-His Mistake-
Chase collapsed to the floor. He was bruised and bloodied from the beatings John and the other one, the name Carter he managed to hear, had given him. The smoking man disappeared some time ago and Austin seemed to be getting more and more impatient as he paced back and forth. He halted his pattern and turned toward Chase.
"I could make a deal with you," he proposed, smiling.
He pushed himself onto his hands and knees, trying to stand. Carter planted a foot on his back and forced him on his stomach. Soon after the "convincing" began on Chase, he quickly learned both Austin and John had power like his own. Carter exhibited no such thing so Chase could only assume he didn't have any such ability. Austin knelt beside him and grabbed a fistful of his hair, yanking his head up so that Chase was looking at him.
"A fair deal, I think. You will me the covenant and I will take control, but I shall expel you from the covenant with your powers still intact. You will be completely unaffected."
Chase stared at him. He could see the pure lust for power gleaming in his eyes. It reminded him of how he once was, and it made him sick.
"I don't think so."
All trace of a smile dropped from Austin's face. "I'm very sorry to hear that."
A yell came from outside and then more shouts. The sound of glass breaking and several thuds before all was quiet again. The door to the warehouse burst open and the Sons of Ipswich walked in, the girls close behind. He guessed the sounds from outside meant the sons had taken the guards out of commission. Chase was surprised. They had come for him even though there was no reason to.
Austin glared at the guys with pure hatred and released his hold on Chase's hair as he stood up. His glare switched to John.
"And just how exactly did they manage to find us?" he asked calmly, but it was clear he was anything but.
John rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "Ah, sorry, boss. They must've followed us."
Austin seemed outright astonished at his idiocy. "Evidently," he uttered through clenched teeth.
He turned to the Sons but spoke to his subordinates. "John, put up your force field! We are getting the covenant from the boy today."
With his eyes blackening, Austin used his power to send Chase flying into the nearby wall. He held him there, back pressed against the wall. Austin stood in front of him, hand raised as he steadied his hold on Chase. He kept his distance to prevent the necklace weighing on his neck from stifling his power. This new position was not pleasant.
The Sons rushed forward but they didn't get far before John stepped in their path, eyes black as night. A blue light emanated from his hand and suddenly some kind of wall made of energy formed, blocking the Sons access to come any closer. John was only a few feet from the group. The wall he raised barred them from getting to him either. The wall or force field was literally made of power. It was invisible and yet they could see it because the force field gave off a bluish tinge. His granted power. Chase could appreciate the coolness of the skill despite his present situation.
Austin ignored his intruders and focused on Chase. "We could have done this the easy way."
He lifted the other hand and brought a wooden crate flying through the air toward him. The crate crashed to the floor at Austin's feet and the top flew off. Inside were random tools and at least a dozen nails, each maybe eight inches long and an inch thick.
"You call beating me into a bloody pulp the easy way?" Chase inquired, tone disbelieving.
The corner of Austin's mouth curved into a sneer. "I call it amateur work. I underestimated what a kid like you could sustain. I won't make that mistake again."
The one hand was still held in the air, keeping Chase pinned against the wall. With that hand, he flicked it and Chase's left arm slid up the wall, outstretched. He proceeded to use his free hand to make a nail rise out of the box. Chase looked from the nail, to his outstretched hand, then back again.
"Oh shit," Chase managed to say before Austin sent the steel nail driving into his hand.
"Gah!" Chase cried out from the sudden and intense agony.
The cry attracted the attention of the people who came to save him. Caleb appeared to be absorbing the situation and Chase's hand impaled by the nail, blood dripping down the wall. He threw a shock wave of power at the force field. It crackled as it met the other warlock's power but did little else. The Sons caught on and they all began sending their power against the wall, trying to break it down. Slowly but surely they could see progress was being made. It was beginning to wear down. Chase felt something like hope.
Austin raised a second nail out of the box. It hovered above his hand and he watched him struggle to free himself from the wall. There was no way Chase could and that was without the nail issue. His power was too great for any of them and he was hell-bent on persuading.
"You have such potential, Chase. Why can't you see it? Think of how great you could be joining my side. With enough power, we could bring this world to its knees!"
Chase managed a laugh. "Ah. Finally the sugar coating melts away and we see the real you. It was good of you to admit it. Typical bad guy trying to go out and rule the world. You're pathetic. I thought I was terribly unoriginal but you- Aaah!"
He screamed as a nail drove into his right shoulder. The pain was unbearable but he swallowed hard and met Austin's eyes. His eyes were that of determination, sending a message he would never give in. Austin just couldn't understand it, Chase could tell by the visible exasperation on his face and in his voice.
"Why?"
There was a yearning to know what was going on in his head. It would seem Austin did not appreciate being confused, for his tone quickly changed to anger.
"Why do you suffer for people who care nothing for you?"
Chase gave a pained cry as a third nail drove into the arm that already had a nail deep in his hand. Two more nails slammed into his upper legs. He was in so much torment that all he could manage was a sharp intake of breath. Blood burst from the fresh wounds and he was soaking in the crimson liquid. As the Sons bombarded the force field, it began to waver. Against all four of their powers, it wouldn't last.
"Boss! This shield isn't gonna hold much longer!" John shouted to Austin.
He started using both hands to keep the divide up, trembling while struggling to maintain his hold on it. The Sons continued their assault on the wall. Carter stood next to him, fists clenched as he waited for the imminent fight.
The girls were watching Chase's agony as Austin tortured him and Sarah yelled, "Caleb, hurry!"
Austin spun around and started hollering at John to keep the shield up and used a few rather vulgar phrases along with it. The power that Austin had used to hold Chase to the wall faded as soon as he refrained from concentrating. Chase took advantage of the distraction. His mind raced with thoughts, searching for some idea of how to get out of this predicament. He kept thinking about the power. Then the thing that could stop it came to him.
He had one hand free and he started working on the loop of the necklace around his neck. He felt it come loose and let it fall into his hand. Chase dropped his hand to his side as Austin turned toward him. The man took a moment to breathe deeply and regain calm. His attention returned to his helpless victim.
"Explain it to me, Chase," Austin said, walking up to him.
He pulled the nail from his shoulder. Chase moaned in pain. Austin let the nail fall to the floor and placed his hand on one of the nails in his arm. "Explain to me why you are doing this."
"Gaahhh!" John's voice rang out and he went flying across the room.
The Sons' power broke through the wall and one of their shots hit him head on. Carter watched John fly past him and fall to a crumpled heap. He went for his gun as the teenagers advanced. His weapon was no match for their combined magic. A surge from Reid sent the non-magic guy through the air and he hit the opposite wall hard with a sickening crunch. Austin tightened his grip on the nail in Chase's arm and his gaze roved over them.
"Come closer. I dare you." He yanked the nail from Chase's arm.
While he was wincing and clamping down on his lip to avoid a cry, he caught sight of Sarah wincing. The Sons' eyes faded to regular color. If they tried to attack their power might hit him as well. Austin moved on to his hand and pulled that nail out. Chase started to slump to the floor now that nothing was pinning him to the wall. Austin grabbed hold of his jacket collar. He pinned him to the wall and screamed at him.
"Why are you so foolish? Look at them. I said look!" He gripped Chase by the chin and forced his head toward the group who stood a few yards away. "These people tried to kill you. They would not shed a tear if you died. Why do you suffer so they can live? They care nothing for you!"
He was forced to stare in their direction and his eyes met Caleb's. He could detect concern in them. Caleb was worried about his well-being. He couldn't understand why.
"I harmed them first. Caleb was only defending himself when he almost killed me. I don't hold any grudges against them. They have every right to hate me. But here they are, trying to save me."
Austin's grip had loosened on his face and Chase turned his head back to look at him.
"You ask me why I suffer so they can live? I do it because they deserve to live. They deserve to live more than you, more than me."
Austin's reply to this was a sharp tug that pulled one of the nails from Chase's upper leg. He gasped in pain, it hurting enough he was breathless. Austin held onto the nail, grasping it tight in his hand.
"I give you this last chance. Join me. You could do great things with me. Here you are just some kid who means nothing to anyone."
"The power... It ages you. I stopped being a kid a long time ago. So have they."
Austin slammed Chase into the wall once, then again, his head falling back and bashing into the wall each time. Blood continued to run from his multiple wounds and he was beginning to feel faint. As Austin was beating him against the wall, Chase leaned on him at one point and let the necklace drop inside the man's coat pocket before getting slammed into the wall again. Austin finally let go and somehow he managed to stay on his feet. He had to hold the wall with a hand because of the weak state he was in.
"That's not a no," the jerk acknowledged. His voice sounded smug, like he sensed victory.
"You're right, Austin," Chase said.
He could imagine what the guys were thinking watching this. Hearts sinking, disappoint and shock growing. Chase was going to side with this Austin guy after all. That's what they were thinking. Caleb was probably telling himself someone as bad as him could never change. That he shouldn't bother seeing the good in everybody and end up in trouble. Chase wouldn't let him or any of them down.
"You're right," he continued. His head was lowered and his face hidden from view. Sometimes he had a thing for dramatics. "They will never accept me as one of them. I've ruined any chance of having a normal life with them by my actions. Life would be easier if I just willed you the power of the covenant and joined you in whatever endeavor you seem so keen on doing. It would be so easy."
Austin smiled. "That's right. With me, things will be much easier. Go on, Chase. Will me the power of the covenant. Go ahead."
Chase stayed silent while Pogue shouted curses. "Chase, you unbelievable asshole! You son of a bitch!"
Austin ignored them, his attention solely on Chase. "Go on. Do it. I..."
"Chase, don't!" Kate shouted.
He didn't look in her direction. "I..." he trailed off and Austin inclined his head nearer in case Chase was whispering it. He was not.
"Say it. I..will..." he urged.
Chase uttered, "I..." He lifted his head up and met Austin's gaze. "I..think you should go to hell."
Massive relief flooded through Caleb and the others visibly when they realized he wasn't going to do it. That relief was short-lived as Austin reacted. He grabbed Chase's jacket, his expression one of cold hatred.
"Undoubtedly that's where I will be going. But you first." Austin plunged the nail into Chase's stomach and pulled it back out, releasing his grip on him.
Chase stood for a moment bent over, clutching his stomach as blood gushed from the wound. He contorted his face in pain and disbelief. Well crap. Kate screamed and Sarah let out a loud gasp, her hands against her mouth. The Sons stared in horror as he stumbled backward. When he hit the wall he slid down, leaving a smear of gore behind. He fell face down into a pool of his own blood and went still. Crap.
"You bastard!" Kate screeched in anguish.
She tried to run at Austin, wanting to hurt him. Pogue stepped in front of her and she fell into his arms sobbing.
"He killed him. He killed him."
"You'll pay for that," Caleb informed Austin and he advanced on him.
Reid and Tyler were close behind. Their eyes began to blacken as they prepared to attack. Austin grinned and turned to face them. John was regaining consciousness and this only made Austin's smile widen. He let the nail soaked in Chase's blood fall to the ground and walked a few steps toward the Sons. John grunted as he climbed to his feet and walked over to stand slightly behind Austin. Chase fought to keep his eyes open witnessing all of this. Nobody seemed aware he wasn't out.
"Let me, boss," John murmured.
He swayed slightly from side to side, anticipating the fight. Austin tilted his head to look at his ally. Apparently some sort of message had been conveyed between them because John raced toward them. Just then from outside, a half dozen men wearing suits and armed with guns came running in. Caleb shouted orders to keep anyone from panicking.
"Pogue, protect Kate and Sarah! Reid and Tyler, take care of the guys in suits! I've got superpower boy here."
John heard Caleb call him this as he ran forward and a grin broke out across his face. He was nearly upon him now and his eyes clouded into blackness.
"Oh you like that, huh?" Caleb commented. "How about this?"
He sent a ball of power shooting toward him. John dodged it and reached Caleb. He placed a hand to Caleb's chest and sent a surge of power into his body. Caleb fell back but was quick to retaliate with another attack and this exchange went on back and forth. Meanwhile two guys in suits approached Pogue and the girls armed with semi-automatic machine guns. Chase found that worrisome. The two suits opened fire and Pogue lifted a hand and raised a shield. It was in no way as big as the one John created and it wasn't going to hold for long.
"Reid!" Pogue called out.
Reid was blasting a man into a wall when he heard his name. Glancing around, his ears quickly took in the semi-automatic machine gun clatter and Pogue's distress. Not noticing him in time, they didn't stand a chance. He sent a wave of energy flowing through the air at rapid speed which knocked both men to the ground, unconscious.
Pogue lowered his shield and went back on the watch for any new dangers. Reid turned to the remaining four suits that Tyler was fighting. He had to continuously raise a shield to fend off the bullets but every now and then he got in an attack, knocking one of them out of commission. When Reid joined the fight, the armed guys started to lose large. Their attacks became more desperate and sporadic.
John was cocky and thought he had a sure win. Chase knew this was his downfall from the beginning. His opponent's overconfidence reminded him of himself when he fought Caleb. Frowning at Caleb waiting to attack, lost in his thoughts perhaps, he suddenly recalled the battle he was in. The delay caused him to charge longer than he planned and as he sent it hurtling at John, he barely got out of the way. The energy slammed into the far wall, leaving a huge gaping crater in it. John looked at the gouge in the wall and then back at Caleb.
"Whoa, angry are we?"
"Shut up!" Caleb shouted and sent energy at him, jumping out of the way as the guy counterattacked.
"Finish this, John. Quit playing with him!" Austin shouted in annoyance.
John glanced his boss's way, Chase's way, and froze. Caleb halted his movements as well and tracked his opponent's stare. He thought of rising.
The last of the suits fell. Reid and Tyler gave each other a high-five, congratulating each other as Pogue and the girls came over to them. They all noticed the sudden hush that had fallen in the room and turned around to find out what was happening. Right. He should move now. He struggled to stand.
"Do you know what your mistake is?" Chase asked.
He was breathing labored, unfortunately, one hand clutching the wound in his stomach. His body was drenched in blood. The right side of his face was covered in it from when he had fallen in a puddle of liquid red. He took a strained step closer to Austin. His left arm hung limply at his side and he dragged his left leg as he moved toward him. After the initial surprise wore off, Austin looked smug, still confident of his control.
"I make no mistakes," Austin retorted and raised his hand to send a surge of power into Chase.
Nothing happened.
"Wha- What?" Austin stammered in disbelief and tried again as Chase drew gradually closer.
Again there was nothing. Chase motioned with his good arm and sent a nail from the ground across the room. It slammed into Austin's upper leg and he drew in a sharp intake of breath, clutching his wounded leg but refusing to yell.
Panting from the pain, he asked, "How? How can you use when you wear the necklace?"
Chase reached Austin, stopping about a foot or so away. Their eyes locked and he repeated, "Do you know what your mistake is?"
Austin kept staring in disbelief, mind racing, and Chase saw the moment it clicked for him. He slowly lowered his gaze to his jacket. He reached in his pocket and pulled out the necklace. It did not hurt anymore because it already fully absorbed his power from him. He'd been too occupied to feel it affecting him in the first place. Even if he threw the necklace far, it would take several minutes for him to regain his power. As this cold, hard fact was realized, he just couldn't believe what happened.
"My mistake..?" he managed to say.
Chase leaned forward. "You underestimate the Sons of Ipswich."
With that, he struck Austin in the jaw with a perfect right hook. Impressive considering he really wanted to fall down and sleep for a while. The asshole spun and fell to the ground, out cold. Chase turned his gaze to John. The glare was intense. John put up his hands.
"Heh. Uh... Surrender?" he asked sheepishly.
"What a mess."
All eyes searched for the source of the voice. It was the smoking man.
"I told Austin he was in over his head."
Chase started to sink to the ground. Caleb was nearest to him and hurried to catch him before he could fall. He put Chase's good arm over his shoulder so he could hold him up. With Caleb supporting him, the two headed to the others.
"You think you can get away with this? Just knock down my boss and leave?"
The voice belonged to Carter. He was standing by the wall where he had been thrown and he moved toward Caleb and Chase. He was sporting a black eye and a hand held his ribs. He came for them and started ranting at the younger of the two.
"This is all your fault," Carter claimed, looking furiously at Caleb. "If you and your friends hadn't interfered then the covenant would be ours!"
"Gee, we're so sorry about that," Reid sarcastically remarked.
Carter didn't even seem to hear him. He saw only Caleb. "It's your fault. All your fault." He was mere yards away when he added, " I have to fix it."
There was a gun in his hand. They weren't sure if it had been there the entire time and they just hadn't seen it or what. But they didn't have time to think. All they had time to realize was that one of them was dead. There was no way the guy would miss at that close a range and Caleb didn't have a chance to use his power. Caleb closed his eyes in acceptance of the inevitable and Chase slipped in front of him. The gun went off.
He opened his eyes after receiving the bullet he anticipated. It hurt, but not as bad as he thought. He was in a lot of pain already. His legs gave out and arms scooped him to prevent his fall. Caleb held him. What a weird thing to be real.
Multiple shots went off. He craned his neck in the direction Caleb was facing. The smoking man had fired into Carter, who collapsed to the floor, blood expanding. Blank eyes at the ceiling.
"C-Caleb..." Chase gargled through the blood filling his mouth.
"Don't talk, Chase," Caleb told him in a soothing tone. "Save your strength."
"Don't think better of me. I was dead either way. That guy just shot a corpse is all," he gasped out through strained breathing.
"Don't say things like that, Chase!" Kate exclaimed. "Pogue can heal you."
At those words, Pogue remembered his ability and rushed to kneel beside Chase's dying form. He placed a hand on the gaping wound in his chest and the other hand felt around until he found the bullet wound. These were the injuries stealing Chase's life away and so needed to be healed straight away. Healing, huh.
"Chase, hold on," Caleb told him softly.
But he couldn't hold onto the words. His eyes rolled in his skull, blood trickling out of the corner of his mouth.
"Chase..?" Sarah said, her voice hardly above a whisper.
"Chase?" Caleb echoed. "Chase!"
He was drifting away. Speech seemed impossible. Thoughts...