[IC] A Little Shade Of Gray

[Love Dove]

Rosevalley, a sunny town surrounded by woods and lakes. A little town that is just big enough to be called a town and small enough for everyone to know everyone else. Unknown to the rest of the town, there is one more point of interest, that has been secretly been keeping the town in balance since its start. The coven Night sky and although this wasn’t the coven or town that Ciara had grown up in, over the past few years the people here, witches and humans alike had taken quite a shine to her and the few that were able to follow her here after their coven was burned to the ground. She had made quite a life for herself here, even rising to the middle rankings of witches, but with the recent deaths of the covens near their small town it was rather hard not to remember the past as the others talked about the people and balances lost.

Six years ago, as she lay on the ground she looked up at her hands unsure of why they were red. Was she bleeding? Ciara moved her body and felt pain, but not the gushing feeling of bleeding, feeling the back of her head, she felt no wetness. That is when the smell of fire filled her nose, making Ciara force herself up despite the pain. That was the point that she saw the fire, as it continued to engulf the large farmhouse and field that was the covens land. Ciara remembered where the blood came from now, from her father as she had used her power to push the attackers away to help her mother safe him. The ash and sot that covered her white dress now turning it black, was most likely from the explosion. ”Ciara! Ciara are you here?!” Ciara’s head turned side to side as she looked for the panicked voice that was clearly her older sisters.

Standing up she started walking wobbly towards where she thought the voice was coming from. ”Talyor! Taylor I’m here where are you?!” She screamed at the top of her lungs knowing that her sister would find her. Sure enough, there was soon a whishing sound beyond her, as Ciara turned she met her sisters loving arms wrapping around her. ”Taylor! We have to find mom. Ciara said pulling away from her sister. ”Ciara….” Taylor started before Ciara cut her off. ”Come on Taylor!” Ciara said as she started pulling Taylor beyond her.

”Ciara….she’s not here. She was taken.” Two years after coming to Rosevalley they heard that the coven that attacked the farm were wiped out by the Black Hawks it was unknown if there was any survivors. However, by that time they already thought of their mother as dead anyway, she wouldn't be the same. The fire was one of the reasons their leader Grace believed Ciara gained the power over fire.

Ciara frowned her usual good mood ruined by the memory of something she couldn't change, the heels of her shoes clicked against the marble floor as headed towards the door, grabbing her black coat she slipped it on. The coat not only covered the dark blue t-shirt she was wearing, but the top of the blue plaid mini skirt she was wearing, it was a little long on her but she still loved it. As she opened the door she heard her name being called making her turn and look at Taylor. "Where are you going Ciara? This isn't a very good time to be going off by yourself" Taylor said her voice sounding controlling and protective. Over the years Ciara had gotten used to this, almost like her sister took on the mothering role. However, today she wasn't in the mood take off her coat and stay inside.

"Taylor, listen to this place. There haven't been this most whispering and "those poor souls" since we came here. Ciara shook her head turning away from her sister, and started to head out the door. "I just have to get out of here." She muttered before shutting the door to the mansion behind her. Where the mansion was, it only took five minutes to get to town and as soon as Ciara got there and away from the others, she was already starting to feel a little better. Once in town there was no magic or witches, just humans living their day to day lives. It was the one place where her guard could be down completely, where she didn’t have to worry about not seeing an attacker first. There of course were some around that looked at her suspiciously and there were rumors, but as she walked the streets most of the people would either wave or stop to talk to her.

Though this evening it seemed mostly empty, it was still nice, a chance to have time to herself as she headed to the library, the only place that had more books then the mansion. Losing herself in the books, it was an only a little later that she was woken up by someone shaking her shoulder. Sleepily her brown eyes opened to the dark basement room where all the mystery books were, to see someone standing in front of her though they were blurry. “Please, you have to help me!” The person said loudly shaking her again a little rougher this time to get a response out of her. "If you need help, go ask the librarian.” Ciara muttered rubbing her eyes before looking up at the rather tall woman beside her.

The woman frowned looking down at her look she was stupid for a moment, before shaking her head. “No, I need your help. Listen, I came here with the Black Hawks…” Before he could say much more Ciara’s half asleep eyes opened wide as she used her power to push the woman away from her and into one of the stacks of books half way across the room. As she turned to run upstairs, she started speaking again. “No! Please you don’t understand, I’m from the Summerset coven. They killed my coven and took our lands. Please, I don’t want to be in their coven.” Ciara turned to look at the woman with cold eyes for a moment, unsure if they could trust someone who had been in such a horrible coven, though her eyes turned soft again before walking over to help the poor girl up.

"I remember Summerset, my sister was betrothed to someone from there.” Ciara said as she bent over to help her to her feet. “Can you get me somewhere safe? I’m sure they’ll be looking for me.” Ciara quickly nodded, in fact the quicker she could get this girl away town the better. The last thing she wanted was one of the Black Hawks coming and destroying the town in search of one little woman. "Come with me” Ciara muttered before pulling the woman out the back door of the library, towards the street.

[ravenhuffle]

“Goodnight, sweet heart. Your mommy loves you so much.” The dark haired woman leaned down to kiss the forehead of her three year-old son. The kiss lingered as a tear slid down the woman’s flushed cheek.

“Caroline. It is time to go.” A man called from the doorway, disappointment in his voice.

”Mommy. I’m scared!” The young child launched himself from the bed to wrap his arms around the woman’s neck. Caroline pulled her son into a tight hug then abruptly pushed him back onto the bed.

“Go to bed, Adam. Goodnight.” The woman got up and rushed out of the room despite her son’s desperate voice calling out for her. The man stepped out of her way then closed the door to the child’s room and locked the door.

“Good luck, Adam.” The man whispered to the door then rushed down the stairs after his daughter. The Black Hawks were going to attack that night, and he hoped they would overlook the child. Or, mercifully, kill him.

Adam laid back down his bed with wet cheeks. The house and the night were quiet, like the calm before a storm. With a shudder, Adam pulled the blankets up to his chin and waited with wide eyes. There was a scream from bellow his floor followed by a hollow thump. Then the noise took off, yelling, screaming, and thuds. Adam pulled the covers over his hand trying to stop the bad things that were happening. His breathing was hallow and tears continued to soak his face, pillow, and blanket.

As quickly as it started, the noise ended followed by several minutes of silence. The door to his bedroom burst the door open and Adam screamed as he threw himself into the corner of his bed as far away as he could. A man dressed in nothing but black closed the distance between the door and the bed in just three steps. Adam felt himself being lifted into the air by his throat, though the man did not touch him.

“Marcel, let the boy live.” A woman in a flowing black dress and wavy black hair called with authority from the door way. Adam fell to the bed, his breathing heavy. When he looked up, the beautiful woman was kneeling by his bed.

“Hello there.” She said gently. A little scared, Adam lifted a hand and waved gently, his other hand remained wrapped around his neck.

“Are you scared?” Adam nodded his response. “I can help you overcome fear. I can make you so strong you will never have to be afraid again.” Adam smiled a little, though his tiny body still shook like a leaf. “What is your name?” She reached out her hand slowly towards him.

“Adam” He replied in a voice barely above a whisper.

“Adam”

“Adam…. Adam… Adam! Wake up.”

A stinging sensation on his cheek caused Adam to wake up with a jolt. His hand reached out in instinct and grabbed onto a skinny throat. Slowly his eyes opened only to be met by bright blue orbs. A dark eyebrow raised at him as slender hand pulled his hand off the female’s neck.

“Damnit, Jay! You know better than to wake me up.” Adam ran a hand through his hair causing it to stick up all over the place, and fell back onto his back. Her bell-like laughter filled his tiny room. Thanks to his nightmare, he woke up drenched in sweat. Now he was going to have to change his sheets.

“I know, but you are just so damn hot when you first wake up.” Jay purred as she leaned over him. With a sight, Adam reached up and ran his hand through her hair, pushing it from her face, then pulled her face down to his. As always, her lips were soft as velvet and she tasted like sugar. It was so easy sometimes to get lost in her. Gently he bit at her bottom lip then licked it to smooth over the irritation. Her groan vibrated his chest, urging him on. Adam pushed himself up on his elbow and tilted his head to the side to get better access of Jay’s lips. Before she granted his tongue entrance to his mouth, she pulled away.

Jay pulled back all too soon for Adam’s liking. “As much I enjoy our kissing, and the joy of waking you up, Mother wants to see you. Now.” Jay placed a peck on Adam’s lips then left his room without even a glance behind. Adam groaned and rubbed his hand over his face. He only thought he was going to get a full nights rest.

---

”I came when summoned, my Lady” Adam put his fist on his heart and bowed deeply. The room around his was once meant to be an elegant ballroom with pillars carved in intricately detailed landscapes, gold covered walls, large double doors that take two men to open, and tall stained glass windows lining all the walls. Now that the black hawks have moved in, the windows had been painted black, and the only lighting is a line of candle leading to a black glass throne.

“You are late. I sent Jacqueline to get you thirty minutes ago.” The woman from the end of his dream sat upon the black throne. The way she constantly held herself and the voice she used to speak always carried such authority to it that she was very hard to disobey.

”Yes, about that. Your daughter’s lips can be very distracting.” A smirk appeared on Adams face as he stood up straight. Jay glared at him from her mother’s side as he winked at her.

“You will do well to mind that tongue of yours boy.” Elena warned in a dangerous tone.

“I think your daughter would complain if you took my tongue, my Lady” Adam took a step closer to the throne. Elena looked over to her daughter and shook her head.

“Enough Adam.” The coldness in her voice stopped Adam dead in his tracks. “We have a problem. INSERT NAME. I just received word that she had decided to run. I would assume to the other clan here in town. The coven that will be dealt with shorty.”

“I am sorry, my Lady, but what exactly do you want from me?” Though Adam was pretty sure he knew what his leader wanted.

Elena smiled. “Go Adam. Find her, bring her back, and I do not care if you are gentle.”
Adam bowed again then turned his back and made his way from the throne room. It did not matter why the girl tried to leave, it was only his job to follow orders.

“Adam! You will need these potions.” Jay called as she followed him down the hall. Adam turned and grinned as he took the belt full of potions. There was a binding potion, a smoke bomb, a vanishing potion, a freezing potion, a tracking potion, and another binding potion. “Bring back the traitor. But mostly, enjoy yourself.” Jay put her hands on his chest and leaned up to peck his cheek. Ash she pulled away she handed him a brightly colored scarf.

“I always do.” He returned in a cocky tone. On his way out, he grabbed his trench coat and pulled it onto his body. The night was chilly and quiet out in the country where the compound was located. The guards posted around the perimeter did not even notice as Adam slipped through their mist as quietly as darkness itself. Even in the city, still full of light and life despite the late hour, Adam went unnoticed. In the middle of the city, next to the court house, Adam finally paused and took out the scarf. Taking the tracking potion off his belt, he poured the blue liquid over the scarf then let go.

The scarf lifted out of his hands and started flying down the street as Adam ran after it. Within a few minutes, the scarf wrapped itself around the neck of a blonde haired woman. Adam came to a stop which a wicked smile spreading over his lips. “Thought you could get away?” Adam called. Though he noticed that there was a second woman with his target he paid her no mind. All he had to do was take the woman back to his coven, they said nothing about not damaging the town or others in it. So if she got in his way, he would just kill her.

[Love Dove]

As Riley was pulled out of the back door into the street she looked around nervously, perhaps it was a bad idea to sneak past the guards and go looking for another coven. “Are you sure that taking the street is a good idea? It’s kinda open.” She whispered to the other woman.

Ciara rolled her brown eyes a little bit as she continued to pull the blonde behind her. “Yes, it’s in the open, but it will be okay, this way is the fastest way to the mansion.” Ciara replied to Riley, her voice soft and kind despite the fact she was worried about the same thing herself. If anything was destroyed because she chose to help this stranger, Grace would blame her for it. The quiet whimper that came from the person beyond her, was enough to tell her that Riley really didn’t believe that it was going to okay either.

“Look…” Ciara stopped at pulled the girl around to where she was in front of her. “everything will be okay. If someone is looking for you, and they find us, just get behind me until it’s safe to run. I’ll protect you.” She said softly in a whisper her hand squeezing the girls hand a little before letting go of it, and continuing to walk. Catching up to her, Riley nodded and started walking beside of her instead of behind Ciara.

Over the course of the few hours the town had went from quiet to lively, something even more worrisome. It was almost impossible to hear if anyone was walking behind them, making Ciara put her guard up again. Even as she waved back to the people that waved at her, her eyes watched everyone that she passed for anyone she didn’t know.

As they got about two blocks from the courthouse the silence between herself and the other woman get the better of Riley. Her nerves already shot from everything that had happened so far. “Riley.” She muttered softly, making the other witch’s eyes look over at her confused. “My name…it’s Riley.” She added giving a slight smile.

Ciara gave an uneasy smile back, not really sure if this was the right time to exchange pleasantries. It was really a good time to keep quiet and try to get home. “I’m Ciara.” She whispered quietly as the brightly colored scarf wrapped itself tightly around Riley’s throat, making her choke a little as she panicked trying to pull it off by herself. Ciara reached up and pulled Riley’s hands away from the scarf, knowing she wouldn’t be to get it of herself. Ciara muttered a Returning spell letting the scarf go as the warlock shouted at them from behind, the scarf flying towards him so it could wrap around his throat instead. As the two women turned to look at him, Riley squeaked a little in fear, moving to hide behind Ciara, her blueish-gray eyes peeking over Ciara’s shoulder to look at him.

Ciara frowned, an annoyed look on her face as she crossed her arms looking at the warlock a little ways in front of her. He really didn’t look like much to her, physically there could be many men in her coven that could take him down a peg or two without actually killing him. Though she of course didn’t know his powers, the way he looked could be used to appear weaker for all she knew. At first she didn’t say anything to him, trying to figure out how to talk their way out of this, so no one especially the humans would get hurt. “Listen surely there is a better time…and place for this kind of show of power.” Ciara said quietly her voice soft and kind despite her cold eyes and utter want to get rid of this man in more ways than one. “Besides isn’t Riley…” She stopped to make sure the name was right, Riley nodding behind her. “A little young for a grown man to go chasing after in the dark?” She added coldly but calmly as she smirked a little bit.

[ravenhuffle]

The scarf did not have to lead him far before it wrapped itself around Riley’s neck. Adam came to a stop with a smirk on his face. This was why his coven had chosen him. He was their best tracker, their best hunter, and their best warrior. He had been raised to be since he was taken under Elena’s wing. “I will make you so strong that you will never have to worry again.” This was Elena’s promise to him when she picked him up out of his bed.

The little traitor had found a friend though. The scarf came off Riley’s neck and moved to wrap around his neck, but with a quick chant the scarf disappeared into a ball of flames. A witch friend. It did not matter though, he would get what he came for, and if the witch wanted to stand in his way then he would kill her. Riley hid behind the girl as if she were a human shield.

“Truly, Riley? Is this girl your shield now? Do you really think she stands a chance against me? You really are pathetically weak. I will enjoy watching my coven kill you for your betrayal!”

With a twitch of his hand, Riley flew into the air and towards him. In midflight Adam through a binding potion at her ensuring she would be rendered unable to move or talk for the next five hours. Riley hit the pavement roughly behind him. Adam smirked knowing he had probably caused her a few scrapes. Adam looked back at Riley’s supposed protector. The girl’s dark circles framed her face, and Adam had to admit she was beautiful. Maybe when he helped take her coven he would keep her. Or just take joy in killing her.

“I would chase anyone who dared to turn against me and mine!” He took a step closer to the other woman so that he was within arms reach. “I do not wish to display my powers tonight. However, I will if you do not let me leave peacefully.” He reached out and brushed her cheek with the back of his knuckles. “It would be a true shame to kill you tonight. I wouldn’t be able to take my time enjoying your fading beauty.” Adam smirked at her then turned his back to her and began walking down the street. Riley lifted off the pavement and floated in front of him as he walked. Adam slid his hands into his pocket and started to whistle.

[Love Dove]

Ciara was a little surprised when the man lifted Riley into the air, pulled the girl to him, and binding her without even coming close. Had she been aware he had Telekinesis, she would have had time to form a force field and keep his magic from getting her. As he moved closer to her Ciara didn't back up or let any fear show. Instead she frowned, her eyes nearing at him as he got even closer.

“I find it funny that you call her a traitor for turning on you and yours. I’m sure those you killed at Summerset would disagree.” Ciara said her voice turning a lot turning a little less kind this time and little colder. She was starting to get annoyed at this warlock, unable to understand how in the world he could only think of her as a traitor how that she turned against him.

As his knuckles started to brush against her cheek it sent what felt like a spark through her. It was rather uncomfortable and `exciting at the same time, sending shivers down her spine. Reaching up she slapped the man’s hand away from her face. “Sorry you’re not my type.” She scuffed as she did, never being a fan of being touched in the first place, let alone by someone like him. Did he really think he was so great? That if she fought him, she wouldn’t stand a chance? First he spoke about killing her if she didn’t let him go peacefully and then he turned his back to her.

Ciara had tried to be nice, so this could be a peaceful little first meeting. However, she had told Riley that she would protect her, bring her back to Night Sky. She couldn’t just let this man walk away with her. “Maybe you are too dimwitted to understand what I was saying.” She shouted angrily at him as fire spread out of nowhere, both separating him from Riley making her fall bak on the street and blocking any path that kept him from going anywhere but back to Ciara. “I am sorry, but Riley is under my protection. That power of yours was cute though.” She said taking a step towards him this time, her field already surrounding her. She might not be the strongest, but she was still a strong and pretty persistent fighter.

[ravenhuffle]

“I find it funny that you do not think she is a traitor. It was Riley’s choice to leave her original coven after all. Before the battle ever began, she was one of the few that chose to leave her coven. You see, we give other covens a chance before we attack. Join us… or die. Riley betrayed her coven long before she betrayed mine.” Adam smirked at her knowing he had proved her wrong. “So really, I am doing you a favor. I keeping a multiple offence traitor out of your coven. You are welcome darling!” Adam winked.

Adam’s hand reached out to brush the witch’s cheek and when his skin came into contact with hers, a weird shiver traveled up his arm and down his back. Before he had time to process the sensation, her hand came flying up and batted his hand away. For a quick moment, Adam glanced at his hand in bewilderment but then turned an icy stare back at the woman in front of him. He could care less if he was her type or not, but the sensation that he swore he could still feel, made him curious. “I would say that is a good thing. You are not the kind of chick I would go for anyway.” Adam lifted some of her dark hair, knowing it would bother her. “You are just not pretty enough.” Adam ticked his tongue and shook his head.

Adam turned and began walking away while whistling, he could have cloaked himself and Riley. Disappeared into the night completely without a trace, but he was insanely curious. Beyond the shadow of a doubt, Adam knew that the witch would not let him go. She would fight him for this girl she had only know a total of ten minutes. She was a “good” witch afterall. Sure enough, he was right. Fire spread around him in a large circle and a grin spread on his face. Slowly he turned back to Ciara, not really caring that Riley had smacked the ground, again. His excitement for the battle ahead shone through his eyes and an evil smile curled both sides of his mouth. “Oh, I was so hoping you would do that.” His voice was full of excitement, like a child getting his favorite candy at the store.

Adam lifted his arm, his palm facing outward. The fire hydrant across the street raddled then burst open. With ease, Adam directed individual drops of water his way, putting out a section of the fire circle. “I do believe, darling, that you are the one with the cute power.” His form started fading around the edges until he disappeared completely. That was when something strange happened. Normally, when he cloaked himself he could see the world around him like normal, it was just people around him that could not see him. This time, however, he saw nothing but darkness. All around him was completely dark though he could see clearly.

Without really being able to explain it, he knew just where to move in the darkness so that he came out exactly where he wanted to be. As he moved through this new darkness, Adam began to wonder if he was developing a new power. And it he was, what all could he do with it. Adam let go of the darkness and found himself standing behind the fire witch, exactly where he wanted to be. “I’m sorry. I have heard that you lost the girl you were supposed to be protecting.” He whispered into her ear from behind. Adam brushed his fingers against the side of her neck, just to see if shivers would run up his arm again. When they did he took a step back and shook his arm. Did this witch have a third power of electricity? Third powers were nearly unheard of in witched or warlocks. Adam took a few step back and pulled his cloaking around his body. This time it was if his body blinked out, just vanished. Adam moved to the side a little and smiled, waiting for the witch’s reaction.

[Love Dove]

With the warlocks words Ciara looked down at Riley in disbelief. She had been lead to believe the girl been taken against her will. Looking up at the smirk on his face she frowned, did he think her past really made a difference? No one was considered traitors when they came to Night Sky, if that were the case she would have been consisted a traitor for things done before they joined. "Her past is the past." She answered once he finally finished talking.

When the man touched her face the shocking feeling it gave her was uncomfortable and she didn't like it. So she slapped his hand away, scuffing at him. "Hmm and here I thought you were going to say your type was the type of chicks you paid for." Ciara said through gritted teeth as she reached up and pulled her hair from his grasp. Not even insulted by his claiming she wasn't pretty enough. She could have her pick of any of the warlocks in her coven after all.

She of course couldn't let him just leave and take Riley with him to her death. Perhaps if he hadn't flat out said she would be killed it would have been different. Ciara let her fire surround him in order keep him from leaving. Unlike him, Ciara really didn't find any joy in fighting, well perhaps there was a little joy however, she wasn't as excited about it as he was, and the way he smiled about it gave her slight cold chills. The fire hydrant bursting open didn’t scare her, she was protected, if anything the destruction he was already starting to do to town was only something to make her angrier. What was it with “bad” witches and warlocks that they had to ruin everything!

As he put out the section of fire, mocking her, the rest of the circle disappeared too there being no use for it to stop him anymore. Then the warlock started to fade away and everything got dark, the streetlight, and lights from the buildings around them all gone. It was in this darkness that Ciara felt herself start to panic a little causing her shield to drop. Both her fear of the dark and the fear that he might have the power to make her somehow momentarily blind, getting the better of her even though she didn’t let herself show it. Looking down at her hands she realized that although it was dark, she could barely see the outline of her hands, and whatever this was, it was just dark. Soon even her eyes started to adjust to the darkness, a then all of a sudden there was light again, the light from the streetlight blinded her making her groan a bit and cover her eyes.

His words in her ear made Ciara jump, before his fingers brushed the side of her neck sending a shock through her body again, and although there was more of a rush to the feeling this time it actually burnt her skin a little. "Stop doing that!" She yelled at him as she turned to see him shaking his arm. It hadn't occurred to her until then that she hadn't the only that felt that feeling. Then it was dark again, she hadn't had time to react to the realization to the fact he felt the same shock, or to use her shield.

Even through the darkness she felt eyes on her, Ciara didn't know where he was, but he was surely watching her. This time however, she realized it was darkness caused by him, thinking it was just his second power the fear she felt earlier was gone. "Okay, little coward. I've had enough of this." She said loudly has she turned in a circle looking for his outline.

Looking down at her hand, she was trying to create a fireball to light up the dark. However, something she hadn't expected to happen did, the fire lit in her hand only for the flames to turn into a ball of bright light. Then has she lifted her hand up looking at it confused, the light spread up her fingertips leaving the same sparking feeling as it spread. Ciara grasped loudly before trying to shake the ball of light from her hand, only making it spread more quickly. Until Ciara closed her eyes tightly and the light engulfed her, spreading a blind light through the darkness and canceling it out. As Ciara opened her eyes she saw that everything was how lit up including the warlock she was fighting with, she could see him clearly, and the fear of the light faded. The feeling was so exciting the thought this indeed could be a new power never crossed her mind. Walking over towards the man she was the one to reach out and touch him, her fingertips rubbing slowly down the back of his arm, feeling the shock again. "How does it feel not to be able to see, sweetie?" She whispered letting the light fade as she shielded herself forcing him to be pushed away.

[ravenhuffle]

Adam scoffed at the witches words. To ignore a witches past was foolish and weak. A coven gladly accepting a witch that betrayed her coven twice was just asking for trouble. “You really are foolish! You are going to welcome a witch that betrayed her coven?” Adam asked with annoyance.

A smirked appeared on his face when she pulled her hair from his grasp. “Well, if you are offering your services, milady.” He allowed his eyes to roam over her body as if to appraise her. “Then I guess you will to do for the night.”

Adam was unimpressed with the little witch’s display of magic, and it did not slow him down in the least. During his years upon years of training, Adam had been taught to deal with every situation and to keep his cool. Over the years his clan had made him fight in every kind of circumstance they could put him in, and Adam has bested every witch and warlock in his coven, so he has become used to any kind of situation he could be put in.

Truly, Adam did not feel like touching her skin again as he moved away and pulled darkness as cover. His hand still stung from the connection, and the sensation was starting to travel up his arm. And this new darkness was still slightly confusing. No one in his coven owned a third power other than Elena. He just became more powerful and useful to his coven. Maybe this new power would be a good thing. Now he just had to learn how to control it. This caused a smile to pull at his mouth. Then he saw a light in the darkness he created. Instinctively, he took a step towards the light only to realize it was coming from the witch’s fingers.

All of a sudden, the darkness was gone and replaced with a blinding light that stung his eyes. Adam dropped to one knee and covered his eyes from the light with his arm and ducked his head. The witch taunted him about not being able to see and he lifted his head to snarl at her. Without thinking about it, he pulled the darkness from within himself and sent it out in a rush trying to reclaim the darkness he had once created. But when the darkness hit the light, it exploded. Adam flew backwards from the blast and slammed into a brick wall across the street.

When he finally came too, his ears rang and his head felt fuzzy. Gently he reached up and touched the left side of his head then brought his bloody fingers back in front of his face. He groaned and leaned his head back against the wall as his vision started to black out once again.

[Love Dove]

Ciara could hear the annoyance in his voice as she told him Riley’s past was her past. Perhaps in his coven it was the way to judge beforehand. “You cannot judge ones past without judging their future.” She said calmly, her words sounding as rehearsed as they were. She let herself shift slightly. “I’m not the one making the rules, my leader will decide if she can join. Clearly she won’t go running too your coven this time.” As she finished, a smirk spread on her lips.

As his eyes roamed over her, Ciara sighed folding her arms over her chest, her body suddenly becoming tense. “Oh sweetie, you couldn’t afford me on a good day.” She muttered softly to him.

Ciara’s intention was never to impress, it was to keep him from walking away with Riley, which she had. Though she had training with fighting somewhat, she wasn’t the best at it, if anything her weakness to pain was her downfall. Thus fire wasn’t her strongest power, and in this case it was a distraction if nothing else. The darkness that the warlock created caused her to hesitate and let him get close enough to shock her with his touch again. Bringing the sense back to her so that she could try to see where he was. The light she created was accidental, it filled the darkness around her as it engulfed her. It felt exciting and freighting at the same time, as if she was moving through pure energy as she made her way to where the warlock knelt down covering his eyes.

Taunting the man a little bit about not being able to see, she had barely gotten her shield up before something rock solid hit it making her take a few steps back from shear force. The light faded back into the regular darkness of the night. Across the street from her the warlock sat against the brick wall, clearly whatever he had done bounced back and hit him. Despite the fight they might have been having Ciara couldn’t fight her natural react to worry for the hurt soul despite how evil he might be. She took a step towards where he landed worried she had killed him. As her eyes saw his chest raise and fall she let down a sigh of relief, knowing he was just out she turned back towards where Riley lay still out from the hurt fall after Ciara separated the two of them.

Ciara knelt down beside the girl shaking her slightly though it was hard to do without hurting her move. The binding potion making Riley’s body stiff. As she checked for serious wounds she couldn’t help but wonder where Taylor was, normally she would have felt something was wrong by now. The man groaned across the street bringing her attention back to him long enough to see the blood on his fingers. It made her feel bad for hurting him enough to bleed, standing up she thought about the idea of healing him a little as well.

Whoosh Ciara knew what the sound meant before she turned around, the adrenaline from the fight was finally gone and she felt almost weak, like the light she created had taken her energy from her. Ciara turned to be face to face with her sister who was looking over the situation with a worried and confused look on her face. “Ciara, what happened?! Please don’t tell me you attacked these people!”

Ciara sat down slowly and weakly beside Riley, as Taylor stared down at her sternly. “Don’t be foolish Taylor. I was helping this witch, she seeks sanctuary with us. He attacked me.” She explained tone annoyed as she closed her eyes trying to get her bearings.

“Is he dead?”

Ciara glared up at her sister for thinking she would actually kill someone. ”No!” Taylor sighed softly taking one more look at the warlock across the street before bending down, a hand on Ciara shoulder and the other on Riley’s leg closing her eyes. The next moment they were in the plush living room of the mansion, the others of the coven gathered around the room waiting for Taylor’s return. Grace was the first to come towards them her arms reached out to give Ciara a hug much like one would get from a worried mother.

“Ciara! My poor girl, are you alright? This is the reason I do not like you going into town by your lonesome! She spoke softly though halfway through her tone shifted from happy to scolding slightly as she let Ciara go Her glance then shifted to Riley laying on the floor now awake and confused, knelling beside the girl her smile was soft. “Ah this must be the girl the stars said you were bringing me. Peter, Tomas, please get me a unbinding potion.” She said to the two men standing beside her.

“You knew I was bringing her? Why didn’t you tell me I was going to be attacked?’ Ciara said angrily as she sat down on one of the couches.

“Watch that tone Ciara, I didn’t not see it because it could have been avoided. Had you simply called you could have avoided a fight. Now I will have to send in Heather to clean up and erase memories.”

[ravenhuffle]

Through a blurry vision, Adam watched the witch take Riley. He had failed. How had he failed? Adam’s vision went dark again just as a friend appeared beside the witch. Next thing he knew, his whole body was alive with pain. Every nerve screamed out in agony and it was all he could do not from crying out loud as his body twisted trying to get away from the pain.

“You have failed me, Adam.” Her voice was as soft as a caring mother’s, but it did not full Adam. Elena was beyond angry with him and now he was going to have to deal with her wrath again. “How did you lose the traitor?” Her voice whispered in his ear.

“A fire witch was aiding her. We fought and I found a new power. I can create total darkness and move through it with ease. But she controlled light and somehow my new power knocked me across the street.” Adam spilled out quickly, unable to stop himself. Pain shoot through his body again, and this time he did scream. Gradually the pain worsened until tears feel from his eyes and he became so numb to the world that nothing existed but the pain.

As quickly as it came, the pain was gone. Adam laid on his side panting. It felt like every bone had been broken and every muscle had been torn. It hurt to breath, to blink, to move, so he just laid there knowing that it was not over. “Jay, take him to the torcher room. Break his bones and tear his flesh, and when you think he has had enough, keep going. I will come get you when I think he is done.” Elena turned her back and walked out of the room without another word.

Jay mentioned for two guards to pick Adam off the floor and drag him to a room full of weapons and tools. The guards put Adam on a table in the middle of the room then left. Jay grabbed a little hammer and walked over to the table. “Adam…” She whispered as she gently ran her fingers over his cheek. Gently, she pulled his head in her direction. Adam grunted at the movement but otherwise remained quiet. “You did this to yourself.” Jay whispered as she placed a kiss against his lips that he did not return. When she pulled away, she swung the hammer at his jaw breaking the bone in a clean easy swing.

Throughout the rest of the day and the next night, Jay spent her time finding the spots that made Adam scream the most. Nearly every bone in his body was broken, and there was no part of his body that did not have a bruise of cut on it. It was nearly the next sunrise when Elena walked into the room. Adam barley held onto consciousness, but he knew if he passed out it would only make things worse. With a rough hand, Elena grabbed Adam’s broken jaw. “I brought a healer. She will heal the cuts and broken bones. You will keep this pain though, until it heals, to remind you of my disappointment. You will still feel every bruise and cut as a testament of your failure.” Elena threw his head back against the table and a small groan escaped his lips.

The healer followed her leader’s request perfectly. When Adam slid off the table, his whole body ached. While his bones were healed, he could still feel every bruise and cut that had been made. Grabbing his jacket, Adam made his way out of the room, not really able to walk in a straight line. “Adam.” Jay called but Adam held his hand up to tell her to back off just as he left the room. He was not really sure where he was going, all he knew was that he did not want to stay in the compound any longer. With ease, he pulled his cloak around him and disappeared from others eyesight’s as he stumbled out into the forest.

Soon he found himself wondering the streets of the town, heading nowhere. Eventually Adam leaned against the side of a brick building and slowly slid to the ground. With his head between his knees in a public place, Adam finally let himself feel the pain and emotions he had held in for the past two days. Silent tears ran down his cheeks and it was all he could do to keep himself breathing.

[Love Dove]

Ciara still felt rather weak returning back to the mansion, her energy drained and while Grace was giving the unbinding potion Riley, Ciara fell asleep in the extremely comfy chair in the large living room. Her sleep was restless however as the same nightmare plagued her dreams over and over again.

In her dreams she was surrounded with nothing but darkness, there weren’t even any stars in the sky. However, that wasn’t what freighted her most, it was the fact she was truly alone, there was no noise to be heard around her, and yet she still felt pain. She couldn’t tell what was causing it. Scared she tried to use her new power of light to brighten the darkness, however, it didn’t work no matter how she tried. With nothing else to do, she used her fire power making a circle around herself. Even as it lit up the small space, there was still nothing. The sky was black as well as the ground. Then all at once she lost control, and her shield appeared before her, the flames spreading up and around her. Until despite her tries to stop it, it caught her on fire and she started burning to death from her own creation.

The pain was not just in her dreams however, and that was the thing that woke her. Crying out a little, the first thing she did was grasp her forearm feeling the heat in her palm, the pain only seem to become more intense, she ran to the small bathroom in her room, and running cold water over her arm. Only when the pain dulled from the cold did Ciara look at her arm to see the black half of a yin yang on her arm that hadn't been there before. Somehow she knew that warlock was behind this, despite the fact she didn't know what this was.

“Ciara? What happened?” Taylor’s worried voice came from outside the bathroom door, making Ciara quickly turn off the water hiding the mark on her arm and coming out. She didn’t know what happened, or how to get rid of this thing, but if this was some kind of curse Grace would throw her and Taylor out into the street until it was gone for safety reasons. Though it was the room her sister was talking about, it was a complete miss. “It was just a bad dream, you worry too much Taylor.” She said softly to her sister smiling brightly at her, getting a skeptical look in return from Taylor. “Alright, well get dress we’re having a group meeting about the newcomer.”

Ciara let out a relieved sigh after Taylor left, her older sister had always been able to tell when she was lying to her. Still there was everyone else to worry about, frowning Ciara went to her closet and searched for the only long sleeved shirt she owned, it was black and went down her arm to her wrist. Though it made the mark burn every time she touched anything against it, the others never saw it.

The rest of the day was busy, full of meetings both to talk about Riley joining the coven as well as how they should react to the Black Hanks. At night the coven was all pulled outside for the joining ceremony, Grace filled the night sky with stars and as the words were spoken the stars started streaking across the sky. When it was over Grace reached to the sky making a star lower into her hand, closing her hands over the glowing ball of light, she shaped it until in the pendent that Riley was to be given.

Unable to sleep, she snuck out of the mansion as the sun was rising. Even with the time of day being so early there were still people up and shops opened when she finally got to town. She almost didn't notice him, sitting against the brick wall that was the church. If she wasn’t in a bad mood she would have enjoyed the irony, however, he was the reason this was happening to her. The nightmares, the mark, the reason everyone was on edge it was his fault! Now here he was again, likely to destroy something else, or hunting down some poor witch that ran. She almost wanted to simply set him on fire right here and now. “What are you doing here?! Chasing some other poor girl?” She said loudly as she walked towards him, there was no one else around them right now thankfully, though right at this point she wouldn’t have cared. “I don’t know what the hell you cursed me with, but take it back right now.” She finished stopping in front of him.

[ravenhuffle]

“Mommy, look at what I can do!” Young Adam called as he lifted a toy of his into the air.

“Well done, Adam! You are amazing.” A young light-haired woman replied as she lifted the young child up into her arms. “Never forget, my little boy, that you are special.” The woman kissed the top of his head and began to carry him upstairs.

Adam’s eyes shot open in an instant. He had not even realized he had fallen asleep sitting on the concrete. He flinched a little at the pain and stiffness of his muscles as he reached up to rub his face. What the hell was that dream about anyway? The blonde haired woman in his dream must have been his mother, but why was he suddenly dreaming about her? No answers came to mind and he just let it go. Absent-mindedly he rubbed at his forearm. There was a slight tingle there that felt somewhat like and itch but scratching did not help. Not that he bothered to look at it, it was probably just a cut still healing. He put his head back down on his knees about the time he heard a voice calling out to him. The street had been quite for a little while now, so the voice rang out loud and clear.

By the accusation being thrown at him about chasing another girl, Adam did not even have to look up to know who had found him. Truly he did not have the energy to talk to the girl much less fight her. “Go away. I am not chasing anyone.” Adam tried to keep his voice bored, hoping she would just go away.

His slowly raised his head at her mention of a curse. “Sweetheart, I did not waste the time or energy it would have taken to put a curse on you. Go crawl back into whatever hole you came out of.” His skin had been hidden from her until he raised his head due to his shoes, jeans, and jacket, but his face held all the tall-tale signs of the abuse he had endured. He sported one black eye with a still healing cut over the other and his face was a nasty blend of blue, black, and yellow particularly around his jaw. Not to mention the tear streaks still staining his face.

Once again he found himself itching his forearm and forced himself to stop. “I am truly not in the mood, witch. I did not curse you, I am not out looking for anyone, and I would highly appreciate just being left alone.” Adam pushed himself up, using the wall as support and revealing the bruises and healing cuts on both his hands. “Good luck with that curse thing.” He told her as he slowly stumbled his way down the street. Maybe he should find a more secluded place to hide this time, he thought as he rubbed his forearm some more.

Adam half groaned at himself. Of all the wombs on his body, why was the one on his forearm calling his attention the most? Jay hadn’t messed with his arms as much as other parts of his body like his fingers and abdomen. Only a few feet away from the witch, Adam shrugged his arm out of his jacket and looked at his for arm. “What the hell?” he mumbled as he looked at the yang on his arm. Gently he ran his fingers over the tattoo only to find that the skin was slightly raised. He turned back to the witch and raised his arm for her to see the yang.

“Is this what your curse looks like?”

[Love Dove]

Even though the man said he wasn't chasing anyone, Ciara didn't believe him, she couldn't tell why though. Maybe it was because this was fairly close to where the two of them had fought yesterday. Either way his bored words didn't stop her, still she walked towards him, demanding he remove whatever curse he had put on her. The marks on his skin weren't noticeable at first to her, and when she noticed the black eye and cuts over face Ciara subconsciously dropped from her aggressive stance in front him.

She truly wanted to believe that whatever beating he had endured wasn't caused by her, or the fact she won their fight. Though her gut told her it was her fault. "Sure...because your kind aren't the ones that put curses and omens on others, when you lose." Ciara said rolling her eyes, though her voice sounded almost more hopeful than cocky. Because he had to be the one that cursed her, she needed him to be so he could take it away.

Still he said that he hadn’t put the curse on her, when he started push off of the wall, she was able to see the bruises and cuts on his hands. Frowning at him as she watched him walk away from her for a minute, Ciara sighed as started to walk away herself towards the coffee shop she had been going to. If he didn’t cause it then maybe someone else had and she could find something about the curse in one of the spell books. The two of them hadn’t walked very far from before the warlock groaned and muttered something under his breathe making Ciara look over her shoulder at him right before he turned showing her his arm. Her eyes get a little wide as she looked at the yang sign on his arm, the design of the outer edge looked almost the same. Turning she moved back towards him nodding a little.

"Almost, though it’s on the other arm and mine is yin.” She answered softly as she reached down she pulled up the sleeve of her shirt showing him the black yin symbol on her arm, winching a little as she did so. The burning feeling hadn’t just been on the inside as she lifted her sleeve the skin around her mark looked as it had been sun burnt though it had been covered. Stopping in front of him, Ciara hesitated slightly before reaching out and touching his arm, her touch was soft as she slowly rubbing her finger tips down his arm. Starting from his elbow, down over the symbol, and coming to an end at the the middle of his forearm, she felt the shocking feeling coming from his skin accept for where the mark was.

[ravenhuffle]

If she had looked like he did when he looked up, he would have laughed and mocked her but instead she look defeated. Her cockiness and better-than-thou attitude disappeared in the blink of an eye. Even her tone changed to one more of a question than an accusation. Adam ignored her rhetorical comment as he pushed himself up off the ground, and even though every inch of his body screamed in pain he tried not to let it show.

“You’re right, I do put curses on those who make me mad.” He admitted after he stood up. “But I did not have time to put one on you. Let’s just say my coven did not allow me the time to correct my mistakes. Not that it did not cross my mind to make you suffer. Dearly. Maybe I still will.”

Adam sarcastically wished her luck then turned to walk down the street. He knew he should fight her, kill her or at least leave her for dead. If he fought and won a second battle against her then part of his actions could be forgiven. Jay would come back to him faster and Elena would start to trust him again. Part of him almost turned around to blindside her. But his arm started to burn again like it was getting worse with each step until he stopped and pulled his arm out of his jacket.

The white yang stung like the world’s worse sunburn, and his skin was a bright irritated red with a nasty looking yellow tint underneath from the bruise his arm supported. When he touched the raised skin it only seemed to irritate it farther so he turned around and called back to the witch. He had no idea what made him think her curse would be similar. Maybe intuition or a gut feeling, but either way he caught her attention. Adam watched as she turned around and came back towards him and from the look in her eyes he knew she had a similar mark.

“Do you still think I am the one that cursed you? I would not have used a spell that would tie us together, that would have been stupid.” His said in an irritated tone.

Then she put her hand on the tender flesh of his inner elbow and electricity shot through his body just like before. What the hell was with her touch sending shivers through his body? Her fingers slid down his arm and he almost jerked his arm away because the pressure of her fingers on his bruised arm, but he managed to keep his arm still. It felt like an instant healing as her fingers ran past the mark. The skin turned back to the black and yellow colors of his bruise and the mark seemed to settle into his skin.

“What the hell?” He pulled his arm away and ran his fingers over the mark only to find it was not hurting like it was a moment ago. If her touch soothed his mark it made him wonder what his touch would do for her.

“Here.” He reached out and took her wrist.

His left hand wrapped none too gently around her wrist and turned her arm so that her inner arm was exposed along with the black mark on her arm. In grabbing her wrist he also pulled her closer so that they were only a half a foot away from each other. While his other hand hovered over her skin he looked up into her eyes. For a split moment he hesitated then he looked back down at her arm as he gently ran his fingers down her arm the same way she had done for him. His fingers lingered at the base of her palm before he let go of her completely.

“I am starting to wonder if you did this. Are you the one who cursed me so that you could find me?” Adam’s mask came back up in full force. “Are you changing your mind about wanting to offer your body?” He put his arm back in his jacket and shoved his hands into the pockets.

[Love Dove]

Ciara frowned even more her brown eyes looking him over as he got up off of the ground, his words conforming the fact that what had happened was because of her winning their fight night before last. Even though she disliked his man it was mostly because of his type of magic and the threat to balance that was his coven. It made her feel horrible, she really didn’t want anyone to get hurt, she hadn’t wanted to fight him in the first place, and she had tried to defuse the situation before the fight. Had he only listened, maybe he wouldn’t have gotten hurt. The threat to make her suffer dearly made her stiffen back into the defensive stance she had earlier though her attitude stayed the same.

“I’m not afraid of you. I somehow beat you last time, and I will do it again though I would rather not.” She said with a sigh. When she turned to walk away, it was rather foolish on her part, he could have attacked her. She wasn’t really paying attention to him. Ciara likely wouldn’t time to put up her shield before he attacked her. Luckily he didn’t though, instead he called her attention back to him showing her the mark on his arm as well. “Well I don’t know you well, warlock. There is no way for me to know, maybe you are that stupid.” She said sarcastically smirking a little despite his irritated tone she couldn’t help herself.

When she touched his arm she had been trying to be gentle, she could see the yellow tint under the red sun burnt looking skin. In truth she had almost forgotten about the electric feeling that came from touching him. As her hand came to a stop on his arm, he jerked it away from her before she could see she healed it. “What? I’m sorry, did I hurt you?” She said trying to look at his arm as he rubbed his fingers over it.

Without much warning his hand wrapping roughly around her wrist, electricity shooting from his grip up her arm, she tried to jerk away from him out of habit only to be pulled closer to him. “Are you always so rough?” She complained slightly as his other hand hovered over her arm, she strangely couldn’t help but be a little soothed by his blue eyes as he looked into hers before his fingers started to rub down her arm. There was instant relief as his fingers ran over the mark, her skin turning back to its normal color. Ciara couldn’t help but sigh and close her eyes as the burning she felt for the last day, went away. She opened her eyes as his fingers lingered in her palm, looking down at his fingers.

As he moved his hand away she took a small step back still staying close to him, but far enough she could move without hitting him. Her fingers rubbed over the mark, feeling that it was bumped up much like scar. Something she hadn’t noticed before, because it had hurt too bad to really feel what the mark felt like. The fact that his simple touch healed the mark so quickly was curious, she was still looking at her arm when he asked if she was the one that done this to them.

Her eyes looked up at him as she opened her mouth to answer him, until his question about changing her mind stopped her. “What?! Don’t be foolish.” She said lifting her head to look at him as a deep blush covered her face and she took a small step back from him covering her arm with her shirt again. She had no idea why she was so embarrassed by the fact he thought that.

“I told you that you’re not my type. And secondly my kind doesn’t use curses, just charms and blessings. I don’t know any curses like this. I'm not stupid if anyone in my coven finds out about this, I’ll be thrown out.” She said shaking her head and looking away from him still very embarrassed by what he said. “If I wanted to find you, you wouldn’t realize I had a tracking spell on you.” She added muttering her words, she after all was a lot better at spells than potions.

Looking back up at him she frowned again her eyes looking at the cuts and bruises on his face. ”At the risk of you threating me again. I truly am sorry and could heal those cuts for you.” She said softly not even bothering to hide herself behind a cold mask again, there was no cause for it.

[ravenhuffle]

Adam saw her back stiffen at his words, and part of him was hoping that she would take this threat seriously and leave. A larger part of him did not want her to go. Normally when Elena hurt him, Adam would turn to Jay but his mind kept flashing back to the smile on his girlfriend’s face when she made him scream. Adam shivered and shook his head to get rid of the image. Elena had hurt him deeper than a physical pain, she had stripped him of his only comfort. He turned around mumbling under his breath that she should be scared of him.

Soon after Adam had called after her. Part of him wanted to slap her for the insult she threw at him as she walked back towards him, but instead he settled for a long glare then held out his arm for her to see. She ran her hand down his arm and it might have soothed the sharp electrical feeling but the pressure of her hand was sending waves of pain up his arm. On top of the pain was a shiver running up his arm much like the feeling he got when he brushed her skin the first time. It was an odd sensation to be mixed with the pain that made him pull away quickly and run his own fingers over his arm.

“Yes, it hurts. Did I mention she broke nearly every bone in my body too, and while the bones are healed I can still feel the pain of the multiple breaks?” Adam dropped his own arm and grabbed her hand to pull her close to him to run his fingers over her arm.

A ghost of a smile floated over his face. “Yes. I am always this rough.” He pulled her just a little bit closer so that her body was touching his. “Does it bother you?” He asked in a whisper, his breath brushing across her face.

When he let go she instantly took a step back like she was nervous about being close to him. He watched her run her own fingers down her arm much like he had done. It was curious that their touch had healed the opposite’s mark. What kind of curse or blessing for that matter would act in such a way? It made Adam want to know what the hell was really on his arm and what it meant. Silence hung around them for a moment, and it made his skin itch uncomfortably so he broke the silence to accuse her of putting the curse on them shortly followed by asking her if she had changed her mind about him. It made him laugh when her mouth opened and closed once before quickly denying her intentions. The blush spurred him on, telling him that she was not even sure of her own feelings.

“It is okay. I know I can be irresistible.” Adam closed the gap she had created and reached his hand up to run his fingers through her hair. His head was titled slight to the side and down so that his lips hovered not but an inch from hers. For a long moment he held the same position, his deep blue eyes appearing a little darker as he looked into her own eyes. Slowly he trailed his fingers down her jaw line only to stop when his thumb rested against her lips. It surprised him that her lips felt so soft under his thumb and it made him want to kiss her. The thought of kissing her made him pulled away suddenly and put some distance between the two of them.

“I am starting to think you do not know what your type is.” He said in a matter-of-fact tone while his eyes scanned the street around them. He was trying to shake the feeling he just had cursing through his blood to kiss her.

“And how would I know what you do and do not know how to do? I know as many curses and potions as I do blessing. Just because we wipe out other covens does not mean I do not know any blessings. So excuse me for assuming you knew more than you do. Clearly I was wrong.” Adam frowned as his eyes met hers for the first time since he pulled away. Truly the witch was starting to irritate him. She acted as if she was better than him just because she was a self-proclaimed good witch.

“Neither one of us are going to claim putting these marks on each other, but they had to come from somewhere.” Adam mused under his breath as he looked down at the ground. Once more he looked at his arm and raised white tattoo that now stuck out like a shining beacon. The symbol was half of the yin-yang symbol and she had the other half, but it still baffled him about what it could mean. His head snapped up at her offer to heal him.

“No.” He barked sharply as he took another step back from him. If he went back healed it would only make things so much worse. His breathing quickened slightly at the thought of what would happen to him if he came back healed, not to mention it would mean his coven would come after the witch in front of him. Not that he should care if she got hurt.

“You do not even know my name, stupid witch. Why would you want to heal me?” Adam asked in a cold tone. It was clear that his defense was up once more by the closed off look in his eyes, the coldness of his tone, and the way his left foot was slightly behind him as if he was going to move away from her once more.

[Love Dove]

Ciara frowned looking away from his arm and down at the ground. “No, you didn’t mention that.” It starting to feel like the warlock was trying to make her only feel worse than she already felt. “I was trying to be easy.” She said before he grabbed ahold of her.

She saw him almost smile when she complained about his rough hold, Ciara frowned a little. Before her eyes going a bit wide as he pulled her even closer, their bodies touching and his breathe on her face, she couldn’t lie, it was a bit exciting but it still hurt. She almost used her shield to push him away from her, but instead she pursed her lips. “Yes. At least I was trying not to hurt you.” She answered softly. When he let her go she took a step back, her hand rubbing over her arm. As she felt over the yin again and again, her mind raced trying to think of any spell, blessing, curse, or otherwise that could do something like this. Only to come up blank, she knew of no spell that would affect only two people and not everyone else around them.

The accusation that she changed her mind made Ciara blush and she looked away, telling him not to be foolish, the laughter made her look back at him. “Stop laughing at me!” She said getting a little bit angry though it was more out of the embarrassment of blushing like a school girl when she was a grown woman. The fact that he had laughed at her had only made the blush that much worse.

When he said something about being irresistible it made her almost laugh at him. Sure he was cute in a dangerous, rough, egotistical asshole type of way, but she didn't see him as exactly irresistible. A shiver ran up her spine giving her cold chills, though this time it wasn't from the electrical feel of his touch, but from the feel of his hand running through her hair as his eyes seemed to go a shade darker and he tilted his head to the side as if he was going to kiss her. Ciara's breath caught slightly as his fingers trailed along her jaw line slowly, her breath becoming a bit shallow and her heartbeat quickening as his thumb came to a rest on her lips. Ciara was about to lean in herself, if only he hadn't moved away when he did.

Clearing her throat she looked away herself, honestly would he pointed it out, Ciara started to wonder if she even knew her type as well. There were many men in her coven that wanted her to be their girlfriend however she didn't want any of them. Was it possible that was the reason she acted that towards his almost kissing her? He had said she wasn't pretty enough for him before, she shook her head, that must have been the reason. She wasn't used to not being wanted, that must have been why she wanted to kiss him.

“I never said that you didn't know blessings and things like that. Nor that I didn't know any curses. I know quite a few." She said looking in his eyes as she did. "I said that didn't know how do something like this. I don't doubt with all the lives your coven has taken and the balance you've destroyed. You know a little about blessings, though I don't someone from your side would ever use them. No reason to get so egotistical, you're the one that asked." She added rolling her eyes at him.

While he muttered to himself, she offered to heal his cuts. She didn't expect him to react the way that he did, and jumped a bit before holding her hands up taking a step back as well. "Okay, I won't. It was just an offer." She said softly before he called her stupid. Ciara's eyes narrowed at him as he called her that, she wasn't stupid! She was smarter than a good bit of the people in her coven, hell she was even smart enough to make her own spells that actually worked which was someone hard to do in its self. "I am not stupid!" She said loudly her tone just as cold as his, before taking a deep breath to get a hold of herself, the warlock striking a nerve.

"I wanted to heal you because like you said, I am the reason that whoever 'she' is, hurt you. I told you that I didn't want to fight you. Riley was going to end up in my coven, my leader said it was written in the stars she would. If I had called my coven instead, then it wouldn't have ended with you knocking yourself out on my shield, or me not being able to heal you when you were sitting here bleeding before I was forced to leave." She said frowning a tear running down her cheek before she looked away from him and wiping it away. She might not have acted like it had bothered her around her coven, but truly it had.

"So." She said looking back at him, her cold mask coming out in full force. "If you aren't going to let me heal you because you're to good for me to heal you because I'm a good witch. Then you'll have to hurt me for it to be fair. Because honestly I'm feeling so guilty I'm starting to annoy myself." She finished taking a step closer to him and closing her eyes, her body tense. Part of her was afraid of the pain he might inflict, that he would kill her. Though part of her told her that if he was going to kill her, he would have already when she had her back turned.

[ravenhuffle]

Adam laughed, his breath floating over the face of the beautiful girl he had pulled against him. “If I wanted to hurt you, you would be on the ground crying in agony. This is me being gentle.” His voice was soft and lower than a whisper giving his words a chilling quality. Right after he said that he let her now healed arm go.

Adam pulled her towards him once more just to prove to her that she could not resist his charm if she tried. Though the whole situation twisted itself around leaving him pining to kiss her. By the way her breath was coming quicker and shallower, Adam could tell that he was affecting her too. For half a second he seriously considered kissing her, he even allowed himself to picture how easy it would be to steal her breath away and how enjoyable her lips would be. Instead he pulled away before he could do something he regretted.

Crossing his arms, Adam listed to her defend herself about actually being able to do curses and it brought a smirk to his mouth. “Someone is a little defensive.” Adam said with amusement in his voice. Without warning he pressed two fingers to her forehead and instantly he felt the pull of magic as it rushed to the tips of his fingers as they rested on her forehead. It was a different feeling then when he usually pulled on his magic, it made him want to smile and it left him feeling as if he was floating.

“May the sun bring you new energy by day. May the moon softly restore you by night. May the rain wash away your worries, May the breeze blow new strength into your being. May you walk gently through the world and know its beauty all the days of your life.” Adam’s arm dropped as he let out a heavy breath. Though he did not notice it, a symbol made of light was slowly fading into Ciara’s skin.

Adam was just recovering his breath when she offered to heal him causing his retreat once again. He instantly snapped at her defensively and took a step away from her as if he was going to run. Honestly, he had not even realized he was acting so comfortably around her until she cause him to close up again. Why the hell he was letting her in anyway, he had no idea. Her confession left him stunned and baffled.

There was no way she would have ever come to help him that night, not after he made it painfully obvious he would have killed her for Riley. The part that baffled him the most was not Riley being written in the stars, or that she wanted to heal him, but that she had felt guilty about his pain. Adam watched her from behind a cold mask as she stepped closer him and asked for him to hurt her. A tear slid down her cheek and he almost reached out to brush it away only to remind himself of who he was. Adam of the Black Hawk Coven was not one to reach out and wipe away her tear. He would never show that he cared enough to be affected by a single tear.

Ciara’s offer was greatly tempting. Killing her would solve all his problems. Adam took a step towards her so that they were chest to chest once again, only this time his right hand reached around her head and his right hand gripped the right side of her jaw while his left hand laid open palm on her right cheek. “I would not just hurt you for what you did. I will kill you.” He whispered in her ear. His arms tensed up just as he took in a deep breath. He had done this a million time, countless of witches and warlocks died with broken necks due to his hands. Though as Adam looked into the girl’s warm chocolate eyes, he found that he couldn’t do it. He couldn’t, no he wouldn’t, snap her neck. Instead he slowly let go of her, though he did not bother to move away.

“Jay is ‘her’ name. She was, is, my girlfriend. Everyone is expecting us to join in a unity soon though. She is the one who did all of this to me by her mother, my Coven leader’s, request.” Adam grabbed Ciara’s jaw and lifted her face towards the sky none to gently. “This is where she hit first with a heavy but tiny hammer.” He told her tapping her the middle part of her jaw on the left side. “This was to make sure that every scream was painful. From there she spent nearly two days finding places to break or hit that made me scream the loudest.” He let go of her jaw and let his hands fall to his sides. “It was my Coven leader who asked me to be healed by her right handed member, Patricia. She specially requested for me not to be fully healed, just enough so that I could stand to move. This pain that I am feeling, it is my punishment for losing Riley, they want it to make a lasting impression.”

Adam went and leaned against the brick wall and rubbed his hand over his face trying to erase the images of Jay smiling down at him as she broke another bone in his body. Or how her smile would grow when his scream was louder than the one before. “If you heal me, my punishment will only be ten times worse. Not to mention they would come after you specially, and I would have to kill you in front of them.” Adam shook his head then looked up at her. For the first time, his eyes were completely soft and fear was present just like the night that Elena had found him.

“What is your name, witch?”

[Love Dove]

Ciara sighed a little as he called her defensive, it wasn’t that she was trying to really be defensive per say. It was just that in truth she wasn’t the strongest in her coven by far, but she was one of the smartest, she knew as many spells as Peter, Grace’s right handed man. So perhaps she was a little defensive about her knowledge of spells. Before she could say anything though he put two fingers on her forehead making her look up for a moment as she felt her magic being pulled from her. When he started chanting a blessing on her, she stared at him in disbelief. Even as he dripped his hand catching his breath she didn't say anything at first.

Did he...just bless her? Her who just yesterday he wanted to kill? Who he said he would make suffer? Of all the reasons the warlock doing this shocked her. What shocked her most was that she had no idea what the blessing actually was, of all the blessings she knew, she had never even heard or read the one he had cast on her.

When Ciara offered to heal him, she really didn't think it would cause him to become all closed off and cold again. She truly didn't understand why the offer she was making was so wrong. After all his pain was her fault. After losing her temper a little bit she went on to explain why she wanted to heal him. She saw the disbelief in his face when she said she would have healed him after their fight. It wasn't a lie and maybe it didn't make sense to him that she would have after he made it obvious he would have killed her, but there was a reason. She didn't know if anyone from his coven would find him before he bleed to death, and she didn't want to be the reason for yet another death.

When the words she said had no effect what's so ever. Or at least so it appeared by the still cold look that was on his face. Ciara felt she had no choice but to put her mask on as well and ask him to hurt her. To make it even between them. Behind her mask she was afraid, that he really would hurt her or kill her. Ciara was well aware of just how stupid the offer was on her part. However, part of her wanted to believe he wouldn't hurt her.

Ciara's body tensed up as she felt his arm around her head gripping her jaw. The words that he was going to kill her whispered in her ear soft and quiet like when he said he could make her cry in agony. Ciara's brown eyes opened as she took a breath. "Fine." She whispered back though her voice shook a little in fear, she didn't close her eyes back though, he was going to kill her after she had offended to heal him. Then he would have to look her in the eyes as he did so. Though even through his cold mask Ciara could see the conflict in his eyes as he tightened his gripped on her jaw. When he let go she took a shaky breath that brushed against his face. "I thought you were going to kill me?" She said softly fear showing in her shaky voice as she rubbing the side of her jaw before dropping her hand as he started to explain.

He talked about his girlfriend soon to be wife did this to him. Her jaw being grabbed once again as he roughly forced her to face the sky. Tapping her jaw telling her about the tiny hammer his girlfriend had used. When he let her go she frowned at him and shook her head a little, she couldn't understand why he would want to be with someone like that. At the other name he said though her eyes widened a bit before looking away. Patricia wasn't a very common name neither was the power to heal with the ability to stop. She almost asked if he happened to know the woman's last name.

Ciara smiled a little as he asked her name, it was nice the idea of him stopping calling her witch. Not to mention the fact that it was starting to get a little bit more lively around them and the truth about being a witch was a closely kept secret. "Ciara Matthews. And yours?" She answered.

"I'm sorry Adam, I had no way of knowing healing you would make it worse." She said her tone going calm and the look of fear that had been to his eyes made her try to sound smoothing. Clearly it was not a good subject that she had forced to be brought up. "I was trying to help, I won't bring it up again. Promise." She said taking a few steps closer to him. For a moment she was quiet in her own mind before looking up at him. "Can I ask you a question? If your girlfriend is so willing to hurt you for her mother. Why would you be with her?"

[ravenhuffle]

Adam had his arms wrapped around her neck all he had to do was snap her neck and all his problems would disappear. She would be dead and his status would be restored, no more problems. But as he looked down at her, he couldn’t bring himself to do it. He couldn’t kill her, though he could not really say why. Slowly he let go and his hands clenched and unclenched at his side, he had never felt like he couldn’t kill before. It was bothered him that he couldn’t seem to bring himself to do something as simple as snapping her neck.

“I was going to kill you, but I decided you might still be useful. I will kill you next time.” He lied. He wasn’t sure if he would ever be able to kill her. Even though he couldn’t really explain why he was so comfortable with telling her about the pain he had endured over the past forty-eight hours, he found himself spilling his emotions out. In his clan, there was no room for emotions especially of sorrow, regret, or pity. Yet those were the exact emotions the witch was pulling out of him. Maybe it was a special power of hers, pulling emotion out of him like Elena could pull the truth. Adam pushed the thought aside, he was just in a low place.

“Ciara.” He said softly, testing her name. It was a beautiful name that just seemed to suite her. He reached out and ran the back of two fingers down her cheek. For the second time in the past thirty minutes, he felt the urge to lean down and discover the taste of her lips.

“Adam Danvers.” He said after his finger had run along the side of her jaw. For a moment his fingers lingered on her face before he pulled his hand away. He was grateful that she agreed to stop asking to heal him, though he did not comment on it, instead he just gave her a half smile and let the subject go.

“Ask me anything you want.” He replied before he really thought about what he was saying. Then again, he never said that he would answer he assured himself. Not that he was sure what her question was going to be, but what she asked surprised him. Slowly he raised one eyebrow at her than started laughing.

“Of all the things I have told you in the past five minutes, you want to know about my relationship?” He asked once he finally stopped laughing. “Isn’t it obvious? She is the heir to my Coven, she will one day take the throne. If I marry her, I take the throne with her. Jay guarantees my status, my power, and my future in my coven. Besides, she is hot and good in bed. What more could I ask for?” A smile still graced his lips and there was still a hint of amusement in his voice.

“Adam!”

Adam looked behind him and cursed. “You need to hide. If she sees you, she will kill you without hesitation.” Adam grabbed her arm roughly and pushed her into the shadow of the alleyway they were standing near.

“Adam, there you are.” Jay said as soon as she spotted him. She started waving though the crowd towards him.

“Stay hidden Ciara, please. No matter what you see, stay there.” Adam whispered then turned around to face his girlfriend just as she threw her arms around his neck. Adam grunted in pain as she threw her weight onto him, but he wrapped his arms around her waist anyway.

“You have been gone for so long. I was getting worried.” Jay said in a sappy voice.

“Bullshit, Jay. Why are you really looking for me?” Adam pushed her away slightly so that he could see her face. Jay smiled at him and he flashed back to when her smile was spotted with red.

“I wanted to see you Adam. Is that so bad?” Jay pressed her lips against his and all Adam wanted to do was shove her away, but he couldn’t. She was his future. So instead, he turned her around and pressed her against the wall just feet away from where he had hid Ciara. After a few moments of an intense make-out session, Jay pushed him away with a hand on his chest making him grunt again. For just a split moment he thought about snapping Jay’s neck because the smile on her face told him she knew she was causing him pain.

“Next time you enter a battle, win.” Jay grabbed his jaw, her thumb digging into the still tender spot where she had broken his jaw. “Elena wants to speak to you. Let’s go.” Jay pushed away from the wall and started walking down the street. Adam rubbed his jaw a little and looked into the darkness as if trying to get one last look at Ciara.

“Sorry.” He whispered softly.

“Adam! Elena is waiting!” Jay called. After a moment Adam followed her.