The Price of Knowing: A Powers of Influence Novel (The Powers of Influence Book 2)

by C. B. Haight

  Rederrick smiled, “All right, just making sure.”

  “We are fine. We have the best security system available, and if anything happens we all know what to do. Quit worrying.”

  “I hate being so far away, and these delays are killing me.”

  “Anything from Cade?” she asked.

  “No,” he replied uneasily, “It’s not like him to not check in.”

  “He must have a reason. Though, Collett is pretty nervous.”

  “Keep her distracted if you can. He’ll call,” he reassured, but his words sounded flat even to him.

  “He’ll call,” Cynda insisted more forcefully.

  “Yeah,” he muttered. He looked up at the monitors again and realized Delphene’s flight was finally arriving. “Her plane is landing. I‘ll call you back when we’re on our way.”

  “All right, be safe.”

  “I love you too,” he replied as he stood to watch for Delphene.

  A little later, as the winter afternoon sun began to set, Rederrick pulled into his garage and helped Delphene gather her belongings. As they entered the house, Cynda and Collett met them at the door. “I saw you pull up,” she explained and kissed him on the cheek.

  Upon seeing Cynda, Delphene dropped her bags with a loud thunk and pulled Cynda up with a girly squeal. “Mon’Amie ont manqué vous -my friend, I have missed you. What you been up to Chèrie?” she drawled with a thick, French-southern accent.

  Collett watched in fascination when Delphene lifted Cynda in a move she could only describe as pure delight. She wondered if she’d ever had a friendship like this one.

  Collett took a moment to observe the excited woman. Delphene looked like an Amazon queen from Greek mythology. A woman with an African-American heritage, her smooth, dark-chocolate skin held a flawless, soft appearance. Her long hair, the color of ebony, was held together in a thick braid. She was tall, fit, and heavily muscled. Collett could easily picture her in elaborate warrior’s armor exacting lethal damage upon any who dared to stand before her. Though, her powerful build did not detract from her beauty at all. Really, the opposite was true. Her appearance was striking in an impressive way.

  As if feeling Collett’s scrutiny, Delphene turned to her, and Collett saw eyes similar to Cade’s. Her’s were slightly darker and sparkled with a girlish animation that Collett doubted she would ever see in her husband’s. They were the eyes of a strong, happy woman.

  “C’est qui ce remue-ménage est tout propos! So this is who the fuss is all about,” Delphene exclaimed in a smooth, richly accented tone and winked to Cynda.

  “Delphene, I would like you to meet Cade’s wife, Collett.”

  “Nice to meet you,” Collett offered.

  Delphene inclined her head, evaluating her. “And you are a pretty one aren’t you?”

  “Thank you,” replied Collett, slightly embarrassed.

  “She blushes, Jolie one I comme celui-ci, où avez-vous trouvé son?”

  “Actually, she found us,” Cynda said in response to Delphene’s question.

  Collett suddenly realized two things. First, Cynda understood French, and second, so did she. It struck Collett that she could understand too. She bit her lip and considered the startling revelation carefully.

  “Collett, is everything alright?” Cynda asked.

  Collett looked up and stared at the three of them. “Je pense que je parle Français.” Her eyes lit up. “I do, I can speak French!”

  “Congratulations, I am excited for you. Though, I am confused that you didn’t know before,” Delphene added.

  “It’s a long story,” said Cynda, “One I’m sure Cade intended to tell, but since he’s gone, come in and get something to eat. We’ll fill you in a bit more.” Together, Cynda and Delphene made their way into the house while Rederrick followed with Collett.

  “French huh?” Rederrick asked.

  She shrugged. “French. I never knew that before, but I heard her and realized I understood.”

  “That’s one more puzzle piece, and that’s a good thing.”

  “That is a good thing,” she agreed with a smile. As they reached the kitchen, her smile wavered. “Has he called?” she asked him.

  Shaking his head, he answered, “Not yet, but he will.”

  Cynda’s delighted laughter at something Delphene said pulled Collett’s attention away from Rederrick. “Rederrick honey, you can just put those things in the room Collett stayed in across from Cade’s room. We’re going to have some girl time.”

  “Well then, I will leave you ladies to it. I’ll be hiding from all of your estrogen in the extra room if you need me.”

  “So noted,” replied Cynda playfully.

  “Ah Chèrie, girl’s night. It has been so long,” chimed Delphene with a mischievous light in her eyes.

  After studying for almost a week straight and enduring the agony of taking the final exam, Ashley came home that afternoon to take a long, hot bath to relieve the stress in her shoulders, not to mention, warm her frozen toes. The winter temperatures in Michigan were downright brutal, and she felt frozen from head to toe.

  All the study and sacrifice paid off though. While she thought the test had been awful and difficult, she was sure she aced it. She was well on her way to being a veterinarian. If only I could do it without the degree, she wished regretfully.

  In reality, because of her empathic abilities, she could, but the government tended to be particular on technicalities. Her future customers would also care if she had that little paper showing she was formerly trained. So for now, she would deal with the torture of school.

  Ashley Williamson, daughter of Cynda and Rederrick Williamson, inherited her empathic and healing talents from her maternal Grandmother. However, unlike Grandma Essie, Ashley’s gifts were stronger with animals than humans, something she was extremely grateful for. Feeling and understanding the pain of animals was hard enough. If her empathic abilities were any stronger with people, she would likely be insane.

  Her siblings inherited different traits. James, her younger brother, inherited all the brains and could create or manipulate almost any electronic device. He had a knack for technology and could retain facts without all the study she required. Currently, he was stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado, putting that brain to good use for the government and for The Brotherhood.

  Ashley’s older sister, Tracy, was far more skilled with spells and magic than she would ever be. Tracy was great with elemental magic and a natural with any spell. She inherited her talent for such witchcraft directly from their mother. Ashley could perform small spells, after all, she was Cynda’s daughter as well. She just couldn’t manage magic at the same level as her mother or sister. It never bothered her, though. She knew what she needed to and loved what she did.

  She entered her quiet, little townhome, hung her coat, and threw her keys on the small table by the front door. Thinking about her family and how much she missed them, she gently kicked off her shoes and reached up to pull the band from her shiny, brown hair. Ashley made her way to the bathroom to indulge in the anticipated bath. She started the water, added colored salts, and began to undress.

  Because her family was on her mind, she made a mental note to call and check in on them when she was done. The recent overnight trip for Uncle Cade’s wedding had been too short for her liking. Since her Thanksgiving trip had been cut short as well because of The Faction’s pursuit of Collett, Ashley realized she was pining for family a little more than usual.

  As she dipped a foot into the steaming water, Ashley heard a knock at the door. She debated ignoring it, thinking it was most likely Lisa from next door, but another, more urgent knock sounded.

  Ashley wrapped herself in a green silk robe, grabbed a kitchen knife, and made her way to the door. With everything going on in her family lately, she felt it best to err on the side of caution. Her dad and Cade had trained her to be paranoid, and she was skilled in self-defense.

  “Who is it?” she called.

>   “Nate.”

  Now that was interesting. Ashley scowled. Why would Nate be here in Michigan? She peeked through the peep-hole to confirm it really was him and hurried to unlock the door. Happily, she swung it open for him.

  He cleared his throat at the sight of her robe. “Ash,” he greeted.

  “What brings you—” her words died mid-sentence as she saw the three other men standing at her door. Well two, since one man was unconscious and slung over Cade’s shoulder. Without waiting for an invitation, Cade moved right past her to her couch.

  “I need your help Ash.”

  “Come on in,” she gestured to Nate and a dark young man with purple and blue in his hair. She couldn’t remember his name.

  Pulling her attention away from the newcomer, she turned to Cade. She started to ask how she could help, but upon seeing the man he laid on the couch, she rushed over to them. “What’s wrong with Jarrett? What happened?”

  Cade’s brows drew together. It sound like she recognized Jarrett. Of course, she knew he had a twin brother, but to his knowledge, she had never met him. Figuring he was reading too much into it, he let it go for now and answered her question as best he could. “I’m not completely sure. That’s why we need you. The wound on his side is infected, and it looks really bad. If I had to guess, I’d say a silver weapon caused it. It doesn’t smell like poison, and it’s not magic. The bullet hole in his shoulder went straight through, but tore things up on its way out. He’s got some bruises too, but there’s nothing else major that I can see.”

  Without hesitation, she pushed past Cade and yanked up Jarrett’s shirt where she noticed the dried blood. She winced as she saw the angry, festering wound that had been reopened. She immediately began barking out orders, “Nate, go and get some towels from my bathroom closet and a pillow from my bed. Cade, take him into the kitchen and put him on the table. You—”

  “Jeffery,” the stranger injected.

  “Jeffery, over there by the door is my bag of supplies—go and get it then follow Cade.” She went to her room and quickly dressed.

  “Cade, how long has he been out?” she asked as she rushed over to the kitchen sink to wash her hands. When she turned to examine Jarrett, he started panting, and he mumbled something not even Cade understood.

  He shrugged. “In and out since last night. About forty minutes maybe since the last time he sounded coherent.”

  She took out scissors and cut his shirt off. She then turned and began cutting his pants as well because the wound was so low. “Good grief, Jarrett! What have you done this time?” she mumbled.

  Cade and Nate both looked at her with surprise. “This time?” Cade questioned, realizing that she did know him.

  Ashley could feel his reaction, but she did not let it sway her from her task. “We can get to all that later. Right now, I need to focus on him. Cade, let go of your emotions. I can’t have you in my head too. Hold him will you? I’m going to have to open him up a bit.”

  “You’re not going to give him anything first?” Jeffery asked.

  “Most sedatives don’t work on these two. Their natural healing ability easily absorbs any I have available to give him.”

  Channeling her empathy and healing skills, Ashely focused on the most painful sensations and went back to work. Cade held Jarrett down as instructed, but it turned out to be unnecessary. He didn’t even stir the whole time she worked on him. His lack of lucidity confirmed how serious the wound was.

  In her experience, Cade and Jarrett usually healed pretty fast, in a matter of hours really, but this slash in his side was days old. It was jagged and deep, and she knew it would push the limits of her training. She was going to have to clean it, repair the damage to any organs, and sew it up in layers in order for it to heal.

  The bullet wound was a clean through and through, but it wasn’t healing as it should either. His skin was mottled with bruises and very pale. Resigned to the task, she feverishly attended to her patient.

  Chapter 13

  Not feeling needed at the moment, Jeffery wandered from the kitchen. Completely exhausted from using so much magical energy and too tired to stay on his feet, he made his way to the couch in the living room. He plopped down, expelled a breath, rubbed his hands over his face, and blinked hard trying to erase the sleepiness dragging at him. Surveying the little room, Jeffery noticed several family pictures in various places.

  He reached over to the end table next to him and picked up a photo in a small silver frame. It displayed Ashley and Cynda with their faces cheek to cheek, both of them flaunted bright and happy smiles.

  He tried to remember the last time he saw his own mother smiling in such a way. He’d made her so unhappy over the years. He rebelled against her constantly and ultimately endangered her life. Instead of a smile, all he could think of was the sadness in her eyes the last time they were together. It had been right after Jarrett, of all people, saved her from Finnawick’s sadistic imprisonment.

  Laying his head back and closing his eyes, Jeffery recalled the night that changed everything for him. Jarrett came to him in the bar where he’d gone to forget how he failed to save his mother. It was there that Jarrett offered Jeffery a deal. A deal that saved his mother’s life. Jeffery hadn’t known at the time that it would give him a new life as well.

  Still slurring slightly but beginning to think more clearly, he asked, “W-What’s the cost?”

  The Hunter knew what was coming for him, so he answered with resignation, “You have to pass on a message.”

  “To who?” Jeffery asked.

  “To Cade Werren.” The Hunter then slipped out a small envelope and handed it to Jeffery.

  “I must be really drunk. You just want me to give this to him?” he slurred.

  “Something like that,” Jarrett answered with irritation. “Tomorrow. Give it to him tomorrow.”

  Jarrett stood from the stool casually. “What ‘bout my mom, man?” he asked desperately.

  “She is already at your motel waiting for you.”

  Jeffery could only stare after the dark, confusing man as he walked out of the dimly lit bar into the cold winter night. He looked down at the sealed white envelope that had the word, “Cade,” scrawled across the center, standing out with black ink.

  Jeffery stumbled from his seat and walked out the door to follow. When he got outside into the freezing cold air, The Hunter was already long gone.

  He staggered into the alley, drunk but sobering, and prayed what Jarrett told him was true. He blinked back to his hotel room, and there she was. His mother sat at the scarred table in the corner of the meager room. With her head in her arms, not knowing he was there, she remained in that mournful pose.

  “Mom?” he croaked, disbelieving what was right before him. She lifted her head and looked at him with tear-filled eyes. She smiled sadly and rose.

  Almost completely sobered by the night’s extraordinary events, Jeffery looked at the envelope in his hand. He placed it on top of the outdated TV and rushed to embrace his mother. It had been two years since he had last seen her.

  “I’m sorry,” he muttered against her.

  “Shh. It’s alright. It’s alright,” she soothed, holding him as if her life depended on it.

  After he clung to her for a time, Jeffery eased back and looked to the mysterious message given to him by an even more mysterious man. Then, Jeffery did something even he did not expect. He looked to his mother and said, “Mom, there is something I have to do. It might take me some time to get back to you.”

  Untangling from her embrace, he walked over to the dresser and opened the top drawer. Jeffery pulled out a little cash box, handed it to his mother, and said, “You have to go. Get out of the country. Go to the Bahamas, like you’ve always wanted. I’ll find you there when I can. Don’t use your real name. There is a fake passport I had made for you…before I thought…”

  He couldn’t even say it. For a time, he really thought her dead, killed by Finnawick. Seeing her standin
g here still felt surreal—dream like. He choked down his emotion and continued, “The passport is in there. Use that name, and don’t trust anyone.”

  “What?” she asked, confused and sniffling.

  He looked at her regretfully. “I’ve made some mistakes mom, some really big mistakes. You know that better than anyone. I’ve rarely done the right thing, but there is this one thing I can do now that’s right. It’s important.

  “Maybe there is hope for me to come back from it all and fix some of what I’ve done.” He shrugged. “I don’t know, but I have to try. I have to pay this one debt, then I‘ll come find you if I can.”

  “I just got you back,” she insisted with a mother’s desperation, her voice cracking.

  “I have to do this. I need to do this,” he declared with fierce conviction.

  His mother didn’t speak, but she nodded her head at him while choking on her sobs.

  He looked at her sad, broken expression and deeply regretted all the pain he had caused her. He’d gone against everything she tried to do for him, everything she tried to teach him. It was time to make her proud of him. No matter what, he would give her a reason to believe in him again.

  To start with, he would deliver the small message, and from there he would find a way to make it without The Faction.

  He hugged her again. “I am so sorry…sorry for all that I’ve done to you, sorry for the pain I caused you. I swear I’ll make it right somehow. Then we can have a normal life.

  “I do love you. No matter what I’ve done in the past, I think I always knew you would be there for me. I was just too stupid to appreciate it.” His words were filled with sincerity and even a level of maturity that didn’t exist in him before.

  “Oh my baby boy, I’ve always loved you. I always will.” Pulling away from him, she tried to wipe away her tears. He could have sworn he saw hope in her eyes. “Do what you have to do, and if you can, come find me when you’re done. God be with you, Baby. Go and finish this. I’ll be waiting for you.”