Gemini (34 page)

It was the longest night of the year, and I understood why.

Raz said the sky in Aravot would go dark, lose all its light and remain that way until our Twin Souls had Converged, bringing back the light.

Ironic, since this was also the day Cade would die if we didn’t.

Someone has a strange sense of humor.

Though Raz also said we’d never waited until the last minute to Converge, so today was literally Aravot’s darkest day in all of history.

The air was still. Stale. It felt nothing like the last time I was here. A chill hung in the air, like the City felt the darkness looming.

Our bridge portal landed in front of the cabin on the outskirts of Eden. This place didn’t look anything like I pictured a cabin to be. It was ginormous. The only thing about it that said cabin was the smoke filtering out a chimney. The building was the size of a country resort, huge wrap around porch. Tons of windows.

I followed Raz inside. Michael and Gabrielle stood at an arch in a large foyer. It gleamed like a Greek banquet hall with columns and vaulted ceilings. Vast space, yet empty.

Michael stood tall and valiant, Gabrielle by his side.

She bowed her head and reached her arms out for me as I approached them.

"You look well. How are you feeling, Chayah?" She pulled me in for a hug. The same warmth I felt in Aravot returned, expanding through my body. Heat rose from my skin, and it began to glow, like she brought the light out of me.

My aura was showing. To everyone.

I scanned the room. Theirs were all glowing, full-force. Like some divine calling was about to be answered.

I suppose it was.

"Come, let's sit."

I followed Gabrielle to a circle of gleaming pewter chairs sitting behind the arch of the room. The seats remained empty, waiting for each Eternal to fill, but only Gabrielle and I were heading in that direction.

We sat, and she turned to me, pulling my hands into hers.

"I’d like a moment to talk before we get started. You seem unsure of yourself."

I narrowed my gaze and pressed my lips together. It was weird how well these Elders knew me. I kept forgetting the abilities they had and the fact that we'd known each other much longer than I could recall.

"Tell me. What's troubling you, child? What is it you're afraid of?"

"That I won't be able to pull this off. That I won't be able to materialize to get him back."

She nodded. "Well let me put some of your fears at ease. Tell me, Chayah. What is the one part of this life where you’re confident? The one thing that brings your soul to life, besides Cade?"

"Performing. On stage."
That was easy.

"Yes." She nodded. "You never second guess yourself when you're on stage. You're calm and radiant. Strong.” She gazed deeply and leaned in. “You’re not just Cade’s Gemini, Zoe. You—are Chayah. The Eternal Mother. You have never shied from that responsibility. You’ve faced it, head-on. Chosen to sacrifice everything— your love. Your soul, for both your Gemini and your children. For humanity. They are your family. We are your family.”

Something clicked.

“And you won’t shy from this battle either. A modern reference you can relate to, William Shakespeare once said, ‘All the world's a stage.’ This is your stage, Chayah. We all believe in you. It’s understandable you should have fears, but we will not let you fail.” She held my chin in her hand. “Trust yourself as you trust in your family."

Gabrielle smiled, stood, and touched my shoulder.

"You've got this." She rose, bowed her head then returned to Michael’s side.

The weight of this invisible crown I wore finally took hold.

Who’d have thought me, a girl who just six months ago, wanted nothing more than to spend her days singing and playing gigs for an audience was destined for so much more?

What the hell was I even thinking? My cheeks heated.

None of this should have ever happened. Whining like a selfish brat over Eli, a man who already had a Gemini. Over Sophie, who gave up her Gemini to be my surrogate mother.

And Cade. My Gemini and Twin Soul. A man who loved me more than any other, who traded his life for mine without a second thought, knowing he may not live to ever see me again.

I owed them all.

I owe Cade

Eternal Mother.
The term held new meaning after visiting the Tree. This was my sacrifice. My duty. My burden to bear, but I wasn’t alone.

Truth is, I'd never been alone.

My Genesis family. The Eternals, and the Elder Council. They were always there, watching and waiting. Protecting me. It was my turn to protect them.

This was my legacy.

I would not fail.

Sophie tapped my shoulder and handed me a bag. “Come along, Chayah.” She led me to a changing room where I could get ready.

I opened the bag and pulled out the make-up and clothes Sophie had packed. Apparently, these were some of the things I used to wear. She said it would put me into the right frame of mind.

Black fatigues, a dark ruby tank top and black leather boots.
Sophie picked these out?

Huh. I kept hearing what a badass Zoe 1.0 was. Maybe they were right. Wish I knew her.

I focused on Cade as I changed into my new clothes, which fit perfectly. I pulled my hair up tight on top of my head. The black eyeliner ran under and over my lids, bringing out my green eyes. I put on some tinted lip-gloss.
Better.

I stared at my reflection. Blew out slowly, regaining my strength.

"Lead with love.” I recited the mantra Gabrielle said was kind of our Genesis thing.

It was also something Cade taught me.

“This is about love, not vengeance,” I reminded myself. I had to make sure my head was in the right place.

No longer the weak little girl with scars on my body, I was renewed. A fighter.

This was my crowning battle, and it was time to bring home my Gemini.

When I got back to the Great Hall, everyone stood in a circle around the arch where Michael and Gabrielle waited. A bright, iridescent light lifted around the room. It reminded me of Cade's.

Gabrielle reached out for me to come. The Firstborns stared, a few gasped with shock.

And of course Julian couldn’t resist. “There you are, boss lady.” He winked.

"Zoe. Your light is breathtaking." Michael tipped his head.

Gabrielle clasped her hands together, beaming.

“Welcome, Chayah.” Gabrielle began. “And welcome to our Firstborns, newly initiated and returning. Before each Elder Council meeting, we conduct an Infinity Circle.” Gabrielle took my hand in hers. “We join our energies and become one. It’s our way of reaffirming our commitment to our family. To the Genesis legacy. To our family.”

As each Eternal took the next one's hand beside them, their colors lit up. A pulsating heat flooded throughout the circle, and their energies entwined with my own. We were one force. One family.

I closed my eyes and cleared my mind, reciting my mantra.
“Lead with love.”

As I stood there blending my energy with the circle, A warm, gentle voice whispered in my head…

"Love will guide you home."

When I opened my eyes, hands began to release and the circle disbanded, but there was residual power pulsing throughout the room.

We all felt it.

"Julian, Nate and Remie. Are you ready?" Raz broke the silence.

The boys nodded and braced their daggers strapped to their thighs.

Their role was to start a faux war outside Cade’s cell and distract anybody who may be waiting to strike when Eli and I got inside.

Nate said the words, and a bridge opened—a faint shimmering wave moved through the air, and wind whipped into the hall.

"See you on the other side, boss lady." Julian saluted, and they all disappeared through the portal.

Next up were Rainah, Sophie, and Micah.

Sophie came over to Micah and Rainah, taking their hands. "We’ll be waiting to follow in
if
we need to get Zoe out. Eli, you be ready to surge in if necessary. Otherwise, we’re going to sit tight. You can do this, Zoe. Be strong."

“Here we go.” Eli took my elbow and led me to our spots.

Two pewter chairs sat where the Infinity Circle had been moments earlier. Eli gestured to one, and then sat in the other. Michael and Gabrielle joined us.

"Alright, Chayah. Clear your mind. Think of your Gemini. Do you remember what we talked about earlier?" Gabrielle moved to sit beside me.

"I do."

"When you get in the chamber and see Cade, you must reach for him. Not with your hands, but with your Genesis origin. Your soul. Sense him within you. The most difficult part of soul projection is materializing, and then building a new portal for the two of you to return. I know you’ve practiced this, and Eli says you're ready. Just as soon as you can reach him, your light must join with his, and you will materialize immediately. Once you can sense him, do whatever you can to be near him. Hold him, touch him, and kiss him. His light will regenerate the moment you have true contact, and his will grow stronger simply by being near you.”

We had practiced. For hours. It was a good thing I didn’t need much sleep.

"Once he’s regenerated enough to recognize what’s happening, you’ll be ready to leave. Hold onto him, Chayah. Don’t let him go. We will call your souls home, opening a portal if you cannot. When you return, we need to get you two immediately to the fountain. We'll return there. In fact, it's just outside this compound. Once the Ceremony is complete, you and Cade will need to go home and Converge as soon as possible."

“I understand.” I closed my eyes.

Gabrielle laid her hands on my shoulder and for a second, all my worries faded away. The weight lifted. If only for a moment, long enough to regain my energy and prepare for what lay ahead.

Eli reached for me and took my hands.

“Let’s bring your Gemini home.”

Cade

"Cade, I'm here. Wake up.”

"Zoe?"

I pried open my eyes and glanced about the room.

Nobody.

Nothing but two wooden chairs stood in the corner of the dark room.

My eyes fell shut.

It had been chaotic outside my cell for the past hour. I’d been hearing voices—demons and Fallen running up and down corridors, though I was unsure what the commotion was about. A fight of some sort, I’m sure.

“It's me. Please wake up."

“Zoe.”

It had been hours since I vaguely recalled her presence. Or since I imagined her light hovering above me, though the warmth from her energy felt real. I wasn’t sure how long ago that was, or how much time I had left.

Only that she would return for me.

As I lay there, limp and lifeless, only a shred of light left inside of me, I focused on her energy. Envisioned her emerald eyes that lit up when she smiled. Her long, dark curls that hung down around her shoulders. Her lips that she chewed on while attempting to be coy.

I loved everything about her.

"Cade. Please, open your eyes."

As I envisioned her presence, a light filled the dark dungeon. A shift in the pressure of the room hummed, and something flickered above me.

I attempted again, to pry open my eyes, but the emptiness inside still weighed them down.

"Cade. Can you hear me? Please wake up. It's me. It's Zoe."

"Zoe."

"Can you hear me? Oh, please Cade.”

I forced my eyes open. Her rich, iridescent light hovered overhead. But I could not focus long, and my eyes fell shut.

"Cade Adams, open your eyes. Right now! Look at me."

A charge ignited the air with a renewed force. The hum gave me incentive to push through the lifelessness.

A luminous light lingered above me, and a surge of heat forged through my limbs. The silhouetted iridescent light expanded and slowly transformed into Zoe. Her form fell and clumsily rolled to the dirt beside me.

The light grew beyond her and merged with mine, and then she fully materialized.

My aura grew steadily stronger.

"Cade!" She rolled over, sat against the wall, and pulled me into her arms.

Her warmth and her essence seeped into my skin, into my bones. Slowly, her energy merged with mine, bringing my limp frame back to life. She laid her hand on my forehead. The heat of her touch burned through me. She lowered my head to her chest. The beat of her heart thumped like a drum beneath my cheek.

My Chayah was here. "Zoe."

I struggled to keep my eyes open, still so weak, though desperately fighting the numbness in my limbs.

"Cade, look at me."

I could not turn my head, but her light continued to fill the hollow of my soul.

With each passing moment, her essence filled me. Woke me up. I felt her arms wrap around my shoulders, then a pulsing light rushed through my skin, my body reviving with each gentle touch.

My head spun with the rush of energy that flowed into my veins.

Voices echoed from outside the cell.

Zoe's heart raced at the sound, and she began to fidget. "Cade, please. Look at me. We need to go. Wake up." She lifted my chin. "I need you."

"Zoe."

"Yes, it's me. I'm here. You have to wake up. Open your eyes. Look at me, Cade."

I opened them, and her teary eyes gazed back.

"Zoe.”

"Cade, please. Help me."

"You projected here?"

She nodded, a single tear rolled down her cheek.

I reached up and wiped it away with my thumb. Her warmth radiated through my hand.

"I’m so sorry I ever doubted you. Doubted us.” She laid her palms against my face. "You’ve imprinted on my soul." She brushed the hair off my forehead, running her fingers through it. “I will always return to you.”

Our lights exploded around us, and our hearts raced. Symbiotic. In balance once more.

The Convergence had begun.

She leaned down, and her lips met mine, soft and sweet. They tingled beneath me, warmed me from the inside as she kissed me, gentle. Loving.

Jolts of energy burst around us, and the lights flickered in the room. Numbness that once plagued my limbs was replaced with renewed vigor. Her kiss vibrated through my soul.