Immortalis - Book 1 (The Keeper's Immortals) (11 page)

“You paused, why did you pause?” He asked me.

“Because sometimes I don’t even know if we’re friends because you go back and forth with me so much, I’m not a yo-yo Blake. You can’t pull me around like that just because you want to get under Reid’s skin.” I barked. He was taken back for a moment with my words.

“What?”

“I know that’s all you’re doing, wanting everything to go bad between myself and Reid so whether he comes back to you or not he’ll be hurt. I won’t be a part of this.” I told him before leaving him and his glaring eyes as I returned to my seat where I remained until we arrived in Spain. Just before we landed Reid and Sebastian had both came out of the back office. Reid took the seat beside me and buckled up.

When I heard the engine stop and I unbuckled myself, stood and took Reid’s hand that was offered to me. He looked down at me, asking me if I was okay because he could feel my body shake. I lied and told him that I was but really I was upset about the issues with Blake. I hated that he could make me feel in such a way and it didn’t seem to bother him. He tugged at my emotions about him and our friendship, it was making me flustered. Blake in general made me fluster and I couldn’t wait to make sure that everything with The Keepers were fine so that we could go home. I wouldn’t miss Blake at all and I didn’t see any reason that he would miss me other than to play mind games with me.

As we stepped out of the plane into the early morning air I shivered. Reid wrapped his arm around me as he walked me to the car that was already waiting for us. We stopped outside of the limonene and waited for the others to catch up. I watched Blake step out of the plane; the last one and stare straight at Reid and myself. Wanting to keep warm and show Blake that nothing was going to come between us, I snuggled as close as I could to Reid. Feeling his hand stroke my shoulder only made shivers run through my body more but I felt safe in his arms.

“So what part of Spain are we in?” I asked as the other walked up.

“We’re just outside the city of Medina. It’s on the southern part of the country.” Sebastian said as he opened the door to allow us to start filling the car that was waiting for us at the landing strip.

“The Keepers are in a cave just off the coast, it’s a secret location that you can only find if you can see beyond what the normal mortal can, the people who can see are normally near death or immortal themselves.” Ashwin explained.

“Which means you probably won’t be able to see it lass.” Blake said in his typical snide tone as he walked up to the car. He smiled once then jumped into the back of the car after Jaryn gave him a slight push. As Jaryn himself got in he gave my shoulder a squeeze and I followed him, then Reid and lastly Sebastian who closed the door. The driver set course for the coastline where the cave was located while everyone in the back was oddly quiet.

The drive was a long, awkward and although I didn’t know what to expect one we got where we were going this was, by far the worst part of the trip to me so far. Everyone was silent which meant that everyone was thinking. I was personally thinking about Blake’s eyes that wouldn’t shift away from me. After being in the car just under an hour we finally stopped. When we stepped out of the car I looked over the cliffs with nothing the vast ocean in front of me and at the bottom of the cliffs I heard waves crashing. The air smelt salty and amazing; so much different than home or even than Ireland. When I heard the car door slam I turned around to face the Hollings children. Sebastian seemed confident because he was the oldest, Reid, Blake and Jaryn both put on brave faces but wasn’t as confident as their older brother while Ashwin seemed to be trembling slightly. Jaryn wrapped his arm around his sister and told her that it would be alright, no matter what happened they would be fine.

“Are The Keepers that intimidating?” I asked.

“They can be, yes. That is why when we go in to speak to them I want you to stay in car, besides the fact that you’re not supposed to know about us in the first place which just makes you more of a threat to them and us. Do you understand?” Sebastian advised me. Doing what he said I started towards the car but stopped and turned back.

“Hey is that the opening to The Keepers chambers?” I asked, seeing an opening in the jagged rocks. They all looked more than shocked when I asked, especially Blake who didn’t think that I could find it.

“How can you see that?” Reid asked who was just as stunned as the rest of them. I turned to look back at the opening and didn’t understand what they were talking about.

“What are you talking about? I mean I see it clear as day…its right there.” I pointed out.

“Sebastian?” Reid asked his older and always wiser brother but he didn’t even have an answer to this question. As far as anyone knew I wasn’t knocking on death’s door but I didn’t seem to be different from any other mortal. He instead said that they would discuss it later because they still had a task at hand; talking to The Keepers and it wasn’t going to be an easy thing to do. I jumped into the car and placed Jaryn’s ear buds in my own ear and blasted music in order to help the time pass by while they faced their possible doom.

The five Hollings sibling slowly but surely walked into the mouth of the cave together, Sebastian in the front as if he was leading them all into a war. Once inside they had a good walk a head of them before they would reach the actual chambers but once they did they were met by a large set of oak doors. Sebastian knock and was met by a young, dark skinned Italian woman. Her hair was jet black, matching her skin tight dress that hugged her curves. “Can I help you?” she asked as she opened the door.

“Ella, my dear, please do let our guest in.” Someone told her from behind her. Without looking back to respond she opened the doors, allowing the five of them to enter. After entering they were surrounded by simple décor, natural looking. In the middle of the grand hall sat three large chairs and sitting within each of the chair was a man.

To the left sat Lieka, a tall olive skinned man with dark hair that was pulled back tightly. To the right sat the youngest of the three Keepers; Cade. He was pale with short blond hair while in the middle sat the oldest and wisest of the three; Ozlem. He was pale with jet black hair that was folded over his shoulders. The one feature that all of The Keepers shared was their jet black eyes. Their movements were almost alien like, shifty and strange. They were a terrifying sight to behold for more than one reason. They were powerful beings and could be ill tempered if they were pushed the wrong way.

“Ah Sebastian what a pleasant surprise to see you and your family here, how can we help you?” Ozlem said as he tapped his fingers together; looking into at each of the siblings with a wicked smiled forming across his face. His movements were that of an older man who had trouble moving without being in great pain.

“Ozlem, Lieka, Cade. As always it’s an honor to see you.” Sebastian said.

“Why have you and your family come Sebastian?” Lieka asked snidely.  His voice was slightly deeper than Ozlem’s.

“We came because of me.’ Blake said stepping forward. ‘I had a vision, a powerful one.”

“Powerful eh?” Lieka said not believing anything that was coming out of Blake’s mouth just because they knew Blake’s reputation. 

“Powerful enough to cripple me momentarily Lieka, please you must hear me out.” Blake said almost begging for them to listen to him. Lieka began to speak again only to be stopped when Ozlem put up his hand preventing any other words from coming out of his mouth.

“Let’s hear what Blake has to say. Please my child, continue.” Ozlem said as he placed his hands on the arms of his chair, waiting eagerly for what Blake had to say. Ozlem’s face was full of anticipation – what worried Blake was that he would be excited for a reason to cause Blake or his family great pain because of their intrusion.

“I saw a man, his voice sounded American. Light skin, light hair but very sickly looking. He traveled to have you make him immortal because he’s dying but you turn him away because you don’t turn people who are dying so that you don’t mess with the balance of life and death. He gets angry and vows to kill ya.” Blake explained. The three Keepers only smiled with a mix of chuckling.

“My dear boy, we will never know death and you know that.” Ozlem said.

“You might if the legend of missing katana is true.” Jaryn said, speaking out of term. The Keepers all turn to Jaryn with stern looks and knowing that he shouldn’t have said anything about the katana or at all.

“I’m sure if there was any truth to that silly myth then we would know about it. Don’t you think that we would?” Lieka suggested. With that statement Ozlem dismissed the Hollings but just as they were leaving Cade stopped them. All of them turned around with hopes that The Keepers would believe them although that wasn’t the reason they called back. Cade was the only who could tap into people’s minds and read their feelings. He slinked towards Reid and Blake who looked at each other with puzzled looks. His black eyes were wide like a deer caught in head lights. His face, compared to the others was much more childlike, his voice was that of a young man rather than a man who had lived for lifetimes.

“You’re all hiding something whether it’s from each other or from yourself or from…another.’ He almost seemed to slither and stopped in front of Ashwin. ‘But you dear Ashwin hold the darkest secret of them all.” She was taken by his words, not understanding what he was talking about.

“I beg your pardon?” She asked.

“It will come out in time because it has to do with your brothers’ secret as well.” Cade announced before he returned to chair. Once again Ozlem told them that they could leave and they did, not saying a word until they reached the car.

A large pound on the trunk of the car startled me. I slowly eased out of the car finding the five of them standing outside, not saying much of anything. Sebastian yelled at Blake for hitting the car and then more silence filled the air. They all looked at me as I stood from the car, not knowing what had happened I didn’t say anything but by the attitude of everyone around me I assumed that things didn’t go well. Suddenly Sebastian opened the car door again, telling us all to get in.

“It’s late. I won’t have anyone leaving at this time of night. Well stay in Medina for the night then return in the morning.” He stated and although Reid didn’t want to he didn’t fight his brother on it and agreed to the plan. We all took a seat in the car and traveled another hour back to Medina where Reid booked three room for us that night. He would be with Sebastian, Jaryn with Blake and I would be with Ashwin. It wasn’t the perfect living arrangement but I didn’t have much to say in it. The only comfort I got in the sleeping agreement was that I wouldn’t have to be under the watchful eye of Reid or Blake.

Before heading upstairs to the rooms Reid had given me some money to pick up some things that I might need to get me through the night such a brush, toothpaste and other hygienic items that weren’t provided by the hotel. I hadn’t brushed my hair since that morning so having the brush go through my tangled mess was relieving. I jumped into the shower and just stood, letting the hot water beat down onto my tender flesh. My muscles were sore from the travel and lack of sleep. My feelings were also sore from Blake hurting them so many times and state of mind was weak seeming because of everything that I have learned over the past day and a half.

Once I was out, dried off and redressed I walked back into the room and sat on the bed and ran the brush through my hair again. It felt nice to be clean and still for more than a few minutes. Everything paused including my thoughts which were what needed to slow down the most. On the other bed sat Ashwin who flipped through the television only to flip it off after not being able to find anything worth her time. She let out a deep sigh then walked out to the balcony, looking out at the moon. After I pulled my hair back so that it flung over my right shoulder, I walked out with her, not saying a word but only looking at the same beautiful night sky that she was viewing. She went hot and cold almost as much as Blake did when it came to me and I honestly wanted to know why so I decided to ask her point blank.

“Ashwin?” I said in a mousy tone although it didn’t sound that way to me.

“Yes?” she asked without any hostility in her voice. That alone was a comforting thing to me. If anything she sounded lonely, sad.

“Why don’t you like me?” I asked. She turned to me and only looked my way without saying anything. Inside I was becoming frustrated but tried to maintain my cool on the outside. “I’m not a bad person Ashwin…unless you blame me for Reid leaving?” I asked, not knowing what she had against me really. Slowly a small smile formed across her face.

“I don’t blame you for that. He left long before you were glimmer in your mother’s eye. Besides it’s like I said before, it’s not that I don’t like you it’s just that you make me sad.” She admitted.

“Because I remind you of someone?”

“Aye, you do. I just…never mind.” She started but stopped. I turned to walk back into the room when I stopped myself and faced her again.

“It’s okay if you don’t but know that it’s also okay if you do like me. I’m just like you, I’m a normal girl.” I told her before turning back to face the room when this time I was stopped by Ashwin’s hand touching my shoulder.

“I do like you. I think that you’re kind hearted person. You don’t belong with this family. We’ve all been destructive at point in time, some than more others.” She admitted to me.

“Like Blake?” I asked with a smile across face. I didn’t know if I was smiling because of the topic at hand on saying his name which confused me but I wasn’t going to show that now because I didn’t want to show anyone my true feelings…more or less about Blake considering I didn’t know what my feelings were about him.