Page 121 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 1

“It’s alright, Anna, I know,” Aaron said in a soothing voice and she relaxed.

How could she be so lucky to have Aaron so accepting of who she was?

Travis still stared at her as if she were some sort of mythical creature.

Aaron laughed. “Travis, what the hell is wrong?”

“Elder-Mistress?” Travis repeated.

Anna bit her lip. “Is that a bad thing?” Her stomach churned. Why was he staring at her like that?

Travis shook his head slowly. “Not at all. I’ve just never met a Half-Immortal before. I mean, I’ve heard of them, but never had the privilege of meeting one.”

Chapter 49

“A what?” both Anna and Aaron exclaimed at the same time.

Travis’s eyes widened, and his mouth dropped open. “A Half-Immortal.” He pursed his lips and shook his head. “Shit. Anna, you know who your dad is, right?”

Anna shrugged. “Everyone knows who my dad is... Trevor Perkins.”

“That’s your dad? Well, that explains . . . Wait, I thought he died . . .”

Anna closed her eyes as her heart twisted. “Yeah, when I was twelve.”

Travis chewed his lip and tilted his head. “That doesn’t make any sense...”

“Dude, what are you talking about?” Aaron asked. “And what the fu—‍” He glanced at Anna. “What’s a Half-Immortal?”

Travis shook his head. “You’re sure Devin called you an Elder-Mistress?”

Anna raised her brows. “I think so. I might have heard him wrong. It was a stressful night.” She glanced at Aaron. “Alex was there. He’d know.” Anna looked back at Travis. “Is it important? I can call him and ask... I think.”

Travis chewed his lip again. “Well, no. I guess... it’s not that important, but...” He sighed. “Anna, if Devin called you an Elder-Mistress, that means you’re a Half-Immortal. Your dad is an Immortal... and he can’t possibly have died. But if he did die, then you’re not. If you’re not a Half-Immortal then you can’t be an Elder-Mistress.”

The world spun, and her stomach turned over. “I don’t know what any of that means...” Only Aaron’s arms around her kept from slipping under the water.

“I think we better get you out of the water.”

Aaron lifted Anna to sit on the side of the pool and then turned to Travis. “You better explain more.” He’d never heard the term either, but if it was as significant as it sounded, Alex had a lot of explaining to do.

Travis nodded and the three of them quickly dried off and headed into the house and upstairs to Aaron’s large bedroom. He led Anna over to sit in the old brown leather recliner near the window. She pulled her towel tighter around her shoulders, then stared out the window, her face pale.

He picked up his phone off his desk and shot off a text to Alex.

Is Anna an Elder-Mistress?

Alex’s answer would be enough to know if he needed to be concerned. Anna trembled in the chair. “Are you cold?” He put his hand on her shoulder.

She nodded, and he yanked the blanket from his bed and wrapped it around her.

She stared out the window in silence. Aaron’s heart ached for her, and he and Travis exchanged concerned looks. What could she be thinking? Either Devin was a liar or her dad was alive. How did you process that? Devin being a liar seemed a more likely scenario and Aaron prayed it was the right one.

Anna’s voice was barely above a whisper when she finally spoke. “What’s an Immortal, Travis?” She didn’t turn from the window.

“My dad said they’re kinda like angels. Different ones have different roles. Some are guardians of certain humans.” He paused. “The Elders and Immortals work together to ‘keep the world in balance,’ as he says.” Travis glanced at Aaron. “I don’t know how much you know.”

“I’ve never heard the term. Don’t know much about The Brotherhood aside from the, uh, girls.” Aaron shrugged.

---