“You know how much money you just lost me?” she said.
Her breath reeked of alcohol. “You’re drunk,” I said, fanning my hand in front of my face.
“Yeah? And what’s it to you?” she slurred. “I’m grown, and I can drink if I want to. I’m not the one who’s knocked up.”
“You’ve got a husband waiting for you at home, not to mention a starving family, yet here you are flirting with all these men.”
“I’m not flirting. I’m just trying to win a game of pool.”
I placed my hands on my hips. “It sure looked like flirting to me.”
“And don’t talk to me about my husband. I don’t want to think about him right now,” she said sadly.
“Whatever he did, this is how you pay him back? Hustling a bunch of guys while you’re dressed in that?” I retorted.
“It wasn’t intentional. The guys started talking to me and asked if I wanted to bet on a game of pool. They thought they were gonna kick my ass after buying me a few drinks.”
I cocked a brow. “A few?”
She threw her arms up in the air. “Fine! A lot, all right? It was a hell of a fight with good ol’ Charlie.”
“I’ve never known you two to have an argument, at least not that serious.”
“Well, surprise, surprise, sis. I’m not perfect. I have issues.” Her voice grew louder as she cried out, “I guess that’s what happens when a girl is snatched away from her normal life and turned into some kind of super freak!”
Eyes wide, a man turned and looked her up and down. “Hmm. A super freak, huh?”
“She’s just wasted. She doesn’t know what she’s talking about,” I said, casting him a disgusted look. I grabbed Liz’s arm.
She pushed me away and began half-walking, half-stumbling, swaying from side to side. “Gotta get Mom some food. Can’t forget the breadsticks!”
“Forget the food,” I said.
“I’m hungry!” she shouted.
I rolled my eyes. “Just calm down and stop creating a scene, and I’ll get the food.”
“Aw! Sarah, you’re such a good sister,” she said, sliding down the wall and sitting on the floor.
“Just wait there,” I said.
“Okie dokie.”
I waited in line, got the food, pulled Liz along, and hurried to the car.
“Hey, honey. Great game. You almost won.”
I turned around and noticed a towering man walking toward us across the parking lot. “Great. Now your fan club is stalking us.”
As if he had a right to, he wrapped his arm around Liz. “Why are you leaving so soon? I was hoping we could have another drink and—”
“Listen, you’re a sweet guy and all, but I’m married.”
“That don’t matter none. Hell, I don’t even mind if your sister joins us.”
She flung his arm off of her. “Beat it!” When he grimaced in humiliation and raised his hand to slap her, Liz grabbed his arm and starting squeezing.
He winced in pain. “Let go!” he demanded, moaning in agony.
“Let him go,” I ordered.
Liz loosened her grip, and the man fell back, crashing on the concrete pavement. I could tell by his wide eyes and gaping jaw that her strength had stunned him.
“You’re crazy!” he roared.
“You’re making such a scene, and somebody’s gonna notice,” I said, pulling Liz away. “Beating people up and using your powers to win a game of pool? What’s gotten into you?”
“For your information, I didn’t beat that guy up. I just squeezed his wrist. And you know what? I could use my powers in public back in Dornia. All this hiding and keeping secrets is for the pigeons.”
“What?”
“I can’t remember the saying, but it sucks, okay?”
I started the car. “How did you get away with this kind of crap being a royal princess? What did a man centuries old see in a child? You’re so not meant to rule a kingdom if you’re gonna act like a teenager.”
“I could say the same about you.”
Staring straight ahead at the road, I huffed. “I’m far more mature than you are.”
She laughed.
“What?” I asked.
“You snagged an Immortal king, brought him to our world, and then thought he’d fall in love with the place when he’s nothing more than a peasant. The culture clash is huge,” she slurred. “You stripped him of his title and all his power. You took away all he’s ever known and loved, and you wonder why he’s not happy. You’re just a child who wants her way and pouts when she doesn’t get what she wants.”
“You think you know it all, but for your information, I’ve agreed to return back to Victor’s world in eighteen years.”
“How very submissive of you.”
“I figured you’d love to hear that.”
“I do. I’m drunk, so bear with me.” She reached into the bag and grabbed some fries.
“Liz! Hands off the food.”
She munched loudly on the French fries, ignoring me. “I’ve got an idea.”
“Oh no.”
“Why not have the best of both worlds?” she asked.
I stopped at the red light. “What do you mean?”
“Why not take some things from this world back to that one? Heck, we could make supply runs every three months. We could even take some scientists or electricians there, and they could do amazing things for that world.”
“Listen to what you’re saying. We can’t expose that world to ours. For starters, it’d bring the blue-ringed Immortals straight to our door.”
“Would it kill the place to have some modern amenities? We could look for volunteers and blindfold them somehow so they couldn’t see how to get back. We could make it legal. Once we get our world back, we could petition the court for modern conveniences.”
“They don’t want modern anything, Liz.”
“How do you know? If we took back some things to amaze them, I know they’d change their minds. We could live the simple life in those castles, but we wouldn’t have to live without all the cool things we love from this world. We’re queens, sis. We should be entitled to the best of both worlds.”
I pushed back a long strand of hair from my eyes and heaved a sigh. “I get it. Castles need toilet paper and plastic milk jugs. But then they’d also need landfills, so I’m not sure it’s such a good idea.”
“Peasants there are using leaves, moss, corncobs, and who knows what else. They deserve a little Charmin, don’t you think? I’d really love to introduce them to toilet paper. Everybody in the world needs to know about toilet paper.”
“You are so drunk.”
“Meh, it’s just a binge, nothing I do all the time. I’m just...stressed out, going through so many emotions.”
“I’m sorry, Liz. I never realized how hard all of this has been on you.” She’d been torn from her world as a teenager, thrown into a new culture and became an Immortal for the sake of love. I wasn’t sure what an impact that had on her life or her future, how it changed her, but now she was back in her original world, and her Immortal husband didn’t want to be in California any more than mine did. She was constantly trying to help Charles adjust. I noticed them bickering and knew storms were brewing behind their loving front. Their relationship was stressed, and Liz was acting out. I knew I needed to be a more understanding, more compassionate sister.
Liz cut into my thoughts, her voice wavering. “I-I’m falling apart.”
“You’re not alone,” I said.
“I was for all those long years before you found me.”
“Liz, you know I did everything in my power to find you.”
“I know, but I’d never felt so lost, so deserted, so alone. Even when Charles was snuggled up to me, a piece of my heart was aching for my family.”
“We’re together now, and that’s what we have to focus on.”
“I know. Hey, Sarah...”
“Yeah?”
“You know how I’m a
lways making fun of you for being broken?”
I let out a sigh. “How could I ever forget?”
“Maybe I’m the one who’s broken, not you. Maybe I’m scarred for life and can’t just forget about the past and move on. I’m gonna work on getting over all the hurt and...Sarah, are you listening to me?” she slurred.
“I’m here, Liz.”
“Oh okay. Just checking. Anyway, I will resume my life with joy and ambition, all with my fantastic husband at my side.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
Suddenly, our car screeched to a halt, and I was thrust forward and then back, giving me instant whiplash.
She glanced around. “Geesh, Sarah. Deer?”
“No.”
“Then why did you slam on the brakes like that?”
My breath came in quick, shallow heaves. “I didn’t.”
“You didn’t?” she slurred. “Did it have anything to do with that man?” She pointed straight ahead.
A few feet in front of us, illuminated in eerie shadows by the headlights, a figure stood in the middle of the road. I couldn’t make out his features because a dark hood hung over his face. Frantically, I pressed the gas, but the tires just squealed.
“I think that guy has something to do with this,” she suggested, slurring the obvious.
“You think?” I squinted to get a closer look, and as my sight adjusted, I could make out more details.
“Who is he?” Liz asked in a worried tone.
I gasped, my heart pounding a million miles a minute. “I’m gonna take a guess here and say it’s an Immortal.”
He was at least six feet tall, maybe six-two, with a strong physique that boasted of regular physical activity. His feet stood apart, turned toward us, and his hands hung by his sides, hidden beneath his coat.
Liz opened her palm and tried to create one of her famous fireballs. “It’s not working!”
“Blue-ringed Immortals drain our powers,” I explained, looking around into the night. “We’re no match against them.” I started to roll down the window for a closer look.
“What are you doing? Roll that back up!” she said.
“That man can shatter our windows in a heartbeat with one wave of his hand.”
“So we can’t hide?” she whispered, staring straight ahead at him.
I swallowed hard. “No.”
“In that case, we can only face them. If they wanted us dead, they would have killed us already.”
I considered her words carefully and agreed with her. “You’re absolutely right, Liz. Let’s go.” I opened the car door and stepped out. “What do you want?” I yelled into the darkness. Out of the car, with the headlights no longer reflected by the windshield, I could make out more details, and I noticed wisps of fog swirling in the air.
Liz gripped my arm. “Maybe we should get back in the car.”
“If I can reason with wolves, I can reason with Immortals.” I remembered feeling that same kind of fear in the forest, with the shape-shifters who had surrounded me in a very similar mysterious fog.
“Wolves? And you’re calling me drunk,” Liz said.
“The shape shifters back through the portal.”
“Oh, why didn’t you say so?”
The guy tossed back his hood and headed straight for us. His dark hair and light blue eyes caught my attention before my brain registered his facial features. My mouth gaped in sudden recognition when I realized he was the man from the minimart.
“Quit playing games!” Liz shouted into the darkness as more frightening figures emerged from the shadows.
I spun in a slow circle, scanning the area, then stepped back, wondering what the heck it was all about. What do these people want from me?
“Hello, Sarah,” Jackson said.
“Hello, Jackson. I don’t like being surrounded like this. If you’re trying to gain my trust, this isn’t the way to go about it.”
He smiled. “I would have arranged a meeting, but I’m not much for those.”
“What if a car comes?” Liz asked. “Have you even thought about that? You’re in the middle of the road, and—”
“Trust me, there will be no traffic.” He suddenly held out his hand to Liz for a handshake.
“Liz, this is Jackson,” I introduced.
He met my gaze. “Your sister is quite the investigator,” he said to Liz, while he was still looking at me. “How did you know my last name, Sarah?”
“I have my sources...and a lot of experience researching, uh...odd things.”
“May I ask who your sources are?”
“You may ask, but I won’t answer.”
He turned his gaze back on Liz. “I know Sarah, but I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting you. Liz, is it?”
She shook his hand. “Yes. I’m Sarah’s sister.”
He smiled. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Likewise,” she said. “You have the lightest blue eyes I’ve ever seen. Please forgive me if I can’t stop staring. I’m simply mesmerized.”
“Just let us go,” I pleaded. “And please forgive my sister. She has had a little bit too much to drink and she is happily married.”
He nodded, then shifted his stance. “How is your son?” he asked politely.
I touched my stomach. “He’s fine. Thank you for all your help at that store, by the way.”
“Oh brother. Can we just cut the pleasantries and get on with it?” Liz said. “What do you want?”
He stepped forward. “I’ve come to warn you. You’ve been marked. If I were you, I’d leave this town tonight.”
“Is this your way of getting rid of us?” I asked.
“I have no problem with you living in this town. My companions, on the other hand, take issue with your presence here.” He motioned around him. “Do not blame me or my friends here.”
“Who are you?” Liz asked. “I’ve never seen you before. Are you some kind of Immortal gang?”
“Yeah, what’s your story?” I asked.
He shifted his stance. “Just think of us as the good guys.”
I noticed they were all wearing gold rings in the shape of eagles on their right hand. “If you’re the good guys, prove it. Let us go. Our dinner’s getting cold.”
He motioned to the car. “Feel free to go, Sarah, but if you want to live, you need to take your leave tonight. Consider yourself warned.”
When I blinked, he was gone. I glanced around and didn’t see any trace of his gang. I reached for my phone, called Victor, and told him the entire story on the drive home. Charles and Victor met us in the driveway, and I embraced Victor in a tight hug.
“Should we leave?” I asked frantically.
“He was trying to warn us,” Charles said.
Victor narrowed his gaze. “Perhaps it is a warning we should heed.”
I pondered everything as Victor wrapped his arms around me, wondering if I was going to have to go on the run again, away from my beloved parents and the place I called home.
Chapter 7
We decided that staying in town with my parents was too risky, and the last thing we wanted to do was endanger ourselves or them by creating waves. After a family meeting, we packed up our belongings and left to start new lives an hour away. Dr. Meyers gave Victor and Charles documentation for their identities so they could get jobs and function in this world. That was a huge help. I had Victor remember every single detail until it flowed naturally out of his mouth.
We still hunted for Della every chance we got, but there was never any sign of her, and we had no idea what had happened to her. I suspected she might’ve gone back through the portal to be with William, but Charles was sure she wouldn’t have done that without saying goodbye to him. None of us knew what to make of it, so we just kept hunting for her.
I was four months pregnant, glowing radiantly, and I’d never been happier. Dr. Meyers became my private physician and examined me routinely. Not only did she prescribe vitamins, but she also gave me pills to sto
p my energies from surging. The headaches stopped, and that thrilled me. The good doctor kept our secret as she promised and never told the others where we were. We kept our end of the bargain and stayed out of the limelight, making sure never to use our powers in public, at pool games or otherwise. She searched constantly for a cure, with no success. So far the pills were working fabulously, and if I had to be on pills for the rest of my life, that would have been fine with me.
At a block party, Victor and I met a man who owned a construction company. He offered us jobs, me as a secretary and Victor as part of his crew. Victor was the hottest construction worker I’d ever seen, and sometimes when I went to take him lunch in the city, I noticed women staring at his muscular, sweaty chest. He refused to even look at them and always gave me his complete and utter attention; nothing could have felt more amazing than that. In essence, we tried to maintain a normal life, and that meant other women were occasionally going to whistle at my hot husband in a hardhat.
I was sitting at the receptionist desk when Victor walked in, and the rage on his face told me he was mad as hell about something. I assumed it was something about the job, because it was difficult for him, as a king, to work so physically hard for the equivalent of peasant’s wages. “What’s wrong?” I asked, standing.
“The boss let me go and said to never come back.”
“What!? You got fired? Victor, we need that income.”
“I will not be talked to like that, Sarah, not by anyone, regardless of his status. That man is disrespectful.”
I shook my head. “The man is not your servant. He is your employer.”
“He called me a ‘dumb foreigner’. I’ve never been so insulted in all my life. If we were back in Tastia, do you know what I would have done to him?”
“Execute him?”
“No. I’ve changed my ways, remember? I would’ve thrown him in a dungeon and given him a lot of time to think.”
“Like you did to me? If memory serves right, you threw me in a dungeon so I could think about marrying you.”
“That was completely different.”
I laughed. “Was it?”
He gripped my hand, not at all amused by my memories. “Let’s go.”
“No, Victor. I’m not leaving. One of us has to maintain a job so we can pay the rent. There’s no way we’re going to use our powers to get ahead in life. We will work like everyone else.”
Eternal Faith - Book 4 (The Ruby Ring Saga) Page 7