“Are you ready for this decadence?” he called out, turning in front of the doors to address the guests.
A cheer went up and Cree grabbed both door handles and threw the doors open. A gasp went through the crowd and Cree stood staring. He had attended one of Turbett’s simple dessert displays and it had been anything but simple. The man had outdone himself with this one. It truly was an extravaganza.
Cree stepped aside, out of the path of the guests who entered with flourish and awe, and he couldn’t blame them. The lighting was subdued while hundreds of unscented candles flickered throughout and 3D images of ghosts floated overhead and mechanical owls and ravens, looking far too real, sat perched on tree branches, their heads turning as their eyes followed you when you walked past them. In the middle of the room sat a long table draped in lush purple velvet with soft, twinkling lights highlighting the various tiers of the most decadent looking desserts ever to be seen. In the center sat a large cake in the shape of a black cauldron with formed, crystallized flames sticking out of it. Various types and sizes of spiders made of dark, light, and peppermint chocolate, some appearing more threatening than others, sat among the desserts and dared the guests to reach past them. Silver candelabras dripped with chocolate spider webs. Cakes in shapes related to All Hallows Eve—pumpkins, black cats, witch’s hats—appeared far too real to take a fork to. Tarts, flans, puddings, and truffles, in too many flavors and colors to count, sat atop pedestals in the shape of tree trunks. Candied fruits sat in green leaf-shaped platters marked Creepy Crawlers and a sign sat written in a lavish script in front of an assortment of fresh fruits dipped in dark, milk, and white chocolate that read… Poisonous Pleasures. While an assortment of mouth-watering mini pies and pastries cautioned playfully with a sign that read, Mini Madness... bite at your own risk.
A tea service was set up at the far end of the room. A large black projection screen draped across the top and sides in black silk covering the wall behind it. A scene of a path leading into a dense forest, in the dark of night, a full moon partially covered by gray clouds added to the eeriness of it as it appeared to transport everyone deeper and deeper into the woods. Tea urns tempted and warned… Drink if you dare. Monster Mint. Devil’s Darjeeling. Creepy Chamomile being three among half a dozen more.
Cree wanted Dawn to see this, be part of it along with him and his family. He looked to see his mum smiling, her arm looped around Turbett’s arm, a sizeable man, though more muscle than fat, introducing him to people. It was a rare sight to see since the chef rarely left his kitchen. Leave it to his mum to coax him out.
He hurried off, eager to talk with Dawn and eager to have her enjoy the remainder of the evening by his side, always by his side, from this night on.
Dawn found herself in a room, Lady Ann having given her a shove inside when they reached the open door. When the torch’s light fell on the bed, weathered from age, Dawn grew lightheaded and for a brief moment, as if catching the scene out of the corner of her eye, she thought she saw herself in the bed sleeping, wrapped in Cree’s arms.
“I used to pretend I was Douglas’s wife and lady of the keep when we would sneak into this part of the castle. I searched this room endlessly through the years, thinking if it were me, I would hide the precious brooch here in my bedchamber where I could return and claim it. But I never found it.” Lady Ann gave a disgusted sigh. “I don’t know why I’m wasting my time and taking one last chance to find it, though I’m left with little choice. If I don’t find it, I’m left to plead with Douglas to forgive my desperation, my lapse in judgement, and see that all charges are dropped against me. Go stand in the corner by the fireplace.” She shook her head. “I don’t know how that thing hasn’t crumbled by now, it’s so old.” She shined the light on Dawn, forcing her to close her eyes against the glare and turn her head away. “And don’t be foolish and run. You won’t make it far without a torch to guide you.”
Sadly, she was right about that. Those stone steps were treacherous with a torch. Without one, she doubted she could find her way to the stairs let alone make her way down them. Besides, she felt compelled to go to the stone fireplace. There was something there, something whispering to her as crazy as that sounded.
Dawn was grateful for the darkness that embraced her as she eased a stone out from the fireplace, Lady Ann so busy stomping on the old wood floor in hopes of finding a secret hiding place, that she didn’t hear the scraping of the stone. Dawn reached her hand behind the stone and felt something tucked snug in there. She slipped it out, a small pouch, and eased the stone back into place. Quietly, she dug her fingers into the leather pouch and as soon as she felt it, she knew what it was… the brooch.
An image of it flashed in her head. It was a pewter ring brooch with two small hearts at the top of it and a small red ruby in the center where the hearts connected. Lady Ann would be sorely disappointed. It’s worth far less than she had imagined and yet to Dawn it was priceless, sensing deep in her heart that it had been a gift of love… a timeless love.
She hurried and tucked the pouch into the folds of her plaid at her waist. She would give it to Cree.
Cree.
How much time had passed? She had to get away from Lady Ann. She had to get to Cree.
Cree was nearly out the open doors when he was brought to an abrupt stop, seeing his father enter the room. He had to smile. He was dressed in full Scottish dress, kilt, sporran, and all, and every woman’s eyes, young and old, fell on him. But he had eyes only for his Colleen, searching the room for her.
Douglas spotted his son and went to him, his eyes still searching for his wife. “I was on my way here to surprise your mum when I got a call from our security team. Has everyone been apprehended?”
“We’re still searching for Lady Ann.”
“She’s gone too far this time.”
“Douglas!”
His father turned at the sound of his wife’s thrilled cry.
“I’ll see to things. Enjoy the remainder of the evening with mum and later there is someone I want you to meet,” Cree said.
His father’s attention was diverted from his wife, who fast approached. “You met someone?”
“I did and I intend to marry her,” Cree said as if he dared his father to object.
It was good Colleen called her husband’s name out again, since Douglas wasn’t sure what to say to his son. He stepped forward, his arms spread wide to embrace his wife. He didn’t care if it wasn’t considered proper in front of their guests. He had missed her and he wanted her in his arms.
Cree slipped out before his parents could stop him. Having seen the confused look on his father’s face, he knew he wouldn’t wait to ask him questions. There would be time for that later. Now he wanted to get to Dawn and do as his father had done, embrace the woman he loved.
Love. It had to be what he felt for Dawn. How in one night, one moment in time, he could discover love, he didn’t know. Or perhaps the old fortune-teller was right. Perhaps there was such a thing as timeless love and he had been fortunate enough to have found the one he had spent many lifetimes with and, if that was so, he wasn’t about to lose her.
He hurried to the back of the castle, the silence growing heavier the farther he got away from the ballroom. He couldn’t wait to see Dawn. Couldn’t wait to hold her, kiss her, love her.
Mine.
As archaic as that thought might be. It was true.
A scowl surfaced as he approached the conservatory. The door was closed. Why hadn’t she left it open for him… unless?
He hurried forward, flinging open the door, and stepping inside. A quick look told him all he needed to know.
The room was empty. Dawn wasn’t there.
Chapter 11
The torch’s light flashed in Dawn’s eyes once again and she quickly shut them and turned her head.
“This is ridiculous, being forced to sneak around like a common thief,” Lady Ann said, sparks of anger igniting her words. “This is all Douglas’s fa
ult for keeping my finances on an unfathomable tight rein. I don’t know how he expects me to live on such a monthly pittance. This night went horribly wrong.”
Dawn was accustomed to people rambling on in front of her as if she wasn’t there, couldn’t hear their every word. People seemed to forget that while she couldn’t speak, she wasn’t deaf. Too often, she heard things she would prefer not to hear.
“Let’s go. You’re my excuse if I’m caught. I’ll simply explain how you were part of the robbery and used me to make an escape, threatening me with this knife, I managed to get away from you.” She snickered. “After all, who’s going to take the word of a voiceless serving lass against me?”
The woman was crazy. She actually believed she could get away with this without an ounce of recrimination. Dawn wanted to shake her head at the absurd thought, but she kept still. Lady Ann would get her comeuppance. What was more important right now was getting to Cree before midnight.
“Don’t turn at the stairs, keep walking,” Lady Ann ordered. “There’s a secret passageway that will take us outside, avoiding everyone. It was closed up years ago, but Douglas’s father had it opened in his own search for that damn brooch, whose existence I’m beginning to wonder is more tale than truth.”
Dawn wanted to rest her hand to her waist where the brooch lay safe in the pouch, but she dared not call attention to it.
“And all that nonsense that it would remain hidden until the rightful owner claimed it is nothing but a myth like the elusive brooch itself. It simply doesn’t exist.”
Gooseflesh prickled Dawn’s arms. Somehow she had known where to find it. How could that be? She had never been here before, then why did she feel like she knew where she was going?
Could Old Mary be right? Did this day, All Hallows Eve, allow the spirits of the past to collide with the present? Had a spirit from the past helped her?
“Keep moving. I’ve always hated this area of the castle. It makes my skin crawl,” Lady Ann said and gave Dawn a shove.
Dawn hurried her steps. She was just as anxious to be free of Lady Ann as the woman was to get out of there.
When the torch’s light fell on the passageway they entered, Dawn cringed. The area had decayed considerably and it would take cautious steps to travel it and that meant more precious time wasted and it had to be close to midnight by now. Once in the passageway there would be no turning back.
Dawn didn’t hesitate, there was no time left for her to. She swerved around so fast that it startled Lady Ann, giving Dawn enough time to knock the knife out of her hand. But the woman recovered quickly and as Dawn attempted to run past her, Lady Ann lashed out, her face scrunched in such anger that she looked ready to kill and her slender fingers were poised like talons as they reached out for Dawn.
Dawn swerved to avoid her, the space confining and leaving little room to maneuver and as she did Lady Ann let out a deafening screech and threw herself at Dawn.
The two women went tumbling down into the dark passageway.
Cree had searched the various rooms where he thought Dawn may have gone, but she wasn’t there. He had questioned the serving staff, but no one had seen her and Lila had gotten upset when she learned that he couldn’t find Dawn.
Flanna had also grown concerned when she heard that Dawn had not been seen since Colum had also gone missing. Cree had assured her that Colum was in safe hands and he would explain later. He had shared his concern with Sloan and had his security staff search the secret passageway again, but they found nothing.
Dawn wasn’t anywhere. She had vanished.
In desperation, he went to the fortune-teller.
“You know where she is,” Cree demanded when he entered the room where she had done readings for the evening. Her satchel hung on her arm and her cloak was wrapped around her. She was ready to leave. “You’re not going anywhere until you tell me where Dawn is.”
“I see the Cree I know in you. It is difficult for you in the here and now. You feel a part of yourself missing… until Dawn.”
The old woman was right. He had felt that way as long as he could remember. That a part of himself had been missing, then tonight he had met Dawn and he had finally felt whole.
“What goes on here?” Cree demanded.
Old Mary stepped closer to him. “I can only say so much, do so much. The rest is up to the two of you. Dig deep and remember. I tried to help you, locking you and Dawn in that truck.”
Cree scowled. “You did that?”
“You shared a similar fate one time. Remember and claim her again, as you did once before, or it will be too late.”
Cree shook his head, feeling ridiculous for asking but needing to. “If you are suggesting that Dawn and I loved before, in another life and time, why isn’t that enough now to keep us together?”
Old Mary smiled softly. “Infinite love is rare. Few, if any find it, and fate enjoys testing it.”
“Fate will not take it from us. I won’t allow it,” Cree commanded, pointing his finger at her. “And you will wait here, I have questions to ask you.”
Old Mary continued to smile as she nodded, pleased to see the commanding warrior of old rise up in Cree. Though, he wouldn’t be able to prevent her from taking her leave, she could not even prevent it. She turned and looked out the window, sensing time grew near, much too near. And she worried for Cree and Dawn as she had done countless times before.
Cree walked down the corridor toward the ballroom, ignoring the chatter and laughter coming from within where the dessert extravaganza was being enjoyed. He was glad for his mum that the event was going so well, but his only thought was to find Dawn. He stopped abruptly, a dizzy spell hitting him, his arm shooting out from his side and bracing his hand on the wall to steady himself, when suddenly an image flashed before his eyes. A small hut with barely a light coming through the narrow slit in the door and the earth hard beneath him, it’s pungent scent hitting his nostrils. Across from him sat Dawn. She wore peasant garments and, with a stick in hand, was drawing something in the dirt.
Cree scrunched his eyes closed and another image rose to replace the other one. He saw himself in bed with Dawn, could smell her inviting scent as he rose over her and slipped into her. He was hard, so very hard, and she felt good, so very good. She gripped his arms tight and he could feel her one finger tapping at his arm over and over as if repeatedly saying, yes, yes, yes.
“Cree!”
The image began to fade and he fought to hold on to it.
“Cree, are you all right?”
Cree cursed beneath his breath as he opened his eyes to see Sloan walking toward him.
He ignored the question. “Have you found Dawn?”
Sloan shook his head. “No one seems to have seen her.”
His response annoyed Cree. Was Dawn invisible because she had no voice? Because she spoke differently from others?
“The search continues until she’s found,” Cree ordered.
Sloan lowered his voice when he stopped beside Cree. “Did you ever consider that she left, went home?”
“No,” Cree snapped, a harsh scowl surfacing.
Sloan raised his brow, but not his voice. “Where is this spark of temper coming from? And this sudden connection with this woman? You just met her. You know little about her and only what she tells you. How do you know she wasn’t actually part of this fumbled heist?” He took a step back when Cree turned a threatening glare on him. “Whoa there, mate, I’m only pointing out the obvious.”
“Point it someplace more constructive,” Cree warned. “Make sure the security staff keeps searching.
“She’ll be found sooner or later,” Sloan said.
Cree’s worry was that Dawn would be found too late.
Dawn lay still, disoriented from the tumble down the stairs and her wrist throbbed worse than before. She was crunched against a curve in the stairway, Lady Ann laying partially against her, not moving. The torchlight was lost in the fall as well as the light it cast.
She gave herself a moment to orient herself, but only a moment. Time was of the essence, she had to find Cree. She carefully searched along Lady Ann’s body until her fingers lay at her neck in search of a pulse. She found it, weak, but it was there.
She needed to get the woman help and get to Cree before this day was no more.
Dawn used her legs to ease Lady Ann off her. A slight dizziness assaulted her when she got to her feet and she stilled, letting it pass. Her hand instinctively went to her waist and she released a silent sigh when she felt the pouch had remained safely tucked there.
The problem was how did she find her way out of here in the dark? She didn’t know how far they had fallen, though she did think it was a distance. Had that brought her closer to the bottom of the stairwell?
If she had a voice she would’ve screamed right now, she was so frustrated. Instead, she took a deep breath to calm herself so she could think and decide what direction to go in.
An image suddenly shot before her eyes. She saw herself cuddled up against Cree in bed, his arms around her. The bed was similar to the one in the bedchamber Lady Ann had taken her to. She could smell his scent, a natural scent, male, earth, and a touch of pine, and feel his warmth ripple through her.
His hand stroked her arm as he whispered, “Rest, for I will have you more than once tonight.”
She smiled along with herself in the image as a tingle of passion ran through her, intensifying as it gathered momentum. What astounded her was that it wasn’t only the passion she felt for Cree, but the intense love she felt for him and that she knew he felt for her. Never had she imagined a love that powerful existed.
For a moment, she thought to close her eyes and get lost in it, but quickly dismissed the idea. If there was the slightest chance that she had shared such a love with Cree before, she wasn’t about to lose it now.
Highlander's Magical Love Page 11