Night

by Jessica Florence

  Never would I have thought demigods would turn on their own kind. But they did. And those who had survived the madness were slaughtered by those who gave them life.

  I tried to find Jasmine. I’d been in my garden, concocting a tonic for us to drink that would mirror death. We’d escape the killings together. But she had gotten lost in the fray, and I was cornered in the temple. I drank alone and was dead in the eyes of those who were there to kill me.

  When my eyes opened groggily, I searched for her, but to no avail.

  Until now.

  The sight before me made my knees give out.

  I crawled across the rivers of blood and cradled her lifeless body in my arms.

  “My sweet Jasmine, may your soul find peace in the fields of Elysium.” I kissed her forehead, not caring that my lips were coated with the blood that was smeared across her head and soaked into her hair. She deserved better than this.

  I held her for many minutes before going about making a pyre for my love and my fellow kind. They all deserved more than to be left dead on the ground.

  I wished I could have done better, but I did what I could. After using wood from the homes of the dead and carefully collecting their coins, each body was ready to burn, the money to pay the ferryman over their eyes.

  My eyes gave Jasmine’s body one last glance before setting the wood to flames.

  There were no more tears shed for the futures that were now burning.

  Turning my back on what was, I grabbed the pack I’d made and walked away.

  After weeks of traveling I’d found work as a healer in the army, under General Draco. He was said to have the blood of Achilles running through his veins and was unmatched in battle. We hadn’t met before, but I tended to his men, getting them back to their feet.

  It wasn’t the life I had wanted, but it would do. Until that day I saw something that changed me.

  My father, standing next to the other gods, next to Draco.

  I hid behind a tree, praying that my father wouldn’t be able to feel I was alive, but he never even glanced my way.

  Then it dawned on me—they looked sick. They were dying.

  Killing their own children hadn’t sat well with mankind. Which led to the people giving up belief and faith in them, hence the dying. They couldn’t live without people believing in them.

  Served them right.

  With one last chance to save the humans they loved more than their own blood, each of them spoke to Draco and told him that he was their chosen one to protect man. Their powers would be sent into the blood of mortals, who would need him to train and lead them.

  My blood was burning as I listened to their words.

  He slowly removed his armor and shirt, turning, giving his back to them, and sinking to his knees.

  One by one, they sliced into their palm and touched his spine.

  My mouth fell open in pure shock.

  Once the last god burned his blood and power into Draco, they disappeared.

  I couldn’t believe what my eyes had shown me.

  The gods had made Draco immortal, destined to carry out their will to protect mankind after having exterminated the demigods.

  All except me.

  Chapter Twenty

  Esme

  I loved seeing my parents, but I was happy to be heading home. They could only keep up the smiles for so long before the worried looks grew on their face.

  So many emotions were running through my head that once Dorian drove us onto the highway, I pretended to sleep so I would have time to think in peace.

  Nothing had changed in Dorian’s eyes, but so much had evolved in mine. Even after we’d had sex, he touched me gently, and even held me while we slept. Somewhere deep in there, I had to believe he was capable of love. It was either that or get a restraining order because I didn’t have the ability to push him away when he was near me. My heart and body refused to let him go. I just wished my mind was on their page in the book.

  I knew we were going on the bridge to Seahill when the car slowed down to a near stop. Traffic sucked.

  “You can stop pretending to sleep now,” he announced, and my eyes flew open, staring at his in the reflection of the window.

  Instead of moving or trying to defend myself, I stayed snuggled up against his seat facing the window silently.

  “Going to ignore me forever?” he teased, and I rolled my eyes. I wished.

  “I can admit you being silent has its advantages. No more mouthing off at me anymore, and I can just tell you what to do at work without a retort.”

  Yeah, I knew he was baiting me, and it worked. I turned over and leveled him with a look that promised he was going to regret his words.

  “There she is. Being the silent mouse is not becoming of you anymore.”

  “I hate you,” I huffed and wanted to say more, but we still had another half an hour of our ride together.

  “We both know that’s not accurate anymore. I’m pretty sure you said you were falling. Quite a tragedy.”

  “Yeah, well, maybe that fight you seem to like so much will be put to good use and fight this.” I wanted to stick my tongue out at him, but I didn’t.

  “Or you can entertain me with your other thought of making me fall for you in return. Impossible but would be amusing to watch.”

  He did not just say that.

  “Right now, I’m thinking murder would be easier.”

  “You wouldn’t murder a cockroach.” It was his turn to roll his eyes.

  “You’re not a cockroach; you’re more like a mosquito, and I will kill one of those suckers in a heartbeat.”

  Yeah, I said he was like a mosquito.

  “Interesting choice of creature,” he stated while trying to figure out why I’d say that.

  “You suck the life out of people, and you’re annoying as hell.” I felt pretty proud of myself for coming up with that, and he looked at me for a moment then laughed.

  Why did his laugh have to make him seem so normal and attractive?

  “What do you want, Dorian?” The words were out just as I thought them. I’d been wondering that all day. What did he want in life?

  His laughter stopped sadly, but that was my doing. He wouldn’t look at me as he spoke, and I found myself staring at his profile.

  “Retribution.”

  I was not expecting that one word, but I knew it was deep. He had shared something very personal with me.

  “And after that? Do you want to be alone until you die?” I couldn’t stop asking these questions, wanting to understand him more. I guess he was in the giving mood because he answered me once more.

  “I’ll sit back and watch. Being alone makes no difference to me now.” His voice was low, and while he didn’t seem upset by my questions, I could tell he was struggling with these words.

  “No family? Just being the famous doctor until you retire?” I knew I was pressing my luck with him, but I wasn’t stopping.

  “Family makes you weak. I’m never weak,” he replied, and those words were harsher than the ones before. He was done. So instead of interrogating him, I talked about my dreams.

  “I always dreamed of being a nurse part-time while raising kids with the love of my life. Loving strong. Maybe having a dog or pet. A decent house, not too large because then I would have to clean a big house. But we’d be happy no matter the size of the house, or the jobs we had, as long as we had each other.” I smiled, thinking about that future, and hoped it could still happen for me. But I knew it wouldn’t. Not just because of who I was falling for, but because I didn’t want to die, leaving grief in my family. I’d seen what it did to people, and I couldn’t do that to those who loved me.

  Dorian didn’t say anything for the rest of the drive to my apartment.

  He parked in front of the building and got out to grab my bag.

  “I’ll see you at work,” I said and reached up to kiss his lips briefly before turning to go inside.

  Finally, I was alone.


  I unpacked my bag and threw the clothes in the hamper, then made some tea.

  With my steaming cup in hand, I settled on my bed and looked out the window to the cityscape before me. It wasn’t a glorious view like many paid millions for, but it was enough for me. It was of the hospital, and the buildings behind it.

  Tonight, I’d have to work, and I would see Dorian again.

  I thought about what I wanted to do, and how I wanted to act.

  The more I thought about it, the more tired I felt. I just wanted to be myself and do what I wanted. Live as I wanted. I lay down and took a short nap before getting ready, going through my routine of covering up my golden vein, slipping into scrubs, and walking over to work with a feeling of peace inside me. I would just be me. No more fretting over guarding my heart. That ship was waving to me as it passed by now anyway. And I really didn’t want to end things. Who knew where they were going, but for now I was going to live my life to make myself happy for as long as I had left.

  Chapter Twenty- One

  Esme

  “You look sexy.” I leaned up to kiss Dorian’s cheek in front of the nurses’ station before walking away to see my next patient, an elderly woman named Barbara.

  She was a frequent ER patient. Her husband had died a few years ago and I think she came in more for comfort than anything.

  “Miss Barbara, what did I tell you about picking fights with stairs? The stairs always win.” I smiled in greeting and went over to check her vitals.

  Barbara was a petite woman in her early seventies, with short brown hair and green eyes. She was sweet as can be, but you didn’t want to get on her bad side. She said things like they were to whoever.

  “I know it. The little dog just ran next to me, and I tripped on the last few stairs trying to avoid him. Hopefully nothing is broken. I have my last grandchild’s wedding this weekend to go to.”

  I knew she had fractured something, not horribly, but she was going be out of commission for a while.

  I knew I shouldn’t have done it—broken bones were easy enough to heal. But the heartbroken look on Barbara’s face did me in.

  “Well, we’re going to get some X-rays to take a look, and we’ll go from there.” I placed my hand on her leg and pushed my power into her. She wouldn’t feel much of anything right now, since it said on the record she had taken something for the pain. When the X-ray came back as normal, she would only feel a bruise. Just the bone would be healed.

  While I waited for radiology to do their thing, I checked on a few other patients then went back with Dorian to give Barbara the results.

  She always liked to ruffle Dorian’s feathers, and I enjoyed every moment of it. A little old lady giving him a hard time, and he never really gave it back to her, which I always found surprising.

  “Well, Ms. Barbara, it seems you are fine besides some bruises here and there. Just rest, ice, and try not to fall down anymore stairs.” Dorian checked her over just to be sure she was okay then wrote some things down for his notes.

  “Thank you, Dorian. With that out of the way, I think you two have some explaining to do.” Dorian and I both looked at the woman with confusion on our faces.

  She gave us a knowing look and shook her head.

  “My eyesight may be going, but I can see what’s happening in front of me very clearly. You two are in love. I always knew it was going to happen sooner or later.” She smiled and reached over to touch my hand, giving it a little squeeze of approval.

  Neither one of us said anything to deny or confirm her thoughts.

  “Well, I hope to see this pretty lady on your arm in the newspaper pictures about that fancy function this weekend, Dorian. Call it a wish from an old lady. I could die any day, you know.”

  Oh my God, this woman is relentless.

  “Put your worries to rest, Barbara—she’s already on the list as my plus one.” He was smooth-talking her, and I tried not to let my face show that I was in shock. She winked at me and then said she was all set.

  After we were done making sure she was good to go, I pulled Dorian into the empty room next to Barbara’s and closed the door behind me.

  “What the hell, Dorian?”

  He was looking up at the sky as if asking for heaven to grant him mercy. When he looked back down at me, he shrugged.

  “I’m being honored at the hospital charity event this year, and now you’re coming with me. Especially since you’ve made this between us public in the hospital.”

  I didn’t have a fuck to give on that one. I was never afraid of what people thought of me, and I was tired of hiding things with him. But going to one of the hospital’s big events was a huge deal. They were fancy, and the plates at the table were like a thousand dollars each. Every bigwig in Seahill would be there—even Phillip.

  “I don’t think I can go. I mean, I think I’m working that night, plus I don’t have anything to wear, especially nothing that fancy.”

  “These really aren’t things to stress about.” He looked at his watch, and I knew he was busy, but was staying in the room for this moment while I was freaking out.

  “I can’t take off time like you can. I have bills, and I definitely can’t afford an outfit for the event.” I didn’t like admitting my financial situation to him, but this was an immediate concern. He’s seen my small apartment, so he should know I couldn’t afford it.

  “One night off won’t make you poor, and I’ll buy your dress. You can pay me back by telling everyone I’m not your boyfriend and that we aren’t dating.”

  I wanted to laugh, so I did.

  “I’m pretty sure everyone knows that we are just being intimate. You have a reputation of screwing nurses around here. Now I’m just another pin on your white coat.” I rolled my eyes.

  “I haven’t slept with anyone here. Don’t fuck where you work. It’s bad for business. Like right now, I have to go.” He started to leave, and I grabbed his arm, not letting him get too far. He looked down at my gripping hand and then up to my eyes.

  “I’ll go with you.” I situated my body to fit in front of his and stretched up to kiss his lips, which quickly turned into a frenzy of passion and need.

  “I’m coming over tonight, wear something I can rip off with my teeth.” He pulled back and groaned. I wanted more of his lips, but I knew he had to leave.

  We separated, and he gave me one last look of pure desire before leaving me in the room alone.

  The rest of the night, I was in a perpetual state of happiness. Dorian may not see it, and wouldn’t admit it, but we were dating, just without the formalities. His actions and his words just needed to find common ground on the subject.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Esme

  Dorian had come by a few hours after I’d gotten home and found me waiting for him in the only lingerie I owned: a purple, lacy negligee.

  To say he liked it would be an understatement. We hadn’t even closed the door for two seconds before he was on me, and we were on the floor, not caring that we didn’t even make it to the bed.

  Afterward we were both tired from working all night, so I told him he could crash just to take the edge off before heading to his place if he wanted. Reluctantly he agreed, and we fell asleep quickly in bed together. My heart melted more for him, and he didn’t even know it.

  The need to pee woke me up from a really good dream about being on the beach. There had been puppies everywhere. Really, it was the best kind of a dream a woman could have.

  I opened my eyes to see I was the only one in the bed.

  Figures.

  That need to use the bathroom was stronger now that I was awake, so I hopped out of bed and went about my business.

  My appearance in the mirror was sort of scary, but since it was just me in the apartment, I didn’t care. The bed was calling me back to it, and I planned on sleeping for at least four more hours before getting ready for work.

  I was lying on my back and snuggling into the covers when a bright light flashed in my
bedroom and then was gone.

  What the hell?

  Looking to where the light had come from, a loud gasp flew out of my mouth.

  Dorian was standing there, wearing a blank expression on his face like he didn’t just show up in my room like a flash bomb.

  I didn’t even know what to say, and he said nothing. He just stood there, waiting to see what would happen.

  I did the only thing that came to mind: my fingers gripped my pillow and I threw it hard at his face.

  “What the hell, Dorian?”

  So many thoughts were streaming through my head that I couldn’t even catch one to follow.

  He caught the pillow before it hit and tossed it back on the bed then scoffed at me.

  “Like you’re one to talk, little miss healer. You should really stop healing everyone, by the way. You’re not going to last long if you keep it up.”

  I couldn’t move. Hell, I felt like I couldn’t even breathe.

  He knew I had powers? Not just any powers, but he knew in detail about my powers. What dimension did I wake up in? Dorian didn’t have powers—unless being a jerk was a superpower, but I doubted it.

  “How did you know?” I don’t know why I did it, but I pulled my comforter up to cover myself, like a shield of sorts. I’d always kept it covered, and any healing I did I made sure no one could trace to me.

  “I’ve never lied and won’t now, but you don’t want to hear the truth, Esme.” His gaze was burning into mine, willing me to just accept those words and be done with this conversation, but I couldn’t let it go. I felt betrayed, even though I’d kept my powers a secret too.

  “How did you know about my powers?” I had to know.

  “I have seen your vein and can smell the Fates on you. It’s a lot more potent when you are around the sick and injured. You control their destiny.” His face gave nothing away. He could smell the Fates on me? Like THE Fates? So, Eli and I had been right all those years ago. There were so many questions, and my head started to hurt from all the thoughts that were trying to come out.

  “How do you know what the Fates smell like?”