Surviving Prophesy: The Immortals

by Frances Howitt

  ‘Ah excellent, we’re all set to go,’ Julius said brightly, but his gaze scanned the yard alertly. He carried several bags. He threw one into the back of the wagon, buckled another to Brendon’s horse’s saddle then swiftly attended to his own before mounting up. Brendon meanwhile assisted Zacharias to the wagon. Schubert followed at Zacharias’s slow pace. He got up on the wagon bench seat unaided then peered in the back and saluted Megan. He slipped into the back and disappeared into the blankets. She wondered if they should be worried about pursuit and whether Schubert was best out of sight? Had Schubert left women in his room that should have gone home last night to their families? Or to husbands? How much would they remember?

  ‘Come ahead with me,’ Brendon suggested to her. ‘You won’t be able to smell him.’

  ‘Good thinking,’ she said gratefully. At least she could relax her guard if she was out of range. ‘Will we reach Brookdell today?’

  ‘I believe so. Probably late this afternoon if we’re just going to walk,’ he added glancing back at the wagon. ‘What did you give Schubert at breakfast?’

  ‘Did he drink it?’

  ‘He drank every drop, just as you instructed.’

  ‘Good. It’s a just a mild sedative, but I hope it’ll relax him and let him get some sleep.’

  ‘Do you think he’ll get back with Yolanda?’ Brendon asked. ‘I mean, I’m guessing they have some history but she was all over other guys last I saw her.’

  ‘He found her as a teenager and looked after her for many years. I think she’s treated him as a father figure so they never really developed an adult relationship. What they didn’t know at the time was that she was physically still a child. That was one of the reasons she viewed him that way. That parasite I found in him, she had one too, but that had been designed to halt puberty. When you met her she’d only recently become a woman. Physically and probably mentally she’d just become a young adult and so of course she felt more in common with you lads. I just hope she’s ready to meet the real man tonight.’

  ‘I get that, but what if he doesn’t want to commit to her? What if his getting her pregnant forces them into a relationship neither truly wants?’

  Megan knew he seldom missed much. ‘What have you observed?’

  ‘Even when they were together they were not looking to one another.’

  ‘I suppose you’re right. I noticed but hadn’t really thought about it.’

  ‘No, you have been focussed on treating Zacharias,’ Brendon remarked with a small nod of approval. He admired such loyalty and care; Zacharias was a lucky man to have her. Schubert might run a little rough-shod over Megan from time to time but she regularly gave it straight back. Brendon was certain Schubert only acted that way because she had won his respect and admiration. But did he feel more than that? Certainly whenever she had been in any kind of need Schubert and it must be said it was also true of Julius, was there for her. He abruptly wondered what they thought of him for he’d been there for her too, even though it had begun as being Zach’s friend alone. What was it about her that engendered such loyalty and protectiveness? She was a warrior in spirit as much as they. His gaze slid over her; she never wore provocative clothing or flirted, yet she drew men like moths to a flame to protect her. Julius had found seven women in Schubert’s room this morning. Surely he must be sated. Yet from the moment Megan was in the room Schubert couldn’t take his eyes off her. Somehow he doubted Schubert’s interest stemmed from his condition alone.

  ‘Brendon, can you stop thinking so loudly,’ she said with a rather pained laugh.

  ‘You can hear me?’ he gasped and flushed.

  ‘You’re projecting. I’m trying not to listen but there’s nothing else to distract me,’ she admitted, as embarrassed as him.

  ‘What are you laughing about?’ Julius asked coming alongside.

  ‘Oh, nothing much. Brendon was just thinking overly loudly,’ Megan said cheerfully then her smile faded. ‘How’s he doing? Has he slept?’

  ‘I really don’t know. We thought he was sleeping last night, remember, yet he wasn’t. Certainly he’s resting more comfortably than I thought he would. Whatever it was that you gave him must be helping.’

  ‘Good. Julius, while you’re here, I wanted to ask what we should do tonight. Do you think we’re being fair putting him directly in Yolanda’s hands? He did leave her there and come back to supervise Zach. He’s in no fit shape to be too rational with a woman in close proximity and she’s not going to have much choice either. Will his condition force a relationship that neither truly wants?’

  ‘You have a point,’ Julius said slowly, glancing between the pair. He guessed this was Brendon’s observation as Megan had studiously avoided mentioning Schubert’s relationship problems prior to this. ‘I’ll talk to him. Perhaps he’ll be able to think more clearly while we’re out here on the road. This is his decision to make after all.’

  ‘Thank you,’ she said and he slowed up again to fall in beside the wagon.

  ‘Schubert is swearing the bluest streak I’ve ever heard anyone utter,’ Brendon commented a short while later.

  ‘That doesn’t bode well,’ she remarked, but even though she sharpened her hearing, nothing of any sense came from the wagon, then he fell silent.

  21

  As the road passed into welcome dappled shade cast by some trees, they topped a rise and looked out at the green oasis of a village in the valley below. Brookdell nestled in the lee of a craggy hillside where a spring erupted from the cliff. The road split here, the main road going on around the rim whilst they would take the one dipping down to the valley floor. The early afternoon sun baked the dusty hillside, matching the fields of golden wheat nodding gently in the breeze. A wide variety of other crops, orchards and vineyards divided the hillsides giving splashes of varying colour.

  ‘I need to speak to Schubert,’ Megan said halting her horse and waiting for the wagon to come alongside.

  ‘You shouldn’t get too close Megan,’ Julius warned.

  ‘Why? He’s in heat and is giving off a scent to draw women. I get that, but is there more to it? Before we go into a village with lots of people I need to know more about his condition to be able to minimise the effects.’ She rode her horse round to the back of the wagon where she could then see Schubert. He sat on the mattress, propped against the back of the driver’s seat. He tilted his head as she came closer.

  ‘How can you stand to be so close to me?’ he asked. ‘And,’ he abruptly and more obviously breathed in deeply, ‘why don’t I smell you?’

  ‘I’m shielded.’ She watched him closely as he slowly moved closer, sniffing as he came nearer.

  ‘I don’t smell you at all,’ he said.

  ‘That helps you stay in control? I didn’t realise Immortals had such a sensitive sense of smell. Brendon, can you smell me?’

  ‘No. But you cannot shield an entire village.’

  ‘Of course not, but I can shield him. Can you detect a difference in his scent?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Schubert, are you able to relax when you don’t smell a woman nearby?’

  ‘I should do.’

  ‘I wasn’t out of range today, was I? Damn it, you should have said something.’

  ‘It was ok, honestly,’ he assured. ‘You didn’t come close very often so it was manageable. You think you can shield me?’ He felt something weird pass over his body and shivered.

  ‘Brendon, can you smell him now?’ she asked.

  ‘No! His scent’s gone.’

  ‘Now for the more difficult test,’ she said and dropped her shield. She heard Brendon breathe in her direction, but so too did Schubert and she instantly knew it hadn’t worked. His body went still but every muscle tensed and his gaze turned very direct and almost predatory. ‘Hell,’ she muttered and threw her shield back up. Schubert made a small sound that was almost a whimper of disappointment. ‘Sorry Schubert,’ she said quietly. She dismounted from her horse, tied him to the wagon and
then moved away to think.

  ‘Why did it not work?’ Brendon followed her to ask. ‘Blocking his scent worked.’

  ‘I know how to create a shield to stop my, or in this case his, scent getting out. Unfortunately it’s difficult to stop scents getting in because we need fresh air to breathe,’ she explained. She absently watched Julius trot away towards the village to go find Yolanda. Before Yolanda arrived she needed to find a solution or Schubert would suffer. ‘Can I practice on you?’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘You can tell me clearly what you do and don’t smell without repercussions.’

  ‘Zach probably could too,’ Brendon pointed out aware he was being closely observed.

  ‘I never thought of that. You think his nose is as sensitive as yours, even when he’s not in heat?’

  ‘I don’t really know to be honest.’

  ‘Well, I do know about your sensitivity and we’re running out of time. Where can I stand that he won’t smell me?’ she asked briskly. Surprisingly Brendon moved her back closer to the wagon but to one side before nodding. ‘Watch Schubert for any signs he can detect me,’ she instructed as she dropped her shield.

  ‘You’re ok,’ Brendon said and gratefully breathed her in again. He was so used to identifying people by scent that it felt like sitting next to a stranger when he couldn’t verify their identity or indeed emotional state by smell. A shimmering something passed over him and all scents vanished, which was very disconcerting. But then he began struggling to breathe! She made alteration after alteration until he could breathe without impediment, could smell the plants, but not smell her.

  ‘Thank you. Let’s see if that works on him,’ she said and cast the spell addition to Schubert’s existing shield. They walked up to the wagon where Schubert still watched.

  ‘Are you shielded again?’ Schubert asked and she shook her head.

  ‘If you’re safe to be around, you’d best straighten yourself up,’ Zacharias told him glancing pointedly at Schubert’s disarrayed clothing. ‘Time’s up and we’re about to have company.’

  Schubert hopped down from the back of the wagon. He leaned closer to Megan and abruptly smiled. ‘You’ve saved the day, yet again,’ he told her and hastily straightened his clothes before walking round the side of the wagon into the sight of the “company” Zacharias had warned of.

  Megan and Brendon mounted up again, Schubert sat beside Zacharias now on the seat of the wagon and they drove forward to meet the riders approaching; Yolanda and another immortal woman.

  ‘I wasn’t able to tell her,’ Julius told Schubert quietly. ‘Are you ok?’

  ‘Megan’s worked her magic,’ Schubert told him with a quick grin, but his gaze strayed to the tall woman who’d come along with Yolanda and who was to be their hostess; Clarice. Yolanda had done the introductions quickly until she’d come to “Wizard Healer Megan”. The emphasis and pride in her tone told the men Yolanda had already spoken of Megan and that she was the one most welcome. Was someone in need of healing then?

  They rode through a small village and turned off onto a less defined track just beyond. Cattle and horses grazed the fields either side of the lane that eventually led to an isolated farm. Clarice gestured to the barn and the men drove their wagon inside. They released their horses into the empty paddock she’d offered them before heading for the house into which the women had already disappeared. The farmhouse itself was large and sprawling but was instantly welcoming. The men tentatively entered the huge airy kitchen where the women sat at the table talking.

  ‘Are we intruding?’ Schubert asked aware the women had fallen silent at their entry.

  ‘Of course not gentlemen. Welcome,’ Clarice said jumping up out of her seat to greet them properly with a bright smile and quick embrace each. She was a tall strong woman with the toned curves created by working outside and living healthily. Everyone held their breath as she hesitated before releasing hold of Schubert.

  ‘I apologise lady Clarice if I have offended you,’ Schubert said quietly, well aware she’d pressed close enough to notice his ever present and very uncomfortable arousal. ‘I’m in heat,’ he admitted, his cheeks flushing in embarrassment.

  ‘Heat? You can’t be.’

  ‘Megan has kindly blocked my scent so I don’t affect anyone unexpectedly.’

  ‘You don’t look so young,’ Clarice commented.

  ‘I’m not. It was certainly an unexpected development,’ he said with a wry grin. ‘Do you have anywhere I might clean up?’

  ‘Of course. This way,’ Clarice said and led him through to the bathroom. She showed him the pump he’d have to work to draw the water to fill the bath. He drew his shirt off over his head and she stared, no, this was definitely an immortal warrior in his prime, not a youth. He was not Yolanda’s man either; she’d made that abundantly clear when he’d dropped her off without even coming to the door.

  ‘I’m in heat; I’m fertile,’ he reminded softly.

  ‘I know, but I’m not,’ she admitted and shortly took advantage of his need and willingness for some serious pleasure.

  ‘Are you sure you blocked his scent?’ Julius asked, aware Clarice had not returned and there was now laughter and quiet involuntary noises emanating from down the corridor.

  ‘She has the parasite,’ Megan told them simply and they understood.

  ‘Damn, how widespread is this infection?’ Julius exclaimed. ‘No wonder so few children are being born if this is so common. Who is behind it and how the hell did it happen?’

  ‘What aren’t you saying about Schubert?’ Yolanda demanded, shocked that he and her friend were busy having sex less than an hour after meeting. ‘Is he really in heat?’

  ‘He really is. We’ve all been infected, same as you,’ Zacharias told her. ‘Schubert volunteered to be the first to have it removed. None of us guessed heat would be triggered.’

  ‘So, none of you are fertile yet?’

  ‘No. We thought it best to wait until Schubert’s recovered before another of us is incapacitated,’ Zacharias admitted, although Julius was probably going to be safe to clear at any time.

  ‘Clarice lives alone?’ Julius asked and Yolanda nodded. ‘It’s a big place to run alone. Are there other Immortals around here?’

  ‘Actually the whole village is, pretty much. I’ve stayed here quite a few times over the years and know they all help each other out when needed but mostly keep to themselves.’

  ‘Any children here?’ Julius asked, daring the question everyone wondered.

  ‘I’ve never seen any, but then I haven’t met everyone,’ Yolanda said with a shrug, but her gaze had fallen on Megan with excitement. ‘Just think how many people’s lives you can transform,’ she said eagerly.

  ‘Well, if I’m going to have a join a queue, maybe I should jump in first for the treatment,’ Julius said having noticed Zach’s glance. ‘In fact, if it is convenient to stay a few days, then we could all get it over with. It’s nicely isolated here.’

  ‘Yes, I think you’re right Julius,’ Megan said. She considered Zach, she hated knowing he was still infected when she could so easily cure him. But if he thought it likely his body would react as Schubert’s had, then they needed to consider the best timing.

  ‘Don’t you dare work on him first,’ Julius said aware of her gaze on Zach. ‘Once he’s in heat you’re going to be out of action too, remember, assuming he’s strong enough to perform,’ he added with a very speculative and cheeky grin and Brendon couldn’t muffle his sniggers.

  ‘That was childish Julius,’ Megan said sternly. ‘If you don’t think you’re going to go into heat, we’ll do it now. Drop your trousers.’

  ‘What? In here?’ he queried in sudden embarrassment.

  ‘Oh all right, we needn’t make everyone else feel sick. Come along,’ she added and walked down the corridor to the bedroom he would be using. She could hear Brendon sniggering again, but so too was Zacharias, so she’d succeeded in quashing him. Julius removed his trousers
, lay down on the bed and two minutes later it was done.

  Julius had the grim satisfaction of swatting the parasite with his shoe, killing it categorically. She was right; sight of the thing that had been living inside him was sickening.

  ‘Do you feel any different yet?’ Megan asked and Julius shook his head. ‘Well, it took a good hour for Schubert to notice effects. I suggest you stay here and lie down. Call if anything strange happens,’ she added and left him. When she looked in on him an hour later he was sound asleep. Scanning him she did indeed notice some distinct changes, but they were not as extreme a reaction as Schubert’s had been; perhaps this was simply a slower change.

  ‘Megan?’

  ‘How are you doing?’ Megan asked returning to Julius quickly.

  ‘I feel strange,’ he admitted in a small voice. ‘Did it work?’

  ‘Oh yes.’

  ‘Thank you so much,’ he said and hugged her for a moment. ‘But this isn’t normal,’ he added touching himself gingerly.

  ‘I think you need to get rid of the old to make space for the new,’ she suggested noting his balls were tight as drums, which could not be comfortable. ‘Has it been a while?’

  ‘It shows does it?’ he said ruefully.

  ‘Not in any other way,’ she assured him and shut the door behind her.

  ‘Your scent has changed,’ Brendon commented when Julius returned to the kitchen not long after. He looked to Megan anxiously in case she was affected and he needed to intervene.