Apotheosis of the Immortal (50 page)

Chapter 106

Emira ran to
Elijah’s side as the beasts disappeared into the night. She rolled him over and cradled his head in her lap. Knowing what he had given up for her, she could think of no words that could convey what she wanted to say, so she just sat quietly, holding him.

Elijah was more than thankful to the lycan horde, but he would not trust Emira with anyone but Khalid. Elijah knew his fate; he could feel it sinking in as Mikal’s dire warning kept ringing in his mind.

Thoughts of Khalid crossed his mind. He hoped the giant man was all right. He needed him to be here for Emira. Elijah’s body ached from the inside out; he knew he had only minutes left.

He thought about William getting away with the rite and wondered what would become of the world. Would Emira be safe, with all that might happen after he was gone?

Emira studied Elijah’s face and desperation gripped her. She could see his life diminishing. His strong, muscular features seemed to be shriveling into sharp edges. There was no color left in his face, and she could tell he wasn’t breathing. He already looked more like a corpse than a man.

“Please, no! Don’t leave me.” Her voice rose with her fear. She clutched his hand again. Feeling it go limp, her heart sank as if to the bottom of a thousand oceans. With tears streaming down her face, she curled up next to his lifeless body and pulled his heavy arm across her chest.

She had been in that same position just last night. His strong arms pressing her tightly to his chest had given her such strength and an abiding sense of safety. But now, lying beneath the rain, there was no strength left in his lifeless body. She could no longer feel the comforting resonance of his strong heart beating against her back.

It was like a dream, a nightmare, and all she could do was cry. She was helpless. She looked on, unable to change the fate of the one she loved. She would watch him wither away to nothing, as would the love they had just discovered.

Elijah felt her soothing touch on his skin and was thankful for it.

She’s safe.
The knowledge warmed his soul as he drifted off into the afterlife, finally at peace.

Chapter 107

As Emira lay
there clutching Elijah’s corpse, she blamed herself for everything that had happened.

He had sacrificed his life for her; she had to find a way to fix it. Tears continued to pour until Emira heard someone speak her name. Joy filled her heart as she looked down, expecting to see life flooding back into Elijah’s body.

“I’m sorry for the way everything turned out.” The voice was nearly a whisper.

Emira looked around to see where it was coming from, but saw nothing, only a serpent slithering its way up Elijah’s leg. Emira pulled back and tried to pull Elijah’s body away from it.

“There is no need to fear me, my dear. I am here to help. I can give him back to you, just as strong and willful as ever,” the serpent hissed.

“Who are you? And what are you talking about?” Emira demanded.

“My name is Adol. Have you heard of me?”

“Yes, I have. You are evil and untrustworthy. You create the blood-letters,” Emira accused.

“That I do, but only as pawns in this game of chess I have played with my brothers for millennia now. We use different methods to inspire and motivate our game pieces, but in the end, is there really any difference? Your god uses you, just as I use my pieces on this game board of life. There are only two rules; we must keep our word, and we cannot directly use our powers against each other’s pawns,” the god continued.

“You are telling me this is all a game? That might be true for you and Mikal, but I know Odam is different. He seeks to help mankind. He even made that spell to give us a chance,” Emira retorted with vigor and confidence.

“My girl, Odam is the one who started this game.” Adol snorted with laughter. “He created the first immortals, the first pawns, the lycans, and from there it spiraled into this elaborate game of power and strategy.”

“Let’s say I believe you, and I let you bring him back, will he be the same as he was?”

“His body is old; he will have the same power and the same personality,” Adol said.

“You will make him into a vampire!” Emira spat. “No, never! He would hate that.”

“Elijah will be himself, inside and out. Whether there is goodness or evil in him, that will not change, I promise you. I can’t force you, though, I just wanted to offer my help.” Adol seemed to pause and think for a moment. “I will watch you until midnight tonight. If you change your mind, just find a place where we can be alone, and call on me.

“What would you demand in return?” Emira asked.

“Just a favor, a favor for a favor.” Adol hissed and then slithered away just as Khalid approached.

Khalid could see Emira lying next to Elijah’s lifeless body. He could hear her desperate cries and it broke his heart.

“Emira,” he whispered as he ran his fingers through her hair. She was too upset to notice. “Emira.” He spoke a little louder as he grabbed her under her arms and pulled her from beneath Elijah’s dead arm.

“He’s gone.” She spoke quietly as Khalid held her up.

“I know. I’m sorry, but maybe now he has found peace.” Khalid tried to comfort her. Emira pulled away and held her own weight. She looked up at Khalid sharply.

“Where were you?” Her tone and stare were accusations. “If you had been here, maybe things would have turned out differently.” She had never spoken to Khalid that way before, but now she believed he deserved it.

“I’m sorry. I tried, but it wouldn’t have made a difference. We would still have had to give up the ME to get you back. Elijah knew the consequences, and he was happy with his choice. He loved you Emira. No one could have kept him from doing what he did. Just try to remember it was a gift, freely given because of how much he loved you. He was a great man. I misjudged him.” Khalid was speaking softly, trying to comfort himself as well as Emira. He was deeply regretful about how he had judged Elijah and hoped they could both learn to find some good in what had happened.

“I’m sorry. I know it’s not your fault.” Emira fell limp in Khalid’s arms, weeping once again. Khalid himself was almost overcome with grief.

“It’s okay. Come on. Let me take you back to the house so we can clean Elijah’s body and bury him.” Emira didn’t say a word as Khalid lifted her off the ground and cradled her like a child. She saw a small group of men and women assembling behind Khalid.

“Khalid, we have to take you back now.” Arhan’s voice was soft and apologetic.

“I will come with you, but I must take her home and bury Elijah first.” Khalid spoke with anger as he turned and looked at them all threateningly. They each stepped to the side as Khalid pushed past, carrying Emira home.

“Arhan, bring Elijah’s body,” Khalid commanded. Arhan slid his muscular arms beneath Elijah and lifted him effortlessly. He carried him to the large stone picnic table near the back door and gently laid him on his back. His body had withered completely; he looked like a thousand-year-old corpse. Khalid sat Emira down in a small chair beside the table. She just stared at the ground, expressionless.

“It just doesn’t seem possible. I don’t understand. He was so strong.” Her voice was broken and her tears welled again.

“I know, I know. He was the strongest man I ever met.” Khalid hugged her tightly. “You sit here next to Arhan.” Khalid pulled a chair over and motioned Arhan to sit. “I’m going to get some towels and water so we can clean the body.”

The council of immortals stood outside waiting while Khalid went into the house, filled a bucket with warm water, and collected a few towels. Walking back outside, he laid the bucket and the towels beside the stone table. Emira’s expression was grim; she looked almost catatonic.

He wondered if she would ever recover. He thought about the judgment that was to come. He had never feared death until this moment, but he couldn’t imagine leaving her alone now, when she needed him most.

Suddenly, the ground beneath Khalid’s feet began to vibrate. He looked over at Emira and Arhan for confirmation, and saw they were also confused and concerned. A second later, the ground shook vigorously, as if a great earthquake had begun right beneath their feet. The earth roared like wicked laughter; it seemed the very ground beneath them might explode at any moment.

The sky above them turned dark and began to rumble savagely. Khalid could see Emira duck her head and cover her ears. Even the other council members seemed startled and nervous. Emira ran over to the table and braced Elijah’s body so it wouldn’t roll off the table.

As if out of nowhere, a huge man appeared before them. His skin was solid black. Emira stepped back towards Khalid.

Odam?
Khalid couldn’t believe his eyes. He hadn’t seen Odam in hundreds of years. What was he doing here now?

“What are you doing here, old friend? Where have you been for so long?” Khalid’s tone was harsh.

“I have been away for too long; you are correct. I am here now to give you my final instructions, and then I am going to try to convince my brothers to leave this place, and to leave you humans to yourselves. Our powers, of course, will still keep the balance, so the earth will remain as it is, as will your power and immortality.” Odam’s voice was loud but monotone.

“I don’t understand.” Khalid frowned.

“It is finally time for you to fulfill your true destiny, Khalid. With the ME in the hands of a blood-letter, there will be a war over all of creation, unless you keep her safe.” Odam looked over at Emira and then back to Khalid. “If I can convince my brothers to leave this place, then you only have to deal with the immortals left behind. The earth needs its soldiers to protect her. Now is the time to rise up and kill every immortal blood-letter you can find!” Odam proclaimed.

“Khalid has betrayed you, Odam, and the council!” Ubaram interrupted in protest.

“I am Odam. Khalid is your leader; this is my decree!” Odam’s voice thundered and Ubaram quickly bowed his head in submission.

“I am the breath of man. I carry him through his toils and struggles, his victories and defeats. I carry him from one brother’s life to another brother’s death. My power is neither life nor death, but will.” Everything around them shook as his voice thundered down. “I need you now, Khalid. I need you to be strong if this world is to survive. You will now be my will upon this earth,” Odam proclaimed.

“I don’t understand, strong enough for what purpose?” Khalid could barely hear his own voice.

“To end it; to end it all.” Odam bellowed. “The war of the immortals has just begun, and you can’t let the vampires get their hands on
The Key!
Otherwise, there will be no stopping them,” he said. “The blood-letter William could gain godlike power.”

Odam paused for a moment and looked around at the immortals arrayed before him. “That is what is at stake. If you let them get this girl, William will become absolute ruler of this world in our absence.” Odam’s words were full of certainty.

“We will protect her; you have my word.” Khalid spoke boldly.

“Now I bid you farewell; one day we will meet again. I will do my best to deal with the gods. I believe I can convince my brothers. You just make sure no others are created.” Odam warned.

“Do me one favor before you go!” Emira shouted. Odam turned to the girl and looked at her for a few moments.

“What is it you wish of me?” He asked.

“Revive my friend, please.” Emira turned and placed her hands on the concrete slab where Elijah lay. Odam walked over and looked down at Elijah’s decayed corpse.

“So this one finally met his end, did he?” Emira could hear hints of satisfaction in Odam’s voice.

“Please, we need him. I need him.” Emira begged.

“I am sorry, but I cannot revive this man; he is not worthy. I have watched him cause much pain and suffering over the years; he is volatile, arrogant, and stubborn,” Odam declared.

“Odam, please, he was instrumental in saving Emira from the vampires today. Maybe he was bad, but he has changed,” Khalid cried

“I am sorry, but a few good deeds do not atone for centuries of slaughter.” Odam stated with absolute conviction.

“But—” Khalid was cut off.

“That is my final answer. Keep her safe, or this world will come to an end,” Odam warned again.

“Elijah protects me. He has shown you he would die to protect me. That is what’s important, right?” Emira begged with renewed intensity.

“I cannot depend on this man to protect
The Key
; one
Key
already died under his protection. He is simply not worth the effort to revive him,” Odam stated. There was a blast of thunder, and he was gone.

Emira leaned over Elijah, and her tears fell on his shriveled corpse. Khalid stepped close and put his arms around her.

“I am so sorry,” he said. Emira turned and wrapped her arms around his waist. She was dead on the inside.

“What did he mean that Elijah already let one
Key
die?” Emira asked, teary-eyed.

“I truly am not sure,” Khalid replied.