Immortalis - Book 1 (The Keeper's Immortals)

by Marisa DeMaris

  “Thank you lass and you have a beautiful smile. It reminds me someone.” He explained. She smiled sweetly, thanked him and moved on about her duties as Reid settled into his chair and pulled out his cell again; dialing Blake’s number only to have it go to voicemail. He wanted to throw his phone but didn’t, calming himself by downing his scotch in one gulp.

  Six

  I walked back into the house with Ashwin at my side, making small talk as we walked through the doors that I had come out of. Not wanting to get lost again I found my way back to my room with Ashwin’s help and finally started to look around the room that older looking that the rest of the house. It was as if this wing of the house was frozen in time. Every other room in the house seemed to have been updated with only a hint of classic décor but not here; not this room. It was dark with a warm feeling throughout. Even with the fire place cold from lack of flames the colors of the room were of reds and browns. I walked to the oversized window and pulled open the heavy drapes, exposing a view of the Atlantic Ocean. The view was breath taking since I hadn’t ever seen the ocean, I hadn’t seen a larger body of water other than a lake that we would go to ever summer.

  “Would you like to see it closer?” Someone said from behind me. I turned around to see that Blake had snuck into the room. He was lent against the chair with a cocky smirk on his face. I turned to face him, telling myself to be strong.

  “No I’m fine here, thanks though.” I said, watching him closely. He pushed himself off of the chair and started to walk towards me only to stop beside me, looking out over the blue ocean. The mass of water was smooth with only smile riffs being made as the wind blew. While his eyes were fixed on the water he suddenly didn’t look at scary as he did; looked more like a lost child but that thought left my head when he asked if I could swim.

  “Yeah, I can, but I’m sure that the water isn’t the warmest. I would freeze before I lost my life by water filling my lungs.” I explained.

  “You’re a fighter, I saw that yesterday when you feared for Reid’s life over your own…you just found out that he was immortal; he can’t die and yet you worried about him more than yourself? Why?” Blake asked as he turned to face me dead on, leaning against the window pane.

  “I care about him…I would do that for anyone that I cared for. Whether friend, family or even foe. I never want to see anyone hurt Blake, not even you. Hate me all you want but I will never wish harm onto you.” I explained to him as I placed my hand on the clear glass, looking out over the water again.

  “Good thing I don’t have to worry about that because I’m the one who will be doing the harming.” He smiled. Blake reminded me of Adam in a sense; had a killer smile that could get him away with murder. Even with such words coming out of his mouth I couldn’t help but to find him intriguing. I wanted to know more about him, probably because he was the one who had the highest wall built up around him.

  “Why don’t you like mortals…I mean why you think that you’re so much better than us?” I asked him.

  “I’m better than you because I’ll out live you. What is the point on making friends, having relationships with mortals because you’re just going to die and I would be alone again?” He told me as he started walking towards the door.

  “That’s it then? You’re just scared to be alone? I mean I know that you all want Reid back because you all promised to stay together but that’s why you don’t like befriending mortals?”

  “I don’t know what you’re talkin’ about lass.”

  “Rather than letting someone touch your life even for a temporary moment in time you rather shun them so you don’t get close and get hurt.” I told him, knowing that no matter what he told me I knew that I was right. He didn’t say anything, just stood in silence then smiled wickedly towards me with a chuckle.

  “You really think ya get me eh?” he asked.

  “Do I get you? No way in hell but do I feel sorry for you?’ I paused as he looked puzzled at me. ‘You bet your ass I do.”

  “Well don’t, I do need sympathy from the likes of you.” He snapped.

  “You mean mortal?”

  “Exactly.” He said turning, continuing to walk out of the room.

  “Maybe you should remember that you were mortal once to.” I stated before turning back to the window. Blake stopped and although he wanted to turn around he didn’t but he didn’t. He left the room, without a comeback or a return. He could see why Reid had thought Nora was special; even for a mortal.

  He left the wing and wondered back to his own room and dropped in a CD, he needed to clear his head and music was the best way to do so. Lying on the bed, he closed his eyes only for them to pop open when he heard a light knock on his bedroom door. He rarely got a knock on his door; everyone knew better than to bother him when his music was one. He walked to the door and when he pulled it open he saw Nora standing almost bashfully on the other side. Rather than be kind to her like he wanted to be he acted like he normally did. “What do you want?” he asked me coldly.

  “I wanted to apologize for being rude, if you thought I was and it’s obvious you thought that.” I said. Blake seemed taken back by the words, the apology. No one had even told him sorry for anything. He only nodded then moved back so that she could enter if she wanted to. After listening to the music for a moment I realized that I knew it. “Mozart right?” I asked as I pointed towards the stereo. I think that I shocked him by knowing something that he did but slowly shook his head that it was.

  “I thought so, Requiem?”

  “That’s right. I didn’t think a girl of your era would know it.” He said. I only smiled as walked through his room, tracing my finger around his plush sofa that sat in the middle of the large, a bit more modern bedroom. “I mean…not that you...”

  “It’s alright, I know what you meant. My mother told me that she used to put headphones on her stomach when she was pregnant with me. I’ve always loved classical music but Mozart has always been my favorite although she never liked that this was my favorite song.”

  “And why is that? It’s one of his best pieces of work.” Blake asked me. I smiled and explain that it was a death song but Blake didn’t know that fact about. “Really?”

  “You’ve lived this long and never did your research on it?’ I giggled but not enough to make him feel bad. He looked down with embarrassment none the less. It wasn’t a feeling he was used to, people rarely embarrassed him or took the time to do so. ‘It was commissioned by Count Franz von Walsegg in seventeen ninety one for his wife who had just passed. Mozart himself died a few months after the work was completed on December fifth.” Blake was silent for a while after I had stated the facts and I was worried because he seemed to be in a state of shock.

  “Wow.” He said in a whisper. “You’re…”

  “An intelligent mortal?” I asked with a smirk.

  “Well I wouldn’t go that far.” He said with a joking tone in his voice. For the first time I wasn’t completely fearful of Blake Hollings. I sat in his room for hours talking about everything, he reminded me of Reid and although I missed him I didn’t miss him like I should. I was feeling a closeness to Blake, something I bet he didn’t even see coming. Although he didn’t stop with the anti-mortal jokes they weren’t bothering me as much as they were. I just laughed them off, never taking much to heart.

  “You and Reid…you were close?” I asked.

  “Thick as thieves until he started thinkin’ too much. His views on mortals, obviously differs from me own. It was all The Keepers fault. They thought he was getting out of control so they cursed him.”

  “Cursed him?”

  “They gave him self control. It’s a pity really, he was rare gem but I’m pretty valuable myself.” He said with a smirk. I smiled and the room became silent. Awkwardly silent even. I sat there missing Reid but happy to be where I was. There was something different about Blake from the others, even Reid. I didn’t understand it but I just enjoyed being around him.

  “
I’m not so bad am I?” I asked him with a smile and a nudge to his arm with my elbow. He didn’t smile, he didn’t laugh; he only stared straight into my eyes without saying a word almost as if he was speechless. I continued to smile as I waited for an answer. His lips parted but before he could answer my question we heard a knock on the opened door. We looked around to see Sebastian standing in the doorway, looking like the proper gentleman that he was.

  “Nora would you please come with me?” he asked kindly. I willing stood up and walked next to him with Blake at our heels. We walked through the house and ended up in the sitting room where we were met with Ashwin and Jaryn. I didn’t see the man standing at the fireplace at first, his face lit up from the flames that were contained within the wall of bricks. The man turned to face me and I could feel the smile form on my face.

  “Reid!” I said as I hurried to him, I didn’t rush and I didn’t understand why I didn’t but when I was finally next to him he hugged me warmly. When he moved in for a kiss, I allowed him to but something had changed. Looking into his eyes never made me happier than what I was at that moment, but I didn’t know if I was happy to see him or happy at the thought of finally being able to return home.

  “Are you alright? They didn’t hurt you did they?” he asked in a quiet tone as if he didn’t want the others to hear.

  “No, no I’m fine Reid. They’ve all been nothing but kind to me.” I said with a smile. I wasn’t lying – everyone including Blake had been kind to me over all.

  “Good, I’m glad. I’ll be taking her home now.” Reid said as he looked up at his siblings. Knowing the reasons they all did what they did in the first place I thought I would try something even though it would mean having to leave Reid behind because no matter what they Reid’s thought were on them they had been kind to me and I wanted to help them in any way that I could.

  “Reid you should stay here with them, at least for a while. They miss you.” I said.

  “Have they bloody messed with your head? I’m takin’ ya home now and I’m not staying.” He said, not wanting to stay any longer than he already had.

  “You’re going to have to take the private jet, she doesn’t have a passport. There isn’t a chance in hell you’ll get her through airport security.” Sebastian said as he sat his glass of whisky down on the mantle and walked towards us.

  “Fine, Nora go on and gather any of your things and then we’ll go.” I walked back upstairs with Jaryn at my side. We agreed that it was like leaving Reid with a pack of hungry wolves and he didn’t want to be there when words were exchanged. We might have been the two youngest there but we thought we were the smartest as we left the tension filled room.

  “I tried to get him to stay, I’m sorry.” Jaryn smiled at me as he opened the bedroom door to my room.

  “I know ya did and for that we thank you.” He said as he flopped onto the bed. I didn’t actually have any belongings of my own with me other than the clothes on my back so we just sat together, talking among ourselves while the others butted heads on the lower level of the house.

  Downstairs Reid stood with a defensive stance. He was ready for a battle if there was going to be but nothing was negative was said. Ashwin was the first to speak up in her elegant voice. “She is a wonderful young woman Reid, if you remain with her then please do be kind to her and you should come around and bring her with you. It was grand feeling having another woman around for a change.” She hugged Reid then left the room to join Sebastian in the kitchen leaving Reid alone with Blake who had been in a foul mood since Reid had popped his head back up.

  “Even you were kind to her brother?” Reid asked.

  “Aye, I was. She’s an amazing woman Reid…’ Reid looked at his brother confused. ‘For a mortal that is. She’s extremely intelligent and quick witted; far too good for the likes of you.” Blake stated.

  “Odd words comin’ out of your mouth. Are you praising a mortal?” Reid asked, questioning Blake’s thoughts of Nora.

  “I got to know her a bit but she’s still just a stupid mortal.” Blake snapped. Just as his words were finished I walked around the corner.

  “Oh really now?” I asked with a harsh tone. Blake looked at me with different eyes than he had before; his eyes have turned cold towards me again.

  “Did I stutter or are you mortal ears not strong enough to hear the truth.” Blake barked.

  “Fuck you Blake!” He didn’t say anything else towards me. He only stormed out of the room as everyone else was entering again. No one thought anything of it besides Sebastian but now wasn’t the time to question his younger brother’s actions. Reid took me by the hand and walked towards everyone else, holding Sebastian to his word. I walked with him, wanting to leave but with the lingering feeling that I wanted to stay. Even with all the hurtful words that he had said to me I still wanted to be near Blake for some unknown reason. He was like a magnet, pulling me close inch by inch. This was something I couldn’t tell Reid about but I did need to say that he should stay in Ireland not just because of his family but because I wanted to talk to his younger brother a bit longer despite what he had said to me.

  “I’ll be takin’ Nora home now then.’ Reid said. Sebastian looked to me and smiled warmly. Though he wasn’t much older than Reid was his face looked more aged. Fine lines had formed at the corners of his grey eyes. His jaw line was strong like all of his younger brothers. His dark brown hair was slicked back making it appear darker than it actually was. He was a kind looking man.

  “We should have known better for takin’ the lass because it wouldn’t have changed your mind. My apologies.” Sebastian said as he held out his hand. Reid heisted at first but finally took his brother’s hand, shaking it suggesting that he accepted his words. After they released Reid let go he turned to me again. “I didn’t get a chance to speak with you as the other have but know that you’re always welcomed in our home. You’re a real person, not in the mortal sense but in the sense that you’re a kind, selfless person. I haven’t met someone like you in years.” Sebastian said kindly before he gave me a light squeeze.

  “I do like her Reid, bring her around?” Ashwin asked her brother who only glared at her; giving her his answer without having to say anything. Inside her heart was breaking to a point only because over their simple conversation that they had Ashwin had been placed under the same spell that Reid had been taken under, but she wouldn’t admit it. She walked over to me and although it seemed like she wanted to do something more she only hugged me lightly. When it was Jaryn’s turn he practically ran into my arms, hugging me warmly, tightly. “I’m gonna miss ya, here is my number, call and bug me sometime…if he allows you to.” Jaryn stated as he watched Reid walk up beside me.

  “I don’t own her, I can’t tell her what she can’t and can do but I would advise her not to interact with any of you.” Reid said. The look on Jaryn’s face was heartbreaking for me.

  “Just because you have a problem with us doesn’t mean that she does. Why don’t you let Nora make up her own mind?” Jaryn barked. I hugged him once more, whispering in his ear that I would send him a text message once I was at home and had my cell again. He smiled as he walked away from the now cooling off situation. Reid placed his hand on my back, turning me around so that I could face him. Leaving the sight of Jaryn hurrying up the staircase I turned to face him and couldn’t help but to smile.

  “Are you ready to go home Nora?” he asked.

  “Yeah I am.” I smiled as I hugged him again. I don’t think that I fully realized how happy I was to see him but I was. Seeing Reid meant that I could go home and not be held up in a house like a prisoner although after a while it didn’t feel like I was. It wasn’t until that moment that I wondered, truly wondered, if I was truly happy to see Reid or if I was just pleased with finally being able to leave and return home?

  Just as we began to walk out of the room I stopped, pulling Reid back with me. He looked at me with questioning eyes.

  “Don’t you want to say good
-bye to Blake?” I asked him.

  “I wasn’t planning on it, what does it matter? I didn’t think that you cared for Blake any way?” He asked with a puzzled look across his face.

  “I just think…that you should say your good-byes to him. You guys were so close at one time and now there isn’t anything from stopping you from running away from him again. He really misses you.” I explained.

  “You really did spent time with him didn’t ya?” Reid asked me, pulling me away from him so that he could look into my eyes. Looking as if I had been tainted in some way.

  “I haven’t been brainwashed if that’s what you’re wondering.’ I said with a hint of a smile. ‘But yeah I did talk with him a little. He really does miss you. I just think that…he’s lonely but he doesn’t want to admit that. Who would want admit to anyone that they were lonely?” I explained, hoping that he would understand what I was trying to tell him; his brother needed him more than he would ever let on. Apparently he did because the next thing that I knew I was being led up the stairs and stopped just outside of Blake’s room. From the outside I heard the music of Antonín Dvořák. It was overwhelmingly sad as I thought about Blake sitting on the other side. I didn’t understand him although I thought I did a little, maybe I did but he didn’t want to be exposed to anything that would allow him to show any emotion.

  Reid knocked on the door but no one answered. He turned to me, shrugged his shoulders then turned away from door, taking my hand and we walked down the stairs leaving feelings unsettled. Without warning the music stopped and the door flew open, stopping us in our tracks. Looking back we saw Blake standing in the doorway, light behind him shadowing his body. I couldn’t see his face but I could see this hands down at his sides, balled into fist. Reid told me to stay where I was then he walked towards his younger brother.

  “Blake I…thought I should say good-bye this time.” Reid explained.

  “You’re only supposed to say good bye if you plan on seeing the person again. You aren’t plannin’ on come back in this life time.” Blake said before slamming the door, not giving Reid the slightest chance to answer back. As we started back down the stairs to leave I stopped after hearing something from within Blake’s room; a thud.