Conceding with a half laugh and another shake of his head, Jarrett looked to his brother. “So what does he want? A tree? How does that help him?”
“Not just any tree,” Ashley added quietly as she gripped Nate’s hand tightly. “If this is all true, and you factor in Adam and Eve’s choice, Bellig wants The Tree. The tree of knowledge.”
“The guardians,” Tracy added. “We know that guardians exist, right? And that they protect people. I know we don’t understand much at this point, but what if in sending Collett to us, to Jarrett, they were actually—”
“Protecting the tree,” Rederrick finished.
“What happens if he gets it?” James questioned.
“As Del already said, whatever it is, it won’t be good,” Cade promised grimly.
James stood and dropped his military pocket Bible on the table. “So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the Garden of Eden, Cherubim, and a flaming sword which turned every way—”
Lifting a hand to stop James, and pinching the bridge of his nose, Nate said, “So correct me if I’m wrong here, doesn’t that mean it is protected, and we could, I don’t know, sit this one out. I really like breathing, so…”
“He was one of them,” Jarrett pronounced, finally wrapping his mind around what they were saying. “He was supposed to protect the innocent.”
“You have betrayed your purpose,” Cade quoted. “That’s what Collett told him that night on the cliff.”
“The swords!” Tracy exclaimed. “The swords from Collett, supposedly forged from light.”
“Okay. Let’s think about this and put it all in order,” Tracy began.
Ashley helped her along. “The guardians exist, up till now we found out they protect people and use The Powers of Influence in various ways to do it,”
“We know for sure Collett was one of them before Bellig defeated her. We know you two,” Tracy said pointing to Cade and Jarrett, “have divine weapons supposedly forged from light. We also know Bellig, AKA the Norse Chieftain, Niall, was at one time a guardian, until at some point he changed sides.”
“He fell,” James corrected. “Don’t you see? They’re not just warriors like we’ve read about. He’s not simply a being with wild supernatural ability. Bellig was an angel. In the book, they call them guardians, but from what you’ve told us about Collett, she was more like a Guardian Angel. Think about the powers of influence Collett had. Who better to carry the burden of those abilities than an angel? It’s not a matter of simply changing sides. Whatever the reason, Bellig fell. It must be why he hates his name. He hates what it represents. He wants to destroy the tree of knowledge, possibly to change the past. Who knows what he’s thinking, but his plan won’t bode well for any of us.”
“If your theory is right, and he’s a fallen angel,” Nate began with a scowl as he puzzled through it. “Wouldn’t he lose his powers? Aren’t they divine? Who is giving Bellig his power now?”
Jonah stepped forward. “Well if I got this right, and if we’re talking about The Tree, we’re talking God. Not only God but the original fallen angel. “The Devil—Heaven and Hell. I don’t get it. If it is the right tree, why wouldn’t the big man…” Jonah pointed up, “do something to stop this ex-guardian?”
“Maybe he is,” Cade added.
“You mean us,” Tracy stated.
“It’s not so far-fetched,” Cody said meekly from the corner. “Moses, Noah, David tons of people in there did crazy things like this.”
Cade nodded. “Look, I know it’s hard to believe, and I know it looks bad, but think about all the little steps that led us here.” The more the thought sank in the more right it felt to him. “From the beginning, we’ve been heading this direction. Even before you were all born, Jarrett and I have been on the path to this place without even knowing it. Maybe it was even before we were born. We know Collett was there that day and every day after. Why? Collett said, ‘I am Victory.’”
“In French, Collett means victorious,” Delphene added.
Cade closed his eyes let go of a heavy breath. “I’ve been fighting against The Faction and everything they represent for over two and a half centuries. Jarrett was brought into its folds early on and learned vital information we’d never have without that step.” He felt Jarrett’s eyes on him and knew his brother was beginning to believe. “Collett’s connection to us, and finding us in a world with millions of people when she couldn’t even remember who she was. Not to mention, her protection, the dreams, the swords. Why else would some stranger leave such a sword to Jarrett? Why would Collett’s sword stay behind when everything else disappeared? The past, the present, all of it is a part of what we may face here. Jenny, Jeffery,” he swallowed hard, “Collett. Their sacrifice has to mean something.”
“It does mean something,” Rederrick agreed. “I’m tired. I want to put him down and end his chances of getting up again.”
“But does it mean what we think it means? Are we really meant to stop him?” Ashley queried.
“Who else?” Jarrett answered. “It’s not like people are going to line up.”
Cynda put her hand on Ashley’s arm. “Ramee, she told me that sometimes we have to work and sacrifice for the end result to see the value of it.”
Nate considered. “So out of all the beings in the world, we’re it? Just us, to stop a crazy power-mad ex-guardian from discovering the tree of knowledge and tearing apart the world as we know it.”
“I know how you feel. Just the fact that you are one of the chosen gives me doubt,” Jarrett retorted with a raised brow and a crooked grin.
Nate laughed at his quick comeback. “All right, I’m in. Let’s go, cowboy.”
“Hold on,” Cade ordered. “We have to be smart. From what we saw, we’re severely outnumbered. Even if we could assemble the entire fighting force of The Brotherhood, we would still be looking at this with odds of twenty to one. We have to consider this carefully.”
“Twenty to one?” Ashley mouthed.
“At least,” Jarrett agreed. “Those are demons mostly, and men with black hearts. On the demon count alone it will feel more like thirty to one. We won’t be able to surprise them either. Any direction we come from will reveal us quickly.”
Looking at Tracy, Jonah shook his head. “I must be crazy. I would have been better off if I believed y’all and your first story. Drug dealers sound pretty good right now.”
Tracy smirked. “Maybe, but this is more interesting.”
“The company ain’t bad either,” he replied, grabbing ahold of her hand.
Cody raised his hand. “I don’t mean to be the negative nelly, but how exactly are we gonna do this at odds of twenty to one?”
“We need help, a lot of help, and we’ll have to be smarter,” Rederrick said.
“We’ll assemble as many in The Brotherhood as we can, and we have to do it fast. It’s the only way,” Cynda agreed.
“Before we gather them up, they have a right to know what we’re facing here,” Cade insisted.
“We have to take out Bellig at any cost,” Jarrett added. “He’s the key. Without him, the demon’s will fall to chaos, and the humans will likely run.”
Shaking his pencil back and forth, James tried to think of ideas. “We won’t all walk away from this,” he observed seriously while committing himself to the task at the same time.
“No, probably not, but if we have faith, we can stop him once and for all,” Cade proclaimed. “If it’s true that we’re the only thing standing between him and that tree, we have to believe that we have the power to defeat him.”
Cody met his golden gaze with a fearful expression. “That’s a lot of faith.”
Delphene, almost fully recovered, put a hand on his shoulder and winking, she smiled almost gleefully. “Ah, Chère, we will have the high ground.”
Decided on their course of action, the circle of friends used every second they had to create and execute a new plan. Opinions were added, thoughts considered, and possibilities created. C
ynda, Tracy, and Ashley worked tirelessly to create an incantation that could help transport everyone to Bellig’s location. Any and all tools for war available, including a light weight prototype flak jackets, grenade launchers, communication devices, and even first aid supplies, were collected. Calls were made, and magic from every source available was pulled together to bring in as many troops as they could.
By the next day, as the moon reached its peak in the desert sky, over two hundred Brotherhood allies assembled for battle. Every person they gathered understood the grim reality of the surmountable odds they were facing, but the Brotherhood allies also understood they were the only thing standing between Bellig and his dark plan.
Chapter 37
Did it work?” Cody asked Tracy and Jonah when they arrived behind the others.
“It worked,” Jarrett replied grimly. “I can feel him.”
“So what now?” Nate questioned as they gained their bearings.
Jarrett grinned and looked to Delphene.
Her eyes lit eagerly. “After you, Wolf. I’m still one ahead in the count, it’s only fair to give you a chance.”
He raised a brow and laughing she took off running over the rise.
As the brothers followed her, Jarrett mumbled, “That woman—”
“Just go with it,” Cade offered. “She’ll win in the end.”
“Brother, I think she already has.”
Together the trio scanned the desert for any sign of their quarry. They had a general direction, and with their friends waiting behind, the lycans were able to use their full speed. It didn’t take long before they came upon their enemy.
The horrid stench and the noise made it easy. The chaotic creatures couldn’t possibly hide their presence with a group this large. A single demon could be stealthy, a horde of them was another story. Bloodlust and wicked behaviors created savage results when dealing with them in large numbers. Demons rarely went long without fighting or killing and lumped together, they often acted on their instinctual urges.
Even though they had seen the satellite images, reality slammed home when the three lycans peered over the top of the last dune. The landscape gave an ominous impression. The ground was littered with sharp, jagged rocks peeking out of the loose and falling sands. A darker mountain range surrounded the massive army below and created a natural fortress wall on the opposite side. The back landscape appeared as watch towers, standing guard over the evil masses. The filtering edge of moonlight added dark shadows, making the scene more dismal and intimidating.
Stunned by the reality of the sight, Delphene said to Cade, “Coo-Wee, Chère. That’s no small army.”
“They're not all demon’s either,” Jarrett pointed out.
Observing the scene, Cade agreed. “So many humans. Look at them. I don’t understand it.”
“Power, greed, and brutal force,” Jarrett mumbled. “He’s good at bringing out all three when he wants something.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Cade said with resolve. Turning he slid down the loose sand to the bottom of the rise. “We have a plan, and I won’t turn back now.”
Following him, Delphene pointed out, “James is right, we can’t all come back from this. Two hundred is not even a drop in that bucket of evil.”
“I know,” Cade said with sad reality of it weighing on him.
“We could just go in on our own, the three of us,” Jarrett suggested.
“We wouldn’t get far,” Cade said as he headed back to their gathered forces.
“I know,” Jarrett said with a crooked grin.
Grinning back, Cade tilted his head up to see stars as he walked. “I believe in this war. I believe in mankind. So does every person that came here with us.” He turned to his brother. “So do you.”
Jarrett angled his head in thought. A flash of memory came to him, and the words from their first argument flooded back. Cade had told him almost the same thing during the Civil War. “This time you’re right,” Jarrett agreed. “Besides, there are worse ways to die.”
“Yeah,” Cade quipped as they neared their friends, “That cookie might have been poisoned after all.”
Jarrett laughed, and Delphene, shaking her head in amusement, left them to talk to Cynda. Jarrett pulled Cade to a stop. “I may never be like you, Cade, but I’m a better man because of you.”
“Jarrett—”
“Take a good look out there, Brother. These people are here for you. They’re here because of you. I don’t know what will happen in the next few hours, but I do know right now, whether I live or die, I’m proud to stand with you.”
Grabbing his brother’s arm at the elbow, in a warrior's firm grip, Cade said, “You were always a good man, and you will be long after this is over. There's no other man I would want more by my side.”
Jarrett held the grip for a couple more seconds and inclined his head in respect. Then pulling away, he slipped his dark glasses on and said, “Let’s go kill us a demon lord.”
Of course Bellig had known they were coming. His informants had told him about the gathering force. Bellig also understood the importance of the fact that Victor had not said a word. Sensing a change in the air, the devil’s pawn looked up from the work below him. The demons slaved tirelessly, excavating the earth to find what he’d spent centuries seeking.
Across the shifting grains of sands, Bellig saw the small group standing at the top of a hill not five-hundred yards away. The picture of their pitiful army amused him. At the head of it were Cade and Jarrett, leading the humans to their ultimate end. “It is easier when they come begging to die,” Bellig told Victor, and watched the small man look down at his feet. A smile tilted at the edges of his mouth. “Keep digging. Make sure this group doesn’t stop or I’ll fill that hole with your blood.”
“Yes, My Lord,” Victor replied.
Making his way to the edge of the encampment, Bellig mentally called several of his demons to form up and follow him. As he walked to meet the enemy, he manifested his armor, and a black mist swirled about him. As the mist fell to the earth and crawled across the ground the accursed, opaque vestments adorned with wicked, scrolling runes covered his body. With his evil, red-bladed sword sheathed on his back, Bellig found comfort and power in the weight of his battle gear.
His eerie gray orbs gleamed weirdly with pleasure, and the dimple on his left cheek seemed out of place with the villainous expression he wore. His smile was not one of joy or even excitement, it was purely evil.
Excited to display his full glory, Bellig stretched out his arms and manifested powerful wings. Extending them out, they snapped as he used them to lift from the ground. For this initial encounter, he wanted to be above them. He wanted them to know he was better than them.
“What did you think, Hunter?” He asked as he eerily glided over the ground. “Did you truly believe you had a chance to defeat me? Did you honestly hope to come here to this place—the place in which my new reign will begin, with my old weapon, challenge me, and overcome my army?”
Stopping their march with an upraised hand, Jarrett said nothing in reply, only the tick in his cheek gave away his anger.
Amused, Bellig chuckled. “You do believe that, don’t you? I suppose I cannot blame you for trying. You have ever been a fighter. It’s what I liked best about you. You would have reconsidered had you known the strength of my true power.”
“I know which dark power enslaves you,” Jarrett taunted.
Bellig glided back and landed in front of the gathering army he had amassed for his cause. “You have no place here, my son. After all, why would you turn on the man who loved you and raised you?”
“He lies. He doesn’t own you, he never did,” Cade reminded quietly.
“I’m glad you came for me. At the warehouse,” Jarrett told Cade in an equally hushed tone, “I never told you thanks.”
Seeing they would not rise to the bait, Bellig seethed and tried a different tactic. He enhanced his voice so the whole horde could hear. “I give y
ou The Hunter and the leader of The Brotherhood. The ones you hate most of all. Both seek your deaths. What say you?” The creatures shouted and hooted in excitment.
Cade smiled at Bellig’s rant, and continued to keep their conversation personal. “I’m glad I didn’t kill you in the woods.”
Jarrett turned his head and laughed. “You and me both.”
“It would have been harder without you.”
“Only a little,” Jarrett teased.
“Your lead,” Cade offered.
Refusing to give the power-mad man his full attention just yet, Jarrett drew his sword from its scabbard and stared at the divine symbols on it. The demons who saw it slide free became agitated and excited all at the same time.
Jarrett lifted a brow at their reaction. “You may be right, Bellig—” The demon lord’s face pinched at the hard use of his guardian name, and seeing it out of the corner of his eye, satisfaction coursed through Jarrett. “I may not have come, but he would have,” he taunted as he tilted his head in Cade’s direction. Finally pulling his attention away from the sword, Jarrett glared at his old master. “I’ll be honest, he’s the one you should have been afraid of all along.”
With resolve in his golden eyes, Cade stepped closer to Jarrett, and following his brother’s example, drew Collett’s sword. The metal glinted even though the sun was all but gone. More shrieks and hollers reverberated off the rocky towers, and the sand dune behind them sucked up the sound waves like a sponge. The demons knew the marked weapons for what they were and knew what it meant to be struck with them.
“You see, Bellig,” Jarrett shouted, emphasizing his name again. “My brother figures you owe him, and I am here to ensure you pay up. After all, that’s what you trained me for. You taught me one thing right. Sooner or later everyone crosses the line and must pay the price.”
“It is you who has crossed the point of no return, Hunter. You won’t walk away this time. You no longer entertain me.”
“I may not live through this…” Jarrett shrugged as if it didn’t matter, and twisting his sword with expert skill, he adopted a fighting stance. “But neither will you.”
The Truth of Victory: A Powers of Influence Novel Page 34