The news did not sit well with Celine. She viewed it as a sign that they were worsening rather than improving. While Millie assured her this wasn’t the case, she refused to believe it. Millie departed to make the necessary arrangements, leaving Gray and Celine alone with Damien.
Celine stood at the foot of the bed, staring at Damien. “He looks so peaceful,” she said, tears rolling down her cheeks.
“Celine,” Gray soothed, pulling her into his arms. “Don’t cry. Millie said they weren’t worse.”
“But they aren’t better, either,” Celine lamented.
“They will be.”
“You don’t know that, Gray. For once, none of us does. I feel so helpless. They are laying there, and we cannot help them, not with medicine, not with our powers. We don’t even realize what’s causing this!”
“I agree this is frustrating. Alexander has come across nothing in his research to help, either.”
Celine sighed. She wandered to the side of the bed, sinking onto it. She rubbed Damien’s arm. “I want to help, and I don’t know how.”
Gray rubbed her shoulders. “Let’s let Millie help them. Perhaps we can discover something from her monitoring.”
Celine nodded in agreement, hoping the equipment was a blessing rather than a curse. They spent the afternoon assisting Millie in setting up a variety of items designed to monitor their vitals. Celine stared at the monitors set up, all recording different items, beeping and blinking various displays. She watched the heart rate monitor, counting with bated breath until the next beat displayed on the screen.
Millie also recommended monitoring Michael’s and Damien’s brainwaves. She wanted to log their brain activity to determine if there were any patterns. Celine gazed at the equipment, the various wires and tubes leading from Damien. She shook her head in sadness. “Please come back, Damien, please.”
Chapter 18
1812, London
Damien knocked at Michael’s door before breakfast. Michael opened it, standing back as he entered the room.
“Ha, I beat you today!” Damien joked.
“Yeah, I actually slept. Did you?”
“I did! I’m shocked. With the ball tonight and no plan, I assumed I’d be up for hours, tossing and turning, but I fell asleep and stayed asleep. Must have been all that fresh air we got yesterday,” Damien surmised.
“Mmm, yeah, all the fresh air.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. I realize you don’t like the past.”
“Not really, but it was a nice distraction, I’ll admit that much.”
“Ready for breakfast?” Damien inquired.
“Yeah, then let’s try to piece together more of our memories.”
“Sounds like a plan!”
They met Gray and Alexander for breakfast. Gray planned to attend the ball with them, and Alexander offered them clothes to borrow. They agreed to attend and observe rather than enact any sort of plan, hoping the night provided them with more information to work with. With their evening plans settled, Michael and Damien withdrew to the sitting room to continue their discussion regarding their memories.
“Okay, how did we find Celine?” Michael questioned as they sat in armchairs near the fireplace.
Damien walked through his memory. “I remember her telling me not to come to the mill until Celeste was cured.”
“But we went anyway,” Michael answered.
“We did? I don’t recall that,” Damien argued.
“Yeah, we went with Millie. We were…” Michael stopped dead.
“What?”
“We hid until Gray and Alexander made sure no one was there. But you weren’t there!” Michael exclaimed. “Just Millie and I were there.”
“That can’t be true. Where was I? I wouldn’t have missed that!”
“Were you sick again?” Michael mused.
“No!” Damien answered. “No, I wasn’t! I was with Celine!”
“What?!”
“Yes. When I showered that morning, the Duke somehow let himself into my bathroom and asked if I wanted to see Celine. He said I had to come alone. So, I did. I met him by the cliffs, and he took me to Celine.” He paused a moment. “He walked out right through a wall… weird.”
“You met with the Duke?” Michael inquired.
“Yeah, I did. What the hell was I thinking?” Damien questioned himself.
“You weren’t. That guy is crazy. Like deranged crazy. I can’t believe you did that! I’m not that brave.”
“Yes, you are,” Damien countered. “And you would have done it for Celine.”
“I’m glad you regard me so highly,” Michael replied. “Okay, so you were with Celine. Yes, that’s right, now I remember. We went searching for you.”
“Yeah, and you spilled the beans to the Duke in the process. He was there when you came in. And Gray spoke with Celine, told her not to contact me because I was missing.”
“Oh, that’s not good,” Michael answered.
“Nope, it wasn’t. This memory is so clear now. No wonder I repressed it. It gives me the creeps even reflecting on it now. The Duke was furious! He screamed at Celine about betraying him and he grabbed her. I tried to stop him, but he threw me across the room. The next thing I remember is waking up in a cave with Celine.”
“Wow, sorry, man. That’s crazy,” Michael said.
“Anyway, Celeste was there. She said she was going to tell everyone where Celine was so they could rescue us. Did she?”
Damien furrowed his brow, trying to determine what happened next. “She did,” Michael confirmed. “She came to the house. Gray was concerned about me, but I was fine. It was during the day. So, she is cured!” Michael surmised. “Anyway, she told us, and we went to the cave to get you. But the Duke came. Alexander pushed me behind a tree. There was a massive fight. He almost killed Gray.”
“Yes, but Celeste somehow dissolved the enchantment surrounding us. And Celine was super mad and came out of the cave like a bat out of hell after the Duke. She told me to run as soon as I could and take you back to the house.”
“Yeah, I remember,” Michael agreed. “Did we run?”
“Yes, we did,” Damien confirmed. “Did we get to the house?”
“I don’t remember,” Michael confessed. “No, wait. The last thing I recall is turning around. Celine and Marcus both launched some kind of attack at the same time, and this big blue arc exploded from between them. It was coming right for us. That’s the last thing I remember.”
Damien mused. “Me too. Did it hit us? I seem to remember feeling like I was being electrocuted.”
“Yes! I remember that too. Like a bolt of lightning hit me. That’s the last I remember.”
Damien glanced around. “There must be more, right? Like we were fine and then Celine sent us back here. We just can’t remember.”
“Uh…”
“What?”
“Every other day when we’ve done this, I’ve realized there was more, but it’s just beyond my mind’s reach. But today…” Michael’s voice trailed off.
“You feel like there’s nothing else. There is no hazy memory just beyond your reach.”
“Yes, exactly! How did you know?”
“Because I have the same feeling. Which may mean…”
“There is no more,” Michael surmised.
They were silent for a moment. “So, if that’s true…” Damien began.
“Don’t say it.”
“Sorry, but I have to. If that’s true… perhaps Celine did not send us back in time.”
“I asked you not say it.”
“So, in other words, perhaps the blue electric arc sent us back in time, not Celine.
“To a world that’s unrecognizable. This can’t be true,” Michael lamented.
Damien pondered a moment. “Did that weird blue arc mess up everything?”
“Maybe we’re just dreaming this. Like the arc put us to sleep or something,” Michael pondered aloud. Damien pinched Michael’s arm. “Ouch! What the hell, man?”
&
nbsp; “Testing the sleep theory. Not asleep, you wouldn’t have felt that,” Damien responded.
“Next time, warn me.”
“Sorry,” Damien apologized. “Okay, so we’re not asleep. Perhaps some communal hallucination? Either way, it lends credence to our theory that we need to restore Gray and Celine’s relationship.”
“I’m not arguing, but how do you figure that?”
“If that arc somehow messed up the world and sent us back in time to a changed world, doesn’t it make sense that we need to fix it and then return? Otherwise, we’ll just return to an unrecognizable world in our time.”
“Good point, okay, I can buy that.”
“Okay, cool. So, we go to the ball tonight and start pushing Celine and Gray together.”
“Will that actually work?”
Damien shrugged. “Can’t hurt. You heard him talk about her yesterday. Sounded like he was quite taken with her.”
“Yeah, it did. ‘She’s lovely,’” Michael imitated.
“Well, she is. You fell for her.”
“Point taken. Okay, okay, so we start pushing them together. Even still, this plan could take MONTHS or longer to work. We can’t stay here for months.”
“We’re going to have to come up with some way to speed up the process. But for now, we should make sure they see each other tonight. Talk a little, that kind of stuff.”
“Okay, sounds good. At least we have a partial plan.”
“Yeah, I feel better. Also, I feel hungry. It’s almost lunch time! Shall we go to the dining room?”
“Yes, I believe we shall, good sir.”
Damien stood, bowing to Michael. “After you, my good sir.”
Michael stood and bowed to Damien. “No, no! I wouldn’t hear of it! After YOU, my good sir.”
They turned toward the door leading from the room to find Gray standing in the opening. He crossed his arms, staring at them. “Lunch is ready… my good sirs,” he told them, rolling his eyes at them. He turned and left, mumbling to himself about how strange Michael and Damien were. Michael and Damien glanced at each other.
“Oops,” Damien said to Michael.
“Oh well, he never likes us. Who cares?” Michael responded. Damien nodded, and they made their way to the dining room for lunch. Damien spent the afternoon teaching Michael how to play chess in an effort to distract them both and make the time pass faster.
Early evening arrived, and they disbanded to dress for the ball. The experience intrigued Damien who was thrilled to attend an honest-to-goodness ball in London. Michael was, as usual, less thrilled with the idea, stating he preferred to attend a modern-day party. Damien promised to throw him one as soon as they returned to their time.
They paced the sitting room floor in their finery, awaiting Gray and Alexander. They arrived in the foyer, dressed for the ball. Donning their cloaks, they proceeded outside to the waiting carriage. Michael groaned at the sight.
“Oh, great. Another carriage ride,” he lamented.
“It’ll be better than walking,” Damien assured him.
“Uh, I’m not convinced. I’m still not over the last carriage ride.”
They climbed in the carriage and traveled to the Blackburn residence. They proceeded inside and were ushered to the ballroom where the master of ceremonies announced them. Several guests had already arrived. They glanced around the room.
“I don’t see Celine,” Damien remarked.
“Nope.”
Alexander brought them refreshments. “Gentlemen, some refreshments. It appears Duchess Northcott has not yet arrived.”
“We noticed,” Michael said.
“She’s here now,” Gray commented, gazing at the entryway. “She looks stunning.”
Celine, escorted by Marcus Northcott, stood in the doorway as the master of ceremonies announced them. They proceeded into the room, swamped by several guests as they arrived. “Wow, they’re popular,” Damien commented.
“They are a duke and duchess, and he is fourth in line to the throne, is it?” Alexander queried.
“Third, I gather. Philip Winston was third, but he met with an unfortunate accident,” Gray responded.
Michael and Damien spent over an hour observing the ball and Celine. She smiled, chatted, danced and seemed to be the delight of society. She rarely enjoyed a moment alone, making it impossible for them to approach her to discuss anything outside of pleasantries.
Two hours into the ball, Celine approached them. “Mr. Buckley,” she said in greeting to Alexander. “I trust you and your cousins are enjoying your experience?”
“Duchess Northcott,” he greeted her, bowing. “Yes, they are enjoying their experience immensely. Thank you again for your assistance in procuring an invitation.”
Celine turned to Michael and Damien. “And how are you finding your stay in London?”
Damien still had difficulty getting over her accent.
“We are enjoying it thoroughly,” Michael answered as Damien lost his ability to speak, marveling at Celine’s strange behavior.
She turned to Grayson. “Mr. Buckley. I am pleased that we should meet again.”
“As am I,” Grayson answered, never taking his eyes from her. She smiled at him, a genuine smile, it appeared to Damien.
“There you are, darling,” Marcus chimed in, joining the group. “Ah, Buckley, enjoying the party?”
“Yes. We were just thanking your gracious wife for securing an invitation for us. May I introduce my cousins, Michael and Damien Carlyle? I believe you have already met Grayson.” Alexander motioned toward Michael and Damien.
Marcus nodded his head toward them but did not extend his hand. “A pleasure,” he stated, his voice filled with anything but. “If you gentlemen would excuse us. Darling, the Williamsons are asking after you. We should speak with them.”
“Of course,” Celine responded. “Good evening, gentlemen.”
Damien shook his head as she departed. “It’s just too weird,” he said.
“What?” Gray questioned.
“To them, her behavior is strange,” Alexander explained. “They noted a similar scenario after we called on her.”
“She acts nothing like the Celine we know,” Michael added.
Gray followed her with his eyes. “She is quite lovely,” he commented.
“Careful, cousin,” Alexander warned. “She is a married woman with a powerful husband.”
“Not if we can help it,” Damien replied.
“What?” Alexander questioned.
“She’s not supposed to be married to him! We deem this is what we’re here to do. We’ve been trying to recall for days how we got here and why we’re here. And that’s what we’ve come up with. We believe we’re supposed to right the course of history. Get Celine away from that maniac and with Gray, like she’s supposed to be.”
“You two are mad!” Alexander answered. “I think we’d better be going.”
“No way, uh-uh,” Damien argued. “I’m not going anywhere. Not until we do what we’ve set out to do.” He turned to Gray. “Ask her to dance.”
“What?” Gray responded. “I couldn’t possibly.”
“I agree. It calls too much attention,” Alexander agreed.
“Fine. I’ll do it then,” Damien said. “We’ve got to make friends with her somehow!” He strode to Celine. Alexander, Michael and Gray watched in astonishment as he approached her.
Damien bowed and addressed Celine, “Duchess Northcott, might I have the pleasure of a dance? As a thank you for the invitation.”
Celine glanced at him. A confused expression passed over her face before she gave a slight smile and offered her hand. He led her to the dance floor. She curtsied to him and he bowed to her. They began to waltz. Damien had limited knowledge of the dance but tried his best to pass himself off as an expert. He cringed as he stepped on her toes time and time again.
“This is quite an interesting thank you, Mr. Carlyle.”
“Sorry,” he mumbled.
“It’s very different,” Damien assured her.
“I’m not surprised,” she responded as they finished their dance. They applauded. She thanked Damien for the dance, and he assured her the pleasure was all his. They left the dance floor with Damien returning to Michael, Gray and Alexander and Celine returning to Marcus.
“What was all that about?” Marcus inquired as she returned.
“A thank you for the invitation.”
“I’m surprised your toes survived his thank you.”
“He is quite clumsy, although charming in an odd sort of way,” Celine responded.
“Charming? The champagne must have gone to your head, my dear. Now, might you care for a dance with a real man?” He extended his hand to her.
She laughed, accepting his invitation and allowing him to lead her to the dance floor.
“Are you crazy?” Michael asked when Damien returned.
“No. At least I’m trying something!” Damien answered.
“Don’t look here. I’m not dancing with her, no way,” Michael responded with a shake of his head.
“That was quite a bold move,” Alexander agreed.
“Plus, you’re a terrible dancer,” Gray added.
“Yes, I know. So do her toes. It would have been better had you asked her,” Damien answered.
Gray rolled his eyes. “Perhaps later. She’s dancing with her husband now.”
The foursome continued to observe the party as it unfolded. Eventually, Gray found the opportunity to invite Celine for a dance. The two floated around the dance floor. Celine wore a wide grin for the entire dance. She laughed and appeared much more like the carefree Celine Michael and Damien were familiar with.
As they danced, Marcus approached Michael, Damien and Alexander. “Mister,” he paused, “Carlyle, was it?” he asked, addressing Damien.
Damien cleared his throat, swallowing hard. The Duke was as unnerving in this time as he was in any other. “Yes, Damien Carlyle. That’s correct.”
“What an interesting dance technique you possess.”
Gone: A Shadow Slayers Story (Shadow Slayers Stories Book 3) Page 21
