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
