by Linnea Hall
As he lay there thinking about all of the ramifications of maintaining a relationship with Jewell; his Uncle Percy walked in. “Well kid, we’re going to keep you in this prison for another week or so. That’ll give your bones time to set so that it doesn’t hurt when you breathe. It’s a good thing that you have a hard head too. I’ve never seen the effect of brain damage on one of our kind and frankly, the thought of feeding you baby food for the next thousand years is not pleasant.” He sat down on the edge of Collin’s bed. “What’s with the face? You look like you’ve been pondering the meaning of life.”
“Jewell left today. She wants to talk to me. She wants to talk about us. I don’t know what I’m going to do.” Collin slowly blinked, the effects of the morphine pushing him toward sleep again.
Percy gave Collin a grim smile. “All I can do is tell you what I think is best, but in the end, it’s your decision…and Jewell’s. Before either of you make a decision, both of you should sit down with the family. I think that she needs to know everything. It wouldn’t be fair of you to let her make an uninformed decision.”
Collin nodded. “Good. Well, you look like your healing well, which isn’t much of a surprise, and that morphine seems to be sending you off to la la land. I’ll stop by tomorrow and check on you.” Percy stood up and patted Collin’s cheek affectionately before leaving Collin with his thoughts.
Ashley brought Jewell to the hospital a couple of days after she checked out so that she could visit with Collin. Ashley had some things that she needed to do because she had been out for so many days. Other than that one visit, Jewell didn’t get the opportunity to talk to or visit Collin during the week that he remained in the hospital. Ashley told Jewell when Collin’s uncle checked him out, but other than that, Jewell was in the dark. She had nothing to do but wait until Collin was ready to talk.
Three weeks after she left the hospital, she was sitting in her living room, reading. Her thoughts often strayed to Collin, but she tried to divert those thoughts to other things. She spent time reading, cleaning, and cooking. She finished Twilight and wondered at the end. Edward had asked Bella if she was ready to give up everything for him. Was she ready to give up everything for Collin? Would the heartache she would cause him be worse if she left now, or if she lived for another fifty years and died of old age?
Her thoughts were interrupted when there was a knock at the door. She looked at her watch and walked to the door thinking that it was probably Ashley stopping by to check on her before going on to work. Frankly, Jewell was tired of being “checked up on” and coddled. She felt fine; most of the bruising had faded to a light yellow that was barely noticeable except in a few spots where the injury had been more severe. The cut on her arm was healing nicely. The surgeon had done a beautiful job on the stitches so although there would be a scar, it would not be noticeable to the casual observer. Her legs still hurt, there was some deep bone bruising on her thighs which still bothered her when she walked.
Jewell reached for the doorknob and opened the door. Rather than Ashley, Percy was standing in the doorway. Jewell stood there for a moment, gaping, before she remembered her manners and invited him in. The fact that Percy was there and not Collin made her nervous. She gestured to a chair so that Percy could sit down and offered him a Coke. Percy declined. “How are you feeling,” he asked compassionately.
Jewell sighed. She had lost count of how many times people had asked her that question. Sometimes she wanted to reach out and choke the person asking, but she always managed to remember her manners and respond politely. “I’m healing well. Thank you for asking. How’s Collin?”
“Collin is great.” Percy scrutinized her. “Actually, I think he looks at least as well as you do.” He paused and reached for Jewell’s hands. Holding her hands in his he looked into her eyes. “I can understand what my nephew sees in you; I just wish it didn’t have to be so hard.” He paused. Jewell waited quietly to see where Percy was going with the conversation. “Collin would like to bring you to the house. He would like to discuss your relationship with the Family.”
The way that he emphasized the word “family,” Jewell knew that Percy wasn’t talking about mom and dad. Percy was talking about the others that were like Collin. “Are you a part of the Family.”
Percy sat straighter in his chair, as if that were possible. “I, my dear child,” he began, “am nearly one thousand years old. I was once a Templar Knight. I’ve met Florence Nightingale, I’ve fought in…well, a lot of wars. I have lived the history that most people only have the chance to study.” Jewell stared at Percy, her mouth gaping. She couldn’t find a response to his words so she just continued to stare. Percy finally spoke again. “If you would like, I can take you to Collin now. We can talk with the Family or you can just visit if you prefer. There’s no rush right now, but I wouldn’t want to wait too long.”
She glanced at Percy, “do I need to drive?”
Percy smiled and shook his head, “I’ll be happy to bring you home if you would prefer.”
Jewell glanced at the car keys she held in her hand. If she rode with Percy, she was trapped in whatever situation she was getting into. If she drove herself, she had a quick and easy escape. She briefly weighed the keys in her hand before setting them gently on the table. “I’ll let you drive.” She smiled weakly looking around the living room. “I guess I have everything I need. Shall we go?”
Percy smiled and gestured Jewell in front of him. When they reached the door, he opened it for her. He waited politely on the porch while she locked the door, before offering her his elbow like the princes did in the movies. She looked at it briefly and placed her hand gently on top of his proffered arm. Percy reached over with his other hand and patted her hand gently. “It will all work out my dear.” Jewell just nodded. When they reached the car, Percy opened the passenger side door for her, gently closing it after she had pulled her feet in and settled into the seat.
When Percy had settled himself into the driver’s seat and started the car, Jewell looked at him a little nervously. “Aren’t you going to blindfold me or something?”
Percy laughed, “Why would I do that?”
“I don’t know. Collin was always kind of secretive about where he lived. He wouldn’t even give me a phone number to call him.”
“I’m afraid that’s partially my fault.” Percy frowned slightly. “Because of what we are, we need to keep our houses private. As you know, there are some people who would sacrifice much to kill us.”
“Then why do you trust me?”
“Because Collin trusts you,” Percy answered with a hint of admiration in his voice.
Jewell just nodded, wondering at what she had gotten herself into. She leaned her elbow on the door handle and cradled her chin in her hand as she watched out the window. She watched the water shimmering on the lake as they drove across the causeway. The water sparkled, drawing her eye towards its rippling surface. She must have fallen asleep because she didn’t remember anything until they turned onto a gravel road. She blinked, clearing the sleep from her eyes and yawned. The huge oak trees were dripping with Spanish moss, completely blocking the sun that fought desperately to shed its light on the winding road before them. Every once in a while the sun would win the fight creating mottled patterns with strange shadows.
Jewell sat silently as they drove, turning occasionally onto smaller and smaller roads until they finally turned onto what looked like a driveway. It wound around some old oaks and Cyprus trees before opening on a beautifully landscaped yard. When Jewell saw it, she sat forward to admire the artistic beauty. She assumed it must have been planned to carefully keep the surrounding trees at bay, but what made it so beautiful was that it could very easily just be a clearing where someone decided to build a house.
The house was something else entirely. While its white majesty was a sharp contrast to the surrounding trees, it still seemed to fit into the environment, as if it had grown there; a rare and unique flower. It had clearly been
there for some time. The style harkened back to the large plantations of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Jewell remembered that Collin had once mentioned that he lived in Houma. She knew that the area had once held some of the largest sugar cane plantations in the world.
The beautiful white house was surrounded by porches on both the first and second floors. Large balconies decorated the third floor of the house. It had been immaculately kept, or restored, in its original beauty. The large magnolia trees decorating the front of the house, and the random dogwoods dotting the yard, would provide a brilliant array of white flowers to accent the house each spring.
Percy pulled to the front of the house and parked right next to Collin’s silver corvette. Somehow, just seeing his car made her feel better. Percy walked around to the passenger side and opened the door, offering his hand to help her from the car. As she stood up, the faint smell of honeysuckle wafted past her on the breeze. She took a deep breath inhaling its spicy sweet fragrance. Percy led her around the car and up onto the porch. Several white rocking chairs and a porch swing moved lazily in the breeze. Percy held open one of the huge wooden doors and ushered her in.
Inside the home, the massive foyer was lit with a beautiful chandelier that was large, yet didn’t seem ostentatious in this beautiful old home. To her left and right were identical French doors inset with leaded glass panels. Percy ushered her towards the doors on the right. “Are you ready?” Percy asked; breaking her silent reverie that she was certain must be a dream.
Jewell took a deep breath, not knowing what she would see on the other side of the doors. Percy grasped the handle on each door and pulled to reveal the interior of the room. Jewell’s breath caught, and her knees weakened. Before she was aware of what was happening, she found herself sitting on the floor, trying to remember how to breathe. The room, along with its occupants, was exactly the same as her dream.
Chapter 53
When Jewell realized that she was sitting on the floor, she moved to get up but was gently pushed back to the floor. She glanced up and saw Percy’s gentle eyes. She looked around her and saw Sheriff Payne and Dr. Babineaux. “What happened?”
“Oh, get out of the way boys! Let the girl get some air!” A woman with a firm voice but gentle eyes was approaching. The men standing around her parted like the Red Sea before Moses. She knelt next to Jewell and held a glass of cold, freshly squeezed lemonade to Jewell’s lips. Jewell took two long swallows of the cold, sweet-tart liquid. After a minute or two, the woman commented, “there now, that’s better. Can you stand up?” Jewell nodded as the woman helped her to stand. “See. She just swooned a little. I’m sure that all of this is a bit overwhelming.” She put her arm around Jewell’s shoulders and led her to a loveseat where Collin was sitting. Collin stood with a little effort and helped Jewell to sit on the seat next to him.
His tender touch and the warmth that radiated from his fingers through her entire body calmed her as she looked at the people that were sitting in seats arranged in a semicircle in front them. Before sitting down, Collin began introducing each of them. He started with the woman that had helped her when she “swooned.” The thought of her swooning seemed almost silly. Southern Belles living on plantations with names like Tara, swooned; not girls living in tract houses in Covington.
“This is Gladys.” Collin started introducing the people sitting in the room. The woman smiled warmly. “I lived with her until I was five.” He gestured to the man sitting next to her. “This is Kendryck, a friend of my uncle’s.” Kendryck studied her, but didn’t smile. “You know Sheriff Payne and Dr. Babineaux.”
Jewell nodded. “Why are they here?”
Percy motioned to Collin to sit down. “Hugh Payne is a Templar Knight. He’s the Grand Master in this region. Dr. Babineaux is his second.” Percy paused to let Jewell absorb the information.
“But, the Templar Knights were disbanded,” she looked at Collin for confirmation, “almost a thousand years ago.”
Collin nodded. “Officially disbanded. In fact, there are Templar Knights around the world continuing their duty to protect those requiring, and deserving of their assistance. The Infinitas, what we are,” he gestured around the room, “are a…special undertaking, thanks to Percy.”
Jewell looked at Sheriff Payne and Dr. Babineaux. “Are you like them too? Are you immortal?”
“No,” Dr. Babineaux responded. “Sheriff Payne and I are just like you. And just to clarify, they aren’t immortal. They will age and die just as the rest of us do,” he glanced at Percy who was clearly the oldest immortal in the room, “they just do so at a much slower rate.”
Jewell started to feel dizzy again. She leaned forward, letting her forehead rest on her knees so she wouldn’t “swoon” again. Collin placed his hand on her protectively. She stayed in the same position, letting his strength wash through her.
When she could breathe again, and her head stopped spinning, she sat up and looked at Dr. Babineaux. “And this is your research? You’re trying to figure out how to extend peoples’ lifespan so that they’ll live as long as,” she gestured to the others sitting in the room, “as long as they will?”
Dr. Babineaux smiled indulgently. “That’s part of it Jewell. Immortality, or at least the ability to live an extended time, has been an interest of humans for thousands of years. Every generation we get a little bit better, but the progress is slow. If we could determine the cause of their longevity, we might be able to extend life to thousands of years instead of a mere hundred. Two hundred years ago, thirty five was considered old age. Now, many people are really just beginning their lives at thirty five.” He looked at Jewell’s horror struck face. “There are other benefits as well.” He looked at Collin. “Consider their rapid healing abilities for instance. Imagine if we could harness that; if we could give someone a shot, or an ointment that would heal their injuries in a fraction of the time that it takes now. These people are the equivalent of superheroes. Their genes have the ability to save the human race.”
Jewell considered. The idea of giving everyone immortality made her feel ill. Despite the loss of her mother when Jewell was young, she had never wished that people could live forever. There were so many negative ramifications. And yet, she had to admit that if they could use it to help in the healing process… She looked at Percy. “And you’re helping him with this?”
Percy smiled, but his eyes were sad. “My research is very similar to Dr. Babineaux’s. I too seek the reason for our longevity, but I’m seeking a cure.” Jewell looked at him, her eyes questioning. “Not all of us consider this to be a gift. Many of us think of it as a disease. Something we’ve been struck with that prevents us from living a normal life.” He looked at Collin and Jewell sitting on the couch, Collin’s arm was wrapped protectively around Jewell. “In more ways than one, I’m afraid.”
Jewell looked at Collin. “What does he mean by that? Does it have something to do with us?”
Collin squeezed Jewell’s shoulders. “Not as far as I’m concerned.” Jewell noticed Gladys smiling.
Kendryck shifted in his chair and cleared his throat. When he spoke, his words stung, but he didn’t speak them in malice, but in pain. “We cannot have relationships with…normal people.”
“What? Why?” Jewell looked at Collin but it was Kendryck who answered.
“As our normal companion ages, we don’t. It creates…problems.”
“What kind of problems?” Collin was suspicious.
“Don’t you see Collin? When she’s eighty, you’ll look like you’re thirty. It draws attention. You know that we must be very careful about who we reveal our secrets to. As the world continues to shrink due to more advanced transportation, and the ability to communicate easily with anyone around the world, it becomes more and more difficult to remain concealed. Look at how quickly you were identified due to a simple accident. The more chances we take, the more risk there is of exposure.” He looked at Collin with hard eyes. “And exposure doesn’t just threaten
the individual, it threatens the Family. Sometimes, we need to make difficult choices because our choices affect others as well.”
“Selfishness is not an option for us,” Kendryck added quietly.
“So what you’re saying,” Collin spoke the words Jewell was thinking before she could process all of the information and form coherent thoughts, “is that because I’m like you, Jewell and I can’t have a relationship.” It was a statement, not a question.
Collin and Jewell both looked around the room. Everyone except for Gladys was nodding in agreement, even Dr. Babineaux and Sheriff Payne. Percy spoke. “I’ve explained to you why this relationship is impossible. I tried to make it easy for you, but you refused to listen. I thought that if Jewell was aware of the ramifications, she could help you to make the right decision. She’s not like us; her memory isn’t as long.” He turned to Jewell, “don’t misunderstand me Jewell. You’re a beautiful, wonderful person. I could easily love you as a daughter; but we cannot allow this relationship to continue. You’re young. This is your first love. You’ll remember Collin fondly, but the pain will fade, you’ll meet a nice young man, get married, and have children. You’ll grow old, and you’ll watch your children and your grandchildren grow. Collin will become nothing more than a fond memory.”
Kendryck spoke again. “We don’t like having to tell this to either of you. I haven’t had the opportunity to get to know you Jewell, but I truly regret any pain that this may cause you.”
Jewell barely heard Kendryck’s words. They were empty, meaningless. She could tell that none of them was concerned about her. Their concern was the Family. She could feel Collin’s arm pulling her in tighter, no longer protective, but possessive. She looked over at Gladys who had not contributed to the conversation. Her face was pulled tight into a forced neutral expression. Jewell thought that the expression conveyed a disagreement with the overall sentiment of the conversation. Perhaps she and Collin could find an ally in Gladys.