Authors: Sarah Brocious
Nolan blinked. He had noted the difference in his friend. The very fact that he could again call him a true friend was a miracle.
“We are humans with the gift of immortality… or a curse however you want to look at it,” Titus continued. “We have gifts that we cannot help…that we didn't choose to have. They are the gift we had as humans but now multiplied. This is the only difference we have from mortals and yes, it is a big difference…but we are still human. We all have the same emotions that we had before we lost our mortality. That's what makes us human. Your love for Raina is a good thing and you should not look at this as something that you don't deserve Nolan. You deserve to be with her. You have been good and pure of heart much like Isaac was and is. God is rewarding you for this."
Nolan again held back tears, wanting so desperately to believe what Titus was saying. "Thank you for telling me this story. It does make me look at things a lot differently. But why did you choose to tell me this now?"
Titus chuckled. "Who said I was finished with my story? I want to tell you because I want you to understand Emmanuel, and I want you to understand why he fights so hard against Isaac. I want you to know why I believe Emmanuel, as you believe, is involved in this."
Nolan felt shock at these words. He blinked at Titus, unable to form any words himself.
"I don't mean my words to mean that you need to have any kind of sympathy towards Emmanuel. You are right to be angry with him, but he started out much like you, Nolan. We spoke of choices. You chose the road to forgiveness and acceptance. Even if what you were given was something that you hated being forced upon you.”
The silvers held the blues steady, and willed him to continue.
“I didn't know if you knew that Isaac is a changer like Joseph.”
“A Changer?” Nolan didn’t think he could be anymore shocked. “Does he still practice?”
Titus shook his head. “He used his gift in the beginning, and when others came about because of this…there were changers born in the midst.”
“And how did he know he was a changer?”
“Much like you found out you were a healer; by accident.” He gave a nod. “It was when he and Emmanuel were attacked while out in the wilderness. They often went out to camp. They were childhood friends, and Isaac hadn’t figured out how to separate himself from his mortal life. They were out on one particular trip when a wild animal gain entrance to their camp one night and attacked Emmanuel. Isaac was able to fight him off and unafraid because of his immortality and the strength that he had. But when he found his friend bloody and torn apart he was so grieved that he wept over him. Emmanuel must've had some little bit of life left and he responded to the gift that was in Isaac."
“His compassion triggered the gift?”
Titus gave a nod. "Emmanuel came to and he was healed. He hadn’t realized what had gone on, or what happened to him, and Isaac said nothing because he didn't know that it had been him what caused the come around. But then Emmanuel started talking about how strong he felt that his eyes were playing tricks on him at night he could see as if it were the daylight. Isaac started to recognize what was going on in him too and he had to tell Emmanuel. Emmanuel flipped and he yelled curses at Isaac. You see, Emmanuel had his life set for him. He was going to marry the woman he loved and now he couldn't. He was very angry and he was very bitter."
Nolan sat down now. He was finding it hard to keep the strength in his legs to stand up. "So he didn't see it as a gift either."
“He got over it in many ways when he saw the improvements in his human body but he never let Isaac forget that it was forced upon him. He said that they should be equals and that they should create other immortals. And that is when they sat down and drew a contract. The contract that still stands strong today. That death must be upon a mortal to receive the gifts unless circumstances cause the decision to come to trial. It has happened before. It is not something that is given without great thought and great deliberation."
Titus glanced at Nolan and gave him a small smile. "The rule about a mortal having to be close to death to be given immortality that was Isaac's rule. He stood fast on that rule and would not bend. Emmanuel had wanted to give his beloved immortality so that she could live with him forever. Isaac refused and when Emmanuel went to go and disobey him, he didn't realize that not all immortals have the gift to change a mortal. He ended up accidentally killing the one he loved. He was not a changer like Isaac."
Nolan shook his head, imagining Emmanuel’s grief!
Titus’ face held solemn sadness now. "And since he had snuck off, Isaac was nowhere near to save her life by changing her. It was a very rough time for the both of them and though Emmanuel said that he had forgiven him, he never truly forgave for the death of his beloved. So many times we have had to deal with his rebellious attitude. I think he saw in you what should've been for him and it was easier for him to join along with Richard."
"So he's using what Raina and I have together to make Isaac pay?"
Titus nodded. "And he wants to get his hands on you. What you have is special, Nolan. Your gift makes you doubly so. He's using Raina because he knows you will come after her."
Nolan groaned and buried his head in his hands again. "Do not ask me to not go after her."
Titus laid a hand upon his back. "I will not ask that of you, Nolan," he whispered.
"I'm so glad you believe me. I was so afraid you wouldn’t because he is your partner. So you truly think it is as you say?" Nolan truly did feel relief.
"Yes, I believe my partner is involved in this. It has him written all over it. The way he's been acting lately I would be surprised if it wasn't him. I've met Richard as I've met many of our immortals with that gift. He is not wise enough and is certainly not strong enough to attempt such a plan.
He's been trying to push Isaac in another way and Isaac is slow and steady not rash and irresponsible. So now that Isaac hasn't been listening to him he's decided to take matters into his own hands. When he found out the intent that Richard had against you, he decided to exploit it by joining him in his madness. He thinks I don't know and thinks that I haven’t heard conversations between the two of them. I didn't think it would lead to Raina being kidnapped. I thought that would be the last resort so I said nothing. I wish now that I had. Maybe Isaac would've found all this out on his own. But now for me to bring judgment against one of the three of us… the leaders. I could be in a lot of trouble."
Nolan sat up straighter. "What can I do then?" He would do anything for Titus. The respect that he had for have grown leaps and bounds in the short span of this conversation.
"You can bring back the girl. She is a witness and she has no guile in her. Isaac will believe her words. She has already met Emmanuel, of this I'm sure. She can identify him as one of her captors. And she will call Richard to pay for his part in this" Titus drew in a breath. “And the other partner…perhaps he too will pay for what he did to her…and what he is doing to you now.”
Nolan rose to his feet and paced away a small ways away. The thought of the other partner made adrenaline course through him. "Don't you think I would've already done it if I knew where she was or how I could get to her?"
"Of course I know you would have already done it."
Nolan felt agitation rising up in him. "Then why do you ask this impossible task of me? I would leave this very minute if I knew where I could get her. There would be no stopping me… I promise you that."
Titus smiled and rose to his feet as well. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a slip of paper. He held it up and smiled. "I told you I spoke to Joseph and he asked my wisdom in this. Your friends, who love you, didn't want to give you this information. They knew that you would go in, not thinking of yourself and your safety. They wanted to go with you, but they can't. This is something you must do on your own, Nolan. Your connection to her will strengthen you. If your friends were to go along they would be a distraction because you cannot help but be concerned over those around you and it would take your focus off the goal."
Nolan stopped himself from moving forward and snatching the paper from Titus's hands. He knew he must listen if we were to get what little bit of information from Titus to get to his Raina. He balled his hands into fists and kept them at his sides.
"They learned that tomorrow there will be a meeting at Richards and away from the location where Raina is being held. Just because they won't be there does not mean there aren’t obstacles for you to overcome, Nolan. You have to be careful, and you have to be quick. You will have a short time in which to get to her. You may not be able to rescue her right away but you will be there to protect her. We may be playing right into their hands and there's no way to know this. We just have to do something."
"I'm going to be so tempted to take her and go as far away here as I can. I know what you're asking of me and I want to help you. But I will do anything to keep her away from him." Nolan would not even say his name. The very thought of the other partner made him feel things that were not of his true nature.
Titus face filled with compassion. "You cannot hide her from it forever. She will have to face it just as you have had to face it. She will be stronger because of it. And have no fear that you'll lose her love over it, Nolan. She cannot love any other man more than she loves you and she will understand. The important part is that you'll be there with her to face it together." Titus held out the piece of paper. "I'm putting my trust in you to return and make all of this right."
Nolan's fingers shook as he reached for the small piece of paper. "I will bring her back and we will make this right," he promised. His heart thudded against his ribs at the thought of seeing her again. They would face what they had to face later on but in this moment all he wanted was to have her safe.
"I will cover for you for as long as I can," Titus said gently. "Michael is involved in this too and he will attempt to keep your secret as well. But we can't hold it off forever and Isaac will start asking questions so you must be quick. We can't allow Emmanuel to have time to cover his tracks or make up a lie."
Nolan nodded in understanding. "I will try my best." He turned quickly to the motorcycles, throwing his leg over his own and starting the engine. He glanced up at Titus and smiled his thanks.
"Be careful my young friend," Titus said softly, the engine was roaring, but Nolan heard him clearly.
“I will Titus.”
“May Gods protection go before and behind you.”
Nolan backed out of the driveway glancing only once at the address on the piece of paper. He could barely contain himself as he started out down the road. He was going to see his Raina again.
"He did what?" Thanatos shouted into the phone. He could hardly believe the words that were coming out Michael's mouth. "He certainly threw him into the lion's den didn't he?” The thought of Nolan being in danger as well was enough to break Thanatos vow of goodness. He seriously wanted to hurt someone right about now. To Hell if it was one of Our Sovereignty!
"What Titus said made sense. If you and Jonathan were with Nolan right now you would be nothing but a distraction. He now has a level head and he can be stealthier. Besides, if something happened to all three of you what would happen to Raina? Titus is wise and Joseph is in agreement with him so we all need to just trust them." Michael's gentle voice was soothing and he had soon calmed Thanatos.
"I just wish I'd been able to speak to him before he left." Thanatos suddenly felt very emotional. He felt the sadness. What if it had been his last time speaking to his friend? What if the incident in the parking lot at the gym had been the last time he'd ever see him? What would his life now be without his best friend? He felt that overwhelming sadness and that nearly brought him to tears.
Michael could hear the struggle on the other end of the line and heard Thanatos drawing a deep breath. "Are you okay?"
Thanatos cleared his throat and swallowed hard. "Yes, just a little emotional right now. And I don't even have Elenora to blame for it."
"It's okay to have actual feelings now and then, Thanatos," Michael said gently. "I used to be hard like you and not want to cry and not want to feel anything. Melinda changed that in me. And it's not just the fact that I fell in love with her. Her very goodness brought up the good in me. It's okay to be a good boy, Thanatos," he ended his comforting words with a little joke.
Thanatos grinned.
"How is everyone else? My wife, my sister?"
"All is well. We've all been sticking together. Waiting here at Raina's for any new information." He glanced into the living room where the usual group sat together. They were all trying not to look at their phones. Even Emily was with them today and she was much calmer than usual. The new news may shatter of bit of that calmness.
"Thank you for being there when I cannot," Michael said softly. "I appreciate it more than you'll ever know. I will be there soon. Titus has convinced Isaac that Nolan and I deserve a break to go visit our loved ones. It plays right into Emmanuel's need for time off. Isaac hasn’t given notice that Nolan isn’t around and for that I'm thankful."
Thanatos liked the sound of that. "So what is it that Titus has asked Nolan to do when he finds Raina?"