“Why don’t you talk to Nicolas?” Caitriona offered. “You two don’t really care what I want or how I feel. So just work it out between you.” She twisted out of his grasp and fled the estancia, his pained expression forever imprinting itself onto her heart.
Chapter Six
Hawkins slammed his fist on the elaborately carved table that stood between him and his second-in-command, Harry Billinger. He could barely contain his anger as he stared at the man responsible for the Order’s latest blunder. His face took on an unhealthy flush as pain reverberated throughout his arm, reminding him that he still wasn’t completely healed. Despite the advanced medical devices and medicines the Order had at their disposal, his recovery had been slow…and painful.
In truth, Hawkins had only himself to blame for Billinger’s misappropriation of resources. Hawkins had been distracted from his military duties because of his single-minded pursuit of the bitch who had managed to escape him earlier in the month. His need to possess her, to prove to the traitorous Captain MacKinnon the breadth of his power, consumed his every thought. And now, given this latest turn of events, he was even more committed to his sadistic plan.
Billinger cleared his throat, reminding Hawkins of the task at hand. Had it been anyone other than Billinger, Hawkins wouldn’t have hesitated to kill the man for his error in judgement. But he liked Billinger. Besides, the responsibility of his men’s deaths really wasn’t Billinger’s fault. He had only himself and his obsession with MacKinnon’s whore to blame. Whatever, he thought dismissively. It’s merely the cost of war. Hawkins grinned as his eyes met his second in command’s. The man was even more sadistic, more cunning and devious than Hawkins…and if there was one thing Hawkins appreciated more than blind loyalty, it was a man with zero morality. Still, he couldn’t let this error go unpunished.
Hawkins faced his second and motioned him to take a chair across from him. He could sense the man’s relief and immediately felt a flush of anger. He’d have to deliver a worthy punishment lest Billinger think he was losing his edge. A grin slowly pulled at the corners of his mouth as he realized the irony. Billinger had earned the nickname, Harry the Horrible, for the tortuous methods he devised as part of his interrogation practices. Hawkins was certain he would be able to come up with something fitting; something Billinger himself would use. After all, he had to be certain Billinger would never again let him down…regardless of who was at fault.
“Permission to speak freely, Commander,” Billinger asked, the perspiration dotting his upper lip the only evidence of his growing trepidation.
“Certainly, Billinger,” Hawkins stated, drawing out the last syllable in his name. “We are, after all, friends of sorts.” His smile never reached his eyes.
Billinger hesitated only a moment before he launched into a full report of the Templars’ latest activity. The hesitation wasn’t missed by Hawkins, who grew excited with the knowledge that his second most likely knew what was coming. He only half listened as Billinger provided excruciating details about how the Templars seemed to anticipate the Order’s every move. As such, the smaller Templar army had ambushed Hawkins’ armies in most of Northern Europe and in the Southern continent. Their losses now totaled over 10,000 men after they walked into a blood bath that lasted nearly 24 hours. Billinger’s men were exhausted, hungry and emotionally depleted.
“Sir. Your orders?” Billinger asked again, his voice sharp.
Hawkins stared blankly at the man before him. He hadn’t caught most of what Billinger had said. He didn’t need to. He already knew how the Order had been ambushed…he had withheld the information Billinger was missing. He hadn’t meant to, but he was consumed by his pursuit of the spirited Caitriona Sinclair. Indeed, it was during his pursuit that the truth—and the pieces—had fallen into place: the pretty redhead could foresee future events. He was sure of it. He just wasn’t sure what other powers the witch possessed. But he was only too willing to find out.
Billinger cleared his throat again, reminding Hawkins that the younger man was waiting for orders.
“Yes, I heard you,” Hawkins snapped.
Billinger remained impassive, the only evidence of his fury the slight tick in the lower right corner of his jaw.
Hawkins watched as a bead of perspiration ran from his second’s upper lip and dripped onto the cold, cement floor, turning the pasty slab a deep grey. “Have the troops in the North regroup in Germany. Give them some R&R, but have them on standby. If I’m not mistaken I’ll have need of their services very shortly.” He ran a hand across his face, the weariness of the past week weighing on him.
“And the troops in the South?” Billinger questioned.
“I want you to take 100 of your best men and tell MacKinnon you request intercession and parlay per our laws. Tell him you demand an audience with him and are most eager to find a solution; a compromise, if you will.”
“Sir?” The disbelief was evident in Billinger’s tone.
“I need you to deliver a believable performance,” Hawkins snarled. “Do you think you can do that without fucking up?” Venom dripped from his voice.
“Of course,” Billinger stated, smartly saluting and coming to full attention.
“And just in case you had any doubts, I have no intention of calling a truce. On the contrary, I want to flush MacKinnon into the open and then steal from him the one thing he prizes over everything else.”
Billinger remained silent, his eyes fixed on a spot on the wall behind Hawkins.
Hawkins touched his hand to the spot above his eye where MacKinnon’s blade had struck with near-deadly accuracy. He winced at the pain the slight movement brought as a grin spread across his face. Yes, he thought wickedly. He would bring MacKinnon to heel yet. But the beautiful witch…he had all sorts of plans for her.
Billinger saluted. “As you command,” he stated, and turning on his heel, exited the room.
Hawkins wandered to the window and stared out at the troops below, imagining how he would fuck MacKinnon’s witch until she was too used, too defeated to protest. Then he would force her to use her powers for his own self-interest…and once he’d depleted her of her gift…then the real fun would begin, he thought as he clapped his hands together, the evidence of his excitement straining against his pants. He opened the window, allowing the cool breeze to bring his excitement to check. Yes, he thought wildly. The bitch was about to pay the ultimate price and he was going to enjoy every tortuous minute.
Chapter Seven
Danika found her sister sitting on the ground in the gardens, her head in her hands and her slight figure shaking softly as the sobs tore from her lips. Crossing to her, Danika folded her long legs under her and sank gracefully to the perfectly manicured lawn, the benefactor of the hacienda’s generous irrigation system and ranch hands. She gently pulled the hair from around her sister’s face and waited as Caitriona wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.
“I can’t stay here, Dani,” Caitriona choked, as fresh tears coursed down her cheeks.
“I know. Where will we go?”
Caitriona looked up at her, surprise evident on her delicate features.
“I told you before,” Dani admonished, “we stick together. Your being here is a gift and one I’m not letting go of.”
“Oh, Dani,” Caitriona sobbed. Dani pulled her sister into her arms.
“Hush now, little sister,” she said, stroking her sister’s hair, concerned that on many levels her sister was so vulnerable. After several minutes of comfortable silence, Dani stood. “Come, let’s walk together. I want to show you the gardens,” she said, helping Caitriona to her feet.
They walked together, Dani pointing out the various foliage that was indigenous to the area. She loved walking in the gardens and often came there to clear her mind. The beauty of the native flowers, flowing water features, and gently sloping hills helped calm her thoughts and often provided a different perspective. Reaching a bench that was nestled between several wild daisies, she indicat
ed they both should sit. Caitriona sat next to her on the cold stone bench and began plucking several long-stemmed daisies, chaining them together in a trail of brilliant color. Dani suspected her sister wasn’t even aware of what she was doing; she merely needed something to occupy her thoughts and her hands. Dani soon followed suit and with her usual flare, turned the simple chain into something even more artful and elaborate.
“They treat you as if you are royalty or something,” Caitriona mumbled, interrupting her sister’s handiwork. “Are you?”
“It’s nothing like that,” Dani replied, knowing Caitriona was referring to the mixture of awe and suspicion that seemed to follow her wherever she went.
“But they look at you as if you are a saint or a symbol or something.” Caitriona’s voice trailed off as she glanced at her sister for affirmation. Dani could see her sister’s hatred of the place etched clearly on her face.
“Or should I say more like a placeholder?” Caitriona said through clenched teeth. At Dani’s silence, she continued. “You know that’s what we are to him,” she snarled. “It would not have mattered who we brought forward in time,” Caitriona said in an uncannily close impersonation of Duncan. “This war must be fought and it must be won. At any cost. And at any sacrifice.”
“Catie, I don’t know what’s going on between you and Duncan, but whatever it is, you two need to work it out,” she countered. “I know this has been tough on you, but Duncan is not the enemy.” Dani could see the hesitation in her sister’s eyes and she wanted nothing more than to erase the pain and fatigue of the past several months from her sister’s face. In truth, she couldn’t understand why Catie was so reluctant to use her gifts to aid the Templar’s fight against the Order. Caitriona had been abducted and tormented at the hands of Hawkins. So why doesn’t she want revenge? Dani mused. What am I missing?
“Funny, that’s just what Nicolas said,” Caitriona retorted, delicately fingering the elaborate wreath of daisies Dani had just finished chaining.
Pulling the wreath from her sister’s hands, Dani took both of Catie’s hands in her own. “Listen to him, Catie. Please.”
Caitriona pulled away from her and tilted her face toward the hot Mexican sun. Dani watched as the sun’s rays lit up her sister’s face, shining a light on her pale features. Her sister practically glowed from within. She was reminded once again of how fortunate they were to have been reunited. And despite her sister’s reluctance to embrace her new surroundings, Dani knew this day wouldn’t have been possible if it hadn’t been for the nefarious leader of the Knights Templar.
Dani scooped up several of Caitriona’s long locks and began weaving them together with the daisy chain. In minutes, she had arranged her sister’s hair in an artful weave that captured the little flowers perfectly. Helping Caitriona to her feet, she tucked an errant lock of hair behind her sister’s ear. She grasped both her sister’s hands in hers and pulled her close. “Promise me you’ll talk to him,” she pleaded.
Caitriona opened her mouth and started to speak but merely shook her head instead. “Why do I get the feeling that you won’t give me any choice?” A smile lit her sister’s comely features as Dani watched her wrestle with her inner demons.
“I’ll agree to help in their war,” Caitriona told her. “But on my terms; not theirs.”
Dani squealed in delight and wrapped her sister in a big bear hug, nearly squeezing the breath from her. “You won’t regret this, Catie. I promise.”
“I think I already have,” Caitriona groaned, stepping away from her sister.
Dani thought she saw a hint of a shadow settle over her sister’s face, but she pushed it aside. She just agreed to help, she chided herself. Give her some credit. Dani smiled and put her arm around her sister’s shoulder, pulling her in close. I know you’ve been through hell, little sister, but there’s something you’re not telling me. And if there’s one thing I love, it’s unraveling a mystery.
“I agreed to help,” Catie mumbled, watching as Dani chatted with Nicolas, presumably about their upcoming trip to the caves. “I just didn’t say how.” She narrowed her eyes, continuing to watch the two and their lighthearted banter. A sharp pang of jealousy invaded her thoughts as she watched Nicolas laugh at something her sister said. Dani nudged him with her shoulder, her laughter adding a sweet melody to his bass.
Caitriona pushed the melancholy thoughts away. I have no right to be jealous, she scolded herself. The vision of Dani and Duncan entwined in each other’s arms brought a flush to her cheeks and caused her heartbeat to accelerate. She saw Nicolas suddenly look up at her and knew he had felt the change in her emotions. She turned away from him and focused on trying to draw several slow breaths into her body.
She had tried many times to make sense of the vision, but she always came back to the same conclusion: Somehow, Dani and Duncan ended up together. And why wouldn’t they? she thought bitterly. Both are freedom fighters and focused on their war; they are close in age and they are both very attractive. Unable to reign in her growing temper, she scooted over to Dani and Nicolas, rudely interrupting their conversation.
“I thought you said we were going to spend some time together…alone,” Caitriona reprimanded her sister.
“Of course, Catie,” Danika said, looking hurt.
At least she has the good sense to look embarrassed, Caitriona thought petulantly.
Nicolas nodded to Danika, a slight smile tugging at his lips. “I will see you in the training arena, later this afternoon, oui?” His smile grew larger and brightened his face. In truth, Caitriona had never seen Nicolas so happy. The scowl deepened across her brow.
Dani nodded, allowing Caitriona to hook arms with her and lead her from the great room.
“I know we’ve just been reunited, little sis, but that was positively rude. What has gotten into you?” she rebuked her sister once they had moved far enough from the great room to avoid being overheard.
Caitriona ignored her sister’s question and instead focused on their upcoming escape. “I think I’ve figured out a way for us to leave and get back to our own time,” she said, harshness clipping her voice. She didn’t like the way her sister’s exchange with Nicolas made her feel.
“Catie, I don’t know how many times I have to tell you, but I’m perfectly content here. I thought you were going to try and give this place a chance. If it doesn’t work out, then I’ll try it your way. We’ll find a way back to your time. I promise. But I’m not ready to leave yet. And I’m sure as hell not saying goodbye to you.”
Caitriona stopped walking and faced her sister. She started to say something, but Danika waved her silent.
“I know your first few months here have been hell. I get that—really, I do. I can’t imagine having gone through the horrors that you did.” She paused, giving Caitriona’s hand a squeeze. “But now that the Templars have come out in the open and have declared war, we actually have more freedoms now than we have had in a decade. I need to stay, Cat. I need to see this through…for my people.”
Dani started walking again and led them to a small study that was furnished in an eclectic style from many different time periods. Some pieces Catie recognized, while other works were clearly additions from a more contemporary era. Dani nodded to a comfortable leather sofa while she walked over to the bar and began perusing the various liquor options. Selecting an aged tequila, she poured them each a generous amount and sat down next to her sister, propping her legs up on the centuries old table in front of them.
“Bottoms up!” Dani said, and downed the contents in one swallow.
Catie swirled the amber colored liquid and inhaled, wrinkling her nose at the pungent odor.
“It’s best if you just toss it back. Don’t think about it; just do it,” Danika encouraged her.
Pinching her nostrils together with one hand, Caitriona tossed the liquid back and coughed sharply, nearly expelling the contents of what remained in her mouth onto the floor. She set the glass on the iron-cast table and wip
ed the tears from her face. The liquid spread like fire through her stomach and she decided it wasn’t an altogether bad sensation.
“Good grief, Catie,” Dani reproved. “Didn’t anyone take you bar hopping on your twenty-first birthday?” she questioned her sister.
Caitriona merely arched one eyebrow and pushed the glass toward her sister. “Another,” she wheezed, a smile settling across her delicate features. Her face was flushed and she fanned her face in mock exaggeration of the heat that was spreading throughout her body.
Dani laughed and poured them each another drink. Both women clinked glasses and tossed the contents back at the same time. Catie once again sputtered, grimaced, and wrinkled her nose before setting her glass back on the table. She swiped the back of her hand across her mouth and eyed her sister warily. If she didn’t pace herself, she’d be drunk within the hour. Maybe that’s not a bad thing, she mused. Pushing her glass toward Dani, she watched as the older woman poured them each another. This time, Catie took her time with the amber fire, allowing it to settle on her tongue before she swallowed the contents.
“Dani, what if I told you I saw the future and that I know how we can stop the war, for good?”
“I’m listening.”
Catie paused, trying to compile her thoughts as the haze and warmth of the tequila settled deeper in her gut.
“We’re supposed to travel to our time. We can stop LeConway from ever engineering his race of superior warriors…if we can get in front of it all.” At the look of puzzlement on her sister’s face, Caitriona quickly continued with her plan. “Don’t you see, Dani? If we go back before all this begins we can alter history and ensure the Order never takes control.”
“How do you propose we do that?” Dani said, pouring them each another drink. “If that were possible, don’t you think Duncan would have already thought of that when he went back in time to get us?” she questioned.
Dark Gathering Page 5
