The Covenant - Uncovering Secrets -

Chapter Twenty-Three - You Need to See

Hey guys,

I'm really sorry this chapter is a bit late, things have been hectic lately but hopefully you'll forgive me after this new chapter.

Enjoy

Amy-Nicole xoxo

Repressing a shiver, I pulled the covers tighter around me trying to hide away from the chill in the air only to still as I heard something, a whisper in the air. Peeking out from beneath the warm comfort of the covers I let my eyes adjust to the dimly lit room, a small chunk of sun managing to squeeze through the heavy curtains pulled over the windows. It took me a moment to remember where I was as I glanced around the unfamiliar surroundings, shaking as the chilly air curled round me wrapping me up in it's cold embrace. Glancing behind me I smiled as I saw Reid sleeping soundly, a frown replacing my smile as I heard the soft whisper again, a small sliver of light appearing beneath the door on the other side of the room. Letting go of the covers I grabbed Reid's t-shirt from the floor glad to find it had dried overnight, tugging it over my head before padding towards the door. Perhaps Reid's parents were home. I shivered again as my fingers wrapped around the icy cold door handle a feeling of uncertainty settling over me as I glanced at Reid again.

"Reid? Reid do you hear that?" I whispered turning to him. No answer. "Reid?" Taking a step closer fear seeped beneath my uncertainty only to soar into the forefront as Reid's sleeping form faded away. "I'm dreaming, this is just a dream. You can wake yourself up." I whispered trying to calm myself as fear spread through me. "You can wake up. Wake up Belle." I let out a yelp as I pinched myself sharply hoping it might waken me. "Okay, okay. I'm not waking. It's okay. It's just a dream. Nothing can hurt you in a dream." What if it's not a dream? What if this is Chase in your head again? My racing heartbeat was drowning me, immersing me further into my fear and panic.

'Don't panic. Panic and fear are his friends.' I chewed heavily on my bottom lip as Reid's soft voice spoke within my mind, calming me. I can do this. Reid is with me, maybe not right here but he's sleeping right next to me. Nothing bad is going to happen when he's right next to me. Nothing bad will happen. Nothing bad will happen. I whispered in my mind holding onto the strength and calmness that weaved through me at the thought that if something bad was going to happen Reid would wake me up. Taking a deep breath, I tugged on the door pulling it wide before stepping through it. I frowned confused as I turned around in a circle recognising I was in Caleb's back garden, the sun slowly setting.

"Okay. This has got to be the weirdest dream..." I trailed off as Caleb and I appeared further down the garden near the patio talking quietly. This was starting to feel eerily familiar. Suddenly the me sitting next to Caleb looked up, my sharp blue eyes looking straight at me. "Wait...you're...I'm not looking at me..." I whispered remembering this late afternoon with Caleb. The me sitting with Caleb frowned, her head tipping slightly as she narrowed her eyes. I turned trying to remember what I saw that day. "What was I looking...at?" I tensed repressing another shiver as I saw the outline of someone behind the large tree. Slowly I approached the tree, hurrying as the figure moved behind it.

A gasp escaped me as I rounded the tree to meet dark blue eyes for the briefest of seconds before they looked down. Chase. He was here. He was watching us. No. No, that can't be. Tyler said they placed wards to keep him away. It was as my mind tried to catch up with how he could possibly be here that I realised his lips were moving, an almost silent rushed whisper escaping. What is he doing? Looking down I saw he had a clear slightly clouded looking broken crystal sitting in his cupped palm. Confused I stepped closer watching as he continued to whisper away while staring at the crystal that was barely half the size of the stone you'd find within an avocado only to be further confused as he sprinkled a deep brown powder over it. Was he doing a spell? What kind of spell? Wait, did he do a spell on me...or Caleb? Maybe that's why he's been so weird. I frowned unsettled as Chase suddenly stopped whispering and watched the crystal, my eyes growing wide as a pale grey seemed to spread from the centre of the crystal and grow until the whole crystal was consumed by the sickly colour. A smirk appeared on Chase's face as he turned the crystal in his hand making me notice that it was slowly growing darker, a darkness as black as night present in the centre where the grey had begun. I jumped taken by surprise as he suddenly disappeared and I was left alone again. Well I don't need to be a genius to know he's up to something and I doubt it's anything good.

"Belle." I turned startled by the sudden whisper, feeling warmth against my neck but there was nobody in the garden with me. "Belle." Padding back around the tree I squinted back down the garden to see a man standing by the kitchen door, holding it open as he looked at me. There was something familiar about him but I couldn't think what it was, perhaps he reminded me of someone. Moving nearer I let my eyes take in the tall stranger, no fear or threat entering my mind as I approached him. He must be in his thirties at least or maybe I was aging him because of the strong jaw and dark stubble he supported. Stepping onto the patio I moved to stand in front of him, looking up into his eyes. Caleb. He reminded me of Caleb slightly, his dark but warm eyes and handsome face.

"Do I know you?"

"I knew you once. I'm sorry I can't know you now." His voice was deep and rich, one you'd happily trust and listen to for hours. "You need to see." I frowned looking at the kitchen door as he looked at it.

"See what?" I whispered confused what I might need to see in the kitchen.

"Go."

"What's in the kitchen?"

"You need to see." I rolled my eyes as he repeated himself.

"I get the feeling I'm not going to like whatever is in there." I muttered bracing myself as I stepped through the threshold. "Uh..." I turned as I found myself on the edge of a forest, thick, tall trees towering above me only to feel my breath catch as I saw Putnam Barn. A feeling of dread and uncertainty settled over me as I moved closer, something drawing me closer regardless of what I was feeling. "No, this...this isn't real...no. No!"

Yawning I blinked the sleep from my eyes, my white ceiling virtually a pale grey in the almost dark room above me. A small almost silent mumble pulled my mind from thoughts of last night, my eyes falling to see Belle's reddish-brown curls as her head lay on my chest. I couldn't help smiling as she shifted slightly against me, her arm tightening around my waist while her leg curled further over mine. Careful not to waken her I gently brushed her curls from her face letting my hand drift down from her shoulder and back before letting my fingers draw little circles on her exposed side.

I groaned as Belle's knee narrowly missed my groin, instead getting my thigh as she screamed, shooting up into a sitting position as she pulled back from me.

"Belle?" She flinched as I sat up, placing a hand on the small of her back and moving her hair from her face as I tried to catch her eyes. Her usually happy blue eyes were wide with fear as they darted around the room in confusion.

"I...I was dreaming..." She seemed to be speaking more to herself than to me.

"Hey." Catching her chin, I turned her to face me. "It's okay. You were just dreaming." It took a moment before it seemed to sink in, her arms wrapping around my neck as she crushed herself against me, still shaking from whatever she'd been dreaming about.

"It was horrible, Reid...it..."

"It's okay. I'm here. You're with me, you're safe." I whispered wrapping my arms around her as she began to sob softly. Holding her tightly, trying to give her some comfort I couldn't help worrying what she might have been dreaming about.