Cruel Fortunes Omnibus: Volumes One to Four

by RAE STAPLETON

  I placed my ear to the door. Hearing nothing, I slipped back into Sapphira’s room leaving the sapphire hidden inside the wardrobe. My skin prickled with foreboding, images nudging my brain, as I looked around the room. Something was wrong. I could see the glow of candlelight spilling from the balcony door. I balled my fingers into tight fists and readied myself for confrontation. I felt him. I knew he was here, before he stepped back inside the room.

  Henri.

  He stood there gloating.

  “There you are, my darling.” A smug smile spread across his lips. He stood in a relaxed pose, studying me. “I’ve been waiting for you. And where may I ask, are you returning from?”

  “How’d you know I’d be here?” I demanded.

  He cocked one eyebrow. “How’d I know you’d be in the room I locked you in?” He shrugged.

  “What do you want?” My voice sounded rough. I was stalling. I knew what he wanted.

  His eyes narrowed. I eased sideways, putting more distance between me and him, but he stepped forward, his stance growing bolder. “I simply want to have a chat.”

  “Cut the bullshit, Henri.”

  All humor dropped from his face.

  “Doing away with the niceties? That’s fine by me.” Rage flamed in his eyes as he captured my wrist, his fingers digging hard enough to make fire shoot to my elbow.

  I screamed and pulled away. “Where’s Nico? He’ll put an end to this.” I ran for the door, shouting Nico’s name.

  Henri chuckled.

  Had he hurt Nico? I ran out the door, smack into the chest of a large man.

  “What in the devil’s name is all this shouting?”

  “Nico. We were just talking about you,” Henri said.

  “Nico,” I said, shaking uncontrollably. “Thank God. Help me. This man… Henri is trying to kill me.”

  I took a step back as Nico crossed the room, closing in on the Comte. He was big, but not as big as… My heart ached as I thought of Conrad lying on the ground. I shook it off. It wasn’t meant to be. You’re here to stop the assassination attempt on the Prince and prevent the Comte from getting his hands on the sapphire’s magic.

  I turned my thoughts back outward, surveying the two men. Nico had a good two inches on the Comte, and that made me feel better. But the grace of his movements caused the hair on the back of my neck to rise. Something about Nico was very familiar, from his silken blond hair down to the way he held his cane.

  “Henri, my boy. Are you bothering my niece?” His eyes narrowed, the line of his jaw shifting into a grimace.

  “I’m sorry, sir,” Henri answered.

  “He took my ring. Charles told me to find you.”

  “Charles? You’ve seen Charles? My, my, you’ve been busy. Come here, Henri. Give her back her ring.”

  The Comte handed me my ring and I slipped it on my finger.

  Alarm bells continued to go off in the back of my mind.

  As he led the Comte to the balcony, I crossed my arms protectively and looked at the open door. Something about this situation felt wrong. Should I run? Curiosity got the better of me.

  His cane.

  That was it. Nico was the man I’d seen outside Rochus’s cottage. Hadn’t I seen him bribing the apothecary owner for information? Had I misread the situation?

  I inched closer to the balcony to hear what they were saying. The whispered voices and hushed tones reminded me of the conversation I’d overheard before.

  The Snake and Enzo.

  Suddenly, one of them screamed. I ran to the door just as Henri slumped to the ground, his eyes rolling back permanently. One last expression crossed his face, one of surprise and confusion.

  Cloth in hand, Nico walked toward me, wiping the blood from his dagger. The sudden change in his demeanor left me suspicious. I looked again at the dagger; the design of a serpent wrapped down its length.

  “There, he won’t be bothering you anymore.”

  “Y-you stabbed him,” I stuttered.

  “Yes, I know. Didn’t you want him to leave you alone?”

  I stood there shaking as he approached. His cheeks curved up in amusement as he reached out to run his thumb over my lower lip. “Where’s the sapphire?”

  “What? But I thought …” Confusion scrambled my mind.

  “You thought Henri was the bad man? Oh, my dear, naïve Sapphira. Henri was only a pawn in my game. Now, I want the sapphire—the one the witch was supposed to get me.”

  “Why? I rubbed my hands up and down my arms, trying to warm them. I needed to get him talking, stall him while I thought of a plan.

  “Why do you think? Power. His Serene Highness heard of the magical jewel and desired to purchase it, as he did all rare gems. He coveted all that was beautiful; never giving me what was mine. I was there when he met with William Ferris Sr., but he refused it. The fool said he could not allow such a cursed stone to come within the Palace walls.”

  “You murdered Prince Florestan for protecting his family?”

  “I saw him eyeing me warily as I held it. As if he could hear the stone calling to me. He didn’t want me to possess that magic, and he was bluffing. He bought the Delhi Sapphire and hid it in this very palace. When he refused to admit it, I killed him.”

  “But he didn’t buy that gem. Charles did, from Will Ferris’s son, as a gift for me. You killed him for nothing.”

  Nico paused to consider the news.

  “That’s surprising, but not for nothing. He also refused to give me your hand in marriage.”

  “That’s treason! Regicide, as a matter of fact,” I retorted. “I’ll be sure everyone knows.”

  “You won’t live long enough to tell a soul.” Fury flared once again in his dark eyes. “You can join your brother in the grave tonight.”

  “Don’t count on that. I’ve alerted him and his guards, and you’re going to fail.” Sapphira and Conrad may die, but so do you. “That’s why you want the jewel, isn’t it? Because time travelling is the only way you can go back and fix your mistakes.”

  “Time travel? My, my, my, I see you’ve been speaking with our resident witch?” Nico smirked while I frowned. I had no idea who he was referring to. “And if you’re correct?” His eyes glittered with amusement. “You think I’d give up? I’ll never give up.”

  I didn’t dignify the remark with a response.

  He closed in and circled me, his feet barely making a sound across the floor. “I think I feel the magic emanating from you right now. Do you have the stone on you? No, you can’t. It’s much too weak, but it’s close by, isn’t it? You know, I’d much rather team up with you than fight you. If you’d only be more agreeable.”

  I lashed out with a fist, only to have his forearm block my punch.

  He picked up my struggling body and tossed me onto the bed. I landed with a thump and rolled over just as he came down on top of me. “Well, if you insist,” he murmured.

  Fear bubbled just under the surface, not that I’d give him the satisfaction of seeing it.

  I jabbed him hard in the nose, at the same time kicking out and catching him just below the knee. I grinned as he stumbled off of me, catching himself on the desk.

  “Gutsy little wench. And what is that in your pocket?”

  I stood up, placing my hand protectively over the diary and map; I ran for the balcony, narrowly avoiding the dead body. I had to make it to the lantern to burn the map. If he used the wardrobe entrance, he’d find the jewel. He followed slowly. Toying with me like a cat with a mouse. A slight shift in the air alerted me to his movement seconds before he leaped for my throat.

  His grip was steely around my neck; stars danced before my eyes, and a strange sound gurgled in my ears. My energy was depleted. I couldn’t breathe, and then he let up.

  “You really don’t understand, do you?”

  “Understand what?” I gasped, taking in gulp after gulp of air.

  He loosened his grip further, almost incredulous at my comment.

  “The power
of the sapphire!” There was a note of disbelief in his voice, and his expression suggested he wasn’t just toying with me. I can’t just take it from you because the magic won’t transfer. You have to give it to me,” he whispered in my ear.

  “I don’t know how.”

  “Your friend Rochus does. He wrote it down in that promising little book of his. He can’t hold out forever. As a matter of fact, I hear he’s close to breaking. Soon, he’ll tell me where he’s hidden it, and you’ll have to hand over the sapphire and, with it, all its magic, because if you don’t…”

  I thrust my hand toward his face and pressed my thumb deep into his eye, no longer interested in his threats. He stumbled backward, releasing his grasp on my neck. He reached out for me. I couldn’t keep this up for much longer. He was so strong. Panic squeezed my chest. I felt the heat that burned at my back. With the last of my strength, I struggled to reach for the oil lantern, managing to grasp it and smash it at his feet.

  Like a human torch, he caught the flame and fell back over the balcony. Happiness flooded my body.

  Then I realized that he still hung there. He’d managed to grasp the ledge and reached the hem of my skirt through the spindles. Flames now danced poetically up my dress.

  Left to right. Right to left.

  I stepped back at the same time he tugged, letting go of the ledge, the only thing keeping him suspended.

  The force on my hem was too much.

  It pulled me off balance and I tumbled over the railing too, joining him in his plight.

  Vertigo twirled in my stomach. I’m going to die.

  Suddenly lights flashed around me.

  I was mesmerized—once again being heaved toward something. Something bigger and far more important—another chance to break the curse. Time slowed. My body tingled and buzzed, and then it all stopped.

  TWENTY-FIVE

  France, Present Day

  F ragments of Nico tugging me over the Palace balcony—to my death—retreated into my subconscious as I opened my eyes to unbearable brightness.

  Was this the afterlife? It couldn’t be. There wasn’t supposed to be pain in Heaven, and the headache that rocked my skull was most gnarly. I squeezed my eyelids back shut and turned my senses outward. There was a steady stream of beeps sounding in my head, and an odd mixture of alcohol and daisies that hung in the air. In the distance I could hear the echo of footsteps and people speaking. I focused on them; the voices were almost too soft to understand.

  “You can’t,” a breathy voice whispered. “I don’t want trouble.”

  Was that Alastríona’s voice?

  I once again opened a bleary eye. My vision was still smeared, and it took me several moments to blink it clear. Then I saw that the room was stark and the curtains closed. The past flooded my brain and I sat up, feeling as though I were returning from the dead. What was with that unfortunate beeping?

  Lifting the blanket, I realized the only thing that clung to me was a hospital gown.

  Somehow, someway, I’d actually survived that fall from the balcony but that was impossible. No one could have survived that.

  As I attempted to swing my legs over the side of the bed, a tingling sensation shot through me and it felt as though I might unravel like a well-worn sweater. I fell back against the pillow instead. Hair covered my face—straight hair. I looked back down at the modern-day hospital gown and the realization that I’d made it back to my own time suddenly fell upon me.

  Tears of joy burst from my eyes.

  At last, I glanced down at my bare fingers. The ring! It was gone. I searched through the blanket and on the table but found nothing.

  From my bed, I heard voices beyond the slightly ajar door grow louder.

  “Of course,” a man agreed. His voice was angry, and familiar.

  “Shhh… please, she needs her rest.” It was a breathy voice. I tried to place it but couldn’t.

  “So, what is it? What’s going on with her?” the man demanded.

  More whispering. I only caught phrases.

  “Thinks she returned from the 1800s… slowly going out of her mind… committed….”

  Oh, Lord, that was definitely Nick. I was positive this time. I felt a jab of betrayal.

  “Your friend has a mild concussion,” the breathy voice said.

  Nick, if it was him, agreed. “I’m very concerned. Could we move her?”

  How much had I told them? Had I talked in my sleep? I could barely restrain myself from screaming out my questions, but I wanted to hear the rest.

  “For goodness sake, keep your voice down. She’s dehydrated and has a few bumps and bruises, but there’s no need to assume permanent damage. Anyway, we could never do anything without the family’s consent.”

  My family? Where’s Gigi?

  I threw off the blanket, and my bare feet hit the floor. One step—I started to lose my balance and grasped the wall. The journey through time had been hard on me.

  “She insists she’s been missing for a week. She was only gone three minutes, tops.”

  My head throbbed. I thought I might throw up. Three minutes—how was that possible?

  “She’s a very lucky lady. She’s now drinking fluids on her own. We’re monitoring for head trauma, but it’s really not that serious. Her delusions are simply a side effect, it’ll take a few days, but I have no reason to doubt that she’ll make a full recovery. Now, I really can’t discuss anything further with you without her husband present. Where did he go?” the breathy voice asked.

  Husband? I clutched the doorknob and silently cursed my cloudy memory. Had my time travel affected my future. Was I now married to someone I didn’t even know?

  “That foreign asshole?” Nick said.

  “He seemed pleasant enough to me. The man who carried her in—wasn’t he family?”

  “Hell, no! I’m her fiancé. He saw her fall off the cliff and had the dumb luck of being anchored there.”

  “It seems to me you were all pretty lucky he was there, sir. Anyway, he’s the one who signed her in and who is paying her bills so I’ll need to speak with him.”

  “Conrad? Oh my gosh. Conrad had said he would be waiting for me. Had he made good on his word.

  The voices were moving away now and I could barely hear them. Gritting my teeth, I gave a quick tug, tearing two wires from the sticky tabs that were glued to me. Mass beeping began.

  “God help me,” I whispered. Must have been for a heart monitor or something. Good thing I had several nurses for friends and I knew most times the beeps were ignored. They were like background noise to the hospital staff. I drew in a long breath of relief as I spotted my suitcase in the corner.

  Nick wants to put you in the loony bin, I told myself, pulling a maxi dress from the case as fast as I could without falling over. I wasn’t going to be trapped again. I was going to find Conrad in this life. I slammed the suitcase shut and lifted it to my side just as a heavyset nurse appeared.

  “Ms. Marcil, what are you doing?” It was the breathy voice.

  “I’m leaving,” I stated, stepping into my sandals. “Where’s my grandmother’s ring?”

  She glanced at the chart in her hand and pushed up the glasses perched on the end of her nose before placing a hand on my arm. “What ring? You weren’t wearing any jewelry when you came in.”

  “Yes, I was. It had a jewel in it.”

  “Maybe it came off in the ocean. You fell. Do you remember?”

  Like I could forget, I thought, walking away. Hmm… had my ring been taken?

  “Wait, please—you can’t leave until you’ve been discharged by the doctor. Let me get your fiancé.”

  “I don’t have a fiancé.” I pushed past her and entered the hall just as Nick came into view.

  “Nurse, what’s going on?” Nick said.

  “Ms. Marcil is trying to leave, but I need to check her blood pressure and the doctor has to see her before I discharge her.”

  “Sophia, calm down. It’s not good for you to
get so worked up. You’ve been through a very traumatic experience.”

  I stopped and turned to him, tears streaming down my cheeks. “You don’t believe me. I overheard you speaking to that nurse. You called me crazy. And my ring is missing. Did you steal my ring?”

  “Sophia, you weren’t wearing any ring.”

  “I was too!” I said, indignantly.

  “Well, I didn’t see one. Sophia, please stop. You fell into the water and hit your head. You’re not thinking clearly.”

  “Fell!” I huffed.

  He had the decency to at least look abashed for a moment.

  “Listen, Nick, you can believe me or not, but after you dropped me into the ocean, I went through some sort of worm hole.”

  “Oh, not this again!” he said, turning away from me. “Nurse, you can clearly see she’s delusional. There must be something we can do.”

  “I’m telling the truth. I was a prisoner for weeks, and there’s no way in hell you’re locking me up in some psych ward.”

  “Listen to yourself. You sound like a damn lunatic!”

  “Screw this!” I said. I turned and stalked off down the hall, suitcase still in hand.

  I heard the nurse and Nick quietly arguing, and I took the opportunity to duck into the elevator, taking it all the way down to the ground floor.

  When the elevator doors opened, I could see the main entrance. I didn’t know where I was going but I wasn’t staying here. Every step made me want to scream, my muscles protesting the movement, and then pain shot from behind my eyes. I pushed forward, noticing a washroom to my right; I stumbled and made it inside, shutting the door with as much force as I could muster before vomiting into the toilet.