“I’m here,” she answered. Damien followed her voice, spotting her racing toward him. She wrapped him in her warm arms.
“Celine!”
“Did you tell them, Damien?” Celine inquired.
“Yes. I told them Shadow World. Celine, they are giving me a sedative at night, so I don’t slip in here without you. You can only contact me during the day.”
“I understand. I have another message then you must go. You cannot stay any longer.”
“Okay. I’m ready,” Damien replied, his teeth chattering from the cold.
“It’s Marcus, Damien. Marcus has returned. You must tell them, Damien. And you must be safe. Now go.”
“The Duke? No, wait, Celine!” Damien cried, desiring more information.
“Go, Damien, we’ll talk tomorrow. GO!” Celine shoved him away, and he tripped backwards, falling into a black pit. He fell for a moment before he hit the bottom. It knocked the wind out of him. He gasped for air, shooting up to a sitting position. He struggled to visualize anything near him.
“It’s okay, buddy, you’re okay,” Michael assured him.
“It’s all right, Damien, relax,” Gray added. “You’re back. You’re safe.”
Damien gasped for air, shivering all over. Exhaustion surged and nausea passed over him in waves. He crawled onto his hands and knees, retching.
“This one took a toll,” Gray noted. “We need to get him back to Alexander’s.”
“Can you walk, Damien?” Michael asked.
Damien collapsed onto the ground, still recovering from the nausea. “We’ll have to carry him. Help me get him up to standing,” Gray stated.
Michael nodded, pulling Damien up with Gray’s assistance. “Got him?” Gray asked.
“Yep.”
“All right, let’s go.” They dragged Damien back to Alexander’s house. Gray shouted for Millie as they entered. Alexander met them in the foyer, assisting them in getting Damien settled on the couch. They covered him with blankets as Millie entered the room.
“What’s happened?” Millie inquired as she took Damien’s pulse.
“Celine contacted him,” Gray replied. “He collapsed, shivering, gasping for breath, same thing he did under hypnosis. When he came out of it, he was sick.”
“Vomiting?” Millie asked.
“Yes. Just once.”
“I see. Damien, are you still nauseous?”
Damien shook his head. “No,” he whispered. “Tired.”
“Tired. I’ll bet. You are still very cold. Let’s get him some hot tea and dry toast. I’d like to make sure he can keep food down and bring his body temperature up faster.”
“Here,” Alexander offered, “let’s move you closer to the fire.” He assisted Damien in approaching the fire, situating him in a nearby armchair. Within a few minutes, they plied him with hot tea and toast. He sipped at it, happy for the warmth it brought him.
“Has he said anything about what happened in Shadow World?” Alexander asked Gray as Damien sipped his tea.
“Not yet. He was incredibly weak when he awoke and sick. I didn’t push him. I didn’t want to overwhelm him.”
“I understand. That’s for the best,” Alexander agreed. “His health is our priority.”
“How are you feeling now?” Millie asked as Damien finished the cup of tea.
“A little better,” Damien admitted. “Could I have another cup of tea?”
“Anything you want,” Michael offered, collecting his teacup to retrieve another cup.
“Your pulse is normal. Your body is warming. How is the nausea?” Millie inquired.
“Seems to be passed. I’m still weak, but I feel better overall.”
“Good,” Millie answered.
“I saw Celine,” Damien responded in a louder voice, craning his neck to find Gray and Alexander.
Gray joined him by the fire. “It’s okay. Tell us when you’re ready. Don’t strain yourself.”
“It’s okay,” Damien assured them. “I’m okay. I want to tell you while it’s fresh in my mind, so I don’t forget anything.”
“Okay,” Gray agreed.
“She asked if I told everyone about Shadow World. I told her I did. And I told her about our plan. Sedative at night, contact during the day only.”
“Good,” Gray replied. “Is your mind at ease now that she knows the plan and she can contact you when you’re not asleep?”
Damien shook his head. “Why not?” Alexander inquired.
“Because of what she told me next,” Damien responded. His brow furrowed as he recalled her statement.
“What did she tell you?” Gray queried.
Damien glanced between Gray and Alexander, then made eye contact with Gray. “She said…” his voice trailed off as he gathered the strength to say the words. He swallowed hard. “She said the Duke is back.”
“What?!” Michael exclaimed at the door, just avoiding spilling Damien’s cup of hot tea. “The Duke is back? Are you serious?” Gray and Alexander exchanged a glance, vexation clear on their faces.
“Yes, I’m serious. That’s what Celine said. She didn’t explain anything more. She said I had to go.”
“Yes, you were there long enough,” Gray admitted.
“Damn it!” Damien cursed. “Why can’t I stay longer so we can get more information?”
Michael continued to question the new information. “Is this Duke thing possible? How can that be?”
“I’m not sure, but Celine wouldn’t send that kind of message if it weren’t true,” Gray mentioned.
“Perhaps she assumes it’s true but doesn’t have any confirmation,” Michael suggested.
“No,” Gray argued with a shake of his head, “she wouldn’t conjecture. She’s sure.” He stalked to the fireplace, staring into the flames.
“It fits with something else,” Damien informed them.
“What?” Alexander inquired.
“I didn’t remember until now, but when Celine and I met with the adjudicator, it mentioned him. The adjudicator thing told her to talk to Marcus Northcott. It must have slipped past us because she was so focused on saving me, we never followed up on it!”
“This is unbelievable,” Michael replied, sinking into an armchair opposite Damien. He ran his hand through his sandy blonde hair.
“That man is like a bad penny,” Alexander admitted.
“Damn it!” Gray shouted, slamming his hands against the mantle before stalking away.
“Gray…” Alexander began.
“He has her, Alex,” Gray interrupted, his voice unsteady. “Marcus Northcott has Celine. Trapped somewhere. She can’t get away. My God, what has he done to her?”
They spent a moment in silence as the news sunk in. Each of them reflected on their new reality and worry for Celine swelled. Alexander was the
