Oliver stood and helped Reagan to her feet. Looking back at the Alter she saw one of the Witches on her knees crying into her lap. Two other Witches sat in the dirt and the moss comforting her. She must be mourning for one of the Witches that hadn't been saved. It was the grief of guilt and loss. Reagan averted her eyes not feeling like she should intrude on such pain.

She took a step after Sophia and then stopped. A warning shot through her. It came from the ground below her feet and rushed through her. An instinct not to step any closer.

"I'm not allowed in." She stated.

            Sophia had walked a few more steps then sharply turned around inside the Alter as if just registering what Reagan said. A smirk crossed her lips and she didn't even try to cover it up. "It appears you're still not one of us." She cocked her red head to the side, clearly enjoying this. At least that made you feel better. Bitch.

Sophia grinned suddenly pleased with herself once more. "Wait here. I'll have someone conjure up a separate Circle for us to work on the two of you elsewhere." There was a sway to her hips as she walked away. 

            "What a bitch." Oliver repeating her previous thought.

            Reagan just raised her eyebrows in amazed agreement.

            Oliver grinned. "What were you saying about the Society accepting you?'' he teased.

            "Shut up." She said turning away from the Circle and walked a little bit further into the trees. Mostly to get out of eye sight so the Witches would stop staring at her. Oliver followed behind her until she found a fallen tree that wasn't covered in moss like everything else. Yet. She took a seat and placing her heals on the trunk so her knees were lifted higher and she could rest her head on them. Oliver dug his hands into his pockets and watched her. Not sure what to do.

            "I'm not going to burst into flame or anything. Magic has left me." She mumbled into her legs after a few minutes of silence. "I can't promise I'm not going to grow an extra set of arms or a third eye or something." She lifted her head to look at him. "But, I'm pretty sure nothing is going to happen." 

            Oliver gave her that crooked smile she adored and stepped up next to her. "I don't know what to think. I've officially witnessed enough things today to render my world foreign to me and quite frankly I'm tired. I don't want to think anymore. I don't even know what to think anymore."

            "You and me both." She reached out to grab his hand so he would sit next to her on her trunk. She leaned against him once he was settled and he wrapped his arm around her. "So lets not think about what just happened, ok. We can discuss it later....over wine, or something stronger. Much, much later."

            "And much much stronger." He agreed. They both put it aside, knowing full well they may never get the chance to discuss it. There was just too much unknown and too much weighing on them. So they just sat there, leaning against each other. Waiting for Sophia to find them.

            When she did she wasn't pleased. "I've been looking for you two everywhere. We've got a circle ready for you." she stalked away from them, glancing behind her shoulder. "Well, come on." she growled when they hadn't moved.

            "I'm beginning to get the impression she's always been this sour and I've just never noticed before."

            Oliver laughed, "You mean to tell me she's not pleasant and a joy to be around most of the time."

            "No." Reagan stood up and when Oliver followed suite she stole a kiss and they headed in the direction Sophia had gone.

It wasn't far from the original Alter. The remaining members of the Coven stood surrounding two stone tables. Reagan noticed the distraught Witch and her friends weren't included. Neither of tables looked particularly comfortable to lay on but unfortunately there wasn't really any other way to interpret the situation. Besides, Sophia didn't appear to be in the mood for jokes so Reagan grudgingly filed away the Flintstones reference she was about to use and stepped forward taking the makeshift table on the left leaving Oliver with the larger one. They both laid down face up and prepared for whatever ceremony Sophia had devised for them. Reagan shifted a little trying to get more comfortable and looked around her. The Witches had placed themselves evenly around them. The tables at the center.

            "Keep your head down." Sophia snapped.

            Oliver snorted a little and unsuccessfully tried to disguise it as a cough. Reagan turned to see him watching her, which was a mistake. They caught each others eyes and they both tried not to laugh but failed. Reagan started shaking as she laughed and Oliver barked out a chuckle before they were lost. Their world was falling apart and here they were giggling uncontrollably.

Sophia irritatingly placed her hands on her hips and cleared her throat. When they both glanced at her they had twin expressions of child like humor on their faces. Reagan rolled her lips together in an effort to stop laughing. They smiled stupidly at each other both thinking the same thing. She saw him mouth 'I love you" to her and she loved him all the more for it, mouthing it back to him. Feeling absurd and a little foolish for behaving like children Reagan bit down on her lip to prevent herself from laughing and getting yelled at again.

            "Seriously." Sophia wasn't as harsh this time. There was a little bit of kindness in her tone. "You can get a room after you save the world. Right now I need you to focus." She could hear some of the other Witches giggle before stifling it. Reagan glanced over at Sophia just in time to see her wink at her. A pleasant smile on her lips.

            Maybe, she's not that bad. Reagan thought before she gave Sophia a conspiratorial smile then turned her head up. Staring up at the sky she tried to force herself to relax. It wasn't warm yet but there was promise in the air that it would be a swelteringly hot day. There was a breeze, not anything strong but just enough to keep the sweltering humidity off her skin.

She could hear humming, it took her a moment to realize it was coming from the Coven. Quiet at first but it grew louder. It ebbed and flowed. Someone started humming a different melody but it was beautiful, blending together. There was a rhythm to their humming, like a dance. A harmony. Reagan closed her eyes. There was a story in the humming. She tried to focus on it. Try to decipher the meaning. She allowed the song to absorb her attention. She felt her heart beat slow and keep pace with the chanting. Her breathing began to sync along with the tempo. Her thoughts faded away and her muscles relaxed. Her body temperature lowered.

            Had she been aware of her surroundings she would have noticed the Witches closing in. Small steps closing in the gaps between them. Oliver had also gone tranquil. His breathing and heart beat perfectly in line with Reagan's and the pulse of the Witch's incantation. They both rose off the stone platform. Not far, just a few inches. Hovering just above the stone. Neither of them noticed. Their arms and legs going limp, dangling slightly. Reagan's dark red hair floated around her weightless. Haunting and eire. Had she witnessed it herself it probably would have creeped her out.

            The Witches continued their chanting as Reagan and Oliver begin to rotate slowly in opposite directions. It was a slow process, they moved so slowly it was barely discernible. The humming continued. Flowing and changing.

             Their heads were nearly level when Reagan started to glow again. Similar to the light that shown from her when she was guided by Magic. Not a bright white light but golden and warm. She lite up like an ember, there were no flames but she almost appeared to be ignited. The glowing heat wrapped itself around her like a cocoon. Her arms and legs raised up leveling her out and she rose slightly higher.

Some of the Witches hesitated, the chanting off tempo. Surprised by what was happening, this wasn't a normal part of the ceremony. People floated and they healed but they didn't produce anything. Sophia continued humming so those who stuttered picked up on where they had left off but she, like all the others, was watching Reagan transfixed.

            The aura around Reagan grew, expanding outwards. It spread toward Oliver, reaching out to him. It inched its way to him, working its way until they were both encased inside of it. It was beautiful. The voices of the Witches softening, not in volume but in tone. It became more harmonious. Their humming actually started sounding like a hymn sung by a choir. The radiating heat spread throughout the circle.

They continued their chanting but here and there a Witch would glance down at herself. Scars were fading. They could feel it on their skin like warm water. Any old wounds or pain started to heal. A Witch with a bad knee felt a tingling sensation and the tension and pain began to fade till there was nothing left. She continued singing but she could evenly place her weight on both legs without any discomfort. Any poor eyesight sharpened, hearing became perfectly clear. Any flaw or injury was alleviated. The healing ritual didn't just heal Reagan and Oliver, Reagan somehow built upon the ritual and enhanced its power. She was taking in their magic and intensifying it, releasing it back onto anyone or thing near her.

            A dying tree near the Circle, slumped over and weak became strong, its trunk strengthening and its limbs stretched back towards the sky. Branches sprouted new leaves. Colors became richer, flowers bloomed. She recharged and gave life back to any living thing that felt her warmth. All too soon, Reagan and Oliver continued their rotation and they soon passed one another. The light faded back into Reagan. The warmth faded. The trees were still full of life, the injuries didn't reappear but the healing subsided.

            They continued on their paths, working their way slowly around. Reagan and Oliver had made half a rotation, their feet where their heads had started.

            The Witches continued their chant, continued their humming. The off key voices were more obvious now that they could hear the difference but no one cared. Hours had passed since they had started the ritual but no one had faltered or grew fatigued. They just watched in awe as Reagan and Oliver came to the end of their cycle. Their feet having met at the center and passed by heading back to their original positions.

            The chanting softened. They continued floating above the platforms until there was nothing but silence than gently lowered back down. Reagan's hair fanned out across the table as it settled. Oliver's hand slid slightly off as if reaching for Reagan. In her rest she turned her head in his direction. Even under the spell they were drawn to each other. Once the spell had waned and the charge in the air began to clear they started to stir.

            First Reagan, she rolled her neck and stretched her back out. Flexing her toes and fingers. She blinked her eyes back into focus just in time to see Oliver pull his arm up to rub alertness back into his face, as soon as he was conscious of being awake he turned to check on her. They both smiled at each other in that sleepy cozy way. Neither aware of what had just happened or how much time had passed.

            Sitting up Reagan shifted so her feet dangling off the side of the table. She looked around her, the Witches were still starring at her, not even bothering to avert their gaze when she stared back. It made her even more uncomfortable than before. Sophia stepped forward, looking baffled, staring at Reagan as if she was some puzzle Sophia couldn't solve.

            "Strange." She stated.

            Oliver was watching Sophia as well, that ominous feeling from before returned. He didn't like the way she was looking at Reagan. "What's strange?"

            She didn't look at Oliver when he addressed her just continued studying Reagan. "During the ritual, Reagan became an amulet. A very powerful one, I've never seen anything like it. She amplified our ritual and healed everything and everyone within the Circle."

            "What do you mean Amulet?" Oliver demanded.

            At the same time Reagan blurted out, "I did what?"

            Sophia continued watching Reagan. "It's been known to happen among certain creatures: unicorns, dragons. They can be talismans and work as a more powerful amulet for spells but I've never known it to happen to a person before. It may be more assistance from Magic channeling you but I don't sense Magic coming from you. This is different. Reagan, you are become more and more interesting by the minute."

            "I don't want to be interesting." She complained.  Looking over to Oliver for help only to notice he had started staring at her too. "Stop looking at me like that. You're freaking me out." Turning back to Sophia even more agitated. "What am I supposed to do?"

            "I don't know." She tried to sound comforting but based on Reagan's expression she hadn't. "I don't know if there is anything you can do. I can't even explain how you did what you did."

            "Great." Reagan exhaled sharply. "Just great." She jumped off the table and stormed out of the Circle. No one tried to stop her.

            Sophia watched her leave before turning to Oliver. "This mystery is going to have to wait, I'm afraid. I'll look into it on my own when I have time but you have a brotherhood to return to immediately and we have a war to prepare for. It may only be late morning here but the sun will be rising over New York in just a few short hours. There isn't time to speculate or discuss theories just now. You really must be leaving."

            Oliver glanced up at the sky startled at how late it had grown. Glancing back at Sophia with an equally concerned expression he got up off his own perch and chased after Reagan.

            The moment he stepped out of the Circle a sharp pain laced its way across his ribs. Pulling his shirt up he looked at the burn still scaring his torso. Talisman or amulet, whatever Reagan had managed to do during the ceremony it wasn't enough to counter the curse. Regardless, there was nothing more he could do about it now. He was just going to have to keep an eye on it. Watch his reactions and make sure whatever he may or may not see was actually real. 

            Catching up to her not far from original alter, he found her staring at the ancient site, contemplating what had happened and what Sophia had said. "Reagan? Are you alright?" He asked coming up behind her. He stopped not wanted to crowd her.

            "I don't know." She said it not only to him but to herself.  She didn't turn to look at him but he could see her anxiety in her posture. Stepping up to her he wrapped his arms around her. She leaned back into his embrace and rested her head against his chest. "What am I supposed to do with all of this?"

            "I wish I could tell you. I really do but I don't have the answers. And we don't have the time to find them. I'm out of time and we need to get back to New York. I need to keep you safe while I meet back up with the others. I can't even begin to explain how much I don't want to leave you alone with this right now but I don't have a choice. I need to lay my brothers to rest, then we can figure this out."

            Reagan only nodded and let him summon the void.

            They had blinked into a large foray. It was gorgeous. White marble floors, a small round table in the center of the room with a large bouquet arrangement of white flowers on its center. There was an elegant staircase curved along the wall to the upper levels. A huge mirror taking up one wall over a long thin table reflected the light from stunning chandelier hung delicately over their heads illuminating the entry way.

            Oliver was behind her, still holding her in his arm as the blinked. She was getting used to it. "I will contact you as soon as I can. There isn't a way to communicate with the outside world once I am in the alter. You aren't allowed in and I'm too scared to allow you to stand outside the gate. They could use you to get to me."

            "I understand but Oliver I need to tell you something." She turned to look at him. "I'll be here waiting for you when you get back. It's almost over." She reached up, placing her palm on his check so he would look at her. She had her suspicions and she needed to warn him. "I don't know how to explain how I know this but."

            "I know. I will take care of this responsibility first," he interrupted, misunderstanding, "and then I'm coming back to you. I love you." He kissed her wrist and then he was gone.

            "Shit."