I live! Sorry I have been gone for so long but I promise to not let it be that long again any time soon.

I do not own The Covenant, just my character.

Chapter Seven: Beauty

The rain had not stopped pouring, and a wet Sage curled up in my lap.
Tyler was still sleeping on my bed, still and silent.
I was awake, eyes burning as Chase stood beside me.

'It happens tonight. Keep them busy and make sure that they do not come to the barn.' He played with a piece of my hair, tugging it painfully. 'Any questions?'
I frowned up at him, trying to think of some snappy remark but my mind was blank except for the wellbeing of Tyler and my family.
'You hurt any of them and I will-'
'You'll what, Leah? What will you do?'

His hand twisted in my hair and yanked, forcing my face up to his. He stared down at me, his eyes cold and harsh before they dropped to my lips.
'I would kiss you Leah, but unlike Baby Boy here, I know what you really are; hag.' He tossed my head aside, and I took a deep breath to stop myself from yelling to wake Tyler. Would he even help me, or would he assume that I was working against him still? I was, to a point.

'You don't have to worry about your family any more Leah.' He snickered and I frowned up at him, the fear and realisation making my eyes water. He had killed them, and my face dropped into my palms, Sage hissing as Chase shooed him.
'Poor Leah, all alone in the world...' he laughed and silently walked out.

My family was gone.
My reason for being alive was destroyed.
What was I going to do now? All I could think of was that I may as well do what Chase tells me, for he still had the crystal that I was bound to hanging around his neck. That was it then, I really was just an old hag in a world that is too advanced for her.
I didn't belong here.

I was about to get my things and leave when Tyler stirred, waking as his phone rang.
'Hello?' he sounded rough, sleep still tugging at his eyes but they settled on me and I smiled, getting dressed and brushing my hair.
'Your place... to what?' his eyes fell on me again, a soft frown on his face before he nodded, agreeing.
With that he got to his feet, stretching and staring out the window.
'We're all heading to Caleb's place. Safer all together.'

The uneasy feeling I had the whole trip over there was eased by the landscape and of Tyler. All I really wanted to do was curl up and die, to grieve for the loss of my family but I wouldn't, I couldn't.

Caleb Danvers home was exquisite.
The gates opened and Tyler stopped the car beside a large lake. Slipping the bag over my shoulder, I remained close to Tyler as we made our way towards the house.
The power I could feel leaking from this place was confusing my thoughts but with a quick breath I calmed.

'Are you alright?'
Tyler paused outside the door and I nodded.
'Yeah. I can, feel...' I waved my hands at him and the place, 'the energy. All your powers.'
He was going to ask something when the door opened, revealing a slim woman with a glass of liquor in her hands.

'Tyler,' she said with a grin and gave him a brief hug before her eyes settled on me. For a moment I had the fear that she recognised me, but she was only scrutinising me, her old eyes scanning me.
'You must be Leah.'
With a nod, I held out my hand, and she took it cautiously in her own.
'Hello, Mrs Danvers.'

With that she stepped aside and the two of us moved into the large house. It was comforting to be standing back in such an old house, the elegance of it reminding me of when we attended balls, stepping down the stair case and being entertained with brandy and music...

Tyler lead me through to another room where everyone was seated. Sarah was close to Caleb as Reid stood beside a stuffed animal.
I felt uncomfortable as they all looked at me, especially when Tyler left me standing by the door.
I said nothing. I just waited for them to start their questioning, their demands.

'How do we know that we can trust you?'
'You can't,' Everyone tensed, and I hung my head, 'you just have to believe me .'
Caleb stood now, moving closer to me and I felt myself tense as I felt his power. He would ascend tonight, and he will be powerful but Chase would still be stronger.
'We know that you are a witch, and we did some research to find out how you would be connected to Chase, we couldn't find any.'

I sighed, biting my lower lip before I stood straight, flicking brown fringe from my face.
'There is no connection between Chase and myself, yes.'
'Then we know who you are.'
I looked at Reid, but I had no idea how I was feeling. Too many emotions were making my stomach crawl, or was it because I hadn't eaten for hours? Holding my hands up, I urged them to continue, curious as to what they had found.

'Our four, five families,' Caleb corrected himself as he folded his arms, 'as you know were not the only witches.' A clink made my eyes snap to his mother, who was pouring herself another drink, eyes glazed as she was lost in her thoughts.
'We think you might be a decedent of Leah Witheridge...'

Something hit me hard in the chest and my hands flew to my face to cover my gasp of surprise. Tyler was beside me in an instant; hands holding my shoulders gently, but hard enough to steady my swaying. After a few breathless seconds, I nodded I was alright and faced Caleb again.
'No. I am Leah Witheridge.'

The silence fell over the room like a heavy sheet and I could practically hear everyone trying to process what I had just told them.
'What?' Caleb's mother snapped and I faced her. I should have been as old as her once, with a face that was covered in laugh and frown lines. The only thing I had that was my real age was my old, dark green eyes.

'I am the original Leah Witheridge.'
'But that, that would make you over-'
'One hundred and ninety six years old.' I finished and looked at Tyler who had dropped and stepped back from me.
Now I truly felt alone.
'How the hell is that even possible?' Reid asked, and I moistened my suddenly dry lips, thinking of how to explain.

'I was only twenty when the witch hunts started. Before then I and others like me would practice our magic peacefully. We never hurt anyone. The Power was something we were trying to use for things like medicine, creation.'
It seemed that I had everyone's attention and I gave a sigh and hung my bag on the chair closest to me.
'We left England, but they followed. The Hunters found my friends, burnt them in front of everyone to make a point...' My heart twisted as I remembered them screaming, the smell of their flesh burning away to bone and the sudden snap of their power as they died. 'My family didn't want me to die, and with my help they trapped my soul in a crystal. My body was found and I was recorded as dead, my little sister recorded as my daughter. I was not meant to be in there for as long as I was, but I didn't know how to get out. I was handed down the family, a good luck sort of charm.' I chuckled but I felt heavy and sick as I thought of my history.
'Only a few weeks ago, Chase came to my family, said that he could help me escape the crystal. It worked, but not the way we had planned.'

I looked up at them all again and gave a laugh as they watched me as though I was some sort of wild animal.
'So how are you here physically?'
I gave a shrug, not fully understanding myself.
'This, this is not what I really look like. My soul is still attached to the crystal; it is dependent on it now. My own power enables me to manifest and retain my youth and create a body.'
Mrs Danvers shook her head, unbelieving as Sarah just stared at me, obviously still not used to all of this.
Behind me, I could feel Tyler move away from me, not physically but in a way that made me want to hold him close to me. Was everyone now repulsed by me?

'I can help you. Chase, he killed my family and stole my crystal. I have nothing left to lose anymore,' wishing I could take my words back as my eyes fell on Tyler.
Now I knew what it was like to stand before a judge, waiting for their decision with my life in his hands. Caleb was looking down, lost in his thoughts before Sarah ran a hand smoothly down his own.
'She is telling the truth Caleb, she can help us as much as we can help her.'
'How?'

Eyes fell on me once again and I gave a heavy sigh.
'I know Chase, I can tell you everything I can about the way he fights and all that and my strengths are in different areas compared to you all.'
Tyler moved closer to me again, and took my hand.
'How can we help you?'
'There is nothing anyone can do for me now.' A shadow fell over Tyler's eyes and I squeezed his hand with mine, just having him close helping me already.

Everyone had eaten in silence, cold meat and salad washed down with hot coffee and tea.
I felt so out of place.
Sarah wouldn't speak to me, and Reid and Caleb's eyes would always dart away when I looked at them. The only people that made it easier for me were Mrs Danvers and Tyler. Soft words of comfort and a nod of understanding was enough to make me ease. But that tense spring in my muscles wouldn't leave as I thought of how tonight would end.
There were so many scenarios and I was starting to get a headache with my imagination running wild.

Poor Caleb, the way he looked at Sarah revealed how much he was attached to her, the love evident in both their eyes and it pained me to think that I had tried to destroy it.
I was not going to do anything more for Chase.
With these people and Tylers warmth beside me, perhaps I was not so much out of place as I was settling in.

'Leah?'
My head snapped up from my plate that was still practically full. I just didn't have an appetite. Sarah was smiling at me, holding out a hand as she tucked her blonde hair behind her ear. I tried a smile of my own and took her hand as she pulled me to my feet and lead me up the stairs after I grabbed my bag.
'We're getting ready.' Sarah said softly as the boys nodded, Mrs Danvers saying to take any room. As we were heading up the stairs, I could hear them start to talk; plans for tonight, for what we would be doing tomorrow?

'I'm so nervous...'
I grinned as Sarah began to mumble, trying obviously to hide her nerves. Unzipping my bag I pulled out the yellow dress I had purchased not that long ago. The fabric was still so soft in my hands and I was about to get changed when the door opened slightly.

'Can I talk to Leah?'
It was Tyler and I glanced at Sarah who was already applying fresh makeup to her already perfect face. Leaving my clothes hanging over a chair, I flattened the invisible creases in my dress before I stood in the hall with Tyler. There was something in his expression that gave me concern. Had they decided that I was too much of a threat?
'Leah I need to ask you something. Last night at the hospital, you said that... you said that Chase didn't...' he was struggling to find the words and all I could do was rest my hand on his shoulder lightly, giving him a reason to take a deep breath.
'Did you mean it?'

I bit my lips together, wondering whether to lie and save him or to just speak the truth. Deciding on the later, I nodded, relieved when Tyler smiled and gave a chuckle. His eyes shone and I could feel my own sparkle with relief.
'You look, beautiful.'
I shoved him slightly in the shoulder, pulling my hair over my shoulder as he laughed, taking my hips in his hands. Something changed in the air and I looked up at him, stepping closer to his warmth.
Why wasn't he rejecting me? Surely he was not comfortable holding a woman that was one hundred years over her grave date?

'Tyler, I am really not this pretty. I'm old, and have done things that,' the growl he gave was deep and made me hesitate, 'I am not beautiful.'

Shaking his head, Tyler pulled me into a tight hug and I was overwhelmed with his scent and acceptance.
'Sometimes, Leah, all you need is the right soul to be beautiful.'
I felt a tear slip from my eye and I wrapped my arms around him tightly, never wanting to let go. For so long I had been cold and alone, trapped with nothing but my demons and fear. Whatever it was about the beautiful Tyler Simms, he shielded me from the horrors and silenced the screams of my past.
What ever this was, it was beautiful.
And I will do anything to defend it.