Enlightened

by Samantha Britt

  “It seems like I don’t have a choice in being a part of whatever is happening here.” Darcie gestured to the hallway around her. “But I think I deserve to know what I’m involved with.”

  After a moment of observation, Thane nodded in assent. “In the beginning, there were no conflicts between my brothers and our six siblings. But things eventually changed…” Thane continued explaining the complex history which developed over millennia for the immortals.:

  At the start of human history, the creation of immortals occurred. There were nine of them. Each had a natural strength, and that strength was aligned with different aspects of human nature.

  Darcie learned each by name:

  Eros drew his strength from the human capacity to love. Marriages, births, affairs–they all increased the strength of Eros.

  Julisanna was the most powerful female immortal. She benefitted from emotions centered around family relationships and beauty. Bonds between mothers and their children, as well as grandparents and cousins fueled Julisanna. Not to mention, any type of beauty found throughout human society lended strength to the immortal. Darcie’s brain connected the description to that of the Greek goddess, Aphrodite.

  She learned the immortal named Adir thrived on the initiation and acts of war and was, historically, vocal with his opinions.

  “Adir is discontent with my brothers and me,” Thane elaborated. “We gather strength from aspects of war, as well as the aftermath. He would rather be the sole immortal benefiting from those events.”

  Darcie pocketed the information.

  Faine, the fourth immortal, was described as a gentle soul. Music and artistic endeavors gave her power and increased her own creativity.

  Another female, Charmian, drew her strength from the natural world.

  Thane frowned as he spoke of her, “Charmian has grown weak in the past from utilization of natural resources, but with the green movement in developed countries, she is slowly gaining strength again.”

  “And Evetta?” After including the brothers in her estimate, Darcie knew her attacker was the last one to remain unmentioned.

  Thane’s lips formed a thin line. “Envy. Jealousy. Greed. Evetta is burdened with receiving strength from those negative emotions.” The information explained Des’ theory behind Evetta’s attack.

  “What about you?” she asked. What fueled the three brothers to make them so powerful?

  “My brothers and I are impacted by three events which human history has never gone without: death, destruction, and pain.”

  A chill ran down Darcie’s spine.

  Thane did not stop his explanation, “We are the strongest of the immortals because we are influenced by actions and events which affect nearly all humans on the planet. As the human population grows, more lesser immortals appear. It seems the Creator provides us all with multiple avenues to contain the power and strength humans provide, but not for Lome, Des, or I.”

  “So you three are the bad guys?”

  Shock marred his handsome face. “Not at all.”

  “You cause pain and death,” she pointed out. That seemed pretty bad to her.

  “No,” Thane corrected. “We gain strength from those aspects of the human condition, but we do not cause them. No immortal causes any of the feelings, thoughts, or events I mentioned. Our position in the hierarchy of strength is determined only by humans and the paths they choose.”

  “I will allow that the aspects of human existence we contain can be overwhelming,” Thane stated more to himself than Darcie, “but I believe that is why my brothers and I have the limitations we do.”

  “You mean finding a human wife?” she questioned.

  He nodded. “Finding our other half allows our strength to grow as we have another being to share the load with. Therefore, we are not overwhelmed.”

  “I just don’t understand,” Darcie said. “If this stuff is out of your control… and just is what it is… what is the point in other immortals trying to overpower you? It seems pointless.”

  Thane shrugged. “The appeal for them is too great. Even immortal beings want what they can’t have.”

  Darcie turned her head, breaking Thane’s intense gaze to stare at the wood-paneled wall.

  What Thane said didn’t sit well with her. Des killed Evetta.

  Why would she risk death if there was no way for any other immortal to surpass the brothers in strength?

  “Even though Des says I am not his soulmate, your enemies will come after me?” she asked the question with little emotion.

  “Yes, and my family can’t take that chance. It might seem like it is impossible for others to overthrow us, but that is only because it has never been done before. There is something to be said about the fight of the underdog.”

  She kept her eyes on a knot in the wood. “What if Des publicly announces I am not the one? What if I say I will never bond… or whatever you call it? Will they leave me alone then?”

  His silence was deafening.

  Darcie looked back at him, panic was beginning to press against her chest. “I don’t want any part of this.”

  “I know.” The two words were spoken gently.

  “I just want to go home.” Her voice cracked despite her best effort to keep any emotion in check.

  “I know,” he repeated and lifted his hand to her shoulder.

  Darcie held back her frustrated tears. She could see Thane’s resolve–she wasn’t going anywhere for the foreseeable future.

  She stepped out of his reach. “I want to go back to the room now.”

  Thane’s expression filled with sympathy, but Darcie refused to take solace from it. He was the one responsible for holding her prisoner. The immortal brothers might not wish her harm, but they were not her ally.

  And she would not make the mistake of thinking they were.

  13

  The only good thing about Darcie’s conversation with Thane? The leader decided he would grant her access to the third floor of the house.

  If she were to guess, Darcie believed her blatant unhappiness with him and his family motivated the gesture of goodwill. Bella had only smiled knowingly when Darcie shared the news with her the next morning.

  Only the brothers, Eshe, and Bella had access to the third floor. Bella had convinced Thane that their guest would be safe from harm among the private suites. Darcie felt sincere gratitude for the girl’s help. She felt even more gratitude when Bella told her that she could explore the third floor on her own. Darcie planned to take the opportunity to try and find a means of escape.

  You know… just in case.

  After almost an hour of unsuccessfully searching for a feasible exit, she decided to take a break from her plan and observe the new scenery on the isolated floor. It was full of artifacts and items appearing to be even older than the stuff she’d already seen.

  Darcie was bent over, examining an old stone masonry set, when a voice made her jump back in surprise.

  “Hello,” an accented voice greeted.

  Darcie moved to stand and bumped her head against an extended shelf. Rubbing her scalp, she stepped back and turned towards the source of the noise.

  “Hello?” she returned as she faced a woman she had not met.

  The newcomer tilted her head and used her dark, round eyes to observe Darcie. Feeling uncomfortable with the assessing stare, she fidgeted from side to side.

  After several moments, she cleared her throat. The stranger’s eyes moved up to her face. “I’m Darcie,” she supplied, holding out her hand in greeting.

  The girl stared at the offered hand. Thinking she wasn’t going to shake it, Darcie started lowering her arm. The stranger’s hand quickly shot out and grabbed onto it.

  Her small palm gave Darcie’s one firm shake before releasing. “I am Eshe.”

  “Oh.” Realization dawned. She looked at Lome’s wife with fresh eyes. “Bella told me about you. Nice to meet you.”

  “Bella has told me about you as well,” Eshe said the
words coolly. The tone made her wonder what Bella could have said.

  “What were you looking at?” Eshe asked.

  “I’m not sure,” she finally managed to reply, recovering from the surprise of the situation. “They look like stone tools from ages ago.”

  Eshe moved to the side and peered at the shelf behind Darcie. “They are tools from the Bronze Age,” she supplied.

  The blonde’s eyebrows rose. Darcie looked to the hallway on either side of them. “Does all of this stuff belong in a museum?”

  Dark eyes moved up and down as Eshe nodded but kept her gaze on Darcie. “Most of these artifacts are from each of the brothers’ travels throughout human history. Thane has been known to sell an artifact or two to further expand their financial portfolios, but most remain here.”

  The information was fascinating. Darcie did not think immortal beings would need to worry about money.

  Glancing around, she noted the large and well-furnished house. The brothers never mentioned being created with money. She supposed they had to fund their lavish lifestyle somehow.

  “Would you like to see original da Vinci paintings Lome acquired during the Renaissance? They are his unknown works of art, but beautiful nonetheless.”

  Darcie’s jaw almost hit the floor.

  da Vinci?

  The brother’s had pieces of da Vinci’s work? She forced herself to nod.

  “They are displayed in the main parlor,” Eshe explained as she started to walk away. Darcie doubled her steps to keep up with the girl’s fast pace.

  “Am I allowed to go there?” she asked, unwilling to risk the loss of her new freedom.

  Eshe’s steps did not falter. “No one will see you.” It wasn’t really an answer, but she figured being with Eshe would allay any worries Thane had about her safety.

  Instead of walking down the carved staircase she used the first day she arrived, Eshe led Darcie back through hidden stairways.

  Why would the brothers need secret staircases?

  As if sensing her question, Eshe said, “Sometimes the brothers like to keep their whereabouts hidden.”

  Darcie didn’t know what to make of the comment.

  After one more flight of stairs and a few sharp turns, the pair stepped out onto the familiar hardwood floor which covered the home. Darcie knew they must be on the first floor, but she did not recognize the area of the house.

  Continuing to move with a purpose, Eshe walked towards a normal sized white door which looked out of place in the grand home. The immortal glanced over her shoulder and moved her head to signal Darcie to follow. She took the handle and opened the door.

  As Darcie approached, she heard the distinct sound of a conversation coming to a halt.

  “Eshe, is something the matter?” Darcie heard the question as she stepped into the sunlit room.

  Looking back, Darcie couldn’t believe she did not stop walking the moment she heard another voice. Eshe told her no one would see her. The immortal, obviously, had not anticipated the room’s current occupants.

  But, instead of using common sense, Darcieentered the bright space without hesitation.

  Almost immediately, a hush fell across the room. Darcie shielded her eyes, momentarily blinded by the change in light.

  Her vision cleared. About ten people stood in the center of the parlor, and twenty eyes were locked on where Darcie stood. Her hand fell to her side.

  A slow, mocking clap reached her ears. Her eyes moved towards the source as a blonde, chiseled man stepped forward from the group.

  “Well, well, well,” the stranger repeated, drawing out the words. “And who might this be?”

  Eshe moved to her right in front of Darcie, effectively halting the man’s approach.

  Despite the maneuver, the man’s deep blue eyes met the teen’s over Eshe’s shoulder.

  Instead of speaking to Darcie, the man surprised her by quickly turning on his heel to face the group. Her eyes moved to the group of people and realized all three brothers were there, and not one of them seemed happy with her appearance.

  Crap.

  “You were saying?” the man questioned with a victorious tone.

  Lome and Thane exchanged looks while Des’ gaze remained locked on one individual… Darcie.

  The green eyes which she remembered being so bright and concerned were now engulfed in fury as they watched her. He was livid.

  “She is not The One,” Lome said. His comment shocked Darcie.

  Since when? She had to bite her cheek to keep the words from spilling out.

  “Yet, she resides in your home?” The blonde stranger persisted.

  “Darcie has been mistaken by our enemies as someone worth harming,” Thane straightened his shoulders while supporting his brother’s words. “It is our duty to see her protected.”

  “Since when is it the brothers’ duty to protect humans?” The chilling question came from a tall, thin woman in the group. “Last I remember, the three of you thrived on their pain.”

  “Be fair, Julisanna,” a third voice spoke up. Yet another attractive man stepped forward. “Besides, can you blame them for opening their home to such a beautiful creature?” The attractive man moved to stand not two feet from Darcie. Eshe stepped to the side, allowing him full view of her. She resisted the urge to hide behind her skirts like a child.

  “Charmed to make your acquaintance. I am Eros.” He bent at the waist and held out a hand to her.

  Unsure if it was a wise move, Darcie placed her palm in his, but remained quiet. He placed a quick kiss on the back of her hand. The contact sent a rush of blood to her cheeks.

  Noticing the reaction, Eros’ lips turned up in a sensual smile.

  “Enough,” Thane’s tone brooked no argument.

  Eros released Darcie’s hand and gave her one last look before turning to face the eldest brother. “I do not mean to offend.” He moved back to the crowd, away from Darcie.

  She fidgeted under the room’s attention, resisting the pull to look back at Des. She suspected he wore the same infuriated mask.

  “Say what you will, Thane,” the original blonde stated, “but the resemblance is telling. Even if you say she is not The One, the overwhelming belief will be she is.”

  “It is a dilemma my brothers and I are working to rectify,” Des finally said. He tried to convey indifference, but anyone could hear he was furious. “Do not concern yourself, Adir.”

  Darcie quickly tried to place the names of the immortals with the human conditions they thrived on.

  Julisanna was beauty, she was pretty sure of that. A quick glance at the woman was all Darcie needed to see; she was gorgeous.

  But what did the two men deal with?

  Was Adir war? She was pretty sure he was war.

  Mentally, Darcie chastised her lack of memory. Thane just told her about his immortal siblings.

  “If you and your brothers are searching, I trust a solution will be found,” Adir lowered his head in deference to Des, not wanting to further anger the volatile brother.

  “Perhaps it is best we depart.” Darcie watched Julisanna dip her head towards the brothers, as well. “Until the next time we speak, farewell.”

  Numerous voices who remained silent during the conversation stated their well wishes and goodbyes. One by one, they trailed out of the room.

  Instead of using the small white door, the immortals departed through tall blue doors at the other end of the room.

  After the last occupant left, Lome shut the doors, leaving the brothers, Eshe, and Darcie inside the room.

  “What did you think you were doing?” Des drew everyone’s attention, including hers. His fists were clenched by his sides.

  With a start, Darcie realized he was speaking to her. “What?”

  “You were told to stay on the third floor.” He pointed an angry finger at her. “Do you know what you have done?”

  “Des,” Thane said with warning. “Calm down.”

  “Am I the only one who sees w
hat is going on?” he questioned with wild eyes. “With every day that passes, the lie about the girl being The One is spreading.

  “Do you want to be locked here forever?” He turned back to Darcie. “Are you okay with knowing the moment you leave your life is in danger?”

  “Of course not,” she whispered.

  How did the conversation turn to this?

  “Then why are you down here?” Des shouted causing dishes on a nearby table to rattle.

  “I brought her,” Eshe stepped forward. “I thought the room was empty.”

  Des turned his fuming gaze to Darcie’s companion. “How could you be so careless, Eshe? You are better than that.”

  Eshe crossed her tan arms. “I was not informed about a meeting with the Originals. Perhaps, if I was invited to such a significant event, this would not have happened.” Darcie could hear the girl’s frustration with being left out.

  “Eshe,” Lome tried to calm her. “It was a spontaneous meeting. Rumors of Darcie are spreading. We wanted to get ahead of them before they grew out of control.”

  “I am your equal,” Eshe said to Lome. Something told Darcie it was a recurring discussion between the couple.

  “You are not an Original Nine,” he returned.

  “Enough,” Thane interrupted before the couple’s argument grew. “Let us focus on what is important.”

  He turned to face Des. “So our siblings saw Darcie. They already knew of her existence. Where is the harm?”

  “Now they have confirmation of her existence, Thane. They know what she looks like.”

  “They would know that without seeing her,” Lome added. He was quickly silenced by Des’ death stare.

  “Our objective was to end the rumors and secure Darcie’s safe return to normal life,” Des stated. “Dispelling rumors is easier than erasing memories. I want her out of here as soon as possible, and the immortals seeing her just made the task much more difficult.”

  Darcie’s head swiveled from brother to brother. While she did not enjoy Des’ anger, she did appreciate his dedication to returning her to Maine.

  Though, there was an odd pang of hurt as she witnessed his eagerness to see her gone. She forced herself to ignore the feeling.