Origin (Eternal Sacrifice Saga Book 2) (29 page)

“Planes of the Eternal realm.”

“Like the levels of the dark realm?”

“Something like that.” Cade kissed my cheek. “The seven kingdoms of Aravot.”

“Which are we in?”

I settled my head into his arm. The heat coming from him gave me warm and fuzzies. I’d missed him desperately. I closed my eyes, inhaling his musky scent, butterflies dancing in my belly.

Man, did I want him.

“We’re in the Second. I’m sure you can guess what’s within the First.”

“Jewel? Joan Osborne? Alanis Morisette?”

“Um—” He stammered.

“Music reference.” I smirked. “I forget, modern humor’s lost on you.”

“Raz says I have no sense of humor. At all.” He sighed.

“Or I’m just not that funny.” I squeezed his hand. “Anyway. Well at least I got to project, though it wasn’t very relaxing. Can we try again?”

“Close your eyes, love. When you return, the world will be a much different place.’’

Cade was right.

When I finally returned from wherever I went, everything had changed.

Cade

“Cade, please come speak to me.”

I glanced at Zoe, lying sound asleep beside me.

“I’ll be back soon,” I whispered, kissing her forehead. I pulled up from the bed and went to the front room of Phoebe’s home to speak with Raz.

“What is it?”

“We’ve learned some things about the Fallen. She goes by Lahnie. She’s been Fallen for three millennia and recently began working with Lilith.”

“Why did she fall?”

“She was one of the casualties of the Nephelium mess. She refused an order, was called out on it, then eventually the Council stripped her wings.”

“So she’s not a malicious one. Then why would she be working with Lilith?”

“I’m unsure. There’s research to be done. If we can determine why she fell, perhaps we can determine why Micah would have been matched with her in the first place. You know as well as I do, nothing happens without cause.”

I sat beside him. “It seems like bad timing for everything to be falling apart at once.”

“I don’t disagree.”

“So what do we do?” Phoebe asked, sitting across from us.

“For now, continue what you’re doing with Zoe. Have her focus on Sam. On figuring out how to get through to him, if he is who we think he is. We will continue to hold our own through the breaches, training the Firstborns, preparing for the war ahead.”

“Cade, we need you. Been a major breach at the border of Aravot.”

I stood at Julian’s call for help in my head.

“What’s happened?”

“The cross breed. Hurry.”

“Go,” Raz said. “We’ll stay here with Zoe.”

“She’s resting, I’ll return as quickly as I can.” I nodded.

Raz nodded back.

“Aperiesque ostium.” I spoke the bridge wind incantation, and a portal opened before me. “Remie? Come along.” I pointed to Raz. “Watch over the girls?”

Remie gave Phoebe a quick kiss then came to my side.

We passed through the portal and landed in the fields just outside the gates of Aravot.

Julian and Rainah, Nate and Matteo, another Firstborn, and Micah were battling at least seven Fallen including the cross breed.

“Bloody hell.” Julian grunted.

Brennan and the Fallen girl knocked Julian to the side and grabbed Micah, pulling him through a portal, disappearing into the bridge wind.

“Damn it.” I rushed over and thrust my blade at the Fallen.

He chuckled, opening a portal of his own. Grabbing Rainah, he shoved me aside and disappeared through another bridge wind.”

“Rainah!” Julian called out, then just as quickly, created his own portal and shimmied through it.

“What in the bloody hell just happened?” My eyes were wide, fists clenched. “Go, get them back.”

Three Firstborns stood there, staring blankly, out of breath.

I pointed at the air, barking orders. “Matteo, take Remie. Get Micah and Rainah. Nate, hang back and explain what just happened, then you’ll meet up with them. You two, go. Now!”

They disappeared into a portal, off to find Rainah and Micah, leaving Nate behind.

“Explain.”

“Eli was with Micah. Came back to Aravot and told me and Julian to take Micah. Show him around the borders. So we did. Then out of nowhere, a bridge wind opens up, and we’re ambushed. Like eight demons and Fallen push through. We couldn’t hold them off. We barely kept them out of the gates, that damn cross breed tried.”

“They know where the Garden is.” I exhaled. “Go, help them.”

Nate nodded, creating a portal, and disappeared.

I inspected the invisible barriers around the city, looking for any insecurity. The borders seemed secure.

But as I was learning lately, nothing was as it seemed.

“Cade, come see me for a moment. I’m on your terrace.”

Raz was already on top of things, as usual.

I jumped a bridge back into Aravot, and Raz was waiting.

“We must go see Michael and Gabrielle. I fear they’ve taken Micah with the intention of defecting.”

“Given what’s transpired lately, I won’t be surprised if it works.” I exhaled. “Who’s with Zoe and Phoebe?”

“They’re all right, brother.” He braced my shoulder. “The house is under a protection spell.”

“I don’t care.” I grit my teeth. “The Fallen were close to finding us today. Several times. They seem to be a step ahead at every turn. I cannot trust the girls are truly safe on their own, especially with Zoe resting.”

“I’ll send Sophie. I’m sure Eli and Lailah will want to be present to speak with Michael and Gabrielle.”

We met Michael and Gabrielle at the Eternal Hall. They were speaking with Elijah and Lailah.

Lailah was in tears. Elijah was livid.

Gabrielle glanced at Raz, pursing her lips, then looked to me and shook her head.

“What is it? Something more we don’t already know?”

“They have Rainah and Micah as you know,” Gabrielle said.

“Yes, Julian and the other Firstborns are off to find them.”

Gabrielle closed her eyes for a moment then opened them. “This security breach. Micah’s abduction. It’s is a sign,” she said. “The war is coming.”

“This is not over,” I said. “Chayah won’t give up.”

“And neither will we. But there’s much going on in the shadows we cannot stop. Things we cannot fight alone. Genesis needs its leader at full power,” Gabrielle said. “We need Chayah to return. Zoe’s of little use to the family in this state.”

“What can I do?”

“Reach out to her.” Gabrielle reached for my shoulder. “Try to breach her Origin. If anyone can break through, brother, it’s you.”

“I’ll see what I can do.” I bowed.

“Good.” Raz started. “I’ll stay with Sophie at Phoebe’s. For now though, you stay here and wait for the Firstborns to return. At least until we know what’s happening with Rainah and Micah.”

Raz jumped a bridge out.

Lailah and Elijah sat on the terrace with me for too long, waiting for word from Raz and the Firstborns when a portal finally opened, and Rainah, Remie, Matteo and Nate came through.

“Julian,” Rainah cried, gasping for air. “He’s gone.”

Lailah and Elijah glanced at each other, fear filling us all. Lailah nearly broke down.

Two of her children were gone, trapped in the dark realm.

Julian was tough, he could hold his own and possibly find a way to get himself out, but not Micah.

“What happened?”

“They had Micah,” Rainah explained. “Julian lunged for him, fighting with Azriel. Then Julian kicked me out. Opened a portal and shoved me through. Remie, Matteo and Nate came after me. Now they can’t get back in.”

“What do you mean, can’t get back in?” I glared.

“We’ve been trying to create a portal, but it’s not working. For any of us.” Nate shrugged. “We’ve tried everything.”

“How is that possible?” I glanced at Elijah.

“We don’t know either,” Nate said. “But we thought maybe Eli and Chayah could do it. They can project, like they did to save you.”

“I’ll get Chayah, see if she can infiltrate the borders.”

Elijah kissed Lailah and moved to me. ‘Those are my sons, that makes this my fight. I’ll rescue them.”

“Chayah would want to go.” I set my hand on Elijah’s shoulder. “Let’s make a stop and get her.”

We created a bridge wind, then passed through to Phoebe’s.

It had been a while since we’d been there.

Two human days, though time moved differently in the earthly realm.

Phoebe was sitting on the couch, hands on her forehead.

“Is everything all right?” Elijah asked.

Phoebe shook her head, eyes damp with tears. “It’s Zoe.”

“What is it?” I moved toward her bedroom.

“She won’t wake up.”

“Where are Sophie and Raz?”

“They left, I don’t know why.”

I entered Zoe’s room, and she was resting quietly. Just as I’d left her, days ago. Same clothes. Eyes twitching beneath her lids, as if dreaming.

I rested my hand on her forehead and closed my eyes, trying to breach her mind, but unsuccessful.

Raz entered the room and sat beside Zoe.

“Where have you been?”

“Zoe wouldn’t wake, so Sophie and I left to speak with Gabrielle. We just returned.”

Raz set his hands on Zoe’s forehead, closed his eyes and said an incantation beneath his breath. A moment later, he opened his eyes and pursed his lips.

“What is it?” I asked. “What did you get from her?”

“Nothing.” He sighed. “She’s in the astral plane. And she’s shutting me out.”

~

After nearly a week, Zoe still would not wake.

She’d been projecting. Gone, somewhere she could not be reached. Neither Raz nor I could breach her thoughts.

Zoe had never been gone so long since her rebirth, and I feared for her safety.

Elijah volunteered to follow her trail into the astral plane, but Gabrielle forbade it, assuring us Zoe would return when she was ready. No further explanation.

This in itself made me more suspicious.

What were they hiding?

Finally, we brought Zoe’s body home to Aravot.

Gabrielle argued at first, said Zoe should stay where she was to ensure her Origin could return to her body, but after so long in the astral plane, Gabrielle finally agreed to allow me to bring Zoe back to her own bed.

Home, where she belonged.

Remie and Sophie stayed with Phoebe in Connecticut.

We had a mission planned to save Julian and Micah, though we’d been waiting for Zoe to return because simple bridge winds were still unable to break through to whichever plane held the Eternals.

It had been long enough, and we could wait no longer. We had to at least attempt to rescue the boys.

But I didn’t want to leave Zoe. She’d been projecting too long, and I truly feared for her. A soul could only be apart from its body for so long before it would begin to deteriorate. Zoe’s body was becoming weaker each day she projected, and I had no idea where she was, who she was with, or what she was doing.

Once again, I was at a loss, unsure how to protect my Gemini’s life.

“Cade.” Raz walked up the stairs of my home.

I didn’t move from my spot beside Chayah, just continued running my hand through her ebony curls, trying to pull her back.

Her body remained still and lifeless.

“Where in the world could she be?”

“Perhaps she’s in the dark realm with Julian and Micah. I’m unsure, brother.”

“You’re supposed to know things. Why is it that ever since this incarnation began, you seem to know nothing?” I scoffed. “What kind of Angel of Wisdom have you become?”

Raz sighed, though he remained quiet.

“I apologize.” I exhaled. “I don’t know where that came from.”

“I do,” he said.

I turned my head toward him.

“It’s the prophecy. Genesis will fall from within. We’re all at each other’s throats. Our family is decaying, Cade. The Eternal Mother is gone, projecting to who knows were, doing who knows what. The Firstborns are being torn apart from within their own circles. The Elders are scattered about. Singular. No cohesive unit. My best friend is calling me incompetent.”

“I’m sorry.” I sat up. “That was uncalled for.”

“It’s the prophecy,” Raz said. “It’s being realized before our eyes.”

“What exactly does it say?”

“That Genesis will collapse from within. A fissure in the foundation. Zoe is the Eternal Mother. Our leader, and she has no memory of who she was. Of her ruling. Her children are scattered about, fighting amongst themselves. The only Newborns not being torn apart are Remie and Phoebe. And they’re barely hanging on.”

“What is our recourse?” I set my head back. “I sure as hell don’t know what to do.”

I returned my attention to Zoe, her hair strung over her shoulder, sticking to her forehead.

“Where are you, love?” I moved her hair from her face. “Why won’t you come home?”

Journey, Chayah’s phoenix, sat beside the bed on her perch, sound asleep. Just like Chayah, the bird had hardly moved since we brought Zoe home. She’d opened her eyes on brief occasions, but refused to leave Zoe’s side.

“Alright. We need to rescue Julian and Micah. We can’t wait any longer.”

“You’ll have to send Elijah and Lailah in alone,” I said. “They can pull in the others if necessary.”

“No. They need you, brother.” Raz set his hand on my shoulder. “Especially in Zoe’s absence. You’re her second in command.”

“I won’t leave her.” I stared at Zoe, trying to will her to wake. A knot hung in my chest, my heart steady, like hers. “I can’t. Her body is weak without me.”

“It shouldn’t be long. And Gabrielle can sit with her. If Zoe wakes before you return, your Gemini will not wake alone.”

“Fine.”

Raz left after Gabrielle while I remained with Zoe.

Once again, I was without my Gemini. Only this time, she wasn’t trapped by a demon, she was trapped within her own mind. Her Origin, and the only one who could rescue Zoe was herself.

She was supposed to see Sam Gaits in Manhattan today, too. When she didn’t wake, Phoebe called Sam and rescheduled.

We could not afford to get that wrong either, but we needed to rescue the Firstborns before anything else.