Violet Eden Chapters 04 - Endless

Onyx who was already holding open the door with a look of delight.
    ‘Onyx has proven himself a useful source and ally,’ Griffin responded.
    Evelyn looked disgusted as she passed Onyx.
    ‘Love a family affair,’ Onyx chimed in as I passed through the door.

    InDapper’s living room, there were more of us than there were seats so Zoe and I took the floor while Lincoln assumed his usual back-of-the-room standing position.
    Griffin filled in Dapper and Onyx with the most important updates, ending with Evelyn’s disclosure about defeating Lilith with the Qeres. After giving them some time to absorb all of the information he asked Onyx if he’d ever heard of the substance before.
    Onyx brushed non-existent lint from his jeans. I waited for him to break into some drawn-out story, but he surprised me by leaning back in his chair and shaking his head.
    ‘Not in my angelic memory. Even if I had known, some things leave us the moment we exile. But I’ve heard rumours over the years. I believe there is truth in what she claims.’
    ‘Dude, you feeling okay?’ Spence blurted out, taking the words from my mouth; Onyx never cooperated without getting something in return.
    He grinned secretively. ‘Keeping sight of the bigger picture is an important part of the game.’
    Dapper cleared his throat and grunted at Onyx. ‘Is it so impossible to admit you simply wanted to help?’
    Onyx’s grin faltered and he rolled his eyes.
    ‘I’ve heard of the potion,’ Dapper said, standing up and pacing the living room. ‘I believe I have a book that can help you with the first twelve ingredients.’ His brow furrowed. ‘And I have a suspicion the thirteenth ingredient dates back to the Garden of Eden.’
    ‘How?’ I jumped in.
    ‘There are stories about a poison there – either in the serpent’s bite or within the apple, depending on which version youwant to believe, but something in that garden changed humans from being as indestructible as angels to the mortals we are now.’ He looked away and didn’t seem comfortable with the conversation. ‘I’ll do some research.’
    Evelyn shook her head. ‘I’m sorry, but there’s no book that has such details in it.’
    Dapper gave her a condescending sniff. ‘Yes, there is.’
    Evelyn stood. ‘No, there is not! We hunted this potion for over fifty years. The only chance of ever finding a written reference to it went up in flames a long time ago, along with the–’
    ‘Library of Alexandria?’ Dapper cut her off with raised eyebrows.
    Her eyes widened. ‘Yes. Who are you?’
    Dapper moved over to the minibar, grabbed a towel, and started to polish it while casting suspicious glances towards Evelyn and Dad, before finally settling his gaze on me.
    I nodded, interpreting his unspoken question. ‘He’s my dad, Dapper, you can trust him.’
    He went back to polishing. ‘And her?’
    I gnawed on my lip and decided on the truth. ‘Still deciding. But I can give you my word that I’ll protect your secrets if she betrays you.’
    I ignored the stunned look on Dad’s face and the almost-proud one on Evelyn’s.
    ‘Good enough for me,’ Dapper responded, putting down the towel. ‘I’m human. A descendant of the first patriarchs.’
    ‘The first patriarchs?’ Griffin repeated, as if the connection made all the difference.
    Dapper nodded.
    Griffinlooked taken aback. ‘The first patriarch’s line ended with the flood,’ he murmured, as if mentally running through history.
    ‘That’s what we thought, too,’ Evelyn said, equally shocked. ‘And we looked, believe me.’ Her expression morphed to one of suspicion.
    Dapper gave a knowing smile. ‘Not my fault you couldn’t find us. We’re very good at remaining unnoticed.’
    Griffin looked at the rest of us, less historically blessed. ‘The first patriarchs were the direct descendants of Adam – the bloodline that flowed all the way down to Noah. They had certain unique qualities, including lifespans that stretched to almost one thousand years – but they were all thought to have been wiped out by the flood.’
    ‘But isn’t Phoenix a descendant of Adam?’ I asked.
    Griffin nodded. ‘He is, but Adam impregnated Lilith before Original Sin – from the immortal version of humanity. The first patriarchs descend from Adam in his mortal state, and from his mortal partner. It is they who are the forefathers of humanity as we know it.’
    Dapper sighed, and I felt his fear at finally letting this secret out.