Special Note: Alright, Chase and Claudia are finally in the same state. I don't know how long I'm going to draw out her visit, but I plan to get things rolling with Chase and The Covenant having to confront each other and figure out what they want to do while she's in town, meaning Claudia gets to meet Caleb, Pogue, Tyler and Reid. I've also been thinking a lot about where I want the story to go and I've some pretty good ideas as to how to bring things up a notch as far as action is concerned as well as rounding out the plot. I hope you all enjoy the new chapter.

This Is Absolution

Card 13: Eight of Pentacles

Karen Asbury's gut was on fire.

She leaned her head against the car window and closed her eyes only to snap them back open immediately as the feeling of falling was unbearable.

The scene flashed before her again and she felt physically sick. If her grandmother hadn't flown in from London for Christmas… if she and her parents hadn't gone into Boston to pick her up at the airport… she would never have seen it… she'd never have seen Chase Collins and that… that girl.

Noxious bile rose up and burned her throat. She swiftly slapped her hand over her mouth in anticipation of vomiting and all at once tears welled in her eyes, forcing her to turn further toward the window and away from her grandmother who was in the backseat alongside her; chatting incessantly with her parents in that proper British drawl and not paying any attention to her granddaughter's torment at all.

The cars and trees speed by in a blur of watercolor against a December sky and again the scene manifested its self…

She remembered catching the sight of him pacing before the airport terminal and immediately a bright smile eased over her face. She'd opened her mouth to call to him and then she was there… the tall, black girl with the long dark hair; dressed in grey jeans and a black hoodie with aviator sunglasses hiding her eyes.

He'd reached toward the girl without the slightest hesitation, scooping her into his arms before she'd had a second to react. Lifting her off the floor and embracing her so profoundly that it was impossible not to know what they were to each other…

Karen remembered how long he'd held the girl before letting her feet touch the floor. She remembered the way he'd kept his arm around her waist as if he was afraid to let her go. She agonized over the blush that had drenched the girl's cheeks once he'd finally put her down and the way her eyes had looked up at him after he'd gently slid her sunglasses up on top of her head; pushing her shiny black hair out of her face.

But the most devastating part was witnessing the kiss. It was full and long and heavy with starved desire that was desperate to be requited.

Salty tears rolled down the apples of Karen's cheeks and her chest was so weighted she could hardly breathe.

How could she have been so stupid? It hadn't even occurred to her that he might already have a girlfriend and was too in love to notice that she was vying for his attention. He'd never had any intentions toward her. He was just being polite at the Thanksgiving party…

She felt so silly. She felt like she wanted to die.

Bile rose up and burned her throat again.

It had become fairly obvious that there was a serial killer stalking the streets of Ipswich.

News had spread and now the curbs of Main Street were lined with vans from television stations out of Glouster and even Boston with perfectly coiffed news anchors reading cue cards into video cameras. The newspaper reporters where edging their way through the crowd with a cursory "excuse me" or "pardon me" in an attempt to get closer to the action and that was when Reid had decided he'd seen enough.

He'd been standing at the back of the crowd that hovered around the alley behind Haskell's drugstore for the better part of the morning and had become extremely disgusted with how things had spiraled out of control.

The girl had worked the nightshift, paying her own way through school. She was 20… Now she was sprawled out under a sheet against the damp, frost covered pavement, dead and apparently missing her eyes.

Was this girl number 3 or 4? Reid had lost track and he made a mental note to get the rest of the coroner's reports so that he could compare notes as to the way they'd been killed and the body parts they were missing. The first report he'd gotten his hands on had said that the internal organs were missing, but he wondered if maybe the killer was starting to narrow his selection down to one or two things. As far as he could tell, this monster was being very picky, like he needed the parts for something specific.

Reid stuffed his hands into his pockets against the cold. Light snow was falling from the cloud crowded sky and just as he was about to turn back toward the direction of Spenser, he caught a glimpse of her out of the corner of his eye; that Indian woman from the southwest with the crimson red lipstick painted perfectly on her full lips.

He swiveled around on his heel and moved toward the edge of the crowd, leaning against a brick wall and standing up on his tip-toes to get a better look.

This time she was with a tall, good looking guy with dark hair and broad, athletic shoulders. They were both in black suits and trench coats and once again the Indian woman had a little notepad in her hands, scribbling on the ruled paper at breakneck speed as they conferred with a detective. As the detective motioned them toward the body and kneeled down on his haunches to lift up the sheet that covered the victim, the Indian woman snapped her head around in Reid's direction and scanned the crowd as if she was sensing something; as if she knew someone was watching her.

He immediately darted to the back of the crowd, his hands still stuffed in his pockets and a curious smile on his lips.

This was the second time he'd seen this woman; first on the campus at Spenser, scribbling in her little notepad, and then again, behind the yellow tape, talking to the police and viewing the body as if she had every right to be there.

Was that what she was doing at Spenser? Was she checking out the first crime scene? And if she was, who the hell was she and who did she work for? Maybe she and that guy were State Police or Federal Agents?

If that was the case then things were way worse than he'd previously thought.

Chase's neighborhood (if you could call it that, as the houses were very far apart) was a labyrinth of winding streets without names or sidewalks. The message was clear that if you needed street signs to find your way around or a pathway to walk on, you didn't have any business there.

As repulsive as Claudia thought this message was, she had to admit that the houses… or mansions, which is what they really were, were quite beautiful despite only catching a glimpse of them through tall, obtrusive entry gates as they sped by.

"We're almost there," Chase smiled as he gestured ahead. "It's the one on the left with the family crest."

"Is that a real family crest?" Claudia asked teasingly.

Chase gave her a wry smile, "Yes, it's the real coat of arms for the Collins family. There's a castle back in England and all sorts of historical records if you need more proof."

She shook her head as she smirked uncontrollably. "That isn't necessary, I was just asking. The Harringtons have a family crest as well. You know, that's my dad's family. They're Irish. I don't know about any castles though."

Chase's face immediately brightened, "Do you want a castle? I could get you one. They can't be that expensive."

Claudia scoffed, "Are you serious? That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. No, I don't want a fucking castle—"

"We're here," he said, interrupting her.

Claudia's eyes darted up and immediately focused on the gilded crest that adorned the ornate black gates of the Collins estate. It was huge with gold and silver filigree sprouting out from a shield with a knight's helmet atop it and a roaring griffin rearing up on its hind quarters majestically. It was beautiful.

"You look impressed," Chase smiled. "I'm glad. I hope you feel the same way about the rest of the house. I've been making some design changes and updating some stuff. I had you in mind."

Claudia took a deep breath and let her eyes shift to the floor. "Well, you didn't have to do all of that. But the crest is pretty cool."

Chase chuckled as he opened the electric gates and Claudia could see that there was a huge expanse of lawn dotted with trees on either side of the gravel driveway. She guessed that there were probably acres of land behind as well as around the main house that made up the estate. The actual house was in the Tudor style with long, sweeping eves accentuating a series of steeply pitched roofs.

"It's so big," Claudia commented in awe. "How do you live here all by yourself?"

Chase shrugged, "Leona is here most of the time, but it does get lonely… except when the ghosts are about."

"You think your mom and dad are haunting the house?" Claudia asked seriously.

Chase couldn't help but laugh. "I actually meant more like the ghost of memories past. I guess you believe in the real thing."

"You don't?" She asked furrowing her brow. "You're a Son of Ipswich. You should know that these things are real."

He shrugged again, "I guess you have a point."

As they pulled up the driveway to the door Claudia saw a pleasantly plump gray haired woman standing on the porch. The front door gaped open behind her and her face was drawn into a frown with her hands clasped tightly in front of her against a crisp white apron.

Claudia nodded in her direction as Chase put the car into park and turned off the ignition. "Is that Leona?" she asked cautiously.

He gave her a sideways glance, "Yeah, that's her."

Claudia narrowed her eyes at him, "She doesn't look too happy."

"Yeah, about that," he laughed nervously. "I actually didn't tell her that you were coming… or that you existed until she confronted me about it a couple of weeks ago…"

"What!" She exclaimed.

Chase held his hands up defensively, "Listen, it's fine. She's pissed at me. It has nothing to do with you, but she's the motherly type so she can be judgmental about girls in general. But I swear, it's fine, really."

"You fucking bastard!" she started to scream, but then rolled her voice down to a whisper as she suspected Leona could probably hear her. "This isn't fair. I'm not prepared for this," she whispered harshly.

"I told you it was fine and it is. Relax. Once she meets you she'll love you." He said reassuringly.

Claudia sank down in her seat. The last thing she needed was Chase's housekeeper to hate her. She was already worried about his friends and if she would fit in with them…

She turned to him and her eyes were a bit watery as if she was trying not to scream and cry all at the same time. "Does she know I'm black, Chase?"

He was caught off guard. "What? What does that have to do with anything?"

She gritted her teeth in frustration. "You know it has to do with everything! If she has a problem with that, it doesn't matter if I'm on my best fucking behavior, she's still going to "disapprove"! And what about your friends? Have you even considered that some of them might have a problem with me because of the color of my skin? I mean, look at where you live! Are there any black people in Haversfield at all?!"

Chase felt like he'd been slapped in the face. He'd never once considered the possibility that Claudia being black might cause a "problem". He couldn't imagine Leona or his friends being that petty or hateful; he still couldn't imagine it, but he couldn't blow it off as nonsense either because he truly didn't know.

He shook his head, "I'm sorry," he said softly. "I didn't even think about it… I'm sorry… but I know that my friends aren't like that and neither is Leona. My parents weren't like that and they raised me to respect everyone. They wouldn't have been friends with or employed someone for decades if they were racist. This I know, so don't write Leona off just yet. She's been like a mother to me and I love her. She'll get over being pissed at me and then everything will be fine."

"You keep saying that," Claudia whispered. She was only half convinced. "I just don't want to be thrown into the lion's den. I came out here to see you and spend time with you, not to be on the defensive."

"I know and I'm sorry. Everything will be good, I swear. Now let's get out of the car and get this over with," he smiled, but his eyes were pleading.

She swung her head around to look out of the passenger side window and think. After a few moments she exhaled deeply and turned back to him, her eyes still a bit watery as if she was doing her damndest not to let the weight of the situation consume her.

"Fine, I'll do this," she said softly, "But if this doesn't go well I'm on the next plane back to L.A."

"Claude, come on—" Chase began.

"No, I'm serious," she cut him off. "There are some things I won't put up with… even for you. And this is one of them. If I get even an inkling that people are judging me over bullshit I'm out of here. Period.

He nodded, "Fine. I get it. I guess that's fair."

"Good," she said as she popped open the car door and began to step out.

Leona's eyes narrowed as she saw that they were finally getting out of the car.

She was sure that Chase had warned the girl about how protective she was of him and although she fought to keep her face passive, she knew that she had probably been frowning when they'd pulled up to the front of the house, which wasn't a good first impression at all.

But she couldn't help it.

This "girlfriend" had shown up out of nowhere and then, all of the sudden, Chase was in love with someone she'd never met and didn't know anything about. She didn't want to begrudge him love or happiness especially since "mystery girl" made him smile they way he did before his parents died, but she didn't appreciate him not telling her anything.

"Mystery girl" stepped out of the car first and Leona was immediately struck by the girl's lovely dark hair which was shiny and fell in cascades down her back. Then as "mystery girl" turned around to face her she observed two things. One: that she was African American, which to be honest, surprised her and two: that she was very pretty; beautiful even. Now she understood why Chase was so taken with her.

Leona wanted to make sure she was smiling and pleasant before Chase got out of the car, so she set her shoulders back and a bright, rosy cheeked smile spread across her face.

"Welcome to Haversfield House, Ms. Harrington. I'm so excited to finally meet you," She beamed.

Claudia slung her purse over her shoulder and smiled weakly, "It's very nice to meet you, Mrs…" Chase had never told Claudia his housekeeper's last name. He'd always referred to her as Leona.

"It's Tatum, darling, but please call me Leona. I prefer it."

Claudia nodded, "Okay… Leona. Thank you."

"Oh phish-posh," Leona smiled, waving her hand in front of her as if she was shooing the thank you away. "I haven't done anything to warrant such graciousness yet. Come on into the house," she said gesturing Claudia up the porch stairs. "We'll get you settled and warm and stuffed with Christmas cookies and then you can throw around all the 'thank yous' you want.

As she ushered Claudia into the house, Chase gave her a sideways smirk that said he was on to her laying the sweetness on so thick. She wrinkled her nose at him dismissively and disappeared into the house.

Chase shook his head and smiled. It looked like he was going to bring the luggage in all on his own. Good thing Claudia hadn't packed very much.