Page 57 of The Immortal's One
I would do anything to heal my dad, but the chills snaking down my arms tell me this price has nothing to do with money…and everything to do with a sacrifice I’d otherwise be terrified to make.
17
Blood rushes in my ears,deafening and dizzying, as I continue to stare at Lome, trying to figure out what to say next. He can’t really be serious; there’s no way he can cure Dad’s cancer. This has to be some sick, twisted joke.
Except he’s an Immortal…
I inhale a shuddering breath and force myself to acknowledge Lome’s not joking. He’s dead serious. He can cure Dad’s cancer.
This is insane.
“H-how do you even know my dad is sick?” Only Dad, his doctors, and I know about his cancer. I haven’t breathed a word about it to anyone. Except Thane…
Shit.
Back at my high school’s track, when I waited for my Jeep to warm up… Thane noticed I was upset and asked if he could do anything. I’d sarcastically said only if he could cure cancer…
Great job, Darcie.
I might not have outright told him about my dad, butsomething tells me it didn’t take long for him to figure out why I made the dark comment.
And he must’ve told his brother.
Lome holds my stare, radiating calm. “I went to Maine to visit him.”
Panic hits like a freight train. “Please leave him out of this. I’ll?—”
“Stop.” He holds up a hand. “Let me finish.”
I clamp my mouth shut, pressing my lips together to stop desperate words from spilling out. Heat gathers behind my eyes, tears threatening to fall.
He lowers his hand and looks up to the sky with a sigh. He scans our surroundings one more time. “What I’m about to offer has to stay between us. Do you understand?”
I give myself a second to breathe, then dip my head in a slow nod. “I–I understand.”
“Good.” He crosses his arms, his voice measured. “I went to see your dad to explain your absence. And before you ask, yes, my explanation involved altering his memories.”
I’d be a fool not to acknowledge that someone who can mess with people's memories could just as easily do the same to me. Lome has the power to make me agree to whatever he wants…
I suppose the fact he hasn’t is a sign my captors aren’t monsters. But they’re still wrong for keeping me here against my will.
“What did you make my dad believe?” I wave away the fly buzzing around my head.
“That you’re studying abroad.” Lome lifts a hand and swats at the fly when it doesn’t leave.
I duck when the insect soars close to my face, then frown. “But I’m not enrolled in college yet.”
“You took classes while you were in Greece.” He waves his hand one more time. At last, the pesky fly zooms up and away. "It was easy to Mask his mind into believing you stayed behind to finish a winter course."
My shoulders tense. “How do you know aboutthat?”
He averts his gaze, his jaw tight. “I have my ways.”
Before I can ask what the hell that means, his eyes swing back to mine. His gaze sharpens, focused. “Anyway, as I was saying, I visited your father. While with him, I sensed the cancer inside him.”
I blink. “Yousensedit?”
“My brothers and I can sense injuries and illnesses in mortals. Especially when it’s something as advanced as your father’s cancer.”
