I rubbed my face and fought the tears that stung behind my lids. “The days were blurred on the island for you, Jayne,” I started. “Not only from the meds.” I hesitated. “The meds were the distraction from the truth.”
“What truth?” she asked.
“The truth that you were caught…” My voice squeaked to a halt and I coughed to clear it. I looked at the others and they nudged their heads, encouraging me to continue.
I went on. “He nearly killed you, Jayne. In a vision, I saw his hand marks on your neck. I think your soul must have left your body, searching for the light. But your will was too strong. You fought.” I watched her turn pale. “But they pulled you away to hide you. Interrupted you before you could reconnect with your soul.”
She nodded. “Limbo,” she stated. “I always knew I was trapped in limbo on the island. I always knew.”
She dropped her head onto her knees and quietly sobbed. The other five of us closed in around her and kept her from keeling over.
“We’re going to fix it, Jayne,” I said. “One way or another, we will reconnect you with your soul. It’s written in the prophecies. There has to be a way!”
She lifted her head and wiped her tears.
“The prophecies?” she asked.
“Yes, Jayne.” I smiled into her face. “We were brought together for a reason. And our time is now.”
Piling back into the Jeep, we held renewed focus, but the lost stares on Rory and Paul’s faces weren’t easily missed. The backstory on Jayne had taken them by surprise and their silence was deafening.
Particularly Rory’s.
His eyes remained fixed on Jayne and he did nothing to hide his staring. I couldn’t be sure what was going through his mind, as he avoided direct contact with my eyes, but I’d seen such looks before. Like longing. And even though his mind was probably blown, his watchful gaze held kindness and concern. Maybe more.
Paul finally found his voice and returned to his familiar tone of perpetual planning.
"So, the last two prophecies," he rambled, "the fifth speaks of the truth seer returning home and then, Maeve, you said something like the Druid awakening and searching. That that was the last sign before the eclipse."
Maeve said, "Yeah, I think so. That's what all the carvings and symbols seem to be foretelling."
"Okay, so," Paul continued, "if we can somehow damage the labyrinth, like, block it, then that might shut everything down. It could stop their access to our time. To us." He nodded at me, looking for agreement.
I considered his words. They’d already played around in my mind too. They made perfect sense. On the surface.
But his approach was too physical.
We were facing something mystical. Its power reached far beyond stone structures and mazes.
"It won't be enough," I stated. My gaze trailed out the window and moved along the horizon.
"Ya got a better idea?" Rory chimed in. He pulled the Jeep alongside the cemetery and parked it next to Ryan's truck.
All eyes turned to me.
"I’m beginning to think that maybe the prophecies must be fulfilled in order for us to be able to stop the eclipse," I said. "If they're merely interrupted, by destroying the labyrinth, it will never stop. It will continue, forever, until they get their way. They’ll just keep rebuilding."
I thought about the truth in my words. I'd already broken the cycle once, at the solstice. We thought the curse had ended then, but it had only been intercepted. The Druids were ready for our resistance. They had planned for it. And their efforts will continue in a repeating cycle until they succeed.
"So what do we do?" Ryan asked.
I paused and allowed my next words to settle into my bones.
I had to cut the rogue Druids off before they got to us. I had to stop the leader from reaching me. I had to take the power back.
It was time for a surprise attack.
On their turf.
I looked at Ryan and before he could read my thoughts, I spoke my plan for all to hear.
"I need to face them. In their own time.” I watched their eyes widen as I took a deep breath. “I have to enter the labyrinth."
Climbing out of the Jeep, we shielded our faces as the wind picked up and the rain poured onto us in soaking sheets. We grabbed our utility belts, securing them to our hips, and began the arduous trek up to the expectant clearing.
Slipping and stumbling off course, we struggled to stay on the trail through the torrents. Out of nowhere, a blackbird swooped at us with a loud squawking caw.
The sinister-looking bird didn't seem bothered by the blasting gusts. We swatted at it whenever it got too near. Before long, another blackbird joined his pestering assault on us. And then more. By the time we made it to the open space of the clearing, we were batting at close to five or six birds each.
Protecting our eyes from their sharp beaks and our ears from their deafening screeches, we ran toward the trussing boulders to find shelter in their secret passageway to the tomb. The irony of seeking refuge in such a haunting place wasn't lost on any of us as curse words flew in every direction.
"Goddamn fuckin' heretics!" Rory blasted at the birds, punching the air in hopes of splattering one to the rocks, as he made way for me and the others to go down first.
The immediate silence after the pounding rain and the screeching birds was a great relief, and we traversed down the narrow passageway into quiet reprieve.
Gathering at the feet of the guardians, we shook off the wet and grabbed our headlamps from the duffel bags where we'd tossed them earlier. Clicking on our lights, we grouped together in a circle and caught our breath.
"So, I think we set it up the same as last time," I started. "Two on watch and four into the hidden chamber. I'll go into the labyrinth alone, while you..."
"Bloody hell!" Ryan blasted, cutting me off. "No fuckin' way yer goin' in there alone. Trust me. I know!"
"He's right," Paul added. "We need to stick together if we expect to find any level of success in this mission. Divided, we’ll be too vulnerable."
My lips pressed together in resistance as I prepared my retort. But before I shot my refusal back at him, I considered his words.
I didn't want to put my friends in danger. I just wanted them close enough to help if needed, but not close enough to get hurt.
"We're here for you, Isobel," Ryan said. "The whole way." He stood next to me and the others pulled in as well.
Maeve nodded. "We're all here for our own reasons, Izzy. But together, we have a common goal. And that's to stop the ancient Druids from infiltrating our world. From ending us." Her voice grew in its power. "This means war!"
I couldn't stop the huge smile that spread across my face as everyone cheered in agreement.
"You're right, Maeve," I said. "This is war. And it will be dangerous. Anything could happen.” I felt for the position of my weapons on my belt. “Are we ready for this?"
"Don't we look feckin' ready?" Rory adjusted his heavily laden belt and took a wide stance.
Relief washed over me as I accepted the fact that I wouldn't be facing the Druids alone. My plan had included going into the labyrinth and searching for the one who tracked me. And then there would be a face off. But now...now I had my clan with me, and we would face the enemy together. My heart nearly burst in my chest with gratitude.
"Okay," I agreed. "We'll enter the labyrinth as the prophecy states—for the truth seer to return. We'll stick together and wherever it takes us, it will take us all." I paused as fear threatened my next words. "And then, we'll confront the psychopath who’s been searching for me—-planning to kill me." I swallowed hard. "I will face him. And somehow, stop his warpath."
Insecurity lifted the tone in my final words, exposing my inner hesitation, but I remained tall, relying on our gifts and our sheer will.
Maeve stepped forward. "And then the chain will be broken. The eternal eclipse will not be. And another day of light will come.” She nodded. “The curse will b
e over."
Sighs of agreement filled our circle, all but one.
Jayne dropped her gaze to the ground. "I feel it coming."
A flash of ancient, sacred rituals flared behind my eyelids, causing me to flinch. Fire, drums, torture. A voice pounded within my head, shouting through my skull, "Will you sacrifice?" The voice boomed and I jumped.
Paul stared at Jayne. "What do you feel coming?"
Then the voice in my head shouted the same words at me again, even louder, "Will you sacrifice!"
And Jayne lifted her eyes to Paul and answered him.
"Death."
We fell silent in response to Jayne's morose word. Death. It passed from her lips with ease again, like she had accepted it long ago and felt comfort in it.
And with that final spoken word, we turned toward the catacombs and walked toward the chamber in a solemn march.
Gathering around the stone altar, we regrouped. I peered into the dark crevice of the secret passageway. It seemed to be waiting for my return, beckoning me in. It felt strangely natural to go there, like it was a place of welcoming familiarity. Any fear that had welled up in me dissipated as I prepared to re-enter the mysterious cavern.
"All six of us. Together," I said, nodding toward the opening. "Ready?"
The guys instinctively reached for their weapons to check on their locations and hitched up their utility belts. Maeve and Jayne stepped forward first and joined me at the entrance. They each took one of my hands and we slid through the opening into the darkness of the secret chamber. Ryan pushed through next, and then Rory and Paul.
The light from our headlamps filled the eerie space and we all gazed in the same direction—into the wide mouth of the labyrinth.
I was the first to move closer and walked to the edge of the gaping gateway. In a heap where I left it, my shawl waited for my return. I picked it up and held it out by its shoulders. The hood fell back and I soaked in the deep purple color, almost black, and then I brought it close to my face and smelled it.
Images exploded in my mind as my senses reacted to its scent. Every nerve in my body shot to awareness and I closed my eyes.
"Will you sacrifice?" The ancient sound of the words blasted through my mind as images of the rogue Druids taunting me flashed in every direction. Brown cloaks and glaring eyes pressured me to answer. Then I saw one cowering among them. His fearful eyes fell on me too, waiting for my answer.
Another flash in my mind and it was my own voice, responding to their incessant pressure. "Yes. I will sacrifice." And the corrupt Druids nodded in pleasure and cheered for me. The cowering one was pushed aside as the others swept me up in celebration.
But then there was the sinister leader. The awakened one. His eyes remained steely as he stared at me with a cold heart.
A nervous shudder jolted through my bones, clearing my mind of the frightful visions.
No—memories.
From deep within my mind.
I tucked my shawl into my belt and it hung by my hip. I had once arrived here at some point in time wearing it and today, I would return with it still in my possession. It was the one connection to my past. A past that had eluded me my whole life.
My thoughts shifted to Gram and Declan. They’d spent every moment protecting me, sheltering me from myself. And now it was becoming more clear why; they didn’t understand my past, and it scared them. I’d somehow stumbled into their lives at some point and they took me in as their own. Their constant high-alert state had baffled me but now it made more sense. They sheltered me from everything that frightened them, everything that didn’t make sense.
But their unconditional love never faltered. I silently vowed to never blame them for their efforts at protecting me, in any way. They were my new family. The family I loved. They would do anything to keep me safe, particularly from my unknown past.
But now, my two worlds were colliding.
And with this unexpected knowledge, I would enter the labyrinth.
I turned to my friends. Maeve held a look of determination in her eye that proved her intent to enter with me. Jayne's worried expression emanated trepidation, but she too positioned herself to enter the labyrinth.
I reached for both of them. "We'll go first," I said to the guys. My gut told me it was the right thing to do.
Maeve had said earlier that we each had our own reasons for being here. For taking such risk. I knew in my heart she was right. I pondered what her reason could be, and Jayne's. Because it was clear to me by their willingness to head into this terrifying place that they each held a personal agenda. Agendas beyond stopping the prophecies. Just like me.
I had a score to settle. An insidious stalker to confront.
Ryan moved up near me. "We'll be right behind you."
I held hands with Maeve and Jayne as the six of us stepped into the entrance of the labyrinth.
In that exact moment, a rumbling under our feet shook us and we looked all around for an approaching stampede. Strong vibrations from behind whirled us around as the wide entryway closed behind us with an echoing boom.
Chapter 13
A strange sense of weightlessness moved through my body once the labyrinth sealed us inside its walls. It was as if the force of gravity had shifted, lightening each step like it barely touched down. Looking around, I saw the others testing it too. They bounced on their heels and Rory jumped with little effort.
"Isobel," Paul called to me. "What's the plan?"
I turned to the various openings that led deep into the maze of the labyrinth and then looked to Ryan.
"Do you remember which one you entered first?" I asked him.
"It's all a blur," Ryan said. "Once I stepped close to it, it was as if it took me in the direction it wanted. Like I didn't have a choice. And then it was all empty. Silent." He shook his head. "Like being suspended in limbo."
Jayne's spine straightened and she stared at Ryan as if he'd cussed. She bent over and peered into the darkness of the tunnels, then pointed. "That way," she said.
"Wait," I interrupted. I hadn't made up my mind yet which way we would go.
But Jayne's attention stayed fixed down a side tunnel that sent a harrowing sound of a distant freight train rumbling in its depths. The subsonic vibrations shook my core as I considered walking into it. My eyes focused instead on the center tunnel.
"I feel like it makes sense to go straight through to the center..." My words stopped in my throat as Jayne lurched forward. "No, Jayne. Wait!"
She hovered at the opening of the side tunnel with a stare in her eyes that would shake the dead. I followed her frozen gaze and there, deep within the tunnel, was her reflection. Staring right back at her.
My hand flew to my mouth as I gasped at the disconcerting apparition. The others huddled in closer to see.
As Jayne moved toward the vision of herself, the reflection moved under its own command, as if it was a separate person.
The apparition came closer and I studied its every detail. She was the exact likeness of Jayne, only slightly transparent. I couldn't get my mind around what I was seeing and I stared in a fixed trance.
She reached for Jayne with a look of desperation as if trying not to lose sight of her, or maybe trying to save her from getting lost in the confusion of the labyrinth.
"What the hell is that?" Jayne turned to me with terror in her eyes. She reached for her chest and pressed on her heart.
"It's just a vision," I called to her. "It’s the labyrinth, trying to frighten you. Don't let it get to you."
She whirled back and faced her reflection. It beckoned with gently waves for her to come to it.
Jayne stepped closer.
"Jayne, stop!" I shouted. "We don't know what it is."
She pressed on her heart again. "I know what it is, Isobel. Somehow, I've always known."
I froze in place as my eyes grew wide, watching Jayne move closer to the likeness of herself. She reached for her reflection and called back to me.
"Sh
e’s me, Izzy," she cried. "She is my soul. Trapped here in limbo. Like death." She paused. "My death."
And with those words, Jayne launched forward and connected with the hands of her likeness.
Panic rushed through me. "Pull, Jayne! Pull her out!" I screamed.
Jayne tightened her grip on her reflection. Just as she stepped back for a strong pull, the apparition pulled harder and tugged Jayne deeper into the tunnel.
I lurched forward to get to her, to grab hold and help pull her back. But in the blink of an eye, she vanished. Gone into the depths of the labyrinth.
"Jayne!" I yelled at the top of my lungs. "Come back!" I ran forward.
"Stop!" Ryan grabbed hold of my arm. "We need to stay together." He waved for the others to follow. "We'll find her. As a team."
Fear popped my eyes nearly out of my head as I panted in terror. I nodded at Ryan in agreement as Paul and Rory rallied around me. Maeve lingered at the rear, gazing down a tunnel at the other side.
"Maeve. This way," I called to her. “We need to stick together.”
She continued to peer into the darkness of the far tunnel. Her voice cracked as she let out a sound that stopped Paul in his tracks.
"Rí?" she whispered.
The name of her lover from the deep past left her lips with the hope of a miracle and the pain of a broken heart that spanned centuries. The moment his name escaped her mouth, she fled into the tunnel.
"Maeve!" Paul shouted with a shattered voice. Despair rang out from his holler. Falling to his knees, he stared down the dark tunnel in shock.
Echoes of Maeve's voice calling Rí’s name sent shivers through my bones.
"Rí!" she cried. " Rí! I'm here!"
And then her voice faded into ominous echoes.
Paul scrambled to his feet. Panic radiated from his frantic movements. "We need to follow her.” He cleared his throat to regain composure. “It's a hallucination generated from the labyrinth, tricking her."
Truth Seer (Irish Mystic Legends Book 3) Page 11
