CHAPTER 25:

Down the Rabbit Hole

Pogue stomped into Caleb's kitchen, wrestling his bike helmet off with a frustrated groan. Since Caleb's disappearing act after his Ascension at the dance, Pogue had been out riding the small back streets of Ipswich looking for him. He checked every single place that held any significant memory to him with no such luck. His best friend was still M.I.A..

With a sigh, he set his helmet on the counter and threw his keys in the small wicker basket beside the fridge. Making his way around the little island in the middle of the room, he stopped short when he saw Sheila standing, unmoving, at the sink. Her head was down, her back hunched, her legs crossed at the ankles as if she were deep in thought.

Earlier that night he had popped his head into the guest room, prior to his one man search party for a missing swim team captain, and found her sleeping, nothing but pillows surrounding her on both sides. He smiled, loving the way her face was smushed up against the bejeweled hunter green comforter. His eyes swept the room and, seeing no one in sight, he went towards the bed.

The soft hum of her breathing reached his ears, along with the thunderous rush of water. Someone was in the bathroom, showering. Pogue could see the steam coming from under the door in slow, inviting tendrils.

"Probably Tyler..." He looked at Sheila, reached out, swept her hair from her back. She let out a little 'Mmm' and snuggled closer to the pillows. He knew he shouldn't but seeing her lying there asleep, her mouth parted on a silent and tantalizing sigh, he felt he had no other chose. Willing his Powers forth, he gently levitated her a few inches above the bed and slid the comforter down.

Softly, like a hand caressing a lover's cheek, he set her back down on the mattress, the blanket tucking in on her from all sides. She turned onto her back with a tiny groan, her mouth opening and closing a few times. He heard the shower knobs squeak off and Pogue stepped back into the shadows (just in case she woke up), making quick work of her dress.

He imagined the zipper sliding down, her smooth back becoming exposed, the straps falling from her shoulders, her nipples tightening in the cool mansion air. Pogue suppressed his moan, clenching his hands into hard fists, surprised to find her dress rumpled in his right hand a moment later.

He brought it to his face, burying his nose into the silky fabric, and took a deep, intoxicating breath. 'This is definitely not helping...' He thought, smiling against the dress. The bathroom door clicked open and with a flash of his obsidian eyes, Sheila's dress was discarded at the foot of the bed and Pogue was left to catch his breath in the hallway, her scent clinging to the inside of his nose, his brain (as well as other parts of his body) buzzing with confusion and excitement.

Pogue broke his walk down memory lane, bringing his focus back to the present with a "Hmm" of indecision, and threw a look over his shoulder.

Through the open doorway, he could see Tyler walk over to Reid and gently tug the pool stick from his boyfriend's hand and casually sprawl himself along the edge of the pool table. His wrist flicked with perfect ease completing the combo shot the two players had been arguing over with a slight grin.

Reid snickered. "You fucking leech."

"Aw..." Tyler stuck out his bottom lip. "Is Draco Malfoy's doppelganger getting pissy? Just because I don't suck as hard as your mom doesn't mean you gotta get all malignant on me."

Pogue laughed when Reid stuck out his tongue at Tyler. The youngest of the group made his way back around the table, setting the cue stick against its edge, and sauntered by an impassive Reid. Reid shot his boyfriend a lustful look, their eyes locking briefly, Tyler's hand passing possessively across the small of his back as he made his way to the bar, pouring himself another glass of Long Island iced tea. Pogue sighed. 'No point in going in there...' He ran a hand through his long golden hair and turned back toward the sink. Sheila was still standing there, obviously unaffected by his presence because she hadn't moved a single inch.

Pogue threw one last look over his shoulder, checking to make sure Tyler and Reid were still occupied, and smiled as he began observing the long curve of her legs. Her thighs, smooth and tan, were halfway covered by an oversized dress shirt. The sleeves were rolled expertly up, showing off the elegant planes of her arms and hands. Most of her hair was still pinned up but a few curly rogue locks fell forward, blocking her face from his view. He blushed indecent thoughts of his best friend's girl away and stepped closer to her without a sound. Reaching out, he touched her hair lightly, the silky texture falling through his fingers playfully, and, with a more aggressive stroke, pushed some of it from her shoulder.

"Is she sleeping...?" He said in a low, sing song voice. She did not turn in his direction. In fact, it seemed as if she weren't breathing at all. Pogue frowned and peeked around her curtain of hair to get a closer look at her face. Her eyes were closed, he saw, and though her fists were clenching the edge of the sink in a panicked manner, her face seemed relaxed, as if she were concentrating hard on something or making a wish.

Either way, Pogue had never seen a more beautiful sight in his life...

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"...The pentagram is not a representation of evil. It's pure harmony. It consists of five individual points joined together by a circle. It is a symbol for the disparate becoming one. A joining of unique elements:

Knowledge.

Anger.

Strength.

And passion.

The elements can either come together and become strong... Or be consumed by the temptations... And if that is the case, nothing will survive..."

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'There are forces at work that have been in play since before this little Covenant was born... You... are merely pawns...'

Sheila's eyes snapped open. She lifted her head, blinking away the frustrated tears, and took in her surroundings once more. She was in a kitchen. 'Not my own...' She concentrated, her eyes crinkling at the corners. 'No... Caleb's...'

"Caleb..." She said, looking down. The water was shut off, her hands clenching the edge of the sink so hard her knuckles were white, her arms shaking. She looked at her glass on the counter. It was full. The ice tinkled a sweet melody as it cracked in the temperature change. She furrowed her eyebrows. 'Did I do that?'

She ran a hand across her tired face, shaking the sleep from her head. 'What's wrong with me tonight? I can't remember anything that I've done...' She picked up the glass, holding it to the light, and studied it, trying to replay the moment a few minutes before when she had actually filled it.

"You know-" Sheila jumped at the sudden break in noise and threw the owner of the voice a savage look. "-you shouldn't look at your water with so much regret. There are dolphins in Africa that had to grow up with practically nothing just so you could drink that."

She gave the glass a skeptical look then set it on the counter between her and the other occupant. "It's almost 3 in the morning, Pogue, please don't tease me."

Pogue shrugged from his spot against the doorframe where he had gone back to studying her. His form was casual as he threw her a tiny smile. "I respect you far too much to tease you..." He straightened his stance and quietly made his way to her, the rectangular kitchen island the only thing separating them. She watched him with mild amusement as he scooted the glass towards himself, water droplets marking the counter, the grin still holding his mouth captive as he brought her glass to his lips. She stood there silently regarding him, her eyes fixated on his throat as he pulled the water down in one long and very sexy gulp.

He smacked his lips in cool satisfaction and swirled the last dregs of tap in the glass nonchalantly, his eyes catching hers. "Wouldn't dream of it..." He set the glass back on the wooden surface and ran a hand through his long hair. His mouth turned down at the corners for a moment before they lifted once more into a grin. His eyes looked in her direction but not at her, as if his mind were playing a scene faraway in his head.

Pogue blinked. "Unless, of course, you wanted me to..."

Sheila felt her face grow warm and quickly averted her gaze before her succubus got involved. She cleared her throat, grabbing the glass and walking over to the sink, refilling it quietly. She took a sip, the water way too cold and tasteless as it slid across her tongue. She turned to face Pogue once more. "African dolphins, huh?"

He nodded. "It's true." She lifted an eyebrow and he shrugged. "Google it."

"Right..." She rested her hip against the sink, cradling the glass as she watched him move about the kitchen comfortably. When he went to pull a bowl from a cupboard above her head, the proximity of his scent made her mind swirl with possibilities. She could smell the last wisps of his Power clinging to his skin. Sheila's head snapped back. 'Wait... What?' He smelled of Tabasco sauce. She looked at Pogue, her nose wrinkled in disgust, and he blinked.

"What?" He asked, looking down at himself. "Do I smell bad or something?" Her laugh came out louder than she intended and Pogue quirked an eyebrow, taking a few cautious steps away from her. "Fine... Don't tell me."

She tried to ease him with a smile but she feared that it made her look more psychotic so she resorted back to sipping politely on her nasty tap water. She had read about this in her father's journal. 'Hmmm... I know this one...' Shuffling through her catalogue of page excerpts, she quickly found the right entry. 'When the Sons Use, they leave a trail of magic behind. Some can see it while others, although rare, can taste it. I... Well I guess... I can smell it...' Sheila shook her head. 'Weird...' She frowned. 'But not half as weird as me talking to myself in my own head!'

Out of the corner of her eye, she studied him, tapping her glass with her fingernails, deep in thought. She realized that he must have Used that day he picked her up to go riding too... Sheila blinked the burn from her eyes, the lingering sting of him still hanging in the air around her. He had Used recently and for a panicked moment she hoped it had nothing to do with Caleb...

Pogue (who was now sitting on the other side of the island... FAR away from her...) poured himself a bowl of Fruity Pebbles, the crackling of the cereal in cold milk deafening in the silence. Sheila quietly observed the eating habits of the opposite sex, quickly learning that they ate just like they performed many other tasks: fast and hard. She noted the way his tongue darted out every now and then to catch a drop of milk and the way his taut muscles could be seen beneath his leather jacket as he hunched over the counter.

She knew she really shouldn't like the way his hands, rough and hardened from many hours spent working on his bike, cradled the small plastic bowl and yet were still feminine enough to make her some kick ass hot chocolate. She wondered for more than a brief second how his hand would feel as it cupped her ass, his other one grabbing a fistful of her hair, yanking her head back with a deep growl, her own tongue slowly darting out to lick the milk from his-

He dropped his spoon in the bowl with a satisfied groan and Sheila blinked away her mini fantasy. She tampered the naughty thoughts running through her mind by taking another long drink, stepping to the right a bit as Pogue sidled up next to her at the sink. The rinsed out bowl clattered in the sink and she jumped, her intake of breath causing Pogue to frown and water to slosh down her chin and chest.

He reached out and she flinched back, her feet stumbling over each other, the glass nearly slipping from her hand. Sheila let out a nervous laugh as Pogue tugged the water from her grip, setting it on the counter behind her. His long, brownish gold hair brushed her face as his body slid innocently across hers, their chests nearly touching. Cursing Caleb's Ascension to hell and back for scrambling her brain and Powers tonight, she let her eyes flutter shut and breathed deeply in, the scent of Tabasco now gone, the smell of woods and ocean spray filling her lungs.

Her body (well her succubus half) answered in its own embarrassing way, the fragrance of fresh peaches invading the air around them. She felt, rather than saw, the change in his body. He stiffened, his leather jacket creaking beneath his rolling muscles. A light (and still very embarrassing) shock wave from her rocked the occupants of the kitchen.

He looked at her, saw her eyes were closed and her breaths were hitching, coming in way too fast. Pogue frowned and instead of stepping back, he moved closer. "You okay?"

When she opened her eyes to answer, Pogue's face was right in front of hers. She jerked back with a gasp, banging the back of her legs against the counter. "I, ah, I didn't even hear you move..."

"That's irrelevant..." His hand reached up to wipe the water delicately from her chin with a paper towel Sheila hadn't noticed he was holding. "I want to know if you're okay."

Sheila made a noise, halfway between a gasp and a moan, in the back of her throat. "Yeah... I'm just..." Another shock wave, this one stronger as his thumb traced the outline of her bottom lip. "...peachy..." She instinctively leaned into his touch, the irony of that sentence causing a small smile to tug at her lips.

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He groaned and rolled onto his side, his newly bulked up muscles stretching to their full potential. The pain shot from the top of his big toe all the way up to the hair follicles on his fluffy head. Dust kicked up as he let out a surprised breath of air. God, he felt like shit. Not only was he naked, his clothes torn to shreds when his limbs filled out and extended, but his head was also killing him, his very brain throbbing with fresh knowledge of worlds and people he didn't even know.

He shuddered when he felt someone nudge the back of his calf with the toe of a finely made leather shoe. "Dad?" He croaked, his mouth sucking in some of the floor's dust bunnies. "Is that you?"

"Yes, Caleb. I'm here."

Caleb groaned, shifting his position on the floor, pulling his arm that had fallen asleep from beneath his heavy body. "Am I-" He sneezed causing more dust to kick up. "-dead?" His head pounded. "Is this Heaven?"

A chuckle from his James' wheelchair. "No, my Son. You are very much alive."

"I feel like shit."

Another rumble of laughter. "Good." Caleb heard the squeak of the tires as James scooted towards him. "It means you're doing great."

"Great." He spat, stretching his arms over his head, the faint glow on his left forearm catching his attention. "What the fuck...?" He pulled his arm to eye level. There, glowing innocently on his skin, was a pentagram. "Dad...?"

"Oh I see you found the tattoo." There was an annoyingly delightful edge to the older man's voice.

Caleb raised his eyebrows. "Tattoo?"

James shrugged. "Technically it's not a real tattoo but when members of the Covenant Ascend they are Marked with the pentagram. I don't know why or how it happens. It just does. My generation's is on the back of our necks. Want to see?" Caleb shook his head. James shrugged, unaffected by his Son's sour mood. "It'll fade eventually and only show up every time you Use. Fortunately for you-" He piped up cheerfully. "-when that little decoration appears that means the transition is almost over."

"Fantastic." Caleb rolled his eyes closed with a sigh. "I don't think I can take much more of this."

"I think all you have to do now is drink the fresh chicken blood and you'll be officially 'Ascended'. Of course-" A thoughtful pause. "-you'll have to catch and kill the chicken first..."

"I have to do what?!" Caleb shot up so fast. "Ooh..." He placed a hand to his forehead. "Bad idea..."

"Easy, Caleb." His father said through his laughter. "I'm only joking." James tugged at the blanket draped over his legs. "Here. You need this more than I do."

Caleb stood on wobbly legs. The floor seemed further away from his eyes now, the furniture around him miniature compared to his size. He attempted to wrap it around a waist that had expanded about four inches but something kept getting caught... He looked down and nearly dropped the blanket. His eyes widened. His waist wasn't the only thing that had grown four inches... And the twin weights hanging just below that seem to have swelled a bit too... They were rounder, firmer.

He turned away from his father's amused stare, his body flushing with embarrassment. His erection, smooth and proud, touched him just below his belly button now. He palmed it, feeling the soft skin against his fingertips and placed it carefully against his stomach, using his other hand to clumsily wrap the blanket around his waist. "Ho-ly shiiit..." He said slowly and deliberately. "What the hell am I supposed to with that...?"

"Do I need to have THAT talk with you again, Son?" Caleb started, forgetting in his moment of surprised pleasure that his father was in the room. James huffed. "What are you doing here anyway?"

Caleb shrugged. "I felt it would be safer with you." He ran a hand through his hair. It was damp with sweat. "I couldn't be around her. She was the first thing on my mind after the Power subsided and suddenly I had this urge to..." The sentence trailed off, his face blushing scarlet.

"Yes, I know that feeling... It's a bitch, but well..." James smiled. "Smart of you to come here then. Wouldn't want you to Claim her in front of every one, now would we?"

"Not that I would know what to do..." Caleb grumbled.

James let out a wheezy chuckle, pulling out a handkerchief from the breast pocket of his pajamas to dab at the spittle on his bottom lip. "Don't worry, Caleb." He coughed into the silk fabric. "When the time comes, you'll just know. I told you Ascension comes with a wealth of knowledge from many, many generations before you. All you have to do is ask and the answers of the world will come to you."

"Interesting..." Caleb sighed. "But how will I know that I'm doing the right thing, if you know what I mean..."

"Why are you asking me? I'm an old man. Don't you have some horny friends you can pester with these questions?"

Caleb grinned. "You're right. I'm sorry."

"Forget it. Look-" James coughed again. "You ever watch a dirty movie, Son?"

"Dad?!"

"I'm serious. You ever watch a porno with your buddies?"

"DAD?!"

James shrugged, a grin tugging at the corners of his wrinkled mouth. "Or alone, if that's what you prefer..."

Caleb tightened the blanket against his waist. "I'm going to take a shower." He said quickly. He headed for the door, his gaze avoiding his father.

"Answer the damn question, Caleb."

Caleb stopped and turned. He sighed. "One or two..." He mumbled with a one shoulder shrug.

"Well the noises the girl makes. You know the ones that make you feel all hot and funny down there just by hearing them? Well if the girl your with makes those, only not so over the top and dramatic like in the movies, more like a soft sigh or a whimper, then-" He made a noise, a mix between a cough and a laugh. "-Then you'll know you're doing something right."

"Er... Thanks." Caleb bounced on the balls of his feet, looking anywhere but at his dad. Finally he clapped his hands together. "Well, this has been sufficiently awkward... I think I'll go take that shower now."

James leaned forward in his wheelchair, setting the used handkerchief on the coffee table in front of him. "A tip, my boy."

"I already know how to get to 2nd and 3rd base..."

"Quit bragging and listen, would you?" James shook his head, mumbling curse words to himself. "Keep the water temperature low. Your skin is going to sting like you got a really bad sunburn for a couple of days so be weary of your surroundings."

Caleb nodded. "Okay. I'll see you later."

"You better. I'm sick of this once a week visitation bullshit." James wheeled his way to the couch and carefully slid himself onto the puffy sofa. He groaned, easing into the cushions with a sigh. "Gorman left you a change of clothes in my bedroom."

Caleb felt a twang of guilt. He knew he should spend more time with his father but things just kept getting in the way. He was at a loss for words. Although James was missing or sick for most of his childhood and Caleb had to navigate this whole Power thing mostly by himself, his dad was genuinely trying to be his friend. Trying really hard to make up for lost time because he was a jerk and felt that other, bigger, egoistic goals were more important than Caleb or his wife.

Caleb sighed. "Thanks again, Dad."

James closed his eyes slowly to keep the onslaught of tears from falling. He could feel his Son's emotions coming off of him in gales, a feat he had picked up and perfected from Wayne Parry, his best and truest friend. "Caleb?" He croaked, emotion clogging his throat. "You're a good, smart kid. Don't make the same mistakes I did..."

Caleb clenched his hands into hard fists and looked down at his forearm. "I won't." He called over his shoulder. The tattoo glowed ominously in the dark hallway, the skin surrounding it was raw and puffy.

'I won't because I will NEVER be like you...' He thought angrily and made his way toward the bathroom.

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Pogue looked down at her, swallowing hard, the last bites of Fruity Pebbles lodged in his throat. 'God... Just look at her... Now I know why Caleb lov-' His hand left her soft, female skin but rapidly descended again to slide down her throat. He couldn't believe he was actually doing this, a light sweat breaking over his skin, the leather jacket suddenly feeling too heavy and stifling. 'All she'd have to do is say the word and I would throw her up on this counter so fast...' He traced her collarbone with a single fingertip, following the water trail on the bone to her sternum and down. He gritted his teeth, his lips desperately wanting to follow the path of his fingers. 'It would be so damn easy...'

'No! Not Pogue too!' Sheila's eyes snapped open at that thought, her irises dilated at she looked at him in curious anticipation. Pogue smiled down at her, his finger leaving her skin and playing with the top button on her shirt. He leaned further in, his breath sweet on her skin.

"Are you cold?" She shook her head vigorously, confused by the question. "You're shaking..." His hand dropped the shirt button and slid back up her chest, underneath her shirt, missing her nipple by mere nanometers. She gasped, his palm warm and inviting. "And your heart is racing... Is something the matter?"

"No." Her answer came out in a breathless whisper, but she shook her head anyway, just in case he didn't hear.

He pushed a few wisps of hair from her face, smiling. He let the tendrils slip silently through his fingers. "I've always wanted to do that..." He laughed then, the noise a deep rumble in the small kitchen. His face grew serious suddenly, his laughter dying away, and he turned his chocolate eyes to hers once more. He licked his lips and drew in a deep breath as if he had just come to a very important decision. He cocked his head slightly, his eyes flashing. "And this..."

Sheila watched with wide golden eyes as his head dipped down, his long chestnut hair brushing her cheeks. His lips brushed hers cautiously, his tongue a velvet soft rush against her trembling lips.

A/N: Whoa!!! That chapter definitely took me somewhere I was NOT planning on going... Strange how that sometimes happens, huh? Leave me reviews... They make me happy! (And happy people post new chapters faster...!)