Life is funny that way. One day the love of your life is professing his undying affection for you. One day he’s slaughtering you.
Of all the people who could have lived out that story, I would have never fathomed it would be Gage and me. In the least I would have assumed I’d do the killing.
That’s where I went wrong.
I should have smothered him first.
Marshall looks over at me with a look of disdain. “So you consider it prudent to out yourself any more than you have, my love?”
“I don’t see why not. I mean, Chloe knows by default, not that she could do anything nefarious now that I’m in charge of the control panel.”
Watch it, Messenger. I can figure out a way to bite,she snips, and I have no doubt she can.
“Yes, well, not at the moment.” I nod to Marshall who undoubtedly heard her comment. “I rather do enjoy a well-contained Bishop. But back to the list, there’s Logan, and Gage, and Wes. If anything, Gage would have been the one to keep it from, but I like the idea of keeping him on his toes.”
Chloe huffs,And you enjoyed beating his ass.
“And that,” I say. “There really aren’t enough cruel things I can do to him to make up for what he’s done to my people and me.”
Marshall tips his head. “Land yourself back in the seat of control. We need to stomp out the Fem fire that’s threatening to take down the planet.”
“Gage has almost no one left siding with him. All of the Nephilim have come to me for the serum. Gage has no serum to distribute now that Wes is gone. I should be the Faction leader. The Sectors should be on top again. So what needs to be done to make it official? He might be a king, but he’s lost his ability to lead.”
“Not true,” Marshall counters. “The people you believe have wandered toward Celestra are only there for the inoculation. They haven’t sided with you just yet. And they may not do so.”
“Then I’ll withhold the next round of serums until they pledge to Celestra.”
They have pledged to Celestra, Messenger. Don’t you get it? That means nothing. Gage does one brilliant move and they can all run back to him. And once you give everyone the permanent serum, you won’t have anything to threaten them with to keep them on your side. The enemy can and will use your own serum against you.
I look to Marshall, my heart thumping wildly. “Chloe is right. We can never give these people a serum that will erase their genetic markers forever. Oh, how I hate this. If only Gage would bow to Celestra again, to me. The Factions could truly live in perfect harmony.”
Marshall shakes his head as those boiling red cauldrons he calls eyes feast over my flesh.
“Skyla”—he says it low, suppressed—“it’s not just Gage who would have to concede to grant your people the peace they deserve.”
“It’s the Fems.” I sigh. “My God, Marshall, what did you do to them to make them hate the Sectors so?”
He lifts a brow. “Nothing. We were merely rivals from the beginning. You’ve read the verse iron sharpens iron? This is rivals sharpen rivals. It’s a motivation of sorts to succeed.”
“Sounds like some silly college rivalry that celestial beings are willing to slaughter the masses over. And I get it on the human level. Crosstown school rivalries are what make the engine turn in small towns. But in the heavenlies? Aren’t all created beings supposed to work together for the good of mankind?”
“Though it would be beneficial, the truth is, some of His creations are objects of wrath, wrought forth to bring out the best in His people. Like sandpaper to wood, people need to have their rough edges smoothed off. It doesn’t come with comfort, it comes with friction.”
“The frictional Fems. Now there’s a nickname.”
Knock, knock?Chloe says it flatly with her traditional brand of mocking and sarcasm.What do you think dear old Rory will do once she finds out about your soul’s new placement? Or better yet, what do you think she’ll do once she gets the big heave-ho from your body? The girl is one power-hungry witch.
“She likes men as much as she does power,” I add. “My men in particular.”
Marshall leans back and twists his lips as he considers this. “She’s not leaving. She senses you’re one finger from the throne, and she’s determined to sit in it for you, wear your crown. Aurora has always believed the shoes you walk in were rightfully hers. Should you have come from a humble lineage, she would have been content in paradise. But such majesty is difficult to ignore. It can take even the meekest heart and singe it with greed.”
“Like Gage.” It comes out in a whisper as I look to his floating head. “So beautiful and peaceful. Who knew I never should have cheered his resurrection? For so long I thought death was a plague, and the older I get, the more I believe God really does know what He’s doing.”
Marshall’s chest thumps. “Of course, the Master knows what is best. Most people, ignorant of the way they should live their lives, have their eyes covered with scales, thus great pain is often a necessary means of removal. And yet, there are random tragedies that have no meaning to go along with them. In those cases, the only comfort is found for the righteous who get to enjoy the paradise of God. But in this case, where celestial fortunes are at play, there is no move, no breath, no death that has not been measured and approved for higher purposes. I can assure you there is nothing random happening here.” His eyes bear into mine and I nod.
“Like my death. You’re confirming what I’ve suspected all along. My mother is very much in the know, and this strange move has very much received her celestial stamp of approval.” I drop my face in my hands a moment. “Marshall, just say it. I am nothing more than a piece to some celestial puzzle—a celestial game of chess. My next move is not my own. Gage, Logan, Chloe, and I have been pieces on the chessboard from the beginning. That’s what you were trying to tell me all those years ago when you gave me that haunted toy. You were showing me the truth. Candace and Demetri are the puppet masters.”
He winces. “Perhaps in some ways you are correct, but the truth is, this is a living chessboard. The players must have free will. The puppet masters, as you have dubbed them, have control—but no control over your own actions.”
