Eternal Faith - Book 4 (The Ruby Ring Saga) Read online

  Eternal Faith - Book 4

  The Ruby Ring Saga, Volume 4

  by Chrissy Peebles

  Published by Chrissy Peebles, 2013.

  This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

  ETERNAL FAITH - BOOK 4

  First edition. July 28, 2013.

  Copyright © 2013 Chrissy Peebles.

  Written by Chrissy Peebles.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

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  Chapter 1

  The cry of a baby jolted me awake, and my eyes fluttered reluctantly open in a sleepy haze. It took me a few seconds to remember where I was, but as my vision and my head cleared, I recalled that Victor had brought me to my best friend’s house because he didn’t want to leave me alone. I glanced at the alarm clock on the dresser. Four a.m.? Why aren’t Victor, Liz, and Charles back by now?

  Della had suddenly gone missing from her hotel room, and they had gone to investigate. I wasn’t sure if Ethano had come back through the portal and harmed Della, but if that was the case, Victor could have been stepping right into a trap. I let out a breath. Maybe it wasn’t Ethano at all. Maybe it was those...the blue-ringed Immortals. They hadn’t seemed too happy to discover us in their territory, but while we’d taken precautions to make sure they didn’t follow us back, I wondered if Della had taken the same precautions.

  The baby continued to cry, and something jumped to life in me: my motherly instinct. I jumped up and walked down the hall into Christopher’s room. I’d never held an infant before, and I felt like a bundle of nerves. I switched the light on, then glanced around the jungle-themed nursery. Giant wall stickers with adorable baby animals and trees decorated the room. Dark green carpet, white trim, and pale yellow walls gave it a cheerful feel. Even the crib was decked out with the cutest animal prints on it.

  As I gazed around that perfectly adorable nursery, a tinge of jealousy tickled me. Victor and I needed to settle down. We needed our own home, our own nursery to decorate. Oceans! My baby will be surrounded by every shade of blue. And I’ll have dolphins, fish, and whales in the most amazing nursery ever.

  I snapped out of my thoughts and walked over to the crib when the baby whimpered again. “Hey, little man. What’s wrong?” I asked in a soothing voice. “Don’t cry. You have the most beautiful room in the entire world.”

  Tears streamed down his face as he clutched the crib and stared up at me.

  I picked up a stuffed bear and handed it to him. “Look what I have. Mr. Teddy!”

  He reached for the bear and threw it.

  I wasn’t sure how to comfort him. Maybe he’s hungry or needs a diaper change. Does he drink milk or formula? And how on Earth do I change a diaper?

  The blue-eyed baby held up his arms.

  I couldn’t resist lifting him. “Hush, little baby, don’t you cry...Mama’s gonna sing you a lullaby...” I sang, making up the words where I’d forgotten them. As I started to dance around the room, Christopher began to smile, and a reassuring, nurturing wave washed through me. Maybe I can do this after all.

  Faint footsteps echoed in the hallway, so faint I never would have heard them with my regular human ears before. Now they were loud as day, and I spun around to greet whoever was coming. The door creaked open, and I let out a breath of relief.

  “The nursery is gorgeous,” I said, running a hand over the dark green dresser with light green leaves stenciled on the trim.

  Beth was dressed in a fluffy white robe, and her hair was in total disarray. She touched my arm gently and shot me a questioning look.

  “How are you feeling?” I asked, blowing out a breath.

  “A little better, I guess.”

  “Get any sleep?”

  “Yeah, some,” she said, yawning.

  “Great. You needed it.”

  “Any word on Della or the others yet?” she asked.

  I swallowed hard. “Not yet.”

  “Don’t worry. They’re probably just investigating things.”

  “Don’t worry? You have no idea how dangerous Ethano is,” I said.

  Her mouth pressed into a hard line. “Don’t forget that the fiend dragged me to Immortal Court while you and Victor were off looking for those Minerals of Life. I, of all people, am painfully aware of how horrible he is. But let’s think positive. We’re not sure any of this has anything to do with him. Innocent until proven guilty, right?”

  My brows furrowed. “Nothing about that man is innocent, but I suppose it could be the men who shot at us when we were at the tree-lighting ceremony.”

  “Right, and since we don’t know, we shouldn’t waste our time worrying. Your Victor is a powerful king. The man was in charge of armies and conquered countries. Surely he can handle himself in the little ol’ twenty-first century, right?” she said confidently, as if her words could do anything to put a stop to my anxious thoughts.

  “You sound just like Liz. These people can paralyze his powers, Beth. Royalty means nothing in the face of that.”

  “Victor is smart, and he’ll know what to watch for. I’m sure he has a hundred military strategies up his sleeve.”

  “I don’t doubt that,” I said, softly patting Christopher’s back, “but he’s entirely unfamiliar with this world. Fighting with swords isn’t gonna cut it out here—no pun intended.”

  “Stop worrying, will ya?”

  I sucked in a deep breath. “I’ll tone it down a notch when they come back safely. Until then, I’m not going to be naïve about what could happen to them.”

  She smiled. “Look at you with Christopher. You’re a natural,” Beth said, changing the subject.

  “I am?”

  Her face lit up. “You’re gonna make a wonderful mother someday, just like your mom.”

  I grinned back at her, taking it as the grandest of compliments. I aspired to be like my mom and hoped to emulate her. She had raised Liz and me to have value and morals, and there was nobody more loving and compassionate than my mom. She was my hero.

  “He’s so beautiful,” I said, glancing down at Christopher’s precious face. “You’re so lucky.”

  “He’s a precious blessing.” She reached for her darling son and kissed him on the head, then laid him down on the light green changing table. “This little guy’s soaked. No wonder he woke up.” She grabbed a diaper and started to change him like a pro; it was quite a sight, considered she’d gone from wild child to Wonder Mom in only a short time. “Christopher might have my hair and eyes, but he totally looks like Frank,” she said.

  We both stared at each other for a minute, as the mention of Frank’s name made us both feel uncomfortable.

  “Um,” she stuttered, “speaking of Frank, I told him you slept over, but I also made sure he knew he isn’t allowed to come over under any circumstances.” She bit her lip. “He said hello.”

  “There’s nothing between Frank and me, Beth,” I said.

  She forced her mouth into a cheery smile. “I know that. I only wish he did.”

  “He had his chance and lost it. It’s over now. I love Victor more than
I could ever love another man, and Frank knows that.”

  She glanced at the floor. “Yeah, he told me, but he’s still having a hard time accepting it.”

  “It’ll sink in sooner or later. It’s just gonna take a while through that thick skull of his.”

  “A while, huh? It’s been a whole year. But you know what? It’s my own dumb fault. The night I slept with Frank, I’d seen him in that stupid bar where we all used to hang out. He was sulking over you, drowning his sorrows in far too many glasses. I was hurting over my breakup, so I joined him to drink the pain away. We were both so heartbroken, and we just leaned on each other for a little comfort. As cliché as it sounds, one thing really did lead to another and...” She pulled the tab and fastened the new diaper on. “And here I am, all this time later, with his baby, yet he’s still sulking over you. He hasn’t changed a bit, not since the first time we ever met.” She blew out a breath as her voice quivered.

  “You deserve better than that, Beth. You’re beautiful, and you shouldn’t settle for a man who’s all hung up on another woman. I’d kill for your blonde hair and blue eyes. You’re sweet, funny, and adventurous. So many guys would love to get to know you.”

  She picked up Christopher and patted his back. “But Frank has my heart, Sarah. I love him so much, not to mention that he’s the father of my child.”

  “Hmm,” I said, thinking back. “I suppose Frank does have a certain charm about him.”

  Her eyes sparkled. “And he’s so damn hot. Just ask him.”

  We both burst out into laughter.

  Beth sat down in an overstuffed, brown armchair with jungle animal-shaped pillows. “I can’t imagine Warlord Victor being a father. I still remember him dressed in medieval clothes, swinging his sword in battle as he fought the Immortals when they dragged me off. It was like a scene out of a movie.”

  “I’m sorry you had to go through that, but Ethano had taken me, and I couldn’t move or speak. Charles rescued me and ran Ethano off.”

  “He took out his anger on us when he caught up, but Adam, Steven, Frank, and I were ecstatic that you guys got away.”

  “I’m so thankful that horrible situation is behind us,” I said.

  “Yes, and we should dwell on better things, like our children.”

  I couldn’t stop smiling. “Speaking of that, I experienced something pretty awesome.”

  “You did?”

  “Yup.”

  “Well? Don’t just stand there. Spill it!”

  I smiled, beaming. “Before Victor left tonight, he pulled one of his Immortal tricks.” A surge of joy swelled in my chest as I remembered the moment. “I heard my baby’s heartbeat for the first time. It was the most awesome thing in the entire world.”

  “You did?” A gleam of excitement shone in her eyes. “But you’re only six weeks pregnant. That’s too early for an ultrasound. I had to wait till I was four months along.”

  “I know! It was like an early ultrasound.” I touched my stomach. “I feel so bonded to this child, especially now.”

  “I wonder if it’ll be a boy or a girl,” she said.

  “It’s a boy. We’re naming him Alexander.”

  Beth cocked a brow in excitement. “A boy? Really? How do you know?”

  “I saw him in a vision. He will have thick, black hair and blue eyes, just like Victor,” I said, recalling the vision that was still as clear as day, etched in my memory forever.

  “How adorable!” Beth exclaimed. “I’ll buy all blue, and Chris and Alex will grow up as best friends.”

  “I know! I can’t wait to meet my tiny Alex!”

  “Me neither. Victor doesn’t have any magic tricks to hurry up a pregnancy, does he?” She let out a long giggle.

  “What?” I asked.

  Her face beamed. “Just think, Sarah. A year ago, we were traveling around the United States, looking for our next big adventure. Now we’re moms. How’d things change so fast?”

  My lips curled into a smile. “I know, right?”

  Her forehead wrinkled as she seemed to ponder “Do you ever miss it? The night ops? Casting prints? Collecting evidence? Baiting techniques?” She met my gaze, curiosity brewing in her eyes.

  My thoughts took me back to the forest, to when I was sitting by the fire, fumbling with equipment on the very day I’d met Victor. When I walked through the cave that night, I had no idea that the love of my life was waiting on the other side. My whole life changed the second I stepped through the portal. I didn’t regret meeting Victor, but I had to admit that a part of me did miss the adventure. “I miss the guys,” I finally said. “How are Steven and Adam?”

  “They’re investigating some paranormal activity in Washington. Part of me wishes I was with them, but I couldn’t bear to leave Christopher here with a babysitter.”

  Pushing my fears about Victor and the others to the back of my mind, I took a deep breath to focus. “Who says we have to leave Rockcliff? If you’re lookin’ to solve another mystery, there’s one happening right here in our hometown. At the very least, we’ve got ourselves some blue-ringed Immortals.”

  She gave me a high-five. “We’ll track them down.”

  “My thoughts exactly.”

  “We’re paranormal researchers,” she said, with a note of pride in her voice. Then her voice became a bit uneasy. “Why couldn’t we find him? That’s what we live and breathe for.”

  I had tremendous confidence in our abilities. “Don’t worry. We’re the best researchers on the planet. I didn’t give lectures in front of hundreds of people for nothing.”

  She gave me a fist-bump. “Damn straight. We did this for a living for years. You’ll need to run over your story, from beginning to end. I wanna know every single detail about the strange man in the minimart. Let me put Christopher down for bed, and then I’ll grab a notebook.”

  My heart raced as I settled into researcher mode. “First, we can Google any strange occurrences in Rockcliff and map them out with colored tacks.”

  “We’ll interview witnesses too!” she said in an excited tone, then laid Christopher down in the crib.

  More and more ideas struck me. “We should open up a paranormal detective agency.” I chuckled. “We’d have a few more skills than the average detective.”

  A sudden wave of nausea rushed over me. “I feel sick.”

  “Ah, morning sickness. I remember it all too well.”

  “It’s not morning sickness.”

  “Lucky you.”

  I shook my head. “No, what I mean is, it’s morning, afternoon, and evening sickness.”

  She touched my back. “It’ll pass, Sarah. Just be brave.”

  I gripped my stomach and doubled over.

  “Let’s get you to the bathroom,” she said.

  A flash of light suddenly flooded my vision as a throbbing headache pushed on my skull.

  “Sarah!” her voice thundered.

  I could hear Beth through the fog in my mind, but everything was spinning. In a trembling heap, I crashed to the floor. The next thing I knew, there was only...darkness.

  Chapter 2

  I felt a pinch like a bee sting in my left arm and opened my eyes to a strange man over my body. I tried to focus, but everything was fuzzy. Is that Ethano? How did he find me? I need to...I’ve gotta fight. I struggled to get away from him. “Get the hell off me!”

  The man secured a needle to my arm with tape. “Calm down, ma’am. I’m a paramedic, and you’re in an ambulance.”

  Droplets of sweat poured down my face. “Wh-what?”

  The man hovered over me. “You passed out.”

  I pondered the paramedic’s words. “Beth called 911?”

  “Yes, ma’am. We got here as quick as we could.” The medic fussed with the needle in my arm.

  “What are you doing? I don’t need an IV, and I don’t want any drugs pumped into me. I’m pregnant!”

  “It’s all right. Your friend informed us of that.”

  I glanced around in a d
aze. “I’m fine now. Can you please let me out at the next light?”

  “Are you sure about that?” he asked.

  “I know my rights. If I’m alert and not disoriented, I am entitled to refuse this ambulance. Now please let me out.”

  “You’re far from fine, miss. For starters, you’re running a temperature of 106. We’re taking you to Mercy Hospital.”

  “The hospital? No! Absolutely not! Where’s my husband?”

  “We’ll call him as soon as we get you stabilized.”

  I stared up at the medic’s nametag, which indicated that he was Robert. I tried to get up, but he insisted on holding me down. Heat rushed over my body, and I felt so weak and drained.

  The man drew up a syringe and injected the liquid into a port on my IV, ignoring my protests.

  “Stop it!” I whispered as a sheet of perspiration flooded over me. Everything became a blur, and I could have sworn that the man had three sets of eyes. “What’s going on?”

  “It’s just a little something to help you relax.”

  His voice echoed in my ear like some kind of bad trip on acid. The pressure in my ears was unbearable. When the spinning stopped, my lungs were on fire, and I flailed my arms. I focused and saw Ethano staring down at me. A cold chill washed over me. “Get away from me! How did you find me? You can’t have my son!”

  “I’m trying to help you,” he said.

  I gasped as every muscle in my body tensed, preparing to help me flee. “Help me? You tried to sacrifice me!”

  “I’m going to increase the dose,” Ethano said.

  “Why? Because you didn’t successfully poison me the first time?” I yelled.

  “Nobody’s trying to poison you,” he said. “Stay calm, miss.”

  My heart threatened to explode out of my chest. “Victor’s been king for centuries, and I’m not about to let you take over his kingdom!”

  “Her heartbeat’s spiking,” Ethano said, “and she’s hallucinating.”

  “We have to slow it down,” the other man said.

  The man who was helping Ethano injected something into my IV as I struggled.

  “She needs more than that. Double the dose.”