She could feel Victor following right behind her. A moment later, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her up in a tight embrace, forcing her to turn and face him. A tiny flicker appeared in his heated gaze. She turned away, avoiding it because she couldn’t risk weakening her resolve. Her heart melted as the dragon stumbled to its feet and slowly flapped its wings, letting out a low wail. The creature would live to take care of her young, and nothing was more beautiful than that.
“The dragon’s waking! Come!” Victor yelled.
Lana nodded and morphed back into a dragon in a brilliant burst of light.
As they flew off, Sarah watched the creature lumber back into the cave, probably to check on her little ones. And for the first time ever since entering this world, Sarah felt sadness at the thought of leaving soon, even though she knew there was no way she’d ever stay. She had connected with Victor in a special way that night at the waterfall. This marriage could work if he’d come home with me. And she hoped she could talk him into coming back to her world. The thought of leaving without him made her sick.
* * *
Smoky incense drifted through the air, tickling Sarah’s nose. Monks chanting prayers in perfect unison echoed from the walls of the massive stone building in front of them.
Victor gripped Sarah’s hand tightly as they raced up the terraced steps to the Immortal courtroom.
Suddenly, a man dressed in black robes grabbed his arm. “You shouldn’t be here!” the tall man said, leaning against the marble pillar, his long blond hair held in a ponytail. “You’re scheduled for death. We need to hide you!”
Victor turned slowly, regarding him. “No, dear friend. I have something to bargain with. King Taggert is a good man. He will pardon us when I show him what I have to offer.”
The man looked from Sarah to Victor, then to the ground, as though he wasn’t sure whether to share what was on his mind. Even before he spoke, Sarah knew he had bad news to share. “King Taggert is minutes from death. He just handed over the entire kingdom to Ethano. I’m afraid no bargaining will do you any good now.”
Victor hesitated. “Has Ethano been officially crowned?”
The man nodded. “It’s happening now.”
“Until that crown rests on his brow, there is still time to stop it!” Victor said firmly.
“We don’t have a moment to spare,” Sarah whispered. “Let’s go.”
Victor squeezed his eyes shut, and for a moment, the air around them trembled. Some dark shadow moved across the sky, and an instant later, Sarah heard a soft groan escape Victor’s mouth. His forehead creased in concentration, only to smooth again. “Okay,” he said. “The guards are down.”
Sarah guessed they weren’t kidding when people told her he was one of the most powerful Immortals in their kingdom.
They sped inside the building, past the armed knights who lay unconscious on the floor. A choir of gasps echoed all around them as Victor and Sarah burst through the heavy doors of the courtroom.
Ethano knelt down as an elderly priest in a long, flowing garment, a gold cross, and a high, broad-brimmed hat placed a gold crown on his head, whispering, “Ethano, I grant you the Crown of Immortality.”
Blinking several times, Sarah peered at the familiar large room. It looked just like the one in her vision: rows of wooden benches lining the far side of the wall. On the opposite side, the last rays of sunlight fell through tall bay windows and cast a golden glow on the dusty stone floor. A wrought-iron chandelier held countless white candles high above the center of the room. Straight ahead was a rectangular window, the length of the room, with a stone, life-sized dragon perched on the windowsill. Red eyes, made from rubies, stared back at her. Real fire burned out of its mouth, like some kind of fancy torch. The groups of onlookers seemed like something out of a movie set, costumed in deep green and dark burgundy clothes that seemed to echo their dark facial expressions. With contempt, they scowled at the intruders for busting in on such a private moment.
The chanting stopped, and the priest was first to break the foreboding silence, his eyes throwing daggers. “What is the meaning of this? You should be ashamed, breaking the ceremony willed by the Lord. Victor, you, of all people, should know that a sacred ceremony such as this is to be honored and respected.”
A falcon landed on the marble windowsill and let out a long cackle, drawing everyone’s attention to it for a split second. The bird’s eyes met Sarah’s in a long and meaningful stare, and Sarah knew the bird was none other but Lana, observing the proceedings.
Victor bowed deeply before the priest. “Father, it was not my intention to dishonor our ancestor’s traditions, but in this case, I bring the most wonderful news! I have found a way to save our dear King Taggert’s life.”
Standing up, Ethano’s jaw dropped.
Sarah moistened her lips as she regarded his every move intently. Clearly, he was caught off guard, and she couldn’t help but grin at his shocked expression.
The priest shook his head. “I am sorry, Victor, but it is too late for our great king. He will be remembered dearly, but all must now respect the one he has chosen to take his throne.”
Victor bowed and repeated, “I’m sorry, Father, but I have a way to save our king’s life!”
“Victor, you are already marked for death for your crimes, and even if you were not, you know the penalty for interrupting a crowning ceremony. Either way, you must pay dearly,” said the priest, pushing up his glasses.
“Aren’t you a man of the cloth?” Victor pleaded with him. “Aren’t you a man who wants to see justice prevail? Ethano has been plotting to take over this kingdom for some time now. He had a cure in his hands, yet he didn’t lift a finger to save our king.”
Murmurs and whispers erupted.
Ethano shook a finger at a group of knights lined against the wall. “Arrest them!”
The priest cleared his throat and motioned at the soldiers. “Wait! I want to hear what Victor has to say.”
The soldiers hesitated, unconvinced, but followed his command nonetheless.
“Ethano is a con artist!” Sarah shouted. “We found the Gold Minerals of Life and were in the process of bringing them back to heal King Taggert. Ethano knew this, but he stabbed Victor in the heart with a Guardian’s poison, then stole the minerals from us. Did he even offer a cure to the king?” she demanded.
Ethano’s voice echoed across the chamber. “They’re delusional, Father! I would never hurt Victor or his wife, and I’d never stand in the way of King Taggert’s healing if I had a way to help him!”
The priest shook his head. “The Gold Minerals of Life are nothing but a myth, Highness.”
Holding the small pouch high in the air, Victor shook his head slowly. “No! That’s not true. I have them right here in my possession.”
The gathering drew a sharp breath in unison.
“We can save King Taggert’s life,” Sarah said. “We have the cure!”
A murmur echoed through the crowd, and countless pairs of eyes turned on Ethano, scrutinizing him up and down.
For a moment, he just stood there, frozen to the spot, his brows furrowed as he considered his options.
Sarah held her breath, wondering whether he’d turn on them or play the sympathy card.
Eventually, his gaze scanned his people, and she knew which way he’d go. “I care so deeply about our king,” he said sweetly, venom dripping from his voice. “After being loyal to him for hundreds of years, surely you must all know that I’d do anything to save his life.”
“Then prove it!” Victor said. “Let me give him the Gold Minerals of Life.”
“Let Victor administer the minerals! We will know soon enough if his words are true! The king is already doomed, so it cannot hurt to try!” a woman shouted.
Other people joined her, as no one wanted to tell King Taggert goodbye. If there was a chance they could save him, they were willing to try it.
A smug look crept across Ethano’s face. “Fine. I give
you permission to go to our king and give him the precious minerals. His wellbeing is my first concern.”
Sarah knew exactly why he had that smug look on his face: He had tried the stolen minerals out himself and had found them to be ineffective. He assumed Victor’s were the same type that he possessed. She couldn’t wait to see his expression when he realized they had found the real Gold Minerals of Life. He was waiting to prove Victor wrong, but in the end, he would play the fool.
“Time is of utmost importance,” said the priest. “Go! If what you say is true, then save our beloved king. I order everyone else to stay put until we know whether to continue this ceremony or not.”
Victor’s gaze darted to Sarah. “Can you wait here, my love? I promise I’ll be right back.”
She nodded. “Just hurry.”
He nodded back before disappearing through the courtroom doors.
Sarah decided she should go with him, but as she took a step, Ethano yanked her arm, pulling her back.
“He said to stay put, and that includes you,” he said. “When those useless minerals don’t work, your head will be on the chopping block. You may as well stay here and face your fate.”
Sarah scowled, yanking her arm away as she hissed, “You’re the scum of the Earth. I can’t believe you’d let your beloved king die just so you can take his power and kingdom. You’re pathetic, Ethano. You don’t deserve the power you hold because you don’t even have a heart!”
“No.” He shook his head slightly, the same smug smile from before returning. “Pathetic will be the long look on your face seconds before your head leaves your neck, courtesy of your new king, and guess who that will be.” He leaned in to whisper in her ear, “Me.”
Chapter 16
Nearly an hour had passed, and Victor had not returned. Chills slid down Sarah’s spine as thoughts raced across her mind. Did Ethano’s knights have Victor stopped before he even reached King Taggert? she worried, as she’d already seen the chaos Ethano and his men were capable of.
Footsteps echoed outside the door just before it burst open. Sarah’s mouth dropped as she met the eyes of Frank, Beth, Adam, and Steven. They took small, short steps in their restraints. Their wrists were bound in heavy black chains, and there were rusty shackles secured tightly around their ankles. The doors opened wider, and more people were ushered in. Della desperately gripped William’s hand as tears streamed down her face. Lana’s husband squirmed in his chains as a soldier shoved him forward. Every Immortal wore a red metal collar; Sarah was sure it was some kind of device to keep them from using their powers. Liz nuzzled her head into Charles’s shoulder, as if for comfort.
“Liz!” shouted Sarah.
She turned, pulling at her chained wrists as if she could break free.
Knights marched all of them up the pathway to the front of the courtroom.
Sarah stepped toward them, tears welling up in her eyes, but Ethano yanked her back, gripping her wrist tightly.
“Your little minerals didn’t work!” he hissed. “They’re here for trial, to be followed by execution. You will watch their heads roll one by one before I take yours!”
Sarah held back a sob, recalling the horrific vision of the future that now looked quite like the present. Has the future already been set, with no way to change it? Her heart thrummed. Where is Victor? What is taking him so long?
The doors burst open as a towering man walked in. He wore his blond hair loose on his shoulders, and a gold crown adorned with blue and red jewels sat on his head. A white ruffled linen shirt clung to his muscular frame. He looked the part—a medieval king, complete with black leggings, brown boots, and a fur-trimmed cape that trailed behind him. Everyone in the courtroom gasped, followed by cries, shouts, and laughter.
“Long live the king! Long live the king! Long live the king!” the crowd chanted over and over. The emotion in their voice said it all: They adored their beloved king.
More tears welled up in Sarah’s eyes as she watched the strong man take back his life and his throne. He had been on death’s door only moments earlier, but now, thanks to her and Victor and Lana, he’d been given a second chance at life.
His chiseled face lit up as hazel eyes sparkled. He caught Sarah’s gaze. “Thank you, Sarah, for finding the Gold Minerals of Life.”
A tear streamed down her face as she bowed. “You’re welcome, Your Majesty.”
“King Taggert!” Ethano ran to the king’s feet and fell into a bow. “You are well, my King, and we couldn’t be happier.”
Sarah was sure the king was far to wise to fall for Ethano’s act, and even if he wasn’t, she was sure Victor had filled him in.
The king straightened his stance. “I know how you’ve been plotting Victor’s death and chasing poor Sarah in the name of Kardashian justice. Ethano, in your cruelty you have been hoping and praying that the court would find her guilty so she would be executed, eliminating Victor and making room for you on my throne!”
“No, Your Highness. NO! I only hunted Sarah to bring her to justice. She has broken our ancient laws, and she needs to die like Elizabeth Larker. Everyone on the council has already agreed.”
“Oh, but Ethano, your trackers killed an innocent Immortal by mistake.”
“We didn’t know, sir, and was it any better for William to cover up the murder by having Elizabeth Larker secure Princess Gloria’s identity? His deceit cannot go unpunished in a fair and just kingdom!”
“I broke no rules!” yelled King William. “I only saved another woman and my only son from being slaughtered.”
Ethano turned, motioning toward him. “One of his soldiers told me back in his barn, he tried to kill Sarah with a sword in order to kill Victor.”
King Taggert nodded. “Yes, but that was in self-defense. He knew Victor would destroy him once he obtained his position as king of the Immortals. They have worked to make peace, something you are obviously unfamiliar with. As for you, Ethano, you pursued the deaths of Sarah and Victor—and even me—to gain my kingdom!” His voice thundered, “You wanted me dead! It pains me to know that you thought you had the Gold Minerals of Life in your hand, yet you refused to try to use them to save my life.”
“Highness, that is only because I knew they were fake! How can you believe them over me?” Ethano asked, glaring at Sarah and Victor.
“Enough of your lies and manipulation, Ethano! I will not hear another word of it! Once I was cured, I did a glimpse into the future myself, and I learned from your very own mouth that you were the one who has been slowly poisoning me all this time with the saliva from the Guardians.”
“No! I—” Ethano started, but the king’s booming voice silenced him.
“Guards, arrest this sorry excuse for a man, and take this unworthy trash out of here.”
“They are liars!” screamed Ethano as knights dragged him out, kicking and screaming like a child throwing a tantrum.
King Taggert walked to the first two rows of people. “I don’t have the power to save these people on my own, but I wish to set every single one of them free. They have saved my life, and I am indebted to them forever. All in favor of releasing them, please raise your hands.”
One by one, everyone raised their hands.
“By the order of the Kardashian Court, I hereby pardon these prisoners.” A twinkle glittered in King Taggert’s eye. “They are free to leave, and the humans and Sarah are free to go back to their own world.”
A knight released the collar Lana’s husband wore. In a burst of light, he turned into a hawk and flew out through an open window, along with the other hawk who’d been perched on the sill all that time.
King Taggert smiled. He put a long crystal necklace on Sarah, Frank, and everyone in her research team. “This will keep you safe from the Guardians in the forest while my men escort you through,” said King Taggert. “Go to the portal in peace.” He looked at the surrounding knights. “Release these men and women from these chains.”
King William bowed. “Thank
you, my King.” He grabbed Della’s hand and rushed out of the courtroom without wasting a second. On his way out, he glanced over his shoulder and called for Liz and Charles.
Liz shook her head. “No, Father. I’m not going home yet. I must…I need to see my sister off.”
He nodded. “In that case, my child, be sure to wear a crystal necklace too.”
“I will, Father.”
Victor patted King Taggert on the back. “You look well, Highness, and we can’t thank you enough.”
“Thank you all, for I shall never forget this wonderful deed you have done for me. I owe you my life, Victor, for you gave up the most powerful title in our world to save it. There are horses outside to take you to your destination. Now go.”
Victor bowed. “Loyalty and friendship to you, my King, mean far more to me.”
King Taggert gripped his shoulders. “There is no one in this kingdom as loyal as you.”
Victor bowed one last time.
Sarah rushed over and threw her arms around Victor. “It’s over! It’s really over! My life’s not on the line anymore. Liz doesn’t have to hide and pretend she’s Princess Gloria, and I…I can go home, Victor!”
Victor shook his head. “But, Sarah, you can’t leave.”
She broke their embrace and turned to King Taggert. “Everything’s working out wonderfully. If you just tell me how to get this ring off, everything will be perfect.”
The king met her gaze. “My dear, there’s no way the ring will ever come off your finger. You’re Immortal now…forever.”
Eternal Destiny Page 15
