Pogue waited for Caleb outside their first class. He saw his best friend, heading his way, and moved to meet him. "Caleb, I need to talk to you."
"What is it?"
"Last night, I felt it. Someone using, heavy, like you were talking about. I woke up drenched in sweat. It freaked me out, man. I've never felt anything like that before, not from any of us, not even when we share." He watched the color leech from Caleb's face. "You felt it, too. What's going on?"
"I don't know. We need to be careful. I just don't need this crap, not with…"
The words left unsaid hung heavily in the air between them. Before they could continue, Kate and Buffy joined them. Pogue wrapped his arms around the beautiful African-American girl, while Caleb and Buffy exchanged smiles.
Buffy glanced around, taking in the room's setup. She immediately plotted the best escape routes. The architect that designed the theatre seating hadn't planned for safety. Sure, every student could see the teacher, but they didn't have equal access to the doors and windows. Her eyes swept past a face, then using her peripheral vision, went back to it. Chase was watching her. Why was the question for the day? Oh, not that she hadn't caught guys glancing her way before; he just wasn't looking at her 'that' way. He was searching for something and from what she saw, he hadn't found it. The class laughed, breaking their concentration. The instructor listed authors on the board and started to discuss the differences between modern day authors like King and Rowling.
"Dreamcatcher was the shit. The way that King gets inside your head and scares your pants off is awesome. But, Harry Potter can kiss my ass. What was that lady thinking about when she wrote that crap? Why would you make the hero some jerkwad that's a total moron? I mean come on, he knows like what, five spells, and his big idea to win their big ass war is to quit school? The place where they have all the, oh I don't know, spells?" Reid ranted.
"Who are you, Draco? Come to think about it, you kinda look him," Aaron replied, smirking when the class laughed at Reid's expense.
"I guess that would make you Neville," Chase said. "Certainly clumsy enough. Did you get all that puke off your clothes?" He gave Aaron a knowing smile, which had the other boy ready to come over the seat at him.
"Class, class, that's quite enough." The instructor clapped his hands, trying to regain control.
Caleb watched Chase take up for Reid. He hadn't thought anything about it before, but the new student was always at the right place at the right time, and no one knew anything about him. The bell rang, and he got up to leave. He stopped to ask Buffy if she wanted to go out tonight. Reid passed him, knocking into him as he went by. He sighed wondering if he and his friend would survive until his eighteenth birthday.
He walked into the boys' locker room and found everyone already dressed for swim practice. Chase walked up, making small talk and he smiled, answering appropriately. They walked out to the pool where the other Sons stood waiting for him.
Buffy had a bad feeling about today. She had a free period and decided to use it to watch the swim class. What better way to spend an hour than watching buff guys in Speedos? She saw Caleb and Chase walking out together, and was happy that she was there. The class stood at poolside, taking turns swimming. Pogue won his heat by several lengths. He turned around to shake a triumphant fist at Caleb. She glanced away from her query, but didn't linger. She couldn't afford the distraction. Her senses buzzed. She knew that she needed to be ready for anything. She watched Chase's smile widen after saying something to Caleb.
They shoved each other as men often do, then took their places on the swimmers' mounts. Their bodies flexed, showing sleek muscles as they waited for the signal. The whistle blared; they shot from their spots where they hung in mid-air, suspended for what seemed like hours, but mere seconds ticked by, then they hit the water with a splash. Powerful arms cut through the water, pistoning in and out with an almost hypnotic rhythm. The two boys stayed tied as they raced down the pool. Everyone cheered, egging them on as they neared the edge. Their bodies curled simultaneously, pushing off to catapult them back out into their lanes. The race continued, with them matching each other stroke for stroke. About twenty yards from the finish line, Caleb pulled ahead.
He pushed himself the way he did whenever he swam. His body hummed with adrenaline. He pushed a little harder, getting more speed and started to pull ahead. His arm lifted to pull his body through the water as his head turned to draw some much-needed air. He glanced over at Chase's lane, saw his eyes flare black, then he's not sure what happened. He was winning one minute and the next, he's lying on his back with everyone looking down at him.
Buffy's eyes narrowed. What a loser, can't even handle a race without using. He's addicted and won't play nice much longer. I'm sure he's wondering why Caleb didn't end up with the bobo that he intended. He probably won't look for anyone that's not a Son though. Too bad so sad, go call your dad. He'll make a move soon, and when he does, I'll be there.
She had slipped down from the bleachers when the team rushed over to Caleb. Hiding in the shadows, she watched Chase as he started to go help Caleb. Pogue brushed the other boy aside and helped his best friend back toward the dressing rooms. The biker glared back over his shoulder at the new boy, letting him know that he held him responsible for what had happened. Chase held his arms up in a what did I do gesture. The other boys on the swim team patted him on the back, congratulating him on his win, before leaving to get dressed.
He waited until he was certain that he was alone. Staring at the pool, he replayed the race in his mind. What kept Caleb from hitting the side? He had sent his enough power out to force him into the wall, while using enough power to win the heat. Caleb hadn't used. He would have felt it. Did the Covenant protect him? A fluke, it had to be a fluke. His power wasn't failing. He felt it thrumming beneath his skin. Glancing down at the water, the reflection staring back at him had his eyes widening with shock. He turned to rush into the dressing room and away from the image in the water.
Buffy watched him, wondering if he'd show his true face when no one was looking. A predatory smile spread across her face when she saw him stare into the water. Her eyes flashed when she decided that he should get a peek at his inner self.
That evening, Buffy found Kate cussing while she tore up Pogue's picture. Walking over to the irate girl, she carefully pulled the remaining pictures from her hands, placing them safely in a drawer, and then sat down on the bed to wait for an explanation. She didn't have long to wait.
"He came here telling me not to talk to Chase that he didn't trust him. Just who does he think he is? Pogue Parry doesn't own me. No one tells me what to do. My own father hasn't been able to tell me what to do since I was twelve. What makes him think that I'd listen to him, even if he's gorgeous, and makes me wild crazy with his kisses and well, you, oh, never mind. I forgot what I was saying…"
"Pretty confusing, huh? Sounds like he's just worried about you. Not to sound like a traitor or anything, but I'm kinda with Pogue on this. He's just too..." She shrugged her shoulders, letting her friend know that it was more feeling than fact. "Perfect, you know what I mean?"
Kate's cell phone rang. She glanced down at the number, then turned it around to show her that it was Pogue. "He keeps calling. That's call number twenty or so."
"Why don't you answer the poor boy?"
"Nah, I'll make him suffer through the night." She smiled wickedly before turning off her phone. "I'll forgive him tomorrow. It's good not to let them get too full of themselves."
"You're wicked." She fluffed up her pillow. "I like that."
While Caleb waited for Buffy outside class, he saw Pogue walking toward him. Thankfully, Reid and Tyler were already inside, he wanted a chance to speak to his closest friend without the rest of their quartet around to overhear. Pogue gave him an easy smile that faded when he saw the serious expression on his face. Caleb nodded toward the far side of the hall. He followed him over to find out what had his friend so worried.
"Yesterday, during the race with Chase, I swear, I saw his eyes change. Next thing I know, I'm looking up at your ugly face." He gave his friend a half-smile to calm him. "Last night I felt the same power that I felt the other night. I think it's Chase."
Pogue slammed his fist into the wall. "I knew it. I knew that he was bad news."
"Calm down," Caleb whispered. "We don't have any proof. I need you to help me look at his records tonight after everyone's asleep. I have a date with Buffy. Meet me by the Administration Building after." He glanced up to see the girls coming down the hall. "We'll talk more later; don't say anything to the others."
"No, you don't understand. He's messing with Kate's head. She won't even talk to me. I tried to tell her that he was bad news and she threw me out." He swiped his hand through his long sandy blonde hair.
Kate walked up, wrapped her arms around Pogue's waist, pressing her front to his back. She leaned up on her toes to whisper in his ear. "I forgive you. But, you owe Buffy big time."
Strong arms pulled the pretty teen around to press her against a well-defined chest. Caleb smiled at his friends as they made up, then glanced over at his new almost girlfriend. That was a strange thought; was Buffy his girlfriend? Yes, yes she was. A huge smile spread across his face as he decided that he liked the sound of that, even if it was only inside his head. A sharp tug on his arm had him coming back down to Earth.
"What has you having a happy here in the hall?" Buffy's eyebrow was at a sharp angle as she tilted her head to look at him.
He grinned down at her. He couldn't help it, she looked so damn cute. "You," he said, before he leaned down to capture her lips.
She met him more than halfway for the kiss. "Okay," she chirped when he lifted his head. "I guess we better get inside before they send the sniffers out looking for us."
They were laughing as the walked into class. Buffy felt like everyone was watching them. She wondered how Caleb could stand it. It was like living inside a fishbowl. He must've read her mind because he leaned over to whisper in her ear. "You get used to it after a while." She gave him a soft smile as they separated to take their seats, mumbling to herself, "Not likely."
Class went as usual; the same catty remarks flew between the Sons and Aaron's little group, which the Hermione looking girl had joined, when someone interrupted with a note from the Provost's office.
The instructor read the note then looked up into the pit. "Chase, Provost Higgins wants to speak to you."
She watched the boy's face pale before he quickly pulled it together. Several people called out encouraging shouts of 'get 'em' and 'way to go.' She saw his nervousness, no matter how hard he tried to hide it. This was interesting, and she wanted to know what it was about. The Nurse's office was next to Provost's. That would work out just fine.
She turned to Kate. "Listen, I feel a migraine coming on. I'm going to the Nurse before it gets worse. Tell Caleb that I'll talk with him later and not to worry. If I can catch it in time, it won't be too bad." She gave the other girl a pained smile that didn't reach her eyes.
Kate searched Buffy's face, noticing the lines around her friend's eyes and mouth. It startled her at how quickly she had changed. "Oh, I'm so sorry. Don't worry about anything. Leave your stuff here and I'll take care of everything. My mom has those, and they're killer. Go, get meds and get better. I'll handle Caleb. Shoo." She motioned for the small blonde to leave with a wave of her hands.
She walked down the stadium steps toward the instructor, knowing that everyone was watching her. Some from concern, while others were just being nosy. She quietly whispered her request. Mr. Peterson kindly sent her on her way. Here she was standing in the hallway with note in hand. She turned to look both ways, then took off at a dead run. Chase had several minutes on her, but she was hoping that she hadn't missed anything too important. She skidded around the corner, catching onto a door to slow her momentum as she drew to a stop. She brushed her hands through her hair and straightened her clothes before entering the front offices.
Listening carefully, she heard Chase talking with Provost Higgins. The Nurse had her door closed, with a sign posted that she would return shortly. Perfect, Buffy thought as she looked around for somewhere to hide. She listened to Chase come up with some stupid cover story for why the Police found his driver's license in that dead student's car. Man, she had thought Sunnydale citizens were gullible. She rolled her eyes when she heard the Provost sing Chase's praises. This guy had everyone eating out of his hand, didn't he? She wondered what he would have done to her if she weren't supernaturally inclined. She shuddered just thinking about it.
The saw the nurse heading down the hall, and quickly sat down bowing her head. "Can I help you?" Her head came up slowly, as if it took great effort. She kept her eyelids hooded over her eyes, keeping the light out as much as possible. She handed the nurse her note, hoping that they would go into the adjacent office before Chase walked out. The nurse read it, then slipped an arm behind her back to help her from the chair. "You poor dear, migraines are the worse." The small blonde head shifted softly. A soft sigh escaped her lips as the office door closed just as the Provost's door opened.
Chase turned back to Provost Higgins, a charming smile plastered across his face. "Thank you, Provost, I'll do that." Closing the door, he started walking back to class. He barely contained his temper behind the carefully constructed facade he presented to Spencer Academy and Ipswich. He passed several teachers, who nodded and gave him friendly smiles, which he returned. Two days, just two more days, before he left Ipswich, with Caleb's power, of course. His fists clenched at his sides at the mere thought of the Danvers' heir and current leader of the Sons. He thought he was so much better than everyone else because he came from one of the original lines. Well, he wasn't the only one. Soon, he would learn. They would all learn.
Buffy pretended to nap as she watched Caleb from beneath her lashes. She wondered why he hadn't called off their date. He had barely said a word, making Oz seem chatty. His eyes held a haunted expression that she didn't like. She turned in the seat, placing a hand beneath her cheek. "Sometimes talking about it, helps," she said softly in the quiet car.
He didn't answer at first, and she wondered if he had even heard her. His shoulders sagged, releasing the tension that had held them upright. "There's some weird stuff going on, but I don't want to say anything until I'm sure what it is."
Turning to glance out the side window, he saw that it had started raining. The dreary weather matched his mood. He looked over to see Buffy curled in her seat and gave her a tentative smile. He hoped to find out something more concrete tonight, then he planned to tell her - everything. The thought startled him. It must have shown on his face because Buffy sat up and placed a hand on his leg.
"Caleb, are you sure that you're okay?"
He stopped the car at the dorms and pulled her into his arms. Burying his face in her neck, he breathed in her unique scent. It was a blend of smoked cedarwood, bergamot and amber. Caleb wasn't sure where she had found such a strange combination, but it suited her perfectly with its smokey undertones, clean citrus edge and the hint of mystery that the amber gave it. Pulling away far enough that he could see her face, he said, "I'm glad you're here, Buffy. With me, in Ipswich, now. I'm not saying this very well." His expressive eyes pleaded for her understanding.
She placed a finger over his lips, stopping his rambling. "Shush. You don't have to tell me anything that you don't want to. Everyone has secrets, Caleb, even me. When the time's right, when you have your answers, and you feel that it's the right thing to do, tell me then. Don't tell me because of this." She leaned forward, pulling him into a heated kiss full of passion. "Tell me because of this." Her lips returned to his in a tender caress, showing him the depth of her feelings. She pulled away with her emotions clear for him to see.
He cupped her cheek as he burned her face into his memory. "My friends wouldn't believe that I'm acting this way. I've always been the levelheaded one. The one that kept them out of trouble. Not that I didn't have any fun, but I always had to set an example. If you met my mom, you'd understand. She worries about me, doesn't want me to end up like my father." His eyes glazed over, remembering his father's decaying body.
Buffy lifted her hand to caress his cheek, bringing him out of his trance. "You're not your father. And, your mom pushing you to be perfect isn't going to make it happen. We can either learn from our parents' mistakes or copy them. It comes down to our choices in the end. Your choice, Caleb. You have to decide what you want, who you want to be and not let anyone stop you or take it from you. Hate to say it, but it's called growing up."
"Never thought about it that way before. How'd you get so smart?" He leaned down to kiss her nose.
She wrinkled it, then said, "My mom's idea of a perfect daughter and mine weren't the same. It caused some major problems for awhile, but we eventually worked it out."
"Much as I hate to let you go, you better head inside before you get caught past curfew." His head dipped down for another long, lingering kiss. "I'll see you in class tomorrow. Meet me at my car when school's over."
"Kay." She hugged him tightly. "Caleb, promise me that you'll be careful."
"I will."
He watched her leave the car and run through the rain toward the school. Pulling away, he headed over to meet Pogue and get some much-needed answers.
Pogue hid under the eaves, wondering when Caleb was going to show. He shook off the rain, glad that he had worn his heavier coat. His thoughts wandered over the signs that had led him to conclude that Chase wasn't what he pretended to be. The smooth answers and showing up everywhere they went had set off his warning signals.
"Oh, Pogue, are you sure that it's okay to meet here in the dark like this? What will people think?" Caleb said in a high falsetto.
Pogue punched him in the arm for startling him. "You jerk. What took you so long? Let me guess, you were busy, getting busy with Buffy. If I'd known that you were going to take this long, would've stopped by for a little one on one with my girl."
"Okay, I get it already. Let's get inside before the guard comes around to check the doors."
They entered the building, heading straight toward the records room. Pogue hunched over the doorknob as he finessed the lock tumblers. Caleb glared at him, but kept quiet until they were safely inside the room.
"You should've let me use. It was my idea to come here in the first place."
"Would you relax? Besides, I didn't use. I picked it. Everything doesn't have to be about the power." Pogue walked away, heading over to a long row of filing cabinets.
Caleb followed with a repentant expression. "Sorry, just that this whole thing has me wound up, you know? Whoever is doing this isn't giving me a break. Last night, I think he came into my room."
"Then let's stop talking and find what we came here for."
They each took a side and scanned the cabinets, searching for the Cs. Caleb pulled open the appropriate drawer. He started thumbing though the files. Grabbing Chase's file, he pulled it out and started to read. Pogue leaned over his shoulder, taking in the history of the boy they had welcomed to Ipswich. Their shock grew at what they read. Chase's parents had died in a car accident; more importantly, he wasn't Chase Collins. Papers buried deep in the files revealed that his real name was Pope, Chase Goodwin Pope.
They heard footsteps approaching the door, forcing them to hide where no one would look - up. Levitating up to the ceiling, they plastered their bodies against the white tiles, barely breathing from the fear of getting with the stolen papers still clutched in their hands. A security guard entered the room. He searched for anything out of place, then turned to leave. The boys relaxed their diligence, too soon. The guard turned back, walking back over to the file cabinets. A paper slipped from Pogue's fingers, and headed straight toward the guard, forcing Caleb to freeze it mid-air. The guard went over to the cabinet that they had searched. He studied it, saw a file sticking part way out, which was keeping the drawer from closing properly. He took out his light, looking around the room one last time, before readjusting the file and closing the drawer. Turning off his light, he started to whistle as he left the room, locking the door behind him.
They waited several long minutes to ensure the guard wouldn't come back before making their descent. They returned the paperwork exactly the way that they had found it, and left the room. When they entered the empty hallway, they ran as if hounds of hell were chasing them; perhaps they were. The boys finally slowed down when they reached the auditorium.
Caleb grabbed Pogue's arm, gasping for air as he tried to catch his breath. "We need to call the others. Have them meet us at the gathering. They need to know what's going on."
"Why? Let's go find him and take him out." Pogue pulled his arm away, anger evident in his movements.
"He's strong, Pogue. Think about it. His power woke us up from our sleep, dripping with sweat. He came into my room and I didn't even feel it until he left. We have to do this right. Use smart." He stood his ground, trying to get his best friend to see reason. Caleb knew that rushing off to come at Chase head on wasn't the way. In fact, he had a feeling that was exactly what the other boy wanted them to do.
"When are you going to quit being afraid of who you are? What if he decides to try what he pulled in the pool on someone else, huh? What if he tries his shit on Buffy, or Kate? Are you going to want to play it cool then, Caleb? What good is having this damn power if you're too afraid to use it?" Pogue screamed at him.
"I'm not afraid to use it, damn it. Don't pull that shit on me. I didn't say that I wasn't going to do anything, just that it should be all of us. It affects the Sons, not just me. Get everyone and meet me there, now." He shoved the other boy away, stalking from the building straight to his car.
Pogue heard tires squealing not soon after. "Damn it." He walked away, pulling his phone from jeans quickly dialing Reid and Tyler.
Buffy stared through the glass at Kate. She had received a call from the hospital, telling her that they had admitted the other girl. Rushing over, she found her friend covered in hives. The doctor said that she had anaphylactic shock from having an allergic reaction to something, probably an insect bite, possibly a spider. She asked to sit with her for a few minute and after using puppy dog eyes, and a little magical push, the doctor allowed her to enter Kate's room.
Turning her back to the window, she took Kate's hand while placing her other hand on the girl's fevered brow. She closed her eyes, then opened her mouth and inhaled. Her eyes flashed as she concentrated on pulling the evil from her friend's body. She continued to inhale until she thought that her lungs would explode. Finally, it started to work. The large, ugly, red boils that covered Kate's body slowly started to shrink. They turned from red to black, then began to march up her body. The spots gathered around her mouth, changing her lips and tongue into a black gaping hole. Suddenly, the hole started to move. A tiny spider scuttled out onto Kate's chin, where the vacuum that Buffy continued to draw with her breath pulled it across the few feet separating them. She inhaled harder, pulling a living stream of tiny spiders from Kate's mouth to hers. It was gross, but it was the only way to cure what Chase had done to her, unless he died or released her from the spell.
It was over. Kate's breathing returned to normal, and her complexion looked better already. She went to find the doctor. The hospital staff rushed in to witness the miracle recovery. She requested that Kate not have any other visitors tonight, except her boyfriend. Leaving Pogue's name and description with the front desk, which she found was unnecessary. The Sons' fame stretched beyond Ipswich.
Buffy had a feeling that she wasn't through for the night, stepping outside she disappeared.
Winding stairs led down to an underground cavern that provided the first layer of defense for the Sons.
"I told them everything; about the darkling, the pool and what we found tonight," Pogue explained to Caleb who was the last to arrive.
Candles sat on every smooth surface and gave off warm light. Hands had carefully laid bricks in ever tightening circles. At their center, a hand-carved spiral wound tightly, representing the oldest symbol of human spirituality. Caleb sat at its North, Pogue its South, and Reid and Tyler took the East and West positions respectively. When the Sons where seated, the flames flared to life, circling the inner most bricks before the spiral. Caleb's eyes flared red before turning a pure black. A large book standing on a nearby bookshelf slid from its place to float across the room and flip open. It hovered directly above the spiral. It was the Book of Damnation, cataloging the magical history of New England from the Covenant's inception. It had disappeared in 1725, and hadn't seen the light of day since.
"According to the Book, Goody Pope accused John Putnam of coming to her as incubus." The pages flipped, showing detailed drawings of people, trial accounts and the names of people who testified against John Putnam. "She gave birth to a son, Hagen, eleven months after she buried her husband. "
"If what you're saying is true, then the fifth bloodline didn't end in Salem," Tyler said.
"Then, Chase is one of us," Caleb said.
"No way," Reid said.
"The night we went to the Dells. Someone was using. The Power was strong enough to wake me. The next night, it happened again."
"I felt it too," Pogue said.
"Me too," Tyler said.
"When you said that it wasn't you, were you lying?" Caleb asked Reid, staring into his eyes as he waited for an answer.
"No." Reid looked him straight in the eye, his normally mischievous attitude gone.
"Do you swear?"
"I swear."
Before Caleb could say anything else, his phone rang. He answered it. Buffy's voice came across the line. "Can I call you back; I'm kinda in the middle of something?"
"It's Kate. They're taking her to Gloucester. They say it's bad." Her voice wavered. "It looks like she's been bitten by spiders. She's gone into shock...The other night I had a nightmare about spiders...I'm scared, Caleb…Something terrible is happening."
"Buffy, go to your dorm. I'll be there as soon as I can." He hung up the phone, turning to Pogue with worry and fear evident on his face. "He's put a spell on Kate."
"What're you talking about? What kind of spell?" Pogue jumped to his feet.
"Creation. Spiders. They're taking her to a hospital in Gloucester." Pogue was already heading for the steps. "Wait. Don't do anything stupid."
"It's Kate. I'll kill him." He sprinted up the stairs before Caleb could stop him.
Pogue pushed his motorcycle to go faster as he raced toward Gloucester. If he saw Chase Collins, he was a dead man. The speedometer hit 120, 130 then shot up to 140 as he hit a straightaway. His only thought was to get to Kate. A figure stepped onto the road several yards ahead. His eyes narrowed when he realized that it was Chase. He stopped the bike, staring at the man responsible for hurting his girlfriend.
"Oh, look it's the handsome prince, racing to rescue Little Miss Muffett. Too Late. The spider already sat beside her and frightened Miss Muffett away. All the way to Gloucester, straight into ICU, boo hoo, poor Miss Muffett. She really should be more careful who she teases. The world these days - it's full of nasty men." An evil smile spread across his face.
Pogue drove straight at him. When the other boy neared him, Chase put his hand out, stopping the motorcycle. He lifted Pogue and the bike over his head, slamming them onto the road. "Don't worry; I'm done with your rich bitch; moving on to hurting you." His eyes shifted to pure black as he bent down to where Pogue lay sprawled on the road. "You want to know why you've earned some special time with me? I want to make sure that Caleb's paying attention." Pogue's screams filled the night air. Chase walked away, leaving a prone body lying on the road.
Buffy reappeared in her dorm room. She smiled; this world's magic was pretty cool. Well, her version of it was anyway. Thank goodness, she didn't have to worry about the whole aging thing; that part sucked, big time. Why would anyone agree to a pact for a power that when used, used up the user's body? Didn't anyone read the fine print any more?
She knew that time was running out, and hoped that Caleb was strong enough to stand up to Chase. Sitting on her bed, she opened her hand where a small spider sat, waiting. She lifted it up to face level. Her eyes gazed into the black creature's set of four. Eight spindly legs skittered across her palm, coming closer to her face. Tilting her head as if she could hear what the tiny arachnid was saying, a cunning smile spread across her lips.
"Thank you," she whispered, bending down to release the mystical helper when a knock sounded at the door. "Scamper off, I might need you later."
The spider ran across the floor, disappearing into the shadows. Buffy found Caleb standing behind the door when she opened it. He walked in without saying a word. Keeping his head bowed, he sat down on her bed, then buried his head in his hands. She brushed the hair away from his forehead.
"Caleb, what's going on? You look terrible."
"How's Kate? Have you heard from Pogue?"
"No," she replied, when a knock at the door interrupted her. "Maybe that's him now."
She rushed over to answer it. Her jaw fell open at what she saw. Standing outside her door, looking as if the world was ending was - Caleb. She turned back around to look at the Caleb on her bed when the world faded to black.
Caleb watched in horror as Buffy turned away from him to stare at his double. His double morphed into Chase, then Buffy disappeared only to reappear on the bed. She lay there still as death, held under a spell of Chase's making. His anger pulled him into the room, slamming the door behind him.
"Leave her alone. She doesn't have anything to do with this." He started forward, intent on separating her from the threat.
Chase waved his hand, sending Caleb flying into the wall. "Imagine how I felt when the change started. I didn't have the advantages that you did. My parents didn't bring me up understanding my heritage." His fingers caressed Buffy's cheek, before looking back at Caleb with a Cheshire cat grin. "Until I found my real father, who explained it to me. But, it was too late, I was hooked."
Caleb tried to push his power out at him. With a flick of his wrist, Chase sent him back into the air. He held him against the ceiling before scooting him back toward the wall. Slamming him against that barrier, then pulling him down it at a fast rate straight at the hard floor. His body flew about the room like a rag doll, discarded by an angry child. Using more power, Chase's hands made a batting motion that sent him shooting across the floor, stopping only when he hit the bathroom sink.
Chase walked over to stand above the crumpled boy. He put his feet on either side of the prone body on the floor. "He willed me his power before he died, happy to know that I'd make you pay."
"What do you want?" Caleb asked, forcing the pain away.
"I'm Chase Collins. I have everything that I want," he said, a sneer marring his handsome face. He bent down, his face close to Caleb's, looking almost as if he would kiss him. "It's about what I need. See, what they say about the power, it's true. It's addictive, but the side effects suck. Still I won't give it up. With the power that my father gave me, and yours Caleb, I won't have to worry about that. See, you're going to will me your powers tomorrow."
"Why would I do that?"
"For her, for your family, for the Sons. You wouldn't want them to have an accident, would you? I'm so good at accidents."
"You killed your parents."
"And, it was so easy. I'll kill everyone that you care about, Caleb. If you don't will me your power tomorrow after you ascend, that's exactly what I'll do."
He waved a hand toward Buffy. Her tan complexion paled as blue veins spidered across the skin, withering it away with decay. Caleb's eyes widened with dismay as he watched the spell take hold. He turned back to the caster, his eyes turning black with anger.
"You're killing her. Stop it."
"That's your job."
"Why do you want my powers? You already have plenty of your own."
"Takes a lot out of me. Yours will give me that added little boost I need."
"It won't stop the aging. I'm sure that your father found that out"
"He never had the kind of power that I have."
"It's the body that gives out, not the power."
"Shut up." Chase slammed him back against the floor, and then turned around, heading for the door. "Be at the Putnam Barn at eleven o'clock, just think of it old home week."
"Don't leave her that way."
He stopped at the door, allowing his eyes to flare black, but never even turned in Buffy's direction. The damage to her skin faded and the healthy color returned.
Caleb got up and hobbled over to the bed. A sigh of relief escaped his lips when he saw Buffy's eyelids flutter open. She smiled up at him, then her lips turned down when she remembered.
"What happened?"
"You fainted. It must have been from worrying over Kate," he supplied, hoping that she would believe him.
Her frown became more pronounced. "Don't lie to me, Caleb. I remember seeing two of you, then feeling trapped inside my body, screaming to get out. What's going on? What was Chase doing here? I thought that you were meeting Pogue, then coming to talk to me." Her eyes narrowed as another piece fell into place. "How did you know about Kate?"
His brows drew together, creating a line across his forehead. Her question confused him. He remembered the way her voice trembled when she told him about Kate and her nightmares. "You called me earlier to tell me about the doctors sending Kate to the Gloucester Hospital; that she had an allergic reaction to something, and that they said it looked like spider bites. Pogue went racing over there to see her."
Buffy scooted up into a sitting position. "I didn't call you, Caleb. Kate had an allergic reaction to something, but she's fine. They're keeping her overnight for observation at Ipswich Memorial. I thought about calling you, then decided to wait. I didn't want to bother you unless it was an emergency. After the doctors said that she was going to be okay, I was glad that I'd waited."
He opened his mouth to speak when his phone rang. It was Reid. Pogue had an accident and was in ICU at Gloucester. Caleb glanced at Buffy. Her expressive hazel eyes watching him as he listened to Reid explain Pogue's injuries. She hadn't called him. Unwilling to fall for another of Chase's tricks, he waited for 'Reid' to stop talking.
"Reid, when we were in second grade you got detention for hiding Mrs. Johnson's erasers. Where did you hide them?" The line went silent for several long minutes. He felt his heartbeat increase as he waited for the answer.
"Are you shitting me? Pogue's hurt and you want to skip down memory lane. Whatever, Caleb. I hid them in the toilet tank in the girl's bathroom. Happy, now? Are you coming or not?"
"Be there as soon as I can." He snapped the phone closed and went back over to the woman-child on the bed. "Come with me to see Pogue, after I'm sure that he's all right, I want to take you somewhere." He saw the protest forming on her lips. "After you see, I'll explain everything. I promise."
Scooting off the bed, she stood, bringing her body into alignment with his. He had turned to leave when she stopped him with a gentle touch. He stared at her hand where it lay so small against his sleeve. His eyes came up to peer into hers, searching for a lighthouse in a storm. She gave him a soft smile that he returned. Her hand slipped around his waist, encompassing him in her warmth. His eyes closed as he took the comfort she offered him. She stepped back, knowing that now wasn't the time for an emotional outpouring, but she wanted him to know that she understood. Slipping her hand into his, they walked out to face their newest challenge.
Pogue lay still and bruised with an IV dripping medicine into his arm while machines monitored his life signs. Reid and Tyler stood outside the door stopping anyone from entering. They monitored everyone with their powers thrown open, uncaring about any personal consequences. Caleb saw them and couldn't help but smile when he watched them give him the same scrutiny. They nodded, stepping aside as he walked inside going straight to Pogue's side. He took his best friend's hand as waves of guilt swept over him.
"What happened? What did he do to you?" he whispered, jumping back when Pogue grabbed his hand.
"Caleb." Pogue's voice was barely more than a pained moan. He winced when he tried to pull himself upright.
"Whoa, stay down. It's okay. Don't try to talk."
"Chase's too powerful. Don't face him alone."
Caleb laid the injured boy back onto the pillow. Pushing out a small amount of power, he watched Pogue slip into a healing sleep. He left the room, stepping out to where Reid and Tyler were waiting.
"I'm ready to help take out Chase. Say the word," Reid said as soon as the door closed behind him.
"Thanks, Reid. But, right now, I need you guys to stay here with Pogue." He watched the anger flare higher in the white haired boy's eyes. He glanced over to the youngest Son, who simply nodded at him. Tyler was the baby of their group, but he was also level headed and saw things the way they were. "Meet me at the house tomorrow. I'll explain what needs to happen."
Buffy waited for Caleb while he checked on Pogue. She sat patiently, knowing that everything was about to come to a climax. Her agreement with the Powers had forced her to bite her tongue on several occasions. Hopefully, when or if he confided in her, they would allow her to do the same. She heard him coming down the hall and went to meet him halfway. Seeing the pain and guilt that he felt for Pogue's accident, her hand automatically slipped into his, giving it a reassuring squeeze.
"It's not your fault that he got in an accident; that's why they're called accidents, Caleb."
"I want to show you something, then you might not say that."
She didn't say a word as he drove them out to the Danvers' homestead. Turning the car off, he stared out the front window, lost in thought. He glanced over at her, admiring her profile, with the moonlight shining on her hair. Knowing that he couldn't put this off any longer, he opened his car door, then went around to open hers. He guided her into the old house, quietly taking the stairs up to the top story. They entered a room with a fire blazing in the fireplace and medicine bottles covering every surface. A lone chair sat before the fire facing away from the door. They had started walking across the room toward the chair, when the caretaker blocked their way.
"What are you doing here? This is no business of hers!"
"This is important to me, Gorman."
Caleb gave the older man a pleading look. The caretaker stepped aside, letting them proceed. He led her over to the chair, stopping just before she could see who was sitting there. He then pulled her around to stand beside him. "This is my father, James Danvers III." Sitting in the chair was a man ravaged by the harshness of old age. His hands lay prone on the arms, gnarled with arthritis, the nails long and claw-like. His face was bloated from the IV fluids that fed him, but they couldn't fill the multitude of wrinkles that caused his lids and cheeks to droop. "He's 44 years old."
She knew that Caleb expected his father's appearance to shock her. She hated to disappoint him, but Mr. Danvers didn't even score a one on the Sunnydale eww scale. She stared into the poor man's eyes as he tried to smile at her. His powers had ravished his body to such an extent that he could barely lift the corners of his lips, but his eyes gleamed with joy that his son had brought a visitor to see him. She understood what he couldn't say. He hated what he was, and that he would never leave the prison of his own making. She dropped Caleb's hand, stepping around him to kneel beside his father. Placing a gentle hand on the paper-thin knee, she stared up into the cloudy eyes.
Can you hear me? His eyes brightened with the mind that was still very much alive. I'm here to help your son. To help all the Sons, if they let me. You've made your choices and will have to pay the price, but Caleb won't, if you're willing to stand strong.
What must I do? Something threatens him; I can feel it.
You're right. I knew that there was a chance that you might feel Chase use. He wants Caleb's powers after he ascends.
No, it will kill him. I'll give him my powers. I've hardly been a father to Caleb. But, I can do this for him.
That's what I was afraid that you'd want to do. Thinking Momma Bear might try to guilt you into it, if you didn't come up with it on your own. Caleb says she's pretty protective of him. She's trying to keep him from following in your footsteps. She watched the pain cloud his eyes. Sorry.
Evelyn is a good woman. I loved her, love her still. I just didn't love her more than the power. She's trying to keep our son from becoming this.
I understand. Whatever you do, don't listen to her or will Caleb your power. The Powers sent me here to stop Chase for that very reason. No one is meant to have that much power.
The Powers.
She heard his mental gasp. Fear for his son came at her in waves. Yes, and if you will Caleb your powers, then he becomes their next target. I promise that I won't let anything happen to him. There's even a possibility of a happy ending, but it's too soon to tell. It depends on Caleb's choices. Same goes for the other Sons.
Caleb wasn't sure what he expected. It certainly wasn't this. Buffy had surprised him as he watched her and his father silently communicate. She suddenly stood up and bent to place a soft kiss on the old man's wrinkled forehead. His eyes widened with shock at the simple act. Though he loved his father and visited him often, he had never willingly touched him.
She turned toward Caleb, giving him a soft smile. "We should leave so that your father can rest."
He led her back outside where they leaned against the car as he explained about the Damnation, the Covenant of Silence and finally Chase; that he was a Son from the lost line and why he came to Ipswich.
"What are you going to do?" She searched his face, praying that he'd confide in her.
"Whatever's needed to keep you and everyone else safe," he said. His jaw clenched with anger at the thought of Chase hurting the people that he cared about. His head fell back as if his thoughts grew to heavy for his neck to hold it up any longer. He stared up at the full moon for several pregnant moments.
"Caleb, sometimes you have to know when to ask for help," she said softly, moving closer to place a hand on his face, forcing him to look at her. "You're not alone in this, even if it feels that way."
They rode back to her dorm in silence. She wished that he'd say something, anything about what he planned to do. She understood what it felt like to have others' lives depending on your decisions. The problem she faced was that she still couldn't tell him about who and what she was. Damn the Powers.
Today was the day. Buffy lay in bed trying to see today's events from every angle. She had to depend on everything coming together just right. What were the chances of that happening? Slim to none by Sunnydale standards, she smiled as she got out of bed. Ipswich wasn't Sunnydale. It not sitting on a Hellmouth, ranking right up there at the top. It was nice to have a few cards up her sleeve, for once, that the bad guys didn't know about. That she was Secret Identity Girl once again sucked beyond belief. She hadn't done a great job at it the last time around. There was a lot more at stake than her friends learning about things that go bump in the night. If she told Caleb anything before getting a thumbs up from the Powers, they could renege on their agreements. There was no way that she was about to let that happen.
She answered her phone, unsurprised to see Caleb's name flash across the screen. "Good morning."
"How are you?"
His warm voice came across the line, bringing the smile back to her lips. She crossed over to the closet to pull her uniform off a hanger. Her lips pursed into an indignant mew as she tossed it onto the bed.
"I'm fine. Did you talk to your mom?" The heavy silence on the phone was all the answer she needed. "She loves you, Caleb. Of course, she's worried about you; you're stronger than you think, than either of you thinks. Do what you know is right and everything else will fall into place. You have to believe in yourself, Caleb."
"Thanks. I needed to hear that. Buffy, when this is over," he started to say.
"Shush, Caleb, we'll have plenty of time to talk after Chase's taken care of. I want you to know that I'm glad that I came here. That I met you, no matter what happens. I'll see you in class. Be careful."
Caleb waited downstairs in the Danvers' family mansion, wearing formal attire, with the exception of a coat, looking quite handsome as he rocked back on his heels. His mother hovered in the background, a worried frown creasing her still pretty face, while Reid and Tyler stood across the room talking quietly. They had decided to go to the Back to School dance. Hoping that with the two boys guarding Buffy, they'd find safety in the middle of a crowd. Surely even Chase wouldn't try anything in so public a venue. He hoped.
All coherent thought left his head when he glanced up and caught sight of Buffy coming down the stairs. She wore a cream satin dress that hugged her petite frame, leaving no doubt that she was all woman. Her hips swayed seductively against the smooth material. Every male eye was immediately drawn to a feminine lure older than time. Hazel eyes sought chocolate brown. Two young hearts beat together as they enjoyed a single moment carved from a night, the outcome of which might tear them apart.
Her steps stopped when she stood toe to toe with him. "You look nice," she whispered.
His smiled lit his entire face. "You're beautiful." Reaching out, he pulled her close, ignoring his mother's disapproving looks. His lips caught hers in a soft, bittersweet kiss. "Go stand by the guys. I have to talk with my mother."
She nodded and started across the room when Evelyn Danvers stopped her. "You look beautiful tonight, my dear. Treat him well." The regal matriarch eyed her son and waited for him to come to her. "She's lovely; Caleb, but you shouldn't have brought her into this." Her dark eyes so like her son's had a hard uncompromising edge to them that expected his compliance.
"This is my life, my decision, Mother, and Buffy's important to me. She had a right to know what was happening, especially, since it threatens her life too."
Evelyn hesitated, unused to her son speaking to her this way. She had known that this day would come. The need to protect him from his father's mistakes haunted her every waking moment. Caleb was the best part of James and her. She couldn't lose him, not after losing his father, not after everything that she had lived through.
"It's time," Caleb announced. All eyes turned to him. "We need to leave for the dance."
They started toward the front door. He met Buffy across the room, grabbing her hand and pulling her close. He wrapped an arm around her slim waist as they walked out into the crisp night air. Mrs. Danvers stepped onto the front porch to wave as the others continued on to their cars. The younger Sons climbed into Tyler's truck, while Buffy and Caleb stood to the side. They stared into each others' eyes, foreheads pressed together, with their lips almost touching.
"I want to go with you," she whispered. Her lower lip fell into its infamous pout.
He brought a finger up to trace the plump, tempting treasure. "If you're safe, then I can face whatever Chase throws at me. Please, just stay with Reid and Tyler."
"Fine, I'll go with them, but you so owe me." Her hands smoothed the dress against her body. "I'm all dressed up and my boyfriend's sending me off for other boys to ogle. You're the one that I wanted ogling me, maybe even trying to cop a feel." She gave him a naughty smile. A bark of laughter escaped his lips. "That's better. Don't go into a fight thinking that you're going to lose. It's the best way to do just that. Now, give me something to keep my mind off worrying over you all night."
His strong fingers wrapped around her slender arms, pulling her body flush against his own. She leaned into him. Their lips met in a heated kiss that left their bodies hungering for more.