• The Black Ring of Destiny
    Emily Cardé

    She took the ring slowly out of her fathers limp hand. Through the tears streaming down her face, she saw the luster of the hematite ring reflecting her face, "Oh Father!" She knew he could not hear her anymore. He was in heaven now.
    She felt a light tap on her shoulder, "Rose you really should go rest."
    She hastily wiped the tears from her face, and looked up at Nathan. His kind blue eyes seemed to penetrate into her very core. "Nathan, why did he leave me" A sob escaped her gently parted lips.
    "It was just his time." He tried to hide the emotion in his own voice. Rose's father had almost been like his own father.
    She stood slowly and faced Nathan, holding out her hand. "My father left me this. Do you know what it is?"
    His face hinted both shock and horror as he looked at the ring resting in her pale hand.
    "That is the black ring of destiny."
    "Also known as the death ring," She said looking into his eyes, a slight fear in her own.
    Nathan nodded his head and replied, "The wearer of the ring must pass one test—
    if not passed they die. No one has passed the test."
    "When the test is passed," she said slowly, "the ring is purified, and the wearer is allowed one wish." The gleam in her eyes frightened him, but she continued, "My father left it for me he must have wanted me to try."
    A bleak sadness swept across Nathan's face. "Rose, what if you don't purify it?"
    "Then I will be in heaven with my father!"
    "And I will be on earth without you." The words spun around in his mind, never passing the realm of thought. He was about to find another reason why she should not put the ring on, when he saw it slip onto her finger. The room was illuminated with a strange dark light. When the light had dimmed enough, he looked at Rose. The hair that had moments ago been up in a bun with curls around her face, lay down her back in long black tresses. Her hazel eyes were a bright green. The simple blue dress she had been wearing was replaced with a pitch-black cape-like dress that hung off her shoulders. The contrast to her skin was shocking she looked pale almost like snow.
    "Rose! What happened to you?" He reached out to touch her, but she put out her hand to stop him.
    "I have been given a task, and I need your help to complete it," she said.
    "I would do anything for you," he responded. He realized that he was signing a death warrant, but he was willing to do it for her sake. She reached out her long arm, and placed a finger on his lips. His eyes fell closed as the room was lit up again.
    When his eyes reopened, the only light shone from the ring on Rose's lovely long fingers.
    "Rose, where are we?"
    "We are in the world of death!"
    A fear struck him as he felt a cold breeze.
    "What is your task?" he asked wishing he could see into her eyes at that moment.
    "I must find hate and restore him to our world."
    His heart rate increased at that thought. He knew if this task was completed it would kill both of them. The only thing that could be done was for the ring to come off her finger. He also knew she could not remove it herself. In one moment of petrifying fear, he grasped the ring and pulled it from her finger. She looked at him in horror.
    "What have you done?" His eyes fell shut and opened. They were again in Roses father's room. Nathan saw Rose lying in a dead faint near him. He lifted her into his arms, and placed a kiss on her soft lips. Her eyes fluttered open the bright green almost frightened him.
    "Oh, Nathan I'm afraid I had the most horrible dream, but it had a wonderful ending!"
    "Was it anything like this?" He placed another kiss on her lips.
    "Do you love me?" Her voice was a mixture of surprise and pleasure.
    "Yes enough to die for you." He paused slightly not sure, how he should ask the question, but came up with a wonderful way within moments.
    "What did you wish for?" She looked at him, and a frown crossed her face.
    "Why that was the strangest thing I have ever experienced," said a familiar voice.
    They both turned around completely shocked by the voice they heard.
    "Father?" As Rose flew into her father's open embrace Nathan noticed the transparent crystal ring lying on the floor next to him. It had been purified.