Page 67 of The Immortal's One
Apparently, at the dawn of human history, the Creator breathed life into nine Immortals. Each had a unique power tied to different facets of human nature. Aside from the brothers, the Immortals drew their strength from humans.
Eros’s power is fueled by human love—marriages, births, and affairs.
Julisanna, the most powerful female Immortal, thrives on familial bonds and beauty. Mother-child relationships, the bond between siblings, and anything that embodies beauty in human society enhances her abilities. Her description reminds me of the Greek goddesses Aphrodite and Hera.
Thane continues to divulge information I am eager to absorb, “We refer to Adir as the Warrior Immortal as he feeds off war and conflict. He, perhaps, is the most vocal about his resentment for my brothers’ and my powers.”
A sense of foreboding accompanies his words.
I shake off the ominous feeling. “What about Faine and Charmian?”
Thane’s demeanor lightens. “Faine’s a gentle soul whose power thrives from creativity. Sadly, most humans have stopped participating in artistic endeavors.” He frowns then, his tone taking on a somber note.
“That’s why she’s one of the weaker Originals?”
He nods wistfully. “Yes.”
That really stinks.
“And Charmian draws strength from the natural world,” Thane continues before I can ask. “However, like Faine, her powers have waned over the years. Though, with the rise of Green movements in developed countries, I believe her powers will begin to thrive again.”
“That’s great.” I pause, preparing myself to ask the question burning the tip of my tongue. “And Evetta feeds off jealousy?” It would make sense.
“And also greed,” Thane confirms with a nod.
I purse my lips. “But how is she one of the weaker Immortals?”
How is there not enough greed and jealousy in humanity to make Evetta the most powerful Original of all?
“Evetta’s power can be strong, but it is volatile. It burns out fast.”
Huh… okay.
“And then there’s you, Lome, and Des,” I say, rounding out the Nine.
He nods. “Yes, my brothers and I each have immense power, but it’s a heavy burden. That’s why the Creator split our powers between two souls.”
“In human women?”
“In our soulmates,” Thane corrects me. “Once I found Bella, my power rose exponentially. The strain was only manageable because I could share it with her. Together, we support each other. Together, we are unstoppable.”
Unstoppable?
Yeah… I’m beginning to understand why other Immortals might not want Des to find hisOne.
Doesn’t mean I appreciate their attempts to hurt me, though.
“So, what’s the point of the rebellion?” I ask. If the brothers’ powers are so unshakable, even without Des finding hisOne, what could the other Immortals gain from trying to overthrow them? “It sounds like the rebellion has no chance against you guys.”
“Power corrupts.” Thane clenches his teeth, picking up a rock and skipping it over the water in the fountain. “Our enemies will stop at nothing if they believe they can grow stronger. That includes overthrowing me and my brothers.”
A chill runs through me. If the brothers protect humanity, what will happen if the rebellion succeeds? What kind of chaos will be unleashed?
I pitch my voice low, wary of being overheard. “Do you think there’s a chance any of the other Original Immortals are involved in the rebellion?”
A long pause follows my question, spiking my anxiety.
Finally, Thane shakes his head. “No, I don’t. For all their grievances, the other members of the Original Nine understand the balance between good and evil my brothers and I maintain. Without us, the world could collapse. And if that happens, if humanity is destroyed, their powers are destroyed as well.”
