Tethered Souls

by Jessica McCrory

  He smiled into the dark and begun making the potion he would use to bring back her memories. She needed to know what he had done for her.

  They believed they had protected her from him. Believed that her puny magic could keep him away, but he had found other ways of getting to someone. He looked over at the bound and gagged form that lay unconscious in the corner.

  That boy and the witch had no idea who they were messing with. He laughed and didn’t even realize that the sound he made was full of madness.

  Chapter Seven

  Abby stood in her room a moment looking out at the trees. Ireland was so much more beautiful than she could have ever imagined. You could almost feel magic humming in the air. She smiled as the first raindrops started to fall. She had always loved the rain. Texas rainstorms may be few and far between, especially in the summertime, but they were magical themselves. She loved the sound of the rain as it hit the roof and when she was a kid, she would sit on the back porch to watch it fall.

  She reached her hand out from underneath the overhang and let the rain hit her hand. The horses stood watching her from underneath their shelters and she made a mental note to ask if they were for guests. As a child, her parents had gotten her riding lessons at the best stable Dallas had to offer, but where the other kids had taken them in order to appease their parents, she had been the one who had begged them to let her attend. She would love to ride again, it had been so long since she had been on the back of a horse.

  She turned and began to unpack her bags. It had been something that she knew had always annoyed her parents. They traveled a lot and she had always insisted on unpacking her bags before she could sleep, no matter how long their stay was, and they had stayed at a lot of different places.

  As a child, Abby had traveled almost non-stop with her parents as they attended various medical conferences or spoke at different hospitals all throughout the world. She had known that what they did was important, but she had always found herself wishing for one trip that hadn’t been planned around a speech of some kind. She sighed, they had definitely had their differences, but she had always known that her parents had loved her. And even though she didn’t follow in their footsteps and join their medical practice, she knew they had been proud of her.

  The anniversary of their death was coming up soon and she knew that on some level that was one of the reasons she had needed to get away. It never failed Emit would show up with some ridiculous plans when all she wanted was to sit and remember them. She liked to go and visit their graves and talk to them. Tell them what she had been doing lately, of her work. He had always mocked her for it. ‘It's not like they can hear you’ he would say.

  It didn’t matter whether they could hear her or not, though she believed somehow they could. It had always made her feel better, and shouldn’t that have been all that mattered to him? He had always managed to pressure her into doing something on that date and though she understood on some level that he was just trying to be nice, she couldn’t help but be aggravated that he didn’t respect that she needed time.

  It had been that way after they had died, she thought to herself. He hadn’t understood what she was going through and kept pushing her to move on. Since he had been a foster kid, he had never known his parents. He had not been close to any of the families who had taken him in, and in all honesty, hadn’t had many friends either. She had always cut him some slack because of it. Had foolishly believed that she would be the one who could save him from himself, make him more empathetic and somehow get him to understand. She hadn’t been able to, in fact, the longer they had been together, the more she had noticed a change in herself.

  She had become irritable and had begun snapping at people who didn’t deserve to be snapped at. She had always been nice to everyone, never wanted to hurt anyone’s feelings, but something about Emit had begun to change her. It was yet another reason she had ended things with him. She wanted to be with someone who made her better, not someone who made her worse.

  That didn’t matter anymore, though. They were no longer together and he wasn’t even on the same continent as her. She walked back to the balcony and stood for a moment letting the wind hit her face. She was finally in Ireland. The vacation she had dreamt of taking ever since she was a little girl had finally come to pass. And dammit, she was going to enjoy every moment of it.

  She used her phone to check the time and then turned it off and put it away in the nightstand. Without an international data plan, she didn’t need it. Her assistant knew how to get in touch with her if it was absolutely necessary and she had given her instructions on what should be deemed necessary and what was not. She knew Annie would be calling her every five minutes if she had been given the number.

  Abby turned and headed for the door. It was dinnertime and she couldn’t wait to eat. Her stomach surprised herself with how hungry she was. She closed the door behind her and headed for the stairs.

  “All settled?” Sheamus stood waiting at the bottom and she smiled warmly at him when she saw him.

  “I am. This place is amazing.”

  “The room to your liking then?”

  “Sheamus I could live in that room forever. It is magnificent!” She laughed and looped her arm through his as it was offered.

  “Good. It occurred to us that we hadn’t shown you where the dining room or kitchen was before we sent you up to your room. I argued that you could find it on your own, but Myria insisted I meet you to show you.” He grinned and Abby saw the love in his eyes.

  “I greatly appreciate it.” She smiled back and let him steer her through the entryway and living room. They went through a small door that opened into a large elegant dining room.

  The table could easily sit eight and was made of what looked to be dark cherry wood. The chairs were covered with a deep green fabric and Abby sighed with relief when she realized they were incredibly comfortable. Candle sconces hung on the walls and had been lit as the rooms’ only source of light. It had the helpless romantic in her weeping with joy. It was absolutely beautiful.

  A long table runner spanned the length of the table and lined down the center were trays of the most delicious food Abby had ever seen.

  “This all looks amazing! Are you sure there are no more guests?”

  “Just us.” Myria sat near the end of the table next to an empty seat Abby assumed was meant for Aengus. “My brother loves to cook and he wanted to make sure you felt welcome.”

  “Mission accomplished.” She smiled and took the seat across from Myria. “I am starved and this looks like it could feed a small army.”

  Sheamus took his seat next to Myria and Abby saw the secret smile exchanged between the two. Just subtle enough she almost missed it. It made her heart yearn for a connection like the one they seemed to share.

  Aengus came in with yet another dish and broke the silence. “I wasn’t sure what dish you preferred, and I had some extra time today so I put together a few options.”

  “It all looks amazing Aengus. Thank you.” She did her best to play down her excitement, not wanting to embarrass him. That is until she saw the Shepard’s Pie he had just carried in. “Is that Shepard’s Pie? I haven’t had this in ages! My grandmother used to make it for my birthday every year. It is my favorite.”

  “It is. It’s our old cook's recipe. She was known for her Cottage Pie.”

  “That’s right it used to be called Cottage Pie.” She said absentmindedly while she helped herself to a large spoonful. She groaned when the taste hit her tongue. “Aengus this is amazing! It even beats out my grandmothers and that’s saying something.” She laughed and then felt her cheeks flush when she noticed the eyes on her. “Sorry. I guess it's pretty silly to get this excited over food.”

  “Don’t be sorry.” Sheamus beamed at her. “I’m so happy we have another food lover in the house! Aengus may love to cook, but neither he nor Myria ever show much interest in eating the food.”

  “Well, when you’re as old as I am food
loses some interest.” Myria laughed until Aengus shot her a look.

  “What, all of the twenty-eight years you’ve been alive?” Abby guessed as she giggled, “Yeah, you're ancient.” She continued eating the Shepard’s Pie and went back for seconds not noticing the looks exchanged between the three.

  Sheamus had been right about Aengus not being very interested in eating. He mostly just pushed his food around with his fork. She heard a laugh from him every now and again at Sheamus’s jokes, and she would catch him watching her. He seemed to appreciate how much she loved his cooking so she did her best to be enthusiastic without going over the top.

  “Oh Myria, I’ve been meaning to ask, are the horses available to guests?”

  It was Aengus who answered. “You would like to ride?”

  “I would love to if that’s okay. I haven’t been on a horse since I was about twelve and would love to ride again.”

  “Of course, that’s okay!” Myria exclaimed, “In fact, Aengus does a wonderful tour on horseback. Don’t you Aengus?”

  “I wouldn’t say wonderful, but I can definitely show you around if that’s what you would want.”

  Abby nearly leapt out of her chair with excitement. “Can we go tomorrow?”

  “Perfect.” He held her gaze for a moment and she felt something tug at her heart. Could she be feeling something for this man already? It had only been a few hours! Well not really, she told herself. She had been dreaming of him her whole life so in a way it was almost as if she had known him forever. She dismissed that thought and assumed it was due to her excitement for getting on a horse again.

  Overall dinner was amazing. Great food and fantastic company made for a much more pleasant experience than she had hoped for. Abby couldn’t wait for her ride with Aengus tomorrow. There was something about him that had her intrigued, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it. The fact that she had dreamt of him caused her some confusion sure, but there was something more. As if a memory was trying to resurface. But how could that be? How could she have memories of a man she had just met?

  Abby stood just inside the open balcony doors and watched the rain fall in the dark. It was so calming here, so welcoming. She already felt as if this were her home. As if she had been here her whole life rather then just short of a day. She left the doors open and moved to sit on the edge of the large bed. She looked at the rolls of empty canvas she had brought. She still needed to buy frames for them and then she would cover them with beautiful scenes from the country she had felt drawn to ever since she could remember. She leaned back against the pillow and closed her eyes.

  Chapter Eight

  For the first night since she was a small child Abby slept dreamlessly. She was so comfortable that she slept for nearly twelve hours. When she awoke, she felt rested and rejuvenated. She smiled into the mirror as she got dressed. She chose a simple outfit of jeans and a green sweater to go on her ride with. The boots she had brought weren’t meant to be ridden in, but they were tall and would do perfectly.

  Abby had already seen him outside this morning, feeding the horses. She had tried not to stare afraid he would see her, but it was just so hard not to once she had caught that first glimpse of him. He wore dark jeans that clung to his waist and his black knit sweater he had chosen to battle the chilly morning air had made her mouth water. He was absolutely gorgeous. Even when she had only known him as a dream she had been attracted to him, it was one of the reasons she had always believed that she hadn’t been able to find a man back home. She had always only had eyes for him. What was she supposed to do now? Now that she knew that he actually existed? She was in trouble and she knew it.

  When she stepped out into the fresh air, she lifted her head and took a deep breath. She could smell the rain from the night before and it added a relaxing crisp to the air. Abby smiled at Aengus as he came out of the barn. Her blood warmed at the way he looked at her. The way his eyes traveled her body as if she were the single most beautiful person in the world.

  “Good morning!”

  “Morning, did you sleep well?”

  “Very well. The best sleep I’ve had in a long time.” She smiled at him and for a moment they just stood there staring at each other. The air between them was so full that she could almost feel the electricity snapping between them.

  She broke the silence. “So who are you?” She asked petting the mare that stood saddled next to the most beautiful black gelding she had ever seen. “I’m not ignoring you handsome.” She laughed when he nuzzled her.

  “Caley and Eamon. You will be riding Caley today.” She did her best to ignore the irritation in his voice. She was sorry if she was the one who had put it there.

  “If you want to do this another day that’s fine.”

  “What’s wrong with today?” The irritation faded to disappointment and Abby sighed with relief.

  “Nothing, I just don’t want to interrupt you if you have other things going on.”

  “Nothing that can't be pushed off.” He smiled at her, but she noted that the smile didn’t quite reach his eyes.

  “Okay.” She turned back to the horses. “I’m ready when you are.”

  She had always been comfortable on the back of a horse. She had an impressive box of ribbons in her closet at home from the few shows she had managed to drag her parents off to. She smiled to herself, she had always been proud of that.

  “So how often are you out here?”

  “I try to get out at least once a day. The horses enjoy being out and deserve to not be locked in their paddocks all day.”

  “You take them both out? Does Myria ride with you or usually one of the other guests?”

  “Just me. Myria hasn’t ever been thrilled with the thought of riding.” He smiled at the thought. “She doesn’t enjoy it as I do and you’re the first guest I have ever taken out.”

  Her heart jumped. “Really?” She tried to hide the smile, but he grinned back at her. “I feel special.”

  “You are.” His simple response had her feeling giddy. “I usually lead Caley alongside Eamon. That way they both get out together.”

  She nodded and continued looking around at her surroundings. The trees offered enough shade that it seemed like dusk although Abby knew it was barely noon. She heard birds chirping and the sound relaxed her.

  “It is so beautiful here.”

  “Aye. There is not another place like our Ireland.”

  “There really isn’t it. Especially not in the states.” She laughed. “We traveled a lot when I was a kid. I’ve seen all fifty states and even some of Canada and England, but this is my first trip to Ireland.”

  “Why did you travel so often?”

  “My parents spoke at a lot of medical conferences all over the world.”

  “Doctors?”

  “Psychiatrists. They even opened their own practice about a year before they died.” Her heart ached at the memory. She had been up painting all night, happy with the progress she had been making in her requests when the hospital had called her to let her know they had been brought in. She had known something was wrong when they wouldn’t divulge any information over the phone, they had requested she come in as soon as possible. Abby didn’t pick up a paintbrush for nearly two months after.

  “I’m so sorry Abby.”

  “Thanks. It's been going on six years now. Car accident.” It had been raining she remembered, not badly but just enough to make the roads wet. The police had said it was due to a faulty brake line. “What about your parents? Myria said that they left you both the house, were you all close?”

  He smiled and let out a laugh. “At one point we were.”

  “What happened?” She saw his mouth draw into a tight line and his jaw clenched. “I’m sorry, you really don’t have to tell me.”

  “It's fine, just a rough time for me.” He stopped Eamon and rubbed his hands over his face. “I fell in love with someone they didn’t exactly approve of and by the time they came around it was too late.” He
had turned away from them he remembered. Blamed them for her death. He could still hear his mother’s cries as he turned away from them both. Aengus never spoke to his parents again, it was one of his biggest regrets.

  “I’m sorry Aengus.” She touched his arm and saw the pain in his eyes. “What happened? Why was it too late?”

  He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. “She died.”

  “Oh Aengus, I’m so incredibly sorry I never should have...”

  The screams pierced through the silence and she felt her heart fall. “Did you hear that?”

  “Hear what?” Aengus saw the concern on her face, but he hadn’t heard anything. He looked around searching for what it was she looked so terrified about. Her face had gone pale and her eyes widened with fear.

  She heard it again and she began to panic. “The screams, she needs us!” She pushed Caley into a run and took off into the trees.

  The branches whipped past her, but she barely felt the marks they left on her as they tore at her. All she could think of was getting to her before it was too late, she had to get to her. She wouldn’t let him get her this time. Abby was to panicked to realize that none of her thoughts made sense to her.

  The screams got louder and Abby pushed Caley harder.

  “I’m coming! I’m coming!” She screamed into the trees.

  The panic set in. What if she didn’t get to her in time? What if she couldn’t save her?

  She reached the edge of a clearing where a single tree stood. Its bare branches slung low as if in defeat. She threw herself off of Caley and into the center.

  “I’m here!”

  A young girl stood in the center of the clearing. She looked so much like Abby except her hair was a shade lighter and her eyes a deep blue rather than her own green. She smiled at her and Abby felt a wave of relieve. She had reached her in time.

  “Catch me if you can Aine!” The girl giggled.