27. Chapter 27
Eden
E verything was dark, and Eden couldn’t move her body. Am I awake? Am I… am I dead? She tried to make sense of what was going on as a small light illuminated a room off to her right from the endless dark. What is this place? She frowned and tried to recall her last memory. She had been at Club Crossroads with a drink in hand, nothing had seemed abnormal, except Bryer. They were usually a lot more chatty, but this time they didn’t seem to want to talk very much. An uneasy feeling filled Eden as she thought about the possibilities. Bryer is a vampire… would they? No. She rejected the idea at first but considered what their motive could have been.
Confused, she stepped towards the doorway dimly lit by what seemed like a fire. Without hesitation, she walked into the room where she found Wyatt sat on a couch across from the fire. He turned to her with bright eyes and a wide smile on his face. For a moment, she was happy to see him and quickly approached him.
“I’m sure you have lots of questions, Little Miller.”
“I do actually… What's going on? Why are you here?” She asked but came to an abrupt halt at the nickname he hadn’t used since they had gotten closer.
“There’s a lot I need to explain but first tell me, what do you know about a vampire's powers?”
“I think you have a question to answer before I give mine.”
“And what would that be?” His eyebrows rose.
“Who are you?”
“I’m Wyatt Steele.” He answered simply.
“No you’re not.” Eden shot back and went for her weapons belt but found it gone. “The Wyatt I know doesn’t call me that much anymore. So I’m going to ask again, who are you?”
The man sighed and let the act drop. “I am a devotee of Xemos like you. You didn’t seem like you trusted easily so I took the form of someone familiar. I’m here because Xemos wants me to show you the way on the right path as he promised.”
Finally, a true answer in this complete darkness. Satisfied she thought back to her studies from the previous year and with Stacey. “A vampire has the ability to use their venom to knock out their prey. Not many people know what happens when they are asleep… Too many different testimonies from the ones who survive. Some say they had nightmares, others eye-opening experiences. Some never wake up-”
Her heart fell into her stomach as the words were spoken out loud. She might not wake up. She moved around the couch and sat on the other end as her thoughts drifted back to why would Bryer do this. If she was here but not dead, that meant her physical body was more than likely fine. He slowly made his way over and a hand drifted to her shoulder.
When it made contact she didn't feel the same comfort feeling she usually got when he was around. Though this person had been sent by Xemos, whoever they were could never pass off for Wyatt. Her eyes drifted back up to his face, his expression serious and unWyatt-like. She placed her hand over the rose tattoo and pulled his hand down.
“Your body was delivered safely to your mother’s doorstep.” The Wyatt imposter confirmed and let her pull his hand down.
“How do you-“
“Because I am inside your mind.” He explained as a knowing look appeared in his eyes. “Luckily this is a dream and you eventually will wake. Call me your dream man.”
“So this isn’t real?”
“It most definitely is.”
“But why this way? If you know what’s in my mind, you know things are complicated with him.” she shot back at the fake Wyatt, crossing her arms.
“They are, however, you have to admit it, you don’t find him so annoying anymore. Wyatt obviously cares for you. He is a key to unlocking what could be a good life if you’re willing.” He stated simply.
A key? Eden thought back on the future Xemos showed her. Holden, one of her current suitors, with a scar sat beside her several decades ahead. Wyatt had been nowhere in it. Her eyebrows knitted, there was no way a demon was the key to helping her not end up the same as the version of her in that vision.
“He’s a demon and I’m a human. He has no idea who I am and even if I wanted to, it wouldn't work. I’m supposed to be helping rid the world of these terrible creatures.”
“That's what you’ve been taught. Yes, some of them are as you say. However, you have stopped many times to wonder if there are some that aren’t so bad. You’ve spent the last year questioning your mother’s teachings internally. What is holding you back from accepting that the people you are around right now might actually be good?”
She turned to make him drop his hand and looked right into his eyes. “Duty.”
It was true, she was raised to take Eloise’s place in a family that held duty to the utmost degree. Family was more important than any bond created outside of The Salvamari. Her eyes turned to her hands in her lap and turned her wrist to glance at The Compass tattoo that had lived there the last 14 years.
“Eloise gave me a home… The least I can do is follow the Miller legacy.”
He shook his head slowly. “You don’t have to. You have a choice. That’s what Xemos wants you to see. Your only obligations should be to yourself. If it were up to you, what would you do?”
Eden stopped, she had very occasionally considered what her life would be like if it wasn’t filled with hunts and training sessions with Eloise or Stacey. She took a few minutes to consider the question and let the silence take over the room as the fire cracked. I would have never killed Rue… I would have tried to get to know Lennox better before I told her who I was. I would listen to Bas and have fun discovering who I am and maybe have a chance to fall in love. She was finally honest with herself for once.
“I would find balance… I would find a way to be happy, be an Heiress and pursue whatever this is.” She answered finally.
“Does being a hunter bring you any happiness?”
“It used to… Right now it feels like a chore.” She looked at her hands.
“Why don’t you give yourself the chance to find out if it does? Your uncle is trying to show you that you can do anything. Give one of them a chance to show you what your future could be. I can show you someone’s entire past if that’s what you need to trust them.”
She took in his words and considered who she would want to know more about. For a moment, she almost asked to see Lennox’s past. However, that was something she wanted to hear directly from the source. Then, Eden looked at the strange version of Wyatt and conceded to her curiosity. If he’s going to be so persistent, I need to know who I’m dealing with. If he’s who I’m supposed to be letting into my life.
“I want to see Wyatt’s biggest regret, I want to see what changed him into who he is.”
With a nod he lifted his hand. The fire dimmed and along the wall behind it shadows danced. At first they were blurry images until the reflection shifted into an image of Wyatt at a crossroads in the midst of a deal with a brown haired, lanky man. The two voices were slightly distorted as they echoed around the room from every angle.
“It’s my wife, she's dying of cancer. I need to save her. My soul for hers, please?” He begged Wyatt.
He smirked darkly and walked up to the man, “I can’t stop death when it’s their time. I require the soul of an innocent for that.”
The man’s face dropped before he quickly spoke again. “I’ll give you my son’s too.”
“You would give me your child’s too?”
“There will always be a chance for another if she lives.” His voice shook.
The image in the mirror shifted and showed the face of Elder Iris Winslow who looked back at her. Before Eden could speak, the image went hazy and shifted into a new scene. It was the inside of a house where a couple sat on the couch asleep while an infant rocked back and forth in a cradle. In a bright flash, Wyatt appeared in front of the couch with a dark smile. Without waking the man, he placed a hand on his chest and sent a small current of electricity through the man’s heart.
Eden watched as it stopped and he turned to walk up the stairs. The baby’s cries filled the air which caused her to cover her ears at the loudness. Wyatt’s attention snapped to the bassinet and he froze in his spot as his eyes fell to the boy.
“What are you doing?” The woman’s voice asked.
Wyatt didn’t speak as he remained motionless. The view of his face shifted to the side as she saw regret cross his face. He didn’t respond as he walked up to the bassinet and reached a hand in. Iris screamed as a spark left his finger, held over the infant’s chest. The image faded and the fire grew once more.
Rage filled Eden, “He’s exactly what he said he wasn’t!”
“He was, however, that was the deal that broke and changed him. He was cruel, judgmental, and merciless just as you have been over the years. But I think it’s time you see how it’s possible to change and become better.”
The words slapped her in the face. She was the same he was. They were more alike than she initially thought. With a long breath in, Eden turned to the imposter and tried to keep herself calm.
“I want to see everything he’s done since.”
“As you wish.” He raised a hand and the shadows returned and a new scene formed.
Pink hair was the first thing that came into view, followed by a set of violet eyes. A beaten and burned Lennox Cade stood beside Xemos. The two face to face with a darker version of Wyatt than she had ever seen. He was still the Wyatt she knew tattoos and all, however his eyes were made of midnight stars. The same color as the leather jacket and button-up he wore. Her eyes were immediately drawn to the black and blue-tipped horns that curved in spirals six inches up from his hair.
“You can’t take a soul from Hell, Xemos.” Wyatt growled as he stepped toward Lennox.
“I can, she is my ward. My claim on her soul was recognized before Lucifer’s crows.” The god stepped in front of her.
“Armaros still has questions.”
“I thought Val was the demon who contested this?” Xemos started to walk forward while Wyatt stood in their way.
“Any demon may enter any cell and Armaros has decided to take interest.” He shrugged. “Neither are contesting this, I am.”
“Put your bruised ego aside Steele. You have done enough to the Cade family with your damn curse. If Lucifer wants to discuss this soul, he can call me back after I take her home.” He directed a silent Lennox past Wyatt.
The demon grabbed the god’s arm and the two locked eyes. Wyatt with a knowing smirk. “My ego is just fine, but I do appreciate the concern. Tell me, how did you unravel this one? That curse was some of my finest work.”
“That curse’s creation will bite you in the ass one day and you’re going to wish you had never made it.” Xemos’s jaw tightened as he finally passed the horned demon.
The scene shifted once again as the story of Lennox and Wyatt played in front of her. Various times the two had come across each other over the course of thirteen years, their many arguments and full on fights flashed in quick succession. Finally the faces of various members of the chapter houses found their way forward. Wyatt as he slowly came to regret the people he had hurt. The nights he spent between Rosalyn’s and Lennox’s around the nights they struggled with their time in hell. Eden’s heart dropped as Felix Toll looked back at her and laughed with Wyatt while he comforted him through the regret. The summer he had met Aron and every good thing he decided to do while they were among the humans over the last seven years.
Once it was all over, the shadows returned and she moved her gaze to where the imposter Wyatt was. However, he was no longer disguised. Now a man with dark skin, silver hair and lavender eyes looked back at her. A smile crossed his face as she took a seat beside him once more.
“It seems you have your own regrets.” The man’s voice shifted from Wyatt’s rasp to clear.
“Doesn’t everyone?” Eden questioned and wished she could return home.
“Have you learned everything you wanted to?”
“No, I still have more to find out.”
His smile widened. “Good, you’re truly one of us then.”