“So…” Jaryn started.
“So you were sleepin’ with Emmalee eh?” Blake said back in an attempt to jab Jaryn because he remembered that Jaryn had admitted that he had loved Emmalee at least at one point in time.
“Yeah I was but you should know that before I fell for her she came to me first. Did I look? Hell yes I did because she was beautiful but I would never touch out of respect that I have for you. You’re my brother.” He explained.
“They why did it happen?” Blake asked. Jaryn looked towards the ground as if he didn’t want to say what he had to. He didn’t want to hurt his brother more than he already had which without knowing made Blake think about his relationship with Reid and how much it would hurt if he found out about what was happening with Nora, if he hadn’t already.
“She came to me, tellin’ me that she was unhappy with you. I don’t know one thing just led to another and the next thing I knew we had done it, we were together. And it just kept happening.” He explained. They wondered though if she was happy being with Jaryn then why had she faked her own death? That was a question that neither of them could answer but hoped they would find out sooner than later. After an awkward moment of standing around without saying a word they managed a hug between them. Something that would make Nora happy.
Sixteen
I walked down the stairs, dragging my fingers along the clean, polish dark wood handrail. I stopped in the middle of the staircase so that I could look out the window, watching the beams of sunlight pour in. It was the only window in the house that was open only because it didn’t have curtains. We didn’t want to chance Emmalee or anyone else seeing us inside. Downstairs I heard my friends talking. I dreaded talking to them, explaining anything else that Blake and Jaryn hadn’t already. They spoke in brief words about the situation, leaving many questions unanswered. I hated that I was dreading talking to people that I had known for most of my life if not all of it. Slowly I forced myself down the stairs, stopping at the bottom as they all turned towards me. I could already tell they all had questions by the looks on their faces. I made my way to a large leather chair that sat across from them, quietly and waited because I knew none of them could keep quiet for long.
“So what’s up?” Trish said in a coy manner.
“Not much.” I said back knowing that wouldn’t be the end of it. I wished one of them would just start yelling, I could handle yelling but I could handle this meek small talk that was leaving us all in an awkward state.
“I should have just gone to work rather than meeting up with you guys. Next time remind me to do that.” Charlie finally announced. Trish slapped his leg although I didn’t know if she hit him for being rude to me - making me feel worse than I already was or because it hurt her feelings. They hadn’t been dating long but they already had a way about them, they seemed very at ease with each other. It made me happy for them but it was something I didn’t have in my life at the moment, making me slightly envious. I had once for a brief moment with Reid until the Hollings had kidnapped me out of the very room we were all sitting in.
“I’m sorry for getting you guys involved in this.” I finally forced myself to say. This was a true statement but it was nice having people around who were slightly more even tempered, unlike the almost always ill tempered Hollings.
“Nor, I know that those other guys explained a lot but there are still things that we don’t understand. I mean what happened back at school was like something straight out of a movie.” Trish said. Adam then asked if maybe I could fill in the blanks that Trish had mentioned. Knowing Ashwin, if not The Keepers themselves, could make them forget everything at a later date I told them everything that I could. How it all started, being in Ireland, then in Spain and finally when I got home finding the katana on my bed.
“If Emmalee was to get her hands on the katana she could kill The Keepers and with that would kill everyone who had ever been changed by them including the Hollings.”
“And you’re really related to them?” Charlie asked. He had remembered that I had told both he and Trish together that I had found out that I was adopted - I just didn’t tell them how I had found out at that time. Jaryn had explained that with small amounts of details earlier.
“I am, through their sister Ashwin.”
“So those two guys up there…” Trish said as she pointed to the upper level.
“They’re my family, my real family.” I hadn’t gone into the full details of my relationship with any of the Hollings, mainly Reid and Blake for obvious reasons.
“Gotta be honest, they don’t seem like they friendliest bunch.” Adam admitted. I smiled knowing that they weren’t friendly, at least not at first. I told them that it took time for me to get along with them.
“And as you can see we still don’t get along all the time.” I heard someone say from behind me. I turned to watch both Blake and Jaryn practically glide down the stairs. I couldn’t help but to smile. Jaryn stopped next to my chair while Blake strolled over to the bar - fixing himself his normal drink and asked if anyone else wanted one as well.
“But I couldn’t imagine life without her now.” Jaryn explained as he sat on the arm of my chair, pulling me closer in a side hug.
“I’ve told them everything. Things that you two had left out the first time.” I explained. Blake walked over to be with us with his drink in hand.
“Oh hell I saw that coming without having severe head trauma.” He said where in turn I gave him a smirk.
“Head trauma?” Adam asked.
“I have visions. The more important they are the more severe they are. Told them everything huh?” Blake asked me with a snide tone. Jaryn followed his words by explaining his own power of speed as well as the others; Ashwin could control people’s minds, Reid’s electricity and Sebastian’s strength.
“It looks like you guys are stuck with us for a while eh?” Blake asked. I had already explained why we took them with us, Emmalee was possibly unstable mentally and would stop at nothing to get the katana from me.
“And I don’t know about those guys but I’m starving. I know you two don’t need to eat but the four of us do.” I said as I touched my flat stomach. I could hear it growling, yelling at me to feed it. After checking the kitchen and finding nothing Jaryn said that he would go pick up something for us all to divulge on. Rather than using the car and having someone possibly spot him he said he would run it. He was a blur while he ran. He admitted before he left that driving a car made him feel slow and sluggish.
He brought back pizzas. Although I said I was in dire need of food I suddenly wasn’t as hungry as I once thought. Excusing myself I walked back up the stairs and back into the same bedroom as before. I felt more tired than anything and just wanted to rest my eyes while I had the chance too. Moments later there was a small knock on the door. Without me saying whether they could come in or not I heard the door open. The smell of perfume in the air told me that it was Trish. I turned over to face her. She smiled brightly as she sat next to me. “What’s wrong?” she asked.
“I’m just tired.” I explained. She knew that I was lying to her but she didn’t want to press the issue, knowing that whatever it was I needed time.
“Okay, just know that I’m here whenever you want or need to talk. Whether I have Charlie or not, you’re still my best friend and I’ll always have your back.” With those words I pulled myself up so that I could embrace her warmly. It was at that moment that I knew that I could never live happily without her in my life.
“It’s a guy thing.” I said quietly almost as if I was afraid to admit to something.
“Does it have to do with Reid and that tall brute downstairs…Blake?” She asked. I hated how she could know already. I haven’t even told her anything about it and yet she knew. She always knew but if Jaryn and Ashwin were both aware of feelings that I hadn’t shared with anything other than Blake himself maybe we were showing more than we thought.
“Yeah.’ I said through clinched teeth. ‘
We’ve always had this fury that occurs between us but then we have these private moments where he’s like a whole other person. Then while in Spain he kissed me and told me that he had loved me longer than I had been alive.” By the look on her face I could tell that she was confused about that last part. I told her that he had seen me long ago that foretold of me and the Twilight but he also fell in love with me. He dreamt of me.
“He really dreamt of you? That’s so romantic.” She awed.
“That’s what he said and maybe I dreamt of him too but…’ she waited for my words that were to come after the ‘but’. ‘But he never saw Reid in his visions of me. So now I feel like I’m stuck between a rock and hard place because they just got their relationship back to good terms and I don’t want to hurt anyone. I really care about Reid.”
“Do you love him?” she asked unsure of who she was talking about. “Blake, do you love him?”
“Yeah.’ I said without thought. ‘I don’t know what it is about him but he brings out my vicious side as well as my passionate side.” She smiled at my words.
“Vicious is a form of passion. Nor you’ve just got to follow your heart. I know you know what it’s like to be hurt but you only went out with Reid for what? A half of a date?” I knew she was right. I hated that she was but she was. All the hatred I had for Blake was overshadowed my love for him, maybe not at first since he just seemed like another arrogant prick but afterwards. It felt good to be able to actually share that with someone, all those pent up feelings I had for another. I had shared with Blake but the feelings were about him so I knew sooner than later they would come out to him. Although I don’t know how long it would have gone on and since he was the one who kissed me first I will never know. I needed the much needed girl time and when I had assured her that I was better than I was she left me alone knowing that I wanted to rest and she was still hungry for greasy pepperoni cover pie.
Trish walked back down the tall staircase and rejoined the others. They were all talking about the Twilight and that Nora was really supposed to be the one who brought it forth. She sat down and took another bite of the piece of pizza that she had left on her plate when she had run to check on Nora. “So why Nora?” she heard Charlie ask before he took another gulp from his clear water bottle.
“We don’t know. We just know that it’s her. I had a vision long ago and I saw her welding the katana, I just didn’t know that it was the Twilight. I saw a flash of light and then nothing.” Blake explained.
“Does that mean you died? She’s killed you all?” Adam asked. The tone in his voice Trish could tell that was what he was hoping for that ending. He wasn’t fond of Blake because he was cocky, self-assured, handsome and smarter than the average man. He was just like a more intense version of Adam and that was probably the reason he didn’t like him. That and the fact that although they broke up Adam was always protective over Nora.
“I don’t know but I do know that she that will start it and she will finish it. Whether which side will overcome I don’t know.” Blake said, lowering his head.
They finished eating and the three mortal were told to get some rest because they were probably going to leave with the Hollings and Nora when the time came. Jaryn showed the three of them to rooms that could rest in until the rest until the others arrived. Once they were settled Jaryn retired as well leaving Blake alone with his thoughts. Rather than think too much he wondered back up the stairs but instead of going to his own room he ended up back at the room Nora choose. He didn’t knock. He walked in, finding her one the bed facing the other direction. He gently closed the door but she still heard the click. Turning around to see Blake she smiled. He asked if he could lay down with her and after she said that he could he crawled into the large bed with her, wrapping his strong arms around her body.
“I’m glad you came back.” I said as I felt Blake’s breath on my neck.
“I’m glad you didn’t send me away.” He said sounding tired.
“Are you sleepy?’ I asked. He said that he was and I couldn’t help but to laugh a little. ‘I didn’t think immortals got tired or had to sleep.”
He smiled. “Sometimes it’s nice to rest, to hold a person close to you.”
“How many have you held this close to you?” I asked snidely.
“I’ve never held anyone this close. I’m holding you like I’ve never held anyone before. ” He turned my face around so that he could kiss me on my lips then we got comfortable again. We fell asleep together, in each other’s arms unaware of what was coming our way and what we would lose in the process.
Seventeen
“Hey it’s me, we have a small problem or a rather large one.” Jaryn said over the phone to his eldest brother Sebastian. He sat in his small office on the jet while Reid and Ashwin were in the main lounge around.
“Go on.”
“We found Nora and she’s safe. She’s here with us now as well her friends.”
“Her friends?” Sebastian questioned what they were doing involving more people in the situation, people who didn’t have a right to be there.
“That’s not the biggest problem we have. One of the girls who had befriended Nora during school was…” he stopped, not wanting to say her name. Because of Emmalee there was bad blood between himself and Blake. He never wanted to hurt this brother and that’s why he never told anyone about his affair with her.
“Was who Jaryn!” Sebastian barked waking Jaryn up out of his stupor.
“It’s Emmalee - as in Blake’s late wife. She’s an Ambrosia Immortal Sebastian and she is here looking for the katana.” He finally blurted out.
“Did she find it?” Sebastian suddenly sounded more worried than before. He knew what any Ambrosia Immortal would do if they had that sword; kill The Keepers and rid the world of immortals of their kind leaving only the Ambrosia Immortals. Since they were turned by the Gods themselves they were always known for being extreme with everything that they did, having the same Godlike complex’ as their masters did.
Jaryn said they Nora has hidden it away where no one knew but she didn’t want to get it until everyone was together so that she could run if she had to and not worry about grabbing something with the possibility of forgetting it all together. Understanding the situation Sebastian told Jaryn that they would turn the plane and head to their location. He hung up the phone, laid it on his desk and rose to walk into the main sitting area where he found Ashwin and Reid in two separate worlds. Clearing his throat once he had entered the room got their attention. “Were not going back home, were flying to the others now. A problem has come up and we need to figure out what to do with it.” He told them.
“What is it?” Ashwin asked in a hurry to find out. No matter what she said or didn’t Ashwin cared a lot about Nora because she was her link to her family that she had lost so long ago, something she thought has been lost the moment she read that her daughter had passed.
“Have they found her?” Reid asked, adding to the conversation.
“They have but they also ran into Ambrosia Immortal, a few of them.” He explained. Ashwin became sick looking for she understood all too well of how violent the Ambrosia Immortals could be since she had had her fair share of head butting with them over the years.
“Where did they run into them at and why?” Reid stood up from his chair with a jerk.
“Jaryn didn’t go into a lot of details over the phone, said we would talk more when we were in person. Were about twelve hours away so we’ll be there shortly. Just rest your heads until then and know that they’re safe.” Sebastian said in hopes that they would take his advice although he doubt that they would. Every member of his family, himself included were far too stubborn for their own good. While he closed himself back into his office Reid began to massage his temples in a fruitless attempt to ease the pain in his head. He had had a headache for some time now and it wasn’t stopping any time soon.
In the chair next to him sat his only sister who looked worried. Gently he
took her hand within his and told her that everything was going to be fine. She trusted him that things would work out for the best but she was paranoid when their lives became linked to any Ambrosia but now someone that she helped given life to was also in danger from the ill tempered creatures. “Can I be honest with you Reid?” She asked just as he released her hand.
“Of course you can dear sister.”
“I was afraid to like Nora at first because she reminded me of me own flesh and blood and now that I know she is my own flesh and blood I’m even more terrified of becoming close to her. I couldn’t imagine losing her like I lost my daughter.” She explained. He told her that he understood but she should get to know Nora not just because she was wonderful person but he knew that she would regret it if something did happen to her and she didn’t at least try to know her. Ashwin agreed but she knew that it would be hard. Nora had her secrets just like Ashwin had her own and she didn’t know if she was going to be able to get Nora to open up to her like she had opened up to the others. They had shared a moment in Spain but nothing like what Nora had shared with her brothers.
“Just try alright.”
The words from her older brother soothed her for the moment but she didn’t know how long that would last. She knew that once she saw Nora she would go cold and lose all gumption to strike up any kind of conversation with her. She looked at her cell phone, looking at the time. They had less than nine hours to go and she was thinking about what to say to Nora every minute of their trip.
Ashwin wasn’t the only one with Nora on their mind. Reid was thinking about what she was doing at that very moment. He couldn’t lie to himself; he missed her but he also knew that there was something else that was going on. Something between Nora and Blake, something more than pure hatred for each other. He saw watched Nora’s eyes drift towards his brother, staring at him then blush bashfully; her cheeks becoming flushed She looked at Blake like she never looked at him. He also noticed his brother’s eye forever glued to Nora. He watched her movements and he seemed to hate her but also lust for her at the same time. Blake was younger than Reid so perhaps it was nothing more than jealously and lack of attention on Blake’s part.
Immortalis - Book 1 (The Keeper's Immortals) Page 16
