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The Age of Temptation	By : TCardan Category: 1 through F > Covenant, The Views: 14313 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 4
Disclaimer: I do not own The Covenant and make no money from this fiction.

Chapter List
- 21
- 22
- 23
A/N: Hi everyone! First off, thank you so much to those who wrote encouraging comments. I really do appreciate them. And now, on with the story…
Disclaimer: I do not own the Covenant or make any money by the writing of this fiction.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Caleb and Pogue walked the streets of downtown Ipswich, doing some last minute Christmas shopping and then planned on getting out of the snow and cold at Nicky’s. As they turned the corner and made their way to their favorite dockside hangout, Caleb’s cell phone rang.
“Hey, baby.”
“Hi. What are you doing?”
“Shopping. How about you?”
“I was going to do some wrapping.”
“Yeah? I hate wrapping. I’ll have the servants do that for me.”
“Spoiled brat.”
Caleb laughed. But something was off about Sarah’s voice.
“What’s going on… really?”
“It’s probably nothing…”
“Tell me anyway.”
“It’s just that I was suppose to have lunch with Madi today, and she didn’t show at the restaurant. No calls, no messages, nothing. And she’s not picking up her phone.”
“Maybe she forgot to charge it.”
“Maybe.”
“You sound worried.”
“Caleb… what if…”
“He doesn’t know about her, Sarah.”
“I hope not, Caleb. Just… ask Tyler if he‘s heard from her lately. Please. It would make me feel a lot better.”
“All right. I’ll get back to you.”
After Caleb hung up, Pogue said, “Man, Sarah and Madi have scared the wits out of each other about Chase lately.”
Caleb press a button on his cell, dialing Madison’s phone first. Her voice mail came on immediately.
“You know, I haven’t heard from her for a few days either,” Caleb said, “have you?”
Pogue pulled out his phone and checked his messages. “Nope, been a few days for me too.” He pressed Tyler’s number.
“Hey, what’s up?”
“Hey Baby Boy, have you heard from Madi lately?”
He heard Tyler sigh in frustration. “No! And I’ve been fucking trying almost every hour. “
“When’s the last time you heard from her?”
“Yesterday morning. She never leaves me hanging this long.”
Caleb was beginning to get a strange feeling inside. A memory of something flashed through his mind, something he chose to ignore at the time. It was Madison at his house at the end of Thanksgiving break. Sarah had asked her how her Thanksgiving had been, and just for a second, a very strange emotion passed over the witch’s face. And suddenly he realized Madison had a secret.
And was it just a crazy coincidence that it was around that same time her obsession with finding a way to defend against Chase was born?
He grabbed Pogue’s phone. “Tyler, get Reid and meet us at my house.”
OOOOOO
Madison felt like she could not open her eyes, no matter how hard she tried. Her consciousness had awoken before her body and all she could hear was sounds. Sounds of people talking… her dad? Sounds of machines beeping, and people pushing rolling carts.
It took a few moments for her to realize that she must be in the hospital. She wondered how bad off she was. She couldn’t feel anything at the moment - probably due to pain killers of some sort. It was a warm and comfortable feeling, and she could have enjoyed it if she didn’t have to think about what had happened to land her in the hospital in the first place.
She could hear the doctor talking to her father nearby, informing him of all her injuries - the broken arm, cuts, bruises, and worst of all - the rape. She could almost feel her father blaming himself for not being home to protect her. She could hear the pain in his voice every time he said something.
But Madison was relieved he had not been there, for surely he would have ended up like Ben.
Ben.
Even in this drugged out state, Madison felt the pain of losing Ben like a stab to the heart. If she could only have control of her body back - she could cry and mourn like she needed to. But for now she could only wallow in the knowledge that it was her fault. If only she wasn’t so lame, so weak. If only she knew how to be a powerful witch.
Of course, she realized that she was at a disadvantage in the city, and not only that, she hadn’t ascended. She wasn’t even sure she would ascend.
She had tested the demon - and she had lost Ben because of it. And now she had no one else to blame but herself. She should have realized the precarious situation her friends were in the moment she learned of Chase’s entry into their lives. She shouldn‘t have angered him.
What the fuck was wrong with her?
She was so angry at herself, she finally managed to squeeze her good hand into a fist. Flexing her fingers, her face muscles twitched and she cracked one eyelid open a bit, but quickly shutting it when the bright light hit her pupil. Finally, her eyes watered and the tears fell soundlessly. No one had noticed she was awake yet.
Except…
“Stop that.”
Madison turned her face toward the voice at the side of her bed, squinting to see who it was. But the tears blurred her vision. Dark hair…
“Caleb?” she said, her voice cracking.
“No, dummy. Did you forget me already?”
She blinked a few times, her vision clearing. Then she gasped, her eyes widening.
“Ben?”
Her friend smiled. “That’s better. You look terrible, by the way.”
Madison reached her hand out to him. “You’re o.k.?”
Ben looked at her outstretched fingers. “Well…” He lifted his own hand, passing it through Madison’s fingers. “Depends on what you mean by o.k.”
Madison shivered when his cold, ghostly hand passed through hers. She began weeping again, shaking her head in apology. “Oh, Benny, I’m so sorry. I…”
Ben put his finger to his lips. “Shhhhh… they’ll think you’re nuts.” He glanced up at the doctor and her father talking near the door of the room. They hadn’t noticed she was awake yet. “After all, you’re the only one here that can see dead people. Madi, I said stop crying. I mean it.”
“I can’t, Ben,” she whispered. “I can’t stand the thought of you gone. My world is darker without you in it.”
“Hello. I’m right here.”
“It’s not the same.”
“Yeah, it’s like, waaaaaay better.”
“What?!”
“Everything is so clear to me now, Madi. I just have to look at someone, and I can read everything about them.” He grinned at her. “I know about you, Madison Marish. I know what you are.”
“I’m a freak of nature,” she whispered. “And if I wasn’t, then none of this would have happened and you’d still be alive.”
Ben laughed. “Woulda, coulda, shoulda.” He shook his head. “No use crying over spilt milk. It is what it is. And I’m happy you are what you are because otherwise I’d get ignored. And, Mads, I’m sticking around to see this thing through.”
“What do you mean?”
“I want to see Chase Pope come to justice. And I want to make sure you and Raina are going to be safe. So, no going into the light for me until all that happens.”
“Oh, Benny, you should go on into the light and enjoy the afterlife. I’m not sure there can be a happy ending with regards to Chase. I feel so… hopeless.”
Ben leaned toward the bed, his face serious. “You’ve got to tell the others, Madi. And you’ve got to protect Raina. I can see your power. You‘re not even using a quarter of it. Claim it, Madi.”
“How do you know about the others?”
Ben leaned back in his chair, shrugging casually. “I told you, I can see into your memories. It’s all around you in your energy field.”
“Chase…”
“I know he threatened to kill us and your dad if you told. But guess what? He killed me anyway and you didn’t even tell anyone. He won’t keep his promises, Madi, and neither should you. You and your coven… you need one another. And not just for all that sex you’ve been having.”
Madison blushed. “Ben, you pervert, stay out of those memories.”
Ben laughed. “No way, those are the best.” He grew serious again. “Look, Madi, you need to tell Raina too. She’s going to need you more than ever.”
“What? I can’t, Ben, I’m not suppose to talk about this to outsiders.”
“Raina’s not an outsider.”
They sat in silence for a few moments. “I’ll talk to Caleb about it.”
“You make the decision, Madi - not Caleb. Believe me, that dude is crazy in love with you. You’ll be able to convince him it was the right thing to do.”
“Is it the right thing to do?”
“Raina already saw that demon use his powers. Do you really think she’ll doubt you after witnessing that?”
“Madi?” her father’s voice interrupted.
She turned her face toward his. “Dad?”
“Oh, my God, sweetie,” he said, rushing to her bedside. “I thought you might be talking in your sleep, but you are really awake?”
He sat on the edge of the bed and they hugged in a long embrace. “I’m awake, Dad.”
She turned her face to the other side, but Ben had disappeared.
OOOOOO
“What’s got your panties in a knot?” Reid asked as the boys all met in the front parlor of the Danvers Estate.
“None of us seem to be able to get a hold of Madison,” Pogue replied. “Caleb thinks Chase might have found out about her.”
“Fuck!” Tyler exclaimed. “What the hell? Why do you think that?”
“Beyond her recent obsession about finding a way to defeat Chase, didn’t anyone else sense that she was acting a bit off when she came back from Thanksgiving break?” Caleb asked.
Reid nodded. “Yeah, I did. She seemed jumpy and scared.”
Tyler began pacing. “How do we find out? She won’t answer her phone. I think we should just get in the car and go there.”
“Hang on.” Reid pulled out his cell phone. “I’ve got Aaron Marish’s number.”
“How do you have his number?” Tyler asked.
“We’re buds,” Reid replied, listening to the phone ring on the other end.
“Hey, Aaron, it’s Reid Garwin. What‘s up? No one seems to be able to get a hold of Madison. Is she all right?”
The Sons watched as Reid’s face grew serious. Then he turned away from them, walking toward the window as he listened Aaron Marish’s voice.
“What is it, Reid?” Tyler pushed, impatient for whatever news he could get. But when Reid turned around, his face whiter than usual, Tyler’s fear rushed out at full speed. “What?! What is it?” he barked.
“Hang on,” Reid said quietly to Aaron. He covered the phone with his other hand and said, “Madi’s been attacked. She’s in the hospital.”
The other three Sons seemed to rush to him at once, reaching for his phone, but Caleb nabbed it first.
“Aaron, it’s Caleb Danvers. Is she going to be all right?”
Her right arm is broken and she has cuts, bruises and swelling. Her internal organs are going to fine. It’s just that…
“What?”
Physically, she’ll heal. It’s psychologically… something like that… it’s going to effect her. And she lost her good friend, Ben, in the attack as well.
“Did they catch him?”
No. Apparently, this guy was dating her friend Raina. The police were able to interview Raina one time before she disappeared last night.
“Disappeared?”
Yeah. She took off somewhere. Her parents can’t find her either. Everything’s a mess. Caleb could hear the weariness and worry in Aaron’s voice. Look, Caleb, I think you should know… the police are probably going to come down there and talk to you boys as well.
“Why?”
Raina told them that Madison had shared with her… well… that this boyfriend of hers was the same guy who had murdered someone in Ipswich back in September. She said he confessed to the murder… confessed to you. There was also something about him putting two of you in the hospital.
Caleb sat back into an armchair, feeling stunned. So it was true… Chase had somehow found out about Madison. Why didn’t he protect her better? He had promised her she would be safe, that she shouldn’t worry. And now she was in the hospital because he thought she was still unknown to Chase. How she must hate him.
“Damn it, Caleb, if you don’t tell me…”
“Hold on, Baby Boy,” Caleb told the frantic Son. He put the phone back to his ear.
“Aaron, the police don’t need to come here. We are heading up there. When will Madison be released from the hospital?” He glanced at the doorway of the parlor, noticing that his mother was now standing there, a glass of bourbon in her hand and a very worried expression on her face.
They want to keep her one more night to make sure all the swelling goes down. But, Caleb… she doesn’t want to see you… any of you. I’m sorry. I hope you understand that she’s in a fragile state of mind at the moment.
“We’re coming anyway. We’ll make sure everything is straightened out with the police. Have they interviewed Madi yet?”
No. Doctor won’t allow it until she’s about to be released - probably sometime tomorrow. Look, you boys need to respect her wishes right now. I know you’re concerned, but she doesn’t want visitors.
“We’ll respect that, Aaron, don’t worry. She will need a lawyer, however. She shouldn’t be questioned until she has one in the room. My mother will send one over to the hospital in the morning. You don’t have to worry about anything.”
I didn’t think of that. Tell Evelyn thank you for me.
“I will. And, Aaron, she would be safer in Ipswich. You should bring her here when she’s released. You both could stay at our house until your stuff is moved into your new home.”
I appreciate the offer, but we need to tie up the loose ends here and I don’t believe Madison will want to leave until after her friend’s funeral. I won’t be taking her back to the house, of course. I’ve arranged for some rooms at a hotel here in town.
“We’re coming to Boston to check things out, just to make sure Madison’s going to be safe. We won’t try to see her unless she requests it.”
“What!” Tyler exclaimed, incredulously.
But Caleb threw him an irritated glance. “Can you just tell her… tell her we love her and miss her. Tell her that whenever she’s ready to talk to us to please call.”
All right, I will. You boys take care of yourselves. Don’t go looking for trouble. That kid is a psychopath. Let the police handle it.
OOOOOO
Madison awoke early the next day as the nurses bustled around during their morning rounds, taking her vitals and checking her recovery. If there was one thing to be pleased about, it was that she would get to leave the hospital today after the doctor came later in the morning to approve it.
“You’re looking better, Madison,” the nurse smiled. “The swelling is down.” She held a small mirror up for Madison to look in.
At least she no longer had a fat lip and swollen eyes, she thought, though the cuts would take more time to heal.
“You feeling any pain?” the nurse asked.
Madison frowned and shook her head. As much as the pain drugs had allowed her a temporary respite of sweet oblivion, she didn’t want to be stoned when they released her. She needed her wits about her.
Her dad had told her the Sons were in Boston, and they wanted to see her, but they would respect her wishes to stay away. She just couldn’t face them right now. She was tired of it all, sick and tired of the questions, the cover ups, the guilt on her dad’s face, just… everything.
“You have a visitor, Madison,” the nurse announced, setting her breakfast tray in front of her.
Madison turned her head and noticed a tall, bearded man in a dark grey suit looking at her stoically.
Madison sighed and rolled her eyes. “Great, another shrink. What happened to Dr. Osbourn? And, no, I’m not up to talking about rape with you, or anyone else. So you guys can just give up.”
“He’s not a doctor. He’s your lawyer. Your father gave him permission to visit,” the nurse explained.
“Oh,” Madi said, glancing warily at the man again.
The nurse left the room and the lawyer stepped forward, extending his hand. “Miss Marish, I’m Avery Jennings of Jennings and Parish.”
Madison looked at his hand, but did not lift hers. “Aren’t you the firm that handled my inheritance?”
Avery lowered his hand. “Yes, we are. I’d like to say that I’m very sorry to hear of the events that have befallen you and those you care about. I can’t imagine how difficult this must be for you.”
Madison stared at him with a piercing glare. “You’re a relative of some sort, aren’t you? Are you connected to the families?”
“I’m Evelyn Danvers’ elder brother,” he confessed.
“A connection I’m sure was a big boost to your career.”
“I’m not your enemy, Miss Marish. I’m your ally.”
“Shut the door, Mr. Jennings.”
Avery Jennings looked at Madison in indecision for a moment before turning to do as she asked. She could see it in his posture as he turned, his stiff back, the way he moved - he was frightened of her. And for some reason that pleased Madison in that moment.
When he turned back around, he didn’t move as close to her as he had been before.
“I want complete honesty from you. I’ll be able to tell if I’m not getting it. How much do you know about the man your sister married? About their son?”
Avery gazed at her for a bit before answering. “Everything.”
“Then you know what I am?”
The solemn man nodded.
“Tell me, Mr. Jennings, was there really an inheritance for a female Marish or was that something they put together in order to obtain a witch for the Sons? Remember… only the truth…”
The silence that followed was telling. Madison put her head back on her pillow and sighed. “Yeah, I thought that might be the case, though I didn’t want to believe it was true.”
“Does it really matter how they went about bringing you to Ipswich? They didn’t think it would be wise to show up on your doorstep and outright tell you what they were and what you are. Ipswich is where you belong, regardless. It is your ancestral home.”
“Why? Maybe I don’t want to be who they want me to be. If they had just left me alone, Ben would be alive and I would have never had to go through fucking hell and back again. That freaking demon would have never knew about me or my friends.” Madison shook as her voice raised. “I’m just so tired of it all, do you hear? I’m tired of being what I am. I don’t want it. I don’t! You can take the money back, and that house! Give it back to them. I‘m going to live somewhere else, somewhere no one knows me.”
Madison huffed in her anger, having expressed the thoughts that were occupying her mind while lying in the hospital bed. Mr. Jennings stared at her, wondering if she had finished her tirade.
Avery Jennings began to look sympathetic as he sighed. He walked to the chair near her bedside and sat down.
“For how long?”
“What?” she snapped.
“How long can you be away, Miss Marish, before you need to be medicated and/or put into psychiatric care? How long will this normal life you want be before your sanity leaves? Have you considered that?”
Madison leaned forward in the bed, fisting the covers. “I was fucking raped - twice! How many more times will that happen before my sanity leaves? Do you want to know what he said before he left? He said, ‘see you next month, Marish’. Once a month I’ve got to face getting raped by a demon. If that’s not enough to make me crazy, I don’t know what is!”
“Miss Marish, please keep your voice down…”
“DON’T TELL ME TO KEEP MY VOICE DOWN!” Madison shouted.
Avery Jennings sat quietly in the chair, waiting for Madison to calm down.
Madison didn’t know why she was taking out her anger on her lawyer. Perhaps because he represented the old families at the moment, and he knew what she was and her situation. She couldn’t tell these things to her father or to the psychiatrists the medical staff had been sending into her room. And she wasn’t ready to say these things to the Sons, not when they had the effect on her that they did. Her power was drawn to theirs and she knew she couldn’t get these things off her chest in quite the same way. Somehow the need for them would cloud all reason. She was a different person when she was around them and she knew the addiction was in the blood, the power drew her in, consumed her.
She knew she needed some time to herself, to think about all she had to do next and decide for herself what her life should be.
“I’m sorry I’ve upset you,” Mr. Jennings said after awhile. “My only intention was to make sure you weren’t pressured by the investigators during the questioning. I’m here to protect you and your rights, Miss Marish.”
“I know. I’m sorry I vented on you.”
“It’s quite all right. I expect you have every right to be angry at the moment. It’s an important stage of the grieving process. And again, I’m sorry about the loss of your friend, Benjamin.”
Madison nodded. “The funeral’s on Friday,” she muttered.
Mr. Jennings nodded in return.
They spent the next hour discussing who had said what, so that all stories would match and he coached her as to when to keep silent and when to answer. The investigator had shown up and all went smoothly as far as that was concerned. Law enforcement was now aware of Chase Collins a.k.a. Chase Pope and his involvement in the murder of Benjamin Kern and the rape and battery of Madison Marish.
Madison was vague about the events Chase was involved in when he was in Ipswich, claiming that she wasn’t there at the time, it was only what she heard others speak of.
When asked why she thought Chase Pope attacked her, she said she had warned her friend Raina that he could be the same Chase that her friends thought killed the kid in Ipswich. Raina must have told Chase that Madison suspected him, so in his anger at having his cover blown, he attacked her.
When asked why she believes Raina ran off, she answered that Raina was feeling guilty for what had happened. She was probably blaming herself for bringing Chase into their lives and what resulted. And on that point, Madison did feel it was the truth.
After everyone left her room, she exhaustedly turned on her side, hoping to get a moments peace before her dad showed up and asked how it all went. She traced the pattern on the bedspread with the fingers on her one good hand.
“Benny… you here?”
“Of course I am,” Ben’s voice replied.
She turned over to see Ben’s apparition smiling at her as he sat lounging in the chair next to her bed.
“Boy oh boy, did you ever lose it this morning,” he laughed.
“I am a crazy loon, aren’t I?”
“Certifiable,” he grinned. “You going to my funeral?”
“Of course I am.”
“Good, me too. I can’t wait to see who actually comes. What if there is only like five people there?”
“There’s going to be loads of people there, Ben. Everyone loves you. I’ve got to find Raina, though. I know she’s blaming herself.”
“Yeah, she is… big time.”
“You’ve seen her? Where is she?”
“Think, Madi. Where does Raina always go when she needs to get away?”
Madison thought for a moment, but they were interrupted by the voice of her father in the doorway. “Sweetie?”
“Hey, Dad,” she sighed. Why was he so irritating to her lately? She was tired of all his concern.
“You were talking to yourself again?” he asked, worriedly. “The doctor said there was no sign of your medications in your blood work. Why did you stop taking them, sweetie?”
“Because,” she huffed, “I don’t think I need them anymore.”
“Hun, you’re seeing things again, aren’t you?”
“STOP IT! Just, stop!” Madi shouted. “You don’t understand anything!”
“All right, calm down,” Aaron soothed. “We won’t have this conversation right now.”
“Good!”
“The doctor will be coming in any minute now. Then I can get you out of here.”
OOOOOO
Tyler Simms looked out of the window of the hotel suite wondering what Madison was doing, thinking, feeling. The investigator had just left after interviewing the Sons regarding Chase in Ipswich.
What a joke, Tyler frowned.
There was no prison in this world that could contain a fully ascended warlock. Chase would kill any agent or officer that tried to apprehend him.
But they all had to play along as if they were ‘normal’ people.
Tyler knew the only way to stop Chase would be to kill him - and that idea sounded very desirable to him. He even believed Caleb agreed with him this time. All of them were in agreement. Chase needed to die. The sooner, the better.
But Chase was no longer in Boston. Caleb had flown to the top of the highest building last night and scanned the city with his keen senses. Madi’s house was the last place Chase used his power, and even that trace was fading.
There were fainter traces of his power at Raina and Ben’s school, and then at a house a few blocks away. The Sons surmised that Chase had set up temporary living quarters there. Caleb had sent them to check the school records on Chase while he investigated the house. When Caleb went inside, all that was left was a note on the kitchen counter with Caleb written on the front of it.
Inside it read:
I suppose this gig is up. Don’t bother looking for me here. I’ll be long gone.
I bet you want to kill me, don’t you, brother? I look forward to our next meeting. I’ll kill off your little coven and keep your witch as my slave. Oh, I can almost feel your anger coming off you waves. It’s delicious.
So it seemed Chase was out of the area, though Caleb kept scanning the city every hour. They could see Madison’s hospital from their hotel window.
Tyler felt so frustrated. Why didn’t she want to see them? It was maddening. He kept having flowers delivered to her room with notes attached, but she wouldn’t call or message him. Pogue and Reid had to physically stop him from going over to her hospital room a few times.
“Respect her wishes,” they’d yell.
They had heard she was being released today. Aaron was checking her into a hotel, but he wouldn’t tell them which one. Tyler knew her friend’s funeral was in a few days. Surely after that was over, she’d come back to Ipswich, wouldn’t she? Why would she want to stay here?
Tyler paced the room, suffering over his lost connection with the girl he adored.
OOOOOO
“My arm is broken, not my legs,” Madi complained as the nurse pushed her out of the hospital in a wheelchair.
“Hospital policy,” the nurse repeated.
Madison was so relieved to finally be leaving that place. When she reached her dad’s car, she looked around at the sky and took a deep breath of outside air. Her dad tried to help her in, but Madison grumped at him.
“I can do it!”
“Fine,” he replied, watching his daughter climb into the passenger side of the car. He glanced knowingly at her cast in the sling. “Could I at least close the door for you?”
“Fine.”
When he got into the car, he asked, “Would you like to go to the hotel and take a nap?”
“No. Could you please take me to Ben’s house? I want to give my condolences to his family.”
Aaron Marish didn’t argue with Madison on this point. He knew she needed to deal with Ben’s death in any way that she could. If being with his family would help, then he was all for it.
“All right.”
When they pulled up in front of the house, Aaron began to exit the car when Madi stopped him.
“Wait here, Dad. I want to do this alone.”
Aaron nodded, a bit hurt that she wouldn’t include him. He reached over and pushed open the door for her.
“Thanks,” she said, scooting out. Madison walked up Ben’s long driveway, but instead of heading to the front door, she went to the backyard gate. Letting herself into the yard, she kept walking further back and away from the house.
Ben’s house backed up to a golf course and the Kern’s enjoyed a wooded acre of land behind their home, in the back of which was a tree house Ben’s older stepbrother had designed and made when he was studying to be an architect. Ben, Raina and Madi had spent many happy days in that place - a place that had also became a refuge for them when they needed to get away from it all.
It had everything someone would need - a bed, running water in a basin, and electricity, though no toilet. The toilet spade hung on a nail at the base of the tree in case they didn’t want to go all the way back to Ben’s house to relieve themselves.
Ben’s family never came this far out back as Ben had been the youngest in the family and no older sibling was interested in the tree house. It was the perfect place for Raina to hide out.
Madison stopped under the tree house, shading her eyes while she looked up. Her suspicions were confirmed when she saw that the rope ladder had been pulled up onto the deck of the high platform. Someone was definitely up there.
“Raina,” she called out. “Raina, I know you’re up there. Put the ladder down.”
There was no answer.
Madison sighed, looking about. This was a mini version of a forest. There might be enough trees around to use…
Madison walked up to the oldest, tallest tree she could find and wrapped her good arm about it. Laying her cheek against the scratchy bark, she began imagining the strength of the trees and the power running through their cells. She let it fill her with energy and strength. Her broken arm even began to tingle with every breath that she took.
When Madi felt full of nature energy, she willed herself to fly, pleased that it was working away from Ipswich. She flew to the deck of the tree house and landed quietly. Then she knocked on the door.
“Raina, it’s Madi. Come on, open the door. I need to talk to you. Please don’t be afraid. No one else knows you’re here. I promise.”
She listened to the door being unlatched and then opened. Raina stood there looking disheveled and scared. Her wild eyes glanced at Madison and then at the coil of rope ladder that was still piled on the deck.
“How… how did you get up here?” Raina asked.
“I climbed the tree,” Madison replied.
“With a broken arm?”
“I’ve got mad skills. How have you been?” Madi asked gently, trying to change the subject.
Raina bit her lip, trying to stop the sob that was inevitably going to escape. She backed up, letting Madi through the door. Then she leaned against the wall, crying as she said, “I don’t think I can do this anymore, Madi. I… can’t… live with myself anymore.”
“Oh, sweetie, no,” Madi replied, wrapping her good arm around her friend and hugging her. “Don’t even go there. I’m here for you. I can’t take losing you, too.”
“I miss Ben,” Raina sobbed onto Madi’s shoulder.
“I know. Me too.”
“And I feel like it’s all my fault. I was so stupid. Why did I have to let him into our lives?”
“Raina, don’t think that. It’s not your fault. He had an agenda and he tricked you into being a part of it. You’re innocent, sweetie.”
Raina hugged her tighter. “Oh, Madi, I’m sorry about what he did to you. I keep seeing you all broken on the floor… and Ben… broken too. And I have these pills… you see… these pills. And if I take them all I won’t have to see you and Ben all broken anymore.”
“Oh, God, Raina, no.”
“And I’ve almost done it. So many times I’ve sat there with them in my hand,” she sobbed. “But I keep chickening out… because I think I see Ben’s face, and he’s mad at me for wanting to do it. He’s so mad when I try.”
“Damn right I’m mad,” a voice spoke, startling Raina so much that she let go of Madi and fell back against the wall, looking around with wide eyes.
“What was that?” Raina asked, spooked. “Did you hear that voice? It sounded like… Ben!”
Madison knew the only reason Raina had heard Ben was because she had been hugging her at time, just like Sarah could see ghosts at Marish house when she touched Madi. But now they were no longer touching.
Madison could see Ben sitting on the edge of the bed, frowning. “You’re not helping,” Madison scolded.
“Tell her, Madi. Tell her everything. She needs to know. She deserves to know.”
“She’s delicate right now.”
“She’s stronger than you think.”
“Who are you talking to?” Raina asked, looking in the direction that Madi’s face at been turned to. “What’s going on?”
“Rai,” Madison began, “I’ve got lots to tell you. I know I told you I would explain everything before I passed out… after all that happened. I’m… not suppose to tell you these things. But I don’t care anymore. I’m going to tell you. You deserve to know.”
Raina slid down the wall wearily. Hugging her knees, she nodded. “I’m ready… I think. How much worse can it get? What is it you aren’t suppose to tell me? But I think I know. I was there, after all.”
Madison sat down in front of her friend, facing her. “What do you think you know?”
“Chase isn’t human, is he? Those red eyes, and how he… you know… did that thing to Ben without even touching him. He has super powers, doesn’t he? And… you were on the ceiling with him. That’s suppose to be impossible, Madison. Who can defy gravity like that? What… is he?”
Madison was searching for the right words to use, but she could hear Ben growling behind her, “Say it, Madi”.
“A demon, Rai, a demon in a… warlock’s body.”
Raina stared at Madison before the look of horror crossed her face. “Oh God, I slept with a demon!” She pressed her hands onto her face and began hyperventilating.
“No, Raina, sweetie, the demon is a spirit, foreign to that body. It makes Chase do evil things.”
Raina shook her head. “How do you know all these things?”
“I think I need to start at the beginning. I’m going to tell you everything, Raina, though I’m breaking a covenant. And I know I’m not the first to break it. So, if they can, then I can. Raina, what I’m about to tell you is going to sound crazy, but I can prove every last bit of it. But you also have to promise me you’ll keep the secret. Other lives, including mine, depend on it.”
“I promise.”
Madi nodded, taking a deep breath. “First of all, I’m not crazy. I never have been. Those pills I was taking since I turned thirteen were only holding back what I was becoming, or, I should say, what I am, what I was born with.”
“What?” Raina asked, entranced.
“My powers. Rai, I’m a witch.”
OOOOOO
A/N Well, that was the longest chapter to date. I’ve been writing a bit each night and it seemed the right place to stop for now. I hope you liked it.
Please write me and let me know. Thank you.
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The Age of Temptation