Eternal Bloom - Book 5 (The Ruby Ring Saga) (3 page)

“Yes, but that is not the only reason. It’s also because of your baby. He is Immortal, and he is taking the brunt of the energy. In most cases, that energy would have already killed him.”

I gasped.

“In your case, though, the medication, along with the fact that you are carrying another Immortal within you, has, in effect, saved your life,” she continued.

“That’s a good thing, right? I mean, I have survived.”

“Yes, but...well, Sarah, when you have that baby, the pills will no longer be enough to sustain you. The moment you deliver, the energy will hit you like a tidal wave.”

“And?”

“And, according to all our research, you will...die,” she said softly.

“What if you had delivered him like you wanted to?” I asked. “When I was rescued off the mountain? You wanted to take him then, but Victor wouldn’t let you. You said delivering him would save my life.”

“You would have died then as well, Sarah, but I had no way of knowing that. Until we got these test results back, I had no idea what was going on with you or why you were still alive. We don’t deal with this kind of thing that often, and I’m no expert in it.”

The room suddenly grew hotter. I tried to breathe as everything spun around me.

“Sarah, are you okay?”

“How much time?” I demanded to know. “How much time will I have with my baby?”

“Five minutes at the most.”

I knew it! I knew those pills were just a freaking placebo, a temporary fix, like putting a Band-Aid on an amputated limb. Have I been selfish to think I could have a happy life with wonderful husband who loves me more than life itself? Can Victor raise our baby without me?
It saddened me to know that my baby would never remember me.

Dr. Meyers went to great lengths to show me the tests and explain in detail how the energy worked and what was going on inside my body.

Everything was a blur, though, and I fought not to break down and fall on the floor in a crying heap right in front of her. It took everything in me, but I stayed strong and convinced myself there had to be another way.

Then, the tears started flowing. “My son will never know his mother, never know me?” That hurt more than anything. I sobbed and fell to my knees, not caring what Dr. Meyers thought. I was in my own little world, stricken by overwhelming grief with the realization that these nine months of pregnancy would be the only time my son and I would ever have. “I just...it doesn’t feel real,” I said. “Two years ago, I was a normal person. I mean, sure, I was chasing down sasquatches and urban legends, but I was living a relatively normal life. Then, in a whirlwind of events, I ended up Immortal, and it’s taken everything away from me. I hate it!”

Dr. Meyers embraced me in a tight hug.

Tears flowed down my face. “I just want to be normal. I don’t want unstable energy. I want to see my child grow up. I want to see him graduate from high school and college. I want to see him kiss his bride on his wedding day. I want to hold my grandchildren in my arms. And I want to do all of this with Victor by my side.” I was angry and sad all at once as I spouted, “I don’t want to die, Doctor! It isn’t fair! My family deserves better than this. I deserve better!”

“Sarah, my lab and my team of scientists are working and researching everything right now.” She gripped my hand, hope shining in her eyes. “We won’t give up on you.”

“No Immortal has ever been forced to have to spend nine months inside a womb with dangerous energy coursing through his veins. Will anything happen to my baby?”

“We don’t know. This is uncharted territory.”

“That kind of energy has to have some kind of effect on him, doesn’t it?” I asked. “I mean, pregnant women aren’t even supposed to drink coffee, so what the hell must this be doing to my little Alexander?”

“We just don’t know.”

Then, all of the sudden, the vision from the cave flooded my mind. My jaw dropped as everything clicked in my brain.

“What is it?” Dr. Meyers asked.

“In the paintings on the cave wall, my son had incredible powers at a young age. Victor told me that children don’t have Immortal powers, but our Alexander was able to destroy cities. We assumed that was why Ethano wanted him so badly.” I had told Dr. Meyers my entire story, from becoming an Immortal to the drama with Ethano, so I hoped she would understand. My medical history file in her office read more like a fantasy novel, but I wanted her to know all the details so she’d have the best chance at treating me successfully.

“The unstable energy will give him powers like no other,” she said. “I suppose that could have something to do with what you saw.”

“An old, wise woman told me that my son will either take after his father, who comes from a long line of tyrants, or that he will be like his mother, who has a heart of gold.”

“He will choose good or evil and use his power for the cause he chooses?”

I nodded. “Yes.

“So...you’re creating history. An Immortal baby has never survived nine months of unstable energy. If Alexander survives, he will most certainly be gifted with unspeakable powers from all that exposure.” She took a deep breath. “But, Sarah, that could mean more trouble for your boy. While I hate to admit it, the sad state of affairs is that the Immortals in my world could have the same selfish, power-hungry agendas as Ethano.”

“Then we’ll just have to keep his powers a secret,” I said.

“If they find out about him, they will never stop. For that reason, I don’t think you should come here, to this Immortal hospital anymore. It is far too risky.”

“But I need your help, and—”

“Then I’ll just have to start making house calls, won’t I?” she said with a wink.

“But what if I need tests?”

“Then we’ll sneak you in during the night, and I’ll personally administer whatever tests you need.”

“Dr. Meyers, why are you helping me?” I asked.

She sighed. “Sarah, I know I really have no obligation to you, but I want to leave this world a better place than it was when I found it. I want to feel as if I’ve made a difference and touched lives. Also, there is the simple fact that I really, truly like you and Victor and your family.”

“I like you too,” I said.

“You and I are kindred spirits, as I have a deep compassion for helping people, just like you do—a heart of gold, I suppose you could say. I even help those who haven’t the financial means to pay for medical services. I do this for a living because I’m good at it and because I love it more than anything else. Nobody cares about people more than me.”

“Thank you,” I whispered, barely able to hear my own voice over the drumming of my heart.

“Sarah, I am so touched by your story and everything you have been through. This child will be a miracle, and I am honored to play some small part in bringing him safely into the world.”

My hands felt clammy, and a dull, painful panic tugged at my gut. “But he won’t have his mother.”

She gripped my hand. “As it stands now, that is what we have to believe, but we mustn’t ever give up hope.”

A deep frown crossed her features, and when it did, something dropped in the pit of my stomach. Realization kicked in, and I didn’t like it one little bit.
That’s it. I’m really going to die. The doctor has just given me less than a few weeks to live.
“I will try to hang on to hope, Doctor, but can you do me a favor? Can you make me a promise?”

“Sure. Anything.”

I tried to be brave, tried not to cry, but the thought of my son living without me was making me an emotional mess. “If I don’t make it, when my son is old enough to understand, will you tell him how much I loved him?”

The sadness in her face was evident. “I will, Sarah. I promise.”

“That doesn’t mean I’m giving up hope. It’s just...well, I just want him to know. But I will continue to fight hard, and I won’t give up.”

“You, Sarah, are a fighter—another thing we have in common.”

“You’re right. Doing nothing is not an option. We have to try.”

She gently pushed a stray hair behind my ear. “We’ll continue to look for ways to save your life. You can count on that. I must also tell you that your courage is inspirational.”

I thanked Dr. Meyers for her compassion and dedication, then left the office. On the way out, I stared up at the sky, which was the prettiest shade of periwinkle blue I’d ever seen. Another tear slipped down my face. I was determined to keep the inevitable dark thoughts from ruining whatever time I had left with Victor, so I wiped the tear away. I glanced down at my belly and rested my hand on it. “I love you, Alexander, and I’ll fight for you—for both of us—until the very end.” And with that, I jumped into the car, hit the freeway, and pressed the gas, with
Live until you die, Sarah,
flashing through my mind over and over again, like the lyrics to some sad but inspirational song.

V
ictor came home and smiled at the special surprise I had planned for him. Sweet, romantic music played softly in the background. Candles illuminated the living room here and there with soft, yellow light. My makeup was flawless, and I was dressed in a black, glittery dress with matching heels, my hair pinned back in an elegant up-do.

I handed him a glass of wine. “How was work?”

“Wonderful. And then I went to your father’s afterward and spent some time with him at the gun range.”

“Did my dad give you a hard time? He’s such a perfectionist.”

“No, he didn’t give me a hard time at all. But that was probably because I hit every target.”

“You’re military trained, just in a different way,” I said.

He smiled. “You look beautiful, Sarah.”

“Beautiful? Pssh. I’m pregnant, Victor. I look like a blinged-out bowling ball.”

He looked at me, confused, since he hadn’t yet been introduced to bowling, then said, “A pregnant body is a
beautiful
body.”

I smiled. “That’s touching. You really know how to make me feel like a queen.”

“That’s because you are,” Victor said, pulling me close. “What’s the special occasion?”

“I want to celebrate us,” I said.

He kissed my lips just as the timer on the oven dinged.

“Oh! That’s the roast.”

“Mmm. I knew I smelled something delicious.”

I walked him to the candlelit table I’d set with a pretty vase of beautiful flowers and a lace tablecloth. “Have a seat,” I said.

Victor offered to help prepare dinner, but I refused; I wanted it to be a real treat for him. We enjoyed a fantastic dinner and couldn’t stop staring into each other’s eyes. Even after all that time, the chemistry between us still sizzled, and our date was magical. Truthfully, I needed the escape. I tried to pretend I hadn’t heard those awful words from my doctor’s mouth. I just wanted to enjoy the moment, to stare into my husband’s dazzling blue eyes, and to forget about the rocky road ahead. I loved the man sitting across from me more than life itself. He was my best friend, my soulmate, and I didn’t know how to tell him that we didn’t have much time left.

When my favorite love song came on, I pulled him up to dance with me, and he was happy to hold me close in his strong arms as we swayed with the music. There, nestled against him, I felt safe, as if nothing in the world could harm me or Alexander, as long as we had Victor. But I knew that wasn’t true, and a tear threatened to escape as I thought about it.

After a few minutes, he looked into my eyes. “I sense you’re upset about something.”

I wasn’t surprised he asked, because he’d always been able to read me like a book. “I don’t want to talk about it, not now. Let’s just enjoy our evening,” I said, letting out a trembling breath. “I want you to remember this dance forever. I want tonight to be special.”

“Sarah, what’s going on? Why must you be so vague?”

“Please, Victor. I said I don’t wanna talk about it. Please don’t ruin this night.”

He held me close. “Very well, but when you’re ready to talk, you know I’m always here for you.”

I touched his cheek and tried not to burst into tears. I didn’t want to talk about it, but that didn’t keep the whole sordid story from pouring out of me like water through a cracked dam.

As always, he listened and asked questions, but more than anything, he gave me encouragement.

“I feel so...overwhelmed. Not knowing is the hardest part.”

“I will not let anything happen to you or our child, my love,” he swore, holding my hands. “I’ll find every book and scroll the Immortals have. I’ll search the land, high and low. Sarah, I will never give up on you, on our baby, on us.” His eyes welled up with tears. “Damn it! Sarah, I refuse to give up!”

I wanted to believe him, and I so desperately wanted to live for the sake of our unborn child. I knew Alexander would need his mother, and it wouldn’t be fair for him to miss out on all the love I had to give, love I already felt for him without ever having met him. Victor would make an awesome father and protect him at all costs, but my baby would need me too.
I’m his mom, for goodness sake! I can’t just desert him!
A tear rolled down my cheek.

Victor kissed my lips softly. “We will muddle through this, my love. We will get through it together, just as we always have.”

We stayed up all night, laughing and joking and trying to forget about our troubles. To take our mind off the terrible news Dr. Meyers had given me, we focused on something far more exciting and positive: we planned for our future and for my dream wedding and for our little Alexander. Victor held me and supported me and swore, time and time again, that we’d get through it. Then, we made slow, passionate love. Even though neither one of us spoke the dreaded words, we knew it could be the end of the line for me, so we made every touch, every kiss, and every second count. As I stared into his eyes, I realized I had never felt so loved, and I would cherish that moment for the rest of my life, no matter how short that life might be.

* * *

M
y eyes fluttered opened, and I glanced at the digital clock. It was five a.m. I felt for Victor, but he wasn’t lying next to me. I jumped up and turned on the lamp on the bedside table. “Where did he go?” I asked the silent room. I wrapped my robe around me the best I could; it didn’t quite fit with my bulging stomach and was something like trying to wrap a paper towel around a watermelon. “Victor?” I called through the house as I checked the bathroom, kitchen, and living room, but there was no sign of him.