Secret of Fate

by Tamar Sloan

  Kadence glances at the wall of the health center beside us. “So, what are we looking for today?”

  Taking her hand, I start walking. “I have no idea.”

  Flicking up my hood, we blend into the crowd milling past. “Let’s find somewhere to talk. We can figure out where to go next from there.”

  Kadence glances around. This part of the street is lined with office buildings. The café we noticed yesterday has a closed sign on the front. A hotdog vendor has set up his cart at the end of the block, but apart from that, there’s nothing. “The only place to do that is inside the center.”

  The thought of going back inside the center so soon doesn’t sound exactly ideal, and I’m about to suggest we find a bench to sit on or something, when Kadence tugs my hand.

  “I say we have a hot dog for breakfast.”

  My stomach lurches. “A hotdog? Aren’t they made of meat trimmings and fat, held together with a whole lot of salt and preservatives?”

  “You’ve never had one, have you?”

  I shake my head. “They’re bad for you.” Not to mention buying one would mean engaging with someone.

  She grins. “Well, you’re in for the unhealthiest treat you’ve ever experienced.”

  Not relishing the thought of eating one, but enjoying the spark of challenge in her beautiful gray eyes, I let her lead me to the cart.

  Kadence orders the hotdogs, but I jump in when it’s time to pay. “I’ve got this.”

  She looks up, surprised. “I can pay.”

  I shake my head emphatically. “I’d like to.”

  Kadence rolls her eyes. “You really are old school.” I go to pull my wallet out, but she’s already passed the money to the vendor. “Well, too bad, I want to do this.”

  The man chuckles as he loads up two hotdog buns. He slides a glance my way. “No point arguing, my friend. You’re better off just going with the flow.”

  Kadence inclines her head. “See, there are wise men here in New York, too.”

  Shaking my head as I grin, I tuck my wallet back into my pocket. “Point taken.”

  The man passes us each a white paper boat, and I’m surprised at the weight. The hotdog itself is buried under layers of color—beans, mustard, some sort of relish, and cheese.

  We step aside, finding an alcove against a wall. I take a cautious sniff. “This thing is one long length of a heart attack waiting to happen.”

  “Micah, this is a choice you won’t regret.” Kadence closes her eyes as she bites into hers, her shoulders scrunching up as her face melts with joy. Tucking a dollop of mustard into her mouth, she smiles. “Trust me.”

  It does smell appealing…

  Closing my eyes like Kadence just did, I take a bite. The soft bread, the rubbery hotdog, right away have me on the defensive. Real food isn’t supposed to have that sort of texture.

  But then the flavors hit. I let out a soft groan. Salty, savory, the tang of the relish, the complement of the cheese.

  My eyes fly open in amazement.

  Kadence nods in satisfaction. “Told you.”

  I look down at the length of deliciousness I’m holding. “I think I may have had a deprived childhood.”

  Kadence bursts into peals of laughter, and I grin at her—before taking another huge bite. We smile and laugh as we keep eating, Kadence catching dollops of sauce as I try not to wear more than I eat, me reveling in the experience.

  Beautiful, happy Kadence. Surprising, delicious hotdog.

  I finish it much faster than she does. Part of me wants to go over to the stall vendor and thank him for bringing such joy into my day.

  Except Kadence has gone quiet. The bloom of delight dims a little as I realize she’s no longer smiling, and her hotdog is only half eaten.

  “What’s wrong?”

  Kadence moves in a little closer. “Micah, I think we’re being watched.”

  My muscles tense. “Watched?”

  Kadence leans in, smiling like she’s chatting intimately, but her words are tight with tension. “Yeah. Two of them. I noticed them when we were ordering the hotdogs ‘cause the girl was pointing. I didn’t think anything of it, but they haven’t left.”

  My shoulders hunch in. The thought of someone watching me, especially pointing out that I’m here, has me wanting to teleport the heck out of here.

  Grabbing Kadence’s hand, I head back to the alleyway.

  Kadence pauses to throw the rest of her hotdog in a nearby trashcan, glancing over her shoulder as she does. She leans in to whisper in my ear again. “They’re following us.”

  My heartbeat is like a drum in my ears, and I pull Kadence in even closer. Does Damien Black know I’m here? Was coming here a mistake?

  Down the alley, I know we’ve only got seconds to teleport. If they’re following us, we can’t afford to be seen disappearing into thin air.

  Kadence slips her arms around my waist. “I’m ready. Quick.”

  The urgency in her voice has me pausing. Is this how it will always be? Kadence protecting me from being seen? Paying for my food? Disappearing when someone looks twice?

  Swallowing, knowing I’m taking a risk, I turn around.

  Kadence was right. There’s two of them, a guy and a girl, unsmiling at the mouth of the alleyway.

  “Micah,” Kadence whispers urgently.

  In a split second, I make the choice.

  I smile and step forward. “Hi, can we help you?”

  Micah

  Kadence’s gasp is quiet but sharp.

  The guy leans down toward the girl. “Are they usually this friendly?”

  She frowns. “I wouldn’t have thought so—they wouldn’t have the care factor, would they?”

  He shrugs, looking nonchalant, but he angles his body so he’s slightly in front of her. “Unless you want me to think of some trespassing law to quote, you’re the expert here.”

  They’re young, around our age. She’s pretty with dark hair, and he’s lean and tall. For some reason, they don’t feel like a threat.

  I take another step forward. “Is there a reason you’re following us?”

  “Micah,” Kadence hisses under her breath. She’s like a statue beside me.

  “I think they’re okay.”

  Frustration flits across her face. “You think everyone’s okay.”

  I pause. Am I being naïve? Possibly. But I’d rather be someone who only sees the worst when they have evidence it’s there.

  The girl frowns again, stepping forward to take the guy’s hand. “They’re not acting like Shells.”

  “But they definitely don’t have them?”

  She shakes her head. “It doesn’t make sense.”

  I sweep out my free hand. “I’ll explain if I can.”

  The two glance at each other and must come to a silent agreement, because they approach us. Kadence is vibrating with tension beside me as we watch them.

  The girl looks at us both. “When’s the last time you were on the subway?”

  Blinking at the odd question, I shrug. “I’ve never been on the subway.” I just tried a hotdog for the first time in my life.

  Kadence narrows her eyes. “We’re not from around here.”

  The girl bites her lip. “So, you’ve never been on the subway?”

  “No.”

  The guy leans down. “You’re really, really sure?”

  She glances at us, for some reason focused on our chests, then throws him a glare. “They don’t have one.”

  Now more curious than anything, I angle my head. “Don’t have what? And what’s a Shell?”

  The girl straightens, shock spearing across her face. She turns to the guy. “Caleb, unless they’re…”

  Caleb’s mouth pops open, and he turns to study us. “Technically, it’s possible. Apart from the twelve Olympians, there are countless others.”

  The mention of Olympians finally has alarm ringing through my veins. Surely, they can’t be talking about the Greek gods.

  Kadence
was right. We should’ve left when we had the chance.

  Caleb shrugs. “I suppose you could ask them.”

  The girl is back to chewing her lip. “Remember how you looked at me when I started talking about this stuff? And your mom believes in this stuff.”

  Caleb grins. “Got any other ideas?”

  The girl must reach a decision, because she turns to us. There’s an intensity about her that tells you this question is important. “Are you two demigods?”

  I manage to hold still, but everything in me reels back. Did she just say what I thought she said?

  Kadence takes a step forward, her hands fists at her side. “Who are you? And what do you want?”

  Caleb scratches his chin. “She didn’t answer the question.” He reaches out a hand. “My name’s Caleb. Nice to meet you.”

  The girl pulls in a breath. “My name’s Haven. Hectate is my mother.” She angles her head at Caleb. “Caleb’s my boyfriend. He knows everything.”

  My head is whirling. Even I can acknowledge this conversation is weird. There are other demigod children out there, I know this. But what’s the chance of running into them?

  Kadence must be thinking the same thing. “Why do you think we’re demigods?”

  Caleb leans down, talking out of the side of his mouth. “She still hasn’t answered the question. I’m thinking guilty as charged.”

  Haven nudges him. “Take your lawyer hat off for one second, will you?” She turns back to us. “Because, if you’re not demigods, then you’re Shells. Humans without a soul.”

  The spinning in my head picks up as I try to process everything. How can humans exist without a soul? How does Haven know we’re demigods?

  If we run, we won’t get any answers. “This is Kadence, daughter of Kronos. I’m Micah, son of—”

  “No, Micah.” Kadence grips my arm, her fingers tight with urgency. She’s reminding me I’m supposed to remain secret.

  But Haven is a demigod. It seems Caleb already knows they exist. And, we need answers.

  “I’m Micah, son of Moira.”

  Haven’s eyes widen. “Wow. I’ve never met another one…”

  But Caleb steps forward, straightening his shoulders. “Prove it.”

  I blink. “Prove it?”

  “Yeah. We need evidence. Otherwise, you’re Shells, and we won’t be saying another word.”

  Haven nods, sending a small smile toward Caleb. “You’re right.” She looks back to us. “We need to know you’re not Shells.”

  Kadence lifts her hands, about to bring her pointer fingers together, but I hold up my hand.

  “I say we show them my way.”

  Kadence makes a show of huffing. “I’m pretty sure my way is more fun.”

  “And will only get us on our parents’ radar.”

  Her hands drop to her sides. “Fine, then. We’ll do it your way.”

  Haven and Caleb are watching the exchange, looking a little more nervous by the second. It’s fun to find I have a mischievous side. “I’ll go on my own,” I offer, knowing Kadence is still adjusting to teleporting.

  She arches a brow. “I’ve found a way to make it manageable.”

  My blood warms as I think of how we were entwined around each other when we arrived. “Not sure it’s all that appropriate right now.”

  “Were we like that in the beginning?” Caleb is looking at Haven, eyes twinkling.

  Haven sinks into him. “I’m not sure we’ve stopped yet.”

  For some reason, I’m feeling good about this. Gripping Kadence, I make a split-second decision. Going to Pontiac Point isn’t smart now that the building has been cleared.

  There’s a flash of blackness, a moment of weightlessness, and then familiar sights and sounds surround me.

  I look down at Kadence. Her eyes are tightly squeezed shut, but once she realizes there’s ground beneath her, she opens them cautiously. They widen, and as she registers her surroundings, they widen even more.

  “Micah….” She breathes. “It’s beautiful.”

  I look around, trying to see this place through new eyes. The path we’re standing on is bordered by lavender, red roses behind it, too many shades of green to count their backdrop. Sunlight seems to stroke everything like it’s coming from a thousand different angles, softening it, making it brighter somehow.

  “These are the gates to Elysium.” I point toward the wrought-iron gates woven with ivy. They stand open, inviting us in.

  Wishing we could stay and wondering whether I’ll ever be able to bring her here, I wrap my arms tightly around her again.

  A whoosh of silent air, and we’re back in the alleyway.

  “Whoa.” Caleb’s mouth and eyes widen in shock.

  Haven is quick to recover, though. She relaxes into a smile. “I’m so glad you guys aren’t Shells.”

  I relax my arms around Kadence, but don’t release her. “From what you’ve said, I think we are, too.”

  Caleb straightens. “I’m thinking we should talk.”

  Except there’s nowhere nearby that offers privacy. The café in the health center is the last place we should be discussing anything like this. I look around, spotting something that could work. Further down the alley, stacked in the shadows against the wall, are some milk crates.

  Grabbing one, I turn it upside down on the ground. “Now all we need is a table.”

  Caleb grins, grabbing a cardboard box from the other side and turning it over. “You demigods sure know how to live it up.”

  Taking a milk crate each, we pair up on either side of the box. Haven and Caleb tuck in close, and I bet they’re holding hands. The love between them is apparent.

  Kadence slides her makeshift chair in close to mine, and we sit opposite the other two. Silence fills the alley as we assess each other.

  More demigods. And Haven is the daughter of Hectate…

  I lean forward with a start. “Your mother, she’s the goddess of Crossroads.”

  Haven nods. “Yes. She oversees souls as they move to Elysium or Tartarus.”

  “Is that why you’re here? To check up on the one at the health center?”

  Haven and Caleb glance at each other, before Haven turns back to us. “We started checking them out more often a little while ago. I was worried there could be more…Shells.”

  Unease winds around my chest, feeling like barbed wire. “Shells?”

  Haven’s gaze is serious as she regards us. “I can see souls. Demigods’ souls are hidden—part of our Greek god ancestry. And Shells…well, theirs are gone.”

  Kadence frowns at the impossibility of the statement. “How can they be gone?”

  Caleb’s lips flatten into a thin line. “They’re taken. By wraiths.”

  Now it’s Kadence and I who look at each other. We utter one word simultaneously. “Hades.”

  Wraiths only exist in the Underworld. They’re born of the blackness and suffering Tartarus represents. Hades is the only one who has regular contact with them.

  Haven splays her hands on the wooden crate. “Yes, he uses them to collect souls before their time.”

  Dread grips my spine with icy fingers. “How do you know this?”

  Haven pauses, and Caleb reaches out to grasp her hand. He squeezes it, a silent show of support. With a grateful glance his way, she takes a deep breath. “He was putting humans through a series of tests, a gauntlet. Those who failed had their souls stolen by a wraith.”

  Kadence has gone very still beside me. “But you stopped him.”

  She says the words cautiously, like she’s hoping it’s a statement rather than a question.

  Caleb nods sharply. “She sure did. Haven went through a gauntlet herself to not only stop him, but to return all the souls as well.”

  Haven blushes. “With some help.” She squeezes his hand. “Hades agreed he wouldn’t do anything like that again.”

  I rub my chin. “But you’ve been keeping an eye on the Crossroads, just to make sure he keeps his end of the barg
ain.”

  She nods. “We were here yesterday. I saw a boy leave. He was a Shell.”

  Kadence frowns as she leans forward. “What did he look like?”

  “Our age, dark hair.”

  “Did he look upset?”

  Haven nods. “Although once humans become Shells, their ability to feel positive emotion is stunted, so I would’ve expected him to.”

  Kadence turns to me. “I think that was Dom.”

  “The boy who came in with his father?”

  “Yes. He filled out all the questionnaires, just like I did. Then he had his picture taken in the photo booth.”

  Everyone’s eyes widen at once. Surely not…

  Is Hades stealing souls in the health center? No wonder he needed Damien Black alive…

  Haven slaps her hand down on the box. “Dammit. I knew he wouldn’t keep his word.”

  But I hold up my hand. “There’s one thing Hades is, and that’s fair. Breaking his word is more of a sin to him than stealing souls.”

  Caleb arches a brow. “You’re saying you don’t think Hades is behind this?”

  “No. I’m saying Hades was doing this long before he came up with his gauntlet. This health center here”—I jerk a thumb over my shoulder—“was built nine years ago.”

  We all fall silent as we absorb the new information—it’s possible Hades has been stealing souls for years.

  Kadence’s spine snaps straight. “How many has he taken?” Her voice is full of the horror we’re all feeling.

  Haven’s milk crate grates across the ground as she pushes back. “We need to find out, Caleb.”

  Caleb shrugs. “It’s summer break. It’s not like I had anything better to do than check out Crossroads all over New York.”

  I look at Kadence, something very close to fear spearing through my veins. “I think we need to find out why and how.”

  Kadence laces her fingers through mine. “You’re right. We do.”

  Caleb pulls his cell out of his pocket. “How about we exchange numbers and keep each other posted?”

  I glance at Kadence, aware I don’t have a cell. I’ve never had anyone to call, or anyone needing to contact me. She pulls out her own, and they swap details.