Gone: A Shadow Slayers Story (Shadow Slayers Stories Book 3) Page 2

  “You, too.”

  Damien entered his room. He glanced around, sighing. Tears formed in his eyes. Before going to 1791 to retrieve Celine’s painting, he had spent several nights here with Celine. He recalled eating ice cream and discussing the mystery of her painful memories before falling asleep. She hadn’t been concerned, spending her time worrying about Michael’s recovery and her sister’s condition more than herself.

  Celine’s painful memories: another mystery they hadn’t solved. When did it end? After centuries of being tormented by archenemy Duke Marcus Northcott, Celine had finally banished him to the netherworlds. With the torments from that evil man behind her, they had hoped to live a peaceful life. Instead, a variety of physical symptoms ranging from nausea to pain accompanied by memories shooting across her brain, plagued Celine. When hypnotized, Celine had admitted a presumption of danger caused these symptoms. They had never ascertained what the danger was because Damien and Michael were transported to 1791 to find Celine’s missing portrait.

  With that problem solved, they had returned home to find that Celine’s problems had only worsened. Damien paced around his room. “Where are you, Celine?” he asked to an empty room.

  He changed his clothes, slipping into pajama pants and a t-shirt. He continued pacing the floor barefoot. His mind reeled. The incredulousness of the situation weighed on him. A dozen questions rattled through his mind. Why had they insisted he rest? He’d never be able to!

  A knock sounded on his door. He glanced at the door. Michael, he surmised. He must not be able to sleep either. A late-night planning session was just what they needed. Damien plodded to the door, pulling it open. “Couldn’t sleep either, huh?” he asked. “Oh, ah, sorry,” he said as Gray entered the room. “Thought you were Michael.”

  “Sorry to disappoint,” Gray replied. “Mind if I come in?”

  “Well, you’re already in, so I guess not,” Damien answered.

  “You’re supposed to be asleep,” Gray chided.

  “I’ll be all right,” Damien replied.

  “Let’s make sure of that,” Gray countered.

  “Listen, Gray, I get that you want to do right by Celine but…” Damien began before Gray jabbed him with the needle. “Hey! What the hell? What are you… what’re you doing?” Damien slurred as the fast-acting sedative took effect.

  “We’ll find Celine. Get some rest, Damien,” Gray answered, walking him to the bed. Gray let Damien fall onto the bed, covering him with a blanket. He turned off the lights and exited the bedroom. He repeated the same maneuver with Michael, leaving him to rest as well. With Michael and Damien asleep, Gray returned to his suite for a long night of pacing.

  Celine stared out of the small window into the night sky. The moon waned. Days had passed since Celine wandered into the mill’s cellar, becoming trapped by Marcus Northcott. Celeste requested a meeting with her, luring her to the mill’s basement. Celeste had not acted out of malice; she had been forced to do Marcus’ bidding. Her vampiric condition costing her freedom of choice in the matter.

  Celine sighed. No amount of supernatural force on her part had freed her from her prison. Marcus’ enchantment of her cell held her fast, making escape impossible. It also made rescue impossible.

  She had awoken earlier when a flood of new memories entered her mind. They provided evidence that her cousin, Damien, and friend, Michael, returned from their time traveling journey. They had retrieved the painting. Marcus confirmed that fact. Despite his loss of the painting, Marcus had joined her earlier to gloat. He lost the painting but maintained his control of Celine herself.

  Celine stood, shuffling to the window. She breathed in the cool night air. She longed to reunite with her family. She yearned to witness the excitement on Damien’s face as he presented them with the painting. She craved observing Michael’s cool demeanor as he let Damien shine. She desired to gaze into Gray’s stormy blue eyes.

  She shook her head, a tear rolling down her cheek as she imagined the shock on Damien’s face when Gray informed him she was missing. Damien would take this the hardest. Guilt would ricochet through him. He’d insisted on solving the problem, even if it cost him his health. Damien wouldn’t sleep, wouldn’t eat until she was found. Yet, according to Marcus, no one would ever find her.

  Celine imagined the world without her. Everyone would move on. They would be forced to. What would become of her? Would she spend eternity in this cell? No, she promised herself, she would rally. She would find a way. She had returned to Gray after a twenty-five-year absence. She would return to him again, she vowed.

  “Admiring the stars, Celine?” a voice asked behind her.

  She closed her eyes, annoyance filling her. “Haven’t we spoken enough today, Marcus?” Celine inquired.

  “I assumed you’d be in a better mood. Your friends have returned triumphant! You should be overjoyed.”

  Celine stalked from the window to the door. “I’d love the chance to celebrate with them. Perhaps you’d be inclined to open the door and allow me a night out.”

  Marcus roared with laughter. “Oh, Celine, when did you become such a comedienne?”

  “I wasn’t joking,” Celine countered.

  “Then I am sorry to disappoint you, my dear. Any celebrations must be put on hold. Unless you’d care to celebrate with me.”

  Celine rolled her eyes, a grimace on her lips. “I wouldn’t care to do anything with you.”

  “Oh, why do you insist on being so stubborn, Celine? Do you not realize the potential that exists by joining me?”

  “Marcus, we have entertained this conversation many times already. My answer has and will always be ‘no.’”

  Marcus sighed. “Then I leave you alone to reconsider.”

  “There is nothing to reconsider, Marcus. We are at a stalemate!” Celine shouted as he walked away from her.

  “No, my dear,” he answered, turning to face her. “Stalemates exist when there is no way forward for either party. While I agree there is no way forward for you except to join me, I have multiple avenues yet to be pursued.” He turned on his heel, stalking away.

  Silence settled over the room as his footsteps receded. Celine returned to staring at the night’s sky. Turmoil ruled her mind. Marcus was correct, he held the upper hand. Centuries of warring between them had gotten them nowhere. She left a wake of destruction and collateral damage wherever she traveled. How much more would she cost her family?

  Chapter 2

  Damien awoke to sunlight streaming through his window. He squinted against it as he checked the time. His eyes grew wide as he read it. “Nine-thirty?!” he exclaimed, leaping from his bed. He opted for a quick shower before pulling on his clothes, hoping it helped him become more alert. A haze clouded his mind.

  As the hot water ran over him, Damien recalled the events of last night. Gray had administered a sedative against his wishes. Frustrated, he climbed from the shower. After wiping steam from the mirror, he stared at himself. A myriad of thoughts crowded his mind. He focused on all of them and none of them at the same time.

  He stared at the mirror without seeing himself after a while. The room seemed to melt away as his mind drowned out everything except the buzz of his own thoughts. His eyes stared but did not see. Colors faded; noises dampened.

  A loud knock pulled him from his meditation. He swallowed hard, reviving himself. He pulled on his clothes before unlocking the door leading to Michael’s bedroom.

  “Morning,” he greeted Michael.

  “Morning,” Michael answered. “Do you feel as bad as I do? I assume you got the royal treatment, too? A nice, unexpected needle shoved into your arm?”

  “Yep,” Damien admitted. “I haven’t recovered yet. My head is a mess. I’m barely stringing thoughts together.”

  “What the hell was in that? It was like an industrial strength sedative. I’ve been asleep for ten hours!”

  “Better question is why does Gray hate us so much? We just want to help find Celine!”
>
  “No idea. Did the shower help at all?”

  “Not much,” Damien admitted. “I’ll leave you to it. See you after for breakfast?”

  “Yeah. I’ll be quick, don’t worry. We won’t miss much more of the day.”

  Damien nodded, returning to his room to wait for Michael. He grabbed his laptop, pulling up his phone tracking app. He activated the tracker on Celine’s phone. He and Michael used it before to track Celine here. Perhaps it would work again. He waited as it loaded. After a moment, the screen read NOT LOCATED. He sighed, slamming the laptop shut. He couldn’t track her cell phone. Although being gone a week, her cell phone might be off or dead. He’d try again later, but this route appeared fruitless.

  Michael appeared in fifteen minutes, showered and dressed. “All right, let’s get a start on finding Celine!” Damien perched on the edge of the bed. He nodded without moving from his spot. “You okay, buddy?”

  Damien nodded his answer. “Hey, we will find her, Damien. We will. This is Celine. She’s indestructible, right? You told me that.”

  “What if she’s not?” Damien asked, his voice wavering.

  “You can’t think like that. Okay? We’ve got to think positive. We will find her.” Damien nodded again. “We won’t find her if we stay in this room all day.”

  This comment earned a chuckle from Damien. “Good point,” he conceded. He stood, heaving a sigh. Michael clapped Damien on the back, squeezing his shoulder. “Thanks, man.”

  “You were there for me when I went haywire with Celeste. My turn.”

  “Speaking of Celeste, you aren’t experiencing any… effects again, are you?”

  “Not one. Like it never happened,” Michael assured him.

  “And you’d tell me if you were?”

  “Man, I hope so. I never want to live through that again.”

  They navigated downstairs to the kitchen, intent on making a light breakfast before seeking out Gray and Alexander. They made a large pot of strong coffee, hoping it lifted any remaining haze from their brains.

  Bolstered by two cups, they set off to find the others. They began their search in the sitting room, finding only Millie. “Good morning, gentlemen!” she greeted them. “How did you sleep?”

  Michael rolled his eyes at her. “Are you joking?”

  “No, I am not,” she countered. “I am curious to understand if the sedative had its intended effect and if it produced any ill side effects.”

  “The ill side effect was that I slept until mid-morning,” Damien lamented.

  “How are you feeling now?” Millie inquired.

  “Sluggish,” Damien admitted.

  “Would you mind if I checked a few vitals?” Millie asked.

  “I would,” Damien contended. “I’m too busy. We’ve got to find Gray and Alexander.”

  “It will only take a few moments,” Millie assured him. “Please sit.”

  “No!” Damien shouted. “There is no time! Celine is missing and I’ve got to start searching for her!”

  “Celine would not want your health to suffer while doing so. You are no use to her if you are too ill to continue searching.”

  “I am not ill!”

  “Perhaps it’s best to just give in,” Michael suggested. “It’s taking longer battling with her than to just let her take your pulse.”

  “Thank you, Michael,” Millie answered, grinning at him. “And you are not ill now, we’d like to keep it that way. Damien, you are under a tremendous strain. The pressure of time travel coupled with the stress and worry over Celine can conjure negative effects. We must be vigilant concerning your health.”

  “Fine,” Damien acquiesced, collapsing onto the couch. Millie checked his pupils, took his pulse and listened to his heart. “Do I pass?”

  “You do. Your pulse is elevated, and your pupils are sluggish. The latter is from the sedative. The dose may have been a bit too strong. Please be mindful of your stress levels, Damien. I realize the worry you carry, but you must temper this with proper rest and relaxation.”

  “Relaxation, ha!” Damien retorted.

  “To the best of your ability.”

  “I’ll keep an eye on him,” Michael assured Millie.

  “It appears your trip to the past has done wonders for you, Michael,” Millie assessed.

  “I am much better, yes. No ill effects from Celeste,” Michael answered.

  “Wonderful to hear. You should get adequate rest, too.”

  “I will. And I’ll make sure he does, too.”

  “Good enough. And now that I am satisfied, I will tell you Gray is at Alexander’s house. You can meet them there.”

  “Thanks, let’s go,” Damien said, standing and racing to the door.

  “Rest, Damien! Rest!” Millie shouted as he and Michael disappeared from the room.

  They donned their jackets, Damien pulling his on as he rushed out the door. “Wait up,” Michael called as Damien scurried down the path to Alexander’s. “Millie made a few good points. You need to take it down a notch, buddy.”

  “Are you kidding me?” Damien asked.

  “No, I’m not. No sense running yourself into the ground. What good will you be to Celine if you’re too exhausted or stressed out to help?”

  “I’m fine. I just feel behind. She’s been missing for a week. The longer someone is missing, the less likely it is they are found. You know that, right? We need to get up to speed. And I need to start working on this. THEN, I’ll settle.”

  “Okay, okay. Lecture over,” Michael agreed.

  They traveled through the woods. Damien recalled walking here only a week ago with Celine. She’d experienced one of her painful memories. The incident had crippled her, dropping her to her knees, unable to move. Did these memories have anything to do with her disappearance? Were they connected? Did she become ill walking back to the house? Did she collapse before reaching it? Was she prey to an animal or person in her weakened state? Questions darted across his mind faster than he could process them.

  Alexander’s house came into view. He sped toward it with Michael following close behind. Damien pounded on the door, yelling for Gray and Alexander. Alexander opened the door, ushering them into the foyer.

  “Hello, gentlemen. We are in the sitting room,” Alexander greeted them, motioning toward the room.

  Damien and Michael entered, finding Gray staring out the window.

  “I trust you were able to rest,” Alexander stated, following them.

  “Rest isn’t the word,” Damien answered. “Never do that again!” he threatened, waving a finger at Gray.

  Gray chuckled. “Or what?”

  Damien was at a loss. Michael chimed in, “Do you really think Celine would have been happy with that type of behavior?”

  “Celine wouldn’t have been happy if you’d gotten yourselves killed running around half-cocked searching for her.”

  “We’re not idiots,” Damien countered.

  “Debatable,” Gray retorted.

  “Enough bickering,” Alexander demanded.

  “Fine,” Gray agreed. “But understand this. While Celine is missing, I am responsible for your well-being. I will not compromise your safety because it makes you feel better.”

  Damien rolled his eyes, sinking onto the couch. “He makes a point, Damien. There are supernatural forces at work here that you do not even understand,” Alexander added.

  “Forces that are powerful enough to have done something to Celine,” Gray interjected.

  “Yes, and you both are only human. You must remember this,” Alexander chided.

  “We’ll be fine,” Michael assured them.

  “I’ll be better when we find Celine,” Damien stated.

  “We all will be,” Alexander agreed.

  “Okay, get us up to speed,” Michael prompted. “You told us the long and short of it last night. Now repeat it. This time in detail.”

  Gray and Alexander relayed the information again, along with any steps they had taken thus far
. Damien paced the room as he listened to the information.

  “So, you’ve checked with Celeste. You searched the path from Celeste’s hideaway to the house. You’ve tried calling and texting her. She has her phone, right?”

  Gray nodded. “To my knowledge, yes.”

  “You’ve searched the grounds, the buildings nearby, and nothing?”

  “Right.”

  “Didn’t you use Celeste to find her when she was Josie? Can she do it again?”

  “We did. She hasn’t been able to help,” Gray confirmed.

  Damien ceased his pacing, standing in silence for a moment. “We’re missing something.”

  “Obviously,” Gray answered.

  “I’d like to speak with Celeste,” Damien requested.

  “Fine,” Gray answered. “But as we said last night, you can’t go alone.”

  “Agreed,” Damien replied.

  “We’ll go as soon as the sun sets,” Alexander promised. “I’ll accompany you.”

  “Great. Until then, we’ll have a look around the property. Meet you back here at sunset,” Damien said. “Come on, Michael.”

  “Be careful!” Gray called after them as they exited.

  Damien and Michael pulled on their jackets, returning to the wooded path. “What’s the plan?” Michael asked.

  Damien shrugged. “I’m not sure, but I couldn’t just sit there. Even if we just wander the paths and search for clues, that’s better than nothing.”

  “Clues?” Michael inquired.

  “Yeah, clues. Like her phone laying in a clump of leaves or her ponytail holder wrapped in a pine branch.”

  Michael scrunched his face up. “Ah, Damien…” he began.

  “Don’t say it. It’s a long shot, I realize that. But at least we’ve covered the grounds. We would have done it anyway when she went missing.”

  “True. Okay, any particular place you want to start?”

  “No. Perhaps we should try the places she had those painful memories. I’m not sure why, but I just feel those are connected to her disappearance.”