Genesis (The Legend of Glory Book 3)

by Devin O'Branagan

  After Professor Greenberg and Dr. Walsh left, I slipped into Dominic’s arms. “Archangel Michael’s army?”

  He nodded. “I’ve been assigned to work for her when the need arises. You answer to the Caretakers. I answer to Michael now. It was part of the deal I made with Heaven when I left.”

  I suddenly realized why Dominic assumed the surname Michaels when he became human. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “You had so much on your plate, and I didn’t want you to worry.”

  “Should I be worried?”

  He just looked at me. I could feel that he didn’t want to tell me the truth, and he didn’t want to lie.

  Rory answered my question. “Michael is Heaven’s fiercest warrior.”

  “Man, talk about friends in high places,” Raven said. “Can’t you ask for help with the whole Jesse/Lucifer thing?”

  He sighed. “Believe me, I’ve been asking. I didn’t understand Heaven’s agenda when I was an angel, and I understand it even less now.”

  My mind couldn’t wrap itself around the concept of gentle-hearted Dominic being a soldier in Heaven’s fiercest army. With his angelic mojo a thing of the past, how could he possibly survive? “How did you know the words of the exorcism?”

  “When I was an angel I always knew what I needed to know. Sometimes, that still happens to me.”

  “Sweetie, you’ve captured lightning in a bottle,” Rory said. “Could be useful. Could kill you dead.”

  I clung to him more tightly. Dread for his future eclipsed the fear I felt for my own.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  † † †

  Zane took off the key he had worn around his neck for well over a hundred years and let himself into the Goth Girls’ mansion. Then he set it down on a small table right inside the door. His human instincts were returning, and they told him that this would be the last time he’d be welcome here.

  “You smell different, cowboy.” Jinx stood in the doorway between the foyer and the parlor.

  “I am different.”

  Joy ran to Zane and he swept her up into his arms. She covered his face in kisses. “Missed you, love you ... oh.” She pulled back with a shocked expression.

  “Yes, Joy, he’s different,” Jinx said, turning away and returning to the parlor.

  “Did you bring me something?” Joy asked him.

  “I did, honeychild. I brought you something real special.”

  “No,” Jinx said.

  Zane kissed Joy and set her down. “I’d hoped you’d changed your mind about that.”

  “No,” Jinx repeated.

  “I told you before that I’d fight you on this if I have to.”

  Jinx looked at the large bandage on his neck and erupted with laughter. “Like you could win. Walk away, Zane.”

  “That’s not who I am.”

  “Walk away now. Come back if Glory rejects you and if you’ll let me turn you back because I’m not going to go human.”

  “You can’t turn me back. I’m told I’m immune to the virus now.”

  Jinx’s shock shook the room. “Oh no,” she whispered.

  “Please let me humanize you and Joy.”

  “Stay with me instead of going to Glory. I won’t let you turn us, but I love you and want to be with you even if you are only human.”

  Zane shook his head. “I’ll support your decision about yourself, but not little Joy. I’m turning her back.”

  “You’ll die trying, Zane.”

  Her sudden freeze chilled his blood. “You’d really kill me? After all we’ve been together?”

  “Yes. You’ve taken my heart; you can’t take my daughter, too.”

  “I won’t take her away from you. Raise her. Give her a good life.”

  “I won’t watch her get sick, grow old, die. I couldn’t bear it.”

  “When you really love someone you do what’s best for them, not yourself.”

  Fury crossed her face. “You dare say that to me? I gave you a hundred and thirty years. I was never with anyone else in all that time, even knowing you loved someone more. I did that because it was best for you, not me.”

  “Darlin’—”

  “Don’t you ‘darlin’’ me, bastardo!” She picked him up and threw him across the room.

  Joy’s screams were louder than the pain that shot through his body when he slammed into the wall.

  “Don’t do this in front of Joy,” Zane managed to say. He struggled to his feet and wiped the blood pouring down his face.

  “Wrong. I want Joy to see this.” Jinx kicked Zane in the gut and he doubled over. “Joy, this is what happens to you when you become human. You’re weak. You’re fragile. You die.”

  Joy’s screams turned to frantic sobs.

  “Joy, run away,” Zane said.

  “Joy, stay.” Jinx kicked Zane in the face.

  He groaned and fell onto his knees.

  “Surrender, Zane. Surrender or I swear I’ll kill you.”

  Joy’s sobs turned to moans.

  Disbelief twisted Zane’s mind. “This isn’t you, Jinx. Not the woman I’ve known and loved.”

  “Hell hath no fury like a vampire scorned.” A shuddering cry escaped her lips, and tears streamed down her face.

  Tremendous sorrow swept through Zane. What had he done to her? How could he have hurt her so badly? He had always tried to be honorable. His tears rose to meet hers. “I’m so sorry.”

  “It’s too late for that.”

  Jezebel, Jade, and Jasmine appeared.

  “What are you doing?” Jezebel asked.

  “What I have to,” Jinx said.

  Zane struggled to stand, but couldn’t. “Get Joy out of here.”

  Jade scooped up Joy and headed for the stairs.

  Blood puddled around Zane, and he realized that death was likely. So many regrets tore at his heart, but he pushed them back with the consolation that at least he would die human.

  “Witness the impotent little human man,” Jinx said.

  Zane tried for a grin. “Not completely impotent.”

  Jinx screamed and kicked him between the legs.

  Agony caused Zane to curl into a fetal position.

  “Stop it, Jinx,” Jezebel said.

  “Not until he surrenders.”

  Zane couldn’t talk. He just shook his head.

  “Then you’ll die, cowboy.”

  Jezebel and Jasmine moved to stand between Jinx and Zane.

  “Step away,” Jinx said.

  Jasmine shook her head. “We love him. You can’t kill him. Not our Zane.”

  “Step away!” Jinx’s tears flowed harder.

  Jade reappeared. “Take her somewhere else and keep her there until I call you.”

  Jasmine and Jezebel charged Jinx and grabbed her.

  “Cabronas,” Jinx said through clenched teeth. “This is mutiny.”

  Jezebel shook her head. “You’re no longer a ship’s captain.”

  “We’re mighty grateful to you, Jinx, but when you gave us our lives you gave us our freedom too,” Jasmine said.

  Jade helped Zane sit up, then turned to Jinx. “We’re all mothers to Joy, and the three of us agree that she should have a chance to grow up. You’re outvoted.”

  Jinx’s scream shook the house. “I hate you,” she told Zane.

  He gave her a sad smile. “No, you don’t.”

  Jezebel and Jasmine dragged Jinx, kicking and swearing, out of the house.

  Jade wiped the tears streaming from Zane’s eyes.

  “I hurt her so bad. I never meant to,” he said.

  Jade’s expression was compassionate. “Jinx knows that.” She helped Zane to the sofa, then fetched pain medicine, a first aid kit, and an ice pack.

  Zane swallowed the medicine, put the ice pack between his legs, and let Jade tend to his other wounds. “Is Joy okay?”

  “No, but she will be.”

  “Is my hat okay?”

  She laughed. “No, but it will be.”

&nbs
p; “Will Jinx be okay?”

  “Someday.”

  † † †

  After Zane and Jade had comforted Joy, they began her treatment. Zane wanted to wait until her emotional trauma was more distant, but they decided to get it done as quickly as possible in case Jinx escaped her captors and returned.

  “Will it be safe to leave Joy here?” Zane asked.

  “Oh, yes,” Jade said. “She has many doting mothers. And I predict that Jinx’s love for her will be the thing that heals her heart.”

  The elixir White Bear provided helped ease Joy’s physical misery, but didn’t eliminate it entirely. Zane insisted on holding her through the entire process, and she clung to him like a fragile leaf on a mighty tree. Zane was only human, but his love for her was strong.

  He sang to her.

  “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound

  That saved a wretch like me.

  I once was lost, but now am found;

  Was blind, but now I see.”

  “Will you, Jezebel, and Jasmine take the cure?” Zane asked Jade.

  She shook her head. “We’ve talked about it, but no.”

  “Why not?”

  “I can’t speak for the others, but for me it’s because I don’t feel my work here is done yet.”

  “Don’t you want to achieve enlightenment?” Zane asked.

  “I do. But as a vampire I’m in a better position to help others than I would be as a human. The Dalai Lama said, ‘You should realize that whether you achieve Buddhahood or not, your purpose is to help other sentient beings. Whether you find yourself in Heaven or Hell, your purpose is to help other sentient beings. It doesn’t matter how long it takes.’”

  “Through many dangers, toils and snares,

  I have already come;

  ’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,

  And grace will lead me home.”

  “Our gang had so many adventures through the years,” Zane said.

  Jade grasped his hand. “You were always the best of us. Your heart was never tarnished by the struggle.”

  “Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,

  And mortal life shall cease,

  I shall possess, within the veil,

  A life of joy and peace.”

  “I love you all so much,” Zane said.

  Jade smiled. “In the end, the only thing that matters is how much you loved.”

  † † †

  Leaving Savannah and the Goth Girls behind closed a door for Zane that he had never expected. If Glory rejected him too, the road ahead was frightening. Fear—something he hadn’t felt in forever—was another aspect of being human he’d have to tame.

  He called White Bear, but Kate answered.

  “He’s tending to Kaia,” Kate explained. “She was hurt rescuing Glory.”

  Zane immediately thought of the NWO, and his gut clenched. “What happened?”

  “Nyx and Jesse kidnapped Glory and took her to Hell. The place was warded against angels, so the witches and vampires were the ones who got her out.”

  “What vampires?”

  “Jinx and Jezebel.”

  Jinx had saved Glory’s life? That twist snapped like a broken cinch, and Zane felt himself slipping off his horse. “Glory?” he managed to ask.

  “White Bear said she seemed okay, but I’m heading out the door now to go home.”

  “Glory’s been in Hell. How could she be okay?” He checked the passing highway signs and recalculated his route. “I’ll meet you there. I’m on my way. Tell Glory I’m on my way to her.”

  * * *

  Dominic, the witches, and the angels were discussing battle strategies with me when my mother walked in. She and I simply stared at each other, as if we were both equally shocked. I hadn’t heard from her in months and I could tell she hadn’t known about my pregnancy. We stood across the living room and stared at each other while everyone else stared at us. Finally, she cleared her throat. “White Bear told me about your kidnapping. I came as soon as I heard.”

  I had so many questions, but instead of asking any of them, I said, “I returned from the past pregnant with Zane’s baby.”

  A surprisingly delighted expression crossed her face and she rushed to gather me in her arms. I surrendered to her and, for a moment, felt safe again.

  Rory and Dominic stood up from the couch to give us room to sit together.

  “Zane doesn’t know,” Mom said to me.

  “The Caretakers said not to tell you or Zane. They didn’t want to risk that the NWO might find out.”

  Mom nodded. “Erica believed something unusual happened during your trip and has been trying to figure it out. Wonderland works with demons. You’ve been with demons. Why wouldn’t they have shared the news?”

  “The demons had plans for my baby but now—” I suddenly realized that with Nyx out of the picture it was totally possible that the NWO did know about Gen. “Now they might.”

  Rory grunted. “Well, add that to our craptastic list of pending doom.”

  “What does that mean?” Mom asked.

  “We’re expecting a visit from Jesse and Lucifer,” Lailah said.

  Mom seemed to notice her for the first time. “You are?”

  “Genesis’ guardian angel.”

  “Genesis?”

  I glanced at my belly. “Your granddaughter.”

  “Genesis,” she whispered.

  “According to the Caretakers, her DNA is supposed to be the key to undoing a genetic mutation thingy the NWO has triggered,” I said. “Well, that combined with the vampire virus cure. Did you discover it yet?”

  Whenever Mom had Eureka moments, I could see them in her eyes. I saw one now.

  “Oh, my. Of course,” she whispered. “Yes, of course that would work. Astounding. Yes.”

  “Yes, you did find the vampire cure?” I asked.

  She shook her head, the fog cleared, and she returned to me. “Yes, I did. Zane’s human again. He’s on his way here now.”

  I looked at Dominic and saw him flinch.

  Everyone in the room looked at Dominic, and then back at me. I knew the unspoken question, so I answered it. “I’m not going to survive Jesse, so my choice doesn’t matter now. But I do want everyone here to promise me something. Promise me that Zane will be given custody of Gen. She’s his and I know he’ll want her. Do I have everyone’s word?”

  “What do you mean, you won’t survive Jesse?” Mom asked.

  “He’s teamed up with Lucifer. Our wards aren’t strong enough to keep them both out, and when I escaped Hell Jesse vowed to kill me. He’s coming, Mom. I’m just hoping Gen will get here first.” I struggled to still my trembling. “I didn’t hear any promises, guys.”

  “Zane would be an awesome daddy,” Rory said.

  Mom’s face became as white as the bitter snow that slapped at the windows. “I refuse to believe you’re going to die, honey, but if it does happen your child couldn’t have a better father than Zane. He’s a good man.”

  Yes, I knew he was.

  † † †

  What had been a four-hour drive for Kate would have been twenty-four hours for Zane except—already exhausted from the marathon healing session with Joy, weakened by the violence his body had endured, and now all too human—he had to pull off at a rest stop and catch a few hours’ sleep. He arrived at Glory’s farm at sunset the next evening.

  The snow had stopped falling, and the air was frigid. He pushed back fear and knocked on the front door. Unexpectedly, Rory answered it.

  Her face lit up. “Zane. You look like hell.”

  He hugged her. “Good to see you too, sweetheart.”

  “Who beat you up?”

  “A couple women got the better of me. Long story.”

  She stepped aside and said, “Brace yourself, sweetie.”

  Her words didn’t do anything to help the wild horses already tearing up his insides. He took a deep breath and walked past her. Glory stood by the wood stove and when
their eyes met, the earth shook. When he saw her pregnancy, his world imploded. He staggered.

  Rory put her hand on his back to brace him.

  So, Glory had already made her choice. What was he supposed to do with that? He glanced over at Dominic.

  Dominic shook his head. “Not my baby.”

  Glory walked to Zane, took his hand, and placed it on her belly. “Her name will be Genesis Dillon. She’s yours.”

  “Mine?”

  She leaned into him and whispered, “Remember the falling star.”

  His mind filled with light and everything became instantly clear. He sucked in a startled breath. “The memories are real?”

  “Our love is big, Zane.”

  Slowly, as if just awakening from an endless dream, he wrapped his fingers in her hair and drew her lips to his. Their tongues met in a reunion dance, and the ropes of time that had seemed hopelessly tangled suddenly straightened. Everything past, present, and future exploded in a love so fierce he staggered once again.

  This time Glory held him up. She embraced him, and he knew that whatever else may come, this moment was as perfect as life could get.

  )o( )o( )o(

  Rory watched Zane and Glory kiss, then she glanced at Dominic. He turned away and walked into the kitchen. Rory really liked him, but for entirely selfish reasons she hoped Glory would choose Zane. Of course, Glory needed to survive in order to have a choice to make, and that probably wouldn’t happen. Their love affair was epic, and yet they had hardly ever actually been together. Now that they finally could be, Glory would likely die. No, Momma, life ain’t fair. I get that, but it sucks when it’s so damn tragic. For the first time in as long as she could remember, tears successfully stormed Rory’s gates.

  When Glory and Zane finally let go of each other, Kate stepped up to greet him.

  “It’s really cold in here,” Glory said, moving to the wood stove. “Let’s get this fire stoked up and maybe someone could get something warm for us all to drink? Oh, and find Lailah and Sasha. I want to introduce Zane to Lailah, and I know Sasha will want to say hi. Hallie, he’s not a vampire anymore so be nice.” Glory’s smile, absent since she returned from Hell, was radiant.