Origin (Eternal Sacrifice Saga Book 2) (27 page)

“Um—” I cleared my throat. “Well, I want to apologize. For Chicago. I got sick and had to come home to get better. By the time I was, I tried reaching Dr. Lucci, but she kind of went off the grid. So I took liberties to contact you directly.”

“Your adviser was never meant to be a go-between. I wish you would’ve just called me when you got sick instead of her. Maybe then I could have helped you.”

“Does that mean you’re not interested?”

I tried to play sad though in a way, it wasn’t an act. A renewed sense of hope that maybe I could still do something with music, however brief, came with this immortal mission. Though it was all a part I was playing, to be able to record or maybe do a performance would be amazing.

Sam pressed his lips together, blowing out, puffing out his cheeks.

“I was disappointed. But now I know how much you relied on her. She let you down, that wasn’t your fault. We can all fall prey to vultures, especially in this business. And while I can’t say I’m not disappointed now, I don’t completely blame you, either. You’re just a kid who got bad advice.”

Yeah, he had Lucci pegged. I never considered her a vulture before now, but with all she did for me and finding out it may have all been an act, well, let’s just say that didn’t leave me with any warm and fuzzies for the woman.

“I appreciate that. I thought she set up the whole thing in the first place, and I was supposed to keep her informed, and she’d deal with you guys. I apologize for the misunderstanding. I’m still interested. And I’m better now, so there’s nothing standing in my way.”

He tilted his head to the side and rubbed his scruffy chin.

Sam was kind of hot. Bleach-blond hair. Sexy stubble. Blue eyes, so light. Almost clear.

I couldn’t help but stare.

“Okay. Let’s do this. Do you have a lawyer? Or an agent?” He pulled me from my staring contest.

“No, I only had Lucci. But I can get one.”

“Eh, not necessary.” He waved his hands. “What we need is to get you into the studio to record a demo. You write your own stuff, right? Do you have anything you can record for me to pitch to the label execs? Because after bailing, you’re gonna have to prove yourself this time around.”

“I have a few songs.” I couldn’t hold back a grin. He was going to give me a chance. Something warmed up in my chest. “So we’re going to record a demo?”

He nodded. “You ready for this?”

I smirked. “I’ve been ready all my life.”

And it wasn’t a lie.

My brain wandered to this deal again. Maybe I could still do both?

Then I recalled Chicago.

Cade.

Stop.

I squeezed my eyes shut for a second, taking a deep breath and blowing it out, slow and measured.

My Gemini and the Tree came first, above all else. I had to focus.

This is a bad idea.

I wasn’t here negotiating a demo deal, I was here to spy on Samael, if that’s who this guy was.

Sam stripped off his jacket then, but his wrists were still covered with the sleeves of his hoodie.

A second later, I got my chance.

My gaze wandered to his wrist, sneaking a peek while he waved his hand in the air at the waitress to bring the check.

The purple freckles were there.

Connected.

A full-on Gemini Seal.

Boom.

“Is that a birthmark?”

He glared at me, tilting his head, then glanced at his wrist, then back at me. “Yeah?”

“I’m sorry, just saw you rubbing it.” I shrugged. “I’ve seen those before.”

Sam pressed his lips together and narrowed his eyes. Either something I said struck a chord, or he was trying to remember me.

“You from around here? New York, I mean?” I leaned in, setting my hands on the table, palms up. Showing off my own Gemini mark, hoping he’d notice it.

“Croatia.”

“Really. That’s cool.”

“Yeah. I was—” His eyes wandered down to my mark and grew wide. “Born. There. My parents moved here when I was seven.” He stared into my eyes once more, tilting his chin then shaking it off like something hit him upside the head. “All right little phoenix, I need to get moving.”

“What?” I sat straight.

He glared at me from across the table. “What?”

“What did you call me?”

“Um—” He stammered scratching his head, gaze wandering through the room. “Huh.”

Lilith called me that once. When I was trapped with her in the dark realm.

“I don’t know.” He narrowed his eyes. “I’m sorry, I’ve got to get out of here. I’ll call you.” He grabbed his coat, throwing it around him, and rushed out the door.

“That was odd.” Phoebe walked up to the booth staring at Sam as he sprinted out the door of the deli.

“You have no idea.”

“So what do you think? Genesis?” Micah asked.

“Oh yeah. It’s him. Gemini mark and everything.”

“Wow.” Micah smirked. “Hey, this place smells great. Can we eat before we head back to Phoebe’s? I’m starving.”

“Sure.” I gestured to the booth. “Sit.”

Micah and Phoebe sat, and we ordered some burgers and fries before leaving for the train.

“So, we got Samael. What’s his name?” Micah asked, stuffing a handful of fries into his mouth.

“Sam.”

Micah stopped chewing for a second. “Seriously?” He mumbled, bits of potato falling out.

I shook my head.

“Creative.” He took a huge bite of his burger, scarfing it down as I laughed at him from across the table.

Phoebe just glared. “What’s our next move?”

“I’m not sure.” I dipped a fry into a gob of ketchup. “I need to talk to Raz. At least we’ve got Samael. One Gemini down. You’re next,
Loverboy.”
I winked at Micah.

He sat up and grinned.

“You ready to get your girl?” I smiled back.

“You mean am I ready to put an end to my damn dry spell?” He wiggled his eyebrows.

Phoebe rolled her eyes. “Gross.”

“What?” Micah narrowed his.

Phoebe just shook her head, and Micah glared, shooting her a dirty look.

“Stop it you two, geez. Do I have to play referee?” I glared at them both.

Micah stared down at his food.

“Sorry,” he mumbled, mouth full of burger.

We sat in silence for another ten minutes then headed out to jump a train back to Connecticut.

The train wasn’t busy. It was after eight at night, I guess the suburban rush was past and most people were already home.

Phoebe sat quiet, staring out the window while Micah walked up and down the aisle, keeping watch over the few random people sitting in our car.

At the next stop, two people got into the car way up at the front and sat.

I couldn’t see their faces, they both had hoodies on, but after a few minutes of staring, auras began to grow. One dense and dark.
Demon.
The other was a different color. New demon, Cade called them minions. Or was it a Fallen?

I peered back at Micah, and he nodded. His spidey senses must’ve been tingling, too.

Micah hung back while I double-checked to make sure I had my dagger. After being jumped the last time, there was no way I was getting caught without it.

It was there, securely strapped to my thigh, hidden by my long coat.

“Cade. I need you.”
I sent him a message, hoping he’d respond.
“Now.”

Phoebe was human. Micah and I were rookies, and we weren’t the only one’s on this train.

We needed back up.

Our two admirers rose to their feet and moved through the near empty car toward us. Slow at first, then they sat in another bench, a little too close for my comfort.

I didn’t want to scare Phoebe, though, so I ever so secretly grabbed her elbow and focused on her ring, saying the magic words, then watched the invisible bubble grow up around her.

I blew out a breath.

It wasn’t much, but at least it was something.

The train began to slow, our destination just a stop or two ahead.

I couldn’t figure out why, if these two were here to jump us, they hadn’t made their move, unless they really cared about the humans on the train.

Or they were just trying to scare us.

I sure as hell wasn’t about to let them follow us back to Phoebe’s.

“Micah. We need to protect Phoebe and the people on the train. Understood?”

He nodded.
“Got it.”

“Cade. Raz. Someone. Really need some back up here.”

Waiting for the two to strike was like torture in itself. They must have gotten their cue because they stood and moved closer. Faster.

The train came to a stop, not ours, but a stop, nonetheless.

“We need to get off,”
I whispered to Micah.

He nodded.

The doors opened, and I grabbed Phoebe’s arm, catching her off guard, and pulled her to the door.

“Run!” I flung her off the train to the platform, following her out, Micah trailing a few feet behind.

The two immortal baddies jumped off and ran after us.

“Oh my god.” Phoebe cried out.

“Crap.” I ran faster, pulling Phoebe down the darkened platform, to where, I didn’t know.

Micah turned around and pulled out his dagger, not backing down.

They weren’t trying real hard to catch us.

A portal opened up about twenty feet in front of me, and Cade and Remie came barreling out.

“Finally,” I said, relieved.

I shoved Phoebe toward Remie and turned around as Micah backed up, the two demons cornering him.

Cade rushed past me to help Micah, pulling out his dagger, and lunged at the demon.

“Brennan.” Micah scoffed. “Dude. Seriously?”

Micah’s light grew out from him as he lunged toward the other demon, dagger to his chest.

I froze the second their lights changed. Rose up above them.

“What the fu…?”

The demon pulled down his hoodie.

It wasn’t a guy.

Or a demon.

She lunged at Micah. Kicking, punching, charging with her Fallen dagger.

Within seconds, their two auras grew around them and merged in the air above their heads.

Gemini.

“Shit.”

Cade got Brennan down, then a new portal opened, and Azriel popped out.

I glanced behind me as Remie created a portal of his own and pulled Phoebe through it. At least she was safe.

I turned back around, pulled out my dagger, and stormed into the fight.

“There’s my little bitch.” Azriel grinned, charging toward me.

Cade got between us and pushed me back.

“Damn it.” I fell on my ass as Cade, Brennan and Azriel were locked into a stalemate.

I got to my feet and crossed my arms over my chest while the testosterone trio pranced around the platform.

How the hell was I going to learn to do this if Cade kept knocking me out of the fight?

I glanced back to check on Micah.

He and the Fallen girl did their own dance before a portal opened, and she shoved him to the ground, and she jumped through the bridge wind and disappeared into the frigid February air.

Micah sat staring up at the now closed portal, raking at his wrist.

I was officially calling it.

Micah’s Gemini was Fallen.

Micah stood, and we ran toward Cade who was getting his ass kicked by Azriel and Brennan.

Azriel spotted us hauling over, which was enough for him to know he was outnumbered. He opened a portal and pulled at Brennan’s arm.

“Next time little demon.” Azriel grunted, pulling Brennan through.

“Are you okay, love?” Cade stepped up beside me, setting his hand on my shoulder. “Your color has changed.”

His eyes narrowed, trying to figure out what just happened.

“I know.”

I stared straight ahead, never shifting focus from the sparks of the matched color fading into the air.

“Bloody hell.” Cade sighed.

I blew out a breath.

“Exactly.”

Cade

“Are you all right, love?”

We landed outside Phoebe and Remie’s Connecticut home in the suburbs.

“For the fifth time, I’m fine.” Zoe sighed. “Micah, would you go see if they can fetch Raz?”

“On it.” He nodded, heading inside Phoebe’s house.

“You matched him didn’t you?” I pursed my lips.

She nodded. “She was there before, Cade. Their lights grew, but they never connected, so I blew it off. Not this time. They merged. And his mark is sparking. I feel it.”

“Do you think he does?”

“He will. What do we do? How do we handle a match between Micah and a Fallen? That can’t happen, can it?”

“Don’t panic. Let’s speak with Raz and find out if he knows anything.”

Zoe ran her hands through her hair, exhaling an audible breath. “Shit.” She stomped her feet, staring at the snow-covered grass. “Shit. Shit, shit.”

“Relax.” I laid my hands on her shoulders, ushering her to the front door. “Let’s go inside. You’re shivering.”

She nodded, and we moved inside.

Raz was already there along with Sophie and Micah.

“Under the circumstances, I think Micah should go back with you to Aravot,” Zoe said.

“What? Why? I didn’t do anything wrong.” Micah glared at her.

“No, of course not. But Phoebe’s in trouble, and nobody can protect her more than Remie.” Zoe breathed. “Besides, I have a different job for you.”

Raz turned to Zoe and nodded.

“The Tree.”

“What? What Tree?” He scoffed.

“In Aravot. The border breaches have been bad lately. Julian and Rainah could use some help. Nate and his Gemini Lydia have been called off to help with soul harvests. We need someone strong to help Julian. What do you say?”

Micah pursed his lips, scratching at his wrist. “Yeah, whatever.”

“Is everything okay?” I asked Micah.

“My mark.” He growled. “It’s changed. Does that mean what I think it does?”

“Shit.” Zoe mumbled under her breath, running her hands through her hair. Holding her hips, she stared at the floor, nodding her head.

“No way.” Micah pointed to the door. “The hot chick from the platform?” He grinned. “Are you freaking serious?”

Zoe shook her head. “It’s her.”

“Wait.” His expression flattened. “Isn’t she a Fallen?” He threw up his hands. “How the hell’s that supposed to work?”