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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
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A/N: A big thank you to all my happy readers. I hope you are still enjoying this crazy plot. Thanks for reading along and sending me your comments.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Covenant and make no money from the writing of this fiction.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Madison spilled everything to Raina, the whole story of the Sons and how they revealed what they were and what she was. She reiterated all the research she had done from the old books and the internet. She told about her powers and her relationships with all four Sons and why Chase had targeted her. Madison kept rambling on, seeming to never run out of things to say. It all sounded so crazy when she said them out loud, but at the same time it felt like a relief to be able to be completely honest for the first time in a while.
She feared what was going through Raina’s mind as she sat and listened to these fantastical things, but the dark haired girl kept a stoic look on her face, not even asking any questions. The thought crossed Madison’s mind that Raina was barely listening to her. Why wasn’t Raina reacting to what she was saying?
When Madison could no longer think of something else to add, she said, “Well? Aren’t you going to say anything?”
Finally, Raina blinked and her gaze fell to the ground.
“Rai? Say something. Please.”
“I’m sorry, Mads,” she finally said. When her eyes rose, they were full of regret. “I’ve been a terrible friend. I should have understood you better. You shouldn’t have gone off your meds, Madi. I’ll talk to your dad, o.k.? He’ll make everything better again.”
Madison’s mouth fell open. “What? You don’t believe me?” Madi tossed her hands up, looking toward the ceiling. “What do I have to do to get you to believe me? I just told you the truth - the biggest secret I have, and you don’t believe me?”
Raina frowned. “Witches and warlocks, Madi? Try to see it from my point of view. What if I told you I was a vampire?”
“But, you saw what Chase did. You SAW us on the ceiling. You SAW his red eyes!”
Raina gasped, covering her face with her hands. “I don’t know what I saw anymore,” she mumbled into her palms.
“O.K., so the rational part of you wants to go into denial. I get that. Really, I do. When I first found out what I was, I did the same. I just wanted to be normal and forget things like that existed. But they do.”
The afternoon winds began to pick up outside, sending a breeze through the tree house window as Madison waited for Raina to absorb all she had been told. She had hoped for a different reaction, but she supposed it was a lot to swallow. She was asking Raina to accept in an hour what had taken her weeks.
Madison’s skin began to tingle, a familiar electric pulse of energy tapping against her nerves. And… the scent that came in with the breeze. There was no mistaking it.
Caleb Danvers was near.
And Madison was furious.
She had asked them to stay away from her while she sorted things out, and it seemed Caleb would not respect her wishes. She sprung to her feet, fists clenched.
“I don’t believe it! Damn it!”
Raina looked concerned. “What is it?”
“Caleb. I told him to stay away. But now he’s here.”
“How do you know?” Raina asked, thinking Madison was having a delusional moment.
“I can feel him - and smell his scent.”
She could tell Raina didn’t believe her, the way she was looking at her.
“Would you like to meet him, then, since you don’t seem to believe me?”
“Um… o.k.,” Raina replied, doubtful. She got up off the floor and stood next to Madison. “So, where is he?” She looked around the tree house, expecting Madison to talk to her imaginary friend.
Madison rolled her eyes. If she wasn’t so angry and upset, this might have been funny.
“Outside, of course,” she replied, opening the door of the tree house and stepping onto the porch. Raina came to the doorway and waited, watching Madison with concern.
Madison went to the railing and looked down, spotting Caleb under a tree. When their eyes connected, the familiar pull connected as well, making her feel confused as to why she was so angry in the first place. Was she angry? Maybe it was something else.
Caleb. His delicious, soulful eyes pleading with her from afar. She felt her heart softening, her resolve of the last few days trying to flee. She wanted to go to him in that moment…
She pulled away from the balcony, turning toward her friend, her chest heaving. She couldn’t let his magic get to her. She had been right to keep him and the others away. Madi could see now that her mind, her very will, was longing to be released into the care of her warlocks. She could never make a decision she could call her own as long as they were near.
“Are you all right?” Raina whispered in concern. She hadn’t ventured far enough onto the balcony to see Caleb down below.
Madison shook her head. “No, I don’t think I am.”
“I’ll get your…” Raina began to say before she let out a scream and fled back into the tree house. She had just witnessed a guy flying onto the deck behind Madison.
Madison whipped about. “What are you doing?” she hissed.
“Fuck!” Caleb swore, glancing at the tree house entrance. “I’m sorry, Madi, I didn’t know you weren’t alone. I felt your anger and I thought you were trying to…”
“What? Get away from you? Because, yes, Caleb, you would be right. I asked you to give me some time to myself and you couldn’t even do that!”
“I’m sorry. I felt you using and I thought… I don’t know… I thought maybe you needed help with something…”
“You’re watching me?”
“I’m watching over you. I needed to make sure you were safe. Because… I failed you. I failed to keep you safe before. But never again, Madi. God, baby, I’m so sorry.” Caleb stepped toward her, falling to his knees and wrapping his arms around her hips as he laid his forehead against her belly. “Please forgive me, Madison. I swear I’ll never let him touch you again.”
Everywhere he touch her was magnetic. It would be so easy to forget everything and let herself stay in his arms forever. Every cell in her body wanted to do just that. It took all her will to move her hands into his hair and pull his head back to look into his eyes.
“Why aren’t you angry with me? I lied to you, Caleb. I kept Chase a secret. Why aren’t you angry?” She hissed.
He stood, never breaking eye contact. “I know you were scared. He threatened to kill the people you loved, didn’t he? Why would I be angry when you were just trying to protect them?”
Madison stepped away from the close contact. It was almost too much to bare. She turned about, taking a gulp of fresh air. “Please go away. I need this time to think. I can’t do that when you guys are near. You cloud everything up in my mind.”
Caleb was silent a few moments. She knew it took tremendous effort for his part to keep his distance. She could feel the struggle within him. Finally, he said, “All right. I know you’ve got the funeral coming up in a few days, and, baby, I’m sorry about your friend, Ben, too.”
Madison turned around, tears threatening to fall again as she nodded.
“But, I’m still keeping watch… at a distance. Though, if you change your mind, we’ll come see you… any time you want. You know we’re crazy with worry about you - especially Tyler.”
Tyler. Her sweet, dear Tyler. How good it would feel to rest her head on his shoulder as she often did. But she quickly threw that thought out of her mind. She had Raina to contend with - and her own dilemmas, all of which could never be contemplated while in the company of the handsome, dark haired warlock.
Caleb stepped forward, lowering his voice. “And what about…” he whispered, glancing at the tree house.
“She knows. I already told her everything,” Madison said, glancing away from Caleb’s glare. “She had already seen things… at the house. And I think seeing you fly up here has freaked her out.”
“You told her everything? Even about the rest of us?”
Madison nodded. “Yes, Caleb, I broke the Covenant. I’m sorry, but you’ve broken it before too when you needed to explain things to someone you cared about.”
She watched the emotions pass over Caleb’s face. She could tell he wasn’t happy that she was divulging their secrets. A part of her was glad she could finally get him angry instead of apologetic. It would be easier for her to remain angry if he was too.
Finally he sighed, holding his emotions in check. “We’ll discuss this another time. I just hope…”
“You just hope what?”
“I hope you don’t plan to tell more people, Madi. Remember what’s at stake.”
“How can I forget?” she snapped.
Just then, Raina cautiously came to the door after finding her courage. It was obvious she had been listening to the whole conversation from within the tree house. “I… won’t tell anyone…”
Caleb’s face snapped in Raina’s direction with a gasp. His eyes darkened as he glared at her midsection. Caleb straightened his posture, seemingly growing in stature as he turned toward the entrance of the tree house menacingly.
Raina screamed again and ran back inside as Madison stepped in front of Caleb, pushing back at him.
“What are you doing? You’re scaring her!” Madison hollered. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
Caleb shut his black eyes, willing himself back under control. When he opened his eyes, Madison was still in front of him, blocking the door of the tree house, fuming.
He searched her face, wondering if she knew, but could see no sign of anything more than anger at him for scaring her friend. That girl, that Raina, probably didn’t even know yet. It was a faint energy signature, very small, but recognizable to the powerful warlock’s eyes.
Raina was pregnant with Chase’s first born son.
Caleb turned away, beginning to pace the deck and looking toward the tree house, a thousand thoughts going through his mind at once.
“Caleb, what is it?” Madison asked, starting to worry. She had never seen him so agitated.
Finally he stopped pacing and stood staring at Madison. “I’ve got a lot to think through,” he offered. “We won’t disturb you for a few days - as you wanted. Then we need to talk, Madi.”
“I wish you’d tell me what just happened with Raina,” she scowled.
“Not yet,” Caleb replied. “I need to think things through first.” He stepped forward, softening the look on his face. Bending and kissing her cheek, he added, “I love you. Don’t forget that. I’m only a phone call away.”
OOOOOOO
Caleb had returned to the hotel, finding Pogue alone and scruffy looking, watching television. A glance at the empty miniature bottles of liquor around the trash can told Caleb that Pogue had been raiding the mini bar in the room.
“Mini bar booze? Really? I’d expect this from Reid, not you.” Caleb commented, dryly. He had dealt with his alcoholic mother enough that his reaction was almost a script. “Where’s the others?”
“Reid took Tyler to a movie to get his mind off Madi.”
Caleb nodded, flopping down on the sofa and laying his head back and shutting his eyes.
“Where have you been?” Pogue asked. “It’s fucking boring as hell here.”
He glanced over at Pogue. “You’re in a shitty mood.”
“What do you expect? Why doesn’t she at least call? I’m getting a bit pissed off.”
“Stop drinking, you putz, it only makes it worse. And I know why she’s not calling.”
Pogue sat up. “You went to her, didn’t you?”
Caleb nodded. “Yeah, I felt her using and I thought maybe Chase came back and she needed help. So I went. I found her in some sort of tree house.”
“Tree house?”
“Yeah, I don’t know, I think it was the dead kid’s place.”
“How is she? Did you talk? What did she say?”
“She was angry that I was there, that I didn’t stay away. She said we cloud her mind and she can’t think around us. And… I think she’s right. I think the same thing happens to us when she‘s around.”
“Is that why I’m feeling like shit about breaking up with Kate the last few days? Because Madi’s not around to ‘cloud my mind’?”
“Maybe. But I hope you remember Kate propositioned Reid. She’s not exactly innocent either.”
“Yeah, but I was neglecting her needs, man. All I could think about was Madison.”
“I know. It’s the power, Pogue, it wants to connect. It will be worse when you ascend in a couple of weeks, trust me. But in all fairness, I don’t think you and Kate had much in common in the first place. Your connection with her seemed only physical for the most part.”
“Wow, you’re making me sound as shallow as Reid. Thanks, man.”
“All I am saying is that I don’t think you really knew her that well. In a real relationship, you get to know each other.”
“I knew her!”
“O.K., what are the names of her siblings? Tell me some of the childhood stories she has shared with you? What kinds of books does she like reading?”
Pogue stared at Caleb stupidly. Then he polished off the remainder of liqueur in the small bottle he was holding before tossing it to the trash can across the room and missing. “I suppose you know all those things about Sarah?” he mumbled.
“Yeah, I do. Even if we weren’t having sex, I’d still enjoy being around her. That’s a relationship, Pogue.”
“Yeah, well it helps that she knows about us, doesn’t it? It helps that you don’t have to hide what you are to her. The rest of us have to hide what we are to chicks. It sucks. The only one we can be ourselves with is Madi.”
“But are we ourselves? Is she herself? Do we even know what it would be like without the power between us?”
“You’re giving me a headache. What does that matter? It is what it is, man.”
“It’s important to Madison. We’ve got to remember she’s her own person, not just ‘our’ witch. But we’ve got other problems now, too,” Caleb sighed.
“Like?”
“Madison’s friend, Raina.”
“The one Chase pretended to like?”
“Yeah.”
“What about her?”
“She’s carrying the fifth Son of Ipswich.”
“What? Chase knocked her up?”
Caleb nodded, rubbing a tired hand over his face.
“You sure?”
“Yeah. His power signature was right there. I could see it. It’s small, probably only happened a few weeks ago, but I could see it. I’d know it anywhere. I don’t think the girl even knows she’s pregnant yet.”
“Oh, man. What are we going to do?”
“I don’t know. I think I’m going to call my mom and let the mothers come up with some ideas.”
“You think she’ll keep the baby after she finds out she’s pregnant? She must really hate Chase after all he’s done to her friends.”
“Who knows? Madison broke the Covenant. She said Raina saw too much already. And I used in front of her too. I didn’t know she was at that tree house with Madi and I flew in front of her.”
“I bet that’s why Chase didn’t hurt her. She’s the only one that left that house unharmed.”
“Yeah, that’s what I think too. If I could see power coming off her, then he could too.”
OOOOOOO
After reuniting Raina with her worried parents and then convincing them to let Raina stay at the hotel with Madison until after the funeral, the mentally, physically and emotionally worn-out teens retreated to the bedroom of the suite, lounging on the bed as an old movie played. They weren’t really watching it completely. Raina kept glancing at Madison in question, seeing her friend through new eyes.
Madison kept asking, “Are you all right?” And Raina would nod and say things like, “It’s really real, isn’t it? You are really a witch?” And Madison would reply with, “Yes, it is real.” Then an awkward silence would fall between them as they continued watching T.V.
Finally, Madi had enough of the awkwardness. She grabbed the remote and turned off the television. Turning herself on the bed to face her friend, she said, “I’m still me, you know. You don’t have to act any different around me than you use to. I was born this way. I didn’t turn into a witch overnight.”
“Sorry, it’s just weird, you know? Why didn‘t you tell us before?”
Madison nodded. Weirdness was definitely a factor.
“I’m sorry, too. There was the Covenant and I wasn’t suppose to tell anyone. And, besides, you probably would have thought I just needed more meds if I went around saying I was a witch.”
Raina half-smiled. “Yeah, probably.” After a few more moments, she added, “You really can fly?”
“That’s how I got up to the tree house,” Madison admitted. “I really couldn’t climb that tree, even without a broken arm. You know I failed at climbing in P.E.”
Raina nodded. “I remember. And… Ben… you can really see him and talk to him?”
“That ability you already knew about. You always said I was one of those psychic mediums who can see ghosts.”
“Yeah, but I never knew any of the ghosts you saw. Seeing Ben is just… I don’t know. How is he? Is he angry?”
“No. Well, at least he’s not showing his anger if he is. He’s still himself in a lot of ways - trying to be funny at times. But he’s also… wiser, I guess you’d say. That’s the part that freaks me out because he can see into my memories. He knew what I was and could see everything I’ve gone through in Ipswich. I feel a bit… exposed, I guess you can say. But it’s not like he can blab it to the world or anything.”
Raina nodded, her attention rapt. “What else?”
“In a way, it’s also a relief not to have to hide it from him, or you, anymore. It’s hard carrying secrets like this from the people you love. I… suppose I need to let my dad know too. When I work myself up to it.”
“You shouldn’t be afraid. You’re his daughter. He’ll love you no matter what.”
Madison nodded. “I know. But my dad is a big guilt freak. When my mom left us, he blamed himself. She was hardly there for us even when they were married. All she cared about was having ‘good times’ with all her friends. I hated her for abandoning my dad and me like that. Yet, dad blames himself. Now, he’s blaming himself for what happened with Chase. He thinks he could have prevented it if he was home. So, I can just imagine the big guilt trip he’s going to put on himself when he finds out about the genes he’s passed on to me.”
“So, what are you going to do now? You said you might not return to Ipswich, but your dad is moving there for his new job…”
Madison sighed, laying back on the pillows. “Yeah, I know. I’ve been freaking out lately because those old families I told you about… well, I figured out they just wanted to get me there for the Sons.”
Raina nodded, “Yeah, the aging thing, I remember you talked about that. But aren’t they helping you too, you know, with your mental health?”
Madison smacked the bed with her good hand. “Yeah! But, the thing is… the power between us, Raina. It’s like having an addiction with something that muddles up all your abilities to think for yourself because it feels so damn good when you give in to it. I don’t know who I am when I’m with them. I cease being… me.”
“Sounds like being in love.”
“No… it’s worse than that. How can I love four guys at once so intensely? What about their girlfriends that I’m causing them to cheat on? It’s like… none of that matters anymore whenever we are together. That’s not me, Raina. You know I’ve always hated cheaters.”
“Is that why you told them to stay away?”
“Yeah,” Madi sighed. “I need to be me right now. I know it’s hopeless - thinking I have a choice.” She snorted in disdain. “Insanity or screwing warlocks… hmm… yeah, what choice is there? But, damn it, now that I’m temporarily free of their clutches, I’m going to think about what I want for me… and you too.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m not going to leave you alone and unprotected, Rai, not with Chase still on the loose. So… how would you like to attend Spencer with me?”
“My parents can’t afford that place, Madi, and I’m not smart enough for a scholarship.”
“The old families got me into Spencer and I figure they can get you into it as well - with full room and board.”
“Why would they want to do that? I’m not a witch.”
“Because I’m not going back without you.”
OOOOOOO
A/N: The plot thickens…
I hope you enjoyed reading this. Please let me know your thoughts as I really enjoy hearing from you. Thanks.
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The Age of Temptation