Page 57 of Immortal Sun

“She?” I question.

He waves me off. “Anyway, like I said, the water is good and I’m very careful with my body, all of us that settled in the town feel a certain responsibility toward its people, it’s important to stay healthy in order to make sure they thrive.”

I tilt my head in thought. “That’s really selfless.”

“That’s me.” He crosses his arms. “So, have you heard from your brother at all?”

My smile feels tight as I reach for an apple slice and put it on my plate. “I, um…” Why do I suddenly feel like crying?

Lips trembling, I try to force my smile to widen while staring at the stupid apple slice. Then I look up.

Apep isn’t across from me anymore.

He’s next to me, his arm wrapped around me. “It’s okay, you don’t have to tell me, just don’t cry.”

I sniffle. “I, um, got something in my eye.”

“Are you calling my restaurant dusty?”

“No.” I cough out a laugh. “Sorry, I’m just—” I shake my head as he squeezes my shoulder one more time then goes back to his seat. “I’m still worried about him. Cyrus says not to worry, but it’s kind of hard not to when I still haven’t heard from him.” There, I said it, and now it feels even more real. “He's not picking up his phone and it’s just, something feels off. I can feel him, if that makes sense.” I touch my bracelet. “But it just seems odd he hasn’t at least reached out.”

Apep’s eyes focus in on the bracelet. “Half of the sun, how interesting, I’m assuming he has the other half?”

I nod. “We only put them together once. Some weird electrical surge happened, so we never tried it again. Mom got pissed, and well here I am, searching for a brother who suddenly turned off his phone.”

Apep leans forward, his eyes tense. “What if he doesn’t want to be found?”

I shake my head no. “I’m his twin. There’s no way. I would know, I would feel it, our last conversation he said he found something in one of the caves. The next day his phone was off, and it has been for a week. As you know, I just recently got here. I get that he goes off grid sometimes but something feels different this time.”

Apep presses a hand to his mouth. “Hmm. Would you like me to look into it for you?”

I almost fall out of my chair, and my jaw drops. “You would do that?”

He frowns. “I have power here where you have none. I’m not surprised Cyrus hasn’t been more aggressive in his help. Even if he promised he would, he won’t.” He clasps his hands together resting them on the table. “Just say the word, I’ll talk to Daggon and find your brother’s last known location, What’s his name?”

“Jake,” I blurt excitedly. “I actually have a picture of him too, hold on.” I look for my purse then remember I only brought my phone. “I forgot my purse, can I text it to you?”

He grins. “Absolutely.”

I grab my phone out of my pocket and hand it to him. “Just type in your number and save it, and I’ll text it later tonight.”

His hands fly across the screen, he starts smiling and turns the phone toward me, dangling it in the air. “Looks like your brother’s boss misses you.”

“Crap.” I take the phone and quickly answer. “Hi, Cyrus?—”

“Where the hell are you?”

I pull the phone away from my ear. He sounds worried.

“It’s been two hours. ” he says loudly it’s like he’s at the table with us.

Apep’s examining his fingernails.

“What?” I look around the restaurant. “No, we just got here.”

He’s quiet, all I hear is heavy breathing and then. “Who is we?”

“Um, Apep stopped by to see you and took me to lunch.”

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