One Immortal - Tia Louise Page 0,15

and Elaine told her where we were staying.

Mariska followed us to the door of the cottage, and as she held the screen door open she touched my arm. “I won’t give up until I have an answer.”

“Thank you,” I said, and we left, headed back to the ferry.

For all their encouraging words, however, I couldn’t shake the dread that my life was truly over, that my maker’s words were right and my fate was sealed.

Now I’m lying here hours later, staring into the darkness. Only it isn’t terribly dark to my evolving eyes. One of the things I’ve noticed about my gradual transformation is my ability to go very still. I can think about the smallest thing until it consumes my focus. I’m not sure how long I can maintain it, because my friend hasn’t left my side since it happened. She refuses to let me spiral into the despair hovering at the edges of my brain.

“You have to get out of that bed!” She’s back, slamming drawers open and closed and jerking back the heavy curtains. “We’re not going to sit in this room and brood. We’re going out!”

“I don’t want to go out.” My limbs are as heavy as my voice, and the black thoughts have nearly consumed my mind. “I’m grieving.”

Pulling my arm, she pushes my feet off the bed, forcing me to sit up. Anger fires in my chest so fiercely, I feel my gums tingle, and I know my teeth are growing. Another new trait—my emotions turn on a dime.

“Leave me alone!” I shout, and she jumps back, stunned by the ferocity of my voice. I’m a little stunned myself. And ashamed.

My chin drops, and I calm the savagery smoldering inside me. “Please leave me alone, Elaine. You have no idea how difficult this is for me.”

She carefully moves to sit beside me on the bed, and I can tell she’s a little shaken by my sudden, violent response.

“Oh, Mel,” she speaks quietly, touching my arm. “You can’t give up. I won’t let you give up.”

“Didn’t you hear what they said?” My voice has switched from rage to intense sadness. “The old woman said there’s no cure, and if a voodoo queen says there’s no cure—”

“Then Mariska promised to find one.” Elaine’s voice is strong. “She’s going to do it, I can tell. I read her thoughts, and she’s passionate about helping you.”

The last bit is true, at least. I’d felt the intensity of the girl’s commitment. It confused me. “Why?” My voice is soft. “What makes her want to help me so much? She doesn’t even know me.”

Standing, Elaine goes to the closet and slides hangers across the brass bar. “She’s not psychic, but she has gifts. She could tell you had been forced against your will. Her sense of justice is incredible.”

“She’s very generous.”

Elaine turns to face me, and her shoulders drop. “If you could only see yourself. The reality of this hangs on you so cruelly. Still, you’re so clearly a good person.”

“I’m not so good,” I mutter. “Every day, I feel the evil growing inside me. Every day it’s harder to fight.”

“You can, and we will! We’re going to wait for Mariska, and in the meantime we’re going out. We’ll have drinks, laugh and dance, and then we’ll come back here and sleep.”

For a moment I think about her words. I weigh the options of lying in bed versus going out, forgetting these dismal circumstances for one more night. It can’t get any worse.

With a deep inhale, I find the strength in me to rise, to force a smile. “If you say so. I can’t sleep anyway.”

“That’s the spirit!” She pulls out a strapless, ruched-top dress made of thin rayon and hands it to me. “I’ll wear mine, and we’ll head over to Bourbon Street. Tomorrow will be a new day with new answers. I promise.”

I stand and take the dress, hoping with everything in me she’s right, yet at the same time, I hear his whispered laughter in my head.

Enjoy it while you can.

5

Tasting

Derek

Patrick swears at his wounds while I nurse my scotch. “Fucking god damned motherfucking blood suckers.” I watch him wince as he binds the gaping slice of a vampire bite on his forearm. “Their saliva burns like acid.”

“You’ll be healed in less than an hour,” I mutter, sipping the amber liquid. “You’re lucky you’re immune. Nothing more to worry about.”

“You’re lucky you’re immune.”

“It isn’t the first time.” I take another pull off my glass of scotch. It’s