Order of the Omni: A Supernatural Romantic Suspense Novel (The Immortalies Book 1)

by Penny Knight

  This is ridiculous.

  “Is she under arrest?” I ask. “Is she in the ICU? Do you have any right stopping me from going in there? No, you don’t. So, hotshot,” I spit out. “Get the fuck out my way before I move you myself.”

  “Wait, wait, wait.” The kid steps between us. Just as the dumbass was about to do something he was definitely going to regret.

  Using the distraction, I dodge past both of them, straight to her. I pick up her hand and feel the warm blood pulsing through her veins. It’s what I needed to quell the urgency that was threatening to ravage my soul.

  Footsteps follow me in. I look over her monitors and swipe her chart, running through her notes.

  “What? Are you a fucking doctor, too?” the cop asks.

  Ignoring him, I continue reading. I’m over two thousand years old. I’d have to be pretty fucken lazy if, in that time, I don’t at least know how to read a medical chart.

  When I grabbed her hand, it was stiff and tense. Her eyes are open and she is blinking but there is nothing there. A void. They’ve administered morphine. Her scans showed her pain receptors were extremely high. It’s lucky they tested. She’s unconscious, they’d have never known.

  That means she’s been in pain all this time. And if the pain medication she’s been given won’t help because it’s not a human cause. They wouldn’t even know. She needs to be in the hotel for treatment. The hospital is out of the question, she’s not suffering one moment longer than she needs to.

  I don’t waste any time. Carefully, I remove the IV in her arm.

  “Back the fuck off,” the cop says. I hear him draw out his gun. “I said. Stop right now and place your hands over your head.”

  I don’t stop as I continue removing the monitor off her finger. Putting one arm under her back, I lift her in my arms. He won’t shoot when I’m holding her. Even though it wouldn’t matter if he did. I’m too quick, he’ll miss. All it’ll be is extra mess I’d have to clean up later.

  “What are you doing, stop!” Topher cries out in a panic.

  “She will die if she stays here,” I say to him. I look him in his eyes, hoping he sees the seriousness.

  “I said put your fucking hands in the air. You are under arrest!” the cop bellows. The only option I have to deal with him, is ignoring him. Otherwise, my barely contained rage will rip him to shreds.

  “Put down the gun, Malloy.” An older man in a police uniform walks in with Broderick.

  With Elita still in my arms, I head for the door.

  “Captain, what the fuck is going on?” The cop asks his superior.

  “She’s been transferred to Federal Protection. I just got word.”

  Our clearance must have come through.

  “Federal Protection?” He looks even more concerned.

  That’s when I see it. When he looks at her. Love. This isn’t about his job or an old girlfriend. His worry is written on his face. And his love. That’s clear now. It makes no sense. From what I know, he left her. But Detective Brian Malloy isn’t going to go away. Another problem for future worries.

  “Do you not see this? His walking right out with her. That’s fucked up. He can’t do that. She needs medical help, she could die,” he says.

  “Yes. I didn’t agree to this,” the captain says.

  “No offence, Captain,” Broderick says, taking up my defense. “But you didn’t agree to anything. You’ve been given orders. Normally, we would wait for the transfer.” He directs that to me. “But we’re on a time crunch. And this is above your clearance. So, we can’t talk about it either. Respectfully, get your officer to stand down. We need to move on.”

  “Detective,” Brian corrects.

  This time I don’t wait or care how it looks. I’ve waited fucking hours to see her. They’ve been told. Anyone goes to stop me, it’s on them.

  I walk past Broderick and the bickering law enforcement. I know what he’s thinking, this wasn’t the smartest move, but he says nothing.

  “Topher, who the fuck is he? How does she know him?” He struggles as his being held back by force.

  “Leo, I don’t know.” The kid’s voice quivers, looking unsure. I don’t blame him thinking this is the best place for her. But the hospital is not trained in The Underworld’s medicines, she will not be saved here.

  “Trust me,” I say.

  The room falls silent.

  The kid nods and quickly picks up her belongings. They follow me down the hall and straight into an elevator Lucas has opened, waiting for us.

  The doors close and it’s quiet again.

  “What?” I know Broderick has something on his mind, I see his head shaking looking at his phone.

  “You couldn’t wait two minutes?” he says.

  It goes silent again.

  “I like this way better,” the kid says. “It was full ‘Me Tarzan. You Jane’ vibe.”

  Broderick laughs.

  “Don’t encourage him,” I say.

  “Nah,” Broderick says. “Got to say. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen that in you. Was starting to think you got soft.”

  I hear the kid suck in a breath.

  Broderick laughs louder.

  “One day, I will remind you of that. And you won’t be laughing.” I shake my head. The elevator opens and I head straight to the waiting car.

  The hot beads of water hit my skin hard. Steam rises from the mirror. It’s refreshing. I don’t know how long I was out. Each time I woke, either Topher, Leo, or a maid was hovering around. Leo fed me chunky cold soup tasting like ginger and smelling like mothballs. But every time it hit my lips, it eased the pressure and pain, and the noise. Oh god. The noise.

  My hand flies to the hot tap and turns it off abruptly. The instant cold wash of water jolts me out from the beginning of the darkness. I remember the dark thoughts, the dark voices, the depravity and the utter sadness that encompassed me. So many conflicting emotions.

  My lips shiver, and I know I shouldn’t push my already weak body anymore.

  I enjoy using a shot of cold water to change bad thoughts. It refreshes my mind and body. It’s been something that’s worked ever since I learnt the trick undercover when I had to get Topher out of the cult.

  Now more than ever, I’m going to need all the help I can get.

  The darkness is behind a thin white line. At any moment I can slip back into it. And it scares me straight to my soul.

  Never again do I want to be where I was.

  I make quick work of dressing. Keeping on track and busy will hopefully get me out the door today. I need to get out of this room.

  Feeling as human as possible, my tired body opens the door and I finally walk out the room into the main foyer.

  I know Leo is waiting out on the balcony, he was by my bed when I woke up.

  He tried to tell me to go back to sleep. It’s the middle of the night. But I was firm, I needed out.

  He agreed only if I agreed to eat. I wasn’t hungry but am now grateful. Because after that shower I’m awake, and my stomach is very much awake, too.

  I could only imagine the food that waits. My mouth waters thinking about the finest food I’ve had in this hotel. The rumble coming from my stomach is waiting in anticipation. I softly creep through the hall, walking past Topher’s door. I pause.

  I want to go in and wake him, see if he is ok. Ask what day it is. Where’s my phone? What has he been doing? So many questions. But I decide he probably needs his sleep. No doubt he has been worried about me.

  My achy joints descend towards the open living area, the wood fire is on and a luminous glow creates a soothing atmosphere.

  The large windows are uncovered, the blinds wide open and I see Leo, standing facing the garden view.

  Do they sleep? I have never even asked that question. I have so many questions about the Immortalies, this entire world. I know they eat food. We have shared enough meals for me to make the conclusion.

  As if sensing me, he turns and his eyes la
nd straight on me. Piercing through the glass.

  He is an enigma of a man; he could easily have a following of loyal devout members that he could make do anything. Lincoln Jones would not hold a candle to him, and I thought he was imposing when I entered his cult. He had his followers lining up, following the most inhuman teachings with no pushback. Well, not from me anyway.

  My normal reaction of nervous energy as I make my way towards Leo has diminished. I dare say it’s only because my entire body aches and my whole being is just tired.

  “Hey,” I say, opening the sliding door walking out to the balcony.

  He takes a moment to answer, his eyes assessing.

  “How are you feeling?” he asks.

  I shrug.

  “Come sit, your food will be here soon.” He walks towards the outdoor table and pulls a chair out for me.

  “Thanks.” I sit. He walks to the opposite side and takes his seat. Both of us quiet.

  The door opens again and a server from the kitchen pushes a trolley with two silver covered plates.

  “Thank you, Charlie,” Leo says. Charlie places two bowls in front of us. He opens mine first.

  Soup.

  “No problem. Are you sure you didn’t want bread rolls to go with it? We’ve just made a batch for the breakfast buffet?” he asks with a smile.

  It smells delicious and I can’t wait to devour it, and bread would be great. Actually, I was expecting more of a spread. Wow, how I have adapted to the life of luxury.

  I decide to keep my mouth shut. Like a mirage, but without the visions, I smell the carb deliciousness waft through the air, hot tasty fresh bread.

  “No thank you, just the soup.” Leo answers for the both of us.

  My stomach grumbles in protest.

  “Hungry?” He smiles.

  I nod. “Starving.”

  “I can bring the bread rolls up, I will be right back.”

  My eyes go big in excitement. Charlie is my new best friend.

  “No,” Leo declines again. This time leaving no room for discussion.

  Both Charlie and I deflate, and I have no energy to argue with him. Charlie must have taken that as a ‘get the hell out of here’, because he was a human roadrunner. A cloud of smoke is all that remains of my once food saviour.

  “You have not eaten a meal in three days,” Leo says.

  My head snaps to him.

  “Three days?” I meant to have said, but no sound other than a deep rasp comes out. I clear my throat and try again. “Three days?” This time it’s audible. I sip the glass of water that has been set for me.

  He nods, “You have been on fluids, so I would go slow with what your stomach can handle. You could be sick if you eat-”

  “Yeah, too much, I know.” I nod. I know by firsthand experience. Thanks Mum, again. At least she has prepared me for this moment.

  “This has happened before?”

  “If you mean me being flown through the air because a group of man tigers accidentally set off a bomb, that took me out for apparently three days, causing me to be living off IV fluids,” I shake my head, “the answer is no, that’s a first.”

  I scoop my first sweet mouthful as I continue, “My body rejecting food because I hadn’t eaten for a few days? Yes. When I was a kid, a couple of times. The woman who birthed me was a selfish bitch.”

  The liquid gold finally hits my lips and I close my eyes, savouring it. It makes its way down and my stomach grumbles for more.

  When I open my eyes, Leo has not moved an inch.

  It’s quiet again.

  His chair scrapes loudly in the silence, and he stands abruptly. Stalking directly to the drinks table and lifting a bottle of amber liquor. My guess, something stupid expensive. He pours himself a generous serving. Then turns and takes three steps, shakes his head, turns back, grabs the bottle and brings it back with him.

  Ok, I guess he needs a drink.

  I, on the other hand, have not stopped eating the soup as I watch.

  “Thirsty?” I ask as he finally sits back down.

  My bowl is nearly half empty, and already I’m feeling a bit queasy. A good time to take a second to stop eating like I haven’t seen food in, well, three days.

  “You,” he starts, “I,” he starts again. He lifts the glass to his lips and finishes his drink. “Let’s start at the man tigers.”

  “Yes,” I sigh. “I mean, I think that’s what I saw. I remember I locked two of them in our office, but there was a third and he had a gun pointed at me.”

  “You locked them in the office? Why would you not run with Topher? How can I keep you safe if you refuse to help me?” His shoulders slump and regret flushes across his face. I’m not sure why, but I would assume it must be because the way I’m looking at him.

  “You’re right,” I say, catching him off guard. “Not in my wildest dreams would I have thought there would be a bomb, let alone a man that magically turned into a tiger. But I know that now.” I swallow. Now for the truth. “I am completely incapable of taking care of myself right now.” The thin line holding it all away snaps. And it hits me how true those words are. There is no cold water now, the darkness has crept its way in.

  “It’s because you are new to this world,” Leo says. “Not because you are incapable. You are unlike any woman I’ve known, and I have known more than you could imagine.”

  That snaps me back.

  “How old are you?” A question I have been too afraid to ask.

  He leans back in his chair. “A bit over two thousand years old.”

  I laugh.

  He doesn’t.

  I stop laughing. “You’re not joking.”

  “No, I’m not.” He gives nothing away as usual.

  Over two thousand years old. I can’t even process what that means. What happened two thousand years before now? Does he mean AD or BC? What does that even mean, what were people like back then? I’m sifting through the Rolodex of movies and books in my head, then it dawns on me.

  “Wow, that would really be a lot of women.” I mean, I cannot fathom the actual number. That’s interesting, and now I don’t believe him at all. Unlike any other woman, he says. I scoff. I have never understood why people must overcompensate on their compliments. It just makes it sound so insincere when you realise it’s exaggerated. Well, he did say unlike any other woman he has ever met, that doesn’t necessarily mean that’s a good thing, either. Let’s not forget how many women in that time he would have… Ok, I am not going there, at all.

  He’s looking at me and smiling. “See, I told you, I should know.”

  I roll my eyes.

  He laughs.

  I try to hide mine behind the glass of water, but the smile does show.

  “You’re very old,” I say.

  “It’s ok, I’m not offended,” he waves it off, taking a sip of his amber liquid.

  “Well, you obviously don’t look old, so why would you be offended? But you are. What was it like when you grew up? Or were you always this old? Not old but, you know.” I wave up and down. “You look like you. I don’t know.” I exhale.

  “It’s ok, I understand the question.” His shoulders are relaxed, and I don’t know when it happened, but his tie has been loosened and his cheeks are flush. The alcohol is obviously affecting him. I see the bottle is half empty. I would probably be in the hospital if I drank that much, but he looks like me after a glass of red wine.

  “It was in ancient Greece. We wore far fewer clothes, we just created a form of democracy and I was sent to be raised by an army to study the art of war from infancy. I was born a Spartan.”

  My mouth drops open and this time it’s me struggling for words. Where do I even start?

  “You need to get rid of that thing, Elita.” His eyes go to my neck.

  “What?” I ask. Still reeling from his admission.

  “Your amulet.”

  My hands fly to it, still confused by the change of topic. “What, why?” I ask. “I couldn’t think of
anything worse.”

  “It’s not good for you.” His eyes are sincere. “It’s why you were so ill. Not at the beginning. The doctor could pull you out of the state you were in. Do you remember anything?”

  I nod. “Yeah, I do, I remember until the street. I remember I made it down the side building. But it was the force of the explosion that threw me. I hit my head.” I touch where I felt the warm blood, it’s still tender, but the wound seems so much smaller. “Then there was this noise, it started off quiet. Once I got to the street, it was…” I flinch remembering what happen. I’m back on the street. My mind opened to so many voices.

  “It was not just the people that were loud. Yes, I could hear what they were thinking. But the voices were from far away. I was like…” I shake my head. “I don’t know how to explain it.”

  I sit back. How can you explain what you could only describe as hell?

  “Please. Try?” he asks.

  “Um.” I chew on my lip, searching for the right words. “It was like the thoughts had emotions. They seeped into my being. It was not just me hearing someone’s inner thoughts. I felt it, too. Physically felt it. And more than one, it was thousands.”

  It’s coming back. My body is tightening, my heart rate speeding up. “So much pain and happiness,” I add. “But depravity, whatever it was, it was as if I could feel how they felt, all of it. The good and the bad. Eventually it was just bad, dark and just painful. I’m sorry, I don’t know how else to explain it.”

  I lean forward.

  “I can’t be the only one,” I say, my voice quivering. “You know someone like me, yeah? You weren’t surprised at all about the man tigers.” I dare to hope. His thousands of years old. If anyone would know, he would. There could be someone that can help me.

  “Shifters,” he says. “The man tiger, they are shifters. And no, I’m sorry. As I said, you are unlike anyone I have ever met. And I am so sorry that you had to experience that. It’s unfathomable.”

  My eyes water and I sit back, unashamed as a tear slips out.

  “So why do I need to get rid of this?” I hold my amulet, my voice even and resigned.