Page 63 of Curse of Immortality
Althea shook her head and spoke with arched eyebrows. “If you think I’m attracted to this lifestyle then you’ve forgotten who I am. This is a lovely home full of esthetic beauty, but I feel no warmth here. Everything seems cold and materialistic and frankly, you don’t seem happy to me, Maeve. This isn’t a lifestyle that Rose would have wanted for herself or us. I feel certain Rose would have rejected your offer because she’d want to live in Orenda.”
Though Maeve’s face remained stern, Althea noticed how her chest rose and fell in her dark red layered dress. A part of Maeve wanted to throw Althea out the open window, but Charles was on her back about not being controlled by her emotions and impulses. Ignoring Althea’s hurtful words, for now, she instead asked the obvious. “Orenda?”
Althea blinked her pretty eyes and remembered why she was there in the first place. “You were right, Maeve, it’s unfair how Earthens are treated in this world, but I don’t think the answer is to fight hatred with hatred. Zosia has answered our prayers and provided us with a sanctuary where Earthens can live in safety away from humans. Didn’t she call for you to join the rest of us?”
Maeve narrowed her eyes. “I don’t talk to Zosia.”
“No, that’s not what I meant. For all the other Earthens, a doorway appeared with a faint whisper to walk through. Only Earthens can enter, and it’s unlike anything in this world. We’ve created the most magical village called Orenda. I know you would love it there, Maeve. And maybe if you got away from all of… this, you would feel better. There’s also the quest you talked about before we took the crystals of immortality. Remember? Zosia said I couldn’t go alone, but I could help you like you wanted me to,” Althea said but struggled to read her sister’s cold eyes.
“You put your trust in the wrong place, dear sister, Zosia will spit you out and abandon you once she’s gotten what she wants.”
“I’m sorry you feel like that, but she’s been very supportive and created Orenda to help Earthens. There are hundreds of us, learning from each other and bonding across natures and language barriers. It would be wonderful if you could be part of all that.”
For a moment, Maeve felt stunned and asked, “There are hundreds of Earthens in one place?”
“Yes.” Just talking about Orenda made Althea’s face soften. “I live in a small yellow cottage with a vegetable garden. The nature is lusher and richer than anything you’ve ever seen, and animals walk freely with none of us fearing humans. You should come. Having a place that is our own is the steppingstone we always dreamed of and needed. Now we can safely grow in numbers.” Looking around the room, Althea added, “There’s nothing wrong with being wealthy and enjoying a luxurious lifestyle, but it all depends on how you obtain that material wealth. I can tell that you’re not happy, Maeve. None of this brings you true joy.”
Maeve didn’t confirm or deny Althea’s claim. She just watched her with a look of disdain as her sister continued,
“I came to tell you that Orenda is just as much your home as mine. If you want it to be.”
Maeve’s gaze turned hard and drifted to the side. “You may find my way of life cold and materialistic, but I find yours appalling and pathetic. I don’t need you to save me from humans, because unlike you and those other Earthens, I’m not scared of them. It’s humans who are scared of me, and with good reason.”
Althea watched her sister and desperately tried to connect to her love for Maeve. All she found in her heart was love for the memories of a girl she’d once known because the woman sitting in front of her was a cold-hearted stranger.
“You can tell Zosia that I don’t take orders from her or anyone else.” Maeve raised her chin.
“When did you become so selfish?” Althea asked with her eyebrows lowered in despair.
“I take care of myself, the way no one else ever has. The one you should be calling selfish is Zosia. She knew the quest was an impossible task, yet she was so willing to destroy my life without the slightest bit of hesitation.”
Althea stood up inhaling sharply and exhaled in a huff. “I don’t believe Zosia would ever do something to harm others without reasonable means because unlike you, she does not carry a sense of self-importance the size of this house. Her only mistake was choosing you to save the world, but luckily, she’s in the process of finding someone else. Maybe that person will be altruistic enough to think of others than themselves, which clearly isn’t possible for you.”
Maeve curled up her lip and looked at her sister with heated eyes. For a moment they stared at each other with hostility before Maeve hissed, “I owe you nothing.”
Althea shook her head with disappointment. “It’s clear to me that coming here was a mistake. You have all these material possessions and yet your soul is poor. There is nothing joyful about you or your life. I see all these dead things around you, but nothing of true value. When was the last time you had a warm hug or a genuine smile? When was the last time you felt at peace and laughed?”
Maeve stood abruptly and with the movement of her hand, she pushed air towards Althea, making her fall backward and knock over the sofa. Unlike the last time Maeve had thrown her, Althea didn’t end up unconscious. With shocked eyes, she looked back over her shoulder toward Maeve and was prepared to protect herself from the monster her sister had become. But the moment Althea raised her head, Maeve reacted on instinct and strangled Althea without touching her.
Her eyes widening in horror, Althea’s right hand rose to her throat, and her other slapped the floor begging for Maeve to release her hold. Althea had hoped for a reunion with her sister and instead, she was attacked once again. Not being able to breathe wouldn’t kill Althea but it felt violating all the same. For a long moment, the twin sisters stared at each other with thoughts running through their minds. Althea remembered how Maeve had once looked at the world with her large and curious eyes. She remembered being the careful twin as a child while Maeve ran as fast as her legs could carry her, and quickly got back up whenever she stumbled over her own feet. Even covered in dirt with bruises she would rise up and keep running in giggles. There was nothing curious or childlike now about the cold woman in front of Althea.
Maeve’s eyes were guarded with layers of pain, and her pupils were dark shields that protected anyone from seeing the fragile soul that hid under all its armor.
Releasing Althea, Maeve dismissed her with an icy tone: “I didn’t ask for your opinion on how I live my life. You can leave now!”
Althea stepped back and rubbed her throat, which was as red as if Maeve had squeezed her neck with both hands. She was disturbed and saddened by Maeve’s hostility, but before she could say her goodbyes a small chirping bird landed in the open window and warned of a dangerous predator approaching.
Turning her head to look at the bird, Althea picked up on the description of who was coming and the bird’s fear of the man. Suddenly everything made sense to her, and she understood how her sister had become the heartless cold woman that hated everyone and everything.
Turning to Maeve, Althea exclaimed, “So that’s how you managed all this?”
Maeve’s face didn’t flinch as she watched her sister without giving anything away, but Althea still understood what wasn’t said between them. Based on the fact that the bird only seemed to be warning Althea and that after a long moment of silence, Maeve still hadn’t said anything to defend herself, Althea pointed out the obvious: “You can’t hear the bird?”
Maeve’s silence confirmed Althea’s suspicion.
“You can’t communicate with animals anymore. Did Zosia shun you? That would explain why no doorway opened for you with an invitation to join all the other Earthens in Orenda.”
“I thought I told you to leave. You’ve overstayed your welcome,sister.” Maeve pronounced the last word like a curse.
