by C. A. Bleu
Zara fought the tears threatening to fall and ignored the ache in her heart. “I’ve got it, thanks,” she said after using his arm to steady herself. “How long have I been asleep?”
“Two days,” Aaron said, shaking his head as if he could not believe it. “It was as if using that much power took all your strength and energy. For all we know, it may have almost killed you too.”
Zara’s eyebrows raised in shock. “Two days, are you serious? No wonder I feel so weak.” Trying to absorb this, she let Aaron lead her two doors down the hall to where her grandmother was staying. She softly knocked on the door. “Marie, it’s me, Zara,” she whispered tentatively.
“Come in,” Marie said in a weak voice.
Zara was not prepared for what she saw. Marie lay in the bed, somewhat ashen in color, with a sheen of sweat across her forehead. She looked terrible. Aaron was right, her grandmother did not look like she was going to make it. Zara lost her breath and nearly lost her footing. Aaron steadied her and led her to the edge of the bed.
“Oh, Marie, I’m so sorry,” Zara said as she let her tears fall. “I don’t know what happened. I have never felt so much rage. It was like I tapped into a part of me I didn’t even know was there.” Behind her, Aaron snuck back out to give them privacy. “I’m afraid if I ever face Erebus, I will lose myself completely to the anger I feel for him and how he has affected my family.”
“Zara, I know it was not your fault. The power inside of you is different, stronger, it will take more time for you to learn to control it. You have to remember, there is a part of all the Trinity women before you, living on in the ring you wear. In times of fear or anger, you must close your eyes and focus on the love and hope you have inside you. Focus on the power from the Trinity women before you and you will be able to see through the darkness. I know it may not feel like it now, but love and hope will always overcome the rage and pain you feel. Do not let fear and doubt settle in and consume you. We need you.” Marie’s words were strong and solid as she looked at Zara with so much love and confidence even as her body was failing her.
Zara bowed her head as the tears fell. For so long she had held in feelings she didn’t even know were there. Living day to day, going through the motions, but what lay beneath was a river of sadness filled with anger, rage, and grief. She tried to believe her grandmother and she did take her words to heart, however, she could not help but think this could easily happen again.
Zara suddenly looked up to her grandmother wiping away her tears with a new sense of purpose. “You told me that I also have the power to heal. Teach me so that I can heal you now.”
“I wish I could Zara, but the poison was too strong and has progressed too far now. Even if we tried, I don’t believe we could prevent death. I am ready to go when it is my time.” She closed her eyes briefly and patted Zara’s leg with gentle reassurance. Marie appeared resigned to the impending death awaiting her with the smirk of a smile on her face.
“How can you smile right now?” Zara asked sadly.
“I know that I will get to be with your mother soon and that fills my heart with happiness,” she replied quietly with her eyes still closed.
“Please let me try, teach me and let me try to heal you,” Zara begged.
“Zara, you are too weak and you need to rest. That much power nearly took your life and we are all depending on you. What you felt out there, that is what Erebus puts into the hearts of humans around the world. He generates fear and hate in others and lets it build. He feeds off it and it creates a different kind of power in him.
“Lozen Trinity, our ancestor, she knew about you, she knew of the warrior who would have the greatest powers of us all. Lozen said that the red-haired warrior would be strong and fierce, you have the power to defeat Erebus and save humanity, but Zara, you also have the power to destroy it. You cannot let rage and hate overtake the love and faith in you. Trust no one but Aaron now Zara, I must go. Remember, we were put here for a purpose, do not ever lose hope.”
After her last word, Marie’s body took one last shuddering breath and Zara knew the moment she was gone. Her body looked peaceful, relieved of its burden. Zara leaned over her crying, her heart filled with sadness and regret. She had killed her grandmother, she was no angel. When Zara lifted her head, she saw a ball of golden light forming to her left. She felt comfort knowing her mother would come to her now, but she was full of joy and surprise to see her grandmother staring at her.
Marie appeared younger and full of strength. Her gray hair replaced with long wavy brown hair that matched her dark brown gentle eyes, eyes that no longer appeared pained. Zara reached out and hugged her tightly. With tears stinging her eyes, she said, “I am so sorry, I love you, Grandmother. I will make this right.”
“I know you will, honey, and you know we are all here for you.” Marie looked to her right as she held out her hand. Zara thought about her mother and a second ball of light appeared. Zara’s mother took shape and was holding Marie’s hand. Zara could feel their warmth and happiness, they were both filled with so much love at their reunion.
Marie turned her eyes back toward Zara with a determined look. “You can do this Zara. Everything in your life has led you to this moment. Aaron has been training you, even when you didn’t realize it. Everything has happened for a reason. You must learn from this. Grow and change Zara, don’t let fear hold you back. Take some time to yourself, but then you need to get back to work on controlling your powers. Call on us when you are ready, and we will be there to help.”
Zara watched until their smiling faces had completely faded away. She was alone again with her grandmother’s body. Zara placed a soft kiss on her forehead and headed out of the room. Grief and sadness swam in her soul, drowning out the power within her. She passed Aaron in the hall. “She’s gone,” she said quietly as she moved to go past him to her room.
Grabbing her arm, he brought her into a hug squeezing her tight in an attempt to share his strength. “I’m so sorry Zara, you know this was not your fault.” He worried how this would affect her and worried even more when her arms hung limp and her once bright eyes appeared vacant. Letting her go, he watched as she turned and walked to her room in silence. He stepped forward to peek in her room and watched as she began packing her things. Aaron hung his head with slumped shoulders before turning to go back toward Marie’s room.
Gently pushing open the door, he saw for himself that she had passed. He noticed the peaceful look on her face before closing his eyes, sending a whispered prayer to both Marie and Isabella, promising to watch over and protect Zara as long as he lived. When he raised his eyes determination and years of training took over.
Closing the door, he went downstairs to inform his team of Marie’s death. A group was sent outside to get things ready for the Trinity funeral rite. Knowing it would take a little time, he went to his room and began packing. Erebus would not wait long to attack, he needed to get Zara somewhere safe, fast.
Chapter 11
A couple hours later, worry led Aaron to Zara’s room to check on her. He found her lying on top of her covers still dressed in the same clothes as earlier. He gently knocked on the doorframe trying not to startle her. He didn’t ask if she was okay, he knew she wasn’t.
“We will be leaving early in the morning; everything is all set.” Zara still had a vacant look on her face and showed no response other than a small nod. It was as if she was going through the motions but was not really there. “Can I sit down?” he asked, moving to sit on the edge of her bed. She rolled away from him facing the far wall.
“Zara, you may not want to join us, but we have a tradition when either a Trinity or one of the Protectors dies.” He noticed the slight turn of her head letting him know that she was listening. “It’s called the Trinity funeral rite and it began at the direction of the original Trinity, Lozen, over two hundred years ago.” Aaron went on to explain about the ceremony and the burning of the body to release any remnants of power back into the wor
ld, to give their bodies back to the earth. When Zara still showed no response, he sighed. “Well, we will be outside saying goodbye in case you decide to join us. I hope you do.”
Zara sat in her room unable or unwilling to make herself move. Listening to Aaron’s footsteps grow softer before the sound disappeared altogether. There was a big part of her that wanted to join them, but how could she? How could she face any of the Protectors or even go back to the forest she just destroyed? Climbing out of bed she walked over to the mirror on top of the dresser. Taking in the person staring back at her; dirty, disheveled, exhausted. She killed her grandmother, killed her friend, she was no angel.
Closing her eyes, grief stole her breath while she clutched at her aching heart with tears spilling over. When she opened her watery eyes and looked at her reflection, she saw something else, something that wasn’t there before. Wiping away her tears she noticed her hazel eyes seemed to have more golden specs in them. They were sparkling like bright shining stars.
She thought for a moment about how Marie told her not to lose hope. She owed it to her grandmother to take part in her ceremony, something she knew so little about, but she was a Trinity and she should be outside honoring her grandmother. Turning away from her reflection, she knew deep down Aaron was right, it wasn’t her fault, she hadn’t done it on purpose. Somehow, she would have to figure out how to move forward, but for now, she needed to say goodbye to her grandmother.
When Zara stepped off the back porch, she headed straight to the field where they had her bonfire the night of her birthday. She was glad she had put on jeans as the summer night breeze had a chill with it tonight. Stepping through the tree line she saw Aaron with the other Protectors, ten in total, standing around a wooden platform that had been built up and over the spot of their previous bonfire.
Zara felt nauseous as she saw that her grandmother’s body was lying on top of the platform wrapped in some type of cloth. Frozen in place, taking in the scene before her, Zara took a deep steadying breath and although she could taste sour hints of the poisonous vines still out in the west side of the forest, she could also feel the soothing balm of lavender and sandalwood that wrapped around her like a warm hug.
“I’m glad you decided to come,” Aaron said walking toward her. He stood beside her and put his arm around her shoulder.
Allowing herself to lean into his steady strength, he motioned for the team to begin. She had never witnessed anything like this, it was obvious this was a sacred honored tradition. Respect for her grandmother was etched on every face. A poem was read aloud that spoke of the passing of a Trinity and the return of her soul to the Heavens from where it came.
Each of the men placed a flower onto the platform next to Marie. Zara noticed they each held a different flower, a red rose, a white rose, a pink carnation and a white magnolia, lavender, and lilies of various types. Zara wondered about the meaning of each flower; and where they had gotten them so quickly. Stepping away from Aaron, she felt a strong desire to add a flower for her grandmother. She walked toward the platform and knelt to the ground.
Closing her eyes, she held her hand over the surface of the earth. In an instant, there was a small movement in the grass and a sunflower suddenly grew and bloomed, it was beautiful and full. Zara gently picked it and placed it next to her grandmother before stepping back under the consoling arm of Aaron.
Nodding toward his team to continue, Carson, one of the Protectors, lit a long stick with a white cloth wrapped around the end. The stick was then handed to Aaron who took it and stepped forward. Walking over to the angled wooden beams underneath the platform that held Marie’s body, he said a final prayer before he touched the burning cloth to the wood.
Zara watched with tear-filled eyes as the fire grew and she said goodbye to her grandmother. The flames grew higher and higher, enveloping her grandmother’s body as well as the platform where it rested. Zara began to notice there were designs that appeared within the flames and at times took the shape of the Trinity symbol. She wasn’t sure if the others saw, but it did plant a glimmer of hope in her chest, hope that was buried deep underneath her grief and guilt.
Chapter 12
Dimitri had reported back to Erebus about the surge of power he had witnessed. Erebus heard the awe in Dimitri’s voice as he retold the story and it irritated him. What Erebus had not expected however was the renewed strength and power he felt surge within himself when Zara Trinity unleashed her hate into the world.
Erebus gained his power from humans, but never knew the Trinity women could have the power to fulfill him. Who knew that hidden deep inside of Zara Trinity was a vast well filled with immense evil power that if harnessed could sustain him for generations to come? He realized he never needed the Trinity Ring, he needed Zara Trinity.
Erebus kept this information secret as there were only a few that he trusted, a few that were aware of the power and immortality he gained from the hate and fear in the hearts of humans. If anyone ever started to ask too many questions about him, he had them killed. Training and practice for his assassins he called it, which had worked out perfectly. Everyone that worked for him feared him and he liked it that way.
What none of them realized was that the Trinity women were the only ones who had the power to actually kill him. Erebus, a fallen angel himself, had been sent up from the underworld for the sole purpose of destroying the humanity that God wanted to protect. An evil leader meant to destroy all that God had created, replacing the hope and faith in the world with evil and hate.
After realizing the effects of Zara Trinity’s power, he knew the mission had to change. He no longer wanted her dead, he wanted her, needed her, as his prisoner. Dimitri had to get close to Zara Trinity, gain her trust and bring her back to him. The attack on Dimitri had been so vengeful and full of rage, that the resulting effect on Erebus was immediate.
A red-hot power surged in his veins that took years off his life leaving him looking younger and feeling stronger. It normally took decades of war and violence to get the results he had experienced after just a few minutes from the anger unleashed from within her. Smiling to himself, he thought of what he could become with her held captive as his prisoner. He could torture her anytime he wanted or needed, and feel this surge of rejuvenating power again and again.
Pacing the floor of his cramped motel room, Dimitri awaited news from Erebus. He had been instructed to wait after reporting on the recent events. Angry about his cowardly retreat in the woods he was barely able to resist the temptation to go after Zara. Day in and day out he processed the events that unfolded over and over, her face and those eyes were seared into his brain.
This was no ordinary mission, he had never gone after someone like Zara Trinity. Cursing aloud in frustration, he ran a hand across his dark brown hair, wondering when he was going to get some news. He dropped to the ground for another set of pushups, trying to force the image of her face from his mind.
Erebus had many connections, but his recent infiltration into the inner circle of the Protectors of the Trinity had to be one of his greatest accomplishments. At this moment the Protectors of the Trinity had no idea that one of their own had begun reporting directly to Erebus. One final piece of information was all he needed to ensure access to Zara.
It had been nearly a week since the attack on Dimitri, but Erebus knew things would change today. His phone chimed alerting him to a new text. Sighing with pleasure he pulled the phone from his jacket pocket knowing he was one step closer to capturing Zara Trinity and all her power. Erebus read the text from his informant and immediately called Dimitri.
Biceps bulging, sweat dripping off his brow, Dimitri’s head jerked up as the sound of his phone startled him, breaking through his vision of fierce golden eyes. His adrenaline spiked when he saw that it was the call he had been waiting for.
“Yes,” he said, seething with anger and frustration.
“Change of plans,” Erebus said as his sinister voice echoed through the line. “It se
ems after that surge of power miss Zara Trinity has been laid out for a few days. Apparently using that much power nearly killed her. The Protectors have moved her to a new location. A couple hours east of you there is a town called Abingdon.” Erebus paused, emphasizing his next words. “Dimitri, do not harm her. I want you to get close to her, gain her trust, then bring her to me. I’m preparing a containment cell for her. I’ll let you know when I’m ready for you.” The line went dead.
Staring at his phone, stunned, Dimitri said aloud, “Bring her in, get her to trust me. Is he serious?” He was built for killing, not coddling. Shaking his head in disbelief, he threw the phone down into his bag as he headed toward the door. Energized, with a renewed sense of purpose, he started the car, entering the new location into the GPS.
About to pull out of the parking lot, his phone chimed again. Cursing, he dug his phone out of his bag, it was another reminder not to harm Zara Trinity. ‘What has changed?’ he thought to himself. He wondered what Erebus needed with her, but it was not his place to question him.
Turning onto the interstate, he tried to tell himself it was his usual thrill of a mission propelling him forward, but he knew it was something about Zara Trinity. She triggered something in him, he was not sure what, but she was unexpected. It was as if she could see straight into his soul and he wanted to know why. He was intrigued and if he would admit it, he was looking forward to trying to get closer to her. Slamming down on the gas, heading toward Abingdon, he wondered what in the world he was going to do. This was not like anything he had ever done before.
Chapter 13
Staring out the window of their second story apartment, Zara sighed taking in the small antique town of Abingdon. She had been here once before with Aaron, but never really paused to breathe it in. It was comforting, the slow pace of a small country town and the beautiful historic buildings.