“All right. You were with her for one of them, right? Lead the way.”
Damien and Michael began at the cliffs, where Celine experienced her first sense of foreboding. They spent over an hour searching the area but found nothing. They proceeded to the area just outside of Celeste’s daytime hideaway. Before searching, Damien ensured Michael exhibited no ill effects from being within a close proximity of Celeste despite it being daylight.
After Damien was satisfied Celeste posed no threat to Michael, they searched the area. Celine had experienced two episodes here, one of them severe. No evidence of Celine existed in the area.
They moved to the opening in the woods, the sight of another severe episode. After another careful search, they turned up nothing. Damien lingered here despite the absence of any traces of Celine.
Michael allowed him some time before speaking. “Sorry we didn’t find anything,” he stated, hands on his hips. Damien shook his head. “Should we head back to Alexander’s? Grab some dinner before you meet with Celeste?” Damien didn’t move. “Damien?”
Damien shook his head again. “Something’s here,” he murmured, staring at the ground.
“What?” Michael questioned.
“I… I feel something. Like something’s here.”
Michael glanced around. “We’ve already searched the entire area. We came up with nothing.”
“Yeah, I realize we’ve searched, but…” His voice trailed off. “But I can’t shake this sensation.”
Michael humored him. “Okay, let’s take another look around. Hey, try calling her phone, see if we hear it ringing.”
“Good idea.” Damien dialed Celine’s number. The line rang a few times, but they heard no ringtone. “Nope, nothing.” They spent another hour searching every inch of the space, kicking leaves around, examining branches and searching under limbs.
“Nothing’s here, man,” Michael finally said. “And it’s almost dark.”
Damien sighed, shaking his head. He stared at the area. What was he missing? Why was he plagued by this sense? What was it about this space that called to him? He stared at the trees. A slight breeze rustled the branches. The needles on the pine tree danced. The scent of white pine overwhelmed him. Colors faded from vivid to gray scale. His eyes lost their ability to focus.
Without warning, his body jolted. He blinked several times. “Damien!” Michael yelled.
“What?” he responded.
“You okay?”
“Yeah, why?”
Michael stared at him, confusion written on his face. “You were standing there, staring ahead. I was talking to you and you were totally unresponsive. Like you couldn’t hear me.”
“Must have been lost in thought.” Michael stared at him another moment. “Should we go?”
“Sure,” Michael agreed.
They hiked the path to Alexander’s. Alexander and Gray insisted they eat before visiting Celeste. Damien gulped his food, wanting to meet with Celeste as quickly as possible. He set off with Alexander after dinner.
“Hey,” Damien inquired, as they walked to the abandoned house Celeste’s coffin lay in, “did you find anything at the clearing in the woods? The spot where Celine had that severe painful memory?”
“No,” Alexander informed him. “Why?”
“We searched there earlier. We didn’t find anything either. But I had a strange sensation there. Like something was calling to me.”
“Hmm,” Alexander answered.
“I’m not crazy,” Damien countered.
“I didn’t say you were. But I’m not sure what to make of it.”
Damien shrugged as they approached the abandoned house. “Hope Celeste is home,” he said as they climbed the stairs.
They entered the structure. “Celeste? Celeste!” Alexander called.
Celeste emerged from behind a bookcase, closing it behind her to hide the secret room where her coffin lay hidden. “Good evening, Alexander. What brings you by? Oh, Damien, hello.”
Damien refused to acknowledge Celeste, his dislike of her still fresh from his encounters with her in the past. “We told Michael and Damien the unfortunate news about Celine when they returned last night. He desired to hear the story about your meeting with her firsthand.”
“I see,” Celeste replied, stalking toward them. She focused her crystal blue eyes on Damien. “There isn’t much to tell, I’m afraid. I met with Celine around ten.”
“Where?” Damien questioned.
“Here,” Celeste answered. “We spoke for about fifteen minutes. She took the path back to the main house when she left. That’s the last I saw of her.”
“What did you discuss?”
“My condition. Her desire to reverse it. I told her I didn’t hold her responsible. That we would work together to resolve the situation. I hoped the conversation helped to ease her nerves.”
“And that was it?”
“Yes.”
Damien stared at Celeste. “Something wrong, Damien?” Celeste inquired.
“I find it suspicious you were the last person to see her.”
“If you plan to accuse me of something, you’d better have proof. I don’t take accusations lightly. She is my sister…”
“Your sister who you almost sold to the devil. Who you were complicit in tormenting for years!” Damien shouted.
“Careful, Damien. I love my sister. I always have. Whatever problems existed between us are in the past.”
“Yeah, right,” Damien accused. “Your love for your sister is beyond questionable.”
“I will let that slide, given your distress. But this conversation is finished. You may want to control your lunatic friend before he finds himself in trouble,” Celeste advised Alexander before stalking out of the house.
“I don’t trust her,” Damien stated, staring after Celeste.
“I agree with you. But in this case, I do not understand what benefit Celeste gains from Celine’s disappearance.”
“Payback?”
“For her vampiric condition? Doubtful.”
“Why?”
“Celine is the most invested in restoring Celeste. Other than Teddy, no one else cares. With Celine gone, Gray and I aren’t chomping at the bit to help her.”
“Perhaps Teddy has found a solution for her. And she doesn’t need Celine, so she got rid of her.”
“If Teddy has found a solution, Celeste wouldn’t still be in her coffin.”
“Good point,” Damien admitted, stalking away, sighing.
“I understand your distrust of Celeste. And I don’t disagree. But I am not sure it helps us in any way. I doubt Celeste harmed her sister for revenge or any other selfish purpose.” Damien didn’t respond. “I don’t care for her either, Damien, but she does have half a heart when it comes to Celine, particularly now that the Duke is gone.
“Yeah, I guess you have a point. I just can’t trust her. Every time we’ve been around her, she’s been siding with that monster. I guess she can’t side with him if he’s not here though.”
“Shall we return to the house? You and Michael should rest.”
“I guess,” Damien sighed. “Rest. Yeah, right!”
“I understand how difficult this is, nevertheless, you must try. Celine will have our heads if she returns and you are ill.”
Alexander’s comment earned a chuckle from Damien. They exited the abandoned house and took the path to Alexander’s house. Gray and Michael waited there.
“Well?” Michael inquired as they entered the sitting room.
“Nothing,” Damien answered. “Just like Gray said. Celeste spoke with Celine. Celine left, and no one has seen her since.” Damien collapsed onto the couch.
“I don’t trust her,” Michael said.
“Same thing I said,” Damien confessed.
“Neither of us trust Celeste either,” Gray replied. “But this time she isn’t lying.”
“We should follow her! Perhaps she’ll lead us right to Celine!” Damien offered.
<
br /> “Do you honestly think we haven’t tried that?” Gray questioned. Damien shrugged his shoulders in response. Gray rolled his eyes. “Of course we followed Celeste. She led us nowhere.”
“Perhaps she realized you were following her and did that on purpose,” Michael conjectured.
“You two really deem us amateurs, don’t you?” Gray asked. “We’ve been dealing with these problems for centuries. Don’t presume that anything we do is ineptly done.”
“Okay, okay!” Michael answered, holding his hands up in defeat. “Just trying to offer suggestions.”
“We’re all tired and anxious. Perhaps everyone should rest,” Alexander suggested.
“You mean perhaps you should drug us and force us to rest?” Michael snapped.
“No, I mean rest,” Alexander corrected.
“Assuming you can be trusted to rest,” Gray added.
“We’re not children,” Michael contested.
“No, you’re not. But you are human. You’re vulnerable. The last thing we need is one of you to disappear, become hurt or distract us from the search for Celine.”
“He makes a good point,” Damien admitted. “We can’t waste resources or be distracted from Celine’s disappearance. The longer she’s gone, the less chance we have to…” His voice trailed off, unable to finish the sentence.
“We’ll find her. But we need to be smart and sharp to do it,” Gray replied. “Let’s head back to the house.”
Damien and Michael agreed. Alexander suggested he accompany them and stay while they searched for Celine. The quartet traveled the path to the main house, disbanding in the foyer. Michael and Damien navigated upstairs to their rooms. Michael expressed his wish that Damien have a restful night, admitting he was exhausted and would likely sleep.
Damien pulled his door shut behind him. He stared at his bed. He would never sleep. Instead, he paced his room, stopping to stare out the window every few minutes. He searched for any sign of Celine as though she may appear wandering through the woods. He laid in bed, attempting sleep. Within minutes, he popped his eyes open. It was no use. He could not rest. He felt trapped, smothered, as though the walls were closing in on him. He had promised to rest, but he would go mad in this room.
Perhaps fresh air would ease his nerves. He sneaked from his room and down the stairs, pulling on his jacket and entering the night air. Damien meandered to the cliffs, drawn to the sound of the waves crashing against the rocks below. He stood for several moments, staring out over the dark ocean. His thoughts were a jumble. Upset over Celine clouded his reasoning. He failed to understand how they would find her. Perhaps it was his tiredness overcoming him, but he was panicked. He saw no way forward.
Movement on the path drew his attention. Gray emerged from the trees. “You’re supposed to be sleeping,” he chided as he approached Damien.
Damien returned his gaze to the darkened horizon. “Yeah, yeah, I know,” he admitted. “Couldn’t sleep, so I figured I’d try some fresh air.” He slid his eyes sideways, eyeing Gray. He’d never gotten comfortable with Gray. Gray intimidated him, though he never had given him any reason to dislike him. Other than the jab to the arm last night. “You’re not going to sedate me again, are you?”
Gray chuckled. “No. But I am going to insist you return to the house and rest.”
They stood for a few moments in silence, each staring at the ocean. Gray spoke again. “Celine would hate you running around the property at night alone.”
Damien smirked. “Yeah, I bet. She told me that once before.”
Gray turned to face Damien. “I realize what a shock this is to you, Damien. Celine’s disappearance is a shock to all of us. I’m only doing my best to ensure when she comes home, and she will come home, nothing has changed.”
“So, it’s not because you hate me?”
Gray laughed, turning back to stare at the horizon. “I don’t hate you, Damien.” A moment passed. “Do you hate me?”
“No,” Damien answered. “No, I don’t hate you.”
“Perhaps our problem is each of us reminds the other that Celine was someone else for a time,” Gray reflected.
Damien nodded. “Yeah, perhaps that’s it. I don’t hate you. But it is weird to think she lived for centuries before she ever lived as Josie.” Damien paused, then added, “I’m sure it’s equally strange to realize she lived twenty-five years as Josie without you.”
Gray faced him again. “Yes, it is. Well, now that we’ve identified it, what say we agree to be friends.” He extended his hand for Damien to shake.
Turning toward him, Damien accepted it. “Deal.”
“Now, shall we return to the house? It’s growing cold out here. Celine will have my head if you catch cold while she’s away.”
Damien nodded. “Sure.”
Chapter 3
“Good evening, my dear,” Marcus voiced as he approached Celine’s prison.
Celine rolled her eyes, standing from her seat on the floor. She did not respond. “You’re quiet this evening,” Marcus said, peering in through the barred window.
“I grow weary of these games, Marcus.”
“As do I,” Marcus admitted.
“I will never join you. Why do you insist on pursuing me?”
“You are worth it, my dear.”
Celine approached the door. “Do you really expect your new technique to work?” she inquired.
“Isolation can prove an effective method, Celine. It provides one plenty of time for reflection.”
“It still surprises me you cannot accept you’ve lost even after centuries,” Celine declared.
“Ah, but I have not lost, Celine.”
Celine laughed. “How do you figure that?”
“You are amused. I would not be. I may not have won… yet. But neither have you. Which implies I have not yet lost.” Celine set her face in a scowl. “I can never understand what it is about Buckley that draws your interest.’
“I love him,” Celine admitted.
“I do not believe that,” Marcus retorted.
“I don’t care what you believe.”
“Don’t you? We shall have to change that.”
“You cannot, Marcus.”
“We shall see. While I admire your strength, it can be one of your most loathsome qualities when used in the wrong instances.” Marcus paced the room. “If you cannot come to your own realization, Celine, I will force you. I have provided you with ample time to consider your choices. Now I shall inflict more stringent measures.”
“You are a monster!” Celine shouted at him.
“No, Celine, I…” his voice cut off abruptly. He cocked his head as though listening. His gaze fell upon the stairway across the room. He waved his arm left to right in front of him. Celine approached the bars, curious about what he was doing.
“Celine? Marcus?” Celeste’s voice called. Celine saw her descending the staircase, searching the room. Marcus sighed, waving his arm in the opposite direction. “Ah, there you are.”
“What are you doing here, Celeste?” Marcus questioned.
“I would like to speak with my sister.”
“No,” Marcus stated.
“I have information that may help your cause,” Celeste entreated.
Marcus considered her statement. “While I doubt your sincerity, I am curious. Proceed.”
“Alone,” Celeste requested.
“No,” Marcus replied, narrowing his eyes. “Whatever you must say shall be said in my presence. Celine has not earned the privilege of visitors. Particularly those who may be sympathetic to her cause.”
“Really, Marcus,” Celeste spat, “I’ve never known you to be so… apprehensive.”
“Careful, Celeste. I still hold your life in my hands.”
Celeste ignored him, approaching Celine’s cell. “Hello, Celine,” she stated, peering into the cell through the small window.
“Hello, Celeste,” Celine answered, gazing at her through the bars.
“I
hope you are holding up under the strain.”
“Oh, get to the point, Celeste,” Marcus groaned.
“I had a visit earlier from Damien,” Celeste began.
Celine clutched the bars, pulling herself closer to the opening. “Damien? How is he?” she demanded, breathless.
“Quite distressed,” Celeste admitted. “He is aware of your absence. He has taken it very badly.” A tear rolled down Celine’s cheek. Celeste continued, “It is clear he is desperate to find you, Celine. A desperation that I fear may lead to difficulty for him when you are not found.” Celine backed away from the door, pacing her cell as another tear fell.
“And Gray? How is he?” Celine questioned.
“Holding up, but it’s wearing on him.” With no response from Celine, Celeste again continued. “Celine, I realize this is not the solution you want to hear, but perhaps it is time to concede. Please understand, I do not say this to harm you, but to help you.”
Fury burned in Celine. “I will not submit to that man!” she yelled, pointing to Marcus.
“Even if it costs Damien his life?”
“Is that a threat, sister?”
“No, a warning. Celine, Damien is human. He cannot withstand the pressures of this world, especially without your help. He will break, Celine. He teeters on the edge now. Please consider the consequences.”
Tears rolled down Celine’s cheeks as she considered the effect on Damien.
“Celine, please. I love you. I want only the best for you. But if Damien has ill-effects, you will take this upon yourself. It will eat you up. It will destroy you, Celine. I am only considering your welfare and the welfare of your family. Celine, please,” Celeste begged. “I do not wish to see you like this. No one does.”
Celine sighed. She offered no response.
“Consider it, sister,” Celeste breathed, peering into the cell. “I love you, Celine.” Celeste turned to depart.
“I love you, too, Celeste. Be safe,” Celine replied.
A tear fell onto Celeste’s cheek. She whirled around to face Celine and hurried back to the door. “Oh, I love you, baby sister,” she said, reaching for Celine. “I do not wish you to hurt like this. Please understand that.”
Gone: A Shadow Slayers Story (Shadow Slayers Stories Book 3) Page 3
