Staring at his ceiling, Caleb was going over everything that happened at Helene Stone's house. He couldn't shake the strange glow that shone in her and her niece's eyes from his mind. It was peculiar and flickering, like a cluster of candles in the evening wind; it was nothing like when Caleb or the others would use their powers.

Tossing and turning, Caleb tried without success to find sleep. Not knowing what kind of powers they had made him nervous. What were they capable of? Were they stronger then them? Was he stepping into a web, into a new world he didn't understand? Although he didn't feel like he was, Caleb pondered the very real possibility he was getting himself into a dangerous situation.

Somewhere in the deep of night, Caleb had finally managed to fall asleep, bringing in his slumber the events of the day.

He was running, running because his life depended on it. Something was after him, chasing him. He stopped, feet suddenly on the edge of an infinite abyss, black like a starless and moonless night. Even at the end of the world I'm not safe.

He turned around. A snake, gold and bright, slowly slithered towards him, tongue flickering and eyes red like rubies. It looked at Caleb and its voice boomed.

"When the moon rises black and blood fire stars rain down from the heavens, you will see. Beware, beware… It has begun." The voice was deep and guttural, like grinding stones, and the ground shook as the snake spoke.

Before Caleb could ask anything, a spear impaled the snake. An axe cut its mighty cry short and beheaded the golden creature.

Caleb shot up from his bed, covered in sweat. Outside, the sun had risen and the birds were singing happy tunes. Ruffling his hair with both hands, Caleb tried to shake off his dream. Thinking a shower would help him wake up, Caleb went to the bathroom.

Steam poured out as he opened the bathroom door. Caleb, once dressed, sat behind his computer. Much to his surprise, he had received an email from Tyler during the night.

Hey guys,

I'm coming home soon. There's a lot we need to talk about. I would tell you more, but it's not the kind of things that should be written down.

Stay safe and be careful,

Tyler

Caleb furrowed his brow at the cryptic message. His gut was telling him something dark was on the horizon for the Sons of Ipswich. You have quite the journey ahead of you. The crone's words echoed in his head, like the tolling of a distant bell. He thought about his dream and what he had seen in his cup, the dying snake. Before he could continue his reverie any longer, his phone rang loudly.

"Did you see Tyler's email?" Came Pogue's concerned voice.

"Yeah I just did… Do you have any idea what he's talking about?"

"Your guess is as good as mine." Pogue sighed.

There was a long silence.

"I feel like we're all falling apart." Pogue finally said, voice barely above a whisper. "I'm worried for everyone."

Caleb let out his breath and softly shook his head.

"We'll be fine, Pogue. We always pull through." Caleb licked his lips "We're just going through a rough patch, I guess."

"Can you really say for certain? Reid, you, now Tyler?"

"Pogue, I'm fine. I'm taking care of my things. Don't worry about me."

"I just… I'm afraid of losing you." He breathed.

"I'm doing what I am to avoid that from happening. You have to trust me when I say I know what I'm doing." Caleb had difficulty believeing what he said but he hoped Pogue would swallow his words without question. I have no idea what I'm getting into Caleb though, feeling strange that for once he wasn't fully in control. He had always been, and he had always seen himself as the one with the plan.

Pogue sighed and Caleb could tell he was agitated. He hated having this distance between them but at the same time he couldn't bear to visit Ipswich more than once or twice a year. He didn't think it was fair to force Pogue to drive down to see him all the time either. But he would be lying if he said he didn't miss the 'good old days' when they would swim together or race down the country roads, him in his mustang and Pogue on his motorcycle.

"I actually have something important to tell you." Caleb continued "I think I… I think I found other people with… abilities."

The line went quiet for too long and Caleb got anxious.

"Pogue? Did you hear what I said?"

"Are you sure?"

"Pretty sure. You know the researcher I told you about? Helene Stone? I visited her yesterday and… She knew about us."

"What?" Pogue exclaimed.

"I'm telling you Pogue, she knew things she shouldn't. Before you say anything, just hear me out. She made me read my tea leaves." Caleb heard Pogue sigh but continued "I know you don't believe it, hell I didn't either before I went there. And her niece read my palm-"

"And then they asked for money and had you on your way." Pogue sneered. Parlor tricks and carnivals, he thought darkly.

"She told me about the white stag I saw the night I went drunk driving after… Sarah. Pogue, there's no way she could've known about it. I'm telling you, they're real. When have I ever been wrong about these kinds of things?"

"Never." Pogue conceded after a few moments.

"She told me she could help me. But… she also told me that I had hardships waiting. I wonder if it has anything to do with Tyler's email." Caleb said, the last part more of a thought that slipped his mouth than something he intended Pogue to hear.

"If they really have powers, I want to meet them." Before Caleb protested or had a chance to say anything, Pogue carried on "All our lives we grew up thinking we were the last ones, the only ones. I need to see them and talk to them."

"Next time I go, I'll ask them when you can come and visit."

"When will that be?"

"As soon as I'm done with university. A week or so?"

"Sounds good. I guess I'll see you then."

Caleb agreed and they ended their conversation. Staring silently at the ceiling, he couldn't help his thoughts from racing back to his dream. What did it mean? The question burned in his head. Without a doubt, she would be able to tell him what it meant. He just had to hold on for a week.

Stepping out of the exam room, Caleb didn't feel the usual rush satisfaction from having succeeded. All his thoughts were preoccupied by visiting Helene Stone again. Sitting behind the wheel, Caleb fought the urge to peel out of the parking lot, leaving nothing behind but tire screeches and smoke.

Eyes darting left and right, Caleb drove along the country roads as fast as he could. He wondered if she would have found anything, if she would have an answer for him.

Pulling up to the gated mansion, Caleb stepped out of his car and made his way to the front door. After straightening his shirt, he knocked loudly. He waited but no answer came. He knocked once more, slightly nervous.

"In the garden!" He heard Sibyl call out to him from behind the massive house.

Using a small dirt path, Caleb made his way to the garden. Sibyl was kneeling in front of a thorny bush, back turned to him, and the first thing he noticed about her was her massive sun hat. It was weaved from straw, drooping slightly near it's edges and went over her shoulders, shading most of her body. A white ribbon dangled off the back side, losing itself in the white of her dress. This explains her skin, Caleb thought as he neared her.

"I hope I'm not intruding on anything. I didn't know how to reach you."

"Don't worry about it, Helene knew you were coming. She actually took a nap in order to be fresh for you. I guess you arrived earlier than she anticipated though because she's still sleeping." Sibyl laughed as she struggled with a stubborn branch.

"Do you need any help?" He asked as he kneeled next to her.

Sibyl shook her head.

"I wouldn't want you to prick yourself. The branches are quite treacherous." She replied.

As if to prove her point, Sibyl let out a small cry and jerked her hand back. In the palm of her hand, Caleb could see a trail of small but seemingly deep lacerations and blood starting to ooze. Sibyl sighed and shook her head; the brim of her hat softly grazed Caleb's shoulder.

"This hasn't happened in a while." She said, the strange light appeared in the pit of her blue eyes.

Ignoring the blood and her injury, Sibyl grabbed the branch again and yanked on it forcefully. The branch finally came loose and, satisfied, she stood up.

"Is your hand ok?" Caleb asked as he followed her back to the house.

"Oh, don't worry about it. It's barely a prick." She answered with a smile.

Caleb frowned slightly; although he had only glanced at it, it seemed more than just a 'prick'.

When they entered through the kitchen's backdoor, Sibyl hung her hat and placed the barbed branch on the island counter. She washed her hands and motioned for him to sit down on one of the stools.

"I'll go check to see if she's awake. I'll be right back." She stated as she cupped her injured hand.

When she left the room, Caleb let his eyes wander liberally around the kitchen. The floor was made of neatly lined yellow stone slabs and the walls were painted a matching hue of beige. The island, massive and in the center of the room, was covered with the same yellow stone as the floor. All the other counters lining the walls seemed to be overflowing with books, dried herbs and various cooking-related paraphernalia. The wood burning stove, old fashioned and made entirely of iron, had a massive copper pot resting on it. Caleb couldn't recall the last time he had seen a similar stove in a working kitchen; he had only seen them in antique shops and as decorations.

Caleb was pulled back to reality when Sibyl entered the kitchen.

"She's still sleeping, but I think she'll wake up soon."

Caleb nodded and fixed his gaze on Sibyl. She was busying herself, riffling through the many dried bouquets on the counters.

"You do a lot of gardening?"

"Gardening, cooking, cleaning, you name it." She chimed.

She threw some dried leaves in a black stone mortar and pestle and started grinding. Her black curls bounced and swayed as she looked up at Caleb, eyes shining.

"But I like doing it. My aunt has taught me so much along the years, I almost feel like I still owe her at the end of the day, you know?" She smiled. She grabbed a dark brown oblong bottle and poured a few drops in her mortar.

"What kinds of things did you learn here?" Caleb ventured.

He wanted to know exactly what they were capable of but knew it wasn't the kind of question he could spring on them.

"All sorts of things." She answered slowly, a playful grin on her lips.

She's toying with me, Caleb thought as he swallowed with difficulty, she knows what I want to know. He straightened himself in his seat. Sibyl smeared some of her paste in the palm on her injured hand. Lowering her head, she muttered something under her breath. The kitchen seemed to go silent for a few moments and Caleb felt a familiar shiver in the pit of his stomach. She wiped away the paste from her palm and walked over to him.

"See? I told you it was nothing." She said mischievously as she showed him her hand.

Her palm had nothing in them, not even the hint of a prick. Caleb snapped his head up and stared her straight in the eyes. She just used magic, he thought feverishly. Her eyes, still shining bright with those strange lights, held his gaze. She had answered his question; he knew then, without a doubt, they wielded magic. It didn't seem to be the exact same kinds of powers he and the other Sons of Ipswich had but it was undeniable.

"What kinds of things did your family teach you?" She asked, eyes still firmly planted into his. It's her turn to get answers, Caleb thought.

"I can move things without touching them, I can set things on fire without matches… I can feel when things happen." He said as he averted his gaze.

He felt suddenly so vulnerable in front of the niece. When he had told Sarah about his powers, he knew and trusted her. But now… he felt he was baring himself to a total stranger. He felt relieved but also exposed, at the mercy of the strange woman he barely knew.

Sibyl opened her mouth to speak but the ringing of a bell commanded her attention.

"Looks like my aunt just woke up. I'll take you to her now."

Caleb wanted to protest; he wanted to talk to her. It was only the second time in his life he told someone other than his family or his fellow warlocks about his powers and felt like he needed an answer, a reaction, anything. Caleb wanted to speak, wanted to tell Sibyl he needed just a few more words with her but he kept quiet all the way to Helene's room. When he entered, Sibyl gently brushed her fingers on his arm.

"I'll be in the kitchen if you want to speak after." She whispered.

Caleb turned to look at her but she had already closed the door and he could hear her footsteps receding in the hallway.

"Well, seems you have arrived earlier than I expected." Helene croaked as she sat up in her bed.

Caleb walked towards her and sat down on a chair at her bedside. Lace curtains streamed down from the carved bedposts. With a sinewy hand, Helene pulled them back to see Caleb clearly.

"So tell me, what brings you here today?" She asked, placing her hand back on her oxygen mask.

"Well I wanted to know if you had made any progress concerning my… question."

"And?" She prodded with that glint appearing in her eyes.

"I had a dream… Unlike any other dream I've ever had before."

"Ah yes. Dreams. So many people listen to them when they shouldn't… and the few that actually should rarely do." She said wistfully "What did you dream about?"

Caleb let his breath out slowly and closed his eyes, conjuring up the images of his dream.

"I was running away from something. And I ended up on the edge of a cliff. When I turned I saw a golden snake with red eyes."

"Yes?" Helene said with bated breath, edging closer to Caleb as he spoke.

"It spoke to me and his voice made the earth shake. But then… A spear pierced him and, as he was screaming, an axe cut off his head." Caleb talked slowly, eyebrows softly knitted.

"What did it say? What did the snake tell you?" She asked anxiously.

"'When the moon rises black and blood fire stars rain down from the heavens, you will see. Beware, beware… It has begun'." The words were burned into his head and he recited them as if they were the lyrics to his favorite song or a prayer he had rehearsed all his life. He opened his eyes slowly to see the crone staring at him penetratingly, eyes slightly narrowed.

"My boy, my dear, sweet boy…" she said shaking her head gently. Caleb swallowed and felt a shiver run down his spine.

"What does it mean?" he questioned. He could feel the pit of his stomach grow cold.

"It means something is coming for you." She said with sad eyes. "For all of us." She added so softly Caleb didn't hear.

"Am I in danger?" Caleb inquired, thinking back at Tyler's email. Maybe he knew, he thought darkly.

Helene let out a long drawn out sigh and moved under her blankets.

"Not yet. Here, be a good boy and pass me that box on my dresser." She commanded.

The box, made of metal and heavier than he anticipated, smelled strongly of so many different fragrances it made Caleb's head spin. He placed it next to the crone and sat back down. With both hands, Helene browsed through the box. She finally pulled out a golden medallion and held it in the faint light of her bedside lamp. It was round and had eight lines starting from the center and ending in three-pronged branches near the damaged edges. It looked old and worn, with chipped edges, dents and scratches covering most of its surface.

"I'm going to need a little bit of your blood, my boy." She reached out to grab his hand.

Caleb's frown deepened slightly.

"Don't worry, I won't steal your soul." She joked as he finally gave her his hand.

She pressed the amulet into his palm and Caleb felt something sting him. She muttered something under her breath and ran her wiry hands along Caleb's forehand. He felt the same shiver in his stomach as before.

"Keep this on you at all times. It will help keep you safe." She spoke as she closed his fingers around the medallion.

Caleb pulled the chain around his neck out from under his shirt and added the amulet to it. He could feel a slight amount of heat emanating from the medallion as it rested against his chest.

"As for your request… You need to understand, it will take time." Helene noted the subtle disappointment that shone in Caleb's eyes. "Don't worry, I will help you the best I can."

Caleb nodded and forced a small smile.

"We need to look out for one another. Especially in these trying times." She murmured as she breathed in her oxygen mask.

Both sat quietly for a short while, the wind blowing through the trees and the crow's caw breaking the silence occasionally. Finally, Caleb spoke up.

"Another Son of Ipswich would like to meet you. I wanted to ask your permission before bringing him here." Caleb asked hesitantly.

"I would sure enjoy meeting him." Helene said with a peculiar grin stretching her thin lips "But for now, I think I'm going to rest some more. If I'm not mistaken my niece is waiting for you in the kitchen."

Caleb nodded and walked to the door after thanking the crone for the amulet. As soon as he laid his hand on the knob, she spoke again.

"Don't be a stranger, my boy. Come around as often as you like."

With a smile, Caleb bowed his head and left the room. Now knowing his way around the house a little better, he had no trouble making his way to the kitchen.

Sibyl was sitting at the island counter, slowly picking out the thorns from the branch she had brought in earlier. Caleb sat down next to her in silence.

"We didn't have a chance to really talk, have we?" She started as she plucked another spike carefully.

Caleb straightened himself on his stool; he could feel his shoulders tensing up.

"I know why you're here. Helene told me. I can't imagine what it must be like to have The Power inside you. She said it was like a drug, and you can get addicted to it." she continued, her voice slow and reassuring.

Finally looking up at Caleb, Sibyl tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

"It mustn't have been an easy decision, but I can see why you'd want to do it."

Caleb nodded and looked away.

"Like all tough decisions, I had to lose something very dear to me before realising I had to do it." He explained, his eyes sad and lost in some distant memory of her smile.

Sibyl looked at him with sympathy, her brows raised and a sad smile on her lips.

"Life is a cycle of loss and grief… but also of discovery and joy. It's a big wheel that never stops turning." She said as she inched closer "Remember this when everything seems dark. Things will change."

There was a brief silence as Sibyl returned her attention to her task. When she was done, she turned to Caleb and smiled.

"I see my aunt gave you a protection amulet. If I were you I would keep it close." Reaching out, Sibyl placed her palm against the amulet hidden under his shirt and closed her eyes.

Caleb stood motionlessly, looking down at her. Her dark hair, framing her heart-shaped face delicately, swayed as a small breeze blew through the kitchen. After a short while, she took her hand back and fluttered her eyes open.

"It's a strong one too." Her voice sounded slightly worried.

She got up and walked to the stove, her back turned to Caleb. She placed a hand on her hip and the other on her forehead.

"Are you alright?" Caleb asked, eyebrows furrowed, as he took a few steps towards her.

She turned for him to see her face, her mouth opened as if to talk. She closed it with a short sigh and shook her head softly.

"I just… I'm starting to be worried. I've been having strange nightmares recently and now this… It's not some generic protection trinket you're wearing, Caleb. It's a powerful enchantment meant to protect you from an oncoming threat. The fact that my aunt would make one and give it to you… It's disturbing."

Caleb swallowed with difficulty; he could feel sweat beading on his back as all his muscle tensed up. He thought back at Tyler and his warning to all the Sons of Ipswich. We really need to have a long talk… And I really need to bring them here.

"I fear something is after us." She whispered darkly.

Caleb, shocked, stood absolutely still. Caleb wanted to reassure her, tell her she was worrying about nothing, but he knew he would be lying.

"I know this is all new you to you, meeting us, seeing our powers, but we need to stick together. I don't think it was chance that brought you to us."

Caleb nodded. He thought the same thing; he couldn't ignore the coincidence of meeting Stone and her niece just as strange things started happening.

"One of my friend, a Son of Ipswich, sent us an e-mail telling us he had something important to tell us. I have a feeling it's related to what we're both feeling."

Seemingly calmer, Sibyl started busying herself over the stove. With a long metal poker, she stirred the embers awake and tossed a few logs in the oven. Caleb felt within seconds a gentle wave of heat envelop him as the smell of vegetable soup filled the air with warmth and comfort. He wondered if Sibyl had placed a spell over the meal, wondered if they could be capable of that.

"If your friend knows anything about what is going on, I would like to meet him. Do you think he would mind coming over?"

Caleb took another step closer and stood next to her. She kept her eyes on the content of her pot, a hand still resting on her hip and gently mixing the soup with a large wooden ladle with her other hand. Her eyes were distant, focused on some internal dilemma. The strange glow still shone in her blue eyes albeit dimly, almost invisible to anyone who didn't know to look for it. Caleb licked his lips before answering her question.

"I actually wanted to bring all the Sons here. I think we should all meet and talk about… everything."

Sibyl stopped stirring the pot and turned to look at him silently. For a moment, Caleb feared he shouldn't have spoken. When finally a small smile broke out on her lips, he felt a small wave of relief wash over him.

"Yes, I think that's a good idea." She let out a small chuckle and brought a hand to her pointed chin "We'll have our very own Sabbat. After all these years… who would've thought they could still happen?"

Caleb smiled even though he could feel a knot form in the pit of his stomach. The time for Sabbats was also a time for witch hunts and burning at the stake. He didn't want to believe something similar could happen in this day and age. He also wondered how the others would react to Sibyl and Helene. Pogue was the only one to know about them and he had reacted somewhat positively but Caleb was concerned about Reid in particular. He never could quite predict what his fiery temper would do. We'll cross that bridge when we get to it, Caleb thought, not wanting to dwell on the matter more than needed.

"You said you were having nightmares?" Caleb ventured, thinking back at his own strange dream.

Sibyl nodded and started pouring some of the soup in glass containers. Neatly wiping the containers of any traces, she set it down on the island to cool. She took a seat and let out a shaky breath.

"It's always the same. I'm in this place, everything's dark and cold… And corpses like trees surround me. And then I hear this… hacking noise. And it keeps coming closer and closer, no matter how much I run." The more she spoke, the more distraught she appeared "I always wake up just as the axe is about to hit my neck." With slightly trembling fingers, she gently stroked her neck.

Caleb looked at her blankly; he had dreamt of an axe as well. He no longer doubted it, his dream had more meaning than he had previously imagined. Running a hand through his hair, he let out a short sigh. She grabbed the glass containers and neatly aligned them on the counter. Caleb could tell she was trying her best to change her mind. He suddenly felt bad for asking, bad for making her feel this way. Although he wanted to tell her of his dream, he feared it would only agitate her more. She finally looked up at him, her blue eyes unwavering but still hinting at her fears. Outside, the sun started its slow decline onto the horizon.

"It'll be dark soon, you should be on your way. Roads can be dangerous during the night." Her voice was calm and a sweet smile rested on her pale lips.

Caleb, not knowing what words to say, simply nodded and followed her to the hall. As he exited the house, Sibyl produced a jar of soup from seemingly thin air. She offered it to him and, as he reached for it, grabbed his wrist with her free hand.

"Promise me you'll come see me as soon as your friend arrives. If what he knows concerns all of us, we need to know." Her eyes, once akin to the clear and warm summer skies, were pale and cold, like winter's chill.

Caleb felt a shiver run down his spine and he nodded.

As he lay in his bed, Caleb could only think about one thing: Tyler better arrive quickly. The restlessness he felt, the looming threat he sensed... He needed answers, answers he believed Tyler had. And Sibyl too neeeded those answers. He had made a promise and he wasn't one to break his word.

Hello all who are still reading :) I saw that my story isn't very popular and not a lot of people read it/follow it. It's ok it just means I won't work on it as much as I used to so for those who are reading or care about this story sorry :/ Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Reviews are always welcomed :)