The Price of Power (The Price of Secrets Series Book 2)

by Ashley Drake

  “Hannah, honey, he was possessed. That black stuff coming out of him was a demon.”

  I lost it. My body and mind had taken as much as it could stand. I felt my body start to shut down. Daniel scooped me up in his arms and got me out of the bathroom and into the passenger seat of my little bug.

  We rode without saying a word. My adrenaline rush was gone and I was left with nothing but numbness. One of my worst fears, being raped, had just almost happened to me.

  Almost being the key word, Hannah. Your warrior saved you. This will not be an easy fight, you must stay strong.

  I ignored her, whoever she was. She was right about Daniel though, he did look like a warrior standing there in the doorway moving that man with only his mind.

  I felt the car come to a complete stop, but I couldn’t make myself focus, or care, to see where we were. A few minutes later I heard my door open and felt Daniel undo my seatbelt, then lift me up into his arms again.

  “It’s okay, you’re safe. I’ve got you and I won’t let anything happen to you.”

  That brought me out of my fog just enough to see that we were back at the park and Daniel had laid out the blanket again. In one swift motion he sat down with me still in his arms. I must have lost those extra five pounds for him to be able to do that. Any other circumstance I would have laughed and been impressed by his strength. All I could do right now was to be thankful for it.

  Daniel took one of the water bottles that my mom gave us and poured it over some napkins, that he must have gotten out of the glove compartment, and began to wipe the tear stains from my face. It made me feel like a child, but at the same time his tender touch was soothing. He pulled up the sleeves of my sweater to inspect my arms. He lightly kissed where bruises had already started to form.

  “Hannah, I’m so sorry. I should have gotten to you faster. I thought I heard you call out to me in my head, but I realized I had my necklace on so I dismissed it. When I heard you the second time I went to find you.” His hold on me tightened. “If he had… if I hadn’t got there in time, I would have never forgiven myself.” He laid his cheek on the top of my head and started rocking us from side to side.

  I raised my head to look into his deep chocolate eyes. There was so much turmoil in them.

  It was a mixture of love, guilt, and fury. I lightly ran my finger from his temple, across his high cheekbones, down to outline his perfect full lips.

  “My warrior.” I whispered and felt my cheeks flush at his puzzled expression. Instead of explaining, I leaned in for a kiss. It was filled with such emotion, so sweet, so healing. Just being with Daniel like this has washed away all the nastiness and filth of that man. I felt clean and… whole again.

  I reluctantly released his soft lips but kept my arms around him. “Thank you for saving me. You have absolutely nothing to be sorry for.” He started to protest. “Don’t. You were not supposed to prevent the confrontation. However, you did stop the worst from happening. I love you with all of my heart, and now I have another reason as to why I do- You are my hero.”

  We sat there for awhile, giving both of us time to cope with what happened.

  Wanting to lighten the mood to make us both feel better, I squeezed his bicep. “Just how strong are you? You carried me like it was nothing.”

  Following my lead, he released a deep, long sigh. Knowing ‘normal’ is what I needed, he let his dimples shine and struck a bodybuilder pose with his free arm. “Well, ya know, I’ve been working out.”

  ...Mom cried and checked me out from head to toe. Dad hugged me tight yet stayed very quiet. He asked to talk to Daniel alone in his study. I don’t know what was said but I did see him shake Daniel’s hand and give him a bro hug, so at least I know he wasn’t blaming Daniel for what happened.

  I’m pretty sure I won’t be able to go anywhere alone for awhile, but I’m totally fine with that. I will however complain about it for show. Omg Jaycee, I thought she was going to burn my house down when we told her what happened! She was so full of anger that every candle, lighter, and the fireplace went a blaze. I tried to calm her down while Mom, Dad, and Daniel hurried around putting out all the mini fires. When Mom and Dad went into the kitchen to heat up the homemade soup for us I had a chance to go over everything that happened in more detail. The horrific bathroom scene did leave me with a couple clues: 1. The demon can hurt me, but for some glorious reason it can’t kill me. But I’m not sure yet as to why cause he sure looked capable enough. 2. He told me that I have been warned, so it must be the thing that was at Megan’s house. Which means she has a demon for a roommate. I decided to wait until tomorrow to tell Jaycee about Oganatoga and the crystal. I was just too exhausted to go into it tonight. On top of everything else, I have to worry about tomorrow. Daniel told me that he would totally understand if I didn’t want to go to his family’s birthday celebration after all that has happened. I told him right back that there was no way I would bail out on him. As much as I have secretly complained about having dinner with his parents, I still want to be there for him.

  Chapter 8

  Strewn across my bed, my desk, and my floor were clothes rejects. They were either too fancy, too boring, too slutty, too ‘churchy’, or just plain didn’t look good on me. I have to make a good impression on Daniel’s parents today. He has already called me twice and text me seven times since he left my house last night to check on me and to make sure I still want to do this today. He is so caring and worried about me, I have to make sure it turns out great for him.

  “Moooom! Will you please come help me?”

  I heard her sigh from all the way in the kitchen. It was followed by the sound of a chair scooted across the floor and then foot steps. She showed up in my doorway with a cup of coffee in her hand.

  “Is that for me?”

  “Ha, get your own. This is mine.” She looked around my room. “Hannah Marie Price, look at this room, it’s a mess.”

  “I’ll clean it up later I promise, but right now please help me pick out something.” I sat down on the edge of my bed and ran my fingers through my long, thick, curly hair. Well, I didn’t ‘run my fingers’ through it because knots kept stopping me. I despise it. Mom says I will realize one day how lucky I am to have this head of hair, but I’m not buying it. “You’re a mom. Pick out an outfit a mom would approve of.”

  Mom sat down beside me and started rubbing her hand across my back. “Hannah, are you alright? You had a traumatic experience yesterday, yet you act as if it was no big deal.”

  “I’m fine.” I realized it was a phrase I’ve been using a lot lately. I pinched the bridge of my nose, feeling a headache coming on. “No, that’s a lie, I’m not fine. I’m scared to death that it will try it again. I had a horrible dream last night that Daniel never came to my rescue and… well, you know.” Mom didn’t respond, she knew I had more to let out.

  “While it was happening my mind was racing with a hundred different thoughts. Like how I had to get out of there, or how would I tell you and Dad and how it would break your heart.”

  Tears ran down Mom’s cheeks, but she stayed strong for me.

  “How I couldn’t believe that was going to be my first experience with sex. I’ve pictured what my first time would be like; so romantic, and Daniel would be sweet about me being nervous.” I stopped, afraid that I had said too much. “I know the Bible says to wait until marriage, and I really do plan on waiting, but I do think about it. I can’t look you in the eyes and give you my word that that’s how it will play out. I can only promise you that I will try my best.”

  Mom waited to see if I was done before speaking. “First of all, if you had been raped yesterday, that would not have been your first experience with sex. Rape is not about sex, it’s about power and control trying to be obtained by a coward. In all meaning of the word, you would have still been a virgin. Virginity is something given, not taken. As for you thinking about how it would be like with Daniel, and sex before marriage... I’m going to tell you something.”


  Uh oh, here comes the screaming.

  “I’m telling you this not as a free pass, but to show you that we are only human, and humans make mistakes. No one is perfect.” She took a deep breath. “I’ve always told you that your father was my first and last, and that’s the truth. What I left out was that the night your dad proposed was our first time, not our wedding night. I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with that man, things heated up, and one thing led to another.”

  Ok I can’t believe she didn’t freak out on me, which is great. But now I have this image, that my mom is having, in my head that I’m trying to block before I’m blinded for life! EWWWW!

  Unaware of the fact that I was ready to stick hot iron rods in my eyes, she went on. “It worked out for me, but had we broken up for some reason I would have been devastated. What I’m trying to say is that the thoughts, fantasies, you’re having are perfectly normal, healthy even. All I can ask from you is, if there comes a time that you’re considering having sex, you will just stop and think about it first. Don’t get caught up in the moment only to regret it later.” She pulled me into a hug. “I love you baby girl. Let’s pick you out a mother approved outfit. You know, though, that they will love you no matter what you wear, don’t you?”

  “Maybe, but I need to stack the odds in my favor.”

  Two hours later I was ready. Mom picked out a red, gray and navy plaid skirt with gray leggings and black ballet shoes. For the top we went with a red camisole with a navy cardigan. I left my hair down, only clipping up the sides. I looked very girl-next-doorish.

  Okay Hannah, you look cute, you’re smart, funny, polite, and sweet. You are gonna do just fine. I continued my pep talk as I walked into the kitchen to get my parents opinion. They were standing at the island in a deep conversation about something. My first thought was; oh crap, Mom told him about our sex talk. I quickly dismissed it. Mom wouldn’t do that. I mean come on, my dad doesn’t even like to think I’m old enough to have my period. He turns white as a sheet if I ask him to pick me up some pads or tampons. I can’t imagine what would happen to him if Mom told him that I think about sex.

  They stopped talking as soon as they saw me. Mom put on her fake happy smile that she still thinks fools me. “Hannah you look beautiful. Doesn’t she Avery?”

  Dad barely gave me a glance. “You sure do, kid.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing’s wrong, why do you ask?” Well she gets an ‘A’ for effort.

  “I’m not stupid. You have an overly happy smile plastered on your face and Dad won’t even look at me.” Do not cry, you will ruin your makeup. Where is all this emotion coming from? Then it dawned on me, from them. “Just tell me. I’m picking up on it from both of you.”

  I watched my parents exchange a look, and Dad gave her a nod. “Your dad is wanting to move.” Her pause seemed like it lasted for hours. “Out of state.”

  There was no time for worrying about privacy, I pried my way into Dad’s mind. My heart hurt for him. He is so angry and sad. I can’t be mad at him for wanting to leave, he thinks it would be the best thing to do for his little girl.

  “Here, I want to show you something.” I took off my necklace and made sure I had in my mind the thoughts that I wanted to share before laying my hands into his. “Just open your mind and watch.”

  I showed him the night Samantha’s soul passed over, and the talk with Jaycee’s great Aunt Lucy. I skipped ahead to yesterday at the crystal shop. I was hesitant about the last image- the attack in the restroom. I showed him this only to reassure him that Daniel can protect me.

  “Daddy, it will just follow me wherever I go. At least here I have Jaycee and Daniel to help me.”

  “Dear Lord Hannah, you have told me… I never imagined… you’re only sixteen.”

  “It’s okay, I’m okay. Yes, what I showed you was scary and absolutely crazy but you also saw that we handled it. There’s no getting around the fact that there’s something big getting ready to happen, but if we move I will be alone when it does. We have to stay here.”

  “I don’t like this one bit.”

  “What are we gonna do, call the police? They will have us all committed.” I looked at Mom and could feel she was with me on this, she knows I would be safer here. So I directed my attention back to my dad. “You told me, not too long ago, that you trust me and have faith that I can handle my gift. Then you should have faith that I have been given it for a reason and that I need to see this through. I have to, I don’t think you have a choice in the matter.”

  “What if you get hurt, or worse?”

  “Then it was meant to be, my destiny.”

  “I don’t accept that.”

  “Well I’m not a big fan of that scenario either.” I wrapped my arms around his waist. “My gut is telling me I’m right, Dad. We have to stay here.”

  “My gut is saying the same thing.” He sounded so defeated.

  “I promise to be careful. I will be with Daniel or Jaycee at all times when I’m away from home. All this worrying isn’t good for you. We are going to win this, you’ll see.”

  I wish I was as sure as I sounded.

  We pulled up to Daniel’s house, my old house, and all the confidence that I had built up on the way over here crashed to the pit of my stomach. I have only been in the house one time after we sold it, it was the first day of school when Daniel brought me here to give my diary back to me. The one that I had left it in the back of my closet, behind a loose baseboard and had forgotten to pack it during the move.

  I grew up in this house and it was hard leaving it. I did everything but throw myself in the floor and pitch a fit, although I would have if I had thought it would have worked. Now, as I look at the house, I don’t feel any twinge of loss as I had expected. I like our new home, Mom and Dad had made a good decision. I guess they can be right every once in a while, but you didn’t hear that from me.

  “Are you ready for this?” Daniel asked.

  “As I’ll ever be.”

  He started laughing at my dire strait expression. “They won’t bite, I promise.” He got out and walked around the car to open my door. “The worst that could happen is David getting on your nerves by trying to impress you.” His little brother was the least of my worries.

  Daniel’s mom greeted us at the door. “Hannah, it’s so good to see you! You look lovely.” She smiled warmly.

  “Thank you Mrs. Carver. It’s good to see you too and thank you for inviting me.” I had forgotten just how beautiful she is. She can thank her full blooded Cherokee lineage for her tanned skin tone and silky, long, black, shiny hair, along with perfect cheekbones.

  “Please, call me Sara.” Her real name is Sarasvati, she must have known I would butcher that Cherokee pronunciation just as I had with Oconostota. “Come inside, it’s getting cold out here.”

  Well, here goes nothing.

  Dear diary, Tonight went a million times better than I thought it would! I absolutely love Daniel’s family. I was so afraid, with Daniel’s dad being the chief of staff at the hospital, that I would have to worry about speaking properly and making sure I didn’t put my elbows on the table, but they weren’t uppity at all. Sara told me the story of how they met. She was a young nurse working at the same hospital that Charlie (yes, I’m on first name basis with both of Daniels parents) was doing his internship. They knew pretty quickly that they were meant for each other. It took Sara’s parents a whole lot longer to see it. They wanted Sara to marry someone from the reservation, not some white man from Tennessee. But once Daniel was born, they came around to the idea. It was a very sweet story the way she told it. After supper David kicked my butt in a game of Madden. He is so cute, it must run in the family, along with the perfect dimples Daniel and David got from their dad. Daniel blew out the candles, and we had cake and ice cream for dessert. It was a perfect night. We didn’t even talk about my gift at all. Maybe they are easing me into it, but

  that’s alright. When Danie
l brought me home Mom and Dad were in a much happier place than before I left. So I am taking that as a good sign that Dad will keep his word and we will stay here. My life is going pretty great right now, besides the fact that there are demons after us, a big supernatural battle on it’s way, and trying to help Jaycee get a grip on her powers! But hey, glass half full right? Daniel and Jaycee promised my parents that one of them will be with me at all times, so I’m guessing I will be babysat for few days. It’s a price I’m willing to pay to get to stay in Hudson and to give my Mom and Dad a little piece of mind. Wish me luck!

  Dear Diary, Today was uneventful, which was great. I really wouldn’t be writing at all had it not been for Daniel and Jaycee. They wouldn’t give me one minute of peace today. I’m afraid they took this whole bodyguard thing way too literally. I wonder if this is how the President and his family feel, having the secret service up their butts 24/7. I mean, my morning started off with Daniel on my door step. Which, normally I would be all for it, but he was insisting on driving me to and from school. So, I agreed without any argument. I even thought it was sweet that he wanted to fuss over me. Once at school, though, I felt like the child of divorced parents. Daniel would ‘drop me off’ with Jaycee when I didn’t have a class with him. And then Jaycee would hand me back over to Daniel so he could watch me the rest of the day and drive me home. Oh, wait, it gets better. When he brought me home he noticed that neither of my parents were here, so he came inside and waited until Mom got home. Again, any other situation I would have been thrilled to be home alone with Daniel, but it wasn’t like he was here cause he wanted to be. He was here because he felt it was his duty. Maybe tomorrow they both will relax a little bit.

  Dear Diary, Nope I was wrong. Daniel picked me up again this morning. Jaycee and him both played my shadow all day. But I didn’t mind it so much today, because I kept getting the feeling that I was being watched by someone other than my two appointed bodyguards. At times the hairs on the back of my neck would stand up and there would be a faint ringing in my ears. I didn’t say anything to Daniel or Jaycee since I didn’t have any proof, plus I didn’t want to worry them. So, I have decided to suck it up