Eternal Bloom - Book 5 (The Ruby Ring Saga)

by Chrissy Peebles

  “Yes, I would like a word with you as well,” Charles said.

  Victor kissed my cheek. “We shall return shortly, my dear.”

  They followed Dr. Meyers out the door and my mom sighed.

  “What’s our dinner plans?” my mom asked.

  “How about pizza?” Liz said. “This day should be celebrated, and I say we order the biggest pizza there is, with extra cheese and pepperoni.”

  “Sounds great,” I said.

  “Then pizza it is,” my mom said.

  My dad kissed my forehead. “Your mother and I will go pick up the food, a pizza and some salad. I’m sure Dr. Meyers wouldn’t be keen on a delivery person.”

  “Make sure you get lots of ranch dressing this time, Dad,” Liz said. “Lettuce is impossible without ranch.”

  My dad laughed. “You think I don’t know what my daughter loves?”

  “Thanks, Daddy.”

  “Would you like some breadsticks, dear?” my mother asked, knowing it was my one weakness, next to Victor’s blue eyes.

  “Mom knows me too,” I bragged to Liz. “Sounds wonderful, Mom.”

  “Anything to make my baby happy,” Mom said, then picked up her purse, smiled and waved at us, and followed our father out of the room.

  Liz walked over to the bed, and a frown spread across her lips. “We never stopped looking for you, you know.”

  “I know, but there was no way you could know to look for me on a mountain top.”

  “I’m gonna make them pay, Sarah—every single one of them.”

  “Liz, stop. All this talk of revenge is just...well, the truth is, messing with them will not help our cause, that’s all. Try and think rationally.”

  “I know,” she whispered.

  I touched my stomach and smiled as Alexander made his presence known with a little kick.

  “How’s the baby?” Liz asked.

  “He just kicked again!” I squealed. “Oh! There he goes again. Wanna feel him?”

  She touched my stomach and smiled. “Oh! Wow, Sarah! That’s so cool. Oh my gosh. There’s a little human being inside of you.”

  “Well, yeah.”

  “It’s just that it...well, it seems so real when he kicks like that.” She felt around my stomach. “Is that his foot?”

  I lifted my gown to expose the bulge on my stomach. “I think so, or maybe his little rear end.”

  She blinked. “No way.”

  “Yep.”

  “Oh my gosh! I just saw your belly jump! You’ve got yourself a little soccer player in there. Does it hurt?”

  “Sometimes, if he gets me just right in the ribs, it hurts a lot, but it’s okay right now. I like it. It lets me know he’s there. You know, he wouldn’t be kicking right now if it weren’t for you. I can’t thank you enough, Liz.”

  “Hey, what are healing Immortal sisters for?”

  We both laughed.

  I met Liz’s gaze. As hard as she tried to play it tough, I could see her eyes welling up with tears. “Thanks,” I whispered again.

  A tear slipped down her cheek. “You don’t have to thank me, Sarah. I love you and Alexander more than anything, and I’ll always do what I can to help you, no matter what.”

  “I know that, sis,” I said, “and I think your nephew knows it too.”

  Chapter 3

  Dr. Meyers released me from the Immortal hospital that night, and I was so glad to be back home. I was given strict orders to rest for the next week. Victor promised to pamper me and wait on me hand and foot.

  When I stepped foot in our lovely home, I almost lost it. A tear slipped down my face. I thought I might never see this house again.

  “It’s good to be home,” I said, choked with emotion.

  Victor wiped my tears away and hugged me tight. I don’t know what I’d do without him. He was my rock. I took a long, hot shower and got ready for bed. Just as we were about to go to sleep, a knock sounded on the door. Victor was already downstairs getting a drink of water so he answered it.

  “It’s Beth,” he said.

  I hurried down the stairs and Beth embraced me in a tight hug.

  “I’ll let you two talk,” Victor said, heading up the stairs.

  “Are you okay?” Beth wailed. “How’s the baby?”

  “I’m fine,” I assured her. “And so is Alexander.”

  She looked me up and down. “You were on the news and everything. They said you went hiking without the proper equipment and got lost on the mountain.”

  “The Immortals kidnapped me.”

  She gasped.

  “But I escaped and Dr. Meyer’s team put some kind of smoke screen out there for the press.”

  “I didn’t believe that story for one minute.”

  “I know. I’d never go out there unprepared like that.” I sucked in a deep breath thinking about the horrible place I’d just escaped from. “They had me locked up on top of that mountain. It was like being in my own worst nightmare.” My voice trembled as it trailed off.

  “I’m sorry it’s so late but I had to know if you were okay. I was so worried.”

  I gave her another long hug. “Thanks for stopping by. I will fill you in on all the details tomorrow, okay?”

  “I’m just glad you’re okay,” she wept. “Are you sure they won’t come back?”

  “Dr. Meyers has some friends of hers guarding the house for the next few weeks.”

  “Are you sure that’s enough?”

  I gripped her hands. “We’ll be fine. Dr. Meyers assures me that I have the very best Immortal body guards.”

  “I’m glad to hear that.”

  “Thanks for being my best friend. There’s nobody more caring or supportive than you.”

  “I think the same about you.” She reached for her keys in her purse. “Goodnight Sarah. Tell Victor I’m sorry if I woke you guys up.”

  “We were still up.”

  “That’s good. See you tomorrow.”

  I waved goodbye and headed back upstairs.

  Victor tucked me in and kissed me goodnight. I fell fast asleep.

  I was jolted awake by a swift kick, and then Alexander’s foot lodged into my ribs. Sucking in a deep breath, I touched my stomach, only to feel another roundhouse kick to the ribs. My little kick-boxer was as active as ever. “Why aren’t you asleep, my little night owl?” I asked with a smile. “I’ll just have to keep you up all day tomorrow with talking, music, and belly rubs. We’ve gotta get you on a schedule so Mommy can sleep.”

  Getting back to sleep was impossible. I tossed and turned, and when I glanced at the clock, it read two a.m. I could feel every kick, roll, and wiggle Alexander made. I simply couldn’t get comfortable, and it was hard to breathe, so I was sure I was in for another sleepless night.

  As my stomach was reaching basketball proportions, I thought I might sleep better propped up. I headed downstairs to the living room and got comfy in the recliner. However, as soon as I was in the perfect position, I had to pee; Alexander wouldn’t stop tap-dancing on my bladder. I had to laugh, for a good sense of humor was the only thing that was going to get me through that difficult pregnancy. I was an all-out Jabba the Hutt with heartburn, back pain, mood swings, and big, swollen ankles, and I had to find ways to cope with it.

  Just as I fell asleep, dawn came knocking. I decided I’d go for a morning walk, but when I tried to bend over to put my tennis shoes on, I found it was impossible.

  Victor laughed and told me to sit down on the couch while he laced up my shoes. He was truly my knight in shining armor in every way. I couldn’t bear to tell him I could have used some help shaving my hairy legs or other, more delicate areas of my body, but I was beginning to think I could French braid my shins, if I could only reach them.

  “Thanks, baby,” I said.

  He smiled, gave me a kiss, and left for work.

  I planned on enjoying my day off. The theater had cut me to part time until I had the baby, and I was thankful for that.

  Just as I was g
etting ready to waddle out the door, I received a sudden phone call from my doctor, and the tone in her voice wasn’t the least bit comforting. “I have important news,” she said, “but it’s best discussed in person. Can you and Victor come to the Immortal hospital right away?”

  I rushed out the door in a panic. What could be wrong? Should I tell Victor? No, I reasoned, not wanting to worry him till I had more details. My hands shook as I grabbed the keys; a million questions ran through my mind, a thousand worst-case scenarios, and I could not wait to get there so I could find out what was going on. I drove in a blur, not even realizing it, and when I got to the door of the doctor’s office, I sucked in a breath as I knocked on the door.

  “Come on in,” Dr. Meyers said. She was dressed in the typical white lab coat, and she had a stethoscope slung around her neck.

  I sat down in the leather chair and crossed my legs. “What seems to be the problem, Doctor?” I asked, realizing how cliché it sounded but not caring one bit.

  “First, thank you for coming,” she said, shutting the door. “Victor isn’t with you?”

  “No. He had to work. I have about two weeks’ worth of pills left, so surely that’s not why you wanted to see me.”

  She sat down and met my gaze. “You should have brought Victor with you, Sarah.”

  “I know you said to bring him, but I didn’t want to worry him or take him away from work until I know what’s going on,” I explained, biting my lip nervously. “Please don’t beat around the bush, Doctor. Can you just tell me what’s going on?”

  She crossed her hands on the desk and pressed her lips into grim lines, indicating that the news was not good. “Sarah...”

  “What?” I said, trying to keep my voice from wavering.

  “There’s no easy way to say this,” she said.

  I cocked a brow, prodding her to get on with it.

  “I’ve been going over all your tests and blood work.” She fumbled with the stack of papers in front of her. “There’s no doubt that the pills have saved your life, but...well, they are also working in combination with the baby you’re carrying in your womb.”

  “Huh? I-I don’t understand.”

  “According to Victor, most Immortals from your world who go through bouts of unstable energy when their new power emerges die. In fact, you’ve miraculously outlived them all.”

  “Because of the pills, right?” I said.

  “Yes, but that is not the only reason. It’s also because of your baby. He is Immortal, and he is taking the brunt of the energy. In most cases, that energy would have already killed him.”

  I gasped.

  “In your case, though, the medication, along with the fact that you are carrying another Immortal within you, has, in effect, saved your life,” she continued.

  “That’s a good thing, right? I mean, I have survived.”

  “Yes, but...well, Sarah, when you have that baby, the pills will no longer be enough to sustain you. The moment you deliver, the energy will hit you like a tidal wave.”

  “And?”

  “And, according to all our research, you will...die,” she said softly.

  “What if you had delivered him like you wanted to?” I asked. “When I was rescued off the mountain? You wanted to take him then, but Victor wouldn’t let you. You said delivering him would save my life.”

  “You would have died then as well, Sarah, but I had no way of knowing that. Until we got these test results back, I had no idea what was going on with you or why you were still alive. We don’t deal with this kind of thing that often, and I’m no expert in it.”

  The room suddenly grew hotter. I tried to breathe as everything spun around me.

  “Sarah, are you okay?”

  “How much time?” I demanded to know. “How much time will I have with my baby?”

  “Five minutes at the most.”

  I knew it! I knew those pills were just a freaking placebo, a temporary fix, like putting a Band-Aid on an amputated limb. Have I been selfish to think I could have a happy life with wonderful husband who loves me more than life itself? Can Victor raise our baby without me? It saddened me to know that my baby would never remember me.

  Dr. Meyers went to great lengths to show me the tests and explain in detail how the energy worked and what was going on inside my body.

  Everything was a blur, though, and I fought not to break down and fall on the floor in a crying heap right in front of her. It took everything in me, but I stayed strong and convinced myself there had to be another way.

  Then, the tears started flowing. “My son will never know his mother, never know me?” That hurt more than anything. I sobbed and fell to my knees, not caring what Dr. Meyers thought. I was in my own little world, stricken by overwhelming grief with the realization that these nine months of pregnancy would be the only time my son and I would ever have. “I just...it doesn’t feel real,” I said. “Two years ago, I was a normal person. I mean, sure, I was chasing down sasquatches and urban legends, but I was living a relatively normal life. Then, in a whirlwind of events, I ended up Immortal, and it’s taken everything away from me. I hate it!”

  Dr. Meyers embraced me in a tight hug.

  Tears flowed down my face. “I just want to be normal. I don’t want unstable energy. I want to see my child grow up. I want to see him graduate from high school and college. I want to see him kiss his bride on his wedding day. I want to hold my grandchildren in my arms. And I want to do all of this with Victor by my side.” I was angry and sad all at once as I spouted, “I don’t want to die, Doctor! It isn’t fair! My family deserves better than this. I deserve better!”

  “Sarah, my lab and my team of scientists are working and researching everything right now.” She gripped my hand, hope shining in her eyes. “We won’t give up on you.”

  “No Immortal has ever been forced to have to spend nine months inside a womb with dangerous energy coursing through his veins. Will anything happen to my baby?”

  “We don’t know. This is uncharted territory.”

  “That kind of energy has to have some kind of effect on him, doesn’t it?” I asked. “I mean, pregnant women aren’t even supposed to drink coffee, so what the hell must this be doing to my little Alexander?”

  “We just don’t know.”

  Then, all of the sudden, the vision from the cave flooded my mind. My jaw dropped as everything clicked in my brain.

  “What is it?” Dr. Meyers asked.

  “In the paintings on the cave wall, my son had incredible powers at a young age. Victor told me that children don’t have Immortal powers, but our Alexander was able to destroy cities. We assumed that was why Ethano wanted him so badly.” I had told Dr. Meyers my entire story, from becoming an Immortal to the drama with Ethano, so I hoped she would understand. My medical history file in her office read more like a fantasy novel, but I wanted her to know all the details so she’d have the best chance at treating me successfully.

  “The unstable energy will give him powers like no other,” she said. “I suppose that could have something to do with what you saw.”

  “An old, wise woman told me that my son will either take after his father, who comes from a long line of tyrants, or that he will be like his mother, who has a heart of gold.”

  “He will choose good or evil and use his power for the cause he chooses?”

  I nodded. “Yes.

  “So...you’re creating history. An Immortal baby has never survived nine months of unstable energy. If Alexander survives, he will most certainly be gifted with unspeakable powers from all that exposure.” She took a deep breath. “But, Sarah, that could mean more trouble for your boy. While I hate to admit it, the sad state of affairs is that the Immortals in my world could have the same selfish, power-hungry agendas as Ethano.”

  “Then we’ll just have to keep his powers a secret,” I said.

  “If they find out about him, they will never stop. For that reason, I don’t think you should come here, to this Immo
rtal hospital anymore. It is far too risky.”

  “But I need your help, and—”

  “Then I’ll just have to start making house calls, won’t I?” she said with a wink.

  “But what if I need tests?”

  “Then we’ll sneak you in during the night, and I’ll personally administer whatever tests you need.”

  “Dr. Meyers, why are you helping me?” I asked.

  She sighed. “Sarah, I know I really have no obligation to you, but I want to leave this world a better place than it was when I found it. I want to feel as if I’ve made a difference and touched lives. Also, there is the simple fact that I really, truly like you and Victor and your family.”

  “I like you too,” I said.

  “You and I are kindred spirits, as I have a deep compassion for helping people, just like you do—a heart of gold, I suppose you could say. I even help those who haven’t the financial means to pay for medical services. I do this for a living because I’m good at it and because I love it more than anything else. Nobody cares about people more than me.”

  “Thank you,” I whispered, barely able to hear my own voice over the drumming of my heart.

  “Sarah, I am so touched by your story and everything you have been through. This child will be a miracle, and I am honored to play some small part in bringing him safely into the world.”

  My hands felt clammy, and a dull, painful panic tugged at my gut. “But he won’t have his mother.”

  She gripped my hand. “As it stands now, that is what we have to believe, but we mustn’t ever give up hope.”

  A deep frown crossed her features, and when it did, something dropped in the pit of my stomach. Realization kicked in, and I didn’t like it one little bit. That’s it. I’m really going to die. The doctor has just given me less than a few weeks to live. “I will try to hang on to hope, Doctor, but can you do me a favor? Can you make me a promise?”

  “Sure. Anything.”

  I tried to be brave, tried not to cry, but the thought of my son living without me was making me an emotional mess. “If I don’t make it, when my son is old enough to understand, will you tell him how much I loved him?”

  The sadness in her face was evident. “I will, Sarah. I promise.”