Gemini (11 page)

My cheeks heated, knowing Cade was in the audience. I took a shot from Brennan and put it down quickly.

I sat on my perch, a short barstool, put on my headset so I could play wirelessly, and closed my eyes. Goose bumps. I blew out nervous breaths.

This was my favorite part—the anticipation. Waiting for the curtain to be pulled, to feel the heat of the spotlight land on me.

Nothing else existed.

“Welcome to the Lighthouse Lounge on Navy Pier," Vince began his nightly introduction from the other side of the curtain. "For the past two years, they’ve performed exclusively on our stage. Please give a warm round of applause for Zoe Adams and the Eternals."

Cade

"Thanks for hanging with us tonight.” Her infectious smile lit up the shadowed room. The crowd whistled and clapped wildly.

Zoe’s gaze met mine, and the corners of her lips turned up.

“We're gonna take a short break. We'll be back in thirty."

Watching Zoe perform for the crowd, I understood how comfortable she was there. I’d seen her sing in other incarnations, but she never appeared so at peace as she did in this moment.

Raz moved toward me with an approving nod. He, too, could sense she was beginning to open up. To the idea of us. While it would not offend me to avoid this incarnation every millennium, witnessing her growing love for me again and again was beautiful.

Zoe stood from the piano and took a bow, waved to the crowd, and disappeared through the back. Minutes later, she emerged through the side door, friends in tow. We had left seats empty at our table, anticipating they would join us during their break.

"Hey there." Her sweet voice pulsed through me when she tapped my shoulder.

She stood tall. Long, near ebony curls hung around her bare shoulders. Lips painted red, eyes dark and alluring. She dressed in revealing clothing, more so than in previous incarnations. Times had changed for sure. I may not appreciate other men seeing her like this, but my body was not balking at the display.

I stood. "You look beautiful this evening.”

Her expression lit up, and her aura burned incessantly. "Thanks, I'm glad you could come."

She acknowledged Raz, and he tipped his head to her.

"Zoe, this is Raziel or as I call him, Raz. He's a very old friend.”

She nodded and put out her hand. "Good to meet you, Raz."

He lifted her hand and gave her a kiss, rousing a flush in her cheeks. Raz sent a knowing expression in my direction, letting me know he could sense her feelings now.

"Would you like to sit?" I asked.

"Actually, I was thinking we could grab a drink and head out back for a few minutes. It's pretty stuffy in here, and I could use the fresh air."

“Of course.” I followed her toward the bar.

The minion stood behind it, glaring toward me. His eyes were darkening, as happened with all minions before they became demon.

"Hey Bren, can I have a Fuji Water?" She turned to me. "What would you like?"

"I'm fine, thank you."

She turned back to the minion, who was visibly fuming.

He handed her the drink and growled at me.

I tipped my head and narrowed eyes, letting him know I was not going to accept his attitude.

He turned around and walked away.

Zoe’s gaze followed the minion, then returned to me. She must have sensed something, though she didn't say what she was thinking. "Ready?"

I nodded and followed her backstage toward a door that led behind the lounge.

She turned on a light to a patio with a seating area, an umbrella, and chairs. There was a quaint flower garden overlooking Lake Michigan and a bench swing. She sat down and motioned for me to join her.

"This is quite pleasant.” I took a seat beside her, and the swing beneath us began to move.

"Thanks. I actually designed this patio and planted the flower garden over there."

She pointed toward a small area near the wall. Peonies, her favorite floral fragrance. I’d recognize their scent anywhere. The garden in Aravot was bursting with them.

"It's like, my favorite space. Well, almost. Except for the stage."

"I can tell. You appear quite comfortable performing."

"I am," she whispered as she clasped her hands together and set them in her lap.

We swung back and forth for nearly ten minutes, yet she said little.

I initiated a conversation, hoping to break the silence between us. "You have concerns."

"I do." She hesitated. "But I think I'll save them for later. We don't have much time before I need to go."

"Yes. Well again, you look stunning this evening. And your performance was lovely as always."

Even in the darkness, I felt the flush spread across her cheeks. The reaction she was hoping for, I suspected by her response.

"Thank you," she said. “The last set will take about forty-five minutes, and then we can hang out for a while." She stopped the swinging and rose to her feet.

I stood beside her. "I look forward to it."

We went back inside, and she disappeared backstage.

A few moments later, the room went dark, and the spotlight came back to focus on Zoe. She sat at the piano while I sifted my way through the crowded room.

"Welcome back. I'm Zoe and these amazing performers are the Eternals." She plucked softly on the piano. "We've been playing here for two years, and you’ve been an amazing audience. Just tonight, a friend was saying how comfortable I am on stage. Being able to perform for you is a dream come true. I can’t imagine doing anything else with my life.”

She closed her eyes and pressed the keys.

"This next song was written when I was trying to figure out where I belonged. Well, I recently figured out where that is.” Her fingers moved quickly over the piano, and her voice filtered through the room. “Right here.”

~

"I believe she's a natural,” Raz said. “She's lovely as ever."

"Yes," I agreed.

"But she’s also grown very attached to this life." He rubbed his chin. “A plan must be made.”

Every journey had sacrifices, and Zoe was comfortable with her life now. Being with me would disrupt that, and more sacrifices would have to be made.

Raz set his hand on my shoulder. "I'm going to tell Vince of our decision. You must spend more time with Zoe. If she's going to give up this life, you'll need to give her a good enough reason. Keeping your distance will not get you to a Convergence, my friend.”

I only hoped what I had to offer her was enough.

"I’ll keep watch over our minion. He's been eyeing Zoe all evening, yet I sense no other demon presence. We'll see what transpires. Now go, enjoy your Chayah."

We rose to our feet and went toward the bar.

Vince was removing money from the register while Brennan cleaned up.

The minion glared at Raz, then me. I could almost hear him snarl. His eyes grew dark, and the circles below them were ash. His skin did not glow of any purity.

"Hey, Cade. Ready?" Zoe stood beside me.

My eagerness got the best of me, her voice playing on my emotions. I yearned to be near her but had to control my urges until she was ready.

"Nice to meet you, Raz." Zoe tipped her head toward the door.

I followed her to the exit and out into the warm summer air.

"There's a twenty-four-hour diner down the way, just beyond the pier. What do you think?"

"That’s perfect.” I offered a smile.

We strolled along the pier a few moments. As we passed the Ferris wheel that lit up the evening sky, her hand brushed along my knuckles, and she discreetly twined her fingers with mine.

The electricity between us sparked to life.

In past incarnations, Zoe waited for me to take the lead, but she stood confident now, assertive in a way I’d never known before the Convergence. I believed it to be her new stage presence.

"So, Cade. Or should I call you Adam?"

I stopped walking, my gaze fixed straight ahead. “Um—”

"It’s okay. Remie told me everything. His mother told him.”

My phone rang.

"Could you excuse me for a moment?" I let go of her hand and stepped aside to answer the call.

"Relax," Raz said. "You did not breach your oath, and no rules have been broken. The Firstborns are allowed more information, and they're not bound to secrecy as you. If they felt the need to inform Zoe, it was necessary. You may confirm or deny, but do not elaborate."

"Understood."

I returned to Zoe's side. We continued in silence. Soon, we reached the diner and sat outside on the patio. After ordering a drink and breakfast, we remained silent for several more minutes.

Though late, past midnight, the city was alive with people enjoying their evening.

"You going to answer my question?” Zoe’s gaze narrowed, and she bent down toward me, hands clasped in front of her on the table.

I shifted in my chair. "You may call me Cade." I smiled reassuringly.

She narrowed her eyes but shrugged off my answer. "Okay then. So now that I know everything, what else can you tell me?"

I sat back and pursed my lips. She appeared to accept my lack of answers since she had some of her own, although she continued to push, so I offered a compromise.

"Why not tell me what you know, and ask what you must. Though I can’t promise I may offer you any answers."

She let out a breath. "Remie said I'm Eve. Is that true?"

"What do believe to be true?"

"I’m her, or was."

"Then trust in that. Deep in your soul, you already know all the answers you seek." I gestured toward her hands. "May I?"

She smirked, then pushed her hands toward me, palms up.

"Tell me what you know of the Seal of Gemini." I traced along the lines of her mark with my left index finger, running along the Ring of Chayah with my right.

"I know for Eve's sacrifice, you were assigned her Gemini. And now I'm of age, so you're here to take me back? To Aravot, I guess. Although I'm still unclear about the point of it all."

I squeezed her hands. "Each Genesis is born with a Twin Soul. A Gemini, or as humans call it, a soul mate. To share in their journey."

She silently processed the information as I continued.

"I understand this is much to accept. It’s one of the reasons we don’t tell you these things. I must insist you focus on your feelings. Don’t let insignificant details interfere with sensing what your instincts—what your soul believes to be true. They’ll only confuse you, and distract you of the purpose of this life.”

"Which is?" she asked.

"Lead with your heart. With Love."

She smirked.

I narrowed my eyes. I couldn’t determine her expression. Dissidence, perhaps?

"That's a very—” she bobbed her head. “Sweet notion, but naïve, don’t you think?” She pressed her lips tightly together and exhaled, puffing out her cheeks as they released her breath. “Most of us don’t have this all-encompassing goal of finding someone to love. And we don't let antiquated ideas like soul mates determine our happiness.” She hesitated. “We expect more."

"You expect more?"

She sat back and pulled her hands from my grip. "I guess I do."

Each incarnation had become more difficult, and our Convergence took longer to initiate. Though as concerned as I was, her pledge to return to me remained in my memory. I had to trust in that. Trust in her.

"Tell me, then. What do you expect?"

“I want to perform outside of Chicago. I want a record deal. Tour, travel the world. I don’t know, be the Super Bowl halftime show. Win a Grammy.” Her eyes were alight with excitement. “The stage is where I belong, Cade.” Her eyes were damp with threatened tears. “It’s the only place I feel safe. Loved.”

"I see. And that completes you?"

She shrugged. "I guess.” She wiped her eyes. “It's really all I know."

"Do you ever feel something is missing?”

She sat there for a moment, the corners of her mouth turned down. “I don’t know.” She shrugged. “Maybe.”

"When humans age and can no longer perform the jobs that define them, what do they have left?"

"I don't know. But how could I?” Her gaze narrowed. “I assume I've never aged beyond twenty-one." Her tone was distressed.

Zoe was considering her options. There was no clear-cut decision. This, of course, concerned me. She now understood that choosing us and our life meant sacrificing her human existence.

Eve’s love for humanity was always her greatest strength—but for Zoe, her greatest weakness.

"Is growing old something you’d like to experience?"

She shrugged. "I don’t know. I just know the things everyone around me gets, I don’t. You know, a career. A wedding. Kids. Grandkids. The idea of this ultimate sacrifice just doesn’t seem fair. Why can’t I have my cake and eat it too?”

“Cake?”

She laughed. “It’s an expression. It means I want a career, but maybe—I want you, too. Why can’t I have both?”

She had never questioned her duty before. I was in unchartered waters.

“If something doesn't make us happy, why do we do it?" she asked innocently.

“What would make you happy, love?”

“I don’t know. I mean, I like you. I
really
like the idea of us. Of having you to love, to love me. But giving everything else up? To be honest it stings a little. I just don’t get why I can’t have both. At least for a while. It doesn’t have to be forever, maybe just long enough. You know, for closure.”

I needed to speak with Raz before continuing with the direction of this conversation. I feared giving her hope that did not exist would be cruel and unfair.

“I’m unsure. What I do know is all souls have a purpose. It's not simply to love someone, but rather to be part of their journey. Eternity would be a desolate journey with no one to share it with.”

"I guess I don't understand love." She stared at her hands on the table.

I leaned in, reaching for her hands and held them in mine. "Love is holding someone's soul as sacred, and often, sacrificing for them."

She was quiet for a minute. "What have you sacrificed? What have given up for love? For me?"