The Trinity Ring Read online

  The Trinity Ring

  C.A. Bleu

  Copyright © 2021 by C.A. Bleu

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

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  All editing and formatting by My Brothers Editor

  Cover Art Design by Bri McKamey

  Dedication

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  This book is for my mom, who could always be found with a Danielle Steele book. I think you may have liked Zara Trinity. Thank you for teaching me a love of reading along with so many other things in the thirteen years we were blessed to have!

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Acknowledgments

  Chapter 1

  Zara Trinity awoke to the steady tap, tap, tap of the rain knocking on her windowsill, a gentle reminder she could not stay in bed all day. Rolling over on a sigh, she stretched her arms wide across her worn, faded blue quilt until her muscles screamed. Listening to the rain, her body longed to curl deeper into the comfort of her bed. As Zara’s mind drifted, trying to recall her dream from moment’s ago, a pain in her stomach reminded her the nausea was still there. Had she really been sick almost a week? Today would be better though, she thought to herself. Her last day of being seventeen years old. Despite her stomachache, a smile escaped her lips as she knew in her heart there was a world of possibilities awaiting her.

  As her mind and body continued to battle over getting out of bed, Zara momentarily froze, choked up by the sudden lump in her throat. Grief had its way of sneaking up on her when she least expected it. Regret settled in her heart with the realization that tomorrow was also the anniversary of her mother’s death. She could never really forget. Who could? But time had a way of lessening the pain. In the beginning, she dealt with constant flashbacks of finding her mom on the floor. She still struggled with the memories of that day, on her birthday no less, but over the past few years, it seemed the more painful memories had faded. Over time, thoughts of her mother’s death seemed to hit her less and less.

  With a still aching stomach and now a heavier heart, Zara Trinity began the hurdle of climbing out of bed. Standing tall on her weak morning legs, she took in her reflection across the room in the white antique oval mirror. She noticed she had to duck her head a bit as she seemed to have outgrown her mirror. Dark circles stole the shine from her once bright hazel eyes, as if she had not slept in weeks. Even her fiery red hair seemed dull as it hung in limp, long waves. A shadow crept across her face and she wondered where her bright, vibrant self had gone. This past week had really taken a toll on her. Turning sideways, Zara raised onto her tiptoes, flexing her calf muscles, relieved to see them still there and still very defined, even though she had not been exercising like usual. She had to have grown another inch in the last week, it seemed. She must be about five-foot-ten now.

  As she took in her disheveled appearance, a stabbing pain pierced her stomach followed by a wave of nausea worse than the day before. Grimacing, she grabbed her stomach and collapsed to her knees, trying to breathe through the pain. With her teeth ground together and her eyes squeezed shut, she fought back tears wondering what was happening to her. This was definitely worse than yesterday. As the pain began to subside and her breathing slowed, she stood again tentatively looking at her reflection, drawing in a deep steadying breath.

  Blinking through unfocused morning eyes she noticed the air around her suddenly began to shimmer and sway, time seemed to stand still. Zara watched as a strange golden glowing orb appeared in the mirror’s reflection. Realizing it was right behind her, she spun around with wide panicked eyes and a racing heart as her shaky legs began to buckle, barely keeping her off the floor as fear overtook her. Panic seized her heart as what could only be described as a jolt of electricity shot through her entire body causing her limp arms to straighten and her fingertips to point down toward the floor while her head shot back, eyes looking toward the ceiling. She wondered if she was dying as she peeked through the pain, watching the glowing ball of light continue to grow in front of her.

  The electric hold on her slowly eased and she sank to the floor, frozen in fear as she leaned her back against the dresser in her room. Zara watched as the golden ball of light grew bigger and bigger, the air around it moving like waves. Quick, anxious breaths escaped her lips as beads of sweat formed along her forehead and the bridge of her nose. There was no use in trying to calm herself, she was sure she must be dying and she was all alone.

  Terrified, Zara watched from her crumpled position on the floor, as a form began to take shape in front of her. Aching pain crept all over her as a weight slowly settled in her chest. Tears welled in her eyes when she began to recognize the shape forming. “How?” was all she managed to say on a tearful whisper of shattered breath. She had been only five years old when her mother died, but she could never forget her. There was no mistaking that right now directly across from her was Isabella Trinity, her mother.

  Unaware that tears were falling down her cheeks, Zara stared in disbelief. Her eyebrows creased in concentration as she tried to comprehend what was happening. There her mother stood seemingly on solid ground, yet translucent and glowing. Her mother’s auburn hair was full and vibrant, and her green eyes were as bright and loving as Zara remembered. Even her mother’s freckles across the bridge of her nose seemed to sparkle as she mouthed words at Zara. She knew this could not be real, but it seemed like her mother was trying to tell her something, or warn her, even though she knew that sounded absolutely crazy.

  Zara stared in wonder, trying to organize the words flying around her mind, but it wouldn’t have mattered since her tongue felt like it was stuck to the roof of her mouth. In an instant, as fast as her mother had appeared, she was gone. It was like a vacuum just swallowed everything up, leaving Zara shaking and alone. Once Zara realized the intense pain she had been feeling was also gone she sat up, trying to compose herself. Giant sobs suddenly erupted, the kind of sobs that left her feeling that tangible hole of grief in the middle of her chest. Zara had not cried like this in years, soul-wrenching tears from the time lost with her mother. When the sobs began to slow, fear propelled her into motion. She ran toward her bedroom door, grabbing her phone on the way out as she wiped at her tears with her free hand.

  She had to tell someone what happened, she needed reassurance that she was not losing her mind. Her best, well her only friend, Lilith was at work, but Zara knew that wouldn’t matter as she always answered right away. Dialing her number
while running down the stairs, Lilith answered after the first ring as usual.

  “Hey Zara, what’s up?”

  “Hey, you have to come over, something really crazy just happened. I can’t explain it over the phone you just have to get over here and fast, it’s about my mom.” Zara could barely get the words out as tears continued to fall. She had not said the word ‘mom’ out loud in years. Zara didn’t miss the sharp intake of breath from Lilith before hanging up the phone.

  A deep calming breath helped Zara notice her nausea was gone. Feeling better and stronger than she had in weeks she half expected to see her mother come walking down the stairs. Briefly, she wondered if she had dreamed the whole thing. Zara rarely talked about her mom anymore, if ever, and had no idea what she had just witnessed or what it meant. Shaking her head to clear the images out of her mind she scolded the childlike excitement secretly building in her heart. Her mom was so beautiful. Zara’s heart ached with the pain of missing her.

  Knowing she had at least an hour before Lilith would get there, Zara crept back up the stairs to peek into her room. Tentatively, she reached for the doorknob, berating herself for feeling afraid. Taking a reassuring breath, she turned the doorknob. Before she could push the heavy wooden door fully open, she was startled by a strange knocking sound above her. It was coming from the attic. “What now?” she said to herself aloud as she slowly turned and walked down the hall to pull the attic door down.

  Zara had never been one to spook easily, she was strong and fit, voted most athletic at school two years in a row. She didn’t mind checking out the noise in the attic, she knew how to defend herself, in fact, she was a fifth-degree black belt in tae kwon do. However, after what she just saw, even she was a little scared. Reaching up, Zara pulled the string for the attic door and moved aside as dust fell from the ladder. It was obvious no one had been up here for a while.

  Slowly climbing the ladder, she had to pause and wipe her sweaty palms across her T-shirt. She wondered what she would find, if anything. As the first strands of her fiery red hair poked up through the attic door, she heard that same knocking sound again. She jumped as the noise seemed louder this time amid the dusty silence of the dark attic. Cursing the fact that she actually jumped, Zara exhaled a sigh, realizing she was now feeling more curious than afraid. She was determined to get to the bottom of this.

  Zara climbed the rest of the way up into the attic. She stood looking around, taking in the old cardboard boxes, picture frames, and books that she never knew were up there. She waited in silence until she heard the noise again. This time it was clearer, like wood knocking against wood, rattling. She followed the noise to a corner of the attic where there was nothing but a wall in front of her. Confused, she cocked her head to the side with her eyebrows bent in concentration and listened for a moment, running her hand gently along the wall. She heard it again, louder this time. It was definitely coming from inside the wall, but how was that possible? She began pressing harder on the wall until she noticed a spot that felt different, softer. When Zara pushed harder on that spot, a square sized portion of the wall about the size of a sheet of paper slid away, revealing a small glowing wooden box nestled in a carved out alcove within the wall.

  Her heart raced when she realized it was the same golden glow she had seen in her room that was surrounding the box. Eyes wide with confused excitement she tentatively reached in to pull out the box. As her hand neared the small wooden box, the golden glow grew brighter and brighter just before fading away the moment her fingertip touched the box. She slowly pulled out what looked to be a pristine hand-carved wooden box that she noticed was radiating warmth.

  Zara stared in wonder, taking in the beautiful intricate swirling designs around all sides of the box. They were made of different shades of dark and light wood tones and were shiny like they had been newly carved and stained. Each design seemed to begin from a large centerpiece that she recognized as the Trinity symbol. Zara could not help the overwhelming feeling that she was being called here by someone or something and when she decided to open up the box her mouth fell open in disbelief. There sat her mother’s ring staring back at her. “What is going on?” Zara whispered, blinking back her shock.

  Her mother’s ring, ‘The Trinity Ring,’ as she had called it, had not been seen since her mother’s death. Zara remembered hearing about it, a family heirloom that had been passed down through the women in her family for many generations, but she had assumed it was lost. Memories and images flooded her mind as Zara remembered her mother wearing the ring. Her heart ached as she imagined herself as a little girl sitting down in front of the antique mirror in her room. Her mother brushing her long red hair and telling her whimsical stories of magic and make believe. Closing her eyes, she could see the light shining off her mother’s ring. Her mother used to tell her that one day the ring would be hers. Zara’s memories jumped to the weeks after her mother’s death. Strange people she didn’t know, asking about the ring and trying to help look for it. Pulled from her memories, Zara couldn’t help but notice that the box, or ring, felt like it had some kind of energy within it, she could feel it, warm and welcoming. For now, she thought it would be best if she took the box and the ring to her room for safekeeping.

  Not believing what she had found, she shook her head and with a laugh closed the door to the attic stairs. Lost in thought she made it back to her room struggling to make sense of all that had happened. Seeing her mom, if that is really what happened, then finding her mother’s ring, what was going on? With her mind and body full of questions, she knew the only thing that would calm her mind was to head outside. Zara’s body was screaming for a release and being in nature always made her feel better. It helped clear her head. She had not exercised in at least a week, since she had been feeling sick. With a renewed sense of strength and finally a stomach void of nausea, she hoped a walk would help her make sense of things and maybe Lilith would be there by the time she got back.

  Chapter 2

  After hiding the box in her bedroom, Zara quickly changed clothes. She popped in her headphones as she stepped out the front door. Zara locked the door then bent down to tie her house key through her shoelace like she always did before a walk or run. Standing, Zara shook her head in disbelief, still unable to make sense of the glowing image of her mother. Concern clouded her eyes, Zara felt in her gut that her mother looked worried or was trying to warn her of something, but what?

  At the end of her driveway, Zara looked both ways, mostly out of habit as there were never any cars out here. She walked across the street before opening her favorite playlist and hitting shuffle. The moment she heard the beginning of “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor, she cranked up the volume and took off. Without thinking, the steady walking pace she planned on soon gave way to the quick rhythm she had grown accustomed to. A short way down the street was a downhill gravel drive that broke off to the right toward a hidden trail she loved. She and her guardian Aaron lived in a rural area of East Tennessee. It was the only place she had ever lived, this was home. As much as she loved Tennessee, somewhere deep inside she had always longed for more. Her steps quickened as she felt her strength build, running over the rugged trail still wet from the morning rain. Zara breathed in deep, feeling the fresh morning air fill her lungs. She felt amazing, as if she had never been feeling sick at all.

  As her body moved, Zara’s mind processed the strange events of the morning. The image of her mother’s worry had her reflecting on the past. She had not thought about her mother too much in the past year. It seemed the more time passed, the more some memories began to fade. Yet now, as she ran full speed ahead, she was flooded with clear memories, laughter, and pain like it was yesterday. Zara could feel the void inside her, that tangible hole in her chest that ached when she let herself think about her mother.

  Picking up speed, she tried to outrun her grief. Until this moment, Zara thought she had healed from her loss, that the hole in her heart had gradually closed over. She realized no
w that she had never really healed, it was only a thin veil covering that gaping hole which could easily be ripped open. She was grieving the loss of her mother, again, only this time with more insight and feeling than her five-year-old self had known.

  She did the only thing she could think of, what always worked, she pushed those feelings as far down as she could and wiped the tears from her face while she ran harder. Running over puddles, past the Rhododendrons. She felt small scratches on her legs from the rosebush she meant to avoid. From a young age Zara realized when she was outside in nature, she found a sense of peace, she felt connected to something greater. Anytime she was down, or things felt off in her life, she would head to her favorite mountain trail, it was her escape.

  Slowing her pace when the trail leveled out, Zara reflected on her recent graduation from high school. The only thing she was sure of was that she had no idea what she was going to do. A large part of her wanted to leave her small town and explore the world, find the adventure she knew was waiting for her. Her days had become monotonous, consisting of waking, working, seeing Aaron occasionally, and hanging out with Lilith. She always felt deep inside that something was missing, that there was more out there in this world for her and she hoped to one day find that missing piece.