A/N: Hey, so I know its been a long time...too long. Between college and a total computer crash, I haven't had a chance to write in quite awhile, as you can see. I hope this chapter fits in well with the rest. I tried to use the same tone, but its been awhile since I added a chapter! Let me know what you think!!!!
We changed quickly. I had to resist the urge to will clothes onto my body, since it was a bit sore from the days 'activities.' Reid sat on the edge of my bed as I selected a shirt from my closet, jeans already on my lower half. I could feel the heat of his gaze bore into my back.
Looking flirtatiously over my shoulder, "Don't you know its not polite to stare?"
His face had taken on a hint of seriousness, and I frowned, my eyebrows crinkling in. "What?" Slipping a coral v-neck over my head, I walked over to his perch on my bed.
"I don't know, I was just thinking," Reid said, smoothing a hand over my now clothed shoulder.
"Don't hurt yourself." I turned, poking him in the ribs lightly, hoping to rouse his mood. He stood abruptly, wrapping his arms tightly around me in a bear hug, and I could practically sense the worry coming off of him.
"Your birthday is in two days," he practically whispered, not lessening the severity of his hug. I sighed deeply, and stepped out of his embrace.
"We have to worry about Chase right now. Figuring him out has got to be the top priority Reid," I said, bending down to slip on my all black Nikes. I ran a brush quickly through my hair, trying to comb out some of the tangles incurred from a day between the sheets. Reid seemed rooted to the floor, watching my actions.
His worry was starting to grate on my nerves. Hadn't we already been over this? I hadn't Used all day, and that was going to have to be good enough for him right now. This business with Chase had me worried, because even if I didn't make it much past Saturday, the boys certainly would. And I didn't want anything or anyone hurting my boys.
I felt my anger start to swell again. Maybe I should invest in some anger management classes, I mused. I never used to be this easy to anger. Maybe anger came with age.
"Reid, seriously. You're fucking depressing sometimes." Even as the words left my lips, I knew they were wrong. I'd been trying to convey my annoyance with his need to constantly bring up the impending doom that was Saturday. Like I wasn't already aware.
His eyes hardened, and he brushed past me out the door, and down the stairs to the waiting others. Just great.
I sat in the back of the Hummer wedged in my usual spot, riding bitch, mulling over what had happened between me and Reid at the house. In the span of 5 minutes I'd managed to royally fuck things up. My specialty. He hadn't spoken or really even looked at me since that royal fuck up in my room.
Reid sat up front next to Tyler, who was actually driving for once, as we bumped along the decrepit road towards the Danvers colony house. I always got the creeps when we came here. I don't know if it was the age of the place, smelling of must and rotting wood, or my father, smelling equally bad.
Caleb was right, though I'd be hard pressed to admit it. Our father should have stood as an example of what not to do. He'd burnt through his power so quickly during my childhood that I barely remember him as a young man of 30, his face unmarred by a single wrinkle. He was practically covered in wrinkles in now, holding on to what remained of his life.
But getting addicted to powers before you'd even ascended--that was unheard of. Hey, I guess I was an overachiever. I shook my head and looked past Pogue out the window. We were nearly there.
The tension in the air was thick as we got out of the car and entered the house. I walked next to Tyler, congenially bumping his shoulder, but I couldn't rise a smile. Tough crowd.
Gorman sat at a rickety table off to the left of the entrance, barely visible in the shadows, even in the early afternoon. Everything in this damn house was rickety. Step too hard and you might just go through the floor.
Gorman just nodded as we passed through the main hallway, opening a door at the back that led to the basement, and the Book of Damnation. Candles spurted to life as we all descended the stairs, and per its usual theatrics, the Book flew to the center of the stone circle, ringed in the usual fire boundary. I forewent sitting in my place, and plucked a book from a self. The sooner we figured out Chase, the sooner we could get out of here.
I slipped my headphones into my ears, and set my trusty iPod on shuffle, effectively blocking out the sounds of the room. Isolating myself.
Seether's Broken was the first song to play, but I quickly turned it. Too damn depressing, in an already depressing situation.
An hour later, Caleb motioned for me to come and join the rest. I shut the book with a definitive thud, and placed it back on the shelf. I hadn't read anything in over a half an hour anyway, too caught up in my own thoughts. I slipped the headphones out of my ears and pocketed the iPod. I stood close to the circle, listening.
Caleb told us of how Chase was the fifth bloodline, the ancestor of a woman named Goody Pope. All that shit about John Putnam impregnating her as some thing definitely grossed me out.
When it was silent I asked the all important question. "So what are we going to do about it?" Four pairs of eyes were trained on me, then looked away. We had no answers.
While the "Sons" began to discuss a plan of action, this Daughter needed some fresh air. I plunked up the steps wearily, feeling a slight pull in the back of my leg muscles. Who ever though Reid Garwin was so damn flexible.
The thought of him made my eyes flick in his direction as I mounted the last step. He was looking into the fire, and didn't seem to be paying attention to anything Caleb and Pogue were saying. I wanted badly to apologize for what I had said earlier….but there were some truth to my words. It would seem that Reid was bound and determined to get me through Saturday, and the task weighed heavily on his mind.
I walked out the front door of the colony house, disregarding Gorman's questions, shutting the door behind me with a light 'snick.' Outside the weather had turned gray with impending rain, and I sighed. Even the weather couldn't force a smile.
I passed the Hummer, dropping my iPod quickly in the backseat for safe keeping, then kept walking down the road, toward the old Putnam Barn. When I was little I used to marvel at it, wondering how something so old could still be standing, albeit in pieces. Now I hardly noticed it as I took a left, taking a small path leading away from the barn, and the road.
The overwhelming need to Use rose so swiftly inside of me I had no way to predict it, to combat it. I should have been concerned when I hadn't felt the oppressive weight of that desire on my chest like I had this morning, but honestly my mind had been elsewhere. A pain shot through me, from toes to forehead in a single jolt, and my eyes were enveloped in black.
My breathing was shallow as I clenched and unclenched my hands, trying to find myself in the tidal wave of desire to Use. I heard a stick crack behind me and tensed. I kept my back turned, assuming it was Tyler or Pogue, worried about where I'd gone off to.
"Do you really think it wise to keep your back to me?" Chase asked playfully, leaning against a dying tree, clad in jeans and a black leather jacket. I whirled around, but stood my ground. If he wasn't so damn scary, I would have found him extremely attractive.
"Chase. What do you want?" It came out of me in a choked gasp, the need to Use still rippling through me. My head was pulsing, and I couldn't exactly see straight, putting me at somewhat of a disadvantage.
"Want? Why, I thought it was obvious!" He made broad gestures with his arms as he came closer to me, his eyes never leaving my face. I felt like stalked prey. "Ahh, but I can see plainly what it is you want. What you need." He made a sweeping gesture with his hand, and I was locked in place, arms pressed to my sides. "You feel the addiction just as strongly as I do. You see, I like to use a lot. Only... no one ever told me about the... effects, the damage, the addiction. But you…" he touched the tip of my nose lightly, and I felt a wave of nausea well up inside of me. I had to get out of here. And fast.
"You knew better. You were warned, and still, you just couldn't stop. Such a baaaad girl." He practically growled the words into my face, standing so close that his coat brushed my arms with every movement.
I tried to force his bind off of me in a wave of pressure, staggering back at the amount of power it had taken. But still I was held captive. Chase certainly was powerful. Shit, he had ascended, I realized, and a cold slice of real fear curled in my stomach, driving the nausea away.
"That's it, fight me. Feel the power well up inside of you. Doesn't it feel good to Use?" He rubbed a lock of my hair between his forefinger and thumb, sniffing lightly. Unfortunately he was right. The excruciating ache inside of me had disappeared completely, and I could breathe normally again.
"Really, what the fuck do you want with us?" I raged, fighting valiantly against his hold on me. My arms would move out from my sides, only to be snapped back close.
It was hard to concentrate on his words as I felt the euphoria Using brought wash over me, better than any drug. Chase finally released me, and I sagged in relief. "Just wanted to make sure you didn't forget what it felt like to Use," he whispered into my ear, so close I could smell him. Fuck he smelled damn good. Too good. I mentally slapped myself for thinking it, and he chuckled. "Why thank you."
Bastard had been reading my mind. I tried a similar trick, but was promptly knocked on my ass with a migraine. "Stay out of my head, Alexandra." My full name hissed out of his lips, and I couldn't help but grimace.
"What else could I possibly want? Well, other than that delicious body of yours…I want power. All of their powers. I hadn't factored you into my little plan, seeing how there aren't supposed to be any females in the Danvers line. I guess we can call you a little perk." Taking her hand, he helped her to her feet slowly, smirking slightly.