“Gray, I think…” she said again.
“Celine, I’ll handle it. Now, come on, you need to eat.”
After breakfast, Josie checked on the children again. She made her way into the foyer. She took a few steps in before she stopped dead in her tracks. The front door opened. A man strolled in. Air gusted past her, ice cold. Her ears were greeted by the clicking of a man’s dress shoes on the stone floor, the tapping of a cane alongside his feet. Josie’s eyes rose slowly, afraid to identify the man entering the house.
Her pulse quickened, her heart raced, she swallowed hard. She was rendered mute as her eyes met his. His mouth curled into a half smile as he spotted her. “Celine, mon chérie, I see you are, in fact, back. Oh, how I’ve missed you.” His British accent a familiar sound to her despite the time that had passed.
Josie stood speechless, staring at him. He hadn’t changed, his regal look, standing tall with his overcoat cut in the form of a cape, his brown eyes still as piercing as ever. “Oh, come, Celine, have I really left you speechless?” Josie still did not answer.
Michael, Damien and Gray approached the foyer. “Who is that? Josie looks terrified,” Damien said, trying to push ahead of them into the foyer.
“No, don’t. That’s the Duke. Do not let him see you,” Gray said, holding him back.
The conversation continued uninterrupted in the foyer.
“Where have you been, my dear? And why didn’t I realize you were back? Wait,” he said, closing the distance between them, “there’s something different about you, isn’t there?”
Josie mustered the courage to speak. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Yes, yes, there is. You’re not all there, are you? That’s why I couldn’t sense you, couldn’t feel your heart beating as one with mine.”
“You don’t have a heart.”
“Oh, you wound me, Celine.” He held his hands over his heart, giving a pained look. “We are destined to be together. Come back, Celine, come home.”
“Never.”
He paced the room, circling around her. “After all I’ve done for you, Celine, I ask of you this one thing. Come back to the fold. Take your rightful place by my side. Together, we can bring this world to its knees. Then I will stand before it as a king with you by my side as my queen.”
“I will never stand beside you.”
He circled behind her, approaching her, his breath hot on her neck as he spoke. “I urge you to reconsider.”
“No,” she stated turning her head to face him.
“Then you shall pay.”
“Let me guess, with my life?”
“No, my dear, not with YOUR life. THEIR lives,” he said, waving his finger in a circle. Josie looked at him, terror filling her eyes. “Yes, I’ve already started with the children, pathetic really, that’s all it took to lure you back here. I’ll continue on. I will DESTROY them, Celine. And you will watch.” He approached her, looking into her eyes. “I will give you until the end of the day to come to your senses, my dear.” He gave her a half smile, rubbing a finger on her cheek. He leaned forward to brush her lips with his. “Au revoir, Celine.” He chuckled as he made his way out of the foyer.
Josie watched him leave the house. Gray raced to her side, Michael and Damien following him. As the man made his way through the door, Josie grasped her abdomen, collapsing forward with a moan.
“Celine!” Gray said, steadying her. Josie’s face was a mask of pain; she wiped her lips where his had touched her. “Come sit down, let me help you.”
“I’m okay,” she said, visibly shaken. “I’m okay.” A tear rolled down her cheek. “I just need to lie down.”
“Right. Damien, Michael, can you go with her? She shouldn’t be alone and I want to check on the children.”
“Sure,” Damien said, taking Josie’s hand from Gray. Michael took her other arm and together they led her up the steps and down the hall to the wing containing their bedrooms.
“Need anything?” Damien asked her once she was lying in bed.
“No, just rest. You can go, I’m fine.”
“Jos, are you kidding me? I’m not leaving you,” Damien said.
“Me either,” Michael said. “Who was that guy?”
“He’s a very dangerous man. Stay away from him, don’t speak to him, don’t look at him, if you see him coming, go the other way. Promise me, both of you, please, promise me.”
“Josie, we’ll be fine,” Michael said.
“PROMISE ME,” Josie insisted.
“Okay, okay, I promise,” Michael said.
“Me, too, scouts’ honor!” Damien said.
Josie grabbed Damien’s hand, squeezing it. “Thank you,” she said. Exhaustion overcame Josie, the encounter with the Duke had robbed her of all her energy. She closed her eyes for just a moment and sleep overtook her.
Visions and nightmares involving the Duke tainted Josie’s sleep. He haunted every second of her rest. She awoke more exhausted than she was before she had laid down. Gray was at her side. “Hey, how are you feeling?”
“Exhausted, how long did I sleep? How are the children?”
“Only about an hour. Try to get more rest. The children are fine. No worse, although they both had difficulty resting while the Duke was in the house.”
“He will not stop, Gray,” she said, getting out of bed.
“Hey, hey, hey, I think you should rest a little more.”
“I don’t have time to rest. I need to see Alexander and I should talk to Celeste, too. Did you say Teddy was here with her?”
“Celine, wait, I’ll get them, you wait here.”
“No, Gray, I can’t wait. I’m fine,” she said, pulling her hair into a ponytail and grabbing her sweater. She rushed out the door, past Michael and Damien who were waiting in the hall.
“Josie? Hey, Josie?” Damien called as she rushed past.
“No time, D, be back later,” she said still adjusting her sweater as she raced past them.
Gray appeared in the hall. “Celine!” he yelled down the hall.
“Should we be going after her?” Michael asked.
“There’s no sense,” Gray said. “She shouldn’t be running around on her own but she’s stubborn, she won’t listen.”
“Oh, believe me, buddy, we’re well aware of that,” Damien said.
Josie banged on the door of Alexander’s house. “Alexander!” she yelled.
“Celine,” he said, opening the door, “what’s wrong? Is it the children?”
“No, no change with them. Can I come in?”
“Of course.” He stood aside. “You still haven’t told me what’s wrong? You’re obviously upset.”
“He came to the house today, Alexander. He came to the house and I could barely keep it together. I can’t help anyone here, I just can’t.”
“Celine, calm down, here, sit down.” He led her to a sitting room off of the foyer. “You know the effect he has on you, that doesn’t mean you are powerless.”
“Even if I’m not just Josie, I can’t help them,” she said, tears streaming down her face. “I’m not strong enough no matter who I am. Alexander, please tell me you’ve found something that will help.”
“I’m sorry, but I’ve found nothing. You have my help, whatever you need, but I cannot do anything alone.”
Josie’s shoulders sunk, her head sunk into her hands and she sobbed. Alexander held her close; she relaxed into him, letting her tears fall. “Celine, are you struggling with this because you’re resolute in your decision to remain Josie?”
She wiped at her tears. “I’m not resolute, I’m starting to realize remaining Josie may be impossible. But becoming Celine solves nothing, I was unable to defeat him for centuries.”
“I think you’re overwhelmed, Celine. I think you might need some rest. Perhaps you should lie down here.”
She pushed against him, sitting all the way up. Sniffling, she wiped the tears from her face. “No, no, I need to see Celeste. Thanks, Alex.”
“Celine, are you sure?”
“I’ve already seen her, it’s fine. I need to ascertain if she can help. Is Teddy here?”
“Yes, I believe he is. Let me get them for you, Celine, please rest here.”
“I’m fine, I’ll go.” She stood and began walking out of the room, letting herself out the door.
Josie made her way across the property. Alexander was one person who she had confirmed could do nothing to help the situation. If she remembered correctly, Celeste and her husband, Theodore, would be at a house at the edge of the property. The house stood on a cliff near the seaside. Josie spotted it on the horizon as she made her way toward it. Her mind whirled as she pressed on, nearing the house. She forced herself to walk down the path to the house and up the steps onto the porch. Her heart raced as she pounded on the door.
Theodore opened the door, visibly shocked when he was greeted by Josie. “Celine,” he said, shock in his voice, “hello, ah, it’s good to see you. Come in!”
“Thanks,” Josie said, walking through the door.
“I assume you’re here to see Celeste?”
“Both of you.”
“Of course. Make yourself comfortable.” He motioned toward the living room off the front hallway. “I’ll get Celeste. Celeste! CELESTE!”
Josie heard her voice from upstairs, “Yes? What is it?”
“Celine is here.”
Within seconds, Josie heard footsteps coming down the stairs. “What?” Celeste’s face was a mask of shock as she entered the living room. “Celine! Oh, it’s good to see you. I didn’t expect you to come.”
“I saw him, Celeste,” she said, wringing her hands.
“Oh, darling.” Celeste sat next to her on the sofa, putting her arms around her. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
Josie took a deep breath and continued, “I need you to do something about him. Stop him somehow.”
“Celine, we can’t,” Celeste said. “I mean not really. We can help but we can’t stop him.” Celine didn’t answer. “Celine, oh, my dear baby sister, I’m so sorry, but we can’t do anything to stop him and he seems to be determined this time.”
“Look, Celine, I realize this isn’t what you want to hear, but your sister is just being honest with you, don’t blame her for this,” Theodore said.
“I don’t blame her for this, Teddy. He seems insatiable this time, you’re right. Can you help the children at least? Anything?”
“I’m sorry, Celine, we’ve tried. That’s when Gray begged me to find you. We were out of options.”
“I’m not an option at this point either, though.”
“I realize that I cost you so much, Celine. I didn’t understand what I was doing then, but I do now. But did you ever consider that Josie’s life isn’t the life for you? That you’re meant to be here?” Celeste asked.
Josie didn’t answer again. “I need to go,” she said, frustrated.
“No, Celine, don’t. Please stay, you’re exhausted. Let me take care of you.” Celeste said.
Josie shook her head, “I need to get back, check on the children.” She stood and walked to the entrance hall. Turning back before disappearing through the door she said, “It’s okay, Celeste. I’m not angry. I love you, you’ll always be my sister. I understand what you did was not out of malice.”
Celeste rose and rushed to her, tears filling her eyes. “Oh, Celine. How happy that makes me. I love you so much. I’ve missed you. You will always be my sister. You need to take care. We will help any way we can. Just tell us what you need.”
Josie walked back to the main house. She was unsure she could avoid the inevitable, but she was determined to continue to try. Physical and emotional exhaustion prevented her from making any decisions. On her way to the bedroom, she checked in with both Max and Maddy. Both were resting. She dragged herself up the steps and to her bedroom. She collapsed into the bed, falling asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.
Moments after she laid down, Josie bolted up from her sleep. Something was wrong; she could feel it. It was already dark outside; she wondered how long she had slept. The house was quiet, almost too quiet. She looked around, trying to orient herself in her groggy state. She turned the light on, but it wasn’t working. She wondered if the power was out. She got out of bed to check. When she went into the hallway, a voice called her name. She followed the sound of the voice. Turning the corner leading to another hallway, she found the voice’s source. It was Max, she rushed to him, fearing that he was worse and wondering what he was doing out of bed.
As she approached, she called to him but he didn’t answer. When she was within steps of him, the child morphed. She skidded to a stop. Before her stood Marcus Northcott, otherwise known as the Duke. He raised his arms toward her, smiling, “Come to me, Celine.”
“No,” she said, shaking her head. She turned to run the other way. She made it a few steps down the hall before Marcus appeared in front of her again. “Don’t run from me, Celine,” he admonished.
She stopped dead, pushing through a door into an unused bedroom. She bolted the door behind her. His voice echoed through the house. “Celine,” he said in a singsong manner, “Celine, don’t hide from me.” She covered her ears, tears streaming down her face as his voice echoed in her head.
His voice continued to call to her, the doors and windows began to shudder and bang. Howling wind swept through the house, carrying Marcus’ voice so it seemed to come from every direction. Josie slid down the wall to a seated position, pulling her knees to her chest and burying her head in them. The calls continued to get louder until they were almost unbearable to listen to.
Josie bolted upright, looking around the room. She was in her bed; the lights were still on. She must have been having a nightmare. She was almost afraid to move, afraid that the dream had been real. The bedroom door opened; her pulse quickened as she wondered who was on the other side.
Gray entered, “You’re up. How are you feeling?”
“How are the children?” she said jumping out of bed.
“They’re fine, are you okay?”
“Are you sure? Did you check on them?”
“Celine, they’re fine. What’s wrong?”
“I… I had a dream; it was awful. He gave me until tonight, Gray. He will do something. What time is it? I need to sit with the kids.”
“Okay, sure, go sit with them. Let’s see what happens tonight. Don’t panic yet.”
“Okay, it’s six, six hours to go until midnight. If we can get through midnight, we may have a chance.”
Josie made her way to the children’s rooms, first checking on Maddy then Max. There was no change in either child. Avery left Max to sit with Maddy and Josie took over sitting with Max, holding his hand while she watched him sleep. Minutes seemed like hours as Josie waited for the night to end.
After a while, Gray joined her, rubbing her shoulders. “How are you doing? Need a break?”
“No, it’s eleven, one hour to go.” She sighed. Time seemed to stand still. After what seemed an eternity, the clock in the foyer struck midnight. Josie listened, every nerve in her body on edge as the clock chimed. She waited for the twelfth bell sound. As it did, she let out a sigh of relief.
“There,” Gray said, “we made it. See, everything was fine.” Gray hugged her close to him.
“We should check on Maddy,” Josie said.
“Yes,” Gray agreed. They left Max’s room and looked in on Maddy, she was sleeping peacefully. They left the room. “What do you say to you getting some rest? I think you need it.”
Josie was just about to agree when they heard shouts coming from the foyer. Josie glanced at Gray, a look of concern on both their faces. They ran toward the foyer, meeting Michael and Damien who were also on their way. They reached the gallery that overlooked the foyer. Josie’s eyes grew wide, her heart seizing at what she witnessed.
Theodore made his way into the foyer, in his arms a lifeless Celeste. “Oh no, no, no, no, no, no,” Josie
said, rushing down the staircase to them. “What happened?”
“Celine!” Gray called, hurrying down after her.
Theodore laid Celeste’s body on the large table that sat in the middle of the foyer. Millie was already there, having come from the sitting room. She checked her pulse, her pupils and breath.
“Is she…” Josie began, not able to finish her question.
“Yes,” Millie answered, “She is dead.”
Josie threw herself across Celeste, inconsolable. Sobs wracked through her body. She clung to her sister’s body as she turned her head toward Theodore. “How?” she cried out.
“The Duke. He… he…” Theodore struggled. “He took away any protection she had. Then that thug he has with him killed her. Strangled her right in front of me,” he said, his voice breaking.
Josie buried her head, crying. “No, Celeste, no,” she said, weeping. Throwing her head back, she screamed, “NO!”
“Celine, why don’t we go sit down?” Gray asked, gently.
Josie sniffled, standing, wiping her tears. “No,” she said in a low voice. She looked up toward the ceiling, spreading her arms wide and crying out in a loud voice, “I have made my choice, I call upon every power that I have ever had to return to me, make me what I was before. Return to me now, give the strength and power that I once had, give me the protection from death that I had before. Return to me… RETURN TO ME!”
Celine took a deep breath in before returning to a normal stance. “Give me a knife,” she requested, staring at Celeste’s limp form.
“Celine,” Gray hesitated, “did you just… are you back? Completely?”
Celine threw her hand toward the gaping fireplace in the foyer; it burst into flames instantaneously. She set her gaze on Gray. “Yeah, I’m back. Now give me a knife.”
Michael and Damien watched the scene unfold from the gallery. “Um,” Damien said, “what the hell? Did she just snap or something? And did that fireplace just spontaneously burst into flames?”
“Yeah, yep,” Michael said, in shock, “something is super weird and I’m not sure I even want to find out what she needs a knife for.”
Shadows of the Past: A Supernatural Suspense Mystery (Shadow Slayers Stories Book 1) Page 21
