Immortalis - Book 1 (The Keeper's Immortals) (29 page)

“You act like you know you’re not gonna make it out Nor?” Charlie asked.

“I’m gonna be fine, don’t worry about it.” I hugged them both and left the room heading to Sebastian’s next. I knocked and entered room where I found him sitting in a chair in the corner, reading a book. When I had walked upon him my eyebrow couldn’t help but to cock upwards at the title.

“Alice in Wonderland? That doesn’t seem like your kind of book?” I asked him.

“It’s actually one of my favorites believe it or not. There is something about it that makes me feel like a kid again.” He explained.

“Perhaps it’s the feeling of being lost in world where anything is possible.” I suggested. He smiled.

“I guess I’m living in my own Wonderland then aren’t I? Normally the only thing that wouldn’t be able to happen to me is death grabbing me but now it could happen eh? I never thought about it that way, I’m Alice in a way.” He looked sad but who wouldn’t be sad on the eve of their possible death?

“I wanted to thank you for everything that you’ve had since we had met. Meeting you was a great experience.” He hugged me warmly and stated that the feeling was mutual. Even with the great sadness that had consumed him I left him feeling warm and I needed the warmth because next was Ashwin, who I was dreading talking to but I needed to go into the Twilight with a clean conscience. We both had said some horrible things to each other and I wanted to rebuild the burnt bridge while there was still a little of the structure left. Knocking on her hotel room lightly I opened it only when she answered.

“What do you want?” she asked me bitterly. I took a deep breath as I shut the door behind me with my bottom. Pushing myself off, I walked toward her while giving myself a pep talk in my head.

“I want us to stop this fighting, I can’t do what I have to do to end the Twilight without a clear conscience; a clear head. Please Ashwin, please listen to me.” I begged. She turned to face with me with her arms crossed, waiting for whatever it was I was going to say. “You have to know that I never meant to hurt any of your brothers. I do care about Reid but I love Blake!” She looked shocked, like she was unaware of what had been going on between Blake and myself but I think that she was just shocked to hear the words coming out of my mouth; finally admitting the truth to her.

“Blake…so it’s true. What Reid has been so paranoid about?” I looked to the floor with guilt and slowly nodded my head.

“It is and not a moment goes by that I don’t feel bad for what has happened, how it played out. Neither Blake nor I wanted it to be that way. We purposely hid our feeling for a long time just so that it wouldn’t happen. I know that you might not understand and ever if you did you might not care but…” I stopped when she threw up her hands.

“I do understand even if
you
don’t believe me. I don’t want to see either of my brothers hurt but you still have a right to be happy and if Reid is the man I know he is then he will understand as well and allow you to be happy even if your happiness means being with his brother.” She explained with graceful words. I had to admit that I was more than surprised when those were the words that were said.

“I’m also sorry for what I said about wishing your baby had truly died. That was wrong of me.” I went on. She told me to stop because she would have said something to that extent as well if she were in my shoes and she apologized for barking at me, causing my harsh words. We parted that night with our fighting done; at least for the moment. If I were to actually survive the Twilight then that might be a different story. Maybe we were actually too much alike and that was the reason we fought as much as we did or perhaps we just didn’t like each other. 

Jaryn was next. I had met him on bad terms, he had terrified me but was someone I had grown to love like a brother. He had been more like a brother to me in the short amount of time we had known each other than the brother I had grown up with had ever been. “You know there is a chance that something happens tomorrow right?” I asked him hoping he would be realistic about the situation.

“Out of our favor? Aye but I have hope.” He said as we both sat on the bed together.

“Not…out of our favor. I mean…I mean with me.”

“Nora what are ya talkin’ about?” he asked me with questioning eyes.

“Ya know what, never mind. I’ve just got a lot on my plate. Like you don’t.’ I said while forcing a laugh out. ‘So what are you gonna do tonight since it might be your last night alive?”

“I don’t know really. I never thought about dying so I don’t know what I would really want to do. I might speed off somewhere. Ya know it won’t take me long.” He said with a wink.

“And where you go?” I asked hoping he did have somewhere to live out his life without that one regret that he might have.

“I’ve never seen the Egypt but I’ve always wanted to.” He admitted.

“Could you get there and back before dawn?”

“You know it!” He said as he gave me a light jab with his elbow.

“Then go for it Jaryn!” I encouraged him. He shrugged his shoulders before he stood up.

“I know your life isn’t what ya thought it would be but I’m glad it turned out like it has because I got to meet you.” He said before squeezing me like bear. Before he left he turned to face me with his bright smile. “I love you Nora.”

“I love you too Jaryn! Now go, have fun…just be back before dawn!” I stated. The next thing I knew he was gone. With my friends and three of the five Hollings dealt with I now had deal with the hardest of them all; Reid. Slowly I walked to his door but I hesitated on knocking. I probably wouldn’t have knocked but I only gained his attention when he walked out of his door and straight into me. “Oh!” he said as I yelled as a slight pain rushed through my head where we had crashed together.

“Nora what are ya doin’ here?” his tone was off putting.

“I…was…coming to talk to you.”

“What could possibly have to say to me? Why don’t you run off and talk to Blake?”

“Okay stop please, I feel like I’m back in high school! You have to believe me when I say that neither of us wanted this. I do love Blake and he loves me, no matter what you think but he’s your brother Reid. He tried so hard and so did I because we both care about you. Do you think that we would deliberately hurt you?” I snapped.

“I don’t know anymore, I thought you were the one I had always been searching for but I guess I was wrong.”

“I’m sorry I wasn’t the one for you but you can’t be mad at either us.”

“And why not?” he asked.

“Because we broke up Reid!’ I barked at him. ‘We were barely together in the first place. When I said I needed time I meant away from you and I’ll admit it, a big part of the reason I needed the space was because of my feelings for Blake was tearing me up inside because I still care about you too. I will always care about you but he has my heart and if you can’t accept that then you’re not the man I thought you were.” He looked hurt and angry but I couldn’t blame him for feeling either. I didn’t know what else to say since I had expressed what I was truly feeling. I told him the truth - I did still care about him I just loved Blake. I knew that things would never be the same between myself and Reid but I could only hope that things could be civil. Whether he wanted it or not I hugged him one last time, gave him a peck on the cheek and left. Just as I opened the door Reid called my name

“Everyone has a secret, just takes time to uncover it. I never meant for you to become a part of it.” He told me as he walked towards me. He was trying to give me some sense of comfort in this dark time but in some way it felt awkward.

“It’s not your fault. It would have happened sooner than later and we would become intertwined in this situation one way or another.” I told him with a forced smile. Everything had changed so much in such little time. I never imagined myself in such a mess and to be honest I barely remember how everything happened. It was like a cloud had been cast over my brain. The next thing I knew Reid had me in his arms, looking into my eyes. He then moved into me, kissing me gently on the lips. I didn’t push him away but I didn’t kiss him back, not like he wanted me to that is. I was shocked so rather than saying anything I just turned and left, leaving with more questions and uneasy feelings then when I entered. This wasn’t what I needed.

Being more confused than ever with Reid, I left for my own room where I knew Blake would be. I needed to see him. Upon entering the room I saw him standing on the balcony, looking out over the city to the ocean in the distance. I walked up to him without looking at him, just looking at the same beauty as he was. Medina was a gorgeous place even with our fates unknown, my fate at least. No matter what I was going to safe my family even if it meant the ultimate sacrifice from me. “What do you want to do tonight?” Blake asked with while still looking towards the landscape.

“I don’t care as long as I’m with you.”

“Nora I’m worried about you. You’re acting differently - like you know something and since I can’t see anything beyond tonight it makes the fear grow more inside of me.” He explained his concerns. He had reason to be concerned but I wouldn’t let him know that.

“I’m fine, honest.” I preached, hoping that he would believe me.

“We’re supposed to live life tonight like it might be our last right?’ I nodded. He turned to me and kissed me forcefully; passionately. His lips tasted amazing. While his lips caressed mine, it seems as if all was right with the world, even if it really wasn’t. ‘I wanted to wait until the perfect moment but seems we’ve ran out of time…I want to be with you Nora. If this is my last night to be alive then I want to be with you – in every way possible.” I smiled at the thought of being with someone I loved so much but I couldn’t help have the thought of him losing me forever and leaving him in such torment for all eternity in the back of my head. “If you don’t want to though…” I stopped him with my fingers on his lips. I then kissed him sweetly as I pulled his body closer to mine.

Piece by piece we slowly undressed. He was beautiful; his toned body was more muscular than I had thought. The light being cast on him from the side lamp formed shadows that made him look like a perfect piece of art; like a Greek statue. Suddenly I was intimidated by my own appearance and worried that I wouldn’t be up to his par. I didn’t know the number but I didn’t know what I wasn’t his first. He smiled, not touching me only looking. “You’re beautiful. I’ve never seen a creature as glorious as you are.” He told me causing me to blush from the embarrassment. He wasn’t my first, Adam had been, but this was different in so many ways.

“You’re gorgeous, you’re perfect.” I told him as I ached to touch him but scared to do so. It was Blake who made the first move, grabbing me with one hand on the nap of my neck and the other at the lower of my back. Pulling me into his body he kissed ever inch of my flesh from head to toes. It was as if we could be free to do whatever we wanted with each other without judgment of what the other would think. The next thing I knew he was pulling me on top of him. I shuttered at the thought that was lurking in the back on my mind,
‘Would I be good enough for him’

“You don’t have anything to worry about, don’t over think it. Do what feels natural.” He said as he pulled my face up by my chin, forcing me to look at him though I didn’t want to. He could see the future but not read minds. Blake and I had a connection to where we knew what the other was thinking without saying a word. That was a connection I wanted, to be on a curtain level with someone was an amazing thing. Something I thought I might of had with Reid.

This was possibly the last night of my life and it was perfect.

Twenty Two

It was like my body knew when it had to be up the next morning. I woke up at four thirty in the morning, showered brushed my hair back out of my face. Outside the sky was still dark but they were coming. I could feel them, The Gods and the Ambrosians were gearing up for the battle. I could also feel The Keepers Immortals. They too were getting ready for the fight of their life. It was like I could sense everything around me at a heightened level. It was unlike anything I had ever experienced in my life, it was amazing. 

While still in a daze Blake walked up next to me, he wrapped his arms around me allowing me to feel his warmth. Although immortal they were still warm, the food they ingested and the sunlight allowed them to still seem alive even though their heartbeat was long gone. “Are you ready?” He asked me in a quite tone. I took a deep breath in then released it.

“I don’t think that I have a choice right now, it’s now or never.”  I said while still looking out at the horizon. The sun was slowly starting to peek its head above the salty sea. He didn’t say anything more, only looked out to the same view as I was. “What is it?” I asked him since he suddenly had a sullen look on his face.

“Just thinking.”

“About?”

“What’s goin’ happen today, I can’t see. It’s frustrating because I can normally see important things especially if they involve you but I can’t…I don’t know what’s wrong?”

“There isn’t anything wrong with you maybe there just isn’t anything to see after the Twilight?” I suggested.

“In all the other visions I’ve ever had about it, I’ve seen you and the katana but then everything goes white…does that mean you die? Does it mean I die?” I turned to him, grabbing his forearms in hopes of calming him down. I hadn’t ever seen Blake be so spooked about anything before. He wasn’t even this terrified looking when he witnessed a crazed man holding the katana to the necks of The Keepers.