The Temple of Indra’s Jewel:

by Rachael Stapleton

  “From your explanations of travel, could this be how they won?”

  “Maybe, but it makes my brain hurt just to consider that. The strange part is, there was no mention of the Comte de Chalais in any of the history books.”

  “What are you looking for?” asked Viktor.

  “A clue, I guess. Ah, here it is, a drawing. But I really don’t understand what it is.” I passed the book to Viktor. He studied it, turning pages and flipping it around in all directions.

  “There’s a drawing on this page.” He paused to show me, and I recognized the drawing I’d seen earlier.

  “I couldn’t make out what it was.”

  “There’s another two pages later, similarly angled. It almost looks like—” His voice dropped off when he folded the pages so they came together to form a picture.

  Viktor handed it back to me, looking smug.

  “It’s a drawing of the glass.”

  “It looks like there should be a button underneath the lip,” he said, fingering the casing.

  I joined in, running my hands along the bottom.

  “I found it.” I pressed, feeling like Sherlock Holmes. The case began to shift, and a second tier rose out of the middle, revealing a huge pink diamond.

  Next to it lay a glowing purple, oval-cut amethyst. The light reflected off its multifaceted, egg-like shape in a way that entranced both of us.

  “That’s the Purple Delhi Sapphire?” I said aloud, just in time to catch Viktor reaching for it. “No. Viktor, don’t touch it.”

  “What? Why?”

  “I don’t know. It’s filled with magic. I think I know how the magic works, but I can’t be sure. I think I’m immune to it, but it seems to curse those who touch it. I don’t think it would affect you like it does Henri, but it might bring you bad luck, so let’s not chance it.”

  “Where did it come from?”

  “I told you earlier, a temple in India. Ironically, the temple of the Hindu god of war.”

  “I don’t recall most of what you said. I thought you were possessed at the time.”

  “Fair enough.” I smiled. “My take on it is that the theft of the jewel activated the curse, but the stone didn’t spellbind William Ferris. He was too strong. Instead it captivated Henri. What I don’t understand is how. He must have been near to touch it, but I don’t know when he got the chance. Anyway, what Henri doesn’t realize is how tricky the devil can be. There’s an incantation somewhere here.”

  I shivered as we stood there gazing at the jewel. I looked down at my hand and saw the jewel chips in my ring, mere pieces from the giant baubles I was now staring at.

  “Henri wants this jewel badly, but I don’t think even he fully understands its power.”

  Unwilling to chance holding the stone while reading it, I bent closer, inspecting the purple gem. I could see the carved incantation, but it was small. Be sosa der hamin atashi taze. I copied it down in Sapphira’s journal.

  “I wonder what it means.”

  “What do you have to do?” Viktor asked, interrupting my thoughts.

  “Get him to hold it while I read it. From what I understand, the jewel will pull his soul into it.”

  “Forgive me, but that’s sounds unbelievable. Like witchcraft.”

  “I know. If I wasn’t the one travelling through time I probably wouldn’t believe it possible either, but I’ve seen enough now to wholeheartedly have faith.”

  “Will he disappear when you speak the words?”

  “I don’t have all the answers, but it could be that it just makes him vulnerable in death. If he were to die, then his soul would remain trapped in the jewel instead of returning again to torture me. Either way I need to find a way to get him to hold it.”

  “Well, that shouldn’t be difficult, considering his desperation to attain it.”

  “Fingers crossed,” I mumbled, trying to memorize the words.

  “Hmm?” Viktor interrupted my thoughts.

  I looked up. “Never mind. I just mean I hope so. Do you think your shirt is dry? We should get back before my absence is noticed.”

  He crossed to the blazing hearth.

  “It’s dry enough.” He pulled the shirt on and buttoned it up. “What shall we do next?”

  I followed him, staring into the flames, enjoying the heat that flooded my face. I hadn’t realized how cold I was. He must have seen me shiver because he drew me close.

  “What happens if he gets his hands on it and you don’t read the incantation?”

  “That’s a good question. I don’t think anything would happen, unless he knows other incantations or spells that would allow him to manipulate the magic.”

  “You know them, then?”

  “No. Rochus controlled that. I just pray that Henri doesn’t either.” I paused, realizing something. “Maybe that’s why he tortured Rochus, for his book.”

  “Tortured. I only said he was arrested,” Viktor corrected.

  I looked down at my feet. “I know. I haven’t told you yet of my morning. Henri took me to an underground passage, under the gardens of Saint Martin. He tried to intimidate me into telling him where the Purple Sapphire was. Rochus was there, imprisoned. His eye has been cut out.”

  I felt the tears rolling down my cheeks before I could stop them. Viktor’s embrace grew tighter.

  “We’ll get him out, mein lieber. Don’t worry.”

  “I have to return to my room. I’m going to leave the jewel here for now so that I don’t run the risk of him getting his hands on it while I familiarize myself with these words. I know time is of the essence, but I need to memorize the incantation; otherwise I might mispronounce it and bugger everything up, and then we’d never get to return to our lives.”

  “You’ll go back then? When all this is over?”

  “I don’t think I have a choice.” I clung to his still-damp frame.

  Viktor looked down at me sadly. “I don’t want you to go.”

  “You’ll get Sapphira back. You won’t even know I’m gone. Maybe you won’t even remember any of this.” I was sad, but I looked forward to finding Cullen.

  Minutes later, we found ourselves weaving back through the tunnels.

  “This is where we must part,” I sighed, touching his cheek. “You need to warn the Prince’s royal guard. I’ll work on memorizing and pronouncing this spell.”

  Joy and sadness rushed in upon me.

  He held my face in both his hands. “No. What if Henri comes to you before you’ve had a chance to memorize it? I’ll not leave you alone to face that madman.”

  “You can’t think like that. We don’t have any other choice. Someone needs to warn Charles. And if he kills me, then I just go on to the next life, to battle him again until I win.” I wasn’t sure that was the truth. Fear tugged at the thread of my lie, threatening to unravel it, along with my composure. I smiled anyway, not sure which one of us I was trying to convince. “I’ve got to win sometime, right?”

  He pulled himself up to full height and puffed out his chest. “No. We’ll go together.”

  I shook my head.

  “I will not compromise, Princessin, so don’t push me.”

  I again felt tears prickling my eyes. “But if I don’t go back they’ll realize I’m gone.”

  “You’ll face Henri regardless, and we’ll be stronger with Charles and his army.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  We rode quickly in silence, eager to reach the Prince before the Carbonari. The terrain was hard, and my gown had not been made for such a trek. I clung to Viktor for warmth as we trotted through streams and crossed rock crevices that rattled my nerves. In an hour’s time we reached the Prince’s camp.

  As Viktor helped me down off the horse, a guard approached, one I recognized from the palace.

  “M’lady, what are you doing out
here? These are not the palace grounds. There are animals and thieves in the forest.”

  I pushed past the guard. “Take me to Charles. I need to speak to him immediately.”

  “Just a moment.”

  I continued walking.

  “Please, Princess. Let me speak with him first,” the guard called after me. I encountered two more guards in front of me.

  “Charles! I need to see Charles.”

  “Sapphira?” Charles pushed past the guards and pulled me into a close embrace. “I thought I recognized that tone. What are you doing here? Have you lost your mind?”

  “Charles,” I said, momentarily surprised. I really didn’t know this man and had only encountered him in visions, and yet I felt a strange kinship with him.

  “We need to speak in private. Immediately!”

  “Is everything all right?”

  Viktor stepped forward. “Pardon me, but in private, Your Highness.”

  Tension filled the air the way it did when two powerful forces met. Charles looked Viktor up and down. I was unsure whether they even knew each other. I was about to introduce Viktor when Charles nodded.

  “Follow me,” he said, leading us deeper into the tent and waving a dismissive hand to his guards, who shuffled out, but not before one of them stared me down. I was left with an eerie feeling. Either they didn’t trust us or we couldn’t trust them.

  Viktor must have noticed the same look because he crossed to stand between the doorway and the Prince.

  “Do you trust all of these men?” Viktor asked, drawing his weapon.

  “Pardon?” Charles questioned.

  “These men. Do you trust them? Will they die for you? Or can they be bribed?”

  The Prince reached for his dagger, and Viktor backed off to the side.

  “Charles, relax! Viktor’s only trying to protect you. We have reason to believe that the Carbonari is going to come for you—are going to try to murder you.”

  Charles shook his head. “That’s preposterous, Sapphira. Why?”

  “Henri.”

  “What about him?”

  “He’s made a deal with them. They’re going to kill you and force me to marry him so he can do their bidding.”

  The ground shook, and I feared Henri’s treacherous band of men approached.

  Three of the guards returned, including the one that gave me pause. Something felt wrong. They approached Charles, and I shouted for them to keep back. They were probably coming to his aid, but I couldn’t be sure.

  “Stand down,” Charles called out, giving me a sideways look.

  Viktor took a step toward them, still brandishing his weapon.

  They all stopped, and Viktor turned to me. The dubious guard chose that moment to begin moving again.

  “Traitor!” My cry rang out, alarming and desolate, as the guard leapt at Charles, dagger in hand.

  Viktor dove sideways, wrestling him to the ground before he could reach Charles. Chaos erupted as more of the Prince’s men came roaring into the tent, watching as two of their comrades hauled the traitorous guard to his feet, away from Viktor’s grasp.

  As they moved back, my line of sight became clear again. I dropped to my knees and crawled to the place where Viktor lay on his side, hurt, it seemed, a knife wound in his side. “Viktor, are you all right?”

  Charles fell to his knees beside him, checking his wound.

  “Find out what he knows,” Charles shouted to his men.

  “Yes, Your Highness. Just so you’re aware, the lookouts have returned. They say a band of men approaches, fully armed. Shall we get the Princess to safety?”

  “Sapphira! What in God’s name is the meaning of all this?”

  “It’s the Carbonari. I told you they want to kill you. You have to trust me.”

  He turned to his soldiers. “You know what to do. I’ll be out in a moment.”

  “We have to go,” Viktor urged.

  “There’s more,” I said.

  “What more could their possibly be?” Charles asked.

  “Henri’s obsessed with the Purple Delhi Sapphire,” I said as tears poured down my cheeks.

  “Will’s sapphire? Why?”

  I spilled the story as quickly as I could, knowing Viktor needed medical attention and Charles needed to fight.

  “This is my fault. Will said it was cursed. I’ve brought this curse upon us.” Charles held his head in his hands.

  “It was inevitable. I think Henri was already aware of it. He’s touched it somewhere along the line, and it’s entranced him. It’s the only explanation I can come up with.”

  “That’s preposterous. Only Father, Nico and I ever knew of the jewel.”

  “I think he has spies—Gabriella and Chloe for sure. Perhaps he somehow saw you and snuck in and touched it.”

  “Doubtful. Why wouldn’t he have taken it?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe he was interrupted. Maybe he can’t get back in to the chamber.”

  Charles ignored me, unmoving. I heard the soldiers calling his name, but he was despondent.

  “We need to get out of here,” Viktor said, attempting to stand. He tottered to his knees, holding his side.

  “Charles! Go. You and your men must fight and win. I’ll return to the castle with Viktor. I’ll find someone to heal him, and we’ll deal with Henri when you return.”

  “No, you can’t go back to the palace alone… unless… Find Nico. He will protect you until I return.”

  “Nico’s been absent from the palace lately.”

  “I know. He was dealing with Roquebrune, but he should be back there now.”

  “Is there one of your men you can spare to help me? I know we followed the river, but I don’t want to chance getting lost.”

  He seemed to come alive again, surging up madly. I heard him shouting instructions and calling for his horse. One of the guards appeared.

  “See the Princess safely back to the castle. Guard her with your life.”

  Hooves rumbled on all sides of the tent, and the sound was thunderous. He turned to go.

  “Wait. Charles, one more thing.” I rushed to his side. “Henri tortured and imprisoned my friend Rochus in the underground passage at Saint Martin, to intimidate me into telling him where the Purple Delhi Sapphire is. His eye has been cut out.” I could barely choke the words out. “I can’t stand the idea of him suffering in there because of me. Please rescue him and see to his personal care if you can.”

  “Of course, but you can see to his—”

  “Promise me, Charles!” I demanded.

  “Of course, sister. I promise. Be safe. I’ll see you soon.”

  I nodded and watched him ride off with the bulk of his soldiers before I returned to Viktor’s side.

  “Get the horses,” I instructed the guard standing over me.

  Then I turned back and gripped Viktor’s face. I kissed him. He seemed to be growing paler by the second.

  “Please don’t die.” This can’t happen.

  “Look at me, Viktor. Look at me. I love you. Sapphira loves you,” I whispered.

  He turned his head to me. “I’m sorry I failed you, but in truth I never wanted to live if you had to leave. Let me go in peace, and I’ll join you in the so-called next life.”

  Shaking with cold, I whispered back. “No. Viktor, I won’t. Hold on. Sapphira will come back to you once I leave. You will survive, and the two of you will live the happy life together you were meant to.”

  “We were never meant to. You said it yourself. Rochus said it. Sapphira and I were meant to die.”

  I thought of his words and the conflicting stories Leslie and I found in our research. Viktor and Sapphira had died according to most records, but one German diary had said they were married. Had I deluded myself into thinking there were two possibilitie
s? Was their fate inevitable? I grew angry. What was the point of all this? Why was I here? Surely this was an abomination of nature’s laws.

  Viktor squeezed my hand, and I returned to the moment, feeling anger abate as I looked into his eyes.

  “Sapphira. Listen to me. It’s enough you’ve overthrown the assassination attempt on the crown and protected the jewels. Henri must never sit on the throne. Never be allowed to time travel. Leave me here.”

  His fiery green eyes stared, conscious, but barely.

  “Go and stop Henri. It’s what you were meant to do. Not to save our lives but to stop Henri from getting the jewels. I have faith in you.” He kissed me once, hard, his lips freezing, moving across my cheek to my ear. “Besides, if you fail, you’ll find me in your next life.”

  He blinked, staring into my face, a speck of blood emerging at the corner of his mouth.

  “He’s bleeding out,” the guard whispered.

  “I know,” I cried. “Isn’t there a doctor?”

  “It’s too late,” the guard said, attempting to lift me to my feet. I looked down at Viktor. Empty eyes stared back at me.

  Could he be right? I ran my hands gently over his eyelids, forcing them shut.

  Stricken with loss, I allowed the guard to lift me onto the horse. He set a brisk pace, skirting the other soldiers. We were close enough to hear the clang of swords but far enough to avoid being seen. It wasn’t until I could see the palace walls that I realized night had fallen and I hadn’t even been aware we were riding. Grief, shock—it didn’t matter, I had a job to do. I continued my silent monologue, wondering if my mission was always futile. Were Sapphira and Viktor destined to die? Was I only sent here to stop Henri from killing Charles and getting the Purple Delhi Sapphire?

  After Viktor’s words, I felt a new kind of freedom in facing down Henri. The Prince would live, the monarch would thrive and Henri would die. I would see to it.

  I leaned forward in the saddle. “Soldier, what’s your name?”

  “Jacque, Your Highness.”

  “Jacque, we need to get into the castle unnoticed. Do you know of the passageway?”

  “No, Madam, but I do know of the underground tunnel that will get us inside the castle. That is where we leave the Prince in an emergency. Only he knows the passageway from there.”