The Trinity Ring

by C. A. Bleu

  Laying her head back, she gasped, feeling his tongue circle her in the most private of places. A part of her mind tried to ask what was happening, but she pushed all thoughts away. Feeling his strong finger move in and out of her as his tongue made her feel things, things she didn’t know were possible. Something inside her was building; tension, power, and pleasure. She didn’t know what was going to happen, but she knew he couldn’t stop.

  “Don’t stop, Dimitri, please don’t stop,” she pleaded as she arched her back, pushing herself farther into him.

  Smiling to himself, he continued to please her when suddenly a gush of wind pushed through the room blowing out the glass of the window on the far wall. At the same time, water came rushing from the faucet in the bathroom. The walls and the bed began to shake as Zara screamed a release so intense and pure that Dimitri nearly came with her. Throbbing with a need of his own he stayed focused only on her. Continuing in spite of the sudden chaos around the room, he slowed his movements only when he felt her body relax and pulse around his finger.

  Zara drifted, floating back to her senses, looking at Dimitri. He smiled up at her with his crystal ice-blue eyes shining. Reaching for him she pulled him to her and kissed him with so much passion it overwhelmed her, she had never felt anything like that in her life. He was rock hard against her, she knew she wasn’t ready for him to be inside her, but she wanted to offer him some of what he had just given to her. She was just so inexperienced she did not know what to do.

  “Dimitri, tell me what you want me to do,” she said, kissing him and rolling him over so he was lying on his back. Trying his best to tell her no, though he was straining with need, he felt certain she had never been with anyone else before and would not let things go too far. Her beauty and innocence captivated him as golden flecks sparked in her eyes. Moving to sit astride him she ran both her hands down his chest, playing with the trail of hair above his waistband. “Zara, you don’t have to do anything,” he said pleadingly. If she didn’t stop touching him, he knew he couldn’t resist her.

  “Just lay back. I want to explore.” The wind picked up behind her through the broken window. Looking back, with the wave of her hand the curtains closed over the now open window. Glancing toward the bathroom a silent command made the water stop streaming from the faucet. Smiling, Zara leaned down and kissed his muscled abs, running her fingers up and down his strong chest.

  Moving her hands over his muscled thighs, she felt the strength in them even as they trembled beneath her touch. Eager to reach under the waistband of his pajama pants, her nerves had her exploring elsewhere first. Tracing her fingertips and light kisses over his chest and stomach she slowly began to slip his pants down lower and lower. She couldn’t hide her sharp intake of breath when she saw the tip of him peek out. Tentatively, she slipped her hand around him, shocked to feel how hard he was. All her fears and worries of betrayal seemed miles away as desire poured over her.

  Dimitri couldn’t breathe, he couldn’t move an inch as Zara slowly began moving her hand up and down the length of him. When he looked at her, he could have sworn he saw her amber eyes glow, but it was gone as quickly as it appeared. She was radiant and it moved him more than it should that she was showing him so much trust. Watching as she slowly bent down, he couldn’t look away when she began gently circling him with her tongue. His body aching for more and as if on cue, she took the length of him into her mouth.

  “Ah, Zara, oh my God.” It was a whispered plea escaping his lips as he tried to find his restraint. Locking eyes with her, he felt something stirring in his heart that he had not felt in many years. Somehow, he had found her, and he did not want anyone or anything to take her away.

  Zara could see his restraint slipping away as she pleasured him. Surprised to realize she felt a sensation building again within her. A groan escaped her with him in her mouth and the vibration sent such a thrill through him he nearly came.

  “Zara, you have to stop. I’m about to come,” he said on a breathless plea, which only encouraged her to move faster as she felt herself begin to erupt. Dimitri yelled her name, shooting hard into her mouth as he came. She looked up at him in awe before she slowly crawled back up his muscled body. They both lay silent for a moment as their breathing steadied. Neither one of them believing what had just happened.

  “Zara, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have started that.”

  “I’m glad you did,” Zara said, smiling as she rolled to put her head on his shoulder. “I have never felt anything like that before.”

  Wrapping his arm protectively around her, he held her for a moment before speaking quietly. “Your dream, you seemed so angry and scared. What was happening?”

  It took a minute for her to gather her thoughts and remember. “Last night and tonight it’s been the same, you, Erebus, and an overwhelming sense of betrayal. I’m not sure what tomorrow will bring, but I’m putting my faith in you. We have to take him down, Dimitri.” She leaned up to look at him. “Did you end up sending him the message we discussed?”

  “Yes, and he seemed very eager that you were considering working with him. All we have to do is get close to him, with you and I together I have no doubt we can take him down.” Dimitri rolled over, turning Zara so he could hold her from behind. She had to admit she liked the sound of ‘you and I together’ along with the feeling of being wrapped in his arms. Closing his eyes, he held her and could not believe the overwhelming feeling that she belonged there. They lay together until they both fell into a deep peaceful sleep.

  Chapter 22

  The next morning, they awoke and got ready in comfortable silence. Each of them stealing glances at the other every chance they could, but neither felt sure of what to say. Zara was nervous, she knew something big was going to happen today and hoped that it was not the betrayal she had been dreaming about.

  Walking outside into the warm summer morning Dimitri reached for her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze before he brought her hand to his lips for a gentle kiss. Zara climbed into the passenger side and looked over at Dimitri as he pulled out of the parking lot. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off, like something bad was going to happen. Trying to stay positive, pushing her fears away, she reminded herself that the Trinity women encouraged her to trust him.

  The tension was palpable, filling the car as they traveled along the highway in silence. Forty-five minutes later Dimitri took an exit ramp to the right before continuing about five miles down a winding road where he turned left onto a private, hidden drive. There was nothing around them Zara noticed, no other buildings, gas stations, or other houses. There was nothing but land, tall trees and the mountains towering in the distance.

  As Dimitri pulled through the line of trees, she saw a large iron gate up ahead. He slowed to a stop, lowering his window to enter a code on the silver keypad. Zara noticed Dimitri’s body tense when the large gate clicked and began to roll open, creating enough space for the car to fit through.

  Taking in Erebus’s sprawling estate, it was surprisingly beautiful. The tall iron fence seemed to go on as far as she could see around the property. She heard Dimitri’s deep sigh exhale as he gently eased the car through the gate. He looked worried, nervous even, which added to her own fears. They rolled slowly past huge trees that she had never seen before; she wondered what type of trees they were.

  The driveway curved, sloping downhill to where she finally saw the house, an enormous cream-colored mansion with five large pillars across the front. The lawn appeared well-manicured but the home itself seemed unkempt, covered in large green ivy climbing up the front pillars and around the right side as far as she could see.

  Zara had to admit, even though her stomach was in knots over meeting Erebus, this place still called to her on some level. It was serene, sad even, with several of the largest trees she had ever seen throughout the property. Wildflowers were in bloom lining the private drive, watching her as she rode past them.

  She felt a warmth calling
to her from the surrounding elements of nature, as if they were awakening, she thought. Zara felt a chill roll over her skin when they pulled closer to the house, the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. She knew, in the midst of this natural beauty there was a monster lurking inside, watching her.

  “We’re here, are you ready?” Dimitri asked, trying to sound confident as he parked in front of the tall ivy-covered pillars. They were the first words he had spoken since they pulled out of the hotel.

  Zara took a breath and shrugged her shoulders, staring determinedly at the front door. “Too late to turn back now, let’s go.”

  Climbing out of the car she exuded a confidence she didn’t quite believe. Heading toward the front door, she could feel the power stirring within her, building, from the deep well that had been brewing over the past several days. Intentionally trying to restrain the rage and hate fueling her quest for revenge on Erebus for all the losses in her life. It was harder than she thought, it seemed her anger was always there, barely hidden under the surface, waiting to erupt. Stopping just short of the door, she realized Dimitri needed to be the one to go in first.

  Knocking only once, the door opened within seconds. She watched as he dipped his head in greeting toward what must have been a butler working for Erebus. He was short and gaunt, dressed in a faded black suit with shoulder-length stringy gray hair that covered part of his face. His vacant, sunken gray eyes immediately looked down toward the ground upon seeing Dimitri.

  “Sir, we’ve been expecting you,” he muttered in a hushed nervous tone as he opened the door wider for them to enter.

  Swallowing past the hard lump in his throat which had suddenly gone dry, the fear of losing Zara overwhelmed him, he didn’t realize how much he had begun to care about her until this moment. All he wanted to do was put her in the car and take off, but he knew Erebus had to be dealt with. Standing tall, steeling his strong broad shoulders, Dimitri replied in greeting, “Venix, it has been a while, this is Zara.” Dimitri didn’t miss the way his small gray eyes widened at her name. Stepping through the threshold of the door, he saw Erebus walking down the spiral stairs to greet them. Dimitri discreetly brushed Zara’s hand, a silent warning for her to wait. She stopped just inside the door, standing in the large black and white square tiled entry foyer.

  Time stood still when Zara saw those thick black boots coming down the stairs. The long black cape blowing out behind Erebus created a noticeable air of authority and power around him. A wave of nausea came over her so suddenly she had to force her legs to stay strong and keep her standing. Watching as he slowly turned from the bottom of the stairs in her direction, his cold black eyes met hers as a sinister smile slowly crept over his pale chalky face. He could sense her body’s physical reaction to him, and he enjoyed it.

  “Ah, Miss Zara Trinity, I have been waiting a long time for you.” His gravelly voice seethed malice as he spoke.

  With his pale complexion, he looked almost human, but also looked like something ‘other’. His large nose was somewhat crooked and there was a faint scar down his right cheek. Set against his chalky white skin his lips looked bright red and she could barely see his jagged darkened gray teeth peeking through his grin. He was tall, taller than Dimitri, and all at once, she remembered what he had done to her family.

  Zara moved her hand only a fraction of an inch toward him when suddenly she found herself falling. The floor had dropped right out from under her feet. The last thing she saw as she screamed was Erebus shaking with laughter as he looked toward Dimitri.

  Zara fell, and kept falling, for what she thought must have been at least fifteen feet or more. Hitting the ground hard, she felt a crack in her leg as she collapsed. Pain shot through her, so intense it took her breath away. Unable to fight back her tears, the realization hit her that she never saw or heard anything from Dimitri when she fell. Immediately a chill settled in her heart, she must have been right all along. Deep down she had worried there was a chance Dimitri might betray her and that was exactly what he had done. Anger and pain pulsed through her so deep she let out a roaring scream.

  Dimitri didn’t know what happened. One second Zara was standing there, and in the blink of an eye, she was gone. There had been a trapdoor in the floor he never knew existed. Erebus laughed, staring down into the hole as the door closed back up. Dimitri could have sworn he heard a loud thud and his heart shattered thinking that Zara would not have been able to survive that fall.

  A blood-curdling scream echoed through the foyer, in that instant he could not believe the change he saw in Erebus. Dimitri watched as Erebus stretched his arms to the side and tilted his head back, it was as if something entered his body. When Erebus brought his head back up to look at Dimitri his face was still moving and adjusting, noticeably younger and stronger with more color in his cheeks.

  Heavy with rage, he moved toward Erebus, but only made it one step before he was shot in the chest. He looked up, shocked to see another assassin he knew standing in the hall, gun in hand. It was a small relief when he glanced down, realizing it was a tranquilizer dart that hit him. His thoughts went to Zara, hoping she had survived the fall as he silently vowed to do what he could to get her out before his world went black.

  Chapter 23

  That purging scream left Zara with little relief and an aching hole in her heart. Having a hard time breathing, she realized there was very little air in the room. Taking in the sight of her right leg there was no doubt it was broken as it lay at an awkward, painful angle. All she could focus on was the intense pain and lack of air, and a soul-deep ache at Dimitri’s betrayal. Laying her head back on the cold concrete floor she felt defeated as she let her silent tears fall. Glancing around she realized there was no door, no way in or out, no windows. Surrounded by concrete with no hope for escape, Zara remembered Dimitri telling her Erebus was making a containment cell specifically for her. She figured there was no way for her to tap into the elements from here.

  Zara lay with her eyes closed trying to breathe through the pain and heartache. She was now grateful for the last-minute text she had secretly sent to Aaron as Dimitri punched in his code at the gate. With a few short words, she had told Aaron where she was and what she was doing but had warned him not to tell Carson.

  A burning tear slowly trickled down her face as her thoughts focused on Dimitri. For a brief moment, she had let herself think there may have been something special between them. Trusting him, she had let her guard down, allowed herself to be hopeful. This betrayal cracked her soul open with a pain worse than anything she had ever experienced before. She was giving up, but she couldn’t stop herself. Her breaths grew shallower with less and less air in the room to breathe.

  Dimitri awoke facedown on a cold stone floor. Slowly, he crawled to his feet, calling out to Erebus, his anger helping him to burn through the effects of the tranquilizer. Looking around, he saw that he was locked in a cell with floor to ceiling bars all around. What had gone wrong? Erebus must have sensed his betrayal and not taken any chances. Dimitri yelled, again and again, beckoning Erebus before he finally heard footsteps heading in his direction.

  “Ah, he lives. Such a disappointment you are,” Erebus said as he paced slowly back and forth outside Dimitri’s cell. “What happened to you?” Erebus asked in disgust. “You were my greatest weapon; uncaring, unfeeling, and savage. I used to feed off your energy and your victim’s fear every time you went out. Look at you now, from the moment you arrived, I could feel your fear for that girl. I should have known you would turn on me.”

  Erebus leaned forward, looking straight into Dimitri’s eyes. “She will have nothing to do with you now, she knows that you have betrayed her and brought her to me as instructed.” Those words shot straight to his heart. If Zara was alive, Dimitri knew that was exactly what she would be thinking. Hanging his head in defeat, closing his eyes as the words continued to sink in. Zara was lost to him, she would never trust him again, for all he knew she may be dead already.

 
Erebus turned his back on Dimitri and began slowly walking away. “The only reason you are still alive is so I can watch you suffer. You will watch every minute of Zara Trinity’s torture. I will make her bleed over and over again. I will be sure she knows that you are working with me.” Pausing to look back at Dimitri. “Did you really think you could fool me?” he asked with a raised eyebrow. “I am going to enjoy watching the two of you suffer until your last breath,” he said as he laughed and disappeared down the hall.

  Sinking to the floor, he leaned his back against the cold hard steel surrounding him. Guilt and shame washed over him as he hung his head in defeat, he had never felt so down before. No, he had been this down once, this lost, the day he found out his parents had died. Imagining that day, he remembered stepping off the school bus, seeing strange people there with the police in his driveway. His world was forever changed. The accident had killed them both instantly they said, someone heading the wrong way down a one-way road hit them head-on. Sitting in his cell, he realized he had given up on himself a long time ago. A part of him died that day along with his parents.

  During these past few days with Zara he had never felt so alive, so complete, but he knew she would believe Erebus, this betrayal was what she had feared. In her eyes, betrayal was exactly what she would see. Her name became a whispered prayer on his lips. Dimitri kept his head bowed as he slowly began to pray. He had only ever prayed one other time he could remember. It was after his parents’ death, he prayed with all his wounded heart and soul to be able to see them again, to have them back, but nothing ever happened. It was then he had given up all faith in God and all hope in himself. It was then that he had met Erebus.

  Numb inside, hopeless with Zara now gone, he had nothing left to lose. Opening himself up he decided to take a chance on God, so, he prayed. Silently, he spilled his heart, asking for forgiveness for the life he had led, for the way he’d let his rage and anger control him since his parents’ death. He prayed for Zara to live, for healing and strength to help her.