Page 51 of The Gathering
How do you know?
I can feel my digital signaturein your skin.Ask him where I am.
“Are you looking for Zero?” Cat asked.
Omnis turned after many seconds and stared at her.
Oh, that’s a new look.
Cat swallowed, not sure she liked it.What’s it mean?
Means he’s convinced now.
Her pulse hammered as he walked toward her.He’s coming.
He is.
What do I do?
Surely not fear him, Kitten,he chided.
“I don’t,’ she whispered.
Omnis stopped before her, his height forcing her to look up. His dark eyes were a trap she walked right into. “I understand boundaries even if I have never experienced them with a body,” he said, his voice low and cool. Too calm. “I also understand the power in a human bond and that Ethan will never allow this.”
“Allow what?” Cat wondered, confused. “Of course he’ll allow it, why wouldn’t he? You’re his family. Our family,” she clarified.
“Us having bodies isn’t the problem,” he said. “It’s what we’d do with them.”
Cat considered his words, not quite getting what the heck he was saying. “You’re gonna either have to get dumber with me or spell that to me another way.”
“He would never give you up.”
She drew her head back several inches. Then several more. “Pretty sure he kinda did,” Cat begged to differ, crossing her arms. “But even if he didn’t, he doesn’t get to decide that. I do.”
“You’re married, Catherine.”
Her laugh flew out sharp and loud. She clapped several times nodding at him. “Well, now we know where you got your biggeniusname.”
Tell him you don’t belong to anybody.
“Do not tell me what to tell him,” she snapped, turning left then right as her anger bubbled. She snapped toward him, finger pointing. “I belong to the good Lord and as far as I see it, Ethan broke our contract. He did itknowingly. He did it like acoward. It was clearly defined and understood—if I needed him, he’d be there, and Ineededhim,ohhow Ineededhim…” she gasped, full on pacing now, shaking her head. “You know what, why am I trying to talk to a virtual fuckin’ line of stupid code.”
She hurried out of the room, wiping tears from her eyes.
“Cat!” Omnis called.
“Don’t get a fuckin’ body, Omnis, that’s your choice.” She spun around, finding him close enough to push so she did, with both hands. “I don’t care if you do or you don’t. Get one. Don’t get one. Zero is getting one. Good for him. But whatever you do, don’t get a body forme.Get it for yourself. Get it for Zero. Get it forEthan, yourbrother.”
“I doubt he’ll want to be brothers after he learns what we’ve done,” Omnis said.
Cat threw her arm toward the cage. “Well, let’swakeup sleeping beauty and find out.” Cat hurried to the cage and banged on the bars. “Ethan,” she called. “Time to wake up. Wake up and use your God-given heart, mind, body and soul. Time to face your fears, face your wife, face your brothers, face your problems.” She turned to Omnis. “Open the door. Wake him up. What are you afraid of? Him killing you? Killing me?”
“I don’t fear death,” Omnis said. “And he would never kill you.”
Oh. Wow.
Fuckin’ wow.
