Chapter Two

It was pitch black by the time she got into Ipswich, Massachusetts. Driving down the forest road, with dark and eerie woodland on both sides, she carefully watched the road. The mustang's high beams lit up the blacktop but even then, it was hard to make out the end of the road from the darkness.

A glaring light reflecting from her rear view mirror, blinded her slightly before it dimmed. Looking in the mirror she spotted a large black hummer speeding closer to her. Keeping her hands steady on the wheel, she watched as the hummer pulled out to take over and went to pass her. The hummer stayed next to her car, as they both speeded down the forest road.

The moment it took for them to pass, Georgina saw most of the cars occupants. The muscled guy in the passenger seat had shoulder length brown hair. There was a pretty girl sat on his lap, smiling down at the guy as she kissed him. Her long brown hair was poker straight. In the tight gold dressed she wore, even from her car Georgina saw too much of her lovely mocha skin. With the two of them in one seat, she couldn't see who was driving.

As the backseat window came level to her eyesight, she saw a short brown haired guy hold the side of the window as he smiled and shouted something down at her. He tried to see through Georgina's tinted window but she just rolled her eyes. Keeping an eye on the empty road ahead, she caught a glimpse of a happy blonde girl in the arms of a spiky hair broad shouldered guy. He smiled as he shook his head, pulling the other guy from the window.

Even over her music, Georgina heard their laughter as they sped past and drove down the road, leaving her to stare at their red rear lights as the car disappeared into the darkness. Switching the light above her head on, she glanced at the folded map again. Her eyes traced the forest road. There was only one house at the end of this road. Wherever she was heading, the hummer was headed there also.

As she tossed the map on the passenger seat, Georgina sighed and turned off the light.

"Here's to the birthday boy!"

The room full of fancy dressed people raised their glasses to the guy stood next to the large fireplace. His long dark hair was brushed away from his face as he smiled at them all.

"Happy birthday, Pogue," his girlfriend, Kate, smiled as she came up to him and nestled against his chest. He held her as her raised his wineglass to all of them.

"Thanks, everyone," he said. Though he hardly ever let his emotion show, he was beyond happy at that moment. He could feel his power humming beneath his skin.

Caleb watched his friend, Pogue, kiss Kate affectionately on the cheek as everyone cheered and clapped.

"Two down-"

Caleb looked to his left at Reid Garwin. His white blonde hair slightly hung over his light blue eyes as they glanced from Pogue to Caleb.

"Two to go," he finished with a devilish smile.

Caleb smiled at him and joined everyone else as they clapped. They both watched as a familiar figure broke away from his parents and approached them. The rest of the room dissolved in chatter as white-coated waiters carrying food covered, silver trays circulated the room

"Tyler," Caleb said as Reid clapped the newcomer on the shoulder, "How's the parents."

"You know," he replied as he smiled at them. "Same old. They're here for a couple of days before they need to get back to the city. Christmas break is well and truly over, I guess."

"Don't worry, baby boy," Caleb said using their nickname for him, which Tyler rolled his eyes and smiled at. "We'll be back at school in a couple of days."

Reid curled his lips and groaned quietly and he turned and took the whole platter from a passing waiter. Reid smiled charmingly at the waiter, who frowned then walked away empty handed.

"Back to normal," Tyler sighed as he helped himself to Reid's platter who jokingly pulled it away from Tyler.

"I guess," Caleb said quietly, as he drank from his wineglass.

His eyes darted to his girlfriend, Sarah, who was walking to his mother. Almost sensing his eyes, she turned her head to him and smiled. He returned the smile but it slowly turned to a frown when she looked away.

"How's Sarah?"

Pogue just walked up and saw the exchange between his friend and his girlfriend. The look in Caleb eye was something he was very familiar with. It was his worried but trying not to think about it look.

"Caleb?" Pogue asked.

"Yeah," Caleb replied, coming out of his thoughts.

"I asked how Sarah was?"

"She-," Caleb was about to give his closet friends his standard reply, which he has been repeating since the whole Chase incident, but he knew from their mirrored looks that the lie wasn't going to hold up anymore.

"She's different around me. Since she found out the truth, she's quiet more. I mean she wants to know about us and I'm happy answering her questions but I just think sometimes that one day she is going to ask a question and not like the answer."

The four guys stood around in silence.

"Maybe," Tyler spoke up, breaking the tension. "Maybe it's not just her."

"What do you mean?" frowned Caleb as he looked at Tyler.

"Think about it," Tyler explained, lowering his voice from the crowd. "Sarah is the first outsider which one of us has let in on the secret. I'm just saying, maybe it's not just her who is having trouble adjusting."

Caleb frowned as Pogue slapped his shoulder softly.

"Listen to our little psychologist," Reid said in a baby voice.

Pogue and Reid laughed as they tormented Tyler by pinching his cheeks and ruffling his hair.

"Screw you guys," Tyler said pushing their hands away. He wasn't angry with them, he was used to them treating him like a kid. Tyler was the youngest and they have always since they were boys treated him as a little brother. "It won't be long before this party is for me."

"Hey, hey, hey," Reid interrupted. "Get in line."

It was Reid's 18th birthday next but it was a way away. And it wasn't the birthday party they were looking forward to.

"Man, I can't wait to ascend," Tyler said.

Caleb and Pogue exchanged a look. Caleb was with Pogue when he ascended earlier that very day. While no one was with him, with the exception of Chase Collins, he remembers all to clearly how it felt. It was not something to look forward to. Pogue was still in pain hours later. Just like Caleb and every first-born man in their line had been after they ascended.

"Hey," Sarah smiled as she approached the guys. They all either nodded or smiled in reply. She slipped her fingers into Caleb's as she gave him a gentle kiss. He smiled at her then looked at the guys. Reid rolled his eyes as he polished off the last of the hors d'oeuvres, while Pogue drank his wine. Tyler gave him a knowing look.

Caleb turned to put his empty wineglass down on the table behind them all. His eyes caught a car through the trees in the distance. It stopped and the headlights turned off. A clinking of metal on glass bought his attention back to the room.

"Can I have everyone's attention?"

The guys and Sarah watched as a demure older woman put down the knife she used to get everyone's attention and held her glass in salute. Her name was Eleanor Danvers. She was Caleb's paternal grandmother. Her raven hair was glossy for her age and it was pulled up into an intricate knot. Her face was aged but still beautiful and youthful, with the help of the countries best plastic surgeon. Her dark brown eyes were still as knowing and shrewd as they were when she was younger, before she knew about her husband's family lineage.

"Today we celebrate a very important time in a young persons life," her voice was soft but commanding as everyone listened. Her eyes scanned the crowd in front of her. "A time that seems to take forever to come, and then passes all too quickly. The time in life where the first important choices are made, questions need to be answered-"

She eyes looked at Caleb, Reid, Pogue and Tyler with intensity, "And responsibilities are thrust upon them."

All but a few of crowd understood the double implications. Nearly everyone in the room was part of the four families of Ipswich. They were celebrating not only the birthday, but also the ascension of one of the Sons of Ipswich. Only outsiders like Pogue's girlfriend, Kate, didn't know the hidden meaning.

"But for tonight-" Eleanor started before the smile dropped from her face and her eyes looked distant. A frown appeared, as she seemed frozen. The crowd looked at each other.

"Eleanor?" Evelyn Danvers, Caleb's mother, said.

After a few seconds, Eleanor blinked and seemed to come back to the present. She smiled at the crowd.

"Excuse me," she laughed. "Old age, I'm afraid."

There were a few small chuckles as Eleanor regained herself.

"Where was I. Ahh, yes," she smiled at the boys. "But for tonight. Put those thoughts out of your mind. Tonight is for fun. Happy Birthday, Pogue."

She saluted Pogue with her glass as everyone echoed her last words. Pogue smiled uncomfortably as everyone looked at him, but he gave Eleanor a genuine smile. She nodded as she put down her untouched glass of wine.

Before anyone could talk to her she swept gracefully out of the room. People saw her, but didn't follow.

"What do you think that was all about?" Pogue asked Caleb who's eyes followed his grandmother out of the room.

"No clue," he replied. He felt something during his grandmother speech. It was small and hardly noticeable. But it was there. And judging by Pogue's frown, so did he.

Eleanor kept her smile on her face as slowly made her way out of the dinning hall. Nodding to the few people in the entrance hall, she made her way up the grand staircase and down the corridor. She kept the smile on her face, till she knew no one else was watching. Turning to look back, making sure she was alone, she entered her bedroom.

Putting her hand automatically on the light switch, she flicked it on revealing a familiar yet haggard looking young girl leaning casually on the window seat with her arms crossed. The open window behind her blew the white nets out around the girl. Before either of them spoke, Eleanor closed the door.

Turning back, she said, "Hello, Georgina."