Secret of Fate

by Tamar Sloan

“What? Of course they can do something.” They’re gods, for Pete’s sake.

  Panic starts to grip me with icy threads. My involvement was to find out what was happening, nothing more.

  “The only way they can, is to declare war on Hades.” The hand on my chest stills, curling around the place that holds my heart. “We’re going to have to do this, Micah.”

  I can’t hold her determined gaze, so I let my head fall back onto the windshield, almost enjoying the sting when it hits a little too hard.

  Things are getting worse. More and more souls are being stolen. And the gods’ solution is to start a war of Olympic proportions.

  “How?” I whisper the word, my throat too tight to do anything else.

  “I haven’t figured that bit out yet,” Kadence says, her voice soft.

  The summer sky is as blank as my mind as I stare at it. A clear, fathomless blue, I almost envy its simplicity. The sky knows what its purpose is. It’s job is to just be.

  Kadence seems to curl into me. “I can’t do this without you, Micah.”

  My eyes flutter closed. How far back does my involvement go? To the moment I was looking at Detroit in the Loom and first saw Kadence? To the day I decided to investigate who my father was? Maybe back even further, to the moment I was born…or even the day my father met my mother?

  My head snaps up. “The centers.”

  Kadence props herself up on my chest. “What about them?”

  “They’re the key!” I grip her shoulders. “We may not be able to stop Hades, but we can certainly stop Damien Black.” I sit up a little straighter, excited this is all starting to make sense. This is why I’m here. I’m the only one who knows the truth about my father.

  “I suppose so…”

  “Don’t you see? If we stop my father, we stop Hades’ ability to steal souls.”

  Kadence sits up, tucking her legs underneath her. “There’s a chance Damien Black doesn’t know what these health centers are for, Micah.”

  “Then why does he have them, Kadence?” My arms shoot out wide. “We’re sitting on a block of land where he’s about to build another.”

  She bites her lip. “I don’t know.”

  Confused at her reticence, I tip up her chin so I can see her eyes. “You don’t think he’s bad, do you?”

  “Sometimes I wonder, that’s all. Your mother is a wise woman, Micah. A primordial god. Why would she have a child with someone if they weren’t a beautiful soul?”

  My hand slips down, but Kadence catches it before it can fall away.

  “And then there’s you, Micah. I find it hard to believe you come from anything but a human with goodness in them.”

  “He knows about me, Kadence.” I hate the catch in my voice, hate that it still hurts, but I keep going, anyway. “My mother told me. He said he wanted nothing to do with me.”

  Kadence’s intake of breath is like a dart to my bruised heart. “I’m so sorry—”

  “I’ve watched these health centers go up, one by one. Damien Black has been obsessed with building them. He even has a demigod child of Hades to fund it!”

  She reaches out and strokes a hand down my cheek. “I’m sorry. I think I was blinded by how wonderful you are.”

  I shake my head. “I’ve been lucky in where I was raised, Kadence. Anyone would be the same.” Maybe if I say it enough times, she’ll realize it’s true.

  Kadence presses her lips against mine. “I’m going to cling to my theory, Micah. Because I don’t believe that for a minute.” She smiles a little. “And as the demigod daughter of the god of time, I don’t say that lightly.”

  Unable to help myself, I kiss her, too. Pulling back, I arch a brow at her. “I suppose there’s only one way to find out who’s right.”

  Kadence’s brow crinkles with confusion. “What are you talking about?”

  I take her hand so we can climb down. “We’re going back to New York. We’re going to get to that photo booth and find a way to destroy it.”

  “Are you sure this is a good idea?” Kadence glances over her shoulder as we stand outside the health center. It’s busier today, people rushing past on the sidewalk, every few seconds one of them stepping past us to enter the building. The Matthew’s Health and Wellbeing Center sign hangs above us.

  I haven’t been sure anything’s a good idea recently, but I push the door open, anyway. “It’s the only way we can stop it.”

  The more I think about it, the more it makes sense. Without the health centers, Hades can’t collect souls, and it’s my father who built them. It’s why I’m here, and it’s how I can be part of stopping it.

  I make it right, with a minimum number of ripples. And ultimately, if I have made it worse, I get to undo that.

  Kadence comes to an abrupt stop. “Micah.”

  She’s staring at the floor as people mill past us. The bright lighting diffuses it, but it’s unmistakable now that we know Shells exist.

  Several of the people don’t have shadows.

  They walk past, some ambling as they focus on their phones, some rushing as they check their watches. Kadence and I move closer to each other, as if we’re surrounded by ghosts.

  But these people act as if nothing is wrong. They’re clueless to what’s been taken from them.

  A shadowless man stops beside us, frowning as he scrolls through his cell.

  Now more concerned than threatened, I step closer to him. “Excuse me, sir. Do you have the time?”

  The man either doesn’t hear me or ignores me. I step a little closer.

  I clear my throat. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but do you have the time?”

  The man looks up. His gaze seems to take a second to focus on me, so I smile. There’s something about his eyes that feel…blank. His frown deepens as he shakes his head. Without responding, he walks away.

  Kadence and I glance at each other. That response isn’t too unusual. I’ve noticed humans are suspicious of strangers. It might not be because he’s a Shell. But before we can say anything, his cell rings. The man stops, glances at the screen, and his frown quadruples. He stabs the screen with is finger.

  “I don’t have time for this right now, Linda.” He pauses, then sighs. “We’ve done nothing but talk about it. I’ve changed my mind. That’s all there is to it.” This time the sigh is more of a growl. “The crying is exactly why I walked out. I’m done with it—the expense, the emotional rollercoaster. Trying for kids just isn’t worth it.” He pauses, listening. “Fine, then. Don’t let me stop you.”

  The man hangs up with a huff, his movements sharp and angry. He shakes his head, straightens his shoulders, and walks toward the café. Within moments, he’s ordering an espresso.

  Determination settles in my gut like a rock. We can’t allow this to continue. I tug Kadence’s hand, planning on heading through the frosted glass doors, only to find she won’t budge. Turning, I find her biting her lip.

  “If you go in, Micah, they’re going to want you to complete the questionnaires.”

  Which isn’t exactly staying separate…

  Except the other option is for Kadence to do this on her own.

  As we stand in the center of the brightly lit room, I realize I’m at a crossroads of my own.

  Step back and let Kadence deal with this, acknowledging I’m not part of this fabric? Or step up, and become far more part of it than I ever have?

  I look down at Kadence. So beautiful. So strong. So much a part of my heart. Her patience, the knowledge she’ll accept me, coward or not, is what has me making the decision.

  Tightening the grip on her hand, I pull her toward the glass doors. “This isn’t something I can sit back and watch, Kadence.”

  As the doors whoosh open and we step through, I ignore the flutter in my chest.

  If I choose this, I choose Kadence and her world.

  And that can’t be wrong.

  Micah

  A woman approaches us wearing the same uniform this center is associated with, her smile b
road and welcoming.

  “Welcome to Matthew’s Health and Wellbeing Center, how can I help you?”

  I open my mouth, only to find my mind is blank. My heart is freaking out in my ribcage. “I, ah…”

  Kadence wraps herself around my arm. “We were hoping to see a doctor about,” she drops her gaze, “personal stuff.”

  The woman’s smile only grows. “Of course.” She passes us the tablet she’s holding. “Have you seen anyone here before?”

  I don’t think seeing my father at a distance counts. Suddenly, the spacious room starts to shrink. I hadn’t thought that maybe Damien Black could be here. I wonder if I vomited, whether we’d be rushed to see a nurse and could skip the questionnaires.

  Kadence takes the tablet, smiling back. “No.” She squeezes my arm. “This is my boyfriend’s first time here.”

  The woman nods. “Well, then. All you need to do is fill out the questionnaires and we’ll get you two young ones sorted.”

  “Thank you.” Kadence leads me to a back corner. I follow her, my feet feeling too heavy as they drag over thick carpet.

  Once we sit down, I take the tablet. One swipe and it comes to life, a bright white screen lined with questions. I stall at the first ones. Name. Date of birth.

  Kadence leans in close. “Are you okay, Micah? We can leave if you need to.”

  The waiting area is fuller than I expected but isn’t surprising if I think about it. Free health care is the smartest draw card Hades and Damien Black could’ve thought of.

  Anger sparks like electricity. We leave, and the number of Shells only grow. We leave, and we’re one step closer to a war of the gods. Surely even my mother wouldn’t sit back and let that happen.

  I shake my head. “I’ll use a different name and a fake address.”

  Kadence nods, then suddenly grins. “You were going to use Elysium?”

  My lips twitch. “Turn right at the Crossroads, and you’re on the highway to heaven.”

  A giggle tumbles from Kadence, warming my whole body.

  Turning back to the questionnaire, I enter my name using the first one that comes to my mind—Matthew, then enter my date of birth. I can almost hear the Loom ticking out the choice as I do it.

  Kadence tips my face toward her, her fingers warm and supple against my cheek. “You’re very brave, you know that?”

  I blink. “I’ve never felt less brave in my life.”

  “Which is what makes you brave, Micah. I’m hoping one day you’ll see how much you underestimate yourself.”

  She presses her lips to mine, gracing me with a sweet kiss. My whole world melts, contracting, until it’s nothing but Kadence and our connection. Although I’m not sure I agree with her, I like the person she sees when she looks at me.

  I’m about to return to the questionnaire when I look up to find the woman standing beside us, her gentle smile firmly in place. “I have some brochures I thought you may be interested in.”

  “Thank you.” I smile back.

  She’s gone before I take a look, but as I soon realize, I’m glad she is. Heat flushes every inch of my skin.

  Kadence glances at it, then grins as she holds up the brochure. Contraception and You.

  My face flames again, then flames even further because I’m actually blushing about this. Could I be any more innocent and inexperienced? Especially when the passion I feel for Kadence is anything but that.

  She leans in, whispering, “I think she read my mind.”

  Another wave of heat starts to rise, but then I register the teasing note in her voice. I brush a kiss over her temple. “Or mine.”

  Returning to the questionnaire, I continue to fill it out. As it turns out, I’m able to answer most of them honestly. I was born in a hospital here in New York. There’s no medical history to declare seeing as you don’t get sick in Elysium. Drugs and alcohol are as nonexistent as germs there.

  I click “Submit” only to find another page of questions fills the screen.

  Kadence glances over my shoulder. “There’s plenty more where that came from.”

  She did say this was comprehensive…

  A phone rings and the woman in uniform heads to a desk to answer it. I focus back on the tablet, hoping she doesn’t bring any more brochures over.

  The next questions start asking me about diet and exercise. I go through, steadily capturing the healthy, active, organic lifestyle my mother raised me on.

  A name is called out, and an elderly man shuffles by. Absentmindedly, I pull my feet in to allow him to pass.

  “Thank you, young man.”

  I smile at him, then noticing another two people heading down one of the halls, meaning the chairs around us are emptying. Of course this place would be efficient. It means more souls for Hades. I focus back on the tablet. I need to get this over and done with so we can go to the photo booths.

  Another phone rings, piercing the low murmur of the people around us, but this time it’s the jingling ringtone of a cell. Kadence jumps, scrabbling to get it out of her pocket, and I realize someone is calling her.

  Kadence’s brows furrow as she glances at the screen. Answering it, she huddles in close to me. “Haven? Is everything okay?”

  Haven. The demigod who can see souls.

  The tablet forgotten, I lean in close, knowing this is important.

  “Kaden—” Haven’s voice is faint and crackly. “Are you there?”

  “Yes, we’re both here. I don’t think the connection is all that great.”

  “We’re at a Crossroads at the edge of the city…we’ve visited…”

  Kadence glances at me, and we both frown.

  I raise my voice a little. “Haven? Can you hear us?”

  “Yeah, I’ve got you. We’ve been to five Cross…they’re everywhere.”

  Kadence’s frown intensifies. “What’s everywhere?”

  But Haven doesn’t answer.

  Kadence presses the phone more closely against her ear, her voice becoming urgent. “Haven? Are you still there?”

  The woman in the navy suit smiles as she indicates to get our attention, then points to a sign on the wall—a “No Cell Phone” sign.

  I nod in acknowledgement. She has no way of knowing how important this is.

  “Kadence.” Haven’s voice is faint but distinguishable. “The Shells. They’re everywhere.”

  There’s a click and the line goes dead.

  Kadence’s hand falls to her side. The woman smiles and mouths the words, “Thank you.”

  The Shells. They’re everywhere.

  Although I already knew this from looking at the Loom.

  I’m vaguely aware of more names being called, of more people walking past, of the door opening and closing as others leave, but I focus on the questions.

  We’re running out of time.

  I click “Submit,” hoping I’m getting close to the end when the tablet flickers, then goes blank. I wait for a second, wondering if I’ve done something wrong.

  Kadence leans over. “What’s up?”

  “I think it just died.”

  Kadence takes the tablet and presses some buttons. The screen remains black. “Well, that’s annoying. Battery must be dead.”

  I look up, hoping to get the attention of the receptionist, but she’s on the phone again. She notices me looking, because she holds up a finger, indicating she’ll be with me shortly.

  It’s then that I notice how much the waiting area has emptied. Only two other bodies apart from us are in here now. Maybe it’s getting close to closing time.

  Leaning over to Kadence, I speak in a hushed whisper, “I’m not going to have to do them all again, am I?”

  Kadence sighs. “I hope not. We don’t have time for this crap.”

  Which is true.

  The woman walks over, and Kadence passes her the tablet. “All done,” she says brightly.

  “Wonderful. Thank you.”

  Kadence glances at me from the corner of her eye. She’s going t
o see if we can get away without completing the questionnaires.

  I hold my breath as the woman tucks it under her arm without looking at it. “If you’ll wait here a moment, we’ll just prepare the photo booth.”

  Kadence stills. “It’s a photo booth—what do you need to prepare?”

  It’s the first time the woman’s smile falters. It’s barely more than a brief downturn of her lips, but it’s there, nevertheless.

  “Just routine cleaning. Standard procedure in a health center.” She turns to look at Kadence squarely. “It won’t take long. Would you like a cup of coffee or tea while you’re waiting?”

  She shakes her head. “No, thanks. We’re fine.”

  “Are you sure? Once Matthew goes through, you’ll have some time to spare. Nothing like a lovely hot cup of joe to keep you company.”

  The words have Kadence stiffening. “Really, it’s not necessary. I’ll be going with him.”

  The smile flickers again. “I’m afraid that won’t be possible, my dear. You’ll need to wait here.”

  She walks away before we have a chance to respond, and my gaze drops to the floor. “Kadence.” I grab her hand, keeping my line of sight on what I just realized.

  She gasps, telling me she sees it, too.

  The woman doesn’t have a shadow.

  The woman disappears through a door, leaving.

  Kadence turns to face me, her beautiful features tense. “Micah, you can’t go through the photo booth on your own.”

  I clench my jaw. Having my photo taken on Earth is dangerous. “I’ll move at the last second or something.”

  “No. It’s not just that…”

  It hits me. I can’t get my photo taken because—as far as we know—that’s where the wraiths steal people’s souls. “We don’t have much choice. Besides, I’m a demigod. They can’t steal our souls, can they?”

  Kadence’s frown intensifies. “I’m going to call Haven. Don’t go anywhere until I’m back.”

  Glaring at the “No Cell Phone” sign, which was pointed out to us earlier, she heads to the frosted doors. Her cell is already on the way to her ear by the time she steps through them.

  With Kadence gone, I’m struck by how empty the room is. Even the woman in uniform is gone. It was so full not that long ago. The contrast has my shoulders tightening.