Page 69 of Curse of Immortality
Knowing full well whom she was referring to, Damon still asked, “Who?”
Althea met his warm dusky brown eyes and ignored the way her palms became clammy. “The Cobra. You’re one of his soulless slaves,” she answered without shielding the disgust in her voice.
To Damon, the disdain in Althea’s tone was worse than her words. Raising a defensive eyebrow, he muttered, “You seem to have gotten a few details wrong. I’m no one’s slave and I’m not sure how to determine if I have a soul. Do you?”
Althea moved a little closer to him and whispered so that the group of tipsy men in the tavern who were now singing wouldn’t hear her. “I have free will. Can you say the same?”
He didn’t like her putting him on the spot like that and drew in a deep breath slowly. “My situation isn’t always ideal, but I try to get the best out of it. Immortality comes at a price.”
“Heindoctrinated my sister,” Althea accused. “I saw her today. There was nothing left of the warm and loving girl I used to know.”
Damon scoffed a little and shook his head. “Don’t blame Charles. I was there the day Maeve came to find him. She was cold-hearted and ambitious even before she met him.”
Althea pulled back a little. “He uses people.”
Her comment made Damon laugh. “So? That’s the way of the world. The strong thrive and the weak suffer.”
“And you’re alright with that?” Her indignation confirmed to him how naïve she was.
“It doesn’t matter what I think. It’s been that way for all of history. You Earthens are..." He paused and smiled a little. “Well, you’re not exactly thriving, so I guess that puts you in the group of the weak people.”
To most women, Damon’s deep brown eyes were warm and flirtatious, and they found him irresistible with his strong jawline, thick brown hair, and charming smile. But to Althea, he was provocative and represented everything that made the life of an Earthen difficult.
From the small tic at the edge of her eyes, Damon knew that Althea was angry. “We Earthens work hard every day to counterbalance the unfairness and hardship people like you create in the world. One day we’ll find a way to break the hold the Cobra has on those in power.”
Damon raised an eyebrow. “You mean kill him?”
“If that’s what it takes.”
“I thought Earthens didn’t have the nerve to kill.” A handsome grin spread at the edges of his lips before he continued, “But I guess Maeve could prove me wrong there.”
“Maeve isn’t an Earthen anymore. And killing is never something that should come naturally to an Earthen. But the world will be better off without him, so yes, if it came down to it, I believe I would be able to find the strength within me to kill him.”
He wanted to laugh and tell her she didn’t have what it took, but Damon’s mission was to seduce Althea – not to antagonize her further – so instead he said, “I hope it doesn’t come down to it then. If you killed him, I would die as well.”
Althea had been just about to speak but closed her mouth again and then she spoke on a breath, “Oh.”
“You didn’t know that, did you?”
The way her lips disappeared told him he was right. With a small smile, he said, “It’s touching that killing me doesn’t seem to be your goal. Does that mean you like me just a little?”
Ignoring his flirtatious tone, Althea became serious. “No. I don’t like you. The only reason, I’m still talking to you is to understand.”
“Ahh, you wonder why I would let a mere mortal punch me in the nose?” Damon asked in his attempt to soften her up. “I did that for you.”
“Me?” she asked as if his words were pure stupidity.
“I know you believe I’m an awful person for being a Fader, but you know so little about us and you judge based upon rumors that aren’t all true. I…” Damon gave her the smile that he knew women always fell for. “I never forgot you, Althea, and I’ve kept my distance for years because I knew you wouldn’t have it in your heart to be with someone like me. But think about it…”
“Think about what?” Althea asked with her brow wrinkled.
“How many people on this planet don’t age? You and I both know the sorrow of losing the ones we love. With me, you wouldn’t have to experience that heartbreak.”
Althea gaped at Damon for a long moment and then she burst into laughter.
“What’s so funny?” he asked, with his flirtatious smile fading from his face.
“You.” She shook her head. “First you don’t remember me, and then you do. Now you’re trying to make me believe that you timed getting thrown out of the door so that I would help you and fall in love with you. You are ridiculous!” Her laughter stabbed Damon in the center of his large ego.
