“Well, his loss. What’s our plan?”
Damien shook his head. “I have no idea. For once, I have no plan. Not even an inkling of a plan.”
“That’s okay. We’ll come up with something.”
“What? Where do we even start? Wander around the estate and continue to find nothing? Pester Celeste when the sun sets?”
Michael didn’t respond. “Let’s check around some of the other buildings nearby. The houses on the outskirts of the estate. Oh, hey, that reminds me. I asked Avery about the caretaker’s cottage. She said it’s still there. Want to check it out with me?”
“Sure. Then you can leave, too, and I’ll be alone here,” Damien complained.
“I’m not going anywhere while Celine is gone,” Michael promised. “But we still can look.”
“Okay. Sorry, I’m just… tired.”
“Yeah, I know,” Michael answered, clapping Damien on the back. “It’s fine. We’ll take it slow.”
Damien finished his breakfast, downing a second cup of coffee before they began their journey. They spent the morning hours searching the properties on the fringes of the estate. Their last stop before lunch was the caretaker’s cottage. They found it in decent shape. With a good cleaning and some minor maintenance, Michael and Damien surmised it would be a functional house for Michael. Again, Michael assured him he would not move until Celine was found.
They returned to the house for lunch. After lunch, Damien opted to lie down, stating exhaustion from his sleepless night was catching up to him. He strolled through the foyer. His eyes slid upwards to the portrait above the massive fireplace. Celine’s portrait. He stopped, staring up at it. The lifelike portrait seemed to stare back, her bright blue eyes captivating even on canvas.
Damien smiled at the painting, recalling it held a piece of Celine’s soul. A part of Celine guarded him. It made him feel safer. If he could have, he would have laid down in the foyer near the painting and slept. He stared at it for another few moments. “Where are you, Celine?” he asked aloud.
“Part of her is there,” Millie answered him, strolling across the foyer to meet him.
“I know,” Damien answered. “It helps to realize that.”
Millie eyed him for a moment before returning her gaze to the portrait. “Have you decided against the nap?”
“No,” he sighed. “Just didn’t make it there yet.”
“Will you be able to sleep?”
“I hope so. I am exhausted. I ache all over.”
“Tension can do strange things to the body, Damien,” Millie noted. “You must try to get proper rest. If you need a sleep aid, just ask.”
“I don’t. At least, I hope I don’t. Let me try the nap. If I can’t sleep, I’ll let you know.”
“All right. I hope you sleep. Pleasant dreams,” Millie wished him as he trudged up the stairs.
Damien crawled into bed. Dreams, he scoffed as he considered Millie’s last statement. Yes, perhaps he could have another dream of Celine for everyone to ignore. Their rebuke of his dream as meaningful annoyed him. Michael believed him. At least that’s what he said. His musings turned from his annoyance with his housemates to brooding over Celine’s disappearance. He had no ideas, no clues on proceeding. It frustrated him. He always had a plan. This time, when Celine needed him the most, he had nothing.
He tossed and turned, frustrated with himself and his situation. He stared out of the window. Bright sunlight shone in. The light dimmed. A cloud must be passing over the sun, he surmised. He closed his eyes for a moment, drifting away.
Damien glanced around, rubbing his eyes. He failed to recognize his surroundings. Had he sleepwalked? He pushed up to sitting. Where was he? Trees soared overhead, standing motionless. Their leaves, normally bright with color this time of year, were colorless. Even the pine trees were gray. Eerie silence surrounded him. He stood, glancing around. He shrugged his hoodie closer around him. A shiver shot through his body. He rubbed his hands together, blowing on them to warm them. Why was it so cold, he wondered?
A strange reverberating sound drew his attention. He swiveled his head in its direction. “Hello?” He received no answer. “Hello? Is someone there?”
The noise sounded again. Damien inched toward it. “Hello?” he called again, shivering. He crossed his arms, trying to keep warm. The noise rang out again. This time it was discernible. “Damien,” Celine’s voice echoed.
“Celine?” Damien responded, his heart racing. “Celine, where are you?”
“Here,” her voice answered, echoing all around him. “Focus, Damien, focus on my voice.”
“Celine?” he cried, panic filling him as he gawked around to spot her.
“Focus, Damien. Deep breaths,” Celine advised.
Damien swallowed hard. He fought to steady his breath. Closing his eyes, he focused on her voice. When his breath was steady, he opened his eyes. Celine stood in front of him, a few feet away. “You found me,” she stated. She smiled at him.
His eyes grew wide, and he reached for her. “Celine!” he exclaimed, his heart skipping a beat. Then the world melted away. His body jolted. “No!” he cried as the scene faded.
Damien opened his eyes. “No! No!” he shouted.
“Damien, Damien!” Michael said, shaking him. “Are you all right?”
Millie rushed into the room along with Alexander. “Huh? What?” Damien asked, confused.
“I overheard a noise when I passed your door,” Michael replied. “I popped my head in to check. Your breathing was erratic, and you were shaking. I called for Millie, I assumed something was wrong.”
Damien caught his breath. “I was dreaming, I guess.”
“About Celine?” Alexander inquired.
Damien nodded. “Yes, about Celine.”
“Would you mind if I checked your vitals?” Millie asked. Damien shook his head. “Tell us about the dream,” Millie prodded as she checked Damien’s pulse.
Damien furrowed his brow, recalling the details. “I was in a place I didn’t recognize. It was a strange place. I remember being cold, freezing, in fact. Then I heard Celine’s voice calling to me. At first, I couldn’t recognize or understand it. But then it became clearer. I couldn’t see her. She told me to focus. So, I did and then she was there. She said, ‘You found me’ and I reached for her. But then everything faded away, and I woke up. It didn’t seem like a dream. It was so real. It was like she was with me.”
“I have no doubt it was,” Millie admitted. “Your pulse is elevated a bit, nothing to be concerned about. I’m glad you slept.”
Damien scoffed. “I’m still exhausted. In fact, I feel worse.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Millie answered. “You should retire early this evening. The stress is undoubtedly overwhelming.”
Damien nodded. “I doubt I’ll make it far past dinner, to be honest.”
Alexander chimed in, “How about a chess game to pass the time until dinner, Damien? It may relax your mind.”
“Sure. I am not sure how great of an opponent I’ll be. I am not sure I can concentrate.”
“I’ll go easy on you,” Alexander promised.
“Thanks,” Damien answered, standing.
“You sure you don’t want to try another nap?” Michael asked.
“I’m sure. I’m exhausted, but I’m afraid I won’t sleep tonight.” He chuckled for a moment.
“What’s funny?” Michael inquired.
“I was just remembering Celine used to say that all the time when she was Josie. Remember?”
Michael grinned at him. “Yep, I remember. She’d get so mad at us for suggesting she nap.”
“Yep,” Damien answered, returning the grin. “Life’s weird, huh?”
“We have no shortage of weird,” Michael agreed.
Celine opened her eyes, smiling to herself. She attempted a second contact with Damien. This time, he had spotted her. His mind, jumbled with stress and panic, had focused enough to find her. The result of the latest cont
act pleased her. Perhaps soon she could speak with him and pass along information. She must be careful. Too long of an exposure to the environment could prove fatal. Particularly for a human. Still, progress was being made.
Noise drew her attention to the area outside of her cell. Celine stood and approached the door. The familiar form of Marcus Northcott approached. She stalked away from the door, uninterested in the upcoming conversation.
“Good evening, Celine,” Marcus said.
“I’m finding it difficult to agree there is anything good about this evening,” Celine admitted.
“My, we are in a sour mood this evening!” Marcus replied.
“If my dreary mood bothers you, you can leave. I wouldn’t mind,” Celine suggested.
“No bother at all, Celine. Besides, we have another important discussion to engage in.” Celine did not respond. “Cat got your tongue, Celine?”
“Whatever you’re dying to say, Marcus, say it.”
“You never appreciate my dramatic flair, Celine.” Celine rolled her eyes, crossing her arms and staring at him. “Fine. You have been here over one week.”
“And?”
“Have you reconsidered my offer?”
“No.”
“It would be prudent for you do so.”
“Okay, let me consider it.” Celine paused. “No.”
“I am not amused, Celine.”
“You never appreciate my dramatic flair,” Celine mocked.
“Don’t push my me, Celine.”
“I shouldn’t be able to. You have the upper hand, as you informed me.”
“You are correct, my dear. I do. And I plan to use it to my advantage.”
“Oh?”
“Yes,” Marcus informed her. “With you here, unable to protect your family, they shall be easy prey for me.”
Infuriated, Celine sped to the door. “Do not harm my family,” she warned.
“Or what, my dear?” Marcus hissed, bringing his face close to the window. “What will you do to stop me?”
Celine set her jaw, anger burning through her. Marcus stepped away from the door, pacing the floor outside the cell. “You can do nothing to stop me, Celine. But I am a patient and forgiving man. I shall give you one more night to consider my offer. If you have not changed your mind by tomorrow evening, I shall begin my assault.”
“Patient and forgiving? You are a vile creature, Marcus.”
He ceased his pacing, smirking at her. “Do you recall what I told you in the wee hours of the morning following your sixteenth birthday? I’m sure you do. Heed those words, Celine. Consider carefully your predicament and choose wisely. Good evening, my dear.” He nodded to her and sauntered away.
Silence fell over the room as his footsteps receded. Celine stalked to the small window, peering outside at the night sky. She considered Marcus’ last statement. She, indeed, recalled the conversation the morning after her sixteenth birthday. She recalled it in vivid detail, as though it happened only yesterday.
The night of her sixteenth birthday had changed her life forever. Marcus requested her to become a member of his cult, to join him in his quest to rule the world. After revealing her father’s dead body to her, he asked her to kill the man responsible for his death to prove her loyalty. She refused, stealing his prized Book of the Dead and running from him. In the end, she had drawn his blood, sealing her fate as a supernatural being, in a desperate attempt to escape him.
Michael and Damien assisted her that night, relieving her of the book and returning to this time with it. After that evening, she would wait for over two centuries for them to return the book to her. Her life would not be pleasant. Marcus would torture her.
Her torment would begin the morning after that fated night. Celine recalled storming to her sister’s house from the beach where she had opened the time portal for Michael and Damien. She burst through the doors, intent on leaving to return to her father’s home.
Her brother-in-law, Teddy, her sister, Celeste, and Marcus followed her there. She recalled the massive argument that ensued.
“Where do you presume you are going, Celine?” Teddy bellowed at her.
“To my father’s. I shall leave tonight. I will not spend another night in this house,” she insisted.
“Celine! You shall do no such thing!”
“Do not presume to tell me what to do!” Celine shouted.
“Celine, calm yourself, you speak out of turn!” Celeste insisted.
“How dare you suggest that I calm myself,” Celine screamed. “Papa is dead! You are complicit. All of you! I shall not subject myself to this madness any longer.” Celine whipped around, climbing the steps.
She made it three steps up when Teddy roared, “Yes, Celine. You are correct. Your father is dead!”
Celine ground to a halt at hearing the words. They echoed in her head as her eyes filled with tears. Teddy continued, “And as such, your father’s home is no more. Your father resided in the Governor’s mansion, which will soon house the new governor. You, my dear sister-in-law, will reside with your new guardians until such time as you are to marry.” Celine set her jaw, realizing the meaning of his words. “If I am not being clear, Celine, you shall live with us.”
“I must deal with my father’s things.”
“Oh, they will be dealt with. I shall see to it,” Teddy assured her. “You will not leave this house. Not unless you are accompanied by me or your fiancé.”
Celine cocked her head. “My fiancé?” she questioned.
“Never fear, Celine,” Marcus chimed in, his voice steady, unemotional. “We shall observe an appropriate grieving period before we wed.”
Celine flew down the stairs. “I will never marry this man,” she screamed.
“Celine, you will listen and obey me as your guardian. Now go to your room.”
Celine’s eyes burned with fury. Anger prevented her from responding. She fled up the steps to her room, hot tears spilling down her cheeks. She slammed the door behind her, flinging herself onto her bed, weeping.
Moments later, her door opened. She glanced over her shoulder, spying Marcus entering the room. She leapt from the bed. “How dare you enter this room!” she spat. “Get out!”
“Calm yourself, Celine. There are things we must discuss.” He offered her his handkerchief. “Dry your eyes, my dear.”
Celine refused the offer. “There is nothing we must discuss.”
“But there is. I admire your strength, Celine. I admire that fiery spirit. But make no mistake, as your husband, I will not tolerate outbursts such as the one displayed moments ago in the foyer.”
“You will never be my husband! I shall never marry you!” Celine shouted through tears.
“You are distraught so I shall be lenient. But I warn you, Celine, I will not permit this behavior to continue.” Celine stalked away from him, frustrated. Marcus approached her, putting his hands on her arms. “Now, my dear, I suggest we begin anew. Tonight did not turn out the way I desired, but we shall move forward together.”
Celine shuddered as his hands gripped her. She pulled away from his touch. “I shall move nowhere with you,” she seethed.
“Celine, do not be rash in your judgement. You have little choice in the matter. I shall soon become your husband.”
“Never! Get out!”
“I will not be spoken to in this manner! With the life I shall provide you, you should be on your knees thanking me.”
Celine raised her hand to slap him. He grabbed her arm as she swung. “Don’t do anything you may regret, Celine,” he hissed at her.
“I would not regret striking you,” she countered.
He released her arm, throwing her onto the bed. “I shall ignore your comments. You are hysterical. You may thank me later. For now, you should sleep.” He stalked to the door, opening it and stepping out. Before pulling it shut, he said, “Resign yourself, Celine. We are bonded, you and I. Bonded as one for eternity. We are destined. There is no use in fighting. I shall have
you, Celine. You shall be mine.”
Celine’s mind snapped back to the present. Marcus’ words echoed in her mind. She lived in misery that night and for many nights after. She now lived in misery again. Two centuries later, her life continued to be disrupted by Marcus. With his latest threat, she’d have to move her timetable up. Despite the danger, she would appeal to Damien again tonight. She prayed he could withstand it. She wouldn’t put his life in danger, but she had to try.
Celine settled on the floor of her cell. She took a deep breath before relaxing. She laid back, breathing deep. “Let’s try this again, Damien,” she whispered.
Chapter 5
Everyone settled in the sitting room. Michael reviewed his work. Millie read and Alexander and Damien engaged in a game of chess. Damien struggled to stay awake, but as time passed, his exhaustion waned a bit. By dinner, he was tired but not exhausted.
Conversation was kept light during dinner. Still, the dark pall of Celine’s absence hung over the meal. After dinner, Damien excused himself to turn in for the night. Millie offered him a sedative, but Damien refused. Given the ill effects the sedative had on him, he preferred to try natural sleep.
He stretched out as he slid under the covers. Celine entered his mind. No, he refused. He couldn’t dwell on her disappearance now. It would prevent his sleep. And he desperately needed sleep. He considered changing his mind, asking Millie for the sedative. He reasoned he’d feel worse with it. He closed his eyes, counting sheep. He drifted off in the mid-seventies.
Damien opened his eyes, glancing around. He recognized his surroundings despite not being in his room. He had been here before, during his nap. The same trees loomed over him. The same eerie silence pervaded the space. His mind sensed more details of the space this time. The features were not as hazy. He noted the lack of color in the place, the strange musty smell. The cold bothered him. He shivered against it.
Noise reverberated around him. He couldn’t understand it, it was indiscernible. “Hello?” he called.
“Damien,” Celine answered, her voice echoing. “Focus, Damien.”
Gone: A Shadow Slayers Story (Shadow Slayers Stories Book 3) Page 5
