The Bride of the Immortal by Auriane Bell

moment he was expecting a call from Walther, asking him about their whereabouts. Quickly Adrijan locked the door behind him and led the stallion around the bungalow to the garage. Upon using the key card the gate silently slid open and the lights went on. He was surprised that there was enough room for the motorcycle and a car and he sincerely regretted not discovering both. Like this it would be difficult to transport the frail girl from the artificial past. The floor in the far back of the garage seemed to be different from the rest and was almost completely covered with wood shavings. After Nebel had followed him inside, Adrijan closed and locked the gate and led the stallion to its dedicated place that was separated from the main part of the room by a wall that reached up to his chest. There were even two trays, one partly filled with hay and partly with a mixture of nuts and the other empty but with a tap attached. Everything looked fresh and clean and he was certain that someone had to attend to the place at least once every two to three days. While letting the second tray fill up with water, Adrijan removed Nebel’s saddle and bridle. Freed from the restraints it started nibbling at the food without further ado. His next task would be to find some medicine for Mairin. Impatiently he rummaged around in the first aid kit until he came across some paracetamol tablets. Satisfied he let the small packet slip into his pocket and put away the red box, hoping he would have no further need for it. Since the water tray still wasn’t sufficiently full Adrijan decided to take another look at the garage. There was a door which – if one believed the small metal plate on it – belonged to the generator room. A second door led back inside the bungalow.
    Still having time at his disposal before he could turn off the water, Adrijan used the convenient option to fetch Mairin’s used blanket and put it on the horse’s back. Meanwhile the tray had filled up. “Take care of yourself, my boy.” Adrijan said and patted the stallion’s neck. On the one hand he was sincerely hoping the horse wouldn’t have to stay here for long and on the other he was envious of Nebel about the chance of getting some rest. Before Walther would call him again he decided to text him, saying that he had thought to have noticed the approach of one of the search parties and that he had panicked and continued his way to the cottage. He made sure to send him the coordinates of the current rendezvous point of the immortal’s agents as well and hoped he would take the bait. Now it was time to take care of the girl.
     

 
    “Adrijan? Are you there?”
    At the moment she was more scared of being left alone than of having to face the alleged priest. Her limbs hurt and felt as if they were made of lead.
    “I’m here, just a moment!” The soft voice was coming from somewhere behind her and made her feel relieved.
    “Here, swallow that.”
    Adrijan bent down to her and put a pill into her hand before helping her to sit up. Once it was in her mouth he handed her a small bottle of water. Thanks to the fluid she was somehow able to force down whatever it was he had given to her.
    “I’m not going to regret this, right?” she almost didn’t recognise her own voice.
    “If it were my intention to hurt you I would’ve already done so. Don’t forget that the only thing standing between you and me is a little bit of air and about seven hundred grams of downs surrounded by some cloth. You should accept me as your ally for now.”
    Mairin attempted a nod.
    “Rest while I’m trying to find something for you to wear. I’ll stay close so just call me if you need something.”
    “Thanks.”
    Mairin closed her eyes and listened to the noise Adrijan’s search caused. Every now and then things he had said came to her mind, things she wanted to ask him about, but every time she thought she knew what it was it slipped away. Wrapped up in the light but warm blanket