Arielle Immortal Journey (The Immortal Rapture Series Book 5)

by Lilian Roberts

  “Good day,” he said softly. His voice trailed and went still as his eyes fell on Arielle’s face one more time. His gaze lingered on her for a pregnant moment. Her eyebrows rose as she held his gaze. What in the world is happening? she thought. Who is this guy? Why do I feel as if we've met before?

  An easy smile appeared on his attractive mouth and he turned away. “I’m very happy to see that we have many new faces in the introductory meeting today, and I want to welcome you with open arms,” he continued in a firm voice. “My name is Brandon Burgejion.” His full name dropped like a bomb in the middle of her thoughts, scattering her memories in every direction. She forced herself to take a huge breath so palpable she could taste it. The strong feeling that they had met during a significant moment in her life was like a spark inside of her that demanded acknowledgment. So why couldn’t she recall? His name surged through her lips once again and filled her with frustration. She took control of her thoughts.

  She looked up and their gaze locked again. He looked as if he read her thoughts and his lips curved into a soft smile. She blinked twice and decided that at any minute she would emerge from this inexplicable moment.

  He took a deep breath. Smiling, he stared at the black book in front of him and continued. “Today is your first time with us and I will familiarize you with the rules of our secret society and our purpose. I will use followup meetings to go into detail of the contents of your black books. I’ll walk you through the pages slowly and carefully. You will learn your book cover to cover and at the end you will know, you will dare, and you’ll have the power but you’ll keep silent.” Something about those last words held power, Arielle thought, and significance of which she was as yet unaware.

  “Each symbol has a meaning. Each drawing will clearly be interpreted for you. This knowledge will give you a weapon to help you protect yourself against evil.” His voice turned unyielding. “Never forget the four elements of our society shown in large script on the first page of your book: fire, water, earth, and air. These elements embody the powers that you will gain, and they will enhance the powers already bestowed to you through your special amulets. There is nothing for you to do but make sure you keep it on your body at all times, especially if you feel you are being threatened.” Arielle shivered at his words as she recalled the incidents with the deadly immortal women in Sebastian’s world.

  “I’m sure that each one of you has been invited, and accepted, by faithful members of our society,” he continued. “Our members are linked by trust and conviction. They are the keepers of the secret books and guardians of our beliefs.” He paused. His eyes fell on Arielle’s face and he gave her a meaningful look.

  Arielle stirred in her seat awkwardly and averted her gaze, looking instead at Olivia sitting impassively and staring at the little black book that was open on her lap. Arielle looked back at Burgejion to find that his gaze had not left her face. She pressed her lips together anxiously, but quickly he turned and looked toward the back of the room. She shivered lightly as an extraordinary pulse pounded in her chest. She was absolutely sure that in the short moment their eyes locked he had undoubtedly viewed every emotion, every thought, and every idea in her head, as if her inner self was completely exposed in front of his eyes.

  What a strange sensation, she thought. He looks extremely young to be the leader of such an exclusive society. Her next thought made her quiver like there were cold fingers running down her spine. Good God, what if he can read my thoughts? She rubbed her hands together nervously and felt moist skin. His deep voice interrupted her thoughts; she stared at him in wonderment.

  “Each one of you will be initiated into our secret society, and will be able to access all the powers hidden to non-members that will protect you from harm. Your initiation will be approved when we have made sure that you are ready for the most potent tool of our secret society, a binding ceremony that has surrounded every initiation since the beginning of time. You will find that we work as a group, not against the established authority but for it and the welfare of the powerless. Every initiation has a deep meaning for the initiate and for us. Your rewards will be the trust and faith that will be established between each one of you. Your amulet is the major link, and it binds all the members not just here in England but all over the world.” He looked around meaningfully once again and continued.

  “When you hear the word 'ritual' in our meetings, it’s not what you might think. This ancient word is referring to an activity, which is always rich in context. Everyone in this group participates. We sponsor elaborate costume balls for charity as well as trips and other activities to raise funds to help the less fortunate. But the main purpose of our brotherhood is to uphold the moral values and protect the innocent from evil.” Arielle was captivated, her eyes glued to his face, watching his lips move without hesitation.

  “We believe that the world’s prosperity depends on the successful performance of each activity. In past centuries, even as far back as the very point of creation, people believed that in the midst of chaos there was always a small area of mandate. They also believed that only within that small area was possibility. It is very easy for chaos to subvert life, and it takes a lot of effort and hard work to keep the order.”

  He smiled confidently and gazed into the audience, pinning each new member with a meaningful gaze. “Many intelligent people throughout the centuries sought this secret knowledge, and journeyed through their daily lives holding the secrets bestowed upon them close to their hearts.” With that he finished speaking and closed the book in front of him.

  The meeting was over, but Arielle remained unmoved, lost in that secretive world that Burgejion had just cracked the door open to, a world she now desperately wanted to enter. She wanted to learn more about the powers she held, and how to better understand and control them. She also wanted to solve the puzzle of Burgejion’s identity. Why was she so startled by his presence?

  Olivia’s hand on hers brought her thoughts back to the room. Burgejion was already walking away from the podium, book tucked under his arm and a soft smile on his face.

  “I will see you shortly in the courtroom down the hall,” he said to the assembly. He stepped down from the platform and walked quickly down the aisle, exiting the room without looking back. Arielle was still trying to absorb all that she had heard when Olivia’s soft voice reached her. She inhaled deeply as she averted her gaze to look at Olivia.

  “Do you think you would like to continue and learn all about your book and amulet? Or would you like to go home now?”

  “I made a commitment to learn all I can about this. I can’t think of a better way to face all those crazy women that are trying to get back into Sebastian’s life,” she whispered. Olivia patted her hand softly.

  “Then let's go so you can meet Burgejion.”

  “He seems young to be leading this assembly.”

  “That’s the curse of immortality, we never get older.” She sighed and stood up. Arielle followed, taking a quick look around. She noticed that the room was nearly empty. They walked out into the corridor and continued straight across through another door that took them deeper into a different corridor. At the end, there was a door wide open. Arielle walked across the threshold and gasped. Crossing the threshold was like passing from twilight to daylight. She was enveloped in illumination and soothing warmth. She blinked in amazement as her jaw dropped. She threw her head back in awe and tried to drink it all in. It was a grand room with amazing furnishings, engulfed in walls with beautiful wood paneling, huge windows, and walnut bookcases. Books with rich leather binders covered the shelves. There had to be more than 10,000 books in that room if Arielle had to guess. A stunning painting by Michelangelo hung over an ornate fireplace that stood against the far wall directly opposite the entrance.

  Bright colors upholstered several walnut sofas and chairs, creating a warm, cozy atmosphere. A ray of sun slipped through the windows and bounced between the stunning glass figurines displayed around the room
sparking a striking hue of colors. She was amazed by the spectacular coffered ceiling. Her eyes traveled down to the window, which revealed a magnificent courtyard that completed the beauty of the view from inside the room.

  The cloak hoods were drawn back. Bright, smiling faces and chatter filled the room. Olivia stopped to talk to several acquaintances. She introduced Arielle as Sebastian’s fiancée. She then fell deep into a conversation with a lady friend, and Arielle excused herself to walk toward one of the large windows. She stopped and gazed out into the courtyard. A huge fountain sat in the middle of the courtyard encircled by three concrete benches. An abundance of gorgeous flowers and foliage created a stunning view. Turning away from the window, she noticed that a large number of the members were immortals. Her ability to recognize immortals was even better than before, and here they were relaxed, unconsciously letting go of the desire to blend in, making them easier to spot. Some were quite young, others of middle age. She pondered the number of centuries represented in this large cozy room. It was overwhelming to consider. She continued to stand there gazing at the center of the room. Olivia was now engaged in a quiet conversation with Allworth and his girlfriend. Burgejion was surrounded by a large number of younger people who seemed to have a lot of questions for him. She waited patiently while her eyes swept over him, taking in his beautiful mahogany hair, strong features, and piercing hazel eyes. She considered again the feeling of familiarity he invoked in her, a feeling that had set her nerves on edge in an alarming way. Suddenly, his gaze drifted her way and locked with hers. Her body tensed as she saw him excuse himself and walk away from the circle, moving slowly toward her with a calculated stride. She averted her gaze to her feet, experiencing something akin to panic as she tried to think of what to say.

  “Hello.” His soft, immortal voice caressed her ears. “Are you all right?” She lifted her head up and met his gaze. His brilliant hazel eyes were filled with curiosity. Arielle swallowed hard.

  “I’m fine, thank you,” she said, voice quivering.

  “I’m Brandon,” he said, and extended his hand waiting patiently for Arielle to take it. Glancing between his hand and his face, she reluctantly surrendered her hand. His fingers gripped it softly, warmly. His touch made her shiver as she felt the smoothness of his skin. He held her hand while he asked. “Who are you?” His voice betrayed great interest.

  “I’m Arielle,” she mumbled.

  “Oh, are you here with Olivia?”

  “Yes,” she replied, averting her gaze toward Olivia, who was still engaged in a deep conversation.

  “Why do I have this irrepressible feeling that we’ve met before?”

  She stared at him, swallowing hard. What in bloody hell is wrong with me? she thought. “No, no,” she said quickly, shaking her head awkwardly. She felt as if she were trying to convince herself more than him. “I’m sure we’ve never met before,” she said firmly.

  He cocked his head to the side, eyes roaming her face carefully. “You look very familiar,” he added thoughtfully. “I have faultless instincts,” he continued, her hand still in his. “My instincts tell me that we have met.” It was an indisputable declaration.

  Arielle cleared her throat a bit flustered. “I’m sure that I would’ve remembered if we had met before,” she said softly, and pulled her hand from his grip. Brandon watched in silence.

  He stared at her for a long time, his expression serious. He appeared to be searching his memory for some indication that they had met. He ran his long fingers through his hair, looking frustrated. Brandon looked at her again, eyes narrowed, gaze searching her eyes inexorably.

  Arielle shivered. She was sure that he was pouring all of his immortal stimulation on her, leaving her breathless, anxious, and guilty. No person on this earth ever left her breathless except Sebastian. Her common sense told her that she needed to change the discussion to a more comfortable topic. She cleared her throat, and drew a long breath.

  “I’m anxious to learn everything about the black book,” she said, making a great effort to sound nonchalant. His eyes never left her face. He remained still for a very long moment as she waited for him to say something.

  “I should be able to remember you.”

  Arielle appeared baffled. “I don’t understand what you mean,” she said awkwardly, biting her lower lip. She was sure they had never met before.

  “It’s your eyes,” he said. “They are beautiful, quite memorable. I should be able to remember where we met before. All I need is a little time to remember when and where.”

  Arielle was shocked. This was the exact statement she had heard from Sebastian. What in bloody hell is going on? She realized that she had to end this as quickly as she could. She shrugged her shoulders, hoping that her gesture would make him stop extending the conversation. She looked in Olivia’s direction trying to get her attention, but she was still engaged in conversation with Allworth. She pressed her lips together and turned to look at Brandon once again.

  “Will you be coming back for the followup meetings?” he asked, holding her gaze.

  Without hesitation she replied, “I’m planning on it, yes.”

  “I promise you that the next time we meet I’ll be able to tell you exactly where we met.” He laughed joyfully.

  “Um, okay,” she said, voice measured.

  “It was nice meeting you—again,” he said, emphasizing the last word and inclined his head toward her. He then turned and walked away.

  Arielle watched his broad back as he leisurely strode to the other side of the room and began a conversation with a middle aged immortal gentleman.

  Once he was at a safe distance from her, she secured her emotions and breathed normally. A downpour of thoughts swirled around her brain, making her anxious.

  Why do I feel so guilty? she thought, eyes narrowed. Why do I feel breathless when he looks at me? This is wrong, I shouldn’t feel this way. Sebastian should be the only man to leave me breathless. She was utterly confused. But what if he is compelling me to feel this way? Exasperation washed over her, and turning around she decided to join Olivia.

  As she approached, Olivia turned and smiled wide. Reaching out she took Arielle’s hand and pulled her closer. “There you are, dear, let me introduce you to Allworth’s sister, Samantha.” Arielle looked at the young girl and smiled warmly. Samantha took a step forward and embraced Arielle kindly. She had to be around eighteen years old.

  “Did you have a nice talk with Brandon?” Allworth asked.

  Arielle blinked and suppressed her anxiety. She mumbled, “Yes, thank you.”

  They looked at her as if expecting her to elaborate, but she didn’t say anything further. She was not sure why she was so hesitant to go into detail about Brandon. Something about him made her nervous but not in a bad way. They talked for a little while longer with Allworth and Samantha, and then Olivia took her around to introduce her to all her friends and the new members. They were just about through with the introductions when she sensed his nearness, but she didn’t turn around. Brandon stood right behind her.

  “Olivia, how are you?” Olivia turned around and gave him her hand as she smiled.

  “Brandon, darling, you were introduced to Arielle, right?”

  “Oh, yes, we had a nice little chat,” he said softly, as he turned and pinned her with a meaningful gaze. “I’m excited that she’ll be attending the followup meetings.”

  Arielle kept her eyes away from his face. His nearness was affecting her again in a way she didn’t like. Suddenly, she had an idea.

  “I was wondering if I could have a friend of mine attend the meetings?” she asked.

  “Why is that?” Brandon said, eyes narrowing.

  “She is my best friend. Her name is Eva, she’s an immortal, and she can see the future,” she said excitedly. She searched Brandon’s eyes for his reaction and he looked quite intrigued. He then turned toward Olivia’s direction and there seemed to be some type of communications between them that escaped Arielle. She
stood there holding her breath and waiting for them to finish. Suddenly, his gaze landed back on Arielle’s face and he smiled widely, flashing a set of beautiful, white teeth. Arielle's heart raced inexplicably.

  “I remember now, Olivia mentioned her name during a telephone conversation we had last week.” He paused for a short moment. “I simply forgot all about that,” he chuckled gently. “Tell me a little more about her,” he said, his gaze deepening.

  “She has some extraordinary powers, and she could talk with the dead, though not anymore. When she changed to an immortal, she lost that power.”

  “Well, that’s easy to explain,” Brandon stated. “Being an immortal makes her dead to the human race.”

  Arielle bit her lower lip anxiously at the sound of his statement. He did notice but didn’t make any further remarks.

  “Eva has been trying to help me understand some of the symbols in the book. My amulet and the book fascinate her. I’d like to see if you could help us improve and expand the ability we have developed between us.”

  “What kind of ability?” he asked interestedly.

  “We can link our minds telepathically.”

  “Oh!” he exclaimed.

  “That tells me that you are gifted as well. So yes, please bring her along,” he said, giving her one of his most dazzling smiles, stealing the breath from her lungs. He laughed blissfully, and then said goodbye as he headed for the door.

  It wasn’t long after that when Olivia took her leave saying goodbye to her friends as she walked to the door. Arielle fell in step with her. After leaving the cloaks in the locker, they walked outside.

  It was a sunny day. Arielle lifted her face toward the sky and closed her eyes. She felt the warmth of the sunshine on her face as she took a deep breath. All she wanted now was to be with Sebastian. She stretched her arms out and smiled, savoring the moment.

  “Another beautiful day.” Olivia’s voice sounded miles away. Arielle made no reply. She just smiled.