Sweep - Vanished Past - Chapter 2

[kneazle]

Vanished Past
Kneazle



Chapter Two: Déjà Vu

I had graduated with honors in June, and I was off to Columbia in September, with a major in mythology and folklore, under my father's strict ways of teaching. He would be my Professor, and I would make sure he showed no favoritism, nor give me low marks because of it.

Instead, being summer, I had decided to walk down to a Wicca bookstore nearby, playing the music on my Walkman loudly as I stepped through the doors.

I hadn't heard from Hunter again, but I had called and spoken to my other family many times since. Killian and Ciaran had also spoken to them, and assured them that I was doing fine. As I stepped through the doorway, I noticed there was another blood witch in the place. That was odd, but I said nothing, heading to the cashier to pick up my book.

Don't wanna hurt you (hurt you baby)

You think you love me, but you don't really know me

Don't wanna hurt you (hurt you baby)

Wanna go ride, not a backseat drive

Ahhhhh ooh - ay ay ay on me

Ahhhhh ohh - something inside that you can't provide

The words pounded against my ears as I stepped up to the counter. "Hi-" I began to say, but was cut off when a male, British voice asked rudely, "Do you have any books on scrying that gets past blocks?"

The cashier looked back and forth between the two of us. I sighed, turning, and began rather rudely myself, "Excuse me, but I believe I was first in line…" my last words died down into my throat as green eyes and blond, blond spiky hair on a tall, young man looked back at me.

"Oh Goddess," I said, before racing out of the store. Hunter was on my tail seconds later, chasing me down the street. I pushed my way between people, slipping between couples and others. The intersection was merely a few feet away from me.

However, there was an orange hand, stating that no one could cross the street. I swore mentally, looking over my shoulder. Hunter was pushing through the crowd, getting closer every second. I sent a desperate witch-message to Emerald, Killian and Ciaran, Hunter's on my tail! Help! And figured I should try to out-run him.

The light changed color, and the word "walk" appeared. I ran across the street, just as Hunter arrived in the spot where I was a millisecond before.

His face turned dark for a split second, but he continued pursuing me.

Don't want to hurt you (hurt you baby)

You can hurt me, but you can't really hold me

What I do, and it's crazy

Don't wanna be cold, but I'm out of control

Ahhhhh ooh - ay ay ay that's true

Ahhhhh ooh - wish I could, but I can't be good

I darted down the street, crossing the park by my apartment complex, but that's when Hunter gained ground and tackled me around my knees. I went down on the ground, kicking and trying to get out of his grip.

"Let go!" I gasped, flipping over and trying to wiggle out of his grasp.

"Morgan, no! We need to talk!" he said.

"Not like this!" I snapped back, narrowing my eyes. I glanced up and saw familiar figures in the distance close in on the park. I recognized them as Robbie, Bree, Raven and Sky (apparently, she returned for England earlier than anyone thought). I swore out loud and opened my palm up, ready to shoot my witch-fire at him.

"Don't make me use this!" I threatened.

I never had the chance. A blur raced past, and I saw Killian tackle and knock Hunter off me. Ciaran appeared at my side, helping me up.

By now, the others had caught up with me, and Hunter and Killian were in the middle of a major fistfight.

"Hunter!" cried out Sky, still as white-blonde as ever. That was when I noticed someone else - smaller than the rest and the only one with a good fashion sense, Mary-K.

"Morgan!" She cried out, stepping towards me. Ciaran held up a hand, his eyes dark, but I shook my head.

"That's Mary-K!" I gasped out, standing. I shouted at Killian, "Stop, Killian - just stop! Let's go home."

Killian got up off Hunter who threw one more punch at him, but I stepped in between when Killian was going to punch him back.

"Stop, Killian," I snapped. "This fight is not worth it and it's now over."

I turned and looked at Hunter. The corner of his lip was bleeding, and he wiped at it. "Morgan, we need to talk," he stressed again. I glanced back at Bree and Robbie, who bit their lips and nodded.

"Why?" I demanded.

"Morgan," said Mary-K, stepping up to me, "Jenna's okay. You'll never believe who actually attacked her…"

"Do you think I care, Mary-K?" I asked snobbishly, but then sighed and softened my tone at her hurt face. "Who, Mary-K?"

"It was Alisa Soto," she whispered. "She was the one. She was aiming for you, but you warded it off and it bounced onto Jenna, who was close to you."

"She's a half-blood," supplied Bree. "The magick scared her and she then used it (unknowingly) against you - hoping to make you scared of your own magick as she was of hers."

Really, I thought. Now it all makes sense, ever since those books had been flying and my powers were tapped… it was because I hadn't done them - Alisa had. I turned to Killian and Ciaran, raising an eyebrow.

Ciaran looked at everyone, glaring slightly at Hunter and Sky. "Come inside. But any funny business," he said, looking straight at Hunter and Sky, "and I will not hesitate to restrain you using my magick."

Hunter and Sky nodded, and together the group followed Killian, Ciaran and myself towards our apartment. Once they were inside, I made sure they were sitting all nicely on the couches around the living and dining room. Since it had only been Killian, Ciaran and I, we never had a dining table.

"Why are you here?" I demanded. "Father told you to stay away and not bring the past to me."

Hunter looked stricken and angry at the same time. He was pale and had blotches of red on his cheeks. "Father?" he asked, his face paler than I remembered, "You're calling him Father now?"

I felt a flash of anger, and was about to lash out when Ciaran placed a hand on my shoulder. I looked up at him, and saw his was expressionless. There was a knock on the door, and I sighed, going to open it. Instead, Emerald rushed through into the apartment, her eyes wild and her mouth shooting off, "What happened? Sweetie, are you okay? Where's Hunter? Did he hurt you?" She placed two hands on my shoulders and looking me over.

I glowered and pointed at the couch, where Hunter sat with an ice pack to his chin. Emerald burst out laughing. "I see you're not the one who'd be hurt."

She took a seat next to me, nodding at Sky. "Sky. Good to see you again."

Sky said nothing, but crossed her arms over her chest and stared out the window. I could tell she was upset at my apparent betrayal, but all I wanted to say now was how they had hurt me, and if anyone was betrayed, it was I. She didn't know what happened, because she had been in England resting at that time. Gee, lucky her.

"Morgan," began Hunter, "Please. Come back to Widow's Vale with us. Your family misses you, and we all miss you." He took a deep breath before adding, "I miss you."

I turned my head away before stating; "I've talk to my family nearly every week. I know they miss me, but they also know I'm happy here. Get it? Happy. H-A-P-P-Y. I don't want to go back to a place where all I've had are horrible memories of people betraying me, lying to me, and fighting with me."

"What about here then?" Bree asked, standing slightly. "What about New York, Morgan? Don't you remember what Amyranth did to you here, trying to steal your power to feed them? And here you are, living with your father, the leader of Amyranth."

"Yes, but you seem to have forgotten something," I said quietly. "Father gave Hunter some of his power to free me. Why do that if he didn't care somewhat?"

Silence followed. I shook my head, a bit ashamed that I knew some of these people. They were so narrow-minded, and all they wanted was for me to come back, to say that they had Morgan Riordan, one of the strongest non-initiated witches in the world in their coven. I couldn't stand it.

I stood and said softly to Killian, "I'm getting a headache. I'm going to bed." Killian nodded, and knew he could easily take the headache away with a spell, like what he did when we were both drunk one night, but he seemed to know I needed time alone.

"Morgan," Hunter said, standing up, one hand out to stop me. Killian stepped between us, like the protective brother he was and lifted his index finger. He shook it back and forth, adding, "Uh huh", to it, a slight twist of a grin tweaking his lips.

Hunter scowled, but sat back on the couch. I heard Ciaran say, "I think we better get something straight here."

I closed my bedroom door and lay on my bed, facing the window. Only four months ago had I come to New York, and I had made a new life for myself. As I lay on my bed, I began to look around the room I had so lovingly made.

Pale yellow walls, creamy blue drapes over the window, and pale pink canopy for my bed and drapes to pull shut at night. The window ledge stuck out a bit, where I had placed photographs of Mary-K, Killian and Ciaran. Dagda lounged on that shelf right now, soaking up the afternoon summer sun.

Posters of movies and vintage models, singers and actors were splattered around the room, and on my dresser sat some stuffed toys Killian and I had won at a fair, my boom box, and beside my bed was a large bookshelf filled with spell books and tools. In my tiny closet was my mother's robe and ceremonial dagger.

I had started to doze off when someone knocked on my room door. I stood and opened it, rubbing my eyes with the flat of my palms. I saw Mary-K standing there, wringing her hands nervously.

"May I come in?" she asked.

I stepped aside and let her in. She stepped into my cluttered room but smiled. "It's very nice," she said, before sitting at the edge of my bed. She saw Dagda and stood to pet him. He began to purr and I shot him a glare. Traitor.

Mary-K sighed before asked, "Can we talk?" When I didn't reply, she launched into her speech, "Yes, we all miss you. We wish that you'd come home, Morgan, because a weekly telephone call isn't enough for us. And we can never call you because we didn't know where you were in New York. Hunter came over one day and told us everything from his point of view too. He told us that he was going crazy without you around, and that he was doing everything to find out the truth about the… dark magick… that you supposedly did.

"But, here's the odd thing; after you left, it didn't stop. It hit one more member of the group, and poor Robbie was out cold for a couple days." My head shot up. Robbie was hit? And I wasn't there to help him? I felt as if I had let him down.

"Anyway," Mary-K continued, "that was when Hunter realized he had made a bad judgment and wanted you to come back. But when we searched and found no 'Morgan Rowlands', 'Morgan Riordans' or any other new Morgans anywhere, we began to get scared."

"Hmm," I said, waving my hands around like a bird. "So the point of this conversation is what, Mary-K?"

She sighed and spread her fingers over my comforter. "Well… we came here to New York to find you, and bring you back to Widow's Vale, where you belong."

I felt a muscle under my left eye spasm. There was no way that I could go back to Widow's Vale. I had made that very clear to Mary-K over the phone, and again here. I shook my head. "I'm not going back there."

"What? Why?" she gapped, tears beginning to spill over her eyes.

"I told you a million times, Mary-K," I sighed, my patience waning. "Widow's Vale isn't home anymore. I can't live there peacefully knowing what had happened there may happen again. Why do you think I left? You have no idea what pain I'm going through right now, knowing that all of you came here, looking for me. I want nothing to do with Widow's Vale anymore!"

I regretted the words as they left my mouth. I had never meant to say those words, but they escaped before I could think of something nicer to say. At this, Mary-K gasped and a hand flew to her mouth. I stared stonily back at her, daring her to say something.

"You don't want anything to do with me?" she finally managed.

I had never said that. I just said I didn't want anything to do with Widow's Vale. Like… living there. I even explained that to her, hoping to calm her down. It didn't help; it only made her more hysterical until I placed a calming charm on her, and sent her out to the kitchen to get something to drink for her hiccups.

I didn't know what everyone was doing here. If they wanted me to come back, well, there was no way in hell. I had already enrolled in Columbia and I wasn't going to leave it for anything. I also enjoyed living with Killian and Ciaran. They were my family.

I stepped out of my room, and snuck into the bathroom to splash my face with water and lean against the sink. Wet hair dripped around me, already beginning to dry slowly. I looked at my pale reflection before closing my eyes for a few seconds. When I opened them, I gasped and took an involuntary step backwards, bumping into Hunter.

His hands grazed my waist, holding me in place. My heart started to beat quicker. I stared at his reflection, staring right into his green eyes as he looked into my muddy ones. "Are you okay?" he asked. I nodded, but slowed my breathing down. He had given me a scare, and I was sure that my heart skipped a couple beats.

"What are you doing in here?" I finally asked.

His eyes darted down quickly, but were held steady on mine again within seconds. "We need to talk. We need to talk, without anyone around to listen in, Morgan. Killian and Ciaran told us what happened once you got here and how you felt. I want to hear it coming from you now."

I swallowed, closing my eyes. My fingers tightened involuntarily against the sink's edge, so hard I could feel my skin stretching. My knuckles were turning white. Could I? I could feel the warmth from his body behind me, warming my own. I could feel his heat from his hands holding my waist and I felt the butterflies in my stomach flutter once again. I would never lose the feelings I hold for Hunter, but I wasn't sure if I could ever trust him again. He would need to earn it again, and I didn't know how long it would take.

I sighed, defeated. "Morgan?" asked Hunter. "Can we talk?"

"Fine. Just," I whispered, "Fine." I nodded, turning around to face him in the tiny washroom. His hands stayed on my waist, making us close. Everything was so familiar, so… right. But I couldn't let anything happen, not now. Hunter's face relaxed from its worried look, and when he closed his own eyes, and his head came closer, I knew I had to stop it.

I removed his hands from my waist and was around him and outside in the hallway before he knew what happened. His eyes opened, revealing hurt and pain, but he seemed to understand that this wasn't easy for me.

I saw that Killian, Ciaran and Emerald were playing hostess in the living room, so when I grabbed my coat and saw Hunter grab his, I sent a quick witch-message to Killian: I'm heading outside with Hunter to talk. I'll be in the park if you need me. If there's trouble I'll message you.

He replied quickly, saying okay, and we were then outside of the apartment and in the elevator. We said nothing as it lowered us to the ground floor. The doorman smiled and asked how I was, and I answered with a "fine, thank you", before leading Hunter to the park where he attacked me.

I sat down on a swing, and Hunter stood behind me, pushing me gently. Finally, after a couple of pushes and him not speaking, I asked, "What did you want to talk about?"

He sighed. "About us. About you - why you left, what's going to happen now?"

I swallowed. I wanted to avoid this topic as best as possible, and here I was, in the middle of it. "I see. What do you want to know about first?"

Hunter's hands stopped pushing me, only for a split second. "First." I glanced back and saw him wet his lips nervously. Hunter + nervous? This was something new…

"First… I want you to know I'm sorry," he rushed out, his emotions coming out in one toss. He closed his eyes, and continued pushing me as if that was the only thing he knew what to do right now. "I made a stupid move, not thinking that there were any other uninitiated witches around… I should've realized that power didn't come from you… not when you were right there with us."

I nodded, as if saying, continue on… it's your grave.

"After you left… Goddess, it was like a part of me died. I couldn't stand it. I knew I hurt you, but I had to be strong for the coven, which seemed to come completely apart. Then there was another attack, on Robbie, just days after you left that weekend. Mary-K told everyone you were sick, and so did her parents, but… Alisa didn't know you had left. That's when I knew I made a mistake."

"A horrible one, you did," I said softly, my eyes fixed pointedly on a dandelion. A breeze picked up and swayed the weed slightly, just as much as my hair blew gently in the wind. Four months ago, it would never have done that. Four months ago, I wouldn't be who I was now.

Hunter continued on, not knowing what I was thinking of. "I know," his voice was laced with shame and guilt. "I felt… like scum after. I was so worried that you would hate me if I ever found you… like today…"

Gee, got that right, honey, I thought, a smile appearing. It disappeared when he continued.

"But… Morgan… the thing is I want you to know that with all my heart, my mùirn beatha dàn," he whispered, as he stopped pushing the swing. Instead, he grabbed the chains and my waist at the same time, and leaned down. His words brushed over me cheek in into my ear, his breath like butterflies tickling the sensitive spots on the neck.

I shuddered, but not because I was scared. It was because I wanted Hunter. I wanted to be with him, around him, holding him and kiss him. Goddess, I was still in love with him.

"I want you to know I never meant to hurt you," he continued whispering, his chin nearly touching my bare shoulder. I dimly noted that my tank top strap had fallen. "I want you to know I love you with all my heart, all my life. I know that you may not still love me, or trust me… but having you just as a friend, even saying you forgive me is enough."

"Enough," I repeated, my voice choked. "I don't know," I said. I really didn't. Could I trust him again? Or learn to? I still loved him. He was still my mùirn beatha dàn, and that meant something to my religion and I.

"I understand," he replied, his voice light but still carrying a note of sadness. I turned my head slightly at looked at him. His eyes were lowered and sad, but he said nothing more, complying with my needs.

To me. What I wanted. I felt something stir at the pit of my stomach. Goddess, he was doing all that because he loved me and wanted to earn my trust and love again… If only he knew he had all those already. Yet I wouldn't tell him those aloud.

He glanced up and saw me watching him. The air was sizzling with electricity, unspoken desires. His face inched closer, like in the bathroom, but I didn't gasp or move away. Just once… just one kiss, and I'd be happy with my love.

His lips were hesitant and sweet; he was afraid of hurting or scaring me away. I sighed blissfully against his lips, before bringing my arm up and hand to cup the back of his neck. He pressed his head closer to mine, so our kiss was fiercer.

In his surprise, his lips parted to say something. I took that advantage and nibbled on his lower lip, which made him growl. Finally, after turning his head this way and that, trying to work his way around the swing's chains, he broke the kiss and looked at me in shock.

"Since when are you that forward?" he gasped out, but in a good way. I raised my eyebrows with an inquisitive arch.

"I've changed," I told him. "There's a lot about me now that I never knew Morgan Rowlands-Riordan had."

With that, I pushed myself up off the swing and glanced back once at him, standing there in shock and with a curious smile on his face. After that, I continued walking towards the apartment, ready to tell Killian and Ciaran that I think we should take our guests for dinner in New York City.

There were still a few things that I didn't want to discuss with anyone. Like how it had felt when Bree and Robbie betrayed close to ten years of trust that we had built up, and destroyed it with one swing. I didn't like that, and they would have to tread carefully to make me trust them again, just like when Bree and I fought over Cal.

By the time Hunter and I arrived back in the apartment, we were greeted with laughter and applause.

"Glad to know that you've worked your shit out!" someone laughed - probably Raven.

The laughter and applause died down when they saw Hunter's stricken face, and they knew then that we didn't make up.

What happened? Asked Emerald in my mind. It was a whisper, a mere breeze of a summer wind.

Nothing, actually. He told me that if I forgive him, that would be enough - but I'm wounded. They need to earn my trust again. Ten years of trust gone, because of who my parentage was, what my powers were… I sighed aloud, and Bree turned her head questioningly towards me. I purposefully ignored her eyes, and through the corner of my eye I saw her pain. It didn't affect me at all.

"So what are we going to do now?" asked Sky, in her light British talk.

Killian and Ciaran glanced at me, but I only shrugged. Emerald met my eyes. She opened her mouth and declared, "Well, I don't know about you witches, but Morgan and I were planning to go clubbing."

"Clubbing?" Robbie choked. "Morgan hates dancing in front of others!"

I raised an eyebrow at Robbie. "Correction, the old Morgan hating dancing at clubs and in front of people. Now, I thrive on it."

Raven looked at me in what seemed to be a different light. "Why, the goodie-two-shoe Morgan has grown up… what a change… what - a - change!"

I growled lightly at her, but turned, heading into my bedroom. "I'm changing." I said bluntly, leaving everyone with nothing to say.

In my room, my safe haven, I was able to go through my clothes, and breath calmly. Being in front of people I knew was becoming annoying. All those questions, those assumptions… they were annoying beyond annoying.

I glanced quickly out of my bedroom window, watching the last rays of light disappear behind some skyscrapers in the horizon. Horns blared, as rush hour came to an end, and soon the night creatures of New York would come alive.

That's what I was; a night creature. I could hardly stand the light anymore; with the purity and innocence it gives. I knew the darkness that existed, and the pain the night could cause. But that's what I stood for. I stood for my mother and Angus, for Belwicket, and yes, even for Amyranth and Kithic. I knew the hardships, and tonight, I was going to let go and embrace them.

I stalked over to my wardrobe, shoving aside most of my more conservative outfits. Tonight, I was going to show off.

I reached in and pulled out a beautiful green velvet tube top, and tight black leather pants. I slipped both items on (with some sticking difficulty) before closing the wardrobe door with my powers. I then turned to my vanity mirror, which was awfully small, but sufficient enough. Ten minutes later, I had applied eyeliner, mascara, eyeshadow, body glitter, and lipstick.

Satisfied with my look, a reached over to see Dagda purring contently at me.

"I know," I whispered. "I know what I need to do, and I promise everything will work out, Dagda. I promise that to you, to Mother, and to myself."

Morgan? Are you done in there? Asked Emerald, her wispy witch message floating across my mind. I reached down and pulled on some "hooker boots" to match my pants.

Yes. I'm coming out now. Are we going straight to The Cauldron? I asked, referring to the club we had met Killian in.

Of course! Everyone is dying to know what you've been doing in your room the past hour! I'm sure you'll rattle their minds - now get out!

I smiled and complied, opening my door, and letting Dagda streak past me first.

"There's Dagda!" came Mary-K's voice. I heard the shuffle of clothing, and the squeak of furniture; everyone was looking down the hall, waiting for my entrance.

Well, that's something new, I thought, but began to walk down the hallway, the heels of the boots clicking on the wood floor.

Then, I was in the light of the living room, and everyone but Emerald, Killian and Ciaran were gapping at me in shock. "Coming?" I asked, before turning and heading towards the front door. I grabbed the same jacket as I had before, and my car keys.

"Who's riding with me?" I called back.

"Oooh, me!" came Raven's voice. "I like that outfit!"

I smiled inwardly, and heard Mary-K and Bree second that option. That meant Sky, Robbie and Hunter were riding with Killian and Ciaran in Killian's Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder. When I glanced back and saw everyone was ready, I confidently went to the elevator and pushed the "garage" button, as we all piled in. Happily, I tapped my fingers lightly to a tune I heard at the club once. With the thought of clubbing, and loosing my magick in the already thick sea of it, I was sure to feel ecstasy tonight and not worries of my past.

As the chime in the elevator announced we were at the garage, I began to come to my senses. I had to keep a clear mind so I could get to the club without the girls pressuring me much about Hunter and Widow's Vale.

I felt a hand come down on my shoulder, and I smiled up at Emerald. She knew what I was going through, and for that, I was grateful.

As we neared the two sports cars, Robbie spoke. "You have got to be kidding me. Please tell me that you don't drive this car."

I saw that be was motioning to Killian's Spyder.

Killian shook his head. "I drive that one. Morgan drives that one." His finger stretched out to point at the classy midnight blue BMW M3.

Robbie blanched, but said nothing more. I pulled out my car keys from my pocket and turned the alarm off, and unlocked the car through the key chain.

"All aboard," I joked.

Bree, Mary-K, and Raven all piled into my car, commenting on the sound system, the leather seats, the sleekness of the car, etc. I wasn't paying much attention to them as I was the road, but when Bree asked, "What's up with you and Hunter?" I nearly slammed on the brakes.

"Nothing," I replied a bit tensely.

"Oh? Are you sure? You guys were gone a while," Bree continued, ignoring the look Mary-K had shot at her. Sitting next to me in the front, Mary-K could easily see that my knuckles were turning white and my breathing was going shallower.

"Like I said, Bree, nothing," I repeated, my voice a little more forceful than I wanted.

Bree snorted a laugh. "Yah, okay, sure. You know, whenever you two got together, there is like - this spark. Chemistry is going on between you two. Everyone and anyone can feel it when you are both in the same room. If there wasn't any gravity on earth, you two would be floating to each other subconsciously all the time."

"Bree, shush!" said Mary-K, glancing back over her shoulder, and making a fan-like motion. Bree glanced at her curiously.

"What's wrong, Mary-K? Are you too warm? Morgan, turn down the heating, and put on the air conditioning."

"Bree? How about you shut up?" I suggested calmly instead. "I'm sick of listening to you talk about Hunter and I when there is nothing between us anymore. So stop, or you're out of this car."

Bree opened her mouth to retaliate, but then shut it with a snap. I sighed blissfully in her silence, and turned my full concentration to maneuvering through downtown New York's Time's Square to get to The Cauldron.

When we did finally arrive, and everyone got out, I heard Bree one last time that night. She had muttered, "I only want what you and Hunter had between Robbie and I…"

And that's when I felt sorry.

Next Chapter...