Page 65 of The Immortal's One
The grounds are magnificent, with blooming flowers,sculpted hedges, and towering trees artfully placed around the lush green lawn.
The scene reminds me of a picture on a postcard; too perfect to be real.
A blur of movement catches my attention from the corner of my eye. It disappears before I can blink—another evasive employee, no doubt.
“Why do your employees run away whenever I enter a room?”
He glances in the direction I’m looking. “The Immortals who work here are trained to be unseen while they complete their duties.”
Sounds likeDownton Abbey.
Thane strides down the stone steps leading toward the lawn while I hurry to catch up. “Do any humans work here?”
“No. Mortals aren’t usually allowed in our fortress.”
“Fortress?” I lift an eyebrow.
Thane doesn’t miss a beat. “In some sense, we are at war.” He stops and turns to face me. I draw up short, narrowly avoiding running into him. “I’ve been told you’ve shown interest in the Original Nine.”
I stiffen. “How did you?—?”
“Bella.”
Of course.
Thane is her husband. Why wouldn’t she tell him what we talk about?
Before I reply, Thane spins around and resumes walking the path leading to tall hedges. I quicken my steps to keep up with his long strides.
“Will you tell me more about them?” I’ve pressed Bella for details about the Original Nine immortals, but other thantheir names, she’s been hesitant to tell me anything else. Maybe Thane will be willing to spill their secrets.
“Yes.” He plucks a dead leaf off a bush and glances over his shoulder. “What do you already know?”
Not much.
“There are nine of you,” I state the obvious. “And you all sort of supervise the rest of the Immortals.”
The number of Immortals in the world remains a mystery, but from what Bella has told me, it's a lot.
“That is true.” Thane dips his head and turns back around. His voice carries back to me on the breeze. “Aside from me and my brothers, the other six Originals are the most powerful beings on this earth. Together, we form the Council of Immortals and keep Immortal influence on humankind in check.”
“You, Lome, and Des are the most powerful Originals?” Bella had alluded to as much, but I want confirmation.
“Yes,” he says, his tone modest. “Eros, Julisanna, and Adir are next. Then Faine, Charmian, and Evetta are after them.”
The last Immortal’s name sends a cold chill racing down my spine. I shudder. “Evetta is one of the weakest Immortals?” That’s hard to believe, especially since she choked me without lifting a finger.
If Evetta is weak, I’m nervous to learn what the other Originals can do.
“Evetta is weak for anOriginal.” Thane peers back to give me a pointed look. “But she is still more powerful than other Immortals.”
I swallow hard, staring at the ground as I follow him deeper into the maze, chewing my lip in thought. “If Evetta is already so powerful, why would she attack me and risk making you mad?”
Evetta’s friends had tried to warn her that she was risking their lives, but the stunning immortal wouldn’t back down. Not until Des arrived.
Thane hums in thought. “I imagine it had something to do with her feelings for Des.”
“Feelings?” My stomach twists into a tight knot. I ignore it. “Did they, like… date or something?”
