Eternal Conflict - Book 7 (The Ruby Ring Saga)

by Chrissy Peebles

  “All these powers,” I whispered, nestled in Victor’s embrace, “and I couldn’t save him.”

  “I’m so sorry,” Victor said. “He was a good man, with a great heart.”

  I was crushed beneath waves of grief, totally racked with guilt. It was so painful to see Jackson die, to know he wouldn’t be coming back, after all he’d done for me. I didn’t trust him at first, but he soon became a shining star in my life. He gave me the eternal bloom and saved me so my baby wouldn’t be an orphan. He saved our world and cleaned house, throwing out the evil blue-ringed immortals. He even saved the dying. Jackson was selfish and cocky sometimes, but he was still a hero in my book, and the only burial he would have was beneath the murky water. That, more than anything, would torment me forever.

  “We needed his help,” William said softly. “How can we fight Ethano alone, without him or his men?”

  “Fight Ethano? Forget about that fiend. We don’t even know how to get out of here alive,” Della said.

  I looked at Victor. “Is it magic? It seems to be affecting only us, not the trees or anything.”

  “If it’s controlled by magic, we have to find the witch responsible.”

  “But how? We’re stuck on this little island.”

  “We can combine our powers,” he said.

  He knelt down and motioned me over. “Put your hand on top of mine,” he said, hovering his hand over the hot water.

  I placed mine on top of his, and together we focused to cool the water down. Slowly but surely, a layer of ice began to form, like a huge ice ring with dead trees sticking out.

  “You did it!” Liz said. She hurried over and tested the ice. When it held her weight, she smiled.

  I walked onto the ice, taking slow steps. “It feels pretty solid to me,” I said.

  “We’d better hurry,” Della said. “We have no idea how long it will hold up.”

  William nodded. “She’s right. Come!”

  Victor held my hand as we took small, measured steps across the ice. It was thick and solid, so I wasn’t really that worried.

  “This is all so weird,” Liz said.

  I sighed. “Yeah, well, life is full of unexpected surprises. If anyone should know that, it’s us.”

  She looked at me, and a tear ran down her cheek.

  I squeezed her hand, understanding her pain. We were both still shaken up about losing Jackson and his men. It was a crushing blow, but we had to keep going, keep fighting.

  Suddenly in the blink of an eye, the entire scene changed before me. The ice turned into sand, and the trees and swamp disappeared as a sea of sand stretched as far as my eye could see. Birds cawed, eagles screeched, and the temperature rose. Everything smelled like dry, baked earth. Wings swooshed overhead, the fluttering shift of vultures.

  “It’s a barren wasteland,” Victor said.

  “We’re in a desert,” I said, shocked. “What’s happening?”

  “How is this possible?” Della asked frantically.

  “Simple. This place is forbidden and magical,” a knight said.

  Liz screamed as her foot caught on a sun-bleached skull lodged in the sand.

  Chapter 6

  “Let’s just keep moving,” I said. “The faster we get out, the better.”

  The sun grew hotter as I walked through the shifting sand dunes. The land dipped, and as we approached the next shallow rise, I swallowed hard. Everything was exactly the same.

  When a knight screamed, I looked over.

  “I’ve been bitten,” he said.

  I watched as a long snake slithered away, and my gaze instantly shot to Liz. “Can you heal him?” I asked.

  She nodded, then quickly walked over, placed her hands on the bite, and closed her eyes. As she focused, we all observed the wound, stitching itself back together, right before our eyes.

  I let out a long sigh of relief.

  “Let’s keep going,” Charles said. “This place is dangerous, and we mustn’t linger here.”

  “There isn’t anything for miles and miles,” Della said, “just desert plants and sand…and I am so thirsty.”

  He gazed at her. “I’ll find you some water, Mother.”

  She wrapped an arm around him. “I have raised the best of sons.”

  Liz grinned. “Yes, you have.”

  I stepped over a scorpion, and we continued on.

  Victor looked at me. “If the need arises, we can eat those for survival.”

  “Ew! I’m not eating scorpions…or spiders or snakes, for that matter,” I said. Of course I would if we were forced to, but I was not quite ready to resort to some version of Fear Factor.

  “How would we eat one?” Della asked.

  “Pin down its tail with a stick, cut off the stinger and claws, and—”

  “Enough,” she said, scrunching up her face in disgust. “Let’s just concentrate on getting out of here.”

  “The sun is slowly cooking us,” Liz said. “We should find shade and just move at night.”

  She was right, for the blistering orb was unbearable, the air hot to breathe, and all of our throats and mouths parched. Before I could complain, storm clouds rolled in, the blue sky morphed into gray, and rain started to pour.

  “We’ve got water!” I shouted.

  It felt so good on my skin, cooling me. I opened my mouth and let the big, fat droplets fall in.

  Liz nudged me. “Look! The landscape has changed!”

  I squinted through the rain and noticed that we were in a pine forest. Victor led me under a towering pine, seeking shelter from the storm. It fell faster and faster, in sheets and torrents.

  “When will this rain cease?” King William asked. “We will make no progress this way.”

  Victor wrapped an arm around me, and I cuddled up to him, enjoying all the body heat I could. When the rain didn’t let up, Victor wandered out to check out the landscape, along with a few of his knights. When I noticed that Della was gone, I realized she’d left with him, but William didn’t seem the least bit bothered by it.

  Through our bond, I knew they didn’t find anything but an empty forest. As they sought shelter from the storm, I tuned in on a conversation. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop; I just couldn’t help it.

  “What is it you seek?” Victor asked Della.

  “Am I that obvious?”

  “You would not have come unless you wished to talk to me alone.”

  “I just…I cannot stop loving you,” Della confessed through the pouring rain.

  He looked at her intensely. “My heart belongs to another now.”

  “I do not wish to destroy your happiness,” she said. “Just tell me how to forget what we had together? How were you able to let go of me so easily? We loved each other so deeply, so passionately, and we were together for centuries.”

  “That makes no difference. It is in the past, and it is too late for that now. Things have…changed.”

  “Do you think I don’t know that?” she retorted. “I should’ve come to you before your beloved ever stepped through that godforsaken portal, but I did not, and now my heart aches for you. You were my love, my companion, my best friend. I gave you my body, my mind, my soul, and my heart.”

  “I did love you with all my heart, Della, but that chapter of my life is closed now. Also, if memory serves, you were the one who left me.”

  She cupped his face. “But I miss you, Victor. Can’t we—”

  He gripped her hands. “I will always cherish the memories we made together, but there will be no more of them.”

  She let out a sob. “This is so hard. You promised to love me forever.”

  “It wasn’t meant to be.”

  “Even when I ended our relationship, you held on with bright, burning passion.”

  “I hoped you’d come back to me someday, and I waited for a long time. You went on with your life, so I went on with mine. I found the love of my life, and she is all I’ve ever truly wanted.”

  “I thought I was your true
love.”

  “Sarah is my true love, and she will always be. I’m a better man because of her.”

  A tear fell down her face, and Victor wiped it away. “Why couldn’t I make you that better man?” she asked.

  “Della, when I was with you, I wasn’t ready to let go of all the anger and bitterness. I was in a dark place when we were courting.” He gazed at her. “I understand why you left me, and losing your love devastated me. So much time passed, though, and you seemed so happy with a man who treated you right. I knew you belonged to William, even if I did not wish to admit it. Years passed, and my heart just let go of our love. I was drowning in grief and guilt and regret when I met Sarah, but she saved me. She was my light in the darkness.”

  She pondered, then said, “She is a lovely person, and I do hope you have a lifetime of happiness with her. I will get over you because… I suppose at this very moment, I realize that you’re right. William is the one I’m fated to be with.”

  “Then be with him, as destiny demands. Do know, however, that I will always be your friend and will always care about you deeply.”

  “I know this isn’t the time or place for such a conversation, but I needed to say the words, to let it out. I, too, will always hold you in highest regard.”

  With that, Della kissed my husband’s cheek and walked back through the rain to find us all. I knew it was over between them, and I hoped she would have a wonderful life with William. I was somewhat jealous that she would even consider trying to sneak off and steal my man away from me, but I also understood that she needed closure, that she had to let out all those pent-up feelings. I would have been the same way if I had spent hundreds of years with Victor. I couldn’t imagine my beautiful king turning to another love, as it would have left me crushed, heartbroken, and downright insane.

  The rain suddenly stopped, and snowflakes started to fall. The temperature dropped, leaving us all freezing, still wet from the rain. It didn’t take long for us all to start shivering, especially when the arctic wind whipped against our faces.

  I glanced around. “What’s going on with this place? It’s like Mother Nature has gone nuts.”

  “The landscape changes every hour,” Liz said.

  Della’s lips were blue, and William put his arm around her. She gasped, and her eyes suddenly grew wide as she pointed. “We’re not alone!”

  When I glanced around, I saw the root of her horror. There, surrounding us out of nowhere, was a huge group of men, swords drawn. They were dressed in old, raggedy cloaks, and it was clear that they weren’t Ethano’s men.

  Chapter 7

  “Drop your weapons!” a man yelled.

  Victor huffed, bravely took a step toward them, and held out his arms.

  In an instant, they all dropped to the ground.

  Suddenly, a familiar face stepped forward out of the vegetation, and Victor’s eyes grew wide. “Helena?” he said.

  “Hello,” she said, bowing deeply. “I sent these men to bring you to me.”

  “Oh. My apologies then. I did not know,” he said.

  “I was struck with a vision after my men left, that you would do this, so I immediately came.”

  Victor glanced at the sleeping men. “They’ll wake soon.”

  “I know,” she said.

  “What’s going on?” I asked. “What are you doing here?”

  “You’re freezing,” she said. “Follow me. I have a cottage not too far away.”

  “What is this place?” Charles asked. “How do we find our way out?”

  Walking briskly, she answered, “You’re in a prison portal. The harsh landscape changes every hour, in order to punish offenders with extremes.”

  He cocked a brow. “How did we end up in one of those?”

  “You were led here. That attack was never meant to kill you. It was only a ploy, to bring you to this place.”

  I shook my head. “There were so many knights. We should have known. They outnumbered us three to one.”

  “Yes, and they could’ve easily overtaken you, even with your powers.”

  “Who did this?” Victor asked.

  “Ethano,” she answered.

  Anger washed over Victor.

  “So he’s coming?” I asked, shocked.

  “He has already been informed of your capture. You are to remain here as prisoners until he comes for you in a few weeks.”

  “We lost good men,” Charles said.

  “I don’t control the perimeter,” Helena said. “Another witch does. I only control the inside.”

  “She killed them!” Charles roared.

  “I can’t control what she does. I am sorry, Highness.”

  “Tell me where she is so that I may talk to her.”

  “She will kill you. So no, I will not tell you her location.”

  He blew out a long breath.

  “So you are trapped here too?” Liz asked.

  “In a way, yes. I am one of the witches assigned to this portal. Ethano took me from my home a few days after you left me.”

  “Can you get us out?”

  She shook her head. “Sadly, I must follow Ethano’s orders, or my family will die.”

  “Please help us,” I begged.

  “I want to, but I cannot.” When Victor huffed, she looked at him. “I need a minute alone with your queen…and the princess too,” she said.

  Victor nodded.

  “We shall return momentarily, and I will demand answers, witch,” William said.

  “And you will have them, Highness.”

  Victor nodded, looked at her suspiciously, then left with Charles.

  As soon as the men were gone, Helena blew out a big breath. “I am so disappointed in the two of you.”

  “You shouldn’t have such little faith in us,” I said. “You told me that when we first met, and now I’m telling you the same thing. You once told me the future can be changed.”

  “The prophecy is already coming true,” she said. “You brought your baby back, and Ethano can now easily snatch the boy up whenever he is so inclined. I warned you never to come back, did I not? Now you are here, and our world is falling apart.”

  “Excuse me,” Liz cut in, “but you can’t blame that on us. Ethano has been killing innocent people and manipulating them for ages. He even kidnapped you and forced you to work here. You said so yourself.”

  Helena glared at her. “You brought your nephew back knowing what Ethano wants him for!”

  “No! We brought him back because we’re a family, and we stick together. Victor is going to reclaim his kingdom,” I snapped.

  Helena turned to face me. “You, of all people, should have known how dangerous it would be to bring that precious child to this world. You were warned, and you did not heed that warning.”

  “I didn’t want to. I fought Victor every day about it, but in the end, we decided it is best to live here, to get our kingdom back.”

  “Regardless of whose idea it was, it was a foolish decision. You should have left Alexander and come back for him and your parents after this war is settled. If Ethano gets his hands on your child, it could mean the end. He’ll drive this world into extinction, use your son to open the very doors of Hell.”

  “That won’t happen,” I said, shaking my head. “I just… I couldn’t leave him. There are dangerous people over there who would kill him if given the chance.”

  “So you made enemies over there as well?”

  I bit my lip hard. I knew how it sounded, but I had never purposely tried to make enemies. All of that began when I became immortal. “Yes, but they’re mortal now, after a powerful spell. It’s a long story. The point is, they’ll seek revenge. Leaving my child there would have been an even more foolish decision, far too dangerous.”

  “And bringing him here isn’t?” she retorted.

  “At least he’s safe and hidden,” I said. “We’ve found him a great place to wait this war out.”

  “For now, but that will not last long. I’ve fore
seen it.”

  “Then you have to help me to stop it!”

  “I helped you once, and it almost got me killed. The worst mistake you ever made was to come back. Ethano never would have found you in your home world.”

  “But Victor wasn’t happy there.”

  “And you’d choose his happiness over your child’s safety?”

  “We want our kingdom back,” I said, “and nothing is gonna stop us from getting it.”

  “Nothing except Ethano.”

  “No,” I whispered.

  “I had a vision a few hours ago, Sarah. Ethano will find the child soon.”

  A shudder tore through me. “No!” I shouted.

  “Your parents will be slaughtered,” she said. “I’ve seen it!”

  Numb and shocked, I pondered their fate. “It can’t be. It isn’t supposed to end like this.”

  “Jackson warned you that this is exactly what it would come to. You did not listen to his warnings any more than you listened to mine.”

  “You saw that too?” I asked.

  “Yes. He told you about his visions, but you refused to listen to them, just as you’re ignoring me now.”

  I thought about everything Jackson had told me, and I knew I should have listened to him. At the time, though, I didn’t want to believe him, and I was sure he was just using made-up knowledge to manipulate me.

  “You should have listened,” she scolded again. “I am sorry to have to be the one to deliver such grim news, but I know what I have seen. Ethano will win, as in the depictions on the cavern wall. Meanwhile, the only way I can ensure my own safety is stay here and obey his orders.”

  “But he’s evil, out to destroy the world,” I said, aghast. “How can you just stand by and watch?”

  “He won’t destroy all of it.”

  “Just most of it,” Liz said with a snarl.

  “He wants to start all over again, to create a new world, as he sees fit, one he can control. He has given me his word that my family will be spared. I have ten children and twenty-six grandchildren. I have to do it for them, for I love them.”

  I understood her desire to protect her family, but it would come at a high cost. Thousands, if not more, would be slaughtered by Ethano. “Helena, you once told me, ‘This is the current path, but the future can be changed.’ Tell me how.”