Secret of Fate

by Tamar Sloan

  Micah isn’t in the foyer, which also isn’t a surprise. Micah became tense in a way I haven’t seen before, the moment we were around people. It’s something that’s been deeply ingrained in him. I understand why, but the knowledge clutches at my heart. What sort of life can Micah lead when he always has to keep himself at arm’s length?

  Taking stock of what I’ve learned while every detail about myself was just recorded, I pull in a deep breath. What do I have to tell Micah? That it’s a comprehensive service, and it’s free? That I have more evidence his father is a nice guy?

  The worst I saw was Dom getting over his drunk stepfather, and Damien being upset, but for all I know, he dropped his bagel, and it fell, cream-cheese side down.

  I’m about to step through the sliding doors, when I stop. One question’s been refusing to be ignored since Micah told me about Damien, and everything I’ve seen only seems to support it. How could Micah come from someone evil? He’s just too…good. And why would a primordial god like Moira conceive a child with someone who wasn’t, well, good?

  Looking down at the floor, I frown. Except we’re on a Crossroads. And Damien Black is supposed to be dead.

  I find Micah outside, and seeing him is enough to stop me in my tracks. Not because it hits me all over again that he’s alive.

  Not because he’s sweet and handsome and here with me.

  But because he’s shirtless.

  All lean lines and ropy muscles, the sun seems to hug his smooth skin as he straightens. My gaze travels up his biceps, over his shoulders, down the ridges of his chest…

  My pulse sets off at a crazy pace, and I suddenly feel too warm. Micah grabs his sweatshirt and slips it on, and some semblance of function returns to my brain.

  Why the hell is Micah shirtless?

  With his hoodie on, and the expanse of heart-lurching skin covered, Micah looks up and sees me. The smile that expands over his face sets me off all over again. This time my pulse slows, as if the demigod daughter of Kronos is trying to slow time and make this moment last. Something that very much feels like joy spills through me.

  It’s a feeling that I don’t know whether it starts with Micah’s expression, or ends in the rapid steps that bring me to his side. “Hey.”

  “Kadence.”

  I love the way Micah says my name. There’s a reverence to it, almost like a prayer.

  It was inevitable that I would fall for this guy.

  It was fate.

  There’s movement behind him, beside a brick wall. A man, dirty and probably homeless, stands and straightens. Collecting a grimy bag beside him, he starts to walk away. “Ah, thanks, dude.”

  Wondering what’s happened while I was gone, I startle when I realize I just found Micah’s shirt—this guy is wearing it!

  Micah turns to smile at him. “Look after yourself, sir. Safe travels back to Detroit.”

  The guy smiles back, but it doesn’t feel genuine. The moment he’s out of earshot, I step in close and half-whisper, “You gave a guy your shirt?”

  “Well, yes. He’s from Detroit, too. Came here to see his daughter. He wanted money—said he needed to pay for her schooling—but I didn’t have much.”

  “So, you gave him your shirt?”

  “I have my hoodie, and more shirts back at home. Plus, I don’t even know where that one came from, it just appeared in my closet.”

  “Did he ask for your shirt?”

  Micah pauses. “Well, no. He was insistent he needed money. But his clothes were filthy and torn, so I asked him if he had something to change into.”

  He wanted money for his drug habit. I think it, but don’t say it. As if to prove my theory, the man glances over his shoulder before turning the corner, the glance he throws Micah is one full of disbelief and…a healthy dose of contempt.

  I bite my lip. “You’re very generous, Micah.”

  Micah reaches up and brushes a strand of hair away from my face. “I know there’s a good chance he doesn’t have a daughter, Kadence. But what he does with the money or shirt, that’s his choice. Mine was to give.”

  Oh.

  Micah’s more than generous. He has a heart bigger than anyone I know.

  I angle my head, squinting as the sun hits my eyes. “How many shirts have you lost like this?”

  Micah’s lips twitch. “I told you, I don’t get out much.”

  Probably because his mother would’ve started asking questions about where all his shirts were going.

  Pushing up on my toes, I bring my lips to his. The words slip out before I can stop them, but I don’t care. They need to be said. “I love you, Micah.”

  Not bothering to wait for a response, I kiss him. His mouth opens hungrily under mine, and I press myself against him as desire explodes. It’s like we’re both finally allowing ourselves to completely experience what lives between us.

  And it’s so much bigger and stronger and mind-blowing than I anticipated.

  Heat builds and expands, passion kindles and shivers through us. It’s almost too much…I can’t get enough.

  Micah’s groan is one of surrender, and I revel in it. To know Micah is to love Micah—it’s inevitable. But for Micah to want me with such intensity, it makes me feel special, grateful…somehow powerful.

  A cat whistle has us separating and remembering where we are. Flushing a little, I take Micah’s hand and lead him to the alley. I’d totally forgotten about him keeping a low profile.

  Once we’re alone again, I throw him a sheepish smile. “Sorry.”

  Micah frowns. “I don’t want you to apologize for something like that.”

  I swipe a cheeky kiss. “I’m not. Just for the timing.”

  Micah’s face relaxes. “You’re the daughter of the god of time. Good timing is in your blood.”

  Wrapping my arms around his neck, I settle in close to his still-heated body. “So, we need to head back.”

  Micah pauses. “I suppose so.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  His grin dances along the edge of his lips. “Well, it’ll be almost evening back at Pontiac Point.”

  “Oh.” It’ll mean we need to say goodbye.

  Every cell rebels. I only just got Micah back. I tighten my arms around his shoulders, locking my hands together. “I say we stay here.”

  Even as I say it, I know it’s not possible. Micah needs to disappear again for a little while.

  Micah’s hands splay across my waist. “I used to sleep on the rooftop, just to be close to you.”

  “You did?”

  “If it was still there, I’d do it again.”

  “If I knew, I would’ve joined you.”

  We smile, the knowledge that this is just as powerful for both of us, has the two of us relaxing our hold on each other.

  “Well, the wonderful thing about time is that it keeps going. Our separation is as inevitable as our reunion.”

  Micah grins. “You’re starting to sound like my mother.”

  “Or my father.” Molding myself to him, I sigh. “And when this is all over, I’m going to introduce you to our evening news routine.”

  Micah seems to wait to see if I’m going to explain it, but all I do is smile to myself. When I don’t answer, I feel Micah tense and I know we’re about to teleport.

  New York disappears, and Detroit is about to replace it.

  Tomorrow, Micah and I begin a future together.

  I have no idea what that looks like, and it’s riddled with unanswered questions, but my heart lifts with joy.

  It’s a future with Micah.

  Micah

  Arriving at Pontiac Point the following morning, I decide getting here super early was a good thing. The building site’s been cleared, leaving behind nothing but two large metal dumpsters full of shattered remains. It means teleporting here is going to become difficult.

  Before, there were walls to hide behind, a large building creating an alleyway where I could appear. But soon, I’ll be literally appearing in the middle of
a flattened wasteland.

  Circling in the pale dawn light, I take in the contrast. Seven stories hiked into the sky not that long ago. Now, instead of a concrete monolith, there’s nothing but bleached, hard soil that hasn’t seen the sun in years.

  A shiver slips down my spine, and I pause. I wonder if a soul just arrived at the Crossroads. Even though I can’t see them, I can’t help but look around. The soil beneath me may be compacted by tons of concrete, but below, there’s a forked road for souls ready to cross over. Is it someone who I’ll meet at Elysium later on? Or will the choices they made have them facing Hades as he welcomes them to the Underworld?

  Hades.

  Having the health centers close, or even above, Crossroads means Hades has easy access to them. And it seems Hades needs them enough to want to keep my father alive.

  Why? And for what?

  Kadence said nothing exceptional happened in the health center yesterday. They took her details right down to her eye color, that the drunk guy didn’t move a muscle, that Dom had had enough of him and left without him, and that Damien Black stormed off, upset about something.

  Why he was upset is something I’d like to learn more about.

  The sound of stumbling steps has me spinning around. The neighborhood is always silent at this time of the morning.

  A teen, maybe a little younger than me, has stopped at the edge of the clearing, head weaving from side to side in slow motion. There’s something about him that’s familiar, but I don’t move closer to see. I’m pretty sure he’s drunk.

  In a blink, the teen goes from looking like he was wading through molasses, to a flurry of movement. He bends down, picks up a rock, and tosses it at the clearing.

  “Bastards!” Again, he leans down, finds a bigger rock, and throws it with so much violence, it smacks into the soil with a puff of brown dust.

  Now in some sort of frenzy, he digs around for more ammunition, hurling the rocks and stones in the air the moment he finds them.

  “Hey.” I rush over. “Is everything okay?”

  The boy barely glances at me. “Get lost.” He steps to the side, finding another rock, and catapults it at the clearing.

  “Is there anything I can help you with?”

  The boy finally pauses, turning to look at me. “Are you deaf?”

  Seeing him head-on, and the light finally strengthening to feel like day, I realize why he looks familiar. The sandy hair, the stubborn chin. I take a step back. “You’re Thomas’ younger brother, Tyler.”

  Tyler reels back like I just punched him in the jaw, but he quickly recovers. His lips curl. “How do you know my loser brother?” He narrows his eyes. “My dead, loser brother.”

  That has me pausing. “I think I know a very different Thomas.”

  Tyler looks away. He picks up another rock, throwing it with venom. “All Thomas had were different layers of loser.”

  I clench my jaw. Because Thomas was taken before he had a chance to prove otherwise. Another strike against my father’s name. “He spoke to me of wanting to change.”

  Tyler snorts. “Sure he did. Plus, even if that’s true, it’s too little, too late. Story of my life, really.”

  It’s then I remember Tanisha, the girl who Tyler had just started a relationship with. The one who’s now in Elysium, alongside his brother. “I’m sorry about Tanisha, Tyler. She was a good person.”

  Tyler’s hands ball into fists as he turns to me. “How do you know Tanisha?” He takes a step toward me. “And who the hell are you?”

  I pause again. I thought by talking to Tyler I could help. But it feels like I’m only making things worse. Plus, I can’t explain how I know Thomas or Tanisha, only that they live on in ways Thomas hasn’t considered. “My name’s Micah.”

  Another voice carries from behind me. “And he’s with me.”

  We both turn to find Kadence standing there, hands on her hips. She walks over and slips her hand into mine. “Hey, Tyler.”

  Tyler looks away. “I see you’re setting yourself up for another disappointment. Quite the sucker for punishment, huh, Kadence?”

  Something in me tenses. Those words are just what Kadence might have said to me not that long ago.

  Kadence shrugs one shoulder. “Or willing to take a risk again.”

  Tyler ignores her, taking a few steps away to find some more stones. The sound of them hitting the hard soil is all that punctures the quiet morning air.

  Kadence lifts a hand to her hip. “Are you trying to rebuild the place, one chunk of gravel at a time?”

  “Zip it, Kadence. You’re starting to sound like Nevaeh.”

  “‘Cause it won’t bring her back.”

  Tyler’s frown deepens. “I said, zip it.”

  “Nor will drinking, smoking, driving too fast, or throwing your life away.”

  The next rock is propelled by the most fury I’ve seen so far. It clangs as it hits the metal dumpsters on the other side of the clearing. “I don’t need this shit.” He storms past us, only to turn back a few feet away. “There’s nothing you can say to make this better, Kay. There’s no point in trying.”

  Kadence shakes her head. “No, there’s not. But there is something I can do, and that’s show you there is a point in trying.”

  Tyler opens his mouth, his face dark with anger, only to slam it shut again. He throws his arms in the air as he turns away. “Yep, really don’t need this shit.”

  He starts walking, only to find Kadence hasn’t finished.

  “You should go home, Tyler. Get some sleep.”

  Tyler throws his retort over his shoulder. “I’ll go wherever the hell I like.”

  When Tyler takes a right at the end of the block, I turn to her. “Is his house down there?”

  Kadence’s lips twitch. “His apartment building is only a few yards down.”

  The sound of a door slamming punctures the morning air and we smile at each other.

  I realize Kadence’s few words had far more impact than my offers of help, and it’s because she has what I don’t—a connection. I keep my smile in place, although it dims a little inside. A connection is the one thing I’m not supposed to have down here.

  A second later, Kadence’s gaze drops away. “I hope he’s going to be okay.”

  Sighing, I slip my arm around her. “Me too.”

  It would break Thomas’ heart to watch Tyler destroy his life.

  She angles her head, eyes bright with curiosity. “Aren’t you able to tell? My dad told me about the Loom and how it records fate.”

  “His future, like anyone’s, hasn’t been woven yet. Our fate is created by the choices we make.”

  She frowns. “So, the future is totally unknown?”

  I shrug. “Yes, and no. Unpredictability gives rise to predictability. You just can’t assume predictability.”

  “You’re making my head hurt, Micah. It amazes me that you not only understand this but accept it.”

  I shake my head. “My childhood was unusual, Kadence. I was raised by the wisest of minds and gentlest of souls. Anyone else growing up under those conditions would be the same.”

  She smiles at me. “It doesn’t surprise me you think that.”

  I open my mouth to ask what she means, but she grabs my hand, pulling me toward the dumpsters. “Let’s talk about this later.” She winks. “In New York.”

  A smile blooms in my heart as I let her lead me. Feeling like I’m finally contributing something here, I clasp her in my arms.

  “Ready?”

  Kadence pulls in a deep breath, her hands tightening around my waist. “Yep.”

  She looks like I’m about to take her to the Underworld. It seems teleporting takes some getting used to…

  Tightening my arms around her, I lean down. “Maybe this will help.”

  As the ground disappears from beneath our feet and the universe swallows us in blackness, I kiss her.

  We’re in New York before either of us is ready to stop.

  Pullin
g back, Kadence smiles up at me. “Yep, definitely better.”

  I grin. “I’m thinking that’s how I’ll always teleport from now on.”

  Kadence giggles, and the sound sings through my veins. “Let’s hope you don’t teleport with your mother, then.”

  I laugh, letting the joy of just being with this girl fill me, conscious that another emotion springs up along with it. My mother was already gone when I woke up this morning, even though I was up even earlier than usual. My aim was to avoid her, but now I’m wondering if she’s avoiding me.

  As I’d stood in the kitchen, the tick, tick, ticking of the Loom had hung in the air. The constant of my childhood, the sound had always been comforting. Normally, I’d go in and watch it for a while, just to marvel at the magic of destiny unfolding before me.

  This morning though, I’d turned away and walked out, almost glad as I’d shut the door and cut off the perpetual sound.

  Yanking up my hood, I sigh. I used to like the extra layer of protection. It felt a little bit safer to shrink into the shadows of the material around my face. I could maintain my anonymity. Today, though, it feels hot and confining. It limits my peripheral vision, and I’m suddenly aware everyone else is wearing a whole lot less.

  Things are changing, evolving. I’d always been okay with that.

  But before, I was sitting back and watching them unfold. Now, I’m not only part of it, I’m shaping the change.

  Kadence sobers. “Is everything okay, Micah?”

  Focusing my attention on her, here, in my now, the smile starts somewhere deep in my soul. “Just getting used to everything, I suppose.” I pull her in. “Being with you tells me it’s right.”

  Kadence lifts her hand to stroke it down my cheek, brushing her fingertips over my lips. “Every second together only proves it.”

  Coming from the daughter of Kronos, that’s saying something. We start to draw together again, heads slowly coming closer, neither of us needing to rush this. Will I ever tire of being with this girl?

  A sound from the end of the alleyway has us both pulling back. Looking up, though, there’s no one there. Although it turns out to be nothing, it reminds us why we’re here.