Chapter 25

“How are you enjoying your training so far?” Daniel asked, absently pouring a river of cream into his coffee.

“Oh, I don’t know if enjoy is the right word,” Allie said. For the past several weeks, she and Daniel spent their early Saturday sessions at his house.

“It’s nice out. Let’s sit on the patio; the heat lamps will keep us warm.” He rambled on about how the lake reminded him of the ocean, but Allie was more interested in looking at him. The Greek god Adonis came to mind every time she saw him, and she had to remind herself he was not even remotely close to her age. The strands of silvery gray in his dark hair were out of place against his otherwise youthful appearance. His eyes were brilliant amethyst, threaded with copper that glinted in the light. He seemed a strong, virile man, but something about Daniel always struck her as sickly. Like his time in prison still affected him.

“I know you never planned to spend your weekends chatting with an old man, but I promise our time together will prove valuable.”

“I know. I guess I’m still struggling to understand why training has to be so intense. Especially Saturdays. From sunup to sundown seems a bit excessive when you factor in the rest of the week. I know it’s important,” she held up her hand before he could launch into another explanation of how she could lose control if she didn’t train hard enough, “I just like to complain about it.”

“At least you’re honest.” He chuckled. “I know it’s a difficult sacrifice, but trust me, the alternative is not worth it. Unfortunately, I suck at showing my memories, so I won’t bore you with the details of my short story. But I do have some words of wisdom if you’re up for it.”

“Sure, as long as there’s more coffee,” she said.

“That, I can promise.” He reached to refill her cup. “I always knew what I was, but I was a very lonely child raised among mortals. I grew up on my mortal father’s ships as my Immortal mother taught me in secret. But to me, the threat of the Coalition seemed like the stuff of fairytales. I had a difficult time understanding the world in which I belonged but was not a part of.”

“I can certainly relate to that.” Allie sighed into her coffee.

“It won’t always be that way.”

They were all so certain she would acclimate in time, but she wasn’t sure she wanted to forget who she was.

“When I was still very young, I witnessed my father’s execution at the hands of pirates. Not long after, I ran away, eager to sail into the unknown for an adventure. The Age of Exploration was burgeoning, and for most of the next century, I put my life and my training on hold to be part of something greater than myself. Wonderful discoveries were made during the years I explored the seas, I even made some of my own.” He beamed proudly. “I discovered the Portuguese Azores Islands just a few years before I was taken.”

That was the strangest part of this weird twist her life had taken—realizing who her teachers actually were. There was no doubt in her mind that Daniel had probably rubbed elbows with Christopher Columbus.

“The point is, during my years of rebellion, I all but ignored my training. I felt it was something I could afford to put on hold for a time when it would be more convenient. I trained only enough to maintain control of my power, and I’ve paid the price for my arrogance a thousand times over. I’m sure you’ve noticed the feeble quality about me and the fact that our sessions usually consist of studying books with very little physical activity.”

It was true; their sessions were usually academic in nature with an occasional strength-training workout in the gym. Sometimes, she got the impression that the workouts were just as much for his benefit as hers.

“I sense something, but you’re so strong and athletic it’s confusing.” She felt a twinge of embarrassment for him.

“I can teach you a great deal, but I’m afraid I am the weakest of your teachers. Some would still consider me very powerful because my gifts are rare and extremely difficult to control, but I tire very easily. I am over six hundred years old, but I still train as hard as my teenaged sons. For half my life, I was cut off from my power. I still suffer the effects of long-term magnetic exposure from my time in prison. But had I trained diligently as a young man, I might never have lost those years. My strength will never be what it should have been. The best lesson I will ever teach you is to respect your training. It will rarely be fun, I wish I could tell you otherwise, but it is the most important thing you will ever do for yourself. Whenever you’re feeling the pressure of your demanding schedule and you find yourself wishing for the life you once knew, look to me as an example of what you do not want to be.”

“You’re still a formidable guy,” she said.

“Perhaps, but I will never reach my true potential. And with that, I’m done preaching for the day. It’s time we get some actual work done.”

“What’s on the agenda?”

“A crash course in Immortal political science.”

“I keep hearing references to the ‘Senate,’ but I don’t really know what that means.”

“We have very strict laws and seats of authority that function a lot like the Roman senate. Emma and I are Lieutenant Governor, providing legal counsel to Naeemah and Gregg in their role as Governor of the Great Lakes region.”

“So, that’s why Aidan thought I knew his parents when we first met?”

“Yes, under normal circumstances you and your family would have discussed your move to the area with them before you arrived. As Governor, they are the supreme authority within our region.”

“You speak of them as one entity.”

“Politically speaking, they are. They hold the office together as one being with one vote.”

“What do they do?”

“Their office is responsible for policing the Immortal population within our borders. Naeemah and Gregg report to the National Assembly of North America, which reports to the International Senate in Lisbon. The Senate is the final governing voice of our entire world led by the two Chiefs of Justice.”

“So, would that be four people, holding two offices?”

“Exactly, though each bonded couple get only one vote,” Daniel explained.

“But how does that work if they don’t agree?” Allie asked.

“They must agree or find a solution they all can accept. Otherwise, they take the issue to the Senate for a formal vote. But since Chief Ashar and Kassandre were assassinated by the Coalition several years ago, we only have one Chief Justice.”

“Why hasn’t the office been filled?”

“Immortal politics move at a snail’s pace. We are in the middle of a term—we vote every twenty-five years—which isn’t a long time for us. After Kassandre and Ashar were killed, it seemed best to wait until the end of the term to vote in new officers.”

“When’s the next election?”

“Not for several more years.”

“Will I be able to vote?”

“Only if you’ve managed to pass your Proving by then, which is highly unlikely.”

“It’s such a complicated world.” Her mind reeled with all this new information.

“You will adjust. It may take you years to learn everything you need to know, but you’ll soon find a balance between your past and your future.”