Authors: Dylan Quinn
“You.”
It wasn’t a question of malice or insinuation. It was innocent. Zoe was looking to me for answers, and it was then I understood something she didn’t. I asked myself the same question the moment it left her lips.
What had I truly sacrificed of my own for Zoe’s happiness?
Nothing. The answer was nothing.
All these years, it had always been Zoe. Always making the sacrifices—for me, for our love, for humanity.
When we began this journey, she never behaved as if there were another option. Never considered the possibility that we should live out her time on earth like mortals.
She did have a choice, but I carried on as if she didn’t. I held on to what I believed to be mine and refused to let go.
My selfishness is what kept her to this burden she carried. This burden she shouldered alone.
Her first sacrifice was about humanity. I intervened because I was too selfish to let her go, but this repetitive sacrifice became about me.
Maybe I must think of what was best for her. Best for Zoe, not for Eve.
"What do you want, Cade?"
I instinctively moved closer, her vanilla essence tugged at me.
"I will always choose us."
Although part of me now understood how selfish I’d been, the part of me that loved her—that could not live without her—knew I would never let her go.
I would fight for Zoe. Be selfish, and do anything in my power to ensure we were together again.
And
that
would be my burden to bear.
Zoe
"Zoe, you up? Yoo-hoo. It’s nine-thirty. Out of bed, sleepy head."
Sunday.
Ugh.
Phoebe bugged me every week about going to church. Some weeks I’d cave, others, I just couldn't deal. Since I turned eighteen, I had the weirdest dreams whenever I went, which was why I stopped going. But yesterday, I promised, and in light of all the Adam and Eve stuff, I figured some perspective couldn’t hurt.
Phoebe's defining virtue was her conviction.
Despite everything she’d been through, she never lost faith. To this day, she still hoped to find the birthparents that gave her up when she was born. She bounced around from one home to another, and fatefully, landed in mine. Our lives had been intersected ever since.
"Morning." Phoebe sauntered in, pulled open the blinds and sat next to me on the bed. "You got in late. Your bath was running at three this morning."
"Yeah, I know." I rubbed the sleep from my eyes.
"I can go with Remie. But I'd really like you to go, too." She pulled my hair away from my face. Stray strands stuck to my forehead with sweat. She put her hand against my damp cheeks. "You okay? You’re kind of warm."
Why is it so hot in here?
"Nah, I'm okay. You got time to wait?"
"Sure." She got up and headed to the door. "Train leaves in thirty."
I pulled myself up and got ready.
An hour later, I was slumped on the bench beside Phoebe while the pastor went on about sacrifice.
Figures.
I gulped in a breath and wiped the sweat off my forehead with the back of my hand. I struggled to stay awake, and eventually laid my head back and closed my eyes.
Just for a sec.
"Zoe?" Phoebe jarred me from a catnap with a tug of her hand.
My eyes popped open. I caught my breath and looked over to Phoebe. Her face was white as a ghost.
"What'd I do?"
"You were talking in your sleep." She sidled next to me. "Were you having a vision?"
Remie leaned forward over Phoebe’s shoulder, narrowed his eyes, then focused back to the front.
I couldn't remember all the details about the dream. Just some woman with dark eyes and a deep blue aura. Not black, not all blue. She swung around a huge sword. Her words were lost to me, but how I felt remained ingrained in my bones.
Terrified.
My forehead was now seeping with sweat, and my cheeks were hot. Maybe I was getting sick. Which would be weird, with my healing abilities. Come to think of it, I’d never been sick in my life.
Music started playing, and the seats emptied. College kids rushed toward the door.
I had slept my way through the entire thing. Again. I felt like an idiot.
These stupid dreams, always something epic, almost evil, had gotten on my last nerve. You’d think I’d be protected here, of all places, but no. I was more vulnerable.
"Ready?" Remie startled me.
I nodded and slid my way out of the pew. I got to my feet. Must have stood too quickly, because the room began to spin.
Definitely not normal.
Remie reached for my arm right when I started to fall, but missed.
My face met the carpet and the room went dark…
A beautiful woman with long, dark hair stops in front of me. She pulls out a long dagger, about the length of my arm. Stabs the metal weapon into the dirt beneath her boots. She sits there for a moment, as if trying to decide what to do with it.
"You are sought after, aren't you? Not that I expected to keep you this time. So we’ll save my story for another day. Perhaps a bedtime story?" She winks.
She steps forward, pulls the dagger from the earth and slams it into my chest.
I gasp for air, clutch the wound, and roll over to the floor.
"Zoe?"
My name barely pierced through the high-pitched screaming in my head. My eyes fluttered open. I squinted, but the light hurt.
Phoebe and Remie stood over me. Their expressions scared me.
“I… Phoebs. I can’t. Breathe.” Another tug, and the room faded away.
~
"Put her in bed. She's burning up, I need to break her fever," Phoebe's shaky voice broke through my unwanted sleep, stirring me from a respite I couldn't fully escape.
"I’m calling Cade.” Remie’s chest rattled as he carried me through the apartment. “I know it sounds weird, but I think he should be here."
My body shook, shivering out the heat burning inside.
Remie laid me in bed.
"Remliel." The sunlight from the window hurt, so I squeezed my eyes shut. “Shades.”
“Got it,” Phoebe called.
"Give me her phone. I'm calling him," Remie said. "Cade, this is—yeah, we met the other day with—I think she needs you."
Something cold and wet covered my forehead. My temples pounded, and my stomach lurched.
"Remie, give me a minute with her?" Phoebe asked.
A few minutes later, I was nearly breathless, lying on top of the covers, wearing my Wicked T-shirt and a pair of boxer PJ shorts.
"Phoebe?"
She rubbed her hands up and down my arms, the friction calming my nerves.
I curled up into a ball and buried my head into my pillow to drown out the throbbing in my temples. My hair was strung out, stuck to my damp skin.
"You're going to be okay.” Phoebe took the cloth and laid it over the back of my neck.
The screaming in my ears and flashing lights behind my eyelids reappeared, dragging me from consciousness.
Not again…
I didn't know how long I'd been asleep when voices hung in the air.
"Thank you for coming, I didn't know who else to call." Remie’s voice shook.
"You did the right thing, son. There is much to discuss once she’s recovered."
I didn't recognize the voice. I opened my eyes and rolled to the side.
Raz stood next to Remie, shaking his hand.
"Cade?" I scanned my room.
Not here.
Phoebe rushed over and sat next to me on the bed. "He's on his way."
I closed my eyes and tried to drown out the pain.
"What is this?" Remie asked.
"She's changing. Growing her powers," Raz's voice echoed. "Her human tissue is fighting it, like when the body fights off an illness. It's all part of the transformation."
Raz spoke matter-of-fact, like he knew exactly what I was going through.
"How long will this go on?" Phoebe's voice rose. "She's in pain. We can't just sit here and do nothing."
There's my girl.
"I know this is concerning, but trust me. She's going to be fine."
I felt Phoebe's small hand cover my forehead again. "She's burning up. Are you sure this won’t do some irreversible damage?"
"Yes, Miss Kincaid. She’ll recover, stronger than ever," Raz replied. "You’re caring and loyal. I'm glad you're part of her life."
The door to my room flung open, and Cade stormed in, breathless. He sat next to me and rubbed my temples like he knew just what to do to make me feel better.
It worked.
The throbbing let up slightly.
"I'm here, love." He kissed my forehead. "Phoebe, can you please get me a bowl of ice water? We need to keep this on her."
He crawled into bed and then pulled me into his arms.
I tucked my head into his chest, focusing on his heart strumming beneath me, settling my nerves.
A rush of light flashed in my head.
Another vision.
"Please,” I moaned. “No more."
A hammer beat against my skull. My stomach clenched, twisting from the inside.
I let out a moan and squeezed my palms against my head to push out the pounding.
"Don't fight it, love. Focus through the visions." He tightened his grip and rubbed my arms. It calmed me for a second, but not long before another run of pain dashed into my temples.
I didn't know what he meant. I never brought any details back with me.
"You need to try. It will help us find who’s threatening you," Raz cut in, like he heard my thoughts. Like at the bar.
Great.
"You can hear her, too?" Remie asked.
Raz laughed. "You’re a strong one. What a fine Firstborn.”
"Cade," I whispered against his chest. "I don't want to fall asleep again. I can’t. It’s… It hurts. I can’t breathe."
"I’ll be right here, love," he whispered. "For Eternity."
Cade
"Wake up." Raz's voice broke through the deepest sleep I'd had in years.
"What’s wrong?"
Raz had that expression again. If only I could read his mind like he could mine. Although I knew Raz better than anyone, save for Sophie, I’d still not mastered the art of mind reading. I suppose one could not beat the master of wisdom at his own game.
"Her visions have been back for some time."
Not what I cared to hear.
If she was having visions of the future, it meant she was in more danger than we once thought.
"I will make this right,” Raz said.
"Make it right?” I narrowed my gaze. “What do you mean?"
"She's been having them all her life, but I just saw them because we were away." He sighed. "I’ve made my decision. It's time to call in the Firstborns."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes." He answered without hesitation, eyes narrowed. "And the Newborns.”
I pulled myself up and rested against the wall.
His words caused a tremor of cold to run through my veins. We’d only once needed the aid of the Firstborns, and never the latest generation. This was not good news. Not at all.
"If the level of danger is insurmountable, these Firstborns may not be ready to handle it.” I ran my hands through my hair. “They must be trained."
"All the more reason to call them in. All of them. We can train them here, at the Chicago sanctuary. It's unorthodox, but necessary. I’m sure of it."
Zoe lay beside me. Her visions had finally subsided, and for the first time in hours, she was in a restful state.
I didn’t want this for her, or any of the Firstborns, but I’d do anything necessary to keep her safe. And I trusted Raz’s council above all others.
"What should we do first?"
"I’ll alert the Elders of my decision. Then we’ll talk with Zoe and these Firstborns. It's time for our first meeting."
Raz tipped his head and left the room.
I settled back in beside Zoe and pulled her into my arms.
Her eyes opened. "Hi," she whispered. "How long was I out?"
"I’m not sure, I cannot not see the time from here."
She sat up, craned her neck, then laid back down. "Wow. It's almost nine. I've been out for hours."
"And how do you feel, Chayah?"
She raised her eyebrow. "Chayah?"
I smiled and stroked her cheek with the back of my hand. "It is your… nickname? I believe that’s what Raz named it."
"Ah, well. That explains it." She sighed. "I'm okay, I guess. Just tired."
"When you’re ready, we’ll join everyone in your great room.” I touched her cheeks, and heat from the fever had subsided. “But I’m in no rush."
"Me neither." She yawned and stretched her arms out in front of her. "What happened to me?"
"There is much we must tell you. Information we can share now that your transformation has begun, but I don’t want to overwhelm you. Tell me, love. What took place within your visions?"
"I was alone. Running from people with swords and blue-black auras.” Wrinkles creased her forehead. “One in particular.”
"They were demons." I sighed.
The color drained from her face. "Demons?"
"Yes. The one in particular you spoke of. Did he tell you who he was, or give any indication what he sought?"
It was a she.” Zoe shrugged, rolled into me, and nuzzled into my chest.
A female demon. There were not many who took to attacking Zoe. This could be useful.
"I need to know as much as you can tell me, so we can remedy this."
She trembled against my chest. I'd never seen her so emotional during an incarnation. I yearned to take away her pain, knowing well I could not. I was nearing full humanity with every passing day—waiting for Zoe to bring me back to life.
"Okay." Her muffled breath heated my chest. "But can we talk about it later? I need some time."
I held her tight and kissed the top of her head. "Yes, but please understand discussing this will help. Whenever you’re ready, Raz and your friends are waiting. There is much to tell you."
Zoe exhaled loudly, then pulled free from my embrace. She sat up and rubbed her temples.