Submitted for the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for Distinguished Fiction

The story begins in Paris. Pedro, a struggling artist from Madrid, stands at the Louvre, studying the Mona Lisa, ignoring the crowds of tourists as the painted woman calls to him. As the museum closes, he finally breaks his trance. He realizes that Da Vinci’s masterpiece could be a translation of love; yet there was only desire in Pedro’s heart. As a student of the immortals, he spent years studying their code, fascinated with the ancestry. He longs for a chance to become one of them; to experience an everlasting dedication. On a sultry night in Madrid, while he was in a state of artistic despair, one of the mysterious immortals visits him. He makes a pledge to Pedro: he will receive his wish. He will be transformed, but only with loyalty. Pedro abandons his life: no more canvases, no more oils. No more love for his sweetheart, Valentina. As she sleeps, Pedro leaves, without a word or a whisper. He is drawn to the immortals, indulging in his infatuation, longing for the fulfillment of the promise. The yearn for immortality remains as he travels to America in his new life. The immortals – and the witches – both welcome him into their sects, however he remains unfulfilled, sinking into a world of misery; tormented, still longing for his promised gift.

As he races towards death, he discovers that the mysterious immortal who had broken the vow has lost his gift and was now dying himself. In a desperate search for a love lost, Pedro examines the consequences of his choices. Until he is faced with one final ultimatum: a destiny laced with the scent of the grave. A.L. Mengel is a critically acclaimed supernatural thriller author. He has created The Tales of Tartarus series, The Vega Chronicles series (supernatural sci-fi), and The Astral Files series.