The Coven by Cate Tiernan (Sweep book 2) Page 9

Mary K. made a face. "His folks took it away for a week after he flunked a history exam."

  "Oh, too bad," I said. "Well, have a good time. Don't do anything I wouldn't do."

  Mary K. rolled her eyes. "Oh, okay," she said dryly. "Note to self: Try not to dance around naked, doing witchcraft. Thanks for the ride." She got out and slammed the car door, and I watched her go into Jaycee's house.

  Sighing, I drove on to Matt's house, following his directions to the very outskirts of town. Ten minutes later I parked in front of a low-slung brick modern house, and Jenna let me in.

  "Hey!" she said brightly. "Come on in. We're in the living room. I can't remember—have you ever been here before?"

  "No," I said, leaving my coat on a metal hook. "Are Matt's parents here?"

  Jenna shook her head. "His dad had a medical convention in Florida, and his mom went, too. We have the whole place to ourselves."

  "Sweet," I said, following her. We took a right into a large living room, a white rectangle with one whole wall made of glass. I guess it must have looked out onto the beck-yard, but right now it was dark outside, and all I could see was our own reflections.

  "Hi, Morgan,”said Matt He was wearing an old rugby shirt and jeans. "Welcome to Adler Hall.”

  We both laughed as Sharon came into the room. "Hi, Morgan,”she said. "Matt, what's with all the bizarre furniture?"

  "My mom is into sixties stuff," Matt explained.

  Ethan poked his head up from a red plush couch. It was so deep, it looked like it was about to swallow him. A white floor lamp shaped like a globe with one flat side curved over his head. "I feel like I've gone back in time," he said. "All we need is a conversation pit"

  "There's one in the study," said Matt, grinning. The doorbell rang, and I felt a warm thrill of recognition even before Jenna went to answer it Cal, I thought happily, a tingle going down my spine. Muirn beatha dan. Moments later I heard his voice as he greeted Jenna. All my nerve cells came alive at the sound and at the memory of yesterday, in his room.

  "Does anyone want tea, or water, or a soda”Matt offered as Cal came into the room, holding a big, beat-up leather satchel. "We don't keep alcohol in the house 'cause my dad's in AA."

  This frank admission startled me. "Water sounds great"

  I crossed to Cal and gave him a quick kiss, marveling at my own boldness.

  The doorbell rang again. A moment later Matt came back into the room, carrying some bottles of seltzer. Robbie was right behind him. "Hey," he said.

  I stared. I guess I should have been used to it by now, but I wasn't It was as if Robbie's personality and lame social skills had been transferred into the body of a teen star. "Where are your glasses?" I asked.

  Robbie took a bottle of seltzer from Matt and popped the cap. "That's the funny thing," he said slowly. "I don't need them anymore."

  "How could you not need glasses?" I demanded. "Did you have laser surgery without telling me?"

  "Nope," Robbie said. "That's what all the tests this week were about. Apparently my eyesight has just gotten better. I was having headaches because I didn't need to wear glasses anymore, and the lenses were straining my eyes."

  He didn't sound happy, and it took me a few moments to realize that slowly, everyone's attention had turned to me.

  "No!" I said strongly. "I absolutely did not do another spell! Honestly—I swear! I promised Robbie, and everyone else, that I wouldn't do another spell, and 1 haven't! I haven't done any spells at all!"

  Robbie looked at me with his clear, gray-blue eyes, no longer hidden by thick, distorting lenses. "Morgan," he said.

  "I swear! I absolutely promise you," I said, holding up my right hand. Robbie looked unconvinced. "Robbie! Believe me."

  Conflict showed in his face. "What could it be, then?" he asked. "Eyes don't just get better. I mean, the actual shape of my eyeballs has changed. They were giving me MRIs to see If I had a tumor pressing on my brain."

  "Jesus," Matt muttered.

  "I don't know," I said helplessly. "But it wasn't me."

  "This is incredible," said Jenna, sounding short of breath. "Could someone else have put a spell on him?"

  "I could have," Cal said thoughtfully. "But I didn't. Morgan, do you remember the actual words of your spell?"

  "Yes," I said. "But I put the spell on the potion I gave him, not on him."

  "That's true," Cal mused. "Though if the potion was supposed to act on him in some way ... what were the words?"

  I swallowed, thinking back. "Um, 'So beauty in is beauty out," I recited softly. "This potion make your blemish nowt. This healing water makes you pure, and thus your beauty will endure."

  "That was it?" Sharon asked. "God, why didn't you do it sooner?"

  "Sharon," Robbie said in irritation.

  "Okay, okay," said Cal. "We have a couple of possibilities here. One is that Robbie's eyes have spontaneously healed themselves due to some unfathomable miracle."

  Ethan snorted, and Sharon shot him a glance.

  "The second possibility," Cal went on, "is that Morgan's spell wasn't specific enough, wasn't limited only to Robbie's skin. It was a spell to eliminate blemishes, imperfections. His eyes were imperfect; now they're perfect. Like his skin."

  The enormity of that thought was just sinking in when Ethan said brightly, "Great! I can't wait to see what It does for his personality!"

  Jenna couldn't help snickering. I sank weakly Into a chair shaped like a giant cupped hand.

  "The third possibility," said Cal, "is that someone we don't know has put a spell on Robbie. That doesn't seem likely—why would a stranger want to do that? No, I think it's more likely that Morgan's spell has just continued to fix things."

  "That's kind of frightening," I said, chilled. Did I really have that kind of power?

  "It's pretty unusual. That's why you're not supposed to be doing spells until you know more," Cal said. I felt terrible. "When we start learning spells, I'll show you how to limit them. Limitations are just about the most important things to know, along with how to channel power. When you work a spell, you need to limit it in time, effect, purpose, duration, and target"

  "Oh, no." I dropped my head into my hands. "I didn't do any of that"

  "And actually, now that I think about it you banished limitations at the very first circle. Remember?" Cal asked. "That might have something to do with this also."

  "So what now?" Robbie demanded. "What else is going to change?"

  "Probably not much more," Cal said. "For one thing, even though Morgan's really powerful, she's still just a beginner. She's not in touch with her full powers."

  I was glad he hadn't referred to me again as a blood witch. I wanted people to forget about it for now.

  "Also," Cal said, "this kind of spell is usually self-limiting. I mean, the potion was for your face, and you put it only on your face, right? You didn't drink it or anything?"

  "God, no," Robbie said.

  Cal shrugged. "So it's just fixing that general area, including your eyes, it's unusual, but I guess it's not impossible."

  "I don't believe this." I moaned, hiding my face. "I'm such an Idiot I can't believe I did this. I am so, so sorry, Robbie."

  "What are you sorry about?" Ethan asked. "Now he can be an airline pilot"

  Sharon giggled, then stifled it.

  "So you don't think it's going to do anything else?" Robbie asked Cal.

  "I don't know," Cal said. He grinned. "Have you been feeling especially smart lately? It could be working on your brain."

  I moaned again.

  Cal nudged me. "I'm only kidding. It's probably over. Stop worrying."

  He clapped once. "Well. I think it's time to start talking about spells and limitations!"

  I couldn't laugh, though some of the others did.

  "This is our first circle without Bree, Raven, and Beth," said Cal.

  "I'm going to miss them," said Jenna softly. Her eyes flicked to me, and I wondered if she thought it was my fault that they had le
ft.

  Cal nodded. "Yeah. Me too. But maybe without them we'll be more tightly focused. We'll find out"

  We sat in a ring on the floor around Cal. "First, let's go over clans," he said. "You know how they all have qualities associated with them. The Brightendales were healers. The Woodbanes—the 'dark clan'—supposedly fought for power at any cost"

  "Ooh," Robbie said. He gave me a mock-fearful look. But I just shivered. The very idea of the Woodbanes made me cold. I didn't think it was something to laugh at.

  "The Burnhides were known for their magick with crystals and gems," Cal went on. "The Leapvaughns were mischief makers. The Vikroths were warriors. And so on." He looked around the circle. "Well, just as each clan had qualities associated with it so each clan also had certain runes that it tended to use. So—I think it's time we took a look at some runes."

  Cal opened his large leather satchel and pulled out a sheaf of what looked like index cards. He held them up, and I saw that each one had a rune drawn on it very large.

  "Rune flash cards!" I said, and Cal nodded.

  "Basically, yes," he said. "Using runes is a quick way to get in touch with a deep, old source of power. Tonight I just want to show them to you and have you concentrate on each one. Each symbol has many meanings. They're all there for you, if you open yourself up to them."

  We all watched, fascinated, as he held up the white cards one by one, reading the runes' names and telling us what they traditionally stood for.

  "There are different names for each symbol. The names depend on whether you're working within a Norse tradition, or German, or Gaelic," Cal explained. "Later on, we'll talk about which runes are associated with which clans."

  "This is so beautiful," said Sharon. "I love that people have used these for thousands of years."

  Ethan turned to her, nodding his agreement I watched as their eyes met and held.

  Who would have known that Sharon Goodfine would find Wicca beautiful? Or that Ethan would dare to like her? Witchcraft was revealing us not only to ourselves but to each other.

  "Let's make a circle," said Cal.

  13. Starlight

  March 17, 1982

  St. Paddy's Day in New York City. Below, the city is celebrating a holiday they imported from my home, but I cannot join in. Angus is out looking for work. I sit here by the window, crying, though the Goddess knows I have no more tears left.

  Everything I knew and loved is gone. My village is burned to the ground. My ma and da are dead, though it's still hard for me to believe it. My little cat Dagda. My friends. Belwicket has been wiped out, our cauldrons broken, out brooms burned, out herbs turned to smoke above our heads.

  How did this happen? Why didn't I fall victim as so many others did? Why did Angus and I alone survive?

  I hate New York, hate everything about it. The noise blunts my ears. I can't smell any living thing. I can't smell the sea or hear it in the background like a lullaby. There are people everywhere, packed in tight, like sardines. The city is filthy; the people are rude and common. I ache foe my home.

  There is no magick in this place.

  And yet if there is no magick, surly there is no true evil, either? --M.R.

  We purified our circle with salt and then invoked earth, air, water, and fire with a bowl of salt, a stick of incense, a bowl of water, and a candle. Cal showed us the rune symbols for these elements, and we worked to memorize them.

  "Let's try to raise some energy and focus it," said Cal. "We'll try to focus it in ourselves, and we'll limit its effects to a good night's sleep and general well-being. And does anyone have any particular problem they'd like help with?”He met my eyes, and I could tell we were both thinking of my parents. But Cal left it up to me to ask for help in front of everyone, and I said nothing.

  "Like, help my stepsister quit being such a pain?" Sharon asked. I hadn't known she had a stepsister. I was between Jenna and Sharon, and their hands felt small and smooth in mine.

  Cal laughed. "You can't ask to change others. But you could ask to make it easier for you to get along with her."

  "My asthma's been acting up since it got colder," Jenna said. I remembered her coughing but hadn't known she had asthma. People like Jenna, Sharon, Bree—they ruled our school. I had never really considered that they might have problems and difficulties. Not until Wicca came into all our lives.

  “Okay, Jenna's asthma,”agreed Cal. “Anything else?”

  None of us said anything.

  Cal lowered his head and closed his eyes, and we did the same. The room was filled with our deep, even breathing, and little by little, as the minutes passed. I felt our breathing tune in to each other, becoming aligned so that we inhaled and exhaled together.

  Then Cal's voice, rich and slightly rough, said:

  "Blessed be the animals, the plants, and alt living things.

  Blessed be the earth, the sky, the clouds, the rain.

  Blessed be all people,

  those within Wicca and those without.

  Blessed be the Goddess and the God,

  and all the spirits who help us.

  Blessed be. We raise our hearts,

  our voices, our spirits to the Goddess and the God."

  As we began to move deasil, the words rose and fell in a pattern so that it became a song. We half skipped, half danced in our circle, and the chant became a joyous cry that filled the room, filled all the air around us. I was laughing, breathless, feeling happy and weightless and safe in this circle. Ethan was smiling but intent his face flushed and his corkscrew curls bouncing around his head. Sharon's silky black hair was flying, and she looked pretty and carefree. Jenna looked like a blond fairy queen, and Matt was dark and purposeful. Robbie moved with new grace and coordination as we spun foster and faster. The only thing I missed was Bree's face in the circle.

  I felt the energy rise. It coiled around us, building and thickening and swirling in our circle. The living-room floor was warm and smooth beneath my socked feet, and I felt like if I let go of Jenna's and Sharon's hands, I would fly off through the ceiling into the sky. As I looked above me, still chanting the words, I saw the white ceiling waver and dissolve to show me the deep indigo night and the white and yellow stars popping out of the sky so brightly. Awestruck, I gazed upward, seeing the infinite possibilities of the universe where before there had been only a ceiling. I wanted to reach out and touch the stars, and without hesitating, I unclasped my hands and stretched my arms overhead.

  At the same instant everyone else let go and threw their arms overhead, and the circle stopped where it was while the swirling energy continued to coil around us, stronger and stronger. I reached for the stars, feeling the energy pressing against my backbone.

  "Take the energy into you!" Cal called, and automatically I pressed my clasped fist against my chest I breathed in warmth and white light and felt my worries melt away. I swayed on my feet and once again tried to touch the stars. Reaching overhead, I felt myself brush a tiny, prickly firelight that was hot and sharp against my fingers. It felt like a star, and I brought down my hand.

  With the light in my hand I gazed at the others, wondering if they could see it Then Cal was at my side because I always channeled too much energy and had to ground myself afterward. But this time I felt fine—not too dizzy, not too sick, just happy and lighthearted and full of wonder.

  "Whoa," Ethan whispered, his eyes on me.

  "What is that?" asked Sharon.

  "Morgan!" Jenna said in awe. Her breath sounded tight I and strained, and she was breathing fast and shallowly. I turned to her. I felt like I could do anything.

  Reaching out, I pressed the light against her chest She gasped with a small "Ah!" and I traced a line from one side to the other beneath her collarbones. Closing my eyes, I flattened my hand on her breastbone and felt the starlight dissolve into her. She gasped again and staggered on her feet and Cal put out his hand but didn't touch me. Under my fingers I felt Jenna's lungs swell as she sucked in air. I felt the microsco
pic alveoli opening to admit oxygen, tiny capillaries absorbing the oxygen; I felt it as, from the smallest veins to the thick, ridged muscles of her bronchial tubes, each one expanded in a domino effect, loosening, relaxing, absorbing oxygen.

  Jenna panted.

  My eyes opened, and I smiled.

  "I can breathe," Jenna said slowly, touching her chest "l was starting to tighten up. I knew I'd need my inhaler after the circle, and I didn't want to use it in front of everyone" Jenna's eyes sought Matt, and he came to put his arm around her. "She opened up my lungs and put air in with that light" Jenna said, sounding dazed.

  "Okay, stop," Cal said, gently taking my hands. "Quit touching things. Like on Samhain, maybe you should lie down and ground yourself."

  I shook off his hands. "I don't want to ground myself”said clearly. "I want to keep it" I flexed my fingers, wanting to touch something else, see what happened.

  Cal looked at me. Something flickered in his eyes.

  “I just want to keep this feeling.”I explained.

  “It can't stay forever,”he said. “Energy doesn't linger—it needs to go somewhere. You don't want to go around zapping things.”

  I laughed. “I don't?”

  “No he assured me. Then he led me to a clear place on the polished wood floor, and I lat down, feeling the strength of the earth beneath my back, feeling the energy cease its whizzing around inside me, being absorbed by the earth's ancient embrace. In a few minutes I felt much more normal, less light-head and ...I guess, less drunk. Or at least, that's what I imagined feeling drunk was like. I didn't have much practice with it.

  “Why can she do this?” Matt asked, his arm still protectively around Jenna. Jenna was taking deep, experimental breaths. “It's so easy,”she marveled. “I feel so...so unconstrained.”

  Cal gave a wry chuckle. "It freaks me out too, sometimes. Morgan does things that would be amazing for a high priestess to do—someone with years and years of training and experience. She just has a lot of power, that's all."

  "You called her a blood witch," Ethan remembered. "She's a blood witch, like you. But how is that?"