Jace weighed my words. He pushed off the windowsill and walked toward me. The floor boards groaned under his weight as he passed my dresser. I couldn’t move as he walked up to me. I so ferociously wanted to see how he truly looked; to see the shell of the body that made me come alive. Heat seeped from him. A colorless fire started to ripple around his body. Yet I couldn’t see any defining lines. I couldn’t gaze into his eyes; I couldn’t lose myself in the colors of his hair; I couldn’t make out any feature of his shape any better than I could using my touch.
“I never told you that you were sleeping.”
“You just let me believe it.”
“You were looking for any excuse to believe it wasn’t real, but you knew always knew the truth. You simply lied to yourself because you didn’t want to believe it might have been real. You couldn’t admit that you wanted me.”
I looked away from his dangerous splendor. He was a deity. It wasn’t a joke. He and the others had abilities. I couldn’t deny that I had supernatural abilities – the ability to see the future. I was one of them, but I wasn’t her.
“How long have you been searching for the Chronicler?”
He didn’t move. “It doesn’t matter.”
I knew myself, and I couldn’t live up to his expectations. I didn’t remember being her, I didn’t remember anything. I was destined to disappoint him. “You’re insanely in love with her?”
“Yes.”
“You want me?”
“Yes.”
“If you really want to have me, like in my dreams, forget about her, Jace. She’s not me.”
“Admit you want me then,” he demanded. “Enough games; tell me you want me and we will start fresh.”
My skin prickled. My pulse jumped from my wrist. I caught my breath as he wrapped his hand around the jacket, pulling it from my grasp. I let him. His affection jumped from his skin onto mine when his hand brushed mine. He took my hand in both of his and blew warm air into them. Not only did my fingers warm, my entire body sweltered from his decalescent touch.
“I want to see you,” I said as I reached up to his face. “And I want you to see who I really am, which isn’t her. I’m not Deino.”
I skimmed my finger across his bottom lip. It was as soft as a flower’s petal. His hand slid behind my neck and then he spoke softly. “You’re adlibbing. Just admit you want me.”
He held me with his lips skimming mine. I knew he’d give me a taste of his kiss if I simply admitted how badly I wanted him - so why were the words still stuck in my throat? Oh, yes – because the name of his first love, Deino, was still fresh in his mind.
“It’s seriously taking you too long to close the deal.” Marco’s voice registered from my tree house. I looked up just as he appeared on my bed, lying on his side and propped on his elbow.
“You have horrible timing.” Jace rested his forehead on mine.
“Oh, don’t mind me,” Marco said, picking his nails. “I just have this sort-of-big deal on the brink of falling apart if we don’t get there on schedule, but you’re right, my timing sucks. Our plan falls into an insignificant category because my buddy Jace here can’t get his mojo together, and he’s got this thing about asking for permission.”
“You taught me never to steal freewill,” Jace explained, before I could ask what Marco’s comment meant.
“You’re the closest thing to a queen, cookie. Get with the program, Chronicler, or haven’t you been reading my book?” Marco said as he continued picking his nails, like he was bored.
“I thought it said that all the deities died after the Fate sisters passed away?” I questioned.
“Documenting history and adding a twist – you know, to keep it interesting,” Marco said. When I pressed further, he groaned. “Fine, you want to know why I scribbled that lie? It was because I knew the Hunters would eventually get their grubby hands on it. I only recently got it back…well, a few decades ago.”
“You wanted them to believe you were dead?” I asked.
“Many stopped hunting us after word got out,” Jace explained. “They lived their lives and eventually died.”
“Why didn’t you all die when the sisters did?” I asked, trying to make sense of everything Bree read from the book. Neither Marco nor Jace seemed particularly eager to answer. “Tell me.”
“Because the Chronicler gave away the Elysian in her blood before she died,” Jace answered, very softly. “Her Elysian kept us immortal. If she would have kept it when she first died, we would have followed suit.”
“Is the Chronicler’s power limited to being a glorified genie in a bottle?” I asked.
Marco laughed. “Well, that’s one way to put it.”
“She once manipulated the fate of many, by changing the Elysian in us,” Jace said. The way he spoke made me think there was something more to it than just playing with blood. “She could meddle with other people’s emotions, modify how anyone saw the past - ergo, changing the way they react to certain situations. Alter the Elysian in our blood Steal free will. It changed their fate over the course of time. Same goes for humans; the chemicals are just different in their bodies.”
“How did she do this?” I asked.
“Shouldn’t keep Analee waiting,” Jace said, hastily. “It’d be a shame to get her panties in a twist because we’re a few minutes late.”
“Oh, come now – it was just starting to get good watching you two. What’s a few hours when you’ve waited centuries?”
“Centuries?” I asked.
“Immortal, remember? Or did you choose not to believe the part that I spelled out before you?” Marco said, as he got up off my bed and walked over to us.
I wanted to point out that he wrote down all the deities died, so I didn’t know what to believe. “If you are immortal, how can you die? Isn’t it an oxymoron? And how are the Hunters successful in killing you?”
Jace held his breath just long enough for me to notice. “We can kill each other; thus, we can die. But not by disease or age.”
“The Hunters can kill us with immortal weapons that they steal from us,” Marco said, drawing my attention to him. His tone shifted more serious as he laid a hand on Jace’s shoulder. “Zalen shifted Analee there. I came here to get you two. This is why I’m here, by the way, missy moo.”
Jace sighed, and then filled in the gaps Marco left out. “Mortals can’t withstand a shift to Elysia – the place we call home. It’s why I’m here – to protect you from the shift. We’re going to a place the Chronicler used to cherish, before everything turned south. It’s a Hunter haven now. It shouldn’t take too long before someone notices you’re there.”
“Wouldn’t that be a little obvious?” I asked.
“We’ve been shifting to many of your old Elysia hid-e-holes lately,” Marco answered. “If the Butcher, or other Hunters, has been tracking you, he’ll know this. He’s a weasel, and I’m sure he’s found means of getting there quickly.”
“Other means?” I questioned. “As in, teaming up with other’s like you – your ability in particular?”
“We’re no strangers to traitors,” Marco said. The tone in made me think there was more to his response than simply knowing a back-stabber or two.
Jace’s hand found mine. The moment his hand touched my skin, I stood on a beach. I recalled the first few shifts I thought were introductions to my dreams. I was sick immediately after, now I was simply dizzy. My knees hit sand.
A moonless night was illuminated by the fire crawling across a young man’s bare back. He kneeled in the sand and faced the ocean. Blue hues danced from his skin, transforming into brilliant orange and yellow flames. Waves crashed against the shore, echoing in the night. He made no effort to run into the cool water; instead he picked up a stone half buried in the sand, and threw it into the ocean. The longer it rippled in the water, the more clenched his fist became. His muscular arms glistened with blood and sweat, as if he’d just finished fighting even though he bore no combat injuries.
> Waves crashed into the shore. The man engulfed in flames refused to look at me. I could feel his desire tickle my skin while it burned his flesh.
“I fought for you, Chronicler.”
“I need a healer, not a gladiator. I need someone who can heal my mortal wounds, now that I am no longer ageless.” I wished he’d forgive himself of whatever past he refused to see. I was tempted to reach for the scar on his thumb and see his past memories for myself.
“So you simply need my service?” he asked.
He was a stunning mess of muscle, but there was more than mere good looks to his soul. He was honorable and loyal. Above all else, he was persistent, which is why he was perfect for me. The Prophet said that if chosen, he’d cause my demise but would serve as a loyal guardian until death bestowed me.
“I’ll do your bidding, but I must know the truth, Chronicler. After all these years, do you simply seek my service?”
I’d fallen in love with the sound of his voice years ago even though I restrained myself from meddling in his life. I could make him fall for me; change his destiny forever – but I couldn’t bear to steal his freedom.
“I need a healer,” I confessed. My desire hung on my words. “Which is why I sought out the best, but I want you.”
He towered over me. He could force me to my knees, demand anything in the world if he wanted; he was stronger than I, but he bowed his head as if I were more powerful than he. I stopped him; I’d never wanted a servant – I yearned for companionship. I took his hand in mine and laced my fingers around his. I closed my eyes and bathed in his hazy sight. His blue fiery blaze crawled onto my skin.
“Consequences must be paid if we continue this path, Healer. My sister has seen it,” I said.
I expected hesitation; however, I wasn’t given any. He immediately pulled me against him and led me into the ocean. He acted like I was the breathtaking one, not him. He muttered that even the ocean couldn’t compare to the beauty in my eyes. I didn’t believe him, but I didn’t care.
“Your adoration is worth centuries of torment,” he promised.
The black water hid everything under its surface. Nothing showed through, except for the faint outline of a calloused hand. Just when I was about to look away, a single blue flame sparked just below a ripple of water. The flame danced and flickered in the water, like it would have in the wind.
I watched the vision play out before so it felt familiar…but not just because it unraveled in my mind as a futuristic vision. It felt more like a memory. Jace’s hands were on my face, studying me as if I’d just done something truly remarkable. I knew he wanted to know what was going on, but I felt his hesitation in asking. I shook my head and muttered that I was okay. I looked around.
My world of gray sharpened significantly. I could see defined shapes of Marco and Analee towered over us on a bed of sand. Salt-water scents hung in the air. An endless sea encased one side of the beach. A cliff barricaded the beach on the opposite side. I knew of this place; Jace had brought me here before. Was it not safe then?
Reading my thoughts, Jace whispered. “Marco was keeping watch-out the entire time. I brought you here before, hoping you’d recall the first time we kissed.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat; the dreams were real – but that’s not the first time we kissed… unless it was Deino he kissed here first. Jealousy dominated my focus. I closed my eyes and pressed my palms into my eyes and tried not to worry about my visions at this moment. Now was not the time or place to have a revelation.
“Welcome home, Chronicler,” Analee said, sarcastically.
“Where’s Zalen?” Jace asked, annoyed that she interrupted the moment between us.
“He’s scouting, and what did I say about giving me with the respect I deserve?” Analee said playfully. Her grip closed around Jace’s neck; she was hell-bent on torturing him and strangling me while she was at it; I felt her grip caress my neck with ghost fingers. Jace was keeping me from succumbing to her wrath; he fell to his knees beside me. He screamed obscenities after Analee said she liked the way it looked when we knelt down before her.
“How do you know the Butcher will even show?” I asked, trying to prevent Jace and Analee from having another fight.
“Is she really this dumb?” Analee scoffed. She released Jace, only to walk around me in a circle. She snapped her fingers, and Marco disappeared like he’d been trained to shift at that command. He brought back with him the two frozen sisters. “Perhaps we should leave you here alone to wander the beaches while we wait. Jace can keep me company.”
“Are you kidding me?” I demanded, furious about a mere suggestion of Jace not being with me, and with Analee instead. “I’m sure they have eyes, and will notice Jace isn’t with me. Isn’t that the plan, baiting them close, because they’ll think Jace and I are alone?”
My skin hissed. It was no secret my mere existence bothered Analee on a personal level. But it was too late to back down now, especially since the Master’s insane angelic laugh echoed in my mind.
“Analee enjoys making empty threats just to see how we would react,” Jace said.
Well, that would have been nice to know two seconds ago!
“Excuse me?” Analee laughed. “My threats are not empty.”
It felt like she was piercing my eardrums with her fingernails. She circled around me, mocking me. I leaped for her and grabbed her wrist. Her knife-like touch stopped, but she hadn’t backed away from me. The sound of the waves drummed the shoreline as we waited for one another to react. I had a suspicion she was used to waiting. She had mastered the art of waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
“You’re lonely,” I finally said, breaking the silence.
“You speak vaguely,” she hissed. “Bow to me, human girl.”
At her demand, I fell to my knees, but not because I willed it. My body no longer responded to my orders; I was her puppet. She laughed and requested that I stand. I stood. I was at her disposal – no wonder she was calling the shots. Jace crashed into Analee. I watched, unable to move. Marco yelled in frustration and disappeared. A second later he reappeared next to them only to tear Jace off of Analee.
“We’d make more progress if you two weren’t at each other’s throats all the time,” Marco said, jerking Jace away from the Master.
Their wordless curses and soundless screams echoed in my mind as they argued with one another. Analee’s angelic laugh rippled through my body when she said something about needing another slave girl. I was the perfect candidate.
I fought for my body to obey my wishes; it refused. My destiny might have already been determined. But I was damned if I didn’t put up a fight. Irate that she thought I’d simply bow down to her without a fight, I pressed my lips together and screamed in my mind. I didn’t know what their words meant so I poured every part of my anger into my voice. I didn’t know if what I said was important, but it was my voice – the only one I had. I tried to move, but I couldn’t. I closed my eyes as I embraced every horrible experience I’d ever felt. I stole my sister’s life; I ran away from everyone who’d ever tried to love me; I’d failed so many times; I’d refused to live the life I wanted to, I was a scared little girl that ran away from her problems because I might not succeed or worse, positive I’d fail to everyone who’d relied on me. I lived with so many regrets; now was not the time to make another. Dread seeped from my soul, and into my soundless cries. Despair sank its cold fingers into my heart. Depression squandered my happiness.
Tears slid down my cheeks. My voice was raw even though I hadn’t opened my mouth. My soul ached. Sand clung to the sweat gathering on my clammy skin. My eyes stung when I looked around.
Five dark shadows knelt on the ground before me. Dark liquid seeped from their ears and eyes. Marco and Zalen disappeared the moment I stopped screaming telepathically. The icy girls hugged onto each other. Jace panted. He was on his hands and knees, looking up at me. His delight glowed as his white silhouette returned.
“You�
�re learning to fight,” Jace said, proudly.
Analee charged me. I braced for impact when she suddenly fell to her knees. A thin, gray object, stuck out of her back, as well as her chest. Her white shape faded immediately; a dark liquid grew around the gray object sticking through her chest.
“Get the Healer!” Analee ordered, as she collapsed.
Jace’s voice echoed in my mind as he raced toward me. He searched the beach, looking for whomever it was that had attacked.
“Analee is dying!” I said, looking back at the spear sticking out of her chest.
He acted like he couldn’t hear me or was dismissing my pleas; I hated Analee, but to watch her die without trying to help was another thing entirely. I grabbed Jace’s hand and screamed that the Master was dying. He said nothing. Hoping to convey my message, I told him she was power in a dainty, maddening bottle. Yes, we needed her and her ability, but no matter how much we despised her, we couldn’t let her die. She was powerful; we needed her. He swore, but agreed with me. The moment he touched the thin, gray object, it disappeared.
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