Washington - Eternal

Eternal

By AlTonya Washington

Copyright 2016 AlTonyaWashington

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition, LicenseNotes

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For The Young & Young AtHeart

Where you will sit when youare old,

shows where you stood inyouth.

Yoruba Proverb

PART I

~PROLOGUE~

Nigeria, 1825~ Village ofthe Akintunde Tribe

He...would not dothis.

It is proven,sister.

Lies.

Whatreason would they have? What reason would I have? Especially atthis time in your life? Adisa Akintunde smoothed her palms acrossher sisters distended belly and pressed her lips together in asmile that was encouraging in spite of its solemnness.

These are our people,Alaba Akintundes delicate chin raised defiantly in her youngersisters direction.

These are our people. Not his. Adisa lightly squeezed hersisters belly, defiance shining in her brilliant copperystare.

These are his people, Alaba brushed away hersisters hands, replacing them with her own as she caressed theplace where her babies slumbered inside her body.

He was seen-

No-

Overheard as he acceptedmoney from the soulless ones-

Hes not one ofthem-

Sister Adisa shook herhead and produced a wan smile. It is fortunate that Papa commandedus to learn their tongue.

Adisas smile eventually faded away tonothing. As smart as we are- our enemies grow smarter. They nowuse our own people against us.

Not him, Alaba shook herhead, persisting in her defense of the man she loved- the father ofher children.

Dearest! Adisa clutchedher sisters hand knowing her grip was painful given the wince shespied on Alabas face. He is leading our people to their doom,she cast a foreboding look about the bamboo hut theyoccupied.

The darkness hes broughtwith him- it aids him somehow and he- hes used it and his otherdevices to deceive us.

I wont hear it! Alabasqueezed her eyes closed as if the gesture would silence hersisters voice.

Not even that he growsweak? Adisa waited for her sisters expressive dark eyes to returnto her face. Some of fathers advisors believe the babies aredraining him- the dim he brought with him- its beginning tolift.

Alabas eyes narrowed yet remained onher sisters face. What are you saying?

The advisors are hopefulthat well soon be rid of your...male but they are alsoconcerned.

Concerned?

If the babies are-affecting him, then what does that make them? What does that meanfor us?

Alaba Akintundes chest heaved for adeep intake of air. Adisa stilled when the girl seemed to freeze inthat position.

Lala? Adisa slowlyscooted to her knees, gathering the colorful fabric of her cloakwhile inching closer to her sister.

Alaba, at first, seemed suspended bysurprise and then shock and finally fear. The emotions seemed torapidly exchange places across her plump lovely face.

Dearest? Adisa came toenvelope her sister in a cradling embrace.

They...they are coming,Alabas voice was a moan. She pressed her hand against the lowerside of her belly as it contracted painfully.

Outside the hut, the overcast morninggrew dark as midnight.

~ONE~

Lake Eternity, NewYork~

F ystian Akintunde rarely did double takes. No...That wasntright. He never did double takes. Hell, he hadnt done a double take in overa century it had seemed. At least not over a woman-agirl.

Yet there he was- standing there likesome idiot. Her gaze was averted. He guessed that was a good thing.Even still...he thought if shed just look at him Surely if shelooked his way, hed be able to remember what his feet were for andget the hell out of there.

Lilia Avery resisted the urge to evenglance at her watch. The meeting was nearing its end and the twomen shed spoken with had yet to laugh her out of their office. Itwas more than shed been able to say for her cabinet. Every memberof the student council thought she was a raving lunatic for eventhinking of booking the exclusive Eternity Lodge for its seniorclass trip.

The running joke in the quiet upstateNew York town; where Lilia and her classmates resided, was thatEternity Lodge was so named because it took about that long to saveenough to pay for a night to stay there. Lilia realized thevalidity in that train of thought shortly after passing thetowering brass gates on her way into the estate.

The place displayed the elements ofmoney and status but in an appealingly understated manner. Thelocale intrigued instead of intimidated. Not so, for the co-ownersof the resort Lilia thought. Those two were another matterentirely, shed decided. Stephan Barber and Gregory Craft were bothintriguing as well as intimidating.

In all fairness however, Lilia knewthat was mostly her nerves talking. The forty-something gentlemenhad welcomed her warmly and treated her like she was their mostimportant guest. Still, there was something about them Her motherwould say- provocative. Of course thats what most every woman overthe age of twenty-five said about the two former archaeologiststurned hotel owners.

The men were handsome and mysteriousand provocative? Yes, Lilia decided. Provocative. Dangerously so.On cue, it seemed, the duo chose that moment to return to theroom.

Apologies, Miss Avery, Stephan Barbers dark eyes sparkledwith an amusement that seemed to illuminate his handsome licoricedark face. Whenever theres a crisis , the staff feels the need tohave us both on the scene.

Is everything okay? Liliastraightened in the deep, leather armchair she occupied. She curvedher hands about the oversized black mug that had been filled with afantastic smelling tea.

Ha! Yes, yes, fine,Gregory Craft waved off her concern. A spot of soup boiled overinto a stove burner is cause for staff concern aroundhere.

Lilia smiled while looking around thewarm, yet distinctly male office. The place was proof of theadventurous lifestyle the extraordinary friends must have enjoyedbefore settling into a life as entrepreneurs. Huge broadswords andexotic masks adorned the maple paneled walls. Tall intricatelycarved vases filled various corners of the expansive room alongwith massive globes which occupied a few corners of the impressivestudy/ office. In addition to the swords and masks, large framedmaps and the mounted heads of beasts also owned space upon thewalls. Lilia knew those animals werent indigenous to the localarea or to the country for that matter.

Guess you have a verydedicated staff, she told the men before her staring got thebetter of her.

Lilias attempt at conversationhowever, didnt mask how impressed she was by hersurroundings.

Gregory Crafts blue-gray eyesnarrowed when he gave a playful nudge to his partners arm. Ithink were about to make a sale, Step.

Lilias laughter sparked a faintdimple to the right of her mouth. I still have to discuss it againwith my cabinet, but they were all very excited when I suggested wespend our class trip here.

Well, wed be honored tohave the business, Greg pressed a hand to the middle of the grayvest showing beneath his open suitcoat. What is it, love? Hishoney blonde head tilted at a curious angle when he spied the lookthat crept into her wide, walnut-brown stare.

Um,suddenly embarrassed, Lila felt her cheeks burn. Some of us- ourstudents dont come from from money. A lot of parents might not becool with forking over money for their kids to stay herewhen they havent and probably wont ever have the chanceto.