Page 2 of This Blood That Breaks Us

“It’s obvious to me you do.”

“Sorry, sir, we don’t want trouble, and we don’t have any money for that.” The blond’s smile was unwavering; he had confidence about him. Like he could talk me out of anything.

I pulled out my wallet and waved a hundred dollar bill in their faces.

The dark-haired one’s icy gaze softened, but the blond was cautious. “What’s the catch?”

“You get to play a game without spending that money you’re hoarding, and I get you off my street.”

The dark-haired one waited for the blond to speak.

The blond snatched the money from my hand. “Deal.”

His brother liked that idea and thawed from his stoic gaze. I followed them inside to Mrs. Prentia’s little bodega with a wall full of arcade machines.

“Ezra.” She stopped cleaning when she saw me. The familiar fear surfaced in her voice at first, but she hid it well. “Nice to see you.”

“Hello, Mary. I’m accompanying these two to the games in the back.”

Her brow bent as she eyed them with recollection. She whispered, “I didn’t see them outside.”

“No, they’re fine.” I smiled. “I want to treat them today.”

That softened the wrinkles gathered on the edges of her eyes, and she turned to the boys. “You’ll get a free game on your birthday. Do you boys want to sign up?”

They nodded, more excited now. Their guard was down again. They were like any other kids, easily influenced and distracted.

“My name is Zach Calem,” the dark-haired one said, smiling for the first time.

“And I’m Luke Calem. Our birthday is on June 1st.” They watched in awe as the cashier typed their names into her system.

My heart thumped in my throat.

Fraternal twins. Geminis.

Twins of Gemini will usher in the new Guard.

I didn’t believe in coincidences. In my world, you couldn’t believe in both. Coincidences were for people with no faith, no compass or greater calling. Coincidences left the world up to chance and the whims of mortals, but the whims of mortals and lowly humans only stood in the way of The Divine. The Divine’s plan was the one true way.

I followed them to the back where we exchanged a few dollars for some coins, and the boys filled their pockets with anticipation. Two minutes in, it was obvious they’d never played before, as they fumbled with the controls. Luke let his brother go first, and Zach seemed to relish every minute.

“Are you going to tell me what you need all that money for?”

“Do we have to?” Luke’s question seemed genuine. He hadn’t trusted me for a second.

“No. But I’m curious what this big fundraising project is.”

“We need money for groceries.”

“Ah, is that why you were contemplating snatching that bag from that poor woman?”

“We wouldn’t have,” Luke said.

“You’re not lying, are you?”

“No,” Luke Calem said with firmness. “We wouldn’t lie about that.”

Now that I was closer to them, the pulling in my chest got stronger. I didn’t want to leave them, and the thought of doing so was worrisome.