Disclaimer: I think as of yet, the only thing I own is a bit of lint I found in my pocket. And considering my mom still does my laundry…
Part two of my apology to all my readers…
Ghosts of the Past – Be Prepared
"Start explaining," Sam said as soon as she and Reid got inside the apartment. She wanted to know what was going on and she knew Tyler would crack. "What do you guys know and where did Caleb and Pogue go?" Tyler gave a quick glance at Reid, hoping maybe to get some mercy but Reid shrugged – he knew less than Tyler at this point. Sam caught the exchange and grew even more impatient. "I asked you, Tyler. If I wanted an explanation from Reid I'd have asked him. Caleb said you would explain."
"Caleb and Pogue went to Ipswich to see if there was anything there that could help." Tyler said quickly. He hated being the object of Sam's anger because an angry Sam was a scary Sam.
"What do you guys know?" Sam demanded.
"Not much right now," Tyler said. It wasn't exactly a lie. In truth, they didn't know what Chase was up to. "They went to see if they could find out something from the books that are there," he finished. Sam seemed to buy it but behind her Reid stood knowing that there was more to the story.
"Fine," Sam said, "I'm going to take a nap." She walked to her room and shut the door. Tyler and Reid waited silently for a few minutes to make sure that she had gone to sleep before continuing the conversation.
"And?" Reid asked when he was sure that Sam wouldn't hear.
"If Chase used his powers to take Sam's then there should be something in one of those books to reverse it," Tyler whispered. "It's obviously some kind of spell."
"And if they can't reverse it?" Reid asked. He knew he shouldn't have, as he already knew the answer, but he couldn't help it.
"Then Sam doesn't get her powers back and Chase stays as powerful as ever." Reid grumbled under his breath at Tyler's response and went to the freezer to get the ice cream he knew was stashed in the back. However, a quick glance at his watch told him that he was going to be late for his Law midterm. Cursing, he grabbed Tyler's keys that had been abandoned on the kitchen table and jet out of the apartment. Tyler laughed at his friend's antics until he realized that Reid had taken his keys. He shook his head and took a seat on the couch.
"That kid needs his own car."
---
"Spell books," said Gorman. He, Caleb and Pogue were down looking at what Chase had taken.
"Are you sure?" Pogue asked. He was doubtful because they'd only been there a moment before Gorman made his assessment.
"Absolutely. Two spell books and one history book."
"History?" Caleb asked.
"Yes, some of these books give detailed histories of you families. The other two books are filled with dark, powerful spells – spells that were forbidden by the Covenant many generations ago because they require too much power."
"Then why do we still have them?" Pogue asked.
"Because your Covenant believes that history is more important," Gorman answered. "The Covenant decided that the knowledge of this kind of magic, though dangerous, was still important to pass on to future generations. The third book – the history one – details the Damnation and all of the Covenants that were formed." Caleb and Pogue looked at each other skeptically. "You weren't foolish enough to believe that yours was the only Covenant formed during the Damnation, were you?" Gorman looked surprised and Pogue and Caleb's looks turned to those of shame at how naive they had been. "It wouldn't surprise me in the least of your friend Sam was descendent of one of the other covenants."
"It would explain her powers," Caleb said thoughtfully. "Other covenants might just pass their powers down differently then ours. I bet hers skips every other generation – her grandmother had powers but her father didn't." Gorman nodded his head, accepting the explanation.
"Alright, so Chase took some books and we know he's planning something that has to do with stealing Sam's powers," Pogue stated, "but what?"
"Don't know, and I don't like the idea that it might be one of those things we can't stop before it happens," Caleb said. "Any advice?" he turned to Gorman.
"Be prepared," was Gorman's only answer before handing Caleb a book and walking out of the cellar. Caleb took a quick glance through the book and noticed that it was a book on protection spells. He an Pogue silently went to work locating all other books that might help them and hoisted them up to Caleb's mustang to take back to Harvard.
---
"Hey, Ty?" asked Sam when she had woken up from her nap. She was in a much better mood now that she had gotten some rest. "Can you drive me to class?"
"Would if I could, Sammy, but Reid stole the hummer again." He put down the box of ice cream that he had completely demolished and laughed at Sam's expression.
"Damn it, if I have any pull as girlfriend, that boy's getting his own damn car," Sam cursed as she poured herself some coffee. When Tyler took a seat at the counter she poured another cup for him and said, "Screw it, I don't want to go to class." Tyler raised his eyebrows at her. "What? I'm acing that class anyways."
"Yeah, but still…" Tyler started but he never got to finish his thought. A swirling sensation overcame him and everything around him began to fade. The last thing he heard before darkness overcame him was Sam calling his name.
Sam ran over to Tyler as he hit the ground. "Ty!" she yelled and looked around. She knew they weren't alone. "Leave us alone!" she screamed, though she still couldn't see their attacker.
"Can't do that, sweetheart," said the chillingly familiar voice. "Hate to break it to you, Sammy, but not everything's about you." He laughed at her as she tried to shake Tyler awake.
"What are you talking about? What did you do to him?" Sam was getting hysterical – Tyler wouldn't open his eyes and Sam had no powers to protect them. That's when the shadow man revealed himself. As he walked closer to Sam the darkness around him began to fade and for the first time, Sam was able to see who was behind the shadow. The familiar face she saw shocked her beyond belief and she was at a loss for words.
"All this time, you thought this was about you," said Adam. "What you didn't realize is that you're just a way to get to them." He emphasized his point by nodding at Tyler.
"I don't understand, what do they have to do with you?"
"Let me properly introduce myself, then. Maybe that will help you." Adam paused only to give his evil smirk. "My name is Chase Collins."
---
"That was actually really easy," Reid said as he walked out of his midterm with Kate. She only shook her head.
"So how's Sam?" she asked. She hadn't had an opportunity to talk to Sam and wanted to know how everything was going.
"She's fine," Reid replied, but the uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach made him pull out his cell phone and dial the number he knew so well. When he got her voicemail for the third time Reid turned abruptly in the direction of Sam's apartment and all but ran that way. Kate followed quickly behind him and gave him a look before he could question her.
"She's my friend too."
That said, they both and rushed towards Sam's. When they arrived Reid didn't even go for the buzzer. With a quick flash of his eyes the door swung open and he and Kate ran up the stairs. They stopped at Sam's door just long enough for Reid to whip out his cell phone, dial Caleb's number and hand it to Kate. Taking the hint, she ran quietly down the stairs and out the door.
"I was wondering when you were going to show up, Garwin," Chase said as the door flew open. Reid's eyes immediately turned black as he quickly surveyed the scene. Chase was standing in the middle of the apartment and Sam and Tyler were on the floor a couple of feet away, Tyler unconscious. However, before Reid could do anything he was sucked into the apartment and the door was slammed shut behind him by an invisible force.
"Four against one, Collins," Reid said, "You can't win." He had placed himself between Chase and Tyler and Sam, ready to fight.
"I only see three," Chase sneered. "And two are out of commission." Reid knew he wouldn't last long against Chase by himself. Sure, he had ascended, but Chase now had three times the power that Reid did. Instinct took over and Reid shot a wave of energy at Chase who easily dissolved it.
"You're no match for me, Garwin. Just give it up."
"Damn it!"
---
Kate cursed at Reid's phone as she waited impatiently for Caleb to pick up. It rang a few more times before Kate heard his voice.
"What, Reid?" he sounded worried, which proved to Kate that they boys already knew what was going on.
"It's Kate," she said quickly. "Reid's at Sam's, something's wrong." She was struggling to keep calm.
"What happened?" Caleb hit the gas petal down further and zoomed down the highway. Pogue, on his bike behind him, revved his engine to keep up with the Mustang.
"We went to Sam's because Reid called but there was no answer and when we got here he made me call you. Something's wrong, Caleb, I know it." Kate's voice was shaking.
"We'll be there in a few minutes," Caleb said as the speeding Mustang turned onto the off ramp. Not even checking to make sure Pogue was behind him, Caleb maintained his highway speed until he saw Kate outside Sam's apartment a few minutes later.
"They're still up there," she said when Caleb got out of the car at the same time that Pogue pulled up on his bike.
"Stay here," Caleb warned as he and Pogue ran quickly into the building and up the stairs.
---
"I wont will you anything," Reid said, eyes still black and position firmly maintained.
"This wasn't about getting more power!" Chase laughed. "I'm already more powerful than even Caleb, now that I've got missy's powers." Deep down Reid knew Chase was right, but the rebellious child in him refused to acknowledge defeat.
"Caleb and Pogue will be here any second, and then we'll see who's more powerful," Reid spat, and he was silently praying that his two brothers were close.
But Reid never got the chance to find out if they would be rescued or note, as a strange swirling sensation overloaded his senses and he felt his body rush to the ground.
Caleb and Pogue burst through the door just as Reid's limp body fell. At once the two boy's eyes turned black as night and they both launched an attack on Chase. He stumbled back but laughed it off and with a simple wave of his hand and a gust of smoke he was gone.
And so were Sam, Tyler and Reid,
---
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Next chapter up by Monday!
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