Blood Oath (A Gabby Girls Adventure Novel, Book Two) (16 page)

Nemesis’s face hardened with displeasure.

Harmonia looked at the faces in the audience passionately. "Is that there is a price for a full-scale war. That price is our survival. What about our
Neophytes
? Are you prepared to send them out to war before they are ready? Because the truth is that we simply do not have the numbers to fight a full-scale war against
Banished
and
Daemons
without the assistance of our
Neophytes
." She looked back at the
Eternal
Council. "We are one, one in our mission to keep the balance of the universe, and one in our mission to keep the darkness from seeping into our world. But are we prepared to abandon our blood oath to the
Elementi
?"

Nemesis cleared her throat loudly. "Please excuse my sister’s… rambling." She gave Harmonia an impatient stare. "As time is of the essence, I would like to get to the point rather quickly. We have gathered you here for one reason, a very important reason, and that’s to decide on the direction of our mission. Should we launch a full-scale war against the
Banished
and
Daemons
?"

Veda stood quickly, giving Nemesis a very hard stare. "With all due respect, Queen Nemesis, this is not something that we can decide quickly. We need time to gather perspectives from the other members, and we need time to bring this matter before the Royal
Elementi
Conclaves. There are rules, binding rules, that cannot be broken for fear of being deemed as a sign of aggression—a declaration of war against
Elementi
."

The crowd roared with fear and outrage.

Veda looked at the crowd worriedly. "This is something that I hope that none of us wants. Let’s hold a vote to decide our direction. We have always been a democracy. Let the
Circles
and
Ares
decide their fates, not the council."

Nemesis looked at her angrily. "A vote will take forever, and time is not on our side. There is word that the
Banished
and
Daemons
are planning several attacks as we speak."

Some of the members of the
Eternal
Council jumped up quickly, throwing their fists in the air in agreement with Nemesis, and others protested in defense of Veda.

Thallo quietly rose from her seat in the audience. "I agree with Veda. A vote is needed. This can be very easily planned."

The audience erupted with agreement.

Harmonia smiled with satisfaction as she walked back up the stairs to take her seat. Nemesis looked at the council with outraged eyes.

Helios looked at Nemesis sternly. "It has been decided. An official vote will be scheduled."

Grandma Celeste stood up quickly. "I will stay on here to help organize this vote."

Priscilla looked at the audience grimly. "I, too, will stay on to assist."

Harmonia nodded approvingly. "Then it is settled. Thank you all for your time, and I look forward to seeing everyone at the voting." She looked over at Nemesis with an arched brow. "Do you have anything else to add, sister?"

Nemesis smiled stiffly. "No, let the voting be prepared."

Harmonia smiled sadly at the audience. "The meeting is now adjourned."

The bell rang three times quickly in succession as the members of the
Eternal
Council stood up and filed out of the room.

I looked over at Brooklyn quickly. "What was that all about? That was the craziest meeting ever. I felt like I was watching a reality show."

Brooklyn grimaced. "You were."

Jessica’s eyes widened. "The twin queens looked real mad at each other. I thought a catfight was going to break out."

Zora looked at her incredulously. "You think?"

"All I know is that until this whole voting thing is worked out, it’s going be real crazy around here." Brooklyn looked at them gravely.

I sat silently watching as the crowd below milled around anxiously. A chill ran down my spine, a sure omen of bad things to come. Trouble was brewing.

chapter

TEN

Grudgingly, Rosalinda considered
Gabrielle, Jessica, and Zora to be her friends; in fact, it was the closest she’d ever been to bestie status. So she knew that she was seriously ruining the trust factor between them by sneaking off behind their backs, but she had to do this. Her mother was alive after all. Just the thought filled her with both anxiety and excitement.
I mean, they would do the same thing if they suddenly found out that their mother was alive and desperately needed help
.

She memorized the instructions that her mother had sent via text and followed them exactly. There could be no mistakes. She hurried down the stairs and toward the back of the castle, skirting the dark. Her heart pounded as if it was trying to burst out of her chest when she spotted a couple of
Ares
patrolling the grounds. She held her breath as she pressed her body against the cold, damp walls.
Please, I’m so close. I can’t get caught now.
She blew out with relief when they quickly walked past without spotting her.

She skirted around the castle, sticking to the shadows to ensure that she blended into the lush landscape. She looked around frantically. Where was the winding stone pathway that her mother had told her to follow? She spun around wildly.
Think, Rosalinda.
She closed her eyes and breathed calmingly, focusing her mind, and suddenly, a hint of whisper, a voice floating, guided her.

"
You are so close, sweet Rosalinda. Go right, and hurry.
"

She promptly spotted the stone walkway that curved around the back of the castle, leading to a very old farmhouse that, under other circumstances, she wouldn’t be caught dead in. She carefully crept up the walkway to the rickety door; she grabbed the cobweb-encrusted doorknob and slowly turned and pushed. She held her breath as it slowly squeaked open, revealing a very dark and damp open barn. Rosalinda steeled her nerves.
You can do this; there is nothing to be afraid of.

"That’s right, sweet Rosalinda; there is absolutely nothing to be afraid of," a husky voice whispered from the cold shadows.

Rosalinda spun around nervously, spotting a tall figure slowly stepping out of the shadows, wearing a long, dark cloak. The figure impatiently threw back the hood, revealing her long, dark hair. Her drawn, pale face wrinkled as she smiled warmly.

Rosalinda ran toward her, throwing her body against her frail-looking body joyfully. "Mama, it’s really you."

Rosa hugged her tightly. "Yes, sweet Rosalinda, it’s me. Oh, how I missed you, baby." She kissed Rosalinda’s cheeks lovingly. "You are so beautiful,
que linda
."

Rosalinda hugged her tightly, desperately. "Where have you been?" Her voice was muffled against the rough fabric of Rosa’s cloak.

Rosa pulled away from her gently, holding her at arm’s length. "It is very complicated." She looked at her sadly, her eyes brimming over with tears. "But the short of it is I was forced to leave your side, my love."

Rosalinda gasped. "Who would ever want to separate us?"

Rosa grabbed her face roughly as she stared at her with frantic eyes. "The
Circles
, they forced me to leave you."

Rosalinda’s eyes widened with shock. "
Que?
What? But Celeste and Priscilla told us that you were killed by Hannah."

Rosa’s eyes narrowed with anger. "Lies, all lies. Hannah did not kill me." Her eyes then glazed over with sweet happiness. "She saved me when they forced me out of the
Circles
because I, too, saw the corruption that threatened to bring down the
Eternals
." She looked at her slyly. "They wanted to silence me and threatened to hurt you if I didn’t go away quietly," she spat venomously, then smiled at her with trembling lips. "So I did, for you, sweet Rosalinda."

Rosalinda shook her head with confusion. "Celeste and Priscilla? But they seemed so nice and so concerned about me. Why would they lie to me, to us?"

Rosa stroked her hair lovingly. "Because that’s what they do, Rosalinda, lie. Don’t be fooled. The
Eternals
are not what they appear to be. They are pure treachery and deceit. I threatened to expose them, and they threatened to hurt you. I could not let that happen, so I made a deal with them, my disappearance in exchange for your life." Her voice cracked painfully. "It seemed like a very good deal, for I would do anything for my child."

Rosalinda balled her hands into fists as she paced back and forth angrily. "I can’t believe they lied to me. It was all a lie!" she screamed furiously. "And for what? I was denied my mother for the
Eternals
?"

Rosa looked at her miserably, nodding her head in agreement. "Yes, for the deceitful
Eternals
. But I never forgot about you, baby. I was always looking over you, watching you. Waiting until you were old enough to understand, ready for you to stand beside me in the fight against the
Eternals
."

She looked at her worriedly. "So what do we do now?"

Rosa smiled shrewdly. "We expose them for exactly what they are and topple their carefully built empire." She grabbed Rosalinda’s arms, her nails biting into her flesh desperately. "That’s why I need your help. You are now on the inside and can get closer than I ever could. Together we can right their injustice. I can’t do it alone." She suddenly broke out in a fit of wet coughs that rattled around in her chest sickly.

Rosalinda looked at her mother with concern, her eyes now taking in the fragility of her once-healthy body. Her shiny black hair was now brittle, lifeless.

"But how can I help?"

Rosa wrung her hands as she walked slowly back and forth with agitation. "I have worked out a plan, but you will have to help me."

Rosalinda looked at her with admiration. Her mother was so strong; she was going to take on the
Eternals
. "You have my undying support, anything."

Rosa looked at her grimly. "I need you to get the
Book of Eternals
and bring it to me. Once we have it, we can take control of the
Eternals
, and ultimately the
Elementi
."

Rosalinda looked at her questioningly. "What is the
Book of Eternals
?"

Rosa looked at her impatiently. "Have they taught you nothing?" she spat venomously before smiling softly, visibly trying to calm down. "The
Book of Eternals
is simply a tome of magical knowledge. It is our guide and holds all of our beliefs, laws, rituals, history, and rites passed down throughout the centuries, with each council member adding their personal material to the book. There’s even powerful information about the
Elementi
. Except for the ancient
Elementi
, no one person knows all of the contents of the book. It is the most powerful treasure to the
Eternals
, and whoever possess it controls everything."

Rosalinda bit her lip nervously. "But it sounds like it is heavily guarded, so how will I get it?"

She laughed mockingly. "Yes, it is heavily guarded by the
Eternals
. But as we speak, a plan is being concocted to get it from them."

"Tell me what to do, and I will do it," she responded quickly.

Rosa smiled shrewdly. "I knew that you would do what is right. I told Hannah that you would."

Rosalinda looked at her with startled eyes. "I don’t understand. I thought Hannah was evil? They said she was."

Rosa laughed coldly, then sputtered into a sickly, wet cough that rattled around in her chest. "Of course they told you that. It’s all lies, Rosalinda. Do not trust them or your newfound friends. The truth is that they expelled Hannah because she saw all of the evil creeping into the
Eternals
. She grew even more concerned when she saw all of the fighting for power amongst the
Circles
and
Ares
, with everyone forgetting the purpose of our duties. And when she told me about this evil, I stood side by side with her because I knew that she was right." She looked around suspiciously when she heard raised voices in the distance. "I must go now. I will contact you again real soon."