The Seventh Immortal (Hearts of Amaranth #1)

by J. M. Parry

  It took Kait almost an hour to walk from St. Louis University Hospital to the courthouse. She spent the time thinking about her strange condition, and what the mayor wanted with her. It didn't make sense that a city executive would be the most interested in the sudden appearance of an immortal woman, even if it happened in her city. Where was the Federal government? Where were the scientists and the doctors? Maybe, despite everything, she was lucky that the the mayor was such a control freak. He'd kept Kait a secret for his own purposes. But what were his purposes?

  Approaching the courthouse, Kait saw a crowd gathered around the plaza in front of the building. A small section of the pavement was cordoned off with police tape. Kait felt a sick sensation brew in her stomach as she approached the spot. Even through the crowd, she could see that the concrete was stained with blood. Her blood.

  Why did she come here? What did she expect to find, other than this gruesome scene? And why hadn't anyone cleaned it up yet?

  Kait could hear the crowd murmuring. They were still talking about her. It had happened hours ago, and yet people were still coming by to gossip about her apparent suicide. She overheard someone mention that the woman who fell from the courthouse roof was still moving when she was taken away.

  Her story was starting to get around, though fortunately no one would be able to tell it was her. From what Paul said, it sounded like her face was so badly damaged in the fall that she would have been unrecognizable to anyone who saw her hit the ground.

  After pushing her way through the crowd, Kait stood at the edge of the police tape. Two uniformed officers were on the scene. One appeared to be collecting evidence—scraping up a torn piece of fabric from the ground—and the other monitored the onlookers. Kait didn't want them to see her, but as soon as she had a full view of the crimson-stained pavement, she was paralyzed.

  Even now, she didn't remember any of this. She couldn't recall hurtling towards the ground. She especially couldn't recall why she tried to end her life.

  The police officer collecting evidence placed the scrap of fabric in a sealed plastic bag and ducked underneath the tape holding back the crowd. As he passed Kait, he turned to look at her. Their eyes met and he seemed transfixed. Even as he was walking away, he continued to glance back at her.

  Kait felt her heart jump. Did he recognize her? Undoubtedly, some people had seen her before she jumped. She was putting herself at risk coming back here... But maybe she wanted someone to recognize her. If anyone knew her face, they might be able to provide some answers about her life before the fall.

  Despite her worries, the police officer never came back to talk to her. He didn't grab her or pull her away from the crowd. Once he'd returned to his car to store the evidence he collected, he never even seemed to pay her any mind.

  Finally, Kait was able to pull herself away from the scene of her failed suicide attempt. She could feel her whole body shaking as she walked away, as if she had just picked herself up off the pavement a moment ago.

  “Hey!” a voice whispered. “It's... It's you!”

  Kait stopped in her tracks. She glanced over to her side to see a young man in a smart blue suit. He had black hair, nearly styled and graying early at the temples. There were dark circles under his brown eyes, and despite his neat dress, he looked more than a bit disheveled.

  “You know me?” Kait asked. She tried to keep her expectations low.

  The man shook his head. “No, but I saw you,” he replied. “I saw you in the courthouse. You... You got in the service elevator, and I got in there with you. You were going to the top floor.” He took a deep breath before asking what he really wanted to ask. “It was you, wasn't it? You were the jumper.”

  Kait hesitated. What was she supposed to say? She didn't want to have to explain how she was still alive—she still didn't know the answer to that question—but this man was the closest connection she had with her prior life. If he knew anything about her, she needed that information.

  “Yes, but we can't talk about it here,” Kait finally replied. She motioned around her, to the crowd milling around the courthouse. “And I don't know who you are. I don't know if I can trust you.”

  The man stuck out his hand. “My name is Spencer Smith, and I'm an attorney,” he said. “As for whether you can trust me... You already have.”

  “What?”

  “You gave me something.”

  Kait's heart pounded in her chest. This was it. This was the lead she needed. “Let's go somewhere safe.”

  Spencer nodded. He took the lead, pulling them away from the crowd and turning a corner, heading towards the riverfront.

  They walked a few blocks deeper into the city. Kait peered down every street they passed, afraid that Spencer might be leading her into a trap. No matter what he said, she couldn't fully trust that he had her best interest in mind.

  He led her to a cafe that was nearly empty. It was a small—barely more than a hole in the wall under a towering office building—with just a few tables far from the counter. This was the ideal place for a clandestine meeting, and Kait wondered if Spencer often used it to confer with his clients.

  Spencer picked out a booth near the window, ordered a latte, and placed his briefcase on the table. “When you jumped, I didn't think I would see you again,” Spencer said. “I almost hoped that I wouldn't.”

  Unlocking the briefcase, he turned it to face Kait. Then he opened it. Her eyes went wide when she saw what was inside. There was a bank card, passport, and several thousand dollars in cash. She reached inside and picked up the passport. Glancing inside, she saw her own picture and name. Katrina Anne Selias. Born September 2, 1987 in St. Louis, Missouri.

  Kait flicked through the other pages of the passport, hoping they might give her some clue as to where she'd been before. There were no stamps...but there was something written on one of the pages. It was scrawled in handwriting that felt almost familiar. Two sentences, but they barely meant anything to Kait:

  Find the Gospels. Then you will understand.

  Flipping the passport around, Kait showed the writing to Spencer. “What do you think this means?”

  Spencer shrugged. “You're supposed to read the Bible?” he asked.

  Kait considered this. She didn't think that was the answer, and even brought more questions to mind about her condition. Not all of her memories were gone. She knew what the Bible was. More than that, she could speak and read, and probably even write without complications. Her amnesia was entirely specific, and barely seemed to affect her general knowledge of the world.

  It was almost like she'd chosen what to forget.

  Placing the passport back into the briefcase, Kait shut it tight. “I gave all of this to you?”

  “You said you might need it later. When I found out that you jumped, I figured...”

  Kait looked up at him. “You thought the cash was yours.”

  “Hey!” Spencer said, raising his hands. “I'm here with you now, aren't I? I didn't run off. I brought it back. Which means you owe me some answers.”

  “I don't have any answers,” Kait said. “I only have questions.”

  Spencer sighed. His disappointment seemed rather familiar at this point. She remembered it from Paul's face when she revealed her amnesia. Her condition was fascinating to everyone around her. It compelled them to help her, even against their own interests. And yet she could not satisfy their curiosity.

  “My memory is gone,” Kait continued. “I don't even remember meeting you, though it's obvious it happened. I'm sorry, Spencer, but even I don't know what I am.”

  “You're something special,” he answered. “We're just going to have to figure out what that is.”

  Kait felt a shiver run up her spine. Despite the fact that Spencer seemed like a rather reserved man, his dark gaze met hers with a surprising intensity. He seemed so focused on her, as if he couldn't look away. She felt herself blush at his attention. While she couldn't remember much, she could remember how she looked from the mi
rror in the hospital. Her clothes didn't flatter her. Her hair was barely under control. Still, Spencer seemed transfixed.

  “Mayor Levin is after me,” Kait said. “He was keeping me in the hospital I escaped from. Do you still want to help me?”

  For just a second, Spencer seemed to go pale. Mayor Levin was a frightening and powerful figure in St. Louis. No one wanted to stand up to him. Nevertheless... “That's just a bonus,” Spencer said. It sounded like a lie. “I hate the mayor. Sure, he's kept crime under control... But at what cost? Fuck him.”

  “What's his deal anyway? I see his face on those posters everywhere. Creeps me out.”

  Spencer shrugged. “He was elected almost eight years ago. A lot of people think he saved the city. Brought in a lot of jobs, cut down on crime, raised property values for the right folks. Then two years ago in 2014, he did the unthinkable and consolidated the City and the County. Even made himself the mayor of Unified St. Louis. I liked the way it was before. Sometimes it feels like a police state around here. And don't get me started on the taxes.”

  Kait recalled all the cops cars she saw on her walk from the hospital. “It doesn't always make you feel safe, does it?”

  “Not at all,” Spencer said. “Though it convinced me to do a little criminal law on the side. You need clients where you can get them.”

  “Is that why you helped me?” Kait asked. She pointed down at the briefcase full of cash. “You think I might be a lucrative client?”

  A smile flashed across Spencer's face. “Maybe I thought about it,” he replied. “But that wasn't the real reason.”

  “So what was?”

  Spencer was silent. He picked up his latte and took a long sip, as if that would absolve him of answering the question.

  “Okay, if you don't want to tell me... What do I do next?” Kait asked.

  “If you want, I can start poking around,” Spencer said. “I have a private investigator I like to use. He's good. He keeps things quiet. I can have him take a look around into your background.”

  Kait didn't know what to say. She just nodded. That was exactly what she wanted. If there was anything that could be found in her past, she wanted to know it. “How much is that going to cost?” she finally asked.

  “My usual fee,” Spencer replied. “But that's a mere fraction of what you've got there.” He motioned to the briefcase. “If you want to know who you are...”

  “You could have just walked away with my money,” Kait replied. “But you didn't. I guess I owe you that.”

  Spencer reached across the table. Kait took his hand and they shook on the deal. “I”ll find out everything I can about you, Katrina Selias,” he said.

  “Please, call me Kait.”

  Taking another long drink, Spencer finished his latte. He stood up from the table and headed for the door. It was starting to get dark outside. It was almost night time. “C'mon,” he said. “I'll get you to a hotel. I bet you need some rest.”

  Leaving the cafe, they headed for a nearby parking structure. Spencer took Kait to his car, a well-kept black sedan, and they headed east towards the riverfront. There were several hotels nearby, but Spencer had an account at the Marriott Renaissance that he used for clients and witnesses who came into town for depositions.

  As they drove towards the hotel, Kait found herself becoming more and more aware of her surroundings. It had been almost two hours since she was taken off the drugs in the hospital. Ever since that moment, her senses became sharper and more acute. Her hearing was razor sharp. Her eyes were painfully sensitive to light. And that wasn't all...

  Inside the car, Kait became painfully aware of Spencer's presence. She could smell the soft scent of his cologne. It burnt her nose, sending shivers through her brain. Every time Spencer pressed on the gas, she could hear the subtle sound of his slacks rubbing against his thighs. When he exhaled, she could feel his presence. It excited Kait, being so close to him. She could hardly understand why. Every few seconds, she would glance at his face. His dark brown eyes would meet her gaze, and she would shift in her seat.

  Once they reached the hotel, she could barely keep still. Every nerve in her body felt alive. She'd spent the entire drive thinking about him. And there was only one thing she could do.

  “You should come up to my room with me,” Kait said, after she checked in at the front desk. “Just to make sure everything is okay.”

  Spencer didn't argue with her. He followed her into the elevator. Once more, his scent overwhelmed her. She wanted to grab him. She wanted to feel his body against hers, but she knew that she couldn't. She had to wait.

  What was she doing? Kait didn't understand any of the thoughts running through her head, but she didn't care. It didn't matter what she did. She was immortal. What was the worst that could happen?

  “You're coming in, right?” Kait asked when the reached the door. Spencer didn't object. He followed her inside. And that was it. She couldn't wait any longer.

  Chapter Three

  As soon as the door closed behind them, Kait grabbed the collar of Spencer's suit. She pushed him against the wall and kissed him. The world was confusing to her, but she could understand the way he made her feel.

  “What are you doing?” Spencer asked. Kait didn't answer with words. She placed her hand on his thigh and began to run it up towards his belt. By the time she reached his groin, he was already hard. She curled her fingers lightly around him and he gasped, arching his back. “I don't know about this...”

  Kait pulled her hand away from him. “I don't know about anything,” she said. “But this feels good, doesn't it?”

  Spencer didn't argue, and kissed her again. This time, his hands reached towards her. One of them caressed her cheek, while the other reached under her shirt. The lowest button on her blouse snapped, letting him run his palm over her midsection. As she felt his fingers tickle her side, she leaned into him. It felt good. Too good.

  His fingers tickled underneath her ribs, as if they were afraid to go further. Kait grabbed his wrist and forced his hand further up her blouse. He formed his hand around her breast, cradling it in his grasp. Kait felt a bolt of electricity run from her chest up through her spine. She just wanted him closer. She wanted him so badly.

  Kait grabbed his fingers under her shirt and made them pinch her nipple. She gasped and lifted her leg, forcing his body closer to hers.

  “Slow down,” Spencer said, but Kait knew he was just objecting for the sake of objecting. He didn't want to stop any more than she did.

  Spencer tried to remove his hand from Kait's breast. She let him, only to guide it down past her abdomen. Hastily, she unbuttoned her slacks and slipped his fingers between her legs.

  “I'm not sure.”

  “I am.”

  Kait pressed Spencer's hand against her and gasped. As soon as he touched her, she shivered. And when he slipped his fingers into her, she arched her back and moaned. It was everything she hoped it would be. Her entire body felt warm. She didn't care who she was anymore. She didn't care what she was. For just a moment none of that mattered.

  “Don't stop,” Kait whispered, pushing her hips into Spencer's hand.

  “Why would I?”

  That was enough to assure Kait that he finally understood what she wanted. She let go of his wrist, letting him push his fingers in and out of her as he wished. One hand wrapped around his waist, pulling him towards her as he stimulated her. The other returned to the stiffness between his legs, stroking it under the thin fabric of his slacks.

  Kait leaned into chest as waves of pleasure rocked through her body. The stubble on his chin rubbed against her forehead. It felt like sandpaper against her skin, but somehow it only made her more sensitive. The sharp scent of his aftershave filled her nose, and as she rubbed him through the fabric of his pants, he gasped. His hot breath tickled her ear.

  She wanted to pull off her blouse, push his mouth down her neck and to the sensitive skin on her breasts. But to do that, she'd have to pull away
from him. She'd have to stop pressing his hand between her legs. That wasn't an option.

  No matter what Spencer did, it wasn't enough. Kait had to buck her hips against him, forcing his fingertips deeper insider her. With every stroke, she came closer and closer... Her body began to tremble. Her heart began to flutter. Her head began to swim.

  And then, for just a second, everything went black. Her body exploded with passion. The muscles in her legs gave way and her mind disappeared. Oblivion... She felt it again. She felt so close, but it wasn't enough.

  The sensation overwhelmed her. It went from pleasure to discomfort. She grabbed Spencer's hand once more and pulled it from between her legs. His fingers were slick with her passion.

  This wasn't enough. This wasn't the end. She wanted to satisfy him the way he satisfied her. Reaching towards his belt, she began to kiss his neck.

  “Wait... No...”

  Before she even heard his objections, she'd pulled his slacks down to his ankles. She ran her hands up from his calves towards his thighs.

  “You really want me to stop?” Kait asked.

  Spencer nodded, though she could tell it was a very painful decision. “I'm sorry,” he said.

  “Don't be,” Kait said, though she was disappointed. “I got what I wanted... Or at least the start.” She pressed herself up against him again, to let him know that she was willing to keep going. He barely responded.

  “I... I don't know what to say,” Spencer said. “I never intended...”

  Kait smiled at him as she buttoned her slacks. She was still wet. She still wanted to be touched. No... She wanted more than that. “How about you?” she asked, again reached towards him.

  “I can't go home. Not after... I need to think.”

  “What are you talking about?” Kait asked.

  Spencer held up his left hand. For the first time, Kait noticed the wedding ring on his finger. “I shouldn't be doing this. I'm married.”