I motioned for the healer and Mia to follow me. The door creaked open as I pushed on it, and I glanced around in the dim light resulting from the flicker of blazing torches. To the left I could see a figure lying on the ground in the haystacks. “Frank?” I said.
A moan echoed in the air, and the figure sat up.
“I came the second I found out you were here,” I said. “Why did you come back through the portal, Frank?”
The figure spun around and laughed sadistically. “I didn’t…and I’m not Frank.”
I found myself staring into the face of Ethano. His dark blond hair was pulled back into a long ponytail, and his hazel eyes were as cold as ever.
“Hello, Sarah,” he said, grinning victoriously.
My stomach lurched as I realized the entire thing was a farce.
He stood, easily towering over me. “You were so easily fooled, my dear. Pitiful, if you ask me.”
Yep. He got me—hook, line, and sinker. I yelled for the soldiers as the temple door slammed shut in my face, thanks to an invisible hand.
He laughed. “No use, Highness. What good is a sleeping army anyway? Sad, really, that they aren’t even living up to their duty to protect you,” his voice rang in a mocking tone.
“Mia!”
“Oh, but she’s napping too, along with that puny old healer.”
I was sure then that he’d put them in a sleep-like state, just as I’d seen Victor do before. It was some relief to know he hadn’t killed them—at least not yet—but I still felt like an idiot for so easily falling into his trap.
“It was so easy to draw you here. I knew you couldn’t resist rescuing your old flame, your lover. Why, you even disobeyed your beloved Victor’s orders to stay in the castle. I wonder what poor Victor would think,” Ethano said.
I inched back. “What do you want from me?”
He met my gaze straight on. “It isn’t that I want anything from you, Sarah. What I want is you. You will make for quite a fitting sacrifice.”
The thought made me shudder. “You brought me here to be sacrificed?”
“Do not worry, dear girl. I promise I will make your death quick and swift.”
I took a few more steps back. This guy’s nuts, and I need to stall him before he knocks me out or something. There has to be a way out of here. “If I’m gonna die, then at least tell me why. What’s going on, Ethano?”
“I had to disconnect your life force from Victor,” he said casually. “It has to be done twelve hours prior to the stars aligning with the giant symbol on top of the temple.”
“So why didn’t you just take me when you had the chance?” I asked.
“The spell doesn’t work that way. It requires that you enter the temple of your own free will, even if your visit is based on trickery.”
“You needed me to come in voluntarily?” I said.
He smiled. “I’ve always known you are a smart girl. I could’ve disconnected you without you ever seeing my face, but I wanted Victor to know I’m on the loose so he’d immediately leave the castle to look for me. That way, I could capture him.”
“What!? You have Victor?” I shouted, my voice filling with emotion.
He nodded, and a proud, smug look came over his face. “Yes…and Elizabeth too.”
“Where? What have you done with them?” I demanded to know.
He shook his head. “My, my, it was difficult to coordinate all of this, but Elizabeth came to the temple of her own free will too. I had to accomplish it all before the star of Bartara and Semtina meet on the horizon before midnight. Some of my priests said it couldn’t be done, but I proved them wrong!”
“I suppose you’re quite proud of yourself,” I retorted, shaking my head at him in disgust.
“Yes, and rightfully so. Truth be told, it was almost too easy. I was hoping for a challenge, but Mia’s naïve mind is so easily manipulated. It was simple to make her think she saw a bleeding Frank, but you shouldn’t worry about the lover you betrayed. He’s safe in his own world. Why would he dare risk his neck to come back for you after the way you treated him? Perhaps you should have thought of that before you fell for my scheme.”
My heart sank as I recalled mine and Frank’s parting. He’d left without even saying goodbye or turning around to make sure I was with him. “I will not discuss my love life with you. It’s none of your business!” I glanced around for a weapon. I was sure nothing there would do any good against such a powerful man, but I couldn’t go down without a fight.
Ethano motioned around the room. “Sure, go ahead, my dear. Have a good look around this empty, dusty temple. Look close enough, and you’ll see that we’re not alone. What you are seeing now is nothing more than an illusion.”
I swallowed hard. “What?”
“Would you like to see the real picture? The one I’m hiding from your eyes? The truth is, there’s quite an audience here to watch this drama unfold.”
“What are you talking about?” I glanced around but didn’t see anyone in the room.
“This!”
My feet suddenly left the floor, and I started to float upward just a few inches. I used every ounce of my Immortal strength to pound the force field, to no avail. I blinked in disbelief as I hovered in midair, enclosed in some kind of bubble.
Chapter 5
Ethano lifted his hands, and the wind blew as the room morphed. It was the same temple room, but it was suddenly occupied by dozens of chanting priests in black, hooded robes. Thousands of candles shone brightly all around the room. As I focused, I could see ancient symbols intricately woven and carved deep into the wax.
Ethano was dressed in the same ominous black robe as the others. He grinned wickedly at me, and I feared whatever he had in store for me. “I shall mourn your loss, my dear Queen. It seems like such a waste,” he said, caressing my cheek without my permission. I then floated to the top of the room in my makeshift prison.
“Sarah!” Liz flailed as she tried to break free from her invisible prison. She was about twenty-five feet away, hovering next to me in a bubble of her own.
I held out my hand and gazed into her terrified eyes. “Liz?”
“Wh-what’s going on?” she asked. “Is this some kind of ceremony? Why are we here?”
“He says they’re going to…I’m going to be a sacrifice!” I said, my heart thundering.
“Look! There’s an altar below us.” Her voice wavered. She was terrified, aware of the danger we were in.
I glanced down and studied the intricately carved stone altar, covered in tiny flowers and leafy vines. My gaze shot to Liz as my stomach clenched. “We’ve gotta get outta here.”
“Shit! We’re going to die!” Liz yelled, her voice now hysterical as she frantically pounded against the force field that was holding her prisoner.
“Calm down, and let’s figure out a plan to get the hell out of here.”
She sucked in a deep breath, trying to take my advice. “But how? We’re trapped in these bubbles or whatever they are, and Ethano’s somehow paralyzing our powers?”
“Don’t give up, Liz,” I said. “We’ll figure this out.”
“I know, but it sure doesn’t look good right now, does it?” She placed her hand against the force field and met my gaze through the flickering candlelight. “I’m not ready to die yet. I’m too young, and—”
“Don’t say that,” I whispered. “We’re not going to die. Not here and not today.”
“There’s so much more I want to accomplish with my life,” she said. “Being Immortal, I guess I’ve never worried much about death, but I can feel its icy grip, ready to steal my soul the second I cease to breathe.” She blinked and continued. “You shouldn’t even be here. You should have gone back home, through the portal. You’re only here, on the verge of death, because I begged you to stay in this world. I’m so sorry, Sarah. I had no idea it would mean a death sentence for you.” Her eyes welled with tears. “I’m so, so sorry.”
I touched the force field.
“This isn’t your fault, Liz. It’s Ethano’s.”
“They’ll either behead us or kill us with poison from the Guardians,” she whispered.
“Do you know what kind of ceremony this is?” I asked, gazing down at the hooded priests.
“I don’t know anything about dark magic,” she said, “but they’ve been chanting for hours, long before you ever arrived. I’ve been trying to hold it together, but fear of the unknown really freaks me out.”
“This is all about revenge,” I breathed out. “I exposed Ethano to King Taggert, and now the asshole is out for blood.”
“Well, I’ve never done anything to the guy, so what’s his beef with me?”
“You’re my sister.” I sucked in a trembling breath as I stared at the altar Ethano planned to use to sacrifice me. I shuddered. I had thought Ethano had disconnected my bond with Victor so he could kidnap me and keep me away from Victor. That would have been the perfect revenge. But I knew now that that assumption way off basis. The symbol he’d burned into my chest could have been to purify me for the ceremony, with the broken bond being just a fringe benefit for him. I wasn’t sure, and none of it made much sense to me.
“Oh my gosh!” Liz screamed.
When I followed her horrified gaze downward, I saw the love of my life lying down on top of the altar. “Victor!” I screamed, flailing against the invisible wall.
“He’s going to sacrifice Victor first,” Liz said.
I couldn’t breathe. I was numb and in utter shock.
The priests chanted louder in some ancient language, then shuffled in their robes to gather in a circle around the altar.
“The magic circle has been established!” shouted the high priest as soon as they were all assembled.
Another priest walked to Ethano and handed him a gold dagger. Ethano cut his own wrist and dripped a crimson river of his blood over Victor’s chest. “Out of the magical circle comes the magic dagger!” He held up the blade—the same one he’d used to cut me—with one hand. “Give me the abilities I ask for.”
The candles flickered, and the wind howled all around us.
One priest held a sliver goblet filled with a red liquid that I assumed was wine. He took a drink and passed it to the next priest on his right, who followed suit. The passing and drinking of the chalice continued around the entire circle, and when they’d all had a sip, the head priest slowly walked around the altar and poured droplets of the red liquid on the stone floor. It was then that I realized it wasn’t wine at all, for it was far too thick and bright red. Is that…human blood? Oh gosh! My stomach clenched again, and I thought I might fill the bottom of my bubble with vomit.
When the high priest kissed the goblet and lifted it with both hands toward the ceiling, shouting some strange gibberish, a ring of fire immediately blazed around the altar, but not a hair on Victor’s head was singed.
A priest dipped the dagger into a bowl of serum, and my heart sank. They’re gonna poison us! I remember how horrible it felt when Victor was poisoned, and I couldn’t allow it to happen again. There has to be a way out of this nightmare!
As if he’d overheard my desperate thoughts, Ethano shot me an evil, triumphant smile. Lifting his arms high into the air, he thrust the poisoned dagger straight into Victor’s heart.
My world came to a crashing halt. My stomach lurched, and I screamed bloody murder. Terror and grief struck through me like a lightning bolt, and I couldn’t breathe. I blinked, hoping I’d wake up and realize it was all a bad dream, but I knew it wasn’t. “No!” I screamed so loudly that every face stopped their chanting to stare at me. I pounded on the invisible bubble that was holding me. If I break free, Ethano’s a dead man! I vowed.
Black shadows flitted around the room, and the candles were blown out by a mighty gust of wind. Darkness enveloped the room, until I couldn’t see a thing.
“Liz!”
“What’s going on?” she asked.
Suddenly, a beam of brilliant light shot up from the altar and encompassed my sister; a second later, another grabbed me. The brilliant, blazing energy bounced all around me, brighter than a hundred suns. I covered my eyes as I struggled to breath, as if something—some unseen, volatile force—was sucking the life out of me. It literally felt like an elephant was sitting on top of me, and I didn’t know how much longer I could hold on. I was slowly being crushed to death, and there was nothing I could do about it. I tried to look at Liz, but I couldn’t. “Liz!” I screamed in my head.
Then, as quickly as it had come, it disappeared. I sucked in a big, giant lungful of air. A burning sensation flooded my body as sharp jabs of tiny pins and needles prickled my skin.
“What happened?” Ethano roared.
The priest slammed a book shut, and his lips pressed into a grim line. “The connection was broken.”
“But why?” Ethano demanded to know. “We’ve spent months preparing for this ceremony. It was all perfect. I personally made sure! The queen and princess are connected by blood, and we have…” He didn’t finish his thought, but I knew he was about to say king.
We were caught up in some ancient ceremony, and they needed our blood. Everything was a blur as the cruel reality hit me. I couldn’t think straight as tears streamed down my face. I watched the priests rush around the altar while others flipped desperately through the pages of the book. Something had gone terribly wrong, but I had no idea what.
My world crashed down around me, and thoughts flooded my mind. I remembered the first time I had laid eyes on Victor in the forest. I remembered those blazing blue eyes, his dark hair fluttering in the wind. I remembered our first kiss that nearly took my breath, how we danced at the festival, laughing as we spun each other around. I could almost feel the wind blowing though my hair, racing through the forest on a unicorn. I especially remembered him making love to me by the waterfall, under the stars.
I was an emotional volcano, and I had exploded. Tears streamed down my cheeks as the bittersweet memories rolled across my head. Our wedding played out across my mind…
The priest nodded. “King Victor Fesque II, wilt thou have this woman to be thy wedded wife? Wilt thou love her, honor her, keep her, and guard her, in health and in sickness, as a husband should a wife, forsaking all others? Wilt thou cling only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?”
Victor met my eyes and smiled. “I will.”
“Princess Gloria Jarod, wilt thou have this man to be thy wedded husband? Wilt thou love him, honor him, keep him, and guard him, in health and in sickness, as a wife should a husband, forsaking all others? Wilt though cleave only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?”
“I will,” I answered.
The priest continued, “Do you take Princess Gloria Jarod to be your wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness, and in health, till death do you part, if the Holy Church doth ordain it? And thereto plight her thy troth?”
Victor smiled, flashing those gorgeous white teeth. “I do.”
The priest turned and repeated the vows to me. When I agreed, he said a blessing, then joined our hands together. “The third finger on the left hand has a special vein called vena amoris, the vein of love. This vein runs from the ring finger directly to the heart. The special ring that is placed upon this finger is the symbol of the sun, Earth, and universe, and it represents perfection and peace. It has no beginning and no end, just like time. The rubies represent love, and the diamonds signify eternity,” said the priest, nodding to the sparkling gems set in a gold band.” He turned to the king. “You may pledge your allegiance to your love and undying devotion.
When he handed me a matching ring, I looked closer and noticed that Victor’s ruby was square, making it look more masculine.
“Put the ring on Victor’s finger,” the priest whispered.
With trembling hands, I slid the ring on his finger and gazed up at his beaming face.
“We’ve done it,” Victor whisp
ered.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife,” the priest said. “My King, you may kiss your queen.”
“You’re mine now—forever. Our bond is unbreakable, the spark between us never to be quenched.”
In slow motion, I remembered his face lowering onto mine, our lips barely touching, his hand wandering to the low of my back, drawing me closer, my chest pressing against his as his lips came down harder, though with nowhere near as much force as I would’ve expected from such a man…
A flame spread over me, spanning from the tips of my toes to the top of my head.
Victor dismissed the priest, and I let out a breath of relief. His mouth hovered over my lips, his hot breath giving me goosebumps. “I’m so blessed to have a bride as beautiful as you.” Victor’s eyes bore down into mine. “I’ve been burning to touch you, to hold you, to kiss you since the moment I laid eyes upon you.” He slipped his hands behind the back of my head and pulled me even closer. He kissed me again, more deeply this time, pushing past my lips and plunging his tongue deep into my mouth…
“Sarah!” Liz yelled. “I’m so sorry.”
I screamed as shudders rocked my body. The love of my life is…dead? How could this be happening?
Again, memories flooded my mind…
“Are you trying to seduce me?” I whispered, shivers racing down my spine. “If you are, it’s not working.”
“No?” His lips lowered ever so gently onto mine, his black hair caressing my face where it touched my skin. “How does a man seduce his own wife then?”
“You mean your pretend wife. I don’t even know you.” I cringed inwardly at how low my voice sounded, how breathless, betraying how much I wanted him to keep going and ignore my halfhearted attempts to refuse his advances.
He smiled. “That is an easy problem to solve, as we have hundreds of years to get to know each other.”
“But we did everything right,” a priest protested, cutting through my thoughts.
Another priest shut the book. “The connection is broken between Elizabeth and Charles.”
Eternal Fire - Book 3 of The Ruby Ring Saga Page 5
