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

by C. B. Haight

  No wonder Jarrett had clung to Ashley, despite the obvious risk in doing so. Ashley was bright, loving, and most of all, forgiving. After all these years, Jarrett still yearned for forgiveness but was unwilling to accept it. Cade was finally beginning to see the truth, and he was placated toward his brother for his relationship with Ashley. He almost felt grateful to Ashley for it.

  Though their relationship was tenuous at best, Cade risked asking for more information, “And Niall? Your allegiance to him?”

  Jarrett was silent for a full minute before answering, “Allegiance? It’s not so simple.” More like imprisonment, he thought to himself.

  Cade did not miss the pure sound of resentment filling Jarrett’s tone. Jarrett’s words gave him some of the relief he wanted. No, that he needed. “Who is he?”

  “A sorcerer, most believe. The Devil’s general, others say.”

  “And you? What do you think?”

  “Does it matter? He’s Niall, the one in charge of The Faction, and the man holding the power behind it. Beyond that, nothing matters,” he replied with a shrug.

  “What does he want with Collett?” Cade asked.

  “Her life, one way or another,” Jarrett answered. “I don’t know why. Rarely do.”

  “And you?”

  “My death, one way or another.”

  “How do we stop him?” Cade prodded.

  Jarrett huffed out a defeated laugh, “I’m not sure we can.”

  Maybe, thought Cade. Raising his head he looked to the sky and thought about it. Despite Jarrett’s opinion, he knew they had to try. They needed to take down The Faction’s leader if they ever wanted to be safe again. Cade and his brother had one thing in common, neither of them gave up easily.

  Turning, Jarrett moved to leave again, and Cade moved to follow. He didn’t make it far before he heard the dark protest. “You’re not coming with me.”

  “Yes I am, for a while anyway. At least until your wound is healed up, and you can protect yourself.”

  With his back to Cade, Jarrett closed his eyes in exasperation. “Go back to your wife.”

  “I will if you come with me.”

  Jarrett scoffed and shook his head.

  “Well, then I guess I get to keep following you.”

  Jarrett clenched his jaw. He didn’t want to hear those words. He wanted to push them aside, push Cade aside. He couldn’t deny the mixture of relief and frustration he felt knowing that Cade would be with him.

  It would be easier if Cade didn’t matter. The truth was though, that his brother had always mattered. It was why Jarrett had separated himself from Cade all these years. Cade just never knew it was to protect him.

  Neither man moved. Jarrett heard Cade fold his arms over his chest in defiance and knew he would not relent. Opening his eyes, Jarrett conceded by changing the subject, “Do you remember the first time?”

  His words were quiet, yet Cade heard them. He was surprised by the question, but he answered honestly, “It’s not an event you easily forget.”

  Jarrett’s lips twitched, but it was quickly controlled. “No, I suppose not.”

  After that, they walked for a long time, silently making their way to the town below. They were in this together for now, but neither man felt comfortable with the situation. Their relationship was far too complicated. As they walked together, neither of them believed they would likely stay together for long, because neither man thought they could be friends.

  Cade was idealistic, hopeful, and generally happy by nature. He sought out and protected innocence and goodness in people. Jarrett, the opposite, embodied cynicism, hate, and anger. He believed innocence and goodness were as rare as blue diamonds, and the sooner a person understood that the better off they were.

  Walking through the small town, they both took notice of the festive wreaths hanging on the lampposts and the decorations the small shops used to boast their wares. The decorations reminded Cade of how close Christmas was, and he even thought about stopping in one of the little shops to find Collett a gift. It was proof that life does go on and hope still existed. For Jarrett, the decorations meant little. They were merely a thing he had to endure every year. He hated the holidays.

  “What’s your plan?” asked Jarrett.

  “I call back home, check in, and make sure Ashley made it to a safe place with Tracy. They should have checked in with their parents by now. Then we can decide what to do.”

  Cade promptly found the nearest phone. He convinced a gas station attendant to allow him to use their phone, claiming a lost cell phone and wooing her with his crooked grin. He proceeded to call Collett first. He frowned as the voicemail came on. He hung up and tried Rederrick’s cell only to hear the familiar chime signaling no answer once again. He tried Cynda next, his worry increasing. No answer. He hung up the phone and scowled before he picked it up once more, trying to reach Delphene. Still nothing. He carefully replaced the phone on the receiver and looked up. Jarrett stood close by with a hand tucked in his jacket, holding his wounded side. He quirked a brow at Cade.

  Shaking his head, Cade moved to his brother. “I’m sure they’re fine,” he said as they went outside. Jarrett said nothing. “They must think the phones are unsafe,” Cade muttered more to himself than Jarrett. “Or maybe they’re just out,” he continued, knowing the statement didn’t make sense.

  “They have mobile phones right?” Jarrett replied cynically.

  “I meant out of a service area,” Cade retorted, pulling at his hair, as he often did when frustrated. He looked around the street as if seeking an explanation.

  “Where would they go?”

  “Huh?” he replied when Jarrett’s deep voice pulled him from his thoughts.

  “If they had to cut and run, where would they go?”

  Cade’s brows drew together. “It depends.”

  “Depends on what?”

  “On who is still alive?”

  “Non, I will not go to a place with no one I know to watch our back,” argued Delphene.

  “I’m telling you it’s the best option we have.”

  “Stop!” snapped Cynda, tired of listening to Rederrick and Delphene argue in the front seat of the Tahoe. She sat in the middle row while Collett crouched over Jenny in the back. “Delphene, I understand why you want to go home, and Rederrick, I know why you want to go to the house in Utah, but right now, we can’t do either. Jenny needs a hospital. Until we take care of that, there is nothing to discuss. So knock it off so Collett can concentrate. Can’t you see how you’re affecting her?”

  Both of them had the decency to look slightly sheepish before complying with her order. “How is she doing?” Cynda asked Collett.

  “Not good. She’s in bad shape, and I can’t get past the pain. Even unconscious, she feels it. I keep trying to focus my thoughts on hers like you want, but her thoughts are so disconnected. When I try to reach her, she recoils. Her arm is definitely broken as you suspected, and I think maybe a few of her ribs are broken as well. She has a concussion to go with it all. I just can’t grab ahold when I reach for her thoughts.”

  “I can’t believe they did this to her.”

  “Demons have no feelings, Chèrie. I curse whatever black magician that conjured them.”

  “Actually, the first arch-demon was a human king named Nehemiah,” Collett said absently.

  With her back turned and her focus on Jenny, Collett did not take note of everyone else’s reaction. Cynda’s eyes went wide as she looked from her to Delphene, who reacted similarly. Rederrick sat up in the driver’s seat, leaned over, and put a finger to his lips, warning them both not to say a word. He recognized this as a rare moment when Collett unconsciously accessed her lost memories, and any interruption of those natural thoughts could dam the flow of recollection. He had seen her do this before.

  “Nehemiah?” he questioned with casual interest.

  “Yes, he was a simple man once but a leader among his people. He was smart, strong, and everyone trusted hi
m. His subjects lifted him up as king after he defeated a great enemy. He fought the most fiercely of all the warriors and was the strongest among them. The people revered him, almost worshipped him. Then, as years passed, the power drew him in.

  “He became wicked and cruel after a time. Tired of his greed, the people revolted and rose against him in an effort to kill him. He escaped, but his wounds were grievous. As he lay there, bleeding to death, he called out to whomever would listen for help.

  “Because his heart was black, it was The Great Opposer that heeded his call and appeared before him. Nehemiah pleaded for his life, offering his soul in return for a chance to exact vengeance. The dark one is crafty and has corrupted many because of it. He made the bargain quickly— Nehemiah’s soul in exchange for a chance at revenge.

  “Not fully understanding the cost of the bargain, Nehemiah died and the Opposer took the soul as promised. The Great Opposer, not having the power to create man and unable to bring back what was, then breathed his wicked breath over the shell that was once Nehemiah and brought forth the first soulless demon enslaved to the most vile master of all.”

  Collett brushed her hand over Jenny’s hair as she continued, “The Great Opposer’s black power allowed the demon Nehemiah to exact his revenge, helping him and gifting him with unnatural magic, poison in his bite, and the strength of ten men. Afterwards, he let the creature roam the earth for a time. In his viciousness, the creature spawned several half demons and helped recruit more vengeful souls for his lord who sadistically created other variations of demon lines.

  “Ironically though, Nehemiah’s demon subjects, much like the human ones a lifetime before, rose up against Nehemiah and his cruel acts. As he was being attacked this time, his wicked lord and keeper of his soul appeared, and the arch-demon pleaded for his life once again. The Great Opposer simply laughed, ‘I already have your soul, and there is nothing greater you can offer me.’ And because he had no soul and no humanity left, Nehemiah fell apart into dust at the killers’ feet. Banished, his soul remained forever imprisoned by The Great Opposer.

  “Ultimately, The Great Opposer was satisfied. He possessed an army of demons roaming the earth, wreaking havoc wherever they went. All because Nehemiah selfishly made a bargain with the devil.”

  No one said a word. They were partially captured by the story and partially surprised at the source of the tale. Rederrick was almost afraid to break the silence and wondered if Collett even realized what she’d done. Recalling such an involved series of events may offer a clue to who she was, but how she knew the tale remained a mystery.

  “Merde, if that is where the démons came from, how twisted is my family tree?” Delphene asked, trying to mimic Rederrick’s easy tone.

  “Well, that history is a little more complicated,” she answered.

  “Collett, do you realize what you’re doing?” asked Cynda.

  Turning to face them, she shook her head.

  “You’re remembering, ma petite,” Delphene explained.

  Collett’s brows drew in as if in disbelief, and then she suddenly realized they were right. “I remembered something.”

  Cynda smiled at her.

  The excitement of the revelation was cut short, however, when Jenny drew in a breath, whimpered, and her breathing turned shallow and gasping.

  “No!” Cynda cried out.

  Collett had already redirected her focus and checked Jenny’s vitals. Her heart was weak, and Collett could feel the pain again as it peaked. The seconds were ticking. Somehow, Collett knew Jenny was leaving them. Desperate, she reached for Jenny’s lingering thoughts and began focusing as best she could. She recognized right away that, on top of Jenny’s injuries, she was now having a heart attack.

  Unsure of what to do, Collett focused on the heart itself and tried her best to send comfort and calm feelings to Jenny as she had practiced doing over the last couple of months. She became enveloped by sensations. She felt the tightness in her own chest while still focusing on Jenny’s. Her head swam, and she tasted a coppery tang in her mouth. Putting every effort into staying conscious, she kept trying to remove it all and keep Jenny with them. Collett didn’t even hear Cynda telling her to stop. She felt a tug on her arm, and the last thing she heard was, “Please, don’t let Jenny be dead.” Then there was only blackness.

  Chapter 17

  Cade struggled to keep his worry under control. The truth was, he felt a panic rising within. He knew that Collett was in danger, and regretted leaving her. He kept silently reminding himself his friends were capable and experienced enough to handle almost anything, but deep down, he knew something was terribly wrong. The inability to make contact with her tore at him. They last spoke four days ago, just before he abandoned his cell at the motel.

  He knew that Rederrick would have the backup burner phones, but he didn’t have the numbers because Rederrick couldn’t get them until they were activated. Cade was left with no way to make contact, and he hated it.

  As a leader for The Brotherhood, he was used to knowing everyone’s status. Now alone with his twin, he was in the dark, a place that made him very anxious.

  He and Jarrett spoke little of their concerns during their journey south toward Louisiana. In fact, communication between them was practically non-existent. Despite the recent openness, neither fully trusted the other. Too many years of being on opposing sides did that to them. They had agreed to stay together for now, but their relationship remained tense. Cade wondered if it always would be.

  When Cade found he couldn’t reach anyone by phone, he considered where they might go. He knew Delphene and Rederrick well enough to know where they may go, and he was betting that Delphene would win the debate. She had a knack for arguing. So New Orleans it was, and Jarrett, in a rare moment of cooperation, offered no argument.

  They were currently leaving Tennessee behind and making their way to Alabama on I-24. They had rented a car back in Pennsylvania, using one of many false identifications Cade kept. Despite Cade’s protests, Jarrett sat behind the wheel for the first time since they rented the car, and Cade spent the last hour brooding over one more thing he no longer had control of.

  While he sat watching the rhythmic passing of interstate lights in the dark night, Cade felt Jarrett’s attention drift to him several times. “What?” he asked gruffly, inviting a distraction from his dire thoughts.

  Jarrett only shrugged.

  A few more silent minutes past, and Cade reevaluated the series of events of the attack at Ashley’s. “You saw her at Ashley’s house?”

  Taking his eyes from the road, Jarrett looked at Cade slightly confused.

  “Collett. You saw her at Ashley’s before the demons attacked us.”

  He moved his eyes forward again. “Yeah,” he said simply.

  A tick started in Cade’s jaw. He still wondered why she didn’t come to him. He knew she was somehow connected to Jarrett, but her last appearance bothered him. It stung on a deeper level. “Do you see her often?”

  “Don’t.”

  “Don’t what?”

  “Don’t over analyze it. It’s nothing,” Jarrett said annoyed.

  “It has to mean something,” Cade replied with equal annoyance.

  “What do you want here, Cade?”

  “I want—” he started to snap, but he changed his tone and muttered, “Never mind.” Not only was talking to Jarrett difficult, he wasn’t exactly sure what wanted. He longed to understand why his wife kept showing up in Jarrett’s dreams and why she felt his injuries. Most of all, he worried what about what it meant when his wife reached out to Jarrett the other night instead of himself. Unfortunately, Jarrett wouldn’t be able to answer any of his questions.

  As if reading his brother's mind, Jarret broke the silence, “It’s not like I asked for this. In fact, I’d be happier if she’d leave me alone.”

  Cade looked at him sharply, “She saved your life.”

  “Yeah well, who asked her to?”

  “You ungrat
eful—”

  “Look, I never asked her to save me—not even first time! I didn’t want to be saved! She shouldn’t have come into the cabin that day, but since she did she should’ve pulled Rowena out!” Jarrett snapped back.

  Cade’s brows drew in, and his anger dissipated slightly. A sudden thought came to him. “She saved you though.”

  “Yeah, and what about it?” Jarrett snarled.

  “Nothing,” Cade mumbled as he thought about it and realized Collett must have had a reason for repeatedly saving his brother, even if she didn’t remember why. He knew that she was a kind and generous person, but her interference must mean more. There must be something important he was missing. Cade could only hope she wasn’t married to the wrong brother. Selena’s cryptic words to Collett haunted him still, “When you remember who you are, you will only want help from one. . .” What if that person wasn’t him?

  Unlike Jarrett and Cade, Rederrick did stop along his route. He managed to pull a few strings and stopped at Fort Carson where James was stationed to get Jenny admitted to the hospital there. Having secret military ties, as well several political ones, had saved his butt more than once. He knew the base would be one of the safer places they could leave their dear friend, though it bothered all of them that they could not risk staying here with her.

  After seeing to Jenny’s needs, Rederrick and Cynda met up with James to let him know what was going on. Meanwhile, Delphene waited in a motel not far away with an unconscious Collett.

  They had all agreed that admitting Collett to the hospital would not be wise considering her healing abilities and, more importantly, her empathy. Unconscious, Collett would have no way to block the pain and emotions from the people there, and Cynda instinctively knew whatever was wrong with her would only get worse in that situation.