Secret of Fate

by Tamar Sloan

  There’s still so much to discuss with my mother. There’s forgiveness to find and loss to acknowledge.

  But there will be time for that.

  Right now, I need Kadence.

  Three steps out of the cottage and I find her.

  She’s not alone, but I don’t focus on that. All my attention is on the girl standing in the center of the path, even the glory of the gardens can’t compete with her. Without conscious thought, I’m standing before her.

  “Micah,” she breathes. “You’re here…”

  “You heard it?” I indicate over my shoulder, never taking my eyes off her.

  She nods. “Most of it.”

  “You…heard what I was going to do?” My throat is tight with anguish. I was talking of leaving this beautiful, amazing girl who holds my heart.

  She nods again, a glistening tear slipping down her pale cheek. “I was hoping to heaven and hell and back again that you’d choose to stay.”

  “Why didn’t you stop me?” My heart stutters. Did she think the same as I did? That maybe I didn’t belong?

  “It was your choice to make, Micah.” She brushes away another tear. “Hardest thing I’ve ever had to do, but the alternative was for you to keep hiding. I want everyone to see your light, Micah. I realized you needed to choose your own destiny.”

  I chose life and love and… “I chose you.”

  Two more tears break free of the dam. “You chose us.”

  The kiss is as inevitable as fate. It’s a kiss that was woven into the fiber of our beings the moment our threads were created. It’s a kiss as inevitable as the tide, as inevitable as dawn, as inevitable as my next heartbeat.

  I lose myself in Kadence and the promise of a future I never let myself believe could be possible.

  When she pushes up and our bodies melt, I get swept away in the passion we’ve only dipped our toes in. No longer holding back, I touch her, I taste her, I give her all the love I have to give. Her breath melds with mine, our pulses are a symphony of desire.

  Three harsh claps break through our reverie, and we pull back in surprise.

  “Touching, guys, it truly is.” Nevaeh props her hand on her hip. “Of course, my father is continuing to harvest souls while you two make out, but I’m guessing you’ve realized there’s nothing you can do about that.”

  Nevaeh’s features have hardened, twisted into angles and lines I haven’t seen before.

  I frown, confused. “Nevaeh?”

  Kadence spins around to stand beside me. “Nevaeh isn’t her real name.”

  She smiles at Kadence’s statement, angling her head as she waits for her to finish.

  “Obviously Hades thought it would be the ultimate irony to name his last demigod child Heaven.”

  Nevaeh…Heaven. “There were three…” I breathe in disbelief.

  Nevaeh shrugs. “Three roads at a Crossroad, three chances to alter a soul’s destiny. Three women happy to have a second chance at life in return for bearing a child. My father’s smarter than anyone has given him credit for.”

  Kadence is shaking her head. “You knew from the start. You’ve been manipulating me from the moment my mother died.”

  The first time Kadence stopped time. Hades must’ve realized she existed and planted his daughter as her friend.

  “You made it easy, most days. Desperately wanting someone to tell you everything was going to be okay. All I had to do was give you hope.”

  “So you could take it away from me,” Kadence whispers.

  Nevaeh chuckles. “You needed a reason to stop time.” She looks to me. “In the beginning, you gave me all the ammo I needed.”

  I narrow my eyes at her. “But she didn’t this time.”

  Nevaeh’s lips thin. “I noticed.” She glares at Kadence. “But we’ll find a way.”

  Kadence stiffens. Hiroko learned that all she has to do is threaten an innocent life, or me, and Kadence will have no choice. The death of another isn’t something she should have to live with.

  Determination fills every cell in my body. I grasp Kadence’s hand, then stalk forward.

  Nevaeh steps back, eyes widening. “You wouldn’t hurt me. Not here.”

  I wrap my other hand around her wrist. “You’re right. That’s why we’re not staying.”

  Nevaeh jerks her hand as she opens her mouth, but I hold tight. She never has a chance to voice her objections before the world of Elysium disappears.

  When reality wraps around us again, we’re in a place I’ve only imagined.

  My mother would tell me stories of the Crossroads. Of souls floating over the bare earth, of the fork in the road ahead of them, everything shrouded in mist.

  Of a decision that was made before they arrived.

  It was a risk to use nothing but the images painted in my mind to arrive here, but it was necessary.

  It’s the only way we can guarantee an audience with Hades.

  Releasing Nevaeh, I pull Kadence to my side as I look down at her. “It’s time to end this.”

  She nods, her beautiful face serious, her gray eyes full of the same determination pulsing through my veins. “It really is.”

  Nevaeh’s looking around frantically. “No, no, no! You need to get us out of here, right now!”

  Kadence looks around. “We’re at a Crossroads, aren’t we?” I nod. “The one below the health center?”

  Nevaeh’s pacing, agitation making it impossible for her to stay still. “There are hundreds of them, but they’re all the same. All interchangeable.” She glances around like she’s expecting something big and hairy to jump out. “You visit one Crossroad; you visit all Crossroads.” She strides toward us, stopping only when her face is shoved close to mine. “Now get us out of here.”

  “I’m sorry, Nevaeh.” I shake my head. “We’re not going anywhere.”

  “What do you want? Money? Fame?” She glares at Kadence. “I had to live the life of a piss-poor street rat just so I could get in her head. There’s nothing like a demigod power of wealth and not being able to use it. I could make you richer than you ever imagined.”

  My breath halts. Nevaeh’s offer of wealth has no impact, but the realization she’s been manipulating Kadence for years in the worst possible way has me reeling. “You encouraged her to hope.”

  Nevaeh’s lips twist into a smile. “The more I raised her up, the further she had to fall.”

  The more likely she was to stop time.

  Kadence leans forward, and I don’t know how there aren’t waves of anger flowing off her. “And it didn’t work.”

  Nevaeh rears back like she’s been slapped.

  Kadence is right. Even faced with the most heart-wrenching decision—losing me—she didn’t lose hope.

  Nevaeh’s pacing again, the road looking too narrow to contain her fevered energy. She throws her arms out wide. “He’s going to come, you know.”

  Which is what I was counting on. But it seems the knowledge does nothing but agitate Nevaeh. The realization strikes me just as Kadence voices it.

  “And you’ve failed.”

  Nevaeh’s hands jam into her hair, her face twisting from anger to agony. “No, no, no.” Suddenly, she straightens. “Unless this is all part of the plan.” She takes a step toward us. “Maybe this is exactly how it’s supposed to happen. Maybe bringing you here was fate.”

  A fourth voice interjects, making us all spin around. “Maybe you’re right, daughter.” Hades materializes from the mist, ambling up the left fork of the Crossroads. “The irony that the son of Moira brought you two here is quite delicious, really.”

  Before, those words would’ve filled me with uncertainty, but I’m past that now. I’m meant to be here.

  Today, Hades is dressed in the kingly robes you’d expect from the god of the Underworld. Every layer a shade of midnight, they look like shadows folding and flowing around him. I suppress a shudder. It’s like his robes are woven of wraiths.

  He comes to stand beside Nevaeh. “I see you’ve
finally met Heaven.”

  Kadence coils in anger. “I’ve known her as someone else.”

  Hades chuckles. “I know.” He pats his daughter on the arm and Nevaeh smirks. “And what a fine job she did.” His hand slips down, then abruptly shoves her away. “Until now.”

  Nevaeh stumbles, her smile dying. A flash of fear streaks across her face.

  Stalking forward, Hades studies the two of us. My arm tightens around Kadence’s shoulder. I know we need to talk to Hades, that, somehow, we need to stop him…I just don’t know how.

  “Lovely to see you two again. Kadence.” He nods in her direction, then settles his midnight gaze on me. “Micah. Son of Moira.”

  Before, I would’ve winced at discovering Hades knew my ancestry. Nevaeh must’ve told him. But today—now—it infuses me with purpose. My heritage is my strength, not my weakness.

  Hades waves his arm to encompass the silent road around us. “Welcome to the Crossroads.”

  I narrow my eyes. “This stops today, Hades.”

  Hades’ pale lips tip up ever so slightly. “Cute. You think you’re here to stop me.” He turns to Nevaeh. “Go home. Heath will tell you where you need to go.”

  The color drains from Nevaeh’s face, and her body looks like it just caved in. “Yes, Father.” Without looking at us, she heads down the left fork. The mist silently swallows her.

  Kadence’s arm tightens around me. This is what happened with Heath. She exposed him; he was sent to the Underworld. “What are you going to do to her?”

  “Very little, actually.” He angles his head. “Having to live with the souls she’s failed is punishment enough.”

  “Those souls don’t belong in Tartarus,” I grind the words out through gritted teeth.

  “I would say most do—the questionnaires were designed to filter out those who would be coming here eventually.” Hades flicks his robes, and they take longer than expected to flutter back around his legs. “But I’m the only one who seems to be a realist around here.”

  Kadence releases me and steps forward, her body vibrating with anger. “You’re going to start a war of the gods.”

  “A part of me doesn’t think so. Some of the gods would prefer to sit back, hoping it will sort itself out.”

  By then it would be too late.

  “But what if you do, Hades?” Kadence almost shouts. “What if my father decides you need to be stopped?”

  Hades’ smile finally breaks free. “Then the Underworld will be filled up even faster.”

  Sweet heavens. Hades is so sure the world is crumbling into darkness, that he’s convinced any mass deaths will end up with him, anyway.

  He’s wrong. And we have to find a way to prove it.

  I join Kadence. “You want this war, Hades, because you’re greedy for souls.” My hands mold into fists. “We’re not going to let it happen.”

  Hades arches a raven-black brow. “And how do you propose to do that?” He looks toward Kadence. “By stopping time? It would give you a little longer to figure out some sort of plan, I suppose.” His gaze returns to me. “That will fail, anyway.”

  “Not going to happen, Hades.” Kadence’s words are hard with conviction.

  “I disagree. In fact, when you stop time, you’ll allow me to complete my plan.”

  Complete his plan? What is he talking about?

  “Too bad Nevaeh failed then, isn’t it?” Kadence retorts.

  “It is for her. But she’s served her purpose, which is what demigod children are for. You’re here, and you’re about to stop time again.”

  “Like hell I will.”

  Hades chuckles. “Wonderful use of words, Kadence.”

  Not liking where this is going, I move in closer to Kadence. I brought us here to end this. “We know everything, Hades. How you’re stealing the souls, why, and about your three demigod children. The photo booths are going. It’s over.”

  “That’s one, rather fateful assumption, Micah.”

  Kadence and I glance at each other. This feels like it’s slowly, irrevocably slipping out of control.

  Hades waves his hand in dismissal. “Enough talk. Kadence, all I need is for you to stop time once more. And not even for very long.”

  I open my mouth to ask why, but Hades slices his hand through the air. “You said you know it all. That would mean there are no more questions to ask.”

  We know everything…that was the assumption.

  Kadence grabs my hand. “We’re leaving. You won’t be harvesting any more souls, Hades.”

  She’s right. As much as it feels like a hollow victory, we need to go. We’ll ensure no more souls will be stolen, maybe then try to figure out if we can free the ones already trapped in Tartarus.

  Hades takes two strides forward. “I don’t think so.”

  Kadence and I look at each other. She nods. “You do it.”

  I just need to decide where to go. Elysium? New York? Pontiac Point? They each feel like we’re returning in defeat.

  “If you don’t stop time, Kadence, others will pay the price.” Hades’ voice is low and ominous, the words heavy, like they’re coated in tar.

  We both still.

  Kadence slowly turns around, her face pale. “No. You can’t.”

  Hades stares at her, impassive. “I’ll admit, it’s not ideal. But I will do what it takes. There’s too much at stake.”

  Anger is like a violent wave crashing through my body, but I’m motionless as it slams against a wall of helplessness.

  “Kronos will discover you’ve forced me. You do that and you start a war.”

  “How do you young ones say it? Bring it on.”

  Kadence shakes her head. “I won’t do it.”

  The surge of anger turns to queasiness. Hades has just harnessed Kadence’s power for his own. All he has to do is blackmail her and she has no choice.

  People will die, or others lose their souls.

  “I’ll be selective, of course. Death for the sake of death is wrong.” He shrugs, the shadowy robe around him shifting. “Aunt Jo could easily succumb to a freak moment, just like your mother did.”

  Kadence freezes. “How do you know about my mother?”

  “I’ve been interested in you for a very long time, Kadence. I’m sorry you had to lose her.”

  Nausea roils in my gut. Hades is suggesting—

  “You bastard. The man who threatened to shoot her, he was a Shell, wasn’t he?”

  Hades doesn’t flinch at the fury thrown at him. “There’s no time to check for shadows when something like that is going on, is there?”

  When the slightest of smiles dances over his lips, I tighten my grip on Kadence. His next words are going to be dealt as blows.

  “It was a pleasant surprise to discover Shells are so easily manipulated. I suppose it’s not like they have anything to live for.”

  Kadence’s hands are clenching and unclenching by her side. She’s wound so tight, it feels like she might shatter any second.

  Anger and anguish have begun their own war within me. I shouldn’t have brought her here.

  “And if you’re thinking that maybe others living as Shells is better than the death of a few, I want you to remember”—he slides his black gaze toward me—“even demigods can die.”

  Kadence’s shift closer to me is subtle, almost imperceptible, but it’s there, nonetheless. When Hades’ eyes take on an obsidian glow, I realize he saw it, too.

  There’s no way Kadence can sit back and watch lives be taken.

  There’s no way our love can be the noose around her neck.

  It’s a stalemate. A win-win for Hades.

  Defeat is devastating. It shatters through every inch of my body. I can almost hear the sound of hope crumbling.

  Hades now has the power of time, and inadvertently, it’s given him the power to alter people’s fate.

  I still, even though something just struck me with the violence of lightning.

  The power to alter people’s fate… />
  It’s a power I had and never knew. An ability just as powerful as stopping time.

  My chest expands like I’ve just been injected with raw energy. I take Kadence’s hand. “You do this, Hades, and you will never return to Earth.”

  Micah

  Hades sneers at me. “Be quiet.” He turns back to Kadence. “Do it. Now.”

  But I interject myself between them, pushing my face close to his. “The moment Kadence stops time, I’ll be able to change the Loom.”

  His eyes widen a fraction, the white growing around the black, then narrow dangerously. “You wouldn’t touch a human thread. It’s against everything you’ve been taught.”

  “You’re right.” Hades’ eyes flare with victory just like I knew they would. “But I’d touch yours. I’ll remove your poisonous fiber from the Loom.”

  Each time Hades has Kadence stop time, I’ll have the opportunity to go through, find Hades’ thread, and remove it.

  Just like I was going to with mine.

  Hades’ nostrils flare as he sucks in a furious breath. “I’m immortal. It won’t kill me.”

  “But it will send you back to the Underworld. Each and every time.”

  There will be no war of the gods on Earth, because Hades won’t be here to fight it. He’ll never be able to harvest souls again. Whatever he planned on using the souls for, will be for nothing.

  It’s the first time I’ve seen color flush across Hades’ porcelain, deathlike skin. It heats to a glittering shade of red. “You wouldn’t—”

  “You’ve just threatened the girl I love, and those she loves. You’ve threatened hundreds of innocent lives. You’ve no doubt taken even more. I, Micah, son of Moira, the goddess of fate, will do it, over and over and over again.” I glare at him, unblinking in my determination to let him know this isn’t a promise, but a pledge.

  Kadence steps up beside me. “You did say you loved the Underworld, Hades. That it was the greatest of all the dominions. It shouldn’t be a problem, should it?”

  Hades is breathing heavily, his robes twitching with agitation.

  “What’s more, you’re going to return the souls you’ve stolen.” I lean forward imperceptibly. “Or I’ll do it myself.”