Eternal Conflict - Book 7 (The Ruby Ring Saga) Read online

  I pulled the reins and led my horse into the moonlit forest. It was only then, under the silvery light, that I noticed my sister was wounded. “Liz!” I said, pointing at the arrow protruding from her arm. “You’ve been hit.”

  She stopped the horse and pulled the arrow out as if it was nothing more menacing than a childhood splinter. “This old thing?” she said nonchalantly, then tossed it aside. “Just an occupational hazard of being a warrior princess.”

  “Are you sure you’re not hurt?” I asked.

  “You know better than to ask an immortal that!” she said as her horse took off, whinnying loudly.

  “What happened to your shield?” I questioned.

  “I couldn’t hold on to the force-field, but at least I got out of that burning house.”

  “What do you mean, you couldn’t hold on to it?”

  “I had a few glasses of wine to calm my nerves.”

  “So you were fleeing under the influence, huh?” I teased.

  “No, but wine affects our new powers, makes it hard to hold the connection.”

  “Well, for future reference, you might wanna make a mental note of that, you lush.”

  Liz and I galloped for what felt like forever before I finally started to feel safe. We slowed down to a trot over the rough terrain.

  “Victor?” I called in my head. “Are you okay, my love?”

  “I’m still fighting.”

  “Okay. We’re all safe. Was there an ambush?”

  “Yes, but we were prepared for it, thanks to you. Stay safe, luv, and follow the plan we discussed.”

  “I will. I love you.”

  “I love you too.”

  “Victor’s okay,” I reported.

  “That’s good. Charles is too.”

  “Good.”

  She let out a shaky breath. “It’s so spooky out here.”

  “Are you kidding? It’s much safer here than back there. We were almost toasted.”

  “Some immortals are so…heartless. Without our new powers, we could’ve never had shields like that.”

  “What happens when an immortal gets caught in a house fire?” I asked.

  “I heard the pain is excruciating, and it takes months to heal. If we were human, we would have been burned to a crisp back there. They were trying to kill us, and I don’t think they had any idea we’re immortals. They probably would’ve beheaded us if they saw us.”

  I steered to the left as the path turned the bend. “No one ever wanted me dead before all this, before I came to this world.”

  “Well, now you’re Miss Unpopular. Welcome to the club,” she said with a grin. “Still, I can’t say this world is any more violent than the one we left. I swear, one day, we’ll put an end to all this bloodshed and war.”

  “I really do think we can change the world,” I said, looking around at the tall trees. “We can do a lot of good here, make it a better place.”

  “Yet here we are, riding through the shadowy forest, running for our lives.”

  “I didn’t come back here to run,” I said sternly.

  “I know the fellas have their little plans and such, but I sure as hell didn’t either. Let’s regroup, strategize, and attack at first light. I say this war starts now.”

  “I’m so ready for this to be over.” I sighed deeply, looking up at the tall, dark trees.

  “I know, Sarah, but this is only the beginning. Even Alexander is in danger. He almost got burned, too, and I could never live with that on my conscience. I hate to say it, sis, but we’ve gotta put my little nephew in hiding immediately. He’ll be safer with Mom and Dad.”

  “I know.” I stifled a tear as I looked down at the gorgeous baby, bouncing up and down in my arms with each trot of the horse.

  “How is he?”

  “He’s calm, sleeping again.”

  “Good. I wish I could sleep through all this shit.”

  “I know. I’m still shaking,” I said with a shudder. “I came here to give my son a better, safer life, and already his life has been in jeopardy so many times here. That was the closest call of all.”

  “He needs to go somewhere different, along with our parents, someplace where nobody will ever suspect them to be.”

  “But where?” I asked. “I mean, we can’t exactly pull up Google maps here.”

  “I’ve got a few connections,” Liz said.

  “But Victor wants to—”

  “I’m going to change their names and identities and hide them well.”

  I sighed, knowing she was right. “That sucks. It really does. But thanks.”

  “I figured you’d see it my way. That’s why I already started working on it. When we get to the hideout, they’ll need to go.”

  “No. Just give me one more night with him.”

  “Look, I can only imagine how hard this is for you, but you’ve gotta stay focused and remember what we came here to do. We came back to destroy Ethano, and his stupid but loyal followers will retaliate like the dumb sheep they are. Mom, Dad, and Alexander need to go into hiding immediately.”

  “You know I’ve got to talk to Victor about it,” I said.

  “Victor’s general’s wants to arrange it. Victor may be onboard. You, on the other hand, may not.”

  “Who is it?” I asked, wrinkling my brow at her.

  “You won’t like it,” she said.

  “Please, just tell me. We’re talking about my son here.”

  “All right, but don’t freak out. I just found out from Charles. And it could just be gossip.”

  “Please tell me.”

  “It’s that woman who helped Victor back at Ethano’s castle, the one you saw in the portrait on the wall.”

  “Why would that freak me out?” I asked, confused. “I mean, she helped Victor, and…” I paused. “Oh. That’s right. She’s…an old flame, his former lover.”

  “Worse.”

  I bit my lip hard. “Are you saying she’s more than that? An ex-wife he never told me about? My gosh, Liz! This is worse than an episode of Maury!”

  Liz wanted to laugh at my joke but couldn’t. “No, not his wife…but she is Ethano’s.”

  “What!?” I said. “No way is Mrs. Slimeball going to be my Alexander’s new nanny! Victor and I would never agree to that.”

  “Calm down,” Liz said, stopping her horse to peer at me. “She grew up with Victor and was his best friend. She loves him like a friend and brother. It’s really the perfect place to hide the baby, as no one will ever suspect it. She lives in her own castle, miles away from Ethano.”

  “I didn’t even realize Ethano is married.”

  “Well, he didn’t put a ring on it, so to speak. He refuses to be bonded to a woman whose death will mean his.”

  Suddenly, my own bond with Victor began to speak to me, to reveal things to me that I had never realized before, as if Victor himself was trying to convince me that our plan would work out. “They all grew up together. Victor loves this woman like a sister, and he can’t kill the husband she loves so dearly. She has begged Victor countless times to spare Ethano.” I looked over at my sister. “Gosh, Liz. That could be a real problem.”

  “Maybe, but one thing is certain.”

  “What?”

  “She won’t hurt the baby.”

  “I can feel their friendship. It’s so strong that she’ll never lay a finger on Alexander. Victor knows too. I can feel it.” I sighed. “Still, what’s to stop her from blackmailing us? She might hold our loved ones as ransom or something, as collateral for Ethano.” I shook my head. “I know this general may think this is a good idea, but in my opinion, it’s about as bad as a case of conflict of interests as you can get.”

  “Sarah, you have to just—”

  “No, Liz. We have to find another way. I know you’re just trying to protect Alexander, but this isn’t a plan I’m willing to go along with. And I know Victor won’t either. Not in a million years.”

  Suddenly, I was thrust into a vision from the past…<
br />
  * * *

  I was back in the castle dungeon where Victor was being held captive by Ethano. He was being taken care of by the woman in the painting on the cavern wall that Helena, the witch, had showed us a while back. I thought Victor was dead, but Ethano had secretly kept him alive.

  “You married a human?” she said, incredulous. “As if you’re already not busy enough with a war or fending off your brother.”

  Victor wiggled his chains to sip from the mug of water she had brought him. “William and I are not at war anymore,” he said, “and in my defense, I thought she was a princess.”

  “That is despicable!” she retorted.

  “Gwendolyn, please. I—”

  “No,” she snapped. “You thought she was Princess Gloria, Della’s daughter? How could you do that to Della? Is the war not vengeance enough for you? Don’t you see that’s why Della left you in the first place?”

  “If I was bonded to her, to Della’s daughter, William and his army wouldn’t hurt me. I assure you it was nothing more than a military strategy. I had no intention of lying with her. I know you think me a callous fool sometimes, but I would never do anything so deplorable as forcing myself upon a woman.”

  “But you’d marry the poor girl and ruin her life? She’d be stuck with that ring and that bond forever. What has happened to you, Victor? Who have you become? What remains of you is only some…dark shadow of the man I used to know.”

  “I wasn’t thinking clearly. Besides, my plan would’ve never worked, because the real Princess Gloria died a while back, unbeknownst to me.”

  “Exactly! You had no idea. For all you knew, that imposter was Gloria. You would have happily slipped that ring onto Gloria’s finger, just to win a war. You didn’t care about the misery the princess would suffer at your hands.” She shook her head and glared at him. “I never thought you would sink so low.”

  “I know it was wrong of me.”

  “Knowing is not good enough. You wanted to win that war, but you also wanted to make Della suffer. Marrying the princess would be the perfect revenge, something you now lust after. You’ve grown cold and heartless.”

  “I harbor many regrets,” he said sadly, “not the least of which was killing my father. My life has taken a downward turn, spun out of control. Even though I met Sarah quite accidentally and assumed her to be someone else, she has changed my life, made me an honorable man.”

  “Sarah? Your wife?”

  “Yes. Because of her, I pulled all my troops out of William’s territory.”

  “So you just ended a war that’s been raging for hundreds of years over a woman?”

  He smiled. “Yes.”

  “She must be some woman.”

  “She is. She is my light amidst all the darkness.”

  Gwendolyn gazed at him. “Della was a good woman, and you truly loved her. Why was that not enough?”

  “Della’s departure forced me to realize what a monster I truly was. I sank deeper and deeper into a pit of despair. Then I met Sarah, and it was as if she pulled me out and helped me to see the light, helped me understand that I can be the honorable son my mother bragged about.”

  “Why didn’t this Sarah come sooner?” she asked.

  “Because she wasn’t born yet.”

  Gwendolyn shook her head at him, her eyes filling with tears. “Well, I’m glad she makes you happy, and I’m glad you’ve become a better man, but frankly, it’s too late. Ethano is going to kill you. He’s looking for Della now, and he has grand plans to destroy you both together.”

  “Is that why I’m still alive?”

  “That, and because he wants to torture you. He feels a quick death would be too…merciful for the likes of you. He wants to make you suffer, Victor, but he will eventually kill you.” Her voice trembled. “How am I supposed to watch you die?”

  “You won’t. You only need to help me escape.”

  She looked torn. “You know I can’t.”

  “Then you will witness that nightmare you so wish to avoid,” he said.

  “I love you, Victor. You know I do, but you did this to yourself. You gave Ethano the perfect opportunity to gain everyone’s trust. You let your father’s murder destroy you.”

  “He died by my hand.”

  “Yes, but it wasn’t your fault. That tyrant wanted to kill you so his favorite son could rule. Nevertheless, for far too long, you used his death as an excuse for becoming the monster you became.”

  “I was overcome by guilt,” Victor said.

  “Yes, and you conquered countries, killed many as a result. But did that take the pain away? Did any of that death, bloodshed, any of those battleground victories ease your conscience?”

  “No.”

  “Exactly. With King Taggert’s blessing, you became ruthless and power-hungry. He used you, Victor, pulled your strings like a marionette’s. Your valiant efforts reclaimed all the countries that were taken by King Fallon centuries ago. That was why he loved you so much.”

  “He didn’t use me. I was loyal to our king, and I made good on my promise to get those countries back under his rein.”

  “By throwing all your rage and pain into war?”

  “Yes.”

  “Well, you lost Della because of it. She gave you so many chances, but you threw them all away.”

  “When she left me for William, I was devastated.”

  “So you started a war with him?”

  “We fought over land, and I exploded, declaring war.”

  “Over land? It was really over something else, the love of a woman, was it not?”

  Victor couldn’t utter an answer.

  “Your silence is enough of an admission,” she continued. “Meanwhile, King Taggert let you have your war because he felt as if he owed you for all you had done.”

  “King Taggert was neutral. He wouldn’t help me, nor would he allow any allies to help. That war was between me and William.”

  “So while you were occupied with that needless, stupid conflict, Ethano swept in and began garnering loyal support and creating political alliances. I tried many times to warn you, but you ignored me and kept fighting. You were obsessed with defeating William in a war that never should have happened. Meanwhile, your brother has been working against you for years. Everyone is on his side. He goes to parties and laughs over drinks with all the powerful ones, while you just keep waging war. All of this could have been avoided had you not alienated everyone around you, but you insisted on sinking deeper and deeper into that dark pit of hate, jealousy, and regret, taking it out on everyone around you.”

  “I know now that Della was right to leave me. I’ve done so many horrible things, Gwendolyn, and I am sorry for all the pain and death I have caused. Now, I want to change and be a better king for my people. I want to make up for the sins of my past. I will never again be the man I used to be.”

  “That is all fine and good, Victor, but you have a rocky road ahead of you. Right now, Ethano is the favored brother.”

  “Nobody knows we’re half-brothers,” he said.

  “That is not true. He has had no problem, as of late, declaring to anyone who will listen that he carries royal blood in his veins. Does your wife know yet?”

  “Not that I’m aware of.”

  “You had better confide in her, because she will eventually find out. Word is spreading like wildfire.”

  Victor looked away and cringed.

  “How did it come to all this?” Gwendolyn asked with a sigh. “We used to be happy. Remember when you, me, and Ethano used to go horseback riding?”

  “Yes,” he said, half-smiling at the fond recollection. “We’d go to that old, abandoned castle. You were always so scared to go inside.”

  “It was haunted, yet you and Ethano made me go there!”

  He chuckled. “I don’t believe in myths…and it is important to face one’s fears head-on.”

  “Well, I luckily never spotted any specters.”

  He laughed. “No, of cour
se you didn’t.”

  She gazed into his eyes. “You know as I look at you now, I can see glimpses of the honorable man I used to know and love. Even at your darkest, I knew there was good in you, buried far beneath. I know there’s good in Ethano too. If you came back, so can he.”

  “Do you truly believe that, Gwendolyn? He has his own brother in chains, and you said he wishes to hold a double-execution for Della and me, after he tortures me and takes great delight in it.”

  “I will fight for you,” she said. “You are my dearest childhood friend. I’ll take care of you the best I can, and I hope Ethano will change his mind.”

  “He will not. He reported me to King Taggert for marrying Sarah. Why? Because he wanted me to be executed legally. He wanted me out of the way so he could take Taggert’s throne. It would have been the perfect revenge for killing our father. When that scandalous plan failed, he resorted to this.” He shook the chains. “He is a kidnapper, a murderer and you are leaving me in his hands if you won’t free me.”

  She wiped a tear from her face. “It kills me to see you like this,” she said.

  “Then help me.”

  “I’ll work on an escape plan. I can’t just let you go, or he’ll have both our heads.”

  “How long must I remain here?”

  “Ethano is looking for Della, but he’ll be back for his party. If he doesn’t find her, he’ll likely return first thing tomorrow morning. Plan for that.”

  He gripped her hand. “I can’t thank you enough.”

  She squeezed his hand. “Just get as far away as you can, as fast as you can…and stay gone.”

  He nodded. “I take no issue with that, my dear.”

  She kissed his cheek. “Remain in good spirits, my King.”

  * * *

  And with that, I opened my eyes. For a few seconds, I was discombobulated. “Wh-where am I?”

  “It’s nighttime. We’re on horses, making our way to the sanctuary. You zoned out for a long time. Lucky for you, the horse must have onboard GPS or autopilot or something. He just kept trotting along.”

  “I had a vision, one from the past.”

  “They’re usually just flashes. That was, like, a feature film.”

  “Yeah, well, they seem to be getting stronger, or maybe it’s because of the powers we got from Jackson. I’m not sure.”