I followed him through the trees to a small clearing filled with shade and spots of sunshine. The shade provided a reprieve from the hot sun. It was secluded here and the trees were so thick that it was hard to get a good look between them. "You ready?" He asked me and I gave him a puzzled look. "To learn how we use the shadows for recon missions." "I mean I've been doing it all my life, but sure tell me how you do it then." I shook my head, annoyed at this. Ed just gave me an amused smirk before holding his hands out towards me. I arched an eyebrow at him, staring at his hands suspiciously. Does he expect me to grab them?"Well come on, grab my hands so I can show you how to hide amongst the shadows." He shook his hands in front of me and I crossed my arms. "I already know how to do that." I snarked. "While moving?" He raised his brow. "No." I muttered, not liking that I'm proving him right. I've only ever hidden myself or others while we were still. I've never hidden something
Kiran's P.O.V.The day always seems to drag when Zerena is gone. I had already turned in my uniform to the gas station to a surprisingly very sad River. I think what Tate said about her having a crush on me may have been true. Although I don't want to sound arrogant in saying that. She did, however; all but flat out admitted it as I was leaving. I told her I was happily taken and she whimpered away like a dog. I was heading out to the garage when Betty decided she wanted to kick the bucket. She freaking caught fire! Honestly it's the only way I would have let her go willingly. There's no saving that engine now. Goodbye Betty. I feel like I am dying out here in this heat waiting on Tate to come get me. It's embarrassing as hell too. I hate having to admit that he was right about me needing a new car. I wasn't ready to let Betty go yet, but I guess it's time. I saw Tate's car rushing towards me in the distance. I know that when I get a new car I want a classic. Something clean and sm
Zerena's P.O.V."Stay quiet and stay close." Ed whispered to me as we creeped along the building. "I'll cloak us both with my shadow so we can see each other, but no one else will be able to." I nodded my head, feeling his shadow drape over me in a tight embrace. He kept it firmly in place over me even as we moved through the building. It was cold and damp inside. This wasn't the same place I had gone to before, when I had gotten Zion. It was another abandoned warehouse in a different state.The warehouse was large, and of course the floor we entered just looked like an average abandoned building. A thick layer of dust lay over everything with various random items left behind on shelves. It was badly illuminated, smelling of mildew. We made our way to the elevator and waited for someone to climb in so we could follow. Similar to the warehouse I had been to, this one had a collard woman working the elevator. She pressed 3 bottoms and we began to descend down a few floors. We stepped
I focused on Josiah through the bond and let my guard down. I let the memories of Alster and his experiments flash across. I showed him everything that was done to me and to the others. I showed him the missions we would go on. I showed him the falling out we all had when we grew distant with one another. The bitter loneliness I felt at that time. I showed him meeting Kiran. Reconciling with everyone and coming together to kill Alester. I left out a lot of Everett stuff, not wanting to show him something he shouldn't see. I showed him that dreadful day that Alester injected me with that purple goo. I didn't get graphic, but I let myself and him feel everything I felt that night. The worst night of my life. I felt him also wince at it, and when I finally stopped showing him everything it was silent…so very silent. He stared at me like he'd never seen me before. He looked at me like I was a great marvel of the world. He held a deep sympathy for me, but I saw the anger within him. The
Kellan's P.O.V.I followed my father deep into the depths of the ocean. The pressure didn't bother me at all, the further down we went, in fact I found it comforting. My webbed fingers and siren tail helped me swim quickly, keeping pace alongside my dad. I watched him, carefully studying every aspect of him. Looking for similarities between the two of us, aside from these eyes. I was somehow able to see, even through the darkness that etched the ocean floor. We reached a cavern of sorts and as we swam through I felt magic rush through me as we passed a barrier. I could see a city made of coral, shells and sand come into view. The place was somehow lit like the bustling city for New York. It was bright and colorful, coral pink, purple and deep blue covered most of the buildings and houses. Fish swam freely around, reminding me that we really were under the water. Glowing algae marked what seems to be the road and everyone swam in an organized way so as not to crash into one another. T
Zerena's P.O.V."So who was it that shared something personal with you?" Kiran asked as we cuddled after the best fu.cking sex. It seems this hunger for him is never going to die down."Well it turned out to be two people that shared things with me, Ed and Josiah. I'll have you meet them when you come with me to the shadow colony." I traced small circles on his now extremely muscular chest as I spoke. I swear his muscles just keep growing. Ever since his phoenix awakened he keeps getting stronger and stronger and I am so excited to train him. He could be an amazing fighter, he just needs the right guidance and lots of practice. Maybe when we are both in the shadow colony we will finally have enough time together. "Who tried something with you?" I laughed at his question. "Ed. Don't worry I gave him a good punch to the d*ck." He chuckled in response to my comment. "Good. I am glad he didn't try more than that. I hate that you are being forced to live at the shadow colony, but I hat
"Zerena, Sebastian is here to train you today." Axel called me out from my hut. Curtis had told us we were doing strength and endurance training today. He was trying to tire these guys out for tomorrow. Which I greatly appreciated, and found shocking. I didn't expect him to really help me. After the way he got onto me for controlling the dark, I thought he detested me. I ran over to Axel and Sebastian, happy that he was here for once so I could tell him what my dad had suggested. Hopefully Sebastian can do it. I don't know if his ability has limits as to how far the person can be from him in order for him to pull them. Sebastian and I trained for a few hours. My shadows were getting faster and stronger than before. I had learned to strengthen them the way Sebastian had taught me. They were practically impenetrable now. He also had me try to create a thick wall of shadows with the same strength as my thinner ones. That proved to be a challenge for me, so I'll have to practice. We co
I traveled through Kiran's shadow, finding him in some rundown garage with a smile so big on his face. He was so focused on fixing the car that I could have loudly stomped my way here and he wouldn't have noticed in the least. I leaned back against the wall and just watched him be happy. He seemed to be loving what he was, warming my heart. Besides, seeing him all greased up may have been turning me on too. "You know you're really sexy when you're working on cars." I finally spoke, apparently scaring him enough to make him jump and hit his head on the open hood. I laughed as he rubbed the top of his head, a bit embarrassed, but laughing along with me. "Are you okay?" "Better now that you're here, but how long were you just standing there watching me? Creep." He smiled at me, teasing me lightly. "Just a few minutes. You were so focused and you had the biggest grin. I just wanted to memorize that moment before I interrupted it. What are you working on?" I asked him intrigued. He pro
I traveled to the spot in the yard, not believing my eyes from that distance. I approached the figure in the moonlight cautiously. He turned when he heard me step on a twig. That long black hair and dark eyes met mine. He smiled widely at me, swooning my heart the way he use to. “Percy?” I cried. “Hey, Zae.” “You as.shole.” I went to punch him but my hand went right through him. He laughed at me. “I figured you’d try to hit me. Sorry I don’t have a body anymore to hit.” He shook his head at me. “I’m sorry, Zae.” “You should be. You have no idea how much this has hurt. Damit Perc, you should have told me. I would have stopped it!” I yelled at him, tears flowing out of me like a waterfall. “You couldn’t have. Trust me, I didn’t want to leave our Ares, but it was the only way.” He sighed. His transparent hand reached for my face. I could feel him the same way I feel the air across my cheek. “Our Ares could really use a visit from you.” I told him. “I only have one more of
8 years later“Happy birthday Ares!” We all yelled, trying to surprise him, but who were we kidding he already knew.“I knew you wouldn’t forget.” He smiled at us all. “Auggie said everyone had forgotten about my birthday and that’s why no one had said it to me yet.”“Augustus Daimen Barlowe! Did you really tell your brother that?” Kiran scolded him.“I thought if he believed it he would actually be surprised.” Augustus explained.“I’ll talk to him, keep the party going.” Kiran told me, kissing my temple, before pointing to the door to let Augusutus know to walk out.I hugged Ares, holding him tightly for a long moment before he complained.“Mom.”“Sorry
Topher had already finished here. He was wrapping the elders up. We don’t plan on killing them or imprisoning them. They just won’t be in power anymore. I know they won’t like it, but with only a few elders they won’t be able to go against a whole army. We’ll be changing a lot around here, starting with the parties and classist shi.t. Obviously the higher class will hate it, but since they are few, I’m not worried about it. “Everything go well in the North?” Topher asked me, wrapping his arm around my waist and kissing my temple. “Easy as pie.” I assured him. “Yeah, especially after she went all devil on us.” Isaiah smirked. “You did?” Topher asked, obviously not liking the fact. He didn’t like me using that side of myself much. “Yes, just for a little while. I’m fine, don’t worry.” I assured him. He looked at me for a while, assessing me, before nodding his head. He kissed my forehead now, letting his lips linger there. He let his arm wrap around me further, until his hand
2 months later.“It’s gotta be simultaneous.” I told them all, through a mass shadow message. I stared down the elder’s building with group 1 at my side. I decided to take down the north elders, while Topher led the west rebellion group. We had a good amount of people with us in each colony.Our civil war begins. Only it won’t be a war, it’ll be one battle, and we will come out victorious.‘We’re ready in the south.’ Felix, the leader of the south, responded with his own shadow message.‘Say the word and we’ll attack.’ Helena from the East sounded ready to b
It’s been a month now since the battle with Alester. Percy’s funeral hit me hard, breaking me further. I almost couldn’t bring myself to go. Kiran and Topher dragged my as.s there, not giving me a choice in the matter. I saw Allie, her beautiful innocent eyes were puffy from all the crying. She admitted to me that she knew what was going to happen. She told me Percy had asked her not to tell anyone, and that he had set things up for Ares. Apparently Electra had been helping him see into the future. She admitted that she would be joining him soon too. It was almost poetic…almost. It’s so damn heart breaking. I am not sure there is a heart left in me. It feels so hollow in my chest, like it’s run away, unable to take the pain anymore. The only times I felt a remnant of it, were when I was with August or Ares, or when I’d look at Jesse’s ultrasound. She’s not shadow kissed like Augustus. She’s like Ares, in my normal womb. Topher and Kiran did their best at trying to cheer me up, or a
Zerena’s P.O.V.No! God No!Percy’s lifeless body laid at Alester’s feet, his eyes open, staring at Ares. I kept waiting to see him heal. Kept waiting to see him move, to get back up and pummel Alester before him. I watched him for a while, completely dumbfounded. This isn’t real, this isn’t happening. I haven’t lost Kiran and Percy just now. Kiran will come back with his Phoenix, and Percy will heal. They have to. They can’t leave me.A thick sadness was beginning to envelope me. I felt the cold seeping into my bones, as the darkness began to over take me, feeding on my depression. I felt it turning all the heartache in me into an unbridled rage. I looked at Alester now, who had Percy’s heart still in his hand, burning it to Ash befo
Percy's P.O.V. Zae had made her announcement to everyone. I thought it was sweet of her to go along with Topher's plan to have an announcement party. This is how it should have gone. A baby with only the person she chose and not because some crazy bastard gave her a sea witch's potion. I watched as everyone congratulated her. She actually accepted the hugs. God, I hope she continues to open up after I'm gone. I wrote her a letter too. I put it where I knew she'd find it after my funeral. I hope she takes the advice I wrote for her. Everyone was having fun. I watched as Zae's people all intermingled. It was like watching the many parts of Zea's life come together beautifully. Eventually, the party had started to whine down. The first to leave was group 1, followed by Zea's parents, and then Tate and Alara with her twin, Alexis, plus Maple left. Kellan had decided to stay a while longer to talk to Dex about water portalling. Rain and her mate, Nate, left as well. The only ones he
Zerena’s P.O.V.“How does this look?” Kiran asked, when he finished the icing on the cake.“Looks great!” I smiled at him, kissing his cheek. “Thank you, Kiran.”I was actually excited for today. I never thought I would be a big announcement kind of gal, but I think that I am. I really like the idea of surprising everyone today. Topher and I have been over the moon about our baby girl. I can’t wait to share the news with everyone. I am so very lucky to have Percy. I don’t think I would have noticed I was pregnant for at least another month. I am also so grateful that he has saved me time with naming all these children. Already knowing their names and their genders has been very convenient.
Percy’s P.O.V.Dearest Ares,I know you’re going through a hard time right now. It’s hard to be in love with someone who doesn’t feel the same way as you. I felt this way about your mother for the longest time. I know it is difficult, especially to watch them be happy with someone else. I promise you, it will get better. You will find your mate soon, and the pain you are feeling will be a distant memory.Stay by her side, fight through the pain, my son. She will need you when your brother inevitably breaks her heart. It will hurt, but you’ll have to help fix them in order to find your own happiness. I know you have a great heart. I can already see how morally grounded you are. You will make the right decision. I have faith in you.&nb