“You’d be the first. Everyone else I talk to expects me to just roll with the punches.”
“Of course they do. Keeps you from being allowed to feel the sheer size of things. Management needs good little soldiers, not people who are freaking out and causing a scene.”
“You don’t care?” Sage asked.
“I’m not management. Just the hired help.” He winked.
“So you don’t live here?”
“You’ve seen my gym. I have my own business. I help out here as a favor to the organization.”
“Why?”
“Because I believe they do good for this world.”
“I thought you said it’s about balance, not good or evil?”
“Balance is good for everyone. Too much evil leads to death and corruption in all aspects of life.”
“And too much good?”
“Makes people complacent and easy to manipulate.”
“I’m the one feeling manipulated here.” Sage sighed, feeling the eyes on the back of her neck, wondering if Grey or maybe Ava were behind the mirrors, grading her.
“You are. For the moment,” Devon replied, with his usual blunt honesty. “But once you’re more familiar with things, it will make sense. Trust me.”
Sage hugged the new books close to her chest as she stood to leave.
“Study up and get some sleep. You and me, first thing in the morning. You want that superhero cape, you better be ready to bring it!”
FIFTEEN
Books were good for one thing: information. Answers without having to ask the right questions. Devon had given her a wealth of material to study. Most read like character guides for the games she played, but one in particular was filled with intriguing mythologies.
Sage traced charts of various pantheons of the gods, seeing familiar names from her childhood history lessons. Every culture in the world had their own take on the beginning of time and who ruled the heavens. While this book provided no confirmation of one god over another, it tied together links and similarities within the various mythologies.
And before them all came a small group of beings that appeared to predate human mythology.
The great gods before the dawn of man each blessed the Earth with their creations.
Ethereals connected to the heavens and knowledge.
Elementals connected to the physical realm.
Shades connected to the world unseen.
Blessed with unique abilities from the deities that sired them, each claimed supremacy, believing it their destiny to rule over all who dwelled within their realm. The earliest of the demigods were violent warmongers who quickly learned they could absorb and manipulate magic from those they destroyed in battle. An ever-growing lust for power saw whole races of demigods wiped from history as the war for supremacy raged for centuries.
The original gods who left their creations to cause chaos had long since lost interest in the world, leaving only Mother Earth to provide a solution and ensure survival of the other creatures inhabiting the world. From the blood-soaked battleground, a great tree sprouted, reaching high into the heavens. Its roots tapped into the very core of the earth. A great tree of life.
It bore the fruit of a new race of beings: Terras. Rooted in the heart of the earth and connected to the life force of each race that had come before them, they were bred to counter the problems of other three. Terras were light to the Shades, physical form that Elementals could not manipulate, and like a sponge, they could absorb the magic of the Ethereals without taking any of the effects. Mother Earth’s most perfect creation, Terras were the counterbalance of all that had come before them. Through their efforts, peace and order were established among the races, allowing the world and all of the lesser creatures inhabiting it a chance to flourish.
The way her people were described in the books infused Sage with a sense of pride she didn’t feel worthy of. The Terra race seemed superior and noble. Gods with a little g in the grand scheme of things, but outside the pages, Sage was no god. How could she count herself among such special creations? Her mother, on the other hand, had been truly special. Miranda had undoubtedly been a Terra, fighting the good fight to keep safe all the people of the earth.
Her mother’s words echoed in her mind: Know that I have never once left you vulnerable, and even in my absence, I have thought of your protection.
She grasped the tree-shaped charm dangling around her neck. Her mother had always been a protector, even when she left Sage behind as she went off on assignments around the globe. Now Sage knew it was all in the name of keeping the world, and by extension Sage herself, safe from harm. Miranda Cynwrig proudly continued the legacy of the Terra race until her light had been extinguished. And now that same duty fell on Sage’s shoulders. The weight of that mantle threatened to crush her. She wasn’t ready. Her mother had known it.
You are not ready for the darkness in this world, but you must find strength in the days to come. Our family is special. We all share an inner light that is passed down from generation to generation. Find the light within yourself and allow it to illuminate your future.
Remember that true strength comes from determination. Like your birthmark, you must find new avenues when one becomes blocked. There is always another way. Defeat is not an option.
Admiring the silver tree pendant, she turned it over in her hand, comparing it to the markings on her wrist. The tree of life. More than just the mangled veins below her skin, it was a branding of her gods, a reminder of her connection to the world, rooted in the blood of the earth and linked to all who shared that blood.
Her mother’s final wish had been that she keep this pendant close to her heart, so she would remember the light they all shared. Even before she’d found the pendant or read the letter, her mother’s light had found her. Disguised in a dream, Miranda had already visited to say her goodbye and awaken that light within Sage.
She traced the pattern of branches with the tip of her finger, following each one as it twisted and twined with other branches, down to the trunk of the tree. Set within that trunk was an infinity symbol that reminded her of the connection they shared. She pressed on it, clicking it like a button, and opened a hidden chamber in the back. More secrets. A tiny maroon-colored pebble tumbled into Sage’s hand. Small and insignificant as it looked, in her hand it felt heavy as a stone. She picked it up, wondering what secrets it held. Precious gems had special cuts to make them twinkle. This chunk of rock had none of that luster. As plain as it appeared, Sage sensed it was important all the same. Something to bring up the next time she spoke to Mark.
Her phone sat charging on the edge of the bed. She’d picked it up numerous times and laid it back down just as quickly. For all the explanation Mark might be able to provide to her, she hadn’t yet come to terms with the feelings of betrayal, knowing he’d kept this all a secret from her. He’d always been like a father. He’d protected her and kept her safe, and because of that, she’d trusted him. Yet even after she had come down to retrieve her mother’s things, he’d stayed silent about all of this magical destiny crap. Had he told her the truth then and there, she might have stayed. But he’d remained quiet. He’d let her leave thinking Miranda’s plane had gone down in the ocean. Why lie? Why let her learn the cold, hard truth from someone just as icy?
As much as she wanted to confide in Mark, her emotions ran too raw. Time would sooth them, and then she would confront him about hiding the truth.
She stared down at the tiny rock again, wondering what secrets it held. Nothing was as it seemed. That was the only certainty.
Alarm bells sounded. A red light flashed above her. Sage’s first thought was that this was some kind of training exercise to test her reaction, but in the hallway, sounds of frantic footsteps said otherwise.
Sage quickly secured the stone in its hidden setting and rushed out to see what was going on.
More lights in the hallway flashed red. The alarm continued to blare. A fire, perhaps? She followed the d
irection others were running and headed toward the main lobby.
A fight had broken out. Agents against agents, or so it seemed. Sage had no way to distinguish each person from the others. Though some of the fighters looked as if they had seen better days. A woman whose eyes sagged with deep purple bruises fought with a fierceness that belied her frail appearance. Like a corpse reanimated, all the color had faded from her skin, but she moved just as quickly as any of the others. Sage watched from the sidelines as a blade sliced open the woman’s pale skin, sending a splatter of black blood to the ground.
What was the word Grey had thrown around? Darkling? Were these the beasts he had warned her she might become if not for their care and safekeeping within the walls of ASSET?
Weapons whizzed through the air, and painful shrieks preceded the thudding of bodies hitting the floor. Still, above all the sensory overload, alarms screamed their staccato warning.
Trapped, weaponless and uncertain what to do, Sage clung to the sidelines, hoping against hope that she wouldn’t be spotted. With any luck, the battle would end before the fighting found its way further into the building.
“You should be in your room.” Grey startled her, coming up from behind. Holding a machete in one hand and a large dagger in the other, he looked as if he’d already seen action. Both weapons carried the stain of blood.
“What’s happening?” she squeaked, fear gripping her throat so tightly she could barely speak.
His face was speckled with the same thick black blood, but he still managed to keep that stupid fedora on his head. “Remember what I said about darklings?”
Sage nodded, wishing she had not already guessed the truth. “Yeah.”
“Now you know why they’re so dangerous. Go back to your room and lock the door,” Grey ordered, as he returned to the fight.
No way in hell was she locking herself into a room with no exit. She’d seen plenty of horror movies end badly for people who made stupid mistakes. But staying in the thick of it all, was just as bad. The elevator was out of the question, but there had to be stairs somewhere. Sage crept around the edges of the battle, hoping if she followed the hallways to the other end she might find another way out. She kept watch on the fight in front of her, slowly backing away from the fray, until she butted up against something that was not a wall.
“Sorry–” she started to say instinctively, but her voice faltered as she turned to see what she’d run into.
Eyes that had once been turquoise stared down at Sage. Black as night and circled with blood, they held a deathly gaze that betrayed no recognition, though they clearly had a target.
“This can’t be possible.” Sage’s heart thundered as if it were trying to punch a hole through her chest. It was the nightmare all over again, only this time she was wide awake. Sage pinched herself just to be sure, but the pain only served to sharpen her voice as she called out, “Mom?”
SIXTEEN
Miranda was a darkling; that’s what Ava had said. And now she had proof. With sallow, sagging skin and eyes as dark as the poisoned blood now running through her veins. But it was still her mother standing there in front of her.
Emotions warred within Sage, fighting for control as she stood frozen in place. Her mind screamed Run! She should. If what she’d been told was correct, then the creature standing before her was not truly her mother. Grey had said darklings retained only their strength. Sage knew better than anyone how deadly a fighter her mother was. She’d seen Miranda in action, and had marveled at her grace and agility.
Her heart threatened to shatter into a million pieces if she left her mother in this sad state. No matter what had happened to her, this was Miranda Cynwrig. Her mother. The one person in this world she had been so desperate to see. She’d prayed to any gods that would listen to return her mother – and here she was, her own personal superhero. If anyone had the strength to overcome bad magic, it was Miranda. She had to be strong enough.
The alternative was unthinkable.
Like a statue, Miranda stared down at her with a calculating look Sage knew all too well. Every child has crumbled under the scrutiny of their parent’s knowing glare; mothers especially had a unique way of silently interrogating their offspring with little more than a look. Sage would confess to anything if only her mother would say what it was she was looking for.
Her mother’s dark eyes passed over Sage’s face and down to her neck. Unlike the others in the building, her mother hadn’t initiated any aggression. Sage took that as a sign that Miranda had not gone completely dark.
Slowly those black eyes returned to Sage’s face, but the recognition just wasn’t there.
“Can you hear me, Mom?” Why isn’t she speaking? Sage reached out a shaking hand.
With viper-like speed, Miranda took hold of Sage and twisted, wrenching her arm up behind her back.
Sage threw her head back, with a cry of pain, and heard the muted crunch of bone as she connected with Miranda’s face.
The moment her arm was released, Sage spun back around to face her mother. “I don’t know if you’re still in there, but please stop this.”
Black blood poured out of her mother’s nose, but she showed no sign of discomfort. The scrutiny in her eyes remained.
“Mom. You can fight this. Listen to–”
Miranda lunged forward, clasping her hands around Sage’s neck. With an iron grip, she cut off Sage’s ability to breathe. Still, Sage managed to choke out the word, “Please.”
Sage’s vision started to darken, and her arms fell slack against her body. Seconds without air and her eyes to begin rolling backwards. The fight left her body. Her knees gave way as unconsciousness called her home. She hung limply in her mother’s grip, dangling between life and death, and then suddenly the pressure released.
Gasping in deep breaths, Sage found herself on the ground. She blinked away the stars in her vision as the fog in her head cleared.
Where her mom had been standing, crushing her windpipe, she found Grey, weapons at the ready, freshly coated in oily blood.
“Don’t look,” he warned.
Never one to listen, she looked anyway, and instantly regretted it as her eyes fell on the corpse of her mother, whose head now lay separate from her body.
“What the fuck!” She jerked backwards, throwing herself into a nearby wall. “Why did you do that?”
“Would you rather she killed you?” Blood dripped from his sword, thick and black as tar, joining the pool forming beneath him on the floor.
“Mom.” Sage reached out a trembling hand to her mother, but stopped short, letting it hover over the body.
“That thing was not your mother, Sage.” Grey’s tone struck her like a slap to the face. “She might have looked like it, but your mother died a long time ago. This was merely a shell.”
She refused to believe his words. Shell or not, her mother had been there, standing before Sage with a glimmer of recognition. She’d seen it. The hesitation. It might have been buried deep down, but there had been some small flicker of Miranda Cynwrig. Grey could have stopped her. He could have restrained her. Locked her away until they could bring her back. But instead… She gasped for air as if still choking, her lungs refusing to take in a deep enough breath to satisfy her speeding heart. He killed her. Blood pooled around her mother’s body, and try as she might, Sage couldn’t tear her eyes away from the sickening sight.
“You’re lucky she didn’t kill you,” Grey offered, more gently than he’d previously spoken to her. As if that were some kind of consolation prize. Luck had nothing to do with this. Whatever had been done to her mother was not lucky, nor was Sage having to bear witness to her death. And knowing who this woman was to Sage, Grey couldn’t even bring himself to sound remorseful for ending her existence in the most final way possible.
“She… I…” In a fit of hyperventilation, Sage couldn’t get the words to make a connection from her mind to her lips. Lies. Everything had been lies. Her mother’s death. The dangers
of being out in the open. The safety behind ASSET’s walls. None of it had been true. She’d let herself be manipulated by stories and lies. Crying solved nothing, but wracked with guilt and anger, all Sage could do was let the dam of emotions loose. As the tears flooded her vision, the image of her mother blurred, along with the man who’d dealt the deadly blow.
“I…can’t…be…here,” she managed to say between sobs, trying desperately to stand. Her legs were as reliable as jelly. As much as she wanted to run screaming from the building, she couldn’t make a step on her own if she tried.
“I’ve got you.” Grey lifted her into his arms and carried her away from the sounds of fighting still echoing from the main lobby. “You can make your death threats at me when you’ve had a chance to breathe.”
SEVENTEEN
“I’ve got a hot mess for you, Rina,” Grey called out, as he set Sage down on a bench in the cafeteria.
A tiny voice responded sounding distant but still able to be heard. Sage hadn’t met Rina before, though she’d heard the name back in Ava’s office. Another lackey of the agency.
“You got this?” Grey asked, his voice already trailing away from her.
Her eyes puffy with tears, not caring how ugly her crying was, Sage allowed herself to be gawked at by Rina or anyone else in the room. Her whole world had come crumbling down and as much as she wanted to run screaming from the building, she’d yet to gain enough strength in her legs to do it.
“Nice to meet you, Sage.” Rina, a waif of a girl with silvery-blue shoulder-length hair, brought a steaming cup of coffee as she came over. “Kind of a shitty way to make a first impression, though.” She looked nothing like what Sage would have expected of an assistant to stick-up-her-ass Ava. A full sleeve of entwined tattoo artwork covered Rina’s right arm all the way down to her fingers. A small nose stud glinted in the light as she took a seat next to Sage, setting the tempting cup of liquid energy just within grasp. “I mean, I wish I had met you earlier, when Grey brought you in, but you caught me between assignments. Ava keeps me busy.” Rina offered a friendly smile as her attempts to start up a conversation turned awkward. “I met her once – your mother.” She spoke softly; much more reverently than Grey had, but that did nothing to soothe the raw pain.
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