Apotheosis of the Immortal (35 page)

“So you are like her.” Elijah rolled his shoulders forward and then tugged his jacket back into place. He closed his eyes; he could feel the heat dissipate from behind them. “You are not a vampire either.”

“I should be… like her, I mean.” Khalid forced a laugh.

“What do you mean?” Elijah asked.

“Nothing.” Khalid waved his hand as if to dismiss his last statement. “Yes, I am like her, and from what I hear, you are some kind of anomaly.” Khalid narrowed his eyes.

“I am something.” Elijah sighed, then glanced toward Emira. “What do you mean by ‘her light?’ What is it? What is she?” Elijah spoke fast. He was fascinated; he needed to know.

Khalid quickly hushed him, and then something entered Elijah’s mind that changed everything.

His eyes suddenly widened. “You are like Ayda,” he repeated, as if in a trance; he closed his eyes as thoughts tumbled through his mind. “That is why they are here, because of the parchment she stole from them at Baghdad.”

Elijah’s voice trailed off as he was stricken with fear for Ayda. Had his father come here after killing her?

Khalid narrowed his eyes; his stony geste was disturbed for just a moment and Elijah could almost feel his anger.

“She stole nothing.” Khalid snapped, turning once more to the girl, as if he were guarding her from something, perhaps from Elijah.

“Did they kill her?” Elijah asked as he ran his fingers through his hair and began to pace. “Did they kill her? Are they here now because they got to her and she led them to you?” he shouted.

Khalid remained silent; he had regained his composure and now stared at Elijah through two black eyes that gave away nothing.

Elijah turned back toward Khalid; maddened by his silence, Elijah could feel heat creeping in behind his eyes and knew they were beginning to glow faintly. He stepped toward Khalid and looked up into the big man’s dark eyes. He could see the certainty in them had faded. Elijah waited for him to answer. His impatience grew with every silent moment until heat surged through his body and the light of day filled his eyes. “Is she dead?” Elijah roared as he lifted the big man off the ground and pounded him against the brick wall.

“I don’t know. I haven’t been able to get in touch with her since they showed up,” Khalid finally admitted as composure poured back into him. He had been left speechless by those uniquely yellowish eyes.

Elijah dropped him to his feet and swore with frustration. He knew if his father had killed Ayda, he would be irretrievably lost to the darkness continually nipping at his heels, the darkness that had once been his home.

“Here is my phone number. I will be at the motel we passed on the way in. Call if you see Solomon or any of his companions.” After speaking, Elijah handed him a small scrap of paper with a phone number scribbled on one side.

“I will, if you leave now and forget about the girl.” Although he was calmer, Khalid’s walls had temporarily been shaken and he was much easier to read. His voice was full of hope, desperation even, that Elijah would comply.

“Ayda trusted me; now you need to trust me.” Elijah paused for a moment and cleared his throat. “If she is alive, she is the only friend I have in this world; I need to know. Call me if you hear from her. Please.” Elijah’s concern for Ayda now exceeded his need to talk to the girl in the truck, but he didn’t know what to do. He didn’t even know if Ayda was alive, and if she was, he had no idea how to find her.

Confusion and uncertainty swamped him. Driven to learn
now
how to help Ayda, or whether she was even alive, he was finding it hard to force himself to leave. Also, the coins seemed like a clear link between Emira and Sara; he was reluctant to leave her alone before he could find out what she was and how she and Sara were connected. Also, Khalid and the girl were his only link to Ayda and to his brother.

Still, Elijah knew he would have to fight to stay, and Khalid seemed quite capable of protecting the girl for now. He believed Khalid would call him, if only to keep him away, and he needed to blow off some steam anyway, so he decided to leave.

“What do you intend to do once you find them, your family?” Khalid asked. “Ayda told me what happened last time,” he prodded, finally breaking Elijah’s stare and looking down at the concrete.

“I’m going to kill them,” Elijah growled. “I’m not the same person I was all those years ago.” Gathering himself, he looked once more at the faint light shining through the window of Khalid’s truck and then strode to his car.

Chapter 72

Elijah had been
sitting in his hotel room for a few hours, lowering the level of a bottle of Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey; his thoughts were on Ayda as he paced. He had to make sure she was alive and well. She had saved his life; he owed her. He loved her.

Throughout the centuries, ever since he had descended back into the world from that mountain in Japan, whenever he drowned his thoughts and feelings with spirits, which was nearly every day, he had brooded about his life. He thought of Sara, and mourned her daily… but she was gone, and there was nothing he could do about it, so most of his thoughts and regrets were about Ayda.

He wished he could start over, he could take back everything and rewind time to the last night he had seen her, when he had left her magical form lying in that bed. In his fantasy, he would make very different choices. He would give up his foolish quest and stay with the woman he had grown to love so deeply. He hated himself for leaving her.

Still, in the back of his mind he knew his dream of making different choices was just a fantasy. In the end, this is who he was: his miserable purpose, and nothing more. His life was a woeful symphony, composed by only a few, but the ending would be his to write. There was no room for happiness here, and no time for a new composition.

The darkness was his and he would own it, but allowing fantasies of Ayda during his quiet moments kept him sane; they were the raft that kept him afloat when he no longer had the strength to swim in the dark waters of his soul. The thoughts and memories of what could have been were his only warmth when the dark nights got too cold for even a soul as black as his.

Elijah’s spiraling misery was interrupted when he became aware a light tapping at the door had escalated to the most awful noise as someone now pounded incessantly from the other side. The noise grew with Elijah’s impatience until he was forced to deal with it. Perhaps it was news of Solomon.

“What the hell do you wan—” he pulled up short as he was flooded with an awesome light. It was Emira, the girl from the gas station, standing awkwardly in the doorway. Definitely not Solomon, but he was pleased all the same.

“Come in,” he said, as graciously as he could to make up for his rude greeting.

“Here.” She shoved a Styrofoam container into his chest and marched past him.

“You came here to bring me a sandwich?” Elijah asked when he opened the container. “Is there news of Solomon?” His hopes were high; why else would she be here?

“Yes.” The girl spoke quickly as she paced the floor. “No. I mean, yes to the sandwich, and no to Solomon. I thought you might be hungry.” She said.

“Th…” Elijah opened his mouth to speak but was quickly cut off.

“Are you going to shut the door, or are you encouraging me to leave?”

Elijah had been so startled by this entire encounter and hadn’t realized he was still leaning against the open door holding the Styrofoam container.

“Of course not,” he said as he carefully closed the door.

“My name is Emira, by the way. We weren’t introduced earlier.” She walked to the bed and sat down.

“Yes, your big friend made sure of that.” Elijah’s words came out with a croak; he was still entranced by the girl’s aura. “But you told me at the gas station.”

“I suppose I did.” The girl paused for a moment. “Why are you so interested in my coins?” she asked, as she clutched her necklace.

Elijah had no idea what to say. He considered unloading the truth in its entirety, but thought it might scare her away. So many idiotically romantic notions had crossed his mind. He even considered perhaps this girl was Sara’s reincarnation, but had quickly dismissed the idea. Although he found it silly and amusing—he wasn’t the type to believe in signs and fanciful notions—he couldn’t completely suppress the idea the universe, in its infinite wisdom, had given Sara a glimpse of his future, and now the universe was trying to speak to him. But he didn’t know exactly what it was trying to say.

“I have seen coins like those before,” he said finally. “I actually used to have some.” Elijah set the open Styrofoam container on the table. The sweet smell of mayonnaise filled his senses as he unwrapped the chicken salad sandwich and took a bite.

“That’s the only reason you can come up with?” Emira asked, as she narrowed her eyes and lowered her chin.

“Yes, well, they also remind me of someone I knew a long time ago.” He didn’t want to lie, but thought it best not to be too forthcoming.

“Khalid’s sister?” she suggested. “She is the one who gave them to me.”

“That man has a sister, a real one? I would hate to meet her,” Elijah chuckled. “No, her name was Sara.” Elijah smiled as he thought of her, of her contagious joy and delight in life. Elijah closed his eyes for just a moment. He realized his eyelashes must have been a bit wet because he could feel them clinging together briefly as he opened his eyes again. “It was a long time ago.” He ducked his head slightly and wiped his eyes before pouring another glass of bourbon, tossing it down, and then pouring another.

Suddenly, Elijah felt something soft brush against his hand; he looked down to see Emira attempting to take the glass away from him. He held on to it for a moment, but gave in after seeing the empathy pooling into her eyes. After placing his glass on the desk, the girl took his hand and gently pulled him over to the bed. His nostalgia, along with the whiskey, was making his compulsive attraction to her much harder to resist.

She placed her other hand on top of his as he sat beside her. Her touch seemed to cleanse his soul and free him from the pit of despair into which he had fallen so long ago.

“What are you?” he asked. His eyes began to close; he couldn’t stop it, he didn’t want to stop it. “What is that light?” Elijah’s eyes were completely closed and his head was gently resting against Emira’s shoulder. “What do you want from me?” he asked after a moment of silent relaxation. His voice trailed off as feelings of beauty and wonder permeated his entire being.

“Hey! Wake up.” Elijah heard Emira’s voice and then a loud clapping sound that snapped him back into reality. He quickly stood up and looked down at her in confusion.

“I wasn’t asleep; I don’t sleep.” He spoke sharply.

“Well, I think you’ve had a bit too much to drink then, because you were asking me some really weird questions.” she accused. She looked confused.

“No, alcohol doesn’t do that to me,” he protested.

“Well.” She paused.

Elijah could tell she was disappointed; she had clearly been hoping for something more, he didn’t know what.

“Tell me what happened today, outside of the
masjid
. You nearly yanked the door off my uncle’s truck.” Her tone was accusing.

“I’m sorry, I just thought you needed me,” Elijah confessed unwillingly. It was almost as if he
was
drunk, or delirious; he hadn’t been able to stop the words that emerged. In one sentence he had given away more about himself than he ever meant to. “I mean, I thought you were in trouble.” Elijah was trying, but couldn’t find a way out of this lapse in guise. “I thought the truck was rolling into the road, and I could hear an oncoming car. I didn’t realize you were driving.”

“I see. You do that a lot, that kind of crazy, overprotective kind of thing?” Emira asked. She seemed nervous and uncomfortable as she rose to her feet and began pacing.

Elijah understood then she wasn’t concerned with how he had stopped the truck, but why. He had tried to save her from an imagined danger and she wanted to know why. That was surprising, and a relief.

“I’m always eager to help,” he lied, in an attempt to discourage her from digging any further.

“Okay,” Emira spoke slowly. “You
are
a bit odd, aren’t you?”

Elijah was somewhat offended; he had never been seen as odd before. At least no one had ever told him he was, but now he was definitely feeling a bit odd.

“I suppose so,” he replied. He didn’t understand why he felt awkward. He had been with thousands of women over the years, with never a hint of awkwardness.

But then he had never wanted to actually talk to those women, nor had he cared for an instant about their feelings or what they thought of him… at least not until he knew them well enough to actually have feelings for them. He had grown up with Sara, and he had bartered with an entire fortress for Ayda; he wished it were still that simple. “It’s fine for you to talk, but I’m not the one who glows,” he teased.

“What? You are definitely an odd one,” she said, seeming to withdraw a bit.

“Why are you toying with me?” he asked as he walked back to the desk and lifted the glass of bourbon he had poured earlier. “Why won’t you two just tell me the truth?” he said before downing the whiskey and turning to face her. “What
are
you?” he shouted.

The girl’s mouth fell open and she stood up. Elijah could see she was dismayed and offended.

“I’m so sorry; I didn’t mean to shout. This has been a very upsetting day; please stay.” Elijah didn’t know what to do, if she did know, she was hiding it well. What reason would Khalid have for keeping this from her?

“I’m not like him, if that’s what you mean. And I don’t mean to be secretive, but vampires aren’t supposed to be able to see my light.” She relented a bit and sat back down on the bed.

“I’m not vampire!” Elijah’s tone was accusing.

“I know, I mean, I figured that, but what does that make you?” Suddenly, Elijah could hear something vibrating in Emira’s pocket, but she ignored it.

“Are you going to answer that?” Elijah asked; he was glad for the distraction.

“No, it’s just my uncle Kal. I’m supposed to be at home; if he knew I was here he would kill me, and then he would kill you,” she said sheepishly.

“I don’t know about you, but I’m not at all easy to kill. Believe me; people have been trying for a long time.” Elijah poured some more bourbon. Frustration and curiosity consumed him; he was drawn to this girl and she had an effect on him he could not deny. No matter what caused this distraction, that made her dangerous, and he needed Khalid’s cooperation; he couldn’t risk making an enemy out of him now.

“I have lived with Khalid for ten years,” Emira continued. “He is a great man, but he is stubborn and overprotective.” The girl looked over at him as if she wanted Elijah to empathize.

“Your uncle, or brother, or whatever he is, has been around for a long time, as have I. You seem to have lived a happy, sheltered life; this safe little world he has created for you is a blessing, even if it is a lie. There are things out there you have only seen in your nightmares and on your television screen. You would do well to heed his advice and go home.” Elijah deliberately spoke harshly, disguising any hints of concern for the girl with blatant rudeness. It was for the best, at least for now, until he could figure out what Khalid was concealing from him about her light, and why.

“You don’t know me; I have seen more than you know.” Emira’s eyes strayed from his face; she seemed to be lost in her own memories. “Khalid’s sister gave me these coins almost ten years ago; that is when she found me.” Emira rubbed one of the coins dangling from the chain around her neck. “She is the reason I started collecting these old things to begin with.” She gazed at Elijah for a few seconds, searching his expressionless face for answers.

Elijah imagined she was looking for the man whose heart and body had leapt into action when he believed she was in danger. He was in there, but Elijah had shoved him back down out of sight, so deep she could never find him.

“So you and Khalid are not actually related?” Elijah asked as he poured more bourbon and quickly threw it back.

“No, he just calls me Sis.” She lingered awkwardly for a moment, as if she were waiting for him to become someone else, as if she refused to believe she was wrong about him.

“I think you should get home.” Elijah spoke without even turning back to face her.

He could feel her eyes on his back as she paused for a moment before turning and walking to the door without another word.

Elijah was anxious and uncomfortable. He didn’t want her to leave disappointed. He didn’t want her to leave at all. He wanted to tell her everything; he wanted to know about her and the big man who called her
Sis
, but he couldn’t bring himself to stop her. Regret sank in deep as he heard the door slam behind her.