“We have to stop meeting like this,” Cade teased with a goofy grin.
She laughed and shifted her attention to Jarrett, who held a pained expression on his face. She knew Jarrett had surmised the hard reality Cade’s destiny. The happiness she felt a second before was replaced by guilt as she saw his eyes dart back to Cade.
”He’s not coming back,” Jarrett realized as he tried to process the reality of it.
“No, Jarrett,” Ramee said as she walked closer to him. “He cannot go back. At least not like he was before.”
“You died then?” Jarrett said almost accusingly.
“I didn’t mean—I wouldn’t—I wanted—” Not sure what to say, Cade stumbled over the words.
Collett put her hand on Jarrett’s arm. “It’s not death, only a change in venue.”
“You are to be given a choice," Haki explained. "A chance to continue protecting the innocent—and even those who are not so innocent."
"I don't understand," Cade said.
"We as Guardians all came to be after our chance for mortal existence. As a valiant warrior among men, you are to be given the option of taking Bellig's mantle. You will be Alexander, the defender of man, who offers his strength to all.” Haki finished with a regal bow to Cade.
Cade met Collett's eyes. "You want me to be a Guardian?"
Reaching up, she touched his cheek. “You have always been a Guardian. Your path in life has been leading you here for a long time now, but the choice is yours to make.”
“If I don’t, what happens then?”
“Then it will be a different venue for you,” Ramee told him. “A peaceful one without war and pain, but you cannot go back to who you were. You have grown as much as possible in that life.”
Cade looked at his brother. “Will he forget me?”
“No,” Haki promised. “There is no magic capable of breaking the bond you share, and if that were not so I would break every rule to ensure it.”
Stepping forward, Ramee tried to explain. “We wipe the images of ourselves from people’s minds to protect them and us at the same time. Often our aide comes in miraculous feats. If remembered precisely, those acts could reshape the balance.”
Collett glanced to Jarrett. “Had you remembered me from your boyhood, or at least the image of what I looked like, you never would have accepted my help after that first day. If people remember us and the things we can do, many would stop trying to manage their own lives and instead wait for us to fix their every problem. That is no worse than what Bellig tried to do—it would cripple them.”
“What about the others? Will they forget?” Jarrett asked firmly. “They fought and bled side by side with you.”
“Some did more than bleed,” Haki said sadly as he thought of Cynda, Rederrick, and the other fourteen members of The Brotherhood that left their mortal coil. While he knew they would have peace and proceed to a better place, Haki understood the families still living would feel the pain of loss and his heart broke for them.
“What about them? What happens a month from now, a year? Will this fade in their minds?” Jarrett demanded again.
“No, Jarrett, I give you my word none shall forget this day unless they wish to. In coming to our aide and restoring balance, they have earned the right to remember the story. Not all miracles are lost. Sometimes they offer valuable lessons.” He offered them a knowing grin, “Some are even recorded in books.”
“I think he’s talking about-” Cade started to explain.
Jarrett waved him away with a wry smile, “I got it thanks.”
Haki continued more seriously, “We have the ability help retain the memories anytime we feel it an important element in a mortal’s life. Should you choose to join us, Jarrett will know with certainty who you are.”
The brothers glanced at each other again, each seeking the other’s opinion. Jarrett, in typical fashion, lifted a shoulder as if what was happening was unremarkable. “You’re not a fool, Cade. You’d have the chance to keep making a difference, and you like that kind of thing. Plus, there’s Collett, I’m sure being with her is part of the deal. If you turn her down, I’d rethink my first comment.”
Collett, who’d yet to let go of Cade, smiled and laid her head on his chest. Cade drew her in closer, and adopting Jarrett’s nonchalance, lifted his brow. “I suppose I have to agree, I’m not a fool.”
“Just so you know, Alexander, I’m telling the others about your new name. We’re gonna have a good laugh about it. Especially Nate. Can’t wait to hear what he comes up with.”
Cade moved away from Collett and offered Jarrett his hand. “You do that. Maybe he’ll quit calling you cowboy.” Jarrett gripped the proffered hand firmly at the elbow and Cade did the same as he yanked Jarrett in for hard hug. “Take care of them. Don’t let Rederrick’s Brotherhood fall.”
Jarrett nodded and stepped back. “Besides, if I screw things up, you and Collett can always come fix it and erase my memory—then I still get the credit—” He shrugged. “I haven’t reached selflessness yet.”
Twin grins spread across their faces.
“Come, Jarrett,” Haki offered. “I’ll take you back to the others. They will need you now.”
Jarrett gave Cade a final tight nod and let go of his hand. Collett stepped up and kissed his cheek. “Be careful and promise you’ll find happiness.”
“I’ll work on it.”
“I’ll check in on you,” She promised.
Jarrett offered her a tight nod as Haki whisked him away without any further preamble, and without his brother. The two men reappeared in the desert. Whatever Haki did to keep the scene frozen was still in effect. The sky was slightly lighter, and Jarrett understood the Guardian hadn’t stopped time.
Scanning the area, Jarrett’s expression turned grim as he saw the scars of scorched and blackened earth. The stain of the demons was still present in the ashes and blood of their remains. There were bodies too, and among them, Jarrett saw both the half-demons and their human allies. He felt the tick in his jaw. “How many of them will want to forget?” Jarrett asked, thinking about Haki’s promise.
Haki looked about the men and women who fought. “Thirty-two,” he said honestly.
Jarrett nodded. “Sometimes it seems easier, doesn’t it? When you forget you don’t have to feel it.”
“But you’ve learned, haven’t you? You know the value is not in the pain of loss, but in the memory of the lessons.”
“Yeah,” Jarrett said as he saw the still forms of new friends. Nate bent over Ashley, who lay in the sand lifting her head for the water he offered. James sat near his parent’s bodies, his knees drawn up and his head resting upon them as he dealt with the cold reality of their deaths. Cody stood by him, a hand frozen in place on his new friend’s shoulder. In a poetic pose, any artist would kill to capture, Jonah’s still form cradled Tracy in his arms as he wiped tears on her dirty cheeks.
“It will be hard.”
“Yes, for a while,” Haki agreed.
“What do I tell them? What do I tell other people?” Jarrett wondered aloud.
Haki patted his shoulder. “Follow your instincts. It’s my favorite part about you.”
“Why did you let me see? Why take me with Cade? My instincts tell me that’s not the normal way it’s done.”
“No, but every circumstance is different, every person is different. You were as important to this battle as he was. You will be important for the battles to come.”
Staring at Haki, Jarrett thought about it for a second. “But I’m not ready to be where he is.”
“No, you're not. And why should you be? There is still a lot for you here, Hunter,” he replied kindly. “I told you, the bond between you and Cade is unbreakable. Cherish that knowledge. It is a rare thing between brothers. I don’t expect Cade will stay away long. He’ll be watching. We all will.”
Jarrett saw his sword in the sand and bending down retrieved it. “It was Bellig’s, but you gave it to me?”
&
nbsp; “Yes.”
“Why?”
“It is a sword of light. A weapon that not only banishes demons but destroys their essence. In the hands of a Guardian, it can do a great many things, except destroy another Guardian.”
Jarrett scowled confused.
“Bellig was one of us and we cannot kill our own. It is why both he and Collett recovered after their battles. Regardless of his choices later, he was once a Guardian and could have turned from his chosen path right up until the end. But the Great Opposer filled him with darkness. In the end that was the path he wanted more. He was a formidable foe. Only a sword of light could truly hurt him, but to defeat him it could not be wielded by any one of us. For we are both made of light.”
“Collett’s sword for Cade—” Jarrett began.
Haki nodded. “Who better to defeat him than those born of light and dark? Who better to wield the sword of Victory than her right hand? Who better to wield the sword of Strength than The Demon Hunter who conquered the greatest of all demons?
“Which demon is that? Henifedran?”
Haki laughed, “No. I speak of the most cunning and devious of all demons. I speak of the demon we create within. The one that robs us of joy, pushes aside family and questions our self-worth.”
Humbled, Jarrett stared down at the divine weapon and offered it to Haki. “If it is the sword for Strength, it belongs to Cade now.”
“Are you not strong too? Will you no longer hunt demons?”
“Are they all gone?” Jarrett said sarcastically.
“No, they will exist until the end of all things.”
“Then I think you know my answer?”
Haki gestured for him to keep the ancient sword. “Who better to wield a blade to destroy demons than The Demon Hunter? Keep the sword, my friend, you have earned it this day and in the days before. You will likely earn it ten times over in the days yet to come.”
Jarrett looked at the symbol etched in the silver metal. He ran the pad of his finger over the marking. “And this?"
“So full of questions.”
Jarrett lifted a brow. “Consider it part of my growth.”
Haki smiled. “A symbol of the Guardians. Mankind calls them Powers of Influence. With all four we provide hope to all. As you will with that sword.”
“Nia–Bellig called you Justice.”
“I am only one piece of a larger puzzle. My hand is guided to enact Justice or part of it at least. I ensure consequence is carried out when necessary.”
“Is that what your name means? Collett means Victory.”
“Yes,” answered Haki.
“It was you in Texas. You had to punish Collett and Bellig, people you respected,” Jarrett correctly observed.
“There are those instincts,” Haki said with a wink. “Yes, I carried out their punishments—theirs and many others in my existence. And no, before you ask, not only for Guardians but men too.”
Jarrett scoffed and joked cynically, “How’d you get stuck with that one? Seems that’d be like the worst job ever.”
Haki pinned him with a compassionate look. “Who better to understand the importance and value of justice and the balance of it more than the first man ever murdered? Murdered because of his brother’s petty jealousy no less.”
It took Jarrett a second to comprehend what Haki was confessing. His eyes widened.
Haki kissed his fingers, touched them to his brow and finished the strange salute with a small bow, and then he disappeared before Jarrett could say another word.
The surrounding stillness erupted into sounds from the post battle survivors as the magic holding them frozen was released. Among the noise, Jarrett heard the weeping and groaning from those suffering. Shaking away the astounding revelations, he went to his friends to help them pick up the pieces.
Epilogue
Picking up the Waterford goblet that was once her mother’s, Tracy wiped at a small spot. She wanted everything to be perfect. Setting it back down, she walked around the dining table once more to make sure it was.
“I wondered where you went off to,” Jonah said from the doorway.
“I just wanted to check one more time.”
He approached her from behind and wrapped his arms around her tightly. She leaned back into him. “It’s all perfect,” he assured her.
Hearing little feet running toward them, he smiled. “What do you think, Collett? Did she do a good job on the table?”
“Mommy always does a good job. It looks pretty.”
Jonah released Tracy, and bending down scooped up their little four year old.
“Can we eat now, Daddy?”
“Soon baby, we have to wait for Aunt Ashley and Uncle James.”
“And Uncle Jarrett.”
“And Uncle Jarrett,” Tracy assured, tapping her little nose playfully.
“Hello, hello, anybody home?” came Ashley’s voice from down the hall toward the entry.
“Aunt Ashley!” Collett exclaimed and wriggled down from her father’s arms.
“Go on now, get your sister, and see your cousin.”
Jonah met Tracy’s eyes playfully. “Well, Mrs. Hall, are you ready for this crowd again?”
She smiled. “I look forward to every visit.”
Hand in hand, they met their first guests in the entry way. Ashley and Tracy exchanged hugs and giggles at seeing each other, while Nate and Jonah settled with shaking hands and manly shoulder pats.
“Where’s Cynda?” Tracy questioned, looking for her niece who was about the same age as Collett.
“Oh, she ran off with Collett and Essie.”
Nate helped Ashley with her coat and she looked eagerly to Tracy. “James shouldn’t be far behind me. He was picking Amanda up from the airport when I spoke to him.”
“I can’t believe he’s finally getting married,” Tracy said.
“For a while there I thought he would marry his gadgets,” Nate teased.
“I know you did, and I have the hundred bucks from our bet to prove it,” Jonah said with a laugh.
“Never been a good gambler,” Nate said with a goofy grin. “By the way, congrats on the promotion, Captain.”
“Thanks, but it was really about logistical sense. With my captain retiring he advocated for me to take his place. Felt like with my connections to our Brotherhood I could keep things controlled.”
“Makes sense,” Nate agreed. “You are pretty much in charge of it these days.”
“No more than you are,” Jonah assured him. “Setting it up into different cells was a good idea on James’s part.”
“It does make it easier to keep our ears to the ground,” Nate agreed. “How’s Cody handling the new branch in New York, since Jarrett hangs his hat in The Big Easy?”
“He likes the club but struggles with the crowds,” Jonah replied.
Ashley dropped her keys and moaned in frustration. Tracy laughed. “I got it. You’re too pregnant to be bending. How many weeks is it now?”
Her sister rubbed her swollen belly. “About three is all. And this little man is making me aware of his need to be free every minute.”
“Well then, let’s go sit down while we wait for the others.”
Fifteen minutes later, James and his fiancée, Amanda, arrived. Greetings, hugs, and a few tickles for the three girls were exchanged.
“He is coming, right?” James questioned.
“He said he was,” Tracy assured. “He said he had some news he needed to share.”
“Do you think….” Ashley began.
“Are you kidding?” Nate said skeptically.
Jonah smiled. “I feel another bet coming on.”
“It could be Brotherhood news,” James offered.
Tracy shook her head. “No, it didn’t feel that way. It sounded personal, not serious.”
“Maybe they finally decided to settle down,” Ashley said.
Nate smiled. “I can see the book title now, The Cowboy and the French Maid.”
“You d
o know if Del hears you call her a French maid she may take you out, and painfully,” James reminded him.
“It’d be worth it. Anyway I say the big man won’t do it. If you haven't tied yourself down in nearly three centuries, why bother?”
“Is that your wager then?” Jonah said slyly.
Nate considered. “Yeah, that’s my wager.”
Ashley shook her head. “He’ll never learn. You’d think a happily married man would get it.”
“Well now, here’s your chance to find out. I felt the buzz on my phone for the perimeter. They’re here,” Jonah told him.
“Girls!” Tracy called up the stairs. “Uncle Jarrett is here.” Little feet and big smiles ran down the stairs. Collett and Cynda made it first with a toddling two-year-old Essie behind them.
Tracy picked her up, taking her the rest of the way as Jarrett and Del entered.
“Unc Arrett!” Essie exclaimed in her tiny voice.
“Yes, Uncle Jarrett,” Tracy agreed, kissing her youngest daughter’s cheek as she squirmed to get down. She set her on the floor and Essie ran to him.
After putting his bag down, Jarrett scooped Essie up and threw her in the air, laughing along with her when she squealed in delight. The other two girls pulled at his legs begging to be next, and he didn’t disappoint them.
As she followed the procession into the parlor Tracy thought about Jarrett’s transformation these last years. Getting married and maybe having a few kids didn’t seem as farfetched as it once had.
She found Jonah by James, and made her way over to him as Jarrett and Delphene doted on the girls. Placing her little hands on Jarrett’s scruffy cheeks, little Collett exclaimed, “Uncle Jarrett, it’s a baby!”
Shocked, wide eyes turned to focus on the couple and Delphene laughed out loud. “I told you, mon loup. She would know right away. You cannot keep secrets from ce ange.”
“What? A baby?” James questioned with a snarky grin.
“Not a baby man. You have no idea what you’re in for” Nate said sarcastically, and Ashley punched him.
“Wait now—” Jarrett said.
The Truth of Victory: A Powers of Influence Novel Page 40