Chapter 27

A cold chill jabbed into Pogue's spine like a sharp knife.

Once again he found himself trapped inside the stonewalled room. The air was thick with the usual cold chill that froze him to his very core. The many candelas were lit; casting a soft gold light around him and for the first time Pogue could fully see the entire room.

The stone walls were a dark side of burgundy, held together by black stone pillars. There were many carvings in blue and black inks of large runes on the wall to his left and to his right stood a large blue stone table with a long smooth surface. Hesitantly, Pogue reached his hand out and lightly trailed his fingers across the surface. It was cold under his fingertips and its smooth cover was thoroughly polished. There was a large crack that ran down its surface and many runes were carved into its edges, framing the large stone table with gold inscriptions.

He didn't even bother trying to make out what the letters were. He couldn't tell what language they were in but his instincts were tell him all he needed to know, this thing, carved straight out the hard stone in the ground, was charged with power. His eyes continued roaming over its surface, following the trail of gold letters until another set of carvings caught his attention. At the foot of the stone table were four holes, each about the size of his hand and from their shapes they were created to hold four round items.

His fingers ran across the table's surface once more, letting his mind feel out the area. Many emotions were floating in the cold air, anger, fear, but the strongest one was sorrow. He removed his fingers and backed away before the emotion overwhelmed him. Whatever this thing was, it was something he knew he shouldn't be messing with.

Turning his attention away from the table, he moved his eye to the nearby wall. Most of its surface was taken up with drawings done in blue and black inks, like the rest of the room. A few of them were too faded and too smudged for him to see them clearly but the one on his right was clear as day. Two figures were etched into the wall, the first one had his back turned and a large, blue tattoo covered most of his skin while the second figure looked like it was carving the tattoo into the first. As he stared at the drawing, a cold jolt jabbed against his mind and Pogue startled from the contact.

You need to leave. Now.

Pogue righted himself and blinked when he recognized the voice that just spoke to him.

(William?)

There was no doubt in his mind that was William's voice and from the force of the elder's persistence, something was wrong. A dark shadow ghosted over one of the far walls and William's presence jabbed at his mind once again.

Pogue you need to wake up now. If he finds you here I can assure you it won't be pleasant!

(I'm sleeping?)

The shadow on the wall grew larger as a figure approached and Pogue heard the elder curse loudly.

Dammit, Pogue I'm sorry I have to this but I don't have any other choice. If he finds you he'll rip your mind to shreds.

Before Pogue could question the elder's words a sharp blinding pain radiated from the back of his skull. He screamed and brought a hand to his head as his vision swam. He felt his knees hit the floor a moment before the room disappeared out from underneath him. He was pulled through a thick veil of dark, heavy fog and came to a crashing halt a short time later as his consciousness was sent back to his body.

--

Pogue awoke with a jolt as an excruciating headache completely engulfed the right side of his forehead. With a pained groan, he covered his head with his hands and waited for it to pass, forcing his eyes to stay shut and his mind blank to speed up the process.

A few long moments later, the pain dulled enough for him to open his eyes and he was able to pull himself upright. His head felt like it was splitting open but he was slowly growing used to the sensation, after all, he lost count of how many times he'd been pulled out of his body during his sleep. The sight of his messy living room greeted him and a tired groan came form his throat. Even though he tried to clean up the destruction Chase had caused as best as he could, the place was still a mess. A large stack of his school books laid on the cracked coffee table with one laying open on the page Pogue had left off on during the night before he fell asleep.

He glanced at the book's pages half-heartedly before he rose to his feet and padded into his small kitchen. After grabbing a bottle of water from his fridge, he downed half of it and started tearing the small area apart for some aspirin, hoping that he still had the bottle lying around somewhere. Just as his fingers located the bottle, the left side of his chest tingled once again with warmth sending a tired groan from Pogue's lips.

(Will this damn thing ever go away?)

After tossing two pills into his mouth and swallowing them dry, Pogue straightened up closed his eyes. His head still felt like it was coming apart at the seams but with the aid of the aspirin the feeling was soon going away.

(Finally, damn that room, where ever the hell it is.)

He grabbed the bottle of water, nursing it as he made his way back into the living room and fell back on the couch, letting his tired and stiff body sink into the cushions once again. He was really starting to miss the days before he ascended, at least in those days he could get a full night's sleep without being pulled out of his body or having fucked up nightmares.

Yes, those were the days for us all...

Pogue gasped and the water bottle fell from his hands and thudded against the floor loudly.

Relax boy, it's me.

(William?)

The elder's presence soon wrapped around his mind and Pogue couldn't help but shiver from the sensation.

How's your head?

(It'll get better. It always does.)

He felt William sadden a bit but the feeling was soon lost.

My apologies, but it needed to be done. If Chase had found you we wouldn't be having this conversation.

Pogue nodded mentally, not really knowing if William felt the gesture or not.

(I've been to that place a few times before, what is it?)

Silence echoed inside of his head and he had to repeat the question a few times before William answered.

It's a place you don't want to end up in, that's all you need to know.

(Why not?)

William sighed. Because Pogue, It's an ungodly, damned place. Anyone who enters never comes back.

(But you're here.)

I'm not alive, remember. Neither is Chase at the moment so he can come and go from that room freely.

(What about Caleb?)

The elder's voice drew silent for a long moment and when he spoke again his voice was darker.

Its taking it's tole on his body and draining him no matter how hard I try to stop it. There's more power inside the place then you can imagine.

Pogue bit his lip and thought for a moment. So far all of his dreams had been connected, he'd seen through Caleb's eyes and seen everything Chase was looking for so did that mean that place was connected to Chase's plan as well?

All of his thoughts pointed towards a yes.

(Where is that place?)

I can't tell you.

(William, where is it?)

Pogue, I can't tell you.

(Why the hell not?)

Because.

(William? What the hell are you hiding?)

It's for your own good lad; you need to stay away from that place.

(Why dammit, will you just answer my question already? Why the hell do I have to stay away from it?)

Another long moment of silence passed between them and William's voice was cold when he spoke next.

Because Pogue, if you fallow the dead you can never return to the realm of the living.

The blood froze inside of Pogue's body and time seamed to slow to a painful crawl as he took in William's words.

(What are you saying?)

Go read the text in the Book of Damnation, it'll tell you all you need to know. I have to leave now, Caleb's waking up.

(Wait a minute; does this have anything to do with the pendent I found?)

Read the book and you'll find your answers, William's voice replied as his presence slowly withdrew it's self from Pogue's mind.

Pogue's body instantly felt cold as the elder's power faded and he sagged against the couch tiredly. He replayed the entire conversation in his head and his eyes moved towards the coffee table and gazed at the pedant resting on its surface. After a moment, he leaned forwards and grasped it between his fingers.

(What the fuck is this thing anyway? I have half a mind to throw it against the fucking wall.)

He resisted the urge as William's words echoed inside of his head once again and instead, shoved the small item into his pocket and grabbed his textbook from atop the table. He wanted some answers and he knew the only place he'd find them were at the colony house.

--

Reid silently stared at the far wall of his dorm room as the small space was starting to illuminate its self from the early morning sun, casting shadows throughout the room. Their shapes were random and he couldn't care less of what they looked like but the small shapes were more then enough to keep his attention diverted from the thoughts running ramped through his head.

A soft puff of warm air brushed against his arm and almost instantly, Reid moved his eyes downwards towards the sleeping boy he was pressed against. Tyler's eyes were lightly closed and his breath was even and soft, signaling the younger boy was still fast asleep. Reid watched him for a little while longer before resting his head in the soft nape of Tyler's neck and closed his eyes, letting himself be lost in Tyler's warmth.

What was he going to do now? The thought of listening to Chase, the thought of obeying the bastard was more then enough turn his stomach but if he didn't...he didn't let himself finish that train of thought. Ever since they were younger, Reid always felt like he needed to protect the younger boy and that need intensified greatly over the past few days. There was no fucking way he was going to let that son of a bitch touch Tyler, not while he was still breathing but if he didn't want Chase to touch Tyler then he was left with only one option and he knew he wouldn't enjoy it.

He felt the younger boy shift in his arms and Reid loosened his arms and opened his eyes as Tyler turned and curled against his chest. His eyes were drawn to the other boy's face as Tyler laid his head on his chest but they were torn away when the sound of someone clearing their throat sounded in the room. Reid's head shot up and when he looked around the room he saw Caleb sitting on the second bed.

"About time you woke up."

"You son of a bitch, how long have you been sitting there?" Reid snarled as he sat up, forcing all of his anger and embarrassment into a deep glare.

"Not long, but I did happen to witness your little 'escapade' during the night."

Reid's eyes narrowed. "Well gee, I hope we were entertaining enough for you then you sick fucker. Did you get off too."

"Actually it was interesting to watch." Caleb replied, with a sick glint in his eyes.

Reid slid to the edge of the bed, keeping the thin blanket up around his waist; there was no way in hell he was going to give Chase anything else to look at.

"What's the real reason you're here?"

Caleb's shoulders straightened as the boy drew himself up. "Have you forgotten our deal?"

"How the hell could I?"

"Good, then you're going to see Pogue and steal the pendent for me. Today."

Reid's glare deepened and a growl echoed inside of his throat. "Fine asshole. I'll get your damn necklace."

Caleb rose and slid off the bed. "Perfect, because it would be such a shame if anything happened to something so precious and innocent."

Caleb's eyes slowly moved towards Tyler's sleeping frame and Reid's stomach turned as his dark eyes roamed up and down the younger boy's body. The blond growled again, his anger reaching an all time high. It may be Caleb's body that was standing in front of him but the sickening gaze was all Chase's.

"Are you gonna leave anytime soon?" Reid asked annoyed as he gently anchored his body over Tyler's, trying to protect the younger covenant member with his large frame.

Caleb's lips curved into a bone-curling smile. "As you wish. Pogue should be at Gorman's. I'll be seeing you later."

Within the blink of an eye he was gone but Reid's eyes still remained glued to the spot where he was standing until a deep sigh emitted form his throat.

"Son of a bitch."

With a heavy heart, he rolled his feet to the floor a moment later and walked over towards his dresser. He dressed silently, not really caring what he was putting on and grabbed the keys to Tyler's Hummer off the desk, knowing the younger boy as well as he did, he knew Tyler wouldn't mind if he swiped his car for a few hours. He tucked the keys into his front pocket and started in the direction of the door when a soft moan grabbed his attention. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw a sleepy pair of blue eyes watching him.

"Reid, where you going?" Tyler sleepily asked, rubbing his eyes slightly.

Reid was mute for a few moments and then shakily cleared his throat.

"Goin' out for a bit."

"Where?"

"I need to talk to Pogue."

Tyler sat up and yawned sleepily. "M'kay. Don't be long."

A small ball of warmth fluttered inside of Reid's chest as he stared at the younger boy, the sleepy innocence in the boy's eyes were all the motivation he needed; he wouldn't let anything happen to him. He slowly walked back towards the bed and crouched near Tyler and gently placed a kiss on the boy's forehead.

"I love you." He whispered as he moved his mouth towards Tyler's. "So much."

Their kiss was soft and short lived as Reid pulled back just as Tyler was trying to deepen it.

"I'll see ya in a bit."

With that, he rose from the bed and pulled open the main door. He paused once the door closed behind him in the hall as strange, ball of warmth radiated from the left side of his chest. Feeling confused, he felt the area with his hand only to discover the skin it's self was hot to the touch. The feeling disappeared a moment later and after standing in the same spot for a long stretch of minutes, he shook his head and started towards the stairs.