Page 64 of The Immortal's One
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One nice thingabout being held captive in a mansion? At least I have plenty of room to explore.
I stroll through the library on the second floor, my fingers brushing over the leatherbound spines that caught my eye when I first peeked inside. Sunlight pours through the windows, casting warm glows over the heavy wooden furniture and velvet fabrics.
I finished lunch with Bella an hour ago. She excused herself to run errands, and the idea of rich Immortals doing such a thing is weird to me. Whatever tasks she has on her plate could undoubtedly be handled by one of their employees.
I’ve only caught glimpses of the men and women who work here. Maybe I’m imagining things, but I can’t shake the feeling that they’re avoiding me. Every time I walk into a room and find someone there, they hurry out as if their hair is on fire.
I’d be offended if I weren’t so intrigued.
I slide a green leather book off the bookshelf in front ofme, turn over to the front cover, and trace the title. The words are in Greek, but I don’t get much beyond that. As I flip through the pages, I’m struck by the black-and-white illustrations depicting warriors, gods, and strange creatures.
One drawing, in particular, catches my attention. The well-drawn lines depict a man in Roman armor… a man who looks a little too much like Lome to be a coincidence.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
I glance toward the open door.
Thane stands on the threshold, exuding authority, wearing a crisp button-down shirt and dark slacks. He acts as the leader among the Original Immortals. Not because his power surpasses Lome’s or Des’s, but because he’s the only one willing to do it.
From Bella, I've picked up that Lome doesn’t take things too seriously. He stays on top of his responsibilities, whatever those may be, but he’s too much of a jokester to step into a leadership role.
As for Des… well, it's pretty clear he’s too abrasive to be an effective leader.
“Hello, Darcie.” Thane lowers his hand from where it struck the door frame. “Do you have a minute?”
It’s your house.
“Sure.” I press the book to my chest. “What’s up?”
He scans the library around me, then zeroes in on the book in my arms. “What are you reading?”
“Nothing. I’m just looking.” I draw the book away from me and flip through the pages until I find the soldier's picture. I hold it open towards Thane. “Is this who I think it is?”
He leans forward and squints, then snorts. “Yes. Lome enjoys immortalizing himself in innocuous ways. There’shardly a society on Earth where my brother hasn’t ensured his likeness appearssomewherein their historical records.”
My lips twitch. “Funny.”
Totally a jokester.
“A pest is what he is.” Thane shakes his head, then says, “Would you like to take a walk? There are matters I’d like to discuss with you.”
“Oh… um. Sure?”
Maybe it’s because Bella looks young, or maybe it’s because her personality makes her easy to talk to, but I’m comfortable around her. The other Immortals? Not so much.
Not that any of them have bothered to try and talk to me…
But even though I’m salty about being locked away and ignored, Thane holds the keys to my eventual freedom. If he wants to talk, I’ll talk.
I return the book to the empty spot on the shelf and join Thane at the doorway. My flowy pants swish as I follow him down the hall, toward the back staircase.
I’ve asked Bella if there’s a way for me to get my own clothes from Maine, but she always shoots down that request. She claims the guest room closet is stocked with plenty of clothes, all in my size. I don’t have the heart to tell her that designer clothes are too fancy for my taste.
My hand trails over the banister as I walk down the stairs. Like the grand staircase at the front of the mansion, elaborate carvings sit in the dark wood. I assume it’s Des’s work, as the design is almost an exact match, but I refrain from asking.
Fresh air greets me when Thane and I step through the back patio doors. The scent of lilacs and roses lingers from the bushes along the stone railing. I breathe in through my nostrils, soaking in the beauty.
