The Trinity Ring

by C. A. Bleu

  “There have been many of us who could control one element or another, earth, air, fire, or water, but not all of them. There have been others who could heal broken bones or fevers or had the ability to see and talk to those who have died, yet they could not control any of the elements. In the past, there has never been a woman in the Trinity family who had the power over all three of our possible gifts, but we believe you might.”

  As Marie said this, she looked at Zara with excitement and hope radiating off her. Marie leaned forward and gently turned another page of the book. “Over two hundred years ago the first Trinity, Lozen, the original angel sent by God, was given a vision. She told of the year of your birth and that a ‘warrior with hair of fire would be born with the powers of all’.” As she said this, Marie pointed to a page in the book of what must have been a picture of Lozen Trinity, along with golden etched words below her picture, the words that Marie had just read, the prophecy. “Lozen was a powerful and brave warrior and she could manipulate all the elements.”

  As Zara took in her picture, she could see the power in Lozen, in her high strong cheekbones, her fierce hazel eyes and her strong powerful stance as she stood near a small structure in a field with a bow strapped across her back and knife in her hand.

  Marie continued. “Lozen forged the ring you now wear. It was created centuries ago so that each generation would be able to pass on a bit of their power to the next Trinity.” Marie paused. “This ring was meant for you, making you the strongest in the Trinity line that there has ever been. Lozen was gifted with the knowledge that you would be able to wield all of our powers on a level greater than any of us have ever seen in order to truly defeat the growing evil in the world.” Marie looked at Zara with reverence and awe, she could not wait to see what Zara would become.

  Refusing to believe what she was hearing, Zara stood up from the couch. Pacing the room, seething with a mixture of anger, betrayal and disbelief. “So, let me get this straight. You, my ‘grandmother’, have left me alone all these years while Aaron has been lying to me as well. Now, you show up and expect me to believe that I am from a family of ‘angels’ sent by God and that I am the ‘strongest angel’ of all, with special powers.”

  Zara continued to pace as her mind rolled over all the new information and her emotions swirled within. “Powers that have been gathered over the years from people in my family in order to give me even more power. To fight someone named Erebus, to defeat him? This cannot be true, I must be dreaming, I cannot believe this.” Zara dropped back down on the couch and put her face in her hands.

  This is ridiculous, she thought to herself, shaking her head. A grandmother she had never met or even known about, seeing visions of her mother, and now she had magic powers too. However, as much as she could not believe any of this, she also could not deny that deep in her soul she felt different. She did not want to accept it, but she knew it must be true. She could feel it in her veins, this power running through her, the forest calling to her, and her mother’s words. “Trust no one but your grandmother.”

  There was a knock on the basement door, startling Zara from her thoughts as Aaron called down to them. “Is everything okay?” he asked with a nervous edge to his voice.

  It was killing him not being down there with Zara right now, but he understood his role. Zara Trinity had been under his protection since before she was born. He had been in charge of the security of both Isabella and then Zara, a task he was honored to have.

  He momentarily flashed back to the night Isabella was found dead, he blamed himself and at first could not understand why it had happened. He knew she had taken her own life and looking back she had given him indications about it ahead of time. Isabella had mentioned several times how the prophecy spoke of her own sacrifice for her child. A sacrifice that would allow all of Isabella’s strength and power to pass on through the ring for Zara, but he never believed she would take her own life. When Isabella had been found dead and the ring missing off her finger, he had no idea where it had gone, he thought it was all for nothing without that ring. How did Zara find it? he wondered to himself, aware he was still waiting for an answer from downstairs.

  Zara opened her eyes, pulling her hands down from her face as she looked over at Marie, wondering why she was not answering Aaron. Marie inclined her head toward Zara, leaving it up to her if she wanted to continue or not. After a moment, Zara answered, “Yes Aaron, we’re okay. We’ll be up in a little bit.”

  Aaron didn’t miss the edge of bitterness and perhaps fear in Zara’s voice, he still worried about her reaction to his secrets and lies.

  After the door closed Marie continued telling Zara about their family history and some of the other Trinity women. She turned the pages of the book gently, revealing pictures of each of the Trinity women. They all held some of the same features of one another, strong high cheekbones, dark brown or hazel eyes, but Zara seemed to be the only one with blazing red hair.

  Marie explained that Lozen had formed the original Trinity Protectors council who had witnessed some of her powers and heard of the prophecy. At that time the men and women who were part of the Trinity Protectors council vowed their lives to protect the Trinity women and they too have passed this task down in their families. Zara realized there was never any mention of the fathers of all the Trinity women, only the Protectors of the Trinity.

  “So, who is my father?” Zara asked tentatively.

  Marie looked at Zara and solemnly replied with a bowed head. “God is our father, Zara.” Marie looked at Zara and continued without an ounce of humor in her voice. “Zara, none of the women in the Trinity line for the past two hundred years have had a human man to father their child. They have become pregnant when they turned twenty-five years old. The first, Lozen Trinity, was sent down from Heaven with the knowledge of the future and abilities bestowed upon her by God. She was blessed to carry a daughter at the age of twenty-five and after her, these powers have continued to be passed down from generation to generation. Every child has been female. God knew that it would take a strong, brave woman to be able to defeat the evil of Erebus.”

  “So, are you trying to tell me that when I turn twenty-five, in just seven years, I will magically become pregnant and I will have a daughter?” Zara said on a laugh, shaking her head in utter disbelief.

  Marie closed her eyes and sighed. “I’m sorry Zara, I don’t know. I believe the prophecy tells of the Trinity line ending with you. You are what we have been waiting for and we do not know what the future holds beyond that. If I had to guess, I think that you are the key to the future and what you decide to do will determine all of our fates. Erebus will be coming for you. If he succeeds, humanity and Earth will eventually cease to exist. Across the world pain, fear, and sadness will escalate until friends and families turn on one another and more wars erupt.”

  “If you defeat him, perhaps you will remain here, taking on a normal human life, or perhaps you and I will simply return to Heaven. Lozen knew that Erebus would continue to grow his army, building strength and numbers, resulting in the time that you would be needed in order to defeat him. We have done what we could to keep him at bay, but none of us have been able to defeat him. All these years have been a culmination waiting for you, to create the power needed in you. I know you must feel it,” Marie said as she stared determinedly at Zara, awaiting a response.

  Closing her eyes, fighting the threat of burning tears, she tried to take all this in. As much as she wanted to deny it, she could feel it. The power hummed in her veins like electricity longing to break free. She wanted to get up and run from all of this, to wake up and find it had all been a dream. Yet she also felt deep inside that she always knew she had been meant for more. Zara found herself wishing she had her mother there to talk to about all of this and immediately the hairs on her arms and the back of her neck stood as she felt a crackle of the electric power vibrating within her. Zara opened her eyes to see the ball of golden light that quickly took the shape of her
mother. She glanced over toward Marie, but she seemed to be still waiting on a response from her, oblivious to the ball of light growing beside her.

  “She cannot see me now,” her mother said with caring eyes as she took on a solid form in front of Zara. “When the ring is passed on, many powers fade away from the previous Trinity Ring owner. There was a brief time that my mother could still see me, and it helped her cope, but her strongest power was always the control of fire. That is the power that still remains in her. Zara, I am here because you summoned me,” Isabella said as she stepped toward Zara, taking her hands.

  Though Zara knew Isabella wasn’t actually there, she stared in wonder as her mother sat on the edge of the coffee table across from her, holding her hands. It was as if she were as real as Zara, as if she never really died. Zara opened her mouth to speak but paused to look at her grandmother then back again to her mother.

  “It’s okay, she will know that you are speaking to me, but she can be trusted.”

  “How did I summon you?” Zara asked, casting a quick glance to Marie who seemed to look around knowing Isabella must be there. Zara could tell that Marie was not able to see or hear her mother’s response.

  “You must have had a thought about needing me or wanting to see me,” Isabella said, moving to sit down beside Zara on the couch. She put her arm around Zara’s shoulder as Zara leaned into her mother’s hug.

  “So, all I have to do is think about you and you will appear?” Zara said with excitement building in her heart as her tears began to fall.

  “Yes, honey. I will always be here for you, but when I come, I cannot stay long. My time is limited in this form. I have always been there, Zara, listening when you talked to me. You were never able to see me, not until your powers fully arrived. Now that you have the ring and all the power it holds, I can come to you whenever you need me.” Isabella paused, glancing toward Marie then back to Zara.

  “You should take some time with your grandmother, let her help you. You need to let this all sink in, do not be stubborn and fight against it. We need you Zara, the world needs you. Be the strong and brave girl that I know you are. I have to go now, but I’ll always be there if you need me.” Her mother stood as she finished her goodbye and Zara watched as her mother began to fade away.

  Silence surrounded her as her mother disappeared. Zara was overcome with emotion, all these years of emptiness from missing her mother, believing that she had no other family, this was all so overwhelming.

  “I do feel some kind of power inside of me Marie, but this is also a lot to take in. I think right now I just need to go lie down, but will you stay here tonight? Maybe tomorrow you can show me how this all works, my powers I mean.” Zara appeared apprehensive, hating that she called her grandmother Marie, yet still not comfortable using the word ‘grandmother.’

  Marie smiled with heartfelt gratitude. “Of course I will,” she said as she reached over, enveloping Zara in a giant soft hug.

  It took Zara by surprise as her arms hung limp with Marie hugging her tightly. Zara gradually let her guard down and felt warmth fill her body as she wrapped her arms around her grandmother and hugged her back. Zara barely noticed the tear that fell down her cheek and into her grandmother’s hair. An overwhelming feeling of being loved enveloped her and in that instant, the ball of golden light appeared beside her taking the shape of Isabella. Marie gasped as she pulled away from Zara, staring in disbelief at seeing her daughter for the first time in many years.

  “How is this possible?” Marie asked Isabella as she stood to reach out toward her daughter.

  Isabella looked toward Zara, surprised, as she reached for her mother’s arms. “I think it’s Zara, her powers are so strong, I think with a single tear she shared some of her power with you.” Isabella looked at her mother and said, “It was you thinking of me and wishing I was here. I think once her tear fell onto you it called me.”

  Both Marie and Isabella looked to Zara, faces filled with a mix of surprise and awe. They realized then that they didn’t know the full potential of the power that was running through Zara’s veins. Isabella reached out toward Zara, pulling her in for a hug. The three generations of Trinity women shared a grateful, miraculous moment filled with love for one another.

  Each were aware that they teetered on the edge of the precipice of what was to come, but for the moment they basked in gratitude for this reunion. Isabella was the first to back away as she held the hands of her daughter and mother. “I will always be here if you need me. I am never far away.” She looked at Zara as she said, “You have taken in so much today honey you should probably go and get some rest.” Isabella turned to look at Marie as she added with a smile. “You too, Mom.”

  Marie and Zara watched as Isabella’s form wavered and then dissipated into the room. Giving Zara’s hand one last squeeze of reassurance, Marie turned, leading them back up the stairs.

  Chapter 7

  Zara followed her grandmother into the kitchen where Aaron and the other Protectors were waiting. Aaron’s eyes were glued to Zara, searching her face for any indication of how she was feeling. Seeing her eyebrows bent in concentration sent a fresh wave of guilt through him, perhaps he should have told her sooner. His breath caught when Zara paused in front of him and he tensed, bracing himself for her reaction.

  Zara surprised them both when she stepped toward him, giving him a strong reassuring hug. As Aaron held her in a fatherly protective embrace, he looked toward Marie who smiled at him.

  “We can talk more about this tomorrow,” she said with just a hint of hurt behind her words that he felt in his heart. He watched in silence as she excused herself for the night. Zara met the pairs of eyes around the room one by one with a new appreciation for their commitment and gave a genuine nod of thanks.

  Zara silently walked upstairs to her room, processing this new information bouncing around in her mind. It was as if she was on autopilot while washing her face and as she changed her clothes for bed. Passing by the large mirror on top of her dresser, she stopped, taking in her reflection. The first thing she noticed was how much she resembled all of the Trinity women she saw in the book downstairs. Gently touching her high cheekbones, looking on with disbelief into the eyes that stared back. A golden spark appeared in the reflection of her eyes and Zara stared in wonder. ‘An angel’ she thought to herself as a chill ran up her spine.

  Turning toward her bed, Zara whispered a silent prayer as the reality of her new world began to grow roots. She was an angel sent by God, she could not deny the changes she felt inside. Turning off the bedside lamp she climbed in, pulling up the faded blue and gold quilt, basking in its heavy comfort as she closed her eyes. Replaying the events of the night in her mind, she hoped for sleep to come.

  Behind her closed eyes the images of her best friend Lilith haunted her. Tears fell silent in the dark as Zara said goodbye to her friend. It hurt to know that perhaps none of it may have meant anything to Lilith, but it had meant something to Zara. Trying to let go of Lilith while asking for forgiveness left Zara with just enough comfort to finally drift to sleep. Meanwhile, there was someone else in the world also trying to make sense of what was happening.

  Erebus paced back and forth in his study, his thick black leather boots pounding with each step as his long heavy black leather cloak splayed out behind him. “I should have heard something by now,” he mumbled to himself.

  Lilith had informed him she was sure Zara had found the ring and of course he was aware that today was Zara Trinity’s eighteenth birthday. Lilith was to kill Zara before there was any chance of her putting on that ring and fully coming into her powers. He never should have let Lilith take her time on this mission once they had found Zara Trinity. His greed had won out as he had hoped Lilith would be able to find the ring for him.

  Looking at the clock on the wall again, he knew Lilith should have contacted him by now. It could only mean one thing, she was dead. Erebus’s head jerked up, his dark eyes black as night, staring out
the window as he realized Zara Trinity had found the ring and taken in her full powers. He let out a yell of frustration so loud it rattled the glass window nearby. Calling for his assistant in his deep sinister voice he said,

  “Go get him, it is time to end this.”

  Erebus had others working for him too of course, but Lilith had proven the most successful at getting close to Zara. Since the ring was likely now out of his grasp it was time to put an end to Zara Trinity. He saw his reflection in the window across from him and watched as the edge of a smile crept onto his chalky pale face. He knew with his best assassin that news of her death would come soon.

  When Zara awoke the next morning, she felt a renewed sense of purpose and an overwhelming surge of strength and power. Images of Lilith’s death still floated around in her mind, but she tried to push past them, she could not think about what she had done. The nausea she had been plagued with seemed to have finally disappeared. She was lying in bed, stretching, thinking about a good long hot bath to start the day. Power suddenly surged in her veins, she heard a loud pop that had her jumping out of bed and into the hall where she ran into Aaron and her grandmother as they too came running. Aaron tentatively opened the bathroom door and found that the faucet on the tub had popped off the wall and was pouring steaming hot water into the tub. Aaron looked at Marie and Zara as he sighed.

  “This old house, we need to get the plumbing checked.” However, Zara and Marie exchanged a look that said they knew otherwise.

  “Zara, why don’t you get dressed and we’ll head outside to begin our work.” Marie smiled, excited to see what all Zara could do.

  “Uh, yeah, I’ll be right down,” Zara said with a smirk of her own, not believing what just happened. She didn’t know how, but she knew it was because of her that the faucet popped off the wall and steaming hot water was filling the bath. She would have to be careful where her thoughts ventured if she had this kind of power within her.