Arielle Immortal Quickening (11 page)

“When are you going to stop amazing me?” he murmured.

“Never, that’s my mission in life.” She laughed heartily, and he squeezed her tighter, making her gasp for air.

“What are you doing to me?” He was trying to keep his voice steady.

“Everything I possibly can.” She laughed out loud again in exhalation. She was afire at the thought that this amazing-looking man was hers. She pressed herself against his body, asking him to hold her even tighter. She wanted to feel and enjoy every inch of him.

“I missed you, baby,” he murmured.

“I know, and I’m sorry, but I had a lot of things on my mind,” she said. “I never stopped wanting you. I was just exhausted.”

“Troy is coming over at nine,” he reminded her. “You haven’t forgotten that we have to go and talk to Eva, have you?”

“No, I do remember, but it’s only seven-thirty, and for the next half hour, you are completely mine.” She was giggling.

“Mmmmm…I like the sound of that,” he said laughing with delight.

“I surrender,” he murmured. He lay flat on his back and moved his arms behind his head, stretching leisurely. “Go ahead. I’m all yours.” A wide smile was spread across his face as her arms reached around his broad shoulders, pulling him into a kiss so fervent, so intense, he gasped for air. The next half hour was mind-blowing.

In the shower, Arielle remembered to ask Sebastian about his plans to disguise Ian and Eva’s sudden healing. How were they going to explain something like that to people around them? That is when she found out about his decision to send Ian and Eva on a holiday.

“Have you told Ian?”

“Yes,” he said. “Ian was actually very happy about spending time in a secluded place.”

“Where are they going?”

“I thought they could use the house in Tuscany. Don’t you think they would be happy there for a month or so? Geneva said she would be more than happy to look after them.” Sebastian had a sly smile on his face.

“Oh! Sebastian, that is wonderful,” she said. She wrapped her arms around him and held him warmly. She was startled when he picked her up and locked their lips in a luscious kiss. She felt like a little girl every time he did that.

“When will they have to leave?” she asked.

“They should leave today, sometime in the afternoon. I already have arranged for their tickets with the airlines. I have also arranged for someone to pick them up at the airport and drive them to the house,” Sebastian stated. He made everything sound so easy. She sighed in amazement.

“I know they’ll be happy,” she murmured. “It will make their transition much easier.”

“We have just one more hurdle with Eva, and then we can all concentrate on Gabrielle’s recovery.” He had a thoughtful look in his eyes. His lips found hers again, and their kiss brought her back to reality and ready to face another day.

Troy arrived exactly at nine, and they drove to Ian and Eva’s. The closer they got the more anxious she felt. The guys were sure that she would be the one to help Eva get through this troubling and stressful moment. She knew Ian would be Eva’s rock because he was the man she loved, but Eva would need Arielle there. They were not just best friends; they were more like sisters. Eva, Gabby, and Arielle had such a strong bond between them that would never break. They knew each other better than anyone else, and that included their parents.

Chapter 9

T
hey arrived at Ian and Eva’s house around about thirty minutes later, and Ian opened the door. Arielle smiled and gave him a warm hug. Looking in his worried eyes, she leaned in and whispered in his ear. “Nothing has changed, Ian, you’re still the same gorgeous man, and my best friend.”

He grinned and nodded, but she could see stress and bewilderment spread across his face. Arielle stared into his eyes, and it took but a moment to work out the reason he was so agitated. He knew what was about to happen.

“Hey, you guys!” Eva called out cheerfully as she approached the front door on crutches. “I’m so happy to see you! What brings you this way?” she asked. “I know you are not here to take me dancing,” she snickered, pointing to the large cast on her leg. They all laughed, and Arielle reached over and embraced Eva warmly.

“No, we’re not going dancing today,” Arielle said, forcing a smile. She could feel her heart drumming, and her stomach churning. “Maybe tomorrow,” she furthered, trying to make light of the situation.

When they all had moved inside, Arielle hugged Eva, “We’ve missed you, Eva,” she said. “We thought it would be nice to spend a little time together. How are you feeling?”

“I actually feel great; it’s just a little difficult to move around with this huge cast on my leg.” She looked fondly in Troy’s direction.

“Troy, you are my hero,” she said. He looked a bit shocked, not being sure what she was referring to. “I’m so grateful about this outcome. Tolerating this leg cast for a short period of time is insignificant. I can’t bear to think the alternative result.” Troy breathed a sigh of relief, smiled, and hugged her warmly.

“How are you, dazzling boy?” Eva said, turning in Sebastian’s direction, reaching out to get a hug. Sebastian couldn’t hold back a hardy laugh. A wide smile spread across his face, and leaning down, he gave her a loving squeeze. He knew how much she loved his dazzling gaze, but the smile left him as soon as realization settled in. He wasn’t going to be able to dazzle her come tomorrow. His expression didn’t change, but his gaze grew uneasy.

Eva seemed to notice the change in his behavior.

“Why the long face, Sebastian?” she asked. “You are always the happy one. What’s bothering you?” She was very perceptive to people’s feelings, human or immortal. Arielle was staring at Eva’s back while she was carrying the conversation with Sebastian, and suddenly realization crushed hard into her brain, like a whirlwind twister. An overwhelming sensation of loneliness hit her like a ton of bricks. What if she could never connect with her best friend the same way they did before the accident? Abruptly, she became aware that she now knew the reason she couldn’t read Eva and Ian’s minds in the hospital. They were going through an immortal transformation.

Her lips tightened and deep emotions slipped stealthily into the depths of her soul. She would never have access to their thoughts again. For a moment, her breath caught in her throat. She had a strong desire to cry, but she reined in her emotions, and the need to cry dwindled away. She took a seat next to Eva and put her arm around her shoulders.

“Have you been able to remember anything more about the accident?” she asked, wanting to probe a little deeper.

“Arielle, I have tried hard to remember, but I don’t seem to be able to recollect a single thing from the crash. Everything is a complete blank,” she said, looking puzzled. “Did I tell you that Ian and I went to see the car after we left the hospital?” she asked her.

“No, but Ian said that he saw the car.”

“We both did, and we realized that it was only a miracle that kept us alive,” Eva said. Looking at Troy, a wide smile spread across her face.

“I know!” Arielle replied. “That’s the first thing my mother said when I talked to her the morning after the accident. We were all sure that you had a guardian angel that kept you safe,” Arielle murmured and gave Troy a meaningful look. Her voice was joyful, and Eva embraced her blissfully.

The guys pretended to be engaged in a conversation about sports. They were letting Arielle lay out the groundwork by having a casual visit with Eva.

“Arielle,” Eva’s voice drew her out of her thoughts. “Something strange has been happening to me ever since the night of the accident.” Arielle stiffened at her words. The guys stopped talking, and their eyes were fastened on Eva’s face. The anxiety spread across their faces didn’t escape Eva.

“What’s wrong?” she asked. “Why are you all looking at me this way?” Her gaze grew sharper as she glanced between them.

“Oh, nothing really, Eva. We were a little curious about your statement,” Ian replied.

“What statement is that?”

“You said something strange is happening to you,” he mumbled. “I wanted to know if there is something that you haven’t told me.”

“What’s happening to you?” Arielle asked, waving Ian off.

Eva turned her gaze to Arielle again and added, “Ever since I woke up at the hospital, I seem to be able to have incredible visions about the future. I can see clearly that Gabby will recover with no complications at all. I can see all of us going on with our lives, as if this incident never took place. I have never experienced visions this powerful and so vivid.”

“Eva, you were always extremely gifted. I’m not surprised at all,” Arielle said. Silence fell for a short moment. Eva’s face looked puzzled. She drew a deep breath, and her gaze darted between her friends, stopping at Arielle’s face once again.

“There is a vision that I find a bit peculiar. I see Ian and me in a faraway place,” she said, enigmatically. Arielle felt a tight knot in the pit of her stomach and forced a smile.

“Really?” she exclaimed.

“Arielle, I’m completely mystified. The feeling is so real, and the vision so vivid,” she mumbled, pressing her lips together anxiously. After a short pause, she shook her head and continued. “But how can it be?” She turned and swept her gaze over Ian’s handsome face for a brief moment, and then turned back to Arielle. Arielle noticed the fast rise and fall of Eva’s chest as she tried to decipher her own thoughts. She had paused again and was running her tongue over her dry lips, incredulously. “Ian and I wouldn’t think of taking a trip right now,” she said suddenly and groaned. “I’m so frustrated I could scream,” Eva continued. A faraway look flickered in her eyes.

They were all very quiet trying to find the right words to begin the unraveling picture when Eva presented the perfect moment with her next question.

“I’m getting a weird feeling about this visit. Is there something wrong? Arielle, what are you pondering in that head of yours?” she said and waved her hand aimlessly. “I can see the concern in your eyes. I can see that each one of you has a peculiar look on your faces, and that includes you,” she said, pointing at Ian. “Is Gabby all right?” Once again, Eva looked anxiously around the room.

“Yes…Yes…Gabby is just fine. But you are right. We are here to talk about something else, something quite serious,” Arielle replied.

“Oh? Let me hear it!” Eva’s eyes narrowed.

Arielle paused for a long moment. She tried to collect her thoughts, realizing that communicating difficult news was a very unpleasant and stressful thing, even under the best of circumstances. She knew that receiving this type of news was going to be disturbing. The change from human to immortal would substantially alter Eva’s views about her future. It would be devastating, and she was worried about her friend’s initial reaction. She wanted to make sure that she delivered the news in a tender way. She didn’t want Eva to go through major distress or profound sorrow about this change.

“Arielle, what is it?” Eva’s voice shook her out of her reverie. “You are worrying me! What is it?”

Arielle took a seat next to her once again, keeping her eyes on her stress-filled face. She reached over and took her hand, while Ian took the seat on the other side, embracing her attentively. Sebastian and Troy walked over and sat across from her. Eva was scrutinizing their movements cautiously.

“I don’t think I’m going to like this,” she said through clenched teeth. “But I’m ready to hear you,” she said. She sounded like the practical Eva they all knew. She always took news better than the rest of them. Arielle smiled and leaning closer, she gave her a kiss on the cheek.

“Eva,” she said astutely. “If I were dying and Sebastian could save my life by making me an immortal, would you approve?” Her eyes were watching Eva inquisitively.

“I don’t understand what you are trying to say,” she replied, clueless.

“Well, would you think that Sebastian was doing the right thing?” She pressed on. Eva looked a little surprised about Arielle blathering about something so uncanny. However, she did appear to be pondering her question. She finally decided to give her an answer without any reservations.

“Arielle, your question is bloody absurd,” she said. “Of course, I’d prefer that you remain alive. Human, immortal it doesn’t make any difference to me,” she said firmly. A smiled tagged her lips. “I seem to be getting pretty familiar with immortality,” she whispered. She turned away from Arielle, directing her next statement to the guys.

“Troy, Sebastian, I love you both,” she said. She was holding a great big smile on her face. “You look human to me except for the fact that you are both astoundingly handsome.” She chuckled softly. “But all things aside, Arielle, what’s all this about?” Her voice was a little more intense this time.

Arielle drew in a breath and exhaled deeply. “Eva, the night of your accident, you and Ian did not survive the crash…” She accentuated the last words. Eva winced for a quick second. Arielle kept her eyes locked on Eva, and she noticed that she didn’t blink for the next several minutes. She could actually hear her breathing elevating, picking up rhythm. She inhaled and bit down on her bottom lip. Arielle wanted to decipher Eva’s trouble thoughts, but she didn’t have that ability with Eva any longer. Her gaze was still locked on Eva, and she thought that she saw an inexplicable smile tighten her face. Another moment of silence, and finally Eva broke the gaze lock first. She closed her eyes, pulled her hands away from Arielle, and leaned her head back against the chair. She stood like that for a few seconds, and they all remained still, waiting for her next move. She finally opened her eyes and gave a dry gasp. Her voice cracked from sheer agony.