Chapters 16-22
By Nikki
15 Killburn AbbeyMorgan is unhappy about her parents reaction to her books. She goes with Mary K on a field trip to a local Abbey and is surprised that she feels really connected to the herbs and to the place. She enjoys the visit quite a bit.The trip only reinforces Morgan's desire to be a witch.
16 Blood WitchMorgan makes an after school trip to Practical Magick with Robbie and buys what will be her Book of Shadows. They then go to Bree's house where she tells them about a book she has been reading. The book outlines the 7 great clans of Wicca and describes that Woodbanes are seen as evil and Rowanwands are considered good. While the other five sort of lie in the middle, between good and evil. The clans have been battling for thousands of years, each fighting in the way they know how. Cal tells them all that about three hundred years prior, around the time of the Salem Witch trials, all of the clans were pretty much decimated and it’s unclear why. But it’s possible the Trials played a part in it. The decimation was followed by a dark period for blood witches. Much of the ancient knowledge and ways were lost during this time. Cal then tells them that only about a hundred years ago, a group of witches decided to try to start a Wiccan Renaissance. In this rebirth, there would be no individual clans, just unity, all witches together as one group. Morgan remembers the clerk at the book store asking her something about a Blood Witch and she asks Cal. He tells her that a Blood Witch is someone that has one of the 7 clans in their bloodline and also have more power than someone that only practices Wicca. Cal then tells the coven that he is a Blood Witch and his mother is quite knowledgeable about Wicca. Although he doesn’t know what clan he hails from, but he suspects it could be Woodbane. Morgan has to leave and just can't get Blood Witch out of her mind.
17 Trapped
The next day at school Morgan tells the group about the herb garden and they discuss that they are starting to see Wicca’s influences in lots of things. Morgan isn't sure if she can go to the Circle the next night, but she really wants to. Plus, Cal has a gift for her. Morgan takes the opportunity to go to the Circle when her parents head to a show in a nearby town. She quickly gets ready and heads to Jenna's house. Morgan is crushed when her Mother’s co-worker calls and needs to stop by and grab some things. She has to stick around the house for an hour waiting for the lady to arrive and get what she needs. She has unfortunately missed the Circle, but decides she will stop by Practical Magick the next day and get some things to practice on her own.
18 ConsequencesMorgan gets the ingredients she will need and decides to make a "Clarifying the skin" potion. She has to know if she is as sensitive to Magick as Cal says. She says the words for the potion and the hairs stand up on her arms, followed by a loud thunder boom. The next day she gives the mix to Robbie and tells him its a face wash her Mom likes. Bree tells Morgan that she is having a hard time getting closer to Cal, but she is determined. Morgan apologizes to Cal for missing the Circle and he dismisses it. Robbie walks up then and already his skin has cleared quite a bit. Everyone is shocked. By Friday, his skin looks amazing and he decides to tell Bree and Cal. They go to Morgan's house to ask her about it. Morgan explains that she didn't have much faith that it would even work. It had just been a beginner’s spell. Robbie and Bree both seem angry and hurt. Robbie feels betrayed that she did magick on him without asking or telling him. She apologizes and he accepts, but only if she will be upfront from now on. Halloween is drawing close now.
19 A DreamAunt Eileen shows up for dinner and Morgan asks her about realizing she was gay. Morgan feels like she can sympathize with her Aunt, she is something her parents disapprove of too. She knows that becoming a witch will make her happier, but not necessarily her family. Morgan has a bad dream that night. Morgan is flying, circling Widow’s Vale like a hawk and recognizes Bree's voice calling her. She follows the voice to a bog, where Bree is stuck. She begins pulling her out and feels the Magick working in her. She finally gets Bree out and flies off into the night. She then finds herself in a dark room where a woman is cradling Morgan as a baby and she can feel that the woman loves her and she feels the same. She then wakes up. Morgan feels a bit like she has the flu and Mary K becomes concerned for her. They discuss Wicca a bit and Mary K clearly doesn't approve. She explains to her sister that the more she learns, the more she is drawn to Wicca. Her mother reminds her that evening that they have dinner at Aunt Margaret's house. Morgan gets out of going by telling her mother she desperately needs to help Bree with homework.
20 BrokenBree and Morgan head to Matt's house and have an argument in the car on the way. Bree accuses Morgan of going after Cal and thinking she is better than the rest of them. Morgan is shocked and hurt. Morgan explains that she feels she is awakening. Bree tells Morgan that she doesn't want her to practice Wicca with her anymore, she just wants to do it alone. Morgan is angry and accuses Bree of choosing Cal over her friendship. Bree tells Morgan that she loves Cal and turns around to drive Morgan home. Morgan decides she will just get out of the car and walk and Bree tells her she will "get over it". Morgan seriously doubts it and can’t think of a time the two of them have ever fought like this before. She is afraid they may never be friends again. She also realizes that Bree will definitely get Cal now and that's makes her sad because she will have to turn her back on Wicca.
21 The Thin LineSamhain is next Saturday and Robbie tells Morgan the details. He has noticed that something is wrong between she and Bree, but he decides he doesn't want to know what it’s all about. Morgan heads to Practical Magick to get a candle and has an interesting conversation with a clerk there named Alyce. David, the other clerk has told her about Morgan. That she pretends to not be a witch. She tells Morgan that she has a rough road ahead and that Morgan's witch senses know it. The next day at school, she defiantly sits with the Wicca group and is ignored by Bree. Cal tells her that he is happy she is going. Morgan wonders later if Cal might love her the way she loves him. They have a nice and normal party for her Mother’s birthday that night. She still feels a bit of dread about Samhain though. Suddenly Bree shows up in front of her in the library and tells her that soon, Morgan can come back to circles because she finally has a grasp on Cal. She has finally slept with him. Morgan is hurt and angry at the image of the two entwined and she tells Bree that she will do whatever she wants. She will be at the Circle, whether Bree wants her to or not. Bree then storms off.
22 What I AmMorgan goes to the Halloween dance with Mary K and has fun, but is more excited to go the Samhain celebration later that evening. She sneaks out of the house and decides to try casting out her senses to make sure her family is asleep. She feels like she can hear and feel everything around her and knows her family is asleep. So she rolls her car out and heads to the field were the celebration is. She is warmly greeted by everyone but Bree once she is there. They then all head into a nearby Meadow. Cal helps each of them over a stream and his hand feels right in Morgan’s. She watches Bree and Cal carefully and can’t stop thinking about them sleeping together. They head further through brush and arrive at a graveyard. Cal leads them all to an old gravestone he has turned into an altar for the event. He tells them that graveyards are a good place for a Samhain celebration. They all help set up and Cal asks them to gather in the middle. Jenna and Raven draw and purify the circle, which makes Morgan a bit jealous. Cal uses salt water to draw pentacles on each of their foreheads and explains that this is the moment they must commit to being a member of the coven. They all stay and Cal tells them the coven will be called Cirrus. He tells them they are all to be initiated and it’s truly still and quiet where they are. Morgan feels good that she is finally becoming committed to being a part of Wicca. They begin the Circle and Morgan no longer feels the hesitance she once felt. She is afraid of feeling sick again and realizes she must let the fear go. Morgan banishes fear and she feels incredible. She begins to come to and Robbie wonders if she is OK. She touches his cheek and her fingers trails a pink line on his cheek. Cal tells her to stop touching things and ground herself. He then tells her that she has made magick, she is indeed a blood witch. The other look at her strangely, but Cal kisses her and she feels so good, she kisses him back. She is elated that she is a Blood witch and doesn't care what the repercussions are. But will it all come back to harm her?
Questions:
How did you feel when Bree freaked on Morgan?
Did you suspect Morgan was indeed a Blood Witch? What tipped you off?
How would you react to a friend making a spell that worked on you, without you knowing it?
What do you think is Morgan's parents problem with Wicca? Why did they have such a strong reaction?
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