Immortalis - Book 1 (The Keeper's Immortals) (23 page)

“Do ya love her?’ Reid asked his brother with a snickering tone in his voice. ‘You don’t love anyone but yourself, you never have. You had Emmalee and rather than try to make things work with her you left her for the pub and some random whore you met there.”

“I never loved Emmalee and she never loved me. That fact was made apparent when I found out she had been sleeping with Jaryn.” Reid was slightly taken back by Blake’s words. “Yeah that’s right. I told you that you didn’t know what you were talking about.”

“The point is that you’re incapable of loving someone other than yourself. You’ve fooled Nora into believing that you actually care for her but I see the truth. You’ve always been a spoiled, self centered prick and I will not stand by and let you do this to her.’ he shot me a look although it was hard for me to read what he was thinking when he did so. ‘And as far as you’re concerned Nora…the choice is yours.”

“Reid…” was the only thing I could squeak out. My voice was mousy and weak. I was weak in every sense of the word.

“Don’t Nora, just don’t. You have to see things for yourself. I finally have seen everything that I was denying before. I’ve seen you embrace each other, leave mysteriously together and I know, even though I don’t want to that you two have done much more than that.’ He turned away just to turn back to face me once more. ‘Just know that I will be fighting for you as well.”

Then he left. I didn’t move until Blake came towards me only to have me back away from him. After I explained that I needed to be alone he left and I finally rested my tired and swimming head on the pillows. I looked at the clock that hung on the wall; it wasn’t even eleven at night and already so much had happened. I never knew what to believe when it came Reid or Blake. Everyone always made Blake seem like such a horrible person but I had seen a side that not everyone had. As far as Reid he seemed to be perfect at first but the more time that passed there seemed to be a darkness about him, just under the surface. Forcing my eyelids shut I attempted to sleep only to toss and turn to nightmares that were manifesting themselves in my head. After what seemed like hours of twisting around within my bedcovers I jolt up with tears in my eyes.

I through my feet to the cold hard wood floor and walked towards the window, looking over the same ocean as before. I couldn’t contain myself anymore. I wanted and needed to know more about the situation. There were things that weren’t being told, that weren’t being explained and more to the story than anyone seemed to be telling me. I hurried to get dressed, grabbed my shoes and put them on just as I was opening the bedroom door. Quietly I walked down the stairs and out the back door heading for the plane in hopes it would take me to Medina without the Hollings but before I made it that far I was stopped just outside the gates by Blake. His pale skin almost glowed in the moonlight, his eyes were dark and his face lacked a smile. Even with the scowl across his face I couldn’t help but want to be close to him but my defenses were up after what happened earlier. I was scared to get close to anyone but especially Blake or Reid so keeping space between us was best. “And where might you be goin’?” he asked me. I stood there, looping my fingers around the iron gate thinking what was best to tell him not knowing if I could lie to him or not. He obviously knew that I was leaving because the door that I left from was on the other side of house from his bedroom so I knew that a white lie was out of the question.

“I need to see them. I need to talk The Keepers.” I stated firmly.

“You’re not leavin’!” he barked. My anger grew with his demands that I wasn’t leaving, wasn’t doing something that I wanted to do.

“You can’t stop me!” I barked back as I walked passed him only to have him follow me.

“Maybe not, since you’re stubborn but I sure as hell can go with you.”

“I don’t want you to!” I proclaimed firmly, standing my ground on the subject. He rolled his eyes and started walking towards the plane.

“Well if you’re so damn determined to go then you better come on because you don’t have much of a choice.” His words only angered me more than I already was. I hated that he could do that to me so easily, get under my skin and drive me crazy.

We jumped on the plane where we started the flight to Medina. Right from the get go it was awkward. I had never felt more awkward tension between Blake and myself. We sat across from each other without words spoken until he looked up at me and wanted to talk about the one thing I didn’t want to; Reid. “Nora we need to talk about what happened, with Reid.”

I looked straight into his eyes. “No we don’t.’ but he insisted that we did. ‘Well I don’t want to!”

“You’ve been so cold towards everyone including me since it happened. Why?” he asked.

“It put things on my mind to think about.” I explained to him as I looked towards the floor that was covered in a thick tan carpet. Out of the corner of my eye I could see him walking to me, sitting beside me. Even when I didn’t want to be near him, he always was making my heart skip a beat and my breath become heavier. Placing his hand on my chin, pulling my face up to face his.

“What is it that you need to think about that you can’t tell me?” he wondered.

“Every time I talk to someone about you or Reid they always tell me the same thing.’ He waited for me to explain further. ‘They always tell me that Reid didn’t use to be so nice. He was a monster, worse than you even and that’s why he was forced to have the self control.”

“At times, yes he was far worse than I was. We both have had our bad moments and still have them at times. Hell all five of us have! Even Ashwin, no matter what she’s told you!” He told me.

“I see that darkness in him, earlier when he caught us. He was so hurt Blake and I could feel the rage that was inside of him. It was directed more towards you but it was for me too he just didn’t want to say it. Even though I felt so bad for him, for what happened I couldn’t help but to be fearful of him too.”

“He won’t hurt you, and even if he tried I won’t let him.’ He advised me as he stroked my cheek. I moved back, away from him. ‘What is it?” he asked. I was scared to tell Blake anything that I felt about him but it was something that had to be done because I was ill at ease about it.

“Then there is what I hear when people talk about you.”

“What about me?” he said through a clinched jaw.

“You’re a womanizer who might be using me to piss Reid off because he had something that you want for bleak moment in time only to throw away once you’re done with it!” I finally blurted out. It was something I wish I could have taken back once I had realized what I had said. At first he looked hurt then his hurt feelings transformed into pure anger. His eyes grew dark, his nostrils flared and his teeth grinded together in frustration.

“Is that what you really think?’ he asked but rather allowing me to answer he continued. ‘I’m not, nor would I ever use you Nora! Everything that I remembered about you and your life, your mortal life, that wouldn’t normally hold any significant meaning to me and you think that? I think that it’s very low of you to think that of me. Other than my family I’ve never told anyone else that I love them. I told you.” His words stung but I knew that mine hurt him just as bad. He stood from where he sat at and walked into the back of the plane, closing the door to Sebastian’s and that was where he remained for the rest of the flight.

We landed a while later in Medina where we rented a car and drove to The Keepers chambers. Rather than having a car waiting for us because Blake wanted to drive. He was angry but rather than taking it out on me he would rather get behind the wheel so that he could focus on something else and speed his troubles away like he always did; run away but I didn’t want him to run away from me. I didn’t want to run away from him either. The car ride was just as bad as the plane ride if not worse just because we were closer and nowhere to go.

With a sudden stop with enough force to make me fall forwards even with a seatbelt on we had arrived at the hidden chambers of The Keepers, that for some reason I could still see. Although he was beyond upset at me he kindly asked if I wanted him to go in with me. I politely declined then walked towards the mouth of the cave with hopes of finding out all that I wanted to know.

“Let her in.’ I heard Ozlem say as I stood on the outside of the large wooden door with only a tiny woman standing between me and what I wanted. She knew that I wasn’t an immortal so she was stopping me but with his words said she allowed me through to face Ozlem and his brothers Lieka and Cade alone. I’ll admit that I was nervous enough to throw up my dinner but luckily I kept it down. ‘Relax Miss Langdon. You will not be harmed here.”

“Speak for yourself.” Lieka said.

“Quite Lieka!” Ozlem snapped. His black eyes never leaving my sight. His pale skin seemed so think, almost translucent.

“Why have you come Nora?” Cade asked kindly.

“I need to know some things. About the Twilight, about me…about…”

“About being the Chosen One?” Cade advised me of what I was thinking. I slowly nodded my head. They told me to ask any and everything that I wanted and if they could tell me then they would honestly since the story of the Twilight had such mystery surrounding it.

“Why me? Why was I chosen for it, I mean I’m not even immortal? Why would a mortal hold everyone’s life in their hands for? I haven’t met an immortal yet that would trust a mortal with their lives.” I asked. That had always been my main question, why me.

“I don’t know why you in particular but the Chosen One was always said to be a mortal for unknown reasons.” Cade answered honestly.

“Here, read this Nora. It’s the only known tale of the Twilight that has ever been printed that can be seen by the mortal eye. Hopefully this will answer any of questions you may have my dear.” Ozlem said as he walked towards me with a small book, bound in brown leather in his slender hands. After taking it I realized that I had one other question for them.

“Why can I see the opening to your chambers?”

“The Chosen One can see all.” Ozlem stated. I was satisfied with that answer so I thanked them and started walking back towards the exit when I was stopped by Cade as he pulled me back by my shoulder lightly.

“Yes Cade?” I asked wondering if I wanted to know what he wanted.

“There is one other thing I must tell you Nora.’ I waited with dread, my heart in my throat. ‘There is another reason you are able to see what others cannot. One day, you too will become immortal.” I didn’t know what to say. I explained that I didn’t want to be immortal and begged them for a date, a time or anything else that would help me figure out what I had to avoid so that this wouldn’t happen. “I do not know when or where, I’m sorry Nora. You might not even be turned by us for you could be turned by the Ambrosias - by The Gods.” Those words sent a chill up my spine. I didn’t want to be immortal period let alone be an Ambrosian immortal. If I was going to be turned then I would at least like to be with the one whom were a bit more level headed. 

“Can I ask one thing of you please?” Ozlem and Cade waited as Lieka sighed “If I am to be turned by you, please, I beg of you to give me the choice to be changed.”

“If you are in our presence when the time comes and you can answer for yourself then yes, you may have the final word.” Ozlem stated. I thanked them and left the chambers finally. Once I was near the end of the long corridor I almost fell to my knees only to be caught by Blake before I hit.

“What is it?” he asked. I looked up at him with tears in my eyes and even after all the pain that I had caused him he still knew what I needed and cradled me in his arms. He stroked my hair as my tears continued to fall on his chest. Once I had calmed down a bit sat me down beside the cliffs. Listening to the waves crashing on the rocks below both calmed me and made me remember. I remembered being near Blake and that I did believe him. “Nora, did you find out what you wanted to know?” he asked.

“They told me that the Chosen One was always to be mortal, they don’t know why it was me and they said that one day, on an unknown date that I would…that I would become immortal as well.” I choked on my words. I didn’t want to say it because I knew that there was an extremely good chance that it would happen.

“What? Are you serious?” Blake asked almost with a thrill in his voice.

“I don’t want to live forever Blake. I wanna get married and have kids and grown old and die…like I’m supposed to.” I said, my words getting a head of my thoughts. He suddenly looked hurt again but it was different this time. He wasn’t angry - it was as if his heart had broken.

“What if you’re not supposed to do that? What if being immortal is what you’re supposed to do with your life?” he suggested.

“It’s not.’ I looked into his eyes and suddenly realized why he looked so sad. I took his face in my hands feeling as if my own heart was breaking as well. ‘Oh God Blake I…” he placed his finger to my lips stopping me from speaking further.

“Shhhh.” He said as he took a deep breath.

“I love you Blake. I’m sorry for earlier, I believe you. I really do.” While trying not to show emotion he forced a smile as he pulled me into his body. Both being physically tired and emotionally drained we drove back to Medina where we got a hotel room. We each had our own bed but I ached to crawl into bed with him. It pained me not to but I didn’t want to hurt him more than he already was. I knew why he was hurting, thinking I would live forever would mean that we could be together forever but if I was to stay mortal I would, sooner than later, pass from this life to the next. I didn’t want to give him false hope that I would willingly change because I didn’t want to. I couldn’t imagine not having to worry about not dying, never aging. I wouldn’t know what to do with myself. Without asking him I felt Blake’s arms around me. “I know you might not want me to be here but I need to be.” Since he was with me I couldn’t help but to explain further of why I didn’t want to immortality.