by Dylan Quinn
I blew out a breath, and released myself from his grip.
“I—maybe. I don’t know.” I sucked in a breath. “I have to. Go.” I looked away, avoiding his gaze, knowing I’d never leave if I didn’t. “Goodnight, Cade."
I wandered back to my table. I had to get out of there, away from his gravity, before I said or did something I’d regret.
Every instinct in my soul cried yes to him, to his offer. To everything or anything he’d yet to ask, but something stopped me. I couldn’t let the words out.
I would consider his request… Someday.
Not today.
~Chapter Four~
Cade
Zoe walked away, and my heart chased after her. I had to draw from every element of restraint to keep myself from following.
Sophie had been accurate in her assessment of my Gemini. Even with her head held high, Zoe’s pain resounded in my chest. This hadn’t been a simple incarnation for her, and our reunion wouldn’t come without difficulty.
I returned to my table and sat beside Raz.
"Very good," he said.
I glanced over at Zoe once more. After twenty-one years apart, I couldn’t take my eyes from her. I yearned to be near her, to hold her in my arms and never let go, but the timing wasn’t right.
Zoe needed time and distance to process this. To know me again. To love me.
She stood at the bar, so young and innocent, laughing with her friends. But behind her masked smile, hid her pain. I experienced her suffering as my own—one of the curses and gifts of being her Gemini. Zoe’s agony was a burden I would gladly take if I could.
Within a short time, Zoe and her friends gathered their things, preparing to leave.
I wanted to speak with her once more, but I’d learned not to be too eager. She needed my patience, and I would give her that. She danced with me, which was more than I’d expected.
The memory of holding her in my arms would have to suffice for now.
Zoe followed her friends toward the door then faced me.
I acknowledged her with a tip of my head.
With a quick wave, Zoe turned and left.
"Well this is complicated," Raz said.
"Yes," I admitted. "Even without the use of my gifts, it's clear she’s suffering."
Due to demon attempts to kill Zoe during her first incarnation, Raz was permitted to accompany me on these journeys. When his presence was no longer enough to keep Zoe safe, he was instructed to create the Elder Council—Angels and Eternals assigned to protect Zoe—and to give allowances without breaking the rules of the Gemini Doctrine.
There weren’t many, but the most central was withholding information.
Zoe must be kept in the dark about many things of this life, so to choose it of her own free will, without coercion from anyone.
Particularly me.
"Actually," Raz began, "I think that went well. Your reunion isn’t what I'm referring to."
"What do you mean then?"
"The man serving drinks." He tipped his head toward the front of the room. "He shadows."
A young man glared at us from behind the bar. His shadowed aura would be clear to any Eternal paying attention.
My hands balled into fists. I’d been so distracted by my first meeting with Zoe that I hadn’t noticed anything else.
There were many otherworldly threats present, and this minion was clearly a danger that needed to be dealt with immediately.
Humans were often tempted by demons offering gifts, wealth or power, and pure souls could often become lost in those empty promises. As guardians of all human souls, Eternals also recognized their auras. A pure soul like Zoe's would glow radiantly with a white light, but an evil soul, like that of a demon, was black and dense.
This boy was wavering. His shadowed aura was grey and murky—a looming threat hung over his head. And while there may still be hope for him, allowing any concession was a risk I would not take.
~
"What do you want with Zoe?" I released a guttural growl.
My body trembled as I held the minion by the throat, his feet dangling above the asphalt.
He said nothing, just stared blankly. A red ring encircled his slate irises. His sneer inspired me to drive his lanky body against the brick exterior of the building.
It was late, past one o'clock in the morning. The only sounds were grunts coming from the minion’s throat, my fingers wrapped around his neck.
The lights from the streetlamp above flickered.
The minion’s refusal to respond only encouraged me to tighten my grip.
"I don't know what—you're talking about." He gasped. His eyes grew wide, and his shadow darkened.
"Have it your way." I thrust his body against the jagged bricks, my gaze fixed onto his empty stare. "Though considering my current frame of mind, I doubt you want that."
"Easy, brother." Raz stepped beside me. "Give me a moment with him."
I grunted and set the boy down.
Raz moved in front of me.
The minion backed up and slumped down into a corner.
Raz hovered over the boy, fists clenched. Raz was an expert interrogator with his manipulation skills, and was known for getting any information he sought with a simple twist of emotion.
"You're going to tell me what your intentions are with that girl," Raz said, void of emotion. "You're going to tell me why you're targeting her, and who you're working for."
The minion flinched, and the red circles faded from his irises. "I'm just keeping an eye on her for—an interested party. One of which is me." His shoulders relaxed. "I like her."
I took a step closer to the boy, ready to strike.
Raz chuckled at my jealousy and moved between us.
"I have this, Cade. Trust me." Raz's words breached my thoughts. He braced my shoulder, calming my anger.
I pursed my lips and reluctantly stepped back, leaving Raz to his work.
"It’s a precarious situation you've stumbled upon. Many lives, including yours, are at stake." Raz stepped closer toward the boy. "It would be wise of you to distance yourself from this situation. Nothing good will come of it. Do you understand?”
Raz backed up and ushered the minion to stand.
I took Raz’s place in front of the boy. "Whoever you’re working for, I suggest you reconsider."
The boy grinned, encouraging me to reintroduce my hands around his throat.
"She is protected, and you will not compromise her soul. Raz may go easy on you, but I will kill you without a second thought if you put her in danger."
My grip tightened, and the minion gasped for air.
"Tell your demon to back off. Or the price will be both his head and yours."
With one final shove for good measure, I dropped his body to the pavement and motioned for him to leave.
He jumped to his feet and took off out the alley.
“I should have killed him, Raz.”
He slapped my shoulder. “You know you can’t do that. His soul is not yet lost. You owe him a chance to redeem himself.”
I snarled, despising the fact that Raz was right.
This boy had not turned dark yet. Though in transition, he was still human, which meant there was still hope for his soul. And while the Gemini in me sought to destroy him, as Patriarch of Genesis, my duty deemed I allow him a chance to save himself.
The weight of this situation would allow no time for a lengthy courtship.
Our Winter Solstice deadline was looming, and time was not something I ever took for granted.
"I could not breach his thoughts.” Raz rubbed his jaw, exhaling audibly. “We must find out who he’s working for. I sense a powerful demon behind this.” Raz’s gaze met mine. “Possibly a defected Genesis.”
“How could that be?” I narrowed my gaze. Not many Genesis defected, so the minion’s demon could only be a handful of candidates, all of which had been banished to the dark realm. “Has there been talk of any defector’s escape?”
“No. But that boy’s mind was well protected. That can only mean his demon knows we’d be seeking to breach the minion’s thoughts and has circumvented our intrusion. Only ancient demons could accomplish that. Demons with residual Genesis blood lingering within them.”
Blood rushed to my head. I turned to go after the minion, but Raz stopped me.
“Cade.” Raz shook his head. “We must find out who he’s working for first. Get his story, so we know what we’re dealing with. If a Genesis defector is behind this, as I fear, revenge is what the demon is after. You and I alone won’t be able to defeat him. We must know the situation entirely, so I can make concessions for Zoe’s protection.”
Raz was the calm one, never shaken by anything, so his wavering tone made me uneasy. “I’ll alert the Firstborns. Let them know to be on standby and to keep their ears to the ground for any rumblings about defectors or an uprising.”
A knot grew in my chest.
Threats to Zoe’s well being was my greatest fear realized, and I would protect her at all costs.
Raz set his hand on my shoulder.
“No need to panic yet, my friend. I’ll begin my research. You know I don’t like being kept in the dark, so rest assured, we’ll find this demon.”
“And destroy him.”
~Chapter Five~
Zoe
“Please don’t forget me,” Cade’s words resonate in my chest. His hands release mine.
I turn and run from the dance floor, reach the dressing room door of the lounge, and tear through it.
I’m now in the kitchen of the foster home when I was a kid. I glance around the room and notice a broken glass beside my feet. I drop to my knees, afraid Steve, my foster dad, will see what I’ve done and hurt me.
"I warned you," Steve’s gruff voice echoes through the kitchen. I’m kneeling on the tiled floor, desperately trying to clean up the shards of glass shattered everywhere in sight.
"It was an accident." My gaze darts up.
He’s standing over me. His slate eyes flash red, then black, then grey. Fists clench.
"Please.” I beg. “Not again."
Reaching down, he grabs me by my wrists and pulls me toward the door of the cellar.
"No." I scream. Thrash. Try to break free from his grip, but he’s too strong.
His hands are wrapped tightly around my wrists. He opens the door and drags me down the dark staircase to the cold, damp cellar.
My own personal hell.
We get to the bottom of the steps, and he stumbles over something on the floor, setting me loose.
I hop to my feet and scurry to a corner. Smoke streams in through two tiny windows along the south wall. It’s red and reeks like sewage.
He whips around, stares at me with his now black, lifeless eyes. A grin spreads across his pale face. He approaches me, a small, silver blade in hand.
"You can’t run from me, little bitch. I haven’t had my fun yet."
Inches away, I gasp as the blade thrusts toward me. I heave my arms out, try to shove him away, but he's too strong.
He catches my right wrist, holds tightly, and the blade's edge rakes across my skin.
"Stop it," I cry. Pulling free, I hold my arm against my chest, the blood seeps through my T-shirt.
Steve laughs and grunts as fangs pop through his gums.
He lunges again.
I try to dodge, but he has me cornered.
"No," I scream louder, tears roll down my cheeks. "I'm sorry. Please stop.”
He grabs my left arm and moves closer.
I pull back, but the blade catches my arm. The searing pain rushes through my skin. There's nothing I can do now but wait for him to tire of his game, of watching the cuts bleed and cinch back together.
I cry out as the first few cuts begin to heal.
I have no idea how I can heal or why, I just do. To some it may be considered a gift. To me? Not so much.
Steve moves closer, reaching for my left wrist and pulling it to him again.
I'm too weak to fight.
The blade swipes again. And again.
Cut after cut, my entire left forearm is enflamed, blood trickling down.
He laughs and releases me.
I turn and fall to the cold concrete, lie on my side, and curl up into a ball.
The door upstairs flies open, and a bright light filters through the room.
My gaze drifts up the staircase.
Eli's voice calls to me. Footsteps thump down the old wooden staircase.
"Phoebe, come quick." Eli's voice alone draws Steve's attention away from me and toward the stairway.
A set of feet appears behind him.
Steve whirls around, steps back, and closes me in the corner.
"Back off, Eli," Steve growls.
Eli folds his arms across his broad chest while towering over the demon. Eli is only twelve, but he's the size of a full-grown man. The only part of him that looks like a kid is his baby face. Behind his innocent blue eyes, though, is a protective Gemini.
Eli approaches Steve, who begins to back into me. Eli’s fists clench together. He steps closer to Steve, who then cowers to the floor.
I quickly get to my knees and crawl away to the foot of the stairs.
"You okay?" Eli asks.
I nod, holding back tears.
Eli steps up, separates me from the demon, and turns toward him.
"How many times have we been through this? You’re not allowed to touch her." Eli’s voice rings through the room, intense and rough.
I watch as Eli reaches down, grabs Steve by the neck, and slams him into the concrete wall.
Phoebe thuds down the stairs and grabs my hands, pulling me to my feet.
I crane my neck to watch Eli attack Steve, but Phoebe refuses to let me go.
She drags me up the stairs, away from the all too familiar scene of my nightmares.
The last thing I hear as Phoebe pulls me through the doorway is the sound of Steve’s shrill voice begging Eli for mercy…
"Zoe, wake up," Phoebe's gentle voice breaks through my nightmare.
I rolled over to see her shadow beside me. The room was still cloaked in night thanks to my darkening curtains. The clock on my nightstand flashed 6:22 a.m.
"You okay?" Phoebe asked.
"Yeah." I rubbed my eyes to focus. "What are you doing?"
"I was making coffee when I heard you call for Eli. I’m worried about you.”
I took a deep breath, grabbed at a pillow and buried my face into it. I was having such a good dream before that stupid nightmare.
"I'm fine. Really," I mumbled, pulling off the pillow and tossing it aside. I leaned up on my elbows. "You can go back to your coffee. It was just a stupid dream."
“It’s never just a dream.” She sighed. “And about yesterday. You know I’m right.”
“What?”
“Cade.” She pushed away stray hairs sticking to my sweaty forehead. “He’s the one, your fated Gemini. I’m sure of it. Please, don’t push him away.” Phoebe stared me down, while I kept my lips sealed. “You don’t want to talk about it yet, I get it. Just remember what I said. Give him a chance.”
She leaned down and kissed the top of my head, then stood and left my room.
I released the eye roll I’d fought to hold in then flipped back over and buried into my pillow. More fate talk. Please.
My head was all over the place. And now slightly throbbing. Stupid dreams.
Cade’s face crept back into my brain. Thanks, Phoebs. His arms wrapped around me, my cheek to his chest, his heart beating beneath me.
How did I win the Genesis lottery? Cade was hot. And from what I could tell, charming. And mature. Almost regal.
What a crazy birthday.
Infinity Records was considering signing me. The scout may have a Genesis seal… Ooh, I almost forgot about that. I made a mental note to investigate later.
And Cade. My Gemini? Really?
Talk about overload.
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When would he come looking for me? Tonight maybe? I hadn't even given him my number. Stupid.
The whole Gemini thing had been pushed aside after Eli and Sophie left. I’d spent the last three years recovering from their abandonment and concentrating on me.
On a human life Sophie convinced me I could never have.
But then, I was never really one to take No for an answer.
Now that I’d met Sam Gaits, and he confirmed I had a real shot at this music thing, I was even more convinced it was meant to be.
Sam called it fate. Maybe he was right.
That’s what I needed to focus on, not boys. Not some guy with bad timing, who may or may not be my Gemini. Besides, my track record trusting people wasn’t that great. He’d probably just end up hurting me anyway.
I hadn't spoken to either Eli or Sophie in forever.
I missed them both, though I would seldom admit it.
After the night Steve set our foster home on fire, Sophie showed up out of nowhere. Like a guardian angel. She took care of us, found all the foster kids homes, and kept me.
For the first time, I felt safe and loved. I had a mother.
She kept me.
When I went to live with her in Eden, New York, and started having nightmares about Steve or some other weird demon, she would lie in bed with me, rub my temples to get rid of the headaches, and tell me stories of how one day, I would meet my Gemini.
Her stories were so romantic…
She said me and my Gemini were Twin Souls—literally of the same soul, for and from each other. Now separate, she said I would never really feel complete until I found him. That he was the love of my lives, and we would rule Aravot, this mystical place, more amazing than I could ever imagine.
Even Eli believed he was my Gemini. At first. Him being sent to live there seemed too convenient. It couldn’t have been an accident.
He said he loved me.
As we grew closer though, Sophie did everything to keep us apart. She assigned him guardians in New York City, far from us in Eden, and both our families forbid any contact.
Not that we listened.
My Genesis mark began to tingle. I raked at my wrist to relieve the burn, and realized the freckles had morphed into, what I assumed, was now the mark Sophie said I would get when my Gemini found me… A dark violet tattoo. It was a calligraphy type mark, resembling the sun sign of Gemini, each of the freckles at a point within the lines. At least it’s pretty.