by Teri Barnett
“Really, Connor, you should keep a muzzle on this one. She’ll get both of you into trouble for sure,” Esther hissed.
Connor moved to stand in front of Bethany, shielding her from the other woman. Esther immediately caught sight of the gun. “Take that from him!” she commanded the women with her. “Didn’t you check them for weapons?”
The two guards looked at each other sheepishly. “Yes, Ma’am. Please forgive us. We didn’t know what it was. It looked like some sort of ornament.” As one guard held a crossbow at Connor’s throat, the other took his gun. Esther held out her hand and accepted it.
Bethany and Connor stood stock-still, unable to move with the arrows pointing at them, waiting as the guards checked their persons for anything else they may have. Satisfied they didn’t possess any other weapons, they stepped away. Bethany allowed herself a small sigh of relief. They hadn’t found the needle.
Esther smiled at Connor. “She’s especially interested in you, dear sir.”
“Why?” Connor’s eyes narrowed.
“No idea but I suppose you’ll find out soon enough.” Esther stepped to the side as the guards shoved the pair in front of them. Holding a crossbow at each of their backs, they directed Bethany and Connor down the long winding corridor to meet with the High Priestess, Liazar.
Bethany forced herself to take slow, deep breaths as they moved down the dark, musty corridor. She was thankful she and Connor were being taken together. His strength would help keep her from losing her resolve.
Soon, Sarah, soon. Mama’s coming.
Connor whispered in her ear. “We’ll get through this, Bethany.”
“I love you,” she whispered back. “No matter what happens, please know that.”
“I love you, too.” He cleared his throat. “Damn, I can’t help but feel like we’re being led to the gallows.”
“Gallows?”
“Never mind. It’s an unpleasant place.”
“You two be quiet.” Esther called from behind them. “We’re here.”
They stopped in front of a large wooden door as wide as the corridor. Esther pushed past them and knocked at it first twice, then a pause, then another four times.
Slowly the door creaked open. They had to cover their eyes because of the brightness of the room. Everywhere, torches glowed. Esther motioned for the guards to proceed and they pushed Bethany and Connor forward.
As her eyes grew used to the light, Bethany noticed they were in an altar room, but it was unlike any she had ever seen. At least four times the size of the usual ones she helped to excavate, it extended well beyond the entry. The walls were painted similarly to Yongi’s kiyolo, with further tales of the life of Eitel. At the center of the room was an immense white marble throne instead of a statue.
When they were within ten feet of the seat, Esther ordered them to stop. “That’ll be far enough.”
From somewhere inside the altar room, the sweet melody of a lyre floated out to them. As the musician strummed, a woman with long, dark red hair emerged from behind the throne and took her seat. She let her gaze pass over Bethany and come to rest on Connor.
“My God.” Connor gasped.
“It’s been a long time, dear Connor. Is that all you have to say to your wife?”
Elizabeth?
Bethany’s mind reeled. The two women she had grown to despise were one and the same. She looked from Connor to Elizabeth, unable to speak.
“I thought you were dead,” Connor said, his voice low.
Elizabeth eyed Bethany. “So, it would seem.”
Connor drew himself up. “What have you done to yourself? You look like hell.”
She pounded a fist on the arm of the throne. “On the contrary. I’m the picture of health, thanks to the hospitality of these delightful Eitellans.” She flung her long red tresses over her shoulders.
“What I meant was, any trace of my former wife is completely gone,” Connor spat. “You may appear beautiful on the outside, but I know your insides are rotten to the core. You’ve sold your soul to the Devil himself.”
Elizabeth scowled and leaned forward. “I see you haven’t lost your self-righteous do-gooder ways. I happened to arrive during one of their celebrations. I stepped out of a kiyolo and there they were. Well, you can imagine what must have been running through their minds to see someone appear in such a way.” She leaned back, resting her head against the cold stone. “Seems the priestess who preceded me wasn’t too popular. I’d read the Book of Eitel and knew how to get rid of her. So, I did. And I took her place” She studied her fingernails. “Fascinating story, don’t you think? They even gave me a new name. Liazar.” She waved her hand in the air. “It means rebirth.”
Bethany took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm. “So, you’re Elizabeth?” she asked, her voice tinged with sarcasm. “Really, Connor, whatever did you see in her to make her your wife?”
Elizabeth’s eyes flashed sparks of anger and her hands gripped the armrests of her throne.
Good. I’ve rattled her.
Bethany was glad for the hidden sword. When the time was right, she would strike.
Elizabeth turned back to Connor. “Dear husband, what brings you here? I wouldn’t have thought you could have climbed out of that whiskey bottle long enough to figure out how to cross over.”
He shrugged and pointed his chin toward Elizabeth’s hand. “I see you’re still wearing the ring I gave you.”
Elizabeth held up her hand and studied the sparkling gemstones in the candlelight. “It is quite lovely. I couldn’t bear to part with it.”
Bethany sensed Connor’s tightly leashed tension. She shifted closer to him, her fingers lightly brushing his.
Be strong my love. We’ll get through this.
“Didn’t Michael give you a new one?” Connor said in a bland tone.
“He didn’t live long enough.”
“The ashes from the dig,” Bethany whispered. “They must have been his…”
Elizabeth gave a deep sigh. “Dear Michael. I had to kill him. He wasn’t interested in joining me in overthrowing the old high priestess and I couldn’t have him working against me.” She flicked a glance at Bethany. “You must have been part of the expedition that found my little treasure. You didn’t really think the remains were mine, did you?”
Bethany and Connor turned at the sound of heavy footsteps behind them.
“Ian!” Bethany screamed, running to him. He smiled weakly and dropped to the floor. His shirt was torn and bloody, his body covered with cuts and bruises. Bethany knelt at his side. Slowly, she turned back to face Elizabeth. “What did you do to him?”
“Just looking for some information. And this.” She displayed the silver box Ian had found not so long ago. “Seems he’s been taking care of it for me.”
Bethany turned back to Ian. She took a deep breath and shifted into the Knowing. Raising her hands, she placed them on his shoulders and began to knead them, easing the soreness away.
“What’s she doing?” Elizabeth called in a sharp tone.
“She’s a Healer, my Priestess,” Esther explained.
“A Healer? Make her stop!”
Esther gave Bethany a shove and broke her concentration. She shook her head to clear it, then turned back to Elizabeth. “You evil woman.”
Elizabeth threw her head back and laughed. “A healer. I could use the soul of a healer,” she murmured. “Come, stand before me.”
Bethany stayed where she was.
Elizabeth continued to eye her. “I said come here!” One of the sentries gave Bethany a rough shove from behind, sending her sprawling to the floor. Connor growled and moved to go to her but two of the guards flanked him, shoving their bows into his sides.
“It’s all right,” Bethany said to Connor as she stood. The sentry pushed her forward again, forcing her to
stand directly in front of Elizabeth.
“You’re quite beautiful and still reasonably young,” Elizabeth observed.
Bethany’s eyes narrowed. “What have you done with the children of Paran? Where’s my daughter?”
“Daughter?” Elizabeth tapped her fingers on her cheek, thinking. “Oh yes, that explains why you look so familiar. The cherub does favor her mother, I see.” Elizabeth smiled.
Bethany lunged for her, screaming, “I want Sarah! Give her to me!”
Connor took advantage of Bethany’s attack to turn on the two guards flanking him. Before they could react, he threw two punches and they toppled to the floor, unconscious.
“Here, my Priestess!” Esther yelled, pulling the gun out of her sling and tossing it to Elizabeth. “It’s a weapon.”
Connor made a grab for her, but it was too late. Elizabeth caught the gun. Connor punched Esther in the jaw, sending the woman reeling to the ground.
“I know what it is,” Elizabeth replied through gritted teeth as she fought Bethany. She kicked Bethany and scrambled for the gun where it had landed on the floor. Sitting up she pointed the gun at Bethany.
“No!” Ian screamed, making a dive for Elizabeth. Before Bethany could react, Elizabeth turned the gun on Ian and shot him in the chest. He dropped to the ground in a broken heap, blood pooling beneath him.
Connor and Bethany rushed to his side. Bethany laid her hands on his chest and tried to heal him, but it was too late. His spirit had departed.
Connor stood and turned to his wife. “Why, Elizabeth? Why did you come here?”
“After Michael presented me with the Book of Eitel, I discovered a power unsurpassed. A power so great it has made me immortal. I’ll live forever here.” She spread her arms wide. “Look at me, Connor. I’ve hardly aged. And look at my hair.” She lifted the tresses and let them fall back down. “It flows with the life of all the souls I’ve taken.”
“I always knew you were a little crazy, but I never thought you were capable of murder.”
Bethany slowly rose, extracting the needle from inside of her blouse at the same time. With three quick downward thrusts, it grew into a sword. The sword she’d use to kill this woman.
Elizabeth eyed Bethany as she approached the throne. “You can’t kill me with your toy. Don’t you know I’m immortal?”
“Save it for the worshippers, Elizabeth. I’ve seen the writings. I know you can die.” She aimed the point at her, then raised it. As she did so, Elizabeth leveled the gun.
“No!” Connor yelled, rushing forward. Just as he reached Bethany, Elizabeth fired. He shoved Bethany out of the way and caught the bullet in his thigh. He hit the hard floor with a thud as the bullet passed through, tearing the muscle.
“Connor,” Bethany cried running to his side.
“Give me the sword,” he ground out.
Bethany opened her mouth to argue as Connor stood unsteadily. “I’ll see this through. It’s my battle, Bethany.”
“It’s both of ours, Connor. She has Sarah.” Bethany raised the sword once more and approached Elizabeth. She took two steps before the other woman fired the gun again.
The force of the bullet as it hit her shoulder knocked Bethany to the ground. She dropped the sword with a loud clatter.
“Bethany!” Connor went to her and checked the wound. Groaning with relief he whispered to her to stay down. He reached for the sword and limped toward Elizabeth.
“This is ridiculous, Connor.” Elizabeth chuckled.
He gripped the sword tightly in his hands.
I can’t believe I ever thought I loved this woman.
His thoughts shifted to Bethany, so loving, so brave. Her beauty shone from within.
“Why not join me here. You can be immortal, too,” she purred.
“Not at the expense of other’s lives,” he stated flatly. Connor lifted the sword.
“You won’t do it,” she taunted. She raised the gun once more and fired, catching Connor in the forearm. He stumbled slightly and almost dropped the sword. But the sight of Bethany, where she lay in her own blood, spurred him on. In one swift motion, before Elizabeth could shoot the gun again, the sword flew through the air and sliced through her fine-boned neck, sending her head tumbling down the steps of the throne.
Her body twitched and a sudden rush of air flew out of her open neck, carrying all the souls she had taken. Glowing golden in the torchlight, they rushed and squealed, circling the room, delighting in their newfound freedom. He watched in amazed silence as they slipped, one after another, through a small opening in the floor behind the throne. He started to follow them, but Bethany moaned, and he returned his attention to her.
“Heal yourself, Bethany. You did it before. You can do it again,” he urged as he tied his kerchief around his wounded thigh.
“I’m so tired,” she murmured.
“I’m here. Use my strength.” Connor took her hand. “Please, Angel, I need you. I love you.”
Bethany closed her eyes and Connor watched as a warm pink glow began to emanate from her body. It enveloped the wound, stopping the blood flow and making the skin new again. She slowly sat up, holding her head until she felt able to move. “You’re hurt, too. Let me—” she reached for him, but he brushed her hand away.
“I’ll be fine. They’re only flesh wounds.”
She touched his cheek and nodded. “Did you hear something?” she asked, looking around the room.
Connor shook his head. “What did it sound like?”
Bethany didn’t answer but stood shakily and followed the noises. Reaching the back of the throne, she gave it a hard shove. It slid forward. Standing on the stairs were several small forms, scrambling toward the light. One in particular stood out, her long silver-blonde hair illuminated by the fire of the torches.
“Momma!” Sarah cried, rushing into her mother’s outstretched arms.
“Oh, baby.” Bethany fell to her knees, tears streaming down her face, and embraced her child. “Don’t ever leave me again.”
Chapter 30
Connor was silent as he and Bethany approached the portal between the planes. “Penny for your thoughts,” Bethany echoed his words.
He smiled. “I was just thinking about Abraham when he saw Sarah. I’ve never seen a man as happy as he was.”
“Papa spoils her too much.” She sighed. “I used to scold him about it, but I think I’ll let him be from now on.” She kicked at a rock as they crossed the almost barren land. With winter upon them, the trees and bushes were dormant for the season, their branches laid bare. It was cold enough now for the ice to stay on the ground and they stepped carefully. Bethany shivered and pulled her heavy shawl more tightly around her.
Connor removed his own jacket and draped it around her shoulders as they walked. Abruptly, he stopped and doubled over, a grimace crossing his face.
“What is it?” Bethany asked, her brow wrinkled with worry.
Connor took a deep breath and straightened. “It’s nothing.”
Bethany eyed him. “Don’t lie to me, Connor Jessup. Let me help you.” She pushed the long sleeves of the coat out of her way and raised her arms to him.
“I said I’m all right, Bethany.” He winced again. “Really.”
“Promise me you’ll say something if it gets any worse.”
“Cross my heart.”
“I wish you didn’t have to leave.”
“I won’t be gone long but I’ve got to let Elizabeth’s and Michael’s families know what’s become of them—in a round-about way that is.” He stopped as they reached the wall of shale. “I feel I owe it to them. Besides, I need to say good-bye to Jimmy.”
“I understand,” Bethany replied softly. “Zachariah?” she called out, searching the wall. Ah, there it was—the blue glow.
“I’m not telling any fortunes today,” Zach
ariah boomed from within the mountain.
Bethany laughed. “I seek no fortunes, Sir, only a moment of your time for two weary travelers.”
The ground vibrated as the crack in the side of the mountain slowly opened, allowing entry to the portal. Hand in hand, Bethany and Connor passed through the opalescent haze. There, on the other side, Zachariah waited, his arms outstretched.
“Bethany M’Doro and Connor Jessup!” he greeted them. “I didn’t expect to see you two again so soon.”
“We did it, Zachariah. We found Sarah.”
Zachariah clapped his hands together. “Wonderful! I told you your mission was blessed. Come, sit by the fire. I have someone here who’d love to hear your tale.”
Bethany and Connor walked toward the fire. Sitting with her back to them was the slight, bent form of a woman. She turned around, her eyes dancing. “Maud!” Bethany exclaimed. “What are you doing here?”
“Visiting an old friend.” She smiled at Zachariah. “He told me of your journey as a shadow.” She patted the chair next to her. “Sit, child, and tell me your story. I need some new tales to weave.”
Connor whispered to Bethany. “Who is she?”
“Maud Hekate, this is Connor Jessup.” She beamed at the man beside her. “My husband.”
“Husband! Well, well, much has happened,” Zachariah observed with a sly smile.
And so, Bethany and Connor sat near the fire. Sipping a cup of bitters, Bethany told them about the search for the Eitellans, the destruction of Liazar, and the release of the souls. More importantly, she told them of Sarah’s homecoming and her wedding to Connor. It was a simple ceremony in the woods near her home. Abraham and Sarah were there to witness the declaration of their love and commitment to each other.
As Bethany spoke, Maud strummed the air, creating and refining the fabric of color she’d use to relate the story to others later. Connor sat, transfixed. “How do you do that?”
“It’s a gift I received from my father. He received it from his mother before him and so on.”
“Fascinating,” he whispered.