Authors: Sarah Brocious
"Nolan, I have never hurt her. I never will hurt her. It's not possible." His hazel eyes looked unwaveringly into the silvers. "Are you following me?"
Nolan shook his head he had no idea what he was talking about.
"Isaac told you that you would learn from me. You will learn from me because you have the same gift as me. So what works for me will work for you. Listen to me when I say we are special. The only immortals who can get away with loving those and I mean truly loving those that we love." He leaned forward. "I know that sounds crazy. I know you have questions for me because no one else has ever been able to tell you this. We are a rare breed, Nolan. We probably have the best gift any immortal can ask for."
Nolan couldn't quite believe what he was hearing. He shook his head. "No. No that just can't be right. There are rules! How can we be free of them? And how did you happen upon this knowledge? You didn't test them on her did you?” His eyes widened with fear. “I'm really confused right now. I really don't know what to say. I absolutely have no idea what to believe."
"Of course I didn't test it on her. I was not always perfect ,Nolan, in my devotion as an immortal. I tested the boundaries. I push them as far as they could go and I found out a lot about myself. Like when my friends talked about being with a mortal... about her being tired, or sick, or unfortunately not lasting after a night of passion… that scared the hell out of me. It didn't scare me enough to keep me from trying out the same things they were doing and being overall rebellious.
I started seducing mortal women. I had my way and I had fun with them. The first time I expected the worst but it didn't turn out that way. The next morning? She was awake and not just awake but glowing and happy and ready to conquer the world. This really confused me. I thought it was just a fluke until it continued happening. If I was with her more than once it was even more astounding like she was drawing something from me." He shook his head. He understood what Nolan was feeling because he had been there before.
"What did you do? Who did you go to about this?" Nolan's brain was starting to go into hyper-drive.
"I went to my changer. I asked him if I was defective. He was angry at me at first for what I was doing… the implications of what I was doing, they appalled him. I begged for forgiveness and asked him to please help me find out what was happening. He told me there were reports of immortals having the ability to be with a mortal and not harm them. But that this gift was only given to a healer.
I didn't know at the time that I was one. I was using my immortality as a selfish means I didn't care what kind of gift I had. I just knew that I had forever to do whatever I wanted." He grinned self-consciously. "I like to say that at that time I decided to turn things around. But I didn't. I continued with my selfish ways believing myself invincible. I was with the mortals… physically with the mortals… and not one of them came to harm even of morning of fatigue. I knew then I had that gift. It was obvious and I could've gone on and on and on being a man whore.” He chuckled at the definition. He truly had been one.
“Until I met her. The stars aligned when I met her. I realize the last thing I wanted to do was hurt her and I would have to mend my ways."
Nolan felt as though the floor had fallen out from underneath him. He swallowed again. There was a lump in his throat. "You are saying we can't hurt?"
"That's exactly what I'm saying Nolan. It's not possible. We heal… every part of us heals." He smirked. "Well, you know what I mean. You really did not know this?"
Nolan sighed heavily. "No, of course I didn't know. Who would've told me? It's not like it is common knowledge among immortals. I certainly could have used this knowledge not too long ago. Wow," he whispered. He felt butterflies in his stomach. What this could have meant for him and Raina. And now he felt he had completely ruined it because of his contract.
"You mean you never notice after being with a girl? Even with an immortal girl? They seem to benefit from our gift as well."
Nolan's cheeks flushed. He shook his head. "I've had zero experience."
The other healer looked at him with a smile. "Now who deserves a trophy?" He chuckled softly and slapped Nolan on the shoulder. "So you really are clueless. Well, buddy, welcome to the land of opportunities."
Nolan ran a hand through his hair and rubbed the back of his neck nervously. He thought he had knocked that habit. "Well it really doesn't help me now. I only want to be with one girl. And that girl by contract…I can’t. It would be nearly impossible to override that. I gave my word even if I didn't sign, before a changer, and that word is binding."
"I'm sure there's a way around that."
"Even if I could find a way around that I would be putting Raina’s life in danger simply by being a part of her. That woman… she devil? She would have Raina exterminated with extreme prejudice."
"How's that?"
"Her father is an assassin of immortals. He also has a bit of a chip on his shoulder when it comes to Raina. He won’t need much of an excuse to go after her. Right now the contract technically keeps him from her." Nolan looked devastated.
At that moment Our Sovereignty appeared. They were ready to commence with today's training and there would be no more talk of this until a later hour.
Nolan couldn’t get this new information out of his head. In fact it affected his ability to even heal. His fellow healer seemed to understand his reaction and stepped in, bridging the gap. He took over the primary portion of the healing process and allowed Nolan his thoughts.
Our Sovereignty didn't even seem to notice. They were only please when the ill mortal they had brought in was healed and sitting up before the end of the session. To them it'd been a simple success and they were pleased.
Joseph on the other hand noticed Nolan's distraction. Only because he had known the boy from the moment he had changed. He knew his work ethic and knew he would never slouch off on a job unless something was truly bothering him.
After hours and hours of training and discussions he asked Nolan if he could speak to him. Nolan, of course, agreed.
They made their way back to a room. Nolan didn't believe he’d ever been in this room before. He looked around at the drums set and a keyboard covered in dust and the sound system in the corner. The walls looked padded and thick and he gave Joseph questioning look.
Joseph closed the door behind him. "Sound proof," he whispered seeing Nolan's confusion. He slapped a hand against the insulated wall. "It's really the only place that we can speak freely. And I thought you might need a moment to speak freely."
Nolan sat down at the stool by the keyboard and dropped his head into his hands. "Tell me, did you know that my fellow student has a mortal for a wife?" His silvers lifted to Joseph. "Please don't tell me you have this knowledge and you did not share this with me."
Joseph's mouth dropped open. "No of course I didn't know this. Do you think I'm a cruel man? How is this possible?"
"Apparently it's not knowledge that's given out. Even he didn't know for the longest time that it was possible to… to be with someone and not harm them." He shook his head "Our Sovereignty seems to know. It's in the books but that knowledge is not just given out to everyone I suppose. It would have been wonderful knowledge for me to have six months ago. My life could have been so different right now. I don't know what to do with this, Joseph. My hands are tied now." His head fell back into his hands.
Joseph touched the top of his head in comfort. "For now you just play this role. An answer will come, Nolan I'm sure of this. But you should not let them know that you know. You cannot tell Thanatos and you cannot tell Raina. And you should especially not tell my granddaughter or my son. We will figure this out."
Nolan groaned and tugged at his own hair in frustration. "What am I going to do, Joseph?" He rubbed his forehead. "This could mean a life with her. It would be so much simpler if I was just a mortal."
"But you are not my boy. There's no getting around that. You are immortal and she is a mortal."
"I could enjoy sixty may be seventy years with her?" He smiled at Joseph. "I swear it still wouldn't be enough. Does that make me hopeless?"
"No," Joseph laughed. "It means you’re an incredible romantic. A sap even."
Nolan chuckled.
Joseph sat down too. His wisdom filled eyes looked over Nolan. "She's doing okay, Nolan. I ask after her all the time. Thanatos and I have become friends," he chuckled. "And I talk to her on the phone often. Jonathan also does this. He likes your Raina. He doesn't often like mortals. I don't know if it's because he knows around them is a temptation or because he truly does not like them. But her? He approves of her. If he can find a way around the contract, that clause, that spoken word, he will do it. He approves of you as well Nolan.
Nolan grinned. "He is a good friend."
"And how are you? I know you're stressed right now. How are your thoughts? Jonathan seems to be concerned over them. He says that you're hurting. He says that you fret over sleeping because of the dreams you are having."
Nolan nodded. He hadn't wanted to speak to anyone about this but Joseph was as good as any person to confide in.
"It's like my gift has come back to haunt me. I dream of her the way I used to make her think she was dreaming of me. They're good dreams Joseph. But those dreams make me miss her more. Miss her to the point that I feel depressed and empty and clueless as to how I'm supposed to cope. I have this training now these things I'm doing keep my mind busy but what happens after the training is over? What do I do? Now with this new knowledge! Knowing that technically I could have been with her the whole time." He shook his head and grimaced, rubbing his forehead as if a headache was beginning. “It’s just too much right now.”
Joseph nodded in understanding. "Just make our leaders happy Nolan and this will soon be over. Then we can concentrate on how to put back together what's been broken apart. But again I must insist you not tell her. This would only make things harder on her. Do you understand? We're talking about her sanity. Think of how you're feeling right now and ask yourself; do you want her to go through that too?" The wise face softened.
Nolan shook his head vehemently. "Of course I don't. In the same breath I want to tell her…it makes me so excited," he chuckled. He again rubbed the back of his neck. "I won't tell her until we have everything figured out," he promised.
Joseph was pleased with this answer. He patted Nolan on the back. "Good boy."
Nolan looked to Joseph with questions in his eyes. "You brought me here so no one else could hear us. Tell me about Our Sovereignty. Do you trust them? Or did you bring me here because she's here… your granddaughter?"
"Both reasons. Of course Elenora does not need more fuel for the fire. And Our Sovereignty? I trust them to a point. Isaac? A good leader and he has a compassionate heart. Emmanuel? I don't like him Nolan, and you will not repeat those words. There is something not quite right in his eyes. It wasn't always like that," Joseph murmured. "No, he wasn't always shady."
"And what of Titus?" Nolan looked concerned over this. He liked Titus. There was something about him that was very trusting.
"I like Titus. Titus is genuine," Joseph agreed. "I just wanted a moment to talk to you to be sure everything was okay. I wanted to talk to you as a friend and not as a mentor or a trainer."
Nolan smiled, liking that answer. He then felt the vibration of the cell phone in his pocket and knew that only one person would be calling him. It would be Thanatos and he would have some sort of update about the little mortal that invaded his thoughts. "Please excuse me, Joseph, this will be Thanatos. He'll have word on Raina."
Joseph nodded. "Yes of course. You can use this room anytime you want, Nolan. I hope you know that?" Joseph slowly made his way out of the room closing the door behind him.
Nolan answered his phone. "Yes, what is it?"
"Are you still in training?" Thanatos sounded a little nervous, just a bit high strung…more so than usual.
"What is it? Is she okay? What's going on?" Nolan was nervous now and he stood up shoving a hand through his hair running it down back of his neck.
"Oh, she's okay. No issue there, she's safe. But she's brought me news." Thanatos cleared his throat. "She has informed me that we are going to a club. You know a club? Dancing? Drinking? I'm not sure how to answer her. I have to admit I was quite shocked that she came to me with this." He seemed to be holding his breath waiting for Nolan's answer.
"I'm sorry what?" Nolan's voice was nearly a shout.
"I know. I was just shocked when she came to me with this. But she has a new friend."
Nolan felt his heart sank. "A….Friend?"
Thanatos chuckled knowingly. "It's a lady Nolan. Trust me she hasn't moved on from you. I can promise you that, my friend."
Nolan sighed in relief and laughed at himself. "What kind of friend is this? Can we trust her? Do you think she has Raina's best interest in mind?"
"I believe she's genuine. It's like she wants to get Raina out of her shell. Raina trusts her. Emily even likes her, though, she was jealous at first. They've all had coffee and had lunch together. They seem to be forming a little group. It's done wonders for Raina. She still moans and groans over you but she has a nice time with her friends."