by E. L. Davis
“You’re not going to die.” Demetri stated. “The Sapheneia has been lost for a thousand years, it’s hard to know how unclear the prophecy has become.”
“Too bad we can’t just find it and clear all the confusion up.”
“That would help, wouldn’t it?” He sighed and squeezed her close to him.
∞ CHAPTER SIXTEEN ∞
The inside of the cabin was dark and wet. Snow had melted all around it and seeped in through the old wood. It stank of rotten wood and moldy food. The front door had been left ajar and a man was standing facing the only mirror in the cabin. He was gripping the sink, ready to rip it right from the wall and send it flying across the small room. It wasn’t anger that pulsed through him, but rather it was sadness and heartache. There was a small moth-eaten sofa in the middle of the room where another man sat. Slightly shorter than the other but just as mysterious, neither sadness nor anger pulsed through this man. Instead, she sensed happiness and overwhelming joy radiating off him.
“I know how to find it,” the man facing the mirror said.
“Tell me,” the second man said, starting to send out pulses of excitement now.
“She will lead you to it. The prophecy was right; her defenses are like nothing you have ever seen.”
“How do you know this?”
“She used them on me,” said the man as he turned from the mirror. “She made me tell her what was special about her.”
“What a pity. I was so hoping she wouldn’t learn too much too soon. You can’t see her again, as she must not know she can trace the book, not until I have one of them.”
“I swear I won’t see her again.”
“Hector, you know I can’t take your word for it. Now I have to kill you.”
“You can trust me,” Hector said in desperation. “You don’t have to do this.” The man got up from the couch and walked casually over to Hector, who was still standing by the sink. “Please, don’t. I can help you.”
“Oh, trust me, you have helped me enough.” With a quick slicing motion, Hector’s throat was cut, and the man poured a small vile of liquid into his wound before it healed. “Goodbye, Hector. Your daughter will be of great use to me.” Hector lay on the ground gagging and twitching. He was being burned from the inside out; soon he would be nothing but a pile of bones and blood.
Right before his eyes went blank, he mouthed one last thing to his murderer. “She’ll kill you, Amar.”
Alexia woke up by getting shaken by Demetri, and then she realized she had been screaming. His face was pale and tired; clearly, she had woken him up with her screams. He was looking at her with such fear in his eyes that it made Alexia even more terrified. She grabbed a hold of him and started bawling her eyes out into his shoulder.
There were no words to describe what she had just seen; there would be no way to explain to him how she knew it had not been a dream. She had just watched her father die at the hands of Amar. Ellie, Cheri, and Roman appeared in the doorway, all looking very tired. Apparently, she had woken up the whole house. When Ellie saw that Alexia was crying, she rushed to her side immediately.
“Alexia, what’s wrong? Demetri, what did you do to her?” Ellie accused.
“I didn’t do anything! She started thrashing in her sleep and screaming at the top of her lungs!”
Alexia tried to calm herself down, as she was making a scene and making everyone worried.
“Alexia,” Demetri urged, “stop crying and just talk to me. Please tell me what’s wrong!”
Everyone was crowded on the bed now. Usually it would have made Alexia feel smothered but now it made her feel safe. It helped her calm down enough to mutter the words. “Amar killed Hector.”
“Alexia, how do you know that?” Cheri questioned, looked scared.
Taking a deep breath she replied, “I watched it happen as if it was a dream, but I know it wasn’t a dream. It was way too real to be a dream.” Nobody dared telling her that it was probably a dream. “Hector told Amar that I would be able to find the book, the Sapheneia. He said because of the defenses I have I would be able to trace it. He lied when he told me I would be able to trace anybody I wanted. Truthfully, I can trace anything I want.”
Nobody moved, and nobody spoke. They all allowed the new information to soak into their brains. That seemed to be how they handled things now, just take everything they were told and let it sink in until they believed it.
“So how do you find it?” Ellie spoke after five long minutes of silence.
“I don’t know,” she paused. “He never got to telling how.”
“Well, to use the third defense,” Demetri explained, “you have to let the pulling sensations take over your body and release yourself to it, allowing it to lead you. So, it must be something similar to that.”
“Maybe if you had a picture or something and you just looked at it and focused on where it could be,” Cheri suggested.
“Are there pictures of the Sapheneia anywhere?” Alexia asked Demetri.
“Yes, there is a big blown up drawing of the original Immortals holding the book. It hangs in The Union building, but it’s a big risk going there. Amarantos probably still has followers who are loyal to him in The Union and if we aren’t prepared for a fight, we will lose.”
“So, we have to prepare in every way we can.” Ellie got up from the bed and started pacing at the end of the bed. “Somebody needs to go back to your house and mix together some of that stuff that kills Immortals. We all need a vile of it all the time. Roman and Cheri, you can do that, and once you get back, us three need to work on our defenses. Cheri and I still don’t even know what our special talent is.
“We need to figure it out and find a way to use it to our advantage. Demetri has his speed and Roman has his sensitive hearing, which could be helpful. Now what can we do that will be helpful?” she asked, turning to Cheri whose mouth was hanging open. It was unlike Ellie to take charge like this and establish a plan. “What?” Ellie asked, looked at everybody else. “Why are you all looking at me like that?”
Alexia couldn’t help but laugh. “I love when you have your random bursts of… just not you-ness. I like your plan though, Ellie. We have some work to do.” She finished looking around at everyone. “Okay people, move.” She clapped her hands together and everyone headed to their rooms to get dressed. Alexia made to leave Demetri’s room because all her clothing was still in the room she was supposed to be staying in.
“Where are you going?” Demetri said behind her.
“Oh, well, I was going to go get dressed.” He pointed at the bags on the ground. Not only did his bags litter the floor but she recognized her own, too.
“I just figured you would want to stay in here with me now…” He turned away and sat back down on the bed before she could see him blush. Not only were they now dating but they were sharing a room and bed. If they hadn’t been destined to be together since the beginning of their kind, she would have thought they were moving too quickly. But since Demetri was always supposed to be part of her future, she didn’t have a problem with it. She rather enjoyed how comfortably she was settling in to his life.
“That…” she said walking back over to the bed and taking his hands in hers, “sounds like a great idea.” She bent down and kissed his soft lips. They were supposed to be getting ready to help Ellie figure out what her special defense could be, but that seemed to be the last thing on Demetri’s mind. He grabbed her waist and threw her to the bed at a speed that almost made Alexia feel nauseous, but the nausea was washed away from her when he started kissing her.
It seemed every time they were alone there was no stopping them from acting this way, but that was always how new relationships started. You were all over each other for the first month or so and then you kind of get over it and start acting normal again. The thing was they weren’t in a normal relationship and technically it wasn’t new either, at least to Demetri it wasn’t, and after all those years he still couldn’t control himself a
round her. When he acted this way, Alexia knew this was how he expressed his love for her. He wasn’t the best at explaining his emotions with words, but his kisses said much more than words ever could.
Alexia giggled as he kissed her neck and pulled her close against his still bare chest. She couldn’t resist feeling his muscled arms and pecks, slowly making her way down to feel his stomach. This was always the time that he would start kissing her harder and more desperately. Soon after they would reach this point, somebody would always seem to walk in on them or some other disruption would stop them. This time, there was no interruption.
Alexia glanced over at the door that was wide open, leaving an open opportunity for anyone to walk by to the bathroom and see what they were doing. As if he had read her mind, Demetri shot up from the bed, slammed the door, and was back to kissing her in less than a second. Breathing heavily, they both stopped and stared into each other’s eyes. His green eyes were pulsing with passion and desire. He saw the same thing in her eyes except there was also a hint of fear behind her gaze.
“Why are you scared?” he whispered to her.
“I’m not,” she whispered back.
“I can see it in your eyes. I would never make you do something you weren’t comfortable with. You know that, right?” He was ruining the moment. Yeah, she was a little scared of where this might be going, but she was okay with that fear. It was an exhilarating kind of fear that she loved.
“I know that, but I’m not scared.”
“Don’t lie to me.” He was ruining the moment, a moment that she was enjoying so much.
She focused in on his green eyes and told him, “You know I’m not scared, Demetri, so don’t ruin this for me. Don’t ruin this for us.” She was expecting her eyes to sting but they didn’t; instead, she got the familiar rush of adrenaline and confidence. The very thing that Hector had warned her not to do, she was doing to get her way. Luckily for her it had worked, and even though it should have worn off, Demetri said nothing about her using her defense on him like that.
Instead, he kissed her harder than ever, making every nerve in her body scream for him. Then there was a knock at the door. Of course, the interruption had arrived. Demetri moved to get off the bed, but Alexia made him focus on her, telling him, “Don’t move.” Another rush of adrenaline and confidence flooded her body when he froze where he was.
“Alexia.” It was Cheri. “Roman and I are going to find a portal to go back to the house. Do you want me to grab any of your stuff while we’re there?” If Alexia hadn’t been completely pissed about being interrupted, she would have appreciated the kind gesture.
“Uh, yeah, maybe some better pajamas. You know, the really skimpy ones that I won’t be too hot in.” She could hear her friend try to stifle her laughter from behind the door. Once the words had left Alexia’s mouth, confidence washed away from her and embarrassment set in.
“Okay, we will see you in a few hours then. Ellie is taking a shower, just so you know.” She heard the creaking floorboards and knew her friend was gone. When she looked at Demetri, he had a huge grin on his face that made her smile too.
“What?” she asked playfully.
“Nothing, you’re just so hot when you control me like that.”
“Oh, really?”
“Really.” He said in a voice that almost pleaded her to do it again. This could get interesting, she thought to herself. Focusing in on his eyes, she thought about what to make him do. She could make him do whatever she wanted; he was at her mercy.
“Get on top of me.” In a flash he was on top of her, a big grin across his face. “Pin me down.” Even faster this time, his arms held her wrists down to the bed. The adrenaline and confidence pumped through her body, polluting her brain like a poison. When it wore off, she would make him do something else.
“Kiss me.” She was able to hold his attention for much longer than when she started using the defense. The more she used it, the easier it got, and the more she used it, the more confident she became.
As he kissed her, he let her explore every inch of his uncovered body. She was learning everything about the way he felt, which spots were softest, and which were most toned with muscle. Every time she would start feeling his lower stomach, he would moan quietly almost as if he was enjoying her touch so much that it hurt. Finally, when he couldn’t take her teasing anymore, he leaped back off her, as if she had electrocuted him. “I can’t do this.”
“Yes you can, what’s wrong?” What she was really thinking was, what did I do wrong? She had never gone this far with a guy, never allowed anyone to lay on top of her and pin her down while kissing her so fiercely. His breathing was heavy, and she could tell he was trying to stop himself from pouncing back on top of her.
“Demetri, we’re together now, and there is nothing wrong with what we’re doing.” She patted the bed to indicate she wished to continue, and when he didn’t move, she threatened him in her most flirty voice while she got up from the bed and moved towards him. “What’s wrong, babe?” She stood in front of him now, slowly grabbing his waist and pulling him closer to her. She looked up into his eyes, trying to figure out what he was really feeling. There was still so much passion in his magnificent eyes, and then there was fear, too.
“Tell me what you’re scared of,” she said, focusing in on his eyes to make sure she got the truth.
“Pushing you away,” he said simply, sounding a little dazed
“That will never happen. I want this, Demetri, more than anything.” She ran a finger down his chest, confidence filling up inside of her. “When I first met you,” she was trying to push his buttons now, “you seemed like the type of guy to grab a girl and not hold back.”
She could tell by the look in his eyes that he was losing the fear, and passion would soon take over. “It’s me,” she continued, “it’s Alexia, the love of your life. You fought for me and now you have me. I’m yours and I love you.” That’s all it took. As soon as she had started to tell him she loved him, she was back on the bed, flat on her back.
“Tell me again.” He was fierce and demanding, using a tone of voice she had never heard him use before.
“I love you.” She drew out the words slowly, purposely tormenting him with it. When she finally got the words out, he started kissing her so hard it almost hurt. He held her so tight against him it did hurt.
∞
By the time Roman and Cheri returned from the house back in Youngstown, Alexia, Demetri, and Ellie had figured out what Ellie’s special talent was.
“I can sense emotions,” she said in a proud voice.
The two had barely had time to put anything away before Ellie was demanding that they display an emotion for her to detect. After picking up annoyance from Cheri for the third time, Ellie insisted Roman help her.
“So how did you figure out what your special defense was?” Cheri questioned Ellie over dinner. Roman and Demetri had barbequed burgers and they were eating outside on a picnic table. It was a beautiful day out and the sun was setting slowly over the water.
“I just kind of… I guess you could say… I really just stumbled across it.” She looked back down at her burger and took a big bite. Her face was washed with red because she knew how she had really realized what her defense was.
“Well good for you!” Cheri said without even catching on to how awkward Ellie’s answer had been. “Now we just have to figure out what I can do that’s so special. What types of things can other Immortals do, Roman?” She faced him and gave him all her attention. Alexia could tell Cheri was falling for him and she thought Roman was falling for her friend, too.
“Lots of different things, like flying, telepathy, visions of the future, ability to put people to sleep simply by noise…”
Demetri interrupted now. “Ability to place visions in the human mind, accelerated learning, having demonic charm, sharpened vision, and the list goes on and on.”
“What do you mean ‘having demonic charm’?” Cheri asked,
tilting her head to the side as she usually did when she was confused.
“Demons are extremely charming. They have this air about them that makes people want to know them and become friends with them. It’s really hard to ignore a demon’s charm. Of course, when an Immortal has that special quality, it’s not nearly as strong as when it’s a demon.” Roman said all of this matter-of-factly.
“Do you think I could have any of those powers?” Cheri once again directed her attention at Roman.
“It’s possible. We will just have to go through the most common ones and see if you can do any of them.”
“Sounds like hard work to me,” Alexia said while yawning and stretching. “First thing tomorrow we can start trying to figure out what you can do.”
“Aw, come on, Alexia, I want to find out today,” Cheri whined at her which made Alexia’s head pound a little bit.
Her head had started to hurt after she had used the defense on Demetri in their room. “Feel free to stay up and figure it out. I’m just saying I am almost ready to go to bed.”
Cheri shrugged and turned to face Roman again. “You’re going to stay up and help me, right? And you too, Ellie?”
“I’m in,” Roman said almost immediately.
“Me too!” Ellie chimed in. “I want to help you figure it out right away, so we can practice together.”
“What about you, Demetri?” Roman asked him. “Are you going to stay up and help?”
“No, I think he is tired too,” Ellie answered for him.
“Maybe we’ll stay up for a little bit, but yeah, I think I’m going to bed pretty soon here, too.”
After their dinner had been cleaned up, Roman and Demetri drew up a list of all the different defenses they could think of. When they had eliminated the first five, Cheri had started to get frustrated. She had her hair pulled back into a ponytail and her bangs pinned to the side of her head. This was the only way she could concentrate on tests at school, so she expected it to help, but it didn’t.