Page 68 of Curse of Immortality
She was already overwhelmed and saddened by her failed encounter with her sister, who had once again attacked her physically. And now as she walked amongst the humans watching them wear uncomfortable clothes and ride their horses down busy streets, she became even more frustrated that Maeve’s desperate desire for this ridiculous way of life had cost Rose her life. It was all too overwhelming for Althea, who simply wanted to return home.
As Althea slowly walked into the sea of people, she was invisible in the eyes of all,except one. She was so focused on getting to the green area that her strong senses were oblivious to someone watching her from afar.
Birds told her about other people who needed her help. It was their natural instinct, but Althea was still reeling from the harsh words spoken between her and Maeve and didn’t have the energy to heal more people today.
She had to be close to the park and wanted to run to escape all the people who looked like Maeve in their expensive outfits. But the streets were crowded, forcing her to follow the flow of the people in front of her.
The park was just down the street when she passed a tavern and watched a man getting thrown out of the door right in front of her. He slammed his head on the ground and moaned in pain. Instinctively, the healer in Althea rushed to his side.
“Are you okay, sir?” she asked with a hand on his shoulder for support.
The man placed his hands to his face and groaned.
Looking to the door, Althea saw a large bald man with crossed arms and a hostile expression on his face. She wasn’t sure if he was planning to attack the poor man on the ground again, but just in case, she moved to squat between them while tending to the victim of the attack. Being immortal, Althea wasn’t scared of humans like she had been as a child and teenager, but she preferred not to get into conflict with them.
“You say one bad word about my brother again and I’ll bloody tear out your vocal cords, you bastard,” the bald man threatened as he left the tavern where he barely fit through the short, crooked door. Althea watched as he spat on the ground next to the wounded man and headed down the crowded street, toward the park. Part of her wanted to leave the wounded man and continue to the park, which was only a few buildings away yet seemed so far. But Althea knew she couldn’t leave someone in need of her help.
“Can you sit?” she asked in a soft tone.
Groaning with pain, the man tried and with her support, he sat up. She noticed that his clothes looked expensive, and his hair was cut in a fashionable hairstyle, but with his hands to his nose, she couldn’t see how hurt he was. Music from inside the tavern and onlookers making comments bombarded her senses. The man muttered, “I think he broke my nose.”
Althea didn’t feel like she had much choice. Helping the tall man to stand, she led him back into the tavern and sat him on a bench in the corner. “Wait here,” she instructed and went to talk to the barmaid, who found a wet cloth for her.
There wasn’t much light in the tavern where men were getting tipsy in the late afternoon.
Returning to the man, she asked, “How are you feeling?”
He sat with a leg on each side of the wooden bench and his back leaning against the wall. Still with his hand to his nose and his head leaned back, he muttered, “I’ve been better.”
Mirroring him, Althea sat astride the bench in front of him. “Let’s see the damage,” she instructed as she lifted her hand and gently pulled his down. Focusing on him to feel his energy and assess how much pain he was in, her soft yet tired facial expression quickly changed. It was in that minute she felt his slow vibration and now that his hand was down, she recognized Damon, whom she had met in an inn almost five decades ago. Just like her, he hadn’t aged a day.
Damon saw the shock on Althea’s face and knew she recognized him. Even in the dim light of the tavern, she was as breathtakingly beautiful as ever and the fact that they sat so close made the situation intense.
“You!” She moved her hand away as if she’d been burned.
“Me?” Damon pretended he didn’t know what upset her. “Have I had the pleasure, miss?”
Althea’s thoughts were a melting pot of her original confusion and curiosity after meeting Damon the first time, and Annabel’s warnings, that made her rise from the bench.
“Don’t go.” Damon’s serious expression and his hand on her wrist made Althea stiffen and look down into his eyes. There were no other Earthens around for her to protect, and with her being immortal, Damon didn’t scare her. Slowly, she lowered her body to sit on the bench again.
“Damon Bradshaw.”
His eyes widened a little. “Who told you my name?”
“You did. Many years ago,” she answered while assessing his every facial movement to figure out what he wanted from her. Faders were known to be tricksters who used others for their amusement.
Angling his head, he looked impressed, “And you remembered.”
“Only because you were the first Fader I ever met.”
Damon’s gaze went to the side. The fact that she remembered him and knew he was a Fader complicated his assignment. Earthens didn’t mix with his kind, except for her sister of course. “Are you sure?” Meeting her eyes there was a small smile on his lips and a challenge in his eyes. “I seem to remember there was a connection between us.”
Althea gave a dry laugh. “You just asked me if we had the pleasure of meeting, and now you want me to believe that you remember a special connection between us.”
With his handsome face turned serious and his dark brown eyes lowered, he declared. “Oh, I remember it well. You were with your friend who rushed you out of the inn. I never forgot about you, Althea.”
Moving her head to avoid his gaze, she felt her heart pump faster in her chest. She hadn’t expected Damon to remember her name, making her feel flustered. Her next question flew out of her mouth like a hard accusation: “Why do you work forhim?”
