Chapter 4

Ashleigh sat in American History between Tyler and Reid staring into space. She sat motionless not listening to the teacher. Reid and Tyler looked at one another above her head grimly. It had been two months since the accident and Ashleigh had become a shell of herself. Emotionless during the day moving through the day as if a zombie. She hardly ever ate unless they forced her to. Her grades had been slipping till the boys started doing her homework. Tests were handed in completely done, and her never having picked up a pencil.

She hardly ever talked even if spoken to. At night she would sob herself to sleep in Tyler's arms. Sometimes Reid would have to climb in bed with them, and help Tyler use to calm her. She would finally fall asleep between them, and they would talk a bit whispering.

Caleb's grades had slipped also. He hardly slept and had dark rings under his eyes. He missed Marissa so much he didn't care about himself anymore. He knew the others were worried about him, but he shrugged them off. He was also using more and more much to his brothers dismay. They could feel him using and could tell he had aged some.

The only time he showed any emotion was around Ashleigh. He'd plead with her to talk to them especially him. He'd made her eat even if it was only a little. They were all dying inside and they knew it.

Ashleigh walked down the hallway between Reid and Tyler letting them lead her. They didn't have their next class with her. They were heading to meet up with Pogue who was and would take her.

Kate stood by watching with unshed tears. Marissa had been her best friend, and her death still hurt. It was killing her though seeing what Ashleigh and the sons were going through.

Even Aaron Abbot had backed off of the sons. He'd liked Marissa. Even Kira had cried when she died. They stood watching with sympathy in their eyes as Pogue took Ashleigh from the other two putting his arm around her guiding her down the hallway.

"Hello Tyler." A girls voice caught everyone's attention. Even Ashleigh had stopped in her tracks.

"Hello Sarah." Tyler smiled at her "How are you?"

"Okay how about you?" Sarah flirted with him.

"Fine." Tyler told her not taking his eyes off of her oblivious to having everyone's attention.

Kate's eyes narrowed glaring at her new roommate who had taken Marissa's place in her room. She had cried endlessly helping Reid and Pogue pack up Marissa's stuff.

Pogue frowned feeling Ashleigh stiffen under his arm as he turned to look at Tyler.

"Going to Nicky's later?" Sarah asked moving closer to him.

"Usually do." Tyler answering knowing Ashleigh's parents picked her up after school on Fridays now and she'd be with them till Monday morning.

"So it's a date then?" Sarah asked raising her hand to his cheek caressing it a little.

Tyler frowned feeling a little lost all of a sudden. "Sure." He answered uncertainly.

Ashleigh gasped hearing him.

Reid growled a little glancing at Pogue who looked furious.

Kate stepped forward a little her mouth dropping open as Sarah leaned into Tyler kissing him.

Tyler hissed in his breath in shock. All thoughts flew from him and he kissed her back pulling her to him.

Ashleigh paled. "No!" She gasped dropping her bag and pulling away from Pogue running away from them. She heard them yell after her, but she ignored them running out of the building with tears blinding her eyes.

Kira was the first one to react and pushed Sarah away from Tyler. "Think your so hot? Hello your from a public school!" She told her snottily.

Kate was suddenly there hitting Sarah with a balled up fist directly on the jaw. She hissed in pain shaking her hand.

Pogue winched watching her, before looking at Tyler. He paled looking at him.

Tyler looked around lost like he didn't know where he was. Reid walked over to him putting a hand on his shoulder, and Tyler jumped.

"Baby boy?" Reid frowned.

"What just happened?" Tyler asked looking at him pale.

"You kissed Sarah. What were you thinking?"Pogue asked him.

"I don't know." Tyler shook his head as if trying to wake up.

Reid looked at Pogue. Something had just happened here that was unexplainable.

"What's the last you remember baby boy?" Pogue asked.

"Letting you take Ash. Oh god where is she?" Tyler asked looking around frantically.

"I lost her!" Aaron frowned walking up to them. "She ran into the woods."

Reid frowned looking at Aaron. He knew there was no love lost between the sons and aaron, but Marissa had left an imprint in a lot of hearts, and Aaron would have done anything for her.

"I'll call Caleb." Pogue said knowing the bell had already rung for their last class.

Sarah laughed holding her jaw a little. "Chase sends his regards." She turned on her heel walking away leaving them all stunned.

Caleb frowned glad the teacher was late for once. "Hello?"

"Chase struck!" Pogue said finally recovering from his shock hearing Caleb on the phone.

"What?" Caleb frowned.

Pogue explained to him what had happened.

"I'm on my way." Caleb said gathering up his stuff hurriedly and leaving the classroom as he hung up.

Ashleigh ran blindly through her tears. She tripped over something and fell hard to the ground. She lay there sobbing ignoring the pain from falling. The pain in her heart was greater. She'd lost Marissa and now Tyler. Her life she had known was gone, and she wanted it all to end.

"That was too easy!" A voice laughed.

Ashleigh froze hearing his voice.

"Hello Ashleigh." He whispered in her ear making her jump, and he laughed again.

Ashleigh cried out in pain as he grabbed her ponytail jerking her head up to look at him, and he sneered at her.

"Your mine to do with what I want now!" Chase laughed.

"Just kill me and get it over with." Ashleigh's voice trembled through her tears.

Chase snickered. "i have other plans for you now dear Ashleigh. You see I've delved deeper into another book. One that was passed down through my line. It says that the family who joined our families after one was banished would produce women one day. When mated with one of the sons the sons would age no more."

Ashleigh felt a shiver of fear run through her. "No!" She sobbed in disbelief.

"Oh yes." Chase laughed. "You see though only if it is through love all the sons we'll receive it, but if it's forced upon the girl only that son shall receive the gift. He will also gain the girl's power. Without it she will die."

Ashleigh looked at him in horror.

Chase leered at her. His eyes turned black, and he laughed when she gasped feeling her clothes fall off. He threw her over on her back in the snow.

Ashleigh struggled against him. She really wanted to die, but not this way. She wanted the other sons to receive the gift. Not him! She couldn't let him receive her power also."No! If you touch me I will will it to one of the other boys!"

Chase stilled holding himself above her. He hadn't been expecting that.