AN: From here on, chapters will be new. The first nine were what was written years ago. I'll do my best to cobble together a story out of old notes. I'm thinking it will probably be another nine chapters. Thanks for reading!

-Stay or Go-

"It is rumored there is only one way to kill a Son of Ipswich before their time, and that is to place a symbolic cursed necklace around their neck, binding their hands and feet with material sewn in the symbols of curse. Place them on their knees and finish them with a deadly blow."

-Excerpt from the Book of Damnation

"I..care about you, Chase."

He failed to tear his eyes from the door. "Yeah, I know."

"No." Trisha took a few moments to gather her thoughts and speak. "I mean I really care."

Peering over his shoulder, he examined her face. Distracted headspace cleared. Selene leaving and Jason creepily watching her fading with new disorientation. What she was telling him...

"Chase, I love you," she proclaimed.

"I..? I don't love you..like that. Wha- I..."

She laughed, trying to hide her distress. "It's okay."

What was he to say? "I'm..sorry." Maybe he shouldn't have said that.

"Better to love than never find love, or whatever, yeah?"

"I guess..." He briefly made eye contact before lowering attention to the ground. "We're cool, right?"

Trisha smiled, shrugging a shoulder. "Yeah, we're cool. Wanna see a movie or something? Distraction would be ideal..?"

Chase didn't want to seem too relieved. And it wasn't awkward. That was good.

"Yes, a movie. Let's get out of here and have a good time for once."

/

Sunday 3:10 a.m.

Confusion, fog. The walls of the circular classroom didn't so much dissipate as he became aware he was elsewhere. He was walking. No recognition of his surroundings to be found. This place hadn't existed in centuries. He wasn't outside anymore. It felt like a different time and place now.

Chase was crouching in a dark room, waiting. It was cold and his environment filth. He mumbled to himself on repeat and it wasn't until a sudden clang which caused him to cease before resuming that he heard what he was saying.

"John, John, John."

This was a dungeon, a prison. His gaze lingered on webs in a corner, watching the spider progress from one side to the other of the lowest web. Tiny creature would outlive him. The unexpected was always possible in this world. He seethed and regained calm immediate.

He felt strange. Chase didn't feel like himself. Where was he? What was he doing? Why? He wanted to stop it. He didn't want to be here.

"Putnam!"

A man in old clothes stood outside the bars, another man beside him unlocking the door. The second man was a guard. He had no idea who the first guy was supposed to be. Door open, the guard swung it open and stepped aside.

"Get up, Putnam! It's time for your execution."

He was smiling. He enjoyed telling him he was about to die. Sick. Oh. Chase realized he was smiling too. He grinned at the man frowning to see his pleasure was being quashed. Chase squirmed in his skin. This felt wrong. He wanted out.

The guard entered the cell and pulled him to his feet, clamping iron cuffs to his wrists. They were heavy and he let his arms fall limply in front. Shoved to begin walking, he exited the cell and the guy who announced his fate led them toward a wooden staircase. Each step was deliberate and slow.

Cool night air rushed into his lungs. He breathed in, enjoying the lack of foul odor. He could smell wood..and oil. His gaze swept the area and located the spot a crowd had gathered, hushed until they laid eyes on his approaching form. The volume of the townspeople started to rise, blaming him for anything negative that ever befell them. Pathetic creatures unworthy of their vessels. He'd release them of their burden but it would be too good for them to experience such freedom. His was soon to arrive.

Chase glanced down and suddenly found himself secured to the trunk of a tree, wood piled all around him. His wrists were bound tight behind him with rope instead of manacles. He shuddered, viewing the crowd jeering at him, a few focusing on a man wearing a masked hood coming toward him on the shaky wooden stage. He carried a torch and the few were laughing and encouraging him to light the fire. They hated him. They were strangers. He didn't recognize a single face. Why was this happening?

"You'll die like the rest of us."

He panicked, straining to break out of the bindings. Who was talking? It was him but not him.

"Burn 'em, drown 'em, hang 'em for the crowd."

There was momentary confusion and hesitation in those nearest paying attention. They tried to find their bearings. The torch dropped and the fire ignited, rapidly increasing in circumference. His feet and legs were hot, only growing hotter. He shifted to ease discomfort. It was impossible. He was trapped.

"Hehehe... You'll go too..Son."

Chase let out a scream of pure agony. The man was laughing, harsh and mad, deriving joy from his painful demise. Sheep knew nothing. He would pass on to the next world. It hurt so bad! Chase sobbed and screamed again. They were burning. He was burning!

His screams may have woke the entire inn. Fortunately, there weren't too many occupants. He rolled on his stomach trying to smell Selene's scent on the pillow and sheets in desperation for comfort. Chase couldn't sniff out the aroma but once he ascertained reality, he sat upright.

Wiping at a sweaty brow, his eyes clouded over into black when someone communicated with him from afar.

"Chase, did you see that?"

Disoriented and still a bit confused, he uttered, "You saw?"

Caleb replied in the affirmative, questioning, "That was John Putnam? Your ancestor burned at the stake?"

"Yes. Ever since my dad willed his power, I've had nightmares of past relatives' lives sometimes. You seeing it too..is new."

"We're yet linked from the soul search. I think that's why I experienced it with you."

He thought of a question of his own. "It was strange. It felt like Putnam was talking to me direct. But that's impossible. It's a dream of a memory, nothing more."

"The man said son, whether he was referring to us or the generic term, I don't know."

"I'm gonna get sleep," Chase lied. "Goodnight."

Caleb didn't say anything in response and his eyes returned to normal. He felt he was alone again. Climbing out of bed, he went to the bathroom to take a leak. This was Selene's rented room. The owner gave it to him after he flashed plenty of cash to pay the bill in her place.

While washing his hands, he stared in the mirror. Light from a streetlight outside barely streamed in the small room so he couldn't see much besides his shadow reflected. Sleep would elude him tonight. He grabbed his jacket. Maybe a walk would put him in the proper mindset for rest.

/

The dark colored vehicle with tinted windows pulled up to the bar on a remote stretch of road. Austin observed the driver quickly exit his seat to get the door for him. Drawing his hands out of his jean pockets, he shifted them into his jacket pockets. That blasted necklace was in the left one, tempting him to express his foul mood.

A splendidly dressed man waited inside the back of the limo, puffing on a cancer stick. He resented the concept of being stuck in a cloud of stench but nodded to the driver before climbing in to sit. The door shut and he closed his eyes while reclining on the leather. He opened his eyes when he heard the driver seated in the front, shifting the car to drive.

His companion appeared to be awaiting his attention and seemed satisfied he had it. "You revel in torment too long. You failed."

Austin sneered, irritated by the scolding. "So the guy can withstand serious torture. So what? He's a little unhinged, all that power going to his head. He'll slip up. He isolates himself. I've got a fish on the line. Just gotta reel her in. Won't be a problem."

He was becoming even more irritated feeling compelled to provide explanation to his present partner. The car turned a little rough and he looked over his shoulder toward the windshield. The driver had been viewing them in the top mirror but averted his gaze back on the street ahead to give driving his concentration. Idiot.

"He's a boy. Don't worry about him. Our plans will unfold well enough in a different manner."

Austin removed the necklace from his jacket pocket and threw it on the seat near the other. In response, the older man picked it up and secured the loathsome tool around his neck. He'd rather use his power full force and let the victor be the strongest. It was him of course. No argument.

"It's a shame my foolish nephew joined their covenant. A bunch of kids playing grown-up... He'll have to learn the hard way there are consequences for unwise decisions."

He put out the spent cigarette in an ashtray containing plenty of used stubs. "Things will unfold all the same."

Leaning forward in his seat with a frown, he cupped his hands together on his thighs. "You're okay with it? A covenant of five forms a pentagram. That's potential we might not want to deal with head on."

He wasn't afraid of a fight if that's what it came to. He'd handle whatever he needed to. But he could also be practical. His power was four. They were five united. It posed a danger.

"I'm fine with it. We will turn it to our advantage."

The car slowed and parked in the lot. Ah. They'd arrived where he left his car. Austin pushed out of the limo without giving the driver a chance to treat him like he couldn't open a door.

"Better hope you know what you're doing," he said as a last note before parting ways.

"And you'd do better knowing who you're dealing with."

The door shut exactly on the end of those words and he stared at the black, seething. He had to get the final word? He would lecture and talk down to him? Austin was left watching the vehicle drive away. His gaze turned to the wooded area. It was yet dark. He glanced at the half-hidden moon. Still time for a run.

/

He forced himself to wait until a reasonable hour of the morning. As soon as Chase deemed the sun high enough and the hour late enough, he tugged his cell phone off the charger. Hitting the number on speed dial, he listened to the ringing, growing apprehensive with each new one. What if he shouldn't be calling? What if she didn't answer because it was him calling? What if she did answer?

"Hello."

"Selene!" Chase calmed his speech, embarrassed he had a bit too much energy in his voice. "Uh, hi, Selene. Er... How are you?"

"How do you think I am, Chase?"

He paused, considering what to say. "I don't know," he finally answered honestly. "I-I hope you're okay."

She didn't respond. He frowned, uncertain. "Have you gone back to Haversfield?"

"I'm out of high school; you've fallen behind and ditched your education. You're choosing what's easy, ignoring responsibilities and people who care about you. You should do what's right."

Chase couldn't help but notice she never answered his question. It sounded like she was trying to mother him, essentially telling him to be good and behave. Frustrating. He didn't understand what she wanted.

"You picked what was important. Your new friends. Being there for Trisha when she needed you after her grandma died. Not me though. When I thought you'd noticed me the way I wanted at last, you left. You never share with me, tell me things. You keep your life private then there's no room for me. I don't know why I expected anything different."

It was true the two of them just started dating when he headed for Ipswich. He hadn't treated his friend right leaving sudden like he did. The power was a massive distraction. Caffeine addiction, liquor addiction, or some other drug? Chase seriously doubted those people had a thing on his addiction to raw power. Actual magic, having the ability to use telepathy, telekinesis, augmenting physical actions, illusion spells...

"Chase? You there?"

The lamp he was elevating with his mind dropped, making a loud clatter. He winced and shook his wrists to divert attention from the obsession to use. He hated he was so messed up. Why'd he have to be like this?

"I'm here. Sorry."

"Some scars will never heal from the way we were."

Words mulled over for a while. They never had time to be anything serious. He'd like to think she was overreacting. He knew she wasn't. Chase refused to believe he might have messed it up before they even got a chance. He never opened up to her, never was with her entirely.

"The way we are," he told her, smiling a little as he talked. "It's great. I love you, Selene, and you love me. Admit it. The way we are, it's..."

"The way we were, Chase. The way we were."

"Come on. Won't you at least give us a chance?"

He wasn't sure she heard what he said. There was noise of people in the background.

"I have to go. Bye."

Chase tossed the phone on the bed, releasing a disgruntled exhale. She mentioned friends. Did he have friends? His oldest friend confessed love for him and his supposed new friends tolerated him because they were all warlocks. Selene was a friend and then..wasn't.

He opened his wallet and carded through to photos. Him, Selene, and Trisha caught in time laughing and smiling. A school trip to the zoo for upperclassmen. It was Selene's senior year so she insisted they attend the optional day out of the school building. She graduated and he transferred to the Sons academy early in his own senior year. What a mistake. He wished he could take it all back; undo everything since he turned eighteen.

His fake ID was tucked behind a credit card he rarely used. He closed his wallet and made himself shower and change clothes before exiting the inn. It was yet morning when he entered a bar within town borders. Wasn't smart to drink in a place that could recognize him for the high school student he was so recently. He was fine with the risk. Using or drinking. The only two vices that would let him feel good.

A few drinks in and he went from angry and bitter to a kind of depression. He ordered an extra drink and slid off the bar stool to sit in a booth. There was more privacy. While the bartender seemed to accept him and his ID card at face value, a waitress sporadically eyed him. Ignoring her, he focused on the awful but wonderful alcohol.

Someone dropped into the booth across from him, passing a note to rest beside his glass of scotch.

I can't do whatever this is anymore. It's too hard. If loving you is this difficult, I can't do it. Do what's right. I trust you will do that one day when you figure out who you are. Have a good life, Chase. Love, Selene.

He groaned. "How many times does a girl have to break up with me? Damn."

"Guess she just wanted to make her point clear."

Chase lifted his head. "You enjoying this, Pogue?"

The guy sighed. "Nah. You stay away from Kate and we won't have a problem."

He smirked a little, grabbing his half-finished drink. "You know she finds me cute, yeah? She could have used the term, 'hot'. Can't remember quite what the ladies say about me."

The youngest Son not yet ascended sat next to Pogue, waving at the paper. "You read the back?"

He flipped it following momentary reluctance.

People are born good. They want to be good. But there is something in the world that makes them bad. Something that is always trying to keep them from being good.

He chuckled. That message failed to be signed but had Lionel written all over it. His former butler and self-appointed guardian was fond of sharing words of wisdom. Although he didn't think he and Selene conferred together on their individual messages to him, they were both hoping he'd be a good boy. How quaint.

While he was reading, a third Son joined them with a beer. Pogue's brow creased seeing the teenager with liquor but he said nothing. Chase was busy pondering why Lionel and Chase were socializing, period.

"I can heal your liver if you want. It's a perk I got now that I'm a full power fella like you guys."

"What can you do again?"

"I can cure ailments like poison. Booze is a poison so..."

Grimacing, Pogue straightened his slouch and gripped the table's surface. "Our powers aren't for wasting. We're adults now. We have to learn to quit the needless crap like jumping off cliffs or playing juvenile pranks."

"Great." Chase realized he didn't know why he had company now. "Why are you here?"

Oh. They did bring the note. Guess that could be the reason. But all three? Where was Caleb? Dutifully attending class unlike these students?

"Did you forget?" Tyler asked, sounding on the edge of annoyed. "You're one of us now."

"We look out for our own," Reid added, giving him an upward nod.

He polished off the glass and reached for the spare drink which was pulled out of his reach by magic. Staring at Tyler, who grasped his glass, he was surprised to watch him take a sip. Chase glanced around at them.

"Go back to school or wherever you should be. It's a mistake being near me. I bring nothing but trouble and should be avoided. Selene wised up. You should too."

Feeling a tad queasy, he rested his chin on his arms stretched on the table. He drank too much. Were tears leaking out of his eyes? Not cool. He wiped at his cheeks with his sleeves to try and hide them from witnessing more of his breakdown.

Chase wasn't even worth a loud fight or a calm understanding in person to her. She left him every bit similar to how he up and left her. This was deserved. His life sucked.

"It wasn't that bad..."

He laughed at the absurdity of the statement, peeking over at Pogue. "Are you shitting me? I was a power-hungry maniac! It was bad."

"Haha, yeah, okay. That's true."

Pogue studied him and Chase sat normal in the booth, wondering what he was thinking.

"My power's healing others as you know," he said. "And you should know how much it took outta me to heal your ass after your uncle got you. You best be grateful."

He had the decency to look away at the far side of the restaurant for no good reason other than avoidance. He never did get around to saying thank you. Chase was a self-involved dickhead. Fantastic.

"Mm, thanks. Ah..yeah, sorry." His stomach rolled, or twisted more like. Ugh... Why did he drink so much?

"Speaking of school," Tyler mentioned, a smile growing. "I think it's time you start again."