Author's Note: Special shout out to Sara188 for reviewing just to give me motivation. XD I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything except Nicole and blah blah blah, you know the drill.
Chapter Seven
Reid was glad when Nicole suggested they spend some time away from the underground chamber of the Covenant and head to Nicky's for burgers and a round of pool. The crazy, fun-filled atmosphere was exactly what they all needed. Sarah met them shortly after seven and it didn't take long for her and Caleb to disappear. Pouge, Reid, Tyler and Nicole shot some pool as they munched on a large basket of French fries.
"Hey Pouge," Tyler said casually, "I bet you could beat Nicole. You are the best at this game after all."
Nicole scoffed, "He thinks he's the best."
"Them is fightin' words," Pouge pulled a twenty from his pocket. Grinning, Nicole did the same, "I haven't lost in years, girlie."
"Well, then," Nicole motioned for him to take the first shot, "Guess you'll be needing a tissue to whip your tears when I'm through with you."
Reid and Tyler watched as Nicole made quick work of the game and pocketed Pouge's money.
"I let her win," Pouge mumbled as the two guys laughed.
Laughing along, Nicole laid her cue down, "I'm going to get a Coke."
As she disappeared in the throng of teenagers, Pouge glared at Tyler, "You knew she was that good. You owe me 20 bucks."
"Yeah, right," Tyler scoffed as he moved to set up the balls for another round.
Suddenly, the sound of breaking glass brought a hush on the room. Nicky was busy with some kids at the other end of the bar but he was quick to hunt out the source of the disturbance. As he cleared a path through the crowd, Reid had a clear view to what was going on. Adrenalin surged through his veins as he saw a tall, scruffy man with deep set eyes grasping Nicole's wrist, exposing the burned Secrecy Spell. The man's eyes were dark with anger and Nicole tried to pry her arm free.
Wasting no time, Reid pushed through the crowd until he was next to Nicole, putting himself between her and the scruffy man as best he could. "Let her go," When Reid raised his eyes to the man, they were black.
Before the situation could get worse, Pouge knew they had to clear the building. They'd all be dead if the secret got out and the way things were turning, everyone would know soon if they stayed where they were. "Fire!" He screeched, magicking a small flame onto a nearby table. "Fire!"
His plan worked and soon the bar was empty, save for the Sons – Caleb had appeared beside Pouge in the mayhem – Nicole, and the scruffy man. The man still had a hold of Nicole's wrist. Reid shoved the man to get him to let go and back away, but he held tight.
His eyes never left Nicole as he said, "You know what happens now, Nicole." His voice was low and threatening, "We can't risk any of you surviving now that they know the truth. I told you what would happen if you insisted on this."
"Get out of here," Reid hissed, his power flaring to push the man back. This time, he dropped his hold on Nicole and grinned down at Reid as he backed away several feet.
"This must be your Soulmate. How cute," He glanced around at Pouge, Tyler, and Caleb. "And they must be the rest of the Coven, all together in one convenient package for me to kill. They've even cleared out the place so that there will be no witnesses when I kill them." His gaze returned to Nicole, "It's a pity, really. You had such potential. You were going to be the one that finally survived."
With that, he shoved Reid back so hard, he fell against Nicole. It was so sudden and unexpected, that neither had time to brace themselves from the fall or the sudden burst of energy that flew out of Reid at the contact. As they fell, the burst of energy blew the walls out, sending ceiling collapsing on them all in a cloud of dust and wood.
The scruffy man with deep set eyes appeared unharmed on top of the wreckage. With a smirk, he waved his hand and a flame flicked to life amidst the rubble. His laughter echoed as he disappeared into the night.
…
While she was in England, Nicole had lived in a large mansion with the other witches and was guided by very strict rules enforced by the man with the deep set eyes. They had to be in bed by nine, up at six, breakfast at seven. Beds were to be made exactly the same, rooms had to be spotless. They were never allowed to leave the grounds and never allowed to talk to anyone on the outside.
It was the 'never allowed to leave' rule that Nicole had broken numerous times over the years. The first time she had broken out of the mansion gates was just a few months after she had arrived. All she wanted to do was find a phone to call Reid, let him know she was alive at the very least, even if she didn't feel very safe with this strange new coven.
She'd made it into town a few miles away, made it to a pub, made it to the phone that the barkeep had directed her to, when the man with deep set eyes found her. He'd said nothing, just hung up the phone that hadn't even had a chance to ring yet, and turned to leave. His power forced her to follow him and forced her mouth closed so she couldn't say a word to anyone as he dragged her back to the mansion.
When she had arrived at the mansion and had been told the rules, the Master had never said what the punishment for breaking them was. If she had, Nicole would have found a way to get away and get back to the States and to Reid and the others much sooner, before it had been too late.
There were dungeons in the old mansion, dingy, moldy dungeons with no windows that were lit only by fading lanterns hung on the wall every dozen feet. Nicole was sent down there for three days for her punishment. The next time she got out and went in to town to use a phone, she got a week. The third time, the Master had used a spell that sent shock waves through her whole body, igniting every nerve ending and sending pain so terrible through her that for a moment, all she wanted was to die.
Every time she snuck out after that and the man caught her and drug her back to the mansion, the Master would send more shock waves and pain would be excruciating. But instead of discouraging Nicole, it only made her want to escape more, especially when she would fight through the pain and see the man standing to the side, a look of pure ecstasy on his face as he watched. His cold, black eyes would be filled with a look so dark and evil, it cut to Nicole's very soul.
…
Nicole jerked awake as the man's dark, deep set eyes filled her mind. For a moment, she thought she was back in England, enduring punishment for sneaking away but then it all came back to her. She could feel the weight of the debris from the collapsed building on her and after a quick look around, she discovered it wasn't just debris. Reid lay on top of her, his eyes closed, a streak of blood running down his face. She could feel the trail of blood running down her cheek as well, though she knew it wasn't hers.
"Reid," Her voice was hoarse and took more effort than she expected. Her lungs burned as she breathed and her chest felt heavy. "Reid."
A few more labored breaths and Nicole could smell smoke in the air. Panic suddenly surged through her. Where were the others? Were they alright? Had the fire gotten to them? This was just like the man with deep set eyes. He had promised her death, but first she had to witness the rest of them die. Leave it to him to find destructive, agonizing, painful ways to do it. Most likely, he hadn't expected all of them to die in the collapse of the building or even the fire. What he wanted was to scare them and make them suffer. He was good at that.
Nicole could now feel heat getting closer to them. It warmed her cheeks and the smoke in the air became thicker, making it harder to breath. Focusing, Nicole reached for the pool of Power within her and gathering it up, pushed at the debris pinning her and Reid down.
"Nicole!" She could hear Caleb now, his attention drawn to the pile of rubble that just flew out of the wreckage that used to be Nicky's.
"Caleb," She tried to shout but the smoke was thick and her lungs burned.
Suddenly, a splash of water rained down on them, smothering the flames. Reid stirred slightly, the sudden cold water bringing him back to consciousness. Nicole could hear feet coming closer, but she kept her attention on Reid as she fought for breath. Even though the flames were gone, it was harder than ever to breath.
"Reid," Nicole gasped, bringing the arm that wasn't pinned under Reid's body up to brush his hair out of his face. "Reid, wake up."
Slowly, Reid's eyes opened, though they remained dazed and confused for a moment. When he locked eyes with Nicole and the fact that her breathing was labored registered in his mind, the confusion cleared and he became alert at once.
"Nicole," His eyes were concerned as he raised himself up onto his elbows to relieve her of his weight. "What's wrong? Are you hurt?" He caressed her cheek and held her gaze, ignoring the flare of his Power and willing himself with all his strength to remain in control.
It was then that Caleb reached the pair. Not far behind him were Pouge and Tyler. All had minor cuts and bruises; Pouge even had some minor burns on his left arm, but Nicole was happy to see that they were all alive.
Turning her attention to Reid, she forced out between breaths, "It's hard to breath. My chest hurts."
Careful not to put his weight back on her, Reid moved from on top of her to her side, where he held her hand and continued to stroke her cheek.
"It's going to be ok," He reassured, his voice sounding far away as the world around him faded. "You'll be ok, Nicole."
As Nicole faded from consciousness, she hoped he was right.