The Immortal's Gamble

Chapter 3

Standing by my bedroom window, I could see the side of Annalise's home. It's been two weeks. Yet I haven't seen hide nor hair of the brothers.

I thought back to when we first moved in, Annalise had welcomed us being the nice neighbour she was. But mum was nursing a hangover the same day and promptly slammed the door in her face after screaming for her to never come back. I've never spoken to Annalise since then, but if she sees me alone, she would smile kindly but keep her distance.

But that doesn't connect with the fact that I didn't seem to see any numbers from the brothers. It's impossible. Even Annalise has her own range, albeit she's living a rather long life.

Groaning I collapsed onto my bed. The whitewashed ceiling spun as the number of unanswered questions I had piled up high. Why didn't they have numbers? My throat started closing up and I swallowed hard, I couldn't risk another attack when I was home. That would leave me vulnerable. Closing my eyes, I remembered what my father used to tell me to calm down.

"Think your safe heaven, Laura. Picture it in your mind. Can you do that for me?" I could hear his voice in the midst of the panic that grew from my chest. I could faintly make out his growing concern. Listening to his words, I tried picturing the beach, my safe house, I imagined the way the waves would hit the shore rhythmically. With each crash, I breathed out, but the numbers were too overpowering and I was trying too hard.

"Laura, honey please." I could feel his desperation. And just as it started it stopped. I lay quivering on the ground, shaking while my father gathered me in his arms once he was sure I wouldn't lapse into another attack. My breathing gradually went back to its normal pace. The blood that flowed from my nose stopped.

"Oh Laura.." My dad breathed as his shaking hands wiped my tears away. Blood smudged across my face and my eyelids were fighting to stay open.

Tucking the memory away, I came down from the borders of another attack and straightened my shirt, getting out of the chair I had been sitting at for the past hour. I could hear mum and Dave in the house. The sound of their bed rocking was proof enough. Disgusted with the thought I went down to the kitchen to make my breakfast and hopefully avoid them. I couldn't risk another bruise.

That was when I heard it. I thought it part of my hallucinations. But as it grew persistent and louder, my feet gravitated towards it. Before my brain could even register, I yanked open the door and was greeted by two Adonis-like creatures on my porch. No prize for guessing who they were, with grey eyes and black hair like that, who could forget?

Well, with them right in front of me, at least one of my many questions was answered. The lack of numbers was very glaringly obvious. 

They shuffled around on their feet under my unblinking stare. Composing myself, I stood up straighter and asked, "How may I help you?" And though I may seem calm, my inner Laura was running in circles, frantically screaming 'that is not how you talk to two Adonises'.

"Well, we were wondering if you'd like to go to the mall? Arden told me that you told him about it." Alex started to ramble but before he could continue, Arden's piercing gaze stopped him.

"Would you like to accompany us to the mall, Laura?" Arden went straight to the point with a poker face, earning a punch from Alex.

"Sure! I'll just wash up and I'll go to your place when I'm done?" I offered, Alex whooped and fist pumped the air and I winced at the sound hoping mum and Dale didn't hear anything.

After we exchanged numbers, I closed the door and made sure that they had left before making my way to my room.

"Laura!" A banshee-like scream came from upstairs just as I was halfway up the stairs.