Page 18 of The Immortal’s Curse (Bound to the Immortals #2)

DARCIE

My breath hitches in my throat.

It worked… It really worked.

My heart beats wildly.

Honestly, part of me hoped I’d fail.

Cool air kisses my cheeks as my feet glide across shining marble floors without making a sound. The opulent decor and scent of freshly cut flowers wafting from the vase on the mahogany hall table give me clues about where I am.

I didn’t truly believe I’d be capable of forcing myself to have a vision, let alone dictate what that vision would be. But as I walk down the familiar hallway in the Grecian mansion, reaching the staircase with its ornate banister, I know I succeeded.

I can’t tell if I’m more terrified or thrilled.

Focus, Darcie.

I came here for answers. I can freak out later. Now, it’s time to figure out what the hell is going on.

I place a steady hand on the banister, fingers following the dips and curves of Des’s elegant carving. My flowy skirt sways around my ankles as I climb. The blue material is delicate, reminiscent of the style of dresses Bella stuffed into my guest room closet.

Voices permeate the air, faint but unmistakable. Silent steps carry me to the second floor as I follow the siren sound.

The voices lure me past familiar sitting rooms and parlors. I pass the library and Thane’s study. My breath quickens as nervousness begins to grow.

I’ve never seen this part of the mansion, which is strange. I made a point to explore every nook and cranny of this place in the weeks I was trapped here. At least, I thought I had.

Clearly, I was wrong.

A gray door stands up ahead, flanked by elaborately carved pillars as its doorframe. An immense landscape painting hangs on the wall beside the door, depicting a stunning meadow with golden light illuminating a lake.

Something in my chest stirs. I don’t stop to ponder what that means.

Careful not to alert anyone to my presence, I inch toward the door and rest my hand against the hard surface. The voices’ vibrations flow into my palm, but I can’t discern what they say.

I press my lips together. I’ve never opened a door in a vision. If I do, will whoever’s on the other side notice? What will happen if they do?

The gilded knob turns.

I jump back just before the door flies open, slamming against the wall. The beautiful landscape painting rattles.

A harried young man rushes out. The box of letters in his arms teeters as he spins around and gives a quick bow to whoever is inside.

I hurry to explain my presence, but my jaw slackens before a single word passes my lips.

I… I know him.

How do I know him ?

Realization hits me like a snowball colliding with my head, slipping inside my jacket, sending a frigid chill down my spine.

That guy was at Adir’s stronghold. He was one of his servants. I rack my brain, but I can’t remember his name.

The man rushes past me like a dog nips at his heels, not sparing me a glance.

Good.

Looks like I’m still invisible.

With a fortifying breath, I walk into the mysterious room, stopping in my tracks when I take in the scene before me.

What’s left of the Original Nine sit at a circular table.

Illuminated sconces are spaced out on the pitch black walls encasing the space.

A dark bronze chandelier hangs overhead, casting sharp shadows over the Immortals.

The only Originals missing are the banished Evetta, the imprisoned Adir, and Lome.

I slide along the wall to my right, eyeing Thane and Des’s broad backs. The other Immortals facing the door don’t appear to notice my entrance.

“Perhaps we should call in a group of loyal lesser Immortals,” Thane continues a conversation that started before I snuck in. “We can ask if they know what’s enticing others to Adir’s side.”

Julisanna scoffs. “We already know why they fight for him. They want the right to manipulate humans for their own gain.”

“Now, Juli, don’t be so judgmental,” Eros, the flirtatious Immortal with a strong, chiseled jawline, chimes in. “If we want to convince remaining Immortals to ally with us, we must understand their perspective. You heard what they said during Evetta’s trial.”

Julisanna crosses her arms and narrows her eyes. “We can’t allow lesser Immortals to interfere with humans. Don’t you remember the havoc it caused before? Lives were ruined. Families were torn apart.”

Her words stir my memory .

Julisanna draws strength from human family relationships. I can’t help but wonder if her worry stems less from concern for humanity and more from the impact such chaos might have on her power.

“Eros is right,” Charmian interjects. Her leaf-covered bodice flutters like there’s a breeze as she twists her body from side to side, looking at each of her fellow Originals in turn. “To defeat your enemy, you must first understand them.”

Faine murmurs her reluctant agreement.

“Most of our lesser kin aren’t our enemies,” Julisanna contradicts the clairvoyant Immortal. “Lesser Immortals know why we limit their interaction with humankind. Those who rebel simply don’t care, and the Council’s enforcers must deal with them.”

All eyes swing to Des and Thane.

“That is your solution?” Des’s frigid voice rivals even the coldest winter night in Maine. “My brothers and I should just kill anyone who goes against the Council?”

I take in his rigid spine and messy hair. I can’t see his face, but I can sense the weariness rolling off him all the way from here.

“Tell me,” Des continues with a bite, “How do you think other lesser Immortals will react to that ?”

Julisanna tosses golden hair over her shoulder. “They’ll take it as a warning not to break our rules.”

“I don’t know if you’re aware, Juli,” Des says, his tone laced with contempt, “but while you and your favorites have been living in luxury on your private island, the population of lesser Immortals has grown. We, Originals, are outnumbered. My brothers and I can’t fight them all.”

“Perhaps you could if you finally adopted your sixth member,” she snaps.

Des’s growl rumbles through the air, laced with warning.

“Enough.” Thane stands. He rests his palms flat on the table.

“What my brother says is not up for debate. The seven of us cannot fight the rebellion alone. We may be the strongest of our kind, but we’re greatly outnumbered.

We need another plan. I suggest recruiting more allies from the lesser Immortals. ”

“How will we know if we can trust them?” Faine, the delicate and peaceful Immortal, asks. “My scouts report Adir’s rebels don’t fit one mold. They could easily infiltrate any group we try to bring together.”

Debate breaks out.

I can’t get a handle on one idea. The Originals’ voices fluctuate in pitch and speed, their words blending until Eros raises his voice above the rest.

“What about our offspring?”

All other conversations cease.

“You can’t be serious,” Thane scowls. “We do not involve mortals in our affairs.”

“No, we don’t involve humans in our affairs,” Eros corrects him. “But many of my mortal descendants and I interact regularly. They’re not entirely human, are they?”

Faine gasps. “That’s against the Council’s rules.”

“Relax, Faine.” Eros rolls his eyes. “I haven’t fathered any new offspring since the decree. Many of the ones I speak of are the direct descendants of my original children.”

Faine’s appalled expression remains.

“Many,” Des repeats, “but not all?”

Eros shrugs. “Some of them have extended their Immortal lives considerably. One, in particular, is over one thousand years old.”

“Stop before you incriminate yourself or your descendants,” Charmian commands, her tone stern.

She turns to Faine. “Before you fret, please remember, the Council’s rule only limits our interaction with humans. Our descendants don’t necessarily fall into that category. It’s our loophole to be able to visit our children. You remember, don’t you? ”

Faine nods, her expression only slightly less dismayed. Charmian pats her hand gently, motherly in her touch.

Eros clears his throat. “So… are we going to enlist the help of the offspring?”

No one speaks as they consider the idea.

“I say we think about it,” Des finally exhales, crossing his arms and leaning back in his seat. “Let’s not rush such a monumental decision.”

All but Eros nod in agreement.

My head spins with this new information.

Bella had mentioned that some Immortals had children. She told me Charmian’s could see the future, but there’s so much more I need to understand.

For one, how can Eros’ offspring live beyond a normal human lifetime? What kind of beings can cheat death?

Thane clears his throat. “If no one has anything else, I say we adjourn this meeting. Any objections?”

Silence.

“Very well. We will reconvene in a few days. Until then, keep your ears to the ground. Report any rumblings about the rebellion or their plans.”

The Immortals exchange farewells. Charmian and Faine fade out of the room, back to wherever they call home. Julisanna and Eros rise and step away from the table. Des and Thane make their way over to them, and the light above the chandelier brightens.

“That was a risky move,” Thane tells Eros. “To suggest we utilize half-breeds in our rebellion.”

Eros shrugs. “It makes sense. We know our descendants don’t want Immortals interfering with humanity. Many of them have well-established lives among mortals. Convincing them to ally with us won’t be hard.”

“But many of the groups don’t get along,” Des says.

Half-breeds? Groups ?

I stare at them, trying to make sense of their conversation. Immortals exist… and not for the first time since finding myself caught up in their world, I wonder what else is out there?

“We can negotiate terms with appropriate parties if we decide to go that route,” Julisanna says, dismissing the topic. “Let's not worry about it now.”

The lesser Immortal from earlier, Adir’s messenger, enters the room and approaches the Originals. He bows slightly.

“Did you send the letters?” Thane asks.

“Yes, Sir. They are en route to every confirmed ally of the Council.”

“Very good, Eric.”

Eric! That’s his name.

I observe him again, noticing that the Immortal before me is far more confident than the nervous, fearful one I saw in Adir’s stronghold.

“Let’s hope they all respond,” Thane exhales, his words directed at no one in particular. “We need all the help we can get.”

“Faine had a point, though.” Julisanna purses her lips. “How will we know if the lesser Immortals we recruit are really our allies? They could easily be spies.”

Thane nods. “We’ll start with the ones we know we can trust, then approach those they trust. And so on, and so on.”

Julisanna doesn’t seem convinced. She turns to Des. “What do you think?”

“We follow Thane’s plan,” Des answers without missing a beat. “See where it goes from there.”

The conversation zigzags to other topics, and I stay glued to the wall, watching the interactions unfold. Julisanna and Eros are the two most powerful Originals outside the brothers, but they seem loyal.

I wonder why Adir chose his destructive path. Surely, he could’ve been more political about his goals. Does he really have to try to destroy the brothers to get what he wants?

A violent image flashes in my head. I see Bella and Eshe’s cold, lifeless bodies. I inhale sharply as my chest tightens.

Des’s head snaps in my direction.

I freeze—my heart lodges in my throat. I hold my breath.

His eyes scan the space around me, but they don’t lock onto me. I hold in my relieved sigh.

A loud slam echoes from somewhere outside the room.

All heads turn toward the sound, including mine.

Lome stomps into the room. He wears the same clothes from the Bean Bazaar. “We’ve got a problem.”

Unease twists my stomach, even as victory ripples through me. I’d wanted to witness him telling the others about my visions. Looks like I nailed it.

But I’m afraid of what he’s going to say.

“What is it?” Des’s voice deepens. His eyes flash green as he takes a step toward his brother. “Is it Darcie?”

The concern in the usually stoic Immortal’s voice makes my heart flip.

“Yes.” Lome bites out, his eyes dart to Julisanna and Eros.

Thane notices.

“Leave us,” the Immortal leader commands.

To my surprise, neither of the Immortals bristle at the abrupt demand.

Julisanna waves her hand. Soft, pink power wraps around her like a luxurious toga, and she disappears. Eros winks at Des, then follows suit, disappearing in a smoky gray cloud.

Once the brothers are alone, Des barks, “What happened?”

“Was Charmian right?” Thane speaks at the same time. “Was Darcie at Evetta’s trial?”

Lome grimaces. “Yes.”

Des slams his hand on the table. “Damn it! ”

My back thumps against the wall as I jolt. Miraculously, no one notices.

Thane speaks, holding Des’s tumultuous stare, “It’ll be fine, Des. We will find a way to reverse the curse.”

Lome clears his throat. “Uh… I think it’s too late for that.”

Des whirls on him. “What do you mean?”

To his credit, Lome doesn’t waver despite the intensity of his brother’s glare. “The curse… It’s already taking effect.”

“FUCK!” Des roars. A blast of white power shoots into the air, hitting the chandelier with a force that shatters dozens of bulbs.

I gasp.

Des’s gaze flies in my direction. This time, his hazel irises lock onto mine.

My heart jumps into my throat.

The furious Immortal lifts a strong arm and drops it across his body. An arc of power sails through the air.

Before I can blink, the power envelops me, and as I’m thrown out of my vision, the scene in front of me shatters.