The Temple of Indra’s Jewel: (19 page)

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

W
e returned to the schloss.

Wordlessly, he left me in my room. One of the servants brought me a tray of food, and I paced the floor. It grew dark, and he still hadn’t returned. Why did I expect him to believe me? My own stupidity would get me killed. He was probably in town right now, preparing to have me locked away. I should leave, but how could I without my bracelet? What if he told someone or contacted the palace?

Even worse, what if he was the one the sapphire entranced and I’d just enlightened him that I knew. Then what? I could run, but I didn’t have the slightest clue how to get to Monaco.

Changing into the nightclothes set out for me, I extinguished the lantern and closed my eyes. I would sleep and leave in the wee hours of the morning when the rest of the castle slept. I’d just have to rely on finding the original stone in the palace.

I jolted awake, frightened by the awareness that someone had barged into my room. Instant, sweat-soaking fear gripped me. A black shape yanked me from my bed. I landed in a heap at his feet before being picked up and pushed against the wall. Three gulps passed, and nothing more happened. I remained pinned.

My eyes adjusted to the dark.

“Viktor?”

The curtains were ajar, and the faint glow of the moon stole the warmth from his fiery green eyes. The smells of beer and black liquorice emanated from him. Without warning, he released me.

“Are you a witch?”

I gaped at him. “A witch? You… you think I’m a witch?”

He took me by the shoulders and gripped me hard, staring into my eyes as though willing an answer.

“I need to know. Tell me!”

“Naturally you would think that,” I murmured through dry lips. “No! Of course not! There are no such things as witches. Religious zealots only used that as an excuse to persecute women.”

A ridge of flesh grew above his nose as his eyebrows pinched together. “What?”

“Never mind that!” I said violently, allowing anger to colour my voice. “Who’s this?” I said, noticing another pair of eyes in the room.

“We’re checking you for the devil’s mark. Undress,” she said coldly.

“What! No!”

“It’s all right. She’s a God-fearing woman, and if you’re telling the truth you have nothing to worry about.”

“Viktor, please.”

“There’s a group of men in town who’ll gladly take over if you prefer. Which will it be?” the old woman croaked in a raspy voice.

Nothing mattered any longer. I was tired. “You,” I said. My voice sounded broken, even to my own ears.

Viktor nodded to the woman.

“Say a prayer first,” he instructed her, bowing his head and reciting the words. I didn’t flinch or make a sound. This man I slept with, who I had more feelings for than I’d ever had for Nick, didn’t believe me and sought to humiliate me. He couldn’t be linked to Cullen. Cullen would never do this to me.

She finished, and they opened their eyes. Mine had defiantly remained open.

“Undress.” The word erupted again from her throat.

Tears filled my eyes as well as Viktor’s. He rubbed at the back of his head, suddenly looking upset.

I gathered the nightgown at the bottom, preparing to lift it over my head.

“Wait!” Viktor said. He turned to the woman. “Leave.”

“But you said—”

“I know what I said. I was wrong. Please leave. Speak of this to no one. Our arrangement stands. Keep the coin.”

“Money.” I regained control of my voice, feeling even more so betrayed. How could he have expected honesty when there was money involved? I slid to the floor, wrapping my arms tightly around my knees.

“Are you all right?” he asked softly.

I ignored him, hopelessness dancing in my belly.

“Do you know when I was born?” I asked, looking up.

“No,” he answered.

“In the twentieth century.” I sat down and tried not to vomit. “You don’t believe me. Oh, God…” I felt my face start to crumple as I realized how preposterous this all sounded.

Placing his finger under my chin, he raised my eyes enough so I could see his face.

“I’ve been a fool. I believe you,” he said firmly. “I don’t understand it at all—not yet—but I believe you, So-phi-a.” He stretched the syllables of my name out, over-pronouncing every letter to mimic how I said it. He gave me a gentle shake.

“Are you all right? Please stop crying. I can’t bear it.”

He fished in his pocket for a moment and then handed me Gigi’s bracelet.

I tried to speak and instead sobbed harder.

“Come here,” he said, curling me closer to him. “You’ll tell me the rest of it later, when you calm down. And I’ll believe you.”

I was still sobbing. I struggled, trying to pull away, but he gathered me up and held me tightly against him, pushing my head tighter to him, repeating over and over again, “I believe you.”

At last, from sheer exhaustion, I grew calm enough to look up and say, “But how can you believe me?”

He smiled down at me. His mouth trembled slightly, but he smiled. “You don’t talk or behave like you’re from here, for one thing. What is a
dope
?”

I laughed at his pronunciation, feeling the tension release. “Damn it, I thought you were the one on the hot seat today.” I wiped away the tears spilling down my cheeks.

“See what I mean?” He laughed. “Why would either of us sit on a hot seat?”

I laughed again, but he looked at me, puzzled.

“Are you able to tell me the truth of it now? I must admit I am curious to hear the rest.”

I was exhausted, but I forced myself to the surface and told him everything about Nick and how I needed to find who the soul resided in before he killed the Princess. I explained the history books had implied that Viktor was the one who killed the Princess as well as himself. I told him about my initial awakening at the palace and the molester and his whispered threats, right up to swimming back through the portal and waking up to the bandits in the Black Forest. I felt numb from going through every detail about my reincarnation research, but I was relieved. If felt good to share.

He stroked and patted me back into silence. “So you think that whoever you are looking for, the murderer, has access to the palace?” he said suddenly. “You were trying to get there when I found you with the Gypsies.”

“Yes.”

“And I scared you off. The lynx attack was my fault.”

“You didn’t know, and I couldn’t tell you the truth.” I was beginning to feel drowsy, and I lay down.

“You’re right. I wouldn’t have believed you then.” He pulled me close, and we fell asleep.

The next day, the castle hummed with activity. Smiling servants rushed through the corridors; laughter echoed off the stone walls. We agreed we were in too deep to call off the engagement, so tonight would be the first of a three-day feast to celebrate. The excitement was contagious, even after last night.

“The water is ready whenever you are, Your Highness,” said Elsa, the Baroness’s personal body servant.

I picked up the fine-milled soap perfumed with lavender and sniffed it. The water looked heavenly; steam floated from it. Elsa helped me to strip off, and I stepped in, melding with the warm liquid. It had been a stressful couple of days. I must have zoned out, because as a knock came at the door I snapped back to reality.

“Yes?”

Elsa opened the door. The smells of freshly baked biscuits mixed with meat and fruit followed her into the room, and my stomach lurched.

“It’s almost time, my lady. You are expected downstairs shortly to celebrate the happy news.” As she held out a large towel so I could step into it, I looked down at Viktor’s family ring on my finger, a large square-cut diamond surrounded by rubies and then another row of tiny diamonds.

Elsa busied herself with my blonde mass of curls. I heard the sounds of people arriving downstairs just as she finished; I glanced in the mirror. She had severely parted my hair in the centre and then braided it. She’d looped each braid over either ear and wound them into a knot at the crown of my head. A gold chain had been placed across my forehead like a halo; it was wound into the braids.

Moments later, Baroness Wilhelmine von Rhodis appeared, clearing her throat as she wandered to the window.

“Have you chosen a gown, my dear?”

I turned back to the gowns on the bed. “They’re all so exquisite,” I said, pulling a blood-red gown from the bottom of the pile. It was a little dusty, and it made my nose itch.

Wilhelmine turned back, seeing the dress I was holding. “Oh, how did that thing get in there? Elsa?”

“Yes, Madam?”

“Take this away. I don’t know where this hideous thing came from, but put it back. Now how about this one?” she said, walking to the bed and holding up an emerald-green dress.

“Yes, that’s lovely,” I admitted, trying to suppress the urge to sneeze. “It isn’t too low cut, is it?”

Elsa raised her eyes to me, tilting her head to the side.

“I just mean, I don’t want to…” I searched for the right word. “Be too exposed. It might attract attention.” I swallowed hard, my eyes watering, trying not to sneeze. “Achoo!” I looked around for a tissue, embarrassed.

“
Geshundheit
.” Elsa handed me a linen handkerchief.

Wilhelmine, silhouetted by the light coming in the glass doors, looked me up and down. She smiled and murmured, “My son is right, you are quite unique. However, this dinner is in your honour, so I think it would be quite appropriate for you to shine.”

“Thank you.”

“I hardly think you could ever do any less. Besides, they are just old gowns of mine. They’re probably outdated now—just look at that sleeve. I’m sure you’re used to more elaborate gowns at home. Whatever you choose will look lovely. Now get ready. I look forward to seeing you this evening.”

Elsa pulled one from the middle of the pile, and I fell in love. It was light crème velvet with a mixture of gold and black roping along the edges, darting in and coming to a small point in the front, emphasizing my waist. She quickly helped me to dress.

Another knock sounded at the door, and Elsa opened it, revealing Viktor, handsomely dressed in his dinner attire. The smell of freshly baked biscuits once again came wafting up the stairs, and my stomach growled.

“
Prinzessin,
du
siehst
wunderschön
,” he said, grabbing my hand and bringing it to his lips.

“
Danke
.” I blushed at the compliment. “You look very handsome as well,” I said, catching a whiff of something. “What smells so delicious?”

“I’m not sure,” Viktor replied, entering the room. “Perhaps the wiener schnitzel or the strudel.”

“Mmmm. Fresh bread.”

“Well, that would be the Zwieback then.”

He nodded and walked over to the cabinet. “You really look beautiful. I passed Mutter in the corridor. She seems taken with you.”

“Thank you. I’m glad she approves.”

“Shall we have a spritzer or some schnapps on the terrace before we proceed downstairs?”

“Yes, that would be lovely,” I said. He opened the double doors, revealing more of the mountains and crags bathed in the twilight.

“What a breathtaking view, even in the dark.”

“Especially in the dark.” Viktor paused, grinning, and handed me a drink.

I quickly took a sip. “Thank you, that’s just what I needed. I can see why you love it here so much. What was it you said about the rivers and the caves again?”

“There are no visible rivers on the Swabian Alb.”

I paused, taking in the crisp night air as Viktor reached for my hand.

“Why?”

“It’s made up mostly of limestone.” Viktor paused and sipped his drink. “So the rain seeps through cracks and forms hidden rivers, which flow through the caves.” Viktor drained his glass and pulled me closer. “Sapphira.” He paused, embarrassment flashing in his eyes. “I mean Sophia, or—what should I call you?”

“Why don’t you just continue to call me Sapphira?”

“Yes, that seems wise.”

I stared into his eyes as his mouth slowly crushed mine. We pulled away, breathlessly excited.

“For what it’s worth, Lady Sapphira,” Viktor continued quietly, “I understand that your trust is a gift. I promise to guard the secrets you’ve told me faithfully, as well as anything else you should choose to tell me, even after you’ve gone.”

Flustered, I said, “Thank you, Viktor. I’m going to miss you when I leave.”

“Let’s not think about that just yet. I’ll make arrangements for us to head back to Monaco in a few days.” His smile crinkled his eyes, and that reminded me of Cullen, clicking a lightbulb on in my brain.

“What is it?” Viktor said, taking my empty glass and setting it down inside.

“I just had an epiphany. Do you remember that Irishman, Cullen—the one I told you that you remind me of?”

“You mean the one who found you when you last left me?”

“Yes. Well, I’m positive you are him. I mean, the thought’s crossed my mind before, but there was something about that kiss that confirmed it.”

I placed my hand in the hair on the back of his neck. “This mole. Can you feel it?”