The Elixir of Life!”
“The what?!”
“Exactly.”
“What does it do?”
“Let’s see…it’s an elixir…and it grants eternal life…”
“You’re making fun of me.”
“Only a little.”
“Tell me more,” I said. “Does it work?”
“What do you think?”
“Has anyone in the Society ever died?” I asked. “That would be the proof in the pudding, wouldn’t it? Or in the Elixir.”
“It would. And the answer is yes. They drop off as easily as anyone.”
“Doesn’t that put an end to the argument?”
“To me, yes,” Sage said. “To the believers, no. They’d say using the Elixir to save lives is outside the natural order. It should only be used in the tiniest amounts to relieve pain and suffering as someone is on their way out.”
“So they have the power to grant eternal life and they never use it? Seems like a waste.”
“A waste of time! Each meeting is three hours long! Do you have any idea what I could do with three hours, Olivia?”
He had set me up for it that time, and I took the bait. “I can think of a few things you could do,” I said, giving him another wicked smile. This time he returned the grin and leaned in close to kiss me, first on my lips, then my cheek, my neck…
“Sage,” I murmured as we slid down to the floor of the boat. “I really can’t swim.”
“Hmmm,” he breathed into my ear, “then we’ll just have to be very careful, won’t we?

Author: Hilary Duff