Page 89 of Origins of Eternity

“She was worried about the cancer thing, but I told her I’m fine.”

“Good,” Cassia said with a nod. “Now, this is the part of the plan you’re not going to like, but things are taking longer than I thought they would, and I am getting impatient. The longer Iro and Arwen are together, the worse it is for both of us. You understand?”

“Yes. But what do you mean that I won’t like it?”

“Simply that I need to take matters into my own hands now. I’m not good with slow, as you know. I’m an impatient person for someone who has lived forever.” Cassia shrugged a shoulder.“I had another spy. Well, I have several. One of them happened to peer into a window, and, well, they saw a side to Arwen that, I guess, you’ve never seen.”

“What?”

“She was naked, and she was having sex with the love of my life, which means they’ve progressed to the part where Iro is about to tell her that she loves her. Trust me, I know my wife. After hundreds of years together, no one knows Iro better, and no one ever will. Anyway, I needed to take more drastic measures, but I have you in mind, dear Zara. Don’t worry about that. She’ll be yours as my gift to you.”

Zara’s eyes showed recognition.

“You promised you wouldn’t hurt her.”

“I’m not. I’m going toturnher.”

“What? No, that’s not what we talked about,” Zara said.

“Sweetheart, it’s time. You’ll get to be with her forever. Much better this way. You will have eternity together, and she will never get old. You won’t, either. You can have any of my homes, or, like I told you before, I’ll happily buy you a new one. You will keep Arwen away from Iro, of course. I don’t need them spending any time together. If you’d like some time with me since I’m your creator and you’ll crave me from time to time, we can figure that out, but this really is for the best. I am holding up my end of the bargain when I really don’t have to, you understand? I could just kill Arwen and be done with this whole thing, but I’m doing this for you. Now, Gigi already has Arwen in that car over there.” Cassia pointed as the car sped off. “And I’ve ordered a car to take us home as well. You can watch if you want. Or not. It’s up to you. I’d understand if you want to lie next to her until she wakes up. I watched over Iro as she slept, after all.”

“You can’t turn her, Cassia.”

“I can.” Cassia leaned forward. “And I will. Now, you’ll get on board with this new plan, and I will do what I need to do inorder to get the love of my life back and make the love of yours moresuitedto your new lifestyle. What was your plan, Zara? Never tell her that you’re a vampire now, and in ten years, when you’re not even a little bit older, you just leave when she starts asking questions?”

“I hadn’t thought that far ahead.”

“That’s right, you haven’t. You’re playing checkers with a human brain barely evolved into a vampire one. I’m playing chess, and I’m ten moves ahead of everyone.” The car pulled up, and she tilted her head. “Now, let’s get in and go home.”

Zara looked around the café and the street again.

“You’re not thinking about doing something very stupid, are you, Zara? Disappointing me? I implore you, do not disappoint me. I like you, Zara. I’ve given you so much and have offered you more than I have offered anyone who has come before you.”

“Can I get you two anything else?” a waitress asked, arriving at the small outdoor table.

“No,” Cassia said abruptly, looking up at her and thinking about how pretty the woman was. “Just the check, please, and quickly. We have someplace to be.”

When she looked across the table at Zara, planning to ask her if she’d like to turn this woman or, at least, enjoy her later as a way to make it up to her for what she was about to do to Arwen, Zara was no longer there. She was already in her car, and it was pulling out into traffic.

“Never mind,” she stated and handed the woman cash.

Then, she stood up and sighed. She was exhausted with this whole mess, but she supposed that Zara had just made it easier for her. She climbed into her car and had the driver take her home, needing to be quick. It was likely Zara was on her way to the house, too, but her driver knew all the shortcuts, and she needed to beat Zara there, kill her, and move on to the next part of her plan. She’d been so kind to Zara, but if she was going tobetray her, there was no point in keeping the woman around. When she arrived at her house, though, Zara’s car wasn’t there.

“Iro,” she said, realizing that Zara had probably headed there instead. “Well, slight change of plans, but no matter.”

“She’s in your room,” Gigi told her when Cassia entered the house.

“Uninjured?”

“Yes. She screamed the whole way here, but she’s quiet now.”

“Good. I hate when they scream. Unnecessarily loud.”

Cassia shook her head and walked up the stairs and into her room.

“Who are you? Why am I here? I’m calling the–”

“Well, Arwen, you certainly are a talkative one and still loud, I see.”