Enlightened

by Samantha Britt

  She was surprised to see a twinkle in Des’ eyes. He smiled and gave an approving nod. “I know I am.”

  She gaped at him. “What?”

  “I know what my family is trying to do,” he revealed. “But I also know what I am trying to do.”

  He laced his fingers. “My brothers might think having us in public will make me realize a connection,” Des continued. “But I plan to use the situation differently. That is why I came to speak with you.”

  Intrigued, Darcie prompted him to continue, “I’m listening.”

  Des straightened his spine, looking confident as he conveyed his plan with detail and conviction. He had given much thought to the idea and clearly believed it could succeed.

  As he laid out the general plan, Darcie could feel her eyes growing wider, completely caught off-guard.

  She never thought of using the tactic he presented, but it was genius. For the act to occur in such a public setting would surely convince others that Darcie and Des were not a couple. It would remove her as a threat to any immortals opposing the strength and power of the three brothers.

  Her hope began to rise.

  “What are your thoughts?” Des questioned once he completed the speech. His expression was open to any concerns she might have.

  “Do you think we can pull it off?” In spite of the hope she felt, the plan also made Darcie nervous. The flirtation would be out of her character. She wasn’t sure she could pull it off.

  “I suppose that is really a question you must answer,” Des’ expression remained calm. “I understand it might feel awkward. If you do not think you can sell it, then we are better not to do it. Failing at this–being caught in the deception–will only make the other immortals more firm in their belief we are soulmates.”

  The plan’s success did rely on her showmanship. That much was certain.

  Darcie’s hope started to fall.

  “But,” Des interrupted her melancholy, “if we pull it off… if you pull it off, we could both be out of this mess. If you cannot, I understand, and we can think of something else.”

  While relieved Des was not frustrated by her hesitation, Darcie found she was immensely irritated with herself.

  Hadn’t she been searching for a way back home since she arrived at the brother’s house?

  She spent many nights lying awake, trying to figure a way out of the mythical and overwhelming situation.

  How could she not jump at the opportunity?

  Darcie needed to be brave. She needed to be fearless. She needed to take the risk if she wanted life to return to normal.

  Resolved, Darcie met his confident gaze with one of her own. “Alright,” she smiled at her approving teammate. “Let’s do it.”

  18

  Kevin’s handsome face appeared on her phone. “Hey there! Long time, no talk.”

  Darcie chuckled and playfully rolled her eyes at him through the phone. They were using the face-to-face app to have their conversation, and it was fun to see each other’s reactions. “We just talked yesterday morning.”

  “Did we?” He pursed his lips. “Seems like forever ago.”

  She smiled, enjoying his cuteness. “How’s Marie?”

  Through her previous conversations with her best friend, she knew Marie was away from Maine and on a ski trip with Josh. Given her location in the mountains, Marie told Darcie not to expect contact until they returned home.

  “I think she’s good. Her email said she’s enjoying Vermont.” Kevin adjusted the screen, jostling the image on Darcie’s end.

  “Are you near a window or something?” he asked, squinting at his screen. “It’s really bright over there.”

  “Oh… yeah.” Darcie shifted in her seat, but remained on the ledge of the window. She didn’t want Kevin to see the fancy furniture and décor adorning her room at the brothers’ house. “This is the only place I can get reception.”

  Kevin bought her explanation. “Any idea of when you are coming back?” It was a question he asked every time they spoke.

  For once, Darcie had a different response. “Actually, I might be coming back within a week.”

  “Really?” Kevin’s deep blue eyes brightened. “That would be awesome!”

  “It’s not a sure thing,” Darcie cautioned. Her return depended on whether or not she could successfully deceive the ball’s guests. “But there is a chance.”

  “This is so confusing,” Kevin said with a heavy sigh. “I don’t understand why you can’t just say you want to come back, and then come back.”

  Knowing she didn’t want to continue lying to Kevin, Darcie just shrugged. “I know. It’s complicated. I’ll be able to explain better in person.”

  Another lie. There was no way she would ever tell anyone about the reality of the world–that immortal beings existed. People would think she was crazy.

  “I’ll hold you to that,” Kevin promised, pointing at her through the phone. “I expect a complete explanation on our date.”

  As usual, she blushed.

  Kevin’s smile softened. “You’re cute when you blush.”

  Darcie laughed quietly, wondering if she would ever get over her shyness with Kevin. She thought as they spent more time speaking openly about their feelings, the embarrassing trait would fade away.

  On the contrary, every time Kevin complimented or reaffirmed how much he liked Darcie, the teenager became a tongue-tied schoolgirl.

  “I really hope you come back soon,” Kevin added when Darcie remained quiet.

  She could see the sincerity in his eyes. “Me too,” she whispered.

  “Hey, I just remembered something I was going to ask you,” Kevin changed the subject. “Have you told Marie about us?”

  “No.” Darcie wouldn’t know what to tell her best friend in the first place. “Why?”

  “Just wondering why I hadn’t received the third degree yet,” he stated. “I figured you would have mentioned something.”

  Darcie blinked at the screen. “What would I have mentioned?”

  She watched him shrug. “I don’t know. That you and I are talking.”

  “She already knows we are talking.”

  Kevin sighed, shook his head, and gave her a patient smile. “I meant that you and I are talking about dating.”

  “Oh.”

  Duh, Darcie.

  “No,” she cleared her throat. “I haven’t said anything to Marie about that.”

  “Any reason why?”

  Geez, talk about the third degree.

  “The conversation may be a little awkward to mention,” Darcie pointed out. “She is your sister, after all.”

  “I know,” he allowed, “but it might be good for her to know you and I are interested in one another.”

  Alright, now she felt completely confused.

  Darcie stared at Kevin’s image, trying to figure out what motivated the topic. He did not keep eye contact for long and shifted repeatedly in his seat.

  Realizing she didn’t have a clue, but wanting to figure it out, she asked, “Why would that be good for her to know?” It was Kevin’s turn to blush.

  His reaction confused Darcie even more.

  “Kevin?” she questioned, tilting her head to the side. “What’s going on?”

  “It’s nothing,” he said unconvincingly.

  “I’m not buying it.”

  When did Darcie get so bold?

  Kevin cleared his throat. “It’s just that I overheard Marie talking on the phone with Josh the other day.”

  “Okay…” Darcie trailed off, waiting for him to continue.

  “And they were planning a double date with you and… some other guy.”

  The news completely surprised Darcie. “With me? With who?”

  He shook his head. “I don’t remember the name. I think it’s one of Josh’s teammates. Anyway, they were talking about how they needed to cancel the double date until you came back. It seemed like they were pretty set on hooking you up with this guy.”


  Darcie rolled her eyes, but not with amusement like earlier in their conversation. She had no clue her friend planned on arranging a date for her, and the knowledge made her uncharacteristically annoyed with her best friend.

  When was Marie planning on telling her about this so-called “double date?”

  When she tricked Darcie into the car and drove them to it?

  I wouldn’t be surprised.

  “You look upset,” Kevin observed.

  She tried to gain control of her expression, but she didn’t lie, “A little bit.”

  “I take it you didn’t know about the date. You aren’t seeing anyone else?”

  Is that what this is about?

  Darcie stared at Kevin, willing him to believe her words, “No. I’m not seeing that guy. I don’t even know who Marie and Josh were talking about.”

  Kevin looked sheepish, but it didn’t stop him from continuing, “So… you aren’t interested in anyone else?”

  Darcie parted her lips to reassure him, but something caused her to falter.

  There was no doubt her interest remained dedicated to Kevin. The feelings for her childhood friend continued to bloom now that they were no longer hidden.

  So why did she hesitate in telling Kevin he was the only guy she wanted to be involved with?

  Darcie couldn’t put her finger on it.

  As if on cue, light green eyes flashed into her mind.

  Darcie saw Des smile down at her while she pet Argos beside the pond. She watched his guard drop, and he acted like a normal person for the first time since she arrived at the home.

  Darcie’s heart gave an involuntary thump.

  “Darcie?” Kevin interrupted the memory.

  She refocused her eyes on the screen. Kevin looked back at her with a frown. “Did you hear me?”

  She was stuck.

  What could she do?

  What could she say to not have to explain her lengthy pause?

  Darcie said the first thing which came to mind, “No, I think the reception cut out.” She made a show of moving the phone around, acting like she searched for a better connection. “Can you hear me?”

  If Kevin suspected her of lying, he did not show it. Instead, he nodded and replied, “Yeah, I can hear you.”

  “Good.” Darcie donned her sweetest smile. “What did you say a second ago?”

  Her charm worked. Kevin grinned back, looking completely smitten by Darcie. He really liked her. The acknowledgement still surprised her.

  “Nothing,” Kevin told her, exposing his sparkling white teeth. “Just know, I can’t wait for you to come back.”

  Darcie smiled and moved the conversation forward. All the while, she tried her best to ignore the pang of guilt settling at the pit of her stomach.

  * * *

  “One, two, three. One, two, three. That’s it. Keep your chin up, Darcie.” The teenager quickly raised her chin and tried to keep time with her steps as she followed Eleni’s instructions.

  It was her third session with the pretty deity, and Darcie thought her formal dancing skills were much improved since their first meeting.

  Darcie had nearly laughed in Bella’s face when she told her of the impending dance and etiquette lessons. It didn’t take long for her to realize the brunette wasn’t joking.

  Apparently, the ball was fancier than Darcie anticipated.

  Thane’s wife introduced her to Eleni, a lesser deity, who had a knack for dancing.

  Initially, Darcie was wary being around another immortal. She wasn’t sure how other immortals might treat her. Outside of the brothers and their wives, her only interaction with another eternal being was Evetta.

  Needless to say, that encounter didn’t go so well.

  “Well done, Darcie!” Eleni praised as the music struck its final chord. She clapped happily at the girl’s progress. Darcie gave a mock curtsy in response. The movement earned her an amused laugh from the friendly instructor.

  As it turned out, her worry proved to be pointless. From the moment they met, Eleni was nothing but kind and supportive as she tried to teach Darcie the complicated dance numbers. The eternal woman worked tirelessly to ensure her student knew every intricate detail, not only regarding the dance movements, but also the protocol and etiquette for interacting and dining with various immortals. The effort seemed to pay off. Darcie believed herself adequately prepared for the upcoming event.

  In theory, at least.

  In approximately twenty-four hours, she would be led across the dance floor by Des. Their every interaction would be under the scrutiny of the entire room, and the two had yet to practice together. Despite her increased confidence with the newly-learned skills, Darcie’s nervousness grew more and more as the day of the ball approached.

  “Yes,” Lome, her practice partner, tacked on to the instructor’s praise. “You did not step on my feet once this time.” Darcie stepped over and playfully pushed him.

  “Whoa there, Hercules,” Lome feigned losing his balance. “Control that upper body strength before you hurt someone.”

  She shook her head at his cheesy joke. “You really are ridiculous.” Her interactions with the less serious brother always progressed to a joke at some point. Darcie was beginning to wonder if there was a serious bone in Lome’s immortal body.

  He held up his hands in mock surrender. “Whatever you say, Muhammad Ali.” He proceeded to laugh at his own jokes.

  “Alright you two,” Eleni brought them back to the task at hand. “Let’s move into the Varsouvienne.”

  Unable to control herself, Darcie released a loud groan. She absolutely despised the dance. The bouncing steps made her look like a hopping rabbit. Eleni pretended to not hear the disapproving sound and moved to the music player to start the upbeat track.

  Lome opened his arms, and Darcie stepped into his hold. It might not be her favorite dance, but the Varsouvienne was relatively easy to master. The pair picked up their pace and matched their step with the music.

  “This dance has elements of the polka,” Lome offered as he led them into a ninety degree turn. “It’s one of Eshe’s favorites.”

  “Really?” Darcie couldn’t see the serious woman enjoy bouncing across a dance floor.

  “Yes.” The pair transferred weight to their opposite feet. “Surprising, I know.”

  Seeing an opportunity to learn more about the relationship, Darcie asked, “So, you and Eshe get along pretty well?”

  “As well as we ever have,” Lome provided. “Some times are better than others.”

  Darcie followed his turn, holding back another prying question.

  Luckily, Lome freely offered more, “In fact, Eshe and I are on one of our upswings.”

  “Upswings?”

  “A time period where we manage to get along relatively well,” he explained. “It can come or go, depending on what is happening around us.

  “As I’m sure you already know,” Lome continued, not missing a single beat of the dance. “Eshe and I do not have a romantic relationship.”

  He stopped speaking, waiting for a reply.

  “Bella told me a little,” Darcie admitted. “But she didn’t share details.”

  He appeared unbothered. “No matter if she did. Everyone in our society knows of our arrangement.”

  Arrangement?… Interesting word choice.

  “Not to be rude, but what is the arrangement?” If Lome didn’t seem so cavalier discussing the topic, Darcie wouldn’t have been able to voice the bold question.

  “We are what you would consider married,” Lome stated. “However, the marriage is more of a business arrangement. Eshe agreed to marry me during a time where it was not uncommon for women to marry someone they were not in love with.”

  Darcie watched Lome release a tired sigh. “I hoped to win her over with time, but several events diverted us from that path. Eshe and I are fortunate we found the resolution we did. Otherwise, I have no doubt we would have spent centuries feeling bitter and alone.”

&
nbsp; Eshe’s stoic image floated into Darcie’s mind. Something told her the Egyptian woman still harbored some bitterness.

  “Do you two have relationships with other people?” It was a question her nosy side had been dying to ask.

  Lome dropped Darcie into a dip that did not match the dance before lifting her back onto her feet. The music ended a few notes later.

  “Why do you ask?” Lome’s eyes gleamed with mischief. “Interested?”

  Once again, Darcie gave the immortal a playful push. “Not a chance.”

  He laughed and bowed to his partner. “I believe you are ready for the ball.”

  “I agree,” Eleni approached, clapping in approval. “You are a fast learner.”

  Darcie beamed, happy with their praise. She put a lot of energy into learning all the dance moves. She had stayed up until midnight the past evenings, practicing in her bedroom. She really didn’t want to embarrass herself.

  Almost immediately, her smile dimmed as Darcie remembered the other aspects of the ball.

  Even with all the training and practice, she still had to socialize with various levels of immortals. That was nerve-wracking enough. Add to it the plan she and Des arranged, and Darcie struggled not to cave under the pressure.

  “Hey,” Lome reached out and placed a reassuring palm on her shoulder. He could see her internal distress. “It is going to be alright. My brothers and I won’t let anything bad happen to you.”

  She offered him a weak smile. “Can you keep me from using the wrong fork?”

  The immortal man chuckled. “I will do my absolute best.”

  “Thank you.” Instinctively, Darcie leaned forward and wrapped Lome in a quick hug. He really was a great help the past couple of days.

  His diligence, coupled with his lightheartedness, managed to ease some of the weight pressing on Darcie’s shoulders. Lome might act like a player, but he was a genuine person at heart.

  Lome stiffened, not knowing what to do with her gesture. The immortal gave her back an awkward pat before Darcie finally released him. She tried to hide her amusement when she noticed his pink face.

  See? Not really a player.

  “I think I am going to rest in my room for a bit,” she informed Eleni and Lome.