Immortalis - Book 1 (The Keeper's Immortals)

by Marisa DeMaris

  The good brother vs. the bad.

  “Looks like this is gonna be a bit of a challenge eh?” Jaryn said as he walked beside his brother who stood staring towards the campus.

  “Perhaps or perhaps not.” Blake said as he pulled out his cell and flipped it open.

  “What like she’s just gonna tell ya where she’s at?” Jaryn said with snicker. Blake shot his younger brother a look then put the phone to hear ear but rather than picking up he got her voicemail. He hung up before the beep, not knowing what to say to her.

  “Damn. Well getting her voicemail isn’t going to do us much good so let’s start searchin’.” Blake said as he threw his phone back into his pocket, keeping his hand wrapped around it in hopes Nora would call back. The day slowly passed and they still hadn’t found her. They decided to part ways in hopes of covering more ground. While Jaryn walked to the library Blake walked through the courtyard that was in front of Raelyn Hall. The grounds were spotted with clusters of people, study and gossiping about random things in their lives. They had to find Nora because she was bigger than this life, she was born with a purpose whether she knew it or not - whether she cared or not. Even if she was to return to this drab form of existence she would have to do it after taking her place in the mythology of the immortals and The Keepers. She was given the katana for a reason that was unknown at the moment but he knew that she was special. He wouldn’t have seen her so many lifetimes ago if she wasn’t meant to be someone who was important to their family - to him.

  The more he looked around the more he became frustrated. All Sebastian gave them to go on was the name of the school where she was at but could only tell what he knew. He sat on the bench that was closest to him, placed his elbows on his knees and covered his face with his hands. After rubbing his face in an attempt to clear himself of all frustration before he let out a deep sigh then stood up again. Just as he started to walk again he stopped just shy of a large oak tree that separated a small group of students with him. He stopped when he saw a young girl walk up to the cluster of heads that were on the ground, all jammed into books filling their minds with knowledge. She smiled as she threw her bag to the ground and sat next to her friends, she was beaming because she was happy and her happiness was going to be interrupted because she was the chosen one.

  Thirteen

  Both Reid and Ashwin shuffled through books, documents and websites in hopes to find anything more on the katana and its history. It was a fruitless attempt but they had to try for everyone involved. The only thing that they did find was the only known story of the katana and that was how it was made by Takeo Nakamura. Although they knew where the katana had ended up after the ordeal in Spain what they didn’t know was how the sick man had found it in the first place. “What about asking the man how he came about it?” Ashwin suggested to her brothers.

  “Cade said that the man didn’t have much time, he might not be alive even and beside we don’t know his name, where he was from…nothing.” Reid said.

  “Well there has to be some way of finding out where it came from?” Ashwin advised as she flopped into a leather bound chair with a huff. Frustrated with the lack of information Sebastian gathered his things and stated that he was tired of waiting to hear something from The Keepers at his request so he was going to see them face to face to ask about the mystery surrounding Nora and the katana.

  They boarded the plane leaving Ireland and headed to Spain, to Medina the closest city to where the chambers of The Keepers were located at. Once they had landed they took a car straight to the chambers. As soon as the car stopped the three Hollings got out in a rush. The wind was blowing incredibly strong that day and the water seemed choppy making the cliffs below more dangerous than normal. They hurried into the opening of the dark, ominous mouth of the cave, heading to the large wooden doors that were now fixed. The last time they all had seen the two large doors they were opened slightly with a dead body was on the other side. Not knowing what the outcome would be, Sebastian knocked on the door using the large metal knocker that was in a loop shape. They waiting only a second until the door was opened by a young woman with tan skin and blond hair.

  “Can I help you?” She asked, not knowing who they were.

  “We are the Hollings - we have come to see The Keepers.” Sebastian said with grace. They could tell that the woman was leery of who she was allowed to let into the chambers and who she had to keep out. She finally heard someone deeper within the chambers and when she turned back to face the three of them she nodded kindly and stepped back, allowing their entrance.

  “Sebastian, my friend, welcome. Please do come forward.” Ozlem said in his odd and quirky voice. Cade was silent while Lieka rolled his bleak, dark eye at their presence in their chambers. Lieka was defiantly the most animated out of the three, rolling his eyes often.

  “We have seen far too much of you and yours Sebastian. What is this time? Is there someone else out for lives that cannot be taken?” Lieka said snidely. Reid felt his hands turn into fist at Lieka’s words.

  “Clearly your lives can be taken by a single weapon - the katana and that my lords is why we’ve come. I have sent word countless times before but we could no longer wait. Blake has had a vision…” Sebastian started before he was interrupted by Lieka again.

  “Oh another one of Blake’s visions eh? Just what I wanted to hear.” He said rudely. Ashwin couldn’t help but to shoot him a go-to-hell look.

  “His last vision he had turned out to be right so why wouldn’t we believe him this one. My brother has never been wrong with his visions’.” Reid proclaimed.

  “Please don’t preach to me about your brother Reid. We all know your deep seeded issues with him and your problems with him will only get worse before they get better.”

  “Excuse me?” Reid barked toward the three Keepers.

  “You heard him.’ Cade finally spoke. ‘I told you that you and Blake that there were secrets among you both.” Reid did remember that but it was soon over shadowed by Ashwin’s secret of her unknown birth of a child.

  “I don’t have any secrets from me brother.” Reid said in a firm tone, standing up to The Keepers.

  “I didn’t say you did.” Cade explained with ease, tapping his fingers on the arms of his chair. His blond hair shined even in the dim light and his pale skin and pink lips made him seem to glow. Reid didn’t understand what Cade was talking about but he didn’t have time to think about it now. Ever since his siblings found him it didn’t seem like he had time for anything else other than finding out the mystery of the katana along with anything else that had come up in their way.

  There was a mix of feelings up in the air from everyone involved. Reid wouldn’t admit it out loud but he knew there was tension between himself and every member of his family even if things were better, but now he didn’t even have Nora to stand with him, keeping him steady on his feet and making him stay. The only reason he was still with his family now was to help Nora, doing everything he could to help her as well as keep her safe from The Keepers and other immortals. Nora having the katana was putting her in danger whether they all knew it or not but they didn’t want to take the chance. He also knew that Cade was right when it came to Blake hiding something from him although he didn’t know what it was and he didn’t bet on finding out anytime soon, not from Blake anyways.

  “Were not here to talk about my brother. We’re here to find out about the katana and why Nora has it?” Reid snapped, tired of getting the normal run around with the ones who made him.

  “Miss Langdon received our gift - good.” Ozlem stated with excitement in her voice.

  “No, not good. What if the others are after her, wanting what they once thought was only a myth to kill the likes of you…and us.” Reid stated firmly. The Keepers knew what they were saying but they also knew that the katana had to be with Nora.

  “The katana must stay with Nora.” Ozlem told them in a very serious tone. His face was calm yet stern as were the others. The
atmosphere turned very serious, even more than it was before.

  “Why? Why must stay with her?” Sebastian asked, demanding an answer.

  “She will be one…the one who brings about the Twilight between the two sides. The side that she decides to help, to stand with, will overthrow the other and all we can do is hope that she fights for us. Since the beginning of time our kind have been battling The Gods for power and what we want in this world. Cade has seen ages ago the one who would be called ‘The Chosen One’ and if you were wise then you wouldn’t question our methods whether you would consider them madness or not.” Ozlem explained.

  “This Twilight…what’s it’s about?” Ashwin asked always being a bit more clueless then the others. Her brother’s looked at each then back to The Keepers. None of The Keepers bothered to answer her question knowing that others knew what they were talking about. Not justifying Ashwin with a response only made her blood boil more than it already was but she moved on with the others and she knew would just have to try again later then they were alone. Sebastian asked when it was all to take place but none of them knew and with that they left The Keepers’ chambers, boarded the plane and headed back to Ireland with even more questions than they had before.

  Fourteen

  Blake couldn’t help but to stare at her. Her brown hair was down, framing her angelic face. Her blue eyes twinkled when the sun broke through the thick clouds as they rolled through the sky. She smiled wildly as she laughed with her friends. She looked so happy he hated to spoil it by intruding in her life but there wasn’t any other choice. Before doing something completely stupid he decided to call his brother to meet him.

  “I’ve got her, meet me in the courtyard.” Blake said before hanging up with Jaryn. Seconds later Jaryn was at his older brother’s side watching him watch Nora with intense eyes. He asked if he was alright and after saying that he was they talked about what they were planning on doing; get her attention or a direct approach. They decided on the latter of the two with a cocky undertone; more Blake’s style than Jaryn’s but they both thought why not.

  They strutted up to the small group that included Nora with smirks on their faces. They could tell when she saw them when her smiled disappeared from her face suddenly while she was mid sentence. With the color drained from her face she stood as they stopped just shy of the circle.

  “What are you doing here?” I asked Blake and Jaryn as they stopped in front of me. My chest became heavy at the sight of them both, standing there both looking devilishly handsome. Blake looked almost sad to see me but it wasn’t because he hated me. It was the same reason I looked sad to see him – it hurt my heart.

  “Were just here to see ya lass.” Blake said in his cocky tone.

  “Why?” I asked. Out of my peripheral vision I could see the others looking up in confusion. I could hear my own voice cracking, upset sounding so I know that everyone else could as well. From beside me Adam stood up shiftily to defend me. He was a broad shouldered football player yet they weren’t intimidated by him like others were.

  “Can we help you?” he said towards them both although neither of them gave him a response.

  “It’s alright Adam.” I said as I placed my hand on his shoulder without looking at him. My eyes and thought were focused on the two of them standing in front of me, after all the months that we’ve been a part it was so strange seeing the both of them, especially Blake.

  “We’re here to help keep ya safe. They were Sebastian’s orders.” Jaryn stated.

  “What?’ My voice was weak. Fear had suddenly rushed over my body. Since I had that katana I had always knew that this day would happen sooner or later. ‘What’s happened?” I asked not caring who was around

  “I saw somethin’.” Blake explained.

  “What did you see?” I asked.

  “Nor what’s going on?” Trish asked me. I slowly looked down at her, not wanting to take my eyes off of Blake because I was shocked to see him here in front of me. Suddenly I saw one of the other girls who was sitting with us stand quickly with smile on her face. I was friendly with her but nothing more than acquaintances who I knew through another classmate.

  “Their protecting you from me love, I’m right, yeah?” The girl said. I looked back at Jaryn and Blake, watching their eyes bug from their sockets. They watched the girl with long golden hair, green eyes and fair skin stand while everyone turned to face her. I watched both Jaryn and Blake swallow hard lumps that had formed in their throats.

  “Emmalee?” Blake finally managed to say. I looked back at him with a puzzled look.

  “Emmalee?” I said as I face her again. She slowly twisted her body around the others who were still sitting so that she could move closer to Blake, Jaryn and myself. She hissed through her teeth, acting as if she didn’t want to tell me what she had on the tip of her tongue although I knew that she was dying too.

  “That’s my name, don’t wear it out.” She said. Suddenly she had a slight Irish accent as well, similar to Blake and Jaryn but not as thick. She had met us on the first day of school - her name was Sarah and was an English Lit major. That’s all I really knew about her. I studied with, hung out with but no secrets were shared between us luckily. I hadn’t shared that secret with any of them but I’m sure they knew more now than I ever hoped they would.

  “You’re alive…you died…I saw you die.” Blake said still shocked by the person who stood before him.

  “You my love did not, the body was burned and you were told that I had died.” She explained. I interrupted before anyone had a chance to say anything else.

  “Wait, wait, stop…Blake who is this?” I asked him. He didn’t say anything as if he couldn’t.

  “I’ve left you speechless, brilliant! Too bad I never could do that while we were married…I didn’t appeal to you eh? How about now?” Emmalee said with a wicked smile on her face. I was taken back suddenly because I knew who she was. Blake’s unnamed wife he was once married to but unhappy with. She suddenly turned to face Jaryn who also looked like a deer in headlights. “And Jaryn - I have missed you as well, as well as your passionate middle of the night love making.” She popped back with a smile across her face while trying not to laugh, knowing that she had said something that wasn’t known to everyone.

  “Em I…” Jaryn was also left without words.

  “Oops! I take it that you never told him about us eh Jaryn?” She said still with the shit eating grin on her beautiful face. Jaryn looked white as a ghost and didn’t dare look towards his brother for fear of what the outcome would be.

  “Now that we know your death was faked, among other things, how about you tell us what you’re doing here? How are you alive?” Blake said through gritted teeth. He was attempting to suppress his boiling anger.

  “The very same way as you are…for the most part.” She said. Jaryn suddenly jerked his head up from where it had lowered to and stared straight into her eyes.

  “You’re one of them aren’t you?” he asked her in a mousy tone. She only smiled because he was right as she lifted her left eyebrow. While they were having a conversation, that should have been more private, I was looking around. No one was paying us any attention, other than the ones were sitting with us. Trish mouthed to me ‘What is going on?’ I only shrugged my shoulders not knowing how to tell her what was happening if I even could.

  “As for you little miss Nora - you have something that I want.” Emmalee said as she looked at me dead in the eyes.

  “What do I have?”

  She watched as she glanced at Blake then back to me with a smile. “A few things actually but first and foremost - the katana.”

  “I don’t have a katana.” I explained hoping she would believe me. She explained that she knew I was lying but she had also already searched my room finding nothing. Feeling violated I was overjoyed that I had secretly moved the katana to another location.

  “You can play your little hiding game all you want, I will find it and the Twilight will hap
pen but when it does remember who has lied to you more?” Emmalee said before she turned to face two others who were always with her; Lucas and Conner. They, without a fight walked off and out of the courtyard leaving everyone more confused than they already were. I stood there for a moment, trying to process everything that had just happened, everything I had just found out while standing next to two people I wasn’t planning on seeing ever again.

  “You both need to start talking now.” I said after I slugged them both in their arms, forcing them out of the stupor and back into the real world.

  “Not here, come on we’ll go back to Reid’s.” Blake grabbed my arm as he tried to walk with him but I stopped him but holding my feet. He looked back at me, frustrated looking. “Now is not the time to act this way Nora.”

  “Is Reid there?” I asked. It was hard enough seeing Blake but seeing Reid at the moment would be overkill. They both said that he was still in Ireland with the others but I still wouldn’t leave. I couldn’t leave Trish, Charlie and Adam after everything they had seen.

  “We’ve already said too much in front of them.” Jaryn announced.

  “I know you have, Emmalee didn’t help that situation but what if she would come back for them in order to force me to give her the katana. I won’t risk their lives for mine…or yours.” I started firmly. Getting even more frustrated they both agreed to take the three of them with us, if needed Ashwin could make them forget everything but at the moment it was safer if they were with us. I advised the three of them to trust me and to follow me. We all got into the slick sports cars and headed back to the house where it all started. After we had pulled into the garage I stepped out and slowly but surely made my way into the house. Once in the living room I plopped down in the overstuffed leather chair. “God I hate this house.”

  “Why?” Jaryn asked as he sat on the couch beside me.

  “If I hadn’t met Reid, and I hadn’t gone out with him then I wouldn’t be here in this situation.” I explained. From behind me Blake handed me a shot of whiskey, knowing I needed it.