My Soul Immortal (36 page)

Paradise.

EPILOGUE:
ARTAGAN

This life isn’t an easy one, but occasionally, even fate tosses me a bone in the form of a good day. Now no matter what my actions cost me, I can die a happy man.
Ding-dong, the bitch is dead
.

Sitting on a creaky stool at the White Pony, elbows resting on the curved bar, enjoying my drink, I find myself peering into the shadows, half-expecting
his
arrival any moment. I glance around the pub, past empty mahogany tables lining matching walls.

Boy, do I know how to clear a room.
Probably for the best.
No mortal needs to see an immortal arse-whooping if Death discovers what I’ve done.

The patrons all vacated the premises soon after my arrival. Only two people in Achnasheen seem unafraid of me—the amiable old barman, Liam, and the priest, Father Croft. They’re an odd pair.

Father Croft, I understand. He’s a man of faith who isn’t afraid of death in any form. However, I haven’t quite figured out the barman yet, but I will. With enough time, I always decipher people’s natures. Of course, I’m sitting here past closing time, smoking a cigarette, drinking expensive scotch that I have no intention of paying for. I look at the amber liquid, watching the ice cubes bobbing along the surface. The cell in my pocket buzzes again, cutting off my thoughts.
Bloody hell, can’t a man drink his scotch in peace?
After I dropped Jack off in York, Thanatos called four times. But I didn’t answer because I was planning to get shitfaced before facing the music. Peering at the number, I raise my eyebrows.
So soon?

“Jack?”

“Sorry for bothering you so late. Leah’s finally sleeping. I didn’t want to leave her until she was. She shared one of her dreams with me tonight, which led me to a question only you can answer.”

I shake my head.
Jack’s worrying again, surprise, surprise
. “Fire away.”

“Do soul immortals have memories when they’re spirits?”

“A soul with a memory? No, not possible. The soul hibernates at the time of death, sleeps until the next body calls for it from the womb.”

“This is Leah we’re talking about. When has impossible mattered?” Jack mutters, as if he’s talking to himself.

“What’s this all about?”

Jack explains the dream Leah had years ago. “But the vision wasn’t a dream. The event happened after Lydia died, that same night. When I called out to her and promised I’d see her again, I meant in paradise. Leah painted the scene, but I never put two and two together until tonight.”

The wheels in my head begin to turn.
Perhaps this is the break I’ve been looking for
. “I think it’s time for me to talk to this young lady of yours.”

“They’re discharging her tomorrow. We’ll be returning to the States soon after.”

“All right. I’ll come to Portland, but I’ll do some research first. Let’s see what I can figure out.”

“Thank you. By the way, you’re going to tell me everything, no matter what’s going on. Understand?”

“What? You don’t trust me?”

“See you soon, Artagan.” He hangs up.

I drop the phone into my blazer pocket and set my empty glass on the bar. “Hey, Liam, can I get my bill?” I ask, testing my theory.

Liam strokes the coarse white hairs of his beard with stubby fingers. “Why would you want one of those? I’ve never given you one before.”

I switch to the straightforward approach. “Why haven’t you? You’re not scared of me, are you?”

He smiles, forcing the pronounced lines around his eyes to crinkle, then laughs. “People ’round here are fools. Why would I be scared of you? You can’t touch me.”

“True.”

“Aye, besides, I’ve always felt I owed you somethin’. If the stories are true, you had a hand in the town’s blessings. So I figure a scotch now and again is the least I can do.” He tops off my glass with the last of the bottle.

“Good to hear, Liam.” I pause. “To absolved sins.”
And forgiveness
. I raise my glass to him then swallow the spirits in three gulps.

Outside the pub, under the blanket of the night sky, I call Thanatos. The phone rings once then sends me to voice mail. I snap the phone shut without leaving a message. He’s either still at the ruins or out carousing in one of the neighboring towns. Women can never resist his Grecian looks and dark curly hair.
Lucky bastard.

I step into the shadowed alley behind the pub and step out into the darkened arch at the ruins. After searching the catacombs, I find Thanatos deep in its belly, where dampness and cold reign, hidden away in his favorite smoking room. The only illumination in the room comes from the bright, crackling flames in the massive stone fireplace. Long, dark corners flank us. Thanatos is relaxing in an oversized red leather chair, puffing on a cigar. A half-empty bottle of red wine sits on a small table by his side.

“You should quit. I’ve heard those things will kill you,” I say, slumping into the accompanying chair. I lean close to the roaring fire to rub my hands in its warmth and glance at Thanatos, gauging his mood.

“You’re a funny guy.” He pauses and takes a long draw on his cigar then blows billows of smoke in my direction. The wisps float, spiraling and swirling into my face. “But you need new material. After six hundred years, a joke tends to lose its potency.”

I fake a cough and wave my hand to disperse the smoke.

“This was left for you.” Thanatos sips his wine and slips a piece of folded paper across the table then gives me a knowing smile.

A twinge of nausea jabs my stomach. I grab the paper. Standing, I walk to the mantelpiece before opening the letter. One sentence inscribed in
his
embellished hand.

I want this to be the end of it.

I snort. “Death should tell that to Domitilla.” I crumple the paper and toss the note into the fire, which devours the vellum, turning it to ash.

Thanatos sighs in frustration. “I’m sure Domitilla’s irate, but then again, who could blame her?”

I glower at him. “I can. I might have been thrust into Vita’s blood feud against my will, but I’m sure as hell going to finish it if I need to.”

A chuckle erupts from deep within Thanatos’s gut. “Always the rebellious one. No wonder you irritate dear old Dad so.”

I square my shoulders and lift my chin, trying to hide the smirk. “Every family needs a black sheep.”

“And you love your role.” He shakes his head. His smoky topaz eyes narrow. “You didn’t return all the way out here just to disturb my peaceful evening and be a pain in my ass.”

“Being a pain in
your
ass was well worth my travels. Besides, you called me.”

“That was hours ago. I figured you’d heard the news by now and were off doing hell knows what.” He smiles ruefully. “Something reckless, no doubt.”

“News?” I avert my gaze, removing the last cigarette from its box and lighting the slender roll in the blazing fire. I take a long drag and lean against the wall, watching.
What the hell is going on?
Maybe a decree for my punishment has come down from on high and is far worse than I’d anticipated.
Maybe death by hemlock.
I didn’t kill her, though. I simply stepped through the same loophole Vita did all those years ago.
Hey, what the hell do I care?
Any punishment was worth the price of seeing Vita squirm and knowing she’d never squirm again. I attempt to hold a straight face, but I can’t feign solemnness for long before cracking a smile.

“I went out on a limb for you, allowing you to take Leah, and this is how I’m repaid,” Thanatos finally says.

“My apologies if my actions caused you trouble. We both know if Vita hadn’t fallen prey to her own deeds, she eventually would have killed me. And you, for one, would have missed me.”

“Maybe.” A small grin pushes at his lips then vanishes. “But actions have consequences, justified or not.”

“So what’s the punishment going to be? Something beastly, to be sure.” I shudder dramatically.

“No.” He sighs. “You must look at this from Death’s point of view. I don’t want you heading off into the night half-cocked, not that I seem to have any control of you and your insolence.”

My mouth goes dry. “What’s this about?”

“For what it’s worth, swear you won’t do anything rash.”

“Sure, fine, whatever.”

He takes another long puff on his cigar and lets ribbons of smoke pass through his lips. “Despite her dying request, Serevo will not be Vita’s successor. Father says he’s handpicking the successor himself. There are several quality choices—Valentino, Loris, Dina.” He avoids my stare.

And Leah.
The hairs on the back of my neck stand.

“Father will be treating us all as if we’re ill-behaved children for a while,” he grumbles. “You and Vita should have put the feud to rest a long time ago before this got so out of hand. What Vita did happened ages ago and should have been forgotten by now.”

I growl. An icy cold throb chases away any lingering good humor.

Thanatos scowls. “You prove my point. Your fondness for family interferes with your duties, and one of these days, it’s going to get you into trouble you can’t get out of. This boy isn’t the child you lost. Guilt and affection are powerful emotions. They’ll make you choose paths you wouldn’t otherwise. Be careful, Artagan.”

I grimace and drop my cigarette to the stone floor then stomp out the smoldering ember with the heel of my shoe. “Vita deserved what she got.”

In a gush of air, the oxygen is dragged from my lungs. And I know exactly whom this precursor announces—Death. And he’s pissed. One of my hands grips the mantel to steady myself while the other clings to my throat. Fighting for breath, I watch Death step out of the shadows from the far corner.

“I hate when my children squabble amongst themselves.” Death speaks without inflection. His maroon eyes dart between us. The air rushes back into my lungs. Struggling to hide my heaving chest, I haul in deep breaths.

Thanatos stands and bows his head.

I don’t follow suit, playing my role to a
T. Instead, I lean against the stone wall. Slipping my hands into my pockets, I swirl my ring—my escape plan—around my pinky and wish I had just one more cigarette.

Death rubs his long fingers along his stubbled chin and studies me. “Artagan, I’m glad you’re here.”

I grimace and brace for my punishment.

“You’ll be managing the majority of the training of our newest council member. But I want all my children to have a hand in the instruction.” His eyes snap to Thanatos. “You make sure my request is followed.”

“Of course,” Thanatos says with a nod.

I keep my poker face in place, hoping for the best but preparing for the worst. “I’ll get started. So who’s the lucky victor? May I recommend Dina. She’s easy on the eyes,” I say, pushing myself upright.

Death cocks his head to the side, looking at me under hooded brows. “No,” he says flatly. A deep emptiness overtakes my stomach, and I grow cold as the blood drains from my face. Death grins at me with his warm, welcoming smile, and all I can do is smile back when he speaks the name. “I’ve chosen Leah Winters.”

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

They say it takes a village to raise a child. The same can be said about a book. Without the help of my village, My Soul Immortal would never have seen the light of day:

To my family, Craig, Liz, and Nicole, for putting up with my crazy ramblings and scribblings. Thank you for your love and support.

To the Red Adept Publishing team, especially my editors, Kris and Stefanie, whose tireless efforts made my story a stronger one, and because of it, made me a better writer.

To Sarah, who believed in this book even before I did. Where would I be without your red pen?

To Audrey, for being my stress reliever.

To my beta readers—Andre, Tracy, Beth, Peter, Terry, Megan, Heidi, Judester, Mysti, Onkwehonwe, Renea, and Allison—for all your support and advise.

To Amy Eye, for helping me get my manuscript into shape, and to the countless others who have stood by me.