I must have lost consciousness for a few seconds, because when
I open my eyes, Drina is still leaning over me, her face and hands stained with blood – mine – whispering in my ear, cajoling me to convince me to give up, to let go
taken once and for all.
I almost did it once, but it doesn’t work anymore. This filth killed my family, and she’s going to pay for it.
I close my eyes to rediscover this precious moment – all
the family in the car, amid bursts of laughter, united by infinite love, and I perceive it even more clearly than before, now that guilt no longer spoils the picture, that I know that I am not there to Nothing.
I suddenly feel my strength returning and sends Drina flying
across the room. She goes to crash against the wall, and her arm forms a curious angle with her body when she falls to the ground.
She looks up at me with eyes wide with shock, but immediately
afterwards, she gets up and dusts off her dress, laughing. And when she comes back to attack, I push her back with all my strength, and she flies into the living room, shattering the glass doors in the process before landing in an explosion of glass.
You are creating a real crime scene for us! she said, removing the shards of glass from her arms, her legs, her face,
each cut closing immediately. Very impressive. I can’t wait to read what the papers say tomorrow morning.
And there she is intact, relaxed, determined to renew the attack, ready to do anything to win.
You’re ruined, my poor Ever. Honestly, your little show of force is pretty pathetic. And then what
you’re a bad hostess! No wonder you have so few friends: is that the way to treat your guests?
I push her away, determined to throw her through a thousand windows if she
it is necessary. But the idea has barely crossed my mind when I am overcome by excruciating, searing, unbearable pain. I look at Drina
approach, paralyzing me from a distance to prevent me from defending myself.
Ah, that’s the good old trick of the head clamped in a vice
spiked, she laughs. Works every time. Admit that
I tried to warn you. You didn’t want to listen to me. Up to you. I can increase the pain, if you want…
My body convulses with pain and collapses to the ground, my stomach a whirlwind of nausea.
Or you can let go, kindly. Painless. Choose.
I try to follow her with my eyes, but my vision is completely blurred, and my arms and legs are rubber, I can’t fight because she’s moving so quickly.
But we can’t let her win. Not this time. Not after what she did to my family.
I throw my fist, and despite my left-handedness, my clumsiness and
my body aching, I am surprised to hit it right in the chest. My arm falls, I stumble back, breathing with difficulty, aware that the blow was not powerful enough and was of no use.
I close my eyes and wait for the end. Inevitable. I only hope
that it will be quick. But the pain disappears, my stomach calms, and when I open my eyes, I see Drina staggering against the wall, holding her chest.
Damn! She moaned, looking behind me. Don’t leave her
not do that, to me, to us…
I turn around and see him next to me. He grabs my hand, fingers intertwined.
It’s too late. It’s time to go, Poverina.
Don’t call me that! she bawls, her eyes
emerald edged with red. You know I hate that!
I know, he says, squeezing my hand as it grows older and
shrivels before our eyes before disappearing, leaving as only proof of its existence a black silk dress and a pair of
branded shoes.
I turn to Damen, looking for an explanation.
But how… ?
He takes me in his arms and covers my face with burning kisses.
It’s finish. Completely, absolutely, forever. She won’t come to ruin our lives anymore. Never.
Did… I kill her?
I’m not sure I like that idea, despite what she did to my family, and how many times she claimed to have murdered me.
Damen nods.
But… in what way? I mean, if she’s immortal, wasn’t I supposed to cut off her head or something?
He bursts out laughing.
What kind of books do you read? No, it doesn’t work like that. No decapitation, wooden stakes or silver bullets. In other words, revenge makes you weak and love makes you strong. You managed to reach Drina at the most vulnerable place.
I do not understand. I see my fist brushing against it again.
But I barely touched her.
You were aiming for the fourth chakra, and you hit the nail on the head.
Pardon ?
The body has seven chakras. The fourth, also called the heart chakra, is the center of unconditional love,
compassion, surpassing oneself. Everything that Drina lacked. She was weakened, defenseless. Ever, it was her lack of love that lost her.
But if she was so vulnerable, why didn’t she protect herself?
No more ?
She wasn’t aware of it, she was so blinded by her ego. Drina never realized how bad she was
become dark, resentful, hateful, possessive, and…
But since you knew, why didn’t you give me anything
said? — It was just a theory. I’ve never killed an immortal, I wasn’t sure it would work. Now I know it.
Because there are other immortals? Drina is not the only one?
He opens his mouth, only to close it immediately. I catch a glint in his eyes… of regret, of remorse? Which disappears very quickly. — She told me things about you, about your past…
Ever, look at me, he said, taking my chin in the palm of his hand to force me to raise my head. There are very
long as I have been on Earth, you know that…
A little yes ! Six hundred years!
Approximately, yes. I’ve seen a lot, I’ve accomplished just as much, my life hasn’t always been a model of goodness or purity. In reality, it’s the opposite.
I try to move away, but he pulls me against him.
Trust me, you’re ready to hear it. Don’t be afraid, I’m not a criminal. I’m not inherently bad either. It’s just… Let’s just say I enjoyed the good life. And yet, when I found you, I was ready to give up everything to stay close to you.
This time I managed to free myself.
Oh no ! This is not true! The classic shot of the boy who loses the girl of his dreams, except that, to make matters worse, the scene repeats itself for centuries, and each time he loses her before
conclude ! That’s why he continues to be interested in me, I
constantly escapes! I am the living embodiment, in flesh and blood, of the forbidden fruit! Am I doomed to remain a virgin for
eternity? To disappear from here and there to keep him in suspense?
And now that we’re stuck together forever,
once the thing is done, he will get tired of playing Little House on the Prairie
and will want to rediscover the “good life,” as he says.
Stuck with me for eternity? Is that how you see things?
I can’t tell if he’s amused or offended. My cheeks are on fire. I had momentarily forgotten that it was imperative to control my thoughts in his presence.
No, but… I was afraid you would experience it this way. It’s the classic love story – the beloved who disappears,
again, and again, and again! No wonder you are stubborn! I
have nothing to do with the story! You’ve been trying to pull down my jeans for six centuries!
Cotillon, petticoat, jumpsuit, jeans only became fashionable much later! he laughs. (But, seeing that I
doesn’t share his hilarity, he regains his seriousness.) Ever, of course I care about you. And if you want to know, the best way to prepare for eternity is to live day by day.
He places a light kiss on my cheek, before pretending to retreat, but I take his hand and pull him towards me.
Do not leave. Don’t leave me again, please. Never again.
Not even to go get yourself a glass of water?
Not even.
My fingers feel his face, his features of incredible beauty.
Damn, I…
The words choke in my throat.
Yes ?
I missed you.
I know.
He moves forward to kiss me on the forehead, but immediately retracts it, a delighted smile on his lips.
What is it ?
I run my hand under my bangs, stunned. My scar is gone.
You see, forgiving can heal, he says.
I have to add something, but I don’t know how to do it. However, since he can read my mind, I shouldn’t need to say the words.
It’s even better out loud, you know, he chuckles.
But I already told you, and that’s why you came back, right? Between us, you could still have hurried up. A little helping hand wouldn’t have been amiss, don’t you think?
I heard you. And I could have arrived sooner, but I
wanted to make sure you were really ready, that it wasn’t the aftermath of Riley leaving.
You are aware ?
Yes, and you did very well.
You mean you almost let me die, because
you wanted to be sure of your fact?
No, Ever. I wouldn’t have let you die. For nothing in the world. Not this time.
And Drina?
I had underestimated her. I didn’t think she would go this far.
Can’t read your thoughts? He caresses my cheek with his thumb.
We learned a long time ago to disguise our thoughts.
Will you show me how?
I will teach you all my knowledge, I promise you. But you need to realize what that entails, Ever. You do not
will never see your family again. You will never cross the bridge. I want you to know exactly what you’re exposing yourself to.
But I can always, finally, give up, what… right? You know, let it go, like you said?
Um, it’s harder once you really get into it.
I evaluate the sacrifices I will have to make, but there must still be solutions. Riley promised to
send me a sign, it’s already a good start! In the meantime, if
eternity begins today, this is how I will live it. Day by day. With the certainty that Damen will be by my side forever. It’s true ?
He waits, his gaze locked with mine.
I love you, I said in a breath. His lips seek mine.
I love you too. Always. Forever.
End of volume 1
