Origin (Eternal Sacrifice Saga Book 2) (14 page)

“Fine.” I scoffed. “Talk. Geez, talk about a buzz kill.”

“Brennan is indeed, the cross breed.” Raz pursed his lips. “Part human, part demon, part Fallen.”

“What?” I narrowed my eyes. “All three? How?”

“He has both Fallen Angelic light and Demon genes from whomever he was created, we suspect Azriel or perhaps Lilith. And he was born, like a human. Like you are each incarnation.”

“How is that even possible?”

“Back in the early days of humanity, many Angels fell for mating with humans, forming cross breeds. Nephelium. Azriel and Lilith took that a step further. Brennan is part demon. Not a human turned demon, but from a pure demonic bloodline. Having angelic light within him is the super cell we fear. He is both light and dark. With powers growing every day. It’s possible he could breach Aravot’s borders into the Eternal realm in ways no other immortal could.”

“How? And does that mean Lilith could get in, too? She’s part Genesis, right?” I blew out a breath. “And wait, how did she even become a demon in the first place? What is she?” I bit my lip. “Demon? Fallen? How did she get her powers?”

“Lilith is her own immortal variety.” Cade sighed, crossing his arms over his broad chest, leaning back onto his chair. “She was Genesis, like me. When she left the Garden, she technically became a Fallen. It’s complicated. Her powers were generated when ours were.”

“Huh?” I glared at Cade.

“When you and Cade became Eternal, so did Lilith,” Raz said.

“But why? Wasn’t becoming immortal a reward?”

“Well.” Raz bobbed his head back and forth. “Lilith was part of the same design as Cade. So when he became Eternal, so did she. They were created together, so connected, in a matter of speaking. That’s the easiest way to explain it. Lilith’s powers keep the balance of light and darkness in check.”

“So she gets rewarded for my sacrifice? How is that fair?”

“It’s not,” Cade said.

I shook my head, trying to wrap my brain around all this.

“Humanity is about balance, Chayah. There is both light and darkness in all humans. Lilith represents the darkness, and Cade, the light. Yin and yang, as they say. Then you came along and tipped the scales in our favor. You are like the human turned Eternal trifecta.”

“So, the three of us are all linked for Eternity?” I scoffed. “Perfect.”

“It’s all right, love.” Cade put his arm around me and nudged me close for a second. “We will always have the upper hand so long as our union is strong. Thus the reason our bond remains iron clad.”

I stared down at my fingertips, rubbing the tops of my nails.

“You and Cade hold our advantage, but now with this cross breed, we may have lost it. Word is Lilith’s alive and plotting once more to take control of Aravot and infect the Trees.”

“Hold up.” I tilted up my head. “What did you say?”

Raz narrowed his eyes.

“Go back. What did you say? About infecting the Tree?”

Raz tilted his head, giving me that
I’m reading your mind
look.

“Infecting the Tree. What does that mean, like a literal infection?”

“Similar to when your heart was infected with darkness from the Fallen dagger.”

“Seriously?”

“The Tree could become infected with darkness. That’s how its souls turn dark, causing the Tree to die from within. If darkness were to breach the Eternal City, it could overtake the Tree, ushering in darkness to its very core. Effectively ending humanity.

“No.” My eyes went wide, and sharp pains pricked my temples, like tiny knives were being shoved into my head, pushing out whatever I was thinking. “Son of a bitch.”

I squeezed my eyes shut and rubbed frantically, trying to thrust out the pain.

Cade set his hands on my shoulder.

Lightning cracked across the sky above us, and everyone at the restaurant gasped. The sun was shining and very few clouds hung around. No visible threat of a storm looming.

Where did that come from?

“Are you okay, love?”

I opened my eyes and stared at Cade, blowing out a breath. “I think so.”

“We’re curious about your visions. If you’ve had any recently,” Sophie asked.

I shook my head, pursing my lips. “Lots of headaches, though, but if I close my eyes and push on my temples, they go away. I wasn’t able to do that before.”

“You’re blocking them out,” Raz said.

“Yeah, that’s what Cade said, too. How do I stop?”

“You were never strong enough as a human, but as an Eternal, you’re unconsciously finding ways to ignore them. There are tricks we can teach you.”

“Next time I get a headache, I’ll let you know.” I pressed my lips together. “So what did you find out about that girl? Her aura was weird. It had a shaded color. Almost looked to me like…” I shut my mouth.

“Like what?” Raz narrowed his gaze.

“Nothing. I’m just being paranoid.” I peeled at the remains of nail polish on my fingers. I’d let myself go since this whole thing started.

“They’ll let just about anybody into this realm these days, won’t they?”

I glanced up at the sound of a sexy European accent.

A beautiful couple stood beside our table. The woman was tall, thin. Ebony hair, dark olive skin, dark eyes. Exotic. The guy was dark blond, paler and adorable.

“Loren.” Sophie stood and ran to him, pulling him into a hug.

Must be her Firstborn.

The rest of the table stood, including me.

Cade hugged the woman. “Good to see you, Hannah.”

She was an Angel, I could tell by her blinding aura. She moved closer and hauled me into a hug. “Chayah. Oh, it’s been so long.” She kissed my cheeks.

“Um, hi?” I let out a laugh.

“She’s not retrieved her memories,” Cade said.

“Really?” The Angel narrowed her eyes. “That’s not good.”

“I didn’t get your name,” I said.

“Apologies, I’m Hannah. And this is Lorenzo, my Gemini. We call him Loren. We’re guardians over the European territories. When Raz said you were vacationing in Capri, we wanted to come. It’s been so long since we’ve seen you. How are you feeling, Chayah?”

“I’m okay.”

“Loren was the first Eternal Guardian,” Lailah explained.

Loren bowed.

Still weird.

He smiled warmly, stretching out his arms. “May I?”

“Of course.” I let him hug me. “It’s good to meet you.” I pulled back. “I wish I remembered you.”

“You will, in time.” Hannah chimed in.

“She’s blocking them out.” Raz interrupted. “It’s not like before.”

I rolled my eyes. They were all making way too big a deal over this.

Hannah pursed her lips. “You’ve done this before.”

“I have?”

“Two or three incarnations ago,” Cade said. “Your friend was killed.”

I closed my eyes, searching for a face, but came up empty.

“Hmm. You know who may be able to help?” Hannah said. “Zariah and Cassie. Eternal Angels. They’re Guardians like Loren and me. They pulled you from this before, I believe?”

“I’m going to lose track of all these names. Yeah, whatever we need to do, if it’ll make a difference when we get back to Eternal business.”

“We’ll gather the troops to help,” Hannah said.

“Thanks. Would you and Loren like to join us?” I gestured to the empty seats beside me.

“We’d love to.” Loren pulled out a seat for Hannah then sat beside her.

A minute later, the waiter brought drinks, and we ordered our meals.

“How are the breaches here in Europe, Loren?” Raz asked. “We missed you and Hannah at the last meeting.”

“Just as most of the world, reaching record numbers.”

“So, explain these breaches. I’m still figuring things out.” I took a drink of my Pepsi, then gripped the glass, circling my fingertip along the rim.

“There are a number of entryways into Aravot within this world, several located at every continent. Demons try to break through the stronghold of the portals to enter the Eternal city.” Hannah took a drink of her water. “There was a time demons didn’t even know where the gates were, but once Fallen began to emerge, their knowledge and inner workings of the Eternal realm were used to gain entrance. Although to this date, we don’t believe they could even breach the gates given their make up, but we don’t take any chances.”

I stared out toward the rocky shore of the island as the Eternals continued their banter, and their conversation faded from my hearing. I focused on the sound of the waves crashing against the rocks, and a voice rung in my head.

“Wake up.”

A headache started. Nothing like the stabby knives from last time.

I rubbed my head and closed my eyes. Inhaling, I tried to relax and ignore the dull throb that rose into my temples so I could focus on the visions.

I had to stop pushing them out.

“Azriel. Lilith. Brennan. Fallen girl. Micah.” I mumbled names under my breath as their faces ran through my head. “Cade. Remie. Phoebe. Eli…”

Soft fingers grazed my shoulder. “I’m here, Chayah.”

“Cade.”

The throbbing grew stronger, almost unbearable, as a new face appeared—a man’s. One I’d seen before.

I braced my skull, the sound of my own blood rushing through my ears. Jumbled words I couldn’t make out rumbled around. Nothing coherent.

The pounding increased, but I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to focus on the man’s face.

“How do I know you?” I blurted.

He had wings. And a strange aura. Shadowed, though not completely dark. And it had a color. Dark blue—almost black, but not quite.

“Wake up, Chayah.”

I leaned down on the table, holding my head like a vice as the aching pulsed to an unbearable level.

“Stop it.” I cried out as faces raced through my mind.

Then I had a vision.

Cade.

Brennan.

Brennan stabbed Cade.

Cade’s aura faded, and his lifeless body fell to the ground.

I balled my fists, my head buried in my arms, leaning onto the table.

Why didn’t I fight this vision again?

Heat raced to my forehead.

My body shook. I couldn’t stop it.

“Wake up, Chayah.”
The voices grew louder. Screaming at me.
“Help him.”

“It’s time to wake up.”

“Stop it.” I let out a growl, gripping my head.

Crack!

A loud boom crashed in the distance. I glanced up just as lightning flashed across the Italian sky that was now grey and ominous. Clouds had moved in fast. Too fast.

Something popped.

Snapped in my skull, like a rubber band.

My head jerked as a flood of rain poured down over our heads.

People around the café jumped up from their tables and ran inside the restaurant.

Everyone but us.

Cade just stared at me, eyes wide.

I tried to read his expression. His heartbeat spiked erratically. Fear, maybe? I couldn’t tell, but I knew it wasn’t good.

I narrowed my gaze, scanning around, taking a deep breath and blowing it out slowly. The brief downpour went from a light drizzle to nothing. The clouds began to fade and a few rays of sun shown down on the rocks beside the shore.

Eternals at our table stared at me in silence.

I closed my eyes briefly as the pounding in my head faded away. “What?”

“We need to train you,” Sophie said. “Immediately.”

Everyone looked at each other, visibly shaken.

“What is it?” My chest was tight. Every muscle tensed. Fists clenched, I didn’t even realize I was grinding my teeth.

For the first time, I agreed with them.

Something felt—off.

“Your emotions,” Raz said. “They’re out of control.”

Workers from the café came out with towels to dry off plates and refill food and drinks.

“That wasn’t me.” I pointed at the sky.

Raz pursed his lips, nodding his head.

“I’ve only witnessed that happen once.” Cade glanced to Raz. “Stay as long as you need.”

My mouth popped open, and my heart dropped into my stomach. “But…”

Cade pushed his palm toward me, shutting me down.

“No,” he said, voice stern and unwavering. “No arguments, Zoe. Not on this.”

“Cade.” I stood, shoving my chair back, running my hands through my dripping wet hair. “You promised.”

“Things have changed,” he said. “You’re not safe. Not you, not me—nobody.”

“What are you talking about?” I asked, rougher than I intended. I stood straight, trying to get myself in check

My emotions
were
off the grid.

Cade pointed at the sky. “That is a warning.” He barked, eyes wide.

I stepped back, eyes narrowed, mouth open.

He’d never yelled at me before. And although that wasn’t
technically
a yell, it still kind of stung.

“I’m sorry, Chayah.” He pushed out his chair, lowering his voice. “That was a warning, one we all must heed.”

Cade made to stand, but I pushed down his shoulder, shaking my head.

I turned to leave, but he grabbed my hand and stood. “You’re not going to disappear, Zoe. Not this time.”

“Yes, this time. And whenever I need some space.” I pursed my lips. “You’re not my keeper, Cade.”

I pulled from his grip and set off out of the café down the Marina.

Our short moment of sun had begun to disappear as I wandered along the beach, staring out at the huge ships in the harbor, trying to settle my nerves. Scattered rays of light shimmered off the waves crashing onto the shore.

Cade ran up behind me.

“Please.” I stopped, closing my eyes. “I just need a minute.”

“No.” Cade stepped up behind me, gently reaching for my shoulders. “We must discuss this now. You need to…”

“No?” I turned around and glared.

“You need to listen.”

My fingers dug into my hips. I closed my eyes, inhaling a breath, trying to keep from losing my temper.

“For once, I may know better than you. And you need to do as you’re tol…”

The second the word
almost
spilled from his mouth, his face went flat.

My eyes went wide, mouth open.

“Go on. What are you waiting for?” I leaned forward, arms across my chest. “Say it.”

He knew he’d messed up. “Asked. Chayah. I didn’t mean…”