My eyes widen.
Gain more potentially painful memories in order to keep my immortality and gifts? Or go about my life as a mortal and forget I ever had them? What kind of choice is that?
Taking a deep breath, the realization of what this could mean washes over me.
I can finally be free—free to live my life the way everyone else does. I can finally live and die. I could love without restraint. No more unbidden flashes of insights, or knowledge I shouldn’t have. My head can finally be as silent as it is when I’m with Blake.
My head swirls with the heaviness of this choice—and yet, an immense weight feels lifted from my shoulders in anticipation of my answer.
Of course, I’m going to choose to relinquish my gifts so I can be with Blake and live a mortal life.
After all these years, it’s an absolute no-brainer.
17
STANDING UP, I take a deep breath and take a final glance around the dimly lit space. I need some time to think and get a grip on everything I just learned. Shaking my head, I leave the sacred vortex. I set aside the partially unlocked memories and the realization of what I’m about to do. I’ve lived a long time. Decisions like this shouldn’t be made lightly, as there can be far-reaching consequences, obviously—besides, there are more pressing concerns. Like getting back to Blake before he realizes I’m missing and freaks right out.
My heart trips over itself.
For the first time in my life, I would be free to love. Free to embrace a relationship and not fear the impending conversations. Of having to leave before they realize I don’t age. Or staying with them and watching them grow old and die. Pretending to be a daughter, a granddaughter, neighbor, or friend just so I can continue to be near them.
Blake and I could have a real, normal chance at something, if that’s where this is all leading. And how could it not? He's my soul mate, after all.
My footsteps are light as they carry me purposefully through the tunnels. With my new memories, I don’t have to remember the way I’d come—my body instinctively knows and does the work for me.
It takes less than ten minutes to return to the place I’d left Blake, but the closer I get, the more concern creeps over me.
How long have I been gone? Has he come back for me already and wondered where I am?
Glancing down at my watch, I realize it’s been nearly forty-five minutes since I parted with him.
Much, much too long.
Running the last leg of the journey, I come to a screeching halt when I get to the location and it's completely empty.
“Blake?” I call out. My voice cracks slightly. “Are you here?”
The echo of my words against the cavern walls is my initial response.
“I can be Blake for you, darlin’,” a man says, leaning casually against the cavern opening. His ruffled up plaid shirt splays open, drawing the eye to a stained wife-beater beneath.
Shuddering, I ignore him completely and walk out into the main opening of the Korykion Cave.
There aren’t as many people mulling about as there were earlier. My eyes scan from crowd to crowd, searching for his dark hair or perfect ass—anything to guide me to him. There are still enough people standing around that it takes me a few moments to verify Blake isn’t amongst them.
Racing out into the lower hanging sunlight, I draw my hand to my forehead and scan the surroundings.
What do I tell him what I’ve learned? Do I freak him the hell out with my revelations? Or do I wait until we're more comfortable with one another?
God, he's gotta be so pissed I left without telling him where I was going.
But wow, I'd say it was worth it.
Craning my head around, I shield my eyes from the setting sun and survey the area for any sign of Blake.
But he isn’t here, either.
He’s literally nowhere in sight—and I know without a doubt, this is not like him. Even if he thought I was missing, he would have started with local authorities and made sure he was standing nearby in case I still met up. He wouldn’t just leave.
My heart thumps unevenly in my chest and begins to skitter off like a deer running from the sound of gunshots.
What if something happened to him? I can’t lose him now—not after everything I’ve just learned.
I sit down, closing my eyes as I try to use my abilities to find him. The familiar energy of accessing my gifts begins to rise up my spine, tingling along my neck and making the tiny hairs stand on end.
At first, my mind circles around the cavern and tunnels leading in and out and around the area. Everything looks so familiar as I view all the places I’ve just been to. But I’m suddenly blocked by the big flashing Mnemosyne symbol as it blocks my mind from accessing anything related to Blake and his whereabouts.
“Dammit” I spit, hitting the ground with my closed fists. “There has to be a way to find him—or contact him. He wouldn’t just disappear like this.”
Raking my fingertips across my forehead, I can’t help but swallow back the arising hysteria.
His cellphone—he had his cellphone on him.
Blinking away my dread, I stand up and rush to the nearest tourist with a cellphone in their hand. The man stands back, taking a photo of the view from the Mount Parnassus and I tap his shoulder.
“Excuse me? Do you speak English?” I ask, desperations bleeding into my words.
The man nods, “Sure. I’m from Kentucky.”
“Do you mind if I use your phone for a moment? I’ve lost a friend and I need
