Origin (Eternal Sacrifice Saga Book 2) (6 page)

“I was preoccupied,” I mumbled.

“Let’s say she was in shock. I’ve since spoken to her, but she continues to keep her knowledge to herself. And of course, I’m not permitted into her mind. She and Michael have called for an Elder Council meeting and says she will explain then. Apparently, it may involve Zoe.”

“What involves me?” Zoe walked out toward us.

I reached for her, and she fell into my arms. “How are you feeling, Chayah?”

“Meh. Okay, I guess. Better than before, though. But I keep having stupid Lilith dreams. What the hell does she want with me? I think it’s really her, or I may be projecting or something.”

Raz’s expression turned dark. He pursed his lips and narrowed his glare toward Zoe. “And you see her coming back to life? That’s what Cade said.”

“Yeah. It’s the same thing every time. I’ve just killed her, then she opens her eyes and says
wake up
and
help them
. And this time, she said that name. I have no idea who she’s talking about.”

Raz stared blankly, no doubt, determining whether to tell Zoe what he knows.

I made the choice for him.

“Raz has just reminded me that Samael is a Fallen Archangel.”

“Huh. Aren’t the Archs, like
big man on campus
types? Do they fall?”

Raz glared at me for revealing his secret, then focused to Zoe.

“Yes. And he’s one of few Archs who fell. Only we’re unsure why. Gabrielle refuses to speak of it.”

Zoe scrubbed her wrist. “This stupid thing won’t quit stinging.” Her cheeks flushed.

“What’s wrong?” Raz asked.

“My wrist. Keeps burning with each vision. Any idea why?”

Raz shook his head.

“So you don’t know anything either? Perfect. We’re in trouble then, huh?”

“I’m hoping Gabrielle will explain what’s going on when the time is right. Archangels seldom share Arch business with the rest of us, though. And Samael’s time was different. Not all Angels fell for reasons considered traitorous by today’s standards.”

“Hey, sorry to interrupt.” Remie stepped up onto the terrace. “Can I talk to Chayah for a minute?”

“Hello, son.” Raz patted Remie on the back, then returned his attention to us. “I’ll see what I can find out and let you know. Until then, why not take care of Remie here, then prepare to go to Chicago for a few days to close up that chapter of this incarnation.”

Zoe pursed her lips.

“Hello, Remie. How is Phoebe doing?” I asked.

“Not well. That’s why I’m here. I need to talk to—well.” He scratched his head. “I guess I need to ask permission.”

“Permission?” Zoe wrinkled her nose.

“Raz said I needed your permission to...”

Zoe tilted her head and widened her eyes.

Remie shuffled his feet and stared at the wooden deck beneath them. A flush crossed his face. “I’d like to ask Phoebe to marry me.”

“Oh wow, Rem. That’s—awesome.” Zoe smiled. “But what do you need my permission for?”

“You’re Eternal Mother.” I interrupted. “Yours is the final decision. When an Eternal chooses to join with a mate, it’s customary as you generally pair them, so you need to give your blessing.”

“Huh. Okay, sure. Of course you can marry Phoebe. So when’s this proposal going to happen?”

“I was hoping tomorrow. The Newborns and I, we’ve been working on a surprise for her since it’s Christmas. We’re cooking dinner like she used to. In the Great Hall in Eden. And well, I need a favor.”

“Okay?” Zoe narrowed her eyes.

Remie paced around the terrace.

Zoe grinned with amusement.

“I want to sing to her. And I need a pianist.”

The color drained from Zoe’s cheeks. “I don’t know, I…”

I pursed my lips. This was the second time Zoe was apprehensive about music.

I braced her shoulder, trying to read her mind, but she continued to block me out. Despite my inability to breach her thoughts, they were written all over her expression.

“Rainah won’t do it?”

Remie narrowed his eyes. “Please, Chayah. It’s for Phoebe. It would mean a lot to her if you were part of this.”

“I—” Zoe hesitated, exhaling a breath. “Yeah, sure. I’ll do it.” She gave a weak smile.

“Thanks. Gabrielle is working on Phoebe’s ring now. She said she’d give it magical protective properties like yours.”

Zoe’s ring, the Ring of Chayah, had many magical powers. Phoebe was human, so angelic light couldn’t hurt.

“That’s awesome. I’m happy for you guys.”

“Thanks. With everything going on, I just want Phoebe to know I’m still here for her, you know? That I haven’t checked out. I keep calling, but she won’t answer. So I figured this was the best way to get her over here.”

“If you need any help, let me know. So what are you playing?”

“The most epic Journey song, ever.” Remie smiled.

Zoe wiggled her eyebrows.

Remie laughed. “You need the music?”

“Nah. Just meet me back here in a while, and we can work on it. For now, Cade and I need to work on getting some intel.”

“On what?” Remie asked, curious.

I shook my head.
“They don’t know, love. We must know all the details before they’re informed.”

She eyed me for a moment. Hearing me speak in her mind must still be disorienting.

“Some new developments. I need to confirm some things with the Elders before we talk about it.”

Remie pursed his lips then quickly wiped the aggravation from his face and lowered his eyes. “I’m sorry, Chayah. I meant no disrespect.”

“Remie, it’s still me. You don’t have to...”

“Yes he does, he’s compelled to by nature. You’ll become accustomed to it.”

Zoe sighed. “It’s okay, Rem. I’ll see you later.”

Remie nodded then turned and walked down the path toward the Firstborn’s quarters.

Zoe stared after him, exhaling loudly.

“What’s wrong, love?” I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her to rest against my chest.

“I don’t know. I’m just trying to get used to everything. It’s all changing so fast.”

I kissed the top of her head. “I imagine this is confusing. It’s the reign of the Eternal Mother. You will adjust, give yourself time.”

“I guess. I kind of miss being human. You know a few months ago, Phoebe said she was actually jealous because my life was so important. But looking at hers. All the things she’ll get to have, the things I never will.” Zoe stared down at her hands. “I think I’m the jealous one.”

“What would you like?”

She shrugged. Turning to face me, she draped her arms behind my back.

“Phoebe will get to have a wedding. A career. Family.” Zoe’s gaze locked onto the wall. “Won’t she?” She narrowed her eyes, glancing over my shoulder.

“I’m not sure I understand what you’re asking.”

“Maybe she won’t.” Zoe focused on me. “I mean, how’s that going to work? Remie and Phoebe. She won’t get to have all that stuff now, will she?” Zoe stared at the floor. “She never asked for any of this. None of them did.”

“Chayah. Remie is a Firstborn Genesis. It’s his bloodline. His heritage. It’s what his soul was born to do.”

“Doesn’t make it fair. Phoebe wasn’t born for this. She won’t have a life either, not if she’s with Remie. They won’t have a family. All the domestic stuff she used to say she wanted. A baby. No wonder she’s so upset. Being with Remie means she’ll have to give up humanity, too. This isn’t just my sacrifice, Cade. It’s everyone’s.”

Zoe glanced up, distressed.

“We have to make this special for her,” Zoe said. “This marriage may be the last human thing she ever gets.”

Zoe

“All right, love. We’ll be waiting.”

Cade kissed the top of my head, and I headed up the stone path to Phoebe’s parent’s house in Eden, New York.

It was late December and freezing. I already missed the warmth of Aravot.

Cade and Remie waited outside, bundled in winter gear, while I knocked on Phoebe’s front door, hoping to convince her to return with us to the Great Hall.

Remie enlisted help from some Eternals, many I hadn’t met yet, to cook a huge dinner. They even decorated.

Realizing how much Phoebe would be giving up was devastating. I had to help Remie, even if it meant performing again.

I knocked on the bright red door greeting me with a huge Christmas wreath.

“Zoe, so glad you could make it.” Amanda, Phoebe’s adopted mom pulled me into a hug. “Come in.”

Amanda ushered me inside and led me down the narrow hallway to her kitchen. “Phoebe’s in her room. She doesn’t know you’re here, but I think you can probably convince her to go. I’ll have Cade and Remie wait in the front room.”

“Thanks, Mrs. Kinkaid.”

I knocked on Phoebe’s door, and a second later, it crept open an inch.

Phoebe’s eyes peeked through the crack. The door flung open then, and she pulled me into a hug.

“Zoe, oh my gosh.” She held me so tight I could hardly breath. “What are you doing here?”

“Can I come in?”

I gave her puppy dog eyes, and she ushered me inside. I sat on her full-size bed, complete with lavender flowered bedding.

Phoebe’s room was just as I’d seen it last when we were teenagers. It was immaculate. And Pastel. Decorated with Broadway posters and her own wall of fame from high school, proudly displaying pictures of us from all the musicals we were in.

Those were fun days. Being human.

I missed them.

“Wow, this place hasn’t changed in five years.” I smirked.

“Yeah, Mom was going to take me shopping, but—I don’t know. I kind of want to keep it this way.” She shrugged. “Memories.”

“So, why won’t you talk to Remie?”

There was no time to waste, may as well rip off the bandaid.

“Um.” She stalled.

I pressed my lips closed and widened my eyes.

She blew out a breath then sat beside me, folding her hands in her lap.

“I just needed some distance. This whole thing happened so fast with you. I’ve been thinking. About me and Remie.” She stared down at her hands. “I just don’t see how this can work.”

“What? You and Remie?”

“Yeah. I mean, he’s Eternal now. He has a duty. I can’t interfere. I’m…” Her eyes glazed over. “I’m human. Nothing.”

My mouth dropped open.

“Don’t you dare say that.” I reached over and dragged her to me, squeezing the guts out of her. “You’re everything. To me and him.” I pulled back and picked up her hands. “This is hard on all of us, especially Remie. He misses you, Phoebs. I know things are weird right now, but trust me. It’s all going to blow over eventually, then you two can figure where to go from there.”

She shook her head. “You know better than that.”

“No, stop. What I do know is you love each other. You’re Gemini.” I reached up and wiped a tear from underneath her eye. “And if there’s one thing I’ve learned in all this, it’s not good for Gemini to be apart. And you two are Gemini. Michael even confirmed it.”

She lowered her eyes and began to cry.

“Listen to me.” I tilted her chin up. “You and Remie belong together. You know that. Sure, things are hard right now, but you’ll get through it. We’re family, Phoebe. Remie. Me. Cade. The Firstborns. All of us. And family sticks together. We fight together. For each other. And I’m not giving up on my family.”

“I’m so lost, Zoe.”

I scooted over and hauled her into my arms.

“I don’t know where I belong anymore.”

“You belong with us. You’re Genesis, whether you have a birthmark or not. And we all recognize that.” I ran my hand over her hair.

She shook in my arms.

She needed Remie.

“Cade. Have Remie on standby. Phoebe needs him.”

I figured I’d try a little experiment. I’d never done the
talk in our heads
thing with Cade before, and I needed to see if it would actually work.

“On it.”
Cade’s voice resonated in my head.

My heart swelled with pride. He heard me. I couldn’t hold back my smile.

“Get dressed. We’re going somewhere today.” I pulled back.

“It’s Christmas, I can’t go anywhere.”

“That’s exactly why we’re going. It’s Christmas. And on Christmas, family should be together.”

“Send him in.”

A second later, another knock came to the door.

Phoebe pulled back, wiping the tears from her eyes, peering across the room.

“I don’t know.” She set her hands on the bed as the door opened, and Remie walked in.

“Phoebe. I…”

She jumped to her feet and tackled her Gemini.

“I’m so sorry,” Phoebe cried. “I never meant to hurt you.”

“It’s okay baby. I love you.” Remie drew back and held her cheeks in his hands. “Will you come with me? I have a surprise for you.” He leaned in, leaving a kiss to her lips.

So adorable.

“I don’t know, my mom…”

“Go.” Phoebe’s mom peeked in from outside the bedroom. “Spend time with your friends. Nothing exciting going on here.” She smiled then disappeared.

I got to my feet and stood back, enjoying my role as spy on the wall.

“Please, baby.” Remie ran his hand through Phoebe’s honey-blonde hair, which seemed to be getting lighter lately. “I miss you. Christmas isn’t the same without you.”

Phoebe blew out a breath, tears in her eyes, and nodded. “Okay.”

I got a huge smile on my face, and my chest filled with gooey happiness.

Remie leaned in and dropped a kiss to Phoebe’s lips.
So damned sweet.
“You ready?”

Phoebe nodded.

“Thank you, Zoe,” Remie said.

“Hey it’s my job.” I shrugged. “Cosmic Cupid and all.”

~

A half hour later, we arrived back at the Great Hall in Eden.

Cade wrapped his arm around my shoulder as we walked up the frozen path outside Aravot’s invisible gates. The cabin resembled a country mansion in the woods.

It had only been a few days since I was here last, and the memories of arriving the night I rescued Cade raced through my mind.

Everything had changed so fast. Just trying to catch my breath from it all was a challenge in itself.

Stop.
Today was about Phoebe. I had to get my head together.

I couldn’t wait to see the look on her face.