“I’m so lost on the whole Princess Gloria thing,” Sarah said.
“I know. Look, I came in through the portal and made my way to a village in Dornia. I met Charles, and we ran away together. Eventually we got married. We had been happily married for three years when we traveled with King William to visit Princess Gloria in a faraway country.”
Sarah shifted her feet in the hay. “Charles’s sister?”
“Yes. He was so excited for me to finally meet her. She’d been living there since she was twelve to attend a special school for gifted students. We planned to attend a ball the next evening. We had our gowns picked out and everything. On the night of the event, we made a last-minute decision to switch gowns.” She looked away.
Sarah nodded.
Her voice wavered. “The Immortals came and murdered her, thinking she was me! Charles and I didn’t have permission from the court to marry, and Immortals are not allowed to marry humans and make them Immortal. It’s against everything they believe in. We tried to keep our union a secret, but of course they found out. They took Gloria away from us. We looked similar, with long dark hair, thin figures the same height, and brown eyes.”
“Oh my gosh, Liz.”
“King William loved me like his own daughter. He knew they’d be back for me next, and Charles too, once they found out their mistake. He’d lose two daughters and one son he loved so deeply.” She took a deep breath. “Charles begged him to have us switch identities. And he couldn’t deny his only son this one wish, so he jumped into action. He knew if he didn’t, his only son and last living child would be gone forever…beheaded before his very eyes.”
Sarah’s jaw dropped. “You…you switched?”
Liz winked. “You wouldn’t know too much about that, would you?”
Sarah shook her head, laughing. “The Larker sisters, identity thieves extraordinaire.”
“Well, my switch wasn’t intentional,” Liz said.
“Neither was mine!”
“I became Princess Gloria, and on that fateful day, in essence, Elizabeth Larker died. I still mourn Princess Gloria, and her death haunts me every day. I only knew her a short time, but she was a beautiful person. I came back to Dornia, where nobody knew Princess Gloria. King William told everyone he’d talked her into coming back home. The only stipulation was that Charles and I had to stay in the castle and on the grounds. We couldn’t risk any of the villagers recognizing me, or my fate would be sealed. Elizabeth Larker had to be dead at all costs—well, at least until the villagers lived out their lives. I’d have to be in hiding for at least 100 years…until they all…well, until they died off.”
“Wow,” Sarah said, taking it all in.
“I know, right?” Liz waved her hand, showing off her ring. “Anyway, this is another reason why I had to stay in the castle. Princess Gloria wasn’t married. Everyone knew that.”
“Technically, if King Victor would’ve caught you, he couldn’t have married you because you were already married.”
“That’s true, but he could’ve thrown me in an ivory tower and held me prisoner. Or worse, he could’ve learned my secret and threatened to expose me to the Immortal Council. I know he would’ve demanded to know who I was married to since it’s common knowledge that Gloria isn’t married. I couldn’t tell him I was married to my brother.”
“So how do two human sisters come through the portal ten years apart and end up Immortal?”
“Freaky, huh?” Liz looked at her ring and shook her head. “It’s all my fault you had to marry him. He was totally fooled by you. It’s amazing how much we look alike.”
Sarah laughed. “Yeah. We could be twins.”
“You even fooled his soldiers, and they got a good look at me when I was captured that morning. When I escaped, they easily mistook you for me.”
Sarah went on to explain the whole wedding fiasco, how she obtained the ring, and even admitted to the attraction she was feeling for Victor. She held up her ring finger. “Yep. I got caught and tagged like a wild animal. Is there a way to get this ring off or deactivate it?”
Liz met her gaze. “I’m sorry, but none that I know of.”
“Will Victor come for me?”
“Yes. The question is, does he love you? If he doesn’t, he might let you go if we promise you sanctuary, so his life isn’t at stake. You are now connected, Sarah, bonded as one beating heart.”
“But Liz, I—”
Liz winced at Sarah’s voice ringing sharply from the walls. “Don’t call me that.” She inched closer, whispering in Sarah’s ear, “Like King William told you already, Elizabeth Larker’s dead. If you slip up one time, my life’s at stake.”
A horse whinnied from a nearby stall.
“I forgot. I’m sorry,” Sarah said.
“I know you were traveling with companions. Sarah, you can
never
tell them the truth.”
“I won’t. You have my word.” Sarah blew out a breath. “You have a brilliant cover to escape the Immortals, but what about me?”
“Don’t worry. My father-in-law will come up with a plan to save your life.”
“That’s funny. As I recall, he just tried to cut off my head with an axe.”
“What he did was awful. I know that. I’m not trying to make excuses for him, Sarah, but really, he’s in the middle of trying to win a war. He’s been nothing but wonderful to me, and I think of him as my very own father. And remember, in public, Charles and I aren’t married. To everyone else, he’s just my brother.”
“I bet it’s rough telling everyone that, hiding your relationship.”
“Rougher than you’ll ever know. But we love each other, so we’ll make it work.”
Sarah smiled. “Sounds like true love.”
“Are you ready to get out of this barn? Let’s get you a bath and something to wear. Servant clothes aren’t very flattering, especially when they smell like horse manure!” Liz said. “You need to dress like royalty.”
* * *
Sarah had stayed the night and Liz insisted she enjoy castle accommodations…like a hot meal, bath, and a real bed fit for a king. It was hard for her to enjoy such luxuries when she knew her friends were cold and starving, and probably sleeping on the cold ground. She’d talked to Liz for hours and they caught up on old times. Finding her sister was a dream come true. Liz had put out a group of knights to look for Frank and the others. But so far nobody could find them. Sarah could only hope they were safe. She was sure Victor had made it back to his camp and was plotting his next move.
After breakfast, they made their way to Liz’s room to get dressed and ready for the day.
Sarah stroked her hand across one of the many colored gowns. “Wow. I wish I had a wardrobe this big.” She pointed to an elegant purple dress. “Ooh…I love this one.”
“Geesh, Sarah. You’re not changing your mind again. Stick with what you have on.”
“Are you sure? It’s not a little…well, is it too much?”
“You look hot,” Liz said. “And from what I can gather, you’re hot for King Victor, aren’t you?”
Sarah smiled. “Well, the guy’s one awesome kisser. I can tell you that.”
“I know he’d love this outfit on you.”
“It’s, uh, a little bright.”
“Elaborate colors are reserved strictly for nobility.”
“I’m
fake
nobility.” Sarah smoothed out the flowing sleeves on her red, lace-up velvet dress. “I feel like we’re going to a Halloween party or something.” She adjusted the simple tiara on her head.
“Wait…” Liz smiled.
“What?”
“One last finishing touch.” She placed a medieval heart necklace with faceted ruby-red crystals around her neck. “Perfect!”
Sarah grinned. “Quite the little medieval fashionista, aren’t you Li…er, uh, Gloria? Did the royal designers equip this castle with mirrors, by chance?”
Sarah jumped when someone began to pound on the door. She walked to the doorway in the closet and peeked out. An army of Immortals burst in, storming the room. Sarah’s heart pounded so hard that she was afraid they’d hear it, like the guy’s beneath the floorboards in that Edgar Allan Poe story. The blond knight she’d seen earlier, back at the cliffs, met her gaze. It was Ethano, and he was unforgettable in every conceivable way. Victor had only wounded him.
Of course. He wouldn’t kill his own kind.
“Get out!” Liz yelled. “You’ve no right to come into my room.”
Sarah gulped at the blond Immortal staring at her.
He walked over to Sarah, gripping her chin. “You’re coming with us, Queen Gloria Fesque. It’s time to face the consequences for the things you’ve done. Becoming an Immortal without permission from the Kardashian Court will surely deem a death sentence for your pretty little head!”
Sarah’s heart pounded even harder, if that were possible. They were going to drag her back to the Immortal Court, where she’d most likely be found guilty and beheaded.
Wait
! She bit her lip.
Won’t that mean the death of my husband as well?
“If you kill me, you’ll kill your precious Victor.”
“Yes, but he, too, must pay the price for knowingly breaking our ancient laws. You’ll both pay dearly, and we won’t bother bloodying two separate swords when we remove your heads, one after the other!”
Chapter 4
Gulping, Sarah glanced at the towering soldiers around her. Three stood with their backs turned to the street behind, facing her with deep frowns perched between their brows. No doubt they meant business. The Immortals wanted to behead her.
What kind of monsters do that?
Her heart pounded as she peered around her for an escape route from Liz’s bedroom. The only door was blocked. Morning sunlight flooded in through a ragged stone window. She took a deep breath as she measured its width, and then an idea struck her:
I could jump out.
With all her strength and speed, she bolted toward the light—toward her freedom. Victor’s voice echoed at the back of her mind, telling her to duck. Instinctively, she ducked just as blue lightning balls flew above her head and slammed against the walls, bursting into a million sparks. In a blur, she dove headfirst, wondering all the while if it wasn’t the worst idea of all time. Her heart pounded as she glanced down 300 feet below at the murky moat; dark, ominous-looking shapes swam lazily about.
Crocs
?
Heck, if I could survive an arrow right through the heart, surely a high dive is nothing, right?
With her new super speed, she could easily outswim a few hungry crocodiles.
Sarah winced as a jolting electric shock surged throughout her entire body. A crackling sound echoed all around her, like that of high-voltage power. Abruptly, she stopped in midair. Little sparks, shocks, and flashes of light hit the air just inches from her, forcing a gasp from her lips. Somehow she was trapped inside a blue ball of crackling electricity. Her stomach lurched at the thought.
What the…what the heck’s going on?
She was sure she’d been hit with one of the blue bolts. It slowly rose as Sarah pounded the walls with all her might. There was no way she was going to go quietly back to those Immortals. She seemed powerless, though, as she drifted back through the window, straight back to the blond Immortal who seemed to be running the show.
He smirked, and an evil glint shone in his eyes.
“Get me out of this thing!” she demanded, beating against the walls of her floating prison.
Ethano touched Liz’s shoulder gently. “Gloria, we have no problems with you or your Royal Court. We only want the queen, King Victor’s wife.”
“If you do anything to her, I swear I’ll come after you and personally relieve you of your head!” In spite of her confident demeanor, her voice betrayed an edge.
“No deal,” the Immortal hissed. “You know the rules. You break them, and you will pay with your life.”
Liz glared at him. “I’ve heard the rumors about you, Ethano. You’re power hungry, climbing up the ladders of the Kardashian Court at all costs. It makes me wonder why somebody so high up is wasting so much time chasing a human who broke the rules.” She tapped her head as realization hit. “Oh, wait! I know why! Could it be that you have some personal vendetta against Victor’s wife, that you want to see her executed for your own reasons? That way, Victor will die as well, and that would eliminate the competition and put you next in line to rule the Kardashian Court.”
Ethano shot her a sly smile.
“Get me down now!” Sarah hovered above her heads, still pounding the walls even though she knew she had no chance of escape. Whatever the thing was made of, it sure wasn’t human.
The Immortal waved his hand and she dropped to the ground with a
thud
, the blue electricity dissipating into thin air. Her skin tingled, but her mind was focused on how she could take down her attackers. If she managed to push the ones standing at the door aside, she might just have a chance.
Strong fingers gripped Sarah’s hands behind her back before she could make her move. Her skin burned as one of the Immortals wrapped ropes around her wrists. Ethano shoved her forward. “May the court have mercy on you…but I doubt it. Let’s go.”