Origin (Eternal Sacrifice Saga Book 2) (22 page)

“This is about Lilith,” Gabrielle said, simply.

“What?”

“Lilith is Genesis.”

“And?”

“Adam and Lilith,” Michael said. “The original Genesis bloodline.”

“I don’t understand. I was under the impression when she defected, she lost her claim.”

“Defecting does not change your bloodline.” Raz set his hand on my shoulder. “It changed the circumstances, but she is still blood. She’ll always be Genesis.”

“So this mark on our wrists. Are you saying it’s her?”

“Yes. Lilith and Samael.”

All the Elders stood around us, listening carefully. This was obviously the first they’d heard of it as well.

I shook my head, shoving Raz off me. “The Samael Zoe’s been having visions about?”

“Yes. After Lilith defected,” Gabrielle began. “Eve was created. You were— preoccupied.”

“So what does this have to do with anything?”

“The loophole states all Genesis will be matched with their one true mate. And once it takes place, the Gemini Doctrine will cease. It’s complicated,” Raz said.

“So uncomplicate it.” I glared.

“The fact is,” Gabrielle said cautiously. “Zoe learned about the situation that led to this many years ago, but her memories have not yet returned.”

“Don’t you dare put this on her shoulders.”

“We’re not blaming her. But it was her pure heart and Gemini gift that instigated the Eternal Doctrine. She did not tell you, because she did not want to involve you or hurt you.” Gabrielle stepped in front of me. “And you cannot be angry with her, this is something that happened a long time ago, which she currently has no memory of.”

“Explain.” I folded my arms across my chest.

“It was after her first incarnation. Zoe’s memories had all returned. She learned of Lilith.” Gabrielle gave a weak smile. “And Zoe, being the true romantic she is, tried to save Lilith’s soul.”

“What?” I narrowed my gaze. “No. That’s ridiculous.”

“Zoe wanted Lilith’s soul saved after Lilith tried to hunt her down in her first incarnation. Zoe was convinced if she could only break through to Lilith’s heart, perhaps find Lilith’s Gemini, that all this could end, once and for all, and she would not have to leave you again. So Zoe studied Lilith. Searched for her Gemini, but failed.

“She sent Samael on a mission after Lilith. And when he did not return, Zoe went searching for them both. She matched them. They were Gemini. Zoe did not tell Samael, but he figured it out. He fell for Lilith on his own, but Lilith refused to return to Aravot and seek absolution. Then Samael chose to fall. the first.”

“Yes, Raz said Samael was the first Fallen Angel.”

“No, the first Fallen Arch.” Gabrielle exhaled, clasping her hands together. “As a former leader, he paid a stiff price.”

“How so?” I asked.

“It was a different time then,” Raz said.

“Samael was in love with Lilith. And Lilith was in love with him. They were happy for a time, but as other Angels began to Fall, chaos began to take its toll, pulling Lilith in different directions.” Gabrielle continued. “So as a warning for Samael’s involvement with her, he was punished. They both were.”

“Punished how?”

“Samael sought out Zoe. Asked for forgiveness, to allow him and Lilith to be together, without Lilith’s knowledge. Zoe then sought the Council’s advice, and we advised.”

“And I suppose it didn’t work in his favor.”

“Samael was given a choice. He could return to Aravot, without Lilith, regaining his wings, or he could roam the earth Eternally. Searching for his true love. And should he find her and soften her heart, they could once again, be together, absolved,” Gabrielle said.

“Samael lives as a human. He is born, he lives, and he dies. Repeatedly. Each life, his soul searches for Lilith. He always finds her, but he seldom remembers her.”

“Why?”

“Because Lilith loved him. When he chose to take the offer, she was heartbroken as she would lose him. She sought revenge from Zoe and the Council. She’s been on a mission to destroy us all ever since, so she can either have Samael back on her terms, or not at all.” Gabrielle sighed. “So she runs, seeking retribution.”

“I still don’t understand what this has to do with Zoe, or how this was all changed.”

“Lilith discovered a way to hide from Samael. She cloaks herself through magic. Hides her heart, even from herself, and more importantly, so Samael cannot find her,” Gabrielle said. “But when Zoe stabbed Lilith with her Eternal dagger, it dissolved the magic keeping Lilith hidden. Zoe’s Eternal light entered Lilith’s heart. Returning some of the light she’d been hiding all these years. And Samael—he can sense her now.”

“So Zoe didn’t banish Lilith to the dark realm.” I put my hands in my pockets.

“No,” Michael replied. “Zoe returned Lilith’s light. She is Eternal, not Fallen. And Samael, his love for her has been awakened. And he searches for her.”

“So Zoe’s visions.
Help him
. Is that about Samael?”

“We believe so.” Raz sighed. “So as you can see, we have a bit of a dilemma. Lilith is Eternal, which changes things. And this prophecy—well, we don’t want to see it fulfilled.”

“What are the details of this prophecy?”

“It states the Eternal Family—Genesis will fall from within. An Eternal will fall, perhaps many,” Raz said.

“What of Zoe’s vision? Let them fall? Wait. You don’t think she’s speaking of herself now with this Evanescence Prophecy, do you? The child?”

“We don’t know for sure.” Michal started. “We’ve been watching all the Eternals closely. Many are suspect. Micah. Perhaps even Rainah. But the other half of this prophecy is a more daunting issue. Samael has been searching for Lilith for so long, he’s unpredictable,” Michael said. “We have no idea how he’ll react. Whether out of anger or love. But if Zoe chooses to seek him out to save the Tree…”

“How? I must know. She’ll want to know.”

“The addendum states if all Genesis are matched with their Gemini, the Tree will be refilled indefinitely,” Michael said. “Barring some act of the Origin.”

“So in order to save her Tree, all Genesis must be matched?”

“Not only matched.” Gabrielle sighed. “They must Converge.”

“Let me guess,” I began. “Given Lilith’s history, a Convergence will never happen,” I said. “So what now? Zoe will want to know what to do. What her options are. How to save her Tree and not give birth to a child without a soul.”

“The Evanescence Prophecy is very specific. It states Zoe will be forced to choose. One life over another. It is just a prophecy, one of many we’ve dealt with for millennia, but we don’t want to risk it,” Gabrielle said. “Zoe has been through enough.”

“She has, but she also deserves to make this decision on her own. You should not make it for her.” I folded my arms across my chest once more. “And if you knew her as I do, you’d know this will never stand.”

“You’re right, brother,” Gabrielle added. “We’ve been up in arms since her mark appeared. The Council has been divided, and when that happens, it becomes Michael’s decision.”

“Yes. You’re forgetting though, there are ways to avoid a pregnancy.”

Gabrielle set her hand on my shoulder. “I’m afraid it’s already done.”

“What are you saying?”

“There are a finite number of souls remaining in the Tree.” A tear slid down Gabrielle’s cheek. “And if Chayah—I’m sorry. Please excuse me.”

Gabrielle turned and left the room.

“So that’s it? Neither Zoe nor I have any choice in the matter?”

“There is always a choice,” Michael said, sharing a knowing look. He set his hand on my shoulder, nodded, then turned and left out the door.

“Chayah will never accept this,” I said to Raz. “She will choose to fight, regardless of the consequences.”

“Would you like me to speak with her?”

“No. This is between me and my Gemini.”

He nodded. “Okay then.”

“So I need to know, what must be done to save the Tree and our child’s soul?”

“Find Samael. He and Lilith must Converge, as well as the remaining Firstborns. Julian and Rainah, Micah. Zoe must find his Gemini. Then Remie and Phoebe.”

“So we have our work cut out for us.”

“Yes.” He set his hand on my shoulder. “We certainly do.”

Zoe

Aravot truly was something out of a Fairytale.

Lavender skies. Light shining from some invisible sun.

I inhaled, eyes closed, breathing in the scent of flowers and the sea filling the warm air around me.

My Eternal plane was the best parts of earth, only magical.

I sat on the beach of the Chayah Fountain, digging my toes into the pink sand, staring out over the vast water, blue-green like the Mediterranean Sea.

And according to Cade, like my eyes.

Journey, my phoenix, flew gracefully in the air above me.

I tilted my chin up as she soared, keeping watch over me while I sat here staring out at the water.

This prophecy had me lost. And so did that vision.

I had nobody to talk to, and I felt more alone than ever before.

For over five thousand years, my duties had been laid out for me.

I ruled Aravot with Cade, then was reborn, then returned to rule again. Life continued. Complicated, yet simple at the same time.

Now, it was just complicated.

Another sacrifice. Only this time, it was about so much more than just me. It was the possibility of a child. Mine and Cade’s. It wasn’t just my choice any longer.

Not this time.

Cade sat down beside me. Letting out a breath, he shoved off his shoes and dug his toes into the sand.

I stared blankly ahead watching the dolphin and fish jump in the fountain.

“Are you all right, love?”

I blew out a breath. “Tell me this isn’t happening.”

“If only I could.”

“Do you really think I can get pregnant?” I peeked over at him.

“Gabrielle says it’s possible with your residual human tissues.”

“How in the hell can that be?” I shook my head, returning my gaze to the water. “I’m not really human.”

“I don’t know, but there are measures we can take to prevent it.”

I scoffed, staring back at Cade. “No sex. Really? Does that mean no Converging?”

“We survived the last twenty-one years without sex. And there are other ways for our souls to Converge. You just need to practice.”

“So it’s just about survival now, huh? Well then.” I pushed out my toes, flipping a blob of sand into the water. “This Eternal Sacrifice is certainly living up to its stigma.”

Journey’s cries drew my attention as she descended from above, landing in the sand beside me. She spread out her wings, flapping them a few times, then pulled them in and walked up to me.

Even she knew we were in for it.

“Hey girl.” I reached out and rubbed the back of her neck. “I’m okay.”

She moved closer, nudging her beak up to my cheek.

“So now what? What do we do? I guess they gave you some information.”

“Yes. To begin, you must match all Genesis. The Firstborns.”

“That’s it?” I narrowed my eyes. “That only leaves Micah. I can do that.” I sat up, a spark of encouragement running through me. “I can totally do that.”

“It’s not so simple.” He sighed. “There’s more.”

“There always is. Okay, what else?”

“Samael.”

“The guy from my vision? He’s not an Angel anymore, is he?”

“No. But he is Genesis, and he has a Gemini roaming the earth that he seeks. He fell for her. Gave up his wings for her.”

“So I need to find her, then. I can figure out who she is, too.”

“His Gemini is not lost.”

I narrowed my eyes, trying to figure out what he was getting at.

“It’s Lilith.”

I think my jaw fell to the sand. “No. Freaking. Way. How?”

“Apparently after your first incarnation, you sent Samael to retrieve Lilith in hopes she would return to Genesis. But Samael went after her and didn’t come back. When you went searching for him, you discovered why. You’d matched them.”

As Cade went on to explain all the horrid details, I was literally speechless.

Lilith and Samael were Genesis—and now, my only hope of saving the Tree. Saving us all.

Melting Lilith’s frozen heart was the one thing standing between my unborn demon baby and humanity’s survival.

How the hell could I convince Lilith to love a man she’d spent four thousand years running from?

Yeah. We were in trouble.

Part of me was scared as hell. Fear crept into my chest, tightening a knot in the middle, but I’d spent my entire human life running from this duty.

I was done running.

There was a storm coming, and I wasn’t going to let Genesis go down without a fight.

I wouldn’t let the storm control me. I had to control the storm.

Just like Cade said.

I glanced at my wrist, pulsing with Cade’s soul running through my veins. I peered out over the fountain. The water was smooth as glass. Leaning back, I set my hands behind me and lifted my chin to the lavender sky. Eyes shut, I focused on the pulse of our hearts beating together.

Nothing more.

“What are you thinking, Chayah?”

“I’m not thinking,” I said. “I’m feeling.”

“What would you like to do?”

I blew out a long, extended breath, puffing out my cheeks.

“It’s not my decision, Cade. It’s ours.”

“Yes, but what do
you
think is best?”

I moved closer and let Cade wrap his arms around me. I laid my cheek on his chest, listening to his heart beating beneath me. Feeling it beat inside of me. Coursing through me.

The synched song of our heartbeat chose for us.

“You already know the answer to that, babe.”

He laughed lightly at the echo of his words from Chicago.

“We fight,” he said. “We fight until the end, until there is no fight left in us.”

“You and me, il mio bel ragazzo.” I tilted my head and peered into his beautiful icy blue eyes. “For Eternity.”

Cade leaned in and gently kissed my lips. “Per l'eternità.”

Zoe

“Thank you for coming, Raz. I need your help.”