I lost focus when I heard a familiar voice, an ominous voice I’d never, ever forget. My heart lurched and my breath quickened when I saw Ethano talking to a slender girl not too far away. I hadn’t expected to see him so soon, as I figured he’d search every nook and cranny of my castle first, looking for me. Thoughts of what he’d done to me flooded my mind. I feared Ethano because I didn’t have the strength to defeat him, but at the same time, I wanted to rip him apart. “I want to kill him,” I whispered.
“I know, sis, but you’d best swallow all that rage, or you’re gonna ruin the plan. We’ve gotta get our fellas and get the hell outta here.”
“Ethano has arrived,” a man next to me said, trying to make casual conversation.
“How wonderful!” said another man.
Yeah, right. Freaking wonderful, I thought sarcastically. “How did he get back so fast?” I whispered, gripping Liz’s arm tightly.
“I don’t know, but we have to get out of here,” she said.
“I know. If he catches us, we’re screwed.” I looked around and then sashayed toward a skinny man who’d been staring at me the entire time. I was sure I’d be able to snag him quickly.
Liz didn’t waste any time and quickly looped her arm in his. “Do you think you can handle two ladies, milord?”
I smiled seductively.
“I-I don’t know,” he stuttered. “I’ve never thought of such a thing, and you are both so beautiful.”
“Shall we give it a go? Perhaps it will be unforgettable for us all,” Liz coaxed.
He glanced at her. “I only want one,” he said. “I want you.”
Liz gazed deeply into his eyes. “You want two.”
“No, just one,” he repeated.
I was shocked, wondering why Liz was unable to compel him. I shot her a look, and she pulled me aside.
“Ethano has some kind of block going on here, like he did back at the church,” Liz said.
I swallowed hard. “What are you saying? We don’t have our powers?”
“We sure don’t. We lost them the second he stepped inside the ballroom.” She nudged me. “Anyway, let’s get to work.”
“Please take us to your room, milord,” I said, batting my eyelashes at the skinny man. I’d never been good at fake seduction, but I was trying my best.
“You’re very pretty,” he said, “but I really want your friend.”
“He only wants you,” I whispered in her ear.
“It’s this dress,” she whispered back. “Men dig cleavage.”
I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. I couldn’t believe she’d worn that—but then again, it was Liz.
Liz touched his arm. “This is my sister, and I simply can’t bear to leave her alone with these wolves. Do you have a friend for her?” Liz asked.
He smiled and called his buddy over, and the stranger wrapped an arm around me. “I’d love to be with this one. She’s lovely,” he said.
When I noticed that Ethano was greeting all the working girls one by one, kissing their hands as if he were some kind of gentleman—and we all knew better—I shot Liz a terrified look as my pulse spiked. We needed to get the heck out of there, as quickly as we could. Even though I didn’t have my powers, I wasn’t afraid of the men we were planning to leave with. They were skinny little things, and I knew I could break them like a twig if they so as much touched me.
I coughed and nudged Liz when Ethano walked in our direction. Shuddering, I could still feel his breath on my neck, and the thought sickened me. I swallowed down the fear, though, knowing I had to be brave. I had every hope and expectation of bringing Victor safely out of that castle, but part of me was frightened he would slip away if I was caught.
My heart beat a million times a minute as Ethano approached. Out of instinct, I threw myself on the man standing in front of me and began kissing him on the lips, while Liz kissed the other.
Ethano passed us up since we were otherwise engaged in a make-out session.
Even though I was kissing a stranger, the tension released from my shoulders, and I sighed in relief. “Let’s go,” I said to the man. “I must have you now. I can’t wait any longer.”
The man smiled and escorted me out the door, past all the guards, and into the dimly lit corridor.
My nerves calmed as soon as we were away from Ethano, and I let out a long sigh. “Perhaps we should all have a drink together,” I suggested.
“I’d love a glass of wine,” Liz said, looping her arm around the man’s.
“Then we shall!” he chimed.
“Great,” Liz said.
We walked to the other side of the castle and entered the room. We might not have our powers, but we still had our strength. The room had the same dreary dark stone as the ballroom, and a metal chandelier hung in the center of the room. Heavy, red curtains hung from metal rods and covered huge windows. The large, cherry wood, four post bed was covered with a maroon bedspread and matching pillows.
As soon as the door shut, I sprang into action. I put my date in a chokehold, cutting off the airflow and forcing him to submit to me. His body went limp, and I gently laid him down. I didn’t want to hurt him, even though I should have to teach him a lesson about picking up girls that way, but at least he’d be incapacitated for a few hours.
Liz tapped me as soon as her date was also sleeping soundly on the floor. “Come on! Let’s get out of here.”
I opened the door, only to find a towering Immortal glaring at me. My stomach lurched as my feet lifted off the floor, and I wondered how the man had retained his Immortal powers, since mine and Liz’s were obviously blocked. My only guess was that Ethano had somehow found a loophole, granting power only to those who were on his side.
The man grabbed my ring and turned it over. “You’re Immortal! I thought so.”
“What gave me away?”
“You forced my friend to hit himself in the face. Only an Immortal could command someone to do such a thing.”
I knew there was no use denying it and little chance of him letting us go, but I had to try. “You are right. I am Immortal,” I admitted, hoping he might show a little respect.
My feet touched the floor as he released me. “My apologies, ma’am. I’ll inform Ethano that there was a case of mistaken identity, and you’ll be immediately released.”
I laughed inwardly, knowing that Ethano would never order my release—not in a million years.
“Thank you,” Liz said.
He smiled at her. “I’d love to spend more time in your company before you leave.”
Liz nudged me. “Told you this dress was a winner.” She then turned to the Immortal. “I’d love too.”
His eyes lit up, and he grinned. Liz always had that effect on men, and they tended to fall at her feet. Still, I knew she was only playing a part. The only man for my sister was Charles, and she would never be with anyone else. Nevertheless, we needed the Immortal to let down his guard. In the blink of an eye, Liz grabbed a heavy vase and hit him over the head.
I didn’t waste another second. With Immortal speed, I grabbed Liz’s hand and stepped around him. I raced through the stone corridors and up a set of winding stairs, then dashed around a corner. We ducked into the nearby alcove in the stone wall of a recessed window. My heart raced as I heard his footsteps fast approaching. “We can take him,” I said, “two against one.”
Liz shook her head. “Uh-uh. He’s too strong, or else I would’ve taken him on back there. He has powers, and we don’t.”
Shouts and more footsteps echoed in the air. A shudder shot through me as I realized others had joined him.
Liz gripped my hand. “Fighting one Immortal is hard enough, let alone an army of them.”
“We’d better make a run for it,” I whispered.
We hurried down the lonely, dark corridor. Firelight from the torches bounced off the shiny armor that was hung on the stone walls. A red ball of light whizzed past my ear and crashed into the wall.
I turned left a
nd raced down the hall as more red balls of light flew over my head. Suddenly, I was paralyzed and dropped to the ground. I couldn’t move my hands or my feet or even a finger, and not one word could eke its way out of my mouth.
An Immortal picked me up and flung me over his shoulder like luggage. I couldn’t even fight him or see if Liz was okay. My heart raced, and I knew I was in trouble.
Chapter 11
Immortal ropes tied my hands, and the man set me down in the middle of the room next to Liz. I shot her a terrified glance, then glanced around. All of the peasant girls who’d refused to attend the event were gathered and watching us.
“Do these women look familiar?” an Immortal said to the women.
The girls nodded and murmured that they’d seen us before.
“This is one of the girls we caught today,” an Immortal said, shoving me on my knees. “She refused to cooperate with tonight’s event, and now I’m going to make an example of her.” When he whipped out his long sword, the girls gasped. “If you don’t cooperate,” the man said to the cowering girls, “you will die!”
Pain exploded in my head as the black-haired man yanked my hair back.
“Any last words?” he asked.
“Yes!” I struggled to look up at him. “You know I’m Immortal, so why are you doing this?”
“You were captured, and that makes you our property, Immortal or not.”
“They broke the rules!” one of the men roared. “She and her sister must pay. We rule with an iron fist and make no exceptions for traitors.”
The Immortal raised the sword over my head, ready to kill me for my disobedience. He wanted to make an example of me so no other girl would ever challenge his power in the castle; he wanted them to know they were worth nothing, completely expendable, and that they’d be killed for the slightest indiscretion and quickly replaced by another helpless girl.
For a brief second, when I realized there was no hope, I actually pondered calling for Ethano, hoping he would convince his men not to harm an Immortal.
The Immortal lifted his sword, as if he were ready to behead me right then and there. Memories of William holding a sword over my head flooded my head. The same kind of fear immobilized me. My captor stood behind me and my cuffed hand touched his pants in a feeble attempt to stop him, and a flash of light overcame me. When I opened my eyes, I was watching the scene unfold before me. It was like watching TV or a movie, similar to my experience in Helena’s cave. I saw the man deliver the fatal blow to me, and I heard Liz scream. I opened my eyes quickly, and a blinding headache was throbbing behind my eyes. I’d seen a vision of what was about to happen in seconds, and it terrified me even more than facing my adversary. I’d once heard that an unborn baby can feel everything that the mother experiences, and I only hoped my son could not feel my fear.
I glanced down at my belly to talk to my son, the tiny, miraculous baby growing inside of me. Pure, unconditional love poured out. I want you to know that I love you so much, and I want nothing more than to hold you in my arms. In order for that to happen, then I must do something drastic to ensure our survival. Just know that you’re in my heart, in my soul. Be brave, little one. We’ll survive. I promise you that.
The Immortal now stood to the side of me, getting in the perfect position to kill me. I had no control over the nightmarish predicament in which I was caught. It was in that life-or-death moment that I boldly made a choice to save our lives. “Get Ethano,” I shouted. “I’ve got what he wants, and he won’t let this man harm me for the sake of our baby!”
A chorus of gasps and mutters exploded in the room.
“No,” Liz begged. “Don’t, Sarah!”
But I had too; Ethano was the only way out of that mess. “I had a vision, Liz.”
“A vision?”
“They’re gonna kill us if we don’t do something! I saw myself die! We don’t really have a choice.”
As much as I loathed asking for Ethano, I didn’t have any other options. I needed to live so my baby could be born and have a chance at life. My baby had saved my life back at the ceremony, and now I was going to save his. Tears welled up in my eyes as I remembered the vivid picture of that smiling, happy little boy who so resembled his handsome father. My son’s life was precious, and he deserved a chance. I refused to destroy him because of my pride. Even if I fell into Ethano’s clutches, I could always attempt an escape.
“Ethano is the father? Does he know?” the man asked.
“If you kill me without discussing it with Ethano, he will avenge my death for the rest of your days.”
“Pay her no mind! She’s spewing lives to save her head!” one said.
“But what if she isn’t?” the other retorted.
“What could it hurt to check out our story?” I yelled.
Seemingly unfazed, he lifted the sword, ready to deliver the death blow that would end me and my precious baby.
“I’m Queen Fesque!” I shouted.
“Queen Fesque?” he said as confusion washed over him. He turned to the other men. “Ethano has been hunting for her most feverishly. There is a high price on her pretty little head.”
“Spare our lives, and he will reward you handsomely,” Liz said.
“Get Ethano,” a man demanded of one of his nearby soldiers, and I never thought I’d be so happy to hear those words.
“How did you manage to abduct the queen of Tastia?” one of the men shouted.
“She was trying to rescue one of the girls,” another shouted. “She was dressed like the rest of the peasants.”
The blond Immortal from the bedroom walked in. He was drawn straight to Liz like a magnet and gripped her wrist. “I’ll take this one. I don’t care what you do with the other one.”
“She’s my sister!” Liz screamed.
“Ethano will want Princess Gloria. Ask him before you take her away,” I said, knowing that Ethano wouldn’t let anyone touch Liz, as long as I complied with his wishes.
The man met my gaze and reached out his hand. “Please stand, Majesty.”
I complied.
“Why didn’t you identify yourself in the beginning? Why the charade?” he asked.
I paused a moment before I answered, “Because I was trying to find something in your castle that I desperately want.”
“Too bad you didn’t find it,” Ethano said.
I stared at those evil eyes and that psychotic smile. Those fancy clothes of his didn’t fool me for a minute.
“Looks as if you’ve only found yourself in a very tough situation—again,” he mocked.
I looked at him, unable to speak. Seeing him again brought back too many bad memories, and the death of my husband replayed in my mind. It hadn’t been Victor, but I’d thought it was at the time, and the crushing feelings I’d felt were real and devastating. I’d never get the vision out of my head.
The Immortal who was so attracted to Liz waved for Ethano’s attention. “I want the princess.”
For the first time, Liz looked terrified. She knew as well as I did that there was no longer time for fun and games. It was real life, and we’d been dealt quite a blow. She knew she was defenseless against the towering Immortal who threatened to rape her, his eyes rolling lustfully over her breasts as he ran a hand down the curves of her body.
Ethano turned to face the Immortal. “The princess is under my protection…for now.”
I let out a tiny sigh of relief. I knew it wouldn’t last long, though, and soon I’d be bargaining with the devil himself to save Liz.
“If the queen and I can’t come up with a compromise, then you can have her,” Ethano said.
Liz glared. “No!”
The Immortal stroked Liz’s hair and smiled wickedly. “And have her I will—over and over again,” he said.
Liz struggled in her bindings, but they were meant to hold Immortals. No matter how hard we tried, there was no breaking free from them.
Ethano eyed me up and down, then cupped my face. “You look stun
ning, my Queen.”
I turned my face so I didn’t have to look at him. It was the moment I’d dreaded for so long.
“You’re the woman I wish to spend the night with,” he said smugly.
It took everything I had to bite my tongue.
“I’ve been trying to get my hands on you for the past month, and here you are, dressed like a proper lady, in my very own castle. Tell me, to what do I owe this honor?”
“I know Victor’s here,” I spat.
He cocked his head. “And what makes you think that?”
“Stop playing games, Ethano!” Liz said. “We know!”
He rolled his eyes, then met my gaze. “With all due respect, Queen, I truly dislike your sister.”
“What do you want us to do?” one of the Immortals asked.
“That shall be up to Sarah,” he said.
“And what does that mean exactly?” I retorted.
“Will you accompany me upstairs? And answer carefully, for your decision now will decide your fate.”
“I am not your whore,” I spat.
He ran a hand down my cheek, then glanced at the Immortal holding the sword. “Kill her.”
“No!” Liz yelled.
The soldier lifted his blade, and my stomach fluttered. Then it hit me: There is no way he’ll kill me. He’s just playing mind games again. Ethano looked at the swordsman, and I realized he was giving him mental commands. I was ready to call his bluff and take charge of the situation. I met his gaze straight on and said what I knew to be true, “You won’t kill me.”
“I assure you, Majesty, I will. Do not toy with me.”
“You want my baby. If you kill me, it will destroy the son you so desperately want to possess.”
He nodded, as if impressed by my knowledge, stunned that I’d read him so clearly. “She’s right,” he said, glancing at the swordsman. “Kill her sister.”
“No!” I shouted.
Ethano motioned for the swordsman to stop and wait for his next command. Then he inched closer, until his breath was brushing my neck. “Shall we make the same deal we made at the temple? I will spare Liz’s life once again for one night with you.”
Eternal Fire - Book 3 of The Ruby Ring Saga Page 13