by Penny Knight
That was not the right thing to say. I feel the vein pulsing in my neck. How is that meant to calm me down?
“It’s best if I don’t talk to her right now,” I say. My mouth barely moving because my jaw is clenched so tight.
Broderick nods. “Smart choice.” His lips turn up in a smirk.
I crack my neck. I need to release this rage.
“We train when we get back,” I say.
“Fuck,” he mutters. “At least I can call Miriam to nurse me back to health tomorrow.”
I shake my head. “You will use any reason to get waited on.”
He laughs, “Well I wasn’t born into royalty like some.”
“Hmph.” Sometimes I wish I wasn’t, either. Best to keep that thought to myself.
“Let me do the talking, ok?” he says and raises his brows.
“Fine.”
He turns and I follow him towards the pair. They stand, leaning on the jacked up car. The boy did say they broke down. The back tyre is punctured and the rim hanging loose. They’ve done a good job in killing that wheel.
To combat my initial response of yelling at their lack of thought for their safety, I decide to do something useful. I stop in front of the tyre and undo the bolts.
“Umm,” the boy starts. I look up to him expectantly. “She doesn’t have a spare.” He points at Elita.
Her mouth drops open as she looks wide eyed at him.
“Snitch,” she sneers.
“You should be yelled at. Who doesn’t have a spare?” he argues back.
“Exactly,” I add, squeezing the bolt in my hand. What is she thinking?
“Oh. My. God. Priorities people.” She throws her hands up. “How about you fix that first?” She points at my ribs, her eyes darting back and forth from my abdomen to me.
I look down. Blood stains my shirt. My wound, that’s right.
I lift my shirt to inspect.
“God damn,” the boy whistles, his eyes on my stomach.
“Tsk.” Elita shakes her head. But she hasn’t looked away.
I use the shirt to clear some blood and see the wound is already nearly healed. The perks of being as old as I am. I heal fast.
“Whoa, that is awesome,” the boy says in awe.
I look up, my eyes land on her and notice her eyes are fixed on my bare stomach.
“Are you worried, trouble?” I say smirking.
She snaps her head up. “What?” her brows furrow. “No,” she says, her face flush.
The boy scoffs and covers his mouth.
She hits his arm.
My smile gets bigger. How my rage from moments ago turned to this, has not gone unnoticed. A glimmer of hope. Maybe she feels this unyielding pull, too.
She plasters her hands on her hips and frowns. “I don’t see what everyone is smiling about. What the hell? Actually, who the hell was that?”
Broderick sighs.
“Who was that?” I drop the bolt and take a few steps closer. “He was what I was warning you about and why you’re in danger. That was you almost being dead. That’s what that was,” I say clipped.
“THAT,” she emphasises. “Wasn’t even an answer!” she yells.
“You’re yelling at me?” I point to myself.
“Uh, yeah, I am.”
Is she serious? “You almost got killed.”
“You were going to let Topher die!” she screams, her eyes burning.
“I’m not the one that can’t follow instructions. You were meant to be back at the hotel. That wouldn’t have been on me.”
Her mouth drops open again, pain flashes in her eyes.
Shit.
“What happened to me doing the talking?” Broderick shakes his head next to me. His phone buzzes from his pocket. He pulls it out and reads the message. “Listen, we all just need to take a break. The chopper will be here soon, and we can just cool off on the flight home.”
“A chopper?” The boy claps. “As in helicopter?”
Broderick nods.
“Oh my god!” he claps. “This is the best night ever!”
What?
I look at him.
Broderick looks at him.
Elita looks at him.
“I’ve never been on one before,” he says wide eyed.
She opens her mouth to say something, but nothing comes out. Shaking her head, she slaps both hands over her face.
The adrenaline would be wearing off by now. They both will be crashing. I want to take her in my arms and just get home as fast as possible. But we’re far from home and I don’t want her to pass out again.
The sound of the rotor blades on the chopper flows through the wind, it’s not far.
“Grab what you need from the car,” Broderick says hearing the helicopter himself. “The bird should be here soon.”
I rub my sore jaw. It’s been clenched the entire flight home. The first time and most likely the only time in a helicopter, and all I could do was silently fume. Not once did I look at him, even though I could sense his eyes on me all the way home. Topher helped keep me distracted, jumping up and down with excitement pointing at scenery. Now I’m in the back of the elevator, arms crossed.
My fault? How dare he. After what happened last night and the way he helped me. Just when I was thinking maybe I was wrong about him and I could trust him. He may as well have slapped me across the face after what he pulled with Topher’s life on the line.
The doors ping open and we pile out, first Topher then Broderick. Leo walks to the doors, and instead of exiting the lift he presses the button for them to close. I stand straight as Topher’s shocked face mouths “oh shit.” Right before the door closes. Before I can protest, he has hit the emergency stop button and the lift jolts in place.
Oh shit is right.
He turns and our eyes meet. Fine, if he wants to do this, I’m ready. I cock my chin, waiting for him to start this fight first.
“Are you feeling better?” he asks. Voice filled with concern. “From last night?”
The air in the lift gets sucked into me as I’m hit with confusion. I was ready for a fight. I hate how he has a way of knocking me off my guard.
“Um, yeah.” My voice surprises me when it squeaks. My mind gets thrown back into the depth of depravity from last night. Was I feeling better? Another full day and so much has happened. Now he’s here in front of me asking if I’m ok. I don’t understand him at all. I realise there’s something I need to tell him, no matter how painful it may be. God, help me find the words.
“Look, last night.” I huff. “Last night sucked, and I just wanted to thank you for helping.”
His eyebrows shoot up. Good. It’s his turn to be thrown off.
“What you did was stupid,” he says.
And moment over.
“Excuse me?” My hands fly to my hips. “What did you just call me?” Oh hell no.
“I did not call you anything. I said what you did was stupid.”
“Saving a woman’s life is stupid? Are you serious?” I raise my voice. “And what, you locked me in this elevator here to lecture me?”
“Yes. Yes, I did. So, you can’t run away. No more running off on another case like that. You could have been killed, or worse, if I wasn’t there.” He raises his voice, as well.
I point to myself. “Did you just tell me again what I can and can’t do?”
He nods and cocks his head to the side. “You’re going red, try to calm down.”
My mouth drops open. “Calm down?”
“Why do you keep repeating what I say?”
“You’re lucky I’m only repeating what you are saying because trust me, in my head I am saying much worse.”
He chuckles.
Oh, hell no.
“Are you insane? Like actually clinically insane or something?”
“Not that I’m aware of.” He smirks.
“Ok.” I close my eyes and count. One. Two. Three. Opening them again, I see his smiling eyes on me and mine narrow. “F
irst off, I have already said this once. So, I will say it a bit slower this time, ok?” I clear my throat. “You. Can. Not. Tell. Me. What. To. Do.” I raise my chin. “Ever.”
“Hmph,” he crosses his arms. “Is that right?”
“Yep.”
“And what else, trouble?” he says.
“Open the damn door, I’m starving.” We both stand there looking at each other. I’m not sure how this is going to go since clearly, I am barking at him and telling him what to do, just a moment after I said for him not to do the same to me.
He doesn’t take his eyes off me. But he pushes the button to release the emergency stop. The lift jolts and the doors open.
“After you.” His voice is low, and he extends his arm to lead the way.
“You’re alive!” Topher’s head pops into view, breaking our eye contact. “Broderick has ordered the entire menu. We’re eating in the dining room, come on,” he says.
I square my shoulders and walk past Leo, following Topher.
“This isn’t over.” Leo warns from behind me as he also follows.
I roll my eyes. Bring it on.
The monstrous dining table is in the centre of the large room. I’ve lost count at fourteen chairs, the table is huge. How many people does this guy get for dinner?
It’s already been set. One at the head of the table and I don’t have to guess as to whom will sit there. One placed on either side. With an extra setting closest to the door that’s calling my name. I wonder if it’s childish, if I grabbed it and moved to the other side? Probably, and I’m better than that, but just barely.
I beeline to the place I’ve allocated to myself. Topher instantly sits next to me. Broderick is opposite Topher and Leo at the head of the table.
“How big is this table? What, do you feed the entire hotel staff here?” Topher voices what I’m thinking.
“Why would I feed my staff?” Leo asks.
“To be nice,” I say snarkily.
Broderick stifles his laugh as Leo looks at him.
“Wine?” Broderick asks instead.
“Yes, please.” Topher holds up his glass and I follow suit, too. Broderick fills our glasses along with his and Leo’s.
“Should we cheers?” Topher asks, lifting his glass.
“No,” both Leo and I answer at the same time.
“Okay.” He takes a gulp of his wine. “Party poopers.”
I shrug and take a long sip of mine.
“You may want to eat something first,” Leo says.
My glass is still at my lips as I look at him. Then I open my mouth and down the rest of the wine. Wine isn’t the best chugging drink, but I push through. When will he learn to stop telling me what to do?
“Oh yeah, you go girl.” Topher laughs. “Drunk Elita is my favourite.”
“Mine, too,” I agree as I lean forward for the bottle to refill my glass.
This time Broderick chuckles without holding back. “Oh shit,” he says.
“Well, don’t come crying to me when you’re sick,” Leo says.
“Please, when would I ever come crying to you?” I say, again locked in a staring war with Leo.
“I hate it when mum and dad fight,” Topher says to Broderick.
Broderick barks out a laugh, breaking our stare-off, and getting our attention. “I think I like you kid,” he says.
“Aw, shucks,” Topher replies. “Wait, what kind of like?” he winks at Broderick.
This time I giggle.
Broderick shakes his head, smirking as he looks behind us as two older ladies in the hotel uniform walk in. One pushing a cart filled with mouthwatering food, smelling divine and waking up my stomach, which grumbles with anticipation. I don’t remember much else, because as soon as the food’s on the table, it’s all I can concentrate on. We all dive in.
Feeling full and quite tipsy, I sit back in my chair with my third glass of wine. It feels like forever since I have felt this relaxed, the warmth of the alcohol coursing inside feels like a fluffy electric blanket wrapped around me.
I’m laughing and don’t even remember why. Probably something Topher said. After we ate, Broderick left. Something that apparently couldn’t wait.
“So,” Topher says. “Can I live here forever? That was delicious.”
“It really was,” I say.
“I’m glad you liked it,” Leo says.
“Liked it? I loved it. Thanks man.” He stands. “Really, I appreciate everything you have done, taking us in and protecting Elita.”
Leo’s eyes land on me and I look down to the table.
“You’re welcome,” he says.
“I got some things I need to work on, so I’m going to turn in. See you both in the morning,” Topher waves and heads out of the room, leaving only Leo and I at the table.
It’s so quiet after Topher gets up you could hear a pin drop. The silence is deafening, and I can feel his eyes burning a hole through me as my head is still turned watching Topher leave. My anger has been sated from the rich wine. It must have the same effect as a sledgehammer because one brick wall of many that I’ve fortified around myself has been knocked down and I turn, meeting his stare. This time not looking at him in anger and distrust.
“So, I have questions,” I say, putting the wine glass on the table.
He leans back in his chair. I’m not sure when he switched drinks because he swirls an amber liquid in a glass tumbler. “As do I,” he says.
I smile. “I’m sure you do.” He has inserted himself in my life and seems to think he has some right to do so. So, having questions isn’t out of reason. “Ok, I’ll go first.”
“Go ahead.”
“Why did you say I was yours?” He stills for only a second before he composes himself.
“Because you are,” he says.
“No, I am not.” I raise my brow.
“My turn?”
“What? How is it your turn when you didn’t answer the question?”
“Yes,” he sits forward, “I did. Just because you don’t want to believe it’s true doesn’t mean it isn’t.”
“Um, I’m pretty sure it does.” He is clinically insane. “That answer gave me absolutely no information.”
This smile is different, sneaky, clever. “Maybe you should word your questions better.”
I roll my eyes at his response.
He barks out a laugh. “My turn.”
I sit back in my chair. “Go ahead,” I mimic him.
He smiles. “Ok. Why would you risk your life for a stranger last night?”
“There wasn’t much of a choice,” I shrug.
“Yes, there was. You didn’t need to go after him.”
Maybe, if it wasn’t the case that I heard firsthand what he planned on doing. But that isn’t what happened. I don’t want to tell him, so I say nothing. “Well, that’s the answer to the question you asked. I’m sorry you don’t like it.”
“Fine,” he says. “Let’s cut the bullshit. I’ll answer your first question. You are mine because of the mark on your neck.”
Finally, some real information and truth from him. “What is it?”
“It’s the Mark of the Omni.”
“What does it mean?” I move closer.
“Nope,” he says, “not your turn. You answer mine now.”
Damn, I let out the breath I was holding. He’s being honest, so I will respect that and do the same. The first person other than Topher I’m going to tell of my new abilities. But I doubt he will commit me to an asylum, maybe he even knows more like me.
“I could hear him think all the bad things he was going to do to her. That’s why I didn’t have a choice.”
I wait for him to be shocked. And look at me weird like there’s something wrong with me.
“And?” he says.
My brows furrow. Doesn’t he get it?
“Because I could hear.” I let the word linger. “What he was thinking.” Still, he doesn’t appear to be shocked. Then it registers. “You al
ready knew?”
He shifts in his seat. “Yes, I did.”
Trusting this man would not be a smart move. He could be holding so many secrets. How long has he known? I feel like a fool, I’m so out of my depths with him. And I hate it.
I nod. I knew it. It’s like a pin has gotten into my tyre, slowly deflating me. I hate being disappointed, that’s why I try not to look forward or hope for something. This feeling is the one that sucks the most. The walls barricade back around me. No one is to enter. No matter how fucking hot they are.
“To answer your question, I didn’t feel like getting locked up into a mental institution by ringing the cops and telling them to follow a guy because I can hear him thinking. And I couldn’t just let him disappear and never be able to sleep again. So, I did not have a choice.” The time has passed for me to believe I can trust him. But I can still use this time to find out more information while he’s in a talkative mood. “My turn. That guy called you king. Why?”
“Because in my world, I am King. The King of the Immortalies.”
A King? I wasn’t expecting that.
“Are there a lot of Immortalies out there?”
“There are quite a few, yes,” he answers. His eyes peering at me over the rim of his glass.
I ignore the chirp of the little bird in my head telling me this is the most outrageous, ridiculous and completely unrealistic conversation. However, here I am having it. So, let’s just drop the rest of what I thought I knew of this world and start studying the one I’m in now.
“My turn,” he says. “Do you understand you’re in danger?” His tone has changed. Serious, but not patronizing.
“I do.” There’s no denying it now. After what has happened, I know I am lucky to be alive. “I don’t understand why, though.”
He nods. “You having that mark is fulfilling a prophecy. Somehow, that mark will be responsible for Immortalies to walk in the sun.”
My brows furrow. “How?”
“We’re not sure yet. It has been more of an urban legend than a prophecy. I was told about you so many years ago. I believe though, The Uprising who are the equivalent of a terrorist organization in the human world, would like to have that power.”
I chew on my lip. This seems intense. Absolutely nobody likes the word terrorist. I push down my fear for a moment. “What about you? What do you want with it?”
