„Thank you," Rudyard said, smiling at my reaction. He pointed to my notepad and pen on the bench. „You won"t be needing those. This isn"t the type of lesson you will need to document, Violet. Nyla and I thought it was time you understood more about life as a Grigori and about your history."
„Okay," I said, suddenly feeling a little nervous. I passed him a black coffee and after I made a latte for myself and Nyla poured a juice, we all sat at the table.
„First of all, both Nyla and I believe it is only right to disclose to you some things about your mother."
My hands gripped my cup and I froze. „Did you … know her?"
I heard the smile in Nyla"s voice even though I couldn"t look at her. „She was a good friend for many years."
„Oh." I was sure there were a mil ion things I could have said. But not one came to me at that moment. I never knew my mother. The only things I had ever received from her had been left for my seventeenth birthday a couple of months ago. I always feel uncomfortable when people talk about her. It"s like they expect me to know her, to have some bond with her I don"t know. I don"t have it. Al I have is the knowledge that before me, she was Grigori and somehow, she knew it would be my destiny too. She left me one of her wristbands and a cryptic note. Bottom line - it all left me feeling pretty cheated. I figured since she knew what was coming she could have done more to give me the heads-up.
„She lived in New York with us for about thirty years, before she met your father. Rudy and I were her teachers when she first became Grigori and then later she herself was a tutor at the college for some time. Her partner"s name was Jonathon. They were together for one hundred and twenty-eight years."
I lifted my head. Nyla"s smile softened.
„Grigori partner, nothing more. They were like brother and sister. Fought like cat and dog but loved each other dearly." I noticed her voice dropped off at the end.
„What happened?"
„Jonathon and Evelyn had a single overarching assignment. Together they were responsible for only one exile of unparalleled power. It took them one hundred and twenty-eight years to defeat her and cost Jonathon his life."
„Lilith," I said, choking on the word.
Rudyard and Nyla both looked shocked. „How did you know? Griffin said you hadn"t been told of your mother"s history. He doesn"t even know himself."
„When I embraced, my guides told me some bits, the rest I just kind of pieced together."
„Well, that"s impressive. I am sorry you had to work there things out your own. Especially given your … previous involvement with Phoenix."
I looked down, blushing. It seemed everyone in the world knew about that one stupid decision I"d made.
„That is part of the reason Rudy and I wanted to be the ones to come here, so that we could tell you about her."
„So what happened?"
„We don"t know exactly. The battles with Lilith were legendary. She was very strong, very clever and had many followers. Jonathon died in their final confrontation, protecting Evelyn.
It was Evelyn who discovered how to defeat Lilith. That last battle cost her greatly. She never forgave herself for Jonathon"s death. After that, she refused a new partner and stayed with us at the college, training new Grigori. Then she met your father and found a new happiness. I"m ashamed to admit, that after she left, we lost contact. I think that was what Evelyn had wanted."
„She hoped she could have a normal life with James – as much as possible, anyway. We didn"t even hear of her death until a few years after it happened and we certainly didn"t realise that she had borne a child or that her child had been given an angel essence. If we had, we would have kept a better eye on you. It would"ve been the least we could do. When Lincoln first embraced and was told your name, no one in the city knew of your name, no one in this city knew of your mother and since you went under your father"s name – Eden –
you were off our radar."
„She left me her box with one wristband … and a letter."
„Just one?" Rudyard interrupted, looking confused.
I nodded and his look morphed into something I couldn"t decipher as he glanced towards Nyla.
„She knew she was going to die." I had suspected it for some time, maybe even known, but it was the first time I had truly admitted it aloud.
Rudy nodded. „It makes sense. She was talented, Evelyn. A dream-walker. She could converse with angels in her dreams – if they wished for it. Grigori made by Seraphim, like Griffin, can be fed information in dreams, told things they need to know – like the names of the first of a partner set – but nothing like what Evelyn could do. I imagine she may have known for some time before you were born that this would be the outcome. I also imagine she may have played a hand in the decision."
„I don"t understand," I said, shifting in my chair, increasingly self-conscious. It"s one thing to wonder gave you up to this life – another thing for outsiders to confirm it.
„It"s only speculation, but given her history and her power – I believe she would have been offered a choice."
„In her letter. She asked me to forgive her …" and like pieces of a puzzle, one more snapped into place. „That"s why. She chose to die – to make me this." I tried to blink back the tears that started trickling down my face. „She left me." My voice dropped to a whisper. „She kil ed us both."
Nyla"s hand touched mine. I pulled mine away.
„What do you mean? You"re alive and well, Violet."
I didn"t respond. How could I even begin to explain?
„She loved your father dearly," Nyla continued. „She never believed she would discover a love so strong, especially with someone … so normal. I know she would"ve been so excite to have a child with James and it would have been the hardest thing she ever had to do –
leaving you both. She knew, better than anyone, the sacrifices that a Grigori must make. But she would not have chosen this life for you if she believed there was another way."
„Yes," agreed Rudyard. „And that"s the other reason we are here. For Evelyn to have made such a choice – to have committed her daughter to a life as a Grigori – we know the reason must have been … well, she must have felt that it was critical and there was no alternative. We believe she was made privy to information so cataclysmic that it led her to believe it was only through you that it could be stopped."
„Stopped how?"
„That, we do not know."
„Do you think it has something to do with the Scripture?"
„Perhaps. We certainly need to find it before the exiles do. We have people in New York looking into it. The problem is, we just don"t know the original thread to track it."
The feeling in the room had become so charged that when the front door opened we all jumped.
Lincoln walked in. „Hi. Where"s everyone else?" He glanced at me and gave me and gave me a small smile and I let go of the breath I was holding. I hadn"t known what to expect from him after the previous night.
„Everyone finished a little early today so we could talk with Violet," Nyla responded.
Lincoln"s eyebrows went up. „Oh," then he quickly added, „do you want me to leave?"
Nyla stood. „No. Not at all. In fact, this is perfect timing, Rudy and I were hoping to talk to you as well. Would you mind?" She gestured to a seat.
Lincoln tentatively sat down. I wasn"t much help, I was stil absorbing everything else.
What now?
„Lincoln, though you trained in New York, we did not get a chance to get to know you well, unfortunately."
Lincoln nodded and spoke for my benefit. „I wasn"t one of Nyla and Rudyard"s students.
It"s a pretty big facility. We only met a couple of times."
„That"s right. So there are some things that you do not know about Rudy and I that probably were not explained to you during your training."
„Such as?" he asked, while I looked up, more interested now.
Rudy answered. „There are some things
about being Grigori that others do not think important to teach. For Nyla and I, we believe in it more because it affects us directly."
When we didn"t say anything else, he went on. „Have either of you known another pair of Grigori like Nyla and me? Who are not only partners in work but in life?"
I froze.
Did they just admit they were together-together?
Lincoln looked over the table at me. I could see his mind working, trying to see where this was going. „No. Grigori aren"t compatible. I"ve been meaning to ask you how … I mean, you stil have power, but …"
„I believe you have only heard one side of the possibilities, Lincoln – and with good reason, I dare say. What and Nyla and I are – we would be what you would call an exception as opposed to a rule."
„Sorry, but I"m not following," I said, trying to remain calm.
Rudyard looked to Nyla who nodded him on.
„In a nutshel , Grigori partners often – usually fairly early on in a new partnership – have an inclination to explore … possibilities. When we realise that we are bound to one person for a long time, it seems logical that if we could be partners in life as well as work, that would be a good outcome. However, history has shown us that the compatibility of Grigori is almost non-existent. Often, when partners explore the …"
„Physicalities," Nyla offered, the corners of her mouth lifting.
I couldn"t stop the quick glance at Lincoln. He was sitting very stil , looking at his hands laid flat on the table as if he were about to push it into the ground.
„Yes," Rudyard smiled at her, „ physicalities of a relationship they quickly discover there are some very severe consequences. Many believe it is a type of fall-safe system the angels put in us to prevent emotional bonding that could distract us from our duties. „Others," he smiled again at Nyla, „believe it has more to do with the angel part in us interfering, because angels are independent beings – they do not partner the way humans do. Either way, it has become apparent making a … physical connection is not something to be done without all the information."
„But, you two are together?" Lincoln said, still not looking up.
„Yes, we are." Nyla looked at me, a soft knowing smile setting on her lips. „It is generally seen as a rule, a guideline to being Grigori, that we must all accept that partners are not compatible … as mates. Do you know why that is, Violet?"
„It weakens us."
„Lincoln? Nyla pressed.
„Sometimes we can lose our powers altogether, sometimes just one partner does, sometimes both are left without defences." Lincoln concentrated on his hands, inspecting his now splayed fingers on the table. „It"s always a bit different, but ultimately, the partnership is altered and weakened overall. Partners that … get involved … reduce their chance of survival."
„Very good, Lincoln. I can see you have considered this," Nyla said kindly, though it seemed to upset him and he threw his hands down and twisted his body in the chair away from us.
„Right," I said, starting to realise the enormity of what they were saying. „So, if partners are ever ..."
„Physical," Rudyard offered again.
„Yeah. It"s … bad. I mean, real y bad."
Nyla"s look turned to one of sympathy. „It is a likely consequence. But as we said, it seems Rudy and I are the exception. With all things in life there are always different ends to a scale. We are the very opposite."
Rudyard reached over and closed his hands over Nyla"s. „When Nyla and I first became partners, it was simply not an option for us not to explore our love. It was part of us, and in the end, no matter what the cost, we believed in that love. When we first became intimate, instead of it pushing us apart, it brought us together – completely. Nyla and I are partners through our angelic senses and as Grigori, but we are also partners through our human souls, linked in every way."
My eyes went to Lincoln. He had turned back towards the table and was already staring at me. I knew what we were both thinking and my heart started thumping so hard I was sure everyone could hear it. Remembering when we had kissed on my birthday, the way our bodies and souls seemed to intertwine so perfectly. The way my healing always seemed to work, through a physical connection.
„And your powers?" Lincoln asked not taking his eyes from me. It was as if he couldn"t.
„Ful y intact – and through our connection souls they are in fact amplified within one another."
„I … I don"t understand," Lincoln said.
„It"s hard to explain. The best explanation I can give is to ask you to imagine a tunnel. Like there is an invisible tunnel between Nyla and myself and we can each, at any time, walk through or reach through that tunnel to one another. So can our powers. We can always feel each other and each other"s powers."
And then … I got it. „You"re soulmates," I said, my voice trembling.
Nyla nodded and squeezed Rudyard"s hand and I felt the stirrings of something very, very dangerous. Hope.
„Are there other Grigori like you? I mean … is it possible that …" I asked, quietly.
„That you and Lincoln are kindred souls?"
„Yeah," I said, blushing that I had to ask this question in front of Lincoln.
„It is," Rudyard said. „When I felt your power at the airport, it seemed to gravitate strongly towards Lincoln"s essence. I have not seen one person"s powers pul on those of another so strongly since …" he looked at Nyla. „But it is more likely – you are not. In all our years, we have never met another set of partners that have been bonded in soul. And, if you are, while it is amazing, you should know, it is greater than any other kind of commitment. Greater than any kind of marriage in any culture, so think carefully before you … explore."
Oh my God, this is the weirdest sex talk ever!
„Okay. Wel thanks for the heads-up." Lincoln stood, clearly sharing my awkwardness. „I"m going to make some dinner. Would you like to stay?"
„Thank you, but now. We"re a little worried Zoe may try and put Salvatore back on a plane to Italy if we don"t get back to them soon."
„Yeah. Poor guy," Lincoln agreed.
„Zoe"s a good girl, she just had expectations for her partner – Salvatore was not. But I believe she wil be surprise, in time," Nyla said, as she and Rudyard stood and instinctively wrapped an arm around each other.
Now that I knew they were soulmates, I could see every little movement was somehow catered for by the other. They truly were connected and when they looked at each other, although it was only brief their eyes mirrored each other. Perfect love.
And look at me and Lincoln, we can barely look at each other. Every time we get close, something gets in the way. Would that happen if we are meant to be?
-
Just Lincoln and me – for the first time in what felt like ages. He set about making dinner.
I didn"t bother offering to help. We both knew unless it involved the coffee machine there was little point.
„I"m just going to throw on some steaks and make a salad. That okay?"
„Yeah. Great," I said, feeling more uncomfortable than I had since I first found out about being Grigori. I walked around the massive open area that was now cluttered with gym equipment, the floor strewn with mats. I started putting some bits and pieces away in the buckets that sat at the base of my wall. I"d been trying to paint a mural on one of Lincoln"s large blank spaces, but I hadn"t got very far. It was a time issue, more than anything. That, and I"d hit a block. Every time u though I knew what I wanted to paint, something changed my mind. Right now there was a huge sheet covering it.
„Here you go."
I jumped a little, caught in my thoughts I hadn"t noticed Lincoln come up behind me.
„Thanks," I said, taking the glass of Coke he held out.
„I"m sorry, about last night," he said. „I shouldn"t have gotten so angry."
„I"m sorry, too. We should have never gone in there. It was stupid."
„True," he said, smiling n
ow and appearing just as relieved as I was that we weren"t heading straight for an argument.
I rolled my eyes but then got serious again. „Linc?"
„Hmm?" He was walking back into the kitchen.
„Um …" I was going to ask him about Magda, but I couldn"t „We should go check on Onyx tonight."
„Yeah, I know. I"l do it."
He said it casually, but it was a brush-off.
„Can"t we go together?" I pushed.
He glanced at me then took a bite of raw carrot. „Not tonight. I have to go out in a bit and there"s no point in you waiting around."
„Where are you going?"
„I"m … just helping Magda with something."
„Magda?"
He raised an eyebrow at my tone. „Yeah."
„And you"re not going to tell me what it is?"
„Vi, I just need to this thing myself. It"s … personal."
I actual y took a step back. A slap in the face would have been kinder. „Personal? For Magda or for you?" Because the way he was talking didn"t seem like it was Magda"s problem alone.
Lincoln closed his eyes and rested a hand on the bench as if trying to find the strength to deal with me, which just pissed me off. „Violet, just trust me. I don"t want you involved in this.
You"re a … distraction."
My jaw clicked to the side while I tried and failed to remain calm. „But Magda isn"t," I said between deep breaths, unable to look at him.
„No. she isn"t."
„Great. Wel , you and Magda have fun." I handed him back the glass of Coke and started collecting my things.
„Violet, you"re acting like I"m out having fun without you. The exile we"re tracking, he-„ but he stopped mid-sentence.
„He what?" I snapped.
Lincoln looked away. „He needs to die."
„You mean, be returned."
„If"s that the best I can do," he said, his voice distant and rigid.
I stared at him, trying to hear what he wasn"t saying – what I was clearly missing.