Okay, chapter 14 at LAST. I'm really, really, REALLY sorry for putting it off for more than a month. I suffered from severe writer's block, and admittedly, I just didn't feel like writing much during the June holidays where I live. But I'll try to update more! Now enjoy!

Chase and Icera, as usual, sat together in class. Class had started about a couple minutes ago. A number of girls and guys who sat nearby glared at the pair. A fair number of the female student population at Spenser belonged to Chase's fan club, while there were quite a lot of boys who had a crush on Icera. Both were blissfully unaware (well, as unaware as one could be with admiring stares everywhere) of this, and of another matter.

A few rows below sat Reid and Caleb, while in another part of the class sat the other two Sons of Ipswich. Reid was staring blankly at the blackboard, while the other three were throwing him rather worried looks. And of course, to Chase too. Except that he, for some reason, had not noticed at all.

The night before, Reid had told them everything, from what he had overheard to his conversation with Chase. They responded with utter shock and disbelief. Tyler had given him a 'are-you-kidding-me' look, completely unbelieving. Pogue and Caleb seemed to believe him, but Caleb had reacted the most strongly. He had also been furious - angry with Chase for not telling them anything and angry with Putnam for trying to destroy the Covenant generations of witches had tried for three centuries to protect.

Barely a month ago, Chase had been the antagonist, as Tyler would say. They had thought that he was merely trying to seek redress for his ancestor's punishment on his own accord, but never would they have thought that Putnam still existed - albeit in ghost form, but nevertheless extremely powerful - and that he was the one who had told Chase about the Covenant. He had been the one who caused Chase to nearly kill off Caleb and destroy the rest of the Covenant. And Caleb had defeated him instead, thankfully.

"It's not exactly his fault, you know. We've got to find a way to stop his sacrifice," Reid had defended Chase.

"We are still in serious trouble. This is a life and death thing. W have a total of seven shares of Power. So does Putnam. And he has had a few hundred years' experience with Using. He can manipulate it in ways we can't!" Caleb had hissed.

"Look, Cay, we just reunited the Covenant. Chase reformed, or whatever you wanna call it. He's on our side now!" Pogue had spoken up this time.

"Well, I suppose you guys are right..." Caleb had admitted slowly. Then he had continued, after a moment's uncomfortable silence, determination evident in his voice, "We'll find a way. We'll work it out. The Covenant has been separated for three hundred years, and it won't break up again."

Reid was jerked from his thoughts - and everyone else from whatever they had been thinking - by a sudden voice from the doorway. Everyone looked down and saw a girl in uniform they had never seen before. She was pretty, with shoulder-length red hair and bright hazel eyes. Her full lips curved up naturally, giving her a contented air. Her face was heart-shaped and she was fair.

Icera noticed, with a little jealousy stirring in her, that Chase was watching her with some interest. But she had to admit, this new girl, whoever she was, looked beautiful. Probably even better looking than her, she thought with a little dismay. The girl looked somehow familiar. She was apologising profusely to the professor for being late.

"Miss Cohen, is it? First day at school, it's normal for kids like you to get lost," Professor Charles said. "Let me find a seat for you... there, next to Mr Chase Collins."

"Miss Cohen" turned her head rapidly in the direction of where the professor was pointing, and recognition flashed in her eyes. Icera was also struck with recognition. Alyssa Cohen, her late brother's friend's younger sister. Back in the pre-Spenser days, both girls were tied for the most popular girl in school. Chase knew her quite well too - no wonder he was looking at her. He must have recognised her earlier. Icera sighed inwardly with relief, to her surprise. Normally she would not be jealous, but somehow, Alyssa made her feel insecure.

"Remember her? Andrew's kid sister," Chase said quietly.

"Yeah. She still looks great, doesn't she?" Icera blurted out in a whisper, hearing the jealousy in her voice.

If Chase had heard that very jealousy, he did not show it - at least, not at that moment. "You still look the best in my eyes. No matter what others say."

Icera felt reassured at that, but still, she could never be too careful. It seemed that Alyssa already had a few fans of her own, as she walked up the steps to the free seat beside Chase.

"Hi guys! Never expected to see you here!" Alyssa smiled at Chase.

"Nice to see you," greeted Chase.

"Same here," Icera said rather cheerily, although her eyes were challenging Alyssa.

She knew that Alyssa had had a huge crush on Chase since the day she met him, but she had never shown it - at least, not so much. After all, Chase and Icera were inseparable. Alyssa and Icera had been great friends at first, but after Icera discovered that Alyssa liked Chase, there was instant enmity between them. Almost by unspoken mutual agreement, they put on an act in front of Chase and Andrew so as not to arouse suspicion.

"Now. Miss Cohen, even though you are new, I expect that you will follow the school rule of not talking in class. Mr Collins, Miss Williams, you ought to have known better. One more time and it's detention for the two of you," Professor Charles said in a loud, authoritative voice.

All three snapped back to attention, although Chase and Icera were looking at each other with some amusement. Alyssa looked decidedly pissed off.

Jealous, are you? a voice said in Icera's head.

Icera turned her head to look at Chase, who gave her a quick glance, but it was clear that he was expecting an answer from her. Sort of. Alyssa and I... well, we aren't on the best of terms, she replied slowly.

You know I'll never like her. Not in that way. Maybe as friends, but you're still my princess, Chase's voice declared in her mind, after a moment's silence.

Mushy, teased Icera.

Chase physically shrugged a little, smiling broadly. Alyssa seemed to have noticed that he was beaming at Icera and not at her. He was treating her as though she were invisible. She had definitely seen the challenging look in Icera's eyes. The battle had started years back. It would continue now. She didn't care if they were together now. She had not lost before, at most only tying with others, but even that was rare. I won't lose, I've never lost and I won't ever, she thought to herself, while in her mind, she formulated her plan.

Over the next few days, problems were increasing among the Covenant members. The Sons behaved pretty normally around him, except for Caleb, who was very tense, and even more so around him. Reid too, carried a guilty air about him in Chase's presence. Chase had suspected that Reid had gone and told the whole group about Putnam, even though he had specifically told him not to do so, until at a later date.

He found out the truth only when Tyler accidentally blurted it out, after school on Friday, while they were all in the car on the way to Nicky's. The girls were, as usual, in Caleb's car. Tyler had been incredibly frustrated with the current situation. The tension among the group was absolutely unbearable for him. And so, he told Chase that Reid had, indeed, told them all about Putnam.

"I thought I said-" Chase began.

"Oh, hell. They deserved to know anyway. So the matter's settled. This is gonna be one hell of a tough time, but we gotta make it, or else," Reid cut in exasperatedly, while still driving.

"Fine. By the way, why did you guys invite Alyssa?" Chase asked, looking back at the Ford, which was behind the Hummer.

"Oh, her? I thought she's a really nice girl. She does know you and Icera, anyway. Might as well invite her, even if she is the only one not in the know about the Covenant," Tyler said.

"And she accepted your invitation?" Reid said, an arrogant tone in his voice.

"Well, duh! What's that supposed to mean?!" snapped Tyler.

"Nothing. I mean, she's hot, but she's new," Reid said, rolling her eyes.

"Sarah was new too, when we met her. We instantly hit it off," Caleb defended.

"I suppose you can be excused, Golden Boy. I just thought that Alyssa wasn't, well, all too nice. In fact, I felt she liked you, Chase," Reid replied, grinning.

"What?" Chase was taken aback. Was this why Icera had been so jealous?

"I noticed that too. She stares at you throughout lessons, and I've seen her argue with Icera once. I chanced upon them, but they didn't see me. I swear, their argument was about you," Pogue added.

Chase swore under his breath.

In Caleb's car, Alyssa was chatting to the other girls whenever Icera was not. Sarah and Kate had understood over the past week that Alyssa and Icera were on bad terms - so bad that they treated each other as utterly invisible in others' presence. They had also picked up that their beef had something to do with Chase. Rivalries between two girls rarely, if ever, led to a peaceful ending. There were bound to be catfights sooner or later.

Alyssa was all dressed up, in a green halter top and black miniskirt. She had captured more than a few boys' attention during the past few days she had been studying at Spenser. Icera thought snidely, as she looked at Alyssa's choice of clothes, She doesn't know how cold Nicky can get. We'll see.

She had to admit that being jealous was simply not her. She tended to be trusting and accepting, but which girl did not have some sort of arch-enemy? Even the most popular kids had rivals, she thought grimly, like how the Sons of Ipswich were always at odds with Aaron Abbott and the rest of his gang. She had absolutely no intention of sharing her boyfriend with Alyssa, or with any other girl for that matter. She was pretty comfortable with other girls around Chase (at least, those she knew that would not pounce on Chase as soon as she wasn't around, figuratively speaking), but Alyssa was simply different.

Later on, when they arrived at Nicky's, they noted that Tyler's Hummer was already parked in a free lot. Sarah, who was driving as usual, parked in a free one opposite the Hummer. "Chase and the rest are already here. Thought that we could have been faster," Alyssa commented.

"I was kinda surprised Pogue didn't want to ride his bike," remarked Kate casually.

"Who?" Alyssa asked.

"Oh, Pogue's one of the Sons of Ipswich. Kate's boyfriend. But I suppose Chase, Caleb, Reid and Tyler, plus him, wanted to talk. And the roads aren't very safe at night," Icera said sweetly, but there was an underlying tone of biting smugness.

"Got that. I merely forgot for a moment," retorted Alyssa, in an equally sweet voice and turned towards the entrance.

Together, the group of four walked inside the pub. Some problems had been resolved, but new trouble was already stirring.

For your info, no, I'm not gonna break up Chase and Icera. But, sort-of spoiler, Alyssa could be important to the plot. Stay tuned! And remember to review! More reviews could mean faster updates! I swear!