Eternal Destiny (21 page)

Victor’s gaze darted to Sarah. “Can you wait here, my love? I promise I’ll be right back.”

She nodded. “Just hurry.”

He nodded back before disappearing through the courtroom doors.

Sarah decided she should go with him, but as she took a step, Ethano yanked her arm, pulling her back.

“He said to stay put, and that includes you,” he said. “When those useless minerals don’t work, your head will be on the chopping block. You may as well stay here and face your fate.”

Sarah scowled, yanking her arm away as she hissed, “You’re the scum of the Earth. I can’t believe you’d let your beloved king die just so you can take his power and kingdom. You’re pathetic, Ethano. You don’t deserve the power you hold because you don’t even have a heart!”

“No.” He shook his head slightly, the same smug smile from before returning. “Pathetic will be the long look on your face seconds before your head leaves your neck, courtesy of your new king, and guess who that will be.” He leaned in to whisper in her ear, “Me.”

Chapter 16

Nearly an hour had passed, and Victor had not returned. Chills slid down Sarah’s spine as thoughts raced across her mind.
Did Ethano’s knights have Victor stopped before he even reached King Taggert?
she worried, as she’d already seen the chaos Ethano and his men were capable of.

Footsteps echoed outside the door just before it burst open. Sarah’s mouth dropped as she met the eyes of Frank, Beth, Adam, and Steven. They took small, short steps in their restraints. Their wrists were bound in heavy black chains, and there were rusty shackles secured tightly around their ankles. The doors opened wider, and more people were ushered in. Della desperately gripped William’s hand as tears streamed down her face. Lana’s husband squirmed in his chains as a soldier shoved him forward. Every Immortal wore a red metal collar; Sarah was sure it was some kind of device to keep them from using their powers. Liz nuzzled her head into Charles’s shoulder, as if for comfort.

“Liz!” shouted Sarah.

She turned, pulling at her chained wrists as if she could break free.

Knights marched all of them up the pathway to the front of the courtroom.

Sarah stepped toward them, tears welling up in her eyes, but Ethano yanked her back, gripping her wrist tightly.

“Your little minerals didn’t work!” he hissed. “They’re here for trial, to be followed by execution. You will watch their heads roll one by one before I take yours!”

Sarah held back a sob, recalling the horrific vision of the future that now looked quite like the present.
Has the future already been set, with no way to change it?
Her heart thrummed.
Where is Victor? What is taking him so long?

The doors burst open as a towering man walked in. He wore his blond hair loose on his shoulders, and a gold crown adorned with blue and red jewels sat on his head. A white ruffled linen shirt clung to his muscular frame. He looked the part—a medieval king, complete with black leggings, brown boots, and a fur-trimmed cape that trailed behind him. Everyone in the courtroom gasped, followed by cries, shouts, and laughter.

“Long live the king! Long live the king! Long live the king!” the crowd chanted over and over. The emotion in their voice said it all: They adored their beloved king.

More tears welled up in Sarah’s eyes as she watched the strong man take back his life and his throne. He had been on death’s door only moments earlier, but now, thanks to her and Victor and Lana, he’d been given a second chance at life.

His chiseled face lit up as hazel eyes sparkled. He caught Sarah’s gaze. “Thank you, Sarah, for finding the Gold Minerals of Life.”

A tear streamed down her face as she bowed. “You’re welcome, Your Majesty.”

“King Taggert!” Ethano ran to the king’s feet and fell into a bow. “You are well, my King, and we couldn’t be happier.”

Sarah was sure the king was far to wise to fall for Ethano’s act, and even if he wasn’t, she was sure Victor had filled him in.

The king straightened his stance. “I know how you’ve been plotting Victor’s death and chasing poor Sarah in the name of Kardashian justice. Ethano, in your cruelty you have been hoping and praying that the court would find her guilty so she would be executed, eliminating Victor and making room for you on my throne!”

“No, Your Highness. NO! I only hunted Sarah to bring her to justice. She has broken our ancient laws, and she needs to die like Elizabeth Larker. Everyone on the council has already agreed.”

“Oh, but Ethano, your trackers killed an innocent Immortal by mistake.”

“We didn’t know, sir, and was it any better for William to cover up the murder by having Elizabeth Larker secure Princess Gloria’s identity? His deceit cannot go unpunished in a fair and just kingdom!”

“I broke no rules!” yelled King William. “I only saved another woman and my only son from being slaughtered.”

Ethano turned, motioning toward him. “One of his soldiers told me back in his barn, he tried to kill Sarah with a sword in order to kill Victor.”

King Taggert nodded. “Yes, but that was in self-defense. He knew Victor would destroy him once he obtained his position as king of the Immortals. They have worked to make peace, something you are obviously unfamiliar with. As for you, Ethano, you pursued the deaths of Sarah and Victor—and even me—to gain my kingdom!” His voice thundered, “You wanted me dead! It pains me to know that you thought you had the Gold Minerals of Life in your hand, yet you refused to try to use them to save my life.”

“Highness, that is only because I knew they were fake! How can you believe them over me?” Ethano asked, glaring at Sarah and Victor.

“Enough of your lies and manipulation, Ethano! I will not hear another word of it! Once I was cured, I did a glimpse into the future myself, and I learned from your very own mouth that you were the one who has been slowly poisoning me all this time with the saliva from the Guardians.”

“No! I—” Ethano started, but the king’s booming voice silenced him.

“Guards, arrest this sorry excuse for a man, and take this unworthy trash out of here.”

“They are liars!” screamed Ethano as knights dragged him out, kicking and screaming like a child throwing a tantrum.

King Taggert walked to the first two rows of people. “I don’t have the power to save these people on my own, but I wish to set every single one of them free. They have saved my life, and I am indebted to them forever. All in favor of releasing them, please raise your hands.”

One by one, everyone raised their hands.

“
By the order of the Kardashian Court, I hereby pardon these prisoners.” A twinkle glittered in King Taggert’s eye. “They are free to leave, and the humans and Sarah are free to go back to their own world.”

A knight released the collar Lana’s husband wore. In a burst of light, he turned into a hawk and flew out through an open window, along with the other hawk who’d been perched on the sill all that time.

King Taggert smiled. He put a long crystal necklace on Sarah, Frank, and everyone in her research team. “This will keep you safe from the Guardians in the forest while my men escort you through,” said King Taggert. “Go to the portal in peace.” He looked at the surrounding knights. “Release these men and women from these chains.”

King William bowed. “Thank you, my King.” He grabbed Della’s hand and rushed out of the courtroom without wasting a second. On his way out, he glanced over his shoulder and called for Liz and Charles.

Liz shook her head. “No, Father. I’m not going home yet. I must…I need to see my sister off.”

He nodded. “In that case, my child, be sure to wear a crystal necklace too.”

“I will, Father.”

Victor patted King Taggert on the back. “You look well, Highness, and we can’t thank you enough.”

“Thank you all, for I shall never forget this wonderful deed you have done for me. I owe you my life, Victor, for you gave up the most powerful title in our world to save it. There are horses outside to take you to your destination. Now go.”

Victor bowed. “Loyalty and friendship to you, my King, mean far more to me.”

King Taggert gripped his shoulders. “There is no one in this kingdom as loyal as you.”

Victor bowed one last time.

Sarah rushed over and threw her arms around Victor. “It’s over! It’s really over! My life’s not on the line anymore. Liz doesn’t have to hide and pretend she’s Princess Gloria, and I…I can go home, Victor!”

Victor shook his head. “But, Sarah, you can’t leave.”

She broke their embrace and turned to King Taggert. “Everything’s working out wonderfully. If you just tell me how to get this ring off, everything will be perfect.”

The king met her gaze. “My dear, there’s no way the ring will ever come off your finger. You’re Immortal now…forever.”

A cold shiver ran through her body at the news. “I thought for sure there would be some way.”

“No, my dear. You will have to consider it a gift from
us
to you. This is your eternal destiny.”

“A gift?”

“Being Immortal is not a curse, but a blessing! You will see this in time. Victor will guide you, and in time you will learn everything there is to know. You couldn’t ask for a better teacher.”

“I’m not staying, sir. You already gave me permission to go home.”

“You may leave, but I don’t recommend it. Back in your world, you will outlive every single one of your loved ones. Also, if your power falls into the wrong hands—as it is rumored that power often does in your world—there could be horrible consequences.”

“I want Victor to come back to my world. Together, we can conquer anything.”

He gasped. “Victor, are you leaving?”

“My love, do you mind if I have a word alone with King Taggert?” Victor asked.

“No problem.” Sarah turned and walked away, resolved to go home, even if that meant she had to keep her powers hidden. But then a thought crossed her mind.
Will I have to move every fifteen years to keep my secret? What kind of lonely existence would that be?

“Sarah!” Beth yelled through the crowd. “You did it!” She hugged her tightly, tears streaming down her cheek. “How can we ever thank you?”

Sarah gripped her hands and smiled. “I got you into this mess and I swore I was going to get you out…no matter what it took.”

Frank pulled her into a hug. “Thank you, Sarah. You did it.”

“I tried.”

Clasping her tighter, he whispered into her ear, “I’m so sorry about the nasty comment I made to you back in the tent. I was jealous and hurt. I just lashed out.”

“It’s okay. I understand.”

“I never thought for one moment your husband would ever get in the way of
us
. I mean, I thought you getting married and all wouldn’t change a thing between us.” He winked.

She chuckled. “You’re funny, Frank.”

“And I’m so sorry our rescue plan went to hell in a hand basket.”

She took a shuddering breath and buried her face in his chest. “It wasn’t your fault.” And she didn’t regret meeting Victor for one minute.

He cupped her face with both hands. “Yes, it was.”

“Who would’ve known? I’m sorry for blaming you.”

“I’ll never forgive myself.”

She let out a sigh. “It is what it is. I’m just glad we’re going home so I can sleep in my own comfy bed.”

“Yeah, I couldn’t imagine being stuck here. What would I do without my coffee pot automatically brewing my coffee at six am every morning?”

She smiled. “You were kind of grumpy without your coffee.”

“I can’t believe how this all turned out. You’ve turned this skeptic into a believer. Have any room on your research team for me?” He grinned widely.

“We sure do,” Beth said.

Adam and Steven approached.

Steven wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “You ready to get back to our modern-day world?”

Sarah nodded. “Most definitely. You guys have been through so much. I’m so sorry about all of this.”

“Are you kidding? It was so worth it to come here! I’ve got tons of proof to show the world.”

“We’re going to rock the world with our proof of Bigfoot,” Adam said. “I’m dying to get a second look at all of our footage.” He shot Sarah a look. “How about we all meet at the research center first thing tomorrow morning?”

“I’ll be there with bells on.”

“Um, best you bring Frank.” Adam cleared his throat.

“What?” she asked in a shocked voice. “Did I hear you right?”

“
Having Frank Hedford, the biggest skeptic of all time, as an eyewitness will help our cause big time.”

“I thought you were suing him,” Beth said.

Adam held out his hand to Frank. “Listen, buddy, I’m sorry about all the horrible things I said to you. You saved my butt when I was about to be burned to death on a stake. Thank you. Truce?”