-The Choice-

"First understand the past in order to understand the present. Make certain you get it right."

-Excerpt from the Book of Damnation

Saturday 10:33 a.m.

His mom was excited to have another boy living in the house. She cooked them special dinners every evening after swim practice or meets if they promised to leave for school together and return home together. Caleb could tell Chase wanted to run away. He wasn't used to constant supervision and care, Tyler taking it upon himself to regularly hone in on Chase's location via crystal to be sure he didn't run off. The oldest Son acted upset with his check-ins, but he hadn't removed the necklace either.

The old Chase would have never put on the necklace and would declare he was too powerful to need it. Of course, they never could have created the protection charms in the first place without creating a pentagram covenant which required his participation. It was overboard to check on the guy so much, but his uncle was still out there with Carter, their opinion on Dean Lasko was undecided, and Caleb didn't trust Selene or the Rogers period.

They were studying for a test they missed on Monday and had to make up this coming Monday. He was studying anyway, thankful it was history, a subject he liked above the others. Chase on the other hand, stared at his phone more than he did the textbook. Caleb wasn't going to say anything, really he wasn't.

"Chase. Call her. Ask."

He pushed the phone under the book, pretending he hadn't been staring at it. "She hasn't called or messaged. She has to be in on it with her parents. All this time. Just- Drop it."

"I will when you will."

The scathing look did nothing to intimidate him. Chase gave it up and glowered at the open book, more sad than angry. This one could get lost in his head for hours if he didn't bring him out of it. Too much bad shit, but it wasn't too late. He would make sure of that for his friends, his brothers.

"I tried to find her, you know. Trisha. She's not here. She moved on."

"Isn't that a good thing?"

He bitterly chuckled. "Yeah. But she's still not here."

Caleb understood. "My dad was addicted to the power and aged a lot in a short time. He could have been older than a hundred instead of in his forties. He wasn't much of a father, but, you know... Still who he was to me. Willed me his power so I could beat you, like your father willed his to you so you could beat us."

"My father was never my father. I just wish I would have realized that sooner."

He shut his notebook, not feeling like studying any longer. "Did you read the packet of information Lasko sent through the mail?"

"On his company and research, our eyes only. I skimmed it."

He laughed a little at his perpetual laziness when it came to doing his homework. "Yeah. Not sure what to make of it."

"Trisha would have published everything. Brought his secret project into the light so everyone could make up their own minds. She loved uncovering the truth."

His mom appeared at the door. "Chase. You have visitors."

A man and woman stood behind her, entering when she waved for them to go ahead. Caleb considered he left his mother too much in the dark after Chase stood, alarmed and nervous. He wondered if they were Selene's parents and his thought was confirmed. His mom left them to their visitors. She would probably attempt to eavesdrop nearby knowing her.

"Mr. and Mrs. Rogers." The surprise shifted to suspicion and wariness. "Why are you here?"

"You know we can't hurt something like you. There's no need to be afraid."

Chase watched Mrs. Rogers come farther into the library, husband walking beside her. Caleb remained seated but he narrowed his eyes at the woman. She called him something. Why did she hate him so?

He didn't miss how Chase's fingers brushed the part of his shirt where the crystal likely hung beneath the fabric. "You hurt me plenty."

"Don't be a child, you despicable monster."

Caleb stood. "Insult him again and I'm kicking you out of my house."

Mr. Rogers rested a hand on his wife's shoulder, regarding Chase. "Victor Pope, Shawn Austin, who is really Shawn Pope. Chase Collins, who used to be Chase Pope."

The woman sighed. "My grandmother changed our name to Rogers. We used to be Roche, my ancestors from England. A line of witches typically skipping a generation. Far removed enough from magically gifted bloodlines that my daughter could be normal like me too. If she has nothing to do with other magical bloodlines."

"What are you talking about?"

Caleb had to agree with Chase's utterance. He was confused as well.

"She never noticed, but my mother did. The longer she spent with you, the more she practically glowed with power. A teenager who cared about her looks, she used the magic to be beautiful. To the untrained eye, it's someone who adapted to proper make-up. It's not. She doesn't wear make-up. Thinks it's pointless to hide your face. She's a good girl."

"She's using magic? I don't know what you're talking about."

"She absorbs via emotional connection. She drains your power and uses it for herself. She did it to her grandmother and we kept their visits a few hours at most to avoid this."

Mr. Rogers nodded, expression flat and solemn. "Mr. Cambridge in New York wouldn't stop contacting us looking to speak to our daughter. Recruitment to learn to absorb consciously. Absolutely not. We told Selene you were dangerous. That you killed her cousin. She knows her allegiance is to her family."

"She doesn't know?" Caleb questioned. "She doesn't know about her bloodline?"

"Of course not. She's normal and she's going to stay that way."

"You have to tell her!"

The adults glared harshly at Chase. He came around the side of the table, clenching his fists and glaring right back. Caleb angled to face him in case he had to step in. There would be no fight happening in his house.

"Have you seen Jason Mathers? It seems he left home one night and hasn't come home. His father is worried sick. We've told Selene you killed him like you killed Christian Baron."

"I don't think that will have the effect you're hoping for."

Caleb glanced toward Chase, curious what he could mean. Was he confident she would believe that her parents asked him to get her boyfriend out of the way? He wasn't going to guess how well they knew each other or how they understood things between them. That was all them. What he did know was these people hated his brother because he had magic he never asked for. It was cruel.

"It's a shame you grew up in that home," Mrs. Rogers said. "You never would have met my girl if you hadn't."

"Caleb!"

He raced for the door not knowing what was wrong. "Mom!"

Chase bumped into him in his rush to catch up as they entered the hall and ran for the foyer area. His mom was held to the wall by Austin's power, the man standing close to the door, arm stretched toward her. Caleb blasted his power at their enemy, uncontrolled and lacking shape. The guy raised a shield by raising his other arm, palm outward.

"Caleb Danvers. Will me your power or I kill your precious mother."

"You'll die before you can kill her!" He turned blackened eyes to Chase when he stood behind on his right, grasping the crystal. His eyes didn't go black. He was trying not to use? Warning the others? "This is between you and me, Austin!"

"Where's Carter?"

What? Why ask that? Was he buying time? What was he planning? Anything?

"Died from his wound. Pity I won't be able to repay your friend for that." He brightened strangely enough, when steps closer to him resulted in visible pain and retracing the steps backward. "Looks like you've taken advantage of your pentagram. I thought you might. Won't work against undead."

Caleb's eyes briefly lost the black in his surprise at seeing the dirty cops walk through his front door, growling and stumbling out of balance. Something was wrong with them. Their faces were gaunt, pale skin and sunken eyes. Their lips were rimmed in blue, actual eyes clouded and dull. They were dead?

The two men charged for Caleb and Chase. Okay. Just him. They ignored the other boy and slammed into the shield Caleb threw up. They were animated corpses clawing and biting at the force field he extended to form around his body. Peering over his shoulder while he strained to maintain the shield, he saw the Rogers had come out and were watching from the hall. Chase seemed torn between protecting them or helping Caleb's mom.

He didn't do either. Chase ran straight for Austin without using his power. That was suicidal. That was..what caught Austin off guard. Tackled to the floor, Chase grabbed onto his dark brown jacket and pulled back an arm. He punched him across the jaw and the man screamed, immense power flinging Chase away.

But then he curled it, tendrils flicking out and wrenching him back into his arms. Rolling them, he climbed on top of Chase and strangled him with two hands. Caleb built up energy and released, blowing the zombified officers to the other side of the room. He looked at his mom who was climbing the stairs to the second floor. Good. She was safer there.

Austin's expression revealed his pain at the close proximity to the necklace. He had enough power to resist but it still hurt. Caleb moved closer, reluctant to do what he had to. This man was a continuous threat. He had to kill him to protect themselves and everyone they cared about.

The undead were coming for him again. Irritating puppets getting in his way. He clenched his teeth and contemplated how to kill dead people. Caleb ignited them in flames and propelled them airborne through the door. Elemental magic was a bit testy but eh, there was a time crunch to consider.

"Hey!"

Austin looked, allowing Chase to breathe when Caleb threatened with a lift of his hand.

"Forget her parents, Chase. Use your power to protect yourself, to protect others. It's okay."

Caleb realized his error by the smile on the guy's face, directed to Chase.

"Oh nephew. Are you struggling with the power? I could teach you a spell to keep you young and still using. Look at me. I look my age and I use all the time. It doesn't have to drain your life force. Drain from other life forces. Flowers, bugs, deer, the nosy neighbor who has it coming, those already drains on society. The possibilities are limitless."

"And what? In exchange for your generosity, I will you control of the covenant?"

"Sounds fair."

"It's never gonna happen."

The glee flipped to anger that must have been beneath the surface all along. "I should have gone after your parents or grandparents instead. I thought kids would be simpler.

Reid burst through the door, Tyler on his heels. "Hey! We put out the crispy critters with some rain. They're super dead. What- Hey!"

Recoiling at the sight of the two Sons, he hollered, "Curse you all to hell!"

A hand on Chase's face to shove him flat beneath him when he tried to see who was here, Austin was beyond pissed. "I wanted your loyalty, nephew of mine. Your father denied me and I'll deny you peace of mind forever. Without me you'll never know how to control the addiction and aging."

Reid and Tyler shifted forward like they were going to do something and Pogue arrived. "Guys, what? Him?! Give it up, man!"

Chase grabbed his arm, prying the hand from his face. "It's over."

"Yes. Enjoy my parting gift." He smiled at each of the Sons before lowering his gaze to the one in his grasp, gripping him by the forehead. "See you all in hell."

"Austin." It sounded like Chase was trying to appeal to his decency. Caleb doubted he had any.

"The power of three warlocks, Chase." He was pure spite. "I will you my power."

He gasped, eyes going black. Thunder boomed outside and Austin fell sideways, doing nothing to prevent his fall. Wisps of energy shrouded in white manifested and curled out of Austin's dead body, slamming into Chase's living body. He was screaming, head fallen back, mouth and eyes wide. Three successive slams and the swirling air stilled. A beat and it was like it never happened, house returning to its proper state.

Reid lowered the gun Caleb hadn't noticed he was holding until now. "Guess we won't be needing this."

His gaze darted to the warlock with the power of five on his own. Mom was hurrying down the steps and the Rogers entered the foyer, arms looped together and faces rigid. He tugged out his phone and dialed Lasko's added number, for..just in case. This had better be the last cleanup they asked this man to do.

/

Chase didn't feel capable of moving, stunned and staring at the ceiling above. He couldn't deal with the power he had and his uncle just screwed him over indefinitely. And the Sons. They would think he was bad now. He got more power just like he once wanted. How could they ever trust him?

"Chase!" Tyler appeared in his line of vision, kneeling close. "Are you okay?"

He let him help him upright, puzzled. Pogue came around to his other side and hoisted him beneath his arms they set him on his feet. Patting his back hard, he grunted and Tyler squeezed his shoulder.

"Glad you're okay."

There was no hostility, no anxiety. They were themselves, like nothing changed. But that wasn't true. He stood on the spot, thinking how he felt, and it dawned on him he felt no different. Unless he used, he didn't think the power difference would show. The fear of using skyrocketed.

Time to get to what he had to say. "I think... I think I really need you guys. Is..that okay? I... We're too young to be... I can't alone. Help me. Please. I don't want to use. I don't want to kill anyone. I don't know what to do."

Everyone stared, including Caleb's mom and Selene's parents. He forgot about them being here. Pogue punched him in the arm and he grabbed the spot, narrowing his eyes in uncertainty.

"Well I'm not afraid of you. These crystals? We can't do physical harm to each other while wearing them. And making the covenant pact, don't forget, doesn't let us use our magic to harm each other either."

He'd maybe not paid that much attention when they were going over what the written pact said in its entirety. But wait.

"You just hit me."

"I didn't mean harm."

He slugged Pogue in the chest as hard as he could. The guy choked out a pained gasp and seemed surprised. "How?"

"I didn't mean harm." Chase grinned. "You deserved it and I knew you could take it."

"That's a major loophole," Caleb stated, uncomfortable.

Reid came up and wrapped an arm around Tyler's shoulders. "You got the power of five. We got the power of five as long as we have five members. I'm not too worried."

"Perhaps you look into New York," Mrs. Danvers said after reaching the bottom of the stairs. "The magic and addiction to it is an issue our families shouldn't have to keep enduring."

"Maybe we don't have kids and end it there," suggested Caleb, somber.

"We're too young for this," Tyler complained. "We don't know the future yet. How could we?"

"A covenant of silence should be enough for now," Reid reasoned. "One day we could go to Lasko and see about his project. But at least for me, not today."

Chase turned to the parents loitering awkward and out of place. "Tell Selene the truth. Let me say goodbye."

They were suspicious, naturally.

"She has to make her own decision when it comes to her power and how she uses it. Like I had to." He motioned in a broad sweeping gesture to his fellow warlocks. "Like we all do with this inherited..gift, curse, whatever."

"You won't see her anymore?"

"Well, that's her choice too, don't you think?"

"Collins," Mr. Rogers snarled

Reid grumbled with growing irritation. "I thought Mr. Rogers was supposed to be friendly."

Tyler smiled and mock whispered behind a hand, "Only in his neighborhood, I think."

He was infuriated and becoming red in the face. His wife slipped her hand into his and squeezed his arm, shaking her head.

Chase smiled but spread his arms wide to make peace. "I won't seek her out. I just wanna say goodbye and I'll leave her be. If she wants to talk to me, I'll talk to her. I don't want to endanger her, believe me. But our friends are dead and she's probably going to need help dealing. Help her. Don't fail her."

"Yes," Mrs. Rogers said to both him and her husband. "We'll take care of her. We love her."

He was done but then he thought of something else he had to know. "Did you ask Jason to kill me?"

They exchanged guarded looks. "We asked him to make you go away."

"Abby," he loud whispered.

She dismissed his protest with a stern look, walking over to him with her husband's hand in hers yet. "We didn't ask him to kill you."

Sighing and sagging her shoulders, for a moment he thought she would stamp her foot and throw a tantrum. Digging into her black winter coat, she drew out a piece of paper. Her husband didn't appear to know what she was unfolding.

"You have five smiles. One when you're truly happy, one when you're lying, one when you're using your power, one when you look at me." She lifted her chin over to the four Sons standing close by him. "One when you look at them."

"Oh." What a stupid thing to utter.

She stomped past him, husband in tow, refusing to give him the paper apparently. "I don't care what she says, Chase. You be sure to figure out your own life before you interfere with hers."

"I think that's a good idea."

They were surprised he agreed there, shrugging it off and leaving in a huff, on principle, he imagined. He would suggest staying away from him to Selene. Suggest she go to New York to meet this coven if she wanted to be involved with magic. She deserved to know her potential and whether it was something to explore. It made sense to break up for now. Let everything that happened over the past months feel in the past, understand some of what the future might bring, and they could get back together one day.

"Chase, you good?"

He glanced to Caleb standing at his side. "Is a hug cool?"

His glance also noted Caleb's mom sneaking by to leave the room and give them their privacy.

"Only the cool guys quit the crotch shots and ass slaps and go for the feels."

Blinking at Reid's explanation, Tyler quickly halted him from trying to make sense of it. "Hug time."

He hugged Reid and dragged him closer. Reid snagged an arm out and got hold of Pogue's shoulder, pushing him toward Chase and Caleb. This was turning into a group hug. Right. Covenant. These guys were kinda weird. He could live with that.

Laughing softly, Caleb hugged him and guided them into a circle of arms on shoulders all the way around. They put their heads together and Reid cracked a joke about preparing for the big game in the huddle. After, silence settled comfortably as they thought on just being together.

"What's up, bitches?!"

Kate popped her head through the ajar front door. "Ooh. Did I ruin a moment?"

They started to separate and Sarah rounded the girl, rushing up to them. "Wait! I wanna get in on this."

The girls joined their hug, and well, that was happening now. They had their moment and parted, glancing about at one another. Sarah and Kate were looking as though trying to get the other to do something. Pogue was most impatient with them and threw up his arms, eyebrows raised.

"What?"

"Um," Kate began, and lowered her voice. "Do you know there are burnt bodies in the driveway?"

"Someone's taking care of that for us," Caleb told her, looking to Sarah. "No big deal. They were already dead when they got here."

"Right," she said, bewildered.

"That guy wasn't," Reid said, waving a hand to the left section of the room. "But he killed himself. No murders here."

"Chase's uncle killed those guys outside at some point," Tyler argued. "That's two murders."

"But it didn't happen here as far as we know. No murders."

He smiled, feeling pleased. His life was bizarre, but he felt in control of it and that was a welcome change. If he struggled, there were these guys to help him out. His smile widened. He wasn't alone. Chase Collins was now one of the Sons of Ipswich.