Eternal Flame - Book 6 (The Ruby Ring Saga) Page 16

  His eyes twinkled. “I hope this was the wedding of your dreams, luv. Most of all, I hope it has made up for the dreadful wedding I put you through the first time around.”

  “This day has been marvelous, Victor,” I said. “I will never, ever forget it.” I kissed his lips as a tear slipped down my face.

  “I could say the same to you, Sarah. I will cherish this day for all of eternity.”

  “And I didn’t run away.”

  “The wedding reception was great. I’m so glad we were able to share this special day with my friends and family.” I winked. “And tonight, we’ll have a real honeymoon.”

  “I intend to hold you to it.” He pulled me close and planted one of his fantastic kisses on my lips. “After all, a queen must always be a woman of her word.”

  After we put our beautiful baby to bed in his bassinet, Victor and I embarked on a very intimate night. Needless to say, neither of us got much sleep, but that was entirely okay with us.

  A few more weeks passed, and we truly enjoyed living like newlyweds in my world, Wherever we were, we would be there together, and that was all that mattered to me.

  Chapter 22

  One morning, I heard my mom pacing. A minute later, she banged on my door and called my name. “Yes, Mom?” I said sleepily.

  “Do you have Alexander?” she asked.

  “Uh...no. Why?”

  “Did Victor take him for a walk with the stroller?”

  “Mom, Victor’s right here next to me.” In a panic, I threw the covers off and ran to Alexander’s room, while Victor searched the rest of the house and questioned our bodyguards.

  “Liz must’ve taken him,” I said.

  My mom called Liz and left an urgent message.

  When the phone rang, my heart skipped a beat. When we learned that Liz didn’t have him after all, I jumped into full-blown panic. I looked at Victor and hysterically asked, “Where is he?”

  “Don’t worry. We will find him,” he said, trying to assure me that everything was going to be okay.

  My hands began to shake, and my heart raced as I searched the house again and called everyone I could think of. Jackson and his clan rushed over and did a sweep of the property and scanned every acre. We spent the entire day searching for our son. When night fell and we still had no leads, my stomach dropped.

  “I will find him,” Victor said. “I swear to you that I will bring our son home, safe and sound.”

  “I’m coming with you.”

  “No, Sarah.”

  “I can’t just sit here and do nothing,” I insisted. “I’ve got powers now. I can be your backup.”

  “Allow me to investigate this first,” he said.

  “Investigate? But he could be anywhere! What if...” I wept, unable to finish the horrible thoughts that were creeping into my mind.

  My sister came in and put her arm around me. “You know, I’ve never trusted that Jackson.”

  “What? Why? He’s helping us,” I said.

  “Is he?” she retorted. “He doesn’t want you to go back to Tastia. Maybe this is his way of keeping you here. Maybe he’s got some ulterior motives we don’t know about,” she said. “I mean, how could anyone have gotten past the tight security, unless they were in on it?”

  Victor shook his head as he pondered her words. If Jackson had anything to do with our son going missing, my husband would tear him apart, limb by treacherous limb.

  “What if it was the blue-ringed immortals?” I asked, my voice trembling. “What if they kidnapped him for...experiments?” My heart lurched at the heinous thought the second the words left my mouth.

  Victor’s lips pressed into grim lines. “No. They would have tried to take you instead.”

  My lips quivered. “What if Ethano somehow found us?”

  He touched his chin. “This is not typical for Ethano. He does not do his foul deeds in secret. He enjoys gloating, and he relishes in the pain and dismay of others. If Ethano had our son, he would be bragging about it already.”

  My mother looked at me. “Honey, I don’t want to be insensitive, but what about your old flame? Do you think Fr—”

  “No, Mom,” I said, weeping and cutting her off. “Frank wouldn’t do this. He’d have no reason, and I really don’t think he’s smart enough to pull it off and get past all those guards.”

  “He is angry at you for choosing Victor over him,” Mom said. “I’ve talked to Beth.”

  “He never could have gotten past the immortals, Mom.”

  “What about that Della?” my father asked. “She was jealous that she couldn’t have Victor’s baby. She could have easily turned herself invisible and slipped in and out with Alexander.”

  “She seemed to be at peace with Victor and I being together.”

  “Revenge is best served cold, dear.”

  “No. Della would not do such a thing,” Victor said, sounding a bit defensive.

  “Could it have been Beth?” Charles asked. “Maybe she is upset because you captured the heart of her lover. Jealousy is a very powerful beast.”

  “The list just keeps getting longer,” I whispered, “but no, my maid of honor wouldn’t do something so horrible. Beth is my best friend.”

  “Perhaps you think so, but did she not bed down with your lover and carry his child?”

  I glared at Charles. “She is an ordinary human, just like Frank. She could not slip past the superpowered immortal security team.”

  Victor wrapped his arm around me. “Calm down, my love. Charles is only trying to help, eliminating suspects.”

  “I’m sorry, but it’s just... My baby is out there somewhere, and he needs me,” I said, my voice wavering.

  “We will find him,” Charles said. “I swear we will.”

  “I know, and I’m trying to be brave, but I read somewhere that there’s an 80 percent chance of a child being killed within 24 hours of abduction.”

  “The sad statistics of this world have no bearing on our immortal son, Sarah,” Victor said. “The culprit has to be someone we know, someone with a tightly held grudge.”

  “The first three hours are the most critical when trying to locate a missing child, and we’re way past that. Time is dwindling.”

  Victor, Liz, Jackson, and Charles left to do what they could to find our baby. I couldn’t eat or sleep or even hardly breathe, so I started my own search. I questioned everyone and ran my own investigation.

  One of Jackson’s men tried to comfort me as he put together a list of possible suspects. “I do not mean to cast blame or sound harsh, but do you believe your parents might have been involved?” he said.

  “No! They would never hurt me or endanger Alexander like that.”

  “Perhaps they are not as keen on moving to Tastia as you believe. If you are hunting for your child here, you will never leave this world.”

  I shook my head vehemently. “No way. Just cross them off.” I sighed deeply. “Who is next on your list?”

  “Beth.”

  “Why does everyone insist that my friends or relatives did this? Nobody I know and love would do this.”

  “I’ve been questioning my men, and Beth was spotted here on the night of your abduction. Liz, Victor, your parents, and Charles said she had no contact with them. Why would she visit unannounced, without a word?”

  I blew out a long breath. “I don’t know, but I’ll sure as hell find out.”

  When I questioned my family, they all denied having seen Beth. I wasn’t even sure I could believe them, until a few of Jackson’s men showed me a videotape of surveillance they’d taken outside. Beth had been there, and she had not spoken to anyone in the household. I phoned her immediately and confronted her.

  “Why was I there?” she repeated, sounding shocked and hurt.

  I gripped the cell phone tight. “Yes. Tell me what you were doing here and why you didn’t bother to speak to anyone.”

  She burst into tears at the accusation, and I had never felt so guilty. “I was there be
cause...well, Frank stood me up, and I wanted to talk to you about it,” she said. “Then I realized I shouldn’t be dumping my problems on you, so I turned around and left before I made an idiot out of myself.” She sighed. “Gosh, Sarah. Why would you think I’d ever adduct Alexander? I have a baby of my own, and I’d never, ever do anything to hurt you or your family. If you don’t believe me, you’re welcome to come search my house.”

  I glanced down at the floor in shame. “Of course you wouldn’t. I’m so sorry, Beth. I’m just a wreck with Alexander missing. I-I can’t think straight.”

  “It’s okay, Sarah. I can only imagine how upset you are, and I’m here for you.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Maybe you should call the police.”

  “I don’t know. All the media attention could spook the kidnapper.”

  “But somebody might’ve seen something.”

  “I can’t go that route right now. Listen, I gotta go.”

  “Want me to come over?” she asked.

  “No. I’m getting ready to leave to check on some leads.”

  “Okay. Look, I know you’re a great investigator, but let me help you. After all, we make a great team.”

  “I’d love to have you help me.”

  “Just like old times.”

  Beth and I started exhausting every lead we could think of.

  Jackson’s men monitored every phone call that came into my house. My mother wanted to alert the media and the police, but Jackson agreed with me that it would not be wise.

  I didn’t know what to believe, and I couldn’t fathom who would do such an atrocious thing. I couldn’t even give my child a stable home, and that hurt more than anything. What kind of mother am I? Why would fate give me such a beautiful child, only to snatch him away from me? I was so tired and exhausted, and fear, tension, and anxiety became my new best friends. My worst fear had come true: My child had been abducted, maybe even killed.

  The men remained optimistic and told me to stay positive.

  “Don’t feed me that bullshit,” I snapped. I didn’t mean to be so spiteful and mean to the men assigned to protect us, but I felt like a wounded animal. I just wanted my baby back in my arms, and I couldn’t wait to take him to Tastia, where he would be safer. We needed to find Alexander and leave. I begged for my visions to kick in, but as usual, they would not cooperate.

  Chapter 23

  When Victor returned with no clues, I fell into his arms. He held me close as we both sobbed and collapsed to the ground. I could feel Victor’s pain and hurt, and it cut deeply into me, on top of my own pain.

  “Don’t give up,” Victor said.

  “I won’t,” I sobbed between breaths.

  He stroked my back and hair, but that offered me little comfort. When your child is missing, there’s a huge hole in your heart. It’s an excruciating ordeal for couples to face. I hung on to my sanity by a thin thread and my thoughts were all irrational. Not knowing where Alexander was or how he was being treated cut me to the very core. I was on an emotional rollercoaster that would never stop until I had my precious child back in my arms. I wouldn’t wish this nightmare on anyone. I never felt such desperation and despair. We were coping with such a grave crisis, but we held onto each other through all the grief and pain.

  I felt like I was going to throw up, and the tears wouldn’t stop flowing. “Why would somebody do this? Why?” I asked over and over again.

  “I have no idea, but when I find the sick bastard, he will pay with his life.”

  “Do you think Jackson has anything to do with this?” I asked.

  “I am already investigating that theory myself.”

  “White Coyote said he is trustworthy.”

  “As I said before, White Coyote could very well be on Jackson’s payroll. We both know how many connections Jackson has.”

  “I’m so scared, baby. I’m trying to be brave, to hold it together, but it’s taking everything I have no to throw myself on the floor and cry.”

  “We’ll get through this together, Sarah, and we will be reunited with our son.”

  “We can never have the whole puzzle,” I said. My emotions were wild and seemed to be out of control. “There’s always a piece missing. I was happy, and then you died. I had the perfect husband and was pregnant, yet I was dying. We get married again, and I am happy again, and our son is taken from us. It’s as if fate dangles happiness in my face like a carrot, then snatches it away. It’s just...cruel!”

  “It is merely coincidence,” he said.

  “Is it? How can you be sure?”

  Victor and I mourned for a few hours, then went out to hunt for our son. We had exhausted every single lead, and we weren’t a step closer to finding Alexander.

  “You’re exhausted,” Victor said. “You need to get some sleep.”

  Tears dripped down my face. “How can I when our baby is out there somewhere?”

  He wiped my tears away with his thumbs. “I know it’s incredibly difficult, but you must try. You need food and sleep to endure this ordeal.”

  He tucked me into bed, then laid next to me with his arm around me. Without even trying, I fell asleep.

  When I awoke, Victor was gone. He had left a note saying there was another lead he wanted to check out. I held the note close to my heart and sobbed, saying a silent prayer that he would find something, anything, that would bring our baby home.

  One of the bodyguards notified me that Jackson wished to speak to me, so I hurried down the stairs. “Jackson,” I said.

  “How are you holding up?” he asked.

  “The loss and pain are unbearable,” I answered, “and I haven’t slept right for days.”

  “I’m so sorry. I can only imagine how worried you must be. I want you to know we are doing everything we can to bring Alexander home.”

  “Thank you, Jackson.”

  “Sarah...”

  “Yes?”

  He gripped my arm and led me outside.

  I didn’t like how forceful he was being with me. I tried to yank away, but he held me close. “Jackson, let go,” I complained.

  “We need to move...right now,” he said.

  “Move? What are you talking about?”

  “We have to go get the key to the ancient artifact, and there’s no time to wait.”

  “No!” I shouted. “I will not go anywhere until I have my son back. Your payback can wait.”

  “It can’t. We mustn’t lose this window of opportunity.”

  “What? I-I need Victor. I’m not going anywhere until—”

  “Victor won’t be joining us,” he said.

  “You bastard!” I shouted. “Did you take Alexander?”

  “No, Sarah, I didn’t.”

  “Victor will be home any minute, and—”

  “We both know he won’t be, and there’s no time to waste. We must leave this very second, or we’ll risk not being able to open up the box forever.”

  “I want to help you,” I said, “but I need to find Alexander. Surely you understand that.”

  “Sarah, if the blue-ringed immortals have him, you will never get him back, not even with the powers you possess.”

  “I could if you help me.”

  “I’m afraid not. Even with all my men, we are sorely outnumbered and will not fare well against their army.”

  “You don’t give a shit about me. All you care about is getting your little box open.”

  “The best way to get Alexander back from them is to remove their power. We can accomplish that by opening the box. They will be cast down on their knees, and we can sweep in and get Alexander back.”

  I stared at him long and hard and said nothing.

  He continued, “Think, Sarah. You know it’s the only way to get him back. We’ll have powers, and they’ll have nothing. Do this for me, and I swear to you that I will deliver Alexander safely back into your arms, and I will personally escort you to your portal.”

  “You know I can’t show you where
Victor’s home world is,” I said firmly.

  “Why not? Are you afraid I’ll take it over, just like I kidnapped your baby?” His voice dripped with sarcasm.

  “I never said you were involved.”

  “You do suspect me. You asked me earlier, accused me of such a horrible thing. How could you after all I’ve done to help you, all I’ve risked?”

  “I don’t trust anyone but Victor and my family, Jackson...and with good reason. If you had been through what I have, you’d be the same way.”

  “Sarah, I’m going to say this in the nicest possible way. You need to come with me, or I will take you by force. We’ve been marked. We’ve gotten the box. We have you to open the Box of Shadain. All we need is the final piece, and that’s the key. We’re almost done.”

  “I won’t go anywhere without talking to Victor,” I insisted.

  “You have a bond with him. He already knows.”

  “No! I’m not going anywhere with you. You know I can easily fight back. I will not be abducted, Jackson—not by you or anyone.”

  He looked up at the house. “Your parents are only alive because of me.”

  “Is that a threat?”

  “We made a deal, and you must honor it.”

  “A deal? Deals are not sealed by threats and guilt-trips. How very honorable of you.”

  He gripped my arm. “Let’s go.”

  I yanked my arm away and jolted him with a stream of electricity.

  His body shook a little, but he absorbed it like it was nothing. “What the hell, Sarah?”

  “I am not a weak, pathetic girl anymore. Let me go! Or you’ll be sorry.”

  “Now you’re making threats, but it’s no use. I’m not afraid of you. As I said before, you’ll come with me, one way or another.”

  “You should fear me!” I shouted. I threw out my arms, ready to stun and incapacitate him.

  As streams of energy flew his way, he threw up his arms and delivered his own stream of electricity. “I can go on all night,” he said.

  “Just let me and my parents leave.”

  “I can’t do that. Not when we’re so close to ending this mess forever.”

  I bit my lip hard, trying to focus. “Then you leave me no choice but to fight.”