by C. B. Haight
“Fine. I don’t like it, but I do see the logic in it.” She met Cade’s eyes. “Take your trip, and while you’re there, spit in his eye if you get the chance. But you get back here, quick.”
“Yes ma’am,” Cade teased and kissed her.
“When did you want to go?” Cynda asked.
“Tonight,” Jarrett replied from where he stood in the corner with a wicked gleam in his eyes. “The night is our time, and I intend to make sure he knows it.”
Delphene came into the living room as Jarrett stripped his shirt from his body. Licking her lips, she admired the view before her.
Not bad, she thought. She noticed a fading scar on his shoulder and knew what it was from. At some point, he’d cut the moon birthmark from his skin. For some unknown reason, all lycanthropes were born marked with a crescent moon. There was a weird irony to it since they didn’t experience their first change until the first full moon around the time they hit puberty. She couldn't fathom how much he must have hated his other half to do that to himself.
Scanning Jarrett, she noted that his green amulet was absent tonight. She also observed that the newest scar on his side looked far better than it had a few days before. Then she couldn’t help but notice the other faded lines and marks in various places proving him to be a true warrior. Each wound would’ve had to come from a silver weapon or magic to leave permanent marks upon their kind.
“Wolf, you ought to stay away from sharp pointy things. It seems they don’t agree with you,” she said to his back.
“Everyone has scars,” he said and shrugged as if it didn’t really matter. “Anyway, are you telling me you don’t have scars? If so, you must still be young. Sooner or later someone will figure out your weakness is silver.”
She laughed, a rich, hearty laugh, at his intended advice. “Oh Chère, a woman never tells her age. But this much I will tell you—to me—you’re only a puppy.”
He turned to face her, surprised.
“Only, I don’t go looking for a fight. I’d much rather enjoy life instead of bashing my way through it.”
“When you’re a demon, the fights come to you,” he replied.
“You’re not, you know,” Collett said, entering the room. And, like Delphene, she couldn’t help but look at the old wounds on Jarrett’s body. She knew his more painful scars couldn’t be seen.
“Not what?” he asked.
“A demon. I know that. I may not have my memories, but I know that.”
Jarrett tipped his head, curious at the conviction in her words. Delphene looked at Collett, her interest also peaked.
“I remember the story. I don’t know how, but I do.”
“What story?” Delphene questioned, knowing Jarrett wouldn’t.
“About the first of your kind,” Collett replied. She moved to the front window and looked out as if the story played out before her very eyes. “I remembered it after I told the story of Nehemiah to Delphene the other day, but it slipped away from me again until you said that.”
Jarrett saw Delphene silently gesture to Cade who entered then.
Lowering her voice, Collett explained, “About 200 years after Nehemiah passed, there was a man—a slave, who fell in love. He had no name, as was often the case, and was merely called slave. He was sold to a cruel master when he reached manhood. The woman he fell in love with was, in fact, his new master’s wife. She was a small, but beautiful, noblewoman of superior birth. There would be no chance for him to ever act upon his love. It was a bitter torment that he endured every day.
“The slave learned that his master was vicious not only to him and other slaves, but to his wife as well. Regardless of her nobility, she was only a woman after all, and her servitude was no less than his. Many times he witnessed or heard his master’s wicked treatment against his wife, and many times the slave wished he could do something to stop it. He was powerless to intervene.
“One night, the Great Opposer came to him and offered him phenomenal strength as well as a chance to kill his master to gain his freedom. Of course, this would come at the standard price—his soul. The slave didn’t know that this would condemn him to life as a demon, but it didn’t matter; he refused anyway, angering the Great Opposer.
“The Opposer did not give up and came to the tortured slave several more times. Each time, he refused, knowing that his soul was the only thing he owned. Instead, he accepted the fate handed to him and went on unhappily.
“More than a year passed this way with the slave obediently serving his master. Several times, he even accepted the blame for things that upset his master just to protect the woman he loved, and he received the biting punishments. He never regretted his choice, even when his drunken master’s whip slipped and hit his eye, forever crippling his vision.
“Everything changed one night when, while nursing such wounds, the slave heard a scream come from his master’s house. Bravely running to investigate, he saw the woman lying dead in a pool of her own blood. He was too late to save her. Looking up, he saw his master holding the knife that killed her. His owner had cut her throat in a drunken rage.
“Powerful anger surged in him, and when he cried out for justice, the Great Opposer, being wise and crafty, whispered in his ear once more.
“‘I will make a deal with you,’ the slave growled.
“Satisfied, and believing another soul his for the taking, the Opposer infused the slave with the strength of a great animal. Using his newfound power, the slave viciously and easily defeated his drunken master.
“After it was over, the Great Opposer appeared before him and demanded the slave’s soul. To his shock, the slave refused. ‘I never agreed you could have my soul. I only said I would make a deal with you, and I will,’ he insisted. ‘My life you may have. Take it from me now, for I have nothing to live for any longer. My soul is mine to keep.’
The Great Opposer was enraged because the man was right. He never had agreed to relinquish his soul, so the Great Opposer lashed out at the slave, cursing him. Inspired by the animalistic strength he’d lent him before, the Opposer turned the slave into an immortal beast that he would struggle to control for the rest of his life.
“‘Your life is mine then. Because you wish to die, I curse you to live forever. Death is not a punishment. It is a release—one you will never experience until I deem it to be so.’
“Thus the first lycanthrope was created—he was a cursed man who wisely refused the Opposer’s design for him. The Great Opposer miscalculated though. Having never relinquished his soul, the slave was able to retain his humanity, and he learned to control what was inside him.”
Collett turned to face the three of them. “So you see, you’re not demons or monsters, but creatures born from desperation, the belief in justice, a strong will, and utter defiance of the Great Opposer.”
Nobody spoke right away, then Jarrett said cynically, “It’s a story, nothing more.”
“Maybe, but it is a good one,” Delphene countered proudly.
Jeffery and Nate entered through the door but stopped almost right away. “Whoa,” said Nate, noting the somber expressions, “did something happen?”
Cade shook his head. “Did you see anything that could be a problem?” He had asked them to go out to sweep a wide perimeter of the grounds to make sure they would be clear to leave soon.
“Nothing. It looks good. Well, except that I think we’re in for another storm before too long. Pretty heavy sky right now, could snow tonight,” Nate replied.
“Snow won’t kill you.”
“Speak for yourself; you’re going to Mexico.”
Cade smiled. “Alright, looks like we’re about ready. Del, you wanna get Cynda and Rederrick from upstairs?”
“Oui, I’ll get them.” Before leaving, Delphene smiled at Collett and spoke to her in French, “True or not, it is a good story, and you remembered it, which is more important, non?”
Returning Dephene’s smile with one of her own, Collett replied, “Oui.”
Butterflies entered her stomach as Collett realized the time for them to leave drew near. “You’ll be careful?” she questioned.
“Oui,” he replied with a cocky grin and a wink, “we’ll be back before you know it.”
“After we’ve done what we need to do,” Jarrett insisted in his familiar brooding tone.
“Please don’t do anything stupid to prove a point. Lead him there, then come back. We’ll have to face him soon enough,” she said mainly for Jarrett’s benefit.
“It’s time then?” Rederrick questioned upon entering.
“It’s time,” Cade replied. Leaning down, he kissed Collett softly. It was a kiss full of promises. As his lips met and gently moved against hers, she felt the warmth of his love spread through her. Pulling away, he rubbed his thumb over her lips. “Before you know it,” he promised again.
“You’d better be. And make sure to bring him back with you,” she told him pointedly looking at Jarrett.
He scrutinized his brother and found her worry for Jarrett did not bother him. He wondered if it meant the three of them were beginning to understand each other. Or maybe he was just becoming more secure. Either way, it was a relief.
He stepped back and looked at his brother and his state of undress. He wore no shirt and no shoes or socks. Lifting a brow, he asked, “You gonna get dressed?”
Shaking his head, The Hunter stoically replied, “I don’t plan on staying this way for long.”
Cade’s grin spread, “Jeffery.”
As previously decided, Jeffery would try and make the jump to Mexico with both of them in tow at once.
Heeding Cade’s call, Jeffery moved forward but hesitated when he approached Jarrett. He was uncomfortable directing him and wondered if it was safe to touch him without getting his head bitten off. Rolling his eyes, Jarrett put a hand on Jeffery’s shoulder. Then Jeffery put his hand on Cade’s arm.
“I love you Cade,” Collett declared.
“I love you too,” he replied softly.
Collett addressed Jarrett with apprehension, “Please be careful.”
He gave her a short, quick nod of his head in reply.
“Here we go,” Jeffery said, motioning with his free arm. In the next instant, they were gone.
We made it! Jeffery could hardly believe it. His insides felt like they were on fire, and his vision took a minute to clear, but looking around, he confirmed that he had managed to take all three of them safely to their destination. “I did it,” Jeffery said aloud.
Dropping his arm, Jarrett said, “Well, we’re not dead.”
Smiling at the sorcerer, Cade agreed, “Yes, you did.” Slapping him on the back, Cade surveyed the surrounding area. There were big, sweeping, leafless trees on either side of a small stream. The trees would likely be nice shade trees in Mexico’s summer heat, but even here, signs of the season changed the landscape. Bare of leaves, the trees gave the area a much more ominous feeling.
Darkness was complete as it was nearing 7 p.m. Not that the lack of light or chilly night temperature affected either brother. It was not nearly as cold as where they’d been, and they rarely were bothered by such things. Jeffery, on the other hand, felt the desert chill and had a difficult time seeing anything. The only light offered was that of the moon which, by a minor stroke of irony, was full tonight.
“It won’t be long before they come knocking. Jeffery, you need to get going while you can,” Cade told him.
“What should I do if you don’t call?” Jeffery asked.
“Find a safe place to hide and stay there,” Jarrett answered.
Cade agreed and said, “If we don’t call, don’t come looking, no matter what Collett tells you.”
“That won’t be easy.”
“There’s something else,” Cade added. “If they attack the cabin, get Collett out of there. I need you to promise me you’ll take her away from any danger.”
Jeffery looked at him, saying nothing.
“I know you think this is about protecting her, and in a way, it is. But it’s also more than that. I know she’s the key to this. Now, more than ever I know it! If things turn on us, you have to get her to a safe place so she can keep running until she remembers. I don’t know what Niall wants with her, but I am not willing to play this by his rules and hand her to him,” he paused, “Even if that means we die protecting her.”
“He’s right. Don’t give Niall anything he wants. If she was ready, it would be different, but keep her away from him for now,” Jarrett added, surprising the other two men with his agreement. Then he added, “Even if you have to leave everyone else there to die, get her out of there.”
Jeffery nodded. “I’ll figure out a way to get her to a safe place, then I’ll help the rest of them.”
“I’m trusting you to protect my wife, Jeffery, the woman I love. Do so with your life,” Cade commanded.
He could only nod again, surprised by the level of Cade’s trust.
“Now, get back to the others.”
“There’s a town not far from here called Nacori Chico. If you get into trouble and need a place to go, you can go there. Juan at the cantina is a good man. He may help you,” Jeffery told them, pointing behind himself to indicate the direction to town.
“Got it,” Cade assured him.
“I’m outta here then.”
Jarrett tilted his head back to take in the bright and full moon in the cloudless sky, and Cade too was drawn to look up, thinking Jeffery was leaving.
“Hey—” Jeffery said before blinking back to the cabin.
Twin pairs of golden animal eyes looked to him and glinted strangely in the natural moonlight. The sight sent a chill down Jeffery’s spine.
“Give ‘em hell,” he said and waved his hand to invoke his magic. A second later, he appeared back at the old house in New Mexico, thinking that he almost felt sorry for the demons that would be sent after the two brothers.
Niall’s eyes popped open. He looked into the fire as satisfaction coursed through him. He’d come to his sanctuary to meditate tonight on a whim after spending the entire day in the desert dealing with greater matters. He’d even resigned himself that he may not find the traitor until he found Collett, but he finally sensed his creation. He felt the full force of Jarrett’s anger run through him and reveled in the sensation. It wasn’t like the quick glimpse he’d had a few days before. This time, Niall was sure. He knew exactly where he’d find his hunter. He rose and manifested himself before Victor, who sat at a computer, no doubt tracing the Williams family members.
Victor glanced up and stood immediately upon seeing his master. “Sir,” he said calmly.
“I found the traitor. You are to take whatever and whomever you deem necessary to deal with him.”
“Yes sir,” he answered as he always did.
“Do not fail me, Victor!” he ordered.
“Consider it done.”
Chapter 26
Cade moved to the tree line, splashed through shallow water, and surveyed his surroundings while stripping his own shirt and removing his heavy boots. “What’re you thinking?” he asked Jarrett, who moved up close and rested against a particularly large tree.
“He’ll send in heavy hitters. He’s frustrated by now. One thing I’ve learned—Niall can be impatient. He portrays himself as calm, but when his superiority is in question, he often acts rashly. He’s too arrogant not to.”
“Impatient enough to come himself?”
Jarrett shook his head. “He likely wants Collett dealt with even more. There’s something about her that bothers him. Finnawick’s behavior indicated that. The price for her was high, and that filthy imp kept all the files to himself until she was dealt with. He also sent in both Jeffery and me at the same time. No, Niall won’t come until he finds her first. He made a mistake in not going after her personally, and he knows it by now.
I’m beneath him, but she’s a threat to him.”
Cade agreed. They didn’t fully understand everything going on, but they did understand the fierce pursuit of Collett to be a sign of desperation by Niall.
“Not to mention, he’s still running The Faction. Babysitting demons and recruiting forces requires his attention. Not even Niall can be everywhere at once. It’s how I was able to get a few people out,” Jarrett added as they scoured the area, looking for a solid place to make their stand.
Cade stopped, “I never suspected—”
“Don’t. I’m not the saint Ashley thinks I am.”
“Perhaps not, but you’re not the monster I thought you were either.”
Jarrett shook his head. “You’re not gonna get all soft now are you?”
Cade laughed, “Nah, I still think you’re a jerk.”
Jarrett felt his lip twitch and raised an eyebrow. They relaxed a bit, sitting in easy silence to wait out their enemy. They didn’t wait long. Within two hours, a familiar scent wafted through the trees to them.
Standing, Cade sniffed the air. “You smell it?”
“Leeches,” Jarrett growled, “They’re coming.”
The two men moved with slow, deliberate ease. By unspoken agreement they’d left their swords behind for this trip. Maybe it was the full moon. Maybe they wanted to send a message. Or maybe it was simply the predator inside, but on this night, each man left New Mexico craving the violence of their natural weapons for this fight.
The first vampiric demon emerged on the left. It came in cautiously toward the them. Another dropped from a tree on the right. Both of the leeches likely saw the golden animal eyes shift to a burning red, and yet the brothers did not advance.
Having seen and sensed the figures moving forward in various places, Jarrett said, “Ten at least, maybe more coming.”
“Not very fair then,” Cade said with a smirk.
“I take the left; you take the right,” Jarrett offered. His blood pumped and body tingled.
“Meet you in the middle,” Cade agreed, feeling identical sensations crawling over him. During the discussion, neither of them diverted their direct attention to the coming force. They didn’t need to. “To the end then,” he declared, referring to their recent pact.
