Origin (Eternal Sacrifice Saga Book 2) (7 page)

Remie and Phoebe stopped outside the doors. He covered her eyes, kissing her on the cheek.

I pulled Cade closer as the front door to the cabin opened.

If there was one thing I’d learned, it’s that Gemini need to be together. I only hoped I could figure out how to keep us all together.

Remie walked behind Phoebe, leading her inside, and we followed in behind them.

The hall was gorgeous.

Twinkling lights were strung out all along the vaulted ceilings, hanging below the boards. An eight-foot tree stood proud in the corner, blinking colors of red and green and purple, and pretty presents circled beneath it.

Firstborns and Elders stood behind a table beside a stage—Julian and Rainah, Micah. Nate, Julian’s partner was with his Gemini, Lydia, who I’d not met yet. I only recognized her because their matching colors were blinding. The Elders were there, too.

It was still weird seeing them all together.

Sophie was my guardian when I was a kid, so now wrapping my head around her being an equal or even a subordinate took some getting used to.

And Eli. Seeing him with Lailah, when I could still recall dating him.

Yeah. Still weird.

But none of that mattered, because this was home.

I had a family. Genesis.

Remie removed his hands from Phoebe’s eyes, and her jaw popped open.

“Oh my gosh.” She threw her hands over her mouth. “It’s so pretty.” Her eyes welled with tears as she walked around the room, admiring the decorations and the spread of food on the table.

“Merry Christmas. I’m so glad you came.” Sophie pulled Phoebe into a hug, running her hands over Phoebe’s hair. “It’s going to be okay, child. I promise.”

Sophie and Phoebe were always close. Sophie was like our mother figure after she rescued us from the foster demon.

My role as Eternal Mother didn’t feel like I expected it to since Eternalizing. I still didn’t see myself like Sophie.

Nurturing.

Protective? Hell, yeah. But nurturing?

Sometimes I wondered if I didn’t get the mothering gene. Or maybe I just wasn’t
that
kind of mother.

What did Eternal Mother mean, anyway?

Phoebe pulled away, wiping her eyes. “You did all this for me?”

“We love you.” I stepped beside them.

Phoebe turned around and hugged me, whispering into my ear. “Thank you, Zoe. I love you.”

“Love you too, Phoebs.” I squeezed her, nodding at Remie.

Remie reached for her and pulled her into his arms. “Let’s eat.”

We sat at the table with the Christmas feast. All the usual favorites waited—ham and turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, lots of different sides and desserts.

Man, was it good. Those Eternals could cook.

I was no domestic goddess, which is probably why they didn’t ask me to help.

We ate and joked. Laughed. Like we didn’t have a care in the world.

It was a nice change from a few days ago.

After eating, Remie stood and picked up his wine glass.

“I want to thank everyone for coming, for making this Christmas special for Phoebe.” He chugged down the drink for some liquid courage then reached his hands down toward her. “I have one more surprise for you.”

She stared suspiciously, wrinkling her nose.

I grabbed Cade’s hand. “Come sit with me?”

He nodded and followed me to the piano on the makeshift stage they’d set up.

We all took our places while Remie pulled Phoebe to her feet, leading her to a chair in front of a microphone.

Once Phoebe was settled, I started to play.

Phoebe held in her tears as the notes from her favorite 80s song echoed through the hall.

The acoustics in the Great Hall were off the charts.

“This is for you, Phoebe. Because no matter what happens, I’m yours. Faithfully. Forever.”

Remie started singing.

I watched in awe, playing piano from the corner of the stage.

Remie sang sweetly to his girl.

Phoebe cried her usual happy tears.

Being Eternal was amazing, but I did kind of miss the human side of living. It was something I’d never have again, and to be honest, with watching the scene unfold before me, I was a little jealous of my best friend.

Remie’s words reminded me, though.

This journey of falling in love time after time was pretty freaking sweet.

I glanced at my Gemini sitting beside me as I played.

Cade’s gaze was glued to mine, an expression of pure peace exuded from him.

He really did adore me. It was written all over his face.

I realized then there was absolutely nothing to be jealous over.

I had my Gemini, and this was exactly how it was meant to be.

Now Phoebe would have hers too.

We played the last chords of the song, and Remie set down the guitar, moving toward his girl.

Phoebe rose to her feet, and Remie pulled her into his arms, whispering into her ear.

She nodded, eyes sealed tight.

Remie pulled back, his hand ran along her cheek, and he kissed her slow. Gentle. Loving.

I totally swooned.

I may not be nurturing, but I was definitely a hopeless romantic.

“This is the best surprise anybody could ever give me.” Phoebe laid her forehead to his.

Remie smiled, visibly trembling.

“No,” he said, pulling back an inch. “This is.”

He dropped to his knee and pulled out a ring.

Phoebe gazed down at him, hands over her mouth.

“Phoebe Kinkaid. You are the best thing that’s ever happened to me. My past, present and future. I came to life the day we met, and I want to spend Eternity with you.” Remie’s voice shook. “Will you marry me?”

Phoebe dropped to her knees and held his hands in hers, nodding. “Yes, Remie. Of course, yes.”

“I love you, baby.” Remie slipped the ring on her finger and pulled her into his arms.

Cade draped his arm around my shoulder, and I laid my head on him.

“
That
is the epitome of human,” I said.

“What do you mean?”

“You asked me in Chicago, what it meant to be human.” I nodded my head to Phoebe and Remie, holding each other, celebrating their future. “That.”

I wiped away my tears.

“That’s what it means to be human.”

Cade

“Isn’t it beautiful?” Phoebe came over to show Zoe her ring.

“Oh wow, it’s perfect Phoebs.” Zoe smiled and stood. “See you soon.” Zoe bent down and kissed my cheek, then they walked off together to show Rainah and the other girls.

On the outside, Zoe appeared happy. Content even, but to me, it was clearly an illusion.

I was beginning to understand Zoe’s love for humanity through Phoebe. In past incarnations, we’d never spent time with humans. In reality, in the five thousand plus years we’d been doing this, I hardly spent any time at all with humans other than rescuing them, rare soul retrievals, or transitioned demon banishments.

Zoe loved humanity. A love I seldom understood. Though seeing through Phoebe’s eyes, hearing of the life she hoped to have, a life she would sacrifice for—it truly put humanity into perspective, allowing me to understand my Gemini more, to see the sacrifices Zoe made, time and again, giving things up for herself so those like Phoebe could have them.

Although Zoe would never admit it, she felt something was missing since Eternalizing. I needed to discover what it was and remedy the situation.

For all the sacrifices Chayah had made, she deserved happiness of her own.

“How’s it going?” Elijah slapped my back as I rose to my feet.

“Can we speak in private for a moment?” Raz tipped his head to the side, motioning for us to relocate to a quieter location.

I followed them to a small meeting room inside the Great Hall.

“What’s going on?” I folded my arms across my chest.

“We wanted to speak to you concerning your plans for the next few weeks.”

“Zoe and I will go to Chicago to get her things at the apartment and tie up that chapter, then take a month off, if that’s all we can spare. Why? What have you learned?”

“Lilith.” Raz sighed. “She’s free.”

“What?”

“She’s not banished, I’ve seen her.” Elijah sighed. “She’s recovered and back in charge, determined to retaliate.”

“Yes, and whispers say Azriel has ascended ranks. He’s more aggressive, building troops, increasing numbers within Fallen and demon factions. And there’s something else.” Raz lowered his voice. “Another whisper, which causes great concern.”

“Explain.”

“According to my sources, the dark factions may have a secret weapon.”

“What sort of weapon?”

“A genetically engineered hybrid.”

“A what?” I’d never heard of such a thing. Or even the possibility.

“Some rumblings have been floating about. Due to the multitude of prophecies about you, the one Lilith spouted to you in Aravot.”

“What prophecy?”

“They call it the Evanescence Prophecy. Adam will fall, ushering in the darkness. It’s been around a thousand years or more, inspiring the dark armies to initiate the process. By cross breeding a Fallen and a demon. With a human.”

“That’s ridiculous.” I began to walk off, but Raz clutched my shoulder.

“It’s not,” Elijah said. “I’ve seen him. And so have you.”

“Seen who? And why has no one discussed this before now?”

“We weren’t sure until recently.”

“What do you know? And who’s this half breed your spouting about?”

“We believe it’s Brennan.”

“That minion in Chicago? No.” I shook my head and let out a chuckle. “That boy is no threat to us.”

“He is. And he could be our undoing.”

I scoffed. “No.”

“It’s true.” Julian walked in the door. “I’ve seen him in action. He has wicked skills.”

“How in the hell could this happen? Are you slipping, Raziel? You’re supposed to be the Angel of Wisdom, yet you allow the Fallen and demon factions to create some half-breed super power to dismantle Genesis? And right beneath your nose.”

“Cade.”

I put up my palms to stop his rambling. “I’ve been on alert since Zoe’s last incarnation. I’ve neither seen nor heard anything of the sort.”

“They’ve hidden the minion well. He was a child, like Zoe. Raised from birth.”

“Where is there to hide that we cannot breach?” I scoffed. “Really, Raz.”

“The Sixth and Seventh planes.”

“What?” I inhaled a sharp breath.

There were seven levels to the dark realm. When Zoe and I were trapped there, we were in the Fifth. Beyond that, the darkness was so enrapturing, few souls could escape unscathed.

Any soul would descend into madness being trapped below the Fifth for long.

Elijah nodded. “Zoe and I have ventured into the Sixth once or twice. It’s tolerable for a time, more so for her given her mental gifts, but longer periods can be…” His voice trailed off.

“Word is the child was born and bred there. Darkness is engrained in his make up. The strength of his powers could match that of any high-ranking Archangel. And because he was bred there—well, he could be impossible to defeat.”

“How? What powers?”

“He can breach any mind, yet his is protected,” Raz said.

“I’ve seen him attempt to breach our borders.” Julian added. “And almost succeed. He’s young. At this rate, it’s only a matter of time before he gets past us.”

“No human or demon can ascend into the Eternal realm.”
“We think it’s his mixture of darkness and light. That’s why he can breach them. I’ve not seen him do it, but I’ve seen him try.” Julian sighed. “And he’s getting stronger.”

“Are you sure Brennan is the cross breed?”

“Julian and Nate have been trailing him, analyzing his moves. His powers. He seems capable of things no newly transitioned demon could. We’ve got a team on him now,” Elijah said. “Hoping to confirm any day. To be honest, only Zoe can tell for sure. She’ll need to read his aura.”

I braced my neck, exhaling. “And you said this is related to this Evanescence Prophecy. How?”

“It began with a rumor,” Raz said. “Whispers of the fall of Genesis. The effects were enough that it inspired the Fallen and demon factions to take matters into their own hands. Fast forward the process. As Brennan had ties to Zoe in Chicago, we suspected there was more to this than met the eye. Unfortunately, we know nothing for certain. Everything is merely speculation at this point.”

“If this cross breed is as much a threat as you believe, we have no time for guessing games. You need to find out. Now.”

“We’re working on it. We need the Eternal Mother in full power, to return and reign over Genesis. And we should discuss soul retrievals. Increasing our numbers. If this cross breeding experiment is successful, they may create more. That means using humans. Manipulating free will. If demons are bred, it could be a determining factor to cease the Tree’s rejuvenation all together. If they cannot be stopped, this will surely be the end of humanity. And perhaps Genesis.”

“That would break Zoe.” I ran my hands through my hair.

“We know. We believe this could be the root of the prophecy,” Raz said. “If Adam falls, so will Eve.”

This changed everything.

“So we’ve increased our patrol?” I asked.

“We have,” Julian said. “But as I’ve said before, our forces are weak in numbers.”

“How weak?” I clenched my fists.

“It’s not looking good,” Elijah said.

A knock came outside the door, and Nate walked in.

“We’ve just shared the news with Cade about the cross breed and the impending uprising.” Raz stood beside me.

Nate pursed his lips. “Yes, breaches are doubling daily. The Firstborns, even along with the Angel and Guardian troops, can’t keep up. We need to push the Newborn’s training and assign a soul retrieval team. We need all the warm bodies we can get.”

“And what of your match with Rainah?” I asked Julian. “We need you and your team at its strongest. That includes your Gemini.”

Julian’s face turned red. “I haven’t told her yet.”

Raz narrowed his eyes. “And why not?”

Julian held up his palms. “Since when is it my job to play matchmaker? Isn’t this boss lady’s gig?”