Milford went straight for the neck as his Master would have done. He lifted the blade, his face a mask of fear and determination that you see on the faces of men on the field of battle, and turned the knife sideways at the last moment, using it to slice instead of stab.
Darias wasn’t prepared for the move, even though he had used it many times himself. The blade sliced through his throat and blood spurted out of the wound. He had taught the boy well, he thought, as he crumpled to the ground.
***
Morrigan’s hair burned crimson against the light shining through the gateway. Merlin released his robe from his shoulders. The heavy velvet pooled to the ground around his feet. He stepped away from it and lifted his muscled arms above his head; the ribbons of ink layered underneath began to change, as he chanted beneath the full light of the moon. He lifted his hand in the air reaching out to her as she struggled to break from the dream he had ensnared her in. It was a special dream, one that would make her remember.
Morrigan whimpered while she slept, tears streaming freely from under soot colored lashes. His fingers ached to wipe them away, but he couldn’t. Not yet. It would break the spell he was weaving.
“My one true love, you are more powerful than I could have ever imagined. You and I, cut from the same cloth. We are destined to be with one another…whether you like it or not.” He forced the last out harshly, his voice quivering with remorse of what he let go. “Forgive me, please. I did not mean to leave you. Let him go and come back to me,” he whispered, his voice low, insistent, tearing through the layers of her tightly woven dream realm.
“Why fight it?” he whispered as he pushed onward. Wetness gathered in his own eyes, as an overwhelming yearning filled him, the fabric tearing just a bit more. His body shook as he pushed harder, trying to break down the barrier that separated him from her. The power he garnered from the amulet was volatile, unpredictable. But at least he was feeling a part of her, even though he wasn’t playing fair, he knew, but he couldn’t seem to help himself as he tore through another layer.
The doorway to her subconscious shimmered before him, he wanted to leap through, but knew if he did, he would not return, nor could he fix the damage done already. No, he needed to have restraint. It would take time. This process was a tedious one where he could lose his grasp on the present and be lost forever in one of the many layers. These were not happily ever after dreams. These dreams could destroy him. His muscles flinched as his body hit one of the darker threads. It shocked him. He recoiled from it.
Maybe it was still too soon. He ran his hands over his face, reopening his eyes. The doorway still shimmered before him. He reached out again, nearly touching her, his fingers sliding through one layer, now two, onto the third and the final layer. He held his breath, using every bit of his strength to make her remember what they had once meant to each other, before he betrayed her, before she shut him out of her soul forever. He was attempting the forbidden…the unforgiveable…he, Merlin, wanted to turn back time itself.
Not Again
RAVENHURST * PRESENT DAY
ONE moment Marguerite was about to be stabbed to death and the next she was gone. Poof.
She looked around the room, feeling sicker by the moment. Oh no, no, no, no….bloody hell!
“This cannot be happening,”she whispered, lifting her shaking hand to cover her mouth. She was sick. It had to be wrong. Her heart hurt; her mind reeled. “How?” she asked the empty air, trying to find an explanation. Then her eyes met those of another girl, sitting on her old bed, staring at her. “Katherine?” she asked as her eyes traveled lower to the amulet glowing vibrantly, dangling from the other’s neck. Her mouth dropped open forming a perfect “O” as everything suddenly clicked into place. She now knew exactly how she got here. Heat rushed to her face, she clenched her hands, and her nails bit into her palms.
“You bitch!” Marguerite yelled. “I will kill you for this!” she screamed out crazily and flung herself into the air.
Raven’s eyes widened in horror, but she was faster and jumped away from the crazy girl’s lunging body.
Marguerite missed her completely, hit the bed hard, and tumbled back onto the floor.
Raven was already on the other side of the room, and she needed to put some distance between them both. “What the hell are you doing?” she yelled at the mysterious girl, still having no idea of the how or why she was even here in her room.
Marguerite pushed herself to a standing position - her face twisted, furious. “How could you?” she yelled back, shoving her hair out of her face.
“Listen, I don’t know who the hell you are, but I just saved your sorry life.”
“Nothing about my life is sorry—but you!” Marguerite raged as she flung herself at the girl once again.
“What did I do to you?” Raven screamed back, sidestepping her.
“You can’t keep your damn thoughts to yourself. I swear if you drag me through time again, I…I will kill you.”
Raven looked her up and down, noting her lithe form, right…”Keep dreaming little girl,” she spat.
Marguerite seethed. “Who are you calling a little girl…you …you Oxen…”
Raven sputtered. Oxen? Seriously. That was new. Obviously, this was a place for firsts. Well this bitch could take a number and stand in line. She lifted her hands, pressing her palms downward in the air, like a police officer. “Why don’t you just calm down before you hurt yourself,” Raven said with a stern tone, like a reprimanding mother.
Marguerite harrumphed loudly. “You are the only one that is going to get hurt, and I am the one who intends to do it—I will hurt you,” she hissed through clenched teeth and then shook out her arms while flexing her fingers into fists.
Raven eyes rounded. This bitch was crazy. She was sure she could take her if she had to… but at what cost? Loss of hair? A Tooth? Nope. Not worth it. She glanced over her shoulder, gauging the distance to the door. She looked back at the girl who had just popped out of thin air into her room. This stranger’s face was bright red, her black hair wild, and had filthy clothing. Then she spotted it, swaying back and forth from her neck…another amulet. Shit. What had she done?
***
Reed ran up the stairs. He had heard the thumps all the way down in the small study off the library. The place he had chosen to hide until he could figure out what to say to Raven. He felt like an ass for leaving her, but he was so…what was he? Confused? Horny as hell? He decided he was both and had no idea what to do about either. Well, he knew what to do about the one, but not the other. Nothing made sense. Another loud thump shook the floor. It sounded like a herd of elephants had been unleashed. What in the hell had Raven done this time?
***
Milford placed his hand over his heart. “Oh No!” The glossy photo he held of Saint Lucia drifted absently to the ground. He ran from the room, out into the hall and down the corridors towards the girl’s room.
Once Whole now Broken
RAVENHURST * THE AGE OF CHIVALRY
JAYCE was in mid-thrust when he heard the broken scream. “What in the bloody hell was that?” he asked, and rolled quickly off Gwen. He pushed his long hair over his shoulder and searched the floor for his clothing.
“It sounded strange, whatever it was,” Gwen added, and turned over onto her stomach, the blankets tangling around her body.
“I daresay it was more than strange, it sounded…” he never finished his sentence due to a loud banging sounding on the door, vibrating it against the hinges.
Jayce pulled on his pants and walked across the room. He jerked open the door. Two small objects slammed into his chest, making him stumble backward from the blow. It was a feeble hit but it had caught him right in his chest, making him catch his breath. “Bloody hell, Milford!” he yelled, startled. “What is the matter with you?”
Milford stood there, shaking all over. “He is awake.”
***
Morrigan was on the floor with Darias towering over her.
“Where is she?” he asked for a second time. His voice shook with emotion.
“I do not know,” she answered, fear tearing through her body from the look of hatred on his face. It was not what she had expected. The truth was she did not know what to expect, but it was not this. He had not awoken since the girl disappeared. She had tended his wound, stayed by his side, and all the while silently hoped, prayed, he would live. She had a strong hope that since the girl was now gone Darias would see her as he once had. That she, Morrigan, was who mattered to him most of all, not some simple wench he had brought to the keep. Apparently, that was not going to be the case. He looked crazed, not quite right.
The man that stood above her now, seething with fury, was not the Darias she remembered.
“Get out of my room,” he said with a deathly calm voice as he lifted his hands and pressed his palms to his face.
Morrigan swallowed hard, a lump forming in her throat. She wanted to cry, no, she wanted to scream; make him see she was there for him. She wanted him to remember what they once had meant to one another.
Jayce ran into the room; he stared at his brother. He did not look right, he looked…different. His chest tightened at the sight. “Darias,” he called.
Darias whipped his head around, relief pouring over him for a moment. “Did you find her?”
Jayce took a reflexive step back. He did not expect that question. “No.”
Darias swore under his breath, and then turned back toward his brother. “How long has she been gone?”
Jayce did not want to answer him, but knew he had to tell him something. “Since the mishap in the hall with Milford,” he answered simply, afraid suddenly to say more.
“Why did she run? Was she afraid?”
There was more to it than that. But what could Jayce say…that she disappeared into thin air? That was why Milford slit your throat instead of hers. So he hedged instead. “I really cannot say.”
“Why can’t you say? You were there were you not?”
“Yes, I was there.”
Morrigan pushed herself off the floor and ducked behind Jayce. She did not want to leave though, she felt like she should stay, but found she was afraid. Afraid of the look she saw in his eyes.
Darias walked across the room, sat on his trunk, and braced his arms on his legs. He stared at the floor.
“It happened quickly.”
Darias lifted his head. His eyes showed no spark, only a dead emotionless stare. “What happened quickly?” he asked, not sure why the answer eluded him, but it did.
Jayce was about to fill him in on all the sordid details but paused, and instead chose his words very carefully. “I think she may have went back home.”
Darias shook his head and placed it in his hands, his dark hair falling forward. “I see.” Although he didn’t see at all, actually he could not remember what happened. It was a blur. Why would she leave? He felt weak, out of sorts, not quite himself any longer. “I was not able to tell her how I felt…”
“How you felt?” Jayce stepped forward, barely able to make out what he was saying.
“I loved her, and I didn’t tell her. I think that is why she must have left me.”
Jayce rounded his eyes in surprise. “Ah…perhaps,” he paused, not knowing what else to say.
Morrigan gasped and stumbled backward. She felt like Darias had thrust his dagger into her heart and it was turning in on itself, withering up.
“I suppose you are happy now,” Darias stated.
Jayce shook his head. “Nay, I am not happy about this…this…” he lifted his hand in the air. “ I wish…” he let out a shaky breath. What did he wish? She was gone, was not that what he had wished for all along. But now, looking at his brother, his only kin, so despondent, perhaps he had been unfair. Perhaps Darias deserved to be happy. He suddenly wished she would come back. He wished to see his brother in the good humor once again…before all this.
“I do not remember what happened.” He ran his hands over his face and down through his hair.
Morrigan didn’t know what happened either, well not exactly. She was conjuring a spell out in the elements to get rid of the bitch once and for all. It was a tricky move on her part. If she were caught, well…she wasn’t and right now that was all that mattered.
When she had returned, the hall was in a complete upheaval. And her love Darias was bleeding to death. Actually, for a while she thought he was dead. Then something happened, something that she could not explain. His wound began to heal, the blood drying up as the slit closed completely. Somehow, someway, air found its way back into his lungs and his heart began to beat once again but he did not awaken.
“I wish to be alone,” he said simply, not lifting his gaze from the floor.
Jayce stood there indecisive. Should he stay or go? He was afraid to leave him though. Afraid of what he might do. He wanted to say something to take the pain away he saw on his brother’s face. “We can go out and look for her,” he suggested.
Darias lifted his head, a spark of something back in his eyes but then it faded out just as quickly. “Why?”
“I did not know she meant so much to you. I did not know you loved her, really. I thought…” he sighed and ran his hand through his hair, pushing the golden strands over his shoulder. “It doesn’t matter what I thought, at least not any longer. If this is what you want, I will help you.”
Morrigan groaned. Stupid, stupid Jayce…there he goes, tossing out false hope. The girl was gone. But where did she go? She wondered.
“Let me think on it. I am tired now. We will talk about this later.”
Jayce reluctantly left the room taking Morrigan with him. Once in the hall he turned on her. “Why doesn’t he remember?”
Morrigan shrugged her shoulders noncommittally. “I do not know.”
“Did you fix him?”
She widened her eyes, not knowing if she should tell him the truth. She took a breath, deciding. “Of course I did. Who else would?” she answered with her own question. Yes, who else would? She wished she knew the answer.
Jayce reached out with both hands and pulled her body close to his. He squeezed her gently, hugging her. Then he leaned down, kissed her fully on the lips, and set her back away from him, clearing his throat. “Thank you.”
Her eyes widened in surprise as she readjusted her gown and then wrapped her arms around her midsection. “You are welcome,” she said, her eyes becoming blurry as he turned and walked away.
She stood there for a few moments, lifting her fingers to her lips, and then smiled slightly, a real one. She gave the closed door to Darias’ chamber one more sidelong glance before she too walked away, this time with a different purpose.
***
Young Milford slid out from the shadows of the hall and stopped outside of Darias’ door, listening. After a moment he made up his mind. He pressed his thin shoulders back, his resolve firmly rooted within. He would fix this. He had to.
Revelations
RAVENHURST * PRESENT DAY
STEAMING hot beverages were individually poured from a sterling neo-classical tea and coffee service with pineapple finials. Relief work bordered the edges depicting human masks, floral swags, leaves, and chased with ribbons. The set was in wonderful condition and worth quite a bit of money. At auction, it would bring the hammer price of approximately five thousand dollars. Raven wondered if the tea would taste better since she knew how much the service cost.
She reached out, accepted her cup of tea from the maid, and took a sip. She closed her eyes, savoring the flavor. And yes, the tea did taste better, she acknowledged, answering her own question. Each cup was part of a set, even though the designs were slightly different. She would have looked underneath to see the makers mark but didn’t want to appear uncouth to everyone else in the library. No, she would wait and peek later when no one else was around. She reasoned she wasn’t really ill mannered, not at all, but only doing her job. It was the only reason she was here, right?
&nb
sp; Reed took a pass on the tea and instead poured something stronger while he listened to his new guest recounting of the events that led her to seemingly appear from nowhere and end up here, at Ravenhurst.
Marguerite took another breath, her face becoming animated once again. “And then one day it happened, rather quickly actually. I had just had another run in with Isabelle. She was my guardian, you see,” Marguerite explained, waving her hand in the air as though Isabelle was of no consequence.
“That was the day she told me I had to marry her priggish nephew Sebastian.” She let out an audible sigh, shrugging her shoulders. “Fine. The truth is he wasn’t that bad. Actually, he was really quite handsome. But looks aren’t everything,” she said and wrinkled her face in distaste. “He is also a self-righteous clod, and besides he tended to treat me like I had the plague or something comparable.” She paused for a moment. “Excuse me.” She lifted another scone off the plate in the center of the table and took a delicate nibble, chewing slowly.
Raven curled up in the spacious seat of the high-back chair. She didn’t care if it was proper or not. She was comfortable and after her fight with the girl, comfort was her top priority. Well, that, and finding out who in the hell the girl was.
Reed was in the matching chair beside her, one leg crossed over the other, with a tumbler of aged Scotch in his hand. His gaze stayed riveted on the mysterious girl. He looked enthralled. Raven rolled her eyes and then looked over at Milford, who was standing in front of the fireplace, his posture rigid. He looked like his mind was in a faraway place; she wondered what he was thinking. Her gaze traveled back to the girl. She looked very proper seated on the dark blue velvet sofa, her back straight, rigid, like a board was behind it. Raven couldn’t stand sitting like that. She watched the girls delicate mannerisms as she set the teacup back down in the saucer. It made a subtle clinking sound, the kind of sound that only came from good china. The cup rattled lightly in her hand as she placed it back on the table, the action causing her mass of curls to tumble down over one shoulder like a cascade. She had lovely hair too. Raven fought the urge not to moan aloud. Figures.
DREAMS OF TOMORROW: A NEW ADULT TIME TRAVELING ROMANCE (Ravenhurst Series) Page 13
