“I love you, Celine,” Celeste said, making eye contact with Celine.
“I love you, too, Celeste,” Celine responded. Celeste exited, climbing the stairs.
“I hope you are satisfied,” Marcus said once Celeste departed. “And I have one more surprise for you, my dear.”
“Oh?” Celine inquired, surprised.
He offered her a slight smile. “Yes. Consider it another early wedding present. I shall return later.” Marcus strode away from the cell door toward the stairs.
“Wait,” Celine called. “What is it?”
Marcus turned back. “Patience, Celine. I wouldn’t want to ruin the surprise.”
He disappeared up the stairs, leaving Celine to wonder what he meant. She hated surprises, particularly those from Marcus Northcott. What did he mean? Should she try to contact Damien? Try to escape? No, she mused, it was too early. Too close to her last contact with him. It was too dangerous. She was left to wait, wonder and worry what may be in store for her.
Damien cleared the door, backing into the foyer. He pretended to head to the kitchen, making his way out a side door along the way and racing into the woods. He ran along the path leading to the cliffs. As he emerged from the woods, he spotted the familiar form of Marcus Northcott standing near the cave. He slowed his pace, trying to slow his breathing as well. He swallowed hard, fear rising in his belly. He tried to swallow it down, hoping to generate an illusion of bravery.
“You made it,” Marcus noted as he approached.
“Yep!” he said, his voice an octave higher than normal. He shut his eyes a moment, clearing his throat. “Yes, I did,” he reiterated, forcing his voice lower.
“Celine will be pleased.”
“I am too. I miss her,” he admitted.
“Shall we?” Marcus asked, signaling to the path leading toward the mill.
“Sure,” Damien said, feeling anything but certain. Damien followed Marcus down the path. He side-eyed him much of the way. He’d met the Duke on a few previous occasions, but he’d never been alone with him. Nor did he know much about the man.
“You’re quite brave, Damien. You didn’t hesitate when given the opportunity to visit Celine,” Marcus said as they descended a hill.
Damien wasn’t sure how he felt about receiving a compliment from the Duke. “I would never hesitate when it came to Celine. She’s my family and I love her.”
“Such loyalty, particularly for someone who isn’t really your family.”
“She is my family,” Damien insisted. “And I’d do anything for her.”
“Including slipping away from the Buckleys to visit her,” Marcus noted.
For the first time, Damien considered how foolish the decision was. No one realized what he was doing, no one could help him if the Duke was being disingenuous. He swallowed hard, realizing he may have just made the worst choice of his life. And possibly the last choice of his life. Still, he convinced himself, he had to for Celine. He couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see her in the flesh, to ensure she was all right. Visiting her in Shadow World was one thing but seeing her in person was another. Perhaps he could obtain additional information about how to free her. Damien eyed the Duke sideways. Then again, perhaps he was walking to his doom.
“I want to make sure Celine is unharmed,” he answered.
“You’ll find her quite well,” Marcus replied.
“Ha! Do you expect me to believe that?” Damien retorted, almost immediately regretting being so bold.
Marcus ceased walking for a moment, turning to Damien. Damien flinched, bracing himself. “Oh, stop that,” Marcus said, noticing his stance. “Despite the lore the Buckleys have fed you, I am not a total monster. I would never harm Celine.”
Damien raised his eyebrow. “I’m not sure anyone, including Celine, would agree with you.”
“Celine has been under their influence for far too long. Now, come along,” Marcus said, resuming his walk.
“How do I know you’re taking me to her?”
“Why would I take you anywhere else?”
“To kill me?” Damien queried.
Marcus rolled his eyes, stopping again. “I wouldn’t waste my time nor my energy killing you. You are insignificant to me.”
“Then why come to me at all?” Damien asked, suspicious.
“Because you are not insignificant to Celine. Now, I don’t have all day to spend with your ridiculous drivel, so if you are quite finished with your questions, please let us proceed.” Damien eyed him a moment as he walked ahead. Something struck him as odd in the last set of statements made by the Duke. “Are you coming or not?” Marcus shouted back to him.
There was no time to consider it now. Damien hurried behind him, catching up. “Yeah,” he answered.
“You’re too inquisitive for your own good, Damien,” Marcus chided. “It may get you into trouble one day.”
“Sorry,” Damien responded, “everyone says that.”
“It was you who determined the location of the painting, was it not?”
“Celine’s portrait? Yep, that was me,” Damien boasted, again regretting his imprudence almost as soon as he uttered the words. Marcus could not be happy that Damien’s investigative skills cost him Celine’s painting. “Well, I mean…”
“You’re too clever for your own good, too,” Marcus interrupted him. Damien swallowed hard. “Your talents are quite wasted as a human, you know.” Damien’s brow furrowed. He was about to object, to tell Marcus he’d never consider any offers he may extend when the mill came into view. “Here we are.”
“She’s at the mill?” Damien inquired, pretending to be unaware. Marcus smirked at him. “Aren’t you concerned that someone will stumble upon her?”
“Never fear, dear Damien. I am not foolish enough to leave something like that up to chance. As you Americans say: this isn’t my first rodeo.”
They entered the building and Marcus motioned to follow him downstairs. Damien followed, curious to determine how he would reveal Celine. As they descended the stairs, he glanced around the room. Movement caught his attention, and he gazed toward the door across the room. A small face peered out of the bars.
“Celine!” Damien cried, running to the door.
“Damien? Damien!” Celine cried in greeting.
Marcus strode over to them. “Here is your surprise, Celine. Are you pleased?”
Celine grasped Damien’s hand through the bars, smiling at him. “Yes, very.”
“Would you care to go inside?” Marcus asked Damien.
“Yes!” Damien responded.
Celine stepped backward as Marcus opened the door. Damien rushed inside to her. She wrapped him in her arms, tears rolling down her cheeks. “Damien!” she cried as she squeezed him.
“Celine, are you okay?” Damien asked.
“Yes, I’m fine. How are you? Celeste tells me you’ve been ill from the stress.”
“I’m okay,” Damien assured her. “I’ve been having… bouts of anxiety,” he said, dancing around the truth, “but I am fine.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure. In a few hours after one of my… attacks, I am recovered.”
Celine nodded, understanding his meaning. “Oh, Damien, it’s so good to see you in person,” she said, wrapping him in a bear hug again.
“You, too. I’ve been so worried.”
“And now you can verify I haven’t harmed Celine in any way,” Marcus informed him.
“You’re keeping her locked in a cell like a prisoner!” Damien cried.
“Damien, hush,” Celine chided.
“I’ve done what is necessary to achieve the desired result,” Marcus retorted.
“Which is?” Damien questioned.
“None of your business,” Marcus countered.
“I beg to differ…” Damien began.
“Damien,” Celine cautioned, “let’s not spend what little time we have arguing.”
“Yes, Celine is correct,” Marcus agreed. “Particularly whe
n there is such joyous news to share.”
“Joyous news?” Damien questioned.
“Why don’t you tell him, darling?” Marcus insisted. “I shouldn’t like to take the opportunity from you.”
“Tell me what?” Damien inquired.
Celine cast her eyes to the floor. She swallowed hard, searching for the words to inform Damien of the latest developments. “Celine?” Damien asked again.
Celine’s eyes rose to meet Damien’s. “Marcus and I are to be married,” she admitted, her voice a hushed whisper.
“What?!” Damien exclaimed. “Celine, you can’t marry him! Besides, you’re already married.”
“Not anymore,” Marcus informed him. “She has already renounced her marriage. All that remains is to formalize it.”
“No,” Damien argued, swiveling to face Celine. “No, you can’t be serious.”
“Damien, please. I realize what I am doing.”
“Celine, no! Your choice is wrong. It’s… it’s just wrong! You can’t! Did he threaten you? Us? We’ll be okay, don’t give in to him. You can’t do this!”
“She has made her choice,” Marcus retorted. “Your feeble protestations can do nothing now.”
Celine stepped around Damien to the door. “Have you brought him here merely to torture him with this news?”
“Of course not, Celine. I’ve brought him here for something quite different.”
“Oh?”
Marcus smiled at her. “Yes. I imagined you might enjoy having your favorite family member at our wedding. Perhaps, Damien, you could give the bride away.”
“I’d never give her to you!” Damien shouted.
“Damien, please,” Celine cautioned.
“Celine, I’m not going to let you throw away your life for… him!” he exclaimed, gesturing to Marcus.
Marcus narrowed his eyes at Damien. “Well, if that’s your stance then I suppose it is time for you to go.”
“No!” Damien responded, circling his arms around Celine.
Celine was torn. As much as she wanted Damien to stay, he was her only connection to the outside world. If he remained in this cell with her, she had no way of contacting anyone outside it. “Damien, I…” she began before noise interrupted her.
Marcus’ brow furrowed, and he turned toward the stairs, waving his hand across the room. Footsteps sounded overhead. They approached the steps leading downward. Celine’s eyes grew wide. Her perfect plan was about to be ruined.
Chapter 11
“What? Gone?” Michael asked. “Are you sure? Where?”
“Yes, I’m sure. And I have no idea where. If I had, I’d be there, bringing him back.”
“Well, where could he have gone? Why would he leave?” Michael asked.
“Whatever caused him to leave must be serious,” Alexander chimed in, standing from his seat at the chess table.
“Yeah, this is unlike Damien,” Michael replied. “But in retrospect, he was acting weird. Nervous. I figured it was just the stress, but perhaps something happened.”
“But what?” Alexander questioned.
“And where is the best place to begin searching?” Michael queried.
“It has to do with Celine. He wouldn’t just disappear,” Gray conjectured.
“Do you think he went to the mill?” Alexander inquired.
“Why would he do that? What could he do?” Michael questioned.
“Did she give him more information than he shared with us? Did he imagine he could help her? Test one of our theories?” Gray postulated.
“Only one way to find out,” Alexander answered. “Let’s go. We must find him.”
“I agree. We’ll start there,” Gray replied.
Michael ran a hand through his hair. “I hope we find him soon,” Michael said, expressing his worry. “Perhaps we should take a blanket and Millie in case we find him sick.”
“Good idea. I’ll get Millie. You two go ahead, we’ll catch up,” Gray answered. He disappeared from the room. Michael grabbed a blanket from the couch and followed Alexander out of the house.
Gray and Millie caught up with Alexander and Michael halfway to the mill. Millie puffed from exertion, trying to keep up with Gray’s pace. “I checked his room just to be sure when I called Millie. No trace of him,” Gray informed them.
“Man, I hope he’s at the mill,” Michael said. “Perhaps we should split up. What if he isn’t there? We’re wasting time.”
“Do you have a better place to begin?” Gray asked.
Michel considered it a moment, but nothing sprang to mind. He shook his head. “No. I don’t. Sorry, I just hate pinning our hopes on one place. If we’re wrong, it could cost Damien…” Michael stopped, unable to finish the sentence.
They arrived at the mill. “You two hang back, we’ll check it out first,” Gray stated, leaving Millie and Michael hidden behind a few nearby shrubs. After a few moments, Alexander waved an all clear.
Michael sprang from his hiding spot, racing toward the building. Millie followed at a slower pace. “Anything?” Michael asked as he approached.
Alexander shook his head. “It appears not.”
“Oh, no,” Michael lamented. “Are you sure?”
“We’d like to have a more thorough check, but at first glance, it appears he is not here.”
They entered the building. Michael glanced around, calling for Damien. “If he’s anywhere, he’d be downstairs.”
“I took a quick glance, I saw nothing, but let’s check it out,” Gray answered.
Michael hurried down the stairs, followed by the others. “Damien?” he called. “Damien! Are you here, buddy?”
They all searched the room, finding nothing. “He’s not here!” Michael declared. “Damn it! Now what?”
Gray shook his head, shrugging. “I’m not sure. Perhaps that clearing in the trees? Maybe the beach? Where are his favorite spots?”
“Yeah, yeah, maybe the clearing,” Michael spoke hurriedly. “He loves that spot.”
“Let’s split up,” Alexander suggested. “Two of us to the beach, the other two to the clearing. Meet back at the house if we find nothing.”
“I have my phone, text if you find anything. Okay, let’s go,” Michael stated, heading toward the stairs.
“Wait,” Gray replied. He stood in the middle of the room, glancing around. “Celine! Damien said you can hear us. I hope you can. Damien’s missing, we can’t find him. Do not contact him until we find him, Celine. We don’t want to take any chances with his life, and he gets very sick afterwards. We’re taking good care of him, don’t worry. But don’t contact him until you hear from us.” He turned to the rest of the group. “Okay, let’s go. Hopefully, she heard us.”
As Michael appeared hurrying down the steps, Celine whispered to Damien, “Are they aware of where you are?”
“No,” Damien whispered back. “He said not to tell anyone.”
Michael called to Damien. The group had a discussion about other spots to check. They appeared ready to depart. Celine held her breath. So far, no damage had been done. She could explain away their appearance here with a bit of work. It wouldn’t be easy, but she could do it.
Then Gray stopped, turning around in the room. He spoke directly to Celine. Celine’s heart dropped. He revealed that he realized she could hear him and referenced contacting Damien. Celine closed her eyes as Gray finished his speech. There would be no explaining this. None.
She glanced to Marcus, noting the perplexed expression on his face. It was fleeting. Marcus’ intelligence quickly pieced the puzzle together. Bewilderment turned to realization. He set his jaw; a gesture Celine recognized well. She prepared for the oncoming hurricane.
He turned to her, his posture stiff, his face set. He opened the cell door, joining Celine and Damien inside. Celine backed up a step, shoving Damien behind her. “You have betrayed me, Celine.”
Celine did not speak. “I…” she began after a moment.
“YOU HAVE BETRAYED ME!” he bel
lowed at her.
“You left me little choice!” she shouted back.
Marcus lunged toward her, seizing hold of her roughly. “Don’t touch her!” Damien hollered, pushing between them. Marcus growled, knocking Damien aside. He flew against the side wall like a rag doll, smacking into it and sliding to the floor.
“Damien!” Celine cried. She dived toward him, but Marcus pulled her back.
“No, Celine,” Marcus argued. “We have much to discuss. But first, we must find a new venue for our discourse, as this one has been compromised.”
“Wait! What about Damien?” Celine sobbed.
“Oh, do not worry, my dear, Damien will come with us. We wouldn’t want your special contact to inform your former family of what happened here.”
Marcus dragged her across the room toward Damien. He heaved Damien to standing, wrapping his arm around his limp body. Pulling Celine close to him, he uttered a few Latin words under his breath. The world around them faded to black.
They reappeared in a cave. “Welcome to your new home, Celine,” Marcus snarked. “You will stay here indefinitely.”
He released Damien, who collapsed to the ground, still unconscious. Celine knelt next to him, checking his pulse. It was weak, but there. “Damien,” she whimpered. “Wake up, please.” The injury he sustained could have killed him. Celine was thankful he was alive. She’d be more thankful when he awoke. She sniffled.
“Stop your sniveling, Celine,” Marcus barked, pulling her away from Damien.
“He needs help,” Celine pleaded.
“Later, perhaps. We have things to discuss,” Marcus dodged. “Such as your betrayal.”
“Marcus, please! He’s only human. He needs medical attention.”
“You lost your privilege to request anything of me when you betrayed me.”
Tears spilled onto Celine’s cheeks. “What would you have me do? I love my family. I love my husband. I refuse to betray him. I will never marry you! I have told you time and again! You refuse to listen.”
Marcus dropped her; she landed next to Damien. “We’ll see about that, Celine.” He strode to the mouth of the cave.
“Where are you going?”
Gone: A Shadow Slayers Story (Shadow Slayers Stories Book 3) Page 14
