The Aeon Star

by Hart, Lauren T.

  "He is also your Genevieve's husband," Gerard informed.

  "Husband?" Eloise shot a panicked look at Gerard.

  "Oh yes," he said. "He bound his soul to her, and she to him," he sighed, motioning toward the lights.

  Elle wrung her hands together, nodding herself into acceptance; she smiled broadly and hugged her daughter's husband.

  Chapter 34

  Shared Secrets

  Paul tried to be inconspicuous as he exited the hidden door behind the bookcase.

  Elle gasped.

  Paul put his hands up in a sign of surrender as he caught sight of Elle and two young children amidst the group. He and Gen both cringed as pain shot through their right shoulders. He relaxed his right arm back into its sling, but kept the other up. "Sorry," Paul shut his eyes. "I didn't mean to... interrupt..." he said. "Or intrude... or.... Wow."

  "This is Paul, my head of security, Elle," David informed.

  "He's also my friend, and I trust him," Gen reassured her mother, crossing to Paul.

  "I didn't know," Paul shook his head and shrugged.

  "It's okay," she reassured, clasping her hands around his. "Cupcake?" Gen prodded.

  "Cupcake," Paul said, taking a deep breath. "The other souls... like me, they've been telling others what they witnessed and experienced. It's an intriguing story actually, you should hear it."

  Gen smiled.

  "I've gathered them all in the main Library, along with Davin and Mike. They'd like to officially meet you."

  "Of course," she smiled. "But first, I'd like you to meet my family."

  "Yeah?" Paul looked nervous. Then added quietly, "Hey, did you see the lights blitzing earlier?"

  Gen laughed.

  Paul insisted on taking a lesser-known route to the main library, which basically meant taking a longer route. Paul took the lead, Nick walked next to Genevieve and David took up the rear. Genevieve was concerned about David's pace. She knew the pain he was in. He needed to rest, but he had insisted on coming with her.

  Mostly her thoughts were with Nick. Her husband. The thought kept leaping up at her, like being smacked in the face with a mass of flower petals.

  Husband.

  She was married now.

  And yet, there were still so many things she didn't know about him. So many secrets she knew he held. The thought made her shiver.

  Nick draped his hoodie over her shoulders and ran his hand down her arm to warm her. "Gen," he slipped his arm around her. "What did you mean when you said that you and Paul share a common consciousness?" Nick asked.

  "If I try, I can read others thoughts and when I do, Paul sees what I see."

  "It's kind of like watching a TV," Paul said. "If TV were a first person experience beamed directly into your brain via sparking electrodes."

  "Have you ever read my thoughts?" Nick avoided looking at her.

  "I try not to read anyone's thoughts."

  "That wasn't really an answer."

  "I know," she said quietly.

  "Maybe we should talk about it later," Nick suggested.

  Paul chuckled. He pushed through a door that took them into a long and wide hallway with a large window at one end. "Are you ready?" he asked.

  Gen nodded.

  Paul counted the doors opposite them, opening the fifth door and holding it for them.

  Nine souls stood as she entered, seven of them lowered their heads to her and then again, to David.

  Davin and Mike she knew from her life as Jenny Taylor. The other seven she had never met before, but they were all familiar to her. Their names came easily to her, as if she were meeting incarnations from her imagination that had suddenly come to life.

  "Oh," gasped a teenage girl with long blond hair and bright blue eyes, Caisie Feldman. It wasn't Genevieve, but David that had caused her breath to catch. She bit her lip, smiling, and trying to suppress her giggles as she ogled him, obviously smitten.

  David helped himself to a nearby chair, undoing a couple more buttons on his shirt and tugging at it, annoyed.

  "Jenny?" Davin approached her, hesitantly.

  It was an odd sensation to have her past, present and future all in one room together — and to hear him call her that – Jenny. "That's not who I am anymore," she said.

  "I know." His eyes darted nervously around the room.

  She caught sight of Mike glaring daggers at Nick.

  Nick casually brushed his hair out of his face, completely unthreatened.

  It was so sexy.

  "A lot of things have changed." She turned her attention back to Davin. "But not everything."

  Davin nodded.

  She pulled him into a hug. "I know how strange... and impossible... and strange it all seems."

  Davin laughed. "I've become well acquainted with strange and impossible over the past few months. This is all... more strange, a lot more strange, but... I don't think anything could shock me anymore."

  Gen smiled. "I got a tattoo."

  "Liar."

  "What?" Mike gasped.

  Gen turned and pulled down the back of Nick's hoodie in order to show Davin and Mike her tattoo.

  "Are you sure this isn't the kind that washes off?" Davin teased, tracing a finger across her back.

  Mike grimaced at Nick, as though he was the one to blame for all he disapproved of.

  "Mike Randall," Mike introduced himself to Nick. "I was her boyfriend before she came out here," he said gruffly, sounding like a jealous boyfriend.

  "Nicholas Grace."

  "Nick is my husband," Gen offered.

  "What?" Mike staggered.

  "I was wrong," Davin said. "That is shocking."

  Mike and Davin were not the only ones she surprised with her announcement but she chose to ignore the sounds of astonishment making waves around the room.

  "Oh yes," David chimed in. "They bound their souls in front of Gerard and I both. You saw the lights."

  Mike and Davin looked confused.

  "Nick," Genevieve looked for a distraction "This is Davin Taylor, he was one of my brothers growing up."

  "It's nice to meet you." Nick shook his hand.

  Gen smiled at her husband then turned to face the seven other souls, like Paul.

  In turn, they introduced themselves.

  "Hiya," said a girl about Gen's age, "I'm Cherity Cooper," her hair was dyed black and red; she wore lots of dark make-up and leather pants. "My family was found when I was seven."

  "Will you share your loyalty?" Gen asked.

  "Liberty."

  "Tobias Wentz," said the man to her right. He was older, in his forties maybe, tall and broad with deep brown skin and soft grey eyes. "I was found about twenty-two years ago. I'm loyal to Unity. Create, unite, inspire. That's my motto."

  "Uhm, Granger Strode," said a lanky man with curly, ginger-colored hair standing behind them. He wore glasses and green fatigues. "Most people call me Mange. I was found about four years ago and I'm loyal to the Aeon." His nickname had something to do with his hair, Gen knew, despite what his wardrobe suggested. Which was only just a few shades grungier than what Nick and Paul wore practically every day.

  "My name is Vanessa Lent. My friends call me Nessa," said a woman with long grey hair, streaked with remnants of brown, wearing hippie chic. "I was found seventeen years ago and I am loyal to Service."

  "I'm Rianna. Rianna Long," said a girl with short black hair, and black eyes. She had a sprig of small white flowers pinned behind her ear. "I was found about eight months ago and I'm all for Peace," she smiled. "That's my loyalty."

  "Zachary Feldman," said a younger male, with blond hair and bright eyes, who couldn't have been more than fourteen. He was trying hard to feign confidence, but the undercurrents of overwhelm were clear in his fidgeting. "Err, Zach. Just Zach is good. I was born Dark."

  "You're a Daémon," Gen stated.

  "Uhm, yeah." A smile crept onto lips. "I am. I'm a Daémon and I'm loyal to the truth."

  Gen stole a glance at
Nick. He caught the look; he'd been watching her, like always.

  Zach turned toward Caisie, the only soul left to be introduced.

  Caisie had the same coloring as Zach. She sat at the edge of her seat with her chin in her hand, completely unaware, as she gazed blissfully at David.

  Zachary sighed. "This is my sister Caisie," he said, taking a seat beside her and elbowing her in the ribs.

  "Hi. Sorry. I'm Caisie, Caisie Feldman," she blushed. "I was also born Dark – a Daémon. Obviously. And I'm loyal to love," she gushed.

  Zach rolled his eyes.

  Paul suppressed a chuckle.

  "Thank you," Genevieve said. "Please accept my apologies for my intrusion upon all of you. Paul has kept me well supplied with a list of adjectives to let me know how... unpleasant the experience can be."

  "Wuss," Cherity huffed.

  "Masochist," Paul shot back at her.

  Cherity laughed.

  "Not all of us are old enough to remember how it began," Tobias said, "but I'm sure we're all relieved to be free from the nightmares of the Hunter."

  The others nodded in agreement.

  "All our fears of the Angemon," Nessa lamented. "I didn't know," she started to cry. "I was so wrong. All this time I've thought that the Hunter was the Angemon and the soul it hunted was... I'm so sorry."

  "But we know the truth now," Rianna said.

  "You know, we wouldn't have let him get away with it if things had gone different," Zachary said, with tight lips and a determined jaw.

  "I know," she smiled at him. "And thank you. I am grateful to all of you. Eight minds, all with your own unique views and opinions and yet, all with the ability to know my perspective clearer than I can say with words. This is something I appreciate, as sometimes words fail me. I trust that my secrets are and will be as safe with you as your own are."

  Nods and reassurances were returned.

  "Paul's mind, his guidance and advice, his friendship and support have been an invaluable gift to me."

  "It's an honor," Paul said.

  Genevieve flashed him a smile. "We're at the beginning of a new age, and I wonder If I might impose upon you all again. But this time I'm giving you the option to decide. I need advisors. Souls I can trust without question; who can know my intentions and offer me their unique perspectives. Souls like you."

  "I'm in," Zachary said. "Whatever you need. I'm in."

  "Zachary!" Caisie protested then caught sight of David, nodding his approval to Zachary. "Me too." She stood, smiling broadly, her eyes darting quickly to David for the same look of approval.

  David obliged, suppressing a laugh with his smile.

  One by one the rest of them agreed.

  "I'm here for you too," Davin said.

  "Me too," Mike added.

  "Thank you," Genevieve said. "All of you." She turned. "Paul?" She crossed the room, and took his hand, so that she could keep their communication private.

  Paul met her eyes, as she relayed her intentions.

  She expanded her awareness to include the others. It was quick, precise, and took seconds to convey. She closed the connection and immediately they sprung into action.

  Rianna, Cherity and Tobias followed Paul through a door at the far end of the library.

  Mange introduced himself to Davin and Mike.

  Nessa and Caisie made their way to David's side.

  "Prince Xavier," Nessa said, kneeling down on the floor in front of him.

  Caisie giggled, following suit.

  "I'm a healer," Nessa said. "And Caisie is... an admirer..."

  "I'm not a child," Zachary said, coming to stand next to her. "Let me do something. I can help."

  "This is not a video game, Zach, don't expect it to look like one," Genevieve said.

  Zach scoffed.

  "You are by my side because Paul isn't. Do you understand?"

  Zach eyed her.

  She smiled at him as she felt the prickle of sparks. "I thought so," she said. 'Your mind is stronger than the others. I need you to keep tabs on everyone, keep me updated, and keep the perimeter secure.'

  Zach nodded.

  Gen took hold of Nick's hand and led him through the door they had entered through and into the closed hallway beyond.

  "Where are we going?" he asked.

  "Here," she said. "I don't dare go anywhere else without Paul. I'd just get myself lost."

  "Yeah, he really knows his way around." Nick rubbed a hand over his neck. "Obviously he's not the guy I thought he was."

  "He's still your friend, Nick. Despite what's happened."

  "I hope so. I've always liked Paul."

  "Nick." She traced her fingers over the star around her neck. "We're not okay, you and I. I mean, we are, but we're not. There's just so much—"

  "It's okay." He pulled her to him. "I get it. I love you Gen, we'll work it out."

  "Promise?"

  "I promise." He kissed her softly. "It keeps hitting me; I'm married." He grinned. "We're married. It's not Earth legal, we'll have to sign some paperwork for that — which I totally want to do by the way — but our souls are bound to each other now, according to Ange law we're married." He chuckled. "What about you, you want to get married the earth way?"

  "I think I'd like that."

  "Good." He slid a hand around her waist, the other around her neck and kissed her.

  She tangled one hand through his hair, the other slipped along his waistband to the small of his back. She wished he wasn't wearing a tucked in shirt. His hand around her waist moved to the bare skin on her back causing the flutter of butterflies within her to leap skyward. A moan escaped her.

  "Mmm." He pulled away from her and set his forehead against hers. "You have no idea the things you do to me." A smile cracked his lips. "I was trying so hard to take things slowly with you. Then I go and bind my soul to yours." He traced the chain on her neck, circling his finger around the star sitting against her chest. "It's funny. I never thought I'd marry someone I'd never had sex with."

  "Oh," Gen bit her lip as she smiled up at him, "So you definitely weren't counting on marrying a virgin."

  "No." Nick laughed. "Is that even a thing? Wait. Are you—?"

  She wanted to say something romantic, but all that came out was, "Yep."

  "How is that possible? You're so perfect and gorgeous. You went out with people. And what about the boyfriend in there, Mike?"

  "Mike was my boyfriend for almost four years, and he was gay for all of them."

  Nick cocked his head and his brow furrowed.

  "Yeah, he likes to act tough. And every other guy I went out with was to try and forget about how much I wanted you, and all it did was make me want you more."

  He leaned his back against the wall and she leaned against him. "The first time I saw you I remember thinking I have to get to her; I need to be with her. I didn't know why. I didn't care why. I nudged Paul and pointed over to you, and Paul said, "She'll come to us Nick, it's a waitress thing."" They shared a laugh. "I couldn't take my eyes off of you and... you barely even noticed me."

  "No." She met his eyes. "I was struggling to see anything other than you. Nick, I fell crazy stupid for you the moment I saw you. It scared me how intense the pull for you was, it still does sometimes," she admitted.

  "The feeling is mutual," he nodded. "I've felt that same pull, that need, the aching desire to always be with you. It scared me to want someone so much, but it's never going to scare me away from you. It's too easy to be with you, Gen. It just feels natural. It feels like home, like family." He twisted his finger around a fallen strand of blue. "You are my home, Genevieve. You are my family."

  She settled her head against his chest and they held each other close for a long time, and she relished in the feel of him, the smell of him, how perfectly their embrace fit together.

  He raked his fingers over her arms and across her upper back. "I can't help but wonder how different things might have gone had I only seen this." His fingers circled
over the etching of stars on her back.

  "I'm pretty sure it would have been a disaster," she said. "Even now, I struggle trying to accept that my dreams weren't dreams at all."

  "Ange don't dream. Some Daémon do but..." Nick sounded full of regret. "You were traveling, shifted, that night weren't you? You were burning with wave energy." Nick shook his head. "I really could have lost you. And now you... you wrangle it somehow? That's amazing."

  "Nick..." She pulled away from him. Her voice was barely a whisper. "How did you get Xavier's star and key?"

  Nick's expression became pained. "Gen, I swear to you, I had nothing to do with his death. I would never—" Nick brought his hand to his chin, clearly struggling with his emotions. "It arrived to me by courier the same day I got back into town after the observance of his death. The same day I met you." He tried to force a smile but it barely reached the edges of his mouth. "I thought they were from Amaranth Farold, but now... I don't know. I don't think so." Nick raked his hand through his hair and paced down the corridor toward the window. "The only way to truly be loyal to the truth is to continually question it. Truth is subjective and changeable, and I became complacent. I trusted the wrong people and when I had doubts, instead of questioning them, I dismissed them." He turned to face her. "I'm so sorry, Gen." He shook his head. "Genevieve," he corrected, his expression pensive, as if coming to terms with who she really was. "The Angemon. The Aeon Princess."

  "Don't. Don't do that. It's just me, Nick." She started toward him.

  Nick held up his hand to stop her and shook his head. He set his eyes on his hands as he wrung them. "We had this kind of competition Prince Xavier and I. He was always trying to get me to see the potential good of an Angemon, but I just couldn't dismiss the dangers. 'Prove me wrong,' I would say to him. Sometimes he'd say, 'Or you'll prove me wrong.' But most of the time he'd just smile like he knew something I didn't, and nod like he knew he'd be the one to prove me wrong one day." He lifted his head to look at her; his eyes were red. "He did."

  A tear slipped down her cheek. "I hate that he died for me."

  Nick brushed away her tears with a finger and took her hands in his. "He believed you were worth dying for, Gen. And I believe he was right."