Order of the Omni: A Supernatural Romantic Suspense Novel (The Immortalies Book 1) Penny Knight (100 best novels of all time TXT) 📖

She gulps. “Ok,” she nods, biting her lip, her tell that she is stewing on something.

“What are you thinking?”

Her brows still furrowed she looks directly at me. “Topher has found that the programmer from the other night was developing some sort of virus for a Blood Research Institute.”

“Blood research?” I lean back in my chair. Why would they want to infiltrate that?

“Do you think they are linked?” she asks. I then realise, she has given me information that I’m searching for as we speak. Is this her trusting me?

“Possibly.” It would have to be, but why?

“Ok,” she taps her pen to her lips. Her red soft lips. She nibbles and sucks on the tip, and I go rock hard. Ok, stop. Do not get distracted. For fuck’s sake, I’m over two thousand years old, I can surely control myself better than that.

“So, let’s say,” she says. “They think they need to off me, to get this sun power.”

“Sun power?”

“Yeah, let’s just call it that.” She waves her hand at me still concentrating. I smile. She’s very cute when she’s working. “They want this sun power. But what? Does the one person who does the offing get it? Or do they all? Maybe they think it’s only the one person. And then obviously I will be kaput, dead. So maybe,” she drawls out. “They want to get my DNA and clone me or something. For others to do the same in the future. Like a sun power, all you can eat food bank. They can build a sun power army and take over the world.” Her eyes go wide again. “Oh, my god. Could you imagine more of me?”

I stifle a chuckle. Her imagination is creative, but there are some good points there. Cloning her could be interesting. My smile creeps through.

“Topher is gonna die when I tell him.” She flops back in her chair.

I lean forward. “We don’t know that’s happening for sure.”

She nods. “We know nothing for sure.”

“Well, we do.”

Her brows furrow. “What?”

“We need to keep you safe,” I remind her.

She sighs. “Yes, I know.” She huffs and rolls her eyes. Causing a smile to sweep across my face, again. How on earth has she just entered my life?

“Wait.” She lunges forward in her seat. “Do you?” She shakes her head. “I mean, do you want the sun power?”

“First, that’s a silly name.” Her mouth drops open, offended. “Second, that does not happen for me. I already asked, and it’s not written for me to be a day walker.”

“That sucks.” Her shoulders slump.

“Why?” Does she realise she’s disappointed I don’t want her dead?

“I just mean, it would be good if you could, you know. I love the sun. It’s one of the few things that helps me come out of my darkness when it gets to be too much. Outside, preferably near water and sunlight streaming on me.” She sighs. “It just sucks that you can’t.”

“I’m used to it.” My voice comes out slow and measured, lost in what she has just given me. Her darkness? What does that mean? She must notice my tone and looks at me from her wistful thinking and our eyes lock. Recognition flashes across her face as I can instantly tell when she realises she has let me in. Granted, it was a small pebble she threw my way, but one day she might just understand she can throw a boulder at me and I will handle it with care.

“Anyway,” she looks down avoiding eye contact, “I think that’s all for now,” she stands. I’m taken aback but not surprised at her abrupt departure. This has become a pattern once she becomes vulnerable.

“As of right now.” She packs her notepad in her bag and continues quickly. “I’ve decided today is my day off. From it all. So, after I walk out this door, there is no talk of any doom and gloom. Death. Clones,” I chuckle as she throws her bag over her arm. “You yelling at me,” she raises her brows.

“Me?”

“Yes, you.” She stands there, hands on hips.

“You promise to not get in trouble?” I ask.

“Hmmm.” Her eyes dart around, contemplating before landing back on me. “Life or death trouble, yes.”

That does not sound convincing.

“Yes, I promise.” She smiles, but I frown. Even less convincing now. “OH MY GOD!” She throws her hands up walking to the door. She opens it, then turns to me. “Unless someone is going to come in here and whack me, then I promise. I’m not planning to leave the hotel. I’m barely hanging on. I just need one day to pretend I don’t have a deadline on my life.” Her eyes well and her playfulness is slowly fading.

It pierces my heart. She wants a day, then she gets a day.

“Understood,” I say.

She takes a deep breath. “Thank you.”

I nod and she turns and leaves the room.

Once the door closes, I know exactly what I need to do.

This isn’t so bad. Who can complain when you’re in a luxury hotel, floating in a marble pool? Relaxing music wafts through the speakers. My arms glide back and forth over the water. Every time my mind wanders back to the news, I grab it and throw it away. Not yet. I tell my brain. Just not yet.

It’s hard keeping it from drowning me. Like a weight on my chest, pushing me under the warm water. I let the imaginary weight take me under. The water flows over my shoulders. With one last gulp of air, I submerge underneath. The muted sounds still my thoughts and with my hands I push deeper. Letting it engulf and consume me.

Holding my breath, I work to stay under. Safe in this bubble. Taking comfort in the fact, I’m the only one in control of when I take my next breath.

I should be the only one in control of my future. Don’t I deserve it? After everything I have worked to accomplish. I’m not