Eternal Vows (30 page)

Beth rubbed her stomach. “I’m four months along. They tell me I’m having a bouncing baby boy. I guess he did a lot of bouncing when we jumped off that cliff today. I’m pretty sure that would have been against doctor’s orders.”

“I didn’t realize you were even dating anyone. Who’s the lucky guy?”

“Um, I am not really dating—nothing serious anyway. I met this hot guy in a bar, and we downed a couple of pitchers together, drowning our loneliness away I guess. One thing led to another, and…well, bingo, I’m knocked up.”

“Does he know?”

Beth shook her head. “Nope, and I prefer to keep it that way. I don’t need his help or his money. Besides, he’s too hung up on some other chick now. Plus, he’d never understand my research.”

“Kind of like Frank?”

“Definitely…and unfortunately.” Beth laughed, brushing a stray strand of hair out of her face.

Sarah hesitated, considering her words. She didn’t want to make promises she couldn’t keep, but she wanted to help Beth feel better. The baby’s wellbeing depended on it. “Well, you know I’m always here for you, and I never got a chance to officially congratulate you.” Sarah reached over and hugged her.

“Thank you,” Beth said between sniffles.

“What’s wrong?”

“I can’t…Sarah, I just can’t have this baby here.” Beth hugged her more tightly. “What if we don’t get back home in time?”

“You’re only four months along, Beth. That gives you five months! We’ll be back home way before that baby’s born, and I’m going to spoil him rotten.”

“I’m not usually such a wimp or a crybaby. I’m sure it’s just the hormones,” Beth said. “I’m sorry.”

“You’ve got nothing to apologize for.”

Tears streamed down Beth’s face. “If we do get stuck here, what about my epidural?”

“Honey, women have been having babies naturally for generations. You will deliver your son one way or another, and you’ll both be fine.”

Beth smirked. “Yeah, I get that, but I’m not like other women. I’m not a fan of pain. They have to knock me out just to pull a tooth, and that’s a lot different than yanking an eight-pound baby out of me!”

“We’re going to get you back home, and you’re going to be a fantastic mom.”

Beth hugged her Sarah tightly, burying her face in her hair. “You’re such a wonderful friend. I really don’t deserve you.”

Sarah smiled and rubbed a hand over Beth’s back, soothing her. She wasn’t sure about the wonderful friend part. If they didn’t get back home, Beth’s child might just be born in the Middle Ages, and Beth would be in danger of losing her life in childbirth like so many mothers of that era did. Sarah had already suffered the loss of her sister; losing a friend was not an option.

Chapter 15

The iron gate, faded and rusted in patches from years of rain and snow, creaked as Sarah opened it and walked through. The moon hung high above the horizon, casting a silver hue over the trees on either side of the road. At that time of day, the village seemed deserted, devoid of life, reminding Sarah of a ghost town minus the eerie wind and hundreds of eyes peering from behind closed curtains. Her feet thudded across the bare ground as she led the way to the first tiny house with whitewashed walls and flowerpots on the windowsills. Stopping, she spun in a slow circle.
How are we going to find anything out if the entire town is asleep
? “Are you sure this is Ripteenia?”

Frank nodded. “Yep, the one and only. Maybe we should split up—you know, start asking some questions.”

“Sure.” Sarah shot him an amused look. “I’m sure they’ll be happy to accommodate us, particularly if we show up knocking so early in the morning, in a world where robbing and burning down villages is as common as baking bread.”

“Do you have a better idea?”

She shrugged. “Let’s look around and see what we can find out on our own before we wake up the entire town. Some people can be real nasty if they don’t get their beauty sleep.”

“Sounds reasonable.” Beth pulled Frank’s hand. “C’mon.”

Frank’s gaze lingered on Sarah and she motioned with a laugh. “Go on. You guys go that way, and me and the guys will go the other.”

“I can protect her just as well as you can,” Adam said to Frank’s arched eyebrow.

Men—always trying to out-macho each other,
Sarah thought with a sigh. “Actually, guys, I think I’m well capable of protecting myself. Technically, you can’t even take a bullet for me.”

Frank glanced over his shoulder and winked. “Hmm. I wonder if I could get the jump on inventing bulletproof vests—or bullets, for that matter. Any idea where Ye Olde Patent Office is around here?”

Beth sighed and took charge, leading Frank away. “C’mon, Frank.”

Adam smiled. “I told her to do it. Come to think of it, I actually begged.”

“What for?”

Adam shrugged. “Just needed a break from your lover boy, I guess.”

She could only hope Beth wasn’t embarrassing her. Frank was not necessarily her idea of Prince Charming, but he wasn’t such a bad choice. He was surely better than an Immortal sociopath who was trying to marry her one minute and telepathically kidnap her in the next. She slapped Adam’s arm, returning her focus back to the conversation at hand. “You’re so bad. And for the record, he’s not my lover boy. I have no idea why everyone in this place seems to think that.”

“Hmm. I wonder what gave them that impression.”

She rolled her eyes. “Let’s go.”

Frank and Beth had disappeared to her right, where the wide street seemed deserted now. The houses to the left looked barely bigger than cottages that wouldn’t withstand a strong autumn wind. She sighed and took that direction, the others following right behind.

Steven resumed the conversation first. “Where are we going?”

Sarah pointed to what looked like a large open space, peering through the houses. “The middle of the town. It’s too early in the morning to do much other than wait.”

“I thought people got up with the sun to milk cows,” Steven said.

“This world’s amazing—dangerous, but amazing nonetheless.” Adam quickened his pace, passing her.

She grabbed his arm and pulled him back. “Wait up! It isn’t safe to just venture off on your own.”

He seemed to barely hear her. “We gotta take proof back with us. Somebody can always say the film is fake, but if we have something concrete, some tangible proof, I could be the first scientist to prove other dimensions exist. We could prove this is where Bigfoot comes from.”

Steven patted his bag. “But I’ve got the footage, man! I even got the Immortal dude on tape.”

“That’s admirable, man, but you know someone will say it’s like all that fake footage on YouTube.” Adam motioned around him. “Boy, I never thought a Bigfoot expedition would turn into all of this, that’s for sure. We just need proof—tangible proof.”

“Interesting conversation, guys, but in order to be actually able to tell the world about it, you’ll have to get out of here first,” Sarah said. From the corner of her eye, she noticed something flickering in one of the windows.
Who would be awake at this ungodly hour?
Regardless of who it was, she was glad someone was up, because she was tired and hungry, and the cold night wind had sent shivers through her. In all the excitement, the others didn’t seem to care about such trivial things as keeping warm and eating, but she knew they’d thank her for it later. She took a tentative step toward the house.

Suddenly, the door opened, and a woman clad in an off-white dress peered out. A wimple like that of a nun hid her features, and a fur shawl was draped across her shoulders, going halfway down her legs. “Elizabeth?” The woman’s voice came low and hoarse, as if she was still half-asleep. “Is that you, dear?”

Sarah stopped, frozen to the spot.

The woman inched closer and gripped Sarah’s arm. “It can’t be! Elizabeth?”

With her heart pounding hard, Sarah shook her head. “No. Elizabeth is my sister.”

“Your sister?”

“
Yes. Do you know her?”

The woman’s eyes glinted as she turned Sarah to inspect her from all sides. “She came from so far away. How’s it even possible that you’re here?”

“I found a way into this world just like she did—sort of by accident.” She took a step back, hiding her hand from view so the woman wouldn’t notice the incriminating ring. Everyone seemed to fear her or hate her for it, and there was no need to push her luck. “I heard that Elizabeth met a man named Charles, a man from this town.”

“Charles?” The woman looked away into the early dawn.

“Yes, that’s what we heard,” said Adam.

“Charles wasn’t born here. He spent a year helping us rebuild after the flood. He met Elizabeth a few towns over.” She looked around and lowered her voice to a whisper, as if she was about to share some juicy gossip. “But they had to keep their relationship a secret, you know.”

Steven inched closer, his camera and aspirations of fame forgotten. “Why? Was he a rich noble or something?”

“An Immortal, and as I’m sure you know, it’s forbidden for an Immortal to court a mere human.”

Sarah gasped. “What? Did you say he’s an Immortal?”

“Yes. Elizabeth grew quite fond of King William’s son, who lives in the castle.”

Sarah’s jaw dropped.
Liz fell for the son of evil King William, the guy who’s trying to have me killed? And furthermore, how can Charles be such a saint, helping these peasants after a disaster nearly destroyed their city, if his father is such a monster?
Her sister was so close, she could feel it. Her eyes widened, her heart pounding even harder. “My sister’s in the castle then?”

The woman looked away, tears welling up in her eyes. “Dear, your sister married him and slipped on the Ring of Immortality. The other Immortals found out and…” She looked down for a moment before she could finish. “Oh, I hate to have to tell you this, but—”

“What?” Sarah demanded.

“They executed her. The funeral was held here last year.”

Wait…Liz is gone? Murdered? For the same mistake I made?
Horror washed over her as she fell to her knees. All her pent-up emotions came flowing out like a tidal wave.

The woman dropped to her knees and patted her back. “I’m so, so sorry. It was a shock for all of us. I can take you to her gravestone in the cemetery if you would like. Perhaps it will give you some comfort and allow you to put it behind you, as we have all had to do. Oh, how awful it was.”

Sarah spoke between sobs. “Please. I need to see it for myself.”

The woman looped her arm around Sarah’s, and they walked in silence to the other side of town with Adam and Steven in tow, shock written all over their faces. After they passed rows and rows of crude headstones, she pointed at a marble one. “Charles picked out this particular stone for her. He is crazy with grief and has not come out of the castle since the funeral service.”

“I need a few minutes alone, if you don’t mind,” said Sarah, her voice quivering.

“I understand, dear,” said the woman, and she turned and left.

Adam touched Sarah’s shoulder. “We’ll be waiting outside the gate. Take your time.”

Sarah knelt, and her trembling fingers slowly traced the letters: E-L-I-Z-A-B-E-T-H L-A-R-K-E-R. “Oh, Liz. I’ve spent the last ten years looking for answers, looking for you…and I guess now I have them.” Tears rolled down her face as she spoke softly, “I know life here is tough, but you adjusted because you were always strong, just like Mom. You even…you even met someone to fall in love with. I am so glad to know you were happy in this place, if only for a little while. Charles must be a wonderful man who truly loved you.” She wiped her eyes and then continued. “It looks like I’ve gotten into the same terrible situation, only I don’t know the one who slipped the ring on my finger. He’s my husband, yet he’s a stranger. I’ve known him less than a few days.

Oh, Liz, the Immortals are hot on my trail now, and if they didn’t spare you, surely I stand no chance against them. Déjà vu, I guess. Isn’t it funny how fate works?” She wiped a tear rolling down her cheek as she peered around at rows after rows of dry earth and bare crosses. Every few spaces, a gravestone jutted out of the ground, providing a change in the dismal display of poverty. “You weren’t just my sister, Liz.” She stopped and pulled her nose, her voice failing her. “You were my best friend. I’ll never forget the beautiful memories we shared. They might have taken your life, but you’re alive in my heart, and that’s one thing they can never take away, no matter what they do to me.”

Numb and exhausted, she closed her eyes and tried to think of better times, of their happy childhoods, hide-and-seek, skipping rope, and Christmas mornings. “Do I have any regrets? Yes! For one thing—maybe the biggest regret of all—I’m sorry I left you in those woods years ago. I deserted you, and I have never forgiven myself, but I hope you were able to forgive me. Know that I’ll always love you, Liz, and I never stopped looking for you. I hope you are…resting in peace, dear sister.” Emotion choked her as she straightened her back and, with one last glance back, walked back through the iron gate. She had been looking for answers about what had happened to her little sister, but now she wished she’d never found out. It had been easier holding on to hope than it was to know the truth. She would never have stopped searching, but now she had lost all purpose in life.
How can I go back to my life? How can I ever be happy again knowing my sister was killed…because I left her behind?