by I. T. Lucas
Syssi wrapped her arm around Edna’s shoulders. “How is Rufsur? Did he tell you how Kalugal responded to the surprise compulsion? Was he mad?”
Edna shook her head. “He said that he couldn’t be even if he wanted to. Annani’s speech forced him to feel happy and relaxed.”
Jacki sauntered over with a margarita glass in hand. “That’s what he told us. I didn’t feel any of the compulsion, but I was touched by the speech. The goddess meant every word. She really wants us to unite and live in harmony.”
“Speaking of unification.” Amanda handed Edna the margarita. “Can we see the presentation? The guys are not here, and I would like a preview.”
Edna looked out the window. Kalugal and the guys who were going to be his groomsmen were at Kian’s house, but some of his other men might be returning home after spending the night with the ladies and might hear the presentation through the open door or windows.
“I can hook up my phone to the television, but we need to close the door and all the windows.”
Jacki’s eyes wandered up to the ceilings. “I’m sure there are monitoring cameras hidden somewhere in here. We don’t want this to leak out before we are ready.”
“There are,” Edna admitted. “But no one is watching the feed. It gets recorded in case something happens, but if nothing does, the recording will self-erase in forty-eight hours.”
“Interesting.” Jacki walked over to the couch and plopped down, some of her margarita spilling on her robe.
Edna smiled. “I think that from now on, you should switch to virgin margaritas. You don’t want to be drunk at your wedding.”
“But they are so tasty.” She waved a dismissive hand. “I don’t even like to drink, but Amanda said that immortals burn through alcohol fast, and that hers are the best, and I just had to try every flavor.”
Edna cast Amanda a reproachful look. “Contributing to the delinquency of the bride?”
“Guilty as charged, Judge. Jacki needs to loosen up. She was stressing out like crazy.”
“I was.” Jacki nodded. “Do you know why the surveillance was set up like that?”
“I know the answer to that,” Syssi said. “Kian is a terrible liar, and that way he could tell Kalugal that no one was watching him inside the house without it being untrue.”
Edna wondered if they were spilling the beans because of the relaxing effect Annani’s compulsion had had on them. William was in on the secret as well, and he could also be a potential leak. The only one who was sure to keep his mouth shut was Turner.
Pulling out her phone, she turned the television screen on and synced the devices.
“I have the animated presentation that Brandon prepared, and I also have Jacki’s moving speech. I don’t have Dalhu’s renderings, though. Brandon is working on incorporating them into the movie, but I only have the previous version.”
“I have them.” Amanda pulled out her phone. “They are gorgeous.” She passed the phone to Syssi.
“A moat?”
Edna shrugged. “We thought that Kalugal would get a kick out of it.”
Syssi flipped to the next picture. “What’s that?”
Edna looked over her shoulder. “A museum for Kalugal’s artifacts built around the pavilion. Everyone coming and going will pass by the displays. We think that this is going to be a major selling point. Kalugal’s work will get the appreciation it deserves.”
“Do you have anything like this for Kian?”
Edna shook her head. “We hope that the presentation will be enough to sway him.”
66
Eleanor
Eleanor smoothed her hand over the gorgeous gown Amanda had given her. It was a bit loose on her, but it was still the nicest thing she’d ever worn, and she’d worn some fancy stuff in her day.
When she’d still worked for the pharmaceutical company, Christmas parties had been a big deal, and she’d always splurged on beautiful outfits. After all, she’d made lots of money, and with no family to support, she could afford to spend it as she wished. But the designer gown was in a different league than what even the best department stores could offer.
It was something she would have expected to see on a movie star attending the Oscars, and with the stick figure she was sporting now, Eleanor was the perfect clothes hanger.
Testing a runway walk in the high-heeled sandals Amanda had dropped off together with the dress, she headed down the corridor to the living room.
Parker whistled. “You look like a model.”
“Thank you.” She patted the elaborate coif Vivian had worked on for over an hour. “What do you think of my hair?”
“Looks awesome.” He pushed to his feet and tugged on his jacket. “I hate monkey suits.”
“But you look so dashing.” She threaded her arm through his. “Are you going to dance with me at the wedding?”
“No way.” The look of horror on his face was adorable. “You are like a head taller than me with those heels on.”
She patted his hand. “I’ll take them off and dance with you barefoot.”
He grimaced. “Okay.”
The master bedroom’s door opened, and Vivian walked out together with Magnus.
“You look stunning, Eleanor.” Vivian walked up to her. “Greggory’s jaw will drop all the way to the floor.”
Eleanor’s heartbeat accelerated. She owed Greggory for inducing her transition, and she wondered what he would demand in exchange.
What if he asked her to spy on Kian and his people?
She could say no, right?
Her quest to find the source of her power had finally come to an end. She was among others like her, and if she navigated that new territory with care, perhaps she could fit in and have a life in the village.
It would be so disappointing if Greggory asked that of her. She hoped he really liked her, but that was wishful thinking. He seemed like a nice guy, and he probably wouldn’t want anything to do with damaged goods like her when he had an entire clan of immortal beauties to choose from.
That was why she’d run off back home right as the goddess started her speech.
Well, it had been just one of the reasons. The other was that the small glowing figure had scared the crap out of her.
There was tremendous power in Annani. Eleanor had felt the goddess’s compulsion pushing against her brain, and she’d fled before it had a chance to obliterate her defenses. Maybe it wouldn’t have happened, and maybe she’d been scared for nothing, but she couldn’t tolerate the thought of losing control over her own mind. She also kept stressing over what else the goddess could do. Could she read her mind? Could Annani sense the darkness inside her and decide to smite her before she could harm her people?
Vivian was still smiling at her, waiting for a response, but all Eleanor came up with was, “Thank you for doing my hair.”
“It was my pleasure. Amanda was too busy with the preparations to do that for you, and she is also one of the bridesmaids.”
“I’m glad she didn’t have time. I would have felt awkward with the goddess’s daughter fussing over me.”
“Are we ready to go?” Magnus asked. “The guests are supposed to be seated by nine-thirty, and we still need to find our seats.”
67
Rufsur
“I hope there will be no nasty surprises this time.” Rufsur clapped Kalugal on the back and then took his place among the other groomsmen.
To anyone who didn’t know Kalugal, he looked calm and collected, but Rufsur could sense the unease rippling under the surface.
Was he afraid that the goddess would pull another compulsion on him?
Rufsur was starting to feel it ease a little. The day before, Annani had removed the part about no subterfuge, which allowed him to keep tomorrow’s plan a secret, but the rest of it was slowly fading as well. He no longer felt as if he was drunk on happy juice, but he was still very hopeful about the results of the presentation the next day.
Kian, who was standing next to
him, didn’t have his earplugs in, and that was despite Turner sitting among the guests and not near him. The couples seated together at the tables were chatting amicably with each other, and Rufsur couldn’t find even one hostile expression on anyone’s face.
The exceptions were Turner and Eleanor. Turner’s face was as impassive as ever, and Eleanor, who was seated next to Greggory, looked anxious. Her eyes kept darting in all directions, and Rufsur couldn’t decide if it was Greggory who made her nervous, or was it being surrounded by so many immortals.
Lokan, who was standing to his right, was grinning happily, as if the goddess’s compulsion was affecting him the same as it was everyone else, but Rufsur had a feeling that it hadn’t. If that was true, he wondered why it had affected Kalugal, who was a much stronger compeller than his brother. Perhaps it was the difference in their personalities? Or maybe their age?
Lokan had lived under Navuh’s rule for nearly a millennium, which made him much more cautious and mistrusting than Kalugal, who’d been a very young man when he’d escaped. And given what Lokan had tried to do with Vivian and her daughter, he was also more callous and self-serving. Rufsur doubted that Kalugal would have been willing to sacrifice two innocents just to satisfy his curiosity.
The other two groomsmen were Phinas and Shamash, and both looked stupidly happy. But that had probably more to do with where they’d spent the night, and with whom, than with Annani’s compulsion.
When the ‘Wedding March’ started playing over the loudspeakers, all conversations died out, and everyone’s eyes turned to the two festively decorated golf carts rounding the corner.
Jacki and her bridesmaids stepped down from the vehicles and arranged a formation around Jacki. On one side were Jin and Wendy, and on the other Syssi, Amanda, and his Edna.
What a sight she was.
After tonight, no one would ever think of her as plain again. She was wearing a beautiful emerald gown made from layers of sheer fabric, and even though it wasn’t form-fitting, the slight breeze draped it lovingly over her feminine curves and exposed her long, shapely legs.
Ah, the things he was going to do to her after the wedding.
Damn, he’d better look away before embarrassing himself in front of all the guests.
Turning his eyes to Jacki, Rufsur smiled and nodded his approval even though she wasn’t looking at him. Her focus was entirely on the man waiting for her on the podium.
He followed her gaze up and was surprised to see the goddess standing next to Kalugal. With all eyes on the bride and her entourage, Annani’s arrival had gone unnoticed.
How was that possible? Had the goddess used a shroud?
As Jacki climbed the stairs to the podium, her bridesmaids took their place on its other side, the music stopped, and a reverent silence stretched over the village square.
The goddess lifted her arms. “As we gather here to celebrate the union of Kalugal and Jacqueline, we are surrounded by the beauty of this serene village, a refuge and a safe haven for my descendants and those of my people who wish to join us in peace and harmony.”
She spread her arms wide. “Jacqueline and Kalugal’s life-long journey as a mated couple begins here, blessed, supported, and encouraged by this wonderful community of immortals. Surrounded by family and friends, they will now pledge their eternal love to each other.”
The goddess smiled at Kalugal. “Would you like to go first?”
“Indeed.” He took both of Jacki’s hands and looked into her eyes. “My bride, my love, my everything. My Jacqueline, I pledge my love and my life to you, and I promise to do everything in my power to make you happy.”
It was a simple pledge, but it encompassed everything.
Kalugal pulled out a ring from his pocket and slipped it on her finger.
When Jacki raised a brow, he smiled. “One more for the collection.”
Annani nodded her approval. “Go ahead, Jacqueline.”
“My fated one and only, my mate, my love, my everything. I pledge myself to you, to love you and support you always and in everything, and I promise to do everything in my power to make you happy.”
When the audience erupted in cheers and applause, Annani took Kalugal and Jacki’s hands and put both between hers. “May the Fates smile brightly upon this joining and bathe your home with love and happiness.”
68
Eleanor
Greggory reached for Eleanor’s hand and whispered, “I can’t stop looking at you. You are so beautiful.”
Did immortals have vision problems?
It was true that she looked better than she’d ever done, but to call her beautiful was a stretch.
Eleanor forced a smile but didn’t answer.
The goddess was still on the podium, the couple was exchanging their vows, and it seemed disrespectful to talk during the ceremony.
With more and more of her memories returning, she recognized the groom as Calvin, aka Kalugal, aka Kajeck Zolotovsky. The guy had nearly as many aliases as she had. He was also a compeller like her, only much more powerful. Everyone feared and respected Kalugal because he could compel other immortals the same way the goddess could. Except, he couldn’t compel her, and apparently, the goddess couldn’t do that either.
Eleanor’s mind spun with the possibilities.
She was a rare immortal who was immune to the goddess’s compulsion, and her services might be valuable. The problem was that she wasn’t the only one. Jacki was immune as well, and so was a guy named Turner, who she’d found out was Kian’s advisor and right-hand man.
Still, there must be something she could use her rare ability for. Something that someone would be willing to pay a lot of money for.
Eleanor shook her head. She didn’t need money. She had more than she would ever need, and nothing to spend it on. At least for now.
Her immunity wouldn’t help her get away from the village either. The damn cuff on her wrist took care of that. Regrettably, her compulsion ability didn’t work on other immortals, only on humans, but maybe she could use that in the service of the clan?
She needed something to do, something to sink her teeth into or she could go insane. Was she ever going to ski again?
Vivian had mentioned a self-defense class that she could join, and it might help with the excess nervous energy constantly pulsing through her veins, but that was no substitute for the tranquility she could only achieve on the slopes.
When the ceremony was over, and everyone erupted in cheers and applause, Eleanor joined the crowd just because she couldn’t be the only one who remained seated.
Then as the music started, and the happy couple was called to the dance floor, Greggory took her hand. “Let’s dance.”
“Okay.”
In high school she’d been on the cheerleading team, and dancing came naturally to her, but she hadn’t danced in ages. The last time she could remember dancing was at Josh and Vivian’s wedding.
She let Greggory lead her to the dance floor, and when he put his hands on her waist and pulled her against him, she didn’t resist.
Most of the male immortals were handsome men, but Greggory had that something special. He was a man’s man, rugged and muscular, but without the entitled attitude that guys who looked like that usually had.
In fact, he acted as if he were lucky to have found her.
“How is life in the village treating you?” he asked. “Do you like it here?”
“Except for the boredom and having to share a house with my former sister-in-law, it’s fine.”
He seemed surprised. “You have family here?”
She nodded. “See that tiny blonde dancing with the goateed guy? That’s Vivian. She was married to my brother.”
“Did they get divorced?”
Eleanor shook her head. “Josh was killed in a helicopter crash.” She grimaced. “He could have lived forever. Instead, he died at twenty-six.”
“I’m so sorry for your loss. War is a nasty business. I didn’t lose a blood brother, b
ut I lost friends who were like brothers to me.”
“Afghanistan?”
He chuckled. “You forget how old I am. Most of the friends I lost were killed during the two World Wars, and some even before that.”
“I thought that immortals are indestructible.”
“Even immortals can’t recover from getting their head chopped off with a sword, or a direct artillery hit. Not to mention a nuclear bomb.”
“That’s terrible. I’m so sorry for your losses as well.”
He shrugged. “With time, the pain has diminished, but I owe it to them to keep mourning their passing.”
“I know how you feel. Sometimes I wish to be free of the constant ache in my chest, but I feel that if I were, I would be betraying my brother’s memory.”
Wrapping his arms around her, he brought her closer against his solid body. “I wish I could take the pain away and carry it for you, but all I can do is offer you a momentary reprieve.”
Sighing, she rested her cheek on his shoulder. “That’s more than anyone has ever offered me.”
As Greggory caressed her back, Eleanor struggled to remember the events preceding her capture. She remembered their date, and even the great sex, but some details were still hazy. Had Greggory said something about being really old? Evidently, he hadn’t been joking.
“How old are you, Greggory?”
“Three hundred and twenty-eight.”
She chuckled. “Take away the three hundred, and that’s how old you look.”
“Does that bother you?”
“What? That you are so old or that you look so young?”
“Both.”
“I guess the second one. I feel awkward about dating a man who looks so much younger than me.”
