Chapter 40
Those few words were almost Pogue's undoing.
"What?"
William's eyes darkened a few shades before the elder lowered his head.
"I can't get back inside of my son's mind. Something is blocking me."
The desperation in the elder's voice clawed right past the last of Pogue's resolve.
"Chase?"
William shook his head. "No, that little runt isn't anywhere near strong enough to do that. It's...something else."
"Like what?"
"I don't know boy, I'm not the only thing that's in here!" The elder shouted, his frustration building enough for the both of them. "I knew it would only be a matter of time before something else found him, Caleb's been down here for too long as it is. It could be anything."
"Fuck." Pogue heaved, feeling William's frustration and anger coursing through his veins. "How the hell can I help him now?"
"You can't do anything." William stated coldly. "We need to find a way to isolate Caleb's mind and draw that boy and whoever else that's inside of him out."
Pogue's couldn't help cocking an eyebrow. "We?"
William spun about quickly, his dark eyes looking almost back in the room's dim lighting. "Yes boy, "we", because as of this moment, you're all I have and without someone protecting your mind, you'll die in here."
Pogue silently weighted his options and snorted a moment later upon realizing he didn't have much of a choice, even though the option of death seamed somewhat desirable in his mentally exhausted state.
"Fine."
"Good." William replied as he turned, eyeing the empath closely. "Hold out your hand."
Pogue wearily extended his arm after a moment of thought. William's strong fingers closed around his hand a moment later, his skin feeling ghost-like and cold to the touch.
"Just relax." The elder Danvers whispered and tightened his grip.
Pogue moved his eyes from William's face to their joined hands in confusion. He was about ask what William was trying to do but his voice was silenced the second he opened his mouth as a hot jolt shot up his arm from his hand and traveled all the way up his back into his skull. The light in the room seamed to dim slightly as he fell over onto his knees. William's figure wavered and he saw him completely disappear out of the corner of his eye.
Before he could dwell on the thought, Pogue felt something worm it's way into the back of his mind and at once he knew instantly it was William. To say the feeling was uncomfortable was an understatement; William's was flat out smothering him. For a moment Pogue felt like he couldn't breathe, his voice cracked as he struggled to suck air into his burning lungs.
Relax, William's voice rumbled from the back of his skull
(Easy for you to say, you're not being torn apart here!)
It'll pass, just give it a moment.
(It's been a fucking moment!)
Pogue Gavin Parry be a man for once in your life! Now keep your mind clear so I can stay attached to you!
Pogue managed to gather enough air to emit a heavy growl from William's woods. His body slumped to the floor under him as the after shocks of William's invasion settled down. His hands were shaking violently, their tremors almost matching the frantic rising and falling of his chest. Most of the burning pain inside of him had numbed to a tolerable level and he was able to gingerly pull himself to his knees.
(Goddamn...)
It wasn't enjoyable for me either
Pogue growled mentally once again, already growing tired of William's presence.
(So what now?)
We have to wait for Collins to come back; he's the only one who can open that damned door.
(Why can't you open it?)
The same reason you can't, I didn't cast the damn spell. He did.
(Spell?)
William groaned in the back of his mind. Must I tell you everything? This isn't a normal room you're standing in.
(Duh. What the hell is it then?)
One of the most powerful rooms in this place, you can bewitch it to resemble what ever or wherever you want.
(That explains why I'm sitting in my bedroom then.)
Yes, there are a large handful of rooms in this place you shouldn't enter. Thankfully this one won't cause any long term damage to you.
After releasing a long breath, Pogue propped himself against his bed.
(That's a relief, I guess. Can you tell where Chase is?)
William was silent for a few passing seconds. I can feel my son but his presence is too faint for me to tell where he is.
(Terrific. We'll be here for a while.)
I'm afraid so... William hummed, sounding almost as thrilled as Pogue felt about their new bond.
--
A dry moan eased from Tyler's sore throat as a sharp, throbbing pain radiated from the back of his head. The pain made it difficult for him to focus on a clear thought but he was able to get his eyes to slowly open. A hard, wooden floor greeting him from just a few inches away along with the legs of several furniture pieces; he was on the floor in Gorman's study.
With a groan, Tyler drew his arms close and tried to get to his knees but his arms quickly gave out before any serious weight could be put on them. He fell back to the floor and groaned. His arms felt like jelly, it took a large amount of willpower just to curl them to his chest.
"Having problems?"
Tyler blinked and gingerly raised his head off the floor. Caleb was leaning against the arch of the nearby window, watching him intently.
"W–what's wrong me?" Tyler's question came in the form of a hiccup as his stomach gave a violent turn.
Caleb pushed himself off the crook of the window and slyly took a few steps closer. Instinctively, Tyler tried to move away but much like his arms, his legs felt weak and he wasn't able to move too far. Caleb merely smiled at his attempt and slowly reached into his pocket and pulled out something.
"See this?" Caleb leaned over him and held out something that looked like a syringe. "This has been a very handy tool of mine."
Tyler eyed the needle and felt himself swallow hard; he was never a fan of needles.
"You drugged me?"
"Can't have you throwing punches at me now can I? I tell you, this little thing has been a godsend over the past few months. Keeps Caleb nice and docile."
Tyler visibly flinched, his deep blue eyes quickly filling with fear and he turned his head away. He scanned the length of the room and felt his throat tighten when he realized he was alone.
"Where's Reid?"
"Downstairs with the old man."
There was something cold in the tone Caleb used that made a shiver roll down Tyler's spine. As if sensing the younger boy's fear, Caleb locked eyes with him once again.
"Yes, he's still alive, along with that annoying old man, but for long depends entirely up to you."
Tyler felt his throat tighten once again. "What do you mean?"
"It means Tyler, if you're a good boy and give me what I want, no harm will come to your little boyfriend."
The youngest covenant member wasn't at all appeased by the answer.
"What do you want?"
Caleb circled around him, his dark eyes looming down at Tyler's face.
"Do we really have to go over this again? You know what I want."
Tyler's eyes lit up with fear once again and the younger boy seamed to curl in on himself. Chase couldn't help his grin from the wonderful sight. He kneeled down near Tyler, his eyes looking over the younger boy's body darkly.
"So, are we going to do this the hard way again? Or do you want the easy way?"
Tyler gulped and tried his hardest to scoot himself away from Caleb, trying hard to ignore the amused glint in the older boy's eyes from his frantic effort.
"Tyler, stop moving."
Tyler felt his body instantly freeze against his will. A jolt of fear went through him. Why couldn't he move?
"There we go, much better." Caleb purred darkly as his eyes roamed over Tyler's trembling figure. "Like my new gift? I can do all kinds of things with it."
His lips curved into an evil grin and Tyler's throat tightened involuntary from the sight.
"Tyler, sit up."
Despite the grogginess the drug cause his limbs, Tyler felt his hands spread across the floor underneath him and push against its surface until he found himself in a crouching position.
"Good. Now repeat after me–"
"No." The blue-eyed boy gasped, trying to move away from the other boy.
"I..."
(No! Don't say anything!)
Tyler felt the lower part of his mouth start to open and in a frantic effort he tried to clamp it shut. It didn't work.
"I..."
His voice cracked heavily as he spoke. No, Chase couldn't make him do this, he couldn't.
"Will..."
He curled his fingers tightly together, his fingernails pressing painfully against the skin of his palms, hard enough to draw blood. Why couldn't he stop himself?
"W-will..."
"You..."
"Y-you."
Caleb's eyes soon turned black, his voice gaining deep tremors as it spoke, almost sounding like two people speaking in unison.
"My..."
(Reid!)
He bit his lip, trying to keep his voice silent. He knew what would happen to him if he finished those words.
"My..."
(Reid, help me please.)
"Pow– Gnh!"
With a loud cry, Caleb fell forwards. Tyler also crashed heavily against the floor as Chase's hold on his body broke suddenly. His limbs still felt rubbery but never the less the seized the opportunity to escape. He pushed on the floor with his feet and managed to inch himself backwards a few feet. He tried again but before he could get a considerable distance away, Caleb's arm shot out suddenly and his fingers tightened painfully around Tyler's ankle.
"No." The younger boy wailed, trying to kick at the steal like fingers holding him in place.
Caleb slowly raised his head and Tyler couldn't help gasping at the sight, his eyes were a chilling, pale blue color. With a powerful– and very painful– yank, Caleb pulled the younger boy back across the floor until they were mere inches away from each other. Tyler's yelp of surprise echoed inside the small room as he felt Caleb roll him over onto his back and climb on top of him, his bulk pinning the younger boy harshly against the floor.
The older boy's powerful fingers soon sized the bottom of his chin and roughly turned his head to the side. He completely ignored Tyler's whimpers of fear and distress as his piercing blue eyes bore down into the younger boy's eyes. Tyler bit his lip to keep any further whimpers quiet as Caleb raised a finger and gently caressed the side of his face, fearful of the other male's intentions.
"Please Chase, don't–"
Caleb blinked and locked eyes with him.
"Is that his name?"
Tyler felt his breath hitch, that wasn't Caleb's voice or even Chase's. It was darker.
Caleb's weight shifted as he brought a hand to Tyler's face once again.
"Sleep."
"No, please–"
"Go to sleep." Caleb rasped, his voice growing deeper with tremors.
A single tear eased out from the corner of Tyler's eyes as they sleepily drifted closed and his body slumped heavily against the wooden floor.