The Price of Power (The Price of Secrets Series Book 2) (12 page)

    Zeda stopped and turned her head as if listening to something that only she could hear. Without addressing her pause, she continued. “The number twelve is a powerful number, from the twelve astrological signs, to the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ, to the twelve realms of the dead. The number twelve will be your clue in finding the other two.

Jaycee you were born in December, the twelfth month. Daniel, you are the twelfth generation of the powerful shape shifter Oganatoga. Hannah, your twelve is not so obvious. At the age of twelve you had a traumatic life changing occurrence when you helped pass over a spirit for the first time so...”

    “Wait,” Daniel interrupted, “you said Oganatoga was the name of my ninth great grandfather?” He didn’t wait for Zeda to confirm before turning to me. “That was who came to you at the crystal shop. Why didn’t he tell you who he was? Why didn’t he try to communicate with me?”

    I felt his pain. It wasn’t a pain like when you miss a loved one when they pass away, it was more like a pain from feeling like a failure. Daniel thinks that Oganatoga didn’t reach out because he was ashamed or disappointed in him. Or worse, that Daniel was not worthy of being The Warrior in this fight.

    “I don’t have an answer but I know it’s not for the reasons you think.” I tried to think of something more comforting to say, and came up with nothing.

    “There were no need for introductions, Daniel, Oganatoga has been watching over you since the day you were born. He put his spirit in danger just by giving Hannah the crystal, he could not risk speaking of his connection with you. Everyone that helps you with this quest will be putting themselves in harms way, including myself.”

    I never thought that we were putting anyone in danger by asking for help. If this is true, then that means Aunt Lucy, even my parents, could be in trouble. “Is there something we can do to protect you and the others we have talked to about this? Maybe Jaycee can do a spell or something.”

    “Jaycee hasn’t even came into her full powers yet, and what she does already have, she hasn’t exercised enough.”

    “Maybe not alone, but when we join together our powers intensify. I know that for a fact because Daniel and I joined and we were both able to take our powers to higher level. And when we faced the shadow demon, we joined hands and repeated Jaycee’s spell. Becoming one is what defeated him.”

    “Shadow demon? What did it look like?”

    “Here let me show you. It might take a second, I’ve just learned how to do this.”

    I held out my hands and Zeda placed hers on top of mine. In my mind I brought the image of the night we helped Samantha pass over. Once I had a good picture I imagined sending it down my body, through my neck and shoulders, and out my hands into hers.

I knew it worked when I felt Zeda’s body tense.

    Zeda jerked her hands back like I had shocked her or something. “I was not aware of this. You have already encountered him with only three of you, and survived?” She questioned, even though she saw us sitting here alive and well. “That was not a shadow demon, he is one of the Triune, that was Malcolm. Malcolm, Mikah and Malachi make up the demonic trinity. Malachi was the first and the strongest. He took his name to slander it’s meaning-  messenger of God.”

    My heart sank. “Then we have a problem.” I felt my body start to tremble from the cold shiver running down my veins. “I’ve met Mikah too.”

Chapter 11

    “What? Why didn’t you tell us?” Daniel asked, as all three of them stared at me as if I had grown second head.

    “I did tell you. You've met him too.” As much as I hated talking about it, I felt that I needed to catch Zeda up. “I had to go over to Megan’s house to work on a project, Megan is a girl in my class, and he was there. I knew that he wasn’t a living impaired, but I couldn’t figure out what he was. Megan told me his name was Mikah and that he has been tormenting her for years. Then while Daniel and I were in Cherokee I was attacked in a bathroom stall. This man came in and tried to… tried to rape me, but Daniel was able to get to me in time. When Daniel knocked him out this black ooze started coming out of his body and disappeared through the ceiling vent. Daniel said that the man had been possessed by a demon. It had been saying the same things that Mikah had said to me at Megan’s house, so we figured that this demon and Mikah were one and the same.

    “This has never happened before. You shouldn’t even be on their radar yet. In every past group each had their sixteenth birthday, and had found each other, before their identities were ever discovered.” Zeda stood up and started to pace. “They must think you really have a chance this time. If they are tracking you, they will find out you were here.”

    “Let us help you. Like Hannah said, if we join together we will be able to… what’s the word, umm, cloak you.” Jaycee looked to Daniel and me for confirmation. “I can do this. I have been trying to do little things here and there to see what I can do. I have had success with it.”

    After getting the go ahead from Zeda, Daniel and I stood on either side of Jaycee and joined hands. Jaycee was having a hard time putting a spell together, so I tried to offer encouragement.

    “Remember when we were at the mall Christmas shopping and you got that woman to give up that sweater? You didn’t have time to think about it, it just came naturally to you. Relax and just concentrate on your breathing. It will come. Daniel and I will send our energy to you.”  

    Daniel and I waited in our tiny circle, trying to send Jaycee energy and support, until she was ready to begin. She held her head back and started to chant.

    “We call upon our powers three.

     To disguise so none will see,

     this meeting taking place today.

     To keep all evil fully at bay.

     Complete protection- please don’t be hasty,

     to ensure Ms. Wood’s safety.

     We thank you in advance, respectfully. As we will, so shall it be.”

    It only took three times repeating the ‘wordy’ spell before it started to work. Warm air, that started in the center of our circle, pushed it’s way through us and filled the entire store. The aromas of Grandma’s kitchen and of Christmas overwhelmed me.

    “Eww, what is that smell?” Jaycee wrinkled her nose.

    Zeda clapped her hands together. “That would be pine and basil. They aid in protection. That was amazing! You did that without any preparation or staging whatsoever.”

    “Staging?” Jaycee asked.

    “The use of herbs, candles, an athame and such. I have never seen a witch perform a spell with such ease. But I have never met a natural born witch, nor someone with such backup as Hannah and Daniel either. You must go, so not to press our luck. Thank you so much for your help.”

    “No, thank you. You have given us a lot of information. We will keep in touch.”

     I went to shake her hand and she pulled me into a hug. “I feel like your group will win this time with you on their side, Seer. Here is my card, my email is on there. I’m not so sure the demonic trinity is computer savvy, so lets communicate that way. Please don’t speak my name out loud, I don’t want to put this protection spell to the test. And remember, when you say a demon’s name out loud it gives them power and an invitation.” She let go of me and hugged Daniel. “Be careful and Godspeed.”  Then made her way to Jaycee. “Practice your craft. You have great power, you all do. Your freaky five, as you put it, will be talked about by  supernaturals for centuries to come.”

    “Blessed be.” Jaycee told Zeda as we walked out the door and stopped at the front of the car. “Wait, where the hell did that come from?”

  “Hey, maybe your personality is evolving along with your powers. Now that would be amazing.” Daniel joked as he clicked his seat belt into place.

    “Ha-ha very funny Chief. Or should I say Warrior Chief?” Jaycee checked herself in the rear view mirror before sitting back in her seat. “Zed- um Z, was pretty cool but I refuse to start calling you Heart, Pricetag.”

    “Z is a good code word for her. And don’t call me Pricetag, you know I hate that.”

    “Would you prefer your Highness Seer?”

    “Don’t be jelly of my swag.”

    “Oh Lord, ‘Jelly’ went out with ‘I know right’.”

    “Aww, when did that happen? I liked that saying.”

    “My best friend is a dork.”

    “Don’t listen to her, I think you’re adorable.” Daniel winked at me.

    “Barf.” Jaycee said as she made gagging noises.

    Z said we have a chance of winning because of me, but this is the real reason. It’s our connection, and our ability to flip from supernatural bad A’s, to normal teenagers who have a strong bond, that gives us an advantage. Those demons have no clue how powerful love can be. I know that sound kinda cheesy, but it’s true. I wonder if any of the past groups had any personal connection, or if they were just came together for the cause. Even if they did, I know it was nothing like what the three of us share. I hope that we will be able to extend that connection with the other two once we find them. How are we going to do that? How am I going to help Megan get rid of Mikah without letting her know what I am? I have to put all my questions on the back burner and focus on Jaycee. She is getting ready to receive a butt load of power and I have to make sure she can handle it.

    “I have never seen water so clear, it’s like looking through glass.” I could see the details on the fish that were swimming close to the bank where I was standing. Their silvery gills opening and closing as they darted from left to right.

    The sounds of chirping drew my attention toward the sky. There were multi colored birds nesting in the tall thick trees that were perfectly in bloom, not a dead leaf or branch on their limbs. However, even with their beauty, it was the backdrop that was the most astonishing. For as far as my eyes could see were lush green rolling hills and mountainsides. There were no roads to scar them or any structures blocking the view, just pure nature’s beauty.

    “Where am I? Is this Heaven?”

    “Not quite, but at one time it was a close second.” I turned around to see where the voice came from, and saw Jaycee. Well, it wasn’t my Jaycee, but someone who struck a remarkable resemblance to her. “Do not be afraid, you are in a dream state.” I kinda got that, duh. “So, I took this opportunity to reach out to you. Please, come with me, I want to show you what you are up against.”

    As if knowing I would obey and follow her, she started to walk toward the very woods I was just admiring a minute ago.

    “Who are you?” I asked as I tried to catch up with her.

    She looked back over her shoulder at me as she continued to walk. “I think you know the answer to that, Hannah.”

    The fact that she knew my name didn’t surprise me. Here lately it seems that my name and number is written on some supernatural bathroom wall. It’s like they all know who Hannah Price is, yet they always fail to introduce themselves. This time, though, I didn’t need any introductions.

    “You’re MacKenna. Do you really look this much like Jaycee, or just appearing to me this way to make me more comfortable?”

    “I guess a little bit of both.” She finally stopped to face me. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. I have heard great things about you, Hannah, and from what I’m seeing they are all true.”

    “Oh my gosh I can’t believe I’m talking to you. It should be me saying that it’s a pleasure to meet you! After all, you are like Jaycee’s grandmother a hundred times removed or something. If it wasn’t for you, Jaycee wouldn’t be here. She’s like a sister to me.”

    MacKenna beamed at my delight. Just like Jaycee, she was even more beautiful when she smiled. “Yes, our Jaycee is something quite unique. I like to think I passed down my strong will to her. The two of you have found each other in every past life, at one point I believe you were actually cousins.” I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at the whole reincarnation thing again. “Not every spirit is reincarnated, only a chosen few.” She continued walking.

    “So you’re saying that Jaycee and I have fought this battle before?”

    “No, let me try to explain. Think of your spirit as your gift, your gift needed more than one lifetime to evolve into what you have today. Your spirit, your powers, have been passed down through several generations to get to you. The Light foresaw this battle ahead of you, and has been preparing your gift especially for you. That is why you, The Heart, have never been placed in this battle, until now.”

    “What is the Light?”

    “The Light is the side of good, the powers that be.”

    “If they foresaw all of this, then why not just jump to it and give the group five members in the first place, or just wait until this time around for the battle, instead of risking so many young lives?”

    “You are very inquisitive, I see now why you left Zeda with such a headache. There is a reason for everything. One of many being the fact that your powers were not ready until now. Bloodlines had to be formed to make the perfect Hannah and Jaycee and Daniel and…” she paused, “and the other two.”

    The more I spoke with MacKenna the more she felt familiar to me. At first I thought it was just because she looked so much like Jaycee, but now I’m thinking there is more to it.

    The farther we made it into the woods, the more dense the foliage became. Even in this dream I could smell the sweet fragrance of honeysuckle mixed with the wet scent of the earth.

    “Are we there yet?” I sounded like a cranky child. Whoa, I just had flashbacks of road trips with Mom and Dad.

    “It’s just ahead.”

    We walked in silence while I thought of many questions I wanted to ask her. I was sure what my answer would be, but I was willing to give it a try. “I heard the story about your parents and of your birth.” I left out the part about her shrinking the Fairies. “Did you ever find out anything else about them?”

    “I did. I was able to reunite with them in the afterlife. Hannah, you know there are many things I can’t share with you. But thank you, out of all the questions I know you have in your mind, you chose to ask about me. You are very kind.” She pulled back the largest fern leaf I have ever seen in my life, to expose an opening. “We are here.” The light hearted expression that was on her face, dropped to a solemn one.

    I didn’t want to walk any closer, for the first time in my dream I was scared, nevertheless I closed the gap between us, and stood by her side. The contrast was so great between the beauty of where we just traveled from, to this, it was like walking into another dimension. Where only seconds ago we were in the midst of a fairy tale forest, now the scenery could only be described as that of death and decay.

    Tears threatened to spill at the sudden gut wrenching pain and sorrow that engulfed my… my being. That was the best word I can come up with to describe how much this pain took over everything about me. In a circular pattern all the trees, several rows thick, were down. It looked like a big bomb took them all out at once. The trees were scarred with scorch marks, leaving the entire area black, gray and lifeless. I saw that even the grass and ground beneath, as it crunched under my foot steps, hadn’t been spared from the battle that took place here. There was no birds chirping or rustling sound of squirrels, the silence was deafening. Nothing lived within these perimeters.

    “This is horrible. People died here, I can feel it. Why would you bring me here?”

    “You needed to see this, to see the danger in what you are going to face. It will be a battle like no other, but you and yours can do it. I have faith in you. It is time for you to go.”

    She smiled at me, with a look of pride in her eyes, and took my hand into hers. She seemed so regal, I felt like I should bow or something. “You are the leader Hannah, it is up to you to get the five working as one. You were right when you thought that having a bond will help you defeat the Triune this time.”

    “How did you know that? Wait a minute, you are the voice in my head!”  

    Her laugh had such a youthful sound to it. “Blessed be, Hannah.”

    The blare of my much hated alarm clock had me sitting up in bed. Before I had a chance to doubt my dream was real, MacKenna’s voice filled my head.

    Remember what you saw, I will be with you.

    I threw back my covers, sat on the edge of the bed and spoke out loud to an empty room. “Alright, but we need some ground rules. You can’t be all up in my head when I’m with Daniel, or when I’m just doing normal stuff. There is a thing called personal space ya know.”