The object moved toward him in slow motion. He backed away until he hit something behind him. His breathing quickened. “Stop!” he shouted. The blurry figure continued toward him. Hushed noises persisted. He held his hand in front of him, a last attempt to stave off the approaching entity.
Warm flesh touched his hand. Fingers wrapped around his and squeezed. Damien blinked, trying to clear the haze from the scene. An arm encircled his shoulders. Warm breath floated past his ear. “Damien,” Celine’s voice whispered.
Damien shot up to sitting, gasping for breath. “Celine!” he called, reaching into the air.
Gray raced to his side. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
“Celine! I saw her! She was with me!” Damien gasped.
“What? Where? When?” Gray glanced around the room.
“Just now!” Damien exclaimed. Damien raced from his bed into the hallway. “Celine!” he called. “Celine!”
“Damien, you were dreaming,” Gray replied, following him.
“No, I…” Damien paused, pondering for a moment. He shook his head. “No.”
“Yes, Damien,” Gray assured him. “It was a dream, you were asleep.”
“But it was so real! She held my hand, she called to me.” He returned to his room, sinking onto his bed.
Moments later, Michael raced in along with Alexander and Millie. “We heard a commotion, what’s wrong?” Alexander inquired.
“He was dreaming of Celine,” Gray answered.
“No!” Damien insisted. “She was with me.”
“Here?” Alexander questioned, his brow furrowing.
“No,” Damien answered. “No, we were… I’m not sure where we were. It was damp and cold. There was dirt, like outside. Celine came toward me and grabbed my hand. Well, I assume it was Celine, I couldn’t make the figure out. Everything was hazy. Then she whispered my name.”
“It was a dream” Gray insisted.
“No! It was real!” Damien countered.
“Dreams can be very vivid, particularly when we are under tremendous stress,” Millie interjected.
“No, I…” Damien began, his voice trailing off.
“I believe you,” Michael stated.
Damien smiled at Michael. “Thanks.”
“She probably came to make sure you were asleep though, so you may want to get some more rest,” Michael joked.
“She’d do that,” Damien agreed, chuckling. “I’ll try to go to sleep. Thanks for checking on me, everyone.”
Everyone except Gray filed from the room. Damien slid under the covers again. He felt foolish for having woken the household. Yet, he still couldn’t believe what he experienced was a vivid dream. There must be more. He sensed it. It was a clue or a warning. What did it mean? Damien fell asleep pondering the value of the clue.
Celine startled from her rest. She hadn’t been asleep. After her confrontation with Marcus and Celeste’s visit, she had wept for an hour before drifting away. Her mind focused on Damien. Celeste’s warning concerning his ability to handle her disappearance disturbed her. She dwelled on his well-being. Instead of falling asleep, she had fallen into a trance. In the trance, she had found her way to Damien, their special connection opening the path. She called to him, but he could not see her. Approaching him, she grasped his hand, pulling him close to her. “Damien,” she whispered before he vanished.
Celine recalled each detail, pulling herself up to sitting. A plan formed in her mind. A slight smile crossed her lips. Marcus’ enchantment prevented her from escaping or anyone from finding her. But she had found a way out. A difficult, dangerous way, but a way. She could communicate with the outside world. Therefore, she could be rescued, she reflected.
Celine glanced out her tiny window toward the sky. Dark clouds sailed past the waning crescent moon. Despite the heavy clouds that rolled through the night sky, the moon remained visible, veiled behind the mist. Celine, hidden behind Marcus’ spell, was like the moon behind the black clouds. Visible yet obscured. And like the moon, she could be found.
Chapter 4
Michael helped himself to the eggs on the sideboard. Damien wasn’t at breakfast yet. He wanted to check on him earlier but didn’t want to disturb him if he was asleep. Instead, he opted to eat, and hoped Damien appeared for breakfast. So far, he sat alone in the dining room.
Avery joined him within five minutes. “Good morning,” she greeted him, pouring herself a cup of coffee.
“Good morning,” he answered.
“It’s good to have you back,” Avery replied, joining him at the table. She referred to Michael and Damien’s recent trip to the past to retrieve Celine’s portrait from the Duke.
“Thanks. It’s good to be back. I’m not as fond of time travel as Damien.”
“I’ve never done it. But I’m with you. I’m not sure I’d want to.”
Michael chuckled. “It’s not all it’s cracked up to be.”
They sat for a few moments before Avery replied, “Terrible shame about Aunt Celine. I hope we find her soon. He doesn’t show it, but Uncle Gray is dreadfully upset.”
Michael nodded his head. “So is Damien. We all are, really.”
“I’m sure.”
“We had a few issues before we went to 1791. But to come back and she’s not here… I wish she was here.”
“You are very close with her. Damien, too.”
“Yeah,” Michael admitted, pausing. “Hey, do you mind if I ask you a strange question?”
“Not at all!”
“When Damien and I were in the past, we came across a cottage on the property, near the cliffs. Is it still there?”
“The caretaker’s cottage? Yes, it is. The cottage hasn’t been used in years, but it’s still standing. Why?”
“Ah, no special reason.”
“Oh, come on,” Avery prodded. “You didn’t ask for nothing.”
“No, I didn’t. You’re on to me,” he chuckled, holding his hands up. “Damien and I had an idea about my moving there since I hadn’t found anything else. It’s no big deal though, just idle chatter while we passed the time.”
“Sounds like a wonderful idea,” Avery admitted. “I’m sure Mother would approve.”
“Well, I’m in no rush. With Celine gone, Damien will hate the idea of me moving, even if it’s that close.”
“I don’t blame him. We’ll all miss you, especially Max and Maddy.”
“Like I said, I’m in no rush, but it’s something to consider.”
As Michael finished his statement, Max
