Eternal Youth (35 page)
Authors: Julia Crane
Nolia McCarty is American by birth but Irish by heritage and heart. Her dream is to live on a small cottage in Ireland where she can watch the sheep outside her window and write all day. “Heaven Below” is her debut young adult novel. Nolia has several releases planned for 2012 including “Wiccan Wars” and “Barefoot Blue Jean Nights”. She is also co-writing a novel with YA author Julia Crane, entitled “Eternal Youth”, set for release in Feb 2012. Visit
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for more information about her upcoming books!
In her real incarnation, Nolia is author Heather Marie Adkins. Under this (real) name, she has written several novels, including paranormal romances “The Temple” and “Abigail”. Find more information on her at
her website
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An Excerpt
Prologue
It was a vengeful and terrible fire.
The white marble buildings that had characterized the once-grand city were stained black with soot. Where they weren’t stained, they were essentially gone — destroyed by a blood-red core that left behind miles of unnecessary death. The smoke carried the harsh smell of human suffering and loss.
He ran with the others, though much faster and with a stronger fury. Immortal didn’t mean invincible. He knew that firsthand. Fire was the enemy and death was an unwelcome guest, so he ran.
His senses were on overload, hyperactive with fear-driven adrenaline. He was all too aware of the pounding of his feet on the ground, the pain of his ragged breath in his throat, and the hot, hot air burning his back and his neck.
Fear was in the air, as pungent as the smoke that filled his lungs. It left a bad taste in his mouth.
The chaos would have been comical if his own life wasn’t being threatened. People were dragging each other down in their haste, dodging trees, rocks, fallen comrades…it was a ballet in slow motion. The fire was coming faster than many could get away…he tried not to think of the death toll and of those yet to succumb to the danger.
The mortals he passed were crying; a mournful, collective wail that appeared as if it would shatter the sky. He could sense that the people were worried about whether or not their loved ones had made it out safe. It wasn’t hard for him to imagine what else was going through their feeble minds. They were losing everything they had worked so hard to gain and maintain—especially the city, built from love and run on faith, hope, and happiness. They had known no crime…
Until now.
Many fools had taken paths through the Dark Forest and in theory, they would never emerge. Legend spoke of a curse on the trees, of all sorts of evil monsters.
Of course, he was one of the monsters.
An explosion rocked the earth. He didn’t bother looking over his shoulder. One more disaster for a nation on the brink of its demise. There was nothing to do. The fire was rapidly spreading. It wouldn’t be long before the island was consumed.
A single dirt road led through the edgy wilderness to the tip of the island, where the Port awaited. It was the only safe place to travel out of the city, guarded as it was by Her magic.
At the thought of Her, he closed his eyes and said a quick prayer.
He could picture the Port where boats were waiting to carry them all away to safer ground. Most crafts were piling above maximum capacity in order to save as many lives as possible. He could see the bend in the road up ahead; beyond that were the gates to the city, and beyond those…salvation.
In his excitement, he edged too close to the tree line, and a sharp branch swiped across his face. It slowed his momentum slightly, just enough to keep him from sprawling to the ground as he tripped over a rock.
No, not a rock.
A man.
The man was dead. Most likely fallen during the rush, and quite literally trampled to death. He could smell the body’s blood, still fresh, and his mouth watered…
Keep going. Get out.
Scrambling backwards on his knees, he managed to make it to his feet and turned to run.
Only to find himself gazing into the eyes of an astonishing woman.
He shook his head, blinking hard. She stood facing the onslaught of panicked runners. Anyone else would have been knocked to the ground, but it seemed as if the crowd parted seamlessly to go around her. She was thin, almost frail, but stood nearly a foot taller than him in her bare feet. Dust swirled around her ankles like mist.
Her pale gray eyes—almost white—glowed from within.
Strong muscles rippled under her creamy satin toga as she grabbed his face between her hands. Her own face became placid.
The surrounding madness froze. People fleeing stopped in mid-stride and the noise ceased, ending in an audible
thwoosh
. Above them, dark clouds began to gather, seeping from her very skin. Her icy gray eyes took on a faraway gaze, looking through his dark eyes into unknown dimensions, as if she were seeing him from the inside out. The wind raged, tearing into him and whipping her long brown hair into his face. Electricity hung above his skin.
After a moment, she brought her face to his, noses not quite touching. Her body began to shiver, her grip on his face becoming increasingly tighter. Ten tiny pinpricks of pain from her claw-like fingernails left blood trickling down his face.
“She should have
lived
,” the woman said, her voice low and menacing. It echoed off the clouds and in his head. His body chilled deep to his bones and his breath became visible as the air grew cold. He couldn’t tear his eyes from her face. “The world hangs in a delicate balance and you have caused a grave disruption. The city is dead by your irresponsibility.”
He tried to pull from her grasp but was unsuccessful. She was inhumanly strong; so powerful he couldn’t free himself, even with his immortal strength. Fear mounted in him with no mercy. It stuck in his throat, choking him. She shook him hard, a jolt that would have killed a human. He felt something crack in his neck, and bit down on the pain.
“Listen to me, you bloodthirsty filth. She will die at your hand. For 10,000 years, you will find her and you will kill her.” She shook him at every word, enunciating through gritted teeth. “Unwanted and unbidden, she will come to you. You must atone for your wrongdoing.”
She paused, her grip losing some of its worth. “There is more.” He watched the life enter her eyes, which automatically focused on his and softened. She wiped blood from his face very gently with her fingertips. Her touch was cool and unearthly soft, leaving trails of feather lightness across his face. “Nothing is ever as it seems. People may not be who you think they are and you will not know. Things may seem grim and you will be confused, but do not push. It will come around in time.
“The crisis at hand is part of an involved and predetermined destiny. It was planned in detail. The future is as well.” At this she smiled, beautifully white, making her look even more astounding. “It is said that felines possess nine lives and no matter how many times they seem to die, they will bounce back.”
He was puzzled but also intrigued. It was a riddle; he could do riddles.
She stroked the skin at his neck, tracing her fingers to his cheek. He laid his face in her hand. It was warm. The wind whipped her hair into a cocoon around their bodies. He felt her lips on his forehead, and they slid softly to his nose. He gave in to her magic as it weaved around him, his body going numb. “All will be well, dear boy. Remember to stay true to your heart and it will lead you to where you need to be.” She placed her lips to his ear, “You are a true member of the Order.
“As I say it, so shall it be.”
She let go, pulling roughly away from him, her face lifting to the sky. He was caught off balance and sprawled to the ground ungracefully. He grimaced, looking up to her as pain shot through his arms.
She reached for the clouds, the wind battling as lightning leapt from her fingertips. She let out a scream that ripped through him. Her body melted into the sky like smoke, starting from her fingers and moving to her feet until there was nothing left.
The clouds dissipated as quickly as they had come, following the hasty retreat of their master. The wind died down and the noise and bustle of the world came back to him.
Strong hands grasped him firmly under the arms, yanking him to his feet before he could be trampled. His faceless rescuer gave him a push in the right direction and they took off towards the water.
The sight of the pier brought new hope to his suddenly glum heart. It was always non-stop business, shoulder-to-shoulder with merchants and travelers, but today it was for a very different reason. The closest boat had just cast out to sea, its anchor still cranking. It was a long jump, but not impossible.
He leapt, soaring through the air with his arm outstretched. His fingers caught hold of the anchor rope. He hit the side of the boat hard and groaned, waiting to stop bouncing before he climbed hand over hand to the top.
His brother waited patiently above. Hands gripped him and pulled him aboard. They embraced.
“I must say, your timing is extremely impeccable,” his twin said wryly.
He fell to his knees, exhausted.
His brother lowered himself to the deck, leaning back against the wall. “Do you know who that was?”
He was still trying to catch his breath. “I do not know for sure, but I have a crazy idea that it was Eva.”
His brother looked grave, and avoided his gaze, choosing instead to look back at the burning city. He just nodded.
“The Prophet came to me.” He rubbed the dried blood on his cheeks, remembering her grip. “She’s strong. No one has seen her since before we were born.”
They sat in silence for a moment.
“Is she ever wrong?” he murmured.
His twin cringed. “No. She isn’t.”
Chapter 1