Blood Oath (A Gabby Girls Adventure Novel, Book Two)

by T. L. Clarke

  Nemesis cleared her throat loudly. "Please excuse my sister’s… rambling." She gave Harmonia an impatient stare. "As time is of the essence, I would like to get to the point rather quickly. We have gathered you here for one reason, a very important reason, and that’s to decide on the direction of our mission. Should we launch a full-scale war against the Banished and Daemons?"

  Veda stood quickly, giving Nemesis a very hard stare. "With all due respect, Queen Nemesis, this is not something that we can decide quickly. We need time to gather perspectives from the other members, and we need time to bring this matter before the Royal Elementi Conclaves. There are rules, binding rules, that cannot be broken for fear of being deemed as a sign of aggression—a declaration of war against Elementi."

  The crowd roared with fear and outrage.

  Veda looked at the crowd worriedly. "This is something that I hope that none of us wants. Let’s hold a vote to decide our direction. We have always been a democracy. Let the Circles and Ares decide their fates, not the council."

  Nemesis looked at her angrily. "A vote will take forever, and time is not on our side. There is word that the Banished and Daemons are planning several attacks as we speak."

  Some of the members of the Eternal Council jumped up quickly, throwing their fists in the air in agreement with Nemesis, and others protested in defense of Veda.

  Thallo quietly rose from her seat in the audience. "I agree with Veda. A vote is needed. This can be very easily planned."

  The audience erupted with agreement.

  Harmonia smiled with satisfaction as she walked back up the stairs to take her seat. Nemesis looked at the council with outraged eyes.

  Helios looked at Nemesis sternly. "It has been decided. An official vote will be scheduled."

  Grandma Celeste stood up quickly. "I will stay on here to help organize this vote."

  Priscilla looked at the audience grimly. "I, too, will stay on to assist."

  Harmonia nodded approvingly. "Then it is settled. Thank you all for your time, and I look forward to seeing everyone at the voting." She looked over at Nemesis with an arched brow. "Do you have anything else to add, sister?"

  Nemesis smiled stiffly. "No, let the voting be prepared."

  Harmonia smiled sadly at the audience. "The meeting is now adjourned."

  The bell rang three times quickly in succession as the members of the Eternal Council stood up and filed out of the room.

  I looked over at Brooklyn quickly. "What was that all about? That was the craziest meeting ever. I felt like I was watching a reality show."

  Brooklyn grimaced. "You were."

  Jessica’s eyes widened. "The twin queens looked real mad at each other. I thought a catfight was going to break out."

  Zora looked at her incredulously. "You think?"

  "All I know is that until this whole voting thing is worked out, it’s going be real crazy around here." Brooklyn looked at them gravely.

  I sat silently watching as the crowd below milled around anxiously. A chill ran down my spine, a sure omen of bad things to come. Trouble was brewing.

  chapter

  TEN

  Grudgingly, Rosalinda considered Gabrielle, Jessica, and Zora to be her friends; in fact, it was the closest she’d ever been to bestie status. So she knew that she was seriously ruining the trust factor between them by sneaking off behind their backs, but she had to do this. Her mother was alive after all. Just the thought filled her with both anxiety and excitement. I mean, they would do the same thing if they suddenly found out that their mother was alive and desperately needed help.

  She memorized the instructions that her mother had sent via text and followed them exactly. There could be no mistakes. She hurried down the stairs and toward the back of the castle, skirting the dark. Her heart pounded as if it was trying to burst out of her chest when she spotted a couple of Ares patrolling the grounds. She held her breath as she pressed her body against the cold, damp walls. Please, I’m so close. I can’t get caught now. She blew out with relief when they quickly walked past without spotting her.

  She skirted around the castle, sticking to the shadows to ensure that she blended into the lush landscape. She looked around frantically. Where was the winding stone pathway that her mother had told her to follow? She spun around wildly. Think, Rosalinda. She closed her eyes and breathed calmingly, focusing her mind, and suddenly, a hint of whisper, a voice floating, guided her.

  "You are so close, sweet Rosalinda. Go right, and hurry."

  She promptly spotted the stone walkway that curved around the back of the castle, leading to a very old farmhouse that, under other circumstances, she wouldn’t be caught dead in. She carefully crept up the walkway to the rickety door; she grabbed the cobweb-encrusted doorknob and slowly turned and pushed. She held her breath as it slowly squeaked open, revealing a very dark and damp open barn. Rosalinda steeled her nerves. You can do this; there is nothing to be afraid of.

  "That’s right, sweet Rosalinda; there is absolutely nothing to be afraid of," a husky voice whispered from the cold shadows.

  Rosalinda spun around nervously, spotting a tall figure slowly stepping out of the shadows, wearing a long, dark cloak. The figure impatiently threw back the hood, revealing her long, dark hair. Her drawn, pale face wrinkled as she smiled warmly.

  Rosalinda ran toward her, throwing her body against her frail-looking body joyfully. "Mama, it’s really you."

  Rosa hugged her tightly. "Yes, sweet Rosalinda, it’s me. Oh, how I missed you, baby." She kissed Rosalinda’s cheeks lovingly. "You are so beautiful, que linda."

  Rosalinda hugged her tightly, desperately. "Where have you been?" Her voice was muffled against the rough fabric of Rosa’s cloak.

  Rosa pulled away from her gently, holding her at arm’s length. "It is very complicated." She looked at her sadly, her eyes brimming over with tears. "But the short of it is I was forced to leave your side, my love."

  Rosalinda gasped. "Who would ever want to separate us?"

  Rosa grabbed her face roughly as she stared at her with frantic eyes. "The Circles, they forced me to leave you."

  Rosalinda’s eyes widened with shock. "Que? What? But Celeste and Priscilla told us that you were killed by Hannah."

  Rosa’s eyes narrowed with anger. "Lies, all lies. Hannah did not kill me." Her eyes then glazed over with sweet happiness. "She saved me when they forced me out of the Circles because I, too, saw the corruption that threatened to bring down the Eternals." She looked at her slyly. "They wanted to silence me and threatened to hurt you if I didn’t go away quietly," she spat venomously, then smiled at her with trembling lips. "So I did, for you, sweet Rosalinda."

  Rosalinda shook her head with confusion. "Celeste and Priscilla? But they seemed so nice and so concerned about me. Why would they lie to me, to us?"

  Rosa stroked her hair lovingly. "Because that’s what they do, Rosalinda, lie. Don’t be fooled. The Eternals are not what they appear to be. They are pure treachery and deceit. I threatened to expose them, and they threatened to hurt you. I could not let that happen, so I made a deal with them, my disappearance in exchange for your life." Her voice cracked painfully. "It seemed like a very good deal, for I would do anything for my child."

  Rosalinda balled her hands into fists as she paced back and forth angrily. "I can’t believe they lied to me. It was all a lie!" she screamed furiously. "And for what? I was denied my mother for the Eternals?"

  Rosa looked at her miserably, nodding her head in agreement. "Yes, for the deceitful Eternals. But I never forgot about you, baby. I was always looking over you, watching you. Waiting until you were old enough to understand, ready for you to stand beside me in the fight against the Eternals."

  She looked at her worriedly. "So what do we do now?"

  Rosa smiled shrewdly. "We expose them for exactly what they are and topple their carefully built empire." She grabbed Rosalinda’s arms, her nails biting into her flesh desperately. "That’s why I need your help. Yo
u are now on the inside and can get closer than I ever could. Together we can right their injustice. I can’t do it alone." She suddenly broke out in a fit of wet coughs that rattled around in her chest sickly.

  Rosalinda looked at her mother with concern, her eyes now taking in the fragility of her once-healthy body. Her shiny black hair was now brittle, lifeless.

  "But how can I help?"

  Rosa wrung her hands as she walked slowly back and forth with agitation. "I have worked out a plan, but you will have to help me."

  Rosalinda looked at her with admiration. Her mother was so strong; she was going to take on the Eternals. "You have my undying support, anything."

  Rosa looked at her grimly. "I need you to get the Book of Eternals and bring it to me. Once we have it, we can take control of the Eternals, and ultimately the Elementi."

  Rosalinda looked at her questioningly. "What is the Book of Eternals?"

  Rosa looked at her impatiently. "Have they taught you nothing?" she spat venomously before smiling softly, visibly trying to calm down. "The Book of Eternals is simply a tome of magical knowledge. It is our guide and holds all of our beliefs, laws, rituals, history, and rites passed down throughout the centuries, with each council member adding their personal material to the book. There’s even powerful information about the Elementi. Except for the ancient Elementi, no one person knows all of the contents of the book. It is the most powerful treasure to the Eternals, and whoever possess it controls everything."

  Rosalinda bit her lip nervously. "But it sounds like it is heavily guarded, so how will I get it?"

  She laughed mockingly. "Yes, it is heavily guarded by the Eternals. But as we speak, a plan is being concocted to get it from them."

  "Tell me what to do, and I will do it," she responded quickly.

  Rosa smiled shrewdly. "I knew that you would do what is right. I told Hannah that you would."

  Rosalinda looked at her with startled eyes. "I don’t understand. I thought Hannah was evil? They said she was."

  Rosa laughed coldly, then sputtered into a sickly, wet cough that rattled around in her chest. "Of course they told you that. It’s all lies, Rosalinda. Do not trust them or your newfound friends. The truth is that they expelled Hannah because she saw all of the evil creeping into the Eternals. She grew even more concerned when she saw all of the fighting for power amongst the Circles and Ares, with everyone forgetting the purpose of our duties. And when she told me about this evil, I stood side by side with her because I knew that she was right." She looked around suspiciously when she heard raised voices in the distance. "I must go now. I will contact you again real soon."

  She lifted her hood, covering her head as she nervously headed toward the door.

  Rosalinda’s eyes filled with panic. "Mama, don’t go. Take me with you." She grabbed her sleeve desperately.

  Rosa looked at her coldly, shaking her hand off. "Don’t be such a baby; you are a Warrior now, a Circle, so act like it." She grabbed her arm roughly. "You must stay here and gain their trust. You are no use to me without the Book of Eternals," she spat with venom. She coughed again, this time spraying fine dots of blood all over Rosalinda.

  Rosalinda recoiled from her wrath. "I’m sorry. Don’t be angry. I will stay and help you."

  Rosa caressed her face and smiled sadly. "I’m sorry, sweet Rosalinda. I’m being way too harsh with you. It’s just that your mission is so very important. Hannah and I need you; you are the only one that we can trust now. Go back to the castle, and tell no one about us. Learn everything that you can, and I will contact you when the time is right."

  "But how can I stay with them knowing that they are evil and liars?" Rosalinda said angrily.

  Rosa looked at her proudly. "Because if all goes according to the plan, you will stand side by side with me and Hannah, as we will rule all the Eternals. Pay attention to all of the training, and learn all you can. This knowledge will be of great use to us. But also remember that you cannot trust anyone, not even your friends."

  She kissed Rosalinda softly on both cheeks, then hugged her tightly. Rosalinda pressed her face into her hair, filling her nose with the familiar scent of roses. Rosa abruptly released her, striding quickly to the door and out of the barn.

  Rosalinda shivered, suddenly cold from the cool night air. Her mother needed her, and if there was a choice between her mother and her friends, the decision to stand by her mother would always be her choice.

  With hatred filling her heart, she spat, "The Eternals are not my concern anymore. I will do what is necessary to fight by my mother’s side. No matter what it takes." She ran out of the barn and into the cold night at top speed.

  chapter

  ELEVEN

  Hannah’s eyes darted along the tree line edgily as she peered through the thicket. What’s taking her so long? The portal would stay open for only but so long. She mentally kicked herself for trusting Rosa to complete such a critical job and not sticking to her guns and doing it herself.

  After all, their whole plan hinged on Rosa convincing young, naive Rosalinda to steal the Book of Eternals. Plus, the fact that Rosa’s behavior had been very erratic lately was causing her some great concern about her commitment to their cause. All this combined with the fact that she didn’t think Rosa had the stomach to do what was necessary to get the job done, which included sacrificing her own daughter, if necessary.

  She, on the other hand, would feel absolutely no remorse in doing whatever it took to bring down the Eternals, and if that meant sacrificing lives, including Rosa’s, oh well. All is fair in blood and war. She chuckled menacingly.

  She had waited far too long, planned way too hard to let anyone or anything get in the way of what was rightfully hers, and that was bringing the Eternals to their knees. She flicked her hand out quickly, marveling at the visible, pulsating black energy that twirled and danced around her fingertips. It made her absolutely giddy with power.

  She smiled with satisfaction. Her powers were growing stronger and stronger every day. Even without her scarlet pendant, her powers had grown by leaps and bounds. She had made many sacrifices, and many promises, to the Underworld, and she had been handsomely rewarded threefold with more powers than any of the Circles could ever imagine.

  In comparison, Rosa had grown weak and sickly without the powers and gifts that her scarlet pendant had once provided. When they were expelled from the Circles, Rosa had worried annoyingly about them losing their gifts, but she, on the other hand, couldn’t care less about such trivial matters when Ralem, a Daemon from the Underworld, promised her so much more.

  "They will feel the wrath of my full powers real soon," she whispered venomously. Just the thought of the Circles filled her with pure rage. Expel her? Take away her scarlet pendant and cut her off from her gifts, her powers? They would pay, and pay dearly, for their hasty decision. She sneered when she thought about the night they, her sisters-in-arms, confronted her and cunningly betrayed her without a second thought, with the ultimate betrayal committed by her closest friends, Victoria, Olivia, and Jessica. Her jaw tightened when she thought about the night it all began.

  She stormed back and forth, absorbing the powerful magic of the cavern with relish. "Who would have thought that all of this was hidden right under the cover of New York’s Central Park? And right under the noses of the Elementi and Eternals."

  Suddenly she stopped midstride, momentarily distracted by the throbbing pain in her side. What’s taking him so long? she thought angrily. Maybe he changed his mind, or worse, he got caught and was leading them straight to her to escape the punishment of death.

  She had paid the price to get this secret location. She carefully pulled her clinging T-shirt away, tracing a finger over the black and blue splotches along her waist as she whispered a healing spell. She smiled when her skin slowly transformed from bruised back to its ivory perfection.

  She berated herself for not taking them down before being forced to retreat and leave the book. Under better circumsta
nces and better odds, she should have fought to the death, but she knew that they would have slaughtered her without remorse and chalked it up to another Eternal Warrior gone rogue. She chuckled evilly, for she knew that the truth was that they had failed in their duty to protect the Book of Eternals from falling into the wrong hands, her hands. And now she was so very close to bringing the destruction of their world, the very thing that they feared the most.

  Her pulse raced when she remembered the feeling of the Book of Eternals and its magical pull. To have all that great power at the tip of her fingers, magical spells and incantations passed down from Eternal to Eternal for centuries—spells and incantations that could summon the most powerful angels, spirits, and Daemons that the world had ever seen—and it would be all hers very soon, if only he would get here.

  "Normals," she spat aloud with despisement.

  Her body tensed at the sound of heavy footsteps running toward the entrance of the cavern. Pulling her sword deftly from its sheath, she was raring for battle. Her eyes narrowed, then relaxed when he burst into the cavern anxiously.

  Her fingers lightly brushed her long chestnut brown hair away from her face, with a warm smile lighting up her face with excitement. "I’m so happy that you’re finally here, Jacob." Her eyes quickly dismissed him, focusing on the black bag slung across his body.

  His wide brown eyes sparkled with excitement as he smiled back, striding toward her; strands of his long, dark hair whipped across his face quickly as the cool air whirled around him.

  "Me too, Circle Hannah. I thought that I would never see your face again." He smiled eagerly, displaying a cracked tooth that marred his otherwise perfect smile. "I made sure to follow your instructions carefully."