Ch. 14
"Already in full swing," Blake said with a smile as she and the others walked the front door of Grant Banks house. Couples gathered in the living room to dance, but unlike last time there was no DJ, only the stereo system. The mock dance floor was set in the living room where dozens of teenagers moved to the bass of the music. Kira Snider stood in the small crowd, rolling her hips.
"What is she doing?" Rylee pointed to Kira with a look of disgust across her face. "It's so horrible, I can't look away!"
Paige rolled her eyes then glanced back at Kira. "Wow, where's her stripper pole?"
"There it is." Reid wrapped an arm around Paige's shoulder and jerked his head toward Aaron Abbot who walked straight toward Kira. She grinded her hips up and down him like he was indeed a stripper's pole.
"Ew," Tyler said, tearing his gaze from the pair. He grabbed Rylee's hand in his. "Let's go get some drinks or something."
The group eagerly made their way to the kitchen where most of the swim team stood, Grant Banks was among them. "Hey boys! And of course, ladies." He bowed politely taking River's hand and placing a kiss on it.
The blush that colored River's cheeks made Caleb laugh. "Hey, Banks back off," he said. "This lovely lady is taken by yours truly."
Grant turned to Blake with a cocky grin, giving her a wink. He opened his mouth to speak but Pogue shook his head. "My girlfriend."
"Let me guess," Grant started, looking at Rylee and Paige. "You girls are dating the other two?" The girls smiled and pulled themselves closer to their respective boyfriends. "I take that as a yes. So what'll it be?"
"Nothing for me. I have a test tomorrow," Blake said with a smile. While Grant pulled Reid, Caleb and Pogue into a conversation, Blake and the other girls mingled through the house. Just as they turned to corner into the foyer, Blake stopped suddenly.
"Oh shit, incoming."
River, Paige and Rylee turned in time to see a certain blonde girl heading their way. Sarah.
"Hey girls!" Sarah said happily, once at the side of Paige. She looked around the room and the people laughing, talking and dancing. "Great party, huh?"
She always seems to find us. Paige's gaze took in Sarah's outfit and grimaced. Her top was a blue and white striped corset that bared her tan stomach and tattoo on her lower back. The dark denim jeans hung low on her hips as the hugged her curves. "Nice outfit."
"I know," Sarah said with a flip of her hair. "So where are the guys at?"
"Oh, they're around here somewhere," Rylee said, jaw tensed. Maybe it was her look or her attitude but something about Sarah rubbed her the wrong way. Sarah was a flat out bitch, Rylee decided as the blonde took a step closer to them.
"Well, since the guys aren't around, let's talk." Sarah's blues turned mischievous as they landed on River. "How far have you been with Caleb?"
River's jaw dropped open. "Excuse me? That is none of your business, Sarah."
"Yeah, it took us a while to…you know." She smirked as she flipped her blonde hair. Finger's itched grab it and rip it from her head. "He was a gentleman that way. Has he taken you to the Old Colony house?"
"Colony house?" River asked in uncertainty.
The smile that came to Sarah's lips was a satisfied smirk as she said, "I guess that's a no. Looks like I'm still the only girl he has taken there." With a swift wink she spun on her heels and disappeared into the crowd, swinging her hips.
"Who does that little bitch think she is?" Blake spat furiously. Noticing River had gone rigid and was shaky with anger, she placed a hand on her shoulder. "River, it's okay. Calm down. She's just jealous and is trying to work you up."
"You're right," River said, breathing in slowly. "I'm calm."
Reid set down the empty beer bottle onto the counter top and clapped his hands together. "Well, boys I'm off to find my woman."
Tyler followed his blonde friend out of the kitchen and into the living room. The people in the kitchen had started to filter into the others rooms, leaving only a few left.
"Did you see Sarah at the meet?" Pogue asked Caleb, bringing a beer to his lips.
"Dude, how could I not?" Caleb heaved a sigh. "The girls didn't look too pleased about it, though Sarah didn't seemed fazed one bit by the death stares she was getting…"
Pogue was silent for a moment, considering his next words. "Something is different about her. Maybe the whole Chase thing really did get to her, you know?" Caleb nodded his head slowly as he and Pogue set down their drinks then walked down the crowded hallway out of the kitchen.
A small group of girls stopped Pogue to congratulate him about the swim meet, leaving Caleb to walk a few steps further by himself. That was when someone nearly tackled him into an open door. He gained his balance then stood tall, ready for a fight.
His stance relaxed a bit as a small blonde closed the door behind her. Sarah turned to him.
"Hey," Sarah said, eyeing him up and down. "I forgot how hot you are."
"Sarah," Caleb said firmly as she reached out to touch his face. He took a step back and he bumped into the desk behind him. "You know I have a girlfriend."
"And you think that's going to stop me?" She closed the space between them and placed her palms on his chest. Her hands lingered there for a moment before making their way around his neck. "You know you want me," she whispered before crashing her lips onto his.
Just then, the door flew open revealing Pogue. Caleb shoved Sarah away and looked to see Pogue standing in the doorway. Without a word, Sarah walked past Pogue but blew Caleb a kiss before leaving the room.
Pogue watched her go then turned to Caleb with narrowed eyes. "How could you do that to River?" Pogue shook his head in disappointment and headed for the living room, Caleb right on his heels.
"Pogue!" Caleb yelled, grabbing his best friends arm. "How could you think that? You know how much I like River and you know I would never do that to her!"
Pogue contemplated his words. "I'm sorry. I just thought…"
Caleb waved his hand, dismissing the apology. "Don't worry about it. Just don't tell River. I don't want her to freak out."
"Tell me what?" a voice asked. River stood only feet away with Rylee, Paige and Blake right behind her. Tyler and Reid appeared next to them.
"Uhh," Pogue sputtered, looking helplessly to his best friend and back at River.
"Caleb?" River questioned, her voice as hard and fierce as her gaze.
"Well, don't freak out or anything," Caleb said. "But Sarah kind of kissed me."
River's eyes flashed with anger as she turned her gaze, searching the room. "Where's the bitch?"
"River," Rylee's voice sounded in her ear. "She just walked out the door."
Without hesitation River stormed after Sarah, the others followed closely behind. As she threw open the door, she spotted Sarah walking toward the woods, already halfway across the yard. Outside, the chilly Ipswich weather bit at River's exposed skin, but she didn't notice because her body felt hot with anger.
"Hey!" River called, taking long strides toward the blonde. A gust of wind blew, sending the last few people that were scattered around the yard back inside.
"You come here thinking you can have Caleb back just like that," River snapped her finger as she stopped in front of Sarah. "You give me and my friends attitude and you kiss my boyfriend. Very bad move."
A smirk crossed Sarah's lips as she peeked at Caleb who stood a few feet behind River. She winked at him then turned back to River. "Yeah, I kissed him but he kissed me back."
"River, I didn't," Caleb said quickly. He glared at Sarah. "I didn't kiss you."
"Why lie, Caleb? You were all over me until Pogue walked in." She turned her gaze back to River, blue eyes glinting with mischief. "Listen, I get what I want and what I want is Caleb."
A dangerous smile played across River's lips as she stood only inches from the girl. "Well he is one thing you won't get. You're a pathetic liar. So why don't you save yourself the embarrassment and leave?" She turned and took one step when Sarah spoke.
"You better watch your back, bitch."
Without second thought, River whirled around, back handing the blonde. The sudden impact knocked Sarah off her feet and to the ground. "Never threaten me again," she said, glaring as Sarah stood. That was when something strange happened.
Sarah's once blue eyes flashed green and her appearance quickly shifted. Within seconds, the long blonde hair was replaced by dark red that hung well past her chest. A girl with forest green eyes and pale clear skin stood before them. Whoever she was, she was not Sarah Wenham.
"Like I said, bitch, watch your back." Before anyone could react the red haired girl snapped her fingers and disappeared from sight.
Blake ran to River's side, staring at the spot where the girl vanished from. Shock was clear on her face. "What the hell? Did she just shift?"
Two men stood guard at the mouth of a large cave. Their gazes moved back and forth over the dark woods that surrounded them. Suddenly, the longer haired one froze in place as he sensed someone coming.
"Who's there?" he called, making his blonde companion tense for a fight.
"Relax, Adrian," a woman said, flipping her dark red hair over her shoulder. "It's me. Scared a certain wolf was going to come and get you?"
"No, but I'm sure Ian would be," the other blonde, Jad laughed. "How did it go?"
A large scowl came across her features as she walked toward them, heading for the cave. "Not good. Demon won't be pleased."
"Don't worry about it, Carmen. Demon has a certain liking for you." Adrian smirked as Carmen passed them and into the dank cave.
"We'll see how much he likes me after this," Carmen called over her shoulder. The path she walked was narrow and the only source of light came from up ahead. As the light grew bigger, the sound of low voices reached her ears, and as she stepped into the large cave like room where a dozen pits of fire burned.
The men that were scattered around stopped their conversations to stare at her as she walked by. But her attention was on a single man who knelt by one of the fires set far from the others. Spotting Carmen approaching, he rose to stand..
"Master," Carmen said, bowing before him.
"Carmen." Demon's red eyes lingered over her appreciatively before going vacant of emotion. "Did you succeed? Speak."
Cameron hesitated for a moment before speaking. When she did, she spoke fast and low. "I tried, Master. I impersonated the Sarah Wenham girl and did all I could to shake the relationships between the girls and the Sons…" She faltered when Demon's brow pulled together over narrowed eyes. "I even kissed Caleb hoping that he would break down and want me. And when one of the other Sons walked in on us I waited for all Hell would break loose. But it didn't even faze them. And then the stupid mutt came after me, and threatened me. Then she hit me."
"And what did you do next?" His voice was calm but Carmen knew there was always a calm before the storm, and right now she could see the storm forming in his eyes.
"I…" Carmen paused, knowing the gale was about to come full force. She had revealed her true form to his greatest enemies, one thing Demon had instructed her not to do. "I shifted."
Demon brought his hand up quickly, causing Carmen flinch. But he did not hit her, instead he caressed Carmen's cheek with his fingertips as he traced line down her shoulder. She gave a whimper as his grip tighten with such strength that it buckled her knees.
"You disobey me?" he growled. "You of all people know not to disobey me."
"Master," she pleaded. "I know I have defied you but I have this." Carmen reached into her the pocket of her jeans with her free arm and pulled out a single sheet of parchment paper.
Demon reached for the paper in Carmen's hand. His eyes raped over the words as an evil smile spread across his lips.
"I still can't believe she can shift into other humans," Tyler said for the fifth time that night. His heavy footsteps echoed down the empty hallway of Spenser's dorm building. "Does that mean she can turn into one of you guys?"
"Yes, Tyler for the last time, she obviously can shift into other humans." Paige sighed and ran a hand through her long blonde hair. "As for her being able to shift into one of us, I don't see why not."
Rylee stopped in front of her dorm room door and placed the key in the lock. "Not to state the obvious or anything but I'm pretty sure that this chick works for Demon." She pushed open the door and froze. Someone stood in the middle of the room. As her eyes glowed golden-yellow, a ball of electricity sprang to her palms.
"Is that a good idea? Someone might see you using your Power."
Blake raced to Rylee's side, recognizing the stranger's voice. "Kevin?" She pushed past Rylee and stepped into the room to switch on the lights. "Can't you be normal for once and call us or something?"
"I'm sorry, if I frightened you." Kevin smiled warmly. "You girls have been busy the last week, haven't you? First your little duel with Demon's henchmen, finding out about the Sons and now another shifter was sent to stir things up."
"Wait," Paige said, catching Blake's arm before she got farther into the room. "How do we know this is really Kevin and not the girl who impersonated Sarah?" She eyed him suspiciously, ready to teleport her friends to safety at a moments notice. "Tell me something Kevin would only know about us."
Kevin spoke without pause. "At our first meeting, River accidentally shifted. When she shifted back she stood completely naked in front of the entire group of the Keepers of Prophecies. Blake laughed so hard that she accidentally made a candle flame grow causing the table to catch fire. Shall I go on?"
"Nope," Rylee laughed, walking further into the her room.
"I was just being cautious," Paige said. "Why didn't you tell me about the Sons when I talked to you last? You could have given me a hint or something."
"You know about it now so there's no sense in bringing it back up is there?" He glanced at the Sons and smiled. "So these are the Sons of Ipswich? It's nice to finally meet you."
Reid stepped forward, eyeing Kevin. "Who are you again?"
"I'm Kevin. I am a Keeper of Prophecies, one of many who-"
"It's a long story, and frankly we don't have time it," River interrupted. She sat down on her bed and kicked off her shoes. "We need to talk about Rylee's birthday."
"Right. Now have you devised a plan for when the protection charm breaks?" Kevin asked. Behind him, Blake rolled her eyes.
"No, we're just going to wing it," River stated sarcastically. She threw her harms in the air and huffed in exasperation. "Of course, we have a plan! We've had a plan for almost three years now!"
Paige shook her head at her friend's temper. "Yes, we have a plan. And no matter what we say, the guys have made it clear that they are helping us fight."
Kevin's gaze went to the Sons, eyes serious and grave. "You are willing to risk your lives to help them fulfill their prophecy?"
"Yes," Caleb answered, speaking for all for of the Sons. "Our powers along with the girls powers would be more than Demon will expect."
"Even if that means I lose a few years of my life," Pogue said, grabbing Blake's hand in his. "I will still help as much as I can."
"I see," Kevin said in a distant voice. He looked as though he was thinking deeply before he snapped back to the present. He clapped his hands together and smiled. "Well I better be off, lots to do."
"Wait," Paige spoke up. "This girl, this shifter…can she change into one of us?"
"No. The charm that protects you will keep that from happening but only until Rylee's birthday," Kevin explained. He looked at the watch on his wrist, looking as if he were in a great hurry. "Paige, would you mind taking me back? You're method is much less of a hassle than mine."
Paige laughed out loud as she held her hand out to him. "I'll be back in a second," she said to the others as her blue eyes flashed pink then disappeared from the dorm room.
"He was and interesting character," Reid said with a smirk.
Pogue studied his girlfriend for a moment. After finding out that Demon had sent yet another one of his henchmen, or in this case henchwoman, he didn't want to leave her side. "I think we should stay with you all tonight. Just incase Demon the red headed chick comes back."
"Not that I'm saying no, but you don't have to," River said, glancing around at the guys. "We can handle ourselves."
Paige, who had reappeared while River spoke, walked to Reid and grabbed his hand. "Let's not start a fight, River. I know I want to be protected to night," she added with a wink at her boyfriend and pulled him from the room. River sighed and followed with Caleb right by her side.
Only minutes later, Reid jumped onto Paige's bed and pulled off his shirt as Paige grabbed some pajamas and went to change in the bathroom.
As River waited for her turn to change, Caleb walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. River grinned and turned to face him, standing on her tiptoes to kiss him. Her hands linked around his neck to pull herself closer, loving the feeling of his lips on hers.
The bathroom door opened and Paige stepped out. "Enough of that," Paige giggled, squeezing purposefully between the couple to get to her bed.
"Caleb, she won't give you any in front of her best friend," Reid said. "You need to get her alone, then you'll score."
"Reid!" Paige scolding, smacking his bare chest. River ignored him and walked into the bathroom to change, but Caleb flipped off telling him to shut up.
Reid smirked at his friend then turned to Paige and snuggled close. "You best stop hitting me or you won't get any from me," he whispered in her ear. Paige let out a single laugh as she closed her eyes and let sleep take over.
As Kevin walked into the windowless room that he spent most of his waking hours in, Lucy stood from the chair in the far corner.
"How did it go?" she asked, watching Kevin go straight to the tall shelf lined with hundreds of old, dusty books. His gaze ran over the spines as if looking for a certain one.
"Something came to my attention," Kevin said, brow furrowing in concentration as he continued to search frantically. "One of the Sons mentioned that they all were willing to sacrifice a few years of their life to help the girls."
"This shouldn't be a shock to you," Lucy said, eyes still on him. "You know about the side effects of the Sons powers."
Kevin sighed as he turned from the book shelf and headed for his desk, searching the dozen of books that scattered the surface. "Yes I am aware of that, Lucy," he replied, flipping through the pages of a small volume.
"Then where are you going with this?" Lucy asked irritably, moving to stand beside him.
Ignoring Lucy's question, he quietly muttered to himself, "Powers…..aging….joining of equals….the Sons….where have I seen this before?"
With sudden realization, Lucy's eyes widened and she raced from the room. A few minutes later, she returned with a book in her hands, heavy and covered in a thin layer of dust. She placed it on the desk and started skimming through the pages.
"I see where you're going with this. It's here somewhere…wait…." Lucy frantically flipped a few pages back and forth. She looked up at Kevin, white-faced. "The prophecy…it's missing."
Kevin rushed to her side and peered over her shoulder. His fingers brushed over the jagged edge of a missing page. With an angry yell he slammed the Book of Prophecies shut. "It's seems as if the girls are not the only targets in this war now."