The Daily Struggles
of an Immortal
Immortal Supers Book 1
Kurtis Eckstein
COPYRIGHT © 2018 – KURTIS M. ECKSTEIN
In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the copying, scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without the permission of the author is unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property. Thank you for your support.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living, dead, or undead, business establishments, events, institutions, or locales is entirely coincidental. All characters depicted in sexual situations are 18 years or older.
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Cover Art by Soffani Soffa
Cover Art Copyright © 2018 Kurtis Eckstein
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Table of Contents
Preface
I sent the message to my friend, and looked back up at her. “Okay, sounds good. That’ll give me plenty of time to talk to Lily before tonight.” I changed subjects. “So, what do you want to do until then?”
She hesitated as she thought about it. “Well, I’ve told you the pressing issues. Do you want to hear about anything else right now…or can it wait?”
I blinked at her in surprise. “Yeah, it can wait. Of course.”
“Then…” She bit her lower lip. “Can I take you to my place?”
I smirked at her. “What? And play with me before you have to take me back to work?”
She didn’t smile.
“Oh.” I locked eyes with her, unexpectedly feeling nervous. She was completely serious. “Umm, okay.”
She stood up immediately, reaching her hand out towards me. She still wasn’t smiling. Her gaze was intense.
Damn, what was I getting myself into?
1: The Immortal Super
When people found out I was immortal, they often assumed I had one of the best superpowers in the world. However, what they didn’t understand was that in a world full of supers I was basically just an average guy with the incapacity to die. Really, I was below-average because of my ability, especially when compared to everyone else.
Sure, I had the one thing most people wanted – eternal life – but that meant I had to occasionally deal with getting involved in horrible situations with no hope of dying to escape it.
And trust me, there were definitely situations where most people would prefer death over the alternative – eternal suffering. Including myself, as it turned out.
Certainly, I had long since discovered that it was impossible for someone to kill me. And after having reached the age of two-hundred and nineteen, even while still looking like I was about twenty-five years old, I had accepted that my ability went way beyond rapid regeneration. But, when faced with even mediocre superpowers, I was often left helpless to defend myself.
I wasn’t super-fast like almost fifteen percent of the population was, being one of the most common superpowers. In fact, above-average speed was so common that most cities even had special tunnels running alongside the underground interstates for supers who could travel faster than forty miles per hour.
Nor did I have enhanced senses for the most part, which was also fairly common, including various forms of improved eyesight, smell, and hearing. Not to mention that there were plenty of people who were powerful enough to destroy an entire building, if so inclined to do so. I even had a few coworkers with such powers, working a regular day-job for their own undisclosed reasons.
So, I was certainly below-average in many ways.
If anything, being immortal was just a hassle. I couldn’t escape my past when I wanted to, and even though I did my best to blend in with society, people always ended up discovering I couldn’t die.
Which of course led to ridiculous requests, often with the expectation that I would do it for free just because I could.
Like my coworker Nick.
“Hey Sam, I need your help.”
I sighed heavily as I leaned back in my chair, looking up at my scrawny friend who could probably bench press this entire building. He might have been able to get a job as a superhero if he didn’t look so small and nerdy. Physical appearance was almost more important than the actual superpower, with some of the most popular ones being attractive instead of powerful – or even good at their job.
Nick gently pushed his large black-framed glasses up the bridge of his nose as he waited for my reply. His horrible fashion accessory wasn’t for looks to hide his secret identity, since superheroes didn’t have secret identities to begin with. Rather, he sincerely had horrible eyesight. And they also doubled as reality enhancers, allowing him to see the digital holograms the world around us had to offer.
It was a technology I had neglected to make a part of my life even after all these years. I supposed I might be called old-fashioned in that way, especially if people knew my true age. Almost everyone wore reality enhancement glasses or contact lenses.
If Nick’s eyesight wasn’t so horrible, he probably would have opted for the contacts, but there was only so much a thin film of plastic and nanochips could do. He was practically blind without his glasses.
“What is it man?” I asked him seriously. “I’ve got to get these reports done by noon.” Nick’s cubicle was only two down from mine, making it easy for him to interrupt me at the most inconvenient times.
He shifted his weight awkwardly. “Well you see…I dropped my bistin in the resonator again.”
I scoffed at him. “Seriously Nick? Again? Look I may be immortal, but I still feel pain, okay? The last time I got it back for you, I was practically a skeleton!”
Nick looked away, visibly ashamed. “I know man, but bistins are so expensive. I can’t afford another radiation meter. I even turned down the nuclear reactor for you man! My house is running on a quarter of the power!”
“Dammit Nick! I swear, this is the last time!” I scoffed again. “I should charge you for this.”
Unexpectedly, a seductive voice piped up from behind us. “Why don’t you?”
I turned around to glare at the vixen standing provocatively between cubicles. Blonde hair and orange eyes, Lily Dodson knew she was hot, but that was the problem. If she got worked up, even in excitement, she burst into flames.
They had an entire sprinkler system in our department just for her, and she had a fire-proof desk away from everyone else to avoid collateral damage. Really, the only reason our boss put up with her was because she was such alluring eye candy. It was amazing what a nice rack could get you in this world. But unfortunately, no one could sleep with her due to her flames, so she spent most of her time flirting with all the men instead.
Really, I was probably the only guy in the world who could sleep with her, but it appeared I wasn’t good enough. Not that I wanted to be good enough. I wasn’t interested in dating anyone at this point in my life for personal reasons.
But out of everyone, she seemed to treat me differently, teasing me excessively instead of flirting. It was like she had a personal vendetta against me. I was sure she spent more time focused on me than anyone else, but I also suspected I might just be paranoid.
Or maybe her teasing was flirting?
I didn’t know. Either way, I didn’t like the idea of being burned alive every time I tried to kiss my girlfriend.
“It’s none of your business Lily,” I snapped. I wouldn’t normally be so rude, but I was already in a bad mood.
“Aww, come on,” she purred in a sultry tone. “What? You owe him one?”
I sighed and leaned back in my seat. “Yeah, okay? He did me a solid once. I was trapped in a landslide, potentially entombed forever, and he spent three days digging me out.”
“Oh!” She exclaimed, not realizing there was actually a legitimate story behind it. “Well, whatever.” She humphed and took off. Nick and I both stared at her sashaying away.
Damn, she was hot. Today was jeans-Friday and she did not disappoint. Her butt was perfect.
As I watched her round the corner of the last cubicle in our row, likely heading back to her desk, I felt my resolve waiver.
Honestly, I wasn’t sure why I didn’t bother at least trying to hook up with her. I assumed she would probably reject me, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t put some effort into getting on her good-side. But then again, I supposed my real problem was that she didn’t seem like the type who would want to commit, whereas I very much was that type. I didn’t want to be with a woman who intentionally made all the other guys want to get in her pants. Granted, with a body like hers, there was only so much she could do, but the intentional flirting wasn’t helping her case.
But still, it had been way too long since I had dated anyone. Maybe it was time for a change.
Unexpectedly, an extremely unpleasant memory resurfaced, prompting me to sigh heavily.
Or maybe not.
“So, then you’ll do it?” Nick wondered seriously.
I ducked my head in annoyance and focused on my computer screen. “Seriously Nick, this is the last time.”
Thankfully, he took the hint that I wasn’t in the mood to talk and walked away. After a few seconds of staring blankly at my work, I began to consider making a trip to the breakroom to get some coffee. I wasn’t tired, since one of the perks of my immortal body was that I didn’t need to sleep, but I really needed a distraction right now. Just the idea of getting into another relationship was bringing up some really bad memories from past relationships.
And there was only so much emotional pain a man could handle in a lifetime – I had already lived more than two.
With a deep breath, I finally shoved away from my desk and headed for the breakroom. The caffeine wouldn’t do anything for me, but I did like the taste of coffee as long as there was plenty of cream and sugar.
I caught Lily’s eye briefly as I hurried through the door, but I looked away before it could become awkward. Honestly, in all the time I had known people, I didn’t know what to make of her. I would have thought that after over two centuries I’d be able to read people better.
And maybe I could read most people, but not her.
She started working at the office about two months ago in August. When we first met, she seemed like a fairly normal woman. Super hot, but normal. But then she found out I was immortal, since Nick and a couple other coworkers happened to know, and started acting weird around me afterwards. Now, whenever she interacted with me, it was always to tease. Always.
I couldn’t even have a normal conversation with her without her acting weird.
Part of me wanted to get to know that genuine girl who had first shown up to work a couple months ago, because she seemed like a nice person who I might actually like to get to know. But with how she acted now, I wasn’t so sure.
I sighed heavily as I tried to pour myself a cup of coffee.
Empty.
Of course, someone drank the last of it and didn’t bothered to brew a new pot. Granted, it was almost noon, but most of my coworkers practically inhaled caffeine all day.
I quickly set everything up and stared at the dark liquid pouring out while I tried not to think.
Once the pot was done brewing, someone came into the breakroom, but I didn’t bother focusing on who it was. I had the tendency to see without looking, but most of the time I concentrated on my eyes to avoid noticing things I didn’t want to notice.
Very little good came from seeing what I wasn’t meant to see.
Thus, I was shocked when a voluptuous female body unexpectedly pressed up against me from behind while I was trying to pour myself a cup. The startle caused me to drop my coffee on the counter.
Automatically, I pressed against her even more while trying to avoid getting the hot liquid on me. The last thing I wanted to deal with was a nasty stain.
Her hands eagerly slipped around my waist in response, misreading the situation.
I pinched the bridge of my nose in annoyance, knowing exactly who it was now. “Get off Lily, and stop teasing me.”
She humphed, sounding equally annoyed, but didn’t let go. Her hot lips were suddenly just behind my ear. She was only about three inches shorter than me, making her the perfect height to rest her chin on my shoulder. “Dammit, Sampson Archer,” she chastised. “You’re so dense.”
Her breath sent a shiver down my spine, but I knew those lips wouldn’t be so warm if it wasn’t for her superpower. She could explode into flames any minute if she got any more irritated, which is why I didn’t bother trying to pry her off me. I didn’t have an extra pair of clothes to change into if she burned mine off.
“Dense?” I scoffed. “Are you serious right now?” I glanced back at her vibrant orange eyes framed by her golden hair. They were mesmerizing, the colors of her irises shifting like coals in a fire. I quickly looked away to clear my head. Don’t be stupid.
She nodded innocently against my shoulder, lowering her voice. “I am being serious. I like you Sam. And I would like you even if you weren’t the only guy I could potentially sleep with.”
I scoffed again, uncertain of how I felt about having her bluntly share her feelings like this. I supposed I had misread her after all…assuming she wasn’t lying.
“I highly doubt that,” I retorted. She liked me? She didn’t even know me. “And do you really think I’d let you scorch me to the bone just so you can have a little bit of fun? One kiss and I’d be toast!” I lowered my voice to a hiss. “Not to mention, we’re at the office.” I quickly glanced over at the door, hoping no one found us like this. I doubted anyone would care, but still…I liked my job. I didn’t want to risk getting fired, figuratively or literally.
“Seriously?!” Lily exclaimed, clearly pissed now. “I just talked to Nick, and he told me the last time you got his bistin out of his resonator, you were practically a skeleton!”
“Shh!” I hissed. “Don’t be so loud! And what’s your point?”
“My point,” she hissed back, her eyes narrowing, “is if you’ll do him a favor like that, then why not me?” She pouted then, and I just stared at her lower lip completely baffled.
Wow, okay. She had a point. Sort of, at least.
I broke out of my trance and glared into her orange eyes again, which didn’t help. Her irises looked like living suns, the shades of orange shifting more wildly now that she was upset. “Seriously Lily, it wouldn’t work out anyway. My body would be destroyed long before you even had time to enjoy yourself.”
She stuck out her bottom lip again – a perfect shade of pink with a slight shine of lip-gloss. “But you haven’t even tried,” she whined. “Come on Sam, just once. I just want to know what it’s like for heaven’s sake! I’m twenty-eight and I’ve never had sex!” She then smirked slightly. “Plus, we can take turns. Sure, I realize you won’t enjoy it at the same time I’m enjoying it, but I can be good while you touch me.” Her grinned widened.
I tried swallowing the sudden lump in my throat, but it wouldn’t go down. “Umm…well…” I hung my head in defeat. That offer was just too enticing. “Fine!” I snapped, suddenly annoyed at myself for giving in to those burning eyes. Was I really ready for this? To start something with another woman after all this time? Granted, it wasn’t like I was committing to anything long-term, but that was part of the problem. I didn’t want to get involved in anything that wouldn’t be long-term.
“My place?” She whispered, excited now – too excited. Her eyes were beginning to shift colors mo
re rapidly – a sure sign her body was about to burst. I quickly pulled her hands off my torso and stepped away from her, holding out my palm to prevent her from trying to grab me again.
“Yes, fine. Your place. But keep it under control right now. You’re getting too excited.”
Lily was immediately apologetic, trying to get a hold of herself. “Sorry,” she whispered. But then she looked up at me with determination in her eyes. “But I promise, I’ll make it worth your time.”
I gulped.
Oh, I had no problem believing that.
2: The Hassle of Immortality
I went back to my desk to finish my reports, but ended up not being able to focus on them, unable to stop thinking about what I had just agreed to. I stared at my computer screen blankly, my mind completely elsewhere. It was difficult to believe I was really considering this after so long. I had avoided getting close to anyone for decades, and now here I was considering doing a special favor for possibly the hottest girl I knew.
No, definitely the hottest girl I knew – literally.
As a typical guy with a nearly useless power, I considered my life to be fairly average and definitely mundane. Not being able to sleep meant I had a ton of free time on my hands. I went to work every day like clockwork, never missing since I never had a legitimate excuse – I never got sick. And then I went home to lift weights, play games, watch anime, and of course work on my pain tolerance.
That was the worst thing about being immortal. It didn’t matter how close to death I came, my body would always regenerate itself, which meant I had occasionally found myself in some extremely painful situations in the last two-hundred and nineteen years.
Eventually, I wised up and realized that even though my nerves reset each time, ultimately the sensation of pain was in my mind. Once I actually started to train every day, I quickly found myself becoming less and less susceptible to forms of pain that would make others go insane.
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