Immortal

Damien

Elsie took me into her chambers as Isis and Damien had a discussion.

I knew it was about me, and how I must look. Deranged, pure power uncontrolled. Who would want that. I didn't think I wanted to stay anyway. Brown eyes may have drawn me in but they wouldn't entice me to stay.

Elsie ran around showing me her toys and books and animals scattered around the room. I didn't mind until she pulled a snake from under her bed.

"This is Timothy," she proclaimed, "he likes to hide unless the suns out if I have the lamps on. Be careful because sometimes he will climb up your leg when you're sitting down. You're a good provider of warmth for him you know."

I grimaced. I hated snakes. 

"Are you ok now?"

I looked up. Elsie came over and looked up into my eyes, hands braces on my knees.

I softened." I'm ok. I'm sorry you had to see that."

"It's ok!" Elsie smiled, " I know Auntie Nadia meant a lot to you and for you her death is still fresh because you've been locked up for a lot of time. Wow, you must be really old! How old are you?"

I blinked. She was distracting me, like children do to each other when adults are yelling or arguing. Which was happening outside the door and getting louder. 

I shrugged," I'm not quite sure, what year is it? "

Elsie looked confused. "How can you not know how old you are? Don't you celebrate birthdays? It's the year 2018, and the date is the 20th of November. You just missed my birthday," she pouted.

"I'm sorry, when was it?", I asked contritely. Meanwhile in my head I was calculating and thinking.

"It was 31st October ", she said shyly. "It was great! I know you don't have a present for me, so can my present be that you'll stay no matter what and teach me?"

"I guess, but that's really up to your brother", I said.

She looked at me with sad brown eyes, the same eyes I realised. They were lucky to have inherited her eyes.

"We can run away if he doesn't agree", she said cheekily, still her eyes looked sad.

"You know I'm 3036 years old and I've never run away!", I chuckled. 

Her eyes became huge in her face, "you don't look that old!"

"That is because I locked her at her age when she was sacrificed to us, so physically she's 18"

We both looked up, Isis was standing in the doorway looking pleased with herself.

"Jeez, that means you're not young enough to drink!" Elsie said disgusted.

"I can't what?" I asked bewildered.

"You cannot drink wine until the age of 21 here. Very weird law.", Isis said.

"So is Auntie Khafte staying?", Elsie asked hopefully of Isis.

"Yes, but your brother doesn't want anything to do with her. But I think we can work with that," Isis smiled.

Elsie squealed. "Let's go for a walk! I want to show you my favourite part of the city! Oh no we should buy you a bed and some normal clothes maybe! Oh have you eaten? You must be hungry we should get you some food!"

Elsie continued babbling and I looked at Isis exhaustedly.

She smiled back.

—-

Meanwhile outside the room, Damien was silently fuming.

 He was internally debating kicking Isis and Khafte out. How dare they just show up and assume Khafte would stay with them. She was nuts, who got that angry and nearly burns down the apartment?! 

Mind you, he shouldn't have slapped her, but something about her provoked him to do it. He had never hit anyone before apart from Elsie's bullies, but she just rubbed him the wrong way.

She looked like a goddess though, tanned and curvy with long dark hair past her waist, and those green eyes. He shouldn't have slapped her, he should apologise. He sighed to himself, and rubbed his face with his hands.

A noise made him look up and there she was, standing in front of him and holding Elsie's hand.

She was chewing her lip and mildly frowning as if trying to figure a puzzle out.

"Go on!", Elsie said encouragingly to her.

"I am sorry I lost my temper and damaged your home. It will not happen again and I will be quiet and you shall not notice my presence unless you wish to" Khafte muttered.

"It's fine, I shouldn't have slapped you and for that I am sorry. I have no idea why I did it as I have never hurt a woman before. I think Isis worked me up." I mumbled.

"What was that?" , Isis walked out from behind Khafte. She lifted her eyebrow at me. My anger flared at the sight of her and Isis seemed to smile in response.

"Well I'm off my children, I shall be back in a few months. Khafte, here is a bag of some things you may need to get by in life legally here, Elsie can explain to you what they are. All your finances are taken care of, see it as penance from the gods for allowing what happened to you and Nadia" . Khafte froze at that, and the atmosphere shifted once again and heat radiated from her. 

Isis sensing this bid everyone a speedy farewell and disappeared from the room.

"What did auntie Isis mean by that Khafte?"

Khafte started smoking and she looked at me in a mixture of rage and horror. 

"Water ...please!" She murmured.

I did something I had done in years and summoned water and dumped it on her head.

She looked at me in astonishment and so did Elsie.

"You have elemental powers too!"