The group couldn’t tell the truth about Cody being kidnapped or Jeffery being stabbed while invisible. They definitely couldn’t include the parts about demons, magic, and epic battles on high cliffs in California. The story of a drug dealer out for blood was the best they could come up with.
Rederrick quickly schooled Cody on the cover-up when he awoke, and with the boy's gift for manipulation, it was easy enough to pull off their bluff.
Rederrick sighed and said, “They’re still buying it for now. Well, most of them. Cody’s story isn’t hard to believe considering how many kids get pulled into drugs and how often dealers act against them. Though, Detective Hall might be a problem. He’s still digging.”
“Even with the chief warning him off?”
“I think, partly in spite of it. I gotta give the guy credit. The detective's noticed the pieces don’t fit, and I respect him for wanting the truth. Only a good cop would.”
“Can you trust him? Should we bring him into The Brotherhood?”
“I haven’t decided yet. There’s still time for that,” he replied.
Cynda nodded. “I spoke to Tracy last night and again today. She’ll be coming home for a while.”
“Really?”
“Going home after we brought her here for so long wasn’t easy. Her boyfriend broke up with her. She’s discouraged but wouldn’t go into details. I think it was pretty serious with this boy, but Tracy wouldn’t tell him about herself.”
“It couldn’t have been serious enough then. And all the better I say.”
“It was serious enough to hurt,” Cynda admonished. She couldn't help wondering if maybe Collett's earlier prediction had faded because of the breakup.
Rederrick offered no reply. In his opinion, no one was good enough for his daughter. He once thought that way for both his girls, but Nate was an obvious exception. He wanted Tracy to find someone just as worthwhile, someone who would challenge her and loved her fiery spirit. Tracy’s unmistakable efforts to conform the last several years bothered Rederrick. He hoped she’d find a companion with whom she could be her complete self.
“Anyway,” Cynda went on, “it will be nice to have her back home for a while at least.” She looked down at Jenny’s soft, pale features. “It’d be nice if they could all come home,” she finished in a barely audible voice.
“Give it time, Love. Give it time,” Rederrick assured her, but he had difficulty believing his own words. In a time when they should have been rejoicing, everyone was scattered and grieving instead. It wasn’t the way he pictured things would be when they defeated The Faction’s ruler. He badly wanted to believe it was a dying organization now that it was leaderless.
All the unknown elements grated against Rederrick’s skin. They didn’t know what state The Faction was in. They'd learned nothing about Niall, or Bellig as Collett called him. And he could admit they'd uncovered little about Collett. He was even finding it hard to remember some of the details he had learned to date. It felt so vague and frustrating.
Rederrick looked over to the table where the book, Legends and Myths of Divine Defenders sat, and conceded that maybe his wife was right. Perhaps a few more answers would give them the closure they all needed.
Cynda and Rederrick were not the only ones frustrated with current circumstances. Victor sat in his office managing financial paperwork while he considered possible solutions to his problems. Running an organization as large as The Faction required a lot of paperwork, and he was certain few within the system ever understood this.
Victor was often charged with such tasks not only because he was second in command, but also because he had a genius IQ and was skilled at assessing risk and profit. Case in point, Victor had been sent to the lion’s den to meet with members of The Brotherhood who gathered at Patrick's Point to save the boy, Cody. Victor was instructed to pass along a message from Bellig to Collett. Assessing the risks, he delivered himself right into the hands of the enemy. As was often the case, Victor feared the consequences of refusing his master’s order more than The Brotherhood’s reaction to his appearance.
Despite his origins, Victor fully understood it was his skills alone that made him valuable. Without them, he would have been disposed of long ago. He knew his master understood the possibility of his death that day and hadn’t cared. There was no love between them. The Faction’s leader only concerned himself with the value a person could offer.
Seventy-one days had passed since Bellig cut the bonds Collett’s friends restrained Victor with, awakened him from a drug-induced sleep, and delivered him to this location with instructions to remain there until he returned. Bellig then left to confront the enemy and had yet to return.
Victor still had no clue what happened on the cliffside that night, but he diligently kept running The Faction with the belief his master would return at some point. He was more informed than most about their exalted leader, and he understood Bellig’s limitations, or lack of them…
Though he called himself Niall, Victor knew his leader's true identity. He was even informed on why Bellig used the name Niall as a replacement. He had been schooled, the hard way, many times throughout his life to keep such secrets to himself.
Knowing Bellig’s unmatched power, Victor was perplexed as to why his master was still missing. Although, there was little doubt that he would return. At least, that’s what Victor told himself every day. Twice sometimes.
In the meantime, Victor had to keep things running smoothly to avoid his own death, but too many days had passed. Doubt was creeping in. Faction members were becoming wary and less controllable the longer it continued. Victor gave them reassurances and lies, but he realized it was becoming a desperate situation. Their generals would eventually fall into a power struggle, and like sharks who could hear an injured fish from miles away, these demons would soon figure out that Victor was floundering.
Victor’s computer beeped to notify him of yet another email waiting. He insisted on using text and email as his main source of communication with the numerous cells. He feared the generals and demons would sense his hesitation if they asked about Niall, so Victor avoided talking on the phone as often as possible.
Scanning the newest communication from the Northern California region leader, Victor cursed. As reports came flooding in, it was clear the wolf brothers were on the hunt. The sorcerer who sent this latest email spoke of the terror the brothers were inflicting on even summoned archdemons. It was hard to fathom. The soulless monsters thrived on chaos lived on blood and flesh, and they existed for the pleasure of killing.
Demon’s, as a rule, feared little. At one time, Jarrett’s reputation as The Hunter had kept lesser demons obedient and greater demons cautious. Damned creatures reveled in their time on this mortal plain like a kid in a candy store. They loathed the idea of banishment, and too many were falling to the formidable pair.
Working as a team, the lycanthrope warriors wreaked havoc in their wake. The demons were beginning to resist orders to go after them, presenting a whole new problem. With no Hunter or Bellig to instill fear in them, Victor had little recourse against those who refused, but he had to keep motivating them to go after Cade and Jarrett with a vengeance. That’s what his master would do. Victor needed to reinforce the message that Bellig did not tolerate traitors or defiance.
There were multiple emails like the one he recently read, and Victor understood the implications of his close escape. The lycans were looking for him. A shiver traveled up his spine.
Staying hidden was vital to his survival, therefore he kept his location on a need to know basis. Victor understood there would be little loyalty among the ranks of The Faction. Even if he revealed his true identity to his subordinates, it would not buy him clemency when the evil beings confronted their demise.
Along with managing paperwork, organizing retaliation for Cade and Jarret, and keeping the generals at bay, Victor had to keep moving forward on the plan Bellig outlined for him. If he failed to do this task, he knew the
outcome would be worse than any he could imagine.
With that terror-filled nightmare ever present in his mind, Victor had already deployed a large force to the desert to continue the search, but he knew the demons would need supervision soon, as demons lost focus and fell into chaos if they weren’t directed properly.
“Cerdina,” he beckoned.
The door to his office opened, and a young woman entered. At least, that is how she appeared at first glance. Anyone looking closer would note the odd, reddish tint to her eyes and the mottled lines in her pale skin. His assistant was a half-blooded witch who would more likely harvest his blood than bring him coffee. “Yes?” replied the half-demon, half-human woman with her deceptive fairy-like voice.
“Send for Zaroth. Tell him to bring the whole crew with him.”
She nodded and left.
Victor heaved a heavy sigh and scratched at his balding head. He had no desire to tangle with the twins. Victor had seen his own death at Cade’s hands twice now, although each time the images and events were different. However, he feared death at Bellig’s hands even more. He had seen that fate far too many times to risk failing now. There’s still time, he assured himself. Even until the very moment an event occurred, a single inconsequential decision could reshape his future.
Chapter 4
Anger masks pain, but doesn’t diminish it, Jarrett mused as he watched his brother tear apart the last of four demons they’d hunted down. Using a longsword, Cade sliced through demon’s neck with a viciousness Jarrett used to appreciate, but it looked wrong coming from his brother. Seeing Cade embrace his anger and behave so much like himself bothered Jarrett more and more. The problem was he didn't know what to do about it.
Jarrett had only seen Cade this angry one other time and that was a few months ago when Cade found an unconscious Collett in Jarrett's care. He had believed her dead and almost killed Jarrett in retribution.
He could admit, at least to himself, the incident still grated his ego. It was the first and only time Cade ever bested him in battle. As a result, Jarrett occasionally wondered between the two of them, who the more capable fighter was. Watching Cade finish off his opponent, he speculated it would be a close call should they ever engage against each other again. But things had changed between them and Jarrett would never have to find out.
For now, Cade faced a darker enemy, and it wasn't the demon he was fighting, it wasn't even the elusive Victor. The enemy was living within his brother’s soul.
Since Collett’s death, Jarrett could only watch as his twin fell deeper into his grief and fury. Cade barely spoke, and when he did it was short and to the point. He hardly ate and didn’t even notice what went into his mouth. In fact, Cade scarcely bothered to do much of anything these days. Even shaving had become a rare event. Well, at least he showers, Jarrett thought as Cade walked over to him, covered in sticky black ichor from the disposed demon.
At one time, Jarrett thought the trip would be therapeutic. It was, after all, how he dealt with such things in the past, but he had never been in love. At least not like Cade and Collett had, and Jarrett’s new outlook, brought about in no small part by his brother’s wife, caused him to rethink this solution.
More and more often Jarrett wondered at the differences in himself. It was weird to think he was currently the more tempered between the two of them. Constantly troubled by his new conscience these days, Jarrett found it problematic when he saw his old behaviors in Cade.
He knew the depression hidden behind Cade's mask of uncontrolled rage would not dissipate anytime soon. The loss of Collett was no small thing for either man. She was deeply connected to both of them, but the loss was much harder on Cade. His brother had loved Collett more than life itself and done everything possible to save her, but in the end, neither of their efforts had mattered and her death haunted them.
Hunting Faction members provided a form of medication that Jarrett had lived on for centuries. Each fight felt like a dopamine hit times ten. Adrenaline, pain, fury, and the pure satisfaction when you succeeded could sustain a man for a long time. Plus, chasing down demons only required three basic needs: sleeping, eating, and reckless ingenuity. It kept the guilt at bay, because perception centered on survival.
The problem was, Cade didn’t even focused on survival. He not only avoided weighty matters, he had completely quit thinking. He operated on autopilot. Recklessness was present in spades and there was a definite lack of ingenuity.
Cade had even proven sleeping and eating were optional. His tactics were unplanned, chaotic, and honestly frightening, but Jarrett resolved to help see it through to the end. Cade had saved his life more than once, so Jarrett refused to let him down. But if Jarrett didn’t find a way to help Cade cope better, then it was likely his brother would get himself killed. The problem was, Jarrett didn’t know of any other way, and he realized how suicidal he must have appeared to others in the past.
Jarrett tipped down his dark sunglasses and eyed his brother. “Anything?” he questioned sarcastically as Cade approached. He already knew his brother hadn’t bothered to ask many questions.
Cade’s only reply was a grunt.
Jarrett responded with a matter-of-fact tone, “If we’re going to find the hive, you’re going to have to stop killing the worker bees before we get a chance to ask.”
Cade stalked past him. Jarrett followed unperturbed by his brother’s brusqueness. He was more than used to it by now, and Jarrett wasn’t much of a talker anyway.
The twins mounted their custom Harleys, and Cade started his, bringing the throaty engine to life. After slipping on his own pair of Oakley’s, Cade turned his head in Jarrett’s direction and lifted a brow in question.
“We’re done for tonight, let’s get back,” Jarrett replied to the unspoken inquiry.
Cade revved the engine, with Jarrett following close behind. Zipping in and out of turns with surprising ease, they sped over the open road at breakneck speed. The brothers had discovered they shared a love for rushing wind and the purring of an Evolution engine beneath them. The challenge of controlling a speeding motorcycle at every curve pumped warm blood through their veins, and like demon hunting, the risky drive fed their incessant need for adrenaline.
Cade and Jarrett slowed as they entered Vacaville, the city they resided in while chasing their newest lead. Dawn was coming on by then, and light colored the sky a softer blue than moments before. Stars disappeared as dark battled against the light spreading across the sky overhead.
When the disheveled lycans reached the motel and parked in front of their room’s entrance, they both fell into prescribed roles without word or comment. Cade went inside and Jarrett prepped the bikes for the next long trip they would make.
A strange tingling sensation skittered over Cade’s spine when he unlocked the door to their room and stepped over the threshold. A whisper echoed through him, Cade? This is not you. The sound was subtle and melodic, as if it spoke to his soul rather than his ears, and he froze in place. Closing his eyes, Cade tried to focus, but nothing more came.
A familiar heaviness settled in his heart. His brows furrowed. When will it lift? he wondered. When does it stop hurting? He felt lost and wished to find release from this weight he carried every day? When he wasn’t fighting, despair haunted him. The sweet memory of her haunted his every waking minute and even in dream he relived her death.
He was so enthralled he didn’t even notice Jarrett’s approach. “What is it?” Jarrett questioned, alarmed at seeing his brother’s rigid stance.
Cade looked over his shoulder. Pure agony shone in his eyes, but he shook his head to clear away the expression. “Nothing, it’s nothing,” he insisted, walking to the bathroom for a shower.
Unconvinced, Jarrett followed him into the room to gather their few belongings. Glancing around the room, he tried to decipher what bothered Cade minutes before. Seeing nothing, he shrugged and headed to the office to inform the clerk they were checking out. Their next lead
would take them to Nevada. Not that it matters where we go. There are plenty of demons everywhere, Jarrett thought to himself.
As he made his way to the front office, Ozzy echoed from his pocket. He answered the call though his Bluetooth with a crisp, “Talk.”
“Ah Chère, you make a woman feel special. Keep it up and I may fall in love. Where would we be then?”
His lips tilted up. “Delphene, it's been a while.”
“And yet you still remember the sound of my voice. I guess I left a better impression than I thought.”
“I’m not sure there is another woman like you, Del. What did you want?”
“Ah, there you go again with your honeyed words.”
A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. He’d thought of Delphene once or twice since she'd gone home. He wondered how her easy nature could change his demeanor so naturally. He remembered when Delphene tricked him into following her on a strange chase through the streets of New Orleans. His grin grew as the memory came back. She’d somehow manipulated him into staying with the group that day, and he could admit he was still grateful.
Jarrett came back to the conversation when she asked about Cade. “How is he, mon ami?” she questioned with her tone softening.
His smile fell away as his worry for Cade resurfaced. “How would you be?”
“Only God knows such things,” she replied with honest sympathy. “Amour has never stuck me as fiercely as it did him.”
Jarrett leaned against the brick wall by the motel office. “He’s not ready to face it yet, so he hides from it. He’ll come around, he’s Cade.”
“But. . .?”
“Nothing.”
“For such a clever hunter, you’re not a clever liar. You are not telling me something. I hear it in your tone.”
Jarrett released a breath and admitted, “He’s getting too reckless. He doesn’t really care if he makes it to the next fight or not, and it gets a little worse each time.”
The Truth of Victory: A Powers of Influence Novel Page 4
