Chapter Twenty-Two

Alex had arrived only minutes ago, and during her brief conversation with Sarah, Reid could tell she was distracted. Her gaze flicked over her shoulder several times and even when he touched her lower back in attempt to gain her attention and start a conversation, she only gave him a quick smile before excusing herself. Now as he watched her weave her way through the crowd toward Tyler, he noticed her hesitation before approaching him.

He would be lying if he said watching Alex with Tyler didn't make him jealous, but there was more to it. Sadness maybe? Guilt? He didn't have time to dwell on the unusual feeling before Tyler's gaze snapped to him, the youngest Son's expression unreadable.

"We should leave," Caleb said, suddenly at his side. "It's getting close."

Reid glanced at his friend and nodded in agreement; Tyler would need a moment gather himself before his ascension. He looked back to Alex and Tyler, expecting to have to interrupt their conversation, when Alex came storming back in his direction. Her face was a mask of anger barely hiding an expression of hurt. Reid's chest squeezed at the sight and stepped into her path, holding his hands up, palms out as if to stop her.

"Whoa, what's wrong?" he asked, spinning as she stepped quickly around him.

Alex waved him off, glancing at him with narrowed eyes. "I shouldn't have come."

Her tone was final, warning Reid not follow as she shoved open the outside door. A brisk breeze tore in, temporarily stealing the heat before the door shut behind her with a soundless click. The bar was loud, knocking annoyingly against his thoughts as he turned his gaze to Tyler and watched as the youngest Son lifted a flask to his lips, head tilted back to let whatever choice of liquor was in it drain down his throat. With a low growl, Reid closed the distance separating them, unpleasantly surprised with his friend's actions. He snatched the flask from Tyler's hand only to find it was empty.

"You've been drinking?" Reid shoved the flask into his pocket before the others would see. "You know you need a clear mind for ascension."

Unfazed, Tyler shrugged his shoulders. "Just taking off the edge."

Reid suddenly realized this was the first conversation they had had in weeks. At least without shouting, glaring or blaming. He shifted his stance, wishing there was even a sip left in the flask he confiscated.

"Ty, listen-"

"Are you ready?" Caleb's unintentional interruption cut off Reid's sentence. Pogue stood to his left, who glanced over his shoulder.

Reid followed his gaze to see Sarah herding Kate back to the table to prepare for a conveniently planned girl's night in. Unlike Kate, Sarah knew of the ascension, their powers and the Covenant. She was in on the night's plan; her only job was to keep Kate distracted and squelch any questions or curiosity the dark-haired girl had.

It must be hard, Reid thought, being in the know of such a secret and not being able to share it with your best friend.

"Let's do this." Tyler's words were meant hold determination; however, the enthusiasm didn't reach his eyes. Dark circles, hidden slightly by the dimness of the bar, clung to him as he pushed passed the others.

Alex cursed loudly as she stepped outside, the sound of the door slamming shut echoing into the night. Snow flurries fell dreamily from the sky as cold licked at her cheeks and bare hands. With a shiver, she pulled her jacket closer, chiding herself for thinking it was a good idea to come.

Stupid.

As she took her next step, her foot caught a patch of ice, causing a yelp in surprise as she slipped and nearly crashed to the ground. She caught herself but growled under her breath as she set her feet steadily underneath her before taking cautious steps the rest of the way to the car. In the safety and seclusion of the driver's seat, Alex's gaze was drawn back to the front door of Nicky's. Her eyes narrowed, knowing Tyler was inside drinking his sorrows away.

If only it were that easy to make him forget, Alex thought bitterly. Naïve as it was with the effects of alcohol dulling senses and numbing pain, it was only temporary. Eventually Tyler would have to accept the fact that Alex had her mind made up, and no amount of sulking would change that. Under the gaze of the youngest Son her resolve once faltered but after tonight she held firm. While she had hoped they could salvage at least a friendship, he admitted he missed her, wanted her, needed her... and she didn't want that.

Her chest turned heavy at the obvious lie. Couldn't. She couldn't be more than friends, not without ruining Tyler's life-long friendship with Reid. However, it seemed even the end of her relationship with Tyler still hadn't mended the bond of brotherhood. From what she heard from Sarah and what she herself had witnessed, Tyler and Reid were barely on speaking terms. Alex scoffed, wondering why she cared so much. Friendships end every day; Alex knew that firsthand, and if Tyler wanted to be petty and particular about what kind of relationship he wanted with her fine. He had that choice but so did Alex. And she was done trying to salvage any form of friendship with the youngest Son.

The drive to the Dells was quiet. Only the rumble of the engine and the swish of windshield wipers could be heard. Next to him, Tyler stared out the window; hands folded tightly together in his lap and his jaw as tense as the set of his shoulders. It was a big night, but Reid wasn't worried…about the ascension at least. Out of all of the Sons, Tyler was the least reckless with his power and the more mild-tempered one. Even with everything going on between them Reid believed in his best friend. He would make it through this without a hitch.

A small knot settled in his chest as his gaze moved to the windshield. Outside, a blur of snowflakes rushed toward the car at a dizzyingly speed. Barely visible ahead, the lighthouse beacon signaled a warning to ships in the distance not to venture close. The cliffs at the Dells dropped off to a rocky bottom, meeting roughly with the sea.

"Almost there," Caleb announced unnecessarily.

Reid looked back to Tyler who now stared blankly ahead, his face expressionless and paler than normal. The feeling in Reid's chest grew, causing his heart to sputter for a moment. With a slow dawning of realization, he recognized the feeling: worry.

He will be fine, Reid reassured himself.

As the car came to a stop, he was pulled from his thoughts. Too occupied with whatever was going through his own mind, Tyler took a deep breath and stepped from the car, exhaling once his feet hit the ground. He took in his surrounding slowly before turning his gaze suddenly to Reid. There was no determination in his eyes as he shut the door.

With a sigh, Reid joined the others at the front of the car. Opposite him, Tyler stood with his hands deep in his pockets, his shoulders rigid. Silently, he turned and led the way into the woods just to right of the lighthouse where the trees were clustered tightly together and the bare branches slowed the fall of the snow. Four sets of footfalls, softened by the snow-covered ground, trailed behind them as their breath puffed out in clouds before them. They weren't worried about being followed. No one else was crazy enough to be out at the Dells in the middle of the woods at night, especially in winter.

Soon they reached a clearing; it was small but open.

Ever so the leader, Caleb glanced at the watch on his wrist. "Fifteen minutes," he announced. He grabbed Tyler gently by the shoulders in a supportive, brotherly gesture and squeezed. "You've got this."

They had prepared Tyler as much as they could up until now, warning him of the pain he would experience, however brief, followed by the immediate need to Use after ascending. Reid himself remembered the extreme urge; even now, nearly a month after his own ascension, the pull of Power danced constantly within his veins.

"We're all here for you," Pogue said.

As Pogue clapped Tyler on the arm, Caleb looked to Reid expectantly, advising without words to add something, anything.

Reid shifted his stance as Caleb and Pogue stepped away to give them space. Though Tyler didn't turn to him or look in his direction, Reid knew he was aware of his presence.

"Listen, before you Ascend." Reid paused, finding difficultly in what he needed to say. Apologies weren't usually his thing. "I just wanted to say, I'm sorry."

"Sorry for what?" Tyler rolled up his sleeves, not bothering to look him in eye. "For being a shitty best friend?"

"Tyler," Caleb warned from a few feet away.

Tyler ignored him and turned to face Reid who stood taken aback, and continued. "How about for being jealous? Or for pouting over the fact that Alex wanted to be with me instead of you? What about all the times I sat back and allowed you hook up a girl I liked behind my back?"

Reid's face flushed with fury and humiliation. "I'm trying to apologize here. The least you can do is not be a dick."

For days now the guilt he had felt for his wrongdoings had begun to consume his thoughts. Every time he would look at Tyler, sulking in the halls, his guilt would only worsen. He knew and finally admitted to himself that he was jealous. He had wanted to be with Alex and selfishly sabotaged his best friend's relationship, not able to fully grasp the repercussions of his actions. He had hurt Tyler more than he ever would have imagined, but as hurt as he may be, Reid never expected his apology to be brushed away by more accusations.

"I'm the dick?" Tyler chuckled darkly; the sound low in his throat. As he stepped to stand nearly nose to nose with Reid, Caleb and Pogue appeared, both prepared to break up another fight between the two. "Are you really that much of an idiot? I only did what you did a hundred times over."

Though Reid stood his ground, having met Tyler's glare with his own, he felt his breath catch in his throat.

Power, triggered by fury, rushed through Tyler's veins. A little voice in his head, always there, always goading, begged him to surrender to it. He wanted to give in so many times, to feel the glorious intoxication. It would be so easy, the voice would say, just let go. And sometimes he did; letting the power slide over him, bleeding his eyes black. Now was one of those times he wanted to listen to that voice.

"That's enough," Caleb snapped with authority. "Now is not the time for petty arguments."

Alex was far from unimportant, yet Caleb was right. His Ascension was a few minutes away and he needed to get control of his emotions. He forced himself to walk away from the others, from the fuming Reid who glared after him, with the voice in his head protesting all the while. His body shook from nerves and fury, and just like at Nicky's, no amount of deep breathing could calm him.

Relax, he told himself. Breathe.

He sucked at the cold air in measured breaths and squeezed his eyes shut. Darkness surrounded him and he dwelled on his father's words…

"As strong as I know you are, you'll need your friends to get through this…"

"It's important, Tyler, that you lean on them…You're all stronger together."

Tyler opened his eyes and looked over his shoulder at his friends. Caleb's face was set in determination, while Pogue stood stoic at his right.

"It's time," Caleb announced.

Tyler's heart squeezed in fear just before he was lifted into the air, dangling only by threads of Power. His body contorted as every inch of him exploded in pain. A scream ripped from his throat, though he couldn't hear it over the blood rushing in his ears. His vision spotted as bolts of lightning assaulted him and Power moved excruciatingly through him, dragging through his veins. He had expected to feel pain but it was as if every nerve, every cell in him was being incinerated. He cried out again, this time rattling his eardrums, and his vocal cords strained in protest from the force of it.

A feeling blossomed deep in his chest, nestled satisfyingly in his rib cage. As Tyler gasped in agony, the light subsided and he felt cold against the skin of his face.

Ground, Tyler realized, inhaling the scent of dirt and dead leaves. It's over.

Footsteps vibrating against the earth made his head throb. He reached to cradle it but even that small movement sent stabs of pain through his aching body.

"Fight it, control it."

It took but a second for Tyler to understand what Caleb was talking about. The Power rushing in his veins searched desperately for a release, whispering seductively. Promising to relieve his pain, tempting him with invincibility, to make any desire a reality as long as he surrendered.

"Fight it, Tyler," Caleb repeated through gritted teeth, his voice much closer than before. "Control it!"

Tyler's gaze snapped up to Caleb who now knelt over him. In the reflection of his dark eyes, Tyler watched his own eyes flash fire before bleeding fully black. He could feel the Power dancing at the tip of his fingers, ready to do as asked. With a wave of his hand he could make everything right again…but at a price.

"Come on, don't give in." It was Pogue. His voice was laced with concern, troubled with how the youngest, the most innocent of the four, was fighting so hard to keep control. "It's not worth it, man."

Absently, Tyler knew Pogue was thinking of his father who had given himself fully to Power and paid the ultimate price—his life. As well as Caleb's dad, in the end. He himself wanted so badly to give into temptation, to stop the pain of the Ascension and the heartache from the past few weeks. Fear was the only thing giving him pause.

He feared the recklessness, losing control of who he was…though lately he wasn't exactly sure who that person was. Curling in on himself, he fought against the pain and Power. Though it felt like hours, only minutes passed before he felt his heartbeat slow with each labored breath as he struggled to collect himself. It was a bit easier now to resist temptation, though it lingered as theh the pain subsiding to a dull ache. Tyler opened his eyes sluggishly to find Pogue and Caleb kneeling beside him, both sitting back on their heels with relief heavy on their faces.

Tyler offered them a feeble smile, though it came off more of a grimace, then looked to Reid. The blonde Son of Ipswich stood behind the others with a furrowed brow and tight jaw as he stepped forward.

"You good?"

The question wasn't just geared toward Tyler's ascension. The tone behind it insisted to know more.

"Yeah, it wasn't too bad." Tyler's reply had meant to break tension but his voice came off shaky and timid. Was he okay?

Tyler dropped his gaze and pushed off the ground; his legs wobbled under him but forcibly found his balance. Slowly, his gaze moved back to Reid. The blonde returned his stare with eyebrows pulled together, as if he couldn't quite recognize the person standing unsteadily before him. His apology still hung in the air, unaccepted and brushed aside.

It was late, well passed one in the morning but the lights in the house were still on. As he moved up the stairs, exhaustion weighing on his limbs, he could see the silhouette of his parents in the window.

"You're safe." His mother nearly cried when Tyler walked through the door. Her hand fluttered over his face before he was pulled into a hug. She felt small within his embrace, something he had never really noticed before.

Terrance Simms gently pulled her away from him, offering a proud smile. "Let him get some rest, dear. He's had a long night."

Teresa Simms nodded. "Sleep well."

He had offered a small smile in reply.

Only when Tyler had shut his bedroom door behind him, was he able to let out a shaky breath. Every muscle in his body ached as he moved across the room where he collapsed onto the bed, the mattress soft and inviting after a brutal ascension. He knew in the morning questions would be asked of him… he hadn't missed the worried glances exchanged between the two eldest Sons. And neither Reid nor Pogue struggled the way he had; their Ascension giving them more of a sensation of a bad hangover than his painful struggle against the power. Even Caleb, who had received his full Power and was willed his father's Power while in the middle of battling the fifth Son, Chase Collins, bounced back more quickly than he just did.

Tyler felt weak in that moment and now. He knew the others were worried that the youngest Son wasn't strong enough on his own. Tyler fell onto his bed; it barely took a moment before he slide into slumber.

With the holidays over and school having already started back up weeks ago, Alex returned to work. Her schedule was much the same as it had been before break, allowing her time for homework as well as a social life, though the latter seemed almost nonexistent nowadays. Her breakup with Tyler caused somewhat of a rift between her friends. While the drama focused mainly on herself, Tyler and Reid, the others seemed affected just as much, as if unable to pick a side. Alex brushed the thoughts away and instead, busied herself with refolding clothes while Sarah happily tended to customers.

It was rare the two had the same shifts but with the unusually weather, Teresa Simms must have suspected an influx of business. And she wasn't wrong; many of the town's patrons bustled down the streets of downtown Ipswich to take full advantage of the beautiful day. The skies were cloudless and clear blue, and the sun glistened off snow-covered ground. Only a few more hours and she could enjoy the rarity of January.

"Do you have this in red?"

Alex looked up to see a girl, no more than fifteen, dangling a shirt in front of her. "No, everything is out on the floor."

The girl jutted out her hip with a huff of annoyance. "Can you check the back?"

Alex forced a smile, ignoring the attitude. "Like I said, everything is out on the floor. Is there anything else I can help you with?"

As a reply, the girl rolled her eyes and dropped the shirt on the floor before joining a second girl on the other side of the store.

I like this job; I need this job. She saved every paycheck, though attempted to repay Blair but her aunt always refused to accept it.

"I told you your money is yours," Blair would say each time. "Just keep on the right track like you are."

Her aunt's smile each time was proud and genuine, something Alex still wasn't used to even after months under her supervision. It was hard to believe it had been over four months since her arrival in Ipswich, and since Blair gifted her with the Ducati. It was painful to think she still had at least three months until it was ridable, with the winter in the Northeast seeming forever long. She longed for that small freedom, and though she could technically leave as soon as she turned 18 at the end of next month, she knew Spenser Academy was good for her and whatever her future holds.

Alex blinked away the thought, unsure of where exactly that future might lead, and she already had enough to focus on in the present. Especially now with Tyler Simms approaching her. She blinked again; her surprise quickly replaced by exasperation. After their conversation last night at Nicky's it was clear no friendship could be saved.

"What do you want, Tyler?"

Tyler stopped, leaving plenty of space between them. A precaution for himself as much as for her. "I'm sorry," he said, getting right to the point. "I had a lot on my mind last night and I didn't mean to act the way I did toward you."

Alex let out a humorless laugh. "It's a thing for you Sons, isn't it? Be a jerk, apologize, rinse and repeat?"

She turned from him with a shake of her head, unable to accept his apology so swiftly this time. It was becoming a trend she wasn't fond of.

"I get it," he said, following her closely. His voice was low. "You came to wish me a happy birthday and I was an asshole. I'm sorry for that."

Tyler nearly ran into Alex as he stopped short and spun to face him. "You know after saying sorry so many times the word actually starts to lose meaning."

Alex watched as Tyler's jaw snap shut. His blue eyes narrowed. "I made a mistake, Alex. Everyone does."

Not missing the slight behind his words, Alex scoffed. "Yeah, mistakes happen but it's different when it becomes a pattern."

There was no storm of conflicting emotions behind her gaze, no fight between the heart's desire and head full of logic. With a sinking in his stomach he realized it was actually over. It was clear in her stance—arms straight at her sides and her chin set in determination. Any fight he had left for her vanished in that moment as a sad acceptance took its place. At a loss for words, Tyler could only nod gently.

"Listen," she started, peeking around him at the sound of a doorbell chime. "I've got to get back to work."

Alex stepped around him with nothing more than a tiny lift from the corner of her mouth, a forced attempt at a smile if he ever saw one. He tried to gain some sort of composure as a hollowness settled in his chest.

It's over. Just like that. So much can happen within a second…a rift in a friendship, the heartbreak of a love lost… surrender to Power. Tyler squeezed his eyes shut to fight off the sudden urge to use while a voice inside his head coaxed him to submission. He could feel the Power flare, a strong pulsing temptation.

"Ty, are you okay?"

Tyler's eyelids snapped open to see Sarah; eyebrows pulled together over blue eyes filled with concern. She raised a hand to his arm but Tyler stepped out of her reach. His gaze found Alex who had purposely moved to the other side of the boutique. As if space could make this any easier. Suddenly he needed to be anywhere but there so without even a glance back at Sarah, Tyler turned to leave. He ignored Sarah as she called after him, unwilling to answer the question out loud.

Of course, he wasn't okay. He hadn't been okay for a while now. First it was the stone and the sacrifice of a Son to rid the curse of their bloodlines. Then it was the agony of wanting Alex, all while knowing his best friend wanted her as well… and even though in the end he was the one to end up with her, that happiness was short lived. While the breakup was hurtful, he had hope. Even amongst the fighting and difficult conversations he thought they would end up back together. But now it was over.

With everything coming to a head, including his near disastrous Ascension, it was all too much. It was as if he was slowly suffocating, unable to completely catch his breath or sleep without a faceless figure haunting his dreams.

Once outside, each breath was like ice in his lungs as he inhaled deeply. His blinked in the brightness of the sun, averting his gaze to the ground and trusted that the fresh air and solid ground beneath his feet could help hold him together. It was a bit easier to breathe with every step he took down the sidewalk but the hollowness in his chest was there. People bustled around him, some passing too close their eyes lifting to his with friendly smiles while others simply ignored him. He preferred the latter, feeling the sudden desire to be alone. He needed to run, scream, cry…he needed a release from the emotional pain clawing at his insides.

I know one way to do that, a voice cooed, barely brushing against his thoughts.

Tyler faltered in his steps as the itch of Power pulsed again. With a quick glance around, he darted down the side alley that cut between two buildings. The further he moved, the quieter it became, the hustle and bustle of Ipswich patrons now muffled by the sound of blood rushing in his ear. He could feel adrenaline and the spike of excitement, but knew what he was about to do wasn't a good idea. Just a day fresh from Ascension the temptation was stronger than ever and with every Use he was pulled further into addiction. But at this moment, he didn't care.

The pain was too much.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: For those of you still sticking around, thank you for your continued patience. As much as I love writing it isn't my only job or my top priority. As stated before, I will finish this to the end. I'm hoping to wrap the story within the next five or so chapters. The next chapter will be up by next week, if not sooner! Thank you again!