Gemini (26 page)

Gross.

"Always a pleasure, demon. Now if you'll excuse us," Julian sneered.

"I assume all is in place, Azriel? See to it this is done correctly."

"What trade?" I stared at Julian.

The corners of his mouth turned down, and he stared straight ahead, refusing to look me in the eye.

"I would make the most of this
Get out of jail free
card." Azriel scoffed. "Had it been my decision, I would've killed your light by now." Azriel nodded to Lilith and took off out the door.

Remie and Nate didn't take their eyes off Lilith.

"Before you go, I must speak to Zoe. One last time," Lilith snarled.

"You've had her long enough, demon." Julian's words rattled from his throat, bordering on rage.

"Either we speak, or it's no deal," Lilith hissed through her teeth.

"No deal. No trade. Let Cade go," I squeaked out, my throat dry. "Please, Julian. Don't let him do this."

Julian mouthed, "I'm sorry," then nodded at Lilith. He set me down on the bed and sat beside me. His arm held me steady.

Lilith kneeled before me. "Love is fleeting, Zoe. But life—this life can be Eternal. You deserve a life of your own. One not centered around Cade or some cause. Think of yourself for a change. You have so much ahead of you. Don’t blow it. Make me proud.” She winked then stood, gesturing toward the door for Julian to take me.

“No.” A tear slid down my icy cheek. I never even gave Cade a chance. “Julian. Please. We can’t leave him here.”

“Sorry, Zo.” Julian scooped me up and hit the door.

Cade, however, was headed to his death. Where was he? Would he be all right?

I heard the stories. How Eve and Zoe’s of the past had sacrificed for Cade. And while I had a hard time understanding why before, it all made perfect sense now.

When Cade and I first met, I asked him what love meant. What he had sacrificed for it. Up until now, I’d been so selfish, only thinking of myself. Whining over what I would lose if I chose Cade.

But I never considered what I’d lose if I didn’t.

As Julian sprinted off down the corridor, I got a glimpse of Cade standing beside Raz. Azriel tugged at Cade’s hands and dragged him away.

My gaze locked onto his and tears spilled down my cheeks as his voice echoed in my head.

“Stay strong, love.”

Zoe

Birds sang outside an open window. A subtle scent of the sea breezed across my forehead. My lids were too heavy to pry open, but my ears worked just fine.

Whispers scattered through the room, drawing my attention.

"She’s beginning to heal. A Fallen dagger should have been lethal.”

"So you think she'll come out of this?"

"I am hopeful, but—"

"You have doubts."

"Yes, Remie. We’re nearly out of time. Cade's light has faded quickly without her. I’m not certain he’ll survive this."

"I'm sorry, Raz. I know how close you two are. What does it mean for us? For humanity?"

I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out. My body betrayed me, and I fell back into darkness…

The next time I woke, I had no idea where I was.

Phoebe sat in a chair beside my bed with her feet kicked out. Her head was tilted back against the wall behind her, and she was asleep.

I let out a sigh of relief. Phoebe was all right. Guess that Fallen told the truth after all. Shocker.

I scanned the unfamiliar bedroom. A window to the side was propped open and sunlight filtered through, streaking the white walls.

Where am I?

My limbs balked at any attempt to move, although nothing hurt. Just stiff. I rolled my neck around to loosen it and pulled myself up to a sitting position, despite my sore shoulder.

Cade. He wasn’t here. I was hollow without him. He’d been here every time I woke from Lilith’s wrath, but this time he wasn’t. I was alone.

I inspected my shoulder. It was covered with a bandage, but the skin surrounding it was no longer grey. And it didn’t hurt.

My heart though, ached for Cade. For what he’d done for me, and what Lilith and Azriel were probably doing to him now.

All this time, I’d been so selfish to even consider that some stupid career was more important than what my soul had deemed worthy so long ago. Time had clearly corrupted me.

I recalled the conversation with Lilith. Her motives were always selfish. And there was never any love for Adam.

But Zoe 1.0—she had lifetimes with Cade. They must have truly loved each other for him to sacrifice his life and soul for her.

For me.

I turned to Phoebe and tried calling to her, but my throat was so dry, I could hardly say her name.

"Phoebe, wake up," I squeaked out, leaned over and tugged at her elbow.

Her eyes drifted open, and her expression grew wide. She stumbled up and ran to the door, yelling.

"Zoe's awake. Come quick." She returned to me and kissed my forehead. Tears gushed down her cheeks. "I was afraid we'd lost you.” She tilted her head to the ceiling and closed her eyes, blowing out a relieved breath.

Raz came in carrying a glass of water.

I practically ripped it from his hand and sucked down the drink. It felt amazing drizzling down my throat. Who knows how long it had been since I ate or drank anything.

"Ah, you've healed." Raz lowered himself to the bed. He pulled off the bandages, and sure enough, the wounds had healed. Only faint pink scars remained.

He placed his hand on my shoulder, one over the other, and closed his eyes.

My skin glowed white, but his hands were a bluish-black color. My eyes widened as his hands changed from blue to coal, then returned to porcelain white.

"Your light is no longer shadowed," he said. "You’re pure once more. You may now return to Aravot. Should you so choose."

"How's Cade?"

Raz was tight-lipped, the corners of his mouth turned down. "I’m sorry Zoe, he's not..."

"Is he—dead?" My heart fell into my stomach. “No. We have until December. It’s not December, it can’t be. I couldn't have been gone that long.”

"No, no, Zoe." Raz braced my shoulder. "But he's not well."

"How long do I have?"

"A little over a week."

I slumped back against the wall and closed my eyes.

Lilith.

She did this, she had to pay. When I told her she’d started a war, I was serious. She had.

I had to rescue my Gemini. I raised my arm and inspected the mark on my wrist. Cade said she had never been his Gemini. Only Zoe. I had to make this right, I just didn’t know how.

All the Firstborns filed into the room.

Julian ran over and pulled me into a hug. "I missed you, boss lady. Glad you're better. You look like you're ready to kick some Fallen arse."

Everyone stared at me, waiting.

Cade risked everything for me. Sacrificed for me. Was willing to die for me. Every ounce of my being felt a part of me missing, and I knew we belonged together. Cade and I were the original soul mates,
Twin Souls.

“I’m in love with him,” I blurted out, staring at the wall.

At my epiphany, the Gemini mark on my wrist fired to life, only this time, it wasn't a subtle tingle, but a rush of adrenaline that jolted my heart. Voices filled my head, and the room went dark…

"No peeking," Cade says. His voice laced with excitement as he leads me down a gravel path, his hands covering my eyes. "It's a surprise. Almost there—" We walk for another few feet and stop. He removes his hands. "Happy Anniversary, love." He’s beaming with pride.

There’s a beautiful lake before me, and it's in our backyard. I turn to see our home that now overlooks the amazing view.

It's breathtaking.

"It’s yours. I’ve named it the Chayah Fountain."

"It's perfect." My eyes well with tears. Cade knows how much I’d grown to love the sea on earth, and he created my very own, right here in Aravot.

He grabs my hand, and drags me toward the crystal clear water. "Look, a waterfall, too. And it's filled with all your favorite creatures."

I glance toward the shore. Seagulls walk the pink sands. Something jumps in the middle of the lake, catching my attention. I peer over the glossy water to see a dolphin swimming beneath the surface, and reappearing at the edge of a wooden pier. It nods at me, sings, and disappears beneath the surface.

My mouth pops open. How did Cade do this?

The magic of Aravot never ceased to amaze me.

"And wait until you see where it leads." He points at the waterfall and shows me a cavern that hides underneath.

I turn to face him. "You did all this for me?”

"Of course, love." He smiles, his sweet dimple burrows into his cheek. "I want you to be happy here. This is our home. Now you can come here, swim with your dolphin, or whatever you wish. We can have picnics by the water..."

"I love it. Thank you."

He smiles at me and brushes the back of his hand against my cheek.

"I know you are concerned about your upcoming incarnation. And while I’m not certain what it will hold, the Council is on alert. You’ve always known me, love. You’re here—" He takes my left hand and places it on his chest. "You’re a part of my heart and my soul. I will always bring you home."

He kisses my Gemini mark and releases it, then cups my cheeks. He bends in and kisses my lips, pressing deeply into me.

I wrap my arms around his neck and run my fingers through his lush, dark hair. The familiar jolt pulses through my Gemini mark…

My eyes shot open, and my Gemini mark pulsed wildly in my wrist.

Raz grinned and clasped his hands in front of him. He saw it, too.

It was Cade. Had always been Cade. Just like my vision said, he had imprinted on my soul, and yes—we would always find our way back to each other.

Back where we belonged.

Home.

More visions flooded in—vignettes of lives past. Reels went on and on, one memory after another revolved through my memory...

Births, Eternalizing. Deaths.

My eyelids shut like an iron gate. Tremors vibrated through my arm and into my chest. Cade’s love consumed me.

The intensity of the visions weighed me down, and my body involuntarily slumped onto the bed.

The room spun like a tornado.

In a moment, I was no longer aware of the bed beneath me.

Something popped in my head, like a light bulb had burnt out. My consciousness slipped away—my eyesight, my hearing, the sounds in the room silenced as everything faded to black.

I was dying.

It was tranquil, though—my soul separated, suspended outside my body. My heartbeat slowed, then faded into nothing.

Phoebe cried out my name as a quiet darkness tugged me away, my body no longer visible.

For just a moment, I was at peace.

Seconds later, a high-pitched scream pulled me from my temporary stillness. An iridescent light blazed beneath my closed lids, then a face came into focus.

Cade.

He reached out, and I gave him my hand. His iridescent aura burned bright around him.

I stared at our clasped hands and watched as his color rose and moved toward me, then pulsed through me. His light travelled from my fingertips, up my arm, and above our heads.

Our auras merged. A meteor shower ignited, and the sparks fell to the floor.

My soul bathed in Cade's light.
Ours.
A burning pulse rushed through my body, like my heart was about to explode. His aura grew brighter, blinding. Beyond my own visions, and for the first time, my own aura exploded around the room, illuminating me.

Joined with Cade’s—

I gasped for air as Cade’s hand was ripped from my grip, and my consciousness returned with a vengeance. My eyes shot open.

I sprung to my feet and scanned the room.

All the Firstborns were on their knees, heads facing the floor. Raz stood, steadfast. He bowed his head briefly and closed his eyes as if in reverence.

"Welcome, Chayah. You’ve been missed."

"What the hell just happened?" I leapt from the bed.

"Look at your mark."

I stared at my wrist. The Gemini mark had grown to include a new symbol and changed colors—violet, like Cade’s aura. Like mine. And it was pulsing.
Cade.
Something coursed through my veins. His heart beat with mine, his blood rushed to my head and forced me to my knees.

Cade was part of me again. I felt him there, his essence, his soul coursing through mine.

“You have Eternalized, Chayah. The Convergence has begun.”

I closed my eyes to steady my breathing and leaned into my hands to calm myself, embracing the emotions running through me. I rocked back onto my heels.

A whoosh of wind whipped into the room from the open window, blew past me, and flung open the bedroom door. Beyond it was a dark tunnel with a blinding glow in the distance.

“What—”

“The bridge to Aravot,” Raz said. “You’ve been invited.”

Julian kneeled beside me and took my hand in his. "Are you ready to meet Gabrielle?"

Beams of light flickered beyond the open door, calling me inside.

Raz reached down and helped me to my feet. The Firstborns stood up beside me.

"It's all right, Zoe. It's time to take your place with the Council," Raz said. "We’ll get you to the gates of Aravot, and Gabrielle will call you in. Do not be afraid."

I looked to Julian, took his outstretched hand and inhaled deeply, mentally prepared myself for what lay beyond the light.

We stepped toward the doorway. Julian and I exchanged looks and nodded when a gentle burst of wind puffed through the room, drawing us in and pushing us through the portal. The wind wasn't cold or loud like the bridge to the dark realm.

It was warm and quiet. Calming. Peaceful.

The breeze died out, and I scanned the breathtaking landscape. I recognized it immediately.

I was home.