“Nothing,” Gray responded. “Tell us more about the enchantment. Why didn’t you tell us that before?”
“I could barely get out what I did. You disappeared before I could tell you. And I don’t know any more. Celine didn’t tell me. I asked about it, but she said I couldn’t stay.”
Gray stood, pacing around the room. “An enchantment strong enough to hold Celine in and prevent anyone from seeing her or rescuing her? Have you ever heard of anything like that?” Gray asked Alexander.
“No. If Celine was human, I’d have said yes, but she’s not.”
“If she was human?” Michael questioned.
“Yes,” Alexander responded. “There are a variety of standard enchantments that work well on humans. However, being powerful enough to hold off any assaults from Celine… well, that’s another matter entirely.”
“Perhaps it’s a modification of one of those human spells,” Damien suggested.
“We will start there with our research,” Alexander agreed.
“Sounds like a good place to start,” Damien agreed.
“You need to rest,” Millie argued.
“I’m okay! I’ve been sleeping for an hour.”
“You need rest,” Gray agreed with Millie. “You’ve got to be ready for Celine’s next contact. Give him the sedative.”
“No! We have things to do!”
“You need rest! We told Celine the plan. She’s using that information to determine when to contact you. If we change it and she’s not aware, she could kill you summoning you. Go to sleep, get the rest you need,” Gray lectured.
“He’s right,” Michael said. “I need sleep, too. I’m tired and I haven’t even been through half of what you’ve been through. Come on, we’ll both head to bed.”
Damien grumbled. “Fine, fine.”
Millie prepared the sedative, administering it before walking Damien to his room. She sat with him until Gray arrived, books in hand to research while Damien slept. Without the sedative, Damien would have tossed and turned, anxious to research the situation. With the sleeping aid, he was out in minutes, off to a dreamless sleep.
Celine stared at the sliver of moon visible from her window. She walked a fine line with Marcus. Her plan to save her sister seemed to be working. Celeste should be restored to her normal state soon. After that, she could be freer with her refusals of Marcus. But not too free. She still needed to protect her family. Pushing too hard before she could manage a way out of his trap could cost her family’s lives. “One step at a time, Celine,” she told herself.
Celine’s brow creased. She snapped her head toward the cell’s door. What was that sound? Was it footsteps? Had Marcus returned to continue their argument about her signature in his book? Celine braced herself for the confrontation.
The noise continued overhead. Something was different. Marcus would have been down here already. Celine listened hard. It sounded like multiple people walking above. Her heart skipped a beat. Someone was here. Damien must have passed the message along! “Down here!” she called.
Lights appeared, shining down the stairway. “Here, down here!” she called again. Figures appeared on the stairs. The light glared in her eyes, making it impossible for her to identify the person holding it. The beam swung away, and she recognized Gray and Alexander. Her heart leapt for joy at the sight of them. Gray called up the steps to someone else. Within moments, Michael joined them.
“Anything?” he asked.
“Gray! Alexander! Michael!” Celine shouted, waving from her cell. “I’m here!” The trio walked around the basement, searching the place. It became apparent to Celine they could neither see nor hear her. Gray approached the cell. He jimmied the door, unable to open it. He shined his light inside, reporting to the others that he found nothing. Celine stood inches from him, unable to communicate. She reached out to him, unable to touch him.
He leaned against the door; his frustration clear. Celine stared at his face. She shared his pain. He slammed his hands against the door, upset, venting. “He wasn’t wrong, Gray,” Celine answered him, despite his inability to hear her, a tear rolling down her cheek. “I’m here. I’m right here.”
Alexander suggested they return to the house to seek more information. Celine watched them go. Tears continued to roll down her cheeks. They were so close, but she was unable to communicate with them. She hated to see them go. Her first glimpses of her family in over a week were bittersweet. But they were getting closer. Soon, she would reunite with them again. Soon, she promised herself, soon.
Damien awoke after ten the next morning. The late-night administration of the sedative meant he slept until mid-morning. He cursed the late hour. He hated sleeping this long, particularly when there was a problem. Alexander read a book in the armchair.
“Find anything that may help?” Damien asked, stretching as he climbed from bed.
“A handful of notions that may prove to be useful. If we can pinpoint more information about the enchantment, we may have more luck. I wonder if Celine has any additional information.”
“I’m not sure. I can ask her if she contacts me today.” Alexander nodded his head. “Also, I’d like to visit the mill. I realize you didn’t find anything there, but I would like to go.”
“It can’t hurt to have another look around. In the daylight, perhaps things will be clearer.”
“I’m going to grab a quick shower,” Damien said. “See you in a few.” Damien showered, changed clothes and appeared in the bedroom, ready for his morning coffee despite the approaching of the noon hour.
As he ate breakfast, Damien discussed his request to visit the mill. Everyone agreed returning was a good idea. They set off for the mill after Damien finished his meal.
When they arrived, Gray and Alexander insisted Michael and Damien wait outside at a safe distance while they confirmed the location was empty. After they gave the all clear, everyone entered the building. They spent a few minutes checking the large room. No clues pointed to Celine being there.
After fifteen minutes, they descended the stairs to the lower level. Damien searched the area. He shook his head, finding nothing. “Celine, where are you?” he asked, glancing around.
Footsteps sounded overhead. Celine glanced up. Someone was in the building. She crossed the room to the door, peering out. Hushed voices floated down the stairs to her. She waited at the door. Within a few moments, figures descended the stairs. She smiled, recognizing Gray, Alexander, Michael and Damien. Damien appeared fatigued but not unwell.
The four men searched the space. “I’m here,” Celine whispered.
“Celine, where are you? Damien asked.
“Here, D. I’m here,” Celine answered, even though he could not hear her. An idea formed in Celine’s mind. She strode across her cell, sitting against the wall. She breathed deeply, closing her eyes. She slipped into another realm.
“How can she be here, and we can’t see her!” Damien exclaimed.
“That’s rather the purpose of the enchantment,” Alexander responded.
“It’s so frustrating! Perhaps we should try some of those ideas you had for the…” Damien stopped speaking mid-sentence. He stared straight ahead at the cell door across the room. Within seconds, he collapsed to the floor, shivering with escalated breathing.
Gray raced to him, followed by Alexander and Michael. “Is it Celine?” Michael inquired.
Gray glanced around. “Yes. I wonder if she realizes we’re here.”
“We must keep him warm. Cover him with your jackets,” Alexander instructed. They covered him with their jackets, doing their best to keep him warm while he remained in his trance.
The door across the room folded on itself in front of Damien’s eyes. The stone walls melted around him, creating a river that flowed away from him. He saw gray trees as the walls crumbled. “Celine?” he called, searching the landscape for her.
“Damien!” Celine called, racing toward him. She embraced him. “You found me. I can see you. All of
you at the mill. I’m right there in the cell. I can see you. I can hear you. I’m right there with you.”
“Perhaps if you call to us…”
“No. I tried last night. You can’t see or hear me, but I can see and hear you.”
“Do you know any details about the enchantment? We are working to break it, but Alexander said it would be easier if you provided details.”
“I don’t have any. I’m sorry. You must go, but there is one more thing.”
“What is it?”
“If everything goes as planned, Marcus will cure Celeste’s condition tonight. You mustn’t try anything before then. Once she is cured, we’ll work on getting me released from this prison.”
“Okay. I’ll tell them. When I can. Sometimes I’m sick after and it takes me a while to recover.”
“I understand. Now you must go, Damien.” Celine released him from her embrace. The gray world turned black as he returned to his own realm.
Celine gasped as she returned from Shadow World. She stood on weak legs, wiping the blood running from her nose, and raced to the cell door. Everyone grouped around Damien. She peered at the scene. He shivered uncontrollably, gasping for breath. She covered her mouth as a whimper escaped. The scene twisted her heart into a knot. “Damien,” she whispered through tears. “Please wake up.”
“He’s really cold,” Michael stated, rubbing Damien’s arms. Alexander rubbed his legs.
“Should I retrieve Mille?” Gray questioned. Damien moaned.
“Wait, perhaps he is coming to,” Alexander replied. “Damien? Damien!”
Damien’s eyes remained closed, but he murmured, his head rocking back and forth. “… Celine… Celeste… see us…”
“He’s out of it,” Gray said, glancing to Alexander. “Should we get him back to the house?”
“Yes, he’s terribly cold. He needs to be warmed while he recovers,” Alexander answered.
“Okay. Lift him up,” Gray said.
“I’ve got him,” Michael said, shouldering Damien on one side. Alexander held up the opposite side. Together, they dragged him across the room, ascending the stairs.
Gray stood, glancing around. “If you’re here, Celine, and you can hear me, we’ll be back for you. Damien needs to recover, but we will be back after he’s better. I love you, Celine.”
“I love you, too, Gray,” Celine wept. Gray crossed the room, ascending the stairs. Celine stepped away from the door as silence fell over the structure. Worse than her own imprisonment, she wept for Damien. The negative effects from the trips to Shadow World were clear. Witnessing how ill he was following a trip there disturbed Celine. Perhaps she should only communicate with him every other day. Perhaps daily was too much for him.
Celine pondered the situation. She would make one more trip tomorrow to inform him of Celeste’s condition, then stop.
Alexander and Michael carried Damien to the sitting room. They placed him near the fireplace, propping his head up with a pillow. They covered him with blankets. Millie, who was reading in the sitting room, rushed to take his vitals. “Another contact from Celine?”
“Yes. At least that’s what we assume,” Alexander answered.
“It must be,” Gray replied. “It can’t be a coincidence that she told him she is there and contacted him while he was there.”
“We’ll have to wait until he can speak to find out,” Alexander answered.
“He spoke a little at the mill, but it was incoherent,” Michael added.
“His vitals aren’t too bad,” Millie stated. “He’s cold, but his heart rate is close to normal. His adrenaline must have been pumping while at the mill. It’s helped him a bit.”
“Will he wake sooner?” Michael asked.
“I can’t say for sure. Let’s hope so,” Millie replied. The group waited, tension building as each minute passed. Within thirty minutes, Damien groaned. “Damien?” Millie asked.
Damien continued groaning, opening his eyes. A pained expression came over him. “Ugh. I’m sick,” Damien murmured.
“Sit him up,” Millie instructed.
Gray began pulling him up to sitting. “No, no. I don’t need to throw up. I just feel nauseous. But I’m okay,” Damien informed them.
“Millie thinks the adrenaline in your system may have helped your recovery,” Michael said.
“I don’t feel as bad as normal. Don’t get me wrong, I feel awful overall. But I’ve been worse. Can someone help me to the couch?”
“Sure, buddy,” Michael answered, easing him from the floor to standing.
“Easy,” Millie advised. “Easy, don’t push too fast.”
Damien stood on shaky legs, grasping at Michael to stay upright. “You okay?” Michael asked.
Damien nodded. “Yes.”
“I’ll retrieve a cup of hot tea for you,” Alexander informed him.
“Thanks, that would be great,” Damien answered. “Then I’ll tell everyone what Celine told me.”
They situated Damien on the couch, keeping him covered in blankets. Millie monitored his vitals, ensuring the movement did not prove too much for him. Alexander returned with a cup of steaming hot tea. Damien sipped at it before launching into the details of his meeting with Celine.
“So, Celine is at the mill. She can see and hear us,” he began.
“She can?!” Gray exclaimed. “So, we could communicate with her that way? At least one-way?”
“Easy, let him finish,” Michael chided.
Damien nodded. “It’s okay and yes. She can hear everything we say. She said she’s in that little cell. And yes, we can ask her things, then she could respond via Shadow World conversations with me.”
“Except she’s got to be careful. If she can see us, undoubtedly, she’s upset witnessing your reaction to the visit with her,” Alexander surmised.
“But I’m fine!” Damien answered.
“Someone needs to tell her that,” Gray answered. “Did she say anything else? I’ll go talk to her as soon as we’re finished with this conversation.”
“No!” Damien exclaimed. “You can’t. She said the Duke is curing Celeste tonight. She warned me not to do anything before that. I guess she doesn’t want to mess it up. She said we would work on freeing her once Celeste is okay.”
“She persuaded him to fix Celeste?” Gray asked, smirking.
“She is sly, isn’t she?” Alexander said, glancing to Gray.
“That she is,” Gray agreed. “Although I wish she’d worry about herself instead of Celeste.”
“That’s not Celine’s style,” Alexander replied.
“No, it’s not,” Gray answered. “I wonder if I could make it to the mill and back before Marcus arrives there. I’d like to tell her that Damien is okay. She’s probably worried sick.”
Alexander glanced at the clock on the mantle. “It’s almost five. I wouldn’t chance it.”
“Damn,” Gray cursed. “She needs to know Damien is all right.”
“Tell her tomorrow,” Michael suggested. “I mean, I realize you want her to know as soon as possible, but if you mess up the Celeste thing, she will not be happy with you.”
Gray chuckled. “No, she would not be. Well, looks like we’re on hold for the night.”
“Time to hit the books. Find a way to disenchant the enchantment,” Damien replied.
“Time for you to eat something and rest for the evening,” Gray replied.
“I won’t say no to the food, but I’d like to check out some of these books you’re studying before you put me to sleep.”
“I don’t see the harm in it,” Alexander answered. “But only an hour or so, you must rest. We’re getting close to creating a solution that may break the enchantment. We need you to be healthy in the event that we need to contact Celine.”
Damien agreed after a brief argument. They ate dinner and spent the early evening discussing information from the books in Alexander’s collection. They formulated several disenchantment spells to test before Millie insi
sted Damien retire for the evening.
Damien spent the first thirty minutes after stretching out in bed worrying about Celine. Knowing Celine, she lay in her prison worrying over him, Celeste, Gray, Alexander, Michael, Millie, Charlotte, Avery and the two children. He hoped it didn’t stop her from contacting him again. If Alexander was correct and Celine witnessed his reaction to the Shadow World visit, she’d be reluctant to contact him again. He sighed, his mind turning to other aspects of the issue. Would Celeste be cured tonight, he wondered? How had Celine accomplished that feat? What had she given up or promised to obtain that favor? Worry consumed Damien again. His mind rambled from thought to thought until the sedative kicked in, sending him to a dreamless sleep.
Celine paced her cell, apprehensive over Damien’s condition. How was he, she wondered? Was he ill, unconscious, worse? Had he passed the message along to Gray? They must not act until Marcus cured Celeste.
Celine glanced out the window. The sun had set hours ago. Celeste would have risen from her daytime hiding spot. Had she met with Marcus? Had there been an issue? Celine groaned, resuming her pacing.
After another hour, footsteps fell above her. She rushed to the cell door, peering out. Figures descended the stairs, crossing the room. Celine recognized Marcus and Celeste. Was it done, she wondered? She received her answer as the duo approached the door.
“Good evening, my dear,” Marcus greeted her. “May I present your newly restored sister?”
A smile crossed Celine’s face. “It is finished?” she questioned.
“It is. I have restored Celeste to her rightful state,” Marcus assured her.
Celine glanced to Celeste. Celeste nodded. “It is true, sister.”
A tear escaped Celine’s eye. She breathed a sigh of relief. One problem was solved. She hated to admit she owed Marcus Northcott for it, but she did. Although, she reflected, he caused the issue. It was only right that he should fix it. “Are you sure?”
Gone: A Shadow Slayers Story (Shadow Slayers Stories Book 3) Page 12
