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

by C. B. Haight

  Each time he was assigned a job, he would go in hoping he could defy Niall one more time. Unfortunately, almost every time he found himself disgusted with how cruel and wicked people could be. As he completed those assignments, he lost a little piece of himself as well as any hope for mankind as a whole.

  Sweeping a hand over his face, Jarrett silently berated himself for wallowing and reminded himself that he quit caring a long time ago. It doesn’t matter anymore, he told himself. He was out now and would likely die soon, which was fine with him. He only wanted Niall to go down with him.

  Sitting alone, parked in front of the Burro Street Exchange in the center of town, Jarrett tried to figure out his next step. He looked up at the dark sky. Heavy storm clouds above promised snow, and he thought about how training would be set back if it snowed too much.

  The streets were empty, confirming Cynda’s prediction that everything was closed for the holiday. He was completely alone. Really, he wasn’t sure why he came here in the first place. He simply didn’t want to stay at the house and felt this was his only option.

  Jarrett considered leaving and going his own way again. As he thought about it though, he knew that he didn’t really have anywhere else to go. He realized that even after stepping away from The Faction, he was still trapped by them.

  Deciding to go back to the house, he shifted the car into gear. Checking his rear-view mirror, he stopped cold. Two nasty looking demons stood in the street, carefully dressed in human clothing in an effort to blend in. They stood side by side and grinned devilishly at him.

  Jarrett cursed.

  Chapter 22

  “Did he come back yet?” Cade asked as he entered the kitchen after his shower.

  “Yes,” replied Ashley, “He came back and left again. You missed him by maybe 20 minutes.”

  “Where did he go?” Collett asked while coming down the stairs.

  Cade looked over to her where she stopped in the doorway and searched for any remaining signs of stress. There were dark circles under her eyes that showed her exhaustion. He knew the last few nights she’d started having visions again. She didn’t tell him, but he’d heard her. Between training, dreaming, and trying to find comfortable ground with Jarrett, it was no wonder she was so tired. It was hard to watch, and even harder to stay out of.

  Cade reflected on the lecture Rederrick gave him while running errands for Cynda. Rederrick insisted Cade needed to give Collett a little more room and let her work things out on her own. Stepping back to let her figure out her place in this simply didn’t sit well with him. He wanted to be with her through every step, protecting her. He wanted to see her happy, but it seemed Jarrett kept making her unhappy.

  “He was bothered by the tree and took off—said he was going to town,” Ashley explained, interrupting his thoughts.

  A foreboding entered Collett’s chest, and her features pinched in consideration. “He shouldn’t have gone alone.”

  “He was pretty upset. I think he needed some space from all of this,” Ashley said while gesturing to the Christmas tree and smells from the kitchen.

  “He’s too vulnerable,” Collett stated, her worry was evident.

  “You’re right,” Cade agreed, silently wishing he didn’t. “None of us should be going out alone.”

  “I’m not sure we could have stopped him, Chère. The decorations really put him on edge, more so than he already was.”

  Cade moved passed Collett and into the kitchen to grab keys to the other vehicle.

  “What are you doing?” Collett asked.

  “I’m going after him.”

  “I’ll come with you.”

  “No, you stay here. It won’t take long to track him down,” Cade said, shaking his head.

  “I’m going with you,” she said firmly.

  “Collett—”

  “None of us should be alone,” she retorted with a pointed look.

  Cade looked to Delphene.

  With wide eyes, she shot back, “Don’t look to me, Mon Ami. I have enough to do with the dinner here.”

  Cade’s eyes went back to his wife. He immediately recognized the determination in them, but he tried to talk her out of it anyway. “Collett, you don’t need to come. I can get him and be back in no time. Stay here where you’re safe.”

  “No place is safer than another at this point, and you know it. I am coming with you.”

  He said nothing.

  “I’m going, Cade.”

  With an exasperated breath of defeat, he relented, “Fine, let’s go then.”

  “I’ll meet you outside. I need to grab something first,” she replied and rushed up the stairs.

  Cade could only look up at the ceiling in frustration. He considered leaving while she was out of the room. He could be in the Tahoe and gone before she even made it back downstairs. He wouldn’t though. Not only would she be furious with him, but knowing her as he did, she would likely talk Jeffery into blinking her to wherever she wanted.

  No, if she was going, it was better to go with him. At least that way he could keep an eye on her, and he could keep her safer than anyone else. So he waited. She came rushing down the steps holding something in her hand. He looked closer to see a poorly concealed dagger. He quirked a brow at her.

  “What?” she asked.

  He pointed to the dagger.

  “Just in case,” she replied. “Jarrett said we should always be ready for an attack.”

  “You just going to walk around a small, friendly town on Christmas Eve carrying that nasty looking blade in your hand like it’s a purse?” he asked.

  She looked down at it. “You’re right. Maybe I should put it in a handbag.” She pursed her lips and examined the size of the blade. “I’ll get Cynda’s bag. It’s bigger.”

  Cade shook his head and smiled at her innocence. He took the blade and scabbard from her hand, bent down, and tucked it into her tall, winter boot.

  Twisting her foot, Collett examined the hiding place and thought it felt a little strange. She could only see the tip of the hilt when she looked directly down at it. “I suppose that works too,” she said, satisfied.

  Grabbing her hand, Cade pulled her along. “Come on She-Ra, let’s go.”

  “What’s She-Ra?” she asked as they left.

  “Not what, who,” he replied as they got into the car.

  “Who?”

  “Who, what?” he asked, teasing her now.

  She gave him an annoyed look but smiled all the same.

  “That’s better then,” he said and leaned over to kiss her cheek.

  “What’s better?”

  “It’s good to see you smile. You don’t do it often enough.”

  Tipping her head away from him, Collett couldn’t help but feel embarrassed.

  “No, no, none of that. We’re going to enjoy the rest of the day and stop thinking about everything else. You should be happy. We have a lot going on, I agree, but let’s focus on the good stuff right now. Let’s see, what’s good then? Oh, I know,” he said, starting the engine and putting it into gear, “how about being married to an amazing, smart, and perfect man?”

  She smiled at his light sarcastic tone. “I suppose I’ll have to ask Cynda about that,” she quipped.

  “Ah,” he said, placing his hand to his heart, “you wound me.”

  She laughed quietly, and Cade basked in the sound of it.

  “Now back to She-Ra,” she said, participating in the frivolity.

  They kept things light and fun as they drove toward town. The easy tone of their conversation was an element they’d had far too little of in their brief time together, and they almost felt normal. Cade distracted her from thinking about anything other than trivial topics to keep her mood easy. He was very tired of seeing a frown on her face and worry in her eyes.

  It didn’t last long though. By now, it was early evening, and the winter darkness settled in. Collett and Cade were only about 7 miles from town when her face changed. She visibly paled and
a fearful expression covered her features. “Oh no.”

  “What? What’s wrong?”

  “Hurry! It’s Jarrett.”

  Jarrett immediately reversed, swerved the SUV around, and aimed for the demons. It was too much to hope that he would actually hit them. They both jumped out of the way of the vehicle, one of them landing easily atop the Tahoe.

  The slightly smaller of the two creatures began attacking the luggage rack in hopes of gaining access through the vehicle's roof. Jarrett hit the brakes as hard as he could, and he felt satisfied when the grey skinned demon rolled over the windshield and hit the pavement hard, landing right in front of the SUV’s tires. Intending to run him over, Jarrett switched gears, but before he could accelerate, the other demon threw his fist through the side window.

  Glass shattered everywhere. The demon that broke the window pulled back to strike again, intent on shatter Jarrett’s skull while his companion began rising from the ground.

  For Jarrett, everything slowed and his focus cleared. His instincts took over, and his reactions were the automatic maneuvers of a seasoned warrior. No, not a warrior—he was more than that. Jarrett was a predator conditioned to survive. His heart pumped rhythmically as he fell into himself, embracing the monster. Blood flowed through him, warming him inside and out. His skin tingled. His mouth salivated. His body wanted to change. His mind refused.

  He knew he didn’t have to be a wolf to defeat the demons. His superior strength and skill would be enough to accomplish the task. He welcomed the adrenaline that rushed over him.

  As the demon’s fist came at him, he shifted his body and reached out, moving swiftly. Grabbing the moving arm with long practiced martial proficiency, he jerked the demon forward and smashed its face into the top of the of the vehicle’s door frame.

  It roared in pain.

  Jarrett hooked the demon's arm around the steering wheel, twisted hard on the wheel, and pressed on the gas simultaneously. The demon in front jerked oddly when he was rammed by the SUV. Jarrett didn’t see any more as the airbag smacked into him. He felt the impact against the windshield, but he couldn’t take the time to feel gratified by it.

  The demon caught in the steering wheel bellowed as the force of the airbag hit his awkwardly angled arm.

  Jarrett didn’t relent. He jerked the wheel around again with violent ferocity and kept his foot on the gas, aiming for what he hoped would be the alley behind the buildings. When he’d gone as far as he dared, he slammed on the brakes a second time.

  He jabbed his elbow into the beast’s face. Razor sharp teeth scraped his skin as it tried to bite him. Reaching down past the deflated airbag, Jarrett retrieved the dagger he kept strapped to his leg.

  Receiving enough punishment, the putrid creature reached for Jarrett with its other hand and scored his neck with razor-like claws as it sought purchase.

  Jarrett allowed the demon to pull him up by his jacket. Swinging his right arm around as he came up, he plunged the wicked blade deep into the demon’s chest. Its mouth fell open in shock just before it disintegrated. Jarrett held tight to the dagger and watched it crumble away.

  The other demon attacked the other side of the car, and Jarrett wasted no time escaping the confines of the SUV.

  He leaped onto the hood, lunged toward the remaining enemy, and tackled it the ground. His dagger dug deep into its heart and struck pavement as the ash like dust replaced the banished creature’s body.

  Rising, Jarrett brushed the dust from himself and flipped the dagger up to look at it. It was the same silver dagger that had almost killed him. Since acquiring it from the witch who stabbed him, it had been a lethal asset. Not for the first time, he admired the craftsmanship.

  A shiver traveled up his spine, and Jarrett knew he wasn’t alone even before he heard the slow clapping behind him. Keeping his back turned, he waited.

  “I liked that. Itss fun to watch,” something hissed.

  Jarrett knew without looking that it was no more than 30 feet away. He sniffed the air and detected three more demons standing there. Worse, he knew one of them by name. “Henifedran.”

  “Hunter,” Henifedran acknowledged. “I missssed you.”

  Turning, Jarrett assessed his enemies carefully. He cursed as he got a good look at the three winged greater-demons. The two on either side of Henifedran were huge, easily twice his own size, and Henifedran, an archdemon, was no slouch either. Plus, Jarrett knew personally how vicious he was. Shrugging it off, he trusted his instincts and waited for his opening.

  “I’m surprised you’re here,” Jarrett said casually. “Haven’t we done this before?”

  “What can I sssay? You’re not the only favorite.”

  The two beside Henifedran stared at Jarrett with hateful malice reflected in their bloodshot eyes, but they remained slightly hesitant. They knew The Hunter’s reputation.

  Henifedran, on the other hand, stood tall, completely confident, and eager. “I have been sssent to collect,” he explained as the vapor of his warm breath swirled around him.

  “Well, you can join the rest of those who’ve tried,” Jarrett replied.

  “Kill him,” Henifedran ordered.

  Opening their wide mouths and gleefully baring their sharp teeth, the two demons advanced.

  Jarrett didn’t move. Instead, he closed his eyes.

  He heard them moving; one step closer, now two, he counted.

  Eyes closed, Jarrett inhaled the cool air, centered himself, and listened to his pumping heart, following the rhythm of it in his mind. One and two. He listened to everything around him, setting its rhythm to his own. One and two, he thought.

  The two demons didn’t quite know what to expect from him. His calm reaction was something they’d never seen. They looked at each other and back to him. Then, all at once, they rushed him. Attacking viciously, they barreled in, hoping to topple him easily.

  Jarrett acted instantly. Ducking, he rolled away from the speeding demon train heading for him, gained his footing, and struck out with his weapon. He scored a solid hit across one of the creature’s arms as its momentum carried it past where he once stood. The grayish beast roared, but Jarrett took no pleasure in the strike. He was not stupid or arrogant enough to believe for one second that the odds were in his favor.

  This time, all three approached more carefully. “Don’t give him room,” Henifedran ordered.

  Jarrett was considering the pros and cons of throwing his dagger at the demon on the left when the sound of screeching tires echoed around them.

  Everyone turned their heads to see another black Tahoe turn the corner leading to where they stood behind the buildings on Burrow Street—everyone except Jarrett. The bright headlights had the three demons hissing and blocking their eyes, and Jarrett seized the opportunity.

  Rushing forward, he threw his dagger at the demon on the left and without waiting to see if his strike was true, tackled the demon on the right. Shouldering the behemoth like an expert linebacker, he drove his enemy back.

  Once the initial shock abated, the demon began to fight back, punishing Jarrett with bruising fists to his ribs and serrated teeth in his shoulder. Jarrett stubbornly held on, using all of his strength. As each strike landed, Jarrett felt his control slip. His eyes burned as they shifted to red, and his skin tingled as black hair began to grow. Jarrett felt his jaw crack as long sharp teeth extended from his mouth, and his face elongated to that of a wolf’s. Still, he tried to hold the change back.

  “Stay in the car!” Cade shouted as he exited.

  “Are you kidding me?” Collett asked.

  “Stay here!” he snapped and ran toward the melee.

  She watched as a particularly wicked looking demon tackled Cade, then she looked over to see Jarrett locked in combat with another while yet a third grabbed at a blade protruding from its neck. She considered Cade’s instruction and hesitated, unsure of what to do.

  Snowflakes fluttered down, landing on the windshield as Collett mentally reviewed all tha
t Jarrett taught them over the last few days. She knew the demon with the knife in its neck wasn’t finished. Surely one that big had to be beheaded or stabbed in the heart. Two against three would be harder than three to three, she concluded. She also remembered the demons were at a disadvantage in the beam of the headlights. Their black eyes were made for seeing in the dark. They hated sunlight, any bright light for that matter.

  Deciding, she leaned over to the driver’s seat and pulled the lever that would engage the bright’s. She pulled her dagger from her boot where Cade tucked it, and she followed him out of the car.

  By this time, Cade was completely engaged in combat. He heard the car door close, and the audible distraction cost him. The demon Henifedran threw him against the brick wall of the building. Mortar and brick cracked under the force.

  “Collett!” he warned as the demon turned toward the new, weaker victim.

  Jarrett heard Cade yell out for her. Even knowing he shouldn’t, Jarrett couldn’t keep himself from looking up from his current predicament. He saw Henifedran advancing on Collett. Cade rushed to stop him, unaware of the other demon, dagger now gone, at his back. All of Jarrett’s predictions were playing out before his eyes.

  The worst of it was, it had distracted him too, and he lost his own advantage over the demon he’d been on the verge of killing. The demon beneath him rolled and landed a solid blow to Jarrett’s muzzle. Blood formed in his mouth as he watched the sneak attack against his brother play out. It was the final straw, and Jarrett lost control. The monster he kept buried within burst forth with frightening speed. Muscles bunched, bones cracked, and the blood in his mouth was replaced by black demon ichor as a wolfish jaw clamped down on the arm holding him in place.

  Collett ducked Henifedran’s first swiping hand and swung around him, seeking the best place to strike. He was huge, and she knew she couldn’t comfortably, or easily, angle to reach his heart with her small frame, never mind reaching his neck.