Page 20 of Dark Shaman: Love Found
"And if it works and we transition?" Sofia asked.
"Then you join a very exclusive group of special people," Carol said. "With all the benefits and responsibilities that entails."
"Responsibilities," Jeremy repeated. "There it is. There's always a catch. There is never something for nothing."
"There is no catch," Lokan said. "Just reality. Extended life means watching the world change around you. It means keeping secrets to protect yourself and others like you."
"We already live like that," Mollie said. "The program made sure of it."
The truth of that resonated with the other guests and sobered them. These people had already paid the price of being different. They'd already learned to hide, to deflect, to live with isolation.
Carol leaned toward her. "At least with us, you wouldn't be alone."
"How many others are there?" Naomi asked. "People with these genes?"
"More than you might think," Eleanor said. "Less than you might hope."
"Jin found her place," Andy said suddenly. "And Jacki. Richard and Wendy, too. Now I know that they joined your people. I knew they were telling us stories about what they are doing with their lives."
"True," Carol confirmed. "They found a home and a family with us. I hope all of you will have the same luck."
"I have one more question," James said. "What made the two of you choose to take Eleanor's place?"
Carol considered her answer. "Because we're in transition ourselves. We've recently relocated, and we're looking for our next purpose just like you are. Maybe we can find it together."
7
TAMIRA
The brief respite from the frequent rains was hardly worth celebrating because it was replaced by the afternoon sun beating down mercilessly on the so-called garden, turning the metal fountain into a radiator that made the air shimmer with heat. Tamira sat on the stone's edge, letting the mist from the cascading water cool her skin while pretending to read. The book lay open in her lap, some contemporary novel about two sisters traveling the world together after one of them loses her husband to cancer and the other to a younger woman, but she hadn't turned a page in twenty minutes.
The truth was that she couldn't relate, but that was true with most of the human fiction she read. Then again, the subject matter of the novel brought thoughts of one day losing Elias, and it depressed her.
Her eyes drifted to the doors, wishing for him to step through them as he did that day in the harem.
Sarah had told her that Elias had arrived earlier and had been immediately ushered to Navuh's office, and since he was already in the house, perhaps the lord would allow him to see her after they were done with their meeting.
When the glass doors opened and a familiar figure emerged, her heart leaped. She forced herself to remain seated and not rush to him like some lovestruck girl. The gardeners were watching, as always, trimming hedges that didn't need trimming, watering plants that would wilt in this heat regardless. Everything here was for show, including her casual disinterest.
"Lady Tamira," Elias said, his voice carrying a formal tone that was appropriate for public consumption. "Lord Navuh said that you were out in the garden and that you seemed bored. He suggested that I talk to you."
"How thoughtful of him." She closed the book with deliberate care. "Please, sit. The spray from the fountain provides some relief from the heat."
He sat beside her, maintaining a proper distance that felt like a chasm after their nights together. Up close, she could see the tension in his shoulders, and she wondered if it was the separation that was affecting him so.
After all, he'd been meeting with Lord Navuh almost daily, and usually, he didn't look as tense after those encounters.
"How have you been sleeping?" he asked. "Still having problems falling asleep?"
She nodded. "It's hard without that special herb you used togive me. I got so accustomed to it that now I can't sleep without it."
She meant him, and since she hadn't been taking any sleep remedies, he should get her meaning.
"I wish I could procure it for you, but I don't have access to my herb garden."
Elias seemed desperate to take her hand, and she was desperate for him to do that, but it was impossible with all the eyes on them. How were they going to survive until the harem was habitable again?
It suddenly occurred to her that they could communicate in one of the languages both of them knew, and the staff most likely didn't.
