daniel melodramatically. "He's this strange guy who has been catching the bus that runs past the campus every night about ten at night. He never speaks, but he will come and sit next to you when you aren't looking and .."

"So he leaves his seat, and takes on behind you? Does he pass notes too?" Keterlyn referenced Daniel's behaviour and made him frown. She grinned at how easy he was to erk.

"Unlike Shawn the creepy, I had a reason" explained Daniel. "Shawn also tends to come up behind people and breath down their neck, his googly eyes poking out. If people confront him he makes this weird chipmunk like purring sound." Daniel shuddered.

"He got you too didn't he?" laughed Keterlyn.

Daniel made an uncomfortable face as he recalled the event. "I actually fell asleep. Woke up with his arms either side of my seat with his hands in my pockets, just resting them on my stomach. Nothing, y'know....nasty...just..."

"Creepy."

"Yes." Daniel admitted as they pulled into a busy parking area. There was music and people wandering about in Roman togas, others in jester outfits and a few with wreaths on their heads holding long veils in place. Keterlyn sat forward as she saw a sign for the event.

"A Medieval Fayre?" she said with disbelief in her voice.

"Next best thing to time travel. I would have told you but I wanted it to be a surprise, plus you might have done something weird to your hairline and didn't I want to be responsible for that." Daniel said parking the car and getting out.

"At least it sounds like I'd have a friend in Shawn the creepy." Keterlyn batted back as she followed him around. Daniel bent his arm in a mock chivalrous gesture. "M'Lady." Keterlyn couldn't help but smile and took his arm.

Inside, the event was well underway and filled with stall after stall of goods, re-enactments, foods and events. People everywhere were dressed in their best and worst costumes drinking mead if they had adult tickets, or ye olde softdrink, if they were underaged. Corn on the cob, hand held lamb shanks and event staff posing as historical figures were rife and Keterlyn took the sensations in eagerly. Daniel was less interested in the surroundings, but made a note to visit the Mythical Animals tent for a kick and learned how to prep a pig on a spit because Keterlyn was so interested.

A short time later, they watched a Saxon battle re-enactment, with Keterlyn's awe of the clanging weaponry pulling him in further to her intrigue. When one of the re-enactors walked past in full breast plate armor, and caused her to look after him with interest, it casued a small jealous ripple within him.

"Hear ye, hear ye." Called the events presenter. "Any one of you puny city dwellers think you can take on the Black Knight, line up for punishment." Daniel was off like a shot. Juvenile as it was, he was just as keen to see what it was like to fight in the pit like the others he just watched, as much as he had a vested interest in impressing Keterlyn. He was well aware though, this could backfire horribly.

Keterlyn protested when she saw the glint in his eye. She knew how heavy the armor was, how sluggish the weapons and didn't want him proving a point.

"Daniel. Don't do it. It's going to hurt like hell. Come back!" she called.

Having fun with it, Daniel continued walking backwards with three other guys who had faced up to the challenge.

"Wait for me my fair maid." he called laughing at himself as he turned to meet the instructor and get suited up. Keterlyn shook her head and bustled through the crowd to find a better spot to watch Daniel get beaten into the ground. The four overly cocky men, all suited up and armed with blunt swords made self bolstering comments to their friends, along with varying misplaced 'agrr' pirate sounds that Keterlyn had to fight not to laugh over. Daniel stood in the middle of the pit with the same self assured smile on his face. The same smile was wiped from all their faces when they saw the Black Knight.

Seven foot tall if he was an inch, the Black Knight's armor shone across every inch on his body compared to the feeble breast plates and leg and arm braces they had. Launching into the attack, one man didn't even get his shield up in time to deflect being hit in the 'kill zone' they had been taught to tap with their swords to indicate a victory. The other three, including Daniel scattered. Two were taken out in the next 60 seconds, unused to maneuvering in the heavy armor and uneven terrain. One held his shield with both hands, even dropping the sword in an effort to hold the shield above his head and avoid being hit. Daniel ran in to help the guy on the ground and knocked the Knight who swung back at him. Dodging two swings, Daniel fell backwards to the ground and dropped his shield in an effort to move out of the way of the swinging blade faster. Slipping in the mud, Daniel tried to kick the Knight's feet from under him. The other man still standing rushed the Knight from the back, but was tapped across the chest in a deft movement from the Knight. Looking down at Daniel, the Knight rose his hands upwards clasped around the sword, and just as he was about to plunge the sword down signifying Daniel's make believe death, Keterlyn closed her eyes and made a wish.

"Fall" was all she said under her breath, and the Knight seemed overcome by the weight of his own weapon, which caused him to fall back, and to the ground. Seeing the knight struggling to get up, Daniel used the opportunity to jump up and place the sword to the Knight's neck. The crown cheered and Daniel was proclaimed 'Sir Daniel' and given tokens for the Mead Bar. Practically glowing, he stumbled out a few minutes later to Keterlyn's amused and somewhat ridiculing expression.

"And how doth thou fair, Sir Daniel the brave?" she asked.

"I think I need a hospital." he owned up trying to walk without cringing in pain.

Keterlyn was laughing at Daniel examining the welts across his arms, stomach and back when behind the fire eater, Keterlyn's attention was drawn to a stall. The merchants sold bogwood artifacts, and Keterlyn on automatic pilot reached out and rolled a bogwood carved pendant in her fingers recalling the feeling of when she used to carve it herself.

Daniel, who had followed her over tried to tell what she was thinking. Keterlyn looked sad, yet so engrossed. "What is it?" he asked.

"Bogwood. I used to carve these...as a child." she answered.

"I can't tell if you're happy or not." Daniel stated.

Keterlyn wanting to be clear the bittersweet memory was one of her favourites looked up meaning to smile at him, but sensed something. She could feel a dark essence patrolling the grounds, just meters away.

Whenever she sensed another being like her, she always feared it was him – Lor. Lormorian was the reason for her suffering, he lied, he killed, he didn't care for anything or anyone he wasn't tormenting. She always dreaded he had come for her finally, before she had a chance to hide, but within a split second she knew it wasn't him. It was just a lower level being. Keterlyn started visually searching the crowds looking for some hint as to what it was she was sensing, leaving Daniel to follow her gaze, trying to see what could have startled her.

Keterlyn got the smell, the sensation of what it was. "Wraith." she remarked under her breath.

# Chapter 5

"Wraith? What?" asked Daniel.

Keterlyn spun around suddenly aware again that Daniel was with her and not as aware of things as she was. "Nothing. I need to find the bathroom. Meet me at the Mythical Animals tent?" Keterlyn ran off leaving Daniel to watch after her, more bewildered than before.

Rushing through the outskirts of the Fayre, weaving through the tents, Keterlyn knew she was drawing close. While she didn't want a showdown in front of all these people, while she was vulnerable to detection, she had to know why they were there. Were they looking for her? If not, they would want to keep their presence as quiet as she did hers so it should be a stalemate.

Keterlyn rounded a corner when a medium build man with long blonde hair, emerged in front of her. She knew as soon as she saw him. He was a wraith. Wraith were powerful beings, malevolent spirits of the dead who had practiced black magic when alive. When powerful and practiced enough, they could take over a person's body, use it as their own, either indefinitely, or for a particular job they were assigned by upper level beings.

While they stared at each other for a moment, his features darkening, another one with dark colouring and a beard appeared next to the blonde.

Keterlyn broke the silence. "You should know better than to come along to places like this, full of psychics, and half walkers who might know what you are."

The blonde advanced toward her. "What are we, half walker?" He assumed she wasn't what she was, fully capable of leveling him on any given day. Except maybe today being the last day she should have to hide in the shadows for a very long time. Bad timing. If this did end in a fight, to take care of them would mean using her power beyond what she should.

She could play, it could work to her advantage them thinking she wasn't as dangerous as she was. "You are Wraith, soulless beings that take over the living. I know what you are, and your weaknesses."

The darker Wraith responded from where he still stood. "Hard to kill people without a corporeal body you know."

"Why don't you just move along. Neither of us want the attention of the masses." Negotiating with Wraith. Not her usual tactic. Usually, she would expunge them from the body, then run before they had time to tell Lormorian where they saw her last.

"I don't think so." Added the Blonde. "We're looking for someone, but so far as killing, I don't mind taking a break to wipe a witch out." He snarled. "I hate half walkers."

Keterlyn stood her ground. "Time to go, don't say I didn't warn you. Leave the bodies, or I'll make you regret it."

Without any hesitation the blonde grabbed Keterlyn's arm meaning to push her to the ground, only she didn't move. In a stunned look back at her, the blonde inhaled sharply meaning to warn his friend. Keterlyn took hold of the blonde's arm in return and a burning blackness crept from her hand up his arm, causing him to drop to his knees in pain by the time it was scorching a path up his neck. She didn't like having to hurt the host, but it couldn't be worse than being completely taken over but something as evil as a Wraith.

The dark Wraith hissed at her. "You're no half walker."

"No I am not." She replied defiantly hoping this would be enough to send them running. It wasn't though.

The blonde grabbed her again a smile taking hold of his features. "You're Lormorian's woman." Keterlyn glared at him and kicked him away. "You are. So using your powers will be limited. I know the stories – use your magic in full, and he can find you."

When the dark Wraith plunged forward at her, Keterlyn summoned as much energy as she knew she could safely use before setting off alarm bells. She emitted a purple pulse that sent him flying to the ground. Looking unphased, both Wraith stood to their feet.

Keterlyn hesitated for a moment before taking off, running through the tents, the Wraith gaining on her. Looking about, Keterlyn picked a quiet place away from the masses, and headed there. When she felt the Wraith to be too close, she spun around, dropped to her knees and placed a hand on the earth. Muttering under her breath, hoping that the energy wouldn't be too much to give her away, the ground trembled, the earth cracking along the surface reaching towards the Wraith. As the breaking earth met with the feet of the Wraith, they were thrown backwards, bringing part of a large tent down.

Shaking, and barely able to coordinate themselves to begin with, the Wraith eventually got to their feet. As they stood, exchanging a deadly look at Keterlyn, she smiled at them. Confused, they turned around to see what she had been smiling at behind them.

Over 20 large, beer drinking strongman competitors, were busy mopping beer from their outfits, and brushing food from their laps. They had been drinking and eating in celebration of the championships earlier that day. Some infused from winning, some eager to prove their worth because they did not win, They were all angry at having been disrupted. The strongman competitors took hold of the Wraith by the shoulders.

Keterlyn looked at them defiant and pleased with herself before taking off back into the Fayre. They wouldn't be able to hurt so many mortals without drawing attention to themselves, so they would either have to take a hiding before being able to continue on, or abandon their hosts. Either way, neither of them would be bothering Keterlyn.

Keterlyn quickly caught up with Daniel who was wandering outside the tent she said she would meet him at. When he saw her he beamed.

"You're alright? I thought you ran off on me."

"Sorry, long line. Want to go for a walk?" Keterlyn quickly interlinked her arm with his and pulled him away from the ruckus coming from the Strongman Tent a short distance away. Daniel momentarily looked over his shoulder at the yelling, but then refocused on Keterlyn.

"How are the Mythical Animals?" she asked him.

"It is a mystery how they thought they could get away with charging people for that." he responded before producing a small cloth bag he handed to Keterlyn.

"What's this?" Keterlyn stopped walking as she took the bag.

"Something to remember tonight by when you decide you want nothing more to do with me." Daniel answered.

Keterlyn was devastated at the thought he was hurt. "Are you kidding, tonight's been great."

Daniel looked doubtful. "You sure, 'cause maybe it's me but I'm not all that certain you've been having a good time."

They resumed walking as Keterlyn explained, or tried. "I have really. I'm just not your typical 'OMG I'm sooo excited' type of gal."

"Thank God for that Caitlin." There was that name again. Keterlyn looked forward to being able to tell him her real name soon enough. No more shadowy business. She opened the bag and brought out a round bogwood talisman with a boar on one side. Keterlyn tenses, holding her breath as she turned it over. It couldn't be, but it looked just like the one she had carved all that time ago. Maybe it was fate giving her a sign. On the other side was an etching of a Tree of Life. She relaxed her breath and her shoulders unbunched.

"It's perfect." Mused Keterlyn as the two of them reached the edge of the Fayre and walked towards the lake the parkland surrounded.

A young man and a woman ran past obviously inebriated. "I love Mead!" called the man into the dark, the woman hanging off him giggling excessively. Daniel and Keterlyn smiled at them.

Daniel paused to look over the moonlit lake, a touch of mist dancing across it.

"Wow – will you look at that." he said in awe.

"It is something else isn't it?" Keterlyn had to admit, though she didn't have the fondest of memories for moonlit lakes.

Daniel looked at her. "You. You are something else."

Keterlyn gave him a dubious look. "You've known me for all of 20 seconds."

"I can tell a lot about people quickly."

Unconvinced Keterlyn simply gave him a thoughtful Hmmm before resuming her gaze over the water.

"But it's true." insisted Daniel. "I feel like I've known you for a whole lot longer."

Keterlyn smiled openly now. "I bet you say that to all the girls."

"Only the ones that appear and disappear out of nowhere..."

Keterlyn turned to face Daniel with an eyebrow raised indicting her skepticism. "Only the ones you take for walks by moonlit lakes..."

Daniel became aware his pulse was hastening, his breath shallowing when he sincerely looked back at her. "Only the one that make the rest of the word fade away."

Keterlyn, looked away, her confidence fracturing under his gaze. She shouldn't be allowing this. She shouldn't string him along. But then she never got what she wanted, not really.

"I'm serious." Daniel then said, pained by the fact she might not believe him, as if saying it would make it any more real. Reaching for her face, she looked up at him and he leant to kiss her. Ignoring every screaming reason in her head, she let him.

As they kissed, she let go, reaching for him, hands roaming and kiss deepening until she realized there was a light hissing, crackling sound. Keterlyn opened her eyes. A glow had encompassed them, and a phosphorescence surrounded the trees and plants. She broke off the kiss.

"What? What is it?" Daniel asked. Keterlyn looked up at him and saw his eyes were glowing. The light in the surrounding trees began to fade as she remained slightly open mouthed. Daniel moved to look behind him, but Keterlyn stopped him, taking hold of the side of his face a little more roughly than she would have liked.

"No!" she called out.

"Did I do something wrong?"

"It's nothing, just me. I need some fresh air."

Daniel gave her a distrusting look. "Well you don't get much more than this." He held out his arms to illustrate the outdoors they were already standing in. Daniel's eyes began to fade back to normal and Keterlyn was relieved.

Softening, she went into damage control. "That's not what I mean. Just, come back to the Fayre with me."

Looking disappointed Daniel nodded and led the way. "You sure you're alright?"

"Peachy." she replied unconvincingly. That had never happened before, not that she had really had the opportunity, let herself get so carried away. It was new and she found what had happened less than reassuring.

Later, outside her building, Daniel wasn't about to try and kiss her again, but wanted to at least leave knowing if she wanted to commit to a place and time outside class. "So did I blow it, or do I get to see you again. I mean other than across a crowded lecture hall."

"Tonight was great, I was just a bit distracted, that's all." Keterlyn jumped on the opportunity to follow through with her original motivation. "Tell you what. Meet me at Connell Reserve, tomorrow at 8:30?"

Not about to quibble over details, Daniel accepted. "Great. I'll find you." Keterlyn bobbed her head to leave the car, but double backed and kissed him on the cheek again before ducking out and closing the door behind her. Daniel was left bemused but happy she had decided to meet again. To kiss him like that, then freak out, then kiss him on the cheek again. "Strange girl." he mumbled affectionately before dropping in to first gear and heading home.

A few moments after leaving Daniel Keterlyn smiled to herself as she opened the door and entered the apartment. Behind her, in the shadow of the door a partial apparition moved, shadowy, almost lacking a solid form. Undoubtedly in the shape of a tall man, it moved around the back of her, regarding her inquisitively.

Keterlyn spun around as though she sensed it, but there was nothing there. Dismissing her paranoia, Keterlyn let herself into the bathroom, and ran a shower. Keterlyn dimmed the lights, a habit she had always associated with luxury. She hated bright florescent lights bombarding the senses unnecessarily. Dimmers were also a hell of a lot more practical than leaving a trail of candles everywhere like she did in the rest of the house.

Again, hovering in the far corner, the shadows picked up form, a dark image shaped like a man moving to the mirror, extending out to touch the glass. A handprint surfaced on the fogging glass as Keterlyn undressed. Keterlyn froze as she reached to undo her bra. Hesitantly, she turned her head behind her to check over her shoulder.

# Chapter 6

Seeing the handprint on the glass and the shadows pull themselves in to the darkened corner of the bathroom, Keterlyn's body became ridged. This time, she knew she wasn't mistaken.

"Lor? Lor? Show yourself." she called out managing somehow to make her voice steady.

Lormorian appeared behind her ear, though she did not yet realize it. He stood just over her, powerful features, well framed face and a mouth that had commanded the darkest of armies. Keterlyn jumped backwards into a defensive stance.

"Don't stop undressing on account of me, it's been a while you know." Came his breathy voice.

She whipped around, shocked and Keterlyn only just caught a glance of Lormorian before he disappeared in to thin air.

"How did you find me?" she asked horrified.

Lormorian corporealised partially, chest upwards a true reflection of his strength and menacing, but from below the waist he remained immaterialized, hovering. "You shouldn't have used your magic – I might not exactly have found you yet, this place is well hidden, and not by your magic. Interesting twist. I like that you keep the game lively, but I can sense you, and I can come say hello." He extended a hand meaning to capture one of Keterlyn's falling locks of hair, but she instinctively pulled away. The smug grin on his face straightened.

"So you think teasing me like this is going to achieve anything?" Keterlyn was angered and had to watch out that she didn't fall in to the trap of using too much of her magic too soon. If he was tracking her through the little she used so far, anything could be a risk to her. "You still can't touch me can you? Can't pin point where I am to send your minions for me."

"After the trouble you've caused me, I won't be sending underlings. I'm coming for you myself." an incensed Lormorian responded.

Keterlyn stuck her neck out bringing her face to face with Lormorian. "Then come for me already." she taunted.

Enraged, Lormorian's eyes grew black, darkness bleeding into the whites until they resembled oil slick spheres in his head. "Impudence." He sputtered, barely holding his rage together. Then he smiled sinisterly. "Didn't I beat that out of you already sweet..."

Keterlyn glowered at him and there was a shared few seconds of silence before Lormorian regained control, his eyes returning to normal. "I burned her you know." Lormorian said so sweetly.

"What?" Keterlyn responded off kilter.

"I burned her, for showing you how to get away from me. How to take my power and use it for yourself to hide, like a rat in the shadows." Lormorian was referring to her only true friend in his captivity. Eerie was something not unlike Keterlyn, only she had long lost her physical body, and so was stuck forever in a plain of sadness, brutality and torture. How Eerie had survived was beyond Keterlyn, but then she never had a choice. When Keterlyn had first met her, she had thought Eerie to be as fierce and as twisted as Lormorian, and in a way, he called her sister. Decades had passed before Eerie called Keterlyn to her and shivering, apprehensive, Keterlyn had attended her side only to find Eerie was helping her. Eerie had been the one who had helped her escape, taking a century to teach Keterlyn everything she knew, knowing she could never do the same. Never be free. She had done it, just to help Keterlyn, and maybe to spite Lormorian as well. He had taken her physical body and had it destroyed before Eerie could reclaim it. And now it seemed, he had thrown her spirit in to the fire as well.

"Eerie!" whispered Keterlyn, the name easing past her lips in mutual respect and fear.

As Keterlyn stood in shock, in guilt, and tears stinging her eyes Lormorian twisted the proverbial knife. "You know what they say, Eerie one day, gone the next." He laughed as he said it, and there was the desired effect.

Keterlyn roared in anger and let a ring of purple light blast out from her dissipating Lormorian and shattering the mirrors, tiles and lights in the bathroom.

In the dark, Keterlyn hunched down against the broken tiles and stared ahead, breathing hard. Although she tried not to, she couldn't help but recall Lormorian and her bargain. Had she known the consequences, she would have died happily, poisoned by the berries she mistakenly ate.

(836)

At first, when Keterlyn had seen Lormorian, she had been entranced. He had watched her patiently at dusk from behind the tree line next to her village. Strangers were rare to her town, and rarely would they travel out for more than the odd marriage or irregular trade. He had seemed so mysterious, his black hair and eyes burning her skin warmly as he watched her about her chores. The first night she woke to him calling her she hadn't been brave enough to venture out of her warm bed and safe house. The next day though, he had left her a gift on a rock near where she would take the washing. It had seemed a gift for a queen. Gems glinting in a gold chain. When she saw it, she had looked around for the owner only to see Lormorian smiling down at her from across the river. Knowing better, Keterlyn had hidden it, only to wear it when she ventured in to the woods to meet him. They would sit and talk. He would hold her hand, and only once stole a kiss.

Once an offer for her hand had been made, she had protested, but as Lormorian had told her to keep him a secret she waited until she saw him next and cried into his shoulder that she wanted no one else, just him. He had comforted her, rocked her and said not to worry, and she had trusted him. A few days later the boy she was due to be married with was struck down by lightning, not once, but twice, taking his life. She had never connected the man she met in the woods with the death of her betrothed. Lormorian after all was simply the love of a young girl, and she was taught very little of the dark things that lived in the night. Magical, things of myth and faery tales her parents never subscribed to. Her aunt had been the only connection to the old ways, and even that had been tempered.

That fateful afternoon, Keterlyn had carried her bog carvings, her berries and her mushrooms home from that meeting with her aunt. How she wished she had paid closer attention. By the time she made it back to the village she was delusional and in agony. The time from when she collapsed and saw the neighbor's boy run for help, to the time she found herself in her mother's church seemed both impossibly short and painfully long. Pleading for her life, her requests were unheard, until she saw her sweet saviour's face. Lormorian swept her away, took her to the edge of the lake that lay far in the woods. Keterlyn recalled it had felt like flying to be in his arms as he brought her there.

Keterlyn could barely breath as he lay her down, moonlight reflected on the crisp water.

"Do you want to live?" he had asked her as though there had been a choice.

"Please don't let me die."

"Marry me and live." he gave her the ultimatum to which she had simply choked. "Say yes and live Keterlyn."

Keterlyn had managed to use her last breath to form a word. "Yes." And the deal was done.

Immediately Lormorian had sat up, clapped his hands together and rubbed them. "Then live." he announced. As Lormorian leaned back on his heels, he had raised one palm up to the sky, and one facing the ground, bowing his head to chant. "Breathe my life, share my source, forever stronger grow. Dealer of strife, maker of course, hear my call of sorrow." Though how she managed she could not recall, for the next thing Keterlyn had seen was the rising of darkness from the ground, the swirl of leaves, dirt and dust that funneled up to his left palm, energy coursing through his body, blackening his eyes and his face. Lormorian pressed his right hand to Keterlyn's chest and with a burst, she sprung upwards, eyes open in shock. That had been the beginning of Keterlyn's new life.

Present

It was nearing 8:00PM at Connell Park. Though remaining calm outside, it was getting hard for Keterlyn to conceal her growing agitation that the final number of people she wanted were not there yet. The park was a good choice. Surprisingly close to the town itself, it was isolated, with only one solitary willow tree which overhung a flat area of grass at the top of a small hill. Towards the back of the hill ran a small tributary that was little more than a creek. Keterlyn moved about spacing lighted candles in a large circle shape in the grass. Molly helped as Micala, Jake, Ashleigh, Lily, Rebecca, Zara, Abel, Will and Anise milled about talking, a distinct positive nervousness in the air. Keterlyn knew it well. Bringing together people as she did over the years, the positive groups always felt like this. That was the advantage of people with fewer hang ups. The ones that all thought themselves witches and warlocks seemed to have some kind of power trip that interfered with them all getting along.

When Keterlyn finished spacing out the candles she walked back to the box of items she had brought with her. Diana worried her. The girl had seemed committed when Keterlyn had approached her, but as time went on Keterlyn's doubts had been growing. Those dark Emo-Goth types tended to be variable in their moods. Now Keterlyn was certain, Diana was not coming. Although as long as the others came, everything would still work, Keterlyn preferred the magic 13 number. The power settled across 13 people better somehow.

Next Keterlyn set out a bowl of water, a bowl of dirt with a crystal in it, a bowl of sand with incense in it and a bowl which held a small glass hurricane lamp, and within the lamp a purple candle flickered. Each bowl was set down, outside the ring of candles at the relative compass points of the circle. As she set down the last bowl at the southern point, Keterlyn's lips curved in response to Daniel arriving, though she had not seen him yet.

As Daniel parked his car he hesitated at seeing all the other cars, and then the people at the top of the hill. Slowly approaching the group he watched Keterlyn and Molly light incense and take another look back at a large circle of candles. Apprehension was clouding his judgment. As much as he wanted to see her again, this was completely unexpected, and frankly, Daniel didn't play well with others most of the time.

Recognising one of the players from the last football game, Daniel eased up beside him. "What's going on?" he asked Abel.

Abel stood tall, muscular and bore a deep frown across his brow. Unlike what would be expected from such an athletic looking individual though, Abel was nearly jumping out of his skin. He was jittery, fidgeting, and looked borderline scared. Why wouldn't he be, he reasoned with himself, he had so much to lose and this was a ridiculous last resort. The power of the mind, he reasoned with himself again. That was what was going to work, because he sure as hell didn't believe in magic.

Abel was the youngest of four brothers and two sisters. The family grew up shifting from one house to another until eventually the bills pilled up and their credit dried up. References for homes fell through and by the time Abel was 12 he was living in homeless refuges with his parents, three of his brothers had spent time in juvenile detention for petty crimes and his sisters had moved out, shacking up with older guys. Following a bout of self medication through alcohol and pot smoking Abel had cleaned up his act by the time a scout spotted him in a charity game for his local high school. Since then, his father had made it clear that Abel was the family's ticket out of the mess they had fallen into. Still living in emergency housing, and drifting in between services, Abel's mother had left, taking two of his brothers and always in the back of his mind, Abel felt that if he could score it big, he might be able to bring them all back together. His father encouraged it, and seeing his mother hit the bottle every night and send him random text messages alternating between being proud of him for being better than them, and urging him to break away to make his life better, and begging for help because she couldn't take it any more caused unbelievable stress. It was no longer a choice. Abel now had to make it, failure wasn't an option.

About the same time Abel made that commitment and realisation, was when he lost his game. Abel was magnificent on the field, a true achiever, a gladiator of the sports arena, until now. Abel, being Abel, had realised of course that it was the pressure playing interference with his skills, but after everything he had been through growing up, caving to pressure had never been an option, for him. So Abel had tried everything to get back on track. He tried training harder, better. He tried a sports psychologist, even though he couldn't afford it. Besides, once they had started talking about the obvious - stress being the reason Abel was losing his status as golden child over the last few games - Abel had stopped going. Diet changes, meditation, medication - Abel had tried it all up until he heard about this option. He might not believe in magic but he wanted to believe in anything that might give him his edge back.

In a fit of desperation he had agreed to come with Will to this meeting, but now he was here, he felt awkward, and every bit of the stress he was trying to deny was smacking him in the face. He was twitchy, hated so many people knew why he was here, and he felt like running. Running though, was not an option Abel wanted to take, as much as his limbs willed it to be so. Abel was determined, no matter what, he wasn't going to end up working the jobs his brothers did to support his father, to see his mother drink herself down the drain. He was going to make it, even if it killed him.

When Daniel had asked Abel what was going on, inside Abel had had a mini panic attack. Outside, he froze. Looking back at Daniel with a fraught expression and anxious eyes, he answered Daniel as though it had only just dawned on him that he was mad. "I have clearly lost my mind." Abel said, stilted, emotionless. "That's what's going on."

Will and Anise, who were standing next to Abel, intervened. Anise squeezed Will's hand tight as she spoke excitedly. "It's like a Wiccan circle, but not. Caitlin explained it. Anyway it's a full moon ritual."

"Like witches?" Daniel asked incredulously.

Molly stalked past the group and muttered with distain as she did. "Yes, but why you guys are here is beyond me. This is all serious stuff."

Anise made a fake pouty face as Zara and Lily came forward to join them. Zara smiled as she approached, though everyone instinctually stiffened at the presence of their lecturer. "Well I'm here as research." Zara explained. "I'm interested in contemporary expressions of ancient traditions. This will make the 20th different circle I have been to. A nice round figure to finish off my paper." Zara knew they were apprehensive at her inclusion, but maturity had also taught her that it never mattered what status you held, who you were or what you did, everyone had their frailties and strengths. That was one of the reasons she had become fascinated with social group interactions in the first place. Zara also knew how to work the social group well. Her tone of voice, submissive body language, all aiming to compensate for her perceived social standing which set her apart from the others gathered here tonight. A little more time and she would be on more equal footing. A few personal stories and they would let her mould with them, as best as possible anyhow. Zara also recognized her age would limit her interactions and group cohesion here. That having been considered though, this was a short term group meeting. Once Zara had the contextual details for inclusion in her paper, she could finish the re-write, submit the study, and hopefully earn herself a more stable position on the academic board listing before the next financial year was through. Then she could have a position to haggle for extra funding, and if they didn't give it to her for next semester, she could even threaten to go elsewhere.

Before Zara had a chance to start her personal story exchanges though, her strategically designed execution of personal stories designed to engage and bond her within the group Lily spoke up. Lily had been fidgeting almost as much as Abel. She also wore a singlet shirt that barely shielded her from the cold. She sucked on a cigarette as she paced and made faint attempts to warm her upper arms by rubbing them. "I'm here for my wish. That's all." she announced.

"Your wish?" Daniel repeated as Abel peeled off his jacket to offer her.

At Abel's offer Lily simply gave him a scolding almost disgusted look. She paused holding her cigarette out and her accusing open mouthed and offensive manner threw him. Abel raised his eyebrows in disbelief and put his jacket back on.

"Okay!" Abel responded cynically, as across the clearing Keterlyn chimed out a bell.

Keterlyn took an authoritative stance at the head of the circle. "If everyone would like to join me, standing in a circle – don't be shy." As Keterlyn spoke, everyone gathered as instructed, renewed nervousness in the air. "We are waiting for one more person, but while we wait, I thought we might share a bit about why we are here tonight, what you hope to gain. I advertised this circle as a chance to make your greatest wish come true. To do that, we have to have an idea of what it is you want. So let's have it." Keterlyn nodded to her left, towards Ashleigh.

Sucking in a deep breath, Ashleigh smiled. "I'm Ashleigh, I'm 21 and I'm studying political science. When I was little, I always wanted to be a lawyer but couldn't get the grades..."

Molly, who was standing next to Ashleigh, rolled her eyes. "This isn't a dating service, just get to the point."

Through gritted teeth Ashleigh continued. "I want to find a way to live my dream."

Molly was next. "I'm here tonight, to recharge myself, reconnect with the earth, and centre myself." A few doubtful looks were exchanged along with a few stifled smiles. Molly remained unphased, aloof and wearing a look of entitlement.

Micala picked up from Molly. "I decided to come tonight, because I want to find a way to open a herbalist/naturopathy shop of my own instead of just working at one. Oh – and read cards on the side."

Jake was next, and hesitated, feeling unprepared even though he knew exactly why he was there. For Ashleigh, though he tried not to stare at her, or even look in her direction as he started to speak. "I'm here for.."

"We all know who you're here for." Will couldn't help himself, and Anise kicked him. She loved a hopeless love story and had been following with interest Jake's admiring of Ashleigh from afar. Ashleigh gave Jake a shy smile as he made panicked eye contact and blushed deeply in response.

Jake became defensive. "I want to gain the confidence to be who I am and who I want to be." Zara watched, curious at the level of tension within this group. All newcomers, most not used to magic and ritual. Conflict evident. She took mental notes and couldn't wait to see how this was going to pan out. Of all the full moon rituals she had attended, this was by far the strangest set up.

Anise had her turn next. "I just thought it would be cool to try this out. But I do wish I could get enough money, so I wouldn't have to rely on my family, so I can do whatever I want."

"I want to travel." announced Will before Lily, stern faced, stuck out her chin and took her cue.

"My mother's sick." Lily said. "I had to skip school this year. I want to find a way to make things better for both of us." A hush took over the group. Lily had been the only one with a legitimate reason to want a wish. The others were all there for personal gain, and the fickle kind.

Through the pause, Zara cleared her throat. "I am here purely for the experience for a paper I'm writing, anything else is a bonus."

Rebecca took a step forward. "I want to harness my psychic powers." she proclaimed. Groans cropped up from the rest of the group and promptly died away.

Daniel waited for a moment, thinking hard about what to say. Unlike the others gathered here, he hadn't known what the point of the group was until he arrived, and he certainly hadn't prepared anything. All he had come for was to see his Caitlin. And that was why he stayed, so he was honest. "I'm here for a girl, but if I get a wish, it's for a new life." Keterlyn tried hard not to smile at the compliment, but found Daniel's stare oddly unnerving to her.

Anise sighed again. "Aww!"

Abel piped up, a welcome distraction in attention for Keterlyn. "I don't know why I'm here." he half mumbled sheepishly looking at the ground. "I can't play like I used to. I have some kind of block...I need to get my head back in the game." Abel looked up almost apologetic before resuming his downwards stare. "I don't believe in magic." he added apologetically.

Keterlyn regarded him with pleasure. Before the night was through, everything would be different. For Abel, for everyone. "Even if you don't believe, you might be surprised what this can offer you. Thank you everyone for coming."

Just as Keterlyn was preparing to make do without Diana, an unexpected addition arrived. Tempest arrived in his car, parking across the street and walking over with a quizzical look on his face, clearly surprised at what he was seeing.

Will looked horrified. "Oh no! He said he'd come by later, not now." Will looked away from Tempest, who was striding, with purpose towards him, all six foot of him bearing down on his younger brother.

"Who is he?" asked Lily, clearly interested.

"My brother." Will groaned.

Tempest slowed as he reached the circle. "Hey. What's going on?" There was cautious amusement in his tone.

Not one to miss an opportunity, Keterlyn seized the moment. "Come join us, we are creating a circle, fulfilling our wishes."

Tempest gave her a snide look before looking over towards Will as though he was expecting it was some kind of joke. "Nah. I'm here to pick up Will."

An embarrassed Will hissed at Tempest. "Not now, you were supposed to be here in like an hour."

"Shit man," Tempest exclaimed, with no attempt to disguise his frustration. "If you lose your license for drag racing, and have to ask your big brother to pick you up, you don't freaking' complain, OK."

"You don't look like you're brothers." commented Ashleigh.

Re-directing his anger, Tempest swung around to face her. "You didn't just say that."

Trying to appease and diffuse the moment, Will extended an explanation. "We used to live in the same foster home, now we live together. It's the same thing as brothers."

Trying to contain the added dynamic, Keterlyn prompted Tempest confidently. "It doesn't matter. You will have to do."

"Do as what?" Tempest asked dubiously.

"Our thirteenth. Seeing as Diana didn't show. We need one more to make the ceremony." Keterlyn added.

"No. I don't do this...whatever this is." Tempest waved his hands around dismissively.

"It's better with thirteen people, otherwise I don't know that it will work properly." Keterlyn knew it would work, but thought the added pressure might help. 13 was perfect. The ploy worked perfectly.

"Oh! Oh no! I was really looking forward to this." whined Anise.

Not wanting to see Anise upset, Will pleaded for his brother's cooperation. "C'mon man. What's the harm for a few minutes."

"No." insisted Tempest.

"Please T-Man." Will pushed again.

Tempest took on an irritated big-brother tone. "No – I have to be places. I have other things to do than help you get laid."

Then Anise gave Tempest an over the top sad look and stuck her bottom lip out.

Tempest groaned. Reluctantly, he rolled his head and agreed. "OK, but I'm not holding anyone's hand." Tempest moved to the circle's edge and a few shuffled to make room to accommodate him edging in next to Daniel.

Smugly, Keterlyn commanded the next move. She liked Tempest, his inner strength, his self confident nature. "Everyone, take the hand of the person next to you."

Looking exasperated Tempest protested. "Maybe you didn't hear me, I'm not holding anyone's hand." Everyone else took the hand of those next to them. Tempest looked around and pursed his lips. "O.K. I'm not holding anyone's man hands." he clarified.

Micala huffed out loud. "Can anyone say homophobe, geeze, I'll swap with you Daniel."

Daniel smirked and swapped places with Micala. Tempest took Micala's hand, and Anise moved to take his other.

"Hope my hands aren't too manly for you 'T-man'." Micala snuck in as a jibe.

Molly even managed a smile. "T-man. Seriously, I expect gold chains and a Mohawk from a man who calls himself T-man."

"His real name is Tempest. Like the Shakespeare play." offered Will.

Clearly angered, Tempest almost stomped his foot. "See. What do you have to do that for all the time? It don't help."

"I like Tempest." Rebecca said trying to be helpful.

"Enough." Interjected Keterlyn. "We are ready."

"Aren't you supposed to do this naked?" enquired Abel.

Molly took the lead in responding, another attempt to re-assert herself as knowledgeable in the area. "Sky clad is optional. Were you in a hurry to get naked for us were you?"

Jake was the first to state what everyone was thinking. "It is a bit cold man, might ruin your reputation."

Defensively, Abel bit back. "You interested in my reputation? Besides I wasn't thinking so much about me being the one getting undressed." An immediate undercurrent of outrage passed across the women in the group.

Being smart, Will grinned and tried to remain serious. "Dude, if you want to see me in my birthday suit, you ask nicely, but I should warn you, I'm still going to say no."

"Thank heavens for small mercies." Rebecca said, tongue in cheek.

Keterlyn drew out a blade which silenced everyone.

"I'm good with clothes on." Abel advised.

"Great, let's begin." Keterlyn re-enforced. "I'm going to call the quarters, create a circle, and after I finish each sentence, I want everyone to say 'Hail' in unison."

Keterlyn elevated her blade and called out in a loud voice. "Hail to the Northern Quarter, spirits of earth and stability. Protect our circle from all peril approaching from the north."

"Hail!" everyone responded except Tempest.

Anise and Will snickered, Molly and Micala gave them a warning look.

Keterlyn continued on. "Hail to the Eastern Quarter, spirits of air and intellect. Protect our circle from all peril approaching from the East."

"Hail!" everyone repeated. A few giggles erupted from Anise and Ashleigh this time followed by swift apologies.

"Hail to the Southern Quarter, spirits of fire and passion. Protect our circle from all peril approaching from the South."

"Hail!"

Keterlyn moved to the western compass point. "Hail to the Western Quarter, spirits of water and fluidity. Protect our circle from all peril approaching from the West."

"Hail!"

"Hail to the guardians of that which is above, and that which is below, spirit of the eternal. Protect our circle from all peril approaching from without, and from within."

"Hail!" came the unified response.

Keterlyn took the blade, extended it outwards, and walked around the circle. "The circle is cast, we stand between worlds." Keterlyn held the blade in her hands, feeling the energy build. "Hold in your minds your wish." she instructed. "The desire that you have for it. Summon that power in you, and focus on seeing your wish."

Keterlyn walked the perimeter of the circle again, and then took a place in the middle. Holding the blade to her forehead, and closing her eyes, she started to mumble quietly. Molly and Zara regarded her curiously. Neither had experienced this in their last coven gatherings.

Keterlyn grew louder and raised the blade above her. "Blessed spirit, I bequeath the power, without which my life would be deceased, to those within this circle. I plead the source of the essence of the unknown, the unseen and the innate, be dispersed amongst us, always to return to me. This I beg. As I wish, so mote it be."

A rush of wind and light encircled them, the candles flames spiraling upwards. As the light gushed around, each person was infused by it, causing them to gasp in surprise and stumble, momentarily disoriented. Ashleigh, Molly and Abel fell to the ground. Jake broke the line to help Ashleigh up, but Keterlyn remained unphased by the circle being broken by him walking away.

As he helped Ashleigh up, Jake snapped around angrily. "What was that?" he demanded of Keterlyn.

Keterlyn ignored him, instead opting to walk counter clockwise around the circle with her hand holding the blade outstretched. "Guardians of the North, the East, the South, the West, and the Eternal. Hail and farewell. The circle is closed, but never broken."

"I never felt anything like that." Molly added, recognizing the fact Keterlyn hadn't answered Jake was an indication of something not being entirely transparent.

"I was kind of expecting something else." admitted Anise. "I thought the ritual would be longer, I'd stick a pin in something, or burn something."

"Usually there is more to the ritual, I just haven't been knocked off my feet before." Zara offered in support.

Keterlyn chewed her bottom lip. Here it came, the awkward explanation, the inevitable reactions. She stole a gaze over at Daniel. He looked calmer than she expected, though his expression reflected deep thought. Keterlyn took a breath, lifted her chin, and charged in. The quicker this was done, the faster she could move forward, and they could do the same. "I gave you something." Keterlyn looked around at her new comrades. "An immense power, though it will take a while to harness. You can use the magic to your advantage but, harm none, or karmic payback is a bitch you don't want to have gnawing on your heels."

Abel was the first to break out in frustration. "This is bull shit." he cried out. "What was I expecting? What a waste of time!" He kicked at a rock on the ground and it bounced off in to the night.

Keterlyn hardened her tone. "I want to make something clear. This is my power. I can take it back whenever I want. I will teach you how to use it over the next month or so, but there is a lot to explain. Protection spells, banishment, immobilizing, healing... but forgetting everything else, you cannot reveal yourself to others. To do so means you will lose what I have given you, and worse. Now you understand the rules, are there any questions?"

"Are you completely mad?" Rebecca's voice sounded out. The least likeliest to protest something so fantastic.

Keterlyn addressed Rebecca, though her statements reflected what she knew of them all. "I know from experience what is about to happen. Most, in anger or disbelief will walk away, some will curse me, brush off what has happened."

"But nothing happened." Jake reasoned. "A few of us got knocked over, but I don't feel different."

"It will take a little while, but not long." Keterlyn explained. "Trust me, I have been doing this a very long time. Every few years I need to recruit others to share my power with. This time I have chosen you.

"Every few years?" Anise asked.

"I was born over a thousand years ago." Keterlyn said, feeling detached. She had made this speech so many times before. "I have had many names: Katie, Kitti, Teri, Lynne, Lyn, Kat, Therlyn, but my original name was Keterlyn.

"This is bull shit." Abel voiced as he stormed off leaving Tempest standing and nodding in agreement behind him.

Tempest was the next to leave. "I'm out of here. It's now or never little brother." A reluctant Will and disappointed looking Anise left with him, trudging off in to the night towards the car. As if on cue, everyone else except Daniel, Micala, and Molly, grumbling various complaints, started to disperse and walk away. Lily looked back over her shoulder, a sadness showing on her face before she looked away again.

"Remember not to show anyone. Don't reveal yourself. I'll be here in two nights. We'll meet back here." Keterlyn called after them.

"What happens now?" Molly said stepping forward.

"We start practicing tomorrow." Keterlyn replied before walking away from them. Daniel, Molly and Micala stared after her.

# Chapter 7

Later that night, Zara returned to her office disappointed. She was on her mobile with Mark, her partner and yet-to-bother-proposing beloved. "Yes honey," she agreed with him, "But I only just got back to the office. What a waste of an evening. So much for my explorations into modern Wiccan rituals. Looks like I have to find another for my last case study...." There was a pause and Zara pursed her lips. Mark was actually asking her what he was going to have for dinner. She was working late, and he was being a child. Zara lost her temper, though immediately regretted it. "Well, I don't know, shit, it's past eight – I don't know what your going to have for dinner. You're a big strong man – go hunt something. McDonald's perhaps...I won't be home for ages anyway – I still have a bunch of papers to grade." Zara looked at the papers sitting there in a pile mocking her. She tapped the paper pile before wandering over to switch on the kettle she had set up in the corner for late nights like this. Mark was back peddling as she put a tea bag in a mug and leaned back against the counter.

Zara sighed. "OK Mark. But I'm telling you you're gonna be waiting for a while. Like midnight..." Zara closed her mobile phone and poured hot water over the tea bag. As she dunked it up and down, she muttered to herself. "There are not enough hours in the day. Breathe deep Zara, there is always hope. Maybe the papers will grade themselves, I won't have to sit next to Skanky Shawn on the bus, and Mark will end up making me a candlelit dinner to round out a perfectly shitty day." Zara smiled to herself. "Oh well, better get going before I become completely delusional."

Zara returned to her desk, set her mug down, stretched and prepared to grade the papers. As she lifted the first one from the heap she had a double take. It was marked. Taking the next paper, she sees it has also been marked. Zara screwed up her brow trying to recall when she had graded these papers. She could not recall it, but there was her handwriting all over it. "Hmm, I must have already done it." she thought out loud. "Mark gets dinner after all."

Realising if she made a break for it now, she might be able to catch the next bus, Zara grabbed her coat and bag, and abandoned her tea. If she caught the next bus, she could get home, cook dinner, and sink in to her electric blanket with enough time to enjoy some brain numbing TV before sinking into sleep.

Outside it was raining, a soft rain that left a sheen of water over her coat, but failed to leave her drenched. Zara was quickly skipping around puddles when she saw the bus. Running now, she called out for it to stop, but with the rain, the closed windows and the distance, the bus driver either could not, or did not want to hear her. The bus drove away from the shelter just as Zara made it to just a few feet away. She stood in the street staring after it. Exasperated, Zara called out after it. "Of course...that's more like what I was expecting. Bad freaking luck. Maybe it could rain harder too." The rain suddenly picked up, pounding down harder. Startled, Zara ran the few extra feet for cover in the bus shelter where she could stare after the bus. Through the back window, she saw a figure walking towards the back of the bus. Creepy Shawn pressed his face against the glass and watched her as they drove away. Maybe I dodged a bullet after all she thought to herself. "What a night." Zara said to herself as she sat down and leaned against the glass at the back of the shelter. She closed her eyes and took a centering breath. As she did, the rain stopped, and the sound of another bus pulling up caught Zara's ears. Zara peaked open a eye, then two as she realized she hadn't imagined it. There was no other bus scheduled for at least 35 minutes. She looked up inquisitively as the doors opened.

The friendly face of the middle aged, bearded driver greeted her as he called out. "I'm off shift – want a lift somewhere out of the weather?" he asked grinning.

Stunned, Zara smiled back. "Sure." Just like that, the night was looking up again. The driver even gave her a lift to her door, and Zara hopped out, her energy renewed. Popping the lock to the apartment building, she had a smile on her face as her ground floor neighbour flung her door open and stuck her head out.

"How are you Zara sweetie, I missed you at Mandy's tonight." her neighbour, Trish enthused.

"I had something on for work." Zara said, not wanting to explain what. Trish was nice enough, but had fairly staunch opinions on rituals and magic.

Trish made a sympathetic sound. "More papers." she sounded sure of herself.

"Something like that."

Trish hushed her voice, and added an excited undertone. "Look, I know I was going to come around, but turns out Mr Douche has turned in to Mr Fantastic...made dinner for me, massage – he is in the bedroom right now... so I can't catch up like I said we would." Trish had been going on about Mr Douche/Mr Fantastic since meeting him on RSVP three months ago. Every few days, or minutes she changed her opinion on how she felt about him.

"Go, enjoy Mr Fantastic and we can catch up tomorrow." Zara encouraged. She had completely forgotten about meeting up after Mandy's girls cocktail night. She held it religiously, same day of every month, and it was usually accompanied by a movie night, where everyone ended up crying, or pretending to, and left Zara feeling like she couldn't identify with the group. So missing Mandy's girls night had not been a regret. Zara had forgotton all about meeting up afterwards though with Trish, and quite frankly, she was too tired, so this was the perfect out.

"You're the best." Trish beamed back as she closed the door.

"Yes...the best." Zara said, as she turned to climb the stairs to her first floor apartment. Opening the door the smell of food met her. Walking a few steps inside, Mark was standing an arm outstretched over a table with a home cooked meal and candles surrounding it.

"Ta Da!" Mark exclaimed. Zara raised an eyebrow. Everything she wished for, papers, bus, dinner. Maybe there had been more to tonight than she had thought.

The next morning, Keterlyn sat sipping a drink in a coffee shop as she made a list of things she wanted to get to help the others learn what they needed to know. As she jotted these things down in her notebook, Daniel saw her through the window. He had been looking for her, and tried to find her everywhere. Now he found her, Daniel barely contained himself enough to sit next to her expectantly. Keterlyn closed her notebook as she looked up at him with an equally expectant look on her face.

Daniel finally broke the silence. "So I thought you might have a few minutes, take time out to explain what the hell happened last night, why I keep getting electric shocks every time I touch the controls for my car stereo."

In hushed tones, Keterlyn responded. "Daniel, the magic manifests slightly differently in everyone, but I suspect there might be a bit more of a powerful or violent edge for those who already were in touch with their natural skills."

Daniel leaned forward, but did not lower his voice. "I need to know. Are you nuts. You claim to have lived over a thousand years..." Keterlyn immediately put her hand up to stop him speaking.

"This isn't the place for that conversation." Keterlyn stood and left the café, Daniel following close behind. Heading for the nearest alley way, Keterlyn turned to face Daniel as soon as they were out of sight. Taking his wrists, Keterlyn smiled and closed her eyes. The two of them wisped in to the air and re-appeared in a desert terrain. The heat beat down, but the breeze cooled the climate. Daniel stared around him at the sand, rocks and barren land, the starkness of the contrast from the city they had just been standing in, jolted him.

Daniel stared around him, awed. "How?"

Keterlyn let him go as she spoke. "I was a type of 'witch' even before I became...this, not that we called ourselves that. But I could never do the things I can now, until I was given a gift. This gift comes with a curse though. I can't use the powers I have, unless I have shared them with others."

"I don't understand why you have to share the power to use it."

"I was dying. All I knew was that I didn't want to die, so I made a deal. To accept the power and live, but in exchange I agreed to marry a dark spirit. A demon, of a kind. I got away, but if I use my power straight out, he can find me. Sharing the energy means I stay under his radar. It isn't as strong."

Trepidatious, Daniel asked her: "What happens if he finds you?"

"I spent 635 years living with him, tied to him before I could run. He caused wars, tortured souls, raked in the bodies while I watched. I cant go back there. To him, or underground."

"Underground." Daniel's tone reflected the darkness of the conversation.

"People call it many things. Hell is just as good a description as any. But there are many things that live in the dark down there."

"Dark spirits." Daniel stated matter of factly.

"And more. Wraiths that can take over physical bodies to hunt people or things down on this world, Shadow people that dip in and out of our reality, even leeches that suck the life from your living body, All kinds of supernatural things." Keterlyn looked away, knowing there would be pity, or fear, or judgment forthcoming. There always was.

"You lived there." Curiosity, not pity coloured Daniel's voice though.

"If you call it living." she responded.

"So you've been running all this time?"

Keterlyn nodded. "I find a group of people to share my magic, and I can live with them around them, then as they get older, a few will take me on as a pretend daughter or niece, then grandparent, and then I move on. The last people I was with though, one of them broke their promise, revealed themselves to the world – on TV no less."

Something clicked for Daniel. "The woman at the school? Who rescued all those kids, and turned that guy inside out."

"See. Even you know."

"Who didn't watch that?" Daniel seemed pleased at making the connection, but Keterlyn frowned. That was exactly the reason she encouraged them all to keep quiet.

"So I had to get everyone together before the full moon, or he can find me. Once a full moon rises and falls, I can't pass the powers on anymore, then I will shine brighter than a lighthouse on a clear dark night for any beasties in the big dark to find me."

Daniel understood. Hard as it was to accept, he knew he felt different, knew he kept getting zapped by his car, light-switches and the TV, and knew Keterlyn was telling the truth. "It's incredible." He said to her. "I am going to be able to change the station in my car again though aren't I?"

Keterlyn smiled. "You'll be able to do almost everything I can with practice. Maybe shifting from one location to another might be difficult, but then, you are fairly tuned in. You have a gift."

"I don't have a gift Keterlyn. I drowned someone."

"Doesn't matter what you did. Just that you did it before any of this, so everything else is going to be magnified for you."

Daniel became cynical then. "Wow. Something I'm good at. There's a prospect."

Keterlyn knew his attitude would change soon enough though. "Come, let's get back. I want to start practicing with you, Molly, and Micala. Before the others come back tomorrow night. That way you can help me train the others when they come back."

"You seem confident about that."

"Yes I do, don't I?" Keterlyn answered as she took Daniel's wrists again. Daniel took hers back and they wisped back to the alley way.

***

Will worked on his car in the front yard. The car said Mercedes but when he had bought it, it looked less like a Merc than a scrap yard centerpiece. Slowly he was getting it in to shape, and by the time he got his license back, it would be ready. Maybe. Will wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked down the street. It was a mess of broken fences, unkept lawns and practically abandoned except for one old man who still gave enough of a damn to water his lawn. Will waved in greeting, and the man gave a solitary nod in return.

Will and Tempest had had very little choice as to where they could live. One day, Will wanted to own his own home. Anise and he could have a couple of kids, live in a nice area where people cared enough to bring their bins in from the front, and one where the cops didn't turn up across the road every second night. Tempest strolled out of the front door and broke Will's train of thought. Tempest deserved better too, Will thought to himself. Neither of them had had choices growing up. Tempest couldn't even remember his parents. Will wished he couldn't remember his. Will's last memory was a round table meeting where his mother was offered support if she took him back home. She had still refused. Tempest though, he had still held on to some kind of false hope that his parents were just misunderstood. They were under pressure, and would one day come back for him. That had got him through till the teenage years at least. Once the realization had hit home though, this was his life, Tempest had spent his teenage years in and out of mediation sessions, youth justice conferencing and alcohol and drug programs. That was until the Carters. The last foster family had been harsh, but not in the painful way. Beth had been a Social Worker, Mick a blue collar worker from a foster background himself. Their combined tolerance and real world practical explanations had been confronting for Tempest, who had been used to being punished, being passed on, or blamed for most of his actions. By the time he hit 17, he was actually back finishing school. That was when Will had come to them.

The Carters had taken Will on just after Mick had had a mini stroke, and the home was a little different. They were winding down and had less time and patience than when they took on Tempe. So Tempest took it upon himself to help guide the way. Will was almost as headstrong as Tempe, and the two hit it off. Tempe had seen Will as a little brother from the start, and taken him under his wing at school. That made it easier for Will, and that was the point. Tempe didn't want to see Will make the same wrong choices. By the time Mick and Beth told Tempe it was time to set up on his own, Tempe was close to 19, and Will was settled. Will had missed Tempest, and as Mick and Beth grew more tired, and Tempest needed someone to help with rent, Will had jumped at the chance of following his big brother in to the world of self sufficiency. It was a reality check for them both though. Good as the Carters had been, paying bills, balancing work, study and social relationships was a work in progress for both of them. Much like Will's fixer upperer Mercedes.

Will had inevitably blown of steam one night, resulting in him losing his license for drag racing. It hadn't been the first offence, but it had been the worst, and nearly resulted in Will collecting a child and her mother on the curb. The fact he narrowly missed hitting them had been enough of a wake up call, he hadn't even thought it unfair when the judge pulled his ability to drive, but it irked him to be catching buses and relying on Tempest picking him up all the time.

It did give Will some downtime to get the car restored though. Anise tended to be shut up home most weekends under her aunt and uncle's watch so she only had the week and weeknights to spend with Will. When they were together, they were inseparable. Tempest understood that. He wanted that as well, because deep down, he missed having someone give a shit about him. Tempe, though, found comfort with many good looking girls who found his charm and labouring body greatly appealing, at least until the morning when he would unceremoniously invite them to leave. That's where Will was more mature than Tempe oddly enough.

Will watched Tempest walk over to him with mail in his hand. As he reached the car he slapped a few envelopes on the car bonnet which Will had just closed, having finished his attempt to revive the car.

"More bills." Tempest announced as he leaned against the car. "Got this thing working yet?"

"Not yet. I'll need to get the jumper leads and use your car to give it some juice."

"May as well sell it. We could use the cash." Will didn't dignify Tempest's comment with an answer, he just took a swig from his water bottle and picked up the envelopes ripped them open.

"Will, I was thinking." Tempest started more cautiously than his usual self.

"Mmm.." responded Will.

"I was thinking about you, and school. I was thinking, maybe I should go back, learn something that isn't going to break my knees, my back, or my shoulders 40 years from now."

"Wow. Planning for the future – that's not like you." joked Will, stealing a glance at Tempest, who was looking the other way, seriousness cast on his face. Will wondered what could possibly have sparked this. It wasn't bills.

"I don't know." replied Tempest, clearly struggling. "Maybe it's stupid, but...I feel like now's the time to do something different you know. Something life changing."

Will opened the last envelope. It was blank and non descript. Will immediately got goose bumps. "Tempe?" he prompted.

Tempest had not heard him though. "What do you think I should study? You know more about that stuff than I do. What do you see me doing?"

"TEMPE!" yelled Will.

Tempest looked back at Will and stood upright when he saw the look on Will's face. "What? What is it? Don't tell me they charged us for more long distance calls we didn't make?"

Will continued to stare at the envelope transfixed. "What did you wish for last night."

"Nothing, it was a waste of fucking time. Why?"

Will turned the letter he had been staring at around. "I just won a $3,000 flight voucher. I wished for the chance to travel." Tempest grabbed the papers from Will for a closer look.

Tempest grinned. "It's a coincidence, but, that's fantastic. Where are we going to go?"

Will snatched the papers back off Tempest and sent him a mock glare that indicated how ridiculous the question was. "Anywhere Anise can't find us if she realises I took you instead of her." Regarding his brother again, Will could not help but ask. "Seriously Tempe, what did you ask for?"

"Nothing. You know I don't believe in that stuff." Insisted Tempest.

"Yeah, well I didn't enter any competition."

"You sure this isn't a joke?" Tempest asked, his mind ticking.

Will thought for a moment. He slanted his eyes and turned to Tempest again. "Will you try something for me?"

"What?" Tempest was suspicious.

Will tried not to smile, mainly because he might start laughing at himself. He leaned over the car and put his hands on it. "Just, stand with me and put your hand on the car."

"What!?"

"Just do it." Will said as he cast a glance around them to make sure no one was watching. Tempest put a hand on the car. "Come on car, come on, fix yourself." Will whispered to the car, much to Tempest's amusement. "Fix yourself, so I don't have to." Nothing happened.

Tempest put a second hand on the car, closed his eyes, and in an overly dramatic tone called out loud: "Oh great car gods, come down, touch this child and bring it back to life....Amen!"

The car burst in to life, the radio blaring and Will jumped in to the front seat to turn it down while Tempest stood back, surprised. Will came back to stand next to Tempest who turned back to Will. The two shared a moment in quiet exchange before looking back at the car.

"Let's try something else." Tempest finally said.

"Hell yeah!" came Will's response as they grabbed the papers, the keys to the car, and ventured inside the house, and away from prying eyes.

As Will and Tempest were exploring their new skills, Anise had stolen a moment away from her cousin. They had gone shopping, and her cousin had got carried away with flirting with a shop assistant, so Anise had gone to flirt with shoes. She missed Will, but her parents were abroad, and her family here didn't approve of Will.

Anise tried on a suede grey pair she fell in love with. An assistant stood giving glowing reviews of how she looked in the shoes and Anise felt strongly she deserved them. She just doubted she could afford them.

Think positive. She thought to herself. "I love them. I'll take them!" Anise declared, crossing her metaphorical fingers that if she had just had the bill paid, she might be able to scrape through. The shop assistant packed the shoes in to the box and that was when Anise saw the price tag on the box. $30.00 more than she had thought. She winced, but it was too late to cancel and save face. The store assistant swiped the card through the machine. It was declined. Anise felt a hot flush rise up her neck to her cheeks. She should have abandoned ship (or shop) there and then, but she felt humiliated.

"The card is declined Madame." The shop assistant near whispered. "You want to use a different card?"

Yes please, one with money on it. Anise thought to herself. Instead, and against her better judgment she heard different words leave her mouth. "I'm sure it is a mistake. Try again."

"Ma'am there is no mistake."

Determined, Anise tried not to grit her teeth. Maybe there was hope. She had wished for magic last night – this was it, now or never. "Try it again." She pressed. A doubtful looking shop assistant swiped the card again as Anise muttered quietly into her hand. "Come on, Come on, cash up."

The charge rang through 'APPROVED' appearing on the screen. Anise tried to contain her amazement and anticipation. Overly polite she took the bag from the assistant and sang out a "Thank you." As she turned on her heel. Anise had her mobile accessing her bank records before she even walked out the door. Seeing her account balance Anise gave an excited sound and started jumping up and down in the street. "K'Ching!" she cried out loud. Passers by stared at her as she walked with a skip in her step around the corner. There was another boutique she had been meaning to visit. Anise forgot all about her cousin. One more shop and she would call Will and see if anything as evocative had happened for him. "Ah, Paris here I come!" she said smiling, then she disappeared.

When Anise re-appeared she was in a side street with a view of the Eiffel Tower. "Oh oh...Home, home. Take me home." But nothing happened.

# Chapter 8

Rebecca was in her room searching for the bracelet she had been wearing last Wednesday. She had this vivid recollection of setting it down on her bedside table, but now it wasn't there. Last night had been strange enough without this. Rebecca caught sight of her roommate, Kara leaving the bathroom, toweling her hair and wrapped in a fluffy robe. After Kara had been the only one left willing to room with her, and not make smart comments, Rebecca had been grateful for the company, but over the last few weeks Kara had seemed intrusive, and Rebecca had this growing feeling that her roommate was more or less hiding something. Kara always had this smug, borderline condescending, air about her.

Aside from the fact that Rebecca's thoughts about Kara were unsettled, Rebecca had to find this bracelet. It had belonged to her mother, a woman Rebecca and her father had adored in spite of her eccentricity. Rebecca's mother had been the warmest person she ever encountered, but towards the end of her illness, she had surrounded herself with crystals, talismans, and engaged in any number of activities designed to stave off the debilitating illness she suffered. The MS which she had been diagnosed with just 8 years before her death had unsurprisingly changed Rebecca's mother. Her father had remained undeterred in his devotion, and some of the fondest memories Rebecca had was watching him spontaneously pull her mother from her seat for a dance across the lounge room floor. It was a sight that became less and less frequent, or easy towards the end, but Rebecca had other memories. She remembered visiting multiple psychics, mediums and spiritualists in an effort to initially stave off the disease, and later, understand the afterlife and connect with it. When Rebecca was young she had often wished she had the power to fulfill her mother's prayers, to wish away the sickness, to fix her. This is what carried Rebecca's fascination. The possibility she might be able to be what her mother had been looking for fuelled her fascination with the paranormal, not that Rebecca was that aware of why she held such predilections.

The bracelet had been the last thing her mother wore. Coupled with the fact that Rebecca had had an episode where she had 'connected with the other side', as she saw it, whilst wearing the bracelet, meant she rarely took it off. Rebecca had truly regretted she had been drunk when she had had the psychic breakthrough she had so long thirsted after, but, she reasoned, many cultures connected with the spirit world whilst under the influence of something. The stigma had been palpably embarrassing though. There had been no glamour, no mysticism, no art to the event, and everyone had simply concluded she was wasted. Rebecca's attention zoned in on Kara meandering by her room door, leaving small droplets in her wake.

"Kara, have you seen my necklace, the one I was wearing on Wednesday?"

Kara entered, toweling her hair. "No sweetie, I haven't seen it. Was it expensive?"

"It was my mother's." Rebecca said troubled.

"Shame you lost it." Kara responded, a hint of falseness in her voice. As Kara left, Rebecca glared after her, sensing something was not quite right. Rebecca dusted the crumbs and fluff from her hands and lap, before she stood to follow Kara into the living area.

"Kara, you would tell me wouldn't you." Rebecca confronted her room mate.

"Un-huh." Kara insisted, but Rebecca couldn't let go of the feeling it wasn't the truth. Rebecca peered back at Kara as though she might be able to see right through her. "What?" Kara asked, clearly off put.

Rebecca grabbed hold of Kara's arm. "Tell me the truth."

An image of Kara taking the bracelet and placing it in a box she had under her bed, flashed before her.

Outraged, Rebecca let Kara go, stalking off into Kara's room. She took the box out and opened it up. The box was full to the brim of jewelry still with tags on them from shops, a locket with a child's picture in it and Rebecca's bracelet. Rebecca walked out with the box and thrust it at a stunned Kara. "Get out by the time I get back." Rebecca slammed the door behind her, staring at the bracelet in her hand.

***

The night air was crisp and fresh and steam rose from the breath of the boy who manned the drinks cart behind which Jake took his usual post. The drinks cart was the only place at the stadium where people could get drinks pre, post and mid game, so it was always busy, but Jake had chosen this spot several weeks ago so he could sit at the sidelines where he could watch Ashleigh cheer with her team. Cracking open a can of Coke he watched her, already set up and practicing before the teams came out on to the field. Ashleigh knew he was there. He always was, and she had taken a sideways glance to check he was there already. Jake wished he had the guts to say more than two words to her, but every time he thought about it, his heart seized in his chest.

Being honest to himself, Jake had thought about why he just simply found starting a conversation so hard. He didn't have some kind of traumatic reason, no story behind his story. As far as he could tell, Jake had always been painfully shy, with an emphasis on painfully. His family were always supportive, and as an only child he hadn't had competition for attention, or conversely any siblings to hold him back. Jake was just Jake. He had excelled in school, given he had made so few friends he could spend his time focusing on homework and study. What friends he did make tended to be introverted, book engrossed and non threatening from a social perspective. Being extremely honest with himself, he had not really cared about not being in the 'in' crowd, and certainly had not felt he was missing out on anything – that was until he met Ashleigh.

When Jake had first seen Ashleigh at a football game, it had been just like this one. The air had been crisp and his breath fogged out into the night, highlighted by the stadium lights. Ashleigh had just joined the squad and was still getting her bearings including her coordination. Jake had watched her trip, stumble and step on team mates feet, and laugh all the way through it rather than get frustrated or angry with herself. When he team mates had chastised her, she had batted the comments back with respect and humor, and she had gradually got better over time. It might have been obvious to everyone why he came to these games, it wasn't for the sport, though he liked football, but still Jake couldn't quite get it together enough to actually have more than a few words with her. Jake told her the squad had performed well, said how good, or disappointing the game was, or even managed to say a few things about classes they shared.

To be clear, Jake wasn't staking her. He never followed her home, or peered through her windows, he just liked the idea of being close to her. He just couldn't make it happen. Ashleigh was always responsive when he spoke to her, blushed when she caught him staring or someone made a comment like the night before at the ritual. He just wanted to be close with her. Like now. Jake watched her with a light smile on his face and she watched him back in between routines. The game was about to start.

In the locker room, Able sat looking nervous and uncentred. He sat on his own, his knee bouncing up and down as his foot taped. No one sat near him anymore, a side effect of the other's disappointment with his recent performance. Abel found it hard to believe that he had become so desperate to go to the set up from the night before, but things were that bad. He just needed things to go well tonight. Abel didn't notice, but the lights above him were flickering along with his mood.

The coach started yelling at Abel, whose attention returned from his thoughts to what was happening around him. The lights stopped flickering.

"Abel! I'm talking to you - have you got it together?" The coach shouted.

"Yes Coach!" Abel responded as confidently as he could as he stood to his feet, putting his helmet on.

Coach extended a finger into Abel's face. "We are not having a repeat of the last time. One more piss poor effort like that and you are out. Got me?"

"Yes Sir." Abel managed to reply.

The players donned their helmets, and started out on to the field down the long walkway. The crowds cheered as they arrived on the field, and Abel's heart raced.

A short while later, the team was revising their strategy as the sound of the crowds and the cheerleaders rang out around them. "No way I'm passing anything to Abel." Player 10 challenged the coach.

The coach gave him a shove on the shoulder. "We play as a team. I won't take that kind of talk. Abel's here for good reasons."

"None I can think of." another player mumbled under his breath, but loud enough for Abel to hear. Abel fought the anger and contained his emotions. He had to focus.

Minutes later they were on the field. A chance to get the ball to Abel for a shot at an early score presented itself. Abel saw it, and he knew the others did too, but they didn't pass the ball. "I can do it!" Abel yelled out. "Pass me the ball, and I'll show you." The ball didn't come to him. Abel stopped running and slowed. "C'mon." he said flatly as he saw the player with the ball get tackled to the ground. No was one going to pass him anything. Abel looked up into the stands and saw an older man, concentrating with a notebook and pen. Just his luck. A scout, tonight of all nights. Abel looked back at the players with a determination in his stare. Running alongside the Player 10, who had possession of the ball, he spoke out loud, only audible to himself, and in a commanding tone. "Pass me the ball."

Player 10 promptly passed Abel the ball. The crowd booed him, but Abel caught it and started running. Players from the other team came in, ready to tackle Abel. "Get out of my way...." he shouted, and the players headed for him suddenly suffered a series of trips, falls and heavy feet, allowing Abel to dart past them, and score.

Abel ripped off his helmet and threw it into the ground. "Hell Yeah!" he roared. Turning to the crowd Abel pointed at them, a wide grin across his face. "Take that! Boo me will you - I'll knock you down – any day or night. Boo Ya!" The stands that the spectators were on started to crack and bend, and a sudden sinking feeling appeared in Abel's gut. He looked horrified as he watched the metal buckling.

By the drink stand, Jake heard the bending metal before he saw it shifting. Jake looked towards Ashleigh who was away from her team rubbing her ankle with one hand as she held on to the scaffolding with the other. She seemed to be unaware, as she tested out her ankle as she placed it on the ground. Screams echoed out from the spectator stand and she looked upwards confused. She let go of the scaffolding that groaned as it moved and a few people jumped from the stand above her. She took shelter standing closer to the grandstand, but from where he was, Jake saw the structure was falling towards her. Ashleigh, his Ashleigh was going to be crushed.

Jake started running towards Ashleigh, as the stands started coming apart and pieces fell about her. Ashleigh put her arms above her head, bracing as she realized the scaffolding was about to topple over her, and people continued to jump from the stands above her.

Jake was running and nearly at Ashleigh when he realized he was not going to make it. It was going to be too late. He had waited and procrastinated too long. He should have asked her out, he should have said something about how he felt, he should have done a lot of things. "Stop!" he called out in desperation, in reaction to seeing the scaffolding falling on her, knowing he couldn't do anything about it. As soon as the words left him the stands stopped as though caught on some invisible string. They moved and swayed, but didn't fall towards the ground, and didn't fall on Ashleigh. Jake reached her just as she was peeking out from her arms that she held above her face, bracing for impact. He grabbed her, pushing her out of the way and to the ground, but stopped, Ashleigh curled in his arms when he realized the scaffolding wasn't moving either.

Hovering an inch away from Ashleigh's face Jake was breathing hard. They simultaneously looked above them, both frozen in the realization of the impossibility of the structure hanging above them, defying physics. The screams and yells of people in the background faded away and they looked at eachother. Ashleigh smiled back at him. "You saved me." she said softly. Jake stared back speechless, enthralled by the fact he finally had Ashleigh in his arms, in spite of the context.

As Jake was distracted by Ashleigh's eyes staring back at him, the glint of her lips as she smiled, the scaffolding started falling again. In sudden panic, the two of them closed their eyes waiting to be hit by the falling debris when they disappeared in to thin air. They appeared again at the entrance to the field by the team walkway and in the shadows of the walls. From the rush and the excitement, Ashleigh could barely keep her voice down. "What was that?!" The two dissolved into nervous laughter. In truth they were both stunned, but as they fought to stand on shaky legs a realization occurred. This was a very public display. Keterlyn had said to stay hidden, to keep the magic unseen.

Ashleigh stared out at the disarray. Julia, one of her friends and fellow cheerleaders was looking around, clearly distraught. When she saw Ashleigh over by the walkway, she bolted towards her.

"Remember we can't say anything." Jake prompted.

"What am I going to say?" Ashleigh replied rhetorically as Julia rushed her.

"Oh my God. I thought you were under that mess. I thought you were dead!" Julia gushed clutching Ashleigh so tight she could barely breathe.

"Jake pulled me out of the way." Ashleigh offered by way of explanation.

"I...." Jake began but was cut off by Ashleigh's friend launching into him with a bear hug. After nearly knocking him over in gratitude for saving Ashleigh, Julia pulled away and looked back out on to the field.

"What could have done this?" Julia asked, astounded as she looked over the rubble.

Abel appeared in the doorway looking distressed, and Jake and Ashleigh gave him a knowing stare.

The following night, Keterlyn, Daniel, Molly and Micala waited patiently for everyone to arrive. Lily was the first, and she stalked up the hill, almost looking angry. Her breath came ragged as she began to speak. "My mother's walking. First time in 10 years. I don't know what the hell you did to us, but I want to know more."

Tempest, and Will arrived then, detracting from further conversation, followed by Ashleigh, Jake and Abel. Rebecca and Zara pulled up in separate cars next, and in barely any time at all, as though they were all attuned to the same time and place, the group was almost complete.

"Thank you for coming back." Keterlyn extended.

Will stepped closer, concern across his features. "Anise is missing. I haven't been able to reach her. Did something happen to her? Did you do something to her?"

Keterlyn closed her eyes, cocked her head and slid to her knees, digging her fingers into the dirt. Looking up, her eyelids opened and her irises glowed briefly. The ground cracked and rumbled before Anise appeared a few meters away from the group. Astonished as she looked around. Will ran to her side.

Everyone stood with a variety of shocked faces, and open jaws.

Ashleigh spoke, voicing the group's thoughts. "How come you didn't just show us this stuff before, no offense, but I think you may have had better buy in from the get go."

"Because," reasoned Keterlyn, "When the circle is broken, if I use my magic, I can be detected by a creature called Lormorian. Once I share it with you, I'm safe."

"What is a Lormorian?" asked Jake.

"He is a demon." Keterlyn began. She hated having to say what came next. "He's my...I married him."

"Your husband?!" Lily asked gob smacked. "Are you a ..."

Keterlyn interrupted her. "I'm just a girl who was in the wrong place at the wrong time."

"You did this to save yourself? That's pitiful." Abel accused.

Daniel responded on instinct. "Hey! It's not like we don't get anything. How's your game doing?" Abel shrank back slightly.

Keterlyn brushed off the dispute. She was used to any and all comments, though admitted to herself this was the first time anyone had stood up for her like that. "Maybe Abel, but the alternative is too painful. And you will get plenty out of this. I mean besides the enduring health, youth, vitality...I expect you already have started experiencing some of those benefits."

Rebecca was next to press for answers. "He's chasing you. Does that mean he'll come after us?"

Keterlyn shook her head. "He can't find you while we are connected. But if you breach the rule of revealing yourself, you need to give up your powers. Once the connection is broken, we all become vulnerable."

"That doesn't sound so bad." Tempest said in response.

"It means they can find you and if they find you, they will kill you." Keterlyn clarified for him.

"They?" Zara asked with a cautious tone.

"Lormorian and the creatures that serve him, his underlings. It won't be a pleasant end, and I will not help you. Fate has it's heroes. I'm not one of them." A silence settled over the group after Keterlyn spoke. She continued on, knowing she had their undivided attention, and their acknowledgement of the seriousness of the situation. "When we are together, our strength will be even more than when we are apart. That's why it was important to meet monthly to reestablish connections with each other, exchange any concerns, and together we can work on big ticket items you might have."

"How did you get away?" Lily had posed a question Keterlyn herself wanted to avoid now she knew what had happened to Eerie.

"I did what I needed to, to survive. But a friend helped me."

"Where is this friend now?" Will questioned. Keterlyn paused unwilling to answer.

"Let's begin." Keterlyn said instead allowing people to read in to her absence of an answer as they would.

Molly stepped forward. She had waited every day of her life for this. An extravert who forged her own way, Molly had always pushed boundaries, and wanted to lead the way. In her last coven, which she had joined when she was just sixteen she had felt the energy, known it was there to be touched, but this was more than she thought she would have ever had the chance to know. Smiling, she stood, head held high, for the first time feeling like she had a calling. Summoning of energy had come naturally to her, unlike some of the other skills Daniel had mastered, or Micala had focused on. Molly felt she was standing on the precipice of her greatest realization, and she breathed deeply embracing it.

Coming from a working class home, Molly had always been taught to hold her head high, work hard and aim for what she wanted. There might be some things she didn't talk about when she visited home, such as coven meetings and full moon rituals, but she knew what she wanted and right now, she knew she was willing to work hard to get the most out of it. As she inhaled the night air she could almost taste the insects, leaves, the essence of everything that kept the universe together. Smiling Molly readied a blue ball of energy in her hands, using all of which she had already been taught.

Keterlyn had trained Daniel, Molly and Micala well over the last two days. They had picked it up faster than any group before. Levitation, harnessing the elements, and drawing power from existing sources around them. They had performed well, and now it was time to get the others up to speed. Molly threw the ball of energy and it splintered as it hit the nearby tree. Sparks of light danced around the tree like fairy lights, providing illumination. In wonder, the others looked on. Daniel stood closer to then moved next to Keterlyn.

Ashleigh left the rest of the group who stood staring at the dancing lights. She moved forward staring up, almost breathless at the beauty. The dancing blue light reminded her of the fireflies near the lake at the base of the property she used to live on. She had always thought that there had been magic in the night sky, be it fireflies, be it comets streaking across the night sky, or the immense density of the milky way so clear in the country. She had missed the space, the magic since leaving home to study. In her heart she knew she carried the down to earth nature, the frank honesty she had been inspired to grow within her, but she missed the fantasy.

The fantasy of believing that fairies danced at the base of trees whilst she slept, that there existed chivalry, knights on white horses, or the endless possibilities of the universe, had always proved to make the best dreams Ashleigh had as a child. Tonight was a re-awakening. She didn't fear it, she couldn't. She could almost cry to see the magic come to life.

# Chapter 9

After initial training where everyone was learning to centre themselves, build power within, and get used to their particular strengths, before trying to use other ones, some had gone home and collapsed with exhaustion from being up all night, others had decided to keep going. In the early hours of the morning, Lily and Micala were two of those who had kept running on the adrenaline of what was happening.

Micala's room on Campus wasn't like Rebecca's. She didn't need to share, and it was more like a box than anything else. The bed collapsed into an alcove in the wall, and Micala had done a good job of making the space comfortable. As Lily and Micala sat on the floor in a meditational stance, they basked in the flickering glow of twenty or so candles, and incense burned in the corner. Heavy curtains, one of Micala's best investments for the room, prevented daylight from disturbing the two. They had been practicing in turns since breaking from the group and it had been paying off, so neither felt like stopping for sleep just yet. They both tested themselves across the areas Keterlyn had spoken of – telekinesis, transportation, wish fulfillment, location of things and people across time, harnessing energy and illusion.

Lily concentrated, eyes closed. "So mote it be!" she announced as her eyes flickered open, her pupils dilating. About them, the room transformed into a bayou type setting. Looking around, the two were delighted.

"That's fantastic!" Micala encouraged. Keen to show off herself, Micala gave a cheeky grin. "You want to see something else?" Lily nodded eagerly. "Hide something. Anything." Micala asked of Lily. Lily took a ring off, placed it in her palm and encircled it with her fist before closing her eyes once more. Opening her palm Micala saw it was gone.

"Ah a challenge." Micala said, expecting Lily was going to hide it in the apartment itself. Micala picked up a pen and paper from under her desk and started to sketch.

At first she sketched a door with a sign above it 'Duffy's' – a bar.

Sketching harder over the top, Micala's eyes flickered between half closed and open; her breathing became harder. It was of a layout of the inside of the bar, a rough approximation of the bar areas itself, the stage, the seating area and the bathrooms and kitchen. Next Micala took off the pendant necklace she had around her throat, and hovered it over the sketch. Holding it delicately, the pendant oscillated over the bar, at first fast, then more slowly and in ever constricting circles until it dropped like a lead weight over a table in the far corner.

"No way!" Lily cried out clearly impressed. She closed her fist again and the ring discretely disappeared from where she had transported it – the now closed for business Duffy's. "Teach me." She said bouncing on the spot and slipping the ring back on her finger.

"Sure," Micala granted before looking down at her lap. "But Lily, what's your take on all of this?"

Eyes wide, lily didn't even bother hide being ecstatic. "It's the best thing that ever happened to me. And my Mom. For the first time, I can think about doing whatever I want. I'm not stressing all the time."

"You aren't worried about this guy Lor?" Micala asked peering up through her dark lashes.

Lily shook her head very definitely. "I worried about everything for so long. I don't care anymore. There's nothing he or anything else can do to me that compares to the last few years."

Micala nodded slowly before agreeing. "It is incredible. I didn't really think that going to that meeting would really change anything, but it changed everything."

Lily was confused about why Micala looked so despondent about something so incredible. It was overwhelming though Lily validated. "So, you going to show me how to find things or what?" she said to detract Micala from the sudden change in mood. "We can keep the deep and meaningful for another time."

Micala smiled again. "Yeah, but then I have to sleep. Are you ready?" Micala took one of Lily's hands and pressed the pen in to it.

A couple of hours later, Keterlyn was walking the campus corridors holding four large library books as though nothing had happened. She was feeling rather good about everything though. It had all come to a head, and it made her feel light on her feet. She could do as she wished now, and as soon as she had the coven properly set up and trained, they could decide who would live where, the details of when and where they would meet.

Daniel dashed up behind her tapping her on the shoulder, but when she spun around, he had ducked to the other side. Daniel seemed in a particularly jovial mood, and that was to be expected. The rush of experiencing the magic, and seeing everything it could bring, played havoc with the brain chemistry. The adrenaline surge, the need to accept the fantastic. Some people near spun out of control with excitement, others collided with depression as they came to terms with the new information. .

"Now you're the one appearing out of nowhere." Keterlyn joked as she resumed walking again, Daniel keeping pace beside her.

"I needed the element of surprise." He started.

Keterlyn raised an eyebrow. "Oh oh." she said half serious. From the glint in his eye, she knew what he was going to say next.

"I'm going to ask you out, on another date, but I think you're going to come up with some kind of excuse." Keterlyn gave him a woeful look, but undeterred Daniel continued. "I don't know if you just kissed me to get me to come to the circle – I don't care, but I think we could be good together."

Keterlyn let a smile escape. "It is a recruitment strategy I hadn't considered."

"So that wasn't why you kissed me?" Daniel pounced upon her phrase and it dug under her skin that she was so easy to read. Keterlyn was tired of playing it aloof, batting back chances to be with people, to connect, rather than just co-exist in a mutually beneficial co-dependency that mirrored a parasitic relationship.

Trying to save herself, Keterlyn pressed her lips together before correcting him. "No, but I need to be clear, we can't have any kind of relationship."

"Because I'm your student?" Daniel enquired. "Because it would be complicated? I can do complicated."

"Because I'm going to keep living long after you're dead." Keterlyn bluntly stated. The reality check worked. Daniel stiffened and looked more serious.

"You really know how to put things into perspective." he said.

"It's a gift." Keterlyn said lightly.

Thoughtful, Daniel walked ahead of Keterlyn slightly and turned into her path. She stopped finally and looked back at him. "What if you do die? I mean, what if Lormorian finds you, or something else. Anytime anyone thinks they are untouchable, something proves them wrong."

Pausing before responding Keterlyn simply regarded Daniel back neutrally. "Karma." She said eventually and brushed past Daniel to continue to class, though she walked more slowly.

"I know it well." Daniel played along as he caught up with Keterlyn again. "Anytime I ever tried to sneak a peak in the girls dressing room in high school, I would get pummeled."

"The guys were that protective huh?"

"No – the girls, once they caught me, it got nasty. Never did learn though."

Finally, to Daniel's pleasure Keterlyn smiled fully. If nothing else, he was determined to get a yes from Keterlyn, now or tomorrow, or the next day. Whenever he managed to wear down her pretences. He knew, at the end of the day, she liked him as much as he liked her.

About the same time, Anise and Rebecca were having coffee together at the café on campus. Anise had organized the get together and Rebecca had very suspiciously accepted. Given her recent experience with her flatmate, Rebecca was more apprehensive than usual about trusting others, however recognized the need to band together with the group she now had something forcibly in common with.

Anise cut to the chase. "So I thought we might be useful to each other."

"I was surprised when you asked me here. Knew there had to be something."

Suddenly Anise sounded hurt. "What do you mean?"

"As if someone like you would want to spend time with a social pariah like me." Rebecca bit back.

Anise pushed on past the scathing accusations and self depreciation. Anise was a woman of reason after all. "The way I see it, we are all bonded, like family. We have to work together like family. Find ways of making and keeping the peace."

"I'm interested." Said Rebecca, fast becoming aware she needed to find a way to make the extra rent now she was living on her own, and wish fulfillment was something she was yet to even be able to play with.

"You are good at the reading minds, sensing energies from objects and things. I'm good at transporting, wish mongering."

"And?" Rebecca encouraged, leaning forward to embrace her coffee.

"So I thought I could help you practice, you help me, we get better together." Just as Rebecca was contemplating the arrangement, Rebecca's chair was knocked by another girl, a tall, lean and over made up girl with heels higher that her IQ was likely to be given the smart tongue in cheek look she shot Rebecca.

Clearly the knock was on purpose because as soon as the girl and her friend sat down, the comments started flowing.

The girl coughed into her menu, and as she did the word "Freak." Came from her mouth. Anise frowned. Rebecca stewed.

The friend who sat in the chair which had it's back to Rebecca used a high pitch mocking tone to produce her jibe. "I see dead people!" she mocked. Rebecca's fists clenched and Anise gave her a warning look.

"Becca!" cautioned Anise, but it was too late.

Rebecca was going to make wish fulfillment work for her. She was sick of it. The taunting, the lack of insight, the stupidity and ignorance. She ground her teeth together, closed her eyes like they had been taught to help focus. "Ugly within, is ugly without, why don't you blemish and sprout." Rebecca hissed under her breath.

The tall girl at the next table screamed and jumped up from her chair. Rebecca gave a smug smile, but the girl had shrieked at Rebecca. Anise stood slowly, alarm spelt clearly on her face as she rose, staring at Rebecca across the table.

While Anise and Rebecca were having coffee, and Keterlyn and Daniel were dawdling towards a lecture she was already late for, Ashleigh and Abel were sitting through an economics lecture. Everywhere students, who had to take the course as a compulsory unit, were drifting off to sleep, or doodling pictures of plants. Molly was in the same lecture, but across the room, and distracted by watching Ashleigh and Abel, and their casual manner. She wasn't used to common, casual relationships, and the new dynamic of this ongoing bond between all of them was taking Molly into unknown territory. She may have been a member of a coven before, but this was different. They would always be relying on eachother and they didn't even know how trustworthy eachother was. It troubled her, and it occurred to her she should make more of an effort to fit in, to be close. She nodded to herself, oblivious to the lecture content.

Meanwhile, Ashleigh and Abel attempted to keep their eyelids prized open. Neither were concerned about Molly, or Molly's concerns about everyone else's trustworthiness, needing to bond, or what it meant about changing their lives, because the two of them had been team players for a very long time. Ashleigh had helped on the property she lived on, had been playing sports for years, and had always been involved with groups. Abel had always had his family as his tight knit team. He lied for them, with them, he had created impenetrable bonds with his brothers to keep them safe, and then been playing as part of a team which taught him a lot about accepting people for who they were, but trusting, when it came down to it that they would all pull together. As such, neither of them shared any of Molly's concerns.

"My brain is going to fall out if he keeps talking like that." Abel mumbled staring forward on automatic pilot.

"You mean in that monotone, blood curdling way that only a statistics lecturer can pull off?" Ashleigh added as she stared at the front of the lecture hall equally unenthused.

Just then, Will snuck through the door and sat behind them, unnoticed by the lecturer who was as dispassionate about attendance rates as he appeared to be about the content.

Will looked keyed up as Ashleigh gave him a sly look. "You were supposed to meet us before class to study." Ashleigh scolded.

"I was studying." Will stated, an untrustworthy tone in his voice. He pulled out a bag of herbs and white powder mixed together.

Abel turned to face Will, his interest tweaked. "What is that?" he asked of Will.

Suddenly interested, the lecturer turned from his whiteboard to shout at Will and Abel. Ashleigh slid deeper into her chair. "People, please try and stay on track. One of the things wrong in this world is that no one can do basic math anymore. Help me help you."

Abel made a face and Will gave a smug smile as the lecturer turned back to his material. Producing a granulated dust from the bag he held, Will palmed some, then held his palm out towards the lecturer. Abel and Ashleigh gave an alarmed expression, Abel looking about to see who was looking. Only Molly looked on, bolt upright in her chair, and wide accusing eyes meeting Abel's. Will blew the dust from his palm towards the lecturer.

Dusting his hands off as the herbal mix floated through the air, Will sat back confident. "This guy needs to cut loose." Was all Will said.

"What did you do?" Ashleigh asked trying not to sound accusing.

Will just shrugged.

The lecturer breathed in some of the powder, and braced himself on the table. He appeared to be having trouble with the temperature, fanning himself and sweating.

The few students paying attention looked concerned for him. Molly was the only one who spoke up though. "Are you alright sir?"

"Fine, fine." dismissed the lecturer as he loosened his tie. He took a sip of water, and leaned back against the desk, instead of bracing himself on it. He seemed much more relaxed. "Anyone have an I-pod on them?" he asked, almost indifferently.

Outside the same lecture hall Ashleigh, Abel, Will and Molly were in, a teacher walked by surprised by the music blasting through the usually tame doors to the economics lecture. Having a double take, the teacher went to the door and cracked it open to peak inside.

The economics lecturer had the floor, dancing to "Move it" as the students sang the chorus in astonished amusement to spur him on. The bell rings out and the students left including Will and Ashleigh who were laughing, and Abel following more solemn behind them. A stoic Molly appeared standing in front of them. Will and Ashleigh stopped laughing and became grim.

"That was seriously...awesome!" Molly said, and snickered along with Will and Ashleigh. Abel pushed past, pausing to speak with them before walking away.

"That was risky. No public displays she said. Nothing obvious. I just got my game back, I don't want to lose it over game playing in class." With that, Abel disappeared in to the crowd, giving Will, Ashleigh and Molly something to think about.

"We should find Keterlyn before he does and tell her." Ashleigh reasoned.

Keterlyn, who had abandoned interest in making the next class ignored the bell as she walked with Daniel. She strolled, almost enamored by Daniel's continuous efforts to get her to agree to going out with him.

"So I should date you in case I die? That's your argument?" Keterlyn asked of his last comment that she may die in spite of her immortality.

"Yeah. Why not?" he teased as Anise rushed up, interrupting them with her fearful stare. She towed Rebecca behind her, but she had a shirt over her head. Daniel and Keterlyn both gave a surprised look. Partially pulling back the material, Rebecca revealed her face. It was covered in peeling skin and her eyebrows were missing, with large sores and heavy hair growth down the sides of her usually porcelain skin. Micala turned up then, eyes bulging from lack of sleep, and a tall energy drink in her hand. Seeing Rebecca, she had to cast her eyes in another direction.

"See –" Keterlyn accused. "Karma strikes again. Didn't I say, don't misuse the power or it comes back on you."

"Speaking of," Micala started, I had a few questions. Micala reached out for Keterlyn and took her hand as though pleading for her attention. Keterlyn looked back at Micala. "I have a few questions." Micala urged.

"I can't now, I have to sort this out." Turning back to Rebecca, Keterlyn scolded her with every inch of her silent communication. "Let's get you out of sight and fixed up."

Keterlyn took Rebecca by the arm and escorted her away, leaving Anise, Micala and Will to stand watching them walk away as Abel arrived behind them.

Later that night at the park where they now practiced, the group, a well healed Rebecca included all waited. Most knew they were in trouble and the rest scornfully milled about waiting for Keterlyn.

"There are not a lot of rules." Keterlyn's voice sounded out, but she was yet to be seen. As people looked for her, the tree shook, leaves falling to the ground about them. Slowly, imperceptibly slowly, Keterlyn emerged from the tree, her figure recognizable at first, then her features, then finally, she pulled free from the trunk and stepped into the midst of the group, holding a dark bag.

"Do not be seen. Be inconspicuous. Don't actively aim to hurt someone unless in self defense. That's it. Was there anything left unclear in that department?"

Surprisingly, Zara, who had been most compliant, most accommodating stepped forward. "What if only a couple of people see something? How does that work?"

"If it is not enough to ripple the essential fabric of understanding for the mass group, if it isn't enough for people to doubt what they know to be true, it won't cause a problem. It's only when people start doing ridiculous things that cannot be explained away that there exists a risk." Keterlyn shot Will a blaming glance. "Any more questions?" she barked. After a silent pause, Keterlyn threw the bag on to the ground. "OK, question time is over. It's time to start practicing properly."

Tempest, who was nearest the bag knelt and opened it up, appearing surprised to pull out a notebook.

"No good without these." Keterlyn added, tossing him a box of pens.

"Ah, magical pens." Lily said in mock assuredness.

Keterlyn looked over towards her unresponsive. Lily squirmed, the humour suddenly seeming particularly childish. "Not quite." Keterlyn indicated. "You will have to study, practice. These notebooks are the first tool you will need to memorise every herb, every phase of the moon, record potions, spells and talents you might possess and want to grow."

"Yay, study..." Anise uttered sarcastically. Tempest passed her a pen and notebook.

Keterlyn was unphased. "We start with safety, with protection."

Will fought from groaning. "Why do I get the feeling this is going to be tougher than finals?"

"Somehow," Micala added quietly. "I get the feeling that if you don't study it could be your finals..."

Keterlyn turned towards Daniel who watched her unquestioning and patient, as though he completely understood. "So let's get down to it." Keterlyn insisted. "You have a bank of skills that you can harness. Some are more natural to you than others, which will need more practice. Most will involve manipulating the elements around you...of all of these skills and experiences, it is vital you meet it with maturity, or you are going to lose the gifts I have given you." Keterlyn raised a hand and the tree near her bends toward her, vines on its trunk entwining around her arm. "Harness them and you can do as you will....but harm none." Everyone looked at her attentively. "Write it down." She instructed, and everyone turned to their books and made notes. "Living energy, plants, the sun, the moon, and phases are where we will start, and their link with personal protection of course." Looking over at Daniel, he didn't take notes. He just looked at her, content, and she didn't correct him. He knew, she got it, and anything she said, he wouldn't have to take notes.

***

After a long night, Keterlyn climbed into bed after undressing. As she slipped under the covers, she knocked free a small panel of wood from the bed. It fell to the ground unnoticed, and apparently unimportant. Sighing, she relaxed into the sheets.

Just as she felt sleep stroke her eyes and body, relaxing her into slumber, something else eased under the sheets as well. Unaware, Keterlyn let herself drift into relaxation. After a moment of summoning its power, an arm slinked over Keterlyn, and materialized under the covers. It stroked her skin and though it took Keterlyn a moment to realize what was happening, when she did she gasped in horror, and jumped from the bed.

Glaring back at the bed as though it betrayed her, the image of Lormorian, bare- chested and leaning against one arm corporialised. Unlike before, when he was vague and unsubstantiated, there was Lormorian, fully formed, as though she shared a room with her.

Keterlyn was mortified. "How are you doing this? You shouldn't be able to find me."

Lormorian made a fake frown. "Can't an old dog learn new tricks?" Soon enough, his face returned to the usual confident, unemotional stare Keterlyn was accustomed to. "Kitti was always my favourite name for you. Kitti, you might think I'm angry with you but it's not true. True you have eluded me for 800 years..."

"826." Keterlyn interrupted.

Lormorian wore a look of distaste. "True, I can't take another wife while you still live and breathe the life I gave you, but honey, you know you're the only one for me. Come home now. It's time to stop playing - show me where you are. Choose wisely. I'm getting creative with my torture and bag of tricks these days. I'll find you, then I'll come for you."

Keterlyn laughed which angered Lormorian further. "Fine, laugh if you want. But it doesn't really matter. You'll be coming to me soon enough anyhow."

"Just like that?" Keterlyn's voice laden with sarcasm challenged Lormorian.

"Just like that." he replied with a disturbing lack of concern. Knowing he had her on the defensive, Lormorian disappeared, leaving Keterlyn staring anxiously at her empty bed.

Unable to sleep, Keterlyn fled from the apartment, knowing she was no longer safe, but not knowing why.

Keterlyn instead went to meet with Violet, in the least likely place anyone who knew her, would think to find her.

Keterlyn sat on the quiet church pew, and Violet all but laughed out loud when she saw her friend sitting there so demure, hunched over and looking as though she might even be praying, though Violet knew better. Having responded to her friend's distress call immediately, Violet hadn't even changed from the red leather pants and near see through gold shirt she sported. The two other people in the church stared at her, condemning.

"I believe they call this irony." Violet said, resting in to the hard pew beside Keterlyn, putting her feet up one over the other resting on the pew in front of her.

Keterlyn leaned back next to Violet. "Don't worry, I'm not here to pray.... Violet. Something is wrong. That he can find me, even though he isn't really there...it scares the hell out of me. How is it he can be there, but not?"

Violet passed Keterlyn a trash newspaper. The headline read – Death by Mummy Curse. An image of a contorted body, partially mummified in appearance.

Tylor Keterlyn rued. One of her last coven, who had clearly been drained by a Life Leech. Keterlyn tried to distance herself but it hurt. Maybe she could have helped, could have tried, but at what cost?

"Maybe this is how is he finding you?" Violet said.

"How would killing one of my last coven help Lor find me? It never made a difference before."

Violet shrugged. "Magic isn't really my thing. Killing things is though. Maybe it's time to stop running." Violet was so strong willed, so eager to bring things back under control, Keterlyn was envious.

"You know what will happen. He dies, I die. We share the same life source."

"You can't run forever. Especially not if he is closing in..."

Keterlyn snapped her head around to look at Violet. "Watch me." The two looked silently at one another. "Fighting is also your thing though isn't it?" Keterlyn enquired.

"Only one better than me is Viktor, but he lets me win anyway."

"I think you can help us Violet."

"Us? It's 'us' now, not just you." Violet tormented Keterlyn lovingly.

"I'm not bringing another group of people together. Not so soon. This coven is it. It's a group with potential." Keterlyn had sounded more passionate than she had intended and of course Violet had picked up on it.

"If I didn't know better I'd think you were really attached to them. Or maybe one."

Keterlyn ran her shoulder in to her friend. "Don't be foolish." She answered Violet, avoiding the issue.

"Fine." Violet conceded. "In the meantime, I guess if we can't kill him, I'll have to settle for fighting if you're sure there's no other way?"

"No, but I know I'm not going back. Can you meet me tomorrow, help me do what needs to be done?"

Violet, seeing her friend's angst tried to cheer her up. "Not even over my already dead body." With that Violet stood, stretched and after winking, strolled away leaving Keterlyn smiling at her comment.

# Chapter 10

"Keterlyn. I need your help." Daniel's voice sounded slurred and strained. Keterlyn didn't think she could take another thing to worry about. She had just got home from meeting with Violet, and witch or not, she still needed to sleep. Hearing his voice on the phone though, she knew she had to find out what was wrong. Daniel stumbled out the name of a bar, and without delay she left the confines of her apartment and appeared a few streets away where she couldn't be seen.

Resisting the urge to run, Keterlyn hastened down the steps in to the darkness of the bar. She didn't need to look, she knew where he was and she headed straight there. When she saw him though, she became angry and confused. Daniel was sitting with two other guys and what seemed to be their girlfriends, clearly drinking and looking as though he was just having a good night. Was he drunk? He looked drunk. Slowing her approach, she drew to a stop just behind him. She recognized two of the guys from the bar where Lily worked. They had been playing pool. One of them was Daniel's flatmate.

"Hey." Daniel exclaimed in an overenthusiastic way when he leaned back and saw her behind him. He wasn't just drunk. She took a chair beside him as she sized up the others at the table. Daniel gave her a hug that nearly knocked her off her seat.

"I thought something was wrong." Keterlyn explained.

"I'm sorry, but I needed you to come. I'm not right."

Keterlyn didn't disagree, but Daniel managed to stand well enough, and disappeared to the bar without further comment.

"I'm so sorry," snickered one of the guys from across the table. "He can't handle his beer." Keterlyn regarded him doubtfully. The girl sitting next to him with dark eyeliner and a heavy collection of bangles leaned across the table.

"They slipped him something. He was going to split, it's so shitty, but..." she rested back in her chair. "...too late now."

"Will he be alright?" Keterlyn looked for Daniel and saw him ordering more drinks from a bartender with clearly questionable morals.

Staggering back with a round of shots, Daniel shakily handed them out. Keterlyn placed a hand on his arm. "We had better go. I can get you home." She might not be able to reverse the effects, but she could keep him safe, get him home and rested.

"Just one drink." Daniel urged.

"No, we should go Daniel."

"One drink and we'll go." Keterlyn could tell negotiating was unlikely. She nodded in acceptance.

Just as they were about to throw back the drink, the other girl at the table threw an arm out. "Wait." she cried. "I learned a trick last weekend." The guy she hung off looked intrigued as she took his drink and propped it between her knees. She looked as wasted as he was. "You have to drink it, but with no hands." Keen, her boyfriend immediately obliged, dipping his head and clenching the shot glass with his teeth. Throwing his head back, he drank the liquid obligingly, the girl taking the glass from his lips and kissing him sinfully.

Each took their turn until Keterlyn and Daniel were left. She considered refusing, but it wasn't exactly the most scandalous thing she had ever done. She placed Daniel's glass between her knees as gracefully as she could, wishing she had worn pants or a longer skirt.

Happily Daniel sank his head to take hold of the shot glass, but in doing so a drop spilled down Keterlyn's thigh. As Keterlyn shifted her hand to wipe the drop, Daniel took her by surprise. Sinking his head back down, Daniel licked the drop from her leg, and Keterlyn's jaw dropped. With the same fluid response, Daniel grabbed hold of her chair and pulled Keterlyn so close he could whisper in her ear. The hairs on her neck raised in anticipation, feeling his heavy breath on her neck.

"I can be whatever you want me to be Keterlyn, Caitlin, whoever you are." Daniel paused and Keterlyn patience was stretched. She wasn't going to be cornered like this. She opened her mouth to respond. "I don't want anything else anymore, just you." Daniel finished.

Hesitating, Keterlyn was speechless. She heard the catcalls from his friends across the table, but took Daniel's face in her hands. He was so intent, so confronting it threw her, but the pupils of his eyes were so dilated, she wasn't about to blame him for something he didn't mean. He didn't mean any harm, so she would make sure he got home safely and then chastise him in the morning when he could remember.

"We're going home." Keterlyn said and without question or protest, Daniel stood, and the two of them left.

Just a block outside and to the left, Keterlyn pulled Daniel into a deep set doorway and transported them to his home.

On arriving he nearly fell from the disorientation, but Keterlyn steered him towards the couch where he happily collapsed. Keterlyn looked Daniel over. He was dehydrated, and his pupils were still the size of saucers. She frowned, unhappy, and went to the kitchen to get a glass of water.

"Daniel," she called from the kitchen which opened onto the lounge room where Daniel lay watching her every move as though fascinated. Keterlyn was pouring him a large glass of water and stirring something in it that looked like sugar. "Something has happened, and we may not be as safe as I thought we were. Tomorrow we all need to get together, and I don't know how much you are going to remember of all this, but I need you to be more careful." Keterlyn brought the glass over and placed it on the counter, taking a seat next to him. "Will you trust me? Will you stand with me when I hit home tomorrow how important it is everyone listens, that everyone needs to learn to protect themselves and eachother?"

"Of course." Even though Daniel said what she wanted, she looked unconvinced. She wasn't sure he would remember any of this given his state.

"I'm also going to temporarily bind us. If someone gets hurt, I'll know about it."

"You can come and rescue us. Like me tonight." He was joking and Keterlyn didn't find it funny. None of them really knew what the stakes were.

"Something like that. I have to be honest with you Daniel. If there is anything to run from, anything I can't handle, I am not going to try and save anyone." Keteryln looked over Daniel sitting there, every muscle relaxed as he sprawled on the couch next to her, a big, cocky wide smile transforming his usually well controlled features.

"You've said that before."

"For good reason." Keterlyn added, unmoving. "Now drink, you're dehydrated." Keterlyn said pointing at the glass of water on the table.

"Or?" tested Daniel.

"Or else." She replied laughing as she did.

"Kiss me and I'll do it." Daniel challenged in a moment of false bravado.

"You must think I was born twenty years ago. Drink the water." Keterlyn dismissed him.

"Not until you kiss me." He replied summoning confidence.

"Isn't going to happen." Keterlyn insisted.

"I know you want me." Daniel's tone was more tempting and sultry now and caught Keterlyn off guard.

"It can't happen." Keterlyn hardened her tone.

"You didn't say you didn't want me." Picked up Daniel.

"I don't want you." She couldn't have sounded less truthful if she tried.

"I don't believe you."

Keterlyn stood up to move away from Daniel. She had to because she was frighteningly close to not caring if she took this to the next level or not. "You'll make yourself sick. If you drink the water, I'll get you something to eat. That will help the drugs and drink get through your system."

"No." Daniel sounded almost like an obstinate child and it was hard for Keterlyn to resist stamping her foot and adamantly demand he do as she said. She took a calming breath instead and decided to play along.

"Fine. You want a kiss? Deal."

"Really?" He almost couldn't believe it.

"But drink the water first."

Daniel guzzled half the water and sat back. She smiled and his heart skipped a beat. His palms were sweaty. Keterlyn sat back on the couch next to him and leant in towards him. Daniel closed his eyes, waiting. He missed her touch and the drugs enhanced the necessity to his very being to feel her skin, her kiss. Then he felt her lips kiss him on the cheek. He frowned and opened his eyes again. She was still smiling, but now it was more like the cat that swallowed the canary.

"That wasn't fair." Daniel protested.

"Neither is blackmail." Keterlyn moved to get off the couch, but Daniel grabbed hold of her hand. He gave her a long, pleading look, that made her feel like she should look the other way – but she couldn't. "Fine, but quick. And you have to drink the rest of the water."

Daniel obliged by draining the glass. Keterlyn was leaning forward on her knees towards him, and Daniel tried hard not to laugh. The tension was palpable, the drugs in his system making everything around him heightened. Not that he wanted that. He didn't really want to kiss her, or try and persuade her to breach her boundaries whilst he wasn't himself, but he couldn't help it. He had to have this, had to feel her.

As Keterlyn kissed Daniel, she was more than nervous, not wanting what happened before to happen again. She didn't want him glowing, or anything else, just a quick kiss and move on. She pressed her lips against his, closed, and as non tempting as possible. It could even be a friendly gesture.

It may not have been as passionate as he would have liked, but it sent Daniel's senses soaring. As she parted from him he couldn't bear it. Her scent, her skin, the possibility of feeling her kiss him back like she had at the fayre. Keterlyn was just moving away when Daniel panicked at the thought of her leaving. He pulled her forward and off balance from her kneeling position, swinging her around. He kissed her deeply and though she froze initially, she yielded within a second and Daniel was in heaven. Even then, she came to her senses all too soon and pushed him gently back.

"Don't, I can't do this. It's a mistake." She said, but hardly sounded like she meant it. Her fingers splayed against his shirt. He knew she could make him stop if she wanted. Hell she could send him across the planet if she wanted him gone. So hovering, hypnotized by her he leaned back towards her. She bit her lip, her chest tightened and her breath arrested as she stared at his mouth. He leaned forward, and her eyes dropped to half mast. She was practically trembling under him.

As they moved towards eachother Daniel thought he felt a literal electricity buzz about the room, but it was broken by the sudden entrance of his flatmate and one of the girls he had hooked up with. Thrown from her haze by the door flying open, Keterlyn was up and to her bag before Daniel could come to terms with the sudden loss.

"Sleep it off, we are all meeting tomorrow afternoon. No exceptions." Keterlyn swept out, past the flatmate, and left Daniel to flop back on the couch and to his drug induced feelings of delirium.

The next day, around dusk, all thirteen people stood in the park, Keterlyn addressing them. Daniel kept his shades on, protesting the fading afternoon sun. Keterlyn also hadn't spoken to him, though he had tried when he had first arrived. Keterlyn had simply made fleeting eye contact with him, before diverting her path away from him to take an authoritative spot near the solitary tree. Daniel contemplated what had happened the night before. He didn't regret it exactly, but wouldn't have acted so arrogantly if it hadn't been for his damned roommate. The roommate had been trying to get Daniel to hit on one of the bar tenders and when he declined saying he had someone else in his sights, they had challenged him to call her, get her to join them. When he had declined, he had returned from the bathroom to a fresh drink, and an added ingredient that had caused his lack of inhibitions and now headache. About twenty minutes later Daniel had thought it was a great idea to call Keterlyn, then push boundaries he knew she was uncomfortable about. He might have confirmed a few things for himself about Keterlyn, but at what cost? She didn't even want to look at him. At least before last night she seemed to be warming up. Maybe if he didn't blow someone or something up now that would earn him points. Today was particularly important. He remembered her asking him something about supporting her in whatever she was taking them through.

Keterlyn stood seriously at the apex of the group. "Something has come up and I need to accelerate your training. Usually I would take you through all of the basics, the herbs, the lore, the tricks of the trade before taking you through today's activity."

"What is it? What's happened?" asked Anise.

"I don't know that it really worries you." Keterlyn tried to brush of.

"I think anything that worries you worries us." Tempest pointed out.

Keterlyn had to reflect on why she was telling them anything. She could get away with not telling anyone at all, simply letting them believe this was part of the natural process – it wasn't as thought they knew any different. Not teaching them at all was another consideration she had run through. If push came to shove, it was not as if she could teach them anything that could save them from the likes of Lormorian. But deep inside, Keterlyn couldn't hide the fact that she did want them to be able to protect themselves from the lesser nasties they could run into. She didn't want to see them die if she could help it, and she owed them that much – teaching them how to defend eachother, defend themselves. Keterlyn looked about her at the group in front of her. Barely adults, barely out of the honeymoon stage of accepting what she had given to them, and barely aware of the other side of the darkness. Just like she had.

"Lormorian came to me yesterday." Keterlyn announced.

Daniel's head snapped up from it's resting position. That was why she had come so fast, worried about him so much, when he called.

"What does that mean exactly?" Zara asked.

"You make him sound like the devil, but we have no idea what to be scared of, or why." agreed Lily.

"We don't even know if what you tell us is the truth." Rebecca pointed out. "No offense."

"Why on earth would she lie?" Daniel intervened. Keterlyn looked a touch less on edge when he spoke.

"When I was first turned in to what I am today, I thought I had been saved. I was just as naïve to all of this as you were. All I had was a handful of bedtime stories and some basic skills my aunt taught me." Keterlyn decided telling them everything was a potential mistake she would bare. Worst case scenario, the next coven she could change her tactics. Let them know what to fear, and why. "Almost as quickly though, I realized that I had been lied to. He told me he would protect me, he loved me, that he knew what I was going through and would help me. By the end of the next day though, I saw where he came from, I knew the darkness within."

Micala shivered.

Keterlyn leaned back into the tree, grateful to feel it's security, it's solid mass propping her up. "The things I saw," her eyes lost their usual focus, as she stared back through so many years to remember what she tried hard to forget over the years. "When I saw where he lived, where he took me to stay, I couldn't believe the amount of the dead. Their bones paved the roads, their skulls decorated his chairs, tables..." Keterlyn looked back at the group, a dangerous edge to her face. "Lormorian is an upper level demon. He can command a range of other beings that I will take you through in time. You can't fight him, but if he sends any of his creatures, you will be able to fight them – even if it's just to get away."

"I thought he couldn't find us – you 'bound us' all together so he couldn't find you." Will reminded her.

"He shouldn't be able to. I still don't know how he did. But even then, he wasn't really there, it was just a projection of himself."

"What did he do, or say?" Molly asked with a fearful tinge to her usual melodic voice.

"He wanted me to know he could see me, was working on finding me."

"Why would he do that?" Micala said abruptly. "Why not just find you."

"To scare you in to doing something that can make it easier to detect you." Able answered for Keterlyn.

"Soon after he gave me life, he started parading me around. We would flit across the globe, go wherever his whims called him. Lormoiran loves chaos, he particularly enjoys torturing people by making them turn on eachother, by making them doubt themselves, or panic and do something rash. There was this one village he would visit every few months. He would appear, do a few parlour tricks and gain the leaders interest. Some were greedy and wanted power he promised them, some thought him a god like presence, and others just feared him, and reacted by doing what he wanted because they feared punishment. Eventually, Lor got bored with asking them for small things – burning half their crops, sacrificing particularly well loved children or people in the village. Lor promised them he would return everyone they had sacrificed. They praised him, and I thought maybe he got tired of pushing them, taunting them. He brought them back. He did as he promised, but they weren't themselves. Lormorian had let spirits infest them, and these once loved figures rose from the grave to chase down the rest of their loved ones, their fellow villagers, and the ones who murdered them in the first place. There was nothing left. Nothing, and no one of this beautiful town, so pure and true to begin with. He started wars to watch people bleed, he decimated hope wherever he went."

"And he took you with him." Jake voiced for everyone.

"Pain is nothing if he gets hold of us. By the time I met Eerie, who helped me escape, I didn't think I could ever be...human again." Keterlyn looked about the serious faces and rested on Daniel's. Everyone was wide eyed, silenced and thoughtful. She had done what she set out to do – set a somber mood to direct their focus.

"What do you want us to do?" Daniel was keeping true to his promise. He was going to enforce the solidarity in the group. Not just because he said he would, or wanted her favour, but for the first time since all of this began, he sensed a very real threat.

"First we are going to learn to use some of the energies and skills we have been tapping into to defend ourselves, either on our own, or as a group. There are a few healing spells I can teach you as well."

"I could have used that last night." Daniel said unable to help himself.

Keterlyn smirked. "Yeah, it works on healing physical wounds, not pranks."

"What happened last night?" Micala asked, but they both ignored her.

"Before we leave here today though, I am going to cast a spell that connects you all to me, just until I know you can take care of yourselves. All it will do, is let me know if one of you gets hurt." Keterlyn waved a hand and stood up straight. "But let's start with the use of the elements..." A strong wind blew across the group, flicking wind and leaves around. A storm cloud appeared above her and lightning struck in several places against the darkening sky.

"Illusion and cognitive manipulation are your best friend." Keterlyn clicked her fingers. Fire sprung up from the grass in a semi circle between Keterlyn and the group. Lily reached out to touch it, while most others backed away from it. Lily was safe though, unharmed even as she touched the flames.

Smiling Keterlyn walked through the flames. "Everything else aside though, there's nothing like the raw energy you can tap into." Keterlyn sparked a charge in both hands, and blasted in to the ground sending dirt flying everywhere.

"Impressive as always." Violet's voice rang out in the dark. The group followed the voice, to the tree next to them. Violet, who was perched in the boughs, dropped effortlessly to the ground.

"Violet has come to help us practice. She is immensely strong." Keterlyn explained.

Grinning at the compliment, Violet nearly purred as she spoke. "I'm fast too."

"Shall we?" Keterlyn offered.

As Violet walked past, Abel looked clearly interested. Tall, athletic, empowered – Violet was an impressive individual – who wouldn't be interested in her, and she knew it. "So what are you? A witch too?" he asked.

"I'm so not answering that Sabrina." Violet muttered as she strolled past and stood next to her friend.

Keterlyn broke them into groups, half learning to summon natural energies, and play mental tricks, the others spending time with Violet learning to throw energy balls and work together to try and take out an attacker. Violet had fun with it, rushing past with supernatural speed to push one of the twelve to the ground. First she worked with Molly, Zara, Jake, Ashleigh, Will and Tempest. After a couple of hours, they all swapped over and Violet and Keterlyn trained the alternating group.

There were some definite strengths emerging. Not every witch was good at everything, but Rebecca was a clear forerunner for finding hidden truths, Micala for finding lost things, Will and Tempest were both excelling at spellcraft, Molly and Abel with summoning energy and channeling it. Daniel was good at just about everything which made the others envious and instilled a strange sense of pride in Keterlyn. Jake however, was having some difficulty. He could summon energies, elements, but focusing it was a bit off for him. Credit where it was due though, he was trying, and at one stage he had even surrounded himself in a tunnel of swirling dirt and debris. It was a defensive strategy even Violet had difficulty getting through.

Lily was surprising adept at illusion, and Keterlyn actually had her teach some of the others towards the end. Zara too demonstrated a profound talent that Keterlyn was encouraged by. Zara could materialize and dematerialize, which was different from transporting. She could move her body through objects temporarily. She too taught a few of the others whilst Violet finished teaching Abel, Rebecca and the others their lessons in self defensive skills by getting them to throw energy at her, trying to knock her off her feet.

At first, trying to aim and hit someone was not a comfortable experience. Most baulked at the thought but after a few artful escapes by Violet, who ran faster than any human they had ever seen, it became a game for them. Abel in particular seemed to be having fun showing off his physical skills alongside trying to master the energy bolt throwing. Rebecca, Abel and Micala cornered Violet and, using their combined strength attempted to drive her towards the tree. As Violet twisted and turned, Abel nicked her with a charge, and she stumbled forward. He have her a smug, gloating stare, crossing his arms and standing casually supporting his weight on one foot. Violet took it all in with her heightened senses. His posture, his breathing which signified he had found chasing her harder than he was making it out to have been. She even heard his skip in his heartbeat that signified his pleasure at catching her. Rebecca appeared impressed, but then she had been watching Abel for some time with enthusiasm and curious affection. Violet drew herself up and smiled lightly.

Abel returned the grin for a moment before he realized it wasn't all it looked to be. Violet's fangs elongated and the group gasped, not having figured out until now what she was. By the time the smug smirk had been wiped off Abel's face, Violet had him pinned against the tree, and above her head. She brought him down slowly, just enough that his face was on par with hers, but his feet still failed to touch the ground.

"I don't know if I should be turned on or freaked out. Are you actually a vampire?" Able asked.

Violet just rolled her eyes and let him down. "If you have to ask, we have other problems than the underlings trying to kill you off." She took a few steps back. Everyone had done well today. She had been impressed in general, but it was a strange and diverse collection of humans. Abel in particular was likely to find himself in trouble she thought. He carried himself in a state of arrogant confidence that made her blood boil, and not in the good way. Even now he continued to stare lustfully after her, grinning. "Class dismissed." Violet uttered as she strode towards Keterlyn who was on the other side of the field speaking with Daniel in between downing a bottle of water.

Ever secure in himself, Abel called after her. "How would that work anyway if I asked you out? – a Witch and a Vampire." he enquired.

Rebecca seemed particularly unimpressed. "I'm fairly sure it works the same way it normally would you dunce."

Violet resisted the urge to speed back and break an arm. Viktor, her lover and partner would have done far worse were he here tonight. Violet was glad she had talked him out of coming to lend a hand. Reaching Keterlyn and Daniel, Violet planted a kiss on her friend's forehead. Daniel narrowed his eyes inquisitively. There was something about the way they stood, the closeness implied in their body language. He couldn't quite place it.

"I'm done," announced Violet. "Not sure how much good it is, but they will be able to protect themselves from the lesser evils at least. If there's anything else, I can do, or if it comes to the crunch, call me."

The two smiled at eachother as though an in-joke hovered in the air. Daniel could resist no longer. "You two look really close. How do you know each other?"

"Err..." Keterlyn began as Violet made no attempt to hide her amusement.

"Were you two...?" continued Daniel.

Will called out for help then, his hand immersed in the tree trunk. "Ket – I'm stuck in the tree again!" Will had been trying to materialize again and it had not worked out for the best – again. This was not a skill he was going to be mastering any time soon.

Keterlyn responded immediately. "Saved by the cry for help. There's a new one." she said headed for the tree leaving Violet to rake her eyes over Daniel as though trying to untangle him. He pretended he didn't notice as he watched Keterlyn try and retract Will from the tree in one piece.

"You like her." Violet observed.

"Apparently I'm not her type." Daniel said, though he knew it not to be true.

"Don't underestimate yourself." Violet said in an unusual moment of encouragement. "Sure you're not me, but then who is. Besides, maybe she wants to slum it." She said it seriously, though as Daniel turned towards her to protest she broke into a cheeky smile, which immediately diffused his ire.

From afar Keterlyn called out. "Play nice Violet."

"Life is short Daniel. Ket doesn't see things and people the same way you're used to. That tends to happen after you've been around a while. She and I had a history, but it was short, and a very long time ago. We're just good friends, that's all."

Violet hesitated before she lowered her voice to speak again. The gravity of her tone jarred Daniel. "Take good care of her. She needs someone who will let her be, but keep her grounded. She needs someone to protect her"

"You seem to be able to do that all by yourself."

"Yeah, but push comes to shove, she won't call me for help. Not really her style to lean on others, not even when it would make a difference." Violet looked back over at her friend, fighting a memory she had of when she met Keterlyn in Mercia.

"Lormorian had been devastating a town, when Keterlyn sensed a lower level demon who had been patrolling the town. I was hunting him at the time."

"Why?"

"He stole my dinner." Daniel barely concealed his shock. "I wasn't always so into preserving mankind." Violet pointed out. "Keterlyn asked it for help, begged it to help her get away from Lormorian, but it wasn't stupid. No one takes from Lormorian. She grabbed at it, offered it supplication, she cried for it's help, thinking it could magic her away or something of that kind. Even as it pushed her away though, I realized I hadn't been the only one watching. Lormorian had been observing from the shadows. Even though it had declined her offer, Lor flayed the demon's flesh before tearing it apart. Demon or not, pain hurts just the same." Daniel crinkled his nose at the thought. "He left her sitting sobbing in the dirt. Lor had demonstrated there was no escape for her, and he wanted her to soak up the pain of knowing she was stuck with him until he wanted to let her go. That's when she saw me and I knew, as we made eye contact, that she had let go of whatever hope it was she had had before. She just stared at me blankly. She could have called to me for help, she could have given me away, but instead she just stood up as she watched me, wiped the tears from her eyes and brushed her dress off before she followed him in to the carnage he had created. She knew I was there, knew he would have manipulated me into working for him, or killed me. She protected me, for no reason. We weren't friends, she didn't owe me anything."

"Maybe she doesn't need the help anymore. Obviously something happened. She got away from him."

"When I first met her, she wasn't free. He dragged her around like a pet. Since the demon got filleted Keterlyn always stood on her own but she was just as much a prisoner. It was hundreds of years before she even entertained the thought again. She didn't want to bring about the pain, the damage she saw him flaunt. She didn't want anyone else to suffer, but then Eerie, another being who had been trapped found her. Eerie was very like Keterlyn, but she never gave up, she just wasn't able to escape because her body had been lost to her. Eerie often helped others escape."

"As in past tense."

"Lormorian only just found Eerie recently, and now she's gone. Keterlyn found out a few days ago."

"She feels she brought this on herself, she should have known better so she's punishing herself." Daniel iterated, deep in thought.

Violet nodded. "Don't get me wrong, she's come a long way. We met eachother again in Paris just after she was emancipated and it was amazing to see how happy she was. That was a great summer." Violet sighed nostalgically, and Daniel decided he didn't want to know the details. Then he changed his mind.

"What happened in Paris?" he asked.

"What happens in Paris stays in Paris." Violet teased.

"Something doesn't stick with your story." Daniel provoked.

"Hmm?" she enquired.

"Ket has made it clear more than once that she'll leave us to fend for ourselves at the first sign of trouble."

"Daniel." Violet leaned towards him. "This is well and truly past the first sign. Why do you think I'm here helping everyone practice." Daniel looked back over their group and shivered involuntarily. "Besides," Violet continued righting herself. "Think about it. If Lormorian did all those things to other people, people he didn't own, didn't care about, what do you think he would have done to her?"

Daniel felt a whole new shiver pass over his body.

Violet saw his reaction. "See, you haven't even met him and you know. Imagine how she lived for all those years. What wouldn't you do, how far would you run, to keep from going back. Keterlyn doesn't abandon people, she is just trying to keep from going back."

Daniel and Violet paused to look at Keterlyn who was growing a small patch of flowers in a pattern. Tempest was trying to copy her and the results found the others in stitches. The group looked so comfortable with eachother now. Molly swung her legs in the branches of the tree, Will and Anise leaned on eachother as they sat on the grass, and even Rebecca found it hard to resist from looking happy for once.

"I went to hell once." Violet said, a lump in her throat.

"You did?"

"It was a punishment. It was different to where Keterlyn was, but I'm telling you now Daniel - I'm never going back either."

The two continued staring ahead seriously as the others were toying with parlor tricks. Keterlyn looked up to see their serious expressions. Both being hyper aware they immediately lightened their expressions and waved back. Keterlyn turned her head and slanted her eyes, appearing suspicious.

As Keterlyn returned her attention to the group, Violet spoke again. "She does a lot of good you know. You can't blame her for being a survivalist."

"I don't blame her, I just want her to let me in."

"Why would she do that when she thinks she will have to leave you to be overrun by nasty things that crawl through the night at some point? Or worse, you'll keep aging, and she gets to watch you die."

"I think it's the in between that matters." Daniel said pensively.

"Wow, he's a philosopher too." Violet replied. "Maybe you just need to be persistent with her. You strike me as the kind of person who doesn't give up easy, and isn't scared away from a challenge."

They shared another moment of comfortable silence.

"Hey really," Daniel said still looking ahead. "What happened in Paris?" He looked back to where Violet had stood, but she was already gone.

# Chapter 11

Keterlyn saw Violet leave, though Daniel had not. She even sighed in relief as it signaled the end of the very long night, and though it was only midnight, Keterlyn felt as though it were near dawn.

The group now mostly lay in the grass, looking up at the stars as Keterlyn kept the leaves glinting to give out a low glow for them to see by. The full moon was now waning and the light it gave was welcome by Keterlyn, but not still enough to see by clearly.

Keterlyn stood resting against the tree as she perused the group, so full of life, so full of excitement after the day's activities. They had intently recorded all the information on spell casting and invoking from the last session, but she had felt a true sense of pride watching them train today. When she noticed Daniel was coming over to join them, Keterlyn sank her full weight in to the tree, tuning out of the chit chat to listen for Daniel's approaching footsteps as she stared at a patch of grass n front of her. She felt like a silly child, so off-course like this. And worse, she knew he knew she was weaker than she would like when it came to him.

"I felt like a renaissance soldier or something." joked Tempest.

"Keterlyn prefers the Medieval times when it comes to fighting styles." Daniel offered up. Keterlyn smiled in response to recalling him in the midst of battle/getting his ass handed to him at the Medieval Fayre.

"You know I'm studying art in the early renascence era." Anise said as she leaned back on her arms.

"What was it like?" Ashleigh asked of Keterlyn, starry eyed. "Was it as romantic as they make out in the movies, was it amazing?"

"It was probably full of disease and death and oppression. This was the time before penicillin and the vote you know." Molly said tersely.

Keterlyn finally sat down, back against the great tree. "Like now, there were good points and bad points in every time, in every city."

"That's a diplomatic answer." Tempest commented.

"It's an honest answer. I think I have been just about everywhere over the years and it's usually the same- amazing people, full of love, ideas and inspiration, and horrible people who are greedy, full of pain and war mongerers."

"War seems to be always the status quo." Jake spoke up.

"Oh here we go, he speaks!" Abel sneered at Jake.

"Hey why are you so ready to jump on everybody all the time Abel?" Rebecca asked, accusation rife in her own voice.

"I'm not." Abel countered appearing legitimately surprised and hurt.

"Are to." Rebecca insisted.

Zara rolled her eyes. "This is going places." She turned back to Jake. "What did you mean Jake?"

"Well, when has there ever been a time of peace, where people weren't fighting over land or money, or something. It's like people can't just live and let live."

"Fighting over resources, I can understand, it's wired into us for survival." Will noted. "Its the fighting for the sake of it, for causing pain that I can't get my head around."

"It is an odd sensation learning to battle to the death like this." Rebecca added.

Quietly at first Lily, chimed in before lifting her head and blocking off her body by crossing her arms over her knees. "I almost can't remember anything else. Sometimes every day seems like a fight."

"After we spent all day learning to fight. Can we talk about something else?" Micala asked begrudgingly.

"What else is there?" Anise reasoned. "This is the most amazing thing that ever happened to me, to us."

"It does feel like we can do anything together." Will agreed.

"Hmm." with heavy undertones, Keterlyn gave them a stern look.

"Seriously what can we not do?" Tempest said.

"There are still limits Tempe." Zara offered. "It is remarkable, but remember we can only use what is around us. I think Keterlyn has cautioned us well as to not get carried away. It's a sharp drop down to reality once you start thinking you are invincible."

Keterlyn picked up from there. "Energy exists around us, wind, water, matter, electricity."

"Fire." Lily said absent mindedly.

"Yes, fire you pyromaniac." laughed Keterlyn. "My point is, these things are easy to manipulate, it's the subtle things we need to work on next, like using herbs and crystals in spell casting. Though some of you already have -Will. I heard about what you did in class."

Will suddenly sat up straight. "He had it coming?" the answer was a half question in the hopes it might fly, but Will knew there was nothing to it.

"Yeah right." Molly objected.

"You laughed." Will defensively rebutted.

Daniel was as curious as the others about the rules, the tricks, the background to everything that had been happening. The feelings of power made him feel like he could fly if he wanted to, or as though he could command the ground to open up at a click of his fingers. It was both empowering and confronting and Daniel knew not to take this lightly, but at the same time he was tempted to let it engulf him. So he pressed for more information. "What happened with some of your other covens?"

"Are we better than them?" Tempest smugly added.

Keterlyn gladly answered Tempest so she didn't have to look at Daniel. "Depends which one you're talking about. There's been ones that lasted weeks, others that lasted decades, but it always starts the same..."

"Weeks? Why weeks?" Molly asked of Keterlyn.

"Sometimes things go wrong." There was an uncomfortable silence. "Don't worry, don't do anything silly and we will be fine." Keterlyn had meant it as a joke, but there were no amused faces.

"Has anyone ever died?" Anise asked.

Keterlyn deflected. "We all die." Stating the obvious hadn't worked to redirect the conversation though.

"After the circle is broken?" Anise pressed.

"Sometimes before." Keterlyn answered honestly.

"But you live forever?" Tempest seemed conflicted as he asked this. It was the first time he thought of Keterlyn as being anything other than what they were - human.

"I give you part of what I can summon," Keterlyn tried to explain, "But it always has to come back. I pretty much already died remember. I might look like you, but I'm not quite like you."

"You must have lost so many friends." Lily said sadly. Keterlyn didn't know how to answer. Yes, she had. It hadn't hurt at first, the people had just been a way to survive. After a time as the panic had started to subside as she became more sure she was free, that the plan to escape had indeed worked, Keterlyn had let herself form relationships and become attached. That had really cut deep, to watch her friends grow old, grow weak, and then surrender them to being unprotected when she broke the circle. Keterlyn had known from the outset, that once the she left her coven, the members only had the skills they had learned in their time with her and any naturally existing power they had possessed. That was often not enough to protect them from the things Lormorian would send after them. If he found them.

Keterlyn reasoned that maybe some of them were strong enough to shield themselves from being found. The first group hadn't been. She had seen what happened to them after the bond between them was severed. The torture and anguish. So eventually she had set out to try and teach them how to make the most of what they had when she left them. Still, only one had survived. It had hurt deeply.

For all that torment, Keterlyn had decided to cut off emotionally from those she bound herself to, but still, there were moments over the centuries like this one when she caught herself gazing at Lily's laughing face, or Tempest's peaceable features, and even Anise's infectious enthusiasm that she felt it again. Affection.

Keterlyn turned her face away, fighting a rising panic. Violet might be an advocate for friendships, for relationships, but she surrounded herself with the immortal, so didn't truly grasp what happened when things went wrong. Or at least that was what Keterlyn told herself. Looking back at the group, she caught Daniel's eyes piercing through her. She felt as though she were caught out. It had been the same with Violet- that feeling of being completely seen through.

Of everyone, Keterlyn was glad that at least Daniel had a chance of surviving after the circle broke. It was rare for her to feel strong natural talents for the supernatural like this, but in him she did. Over the years he could be able to command a vast array of skills if he put his mind to it, almost anything he desired he could master, as long as it didn't go to his head.

"Couldn't you just bring them back? The people you lost?" Abel was trying to make sense of the limits of what was on offer for them to tap into. At the same time, he was fighting the gut churning thought of what it must be like for her to see the worlds flow past, one era into another. The sense of loneliness while surrounded by others was not lost on him.

"Resurrection?" Molly replied aghast.

"We can't do that." Keterlyn was firm. She had seen the resurrected, the remortalised. It was differed to catching someone on the cusp of death. It was ugly, bone chilling, and something she would never do again. They would never come back right.

"Really cause there were times I feel invincible." Abel almost challenged. Keterlyn wasn't sure if she should tell them or not. She paused in her thoughts.

Daniel jumped at her hesitation. "What happened? When you tried it?" Daniel asked.

Damn. He can see through me. Keterlyn thought. "Nothing good." After an expectant pause from everyone, she decided to tell them, "I accidentally hurt someone."

"That can happen." Daniel piped up.

"I torched him. To a crisp!" Keterlyn paused for effect.

"Yeah, that doesn't happen too often I guess." Anise countered.

"I don't like to think about it. He was so young. I torched him when we were training. I just got carried away, and then he was gone. The rest of the coven started to become unstable, but I thought I could maybe fix it, if I could fix him...but it didn't work." Keterlyn didn't share she had had to cut his heart out and decapitate him to stop him, that it had spread a sickness amongst the others. Instead, she offered a practical statement that was meant to be a reality check for them all – and a reminder for her. "When it comes to it. This will finish, sooner or later, it will finish, and we will be done, and I will be gone."

"That isn't true. You care." Lily objected.

"Don't mistake it for something it isn't." Keterlyn almost whispered, because it hurt to say it.

Micala was the only one who didn't look hurt, surprised or thoughtful. She stared ahead. "Understood." was all she put in.

Keterlyn shook off the uncomfortableness of the moment. "We had better get going. It's been a long night already."

As everyone groaned as they stood and stretched, and as Keterlyn brushed the leaves from her clothes Abel came up, a hither to unseen seriousness cast over him. "I'm sorry I said what you did was pitiful. I was wrong. I would be doing exactly the same thing if I was you." He left then, and she stared after him as he joined the others slowly leaving the grounds and headed for their cars. No one had ever said they had understood before. As she returned from her thoughts, and started to think how comfortable her bed was going to feel, she realized Daniel was still standing there, patiently waiting behind her. She turned, ready to stand her emotional ground.

Daniel however, was newly driven. Talking with Violet and listening to Keterlyn speak with the others, he realized she was more driven from fear than anything. He realized more so, she must have a sense of utter loneliness following her around for all these centuries, so he was out to set her straight. Living forever on a just-in-case basis was not something anyone should have to carry, and he suspected she had grown so used to it, she did not, or could not think outside the box.

"I'm not some boy you flambéed. You know that. I can hold my own." Daniel challenged her.

Keterlyn surprised him by her answer. "I know." She simply acknowledged as she began walking away towards the road.

"Good. Cause I'm your best student." he called after her.

"Sure you are." she called back.

"I'm not joking!" Daniel was unsure if she had just said that to put him off, or was serious, so he ran after her. "Come have a drink with me, or teach me something new, something I can really get my teeth into." he insisted.

"Learn will you child. Not now, not ever." With that Keterlyn strode ahead leaving him behind.

Abel and Will both made 'ouch' faces, and Daniel sighed. One last trick play he thought quietly.

# Chapter 12

At the base of the hill at Connelly Park the group were all finishing up from training. Violet was long gone and Keterlyn had called it quits. Everyone was in various states of disarray, tired, pained, bruised and streaked with dirt.

Ashleigh groaned loudly. "Everything hurts."

"We should catch a movie or something, have some downtime." Jake added reluctant to leave having spent more time with people tonight than all his social gatherings for the last year put together.

"It's like midnight!" Rebecca protested.

"No, we should do something together to relax." Lily supported.

"Just be inconspicuous doing it." Keterlyn indicated as she stretched.

"You aren't coming?" Molly sounded disappointed.

"I'm going to go home and sleep. Obviously I didn't tire you out enough today, tomorrow I'll do better." With a smile she left the larger group and started waling down the road in to the dark.

"Want a ride?" Daniel offered, calling out after her, and resulting in gwaffing sounds from Will and Abel.

Keterlyn looked at him dubiously. "You really have to start thinking about how your new world works you know." With that she wisped away into thin air.

Lily sighed. "I can't wait until I can do that. I'm going to save so much cash on bus fare."

"Definitely," Jake agreed. "But she said it could be years before you actually end up where you want to go."

Daniel smiled to himself.

Molly laughed at Lily and Jake. "And why are you still catching the bus? You should get yourself a car – have some fun with this."

Will suddenly gave an almost evil grin. "You're right. We should have some fun with this. I mean some real fun. What do you think Tempe?"

"Nah – I have somewhere I have to be. Go cut loose for me though." Tempest walked backwards away from the group as Will gave a disappointed gesture. On that note, Tempest left, and Will wondered what his brother could be up to.

Anise, ever eager to follow where Will led, bounced up and down getting all keyed up, and making up for Tempest's lack of enthusiasm. "What do you have in mind?"

"Nothing against the rules." Rebecca added cautiously. "I like this, I don't want to lose it because of some macho urge to show off."

Will gave his best boy scout sign. "Nothing conspicuous, I get the message loud and clear matron. Just a little downtime."

Micala and Rebecca exchanged a worried look, as Daniel disappeared slowly in to the dark of the night.

***

At the door of a downtown lesser known club, the members of the coven minus Daniel and Keterlyn arrived, most of them looking keen. The nightclub was clearly only second rate and was marginally busy. A bouncer was a few feet away on his phone and smoking a cigarette. The group approached the front door and a stale smell emitted from the doorway as they inched down the stairs. Molly turned up her nose. She could think of other ways to enjoy her wind down time. A bath and a fluffy robe. Micala, Rebecca and Zara had similar doubts, and the group nearly split at that point, if it hadn't been for the bouncer who stopped them.

Standing in their way as though an impenetrable force, he used his most condescending voice to support his six foot five burley stature. "I don't know how you got through the front door, but I can't let you into my club."

The tone and indication stoked the over-represented sense of injustice Rebecca held like a torch. "Why not - What's wrong with us?"

The bouncer chewed on some gum. "Have you not taken a good look at yourselves in the mirror? There's maybe two of you that might cut it."

Micala stepped forward to stand next to Rebecca. "Hate to break this to you friend, but this place isn't that crash hot you should be turning away paying customers." Jake and Abel looked over the group. They were pretty trashy looking covered in dirt and in some cases twigs and cuts, but still, it was the point of things.

"Well it isn't going to get any better if I just start letting anyone in." the bouncer continued on his self absorbed tirade.

Lily leant over Rebecca's shoulder to whisper in her ear. "Maybe you should explain how we deserve to get through the door so we can get on with the fun."

"Yes please." supported Anise, bored already.

The bouncer winked at Anise. "You sugar, would make it through anytime." Anise smiled back oblivious to the inappropriateness given her friends had just been declined. Will frowned and tugged her closer.

Rebecca stretched out a hand and brushed the bouncer's arm. "You should be so happy to have us." she said.

In a trance, the bouncer re-focused from staring at Anise to Rebecca. Almost as quickly he snapped to and changed to a happier demeanor. "Come on in. Pleasure to have you folks with us this evening."

Clearly delighted, Lily beamed. "Let's go get a drink." Lily and Ashleigh walked away arm in arm, with everyone else following behind them.

Now sitting at the bar, Lily and Ashleigh ordered drinks, but when asked for cash, Jake stepped in before either of them could reach for their money. "I got this ladies. In fact, why don't I pay for the drinks for all of us tonight?" he offered, in an almost smarmy way. Ashleigh seemed engrossed in his arrival, but Lily got her back up. Jake pulled out a Library Card, and handed it to the bartender. Lily and Ashleigh watched fascinated as the bartender ran the card through the cash machine.

The machine read error, but the bartender pleasantly handed back the card. "Thank you sir, anything else I can get you, just let me know."

"Will do." Jake replied more than happy with himself.

Ashleigh was ecstatic. "When did you learn that? That's great!"

"Neat trick," Lily added. "But a little chauvinistic don't you think? I can fake buy my own drinks thanks very much."

"Hey, leave him alone. I think it's sweet." Ashleigh protested.

Lily rolled her eyes. "I'm going to see a girl about some music." Lily indicated and meandered away towards the half sleeping DJ. Jake took her seat.

Setting her drink down after a sip, Ashleigh turned to Jake. "I never thanked you for saving my life the other day."

"I never thanked you for saving mine."

There was a pleasant moment of eye contact that caused Ashleigh to blush. "You've been watching me for so long. Why haven't you asked me out? What have you been waiting for?"

"I don't know. The right place, the right time."

"I dropped hints." she whispered.

"I didn't think you meant anything." Jake indicated shaking his head.

"You're too cute. Look at you all insecure and shy. You have nothing to worry about." Ashleigh stroked Jake's face, and he pressed against her hand momentarily until he resumed his own space.

Ashleigh and Jake looked behind them. Most of the others were on the dance floor in various stages of embarrassing themselves. Lily, near the DJ suddenly looked happy and the music changed abruptly. Everyone cheered.

"So you'll go out with me? Just us, not the rat pack here?" Jake furthered.

"If you still need to ask..." she said with a fake aloofness.

Jake leaned in to kiss Ashleigh, cutting her off. But Anise rammed in to them, looking flushed from dancing.

"Now we have the music happening, let's up the mood factor." Anise quipped as she touched the bar purposefully. A ripple ran across it and through the liquor bottles lined elegantly behind the counter.

The barman picked a bottle up and poured shots as an unhappy looking Rebecca sat herself next to Jake.

"What's with you?" Jake intruded on Rebecca's mood.

"We shouldn't be doing this. It's irresponsible." Rebecca answered.

"It's just a little fun, relax." Ashleigh soothed.

"She said to lay low, not draw attention. This is drawing attention." Rebecca further pointed out. The bartender passed Rebecca a drink, and with a half reluctant, half thankful expression she took it, throwing it pack. Replacing it on the table Rebecca looked as though she had just swallowed fire, and took her jacket off. "Wow – that was stronger than I thought. What was in that?"

Anise gave a cheeky grin and bit her lip. "Just a little mood improver I've been working on." She jibed before she skipped back to the dance floor holding two shot glasses full to the brim.

In the meantime, back at Keterlyn's apartment she was flicking through any number of brain numbing television shows seeking inspiration or distraction. She also kept glancing over her shoulder waiting for Lormorian to appear behind her and scare her again.

Just when she was feeling a little less on edge, Daniel materialized on the couch next to her. Se jumped and threw the TV guide at him when she realized it was just him.

"Are you ready?" he asked confidently.

Off put, Keterlyn wasn't about to be easily won over. "Ready for what?"

"You weren't scared of me were you? Not you, the invincible. The immortal Keterlyn."

"You just surprised me. I'm not used to people materializing in my room. How did you find me? You've only ever been in the front door."

"I followed you." he said calmly.

"Creepy much?" Keterlyn stated.

"I wanted to show you how I improving my skills with practice." boasted Daniel.

Keterlyn rose form the couch, trying to put space between them. "OK, well done, gold star, you were right, my best student. Time to head off."

"I know why you are so scared to be with me."

"You have no idea."

"Lormorian. You trusted him, you loved him and he turned on you."

"He didn't just turn on me, and it's not about that. It's a lot of things. I'm not interested in this being any more than it is."

"I saw how you looked at me last night."

"You saw what you wanted to see." she replied.

"I saw what you didn't want me to see." Keterlyn froze, confronted as Daniel spoke. "I won't let you down Ket. I won't hurt you, I won't lie to you. You can trust me and it won't cost you a thing."

Keterlyn turned cynical "And we can live together, deliriously happy as I coast around the world recruiting new covens as you age. We can even pretend you are my uncle, my grandfather, my great grandfather while I watch you die. Sounds lovely."

"You don't give me enough credit." Daniel added.

"You haven't given this any real thought." Keterlyn accused, but Daniel took Keterlyn by her hands.

"Maybe not about that – but this..." Daniel dematerialized them both and they appeared in a fog, hovering over a lake. Keterlyn looked more than impressed, not even trying to hide her beaming face as she looked around. He shouldn't have been able to do this yet. They hovered for a moment as she looked about, before she gleamed back at Daniel who drew her face forward towards his.

"In case you don't live forever." he muttered as he leaned in to kiss her. Keterlyn yielded, her face serious again as she leaned in even closer where they hovered centimeters away from eachother.

All of a sudden, Keterlyn gave a grin and disappeared.

Re-appearing behind him, Keterlyn breathed next to his neck. "Gotta do better than that."

Keterlyn vapourised again, and Daniel chased her. She re-appeared a few meters away and he tried to catch her, just missing her as she jumped off a rock ledge and into the fogbank below. Daniel jumped in after her, landing on the ground comfortably, in spite of the distance. He was learning to manipulate the elements to allow him more depth of movement now as well. Keterlyn re-appeared and then disappeared as Daniel continued to try to catch her, but he kept missing her.

Daniel then decided to stop chasing and try to sense her. He closed his eyes and concentrated. Then in one determined move, he arrived at her destination before she did, taking hold of her, and meaning not to let go.

Laughing, Keterlyn settled, not even trying to run. Stroking her face, Daniel kissed her. They kissed again, becoming more and more fervent. After a few moments, they dropped to the ground, Daniel pulling off Keterlyn's top and sinking into the dirt around Keterlyn.

He was about to continue kissing her when she winced, holding her hand to her.

"What is it? What happened?" Daniel asked concerned.

Keterlyn opened her hand and a burn mark was evident for a few seconds before it started to fade.

"We have to go back." Keterlyn said, irritable at the fact she knew why.

At the club, Keterlyn and Daniel walked through the door, and Keterlyn was unimpressed. The club was trawling with partygoers who staggered under the effects of what Keterlyn knew all too well was more than just alcohol. She suspected Anise because the people shared an excited air that Anise usually wore about her. People stumbled about inebriated as the music blasted, and Keterlyn pushed past. The air hung thick with the smell of perfume and cologne, cigarette smoke, and sweat, but that wasn't what was irritating Ketelyn's senses.

Though Keterlyn spied her people amongst the throng, she was not about to politely address the indiscretion. Looking about once again, Keterlyn clicked her fingers with purpose. The music stopped and everyone in the club except the coven froze. Will was the first to notice, and stood from the seat he straddled. He wondered up to the nearest person and prod them. He was in awe, though when he saw Keterlyn and Daniel's faces, his own face strained.

The other coven members looked about them bewildered, and oblivious to Will seeing Keterlyn, though Rebecca and Lily, who clearly had too much to drink, continued their conversation. They sat across the table facing eachother Lily holding a lighter under her hand, flicking it on, then off, periodically. By the time Keterlyn zeroed in on them, everyone else had noticed her arrival except Lily and Rebecca.

"See, it doesn't even hurt?" Lily said astounded as she burned her hand with the flame from the lighter. The skin burned then healed,. Keterlyn clenched her own hand which responded to the pain. "And I heal, just like that. Amazing right?" Lily declared.

"That is amazing." responded Rebecca, staring in alcohol fueled fascination across the table.

"Rebecca. Lily. Stop." Micala hissed.

Rebecca looked up and realised what was going on. She stood to attention, Lily following her move. Rebecca swayed and Lily pulled on her arm to keep her standing.

Keterlyn slowly advanced towards them and in an exasperated tone chastised the entire group. "Inconspicuous, I said. Be unseen, I said. Instead we have Rebecca wreaking high school style vengeance, Lily trying to set herself alight," she turned her head to Will and Anise behind her. "And Will playing party time with the teachers and this!" Keterlyn inhaled slowly, trying to control her anger. Calming she continued "It can go to your head, I get that, but you have to see this long term."

Molly stood forward. "Sorry Ket. We just got carried away."

Fuming inside, Keterlyn started to shout at the group. "Wait until you have Frionds on your heels, or Wraith chasing you down. Then tell me about getting carried away. Go home, get sober. We'll regroup tomorrow night."

Rebecca fell down, and Lily was left giggling, though she tried to stop herself. Keterlyn closed her eyes and walked out, flicking her wrist to release the people she had frozen throughout the club. Everyone started moving again, the music blaring.

Daniel followed Keterlyn outside as she strutted away, visibly upset. "Wait, Keterlyn. Wait."

Keterlyn stopped in her tracks, still furious. A lone car beeped at her standing in the side of the road, and it started to rain. "None of you get how dangerous this is do you?"

"I get it. We get it. It's just an adjustment." Daniel said to which Keterlyn crossed her arms.

"Last time I did this, I picked a group who were out in the desert. I know why now. Reckless, unpredictable...insufferable...you people drive me mad."

Daniel threw his hands in the air and moved to walk away. "Alright, OK. I get it. Look, when you calm down, if you want to talk."

Keterlyn appeared in front of him, arresting him in his stride. She grabbed Daniel by the collar, wrenching him to her. "Enough talk, enough rules." and with that Keterlyn kissed Daniel, lightning striking across the sky behind them.

Transporting them back to her room, Keterlyn stripped her shirt off once more before returning to kissing Daniel.

The crack in the wooden paneling that had wedged open the few nights before widened as the two jostled the bed. With the movement a small glass vial filled with black dust fell from the crack in the wood, its contents spilling to the floor. Lightning struck again outside, though neither Keterlyn nor Daniel noticed.

While Daniel and Keterlyn ran hands and mouths over eachother, a bubbling emerged on the floor where the dirt was spilled. Climbing the skirting, and then the paint, it spread out, blistering across the wall, reaching upwards. Daniel shifted, and a playful smile rested on Keterlyn's features a moment as she closed her eyes.

The contentment only lasted until she cracked her eyelids open. Above them, the ceiling blistered and popped as though from heat, and a darkness gathered and swirled above them. Feeling Keterlyn stiffen, Daniel sat up in dreaded interest.

"I'm beginning to wonder if I'm the one who's cursed." Daniel said realizing they were going to have to make a run for it. They both inched from the bed, Keterlyn dragging the sheet with her, her eyes widened in fear. Lormorian was there.

"Daniel." she whispered.

"I know." he indicated as a heaviness birthed in the air.

Suddenly, Keterlyn pushed Daniel out of the way, as a lightning bolt tore into the wood floor. Smoke plumed in to the air. The floor, now blackened and creaked. Daniel got to his feet. The darkness looming above seemed to be charging itself again. Keterlyn stared above, almost powerless to move.

"Run Keterlyn!" Daniel yelled and snapped her out of her haze. They both bolted for the door, and down the corridor, the paint and plaster, crackling and peeling after them.

Taking hands, they projected themselves outside and paused to see if the entity was still following them. Cautious, they peered around them looking for any sign, but all seemed still.

"I think it stopped." Daniel half whispered, but as his words left him, a thunderous bellow and simultaneous crack roared out as lightning struck him.

# Chapter 13

Daniel phased in and out of consciousness as he was wheeled by the emergency crew. The gurney rattled and jerked as he fought to open his eyes. He didn't see Keterlyn now, but knew that she had been taken away with him by the ambulance. The last thing he saw before the blast hit him was her hand grasping his arm, meaning to pull him away. From that point there was simply a mess of snapshot images of fire in the room, scorch marks across the wooden floor, and people hovering in concern as they waited. When the emergency crews arrived, they had bundled him on to the stretcher and he had seen her, seen Keterlyn still unconscious. He felt a hand on his arm and fought to focus. It was a nurse trying to take a pulse, and she was the very last thing he saw before he blanked out again.

What Daniel couldn't know was that Keterlyn had been knocked out, had been wheeled away and taken in a separate ambulance. Half way to the hospital though, she had awoken in a start, sent the ambulance screeching to a halt as she caused the electricals to short circuit and had walked away, still stunned by the realization of what had happened. Lormorian had found them, but how? The question pitted her stomach. She had walked away, trying to regain some sense of balance, and fight the rising level of fear that threatened to choke her very being.

The fact Keterlyn was safe for the meantime, that she had survived the voltage that had spontaneously discharged from the ceiling to strike them – all of this was lost on Daniel. He had closed his eyes finally in the hospital and allowed himself to sink in to a deep state of oblivion, the darkness succumbing his senses.

Daniel eventually became aware of something. The ground. It was hot and dry, and as he prized open his eyelids, breathing in dust as he did. He coughed in response then realized it wasn't just dust. There was a vicious smell that assaulted him. It took a minute to determine what it was. Sulphur? Ash? Rot? Or a mixture of them all. He sat trying to figure out where he was, but he couldn't see much, even as he stood.

Daniel found himself at the base of a large hill. In the background there were lots of loud noises intermingling that made it sound like yelling and clanging all at once. Seeing no other way out, Daniel decided to climb the hill, but as he did, the ground kept giving way until Daniel was on his hands and knees fighting to gain ground. The ground felt like thickened mud or melted tar, clinging to him as he groped. Several times Daniel thought he might sink into the muck all together, but he managed to pull himself to the top, where he fought to stand and look about him.

All around there were more such hills, more of the stench and the increasingly unbearable heat. Daniel was just beginning to feel a sense of dread seizing him when he saw that across and down from him there was a woman standing there. He couldn't make out much by way of detail, but he didn't care. It was another person who might be able to tell him where he was, or even better how to get out. Daniel slide most of the way down the other side of the hill.

The sense of everything being surreal struck Daniel as he skidded down the face of the blackened hill. The colours were so rich, the images so epic. This couldn't be real, he thought to himself, and yet, he couldn't deny the feel of the tar like dirt on his skin, the foul odour in the air, and the harshness of the air in his lungs as he struggled not to fall.

Reaching the ground he could see the girl in more detail. She stood with her back to him, and at a guess was around twenty, but it was hard to tell. She was naked, and her long dark hair was matted, and stuck to her back obscuring some of the bloodied gashes that marked her. She shivered and Daniel swallowed hard. He willed her to turn around, but at the same time, he feared what her face might look like, or to see a similar punishment across the front of her. She moved to turn, but that was when Daniel saw a long leash, tethered to her neck jerk. The girl was pulled back into position, her head turned away.

Following the leash, Daniel saw a tall man dressed in black step from the silhouette of the hill, almost as though he emerged from the earth itself. His features were bold, his stare determined, and emotionally barren. His absolute empty eyes bored in to Daniel, who wanted to look away, but found he could not. His body tensed in readiness to fight, though Daniel suspected he wouldn't have a chance in Hades of winning. As the man came into full view, the girl shook even more. Daniel knew instinctually who the man was, no question. This was Lormorian.

Lormorian sneered, the first emotion to wash across his face since Daniel laid eyes on him. Eyes blackening, Lormorian opened his mouth, though no sound came out. Tugging on the leash again, he pulled the girl so she fell at his feet, her hair still handing down across her features. He placed a claw-like hand on her shoulder and tightened his grip, causing this fingers to tear into her flesh, and blood to ooze from the wounds. The girl cried out.

"Mine." Came a bellowing roar, though Lormorian's lips failed to move.

Finally, the girl turned her head to face Daniel, and he saw it was Keterlyn, but her eyes were as black as Lormorian's.

In a fitful start, Daniel sat upright, gasping as fresh air filled his lungs. Disoriented, he realized he was in a hospital bed, the lights out except for a side light over near and armchair where Lily was perched flicking through a magazine. Keterlyn stood behind her, looking nothing like the image he had just left of her.

"I knew you were faking it." Lily said with a smart tone to her voice.

Daniel struggled to get out of bed as Keterlyn approached him. "Relax." she assured him. "It's OK. Lie back down." Keterlyn eased on to the bed next to Daniel as he edged back reluctantly into the bed.

Daniel's features reflected the horror of the scene he had just experienced. "I think I saw him."

Keterlyn's face steeled as well. "I know you did."

"He had you..." Daniel said as Lily turned her full attention to the conversation, but Keterlyn didn't let him finish.

"Do you see now why I can't risk going back?" Keterlyn whispered. Daniel nodded and Keterlyn entwined her fingers with his.

Lily, feeling out of the moment sat upright and put the magazine down. "What did I miss, what didn't I see?"

Without looking away from Daniel, Keterlyn answered Lily. "Lormorian has discovered a way to find me. To find us."

Lily stood at the news. "If he was so close, why hasn't he come yet?"

"He wants me to go to him." Keterlyn divulged.

Instinctually, Daniel shook his head "We need to get out of here. Regroup." As he spoke he groaned to inch off the bed again, though Keterlyn did not try and stop him this time. All of them needed to be brought together, without further delay.

In an empty lecture hall at the college, everyone bar Tempest was gathered. Micala handed out brownies from a brown paper bag to eager hands. It was late, and after the night before, few of them had had a chance to catch up on lost sleep. Just as most of them had been settling in for a long sleep, Lily had called, announcing Daniel's recovery and rousing them from bed to bring them here.

"Where is Tempest?" Keterlyn demanded pacing and waving away the double chocolate treat Micala offered her. She couldn't eat, and frankly, the fact that Daniel ravaged three had her astounded.

"Mmm – chocolaty goodness" Anise enthused ignoring Keterlyn's concern. Micala smiled shyly and took a seat.

"He said he was running late." Will offered as a noise sounded outside the doors as though a group of people were approaching. Everyone turned their attention to the door quizzically. Loud shushing sounds were heard next along with hushed protests and Tempest backed through the door looking nervous. Several women tried to follow him, though Tempest pushed them back, even forcing one of their arms back through the opening before he managed to close the door and bolt it.

Trying to regain composure, Tempest smoothed his hair and ignored everyone staring after him as he bounced down the stairs and took a seat next to Micala.

Eventually Tempest spoke to break the silence and raised eyebrows. "Sorry about that. I had some problems getting some alone time."

Micala offered him the brown paper bag. "What's with the groupies?"

Tempest shrugged and gratefully took out a square of the baked goods, stuffing it in his mouth clearly hoping that would be the end of it.

Zara squinted at him. "They looked infatuated with you." Tempest automatically looked sheepishly at Keterlyn.

Keterlyn did not try hard to disguise her anger. "A love spell?" Keterlyn almost stamped her foot in irritation. "Tempest! You irresponsible child!"

Will stood up in his brother's defense. "Back off!"

Molly immediately sided with Keterlyn. "Those things are dangerous."

Keterlyn moved on, knowing she would have to help Tempest sooner rather than later in reversing the spell, and wanting to finish up their meeting. She wanted to make sure they understood the gravity of the issue and made plans to keep eachother safe – if that was even possible. "Lormorian seems able to find us now. We need to band together. We need to be able to trust eachother, and we have to put into place a plan to keep ourselves safe."

"Keep eachother safe?" Lily tried to clarify.

"She meant ourselves." Micala pointed out. "Each to their own at the end of the day – isn't that right." Micala gave Keterlyn an accusing look which she didn't try to object to. She had been clear from the start – she would save herself first. The fact she was briefing everyone, had helped them train, was as unlike her usual MO as it was. In spite of that, Anise, Zara and Rebecca looked anxious, waiting for some kind of protest.

"We're in this together." Daniel spoke up for Keterlyn, who immediately felt a pang of guilt.

"Why do you think he can find us?" Jake asked, remaining even headed.

"He blasted me with a lightning bolt. Tends to convince me." Daniel illustrated.

"Where were you?" Ashleigh queried. When Daniel stumbled to answer, and tried not to ignore Lily and Molly's smile, Ashleigh asked again. "When you were hit, where were you, what were you doing? When a few of the others gave her disbelieving looks, surprised that she hadn't noticed the two's poorly disguised tryst, she looked confused. "It might help us figure out if there is a common factor."

"We were ... training. Inside." Keterlyn answered quickly.

"You guys are such bad liars." Abel offered.

Anise sighed "How cute."

"Let's get back on topic." Keterlyn directed.

"The point might be though," reasoned Zara, "Maybe he found you, not Daniel. Maybe it's not us, it's you."

There was a hammering on the door that intruded on the awkward silence that followed. Voices called for Tempest.

"Tempest – go negate your spell, send them on their way and we can focus on what we need to do today – find a way to remove ourselves from Lormorian's radar." Keterlyn said as she pinched the bridge of her nose.

As he rose, Tempest felt the ground start to shake. In a millisecond, everyone felt it, and worry took over the group, some standing, some bracing themselves on the lecture seats as the trembling built. A large crack formed in one of the walls.

Almost as suddenly as it started, the tremors stopped but Keterlyn knew not to relax. Taking a step towards the staircase, and away from the fissure, she readied an energy charge in her palm.

From where the wall had been split there was a scurrying, scraping sound. Now everyone stood, eyes glued on the dark aperture.

From the wall several small, demonic creatures emerged about the size of a Terrier dog, but with four eyes, feet like a chicken, wings like a bat, and covered in a combination of fur and scales. As they emerged, they screeched, revealing one sharp fang which protruded from their jaws and a ridge of smaller, razor sharp teeth behind. The creatures began to scurry up the walls.

"Run!" Keterlyn called, and everyone headed for the doors.

"What are they?" Rebecca asked s she took the stairs two at a time.

"Frionds," Keterlyn replied. "And if I'm not mistaken, Lemures won't be far behind."

Anise came up behind them, Will hot on her heels. "Lemures?" Anise asked. "Like the fuzzy creatures from Madagascar?" she added hopefully.

Abel reached the doors first and tried to swing them open, but the locks Tempest had put into place caught. Tempest helped Abel to pull out the locks he had so securely put into place.

"No – like the disgruntled dead who can temporarily posses recently deceased corpses. That kind of Lemures." Keterlyn spelt out for them.

Throwing the doors open, the group were met with a half a dozen dead looking people standing there - Lemures. Freezing in their places, a Friond caught up with them and jumped at Anise who screamed.

Will grabbed it, throwing it across the room, but not before it managed to bite him, drawing blood.

Discharging the energy she had summoned, Keterlyn caused the Lemures to fell backwards momentarily, giving Keterlyn and the others a chance to run for the exits.

Micala, Will and Anise ran one way, while everyone else went the other, Keterlyn following more slowly as she tried to ascertain the scope of what they were up against. Frionds scattered down the hallways after the two separate groups, while the Lemures, hampered by their decaying limbs, scrambled to get to their feet. Once they did manage to stand, they began to run with surreal movements, some leaping and turning as they increased their pace.

Micala's group managed to make it to the double doors separating the hall from the next area of the building. Micala willed the doors to open in front of them, and Will and Anise followed her through. It was the cafeteria. Making their way to the emergency exit, Will pushed down on the handle ready to open the door to the outside when Anise stopped him. Nodding her head towards the window, the small group saw Lemures skulking around. Each held their breath as Will slowly released the handle, not wanting to rouse the creatures outside. As Will moved the handle back in to place, they all began to back away. The lock clicked back in to place and the Lemure outside the window's head snapped around. Will, Anise and Micala all gasped in a breath as the drooling, grey-skinned creature bared its rotted teeth before launching itself at the glass.

Meanwhile, the others ran down the other corridor. As they made it to the staircase joining the lower level of the building to their floor, Keterlyn halted them. "Running isn't going to work." She motioned to the side doors leading to the library. They all moved inside looking for an exit. Molly and Tempest nervously looked over to Keterlyn when they realized there was no way out. "We stand here." Keterlyn announced.

Just then a Lemure smashed itself through a window to the left in the library. Tempest, scared by sudden arrival, took off, running down the hall. Abel shouted after him, but he was already gone, So Abel turned back around preparing to deal with the oncoming Lemures, and Frionds.

Lily stood fast next to Keterlyn. Concentrating, let her eyes slip closed and summoned an illusion of a burning blue flame snaking out from her and around their group. The first of the Frionds to reach them skidded to a halt at the sight of the fire, the ones behind them scattering and squawking in distress, and being trampled on by the advancing Lemures who were undeterred by the fires. Keterlyn in the meantime broke away from the group, laying her hands on the Lemure that had smashed through the glass. As she did, the creature turned and walked into a wall, repeatedly knocking itself on the head as it tried to walk through an opening that was not there.

Zara held out her arms, making chairs, books and boards from the walls fly forward and into the Lemures, knowing a few off balance. As the remaining Lemures walked across Lily's illusion, it dissipated, enticing the Frionds back towards them. Gaining confidence, Zara walked forwards still hurling items at the Frionds and Lemures, until two managed to grab her, taking her leg and dragging Zara as she screamed through the open library doors and down the hallway.

Daniel, Molly and Keterlyn ran after her, Daniel launching the energy spheres they had been learning the night before. One of the Lemures dragging Zara was struck, and dropped her. Losing the balance, the second Lemure stumbled but kept advancing, fingernails breaking Zara's skin. Zara twisted to look at him, pointed a finger and started to mutter, only to be cut off be her head hitting a doorway, and rendering her unconscious. Still rushing after their friend, Molly raised her right arm and opened her hand facing towards the ceiling. Molly then wrenched her arm down, pulling her hand into a fist as she did. Part of the ceiling gave way and fell on top of the Lemure crushing him, and burying Zara in the surrounding rubble. Molly, Daniel and Keterlyn started pulling debris from her just as the Frionds reached Jake, Ashleigh, Rebecca and Abel.

The Frionds might have been small but the sharp claws and single fang that protruded over their jaw made them dangerous enough. One jumped at Jake, who struggled to keep hold of it as it tried to slash and bite at him. Ashleigh moved to help, but one scrambled up her leg, tearing in to the flesh and distracting her. Abel tore at a table leg, pressing down on the top with his foot as he pulled the leg off in time to knock one of the Frionds away from him. Next he swung at one Rebecca had kicked away, holding her long skirt up to free herself to use her heeled boots to smack it in the head.

More and more Frionds advanced, and though Abel shielded Rebecca from the next two, swinging away as he stood in front of her, he and Ashleigh raised their arms to deflect from their attack, when three exploded, intestines and blood sputtering over Ashleigh. Rebecca peered out from behind Abel.

"Just, just. Ugh!" Ashleigh was unable to help herself as she picked green tissue from her shoulder.

"I didn't know you could do that!" Abel exclaimed, impressed.

"I didn't know I could do that!" Ashleigh replied.

Jake reappeared, similarly covered in Friond guts. "You didn't – I did."

Rebecca Abel and Ashleigh all looked similarly awed. "I hope you don't hold grudges." Abel added, as he picked up one of the dead Frionds from the floor and hurled it down the corridor towards the Lemures. The carcass of the Friond collided headfirst with a Lemure and lodged in its head, beak first. The now dead Lemure fell amongst the fleeing Frionds.

"Nice throw." Jake commented as a Lemure appeared behind him.

It reached past Jake, clawing at Rebecca, snagging her shirt. Jake reached out instinctively and touched it's arm as Ashleigh pulled Rebecca away. Abel was about to hit the thing with his bent table leg, when it let out an ear-piercing shriek. The Lemure shuddered and convulsed under Jake's touch, collapsing to the floor still twitching, before it finally stilled, smoke rising from it's corpse.

Ashleigh gave Jake another astonished look. "Aren't you full of interesting surprises."

Another set of Lemures break through the door behind them, and Ashleigh sets a barrier that they bounce off, scattering around the barrier she created that covers Micala, Jake, Ashleigh and Abel.

The Lemures continued to walk forward, and while Jake, Abel, Ashleigh and Rebecca stood, Keterlyn arrived behind them, clutched Ashleigh and Abel's shoulder and transported them away outside. Daniel appeared behind Jake and Rebecca, and followed Keterlyn outside where Zara, was standing next to Molly who was holding her up, and Rebecca lay on the ground having tumbled down, exhausted.

Will, Micala and Anise arrived around the corner, breathless from running and fighting the Lemures. Rebecca looked up at Will concerned as Anise gathered herself. "They just ended up leaving." she said between ragged breaths. "We killed a few, but they left." She continued until she noticed how Rebecca was looking at Will.

"What is it?" Will asked of Rebecca.

"Help me up?" Rebecca said, extending an arm towards Will. He took it, but as his skin touched hers, Rebecca knew immediately what it was she had been sensing.

"Tempest!" Rebecca cried out as she stood "He's gone..."

# Chapter 14

The few minutes before, a Lemure had crashed through the window, sending Tempest running and charged on adrenaline. Tempest had run clear through the building and out to the courtyard, where, as he continued to run, he saw the groupies he had enchanted. As soon as they saw him, they shrieked in excitement and charged towards him with open arms. Alarmed, Tempest changed directions again, only to find Frionds, who were escaping Jake's ability to make them implode, pouring out of a broken window.

Diverting himself again, Tempest ran between the maddened women coming for him, and the Frionds pelting forwards. Knowing he wasn't going to make it, he dropped to his knees bracing for impact.

As the sound of screaming women became louder, and squealing Frionds grew, Tempest held his breath, though realized after a moment he was untouched. Instead there was the sound of groupies using lawn furniture, café parasols and their bare fists to pummel into the Frionds.

Tempest squirmed his large frame out of the affray and stood back in wonder. All of a sudden, he even broke into a smile. As the groupies slowed their fast paced attack on the Frionds. "And they said it was a mistake to use love spells! Thank you girls!"

Even as he spoke his last words, he knew he was going to pay for them. Finished with the Frionds, the groupies turn on him, running towards him, grabbing at him as he sprinted away, his guile fades, and his heart racing again at the look of their blood spattered, wild eyed psychotic-inspired expressions. A few even turned on eachother, fighting, clawing and biting. Tempest ran faster than he knew he could as they gave chase with unexpected speed. He pivoted around planters, hurtled around trees and pillars, and still they were on his heels.

As he ran, he tried to recall the session where Keterlyn had explained how to end a spell. "I release you!" Tempest fumbled with his memory to try and remember all the words. "As I will it be so... shit." He couldn't recall the right words. A woman actually grabbed his shirt, throwing her body into it to rip it from his body. Only slightly slowed in pace, Tempest suddenly truly realized the danger he was in. Now shirtless, he sprinted, calves burning, thighs pumping, as he wrestled with his mind to remember the words, and like a light bulb, he remembered.

"So mote it be! I release thee." he yelled out, leaving them behind him as they stopped, stunned and with no recollection as to what brought them to this point.

Regaining his confidence, Tempest rounded a corner and slumped into the brickwork of the side of the building. He smiled in relief, gasping for breath.

Then, Tempest just disappeared in to thin air.

Though Will immediately feared for his brother, he never had enough time to ask Rebecca what she meant by 'He's gone'. Enraged Lemures poured from the building towards them. Rebecca immediately squeezed her eyes shut and imagined a shield around them. As Keterlyn drew power in to herself, her eyes glowing, the Lemures were pushed back by the expanding force field that Rebecca created to protect herself. The Lemures bounced back from it as though striking an electric fence. Holding on to the energy, she exercised it to encompass everyone.

Keterlyn didn't waste anymore time. Now they were outside she could do what she knew needed to be done. "Get behind Ashleigh." she called out, and everyone obeyed.

There was a trembling from beneath Keterlyn as the veins on her skin popped out, her eyes darkened and she stepped beyond the boundary of Rebecca's shield.

Throwing her head back, extending her arms and opening her palm, Keterlyn releases an immense energy that tore across the ground, eviscerating the Lemures, any remaining Frionds, and tearing the very college to pieces, leaving concrete, brick and tiling in a jumbled mass. The rest of the group looked on, astounded by the devastation caused. Even though the energy was released, as Keterlyn turned back to her kind her eyes remained blackened, her face pale and wild.

The shield came down, and Keterlyn blinked, her eyes restoring to their normal state, but Keterlyn looked exhausted.

"That was amazing! I can't believe you did that!" Anise said, stunned as the others.

"What do you think about your theory now. Still think you might be better off without Keterlyn?" Daniel couldn't help but add.

Molly stepped forward as well. "What the hell was that? Was that Lormorian attacking us?"

Keterlyn looked back at the devastation she had wreaked. "No. They were not as much of a threat."

"Had me confused then." Micala said. "Looked frightening as hell to me!"

"They were a message." Keterlyn uttered pointedly.

Anise was tight lipped. "That was a message?"

"What's the message?" Abel asked. "We can kill you worse than this?"

"What do we do next?" asked Zara, but her answer was interrupted by Will, realizing his brother still wasn't with them, and given what Rebecca had said, his insides were twisting.

Will walked up to Rebecca and near shook her. "Hey – where's Tempe?" Abel pushed him away and was about to render a scathing remark when Lily disappeared in front of everyone.

Abel's skin crawled. "Where's Lily. Where did she go?"

"He's coming." Was all Keterlyn said. Daniel looked over to her, her face vacant, her eyes seeming a thousand years away. She gulped, becoming pale, looking troubled and her fingernails digging in to her palms. He knew what that meant. And if he was coming for them, it would be for every one of them.

As though snapping out of a trance, Keterlyn looked back up, looking them all over momentarily. Then she walked away leaving the others behind her.

Will called after her "Hey where are you going? What about Tempest?"

"And Lily." Anise followed.

Without looking back, Keterlyn responded. "I am running. You should too."

Everyone who was left stared after her in disbelief. She was leaving them after all.

Daniel took steps forward. "You can't run now. He knows how to find you. Find us all."

"Like I said before, I'm no hero."

"But she was so strong, she wiped out all those creatures. Why would she run?" Ashleigh stammered

Micala calmly replied what they all knew. "Because that was nothing. Wait until Lor comes for us for being in cahoots with her."

Zara ran after Keterlyn and Daniel. "You're actually just going to leave us here, on our own to die?"

Ashleigh disappeared and Micala yelped in response.

Looking back and seeing what had happened, Zara wrenched on Keterlyn's arm, turning her around. "Where are they being taken?" Zara demanded.

Keterlyn shuddered inside, though remained stoic on the outside. "Hell." Keterlyn answered. Zara's eyes opened wide just in time for her to disappear.

Keterlyn felt the brush of wind as Zara dissipated, and didn't wait another moment. Keterlyn ran away in to the night.

Back at her apartment, Keterlyn was stuffing a few belongings into a bag. She hadn't had time to stash an emergency bag like she had the last time. Candles, lighter, matches, food, water, chalk and ash all went in to the bag. She cam across the bog wood carving Daniel had bought her and she stared at it transfixed for a moment.

Back at her apartment, Keterlyn was stuffing a few belongings into a bag. She hadn't had time to stash an emergency bag like she had the last time. Candles, lighter, matches, food, water, chalk and ash all went in to the bag. She came across the bog wood carving Daniel had bought her and she stared at it transfixed for a moment.

For a brief moment she had almost made all the mistakes she longed to. She had almost let them get under her skin. Almost-she reasoned. Now there was just one thing left to do, and that was run, taking her powers with her.

When Daniel pushed open the door, Keterlyn barely looked up. She knew he would come to try and dissuade her. He was naive enough to think there was a way to stop all of this. She didn't want to tell him she knew there was a way and it was only because of that reason she was still alive, and it was more than just sharing power across a random group of individuals.

"Don't you like your new tricks anymore" Keterlyn remarked of the fact Daniel hadn't transported to her, just walked and opened the door, clearly avoiding using magic.

Daniel resented her tone. Her sarcasm hid all the virtues he had come to see. But maybe she had been right, and he had seen what he wanted to see, because right now she stood emotionless over a packed bag. He understood her fear, her instinct to run, but he had not truly believed she would just walk away until now. He wanted to scream at her she was a coward, but after seeing that hell place when he had been unconscious, he understood why she wouldn't risk being caught. "Anise and Molly are gone."

"I know. I felt it."

As Daniel took a step back, she did the same. She no longer looked like the strong, willfull, all powerful being she had until now. Now she looked more like a frightened child. He decided to keep his words specific. "Can you stop this?"

"There's nothing I can do."

"Not if you don't try, no. I know you don't think you can beat him, but what if by some miracle..."

Keterlyn cut him off. "I don't believe in miracles. I believe in surviving." with that Keterlyn actually felt tears welling. She opened eyes wide trying to let the tears dry before they had a chance to form. Picking up her bag she headed for the front door, but Daniel reached out and stopped her moving past him.

"You can't live like this. You can't just use people then discard them." Was that what he thought? Keterlyn was suddenly incensed.

"That is the only way I have lived for so long and it isn't as if they don't get some thing out of it. They just usually get longer, that's all."

"Before they die or are tracked down by some nasty in the dark? And it isn't them...it's me too."

"I won't let him take you then, I'll fight to keep you safe, I wont let anything bad happen to you. Is that what you want to hear? I'll be damned if I'll let him take me again, I don't care what it costs."

She pushed past him.

"Then he already has you, because this is no way to live."

Now Keterlyn couldn't help herself. The fact she had thought he could grasp how he worked, what she needed -He didn't understand at all. "Don't say that." she screamed, turning around to face him one last time. She felt the desperation etched on her face. "You don't know what it was like. Over 600 years of hell. Literal hell. Watching the world break. It's a miracle I got out at all."

"I thought you didn't believe in miracles."

His comeback threw her. Her chest rose and fell heavily as she tried to steady herself. Then without bothering to debate it further, she walked out the door in a huff.

Daniel strode behind her, just close enough they could still talk. A speechless Keterlyn was better than a screaming ranting one. He reasoned there might be the scope to find out more, because it sure as hell looked like see wasn't going to be saving anyone. She didn't give a toss about anyone except herself clearly. "There has to be a way to end this."

"It's too much." she conceded.

"So there is a way."

The two reached the front door and exited into the cold air that smelt full of potential for snow that night. The air almost hurt as Daniel kept up with the quick steps of Keterlyn as she approached a random car, and clicked her fingers with purpose. The car beeped as the doors unlocked, Keterlyn opening the door and tossing her back inside. She decided to come clean. If Daniel was going to die, which he might, he might as well know why she wasn't willing to fight. Daniel rested on the side of the car, and she wanted so badly to grab him and run, but she knew that wasn't an option.

"When Eerie showed me how to escape," she explained calmly, "there was a catch. She taught me how to use the magic, bind it to myself so I could use it to get away. Lormorian may have given me a new life, but I didn't used to carry his power – not like I do now. I stole it Daniel. I took it from him to survive."

"That's why he is chasing you?"

"No. Daniel, that's not why he is chasing me." Keterlyn sighed and looked away. "I got closer to him, pretended to stand with him – just like Eerie did, then cast a binding spell to immobilize him, and take his power when he rested. Since them, he and I, we are bound together in all the wrong ways. I share his life force."

"If he dies, you die!" Daniel declared.

"No, maybe. I don't know – but I do know if I die, he will. Harm me, he dies." Keterlyn took a step forward and into Daniel's space. "So if you want to save yourself, if you want to kill him, all you have to do is kill me."

Daniel didn't have anything left to say. She was just staring at him expectantly. Part of him thought she wanted him to reach out, try and hurt her, as if he could. After a tense moment, Keterlyn backed away and leaned through the car and placed her hand on the dashboard, starting up the engine. Before she climbed into the car, she wanted to say goodbye, she needed to.

"I thought you couldn't use magic." Daniel said absentmindedly.

"The trick is to use so little he can't detect it. But I think we are long past that now."

Daniel smiled to himself. "You're taking it back. Leaving us to fend for ourselves. You need to know I'm going to try and help the others. Come with me."

"You don't let up do you? Tell you what I'll do Daniel. I wont take back the magic for what's left of tonight. Use it to get as far away as possible. Tell the others – whoever is left. Then I'm taking it, all of it."

Daniel thought she had turned to stone, but she wouldn't have made the gesture, given them time. Still, he stared hard at her, unwilling to move on his accusing stance, his efforts to get her to change her mind – even though he had decided he knew it was hopeless. Just then, something happened that confirmed his thoughts. As Keterlyn dropped into the car seat, the bog wood piece he had bought her fell onto the road. They both heard the sound as t hit the ground, and Keterlyn looked up at him as though she were somehow caught out.

Daniel's expression softened and he knelt to pick up the piece. "Ket..." he began, and she looked to him trying not to feel anything. Trying not to know he could see through her. When he spoke, she hung riveted on his words, looking for an excuse not to run. "Keterlyn. Don't..." Daniel started, but then he disappeared....

Cut to her core, Keterlyn made a whimpering sound before she pulled the door shut and drove away, barely keeping the wheels on the ground as she sped through the side streets, along the major roads, and eventually onto the highway. All the while, Keterlyn gripped the steering wheel, her knuckles white and just wishing she could transport herself across the globe. But not for tonight, she had promised him she would leave her power with him for the rest of the night, so she would follow through.

# Chapter 15

Daniel arrived in a large room carved out of the earth, with no windows or doors. The others of his group were all there, though no one rushed to greet him. Anise and Will sat comforting each other next to Tempest who lay on the floor, large bite like marks covering his unconscious body. Similarly bruised and bleeding, Rebecca stood cross armed with a defensive look about her. Micala sat crying into the corner as Zara stroked her back and made soothing sounds. Meanwhile, the only ones who didn't look as tortured were Lily, Molly and Abel who huddled in a corner looking as though they were plotting something. They turned to acknowledge Daniel's arrival, and he walked over to them. Still holding the bogwood, he drew out the leather strap that hung from a crude hole in the top, and he stretched it around his head.

Standing square with Abel, Daniel shot a sideways look at Tempest and Rebecca. "What happened?"

"Tempe was like that when we got here." Molly indicated.

"Rebecca," Lily added, "We don't know exactly. She just started screaming and hitting out like there was something there but there wasn't. She was just hitting herself."

"She did that to herself?" Daniel's query was met with a slow nod.

Will looked up and over at Daniel then, hate burning in his eyes. As he tried to stand, Anise pulled him back down and they exchanged heated whispered words. Leaving Anise with Tempest, Will angrily covered the distance between himself and Daniel. "Where is she? Huh, where!" Will started shouting. "She's fucking left us to die, to be picked off one by one."

Molly intervened, placing herself between Daniel and an increasingly angry Will who looked as though he working towards hitting out. "We need to find away to work together. To get out, or at least fight them- like Keterlyn showed us."

Will looked like he was about to explode. "Keterlyn got us in to this he'll hole, did you see what happened to Tempe? Did you?"

"We knew what we were getting into, what the risks were. She made that part clear enough." Daniel illustrated, but it just enraged Will who launched at Daniel around Molly.

"She only told us after." Will yelled. Scrabbling to hit Daniel, Will was practically foaming at the mouth when Abel placed a hand on his shoulder, causing Will to freeze in his movements, contorting backwards. Anise rushed over, a frightened look in her eyes as she saw Will.

"We can't fight each other right now and think we can get out of this." Abel reasoned. "I want to let you go. Can I let you go Will?"

Will glared, but Anise spoke. "He will be fine. Let him go, and he will be just fine."

Abel released Will.

"None of us wanted this." Micala spoke from where she and Zara sat. "But it's too late. We shouldn't fight, just beg for forgiveness."

"I can't do nothing." Lily spoke up to which Molly and Abel nodded in agreement.

Tempest coughed and spluttered from the floor and Will and Anise rushed over. "Take it from me, I have a feeling sitting here doing nothing is a good alternative."

"Tempe! You're alright!" gushed Anise.

"I wouldn't go that far." Tempest said as he propped himself up.

Carefully eying Will, Daniel had to agree with Lily. "Doing nothing is only going to find us all dead. We need to plan now, before anything more happens."

"You didn't see what happened before you got here." Zara reminded him as she stood. "I don't know if fighting is really going to change anything. We should have listened to Keterlyn and run when she told us."

"Who says humans have no common sense." Lormorian's voice sounded out with a deep gravelly tone that boomed at the same time. "Sure, you destroy yourselves, each other, give in to your whims and fears, but I kind of like that in my prey." He had appeared from no where behind them and stood looming over the small group, eyes transfixed on Daniel. In the midst of the chilled silence, Lormorian began to stalk around the group, a bone carved dagger at his waist the only thing that wasn't black. Lormorian was adorned in the same armour as in the dream, sending goose bumps across Daniel's skin.

Those who weren't on their feet already stood, faces awash with different emotions. Will though of all, understood something on seeing Lormorian. There was no choice but to fight him. Doing nothing, pleading for forgiveness would be as much of the end of them. He pulled at Anise who drew in behind Will. She began to wish quietly that they could be out of there, away from everything, everyone else. She wished them back to Paris, but it didn't come.

Instead Lormorian's attention was drawn to Anise. "Wishing won't help you little one." his voice sounded condescending and she started to tremble as he approached her. Will stood further in front of her and Lormorian snarled. "Really?" he asked of Will, then with a swift clench of his fist the ground whipped up around Will's feet encasing him in solid earth to the knees.

"What are you going to do with us?" Demanded Ashleigh if nothing more than to distract Lormorian from Will and Anise.

Lormorian obliged her and strolled away with a fake air of indifference. "A little fillet here, a little fillet there." he said flicking his wrist sideways whilst Ashleigh shrank back.

Molly, whose fear was rising exponentially lost control, dashing forward and grabbing his arm, meaning to send a shock through him. Instead, she Jake and Ashleigh were all thrown by the charge reversing back. All three slammed into the ceiling and walls.

"You can't hurt me, so don't bother, besides I'm not quite ready to do any real harm yet. Right now, we're just waiting for our last dance partner."

"She isn't coming. She left." Daniel announced to Tempest's surprise. He hadn't been there to see her run into the night, to tell them they were finally on their own, he still imagined that she would stand with them. When the others had been lamenting her abandoning them, he had been unconscious. Now, the colour had drained from his face.

"What? Why would she leave us, she needs us?" Tempest protested.

"Is that what she told you? She doesn't need you!"

Even knowing everything else, Lily still held on to coming for them as well. She defiantly stuck out her chin, consequences be damned. "But she will come for us. I know she will."

Lormorian smiled in a way that made Lily want to vomit as he leaned in towards her. "Do you think she likes you?" her purred at her before turning to Daniel. "Did you think she loves you? All she was doing was using you and you are so weak, you actually let her."

Daniel bought in to the banter "Must be kind of hard to tell when you haven't really known her for so long – don't you think? What was it, 800 years or more since you actually saw her, spent time around her, laid a hand on her."

Lormorian remained disturbingly calm, and a number of them held their breaths. "Good point."

Momentarily confused glances were exchanged in the second before Lormorian disappeared, only to reappear behind Daniel, who struggled with his right hand in Lormorian's grip. Lormorian's strength was phenomenal so though Daniel resisted, there was nothing he could do as Lormorian forced his hand to the ground. Lily, Will and Jake all moved forward to try and help him, but stopped as Lormorian withdrew the dagger at his belt and hissed.

"Speaking of hands, do you know what we used to do to people to touched our property without permission?" The stench of Lormorian breathing over him hit Daniel along with the terror of knowing what was going to happen next. Though everything registered for him, Daniel just couldn't react in time, shocked by the sudden realization as Lormorian swung the blade and cut off Daniel's hand. The howl of pain caused Anise and the others to flinch, all except Lily who furrowed her brow as Lormorian chuckled, replacing his dagger and walking away.

Lily Sided a still screaming Daniel, "It's just a trick! Daniel. Listen to me." she urged but the pain was no trick, it was as real to Daniel as the sight of his missing hand. "Daniel, I don't think he can truly hurt us not bad enough to kill us. We're still tied to him. Our energy is his."

"You don't want to be wrong, bandying statements like that around." Lormorian said looking amusedly at her as she leaned over Daniel still clutching his hand.

"I'm not though am I. I'm not wrong."

"Lormorian shrugged. Fact is all I need is one of you left. As you die the power will leech from one to the others, then Keterlyn will have to sever the connection because it will be too unstable with just one to carry it.

Micala stepped towards Lormorian, shaking her head and hands up in surrender as she waved them about. "I've had enough. You said you'd let me go."

Even Daniel's attention turned to her.

"Micala?" Rebecca queried, knowing the question didn't require anything more. They had been betrayed, by their own, by the one who introduced most of them to Keterlyn and her circle in the first place.

Micala deliberately avoided looking at anyone's face, just her feet. "Don't you judge me. It was just a fun night. That's all I wanted. I little chanting, some meditation, a feeling of self empowerment. Not this."

"How can you say that?" asked Abel as disbelieving the others.

Finally Micala snapped her head around, still averting eye contact. "Maybe not all of us thought hiding for the rest of our lives in exchange for kicking a football was such a great idea. I don't want to be special. I just want to be...me. So Lormorian. Please, I want to go now. I did what you asked, I gave them that herb so you could find them. I planted that pouch in her room- I'm done."

Lormorian took another step towards Micala, placing a hand under her chin. "Don't you like my tricks Micala?"

Zara spoke as Lormorian and Micala stared at each other, Micala beginning to comprehend her mistake. "If you actually thought he was ever going to let you go, you need your head checked."

Lormorian smiled evilly. "I'm sure I can offer you something, Micala."

Micala's veins expanded across her face and she was in obvious pain, dropping to the floor and clutching her head.

"And here's something for all of you to think about. But don't worry, I'll be back for what's left of you." With that, Lormorian walked backwards into the earthen wall.

Abel ran at the wall and kicked and hit at it as though that was going to help. As he stopped a familiar rumbling sound about them.

Knowing what it was, the group took a defensive stance, their backs to each other readying to fight.

Lily shook Daniel violently. "Come on Daniel, it isn't true, it's just an illusion. Believe me. Where's the blood, listen to me."

Daniel was coming out of what seemed to be a stupor when the first of Lormorian's creatures freed itself from the rock. It looked large and like a half cat, half dog with fangs. It's eyes glowed red and the fangs elongated as it eyed over the group.

Without prompting, Ashleigh initiated a forcefield and only just in time to hold the creature back from pouncing on them. Abel and Molly hurled energy spheres at it and it howled in pain. A second creature arrived and Molly prepared herself to join her energy. "Lily, we need you!" she called as they struggled to keep back the creatures as they clawed and battered the shield.

Lily stood to join the group when Daniel clasped Lily's arm with purpose. He felt her power draining into him as though he were a focal point and in a heartbeat realised his hand wasn't gone and the pain was gone. The illusion was broken.

Joining the group, Daniel placed his hand on Ashleigh's back and a surge caused the shield to strengthen and expand. The two creatures whimpered, backing up and seeking a way around. Without further thought, Daniel clutched at Jake, again, usurping his powers and then extended his hand to the creatures. Within a moment the creatures squealed, contorted and then imploded, pieces scattering.

Lily stood, practicing at using her power. She still had it even though she had thought Daniel had somehow taken it.

"What did you do? How?" Jake asked impressed.

"I just borrowed your skills for what I needed."

"More like amplified." Ashleigh said. And it was true, Daniel had taken from the others, added to his own, and increased the power he could yield. It still tingled like status under his skin.

The coven stood after eviscerating the creatures, which lay strewn across the cavern floor, but not for long. Lormorian must have known, because no sooner was the group trying to make sense of what had happened, than he reappeared, a distasteful expression accompanying him. "Well look at you. Seems like I will have to teach you a lesson myself."

Ashleigh re-engaged her energy, but he reached through, taking her by the neck.

Abel darted forward accusingly as Ashleigh's field failed. "You don't even fight fair!"

"I don't really do fair." Lormorian commented as Daniel took hold of Molly on one side and Will on the other. Taking their energy, Daniel re-directed it towards Lormorian.

When the energy Daniel shot out had nearly struck Lormoiran though, it dissipated around him, and fizzled to nothing. "Can't hurt me with my own power." Lormorian bit back before sending a blast into Daniel who dropped to the ground.

"Hey!" Anise called distracting Lormorian. She stood angry, hurling bolt after bolt at Lormorian though he barely reacted except with a look of irritation. It was all that Daniel needed though. maybe magic wasn't the key, maybe it was just as simple as it was for everyone else. Still on the ground next to Lormorian, Daniel grabbed the knife from Lormorian's sheath, and plunged it forward, but not in time. Lormorian caught Daniel's hand, forcing him to drop the weapon by crushing bones. That was not an illusion.

"Now, now, if I wasn't paying you enough attention, all you had to do is say something." Lormorian added, throwing his free hand behind him to knock Anise, Will, Tempest and Molly off their feet, before taking Daniel by the shirt and bringing him face to face.

"You do whatever you want to me, but we all know you're a weak minded, worthless nothing. You are nothing." Daniel spat as he lashed out, hitting at Lormorian to no avail. Letting. Out a frustrated groan Daniel stopped thrashing, almost hypnotized by Lormorian's near glowing eyes.

Lormorian blazed with fury. "I am a Lord of death, of dark power and dealer of pain. You will respect me!" almost as quickly he calmed again, though still spoke through gritted teeth. "Have you ever been eaten alive, I'll bet you haven't. Let me show you what a weak minded nothing can do when focused."

A myriad of beetles poured from cracks in the wall, all headed for Daniel, who dangled from Lormorian's grasp.

Practically a world away, Keterlyn drove along a quiet main road, fingers still locked in a vice like grip on the steering wheel.

"Come on Ket." she muttered to herself. "This is just another group of people, another day. Another few weeks I can have a whole other set together, get on with it, get over it. This was a sign. It wasn't meant to be."

As she drove a deer ran in front of the car and smashed in to the bonnet, rolling up onto the windshield. The car screeched, the sound of grating, scraping metal ringing out, and the car stopped to the side of the deserted road.

Looking up, Keterlyn saw blood trickle down the cracked windscreen. As she stared at it, she felt transfixed, conflicted, with her thoughts far away. There had been so much blood, so much pain and death in her time. For what? Daniel had been right- what sort of life was this? She tried to remember all the good things. Cooking with Marnie, seeing Sarah born, Patrick's face when he realized he could heal people as part of his skills... There were so many good points, but then so many bad... Out of the corner of her vision, Keterlyn saw the animal twitch.

After a moment, Keterlyn left the car, and walked over to the animal which lay twitching in the road, its big eyes wide, its breathing ragged, and its nostrils flaring. Kneeling over the twitching animal, she took it by the head as though one quick snap would end it's suffering. She held it down and drew on her strength. Life stole back into the animal as Keterlyn concentrated, feeling the energy leave her and in to the creature. A few seconds later she let go, the animal rising to it's cluttering hooves and running away. Keterlyn felt defeated, and yet determined at the same time as she stared down the dark road after the fleeing deer.

Still on her knees, she used the animal blood on the road to draw a circle around herself, smeared some on her forehead, and began to chant.

Daniel tried to summon his energy again, but Lormorian wasn't only stronger than them, he seemed to be sapping it the closer he was. Instead he shook his feet to deter the bugs from gaining ground up his body. They started to bite just as he heard her voice.

"I thought you were beyond parlour tricks Lor."

Lormorian dropped Daniel and the beetles crawled away in to the crevices.

"Keterlyn!" called Micala. Daniel started to his feet, but Lormorian put up a barrier of energy stopping any of them from getting close to him.

"Finally pet. I thought you were actually going to abandon these runts." Lormorian said snidely as Keterlyn smoothly walked over to him. Lormorian reacted by hitting her across the face and she fell to the ground as he cracked his neck.

Keterlyn stood shakily to her feet and nursed her red jaw. "Nice to see you too, love."

"I knew if I took them you would come to me."

"It made me realise you were right. I belong with you." Keterlyn said in bittersweet dulcet tones.

"How sweet, but I'm no fool. You will try to run again if I let you, but in the meantime," Lormorian took Keterlyn by the back of the neck, pulling her close. " Know I'm still going to make you pay me back for my troubles in blood, sweat and tears - yours to be specific here."

Daniel broke out in a sweat. Smashing in to the energy barrier. "Ket. I didn't mean let him take you. Don't just let him take you back like that."

"So I have you to thank for talking sense back into her – how paradoxical." Lormorian sneered.

"Fight him, kill him! I've seen how strong you are Ket." Molly encouraged, not understanding the underlying stakes.

Lormorian was more than happy to explain. "She can't hurt me. We share the same life. If she tried to kill me, she would only be hurting herself."

"She dies if she kills you." Lily mumbled to herself as she and Molly looked hopeless for the first time since arriving to this underground prison.

"We are one and the same." Lormorian continued to taunt as he looked over the small sea of worried faces. "But you – you are expendable. Once I take back my power that she foolishly shared amongst you, I'm going to make her torture you, dismember you then end your miserable lives." his tone changed o disgust, he was clearly tired of the games. Turning once more o Keterlyn he gave her a shove towards the energy barrier. "Keterlyn be a good girl now, take back the gift you gave them."

Keterlyn reviewed the faces before her and Daniel came to the forefront of the group. "There's always another way." he whispered, but all he got was a sad turn of the corner of her mouth. She saw then the bogwod carving around his neck and turned her head away, tears squeezing from the corners.

Keterlyn turned back to Lormorian before she continued, wanting to rid herself of and doubt, any of her painful conscience. "A kiss for luck first Lor. Remind me of who I used to be. The girl lost in the woods, looking for you."

Lormorian regarded with suspicion but couldn't help himself. Leaning forward, Lormorian kissed her, fingernails scraping the back of her neck until there was a sudden jolt. As they parted, Lormorian saw the blade he wore at his belt protruding from below Keterlyn's ribs.

Lormorian jumped to her, meaning to heal her, save himself, but Keterlyn held her hand out as he drew near and knocked him backwards against the far wall where the earth drew out and around him, encasing his limbs.

Lormorian roared in fear and anger as he realized he was immobile, and saw the blood seep from Keterlyn's wounds. "What do you think you are doing?" he bellowed.

"What I should have done lifetimes ago." Keterlyn responded as she saw Daniel testing the limits of the force field that held them still.

"No!" Daniel exclaimed as Keterlyn sank to the ground just on the other side of the field. He could have reached out and touched her were it not for the energy still running through the shield Lormorian put in place. "Let down the barrier, let us through." Daniel pleaded.

"We can help you." Zara insisted from behind him, though Keterlyn simply shook her head and smiled weakly.

From the far former Lormorian screamed in agony before he glittered momentarily, and shattered into a thousand particles flying in a myriad of directions.

Daniel stood back expecting the force field to come down, but it didn't.

"Why is the barrier still up?" questioned Molly. Looking about for an answer.

Daniel looked down at Keterlyn then kneeled to get as close as possible. "Keterlyn. Let down the barrier. Let us help you...let me in." he whispered. The others looked at her in disbelief.

Keterlyn placed her hand on the energy field and Daniel mirrored the same, their fingers just touching.

"You have a real talent." Keterlyn grinned one last time as she disintegrated, a power emerging from her fingertips across to Daniel and bringing down the shield. The ground trembled once more, though this time the cave seemed to be collapsing.

Though distraught, Daniel knew he and the others had to get out of there before they were crushed, but with nothing else left of Keterlyn, Daniel picked up the blade, still wet with her blood. Abel took his shoulder, but instead of standing, Daniel closed his eyes, summoning a blinding light that transferred the group back to the park they used to train in.

Lily and Micala hugged each other, Will, Tempest and Anise collapsed on one another, laughing, and Jake kissed Ashleigh. Zara, and Molly dropped to the grass in relief and Rebecca came to stand next to Daniel who was a few meters away facing away from the others, and immersed in thought.

"Nothing will ever be the same." Rebecca said softly.

"No." Daniel admitted. "It won't." He looked at his palm and it glowed bright in the dawn light. Rebecca curiously gazed at the light, her jaw slackening slightly at the sight. The light shone brilliantly bright, and she realized Keterlyn had transferred what was left of her power to Daniel who open and clenched his fists as he felt the new sensation run the underside of his skin.

# Chapter 16

50 years later

Keterlyn's face greeted him as she lounged in Daniel's arms on his waking. He nuzzled his still young face into her neck and breathed in deep, satisfied by having spent the night so comfortably with her, so absolutely together again. For a few precious moments he gazed at her before he turned away, flinching in response to the pang in his chest. This wasn't right, and besides, Daniel had places to be. If he was going to make the meeting point he would have to be up and dressed within the half hour.

Still, Daniel looked back once more, shifting her hair from her face. She stirred slightly and he halted the movement of his hand, deciding to let her sleep for a few more minutes.

It was too late though, the phone rang out a subtle mix of classical notes in a digital tone, but enough to wake anyone, and the girl pulled a pillow over her head in protest. Daniel reached out and touched the button that signalled he chose to take the call, engaging the speaker automatically as Jake's welcome voice rang out.

"You ready for our road trip or what? It's nearly midday and if you want to do this the old fashioned way..."

"Jake, I got company." Daniel carried warning in his tone as he shifted his arm from underneath the pillows that held her head, and rose to a seated position.

"I'll be there in twenty minutes Daniel."

"I'll be there. But hey, call me a cab while you're at it." the connection was severed and Daniel turned back to the bed. A dainty, pale arm searched the mattress for him, and he lay back down as she pulled her head from the darkness of the linen.

"Morning." Daniel greeted warmly as her smile broadened and she entwined herself around his body.

"Morning." she replied as her toes curled and ran the length of his calf.

"I need to get going."

"Already?" she whined. "I wanted to spend the day getting to know the stranger who managed to get me to break all my rules last night."

Keterlyn's face greeted him with bleary eyes and a fake pout that reminded Daniel to put up a wall.

"You don't want to get to know me." he replied after a moment. He pulled his body up to a seated position, and feeling the bond break between them, she furrowed her brow.

With tone in her voice that was heavy with suspicion she narrowed her lids. "I like you, I thought you liked me?" she said

"I think I'm not a good person, Keterlyn, and I'm not sure if I ever really was."

Her body stiffened and she clutched the sheet to her with an angry fist. "My name is Talia."

Daniel turned to face her and reached out a hand to her face, hovering it just in front as you would if placing a mask. He smoothly waved it over her features which returned from Keterlyn's to Talia's darker, more petite features.

"What are you doing!" she asked, swiftly becoming outraged.

"Nothing you have to worry about Talia." Daniel stretched out his hand and took hers laying it flat and turned upwards in his palm. With his other hand he began to trace an image. Initially she let him hold her hand with some hesitation, but after a moment she became entranced, relaxed and stared back at him with blank eyes. "In fact," Daniel continued now it was safe to do so, "There isn't a single thing you're going to need to remember. We had a good night, too many drinks, we laughed, I paid for a cab home. It's waiting for you downstairs."

"I hope it doesn't leave without me." Talia said concerned.

"You had better get dressed then." Daniel urged and she rose, dressed quickly and fled the room as Daniel quickly showered.

Downstairs, Jake was already waiting in the car and Talia was just climbing in to a cab, oblivious to Daniel who sank happily into the expensive leather of Jake's latest acquisition, a Boxter.

"You are not a good man my friend." Jake said with a light, though accusing tone as he stared after the taxi that pulled from the curb.

Daniel looked at Jake shaking his head in mock sadness. "I could be worse. I could be you."

"Hey! I use my super powers for good, I resent your tone." Jake started the engine and revved it.

"Super powers huh. Saved anyone from burning buildings yet?"

"Maybe not this week." Jake took the car onto the road and headed for the freeway.

Jake looked over at Daniel sensing a moroseness he hadn't felt in Daniel for years. He searched for light conversation. "Think she still would have slept with you if you told her how old you are?" he quipped, but it failed to raise a smirk.

"I think it's not that hard to get anything we want." was the reply instead.

"You make it sound like a chore."

"How's Anise?" detracted Daniel.

"Shaky, what happened to Will wasn't expected."

Daniel had difficulty hiding the concern in his voice, "But he'll be here tonight?"

"Yeah, he'll be here. It was a wake up call for us all. Nothing like a heart attack to make everyone around you feel a little more mortal." Daniel nodded to himself absent mindedly.

"Why are we driving Daniel?"

"I miss it." he replied honestly.

"What? Driving?" queried Jake.

"Normal." Daniel corrected. "And I miss her."

"We only knew her for a few months, fifty years ago. I have to be honest, I don't get your hang up with her, but this?"

"She's always with me Jake." Daniel lifted his forearms, his shirt pulling back from his skin. Underneath the flesh a translucency rose to the surface, ribboned about his forearms then died back down as he rested his limbs again. "The more time passes, the more difficult it gets, feeling like part of me is missing." Taking a deep breath Daniel closed his eyes, feeling the energy rising within him, bubble back down to a gentle simmer.

Jake couldn't take it any longer. "What's wrong? You're different, more..."

"Sombre?"

"I was going to go with morbid."

Daniel smiled finally. "Maybe I am. I've just been thinking a lot lately."

"Care to share?"

"Yeah, we have some time." With that Daniel eased back and began to speak his mind.

That night, as the full moon beamed down from its perch in the sky, Molly, Zara, Ashleigh, and Rebecca sat in the grass waiting for the others to join them. Zara was explaining what had happened to Will as Rebecca lounged back looking carefree and Molly hugged her knees staring with intent features at Zara. Ashleigh lay in the grass staring up at the stars contentedly. None of them looked their seventy plus years, having used glamours to cover up their ages for so long they barely needed to try anymore.

"So Anise called me." To Molly's drawn brows, she explained further. "Well it's not like they could go to the hospital was it? Then I had to call Lily because she's the healing guru, and anyway, thank the Goddess she got there in time.

"What do you think would have happened if y'know..." Molly queried.

"If he died." finished Rebecca dusting her hands and sitting upright.

Molly was quiet for a moment while everyone thought through the obvious, though eventually she had to voice it. "What do you think happens to the energy?"

Ashleigh finally spoke. "Keterlyn lived forever. Obviously we won't."

"Daniel has the lion share," Zara reasoned. "It would make sense if the power returned back to him."

A familiar though unwelcome voice sounded out behind them. "So what, he gets to live forever while we decay in the dirt." Micala stood, arms crossed, and a bitter look across her features.

"Why don't you go decay into the dirt." Rebecca muttered. Micala didn't bite. She had learned the hard way more than once not to feed into it. Now the comments, snide remarks and seemingly endless resentment from the others generally slid off her back. Usually she made a point of arriving late for these things just so she could get it over and done with, but every few years she seemed to forget, or want to torture herself, or something beyond her comprehension. At her core she knew she still hoped that they might accept her back after what she did, or at the very least be less than hostile, but Micala refused to entertain the thought. They needed her and she needed them as part of the circle, and so once a month at the full moon they tolerated her, nothing more.

Just then, there was a whirling, the wind struck up and formed a funnel, sparks flying about it until Abel stood amidst it and the winds died down on cue. He had a broad smile across his face and Zara rolled her eyes at the showmanship, as Rebecca jumped up and rushed over giving him a bear hug. Even Ashleigh sat up to watch.

"Hello again," Abel said, his voice tight from being squeezed.

Rebecca leaned back and let him go. "Just glad to see you – my saviour!"

Molly and Zara looked puzzled. "Say what now?" Zara asked.

"I got stuck in a bind at this club, and who waltzes in, but Abel." Rebecca explained.

"That's what you get for hanging out in the Devils Pit."

"What were you doing there?" Molly's nose turned at the thought of the place. It was a well known hang out for the supernatural types, but not one respectable practitioners frequented.

"I heard a vamp gone loco runs that place." Zara observed.

"You hear right." Abel said.

"Yeah but there was a guy I met there," a small chorus of 'ahhs' rang out. "I was looking for him."

Ashleigh smiled as she spoke. "Is that the Owen you were going on about. You an item yet 'cause the last time you were talking about him, it sounded like he was a little work obsessed. Doesn't he kill things like us – the unnatural?"

"Only the nasty things. That's why I was looking for him."

"He's a little under four decades younger than he should be from what I hear." Abel chimed in and Rebecca shook her head at him.

"Like you aren't using the glamour to get your own way with the twenty something set, honey. I hear your going by Abel Jr now." taunted Zara.

"Actually it's Jr, Jr now."

"Couldn't give up the limelight hey?" Molly joked to which Abel simply gwaffed and turned towards the approaching car that held Daniel and Jake. Ashleigh jumped to her feet and walked towards the car leaving the others behind walking though the spontaneous appearance of Anise and Lily to either side of her. They wisped out of thin air, mid stride, as if they had just strolled though a light breeze, though Lily had to turn slightly to dodge the smiling Ashleigh who was bent towards reaching Jake faster.

"Hey baby!" Ashleigh beamed as Jake left the car and took her hand. Daniel nodded curtly as he passed her and headed towards the others on the hill. "What's with Mr bright eyes?" she asked sarcastically of Daniel.

Another car arrived, holding Tempest and Will, both of whom emerged slowly, Will looking all of the seventy three years he was. Anise stood forward and waited for them both to reach her. Tempest winked at her worried face as he passed her, and she reached out a hand for Will's as he took heavy breaths climbing the hill. As their fingers entwined, Will swiftly transformed back into his younger self.

"He can't hold his own image?" Micala whispered under her breath.

Instead of jumping on it no one said anything except for Molly again. "What does that mean?"

Tempest looked up at her, grim, though resigned. "You know what that means Moll."

"You don't feel... tired somehow?" Abel asked as Will and Anise joined the group.

"That's enough, let's begin." Instructed Daniel, and the group moved into a circle, taking hands to complete the connection and exchange their energy.

As soon as the last one took hands, a bright light built amongst them, and a wave of energy rose simultaneously. The power built, cascading about them as they found themselves rejuvenated. As soon as the energy was dispersed amongst them again the light subsided and Micala moved to vanish as quickly as possible, but as she projected herself to disappear, Daniel set up a barrier preventing her from leaving.

Micala snapped her head back in irritation. "We need to talk," Daniel remarked. "All of us."

Daniel felt acutely responsible for everyone being comfortable with this decision, mainly because he knew he could enforce it even if they didn't agree with him, but although Daniel had led them, they had all played a part in helping eachother grow, to learn to hone their own skills, discover new ones, so even though relatively little time had gone past, each had grown greatly. Lily could summon almost any illusion, transport items, and cast shadowing spells to hide people or objects. Micala also had worked hard to earn forgiveness, especially from Tempest and Rebecca. Her ability to find lost things had come in useful a number of times, and started to earn her a small fortune. Turned out, when she put aside the fear, she had an amazing capacity to manipulate water as well. Ashleigh and Jake had done more than practice magic skills though, they had become engaged, then married.

Anise had traveled to Paris once a month, at least, and Will had devoted time to learning energy fields with Ashleigh. Zara no longer taught, but studied all the time, transporting from one place to another, keeping over 20 field notes. Abel had become a near household name in no time, his accuracy seemingly uncanny in being able to evade opponents, score goals, and his on air manner highly sellable. Abel also seemed to have an almost preternatural capacity to engage an audience as well. Tempest had set up his own business to which people flocked to access his consultancy services which had a surprising knack to set people on the right path either in love, careers or other directions. Molly, had kept her head down, mastering most of the basics, and submerging herself in the art of magic and researched the supernatural to extend their scope of threats and allies. Everyone here was extraordinary as far as Daniel was concerned, and not just because of the magic.

"This is because of me isn't it?" Will said definitively. Anise squeezed his hand.

"This is for all of us, before we lose what we have, before something happens and we don't get a chance to direct it." Daniel was firm, though he saw tears in the eyes of the friends he had kept for so long.

Zara seemed the calmest of them all. She was the oldest, though right now, her face flush from the energy that had been sent surging through them all, no one could have guessed it. "There's not much of a difference, escaping time, or escaping the things in the dark that came for our predecessors. At least we choose when, all of Keterlyn's others never really got to choose, and never really knew what exactly was coming for them in the dark." The remark drew mostly nods of understanding.

"It's been an amazing life." Rebecca added.

"More than I could have imagined." Lily said as Abel nudged into her.

Tempest spoke next. "I don't like the idea of running from anything anymore. We've been in control, I've been in control for so long, I don't want to wait for some wakeup call where I suddenly age fifty years in the middle of lunch one day, scare the crap out of my assistant."

"What are you thinking of?" Will asked of Daniel.

"Wait," Micala objected. "What are we talking about, it doesn't have to end. What if one dies, and the others just...keep going. What if we get their power and somehow that helps..." but she didn't get to finish the sentence before Zara took her hand. Micala started crying instantly, tears of fear and relief pouring down her cheeks as she buried her head into Zara's shoulder.

Ashleigh even ran a hand over Micala's back. "None of us knows what happens next. Daniel, is there something we need to do."

Daniel had thought through this for a long time now, and had tried to come to terms with what was the best thing to do with the time and the power that remained in their possession, and the fact that is all might fall apart even with the best of plans. "This experience of ours, has been more than I think any of us could have imagined. It might not have intended to be a gift exactly, but I think it ended up being one anyway. Keterlyn gave us a chance to live to our best, longer than we thought we could. She gave us second chances." He swallowed hard for the next bit. "So I think we should think about giving someone else the same chance. Give up the power before we lose everything altogether." There was a calm silence as all their faces stared at him with various looks of approval and acknowledgement.

"Can we choose who gets it?" Micala asked much to everyone's surprise.

Daniel nodded. "I think each of us picks one person, family, friend, whoever we think can handle it."

"And who'll do the right things with it." supplemented Tempest.

"Agreed." Abel supported. "I have a cousin who's good people."

"My neighbour." Jake answered.

Anise stifled a sob. "I don't think I can do this." she murmered but as Will pulled her closer into him she steadied herself.

"I can't imagine a better way to do this." Rebecca said brightly, though much of it was forced. "We get to choose on our terms, who gets this, amazing gift of ours. In a way we kind of get to live on. I'm going to find that Owen."

"Focus Bec, we're looking to pass on a legacy here not have a one night stand." Lily joked.

"I meant for that!" Rebecca chastised. "He kills evil things in his spare time, he deserves a bit of oomph behind him."

"It's settled then. Next meeting, we bring 12 people with us, to take our places." Daniel stated for the collective.

Following the seriousness of the conversation they spent the rest of their time together reminiscing, joking and generally just enjoying each other's company. Lily rested into Abel, Zara and Molly lay front first on the grass using their powers to draw worms to the surface and the others sat scattered about except for Daniel, who stood slightly away from the group staring into the night.

Anise turned to Will. "He seems lonely."

"Nah, he's always like this." Will dismissed.

"Yeah but this time he's more...you know."

"I know."

"I always thought he would find a way to bring her back you know." Tempest said thoughtfully.

Zara toyed with an earthworm as she responded to Tempest's comment. "He knew he never could. Ket made it clear. Bringing things back from the dead never worked out right."

"What are you doing with your last month Zar?" Molly asked as she rolled on to her back.

"Might go back to that place in the Caribbean, relax for a bit."

"I might have to join you." Jake said.

"Like hell!" Ashleigh piped up. "We're going to go to that place in the Hebrides where we got married.

"Hmm, cold, windy....Can't wait." Jake wisecracked. "S'pose there's no sense in running, you'd find me anyway."

"Damn right." Ashleigh said gripping tightly to his arm.

Daniel walked back then, his hands in his pockets. "I might call it a night." Jake started to get up but Daniel waved his hand. "I'm not travelling back the old fashioned way."

"So what are you doing with your last month?" Abel asked Daniel.

"I'm going back to school." Daniel didn't even hide the feint smile on his face.

"Even with the glamour I don't know you can pass as a student." Molly noted.

"Why don't you let me worry about that. See you next month." With that Daniel was gone, soon to be in bed and having the best night sleep in a decade.

The year before, Daniel had worked as a school counsellor for a term. Mainly because he was bored, and partly because he was curious, but in doing so had come across a high school student by the name of Robert, Bobby, who was bright, destined for amazing things, but only if he could keep a lid on his anger. When Daniel said he was going back to school, he meant it, but only for enough time to offer Bobby a chance of a lifetime.

There was something else about Bobby though, and as the afternoon set in, the school bell rang, and Daniel set out to find the boy. Daniel rounded the emptying corner of the hallway, to see Bobby with two of the other boys of his year, being shoved about as he resisted, only slightly, but just enough to keep the others at bay. On walking away though, the last of the tormenters, swung a leg under Bobby causing him to fall backwards on his backside, the pain not nearing the emotional outrage. Bobby had been picked on since moving to this school last year, and he took it silently, with as much dignity as possible, but when Bobby got mad, Daniel noticed something else. Things around him swayed, moved, rattled, not noticeably, unless you were looking for it. Daniel recognised it immediately of course, and watching Robert on the floor, gritting his teeth as his school mates laughed and left him in their wake, Daniel saw it again.

Clenching his fists, Bobby stood shaking, the light above him swaying slightly as though an unperceivable breeze had found its way through the corridor. The boy rose his fist, stuck out his chin and swung at the corkboard next to his head in anger, but his fist never made contact. Daniel held Bobby's arm at bay, a determined and knowing look upon his features, and the boy calmed instantly. "Sorry sir, I didn't see you there. I'll go, it's time to get home."

"Actually Robert," Daniel spoke softly, "I needed to have a word." Daniel let him go, and cursing under his breath Bobby followed Daniel down the corridor to the nearest classroom, imagining he was in the worst kind of trouble.

****

At the next monthly meeting everyone arrived with their new inductee. Walking a stunned Bobby in through thin air, Daniel released the boy's shoulder ad joined the others in his coven. They spoke briefly, hugged each other, and said their goodbyes as the 12 people destined to take their places looked on in disbelief, or at each other with doubt in their minds and hearts.

After a few minutes, Daniel produced Lormorian's old knife that he had kept in his possession for so long, Keterlyn's blood dried and brown on the blade's edges. He drove it into the ground and stood back, feeling the power seem into the earth. "It's time to find out what happens next."

With that, the coven closed the circle, the new recruits in the middle, and handed over the power that so many years ago had been instilled in them.

With a blinding light escalating and strobing through and around the circle, those in the middle shuffled in nervousness, there was a flash, and suddenly Daniel, Molly, Rebecca, Lilly, Abel, Jake, Will, Anise, Ashleigh, Zara, Tempest, and Micala were gone, leaving twelve new faces, staggering, sinking to the ground, or closing their eyes as they absorbed the power running within them.

THE END

Other books by this author:

Matthias (out now)

Asatru (out now)

Kindred (Out 2012)

