Thanks for the support (hugs). I can't even begin to tell you how relieved I am that everyone likes this idea.
Chapter 2: One Year later
Jason felt his lip curl in anger as the car slowed to a stop in front of a large silver gate baring welcoming words from Spencer Academy.
"You've got to be fucking kidding me."
A sharp presence jabbed at his mind in warning. Watch your mouth boy!
(Fuck off.)
Another jab, this time much harder followed his comment and the driver of the car shook her head with a dramatic sigh.
"Is that hostility really called for?"
"I feel it is." Jason barked, crossing his arms and focusing his glare towards the rear view mirror.
Lydia observed his childish behavior and rolled her eyes. "Oh honestly Jason, must you be so dramatic?"
"You're the one sending us to a fucking prep school."
"You're hopeless." Lydia sighed and adjusted the rear view mirror in order to see the second occupant of the car's back seat. "What do you think Manny?"
Predictably, she didn't receive an answer from the blond haired boy her mirror was fixed on. The teen's blue eyes were staring out the window, awed by the thick wilderness that surrounded the school. The teen wasn't even paying attention to their argument.
"See, he hates it too."
"That's enough." Lydia turned the mirror away from the distracted blond teen towards the dark haired brooding one. "Stop being a child."
Her retort seemed to hit a weak spot in the sulking teen's armor. Jason closed his mouth and slumped against the backseat with a dark glare. Lydia didn't return it however, her gaze moved to the front of the car once she saw movement. The silver gate opened and a small man stuck his head out of the small shack near the gate and waved at them. Lydia grinned briefly before lightly pressing her foot down on the accelerator.
The Mercedes rumbled softly as it pulled its sleek frame up the paved road. Once the car was little more then halfway up the drive, the outline of several tall, bricked buildings came into view. Jason couldn't help his groan; All of the buildings where old, multistory and constructed from dark red bricks with modern windows scattered along their sides, the place screamed depressing boarding school on every level.
"This is a joke right?"
Up front, Lydia's lips formed a feral grin. "Afraid not boys, this is your new school."
"Uh-uh." Jason replied stubbornly. "Hell no."
The car jerked forwards as Lydia's foot stomped too heavily on the break. The two teens in the back of the car grunted as their seat belts tightened.
"Listen, it's a great school that will get both of you into wonderful colleges. I pulled a lot of strings to get you two in here and not to mention paying a shit load of cash and—"
"Mind fucking a shit load of people."
"Yes, that too." The woman replied. "Didn't have much of a choice with your record."
"Ouch. That hurt."
"Boy, you're gonna send my blood pressure through the roof." Lydia groaned and turned in her seat briefly. "Look, you're still six months away from graduating and Manny needs a school that will be able to keep up with him for once."
In the backseat, Jason snorted loudly. The car followed the paved road around the buildings which lead to a path towards a small parking lot, obviously reserved for guest parking. Jason waited until the car slid into a space and turned off before speaking once more.
"What's the real reason you picked this place?"
The teen mentally congratulated himself when Lydia sighed loudly and threw her hands up in defeat. "God you're a pain in the ass."
"Well?" Jason asked, crossing his arms once more.
Lydia eyed them through the mirror, her voice was soft and low when she replied.
"An old friend of mine lives in town, the two of you will be safe here."
A heavy silence settled inside the car following her words, making all three of them uncomfortable. Jason felt his shoulders tense. He always knew Lydia was a heartless shrew but this was too much. A high end, rich boarding school was going to be the answer to their problems? He didn't need this; he had finally gotten out of the habit of looking over his shoulder every few seconds and jumping at every small sound. The nightmares had finally stopped; he could actually sleep for an entire night without waking up screaming. School was something he definitely wasn't ready for. His powers weren't even a hundred percent under his control yet and Lydia wanted to throw him into a group of people in hopes he didn't accidentally spark at them or light up like a Christmas tree?
His fingers instinctively curled into fists. The familiar heat bubbled inside of his knuckles and coursed through the length of his arm. The thick gloves he wore prevented the heat from discharging – much to his dismay, he was more then willing to vent some of his anger on Lydia's prized car— but the feel of the power crackling inside of his hand calmed his anger somewhat.
With a deep, calming breath, Jason turned to the blond sitting next to him. "What do you think kiddo?"
Manny shrugged lightly, obviously uncomfortable about something and eyed the buildings through the car window.
"I don't know. It seems fine…from here."
Jason watched him closely. God, Manny seemed so young right now, so scared and so vulnerable. The primal side of him growled darkly, hating the fact that Lydia was putting him in such an unnerving state. There was no way Manny would survive being around this many people, he could barely keep himself together when Jason was the only soul in his emotional radius. Hadn't the kid been through enough?
He was jerked back towards reality when he heard one of the car doors slam. Lydia was already outside of the car and waiting impatiently for them. Jason groaned and opened his door angrily, the cold breeze of the early morning hitting him in full force. With a curse he drew his arms to his chest, hating his choice of a sleeveless shirt and jeans. The door to Manny's side opened and closed a moment later and the younger teen moved to Jason's side, his blue eyes looking between the buildings. Lydia moved to the car's trunk and opened it with her keys.
"Now I expect the two of you to behave while you're here." She said as she moved her gaze towards the lone box resting in the compartment. "Oh boys, you can't honestly tell me this is everything you need?"
"The joys of a group home." Jason muttered as he took the box from her with a yank. "You don't own a lot of shit."
"A group— ugh, give me some credit you little ingrate!" The woman shouted, using her power to mentally smack the troublemaker before she turned towards the younger of the two. "Don't worry sweetie, you'll learn to love it here. Try not to set off the grade curb off too much OK?"
Manny nodded, his mop of blond hair falling forwards as he did so.
"And try to do something with your hair dear. It's getting too long again." She smiled sweetly before straightening up and turning towards the other teenager in her arm reach. "And you…"
Jason didn't flinch from the tone of her voice, like she hoped, instead the dark haired boy merely waited for her demands with a bored expression.
"No smoking, no fighting, no hustling and no more piercings or I'm pulling them out with pliers."
"Is that all?"
"No." She snapped back and pointed to his hair. "You were supposed to wash those out."
The teen snorted and ran a hand through his hair, ruffling the few dark spikes streaked with dark blue.
The woman rolled her eyes at him before digging into her purse in search of her wallet. "Now I'm going to give the two of you a card so you can at least shop for clothing and supplies."
Her eyes instantly noticed one of Jason's eyebrows raise.
"I will be monitoring the spending...on second thought." She turned and handed the credit card to Manny. "You're in charge of it."
"What?"
Manny moved his eyes between the two of them before reluctantly taking the card and nodding.
"And by no means is this allowed to be used to post bail again, understand?"
Jason groaned loudly. "You are not gonna let that go are you?"
"I'll let my grudge go when you let yours go." Lydia replied in an even tone.
Her comment drew a deep growl from Jason's mouth and his fingers tightened into fists a moment later. The thin hairs on Lydia's arms rose as the air around the three of them suddenly grew warmer from static. Her eyes drifted down to the boy's hands briefly, noticing that despite the thick rubber gloves he wore, Jason's powers were still filtering outward.
Apparently she wasn't the only one who felt the change as Manny slowly raised a hand and placed it on the older boy's shoulder. She was only slightly amazed when the boy's touch roused Jason from his anger and caused the electricity to gentle fizzle out of the air. Manny had been the much needed 'off switch' to Jason's anger for the past year. When the dark-haired teen's shoulders lowered, Lydia cleared her throat.
"I'll be up north for the next few months but I'll stay in touch. I want you two to look out for each other OK?"
It was an unneeded request and she knew it, the two of them had always been close and over the past year they'd been inseparable, but she still felt the need to ask it. It made her feel motherly, a feeling she'd come to enjoy over the past handful of years.
Manny nodded while Jason snorted and turned away from them. Lydia's eyes followed his back as the teen started towards the walkway leading towards the closest building, the small box containing their possessions cradled between his arm and hip. With a sigh, she brought her arms around Manny's slender frame and hugged him close.
"Stay safe, OK sweetie. Keep him out of trouble."
The boy nodded against her and she released him after a tight squeeze. She watched with a heavy heart as he turned and walked away, trying to catch up with Jason's heavy stride. The two of them were all she had, all that was left of their broken family. Feeling her eyes water, Lydia lowered her head and turned back towards her car.
(I hope you rot in hell David.)
By the time she turned the key and brought the engine to life, several tears had fallen down her cheek, leaving wet trails in their wake.
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Tyler eyed the calendar mounted to the wall above his bed; two weeks until December twenty-eighth, two weeks until his eighteenth birthday, two weeks until his ascension. A shiver rolled down his spine from the thought. More power, more temptation as if he needed more. As if he wasn't already terrified of his powers, he was going to be forced to gain even more.
Hearing a sharp, intake of breath from his roommate, Reid turned his head towards the younger boy.
"Still angsting about your birthday huh?"
Tyler didn't answer, his eyes continuing to stare at the calendar.
"It's not that bad dude."
"Says you." Tyler mumbled into his pillow, not even bothering to raise his head.
"No, says me and your other two brothers." The blond piped back. "Seriously, it's only weird for about a minute and then it passes."
Tyler rolled his eyes. "I know."
'It's not a big deal Tyler, it only hurts for a few seconds and then…wow.'
'Well it's a little intense but…'
'A lot of things will change but you'll still have control.'
He heard the story from the three of them numerous times over the past year but he was having a hard time believing it. He heard all the stories from the elders. The power is tempting. How could it not be when you've been giving the power to own the world? His father had succumbed to the temptation and so had half of Caleb's bloodline, heck Reid and Pogue were already using almost twice as much now. What chance did he have?
With a groan, Tyler thumped his head against his pillow once more.
(Turning eight-teen sucks.)
For a visual of the boys and more info see the link on my profile