“That’s right, Avalon. For right now we will simply be monitoring him very closely. If circumstances change, or he becomes a threat to this organization, then we will reevaluate; but for right now it appears as though he is smitten with my granddaughter and she appears to feel the same way,” Amory’s authoritative voice educated the room on what I had hoped to remain a secret from these people. Heat rose to my cheeks instantly when most of the room turned to give me disapproving stares.
“So what is our next move then? The King?” Jericho Bentley asked in a very businesslike tone. I was always surprised at the seeming disregard for human life from members of the Resistance. To some extent I realized that their goal in destroying one life was to save the lives of every other Immortal. But the brutality of murder was something I could not take lightly, no matter who the victim was.
“I’ve been thinking this over, and although that is an objective I would truly like to achieve, too many have already been captured. I am not willing to wage war yet. If we make an attempt on Lucan’s life and fail, the consequences would be dire. If we succeed I am unsure how the son will handle our involvement. For right now we will train, and recruit. Of course we will run surveillance both here and in London constantly, but we need to be smart. The Prince is not naïve to our existence. If he fears we are a threat to his family then it would be the end of everything we have worked for,” Amory had a melodic tone to his deep voice, the entire room listened unfailingly to him and I had no doubt that they would also follow through with his commands to the smallest detail.
“Will any of us be going to London?” Jericho asked a follow up question. I found myself staring at him, but he never once looked my way. I thought I could consider him a friend, but he hadn’t said one word to me since we returned home from Romania.
His distance had peaked my interest in an irritating way. He stood, leaning against a wall, wearing blue jeans and a gray hooded sweatshirt with a baseball cap sitting low on his forehead. His hair had been long in Romania, but sometime after we returned home, he had cut it very short. He was attractive, like every other Immortal, but something about his quiet demeanor was more mysterious and maybe a little dangerous.
“Titus, Xander and Xavier will be meeting the Morocco, South Africa and India teams in London to run point there,” Amory answered Jericho. “Other teams will be joining us here as well, the Brazil team, the Swiss team, and most likely the Czech Republic team if I can convince Ryder he is needed. We are going to up security and surveillance here enormously, while still doing our best to remain discreet.”
“Fantastic,” Jericho mumbled sarcastically. I realized I was not the only one confused by his frustration. He looked up suddenly, apparently not meaning to have said anything out loud. He glanced in my direction, and although his face was marked by embarrassment I noticed a hardness in his expression when our eyes met and I was only more confused.
“All right, if that is everything, then I suppose we are finished,” Avalon clapped his hands together, before stretching his arms wide. Tonight had been very long, I was not the only one exhausted by the amount of information we covered in the last five hours.
“Wait, I have a something to say,” Lilly, who had been sitting perfectly still beside me for the entire meeting stood up suddenly, speaking confidently. The room of Immortals paused all activity to hear what this shy, timid girl had to say. “I would like to join you. I mean, become one of you.” Lilly continued bravely. My mouth dropped open in surprise.
“Lilly, do you understand what the Resistance asks of you? Do you understand the commitment you are making?” Amory asked Lilly seriously. She nodded animatedly, her vibrant red curls bouncing frantically. “And do you understand the process in which the magic is applied? It is not an easy undertaking.”
“Avalon explained everything to me. I still want to join. I have to. He’s holding my parents. You don’t understand,” Lilly’s words fell out in a rush of nervous excitement and her voice cracked from emotion.
I found myself holding back tears at the mention of her parents who still sat in a Romanian prison waiting for the day Lilly would graduate from high school. Although Kiran was able to argue Lilly’s release from prison, Lucan wouldn’t grant any of Kiran’s other terms without compromise. Lilly was only allowed to attend Kingsley while Kiran was also there, if her parents were held as collateral. She would have gladly dropped out of school to save her parents the pain, but the bargain had already been made. She was also a prisoner in Omaha.
“Lilly, I understand,” Amory replied with equaled sorrow. “We won’t wait; you may join tonight as I suspect was your hope. Angelica, please prepare the magic.” Amory addressed an elderly woman, with kind, violet eyes. The woman who would appear in her seventies or eighties, although I knew was hundreds of years older than that, quickly stood and left the barn.
I looked at my friend wringing her pale hands in her lap. I could see that she was nervous, but I also saw the fierce determination set in her eyes. Lilly was infinitely braver than me to be so sure this was the step she wanted to take. I envied her for a second, hating my indecision and middle-ground position. As I felt her magic flare with unwavering resolve, I realized that I could not stand in the middle for long. Someday soon I would have to make a final decision, and without a doubt, that decision would set me on a journey of fate shaping, not only mine, but the destiny of the entire Immortal race.
Chapter Two
“You’ll come with me, won’t you Eden?” Lilly whispered nervously. Her soft voice trembled and I noticed her hands were clenched together so tightly that her knuckles had turned white.
“Of course I will,” I tried to sound reassuring, without actually knowing if I could keep my promise.
To be honest I was almost as nervous as she was. The little I had heard about the initiation into the Resistance did not sound easy. Avalon explained some things to Lilly once we returned from Romania. She had a thousand questions, and although he said he couldn’t go into too much detail, he did say it was an extremely painful process. He related something about adding to the magic in your body, changing it somehow, and then branding it in a way to bond the initiate specifically with the rest of the Resistance.
I inhaled a big breath to focus my nerves. The rest of the Resistance sat together in anxious clumps. The frenzied energy circling the barn tonight testified they were obviously excited that another Immortal would be joining their ranks.
I glanced at the rescued team members sitting off by themselves in a quiet corner of the metal barn. They maintained their slouched postures and hanging heads. Most of the gathered Immortals had paid their respects, including Lilly, who I was realizing, shared a common thread after living in captivity with them for over two months.
Lilly stared at them as well. Oscar Rodriguez glanced at her with a half-smile on his face. It wasn’t much, but it was the most of an expression I had seen from any of them. He gestured at her with his hand to join them, but she hesitated, uncertainty flashing across her face.
“Are you, um, are you going to give them their magic back?” Lilly asked in a shaky voice. I couldn’t tell if she was nervous to ask the question or if she was still nervous from her impending induction.
“What do you mean?” I asked mortified. “I didn’t realize that was an option!” I continued to shriek dramatically. I had been told that I drained them of their magic, but I hadn’t been told I could give it back. Does that mean that I’ve been holding on to stolen magic this whole time? Or using it? I shuddered at the thought of using someone else’s magic; it seemed like a gross invasion of privacy.
“Eden, what is the problem?” Amory joined our circle of two, concern marking his expression. He laid one hand strongly on my shoulder, in a gesture that had become familiar to me whenever Amory wanted me to calm down.
“Amory is it possible for me to give those boys their magic back? Have I been holding on to it this entire time?” I demanded, crossing my arms stubbornly.
“Well, yes you have,” Amory laughed genially. I scowled at him, frustrated. I didn't necessarily blame him, but I always felt one step behind…. More than one step. I never knew what was going on. I had never, not once, regretted my human up-bringing, but this was seriously getting out of control.
“Then how do I give it back?” I didn’t lose my frustrated tone.
“Eden, if that is what you would like to do, then, of course, you can give them their magic back,” Amory replied soothingly.
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” I whined. “I feel awful for holding on to something that’s not mine for so long. Look at them. They look miserable.”
“Not miserable,” Amory continued softly. “Tired, exhausted, like they’ve just been through hell, but not miserable. They asked me not to make a big deal about it. I think they hoped you would give it back to them, but they can’t force you. You alone have to make the choice.” Something about the last thing Amory said struck a chord, and I realized he was not only referring to the rescued team’s magic.
“Of course I want to. It’s not mine. I shouldn’t have taken it in the first place,” I hung my head, ashamed. I wished I knew what I was doing more than just some of the time.
“All right, Eden, do you know how to give them their magic back?” Amory began walking in their general direction and I noticed all of them struggle to sit up straighter and put on a smile. They stared at Amory with a sort of hero-worship that made me proud to be his granddaughter.
“How could I possibly know that?” I blurted out, a little over dramatically.
“Oh,” Amory sighed, sounding a little defeated.
“Oh,” Lilly echoed Amory’s concerned tone.
“What do you mean…. oh?” I stopped dead in my tracks, afraid I wasn't the only one who was out of their league in this particular situation.
“Well, I’m sure it will be fine,” Amory put on a smile again, finally approaching the team. “Boys, once again I would like to say how wonderful it is to have you all back, safe and sound. I would like to introduce you to Eden, my granddaughter; although I’m afraid you’ve already met. She is here to try and restore your magic if you’re up for the challenge.” I instantly saw light behind all four boys’ eyes; clearly they would be up for any challenge that resulted in returning their magic.
“Ok, so what do I have to do?” I asked Amory, hoping he would have some kind of answer for me.
“That is an excellent question, Eden. Why don’t you work with these boys and try to figure the process out while I check with Angelica to see how Lilly’s induction ceremony is coming,” he smiled sheepishly and turned quickly on his heel to retreat.
“Are you telling me you don’t know what I am supposed to do?” I called after him, demanding an answer. It seemed beyond impossible that Amory of all people wouldn't know how to solve this problem.
“I’m sorry, dearest. The process is different for each person. Besides what you did hasn’t actually ever been accomplished before, and certainly not by me. So I’m afraid I don’t know what to tell you,” he explained while walking backwards hands waving apologetically in the air, and then he left the barn in search of Angelica.