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The Black Ring of Destiny

Emily Card

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 sobescaped 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 fatherleft 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 putthe ring on, when he saw it slip onto her finger. The room was illuminated with a strangedark 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 beenwearing 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, andplaced 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.

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"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 offher 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 Rosesfather'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 thetransparent crystal ring lying on the floor next to him. It had been purified.