Anew

36

Gabriel sat next to Scarlet on the couch, grateful she’d returned to ask questions. He felt for her. He couldn’t imagine how terrified and confused she must feel.

Scarlet folded her hands together in her lap. “I’m not sure where to begin so…I guess let’s just start with the immortal thing. You said you guys didn’t know you were immortal, right?”

“Right.”

“So, how did you figure that out?”

Gabriel took a deep breath. “Our first clue was Tristan surviving an arrow through his heart. It was crazy. One minute he was bleeding on the ground beside you and the next, his wound was closing up.

“Just minutes later, your body vanished, and Tristan and I freaked out. We thought for sure Raven’s curse had done something to both you and Tristan, but we didn’t know what.

“That’s when we tracked down a guy who lived in a nearby village, Nathaniel Fletcher. When we were children, Tristan and I witnessed Nate accidently cut his hand with a knife and miraculously heal. We figured whatever healed him may have played a part in healing Tristan.

“We met up with Nate and explained how you’d been shot, how your body had disappeared, and how Tristan had immediately healed after the arrow pierced him.

“He hypothesized that Tristan and I were immortal. Naturally, we thought he was crazy, but how else could we explain Tristan surviving an arrow through his heart? We let Nate do a…test of sorts, on our blood, confirming his suspicion. Tristan and I were immortal. Just like him.”

“That Nate guy was immortal, too?” Scarlet gaped.

Gabriel nodded. “Nate’s mom was given a vial of fountain water, just like our mom, and drank it while she was pregnant with him.”

“Is the Nate guy still around?”

“Oh, yeah. He’s a friend of ours. He lives in New York right now.”

Scarlet furrowed her brow. “How many immortals are out there? Like, thousands?”

Gabriel shook his head. “As far as we know, it’s only the three of us. We’re the only people we know of born to mothers who drank water from the fountain.”

Scarlet nodded. “Three immortals. Got it. Okay, let’s talk about fountain. If we find it, then I’ll be healed?”

Gabriel nodded. “Completely. I actually called Nate the other day. He’s been helping us try to locate the fountain for centuries.Maybe together, we’ll be able to find it this time, it’s him.” Gabriel gave her his best smile, trying to reassure her.

She weakly smiled back.

His heart tightened. He wanted nothing more than to heal Scarlet, to keep her healthy and unafraid. But he felt so helpless.

Scarlet cleared her throat. “Let’s say we don’t find the fountain and I die. The next time I come back to life, will you still come find me?”

“Of course!” Gabriel would always find her. Or, at least, have Tristan track her down and then follow him. “It won’t be like it was this time. Tristan and I will come immediately in your next life. If you die. Which you won’t.” His palms got sweaty.

“Wait, you can find me immediately?”

Gabriel nodded.

“Then why did you wait two years to meet me?” Scarlet looked angry. “Why did you let me live in confusion and fear for so long?”

He swallowed. “Uh…that was Tristan’s idea. He wanted to wait until the curse was broken before meeting you.”

“Why?”

“Because he thought it would make things easier.”

“Well, it didn’t.”

Gabriel nodded. “I promise that will never happen again.”

“I hope not.” Scarlet looked off to the side.

She was right. They shouldn’t have let her live so long without them. It hadn’t been fair to her.

“I should never have listened to Tristan,” Gabriel continued. “He’s an idiot.”

Scarlet shook her head and wrinkled her brow. “Why did you keep Tristan a secret so long? Why didn’t you tell me about him?”

Gabriel shifted uncomfortably, trying to formulate a response that wouldn’t sound callous. “Tristan…asked me not to tell you.”

“Why?”

Gabriel shrugged, hoping she would accept his non-answer and move on.

She didn’t.

“Has he done that in past lives? Has he tried to keep himself hidden from me before?”

Gabriel sighed. “No.”

“Then why now?”

Gabriel shrugged. “I don’t know. He just said he didn’t want to meet you this time.” Gabriel spoke gently

“Why not? Does he hate me or something?”

Gabriel knew Tristan didn’t hate Scarlet, but he had no idea what Tristan wanted her to believe. “I’m not sure, you’d have to ask him.”

Scarlet nodded, but her eyes seemed far away.

Tristan walked into the living room, waving his cell phone. “Sorry to interrupt the age-old bonding that’s going on in here but Gabriel has a phone call.”

Gabriel looked at Tristan in puzzlement.

“It’s Nate,” Tristan said, looking at Gabriel pointedly. “He called my phone to discuss my…plan. And now he wants to talk to you.”

Gabriel waited for further explanation but when Tristan didn’t elaborate, he reluctantly rose from beside Scarlet and grabbed Tristan’s cell phone out of his hand.

“I’ll be just a minute,” Gabriel said to Scarlet’s big blue eyes.

Maybe Nate had information about the fountain of youth.

Which could be good news.