Page 3 of This Blood That Breaks Us
The Gemini twins.I’d found them at last, and so early. I pulled out my phone to dial Akira’s number. We’d need to be certain. He’d help arrange a time for Her to meet them soon, to be sure, but I felt it. Like Her blood in my veins was calling to them.
“Fine. Here is how this is goin’ to work.” I snatched a dollar from Luke’s hand. “You can stay on my street, but I’m going to come for my cut. Seem fair?”
Zach was already complaining, but Luke nodded.
“I’ll see you boys around.”
Then I left them to their game.
This was a shitty part of town. There were only two schools in the area, and neither were safe places to raise children. The boys likely walked, so I guessed they attended the closest one.How were they allowed to walk all the way here?
Fate only got you so far. It wouldn’t protect them from the rapidly changing world or whims of others. The Divine’s plans were the one true path, but sometimes, fate needed a little kick. Someone to help it along.
We’d need to scope out their family and decide what needed to be done. They wouldn’t be changed until they were older, which meant they’d need protection. I was afraid to leave them, even with an important client meeting looming. I’d have to cancel.
The twins were the most important thing. Ensuring they got home safe was top priority.
Why were they so young? I hadn’t prepared for that. It would be different. Raising kids wasn’t something we were accustomedto. We’d need to make sure they didn’t get themselves killed, but there were other threats too like illness, auto accidents, or natural disasters.
Her voice sounded in my head.Have faith, my love.
She was right. Her plans were higher. The Divine’s true path would shine through and give us favor. I only needed to be the hand that helped usher it into existence. Her plans would take care of the rest. It was already written.
Dear Luke,
I have a few questions for you.
One. Why the heck did you send us somewhere that’s freezing? Were there no sunny beaches available? Frozen tundra was the only place, huh? Don’t worry. I’m being good. I haven’t complained once. Okay, that’s a lie. But I’m trying, so A for effort.
Two. Not really a question. Aaron is a terrible driver but won’t let me drive for some reason. So far, we’ve driven hundreds of miles. All of which Aaron insists he knows where we’re going. Only, I don’t think he does. Navigating the world without smart phones is torture. I wish I could call you. At least a text or something. I already miss telling you all the random stuff I did all day. You’re the only one who never minded.
Don’t worry, I’m writing it all down so you won’t miss anything.
Three. Are you okay? I hope you’re not going to tell me that this feeling in my chest is what you felt all this time because, dude, this shit hurts. I keep thinking it’s going to go away, but it doesn’t.
I wish I could get you this letter. Tell Zach I’m being good.
Love you forever,
Presley
P.S. Today, I saw the cutest dog.
One
Zach
“Ezra, what the fuck are we doing here?” I squinted as we exited the plane.
He hadn’t told us where we were going or why, but the smell of horse shit filtered through the air and a crowd could be heardin the distance while the drizzle of rain wet my clothes. Luke and I spent the majority of the plane ride sitting in silence, which was oddly comforting. What do you talk about when the world is fucked? When the little bit of hope you had left was run over and shot a few times to ensure it wouldn’t attempt to get up again.
We needed that time to process its decaying carcass and get used to the smell.
The only solace we had was that everyone else we cared about was safe. Life was as it should be. This was the original plan before we got a little too hopeful about what was possible for us. Blackheart changed everything. Once we were there, it was hard to want to leave.
We followed Ezra through a field that was the deepest green I’d ever seen. Brooklyn was all concrete, and Blackheart was mostly trees and warm dirt. Nothing here was warm. Even with my blazer the cold air permeated the shell of my clothing. The ground was wet, and the mud stuck to my shoes.
“Welcome to Ireland, boys.” Ezra straightened his jacket.
