Origin (Eternal Sacrifice Saga Book 2) (32 page)

“Who’s in on this plan?”

“The Order, mostly.”

“The women, eh?” I scrubbed my chin. “So not Raz?”

She shook her head. “No, not yet. When I reveal to him, you’ll also know. Until then, just follow my lead. And please. Trust me.”

“I don’t have a choice. But even if I did, I would still put my faith in you, Chayah. In all our years, you’ve never let us down.”

“And I won’t this time either. Just—make me a promise?”

“Anything.”

She exhaled, closing her eyes briefly. “Forgive me.”

“For what?”

“Everything I’ve done.” She swallowed. “Anything I’ve yet to do, but have to.”

“I say it again. I don’t like the sound of this.” I ran my hands through her hair, pushing it off her shoulder.

“No, and you won’t like the things you’re going to forgive me for either, but I need to know you understand what I’ve done is necessary. If there were a way around any of it, I would have found it by now. But there wasn’t. Isn’t. And I’m so sorry. I want so badly to share it with you, but I can’t just yet.

“Just know I love you.” She cupped my cheeks. “And when this all comes to pass, at the end of it all, it’s still just you and me. Us. The Genesis Origin.”

“Okay.”

“Thank you.”

I nodded, exhaling a breath. “All right, love. It’s time to go home.”

She let out a long sigh and lay back on the sand. “I know.”

“Are you afraid?” I glanced down on her as she stared blankly above her head.

“Yes.” She peered up to me. “But I have you. By my side, for Eternity. I know it’ll all be all right as long as we’re together.”

I got to my feet and pulled Zoe to hers. “I’m sure Raz is going in circles trying to find us. To contact us.”

“Probably.”

“Anything I need to know before we go?”

“Nothing you don’t know already.” She bent down, picking up her clothes and pulled them on. “Don’t forget. I love you.”

“You’ve said it a hundred times since your return.” I narrowed my eyes and leaned closer. “I think what you’re hoping for is great after-fight sex once I’ve learned what you’ve done?”

She put her hands on her hips and tilted her head, trying not to laugh. “It’s called make-up sex.”

“I heard it on a television show in Chicago.” I scoffed, throwing up my arms. “I’m trying, all right?”

She smirked, leaning in, running the back of her hand against my cheek.

“Yes, you are.” She bent over, picking up my jeans and handed them to me. “Now get dressed, before I rip off my clothes again and beg you to take advantage of this calm before the storm.”

“Don’t tempt me.” I growled, pulling on my jeans.

“Oh yeah?” She raised her eyebrows. “Well don’t tempt fate.” She moved closer, running her hands over my stomach and up my chest, wrapping her arms behind my back. “You. Are the most beautiful man I’ve ever laid eyes on. I can and will spend Eternity ravishing you. When this thing is over, we’re taking a
long
holiday. If Raz contacts me for anything short of a demon invasion on the Trees, I’ll have his head for breakfast.”

“Oh my.” I grinned. “I like this new arrogance.”

“Not new. Returned.” She reached my hips and thrust me closer, forcing me against her waist. “You said you wanted your Chayah back. Well, she’s here.” Zoe kissed up my jaw to my lips. “With a vengeance. And she’s missed you terribly.” Zoe traced her tongue along my neck, up to my earlobe and tugged at it lightly with her teeth. “And she’s going to take every stolen moment to remind her man just how much she loves him.”

“I rather enjoy the sound of that.”

“Hmm.” She grunted. “All right, blue eyes. Let’s go. Before Raz sends out the Calvary.” She waved her arms, and the shield keeping us in our private bubble fell to the sand.

“We’re coming Raz.” Zoe spoke to the air.

“What was that?” I chuckled.

She shrugged. “Just figured we’d stay ahead of the weather.”

“Meet us in the Elder Hall.”
Raz’s voice breached our thoughts.

Zoe and I burst into laughter.

“And so it begins.” She nudged my hips.

Holding hands, we left our cave of secrets and crossed the bridge to our home. We no sooner reached the doors when Raz pushed through it and met us outside.

“I’m sorry I bothered you. Can we speak before the meeting?”

“Of course,” Zoe said. “But not here. Let’s go to the Arch.”

Raz nodded, and we changed course, turning back around and heading down the path toward the Arch to hide our conversation from spying eyes and ears.

“Sit, please.” Zoe ushered us to the bench, and we sat across from her. “What questions do you have? I’ll answer them the best I can.”

“Gabrielle said there are things we need to discuss. Before we attempt a rescue again for Micah.”

Zoe exhaled. “There won’t be another Micah rescue.” Her expression, resigned.

“What do you mean?” Raz asked.

“We can’t intervene. Free will. Micah has the right to stay. To defect, if that’s his choice.”

Raz narrowed his eyes, lips pursed.

“But how—” I started.

She threw me a look, tilting her head, raised eyebrows.

I nodded, mouth closed.

“What’s going on, Chayah? What aren’t you telling us?”

“By now, you know there are things at work you haven’t been informed of.”

“Yes.” Raz scrubbed his jaw. “So now that I’m suspicious, why am I not part of the plan?”

“You will be. But not yet.” She exhaled. “Your mind’s not secure.”

He tilted his head, narrowing his expression.

Zoe rolled her eyes. “Sophie. She can still breach your mind. And demons and Fallen can breach hers.”

“And?”

“The plan isn’t meant to be shared yet. With anyone. The only ones who know are Gabrielle, Michael, and myself. Our minds are the only one’s safe from intrusion. I’ve laid safeguards in place, so Cade can’t read my thoughts. You were right, there was a reason I couldn’t remember. I wasn’t meant to. Wasn’t ready or strong enough until now.”

“I understand, but why not now?”

“Raz, you understand how demon and Fallen breaches work. They gain access through mind breaches. If you know anything, someone will find it and can use it to their advantage. We can’t take the chance, it’s too soon. You’re just going to have to do as I’ve asked Cade. Follow my lead and give my your trust.”

Raz rose to his feet and bowed his head. “I understand.”

“When the time is right, you’ll know everything you need to know. Until then, I’ll share things as necessary.”

“So Lailah, her mind isn’t safe?”

Zoe shook her head. “She doesn’t know what the plans are, only that my memories needed hiding until the time came to release them. She never saw into my mind and isn’t any more aware of anymore than you. Especially now, given what’s going on with her son.”

Raz stood. “So you’re not
really
planning on leaving Micah there, are you?”

Narrowing her eyes, Zoe held her hips and tilted her head to the side. “Raziel. Do you not know me at all?” She raised her eyebrows.

Raz tilted his head.

“She’s returned.” I shrugged.

A knowing smile crossed Raz’s lips. “Will the real Slim Shady please stand up?”

Zoe curtsied with a slight bow and an arrogant grin. “I’m baaaack.”

“Very well, then. I’ll follow your lead as requested.”

“Thank you, Raz. Now before we return, let me give you this. I’ve asked Cade to accept my apologies early and to forgive me of anything I’m about to do, as it’s things I never imagined I’d be capable of. But please, understand I’m still here, even if at times, it appears as if I’m not. There’s nothing I’ll force upon any of us we’re not capable of overcoming.”

“Understood,” Raz said. “This is why you took so long to access your memories. To increase your strength of will.”

“And to protect my mind from curious intrusions. We had to be sure I was strong enough, not just to survive, but to overcome. Strong enough to do the things I’m going to have to do to save our family. To save the Trees. I’m not looking forward to the foreseeable future. To the things my visions have foretold. But the plan is set in motion now, and there’s no turning back. I only hope at the end of all this, you and the whole of Genesis can forgive me and understand everything I’ve done and am about to do is out of love.”

“Wait.” Raz pursed his lips. “What are you saying?”

“You want the short version?” She asked.

He nodded.

“It’s about to go Old Testament around here.”

“Bloody hell.” Raz and I swore in unison.

Zoe exhaled, pursing her lips. “Exactly.”

~

We followed Zoe back to the Elder meeting. She stood tall and proud, shoulders back. Head held high.

Zoe was exactly as she’d left us twenty-one years before.

Strong. Full of life.

A warrior.

All the Elders and Eternals had assembled in the hall, waiting for Zoe. Word spread fast that she’d returned and was in full charge of the Council once more.

The room was quiet as she walked through the crowded hall, past Eternals, old and new, toward her seat at the head of the room.

Genesis stood steadfast, heads bowed in respect.

Zoe took her seat, and the rest of us followed.

Michael and Gabrielle stood, calling the meeting to order.

“We first want to welcome Chayah back into the fold,” Michael said. “Now that the Gemini Doctrine is void and these prophecies are spreading about, we wanted to come together to discuss the plans as they’re set. Chayah, please share with the Eternals what you know.”

Zoe stood and began pacing the room.

“Micah has chosen to defect Genesis.”

Gasps echoed through the Eternal Hall.

“We made a rescue attempt, but it failed. Free will dictates an Eternal has the choice to remain within Genesis or to defect. We can’t intervene if it’s Micah’s choice to leave.”

“So you’ll give up on him. Just like that?” Remie stood, eyes narrowed.

“I know you’re new to this world, Remliel. But free will is an important part of this life. We would never expect you or any other Eternal to choose this if it wasn’t what they wanted. I can’t force Micah to return to Genesis.” She inhaled slowly, releasing a cleansing breath. “The fact is, he’s met his Gemini.”

Zoe stopped pacing and put her hands behind her.

“And she’s a Fallen.”

More gasps and whispers echoed through the room.

“How can you match him with a Fallen?” Someone blurted.

“I don’t choose who someone loves. The Origin does. I only see the connection and alert Gemini to its existence. We all know how important the bond between Gemini is. Micah’s Gemini is Fallen. If he chooses her over Genesis, I’ll certainly not intervene.”

Rumblings and whispers pushed through the room, rising to a constant chatter until Zoe raised her hands, and the room fell silent once more.

“The Eternal war, that which has been prophesized since the Genesis of time is upon us. As we speak, the dark factions are building their army against us. An army of Fallen and demon. It’s strong. Growing stronger each day. We can’t keep up with the breaches and border attacks. And now we must consider the situation with Micah. If he’s not with us, he’s against us. The enemy.”

The Newborn’s expressions turned dark. Angry. I could hear their minds rumbling.

“While this may cause concern for younger Eternals in the group, Genesis stands together to protect Humanity. It’s our legacy. You must all reaffirm the oaths you took to Genesis, the First Family, the Origin.

“The coming months will bring upheaval and sacrifice. It’ll be difficult on everyone, and I feel in light of it, we must all swear allegiance to Genesis. The Beginning and the End. Because if we don’t protect our legacy, it will fall to the darkness. And we’ll all fall along with it.”

Zoe

The Eternal meeting was stressful, so I excused myself to walk along the shore of the Fountain as Journey flew overhead.

Returning to full-Chayah mode so soon had exhausted me already, and it became clear I needed to take smaller steps walking back into this life.

I’d been wandering aimlessly, going through the motions before my memories returned, and now that life was so far removed from where I stood, I could hardly recognize it as my own.

Strange. Moving from one existence to another, while still having to be myself was harder than trying to figure out who I was to begin with.

Fortunately, everyone was on board so far.

Everyone except my Newborns.

I expected that, expected some fallout from the announcement that we were leaving Micah behind, but regardless of what the plan was, free will reigned.

Even if Micah being absent worked in our favor at the moment, it didn’t set well with the Eternals.

I hurt for them, for all of us. For my Newborn who was hidden away in the dark realm, chasing a Gemini who didn’t want to be caught. But there was nothing I could do about that, I could only choose my battles wisely and fight them. One at a time.

The prophecies that had surfaced hundreds of years before my last incarnation changed the way the game was played, and if we were going to be contenders, we had to change, too.

Visions of war. Cade’s death.

They changed everything.

I had to play to win.

Drastic measures were taken. Unexpected alliances were forged.

Whatever it took to save Cade and my family, to ensure my legacy lived on, was necessary. And it all started with Genesis.

Today’s battle was with my own family.

My Newborns.

Firstborns and older Eternals would follow my lead. They would fall in line because they trusted me. They’d seen me in action. Followed me into battle and emerged victoriously.

But my Newborns—they didn’t know me as the badass Eternal who would never take a demon or Fallen invasion lying down. They didn’t know me as the strong immortal mother who would stop at nothing to protect her children.

I’d have to build trust between me and my Newborns now, otherwise our war was already lost.

As I stood by the altar at the Angel’s Arch, tracing Cade’s name etched in the marble, my Newborns all lined up behind me.