Zoe Thanatos(45)

The glow from the Communicator lit up Eva’s face as she consulted it. “First we go to the gate’s location, and then we use it to go to Terra. It won’t take very long.”

“Will it hurt?”

Eva looked up from the Communicator and smiled. “It isn’t painful, it’s abnormal. Although, technically you’ve already done it so it might not feel like anything at all.”

Zoe looked down into the contents of her carrier, feeling an odd trepidation at their impending travel.

“As soon as we arrive I’ll take you to our residence. We’ll need to change your appearance.”

Zoe blinked in surprise. “What? Why?”

Eva looked her up and down, taking in everything from her hair to the designer denim and shoes. “Because you look like you’re from Earth.”

I am, Zoe thought. She looked at her clothes, then Eva’s, and knew she was right. She wouldn’t look like she belonged even if she technically did.

“Do you really think Thea is my mother?” The word sounded unfamiliar to her as it whispered out of her mouth. She knew she had many questions about the woman, but it still didn’t seem real to her.

Eva shrugged apologetically. “I really don’t know. If she is your mother then we have a lot more to worry about. She’ll soon be in the custody of the Crown and I doubt the Queen will be lenient. We’ll need to be careful.”

“I know,” Zoe conceded. She couldn’t put too much stock in Thea being her mother just yet. She could only handle one monumental life event at a time.

“Do you have everything you need?” Zoe caught Eva looking at her bag and smiled. “Anything you’re going to need we’ll have.”

“I know. This is what I need for Earth.” Zoe felt a thread of defense in her words. She watched as Eva’s face registered her resolve.

“Let’s go to the gate.”





Evan watched as Alcander bound Thea’s hands together, ready to take her to the Military Complex for detainment. The Elder woman’s dark eyes burned as she glanced back at him. The conversation didn’t feel like it was over. He would have to find a way in to talk to her, to find out more about the original family, and specifically about Zoe.

Despite having seen the words with his own eyes he still couldn’t believe it. Thanatos was, nor rather, is the original family. Did Zoe know? Nothing in their time together suggested she lied about her origins, yet alone even knew about them. Not to mention the total shock and disbelief she exhibited when he told her stories of Terra. Whether or not she knew, her life was on Earth, and she was better off there for the time being. He would find a way to see her again, and soon.

Alcander pulled Thea by her restraints and lead her in the direction of the Military Complex as the other Crown Soldiers escorted the remaining prisoners behind them. Hector rounded out the group, following last in the processional.

The King appeared at Evan’s side, his arms clasped behind him as he watched after the departing party. “What do you make of her?”

“Does it matter? She’ll likely be dead soon.” The thought troubled Evan. The Elder must have had a plan. Would she really go through all that trouble just to be executed? It didn’t make any sense. Even if she did have a plan, how would she follow through with it while locked up?

What if she had an accomplice? Someone close to the Crown, perhaps? No. No one would be foolish enough to help her when the risk was so great.

The King cleared his throat. “Well, either she’s very stupid or very smart. One way or the other we’ll find out, won’t we?”

Evan merely nodded. “I suppose so, Your Highness.”

“Well, run along and tell the Queen I’m home now. I’m sure she’ll be wanting that back as well,” he nodded in the direction of the book Evan held in his arms. He had forgotten about it completely.

“Don’t you want to see the Queen yourself?”

The King shook his head carelessly. “I’m sure the news will be just as good coming from you.” Perhaps any other man in his position would smile and pretend he didn’t understand the King’s undertones, but Evan didn’t. On some level he imagined that the King knew about his relationship with the Queen and understood there was little he could do about it. Evan wouldn’t disgrace them both by pretending it wasn’t happening.

The King turned and stalked off in the opposite direction of the Crown Soldiers, leaving Evan alone. With a sigh, he headed back to the Straton’s residence, and to the Queen.





Zoe rubbed her hands over her arms in rapid succession, silently cursing whoever decided to put the gate to Terra in the middle of a frozen field on the other side of the globe. Eva was focused on the Communicator, swiping her finger over it in every which way. She was starting to have doubts.