The Age of Temptation

A/N Thank you, everyone, for writing to me. I really look forward to reading your comments when I check my email. It makes the whole process more fun for me and I wrote an extra long chapter this time. I hope you enjoy it. Let me know.

Disclaimer: I do not own The Covenant and make no money from the writing of this fiction.

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Chapter Thirty

Caleb was leaving his mother’s room after saying goodnight when he noticed that the light was still on in the guest room Raina was staying in. He decided to check on her and proceeded to knock on the door.

“Yes?”

“Raina, it’s Caleb,” he spoke through the door. “Can I come in?”

There was a slight pause before she answered. “O.K.”

When Caleb opened the door, he noticed Raina sitting on her bed, her arms about her knees, looking at him warily. He had been nothing but friendly to her all weekend, yet she still seemed scared of him.

“Everything all right?” he asked.

Though he had been present at all meals, his mother had been the one who had conversed with Raina all weekend, getting to know her and building trust. Evelyn and Raina had spend many hours walking the grounds or closed off in the sitting room while Evelyn shared her life with the frightened teen.

Caleb had just been in his mother’s room, asking her how things were going with Raina. The big question on his mind, however, was whether or not Raina would decide to keep Chase’s baby. He knew she was against abortion, but she could decide to give him up for adoption if Evelyn couldn’t convince her to become the mother of a Son of Ipswich.

So far, Raina had not decided anything.

“It’s hard to sleep with that storm outside,” she said. “The thunder is real loud here. I guess I didn’t notice it so much when I lived in Boston. But here, it seems much more intense.”

Caleb strode to the glass doors leading out to a balcony and gazed at the sky. “It’s not a normal storm.”

“It’s not?”

“It’s Pogue’s ascension. There’s always a big storm when a warlock ascends. The power is so concentrated in one place that it causes a wicked storm,” he explained.

“Oh,” she replied. After a few moments more, she said, “What’s it like?”

He looked at her, about to explain that he had been in the middle of a battle with Chase when he ascended, but then changed his mind. “It’s… painful. The lightening actually strikes you.” He grinned at her wide eyes. “Like one of those Frankenstein movies where he’s getting electrocuted by all those lightening rods at the same time.”

“Sounds like it would kill a normal person.”

“It probably would.”

“So… I guess Madison will help Pogue… somehow,” Raina said awkwardly.

Caleb let out a short laugh. “Yeah, it will be a lot better for him, I’m sure.”

Raina blushed at the implication, which made Caleb grin. They both knew exactly how Madi would help Pogue.

“Does it bother you?” she asked.

“Does what bother me?”

“Don’t know. Having two girlfriends, I guess.”

Caleb studied her a moment before flopping down in an armchair with a sigh. “Question is, does it bother you?”

Raina shrugged. “What does that matter? I’m not one of them. I mean, do you feel guilty?”

“Sometimes. I did more at the beginning. Not so much anymore.”

“What if Sarah finds out?”

“She’d probably leave me.”

“And you’re not worried about that?”

Caleb hated talking about this, but if he was to gain Raina’s trust he was going to have to open up to her.

“Honestly, it’s not the fact that she’d end the relationship that I’m worried about. What I worry about is hurting her. She’s a real sweet person and I feel like we are really good friends as well. Because she knows what I am, I feel I can truly be myself around her. I like that and I don’t want to hurt her.”

“Would you give up Madison for her?”

“I don’t know if that’s possible.”

“Why is it not possible? Reid and Tyler’s dads don’t use.”

“Who else would be powerful enough to protect her and everyone here from Ch…” Caleb stopped himself. Damn. He wasn’t planning on bringing Chase up, but now it was done. He sighed, “Sorry. Let’s change the subject.”

“It’s o.k. to say his name, you know. I’m not going to fall apart.” She rolled her eyes. “I think I’ve fallen apart enough for a lifetime this past month. I’ve had it with falling apart.”

Caleb shook his head slightly. “The point is, I need to use my powers. I’m the head of all the old families now and they are relying on me. Not only for protection, but for all the other problems they may have.”

“What would have you done if you had never discovered Madison?”

Caleb shrugged. “I would have had to been much more careful about using, but there would always be times that I needed to use to help the families. And my body would probably be deteriorating much more quickly than I’d like.”

Thunder rattled the window like it was directly on top of house, making Raina jump.

“You’re safe here,” Caleb assured.

“I wonder…”

“What do you wonder?”

“If I raised this baby, who would he have when he was older?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, he couldn’t sleep with Madi. That would be wrong and gross. She would be, like, way too old for him.”

Caleb laughed. “Yeah, she’d be a real cougar then.”

“Gross.”

“I wouldn’t worry about it. He might have to do what we did until Madi came along - control himself, at least until Madi’s daughters are of age.”

“But, by the time you all graduate from college, get married, and start families… that could be at least six or seven years away.”

Caleb shrugged. “O.K., so he’ll be like twenty-four or twenty-five when her first daughter turns sixteen or seventeen. That’s not such a big deal. Lots of girls like guys in their mid-twenties.”

This was true. Raina knew plenty of teenage girls that preferred to date college guys. She nodded and shrugged, “Yeah, maybe.”

“You know, if you really can’t sleep, we can go downstairs and watch a movie. This storm is not going away anytime soon.”

“Yeah, I wouldn’t mind that.”

OOOOO

The storm raged on as Pogue and Madison ate cake with Mrs. Parry after a very delicious dinner. Pogue had made a definite effort to be more relaxed around his mother and kept the conversation pleasant.

As they were finishing their last bites, Madison could sense something happening to Pogue sitting next to her. Her skin began to tingle on that side of her body and she turned her head to study him a moment.

Lightening lit up the room brightly at that moment causing Pogue to shut his eyes and take a deep intake of air.

“Mrs. Parry, I think Pogue and I should be getting back to the guest house…” Madison murmured without taking her eyes off Pogue.

“Of course,” Mrs. Parry replied, noticing the changes coming over her son with a worried look on her face.

Suddenly Pogue opened his eyes and his face turned toward Madi, eyes black as midnight. He stood, pulling her up with him, desperation in his expression.

Madison could only manage to say, “Thank you for dinner” before Pogue had rushed her out of the house and down the path to the guest house. They were getting drenched in the downpour as he pulled her along.

“Pogue,” Madison yelled over the thunder, “are you all right?”

He didn’t say a thing to her as he quickly pulled her inside the guest house, the door slamming behind them. He immediately pushed her up against a wall, kissing her madly, tearing at her wet clothes.

“Clothes off!” he rasped, tugging her top off over her head and tossing it aside. In moments he had stripped her bare, pressing her against the wall again, his tongue tasting her mouth as his hands roamed her body.

Madison moaned in response and wrapped her legs around his waist, pressing her hot core against his jean clad erection, bucking against him as she lost herself to sensation.

Her hands traveled to the bottom of his shirt, tangling her fingers in it and pulling it upwards. “Off,” she moaned. She loved Pogue’s body, how it looked and felt, his skin hot and smooth.

He helped her remove his clothing as quickly as possible, his lips not wanting to be away from her for too long.

Pogue groaned as he kissed her, the hot wet feeling of her pussy sliding against him. He would have impaled her against the wall over and over if he hadn’t already had a plan for this special night. He needed this witch badly and he planned on drinking his fill of her tonight.

Later he would give her what she needed, but tonight was his birthday. Tonight he would take what he needed.

Madison gasped as Pogue levitated them into the bedroom, tossing her down on the fluffy down comforter on the bed. Madison sank down into the comfort, watching his black eyes sweep her body.

“Don’t hold back, Madi,” he said. “I want you to cum like you’ve never came before. Scream and make all the noise you want, baby. No one will hear you but me.”

Madi had never felt such sexual excitement as she did now. Her pussy clenched in anticipation and all she could do was nod as she stared up at him from the bed.

He knelt on the edge of the bed, bending his head to take a long lick from her belly button up between her breasts, up the side of her neck and to her lips. He kissed her deeply before murmuring, “Give yourself up to me, Madi.”

“I’m all yours,” she whispered heavily, her fingers tangling in his hair as they kissed further.

Then he slid down the length of her body until his mouth was on her swollen, excited pussy. He groaned as he ate her out, slipping his long fingers into her and rubbing at her g-spot deep inside as he tongued her clit.

Madison squirmed and panted, her fingers grasping at the sheets on the bed and pulling on them. “Oh my God!” she moaned.

“Mmmm… baby, love you…” Pogue whispered against her flesh, continuing to lick and taste her, swallowing all he could of her healing essence. When she started convulsing around his fingers, he pulled them out and replaced it with his tongue, lapping at her and pushing his tongue as far up into her as he could.

But Pogue didn’t stop there. And though he could feel the effects of the witches’ honey wash over his senses, he wanted even more. He wanted all she could give him.

Madison knew this. She reached down and gently put tangled her fingers through his hair, lifting her hips to meet his hungry mouth. He groaned as his eyes smiled at her in approval while his mouth didn’t leave her flesh.

He sucked her clit into the heat of his mouth and worried the sensitive little button with his tongue over and over again, making Madison delirious with pleasure. His tongue dragged sensuously through her folds while his fingers slipped deep into her once again.

When he brought her over the edge a second time, she didn’t know how much more she could take. The storm raged outside and lightening lit up the room with flashes as he greedily licked every drop he could get from her.

By now Pogue was feeling extremely good, wrapped in the warmth of a wave of pulsing energy. Yet, he didn’t want to stop here. He wanted to make sure…

And then Madi grabbed his head a second time, her soft thighs squeezing his face, as she pressed him down to her. “Yes, baby,” he growled in approval, driving his tongue into her further, fucking her with it. She was so wet and amazing. She tasted divine. His mind was in a haze of ecstasy.

Madison moaned, her body feeling like jelly after Pogue brought her off once again. And as her convulsing body began to relax, she finally noticed that Pogue seemed to have had his fill as he was laying peacefully between her legs.

She laughed softly, pushing up on her hands. “Tired?” she asked.

When there was no response, she swung her leg over him and turned about, kissing his cheek. “Pogue?”

Still, he did not move.

“Pogue!” she said louder, beginning to worry. She placed her hand on his shoulder, trying to shake him awake. “Pogue!”

But he laid there, unmoving.

Madison jumped up from the bed, scrambling to find her bag. “Oh God, oh God, oh God!” she cried, pulling out her cell phone and pressing a few buttons.

Hello?

“Caleb! It’s Pogue, he’s not moving!”

Stay put. I’ll be right there.

OOOOO

Caleb had been watching a movie with Raina when he received Madi’s urgent call. He hung up quickly, moving toward the French doors that led outside as he planned to fly. It would be much faster than driving.

“What happened?” Raina called after him as he opened the door.

He turned his face back a moment. “I don’t know yet,” he said, quickly before walking to the balcony.

The rain was pouring down and the wind was howling as Raina got up and went to the balcony, shutting the door and gazing out at the empty spot Caleb had just stood in. It was amazing how fast he just seemed to take off.

Caleb landed in front of the Parry guest house, materializing to his solid form again, and opened the door with his powers. Striding in, he made his way to the master bedroom and saw Madison kneeling on the bed next to Pogue’s body wearing only Pogue’s shirt.

The intoxicating scent of the witch was strong in the room and Caleb blood ran hot as his eyes darkened with lust. But he knew he was not here for that reason and he pulled his control together for the sake of Pogue.

Her face swung to Caleb and she hopped of the bed and into his arms, weeping. “Oh Caleb, I can’t get him to wake up. I think I killed him,” she sobbed.

Caleb stepped further into the room, his arms about her. He looked at Pogue’s body carefully with his power. “He’s not dead, Madi.”

“Really?” she looked at him hopefully.

“Yes, really,” he smiled, at her. “He’s passed out.”

“Oh, God! He had too much! I didn’t know…”

“Too much what?”

“Too much… me!”

Caleb laughed. “Oh, so he overdosed on witches’ honey?”

Madison hit his chest with the flat of her hand. “It’s not funny!”

And then they both jumped, startled at the lightening rods now arching through the windows, shattering the glass and connecting with Pogue’s body on the bed. His body lifted off the bed, suspended in the air as the energy fed into him.

Caleb pulled Madison out the bedroom door and stood with her in his arms, watching Pogue’s ascension from just outside the doorway. Caleb remembered this part and how much it had hurt him last fall. But Pogue seemed blissfully unaware of what was happening to his body and that made Caleb a bit envious.

After over a minute, the lightening retreated, yet Pogue’s power-filled body still floated near the ceiling of the room, still unconscious. Caleb looked down at Madi’s wide eyes next to him and squeezed her in reassurance.

“Don’t worry. He’s still alive if that is what you were wondering. And I’m jealous that you weren’t around when I ascended.”

“What if something went wrong? What if he doesn’t wake up?”

Caleb waved his hand into the room and all the glass returned to the windows, sealing off the wind and rain from the room. “Then we’ll wait and see,” he said, pulling her into the room. He sat in a cushy armchair, pulling her onto his lap and using his powers to relight the fire that the wind had extinguished. The closet door flew open and Caleb floated a warm, dry comforter down to wrap around them.

OOOOOO

Pogue had watched his own ascension through the fog. It was strange seeing your body as if you were an outsider. And when the lightening came, he watched his body absorb the power and yet not feel a thing. He realized that his consciousness had been separated from his body and he began to wonder if he had died.

He felt a bit of panic just before he heard a woman’s voice close by.

“You are not dead. You will return to your body, Pogue Parry.”

Pogue turned away from his body and gazed into the hazy distance. An old woman was standing not too far away in front of what looked like a circle of tree stumps. On each stump sat more old women, all dressed in white. This definitely was not the bedroom anymore.

To answer the confusion on his face, one old woman said, “Your consciousness has shifted to our dimension for now.”

“Who are you?” Pogue asked, a bit freaked out.

“We are the Wise Women and we have much to tell you.”

Pogue slowly nodded his head. “Is this because I ascended?”

“It is true that the circumstances of your ascension has allowed you to travel to us. It is not usual for us to speak to warlocks, however. It is the females that have access to our wisdom.”

“Madi?”

“Yes. She is the one who can seek our wisdom. But she is afraid of her powers. That is why we have come to you at this time, Pogue Parry. You must encourage her to explore her visions. It is her way to us.”

“The visions frighten her,” he replied. “She doesn’t like them.”

“The uncontrolled visions frighten her. You must encourage her to take charge of her powers of insight. She must know what she is capable of. She can seek our wisdom if she goes within. She can create as well.”

“Create?”

“The visions. She can create them and use them for good or evil.”

“She’s not evil,” Pogue replied, a bit defensive.

“We are neutral, Pogue Parry. We seek only to give her knowledge. What she does with it does not matter to us.”

Pogue looked back at his body, barely visible through the fog. “Is there anything else you want me to tell her?”

“Her plan to free her friend in spirit will not work. The ghosts of Marish house cannot help.”

“What will work, then?”

“Madison’s power comes from the energy of nature itself. The forest can heal, but the ocean can charge and amplify. Have her stand in the waves and call her friend home to her.”

“Yeah? That’s all?” he asked, it all sounded too simple. “And what about Chase? How can we defeat him?” Pogue added, thinking he better squeeze all the advice he could out of these Wise Women before he had to return to his body.

“The witch already knows the answer. She was shown. Goodbye, Pogue Parry.”

He felt a pulling sensation and suddenly he was back in his body, power coursing through his veins. He turned his head, noticing Madi sitting on Caleb’s lap on a chair, looking up at him.

And he smiled.

OOOOO

Madison jumped off Caleb’s lap and into Pogue’s arms as he floated down to his feet again.

“Oh my God! Pogue! I was so frightened.”

“I’m o.k, baby. Feel pretty damn good, as a matter of fact,” he chuckled.

Caleb stood, grinning at him and then they shook hands. “Congrats,” the elder Son said.

“I’ve got a lot to tell you guys,” Pogue said, “but I’m itching to try out these new powers.” He stretched his arms out and flexed his fingers. “It’s good to be back in my body.”

“Back?” Madi asked. “You left?”

“Yeah,” he laughed. “Weirdest fucking thing ever. Went to another dimension with these old ladies, called Wise Women, there.”

“Seriously?” Caleb asked. “What happened?”

“They mostly wanted met to tell Madi of her powers.”

“Me?”

Pogue smiled at her. “Yes, you. They don’t usually talk to warlocks, but since you haven’t found a way to them yet, they wanted me to pass along the information.”

“Tell us everything,” Caleb said.

OOOOO

They passed the rest of the night talking about Pogue’s ascension and the words of the Wise Women. Madison was amazed that they said she could create her own visions. It made her wonder if she hadn’t been creating them all along. But, why would she do that to herself on purpose? Why scare the crap out of herself like that? It didn’t make sense.

And the news about Ben… That made her ecstatic. In fact, she wanted to take a trip down to the shore immediately to see if she could call Ben home like the Wise Women said. But Caleb said there would be time enough to go on Monday after school. He felt she need to come home with him and sort things out with Raina first.

Madison thought there would be time for both, but she had to admit that she was pretty exhausted from staying up all night and needed to get at least a few hours of rest first.

Pogue took Madison in his arms and told Caleb that he would bring Madi over to his house later, after they got some rest.

They laid down to rest after Caleb left, Madi’s head on Pogue’s chest. Pogue was pulsing with power and life and he was anxious to test what he could do, but he figured it could wait. He planned to take Reid and Tyler up to the quarry later to play with his powers after he dropped Madi off at Caleb’s place to work things out with Raina.



OOOOOO

Late on Sunday afternoon, Madison sat in the Danver’s parlor with Raina, both apologizing to one another. Madison was relieved that Raina seemed more calm, though she was still confused about her situation.

“Evelyn said that if I decided to keep the baby, that they would all help me out. They would get me my own place and a live-in nanny so I could still go to school and even college if I wanted.”

Madison nodded. “That would definitely be helpful. And I would help you too, Rai.”

“But, the thing is… What about my parents? They are going to be so disappointed in me?” Raina said, her eyes tearing up.

“Maybe, we wouldn’t have to tell them for awhile.”

“But… when I go home in the summer, they are going to notice I’m pregnant Madi! They‘ll pull me out of Spencer.”

Madison knew Raina was right. Her parents would make her stay in Boston. And for now, Raina would not be safe in Boston. Chase may decide to come for her and/or the baby. And when the baby was out of her body, Chase may decide that he no longer needed Raina alive.

Madison shook her head. “No, Rai, you can’t go back. It’s too dangerous. We are going to have to figure out a way to keep you here. You can’t even go back for Spring Break. Just tell them you and I have plans.”

“And what about summer? This baby won’t be born until the fall.”

“Summer school. Tell them you decided to take summer school.”

“They’ll come up here to visit. They’ll see my belly…”

Madison stood, starting to pace as she thought of solutions. “I’ll figure something out.”

“What?”

“I don’t know, but… I’ll think of something. Maybe we can pass you off as fat, Rai. We’ll pad up the rest of your clothing and the baby bump won’t be so obvious. We can say that you got real depressed from Ben’s passing and you starting eating too much.”

“Oh, great. Now I have to be fat!”

“Not for real,” Madison replied.

“Where is Ben, anyway? Can I speak to him, Madi? I want to hear what he’s got to say about all this.”

Madison sighed, realizing that she had never told Raina that Ben was stuck somewhere. She didn’t want to get Raina anymore upset than she had already been lately and she had hoped the ghosts would have found a way to release Ben before Raina would have to find out.

“He’s off in Europe, following Chase,” Madi lied.

She looked out the window, feeling like she wanted to go to the ocean right now and call Ben home. Why did Caleb have to make her wait? Maybe she could convince him to take her tonight. She really wanted Ben to be here for Raina and for her.

Raina sighed in disappointment. “Do you think he’ll be back soon? I don’t want to make this decision without him.”

Madison gave her a half-smile. “I sure he will be.”

OOOOOO

Caleb promised to take them to school early on Monday morning if they would stay the night. He, of course, wanted to spend the night with Madison. And though they did make love that night, he refused to take Madison to the shore until Monday afternoon as he felt they all needed the rest after such a sleepless weekend.

But Madison couldn’t sleep that night either as she was thinking about Ben and how Raina really wanted to speak with him. Caleb just didn’t seem to understand how important this was to her. She glanced at his sleeping form next to her in the bed, feeling disgruntled. Caleb was a sweet guy, but there was also a different side to him, the one that made him the head of the families, that Madison had to contend with. When he made up his mind about something, he stuck to it.

Looking beyond him, on his nightstand, lay his car keys. Madison sat up slowly, fighting with herself as to whether or not to take action on her own. What if Ben was suffering where he was? She frowned at Caleb, upset that he wasn’t more concerned. Getting out of bed carefully as to not wake up the warlock, she moved quietly to his nightstand, carefully lifting up the car keys.

Madison only had her driver’s permit and not her license, but she knew how to drive well enough. It was only a twenty minute drive to the beach from Ipswich. She could go there and back again before morning came and Caleb would be none the wiser. At least tonight he wouldn’t be.

She grabbed her clothes and slipped out the door.

OOOOO

Stan and his friends were just partying and having a good time at the beach that night. They sat around the fire, drinking, smoking weed, and joking around. It was cold as hell out tonight, but the fire and booze kept them warm. Some of the guys had their girlfriends with them and were cuddled up under blankets, keeping warm in other ways.

The moon was full and the sky was clear tonight unlike that big freak storm they had the night before. They had planned to have their little get together at the beach on Saturday night, but since that storm came up all of the sudden, they postponed it until Sunday night.

Stan wished he had a chick to cuddle up with tonight as he hugged his jacket closer to his body and took another sip of his beer.

“Who’s that?” a girl asked.

Stan looked over his shoulder. He spotted what looked like a girl in the distance crossing over the sand from the parking lot. It seemed she was alone.

He watched as she walked out to the shore, wading out up to her knees in the water. Now she just stood there, staring out over the waves that were coming in and out, splashing onto her.

“Hey, man, maybe she’s trying to drown herself,” one of Stan’s friends commented.

“Shit. Maybe we should go talk to her,” his girlfriend replied.

“Maybe she’s just coming out here to think,” Stan said.

Fifteen more minutes passed, and the friends continued talking, keeping a wary eye on the girl standing in the ocean. It seemed less and less normal for someone to stand in the freezing cold ocean in the middle of the night just to ‘think’.

Finally, Stan stood up. “I’m going to go talk to her. She’s going to freeze to death.”

As Stan approached her, he noticed she had her arms extended out from her sides and her palms facing out to sea, fingers stretched out. Maybe she was praying or something. The surf kept splashing onto her, wetting her up to her waist. He would bet that she couldn’t even feel her feet and legs anymore in that cold.

He stood just out of reach of the water as the foam crawled up the sand behind her and cleared his throat.

“Uh… excuse me, miss. But, are you all right?”

The girl gasped, her face whipping around in surprise.

Stan let out a little yell, falling backwards on the sand as he tried to scramble away.

Her eyes! Her eyes were like an animal’s - black as midnight. They gleamed at him in the moonlight and Stan had never been more frightened in his life.

He let out another yell, crawling on all fours away from her on the sand until he was able to find his footing again. His friends began laughing at him in the distance, unable to see what he had seen.

“Dude,” one laughed and called out. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”

Stan ran toward the fire. “Run, you assholes. It’s a demon girl!”

But his friends just doubled up laughing on the sand as Stan ran past them and toward the parking lot.

“Stan, what kind of shit did you smoke tonight?” they laughed.

“Holy fuck! Look!” a girl shouted and pointed. Stan’s ‘demon girl’ was now floating over the sand, her feet hanging limply below her as she flew toward the parking area. The group began screaming and yelling. “Stan, come back. She’s going to get you!”

Another one of them quickly took out their cell phone and snapped a picture of her as she flew, but they could only get the back of her as she was almost to the parking lot.

Stan noticed the demon girl was coming to the parking lot where he now stood out of breath and he took off back toward his friends. “Help!” he yelled.

The group was paralyzed with fear and undecided as to what they should do. She disappeared behind a clump of boulders in the parking lot. None of them wanted to approach her, even to get back to their cars.

“I’m calling the police,” a girl said. “This is fucking creepy.”

OOOOO

A/N Oh oh. What’s going to happen now? You’ll find out next time. And if you’re wondering why Madi flew to the parking lot, well, Stan was right. Her feet were frozen at that point and she couldn’t feel them enough to flee on them.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please write a review and let me know. I love hearing from you and it is very motivating. Thank you.