Celine groaned as the pain worsened for a moment. Within seconds, she felt the pain subsiding. She wondered if she were taking her last few breaths, slipping away from the pain of the world. But as the pain subsided, she began to feel stronger not weaker. She looked down, and it appeared as though her wound was closing. She looked up at Duke Northcott, bewildered. “You will be all right now, Celine,” he said, stroking her hair and breathing what appeared to be a sigh of relief.
She sat up, there was no more pain in her abdomen, no more blood oozing from her body. She looked to him. From the corner of her eye, she saw the book. He had just saved her life, but she knew she had to deliver the book to Michael and Damien. If she was correct, the Duke could be injured but not killed. His hand had bled but was already healed. A deep wound could buy her the time she needed. “Thank you,” she whispered, then added, “I’m sorry.”
His brow furrowed with confusion, then his face twisted with understanding as he felt the knife pierce his gut. She grabbed the book and fled from the room. The knife clattered to the floor behind her but she dared not look back.
“Celine!” she heard a voice call out. She did her best to head toward it, recognizing it as Michael’s. Threading through the tunnels, she made her way to the mouth of the cave. She could see two figures standing at the entrance and she raced toward them, practically running straight into their arms.
“I have the book,” she said, out of breath. “Come quickly, we must get to the beach and send you on your way.”
“Okay. Oh my God, Celine!” Damien said as she emerged into the moonlight.
“I’m fine, not even a scratch on me, come, he isn’t far behind.”
They followed her to the beach, she selected a spot that shielded them from view. Handing the book to Michael, she said, “Are you ready?”
“Yes, we’re ready,” he answered.
“Wait,” Damien interrupted. “Come with us, you aren’t safe here.”
“I cannot,” Celine said, “I am safe now, no physical harm can come to me.”
“But…” he protested.
“There is no time to discuss it. You must go. Now be ready when the portal opens.”
They nodded in agreement. Celine nodded back. “Good luck,” she said, stretching her hands in front of her and squeezing her eyes closed. The wind picked up around them and a twinkling started on the rock face in front of Celine. They waited until the wind was blowing in a near gale force and the portal began to open. Once it was fully opened, they raced toward it.
Damien looked back once, seeing Celine’s hair twisting in the wind, her dress blowing wildly. “Come on!” Michael shouted ahead of him. Damien turned and followed him into the portal, leaving Celine and the eighteenth century world behind in a brilliant flash.
Chapter 31
Present day, Bucksville, Maine
Celine sat at Maddy’s bedside, placing a cool rag across the child’s forehead. The children were getting worse, feverish, and spouting random and strange utterances whenever they were awake. Millie used a mild sedative on the children in an attempt to ease their discomfort. There had been disturbances in the village, too: unexplained animal deaths, diseased crops, and fits of madness.
They had moved the children to Alexander’s house, yet the trouble seemed to follow them there. They were careful to keep Celeste hidden away, too, lest Marcus Northcott discover she had returned from the dead. Things were at their breaking point; if the book did not arrive soon, there may be no recovering.
Celine shifted in her seat, trying to get comfortable. She pulled her legs up to her chest and onto the chair, propping her head up with her hand. Gray entered the room, putting his hand on her shoulder. She looked up at him, giving his hand a squeeze.
Out of nowhere, a rogue breeze rustled her hair. No windows were open in the room. Her brows furrowed for a moment then she leapt from her chair.
“What is it?” Gray asked.
“They’re coming back,” she said, making a beeline out of the room and to the living room where they had last seen Michael and Damien. In the living room, she found Alexander. The air stirred even more when she reached the room. “They’re coming,” she said. Alexander stood and together the three of them waited for Michael and Damien to appear.
Within moments the gale force winds blew through the room and a glimmer appeared, growing larger by the second on the far wall. Within seconds, it covered most of the wall and within a few more, Michael and Damien were standing in front of them, Michael clutching a book to his chest.
Celine breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of both of them, appearing no worse for wear. She ran to them, pulling them both into a hug at the same time.
“We got it,” Michael said.
She stepped back, “Are you okay?” She looked between the two of them, knowing the terror that they had just lived through. Centuries of living had not dulled the memory for her and they had just lived through it.
“Yes, yes. We’re all right, more or less,” Michael said.
“I feel awful that we had to leave you that night, Celine. What we witnessed you go through was horrible. I can’t imagine what you went through after we left,” Damien said, worry crossing his face.
“I survived. And now, thanks to you both, the Duke will not,” Celine answered.
Michael gave a small smile. “I hope not, that guy’s a real bastard.”
He handed the book to Gray. Celine smiled at his comment, her arms still around them. “I hope it’s the
