Order of the Omni: A Supernatural Romantic Suspense Novel (The Immortalies Book 1)

by Penny Knight

  “As I said last night, the details have always been grey at best. It’s been said the Mark of the Omni will unlock the sun during the darkness and bring forth a new beginning or the end of humanity.”

  “That’s it?” She screws up her face. “That is all the information you have. Did you read it somewhere or did someone tell you?”

  “I was told,” I answer honestly. Her eyebrows raise with the unasked question. “From the Omni.”

  “You mentioned them before. Who are they? What are they?” I have put off diving deep into our world. Mortals tend not to do well with the truth. And we don’t like to share much to protect our way of life.

  “They are, what you could say, the ones that rule over this world and the others.”

  The pen stops moving mid stroke. She closes her eyes and draws in a breath. “Others?” Her voice breaks. She opens her eyes. “Like other worlds?”.

  “More like realms. There are many portals throughout the world that have openings to other realms. Adelaide has one, hence why I stay here often.”

  She runs her hands through her long hair. “This is more extreme than I thought.” She shakes out her shoulders. “I’m gonna put that on the back burner for now.” She looks flustered.

  “What are you thinking right now?” I ask, trying to give her a break so she can focus on something else.

  She scoffs, “I’m thinking I would give anything to go back, to just watching Topher in the kitchen. Laughing at his stupid pretend cooking shows, I always give him crap for doing.”

  Although I can understand her being overwhelmed with the information, those words punch me in the gut. Go back to the time she didn’t know me. Here I’m thinking, how would I ever be able to go back to the days with her not in my life. And all she wants to do is turn back the clock, so all of this never happened.

  “Those days are gone.” My voice is clipped.

  Her shoulders slump and I instantly regret my words. I shouldn’t let my disappointment be an excuse to be rude to her. She’s discovering that what she thought was real is not. She’s entitled to her feelings. Even so. I don’t apologise.

  “Yeah, I guess they are,” she says, her voice soft.

  The silence lingers for a moment with words unsaid. Or maybe just my three. I am sorry. Still, I do not apologise.

  “Ok, back to the prophecy.” She looks down at her notepad, then to me. “If that is all you know about it. Are you saying my life is in danger only because The Uprising want to use me for their own purposes? Do they know how the prophecy works?”

  Do they? I have been wondering the same thing.

  “I don’t believe so. There was some written word, apparently. By a seer, a descendant of witches, during some time in history. But no one has heard of it in centuries. Again, this is hearsay. I chased the diary for a very long time. Got nowhere.”

  She bites her inner lip and looks up, mulling it over. I automatically think she might know something but dismiss it. How could she? She is here asking me the questions.

  “You said last night that you want to keep me alive.”

  “I do,” I say.

  She nods. “If they want to use the mark. Me. Whatever it is to walk in the sun. What makes you think they want me dead?”

  “What is known is that the prophecy can only be fulfilled during the transit of Venus. The pattern repeats approximatley every 250 years. It just so happens there is one this year.”

  “When?” her voice raises. She is not going to like the answer.

  “Next Monday.”

  “What?” she yells. “Next Monday, as in seven days away next Monday?” Her face is losing its colour.

  “Yes. One and the same. I don’t believe The Uprising know how to initiate and complete the prophecy. But I would assume their attempt would be sacrificial, as most would.”

  She gulps. “Ok,” she nods, biting her lip, her tell that she is stewing on something.

  “What are you thinking?”

  Her brows still furrowed she looks directly at me. “Topher has found that the programmer from the other night was developing some sort of virus for a Blood Research Institute.”

  “Blood research?” I lean back in my chair. Why would they want to infiltrate that?

  “Do you think they are linked?” she asks. I then realise, she has given me information that I’m searching for as we speak. Is this her trusting me?

  “Possibly.” It would have to be, but why?

  “Ok,” she taps her pen to her lips. Her red soft lips. She nibbles and sucks on the tip, and I go rock hard. Ok, stop. Do not get distracted. For fuck’s sake, I’m over two thousand years old, I can surely control myself better than that.

  “So, let’s say,” she says. “They think they need to off me, to get this sun power.”

  “Sun power?”

  “Yeah, let’s just call it that.” She waves her hand at me still concentrating. I smile. She’s very cute when she’s working. “They want this sun power. But what? Does the one person who does the offing get it? Or do they all? Maybe they think it’s only the one person. And then obviously I will be kaput, dead. So maybe,” she drawls out. “They want to get my DNA and clone me or something. For others to do the same in the future. Like a sun power, all you can eat food bank. They can build a sun power army and take over the world.” Her eyes go wide again. “Oh, my god. Could you imagine more of me?”

  I stifle a chuckle. Her imagination is creative, but there are some good points there. Cloning her could be interesting. My smile creeps through.

  “Topher is gonna die when I tell him.” She flops back in her chair.

  I lean forward. “We don’t know that’s happening for sure.”

  She nods. “We know nothing for sure.”

  “Well, we do.”

  Her brows furrow. “What?”

  “We need to keep you safe,” I remind her.

  She sighs. “Yes, I know.” She huffs and rolls her eyes. Causing a smile to sweep across my face, again. How on earth has she just entered my life?

  “Wait.” She lunges forward in her seat. “Do you?” She shakes her head. “I mean, do you want the sun power?”

  “First, that’s a silly name.” Her mouth drops open, offended. “Second, that does not happen for me. I already asked, and it’s not written for me to be a day walker.”

  “That sucks.” Her shoulders slump.

  “Why?” Does she realise she’s disappointed I don’t want her dead?

  “I just mean, it would be good if you could, you know. I love the sun. It’s one of the few things that helps me come out of my darkness when it gets to be too much. Outside, preferably near water and sunlight streaming on me.” She sighs. “It just sucks that you can’t.”

  “I’m used to it.” My voice comes out slow and measured, lost in what she has just given me. Her darkness? What does that mean? She must notice my tone and looks at me from her wistful thinking and our eyes lock. Recognition flashes across her face as I can instantly tell when she realises she has let me in. Granted, it was a small pebble she threw my way, but one day she might just understand she can throw a boulder at me and I will handle it with care.

  “Anyway,” she looks down avoiding eye contact, “I think that’s all for now,” she stands. I’m taken aback but not surprised at her abrupt departure. This has become a pattern once she becomes vulnerable.

  “As of right now.” She packs her notepad in her bag and continues quickly. “I’ve decided today is my day off. From it all. So, after I walk out this door, there is no talk of any doom and gloom. Death. Clones,” I chuckle as she throws her bag over her arm. “You yelling at me,” she raises her brows.

  “Me?”

  “Yes, you.” She stands there, hands on hips.

  “You promise to not get in trouble?” I ask.

  “Hmmm.” Her eyes dart around, contemplating before landing back on me. “Life or death trouble, yes.”

  That does not sound convincing.

  �
��Yes, I promise.” She smiles, but I frown. Even less convincing now. “OH MY GOD!” She throws her hands up walking to the door. She opens it, then turns to me. “Unless someone is going to come in here and whack me, then I promise. I’m not planning to leave the hotel. I’m barely hanging on. I just need one day to pretend I don’t have a deadline on my life.” Her eyes well and her playfulness is slowly fading.

  It pierces my heart. She wants a day, then she gets a day.

  “Understood,” I say.

  She takes a deep breath. “Thank you.”

  I nod and she turns and leaves the room.

  Once the door closes, I know exactly what I need to do.

  This isn’t so bad. Who can complain when you’re in a luxury hotel, floating in a marble pool? Relaxing music wafts through the speakers. My arms glide back and forth over the water. Every time my mind wanders back to the news, I grab it and throw it away. Not yet. I tell my brain. Just not yet.

  It’s hard keeping it from drowning me. Like a weight on my chest, pushing me under the warm water. I let the imaginary weight take me under. The water flows over my shoulders. With one last gulp of air, I submerge underneath. The muted sounds still my thoughts and with my hands I push deeper. Letting it engulf and consume me.

  Holding my breath, I work to stay under. Safe in this bubble. Taking comfort in the fact, I’m the only one in control of when I take my next breath.

  I should be the only one in control of my future. Don’t I deserve it? After everything I have worked to accomplish. I’m not perfect, and I know my job tests the boundaries of right and wrong. But I wish no harm on anyone. That must count for something.

  My chest is full, and I have hit the bottom of the pool. The lights are warped up above. In this moment nothing matters, other than my next breath. The one I know I need to take in this distorted reality.

  It’s getting harder to hold my breath, so I swim upward. I hadn’t realised how deep I sunk. The larger my stroke, the closer the outside becomes. But my next breath is banging against my ribs, begging to come out.

  Anxiety clenches my throat, and the panic is quick to take hold. I’ll explode under this water; I won’t make it. I took too long. My arms swim faster and faster.

  I break out the water and gasp, air filling my lungs. I take as much as I can.

  “There you are,” I hear Topher’s familiar voice. My eyes are still closed and there’s a fierce thudding in my ears, pounding from my heart. I concentrate on the air, taking it in. That was way too close.

  “This is nice here.” There’s a small splash and my eyes snap open. Completely shocked he has jumped in.

  I turn and see him on the edge of the pool, his feet splashing around. That makes more sense.

  “Did you really think I was gonna jump in?” he chuckles.

  “I was shocked, not going to lie.” My voice is croaky. As my bearings are coming back to me. I’m glad his here, but it’s lucky he didn’t see or notice what happened. Wouldn’t that be just my luck?

  Elita Machiavelli, found dead, after accidentally drowning herself in the pool.

  “No, just not for me,” he says. Slowly, I paddle towards him. For some reason he doesn’t go in the water. He has a thing about it. There must be something there, but I’ve understood there are some places people do not want to go. I have many. This one is Topher’s.

  He has come a long way for even dangling his feet and being as relaxed as he is now.

  “How’s it going?” I look up and ask.

  He hunches his shoulders as he slumps with one hand, rubbing the back of his neck.

  “Not gonna lie, I’m tired.”

  “I’m sorry.” I hate that I’m the reason his so worn out.

  “What on earth are you apologising for? Oh shit. What happened?” He sits up.

  “Nothing, I didn’t do anything.” Did I? I think back over the day and I’m sure I have stayed out of trouble. “I mean, I’m sorry you’re in this situation. I know you’re tired. You have been working day and night on that computer.”

  “Plus saving your ass on your Indiana Jones adventures,” he says, laying back on his elbows.

  I fight the urge to roll my eyes, but he’s right, a little anyway. “I’m sorry my awesome inquisitive mind has made us countless amounts of money and given us our career path and has sometimes,” I say, “gotten us in a slight bind.”

  He just looks at me. “You can talk shit underwater, can’t you?” he smirks.

  Hmph, well, I couldn’t talk under that water. But, yeah, I guess I can. “Anyway.” I smile. “Today should be a timeout.”

  “A timeout?” he says. “I’m intrigued. Continue.”

  “Well, you’re tired. I am… well. I don’t even know. The point is, I don’t want to. Not today. So, a timeout. We’re in a beautiful hotel. On an amazing holiday in…” I try to think of where I want to be.

  “Disneyland!” Topher yells.

  I screw up my face. “Disneyland? Really? That sounds anything but relaxing. All those people yelling and…”

  He is laughing away.

  “What?” I ask.

  “See, you hate people,” he says, still laughing.

  “I do not,” I say loudly for the millionth time. “That’s it. We pause for today.”

  “Okay, I get it. Dude, you had me at hotel. I’m in.” He drops his head back, relaxing.

  I lay my head on my arms gently kicking my feet back and forth.

  It’s quiet.

  I close my eyes. Sweet silence.

  “This is boring,” he says.

  “They have a day spa. It was my next stop.”

  “Why the fuck are we here then?” He jumps up. “Swimming? Like what is the point?” he says with disgust. “And inside, too. Where I can’t even get a tan. Even more pointless,” he shudders.

  I laugh and fly backwards in the water kicking around to my front, swimming to the steps and get out.

  Facial it is.

  I thought I’d have trouble getting an appointment. But as soon as I said my name, two spots opened up. My no thinking day is turning out better than I had hoped. A big thank you to the bubble I placed around myself and this seaweed scrub I am wrapped in.

  “It kind of smells,” Topher says, laying on the massage table beside me.

  “We’re wrapped in seaweed. What did you expect?”

  “Fair point.”

  The smell is quite strong, like fish or day-old sushi. Great. Now that’s all I can concentrate on. And he says, I’m the buzzkill.

  “So, how did he look today?” he asks.

  “Who?” The smell hits the back of my throat. I really need some water.

  “Adonis.”

  “If I could roll my eyes right now, I would.”

  Topher laughs, “I’m sure you are doing it under those cucumbers. But seriously, how did he look?”

  “I don’t know,” I snap back. “Same as every other time I’ve seen him.”

  “So, hot then?”

  “Yes,” I groan. His been on this horse for a while now. Normally he’d have given up on this hook up. “What’s your point?”

  “Come on. How have you not imagined it?” His voice wondrous.

  Here we go. “Imagine what?”

  “What him fucking you would be like.”

  “Topher!”.

  “I have,” he sighs, wistfully. “Many times.”

  I need out of this conversation. I don’t want to even think about having this conversation. Remember the bubble. That’s also for the tension I feel when I’m with Leo, and even without him.

  “How long has it been, E?” he asks.

  “I’m not answering that.” Not because I don’t want to, more like I can’t even remember. God, has it really been that long?

  “Hmph, because you can’t. Let me see, I don’t remember you hooking up with anyone after your rebound fling with Aiden two years ago.”

  “Two years? No way, it hasn’t been that long.” I remember Aiden. Topher
played wingman and set us up one night we were out. He deemed it long enough since what happened with Brian and I needed to get back out there. Hence, Aiden. I won’t lie, it was a good three weeks, but he hinted at more and there was no way I was going to do more ever again.

  “Yeah, it has, Elita.” His soft voice gives away his feelings of pity for me.

  “I’ve been busy.” It’s not a lie. I have been. Working hard and long trying to prove to Tony that I was all in. And maybe looking at expanding or getting into partnership ranks. Plus, I have been saving for my trip to all the places I’ve wanted to visit.

  “I get it. I know you have. But I think it’s more than that. I think you’re scared to open up again.”

  I let out a long, drawn-out sigh. “I just…” Am I scared? Of course, I am. I know what it feels like to be walked away from too many times. “I just don’t want to do it again. Not sex. I mean all the other bullshit. I think some people are just not meant to be with anyone. And I’m one of them.”

  I hear a slosh on the floor, I lift the cucumbers from my eyes and see two sad looking ones staring back at me. His sitting up, seaweed slipping off him.

  “You can’t be serious. You really think that?” His puppy dog eyes look at me, broken.

  I shrug, “Yeah, but it’s ok. I’m happy with that. I have you.”

  “Yeah, but eventually I’m gonna get married and settle down.”

  “Really? You are?” I have never heard him talk like this before.

  “I mean one day, yeah, definitely. I have a lot of love to give someone and hopefully a bunch of little someones. I can’t wait to be a dad.”

  “Wow.” I sit up, too. Trying to hold the seaweed from slipping. It’s fruitless. Instead, I grab the towel from the side table and cover my front. “You would make an amazing dad.”

  “I know, right?” He smiles big. “You would make an amazing mum, too, you know.”

  I bite the inside of my lip as I remember Anna in my dreams. I know it isn’t real, and it’s just a dream, but I still can’t help the feeling of failure. Not being able to bring her out of where she’s stuck.

  “You mean auntie.” I smile, changing the track of my mind to happier thoughts.