Bastet's Chosen
Phoenix watched as Caleb's mustang drove in the other direction, Faith and the boy talking animatedly in the front seats. Her eyes narrowed as the car disappeared from sight, turning down a sharp curve then fading behind a wall of trees. Turning her head back around, the blonde bit her lip unconsciously and found her mind racing with possibly reasons for the pair's little detour.
"Pogue, where's Caleb taking Faith?" Phoenix finally yelled. For a moment, she wondered if he had heard her through the roaring wind, but she was rewarded by a backwards glance.
"He said something about having to do an errand then catching up with us later." An errand? Phoenix shook her head, not believing the pair would appear to argue over something as silly as an errand. And if the blonde wasn't mistaken, she thought she heard the crack in Pogue's voice, indicating he was lying. Sometimes, Phoenix wished had gotten empathy instead of telekinesis. Shaking her head, she decided she would ask Faith about it later.
Pogue noticed the head shake. "Something wrong?"
"No, just not use to being the passenger instead of the driver," Phoenix replied. It was the truth. She was so use to driving her motorcycle or her friends', that she had become accustomed to having the feel of the handlebars in her firm grip and her feet planted firmly on the brake and clutch.
Pogue laughed. "Then, I'm glad you got to experience this with me." Phoenix nodded her head in agreement, a wild grin on her lips. Unlatching her arms from around Pogue's middle, the blonde leant back and held them high. Her eyes were closed, a peaceful expression on her face. This feeling of pure enjoyment an excitement mixed together was oddly foreign to Phoenix. She realized that she was either fighting someone or something, or she was protecting someone or something. She never had a chance to relax and just be herself. She doubted Faith even relaxed the few rare moments the trio had a chance to just breath. Only Naomi retained that innocence that could allow one to relax and feel simple in a complicated world.
To feel normal.
"You okay back there?" Pogue's voice brought Phoenix back from her musings. With a wistful sigh, the blonde returned to her earlier form: hands wrapped securely around his middle and her head laying on his leather-clad back.
"Just thinking," she replied. Part of her wished he wouldn't ask, that she wouldn't have to appear like a small child begging for attention. Another part wanted him desperately to ask, to show some sort of concern that she had been denied for so long.
"About what?" Phoenix found a soft smile appearing on her lips. Pogue and she were so much alike, it scared her sometimes. He knew when to ask questions and knew when to stay out of it. He was protective of the people he loved and would risk all to make sure they were safe. Both even had secrets that could shatter their seemingly perfect world built on false images and lies. The only difference was that Pogue was born for this while she was ripped from her world and thrust into theirs.
"Just silly girl stuff," Phoenix answered. Just because she wanted his attention and concern didn't mean she would spill her inner thoughts to him. Pogue just nodded with a soft smirk on his lips. She felt a sudden warmth on her leg and looked down to see his hand was resting on her thigh. The blonde wanted to giggle like a silly school-girl, but she managed to keep that inside. Holding out a tentative hand, Phoenix placed it over Pogue's with a smile. The warmth of his hand raced through her palm an into her veins, spreading throughout her body like a wildfire. No wonder Kate loved him so much.
Kate.
Phoenix gasped softly and pulled her hand away quickly. She knew where these feelings led and knew her only destination would be heartache. Pogue was in love with Kate and Kate was in love with Pogue. Phoenix was friends with both and partners with Pogue on the project. There could be no crush or feelings or whatever invading her mind about the Son of Ipswich before her. Besides, she was not allowed to get close to one of her hopeful protectors. Nope, no closeness or feelings whatsoever. She pouted slightly.
Phoenix hated her life.
Faith felt her stomach begin to churn uneasily as they continued down the road. Where ever they were driving to, there was something dark awaiting nearby. Glancing over to Caleb, the brunette wondered if he knew what awaited them. She knew he could sense magic in the air, but did it concern the dark magic she was feeling?
"Caleb, what's going on?" Faith asked after taking a deep breath.
He sent her a glance. "Just wanted to get to know my partner better."
"Couldn't we have done that at the restaurant?" After her words left her mouth, Faith noticed they had turned down a dirt road. Trees aligned the road in a fairy-tale like manner, the leaves the color of autumn but signs of the upcoming winter appearing. She tried to focus on other than the sudden increase of the dark magic. However, the feeling of the dark magic suddenly exploded in her brain when the car stopped at the remains of a burnt building. Her other side clawed to be released, wanting to fight the source of the dark magic. Faith could feel the line between her human self and her other half beginning to waver, coming close to changing. But, with a fierce determination, she fought back against the panther and held strong to her human self.
"What is this place?" the brunette asked after gaining control of herself.
"What used to be the Putnam Barn," Caleb replied. Faith frowned, not recognizing the name. From the way Caleb spoke of it, it seemed it held an important role in the world.
"Why are we here?"
"We're here because this place is secluded." What did seclusion have to do with anything? Turning in her seat to face her partner, the brunette motioned for him to continue. When Caleb turned to her, she found his eyes were no longer their unreadable haze, but glowing with anger. She felt the anger rolling off of him in waves, just like two nights ago. Yet, this felt more controlled instead of how raw if felt at the party.
"Caleb?" Faith asked.
"Faith, I don't trust you. I don't trust Phoenix or Naomi, either," Caleb responded. The brunette blinked, surprised by that reply. Sitting up straighter and narrowing her eyes, she found her own anger growing.
"Excuse me?"
"Why did you and your friends suddenly transfer to Spenser?" he continued. Faith began to laugh humorlessly at the question. Giving him the finger, the brunette stepped out of the car and began to make her way back in the direction they had come. The sound of another door opening and closing rung in her ears, but it only made her move faster.
"Answer me!" Caleb yelled. Faith stopped and whirled around, defiance and disbelief in her eyes. Did he seriously belief she owed him an explanation? Fine, he would get one.
"That is none of your damn business, for one! Two, it's normal for people to transfer to new schools during the first semester, Caleb! Three, why in the Hell do you want a reason behind our coming to Spenser?" she hollered back. Caleb walked closer to her, till only there was a few feet between them.
"You're hiding something," he countered fiercely. Faith growled at the change of topic and found the urge to let him see her other side increasing. She could make it look like an accident without a care. However, she needed him to help her and her friends, so his death couldn't be that soon.
"And you're not?" Faith scoffed. "You're drinking for some stupid reason and not caring if it gets you in trouble or your friends. Also, something seemed to have happened to you to have caused major trust issues in transfer students." She ignored is shocked look and continued. "Hate to tell you Caleb, but not everyone is out to get you or destroy you in some kind of way. You're doing that on your own an in a great way I might add. Soon, you'll lose your friends that seem to really care about you all because of your stupid pride an anger."
"Don't pretend to know me," Caleb whispered heatedly.
"Quit acting like a prick and you have a deal," Faith answered back just as heated, her eyes locked with his. It seemed it would be a test of wills that determined when the two would join the others.
Naomi laughed as Tyler continued to tell an embarrassing story involving him, Reid, Caleb, and Pogue. Julie was sitting beside her, laying on her side and struggling to breathe between her laughter. Reid was scowling in the front seat, having to be tortured with the part about him wanting to be Peter Pan and trying to fly to Never Land by jumping from the tree outside his window.
"I was ten, give me a break," the blonde muttered.
"Aww, I'm so sorry……Peter," Naomi replied through laughter. Reid sent her a glare along with the finger before turning back around in his seat. Tyler laughed at the look on his best friend's face before sending the two girls in the back a wink. Soon, the laughter subsided and Julie was sitting up and breathing normally. Naomi sent her a cautious glance, followed by Tyler and Reid. She wondered if what she was about to ask would be out of line.
"What's wrong with Caleb?"
Tyler and Reid blinked then glanced in the red-head's direction. She ducked her head when she realized they were giving hard looks. It seemed talking about their 'leader' wasn't the best thing to do at the moment. Just as she was about to tell them to forget she even said anything, Reid cut her off.
"Trust issues," he answered vaguely. Naomi blinked, not expecting an answer. Reid turned back around, letting the discussion end there. The red-head bit her lip in nervousness, wondering if she had overstepped her boundaries. However, a comforting hand on her shoulder made her turn to see Julie giving her a simple wink and smile. Naomi smiled back, suddenly glad she had met the other girl and became friends with her.
"So, we there yet?" Julie asked. Tyler sent her a mock glare before nodding his head. Looking out the window, both girls saw a small restaurant sitting on the corner of Bay Street and 5th Avenue. It was built like a English cottage that seemed to belong out in the country instead of in this small seaside town. A garden was on one side of the front, the other was a patio with tables scattered about it. The sign above the door was written in cursive, but Naomi managed to decipher the letters quite easily.
"Starlight? Cute name for a restaurant." The others chuckled at her words while she gave them confused looks. "Why are you laughing?" Julie shook her head before placing a shaking hand on her friend's shoulder.
"Nothing you need to worry about," the exotic one promised. Naomi glanced back to the somewhat calm boys and shrugged. Hey, she had only known the people for two days. Who was to say they weren't crazy?
Pulling into a parking space, Tyler turned off the engine and glanced to his left. Pogue pulled in with Phoenix, both grinning madly. Reid raised an eyebrow at the looks both teens were wearing, wondering what could be the cause.
"You two okay?" Tyler asked.
"Just fine," Pogue replied as he stepped off the bike.
"You look like a couple of murderers," Reid commented.
"Why is that, Blondie?" Phoenix asked as she handed her partner his helmet.
"I'm not the only one that's blonde."
"But you're the dumb one." Tyler laughed at that, but quieted when his fellow brother sent him a glare. Naomi shook her head, sending her blonde haired friend a glare. Phoenix just responded with her tongue sticking out. Julie smiled at the two, then winked in her red-haired friend's direction. Naomi raised an eyebrow at that, but her friend just motioned for her to listen.
"You know, you two sound like a pair of fighting siblings." Phoenix found her jaw dropping, eyes wide at the statement. Reid was yelling curses as loud as he could while fighting off Tyler's hands that kept trying to cover his mouth. Pogue and Naomi were the only ones laughing at Julie's statement.
"I look way better than that flea-bag!" Phoenix cried in outrage.
"Flea-bag? Honey, you aren't a rose yourself. More like a rat if you ask me," Reid replied. Both blonde's glared at each other, daring the other to say anything more. Pogue turned from the two glaring at each other to the three faces in the truck.
"Sound like siblings to me."
"Pogue!" both Phoenix and Reid shouted.
"Caleb, can we please stop yelling at each other and go join the others?" Faith asked after breaking eye contact with him. She stepped back, her eyes downcast and her lip in between her teeth. Pushing a stray strand of hair behind her ears, she awaited his response.
"Fine," Caleb replied quietly. Faith rolled her eyes at the tone, seeing he still held that anger for her and the others. Looking up, she glared at the brunette with a sneer.
"You can at least act friendly," she spat.
"We're not friends," he shot back. Shaking her head, the brunette moved past the Son of Ipswich. Making her way back to his Mustang, she ignored the footsteps behind her. Climbing into the passenger seat, she shut her door with a huff and loud bang. Caleb sat down in the driver's seat, his jaw clenched and his eyes narrowed.
The ride back into town was tense and silent. Faith made no move to try and start a conversation, her anger still burning as bright as a flame. Caleb remained quiet, his eyes never leaving the road and his hands clenched to the steering wheel. The sight of the beautiful scenery didn't ease none of the pair's anger that seemed to stretch on for miles.
When the pair finally reached the restaurant, Faith stepped out of the Mustang quickly and went inside. She spotted Naomi and Phoenix laughing happily at the table with the others and found her heart aching. Those guys got along with them great, but Caleb was proving to be a stubborn mule. However, her frown soon disappeared into a soft smile when Naomi spotted her. She waved her over and motioned for her to bring Phoenix along. The red-head seemed confused at the brunette's damp personality, but obliged her friend.
"Where did you two go?" Phoenix asked once the two reached their friend.
Faith sighed. "Some place called the Putnam Barn."
"Huh?"
"Don't ask." Faith ran a hand through her hair, but found her attention caught by Caleb entering. Their eyes connected and the tension from before seemed to seep into the room. Phoenix and Naomi noticed and stepped back slightly. Their eyes traveled from one brunette to another, trying figure out what was going on. Then, Caleb broke the eye contact and made his way to the table. Once he was out of earshot, both girls turned to their friend.
"What was that about?" Naomi asked.
"He doesn't trust us," Faith replied with a sigh.
Phoenix raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"From what I understand, something happened before we got here."
"Reid and Tyler did say he had trust issues," the red-head added. Phoenix rolled her eyes before casting a glance in their friends' direction. All seemed to be enjoying themselves, laughing and talking with smiles on their faces.
"Do you think we're the cause of the stress?" Naomi whispered. Faith stared at the group and found herself fighting back tears. She wanted so badly to find the people that could save her and her friends from a fate worse than death. Shaking her head, the brunette turned back to the door.
"We should leave." Phoenix and Naomi turned at that, their eyes wide. Faith looked back at them, her face a mask of the conflicting emotions within her.
"Just because of Caleb?" Phoenix sneered, not willing to accept defeat.
"No, because before we entered their lives, those four had everything going for them. Now, we're here an its like they 're one step from the edge," she replied.
"But, we can't just leave Ipswich. The Order knows who they are and will do anything to kill them," Naomi said. Faith shook her head, her attention focused on the outside.
"Not Ipswich, just this restaurant," she clarified. Phoenix and Naomi cast sad glances in the direction of their new friends before turning and nodding their head in agreement. Just as they were about to leave, the sound of Julie's voice stopped them.
"Leaving?" Naomi glanced at her friend and sighed.
"Yeah, we just remembered that we had extra work left to do," she replied. Julie nodded after a moment, seeming to buy her excuse. Looking from Naomi to the other two girls, she bit her lip in thought.
"Mind if I come with? The guys seemed to have found themselves traveling down memory lane and I felt somewhat left out," she asked. Naomi glanced in Faith's direction and waited for reaction. Faith smiled slightly and nodded her approval.
"You're welcome to come. Besides, we might do a little shopping and we could always use an extra girlfriend," Phoenix said.
"Shopping? What are waiting for?" Julie laughed. The four girls smiled and made their way to the door, but Naomi stopped and stared at the Sons. Her eyes grew sad as they landed on a snickering Reid. Just as she was about to walk out the door, Reid's eyes lifted an connected with hers. He appeared surprised that she was leaving and confused. Smiling sadly, the red-head waved before following after her friends.
"These are on sale? Oh my God, I must have these," Phoenix cried as she hugged the knee-high leather boots to her chest. Faith snorted at the blonde's behavior before turning her attention back to the shirt rack. After selecting a few, the brunette disappeared into the changing rooms.
"What do you think about this?" Naomi asked Julie as she stepped out from the changing rooms in a new outfit. It was a lavender top that criss-crossed in the back with a pair of dark jeans covering her legs.
"Make the top a darker shade and you have a deal," Julie complimented. Naomi glanced in the mirror on the door, examining her reflection with narrowed eyes. After a few moments, the red-head agreed and turned to enter the dressing room. Yet, a familiar voice stilled her.
"Wow Thorne, sexy looks good on you," Reid complimented. Julie and Naomi turned to find the blonde was standing there with Tyler by his side. Pogue soon appeared with Caleb right behind him.
"What are you doing here?" Julie asked.
"Well, we were just walking by on our way to the movies when we happened to spot you in the window," Tyler said. Naomi raised an eyebrow, her eyes traveling to Julie's. The exotic beauty turned her attention back to the boys, a reply on her lips, but someone beat her to it.
"I know I haven't been here in a long while, but I'm pretty sure the only movie theater is across town," Phoenix said as she appeared.
"Who said theater?" Reid replied.
"The nearest movie rental place is the next street over," Faith answered as she stepped out of the changing room. Reid whistled at the sight of the tight, black halter-top covering the brunette's torso with two thin strings.
"Damn Firecracker," he murmured. Faith rolled her eyes at the blonde's antics, then focused her attention on the whole group.
"Now, mind telling us why you are really here?" Phoenix backed her friend. No one seemed willing to say anything, the silence thickening with each passing second. Phoenix was beginning to grow annoyed, her expression turning from relaxed to irritated. Faith found her gaze locking with Caleb's and the two were once more in a battle of wills. Naomi and Julie were glancing to each other then back to their partners, wondering if they would crack.
"Look, just spill your guts and then be on your merry way," Phoenix finally snapped. No one ever said she was a patient person.
"We just wondered why you bailed on lunch," Pogue replied. Faith sighed, feeling the slight guilt from before washing over her once more. Caleb seemed to notice the sudden change in her mood for he gave her a curious look. Turning away from his curious eyes, Faith focused on Phoenix and Pogue.
"Well, we had extra stuff that we forgot to do. Then, we got sidetracked by the great sales this place was having," Julie stepped in.
"Extra stuff?" Reid echoed.
"Yeah, our guardian wanted us to run a few errands for her and we completely forgot," Naomi repeated. This seemed to catch everyone's attention.
"You three live together?" Tyler asked. Faith glanced from Phoenix, who stood calmly, to Naomi, who appeared somewhat ashamed of what she had said. Sending her a comforting smile, the brunette turned back to the Sons.
"What matter is it to you?" Reid seemed a little surprised by her calm tone, expecting the brunette to yell in defiance. Caleb continued to stare at her, expecting all of her secrets to just appear in front of his eyes. Faith turned her attention from the others to focus on him once more.
"Just curious," Tyler replied.
"Curiosity killed the cat," Julie said.
"Why can it never be the cat killed curiosity?" Phoenix added with a pout.
A.N.- Sorry it took me so long, my brother had my computer and school work got in the way. Anyway, hope this chapter was to your liking and please leave a generous review. Oh, I will update Book of Ancients, but my writer's block has set in, so it may be a few days or weeks before the next chapter. Also, the story is about to wrap up, roughly 4-5 chapters left, excluding the Epilogue.