Eternal (9 page)

Len was grinning when they got to the library, and she kept looking at me sidelong while we got our food. When we were all settled at a table I called her on it.

“
What?”

She grinned again. “Caeran brought in the mail.”

Caeran took an envelope out of his pocket and handed it to me. No return address; beautiful handwriting. Postmarked Guadalupita.

I looked up, hope burning in my chest. Len's grin widened.

“
Happy birthday!”

I
tore the envelope open. The letter was brief, and didn't say anything all that important. What was important was that Savhoran had answered me. I stared at his signature a long time before I even looked at the message.

“
How's he doing?” Len asked.

“
Um. He says he's adjusting.
Mad
ó
ran
‘s helping. He's trying to plan how to live with his affliction.”

Caeran raised his head. “Good. He is staying, then.”

“
At
Mad
ó
ran
‘s? He doesn't say so…”

“
That's not what he meant,” Len said, glancing at Caeran.

Caeran didn't say anything, just stirred his salad around with his fork. Len looked at me.

“
He meant Savhoran's not giving up.”

“
Giving up?”

“
Many who fall under the alben's curse choose to end their lives,” Caeran said. “It is one more burden than they can take.”

It had never occurred to me that being gorgeous and immortal could be a burden, but the sadness in Caeran's eyes made me think again. I had enough regrets in my own life, short as it was. Multiply that by a couple dozen and I could see how it might weigh you down.

I read Savhoran's note again. It actually sounded cheerful when I took into account that someone in his position was a potential suicide. He was definitely trying to be upbeat.

He didn't say anything about wanting to see me again, which was understandable. I was just glad he had written at all. I put the letter back in the envelope and tucked it in my pack.

“
So,” Len said, “there's another lab tech position opening up. You should apply.”

“
Yeah? What did you do today?” I asked.

“
Cleaned lab equipment.”

“
Think I'd rather shelve books.”

“
It would be easier for Caeran if we both worked in the same place.”

“
Excuse me? This is temporary.” I looked at Caeran. “Just until you guys catch the alben or she goes away, right?”

He met my gaze. “I do not think she will go away.”

“
Doesn't she know you're going to—you know?”

His eyes turned cold. “She knows. She thinks she can overcome us. If she caught one of us alone, she would have a good chance of it.”

Len squeezed his hand. I had a feeling there was more to it than Caeran had said.

I changed the subject, mentioning that a recent movie had come out on DVD. We talked about trivialities for the rest of the meal, then they escorted me back to the library.

“
See you at four-thirty,” Len said, giving me a quick hug.

The afternoon crawled. I re-read Savhoran's letter several times. Started thinking about what to write in my answer. I was more a text-and-email person, but probably Savhoran didn't have an address; I'd never seen Caeran or any of the others use the Internet. As long as he was responding, I'd write letters.

Len and Caeran, along with Lomen, who'd been watching outside the library, picked me up and took me home. The others had gone ahead to the casino, no doubt to scout things out.

I went to my room and put on one of my nice tops. Half my clothes were still in bags from the move; I needed to get a dresser. I brushed my hair and put it in a spangly clip.

“
Happy birthday,” I told myself in the bathroom mirror.

I was finally twenty-one. Woohoo.

When had I stopped looking forward to being legal? This whole thing with Caeran and his family had knocked me off balance.

I went out to the living room. Lomen smiled at me from the couch. I grinned back, starting to feel excited about the evening.

“
Ready to take all their chips?” I said.

“
Yes!”

“
Oh—I forgot to warn you, it's best to bring cash for the entry fee.” I felt a pang of guilt for not having mentioned this before. I didn't know what Lomen's cash flow was like, but he seemed unphased.

“
How much is the fee?”

I winced. “Fifty dollars.”

I'd saved up for mine. Lomen just shrugged.

“
No problem,” he said, smiling.

We drove over to the casino, girls in the front, elves in the back. Len parked underground and the four of us marched to the elevator in a tight group, with Caeran trying to look all directions at once.

We went to the poker room first so Lomen and I could sign up for the tournament, then met the other two cousins outside the buffet. I would have been happy to eat there but Caeran continued past it toward the elevators. I started to protest, and Len slid her arm through mine, grinning.

“
Happy Birthday. We're eating at Bien Shur.”

The casino's best restaurant, one of the most expensive in town. I glanced at Lomen again, hoping this wasn't going to hurt his pocketbook. He seemed unconcerned.

We rode the elevator to the top of the building. Caeran had reserved a table on the north side, by the windows overlooking a spectacular view of the mountains. He took a seat facing the entrance.

I opened my menu and gulped at the prices. Len caught my eye.

“
Our treat,” she murmured. “Order anything you want.”

I was starting to wonder if Caeran was rich. I'd assumed he and Len were renting the house, but what if he'd bought it? And then there was Len's car, which she'd got last fall. It was used, sure, but it was a recent-model Subaru, much nicer than the elderly Saturn she'd driven before she met Caeran. I glanced at him and saw that he was talking with the wine steward, a nicely-dressed individual who looked like he was from Sandia Pueblo.

“
Excellent choice, sir. One bottle?”

“
Two,” Caeran said, handing him the wine list. “We're celebrating.”

The steward made a little bow before walking away. Caeran smiled at me. “In honor of your attaining legal age.”

“
Thanks.” I looked back at the menu and decided what the hell. I'd order the filet, Oscar style. You're only twenty-one once.

The wine arrived—red and rich, best I'd ever tasted—and the party began. Much to my surprise, they all gave me presents. Len had got me some pretty sand-cast earrings and Caeran gave me a bracelet that matched them. The cousins gave me little
nicknacks
they'd made: a deer carved out of wood from Faranin and a leather pouch with a beaded design from Bironan. Kind of hippie gifts, but they were cool, and I really hadn't expected anything at all.

Lomen grinned and told me to look inside the pouch for his gift. I pulled out a heavy disc about two inches across. It was a coin in a plastic case.

I peered at it in the restaurant's atmospheric lighting. “Liberty dollar?”

Lomen nodded. “To protect your cards.”

“
Wow! Thank you.”

I'd told him about card protectors, usually medallions or special poker chips. I had a lucky chip I used—it was in my pocket—but this beat it by a mile.

“
You guys are the greatest,” I said. “Thank you so much!”

I had to shove the gifts aside to make room for food. We ate and drank and ate some more. A third bottle of wine showed up, and I was feeling pretty happy. If only Savhoran had been there, it would have been perfect.

I took a sip of wine, musing. The other cousins were just as attractive as Savhoran, and had less baggage. Lomen was friendly, even. I really should be considering trying to catch one of them.

I really had no interest in doing that.

No help for it. I had a thing for Savhoran. Not smart, but the heart is notoriously un-smart. Otherwise there wouldn't be all those angsty hit songs.

Bironan picked up the wine bottle, offering with a gesture to refill my glass. I shook my head.

“
Better not. Want to stay sharp for the tournament.”

Actually, I'd probably already drunk too much, but oh well. I was having a really fine dinner with a table full of good-looking men. Well, elves. Heck, that alone was worth the fifty bucks.

I managed to save room for dessert. I knew Caeran didn't like sweets, and the other guys seemed indifferent, but Len agreed to share with me. We ordered something with chocolate and caramel—it came out looking architectural, taller than it was wide, and made of artistic layers and adorned with an orchid. Len was afraid to touch it, but I dove in. It was bliss.

Len excused herself to go to the ladies' room. Caeran frowned as she stood.

“
Me, too,” I said, and got up. My head was a little light from the wine. “Safety in numbers, right?”

The waiter arrived with the bill at that moment. Caeran glanced at Lomen, who rose and followed us to the bathroom. I felt kind of silly, but I also felt safer with him outside.

We did what you do, primped a little, and went back out. The guys were gathered by the elevator. They'd found a bag and collected my gifts into it. I took out the coin and stuck it in my pocket. Checked my phone; we had about ten minutes until the tournament started.

“
Dinner was wonderful,” I said in the elevator. “Thanks again for all the presents.”

“
You are welcome,” Caeran said, smiling. “Happy Birthday.”

“
And the wine. That was great wine.”

“
Your majority is worth a toast.”

“
Majority?”

Len glanced at him. “That's what the ælven call it.”

“
You celebrate turning twenty-one?”

“
Fifty, actually,” Faranin said. “Younger than that is considered immature.”

Whoa. Half a lifetime for me, if I was lucky.

I'd sort of almost forgotten that they were immortal. They seemed more normal now that I'd gotten to know them.

I glanced at Lomen. He winked at me.

I shoved my hand in my pocket and fingered the coin case. I'd have to look closer at that coin. I'd assumed it was a replica, but with these guys, you couldn't make assumptions.

Caeran and the others clustered around me and Len when we got out of the elevator. The clump of us made our way to the poker room. The maddening circus music of slot machines surrounded us. I found myself glancing at the people sitting at the slots, but the only white hair I saw was on little old ladies gambling away their Social Security checks.

People were gathering for the tournament: four tables, thirty-eight players. Lomen and I had drawn different tables. Len offered to hold my bag of prezzies, and Caeran and the others arranged themselves outside the room.

My bodyguard. I could wish they were a trifle less conspicuous, but oh well. It was nice of them to escort me, and I was going to get the most enjoyment I could out of the tournament, since who knew when I'd get a chance to play in another one. I hoped they wouldn't be too bored.

My nerves were jingling a bit. Normal for a tournament. I'd never won one, though I'd made the final table a few times, and even gotten in the money.

I found my seat and nodded to the other players at the table. I didn't come here often enough to get to know the regulars. A lot of them played every week, some several times a week. Must be nice.

The tournament began and I forgot about everything but the game. I took out the coin Lomen had given me and used it to cover my cards. Tried to do it the same way every time, even if I was going to fold the hand. Good practice to avoid giving tells.

A waitress came by offering drinks, and I ordered a Coke, hoping the caffeine would counteract the wine I'd had. I played tight for the first couple of rounds, trying to get a feel for the other players, hoarding my chips. There was one bully at the table, all-in a lot, trying to steal the blinds, but by the end of the second round he was out.

I switched my play, taking chances on a couple of middling hands that I would have folded earlier. One paid off with a straight on the river and I took a pretty nice pot, enough to keep me safe for a while.

After the third round it was down to three tables, with the players who were short-stacked beginning to drop out. I glanced up and saw that Lomen was still in the tournament. Good for him!

On the next hand I was dealt pocket kings. I put my Liberty coin on top of them and tried to look nonchalant while I waited for my turn to bet. Two players called the blinds, then the guy to my right made a big raise, doubling the pot.

I bit my lip. If he had pocket aces I could be dead, but I had to try.

“
All in,” I said, shoving my stack forward.

Everyone else folded, and the guy who raised called me. We turned over our hands. He had Ace-queen spades.

The flop was jack-four-ace with one spade. Not good. The turn card was the king of spades, giving me three of a kind but also giving him a flush draw. I held my breath for the river card, praying it wouldn't be a spade.

Seven of hearts. Whew!

“
Break,” called the tournament director as I raked in my chips. The other players got up, a couple of them saying “nice hand.” The guy I'd taken out had already left the table.