Immortalis - Book 1 (The Keeper's Immortals) (28 page)

Ozlem, Lieka and Cade walked up first - their black capes dragging behind them. Once they were on the edge a hush came over the room as everyone looked up at them as if they commanded their attention without having to say a word. Ozlem, like always took his place at the lead of the three Keepers and started. “We have called you all, brought you all here because we have given you each a gift. I gift of eternal life on this earth and now that gift could be taken away by one single act.”

“How? What are you talking about?” someone shouted out of the crowd. By the uproar that that came afterwards I could tell that everyone was as nervous as the Hollings had been for days, if not longer, since they had seen the katana in person months ago.

“The long thought mythical katana is very real thing, it was held to our own necks not long ago.” Ozlem continued. Below them they all could the once semi-silent room had become even louder with an uproar of worried voices. They all knew the story of the katana and if it was real then what it could mean to them all.

“It was held to your own throats and yet you’re just now telling us about this?” Another person asked.

“We didn’t know of its importance until months after that event had taken place but that isn’t the point. The point is that the Twilight has begun.” Ozlem snapped at his people who continued to mummer to themselves. The Twilight, the words that I had heard countless times before and I knew that it was going to be an important event that would be unknown in the history books but once I heard the voices of the people below I finally realized what all was at stake. Not just the Hollings, not just Lucas but everyone on both sides who had families. Maybe not the ones that they were born into but families that they had created from chaos. I didn’t want to be ripped from my family and I didn’t want anyone to be torn away from theirs either.

“So the Twilight is real? We all thought it was a myth just like the katana?” A tall gentleman yelled from the crowd.

“As real as you and I are Kennedy. I’m sure most of you, if not all know the story then you know that there is hope. There is a Chosen One who is said to be able to raise above all the flames and do what they must.”

“And there is a Chosen One, do you know who this person is?” the man that was called Kennedy asked with a hostile tone in his voice.

“We do.” Cade answered almost with a bark. He had grown accustom to Nora, he liked her and with that, protective. 

“And where is this Chosen One?” the man roared. Lieka looked up at the man with a fierce look, almost as if he was ready to pounce as if he had a need to protect me as Cade did, but held back as he turned to offer me his hand. Upon taking it I seemed to suddenly know what I needed to do, what I needed to say. It was like something was switched on inside of me. As I walked up the Hollings were at my side but I didn’t need their hands around mine anymore. I walked forward only to be stopped by Ozlem.

“Nora.’ He said as he took his hand within mine. ‘I must tell you something before you speak. No matter what you chose, I know that it will be right. Be it them, or us do what you feel is right and know that we trust you.” He explained to me. His words touched me and although I already knew what I was going to do, it comforted me to know that he trusted my choice. Behind him both Lieka and Cade also gave me approving smiles. I thanked him and walked forward after taking one last deep breath before looking over the cliff to the sea of faces below. I licked my dry lips then started to talk.

“The Twilight has begun and it will come full circle tomorrow at dawn, a mere twenty four hours stands between you and your fate and me with mine. Because of this fact alone you all should go out and live like it’s your last because although I know what I’m going to do, if the katana was to get into the wrong hands it could change everyone’s fate. Right now, your fate is in my hands and assure you that it’s safe there.” I explained. I did know what I was going to do but I wasn’t going to tell any of them my plan.

“And why should we trust you? You’re nothing more than a child!” The man called Kennedy barked at me. His raised voice made Jaryn growl. His protective instinct was taking over. I raised my hand to signal both Jaryn and the other man who was tall, pale with dirty blond hair.

“Because I am the Chosen One! I didn’t find The Keepers and ask to be this but they told me a great tale of power and strength and now all of your lives are in my hands. I didn’t want to be this, to be the Chosen One but some of us do not have a choice in how our lives are played out. Tomorrow the Twilight will happen. It will be a battle between The Keepers and The Gods. Their immortals will collide with every one of you that stand in this room and I am the only one who can stop it!’ I barked back at him, making Kennedy lowered his hand slightly at me. I felt as if I had punished him in a way. ‘If you don’t want to fight then fine but your salvation will be at greater risk if you don’t. I know what I have to do but if I don’t have the help I need then all hell will break lose. I can make this situation a very tight and easy process but they will be after me because of the katana.”

“If you are the Chosen One then where is the katana?” he asked snidely.

“It’s hidden in a place where only I know, I couldn’t risk carrying it around with me so that it wouldn’t be taken by anyone else. I was born to do this, it’s my destiny and I promise that I will make the right choice for everyone involved.” I explained. “Now go, live for the night for when dawn comes, it’s the beginning of the end.” I ended my speech and my thoughts on the matter. I turned to face Blake who was smiling at me. He looked proud, they all did. I didn’t give much of a smile back, more like a cocky self assured look and it was because I was. I knew what I was gonna do before this, I had known for a while but it was secret that would come out in time if I was allowed time to do. It would be the last secret I would hold.

There was still a mummer of voices in the crowd below me but they didn’t fight me or The Keepers. We could all only hope that the other immortals would show the next day. As I walked back to the others I was shot a smile from Blake who grabbed me by the hand before I would be whisked away to greet immortals. He pulled me to the side, into a dark corner and held me; kissed me gently. “You were amazing!” he said with pride in his voice.

“Thank you but it was nothing really, I know what I have to do tomorrow so tonight I wanna live like it could be me last.” I said with a smile. He asked if he could join me in whatever I wanted to do and I gladly welcomed him. Suddenly Jaryn grabbed his brother’s shoulder, startling us both.

“Would you sickening love birds get out here so you can meet some very important immortals…well, important in their little minds.” He said with a laugh as we followed him out of the dark corner and stood with the others. In front of me stood the talkative one; Kennedy was his name. Sebastian called me forward, lightly touching the small of my back as I neared him.

“Nora, Ozlem thought you would like to meet the man who was being so rude to you earlier.” He told me. The man looked up at Sebastian with a jerk of his neck.

“He didn’t say that Sebastian!” the man snapped.

“Yeah whatever Huckleberry Finn.” Jaryn snickered as he poked fun of the man who had a southern gentleman’s voice. I hadn’t heard the accent before but I was more racked with nerves than I was at the moment.

“Nora, this Kennedy Kaine.” Sebastian announced to me. The man walked forward with his nose stuck up in the air. He bowed to me like a true southern gentleman but also making me wonder from what decade he was from since no one did that anymore.

“It’s nice to meet you.” I said kindly as I allowed him to take my hand.

“Likewise…I must apologize for my harsh words but you can understand coming from my point of view. Our lives are left in another person’s hands and you’re so young.” He explained his reasons to me. I did understand but I needed, if any of the immortals other than the Hollings it was Kennedy. He seemed to be the one of the ones that was looked up to; a leader like Sebastian was with the Hollings clan.

“I do and I thank you for your kindness but I must assure you, like I said before…I do know what I have to do and I do know what I am capable of. I have their trust.’ Meaning the Hollings who stood about, listening to my every word. ‘But I have a feeling that you’re someone whose trust I should gain as well?”

“I’ve been known to have some influence in the immortal world. May I introduce you to some others who would like to meet you?’ I agreed and allowed him to guild me further into the pack of immortals. ‘Nora this is my mate, Abigail.” I looked at the woman who was able to tame Kennedy’s heart other than his mortal wife. She was a beautiful woman with black hair, green eyes and kind smile. She took my hand within hers and greeted me warmly. She was a mother or had been in a former life.

“It’s very nice to finally meet you Nora. To meet the Chosen One is indeed an honor.” Her words made me blush slightly. In my mind I still wasn’t anyone special, just someone putting on one hell of a good show. I met the others who traveled with them as their children; Malachi and Genipher. They weren’t even born in the same country, or the same generation but you couldn’t tell that they weren’t siblings in their eyes. Their mannerisms were so a like is scary. They were both kind just like the people who had helped raise them since they were turned at a young age. In fact I was to learn that they were some of the youngest immortals that were changed by The Keepers; the youngest they would go would be seventeen because of the maturity level and the need to hide their secret in the first place. You couldn’t tell if they had grown or not but you could if they had been any younger. 

“It’s an honor for me as well. Please won’t you and your join us for an early lunch?” I asked him to do without asking for permission from anyone else other than myself. Kennedy agreed to the lunch date with both his clan, myself with the Hollings, Trish and Charlie, treating us himself to the finest restaurant in Medina. The bill was over three hundred dollars and we were all stuffed but Kennedy said that it was money well spent. While being hidden in a private dining room we talked over the courses of fine food and wine of the Twilight, my life and his. He was turned in the early eighteen hundreds after he was given eternal life when his wife called upon The Keepers to save him. He was dying of an unknown ailment and she knew that she couldn’t raise their children in that day in age alone. She had heard the story of The Keepers as a little girl and thought that it if we’re real then it could be her families only hope. She sent word to Medina, the location to where she had heard The Keepers were at. Just before his death, his wife was greeted by the three Keepers. After hearing her out they granted her wish with the agreement that she would give up her own life for his. Once the deal was made she was taken, her essence given to Kennedy. He was with his family for as long as he could be. His two of sons were killed in battle, while his only daughter married but was unable to have children of her own. When the doctor confirmed that she wasn’t able to give her husband any children she killed herself when he left her; jumping off a bridge that was nearby and into the water.

Grief stricken Kennedy couldn’t stand to stay in his home where he had lived with everyone he had lost. After selling the large plantation home he traveled the world and finally found others who were like him. He met and fell in love with Abigail and with them lived others like they were their children. He had his family back, although it wasn’t the same, it was something he could love.

“I have them but it’s still not the same, not for any of us who once had families. We move on as best as we can, making new memories with each other but were also plagued with the memories of our former lives.” Kennedy explained to me. I understood because that was one of the many reasons I didn’t want to be changed myself and I was going to stop it from happening one way or another. I hated hurting Blake in such a way but I knew, or hoped at least that he would move on again with time without allowing himself to become even bitterer towards mortals.

“I know that must be something very hard to deal with everyday.”

“It is. There are some immortals, like some of our friends here, that don’t have to worry about that.” He stated.

“You would be surprised.’ I said with a smirk, thinking of Emmalee. ‘Everyone has their demons Kennedy, even me.” My thoughts shifting to Reid. He smiled as everyone continued to talk although my thoughts weren’t on any of the conversations that were going on. Kennedy’s story touched me. I wouldn’t know what to do with myself if I was to become immortal and I wasn’t planning on finding out if I could help it. Once lunch was over we walked out of the restaurant allies, as I had gained his trust that I could do what was necessary to handle to situation. There were still many hours between us and the Twilight but not as many as I had wished and I was determined to do what I could with those hours. There were things that I had to do and things that I wanted to do. My first stop was Trish and Charlie. “Hey.’ I said as I knocked and entered their room. ‘I wanted to talk to you guys.” Charlie was lying on the bed full from his meal and looked up at me with an exasperated look. We hadn’t been back at the hotel for long when I knew that I had to get started to making sure there wasn’t anything I didn’t do before the next morning.

“I don’t like it when you say that, please don’t say that.” Trish said, knowing me like a book. She knew something was happening, almost as if she could see the wheels turning in my head.

“I just want to go into this fight without any regrets, just in case and not telling you both that I love you and that you’re amazing friends, including the best friend that a girl could ever have…I would regret that.” I smiled. They only looked at each other with doubt in their eyes.