Page 58 of Curse of Immortality
Bowing his neck, he left feeling annoyed with her for making him look like an errand boy. He might owe his loyalty and service to Charles, but not Maeve. It was enough that Charles had him keep track of Althea and regularly report her whereabouts to him. Although, now that Althea had begun talking to him, the assignment had become a bit more entertaining. For a brief moment, he wondered what she would say if she knew that she wasn’t just talking to random animals but a Fader who had followed her for almost five decades. Damon knew things about Althea that were intimate and deeply private. If he had been a better man, he would have cared about someone as kind and sweet as her. Damon had every worldly possession designed to bring a person comfort. And yet, he was well aware that the greatest luxury in life would be forever out of his reach. In his centuries of living, he had learned that caring about others was an indulgence he couldn’t afford.
Chapter 23
Village of Hope and New Beginnings
Two things followed an Earthen wherever they went: the knowledge that being themselves around humans could lead to a witch trial where they would be murdered in front of their loved ones, and second, the fear that today was the day it would happen.
They had no wings to fly in the sky or fins to swim in the deep oceans. For Earthens there was no place where they could be safe from the threat of humans. And so, each day they carried the fear that it would be their last day.
Endless times, Althea and other Earthens had prayed to Zosia for help. But no answers came.
On a dreadful winter day when Althea’s horse stood stuck in high snow and she once again was left with no food for either of them, she wanted to lie down in the snow and surrender to death. But she’d died from starvation before only for her body to heal itself and for her to wake up with the same hungry growls in her stomach. Exhausted from dragging herself through the snow she desperately shouted at the harsh wind for help.
Her knees hit the soft powder of snow as she collapsed in sobs. But when the harsh wind died down around her, she looked up with her face crimson from crying. Her tears stopped flowing and her eyes widened when she saw how the snowflakes falling from the ground rose to form the feminine frame of Zosia.
“Don’t despair, Althea. All will be well,” she whispered, and with only the snow falling, it felt quiet and peaceful as she spoke.
“Please, please, Zosia, I’m begging you to take back this immortality and let me close my eyes for the last time. What’s the point of me suffering like this? I’ve wandered seven years alone and met no Earthens. Am I truly the last one left?”
“You are not. The number is dwindling fast, but there are still a few hundred spread around the world. I need you here, Althea, I sense you will be important to me.”
“But I’m so lonely. Can’t you at least help me find some of the other Earthens and help us be safe from persecution? I know it’s in your power.”
The snowflakes danced in the air, and feeling desperate for contact, Althea reached out to touch Zosia. “I can’t go on like this.”
“I could bring you home, but only if you promise to return.”
“Home to you?”
Zosia’s voice had the same ethereal quality as always when she spoke, “Home to the realm you came from and where you will return one day. I have considered making it a sanctuary for all Earthens but it was my hope it wouldn’t be necessary. Earthens are meant to balance out the energies on Earth and without you, bad things could spiral out of control.”
“Please, Zosia, take me home. I’m desperate.”
There was no reply and then the snowflakes of Zosia’s body separated and fell back down.
The disappointment in Althea was colossal. Closing her eyes, she let her head sink. But then a sound alerted her that something was going on. Right in front of her horse, ice crystals rose and formed a portal.
Her horse neighed as the most spectacular sight showed through the portal, of green grass and colored flowers. While Althea gaped, her horse moved forward pulling the wagon into another dimension where it was summer.
Still shocked, Althea stood unable to move when a chuckle sounded and Zosia asked, “Are you coming?”
As she stepped through the portal, Althea’s head went from side to side taking everything in. “What is this place?” she asked in awe.
“Here you’ll find different types of nature from endless forests, beautiful mountains, and tranquil beaches to vast deserts. It is where all animals and Earthens come from and return to in the form of nature after living on Earth.”
Tears ran down Althea’s cheeks as she watched herds of reindeer and elk roaming freely around her in the field of wildflowers where she stood. One of the elk came to greet her and her horse and Althea stroked its fur. Releasing Adrian from the wagon, she allowed him to walk freely and he followed her as she went to drink from the crystal clear lake close by. As Althea sank to her knees and drank from the lake, water droplets rose in front of her as Zosia appeared again.
“You will be safe here, Althea. It is protected land, untouched by humans, with creeks that run through the enormously lush forests. My only condition is that you visit earth daily to continue your work. For the sake of nature and humans, you must bring your kindness to balance out the evil in the world.
Taking off her jacket, Althea soaked in the warm climate and the delicious feeling of sunshine caressing her skin.
“Here, there are no seasons. The trees always bear fruit, and the flowers thrive throughout the whole year,” Zosia explained.
Althea felt too overwhelmed to speak and couldn’t get enough of the colors more vibrant than anything she had ever seen on earth. “It’s so peaceful here,” she breathed. Working as a healer, she had heard humans talk about the heaven they believed in often, but this was magnificent beyond anything their words could ever describe. Although it looked quite similar to Earth, it felt like another planet entirely. Every plant and animal was flourishing and radiated the peace that they bathed in. The birds sang melodies filled with messages of bliss and peace, leaving her ears satisfied yet hungry for more of the sweet music. Their singing was angelic and more beautiful than anything Althea had ever heard before.
She watched in fascination as the herd of reindeer crossed the meadow filled with large purple, pink, and white flowers. The largest reindeer looked up in acknowledgment of Althea and bowed their heads majestically before continuing with no trace of fear.
It surprised her that her moment of distraction had been enough for Zosia to disappear. Getting up she spun and called for her.
