Shouts of glee from Blake’s crew circled around them whilst Della Morte’s crew moaned and cursed. The other two Jesuits drew their sabers as if they would take up where their captain let off.
“Ah, ah, ah,” Blake warned them. “I’ll gut him, and you’ll never have the Ring to bring to your Pontifex Maximus.”
Terror twisted Della Morte’s features as he gestured for his men to stand down and lifted both hands in surrender, a supercilious sneer on his lips. “A bargain is a bargain. Lower your weapon, and I’ll hand you the Ring.”
Never would Blake lower his guard in this lying snake’s presence. Not until he had the Ring on his finger.
A scream echoed in the distance.Emeline! A wild glance told him she no longer stood at the edge of the jungle. Where was Jo?
“What have you done with her?” Blake thrust his cutlass at the man again.
“Nothing, I assure you.” He twisted off the Ring and held it up to the sunlight. Rays glimmered off the crimson center, setting it aflame.
It was so close, A foot or two and Blake could reach out and grab it. The power he sought. The freedom. Everything he’d worked for, shining like a beacon right before him.
Then, with a grin of victory, Della Morte pulled back his arm and tossed the precious relic into the tangle of trees and brush lining the shore.
Another scream echoed over the sand.
Horror turned Blake’s blood to ice. “What have you done?”
“You have a choice,Capitano.” Della Morte placed one hand on his hip. “I will not stop you—andonlyyou”—he glanced at Blake’s crew and then his own men standing behind him—“from retrieving the Ring. Should you foolishly elicit any help, a battle will ensue and many will die.” Wincing, he shifted to stand on his uninjuredleg “I swear on the most holy Pope’s life. But if you do search for the Ring, I fear it will be too late for your dear love. For even now, she sinks in the silt of the mangrove swamp.”
Before the Jesuit’s words assembled into a rational thought in Blake’s mind, Jo sauntered up. “I’d say she has less than a minute or two before she goes under.”
The Ring or Emeline? The Ring or Emeline? Blake stood beneath the searing rays of the hot sun, sweat streaming down his chest and back, stinging his wounds. The gentle caress of waves on shore and swish of wind-blown leaves created a peaceful cadence he felt none of inside.
There wasnodecision. No choice to make. He knew that. But a cyclone of confusion filled his mind, empowered by demonic whispers.
It’s what you’ve wanted your entire life. You can have the power, the freedom, the control you’ve always sought. It’s only a few feet away.
The woman is nothing. She will eventually betray you like all women do.
With the power of the Ring, you can have any woman you want.
Go get it!
Nay! He knew those shadowy voices. They hailed from a dark world he no longer wished to be a part of. An evil, power-greedy world of strife, jealousy, and betrayal. He’d seen a power mightier than the Ring or anything else on Earth. A good power, a holy power. ’Twas the power of Almighty God, the power of His love for mankind, for Blake—a love he’d never known but always longed for.
Emeline had been the one to show him that love, along with God’s power for all who believed. A sensation floated down upon him like none he’d ever felt. It encompassed him in a blanket of love, power, purpose…and joy, indescribable!
God?
Spinning around, Blake raced across the sand, shouting orders for his crew to stand down unless attacked. Sheathing his cutlass, he burst into the jungle, shoving aside branches, vines, and leaves.
Lord, help me find her! Please!
Another scream sounded, this one weaker, muffled. He headed in that direction. “I’m coming, Emeline! I’m coming!”
He leapt over a fallen tree, racing down the sandy path. Birds squawked and took flight, disturbed from their nests. Insects buzzed in his ear.
“Blake!” A faint shout turned him to the left. His boots landed in water. He slogged through the silt, weaving around the tangled web of mangrove roots.
“Emeline!”
“Here…”
She was close. Yet he couldn’t see her. The metallic taste of terror filled his mouth. There! A hand stretched between two massive roots. He slogged toward her, waist deep in the water now. “Emeline.” He grabbed her hand and squeezed.