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Chapter 16:

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Caleb lowered his hand slightly, his thoughts catching up with him. Here he stood, before his lovely Sarah, ready to free her, even if it meant losing his powers for her, or even his freedom. But for the sake of the others, he hesitated.

Pogue realized he was getting through to Caleb at last, as they stared at their white-eyed girlfriends with equal sorrow.

"Caleb," Pogue tried once more. "You do this, he wins. He'll have all our Power. You do this, it's all over… for everyone."

Caleb fought his own soul, his own heart, willing everything he had into lowering his hand. He sighed deeply in pain, knowing Pogue was absolutely right.

"Sarah," Caleb said honestly. "We're gonna get through this. I promise."

"Creep," Sarah commented, then turned her back to him.

Caleb took this as his cue to leave, and followed Pogue out the door, his shoulders falling in strong discouragement.

"What are we going to do, Caleb?" Pogue asked him through the sadness within him. Hopelessness was a mutual feeling in both of them.

"I was hoping you could tell me," Caleb replied, looking to his friend in despair.

-

Once the two boys were finished putting their stuff back in place, Tyler sighed and threw himself on his bed in fatigue. The rain, as Reid had predicted, had come all too soon, even though it was the end of May. So they were forced to get as much as they could inside as quickly as they could, lest their furniture get warped by the moisture or their clothes get even heavier when soaked with water. All in all it had been an exhausting experience, physically and emotionally.

He was more or less shocked when he spotted Reid grab his jacket, scarf and beanie, in preparation for the outside rain once more.

"Reid," Tyler said in confusion. "Where're you going?"

"Out," was Reid's rude reply. "Is that okay with you?"

"Sure…" Tyler, surprised, backed off from Reid's tone. Wherever Reid was headed, it was a place he didn't feel like discussing. Tyler plopped back down on his pillow, snuggling with it like he would a teddy bear.

"Can you turn off the light on your way out? I think I'm going to sleep straight into next week."

"Yeah, whatever," Reid said, grabbing Tyler's keys and flicking the light off on his way out.

Reid was thankful that Tyler didn't press the matter of where he was going, since Reid wasn't quite ready yet to let him know… about him and Elle.

Reid smiled at the thought of her, his heart beating wildly in anticipation of seeing her face soon and he padded down the stairs of the school. Nothing could bring him down, not even the dirty looks of fellow students, or the whispers as he passed. His mind was only on one thing, and that was the glorious mahogany-haired woman waiting for him at the local coffee shop.

A short but slow drive to town and he was there. Reid pulled his coat closer to fight the chill as he exited the Hummer, trudging through the rain to get to 'Jive n' Java', which was a good hundred feet away. It seemed only to be getting colder out, with no signs of stopping soon.

He was a bit early, so he grabbed a spiced latte and took a seat by a window. Five minutes later, the bell above the door jingled to announce her arrival.

She was wet from head to toe, and rung the water out of her hat before entering the shop. Her wavy locks were now flat and stringy. Reid didn't get up to greet her, but rather played it cool, took another drink of his coffee, and let her come over to him. He was thankful and relieved she had come, and more than glad to witness with his own eyes that she was okay and in her right mind.

"Hey," she said casually, setting her purse down on the checkered table and looking at him directly, with no smile.

"Hey," he replied just as coolly, though the throbbing in his chest told otherwise of how he really felt. "You want something to drink?"

"You said it was important," Elle said in her usual no-nonsense way.

"So did you," he shot back. "You first."

She sighed, and took off her green knit scarf.

"I'm glad you made it out of jail okay."

"I'm glad you're okay too," Reid retorted.

They were silent for a few moments.

"I'm having strange dreams, Reid…" she said with a frightened voice. "Disturbing ones."

He leaned in closer to make sure he caught every word.

"Like what?" he asked gently.

She furrowed her brow and cast her eyes downward.

"You and your friends are standing in a field… and its dark out… you're sad about something… you're standing over a woman on the ground-- she's… she's dead."

Reid's brow furrowed as well.

"Reid," she went on, her fear now quite evident. "I think that woman is me. I keep getting the feeling like someone is following me-- watching me--!"

"Elle," he interrupted loudly, trying to calm her down. He noticed that people were beginning to stare. "Elle," he said in a lower voice. "Are you sure it was you?"

"No," she admitted, her face flushing with shame. "I couldn't see her face. It was just a feeling. It feels so real… like I was actually there."

"Preconjured dreams tend to feel like that," Reid explained, leaning back in his chair.

"Pre- what?" she asked with confusion.

"They're spell dreams, meant to scare you. Caleb's girlfriend went through the same thing."

Elle grabbed Reid's hand, letting her emotion take over and the fear break through. Her hand was shaking. She looked at Reid in all seriousness and asked:

"Should I be afraid?"

"Yeah, probably," he said without thinking. "It's what I came to tell you. The fifth bloodline wants you and I think its because you might be the safehouse for our Power at the moment."

"Your Power is gone?"

"Yeah, but don't worry; I can still protect you if you need me, if it makes you feel any better. I don't need to Use to kick ass."

She didn't seem convinced.

"Has your dad come back yet?" Reid asked, taking another sip of coffee.

"No," she replied. "I don't want to go back to that horrible empty house, but I'm not ready to move in with Sarah yet. I haven't even finished packing."

"Uhh," Reid replied with a snicker, recalling the last time he had seen the possessed Sarah. "I don't think she's ready for you either."

They paused for a moment, and a smile began to dance on the edges of Reid's mouth. She could rightly assume exactly what he was thinking.

"No," she said firmly. "You are not staying over."

He didn't say anything in response, but the grin broke through.

"I just got raped, Reid. I'm not about to let some horny smartass sleep over my house…"

His teeth showed through his smile.

"No!" she protested. "Get the thought out of your testosterone-driven head."

Reid leaned across the small table and kissed her on the ear.

"It's for your own protection…" he whispered suggestively.

She bit her lip, looked him in the eye with shame, and caved.

"Well, when you put it that way…"

-

Caleb, Pogue and Tyler all paced in the empty library that evening, putting their heads together, trying to sort through the issues at hand.

"Without the Book of Damnation, it's a lot harder to guess what his next step is," Caleb said. "We know that he's using the girls to spread rumors around the school about how 'evil' we are. But that can't be all he needs them for."

"What I want to know is why Chase can keep Using when we can't," Tyler said. "Do you think there's a way around the Curse that we're missing?"

"Maybe because he cast it, it doesn't affect him," Pogue guessed.

"Why doesn't he show himself?" Caleb wondered. "What is he hiding from?"

"Caleb," Tyler asked next. "What happens when Reid Ascends without any Power?"

"I just don't know," Caleb said, collapsing into a chair. "There are more questions than answers here."

"Hey," Pogue said, tapping Tyler to grab his attention. "Where is Reid anyway?"

"Don't know," Tyler said. "He's not answering his cell."

Caleb and Pogue exchanged knowing looks of concern.

"I'm sure he'll turn up," Caleb assured Tyler.

"Oh… my… God…" said a voice from behind them.

All eyes turned to a scrawny-looking boy with large, thick glasses and a camera in hand, which he promptly flashed at the boys. He had flaming red hair and an enthusiastic smile, and looked upon the boys with admiration all over his face.

"Can I help you?" Caleb asked with confusion.

"You'retheShonsofIpshwish, right?" he said so quickly you could barely understand him, and the lisp wasn't helping matters.

"Sorry?" Caleb asked again.

"And you're Caleb, right?" he said a little more clearly. "I shaw you guysh on the newsh the other day. I taped it."

Pogue and Caleb exchanged glances, something they were doing often, of late.

"Who is this guy?" Pogue whispered to Caleb.

"Hey," Caleb countered. "At least he's not discriminating against us like everyone else."

"I jusht want to shay how aweshome you guysh are," the boy went on. "I wish I had powersh like yoursh—that is sho cool! Like a real life epishode of Xsh-Men or shomething. Can you, like, read my mind?"

"As if we could find it," Pogue commented under his breath, and Caleb elbowed him. Tyler couldn't suppress a snicker.

"I'm Robbie," he said, vigorously grabbing Caleb's hand and shaking it. "You mind if I shit with you guysh?"

"What did he just say?" Tyler asked, flaunting his immature humor.

"Actually, Robbie, we were just leaving," Caleb said, rising to his feet. "It was nice to meet you, though."

"Hey, anytime," he said, saluting them off. "I'm around if you need me to, like, deshign cool uniformsh or whatever."

"I'm sure you are," Caleb said with a phony smile.

"He thinks we're superheroes," Tyler laughed in a low voice as they left the library. "We blow up a couple of buildings and suddenly we're the freakin' Fantastic Four."

"Yeah," Caleb muttered, shaking his head. "If only he knew…"

-

"Reid…" Elle said when they reached her front porch. She sighed deeply, as if wondering if it was really worth it to go through with what she wanted to say. She fingered her keys nervously. "Thanks for walking me home…"

Reid suspected he knew what was coming. She was rethinking what she had said.

"I was serious when I said I'd protect you and all that," he said, looking up to her standing on a higher step. "Even if it's from me."

She frowned at him with regret.

"I want us to be together, but… it's just too soon, Reid."

Reid looked at the girl standing before him with understanding and a bit of anger, knowing she was damaged goods. She was afraid of him like the abused little girl she was. He could see it in her eyes when she looked at him, when he tried to kiss her or touch her. It wasn't him that she saw. It was an assailant.

Reid grabbed her hand, his blood boiling in anger at the injustice of it. He was just going to have to take it slow, is all. But only after justice was served to the bastard who did this to her.

"Elle," Reid said through his teeth. "I swear, I'll be a saint and not go anywhere I'm not invited… But Chase is still out there and I'd still like to say with you, if that's cool."

At this, Elle grinned broadly in immense gratitude, and nodded fiercely.

"I'd like that," she said gladly.

With that she turned to the door and stuck her key in the lock, and let them both inside. She set her purse on the kitchen counter immediately, and began to straighten a few things around the living room.

It was a small house, not much bigger than the size of Pogue's apartment. It was the perfect accommodation for two people such as Elle and her father. It was cozy and well kept, with calming colors to decorate the living area and bright cheery ones for the kitchen. The décor was more than likely the handiwork of Elle, complete with silk flowers and detailed painting on the walls.

Reid helped himself to a spot on the sofa, and Elle came and curled up next to him. He let himself dig his nose into her hair, breathing in her scent greedily. She used a shampoo with strawberry fragrance, most definitely.

"One more thing, though, Reid," she said, looking up at him. "Did you ever tell Tyler about us? I've been trying to call, but he doesn't ever answer."

Reid frowned at the mention of Tyler's name, ruining a perfectly good moment.

"It's probably be best if he doesn't know," Reid admitted truthfully. "It's not that I'm afraid or anything, but this Curse thing has to do with Tyler's bitching towards me. If we told him, it'd only make it worse, and then we'd never get our Power back."

She looked at him directly as if she didn't believe him.

"It's not right, Reid."

"Trust me," he assured her. "You don't know him like I do. With all he has on his plate right now, and then he hears about this-- He'd fly through the roof. Give it another day or so. He'll be fine."

-


I'm gearing up for the big finale, but it's still a few chapters away yet. Please review.
Signed,
--RedRogue

PS. In honor of the success of this story, I posted a trailer I made for it: The Covenant 2: The Ipswich Curse, on YouTube. I think it came out rather well. I have the link to it on my profile page. Go check it out!