XXI. End of All Hope

End of hope, End of love
End of time, the rest is silence
It is the end of all hope
To lose the child, the faith
To end all the innocence
To be someone like me
-Nightwish

As she had predicted, speaking to her aunt did crush her good mood. Hope got dressed in her school uniform, performed all her other morning ablutions with a heavy heart, and went to class. Pogue was already there, sitting next to Caleb. Their eyes met briefly, invisible sparks of electricity passed between them. Rowan scooted over for her.

"How're you feeling?" Hope asked.

"Better," she replied with a slight smile. Tired though. She leaned her head against Hunter the entire class.

Her brothers and Reid figured she would be relatively safe during the day, considering her foe was a vampire this time around; but she wasn't to be left alone passed sundown. Rowan had to cork every argument that came to mind when Caleb said that someone would be with her then. Sometimes Caleb could put his foot down like nobody's business and his word would turn to gospel.

Two rows up, Caleb said quietly, "Sorry I interrupted you last night."

Pogue flicked guileless blue eyes at him. "You didn't."

The corners of Caleb's lips twitched. "Okay. So you didn't have company?"

He had to fight to keep the grin off of his face.

"Reid will want to congratulate you. Just a warning."

Pogue's eyes glanced down. The blond must have felt his stare because he glared back and smirked, elbowing Tyler at the same time.

"Great," Pogue muttered.

"Mr. Garwin, is there something you'd care to share with the class?" the teacher asked drolly.

"Ah, no," Reid replied whimsically. "Just stoked about this assignment." He was accompanied by titters from his classmates.

The teacher frowned tolerantly and went back to his lesson.

Rowan chuckled lightly, shook her head at Reid who winked at her. He'd had stayed at her house last night, too; but had been unable to fall asleep in his separate room. At about one in the morning he just went into her room and fell asleep in a comfortable spoon. There'd been no getting frisky. Reid had just wanted to sleep next to her; not to mention it would have been impossible to do with three animals literally surrounding them, and they had no compunctions about curling up right against your ass (Ernie) or head (Bruce Lee and Bubbe).

He'd gotten a brief, stern glare from Caleb in the morning, but he only asked how Rowan had slept, and whatever misgivings the older brother had had of Reid staying with her dissipated when the blond told him she had slept pretty good.

When swim practice came around a few periods later, Reid got his opportunity to congratulate Pogue.

"Really, it was time you moved on," Reid said superiorly.

Pogue scoffed.

"So…is it love?" Hunter asked, smirking. His question had the guys turning their full attention to Pogue.

He clenched his jaw. "It was sex, okay? That's it. Now, can we stop chatting like a bunch of chicks and concentrate on swimming?"

They held up their hands in submission, backed off. None of them bought Pogue's "just sex" spiel, however.

"Was it at least-"

Tyler glared at Reid. "Don't finish that sentence, Reid."

----

Kate slid into the vacant seat next to Hope. They had advanced chemistry together and Kate decided to nominate herself as the new girl's lab partner for today. Hope eyed Kate warily, without rancor. She knew that this was Pogue's ex-girlfriend, the one who had cheated on him, and hated Rowan for whatever reason.

"Hi," she said. "I'm Kate."

Hope hesitated before taking the proffered hand. "Hope."

"I just thought I'd welcome you to Spenser."

Her smile was slightly forced. "I've been here for a month."

Kate grinned. "Well, better late than never, right?"

Hope nodded. Both girls saw Pogue come into the classroom, noted his visible astonishment at seeing them sitting together.

"Oh…drama," Pinkie murmured to Maria.

"Settle down, class," Mr. Portman declared.

Pogue slipped into his usual seat next to Caleb. "How long has she been sitting there?"

"Since she got in here," he replied.

Hope then sneaked a glance at him. He was in the next row, three tables back. She shrugged as if to say she didn't know what was going on either. But she had a feeling it wasn't anything good, and felt uncomfortable not knowing what Kate was up to.

The lights went out so the teacher could conduct his PowerPoint lecture.

"You listening in?" Hunter whispered to Rowan.

"She only welcomed Hope to school."

"After a month?" Hunter shook his head. "The shrew has something in mind."

None of them doubted that.

"So, you and Pogue, hmm?" Kate spoke quietly, leaning in close to Hope like a girlfriend she'd known for years.

"I don't follow."

She giggled under her breath. "It's all right. A lot of girls like him."

Hope nodded.

"We used to date," Kate went on. She didn't bother to ask if Hope knew the reason why they weren't dating anymore. "He's a nice guy, you know? But can be pretty neglectful."

She was beginning to get annoyed. "Really."

"Look, I'm just giving you a heads up before you get in too deep." Kate kept the pose of a concerned friend. "I wouldn't want you to go through what I did. No one should have to."

"What's that?" she couldn't help but ask.

Kate didn't answer for a minute, as if she were summoning up the strength to talk about something that was painful for her. "He was just…always into his family, or his bike, you know? He'll abandon you for almost anything at the drop of a hat if even the tiniest thing is wrong with them." Pause. "Especially Rowan. He doesn't even like anyone so much as looking at her the wrong way. None of them do. Just…imagine if someone came here to like…hurt her, or any one of his 'brothers.'" Kate let her eyes settle on Hope who was staring straight ahead. "He'd never forgive anyone for putting them in danger."

----

Hope splashed cold water over her face. After class she'd bolted to the nearest restroom. What the hell had Kate been getting at? Did she know something? Or was she just trying to scare her off? Either way… Kate's words only exacerbated the driving need to come clean with Pogue.

But you didn't come here to hurt them, she told herself.

She had been lying to him though. To all of them.

"Hope?" Rowan came in the restroom. "Are you okay?"

She nodded, dried her face off with a paper towel. "Yeah, I'm fine."

"Oh…well, Pogue's out there. He's worried."

Rowan's psychometry went off. But it was all blurred and incomprehensible; meaning that Hope's thoughts and feelings were turbulent and rushing through her mind like a hail storm.

"Do you need to talk about something?" Rowan asked tentatively. "I'm a good ear."

Hope gave a small smile. She almost spilled her guts then and there. But Pogue was probably the person she needed to confide in first.

"Thanks," she said. "I…uh…"

Rowan nodded, understanding. "It's all right. I'll let you finish up, okay?" She left the bathroom.

"What's up?" Pogue asked.

"Something's bothering her. Didn't tell me what, though." The warning bell rang. Pogue said she better get to class.

Pogue cursed. "Damn Kate." The bathroom door opened, his features instantly softened seeing Hope. Her face was a bit wan. "Hey…you all right?"

"Yeah. Just felt a little sick for a moment there." She probably didn't sound the least bit convincing.

He felt a bit conspicuous just standing there so he took her hand as they walked to their next class. "Listen, about Kate…did she say something to upset you?"

"No, not really. I think she was just fishing."

He ran his hand down his face. "You probably know our break up wasn't exactly a nice one."

She half-smiled. "Yeah. I've heard things." Pause. "Did you love her?"

Silence. "I thought I did." No, that wasn't right. "I mean, I did. It just took me too long to realize that she didn't really love me. She just liked the Son of Ipswich thing. A lot of girls are only interested in that." He shrugged. "It was the same with our dads, and our granddads. It's hard to find a girl who'll not care about that."

Ah…that was like a knife to the heart. How did she tell him that it was exactly that, the Sons of Ipswich, which had brought her here. That had been her goal, obtain the Sons' help. And here Pogue was, defining Hope exactly. But she didn't care about whatever power he had, or the whole Ipswich history he was a part of. She just liked him. Felt herself falling in love with him. Pogue was fun, loyal, caring, and even though he tried to hide it, a softie at heart. He knew that family was priceless and didn't take it for granted either.

"Well," she finally said, "for what it's worth, I don't care about any of that."

Pogue's blue eyes gazed at her tenderly, and he smiled. "That's worth a lot. More than you know."

----

"I'll take the day off," Reid said.

Rowan pursed her lips, shook her head. "No. Besides, you don't even want to go."

Sure, going to visit Paul Walters in jail was always a highlight. Normally it wouldn't matter, but with it getting dark at around five in the evening these days, someone had to accompany Rowan on her bi-monthly visits to prison. No one truly understood how she could have become friends with one of the guys who had caused the fatal car accident she'd been in a little over two years ago. But Paul had written to her last January asking forgiveness, and Rowan had gone to visit him – the rest was history.

Now, Reid eyed Paul's most recent letter which was placed on Rowan's nightstand. It was Friday evening, two days after the vampire attack.

"Who's going with you then?" Reid asked.

"Hunter."

He nodded. All right. Fine. "You'll call me when you get there."

"And when I'm done. When I get back on the train. And the second I get off the train," Rowan finished, teasing.

Reid snorted. "I'll meet you there at the station."

"Of course you will." She kissed him on the forehead.

He wasn't going to let her get away with her banter at the situation. Reid grabbed her around the waist and playfully tossed her on her back, the bed bouncing beneath them.

"Hey, no fair, once again," she exclaimed. "You're stronger."

"That's the way it's supposed to be," he replied, letting his weight settle firmly on her with a triumphant grin.

"Yeah…wait, one day I'll get hugely fat and roll over and crush you."

Reid laughed. "I really can't imagine you fat, Row."

"What if I did get fat, though? You'd still love me?"

He kissed her neck. "I'd love you anyway." Truth. "But…how would I make love to you in your favorite position if you're so big I can't lift you?"

"Hmm…that's true," she mused. "I guess I'll have to maintain my current physique."

A physique that Reid was exploring right now with his hands and lips without reserve. They were supposed to meet everyone at Nicky's but were running a little late. Obviously.

----

"What did Belle say now?" Hope inquired impatiently. Pogue was going to be here to pick her up any minute to go to Nicky's.

"She said Sunday morning at the Putnam barn," Aunt Evangeline replied.

"'Morning' is pretty broad."

"Well, that's all she got."

"She sure has a selective sight," she quipped.

Evangeline sighed. "We have to work with what we have. Did you tell him yet?"

Silence on Hope's end. "No."

"Maybe this would have all been easier if you had in the first place. The direct approach."

"Maybe it would have been easier if you'd accepted the fact that he can't be saved, and sure as hell doesn't want to be," Hope snapped.

She startled when a knock sounded at the door.

"I have to go," Hope said, and hung up.

"Hey, everything all right?" Pogue asked when she answered.

She put on a smile. "Yeah, why?"

"You sounded upset."

Oh my God, how much did he hear? "Just my aunt," she explained.

"The infamous Evangeline," Pogue said. He looked her up and down. "You look great."

Hope crimsoned. She was wearing tight skinny jeans with black heeled boots; strappy pinstripe corset top that showed a subtle amount of smooth cleavage; her hair was pulled back into a sleek ponytail.

"Thanks."

"Ready?"

The cold bit at her skin. He had another biker jacket on his motorcycle and handed it to her. She smiled gratefully, put it on, then the helmet. This was the second time she'd been on his bike, and she loved it. Especially loved the fact that she could wrap her arms around his strong, muscular torso as tight as she wanted.

The ride to Nicky's was too short in her opinion. The warmth of the bar was a small compensation. Everyone else was already there, so they went and joined them.

"I love your top!" Maria smiled.

"Thanks," Hope said.

"I think a lot of men here love your top, sweetie," Pinkie quipped naughtily.

"And where is James tonight?" Hunter asked him.

"Visiting his family for the weekend," Pinkie replied.

"We didn't scare him off, did we?"

Pinkie pouted at Hunter. "Maybe you did. Do you know what he said to James?" he demanded everyone. "He said, and I do quote, 'If you hurt Pinkie, I'll cut your d-i-c-k off, so no matter who you're with in the future, you'll always be the bitch.'"

The table laughed.

"Seriously?" Reid turned to Hunter.

Hunter shrugged unapologetically. "Haven't I done worse to those who hurt my friends?"

"Only you would actually do it," Caleb pointed out.

"True," Hunter answered. "That is true."

"We're just looking out for you, Pinks," Rowan said. "And we do like James."

"Oh, I know," Pinkie said flippantly. He gave Hunter a peck on the cheek. "I forgive you. Just don't threaten his manhood again. You'll ruin my plans."

"Plans? You mean you guys haven't-" Reid began to ask, then stopped abruptly. "Don't answer that." It was just a reflexive question, that. "I don't want to know."

Tyler snorted. "That'd be the first."

Reid nudged him jokingly. He saw one of the pool tables free up and declared a game.

"How's your foosball game?" Caleb asked Judy.

She looked at him shrewdly, a sly smile playing on her face. "I think I can give you some competition this time."

Caleb kissed her and took her to one of the tables, leaving Pinkie, Hunter, Maria, Hope and Pogue.

"Ah, I need food," Pogue said, and got up. "You want anything?"

"Just a drink would be good," Hope said. She was as surprised as Pogue was when he bent down and kissed her before heading to the bar.

Four sets of eyes danced merrily in her direction.

"He is like, so in love with you," Pinkie and Maria said at the same time.

"Uh…" Hope was definitely put on the spot.

"That's okay. You don't have to say anything," Rowan said. "They make their statements…"

"And they turn out to be truth," Hunter finished.

Up at the counter, Pogue waited for his order, his eyes in the direction of where Hope was sitting. He didn't see Kate sidle in next to him.

"Hey, Pogue," she greeted silkily.

Just her voice put a sour taste in his mouth. "Kate."

"How've you been?"

He glared at her for a moment, then chuckled wryly, didn't say anything.

"So…you two are getting serious?" Kate asked.

"Is that any of your business?" he returned.

"No." She shrugged casually. "Just that…I've been hearing things."

He smirked. "Sounds like you need to be talking to a shrink then, not me."

Kate bit back her retort. "I meant about your girlfriend." Her eyes flittered over to Hope across the room. "What do you know about her?"

He was beginning to get annoyed. "Look, Kate, cut the shit, all right? What do you want?"

"I just think you should be careful. She's not who she says she is."

"Yeah, and you'd be the expert on duplicity, right?"

"Don't you wonder why she came here?" she questioned, ignoring his snappishness. "She kind of popped up…like Chase."

The hairs rose on the back of Pogue's neck.

Kate quoted, "I came here with nothing but lies, now you ask me to spill the truth…"

"What does that mean?"

"I told you." Kate smiled innocently. "Just something I heard." She gathered herself and made to leave. "Oh, yeah, and also something about saving 'Justice.' Whatever that is."

By the time his order was ready Pogue didn't feel so hungry anymore. He was seeing Hope through new eyes; eyes that Kate had opened for him. Why did he listen to her? Pogue knew he shouldn't, Kate was a consummate liar, he knew from firsthand experience. And Justice, her brother? Why did he need saving? So, her older, wayward brother was the reason why she'd come to Ipswich. Things weren't adding up.

----

Hope was glad Pogue was still at the food counter because all of a sudden, she knew without a doubt that Justice was here. She scanned the room as casually as she could, but there was no sign of him. But she did notice Pogue talking to his ex-girlfriend, Kate, or rather trying not to talk to her.

"Ugh, does that girl never give up?" Pinkie intoned, seeing the same spectacle as Hope. He shook his head in distaste and took a dainty sip of his diet Sprite.

"It's, like, so sad," Maria added. "She wronged him, and now look at her…" Her gestures were an echo of Pinkie's.

Hope didn't hear them, though. Justice's face appeared astonishingly close to Pogue's for a tiny second.

Suddenly, Rowan began to choke on her soda. Hunter patted her on the back.

"Sorry," she rasped. "Went down the wrong tube."

Her brother, she thought. The vampire is her brother! That's why he reminded me of someone.

Rowan's psychometry had gone off like a flash, with one crystal clear picture in mind. It was Hope's mental image of her brother, but when he had been human.

"Row…you okay?" Hunter asked.

She nodded. Couldn't help stealing a glance at Hope. Their stares met for a brief, almost knowing second. The connection was cut off before conclusions could be drawn though. Rowan was unaware that she was shaking.

"Cold," she said.

"I'll be right back," Hope said abruptly.

Hunter knew there was something more going on. He caught Reid's eye; the blond had felt something amiss through his and Rowan's bond.

"Sorry," Rowan said.

"Um…Pinkie, let's go to the powder room," Maria said, and practically dragged the boy with her.

"What is it?" Hunter asked. Tyler and Reid were making their way over, so was Pogue.

"What happened?" Pogue put his food on the table.

"I…" Rowan looked at all of them, but her gaze lingered on Pogue. What was she going to tell him? That Hope's brother was hunting them, or her, Rowan. Me. She felt no anger towards Hope, just a miasma of confusion. "You need…go out there," she managed to say. "To Hope." She gestured towards the back.

"What…?" Pogue's face lit with consternation.

I'm sorry, Pogue. I'm so, so sorry, Rowan thought. Because she knew his heart was about to take another beating.

----

"Justice! Come out, now!" Hope yelled.

It was like an eerie movie, with steam coming out of the ground vents, boxes of empty glass bottles lined the walls, and a large Dumpster near overflowing with garbage. At least she'd had the sense to grab her jacket this time.

"Hope," Justice said, coming out of the shadows.

She was on his with her fists so fast one would think she was the vampire. But it was like hitting stone. "You asshole! What the hell are you doing here?!"

"Hey, hey, hey!" He grabbed her wrists, shoved her back gently. "It's a free country. I came for a drink."

"Yeah, and I can only imagine what kind of drink you want."

Justice smirked. "I also have a score to settle with another bloodbag. And since you're oh-so close to them…"

"Them? What do they have to do with anything?"

"They're between me and The Light. Especially that...guy, the gay one."

She tilted her head to the side, wary. "Hunter?"

Justice chuckled. "Appropriate name. Yeah, he snapped my neck the other night. Didn't even see it coming. He popped up out of nowhere. Literally."

"What are you talking about?"

"The Light, Hope. Jesus Christ. You've been hanging out with them for how long and you still haven't figured it out? It's not a guy."

Moments of shock passed, then she whispered, "Rowan." Rowan's The Light.

"Kind of surprising huh? She's actually kind of powerful in her own way, but she gets weak fast."

"Rowan," Hope said again under her breath, taking an unconscious step back.

God, all this time she'd been seeking out Rowan. And…she couldn't ask her to help her brother. She was so…delicate, fragile, and…

BANG!

Justice hit the brick wall of the building so hard it shook. Hope spun around. All of them were there, even Rowan.

"Hope?" Pogue glanced at her, then at Justice. "Do you know him?"

"Ah, fuck, let me go, asshole!" Justice demanded. He was being held up against the wall by Hunter's telekinetic force; a mental force that was so strong not even this vampire could break it. He felt pressure on his bones, and even though he knew they would mend as soon as they broke, it still hurt like hell.

Hunter scoffed. "Yeah, sure, I'll do that."

"Hope." Pogue said her name with insistence.

"He's…my brother," she finally managed to say. Still reeling from finding out that Rowan was The Light, her eyes found hers, and the guys collectively surrounded her like a shield.

"You guys," Rowan chastised behind them.

"Stay there, Rowan," Pogue ordered. "Who the hell are you?" he demanded of Hope.

"I…I was supposed to come here for…"

"My sister?" Caleb stepped in, his usual amiable face now set in placid anger.

"No!" Hope denied. "I mean, yes, but for her help-"

"Screw you! Your brother tried to kill my girlfriend the other night, did you know that?" Reid snapped.

"Help for what?" Rowan asked, nudging her way through the tall muscled bodies. "Turning your brother back human?"

Hope nodded.

"Forget it," Pogue said, pulling Rowan back.

"Let me down!" Justice hollered.

Hunter ignored him. Slipped a sharp stake from the inside chest of his jacket that he'd been saving especially for Justice.

"No! Wait!" Hope shouted.

"Wait a second, Hunter," Rowan told him. "Let her explain first."

"Explain what?" Pogue snapped. "That she's been lying to us from the second she got here? You knew who we were the entire time, didn't you?" He was a foot away from Hope now.

"Yes," Hope sighed. "My aunt told me that The Light was here and that it could help Justice. I didn't know it was Rowan!" She glanced at her apologetically.

"Why should I believe you now?" Pogue hissed.

Rowan wanted to intervene, but Reid and her brothers weren't letting her move from the sphere of their protection.

"Stop!" Justice shouted.

Hunter was two seconds away from staking him. "You shouldn't have tried to hurt her. I don't let anyone get away with that."

"Please, wait!" Hope beseeched Hunter. Despite everything, she couldn't just let her brother be eliminated here, like this.

"Do it, Hunt," Pogue said coldly.

"Ah, fuck you!" Justice spat in Pogue's direction.

"Nah," Hunter deadpanned. "Fuck yourself." And he aimed for the vampire's heart.

The stake stopped less than an inch from Justice's chest. One second nobody was there, and the next, there stood Raphael Spellman, holding the wooden stake in his large, pale hand beset with one fat ruby ring on his middle finger.

"Let us be patient, my young Shepherd," the older vampire said blithely.

"Who the hell are you?" Justice asked.

Censuring eyes landed on Justice. "I do believe I just saved your undead life. Now, be silent. I've words for you, yet." He turned back to Hunter. "Would you kindly release him?"

Hunter's jaw clenched, but he finally ceded to the elder's request. Raphael held Justice by the neck of his jacket to keep him from bolting. "My associates and I have been tracking you, fledgling. If not for Caleb's timely telephone call you would have continued to elude us." He smirked. "Though not for long."

Rowan looked at Caleb. "You called him?"

"Demonic warlocks we can deal with, but vampires are a little out of our league, Rowan," he said.

"He is right, chérie," Raphael said to Rowan. "You should have contacted me immediately." But his expression was one of affection. "And you have made quite a mess," he told Justice. "Frollo! Niles!"

Two tall men, vampires, slithered out from the darkness, seamlessly. One had hair so blond it was almost white; the other had chin-length hair the color of almonds. They wore long coats and tailored suits.

"This is the fledgling?" Niles, the blond one, inquired distastefully. "What is the world coming to?" He said something in a foreign language, the tone indicating it wasn't complimentary.

"I want a word with his maker, that is for certain," Frollo added with as much disdain.

Justice sneered. "Who the fu-"

"No," Raphael voiced. "You really do not want to finish that sentence, young one." As if Justice were a rag, he handed the fledgling over to his associates. "Take him. I shall join you shortly."

"Where are you taking him?" Hope questioned.

For the first time Raphael looked at her, sympathetically. "Come with me, oui? We shall sort things out."

When Hope hesitated, Rowan said, "It's okay, Hope. You can trust him. I've known him for years."

She nodded. Then glanced at Pogue whose returned stare was unfeeling, brought on by betrayal of the worst kind. "Pogue, I…"

He didn't listen. He pivoted on his heel and walked away.

Now that Justice was subdued, Rowan was allowed out from her gilded cage. "Go with him." She touched Hope's hand gently. "We can talk about this later."

"I never meant to hurt him," Hope said softly.

Reid's scoff was audible, as was his curse.

"I know," Rowan replied.

"I shall call upon your family later, Rowan," Raphael informed. He bent down and gave her a cold kiss on the cheek. "Au revoir."

In minutes they were gone.

"Where did Pogue go?" Tyler asked.

"I heard his bike," Caleb said.

"What a mess," Hunter uttered.

"No shit," Reid agreed.

----

Pogue gunned the accelerator on his bike until he felt it grind. He couldn't go fast enough.

He sped down a long, empty stretch of road to nowhere.

Don't worry, Hope and Pogue will have a talk. That wasn't it.

More heartache to come. :) ... After five reviews. :o) jk