This Is Absolution

Card 10: Seven of Chalices

Chase sat at his kitchen table desperately trying to hide his irritation from Kent, Andy and Dan.

They'd shown up at his doorstep at 5:30 in the morning, grinning like fools and asking what was for breakfast as if he hadn't been sleeping soundly (which was a rarity), and had nothing better to do but be up before the sun pierced the sky to indulge his friends.

As soon as Leona heard the ruckus downstairs, she immediately smiled brightly at the intruders and started on a massive feast, which they were enjoying right in front of him as he plotted a way to politely put them out.

He sank deeper into his chair as his first mistake dawned on him. He should never have mentioned that he was going back to Ipswich to "run an errand."

They were dying to know what had made him pack up and transfer to a rival academy, so they'd happily invited themselves along with the excuse that no one should spend two hours alone in a car without a little company.

It amazed him how Claudia had no idea the can of worms she'd opened by sending him home.

How was he supposed to do the things she'd demanded of him all the while keeping up a persona he didn't identify with anymore and keep his friends out of the fray; close enough to not suspect, but far enough away to not get burned.

When I see her… Chase thought; then it occurred to him that he would see her and very soon. He couldn't stop the blush from rising in his cheeks anymore than he could erase the huge grin that was now plastered on his face.

"Dude what is up that smile, you look like the Joker?" Dan asked as he drowned his waffles in syrup. "One minute you look like we just walked in on you, your shredder and a fist full of bank statements and now you're the happiest kid in the world. What's the deal, Collins?"

Chase's face collapsed into mock mortification, "I don't know how to say this but… I've spent the last four months in an insane asylum. I know… I should have told you… I was so ashamed." He wiped away his fake tears dramatically.

"You're such an ass," Dan frowned and stuffed a fork full of waffles into his mouth.

"Whatever," Chase said, smirking sarcastically and sitting back in his chair. He hadn't touched his breakfast. "So, what's it going to take for you all to get lost and not tag along with me on my little road trip?"

"Nothing," Dan said flatly. "We're going, so get over it." He swung his fork through the air in Leona's direction, "See, my sweetheart Leona has already packed a lunch for us with a little something special in it for me, so no dice trying to ditch us."

"That's right," Kent chimed in. "As soon as I'm done with my waffles we can go…are you gonna eat yours?" He asked pointing to Chase's untouched plate.

"Sick!" Andy remarked. "Didn't your mother teach you any manners? We don't need to see your breakfast while you're bloody eating it," He grimaced and took a sip of his fresh squeezed orange juice. He turned to Leona and smiled broadly. "Leona you are a goddess in the kitchen, please forgive my friend Kent for his unforgivable rudeness."

Leona patted Andy on the head like a puppy, "Anything for my sweet boys," she smiled before giving Chase a look that said he should be a better host.

He rolled his eyes at the ridiculousness of the whole thing.

How could she coddle them so much? They weren't kids anymore. She was just feeding into their rich white boy mentalities; always getting what they want, but… he supposed there was an upside to them riding along. He was about to walk into the lion's den and the Sons were less likely to trip out if he had some unsuspecting innocents with him that had no beef and no clue about what was going on.

Leona nodded toward his plate, "You need to eat something, Chase. Please, at least a few bites."

Chase frowned and leaned forward, picking up the syrup and reluctantly pouring it over his waffles. He took a small bite and then sat back in his chair, "Happy now?" he asked with a mouth full of food. He was cranky as hell.

Leona narrowed her eyes at him and smiled, "Yes, I am and stow the attitude. What is wrong with you this morning?"

Chase shrugged, but didn't answer and instead looked over his shoulder and out of the window at the maple trees which were still bright with fall color although it was early December.

Leona shook her head and walked back towards the sink to start washing up the dishes. She dunked her hands into the soapy water and looked over her shoulder again at Chase who was still looking out of the window completely lost in thought as Dan, Andy and Kent bickered with each other over which car they would use for the trip.

Her stomach felt hollow and heavy all at the same time. She was worried about Chase. He hadn't been in this bad a mood since he'd returned from where ever he'd been and that was a concern to her.

Was it just the fact that his friends had invited themselves along without his permission or was it the actual trip back to Ipswich that was annoying him? He'd only been there for a few weeks. Had things gone so terribly wrong at Spenser that the thought of going back was that horrible to him?

He'd always been the most popular boy; the life of party. Everyone loved him, so why wouldn't it be the same at Spenser even if he had only been there less than a month.

She snapped her head back toward the dishes and let out an exasperated sigh. She was doing it again. She was trying to get into his head and figure out the mystery that was him and of course it wasn't working. Chase wasn't someone you could figure out. He had two sides; a double life. It had always been that way and it was useless to try and understand a boy who was hiding so many secrets.

They'd decided on the Charger instead of Chase's BMW because it was bigger and had four doors. Chase didn't care either way. He just wanted to get the whole thing over with.

He'd made the thing out to be so dramatic, imagining that once they'd crossed the Ipswich city limit, dark clouds would engulf the sky and demons would begin to shriek from the underworld to signal that the Putnam son was back for his well deserved revenge.

But it didn't happen like that at all. In fact, it was completely uneventful.

They breezed into town with Dan behind the wheel just like they were taking a day trip to the historical township. No shrieking demons, no pitch black rain clouds; just Ipswich as he remembered it when he'd first arrived to start his senior year at Spenser.

"There isn't much to this place is there?" Dan commented.

"What were you expecting?" Chase asked as he looked out of the window at the passing scenery.

Dan shrugged as he turned the corner onto the Ipswich main drag which was heavy with signs of the Christmas holiday, "I don't know… I just figured this place had to be something special for you to just pick up and leave like you did."

Chase's grunt dripped with distaste, "It's special, but not for the reasons you think."

Dan turned and looked at him, "What does that mean?"

He shook his head and shifted in his chair uncomfortably, "Nothing," He said shortly. "Just forget it."

Kent leaned forward, sticking his head in between the two front passenger seats, "Hey, can we stop? I have to go to the little boy's room."

"Go up a block," Chase said, pointing down the street. "There's a drug store on the corner. You can go there."

"Hey, I have to stop by Haskell's," Pogue announced grandly as he, Tyler, and Reid strolled down Arbor Street toward the marina.

Tyler looked up from his book, "And you needed to share that because…"

Reid rolled his eyes, "He just wants us to know that he and Kate are back in business. That's all. Why don't you scream it from the rooftops while you're at it? You're not the only one getting laid around here."

"Yeah, must be pretty boring with no opportunity for variety. Like eating chicken every night," Tyler commented without taking his eyes off his book.

"You know I could blow your sweet and innocent cover with all the chicks in this town and fuck your shit up. Then I really would be the only one getting laid around here," Pogue sneered.

Reid laughed but then stopped abruptly, "Hey!! What about me?"

Pogue shifted his green eyes in Reid's direction, "What about you?"

Reid was just about to open his mouth and argue when Tyler interrupted him, "What about Caleb? He and Sarah are intimate, aren't they?"

Pogue was silent.

"You can't be serious?" Reid's astonishment was obvious. "I thought for sure they were…"

"They've only been together a couple of months and Sarah's got class. She's like Kate that way. It was six months before Kate and I took the next step." Pogue said dismissively.

"People bond faster when they've been through life and death experiences. I knew they were having problems but…" Tyler said thoughtfully.

"Look!" Pogue snapped angrily. "Just because they aren't fucking doesn't mean there's something wrong. Yes, they're going through shit, but that has nothing to do with it. Like I said, Sarah isn't a fucking whore so let's stop reading into it. It's Caleb's business anyway."

Tyler snapped his head up from his book and Reid raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"Okay," Reid whispered with annoyance. "We won't talk about it. Don't get you panties in a bunch. It's not like you're the one having the relationship trouble."

Chase was leaned against the Charger as Kent rushed into Haskell's Drugstore to find a bathroom. Dan and Andy followed in lazily, laughing at Kent's urgency and betting a hundred dollars that he wouldn't make it in time.

"If he blows before he gets to the bathroom he's taking a cab home. I'm not letting him into my car with pissy pants," Dan said before pushing the door open to the store.

Andy stopped and asked if Chase was coming in with them, but he smiled and shook his head. He'd already been in there once before with Kate and Sarah; playing the new transfer student, flirting with Kate and watching Sarah flirt her way into Caleb's car.

He stuffed his hands in his pockets and looked over his shoulder toward the marina just on the other side of the street.

The trees had already changed and were beginning to lose the majority of their leaves with the salty smell of the ocean in the air. It was colder there because of the water; not like Haversfield with its trees still bright with reds and yellows and the lingering touch of fall.

He hoped that the leaves would stay that way so Claudia could see them. It was already odd that they were still on the trees this late in the season and he desperately wanted Claudia to see how beautiful the fall was as he knew they didn't have anything like that in California or Arizona.

Claudia.

She was flying in that coming Sunday. It had been so long since he'd seen her. He was half expecting her to look like a different person; not like he remembered… and he did remember; the smell of her, the softness of her skin, the contrast of light and dark when they were pressed together in an embrace.

He was dizzy with memories and had to force himself out of that soft place. Now was not the time to drift off into dreamland. The sons of Ipswich could be anywhere and after what he'd done, they wouldn't think twice about putting him down.

Pogue grabbed Tyler's collar and hauled him back onto the sidewalk before he walked into the oncoming traffic on the corner of Arbor and Main.

He swung him around the corner towards Haskell's and smacked him upside the head unceremoniously, "The light was red and we're going this way. Take you face out of that book. You almost got ran over by a fucking truck."

Tyler rubbed the back of his head, "You didn't have to be so rough!" He snapped.

"I'll remember that next time and let you ass get run over," Pogue snapped back before snatching his ringing cellphone from his back pocket. It was Kate of course and he smiled broadly, answering the phone with a chipper hello.

Tyler forged ahead, leaving Reid and Pogue a few steps behind as little bits of anger and embarrassment twisted inside him.

He looked back and caught Reid out of the corner of his eye who was engrossed in the music pumping from the earphones of his iPod; too distracted to defend his supposed best friend.

He felt silly because he knew that he would not have almost walked into traffic had he used his powers to keep pace while reading. It would have been effortless… but then again, it was pretty stupid of him to be reading while trying to walk down the street…

They're here…

Chase was brought to attention as a soft gust of wind tangled with fall leaves blew the collar of his jacket up and brushed his cheek.

He stood up right and stiffened. He'd definitely heard it; a voice on the wind whispering that they were there… The Sons of Ipswich.

He narrowed his eyes and scanned the walkway looking for any sign of Caleb and his friends, but there wasn't anyone he recognized, so he looked over his shoulder toward the street and the marina. Maybe they were in a passing car…

Still… nothing.

He exhaled in frustration and snapped his head back towards the sidewalk to look down at the concrete.

He knew they were close, he could feel it. His body was slightly uncomfortable; buzzing with the anticipation that something was coming. It was overwhelming to him, putting him into a haze that made him suddenly and without thought, drift his eyes to the right to look down the thoroughfare at the sparse oncoming pedestrian traffic.

There they were; Tyler, Pogue and Reid.

They were strolling down the street without a care in the world; oblivious that they were about to run into their worst nightmare; lost in their own worlds.

Tyler was walking slightly ahead. He looked as if he was upset and had a hardcover book slung under his arm as he struggled to keep a distance between he and the other two.

Chase felt the corners of his mouth ease up into a wicked smile.

It was all coming back to him… the lush feeling of anger and hatred that wrapped around a person like a warm blanket when they were hungry for revenge; revenge that he could take right now if he wanted to.

They had no idea that he was there. They didn't sense him at all and the urge to see them flayed on the floor with their beating hearts in his hands was delicious and dark.

Tyler shifted his book under his arm and was about to open his mouth to speak when his eyes caught sight of him. He stopped in mid stride causing Pogue and Reid to bump into him, almost knocking him over onto the unforgiving concrete.

Pogue stepped back, "What the hell Ty? Why did you stop? Haskell's is just up ther--" He raised his finger to point as his eyes focused up street and he was immediately halted in mid sentence with his mouth gaping open.

Reid pulled off his earphones and leaned forward to look over Pogue's shoulder, and as he craned his neck to view the stretch of sidewalk before them, his blue eyes focused and he felt his heart leap into his throat as the overwhelming need to vomit seized him.

Chase didn't bother to move from his relaxed position. He lazily turned his head to face them; his wicked grin still fresh on his lips which began to peel back and reveal teeth.

Reid was starting to panic. His heart was beating so fast he was sure it would explode in his chest.

How could they just stand there like that? Why weren't they doing anything? Was this even real?

The uncertainties were spinning in his head like a hurricane. Just when he was starting to relax; when they were all starting to relax, he comes back.

Was that his plan to begin with? Was he waiting and watching? Was he back for Pogue?

In a frenzy of desperation Reid pushed Pogue aside and lunged forward. He stepped in front of Tyler and shoved him out of the way.

It wasn't okay that they were just standing there while the guy who tried to kill their best friend was standing in front of them with that fucking smirk on his face. Ipswich was their town; this was their world and Chase fucking Collins had no place in it.

Reid's eyes sparked black as he raised his hand up in front of him, drawing power into the tips of his fingers. He was going to end this right now; no second guesses, no excuses. This was the end.

Chase raised an eyebrow as he watched Reid plant himself into the ground with a firm stance and lift his hand, drawing beads of power into his palm and up to his fingertips. He looked around… Yeah, it was still daylight and there were still people, if only a few, on the street. What did this knuckle head think he was doing?

Before he could stop himself, a stunted laugh escaped him and he shook his head at the ridiculousness of what Reid was about to do.

He pushed himself from his leaning position and slipped his right hand from his pocket, shaking his index finger at Reid as if he'd been a naughty child. "What the fuck do you think you're doing? It's broad fucking daylight in the middle of town. Are you trying to blow everyone's cover?" He asked dryly.

That seemed to snap both Pogue and Tyler out of their collective stupors and Tyler leaped forward, grabbing Reid's arm and pushing it down to his side while Pogue hauled him back by his collar.

Reid struggled violently and Pogue caught him up, wrapping his arms around him like a bear and holding him as he squirmed.

A couple across the street stopped and pointed as they whispered to each other and Pogue brought his mouth to Reid's ear and whispered harshly, "Do you see that? People are looking at us, Reid. Calm down."

Reid's eyes shifted to the couple and immediately all the years of training to keep their secret came back to him. He went limp in Pogue's arms and tears started to pierce his eyes. He couldn't stop them from coming.

Tyler stepped forward and looked Chase dead in the eye, "Are you real? Is this really happening?"

He asked this with such a deadpan calmness in his voice that Chase narrowed his eyes, and looked him over. Reid had acted like an ass as expected, but Tyler and Pogue weren't as freaked out as they should have been.

Chase shrugged, "As real as real can get. Let's just say I got a pass from The Reaper that night. It's not my time just yet."

The sound of Chase's voice stung Tyler's ears and he winced. It was real. He was really alive. It was starting all over again.

"Are you here for Pogue then? Don't play dumb and pretend you don't know he ascends the day after Christmas." Tyler said again in that deadpan tone.

Pogue, at hearing his own name, released Reid and shoved him back as he stepped forward. He held his head up defiantly, "Well, is that what you're here for; for me? It won't be as easy as last time."

Chase shook his head in mock frustration, "You know, I'm a little disappointed. Why are you guys so quick to mix it up? What, no hello, how's it going, how did you claw your way out of hell; nothing? By the way, how's Kate doing?"

Pogue lurched forward at the mention of Kate's name and Tyler held his hand up to bar him from stepping any closer.

Chase's face twisted with disgust, "Jesus! You fuckers haven't changed at all, still handicapped by the same stupid weaknesses; so quick to react without thinking. You're never going to survive what's coming like that. This is a waste of time."

Tyler scoffed, "You're a typical villain, so proud of his plan he has to spill before he even makes a move. What new wonders have you thought up for us this time, Collins?"

Chase raised an eyebrow and shook his head again, "Oh no, not me. I'm done with the four of you. I have other plans… better plans that have nothing to do with The Covenant, so, you know, you can chill a little bit, Pogue. I could care less when you ascend. Good luck with that."

"Do you really expect us to believe you?" Pogue asked through clenched teeth. "Let me guess, you strolled back into Ipswich to take in the scenery? Maybe see some historic sites? I swear to god, you will regret the day you decided to come back here. You should have let us think you were dead!"

"What's going on?" Dan asked as he came up behind Chase.

Chase let his eyes shift in Dan's direction with that condescending expression still vibrant on his face. Before he could answer his friend, Pogue's face collapsed into a frown and nodded in Dan's direction, "Who the hell is this?"

Dan's eyes immediately narrowed and he looked Pogue up and down. He didn't like this guy's attitude at all. He cocked his head to one side, "I could ask you the same thing."

"Seriously, what is this?" Pogue asked Chase again, ignoring Dan's remark.

Chase shrugged, "This is my best friend."

"Your best friend," Pogue asked, stretching the word out in disbelief.

"You don't have friends," Tyler chimed in with confidence, as if the concept of Chase Collins actually having a life outside of trying to destroy them was impossible.

Dan's skin began to burn with anger, "Yes, he fucking has friends!" He turned to Chase, "Who are these guys and why are they assholes? Better yet, why are you even talking to them?"

Chase smirked, "It's long and complicated. I can't get into it."

"You'd better get into it before I kick this dude's ass. I don't let anyone talk to me or YOU like that. Who the hell do they think they are?" The distress in Dan's voice was deep. It would only take a few more smart-assed remarks from Pogue to get him ready to fight.

"That's really cute of you to throw around threats when this isn't even your town. If you really are Chase's friend, I suggest you grab him by the neck and drag him back to where ever it is you came from. He's not welcome here," Tyler said coolly.

Dan snapped his head in Tyler's direction and Chase knew that that was the last straw. He stepped forward aggressively, "You know what? I'm tired of asking questions. I'll just pop you in the mouth and be done with it." He reached out to grab Tyler by the shirt and Pogue was there in an instant to defend the smaller boy.

Chase let out a frustrated sigh as he saw that things were getting out of control. He snatched Dan's jacket sleeve and pulled him back, "Cut it out," he said harshly. "I don't want to fight with them."

Dan opened his mouth to protest but Chase had already stepped toward Pogue with his hands in the air to symbolize surrender. His eyes sparked as he snapped the two fingers of his right hand and suddenly time began to slow, dimming the natural colors of life to faded sepia.

The air became thick and sloppy with the sluggish movement of seconds and Pogue's eyes were intrigued by the clarity of the dust particles drifting in the atmosphere and the detail of the little girl's ribbon as she skipped at a snail's pace down the opposite sidewalk.

"What are you doing? Are you stopping time?" he asked cautiously.

Chase shook his head slightly, "No, just slowing it down, giving us a chance to talk like adults. Where's Caleb?"

"Like we'd tell you that," Tyler said dismissively.

Chase was getting annoyed. "It's important that he's here."

"Why is it important? You still haven't told us why you came back." Reid countered.

Chase's eyes snapped to Reid and rested on him. The stupid one had been quiet all this time, mortified by what was happening. It was a joke that it'd taken him this long to get back to his senses.

He rolled his eyes, another pissed off sign escaping him, "Fine, then relay this message, will you? Tell your homeboy that I know where the power came from and why we're cursed with aging and addiction. Tell him that there are others with powers like ours and because of the way we came about our "gift" we are hated; hated so much that the others want to destroy us. Tell him that they're coming to Ipswich and if we don't come up with a plan to save our own asses by June, we're fucked. You got all that?"

"What the hell are you talking about?" Pogue asked. He was completely confused.

"Just tell him!" Chase said angrily. "It sounds stupid, but it's true so tell him. I won't be held responsible when June comes around and you find out that I'm right."

He let his eyes drift to Dan who was caught in the grip of his spell. He felt a pang of guilt that he'd had to use in front of his best friend and that need for everything to go back to normal stung him again.

His eyes came back to Pogue, Reid and Tyler; still standing before him with dumbfounded looks on their faces; still tense and expecting him to make a move and hurt them.

His gaze dropped to the ground and he began to turn back to Dan, "Tell Caleb if he wants to know it all he'll have to contact me. Like I said, your blood won't be on my hands if you ignore this. He'll know where I am."

He snapped his fingers and the thick sluggishness of his spell dissipated like smoke being sucked into a vacuum. Time was moving again, its pace regular and rhythmic and the colors of every conceivable object blossoming back to their former hue.

Dan checked and looked up at Chase who was striding back to him with his hands stuffed in his pockets. He looked past him toward the three assholes and the looks of confusion on their faces seemed to mirror his own. He could have sworn that Chase was standing next to him just a minute ago. Why did he feel like he'd lost time somehow?

"Get in the car," Chase said dryly. "We're leaving."

"Wait a minute, what about them; what about your errand?" Dan asked.

Chase shrugged as he made his way around to the passenger side of Dan's car, "I did what I came to do. It's time to go before you get yourself into trouble."

Just as he opened the car door Andy and Kent tumbled out of Haskell's. Kent had a small plastic bag in his hand and Andy seemed annoyed at something Kent had done… as usual.

They headed back to Dan's car and Andy let his eyes rest on Tyler, Pogue and Reid who were still standing several feet away looking dumbstruck. He scratched his head, "What's up? Are we leaving already?"

"Yeah," Dan said with irritation and plopped down into the driver's seat, slamming the door behind him.

"I thought you had stuff to do and why are those guys standing there staring at us?" Andy inquired as he climbed into the back seat with Kent.

Chase closed the passenger door behind him and began to buckle his seatbelt, "It's long and complicated. I don't want to get into it."