She assumed once the Duke was gone these nightmares would cease. They had not. Although, after centuries of torment, dealing with only the nightmares was a vast improvement over dealing with the man. She smiled at Damien asleep. She considered checking on Michael, but she didn’t want Damien to wake up alone again. Instead, she waited until he was awake, viewing the morning sunrise through the window of Damien’s ocean-facing room. The calm water sparkled as the yellow rays reflected on its surface.
When the yellow glow coursed through the windows, Damien awoke, stretching and yawning. “Good morning,” he said to Celine.
“Good morning,” she responded. “Did you sleep well?”
“I did, how about you? Did you get any sleep?”
“Yes, I did,” she answered.
“But?” he asked, sensing there was more.
“But nothing, I was just watching the sunrise,” she fibbed.
“Hmm,” he answered. Before he continued, a knock sounded at the door. “Come in!” he yelled.
Gray poked his head in. “Good morning! Did I wake you?”
“No, we were up,” Celine answered. “How’s Michael?”
“He’s okay. Millie’s with him now. He’s been restless since Celeste was here. She’s been continuing the sedatives to keep him quiet.”
Celine was already out of her chair. “Really? Why didn’t you wake me?”
“I figured I’d let you two rest. Alexander and I had it under control.”
Damien also bounded out of bed, changing into his clothes. “He’s still restless even after sunrise?”
“Yes. He’s can’t seem to relax. Keeps rambling on about Celeste needing him.”
“Let me change clothes and I’ll meet you there,” Celine said, heading down the hallway to their room.
Within a few minutes, she returned to Michael’s room, joining Millie, Gray and Damien. Michael flailed his arms at her. “Finally! Perhaps you will listen to me!”
Celine hurried to his bedside, perching on the edge. “Of course, I’ll listen. What is it, Michael?”
“I have to go. Celeste needs me. She’s in trouble, she needs my help.”
“She was here last night. She is okay, I spoke with her. She was worried about you and how your recovery was going. She wanted to ensure you were okay. You need to rest.”
“No,” Michael insisted, “no, she needs my help!”
“You can’t see her now anyway,” Celine countered. “The sun has already risen.”
“I need to go watch over her, protect her,” Michael continued.
Celine shot a glance to Millie, who prepared a needle.
“Tell you what,” Celine said, patting Michael’s hand, “I’ll check on her myself now. And I’ll go back tonight and talk to her and make sure she’s okay. I’ll report back as soon as I can.”
Michael shook his head again before spotting Millie’s actions. “No!” he shouted, “no more of that. I need to go to Celeste.” He struggled, trying to leap from the bed. Alexander caught him, holding him down along with Gray. Damien squeezed between Celine and the night table, also assisting. Celine shimmied back, allowing Millie access to Michael. Within minutes of her administering the latest round of sedative, Michael dozed off.
“He’s getting worse, not better,” Gray remarked.
“Yes,” Celine answered, standing and walking a few steps away, lost in thought. “It’s strange.”
“Strange?” Damien questioned.
“Yes,” Alexander chimed in. “In most cases, vampire victims improve at least a little after being away from them. It’s natural he was disturbed when she was near last evening. But the fact that he’s remained so, even after sunrise when she can no longer call to him, is abnormal.”
“She can call to him? Like mentally?”
“Yes, she can,” Gray answered.
Celine remained pensive. “I will check on Celeste,” she said after a moment.
“I’ll come with you,” Gray offered.
“Okay, thanks. I just want to make sure Michael’s not correct. Are you two okay to stay here?” she asked Damien and Alexander.
“Sure! We’ll hold down the fort!” Damien said.
“Thanks!” she replied, offering him a hug before leaving the room with Gray.
Celine sped down the path, Gray followed behind her. “Celine, wait,” he called to her.
“I just want to get there,” Celine shouted, turning to face him.
“I’m sure she’s fine,” Gray said, attempting to comfort her.
“Something’s wrong, Gray. He’s anxious when he shouldn’t be.”
Gray caught up to her. “It didn’t help that she showed up last night. It might be a residual effect.”
“Let’s hope so, but in the meantime, let’s not delay this any longer. Come on.” They continued down the path to the abandoned house. As the house came into view, Celine raced toward it. She took the front steps by two, pushing through the front door. She glanced around the room, finding the control for the mechanism to display the secret room. Her sister’s daylight haven lay inside. Celine dashed to it as Gray joined her. “Close the door,” she instructed to keep the sunlight at bay. Gray closed the opening, toggling on his flashlight. Celine cracked the lid of the casket. Gray shined his light inside. Celeste lay inside, appearing as though she was asleep.
Celine let the lid close, breathing a sigh of relief. Her sister, it appeared, was fine, unharmed and resting during the daylight hours. “I told you she’d be fine. Your sister’s like a cat, she’s got nine lives,” Gray said.
Celine shot him a glance. “Yes, she’s fine. Which doesn’t explain Michael’s continued reaction.”
“Check with her tonight, but for now it seems like you can relax for the moment.”
Celine nodded. Any more information would have to wait until Celeste was awake after the sun set. She ran her hand across the smooth wood, taking a deep breath. “Stay safe, sister,” she murmured. They left the hidden room, careful to close the passage behind them before leaving the house.
“Shall we take a walk before we return to the house?” Celine inquired.
“Sure,” Gray agreed. “It’s a nice, sunny day. Let’s enjoy it a little.”
Celine smiled at him; he summarized her opinion perfectly. It had been a while since they had enjoyed a quiet moment together. Celine reached for his hand, he grasped hers, squeezing it. They started off on the path that wound toward the cliffs overlooking the sea. It was a calm, cloudless day. The ocean lapped against the rocks in a gentle motion, the thunderous waves absent today.
They paused at the edge. Gray wrapped Celine in his arms, kissing the top of her head as they enjoyed the view. “It’s nice to enjoy this with you,” he said.
Celine agreed. Despite all the problems surrounding them, the beauty here had a calming effect. She was content for the moment to leave her problems behind her and indulge in this comforting scenery. “As much as I hate to say this, we should get back,” Celine suggested, tilting her head to gaze at Gray.
“Yes, you’re right. Although, Michael should still be sleeping.”
“Hopefully, but I don’t like to leave Damien for too long either.”
“You still love him like family. It’s nice to see you so happy with your family around.”
“This is a first for me. I guess I’m a little overprotective.”
Gray grinned at her. “It’s a good look on you. Come on, let’s get back.” He put his arm around her shoulders, and they left the seaside scenery behind.
“Overprotective or not, let’s opt for the scenic path through the woods.” Celine winked at him.
“Sounds like a plan,” Gray answered as they veered onto the path leading deeper into the woods.
The trees closed in around them. Celine took a deep breath of the forest air. Something seemed strange as she breathed in. She slowed to a stop. The hairs on the back of her neck prickled. Her nostrils flared, trying to detect what was different about t
he smell. Her mind whirled with the sensation of being watched.
“Celine? What is it?” Gray asked.
She doubled over as pain shot across her forehead. Memories flashed across her brain in a blinding mix. Nausea overcame her. She dropped to her knees.
“Celine!” Gray shouted, kneeling beside her. Celine moaned in pain before the sensation began to pass. She gulped air as tears spilled down her cheeks. She grabbed Gray’s hand, squeezing it.
“I’m okay,” she choked out. “I just need a minute.” She took a few more deep breaths as Gray rubbed her back. She wiped the tears from her cheeks as the nausea passed, and the pain subsided. She exhaled, long and hard. “It passed. I’m okay.” She breathed another shaky breath.
“What was it, another painful memory?”
“Yes,” she answered. “That was the worst of them.”
“You okay?”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m okay. It seemed much more intense this time. But as soon as it passes, it’s like nothing happened.”
“What was the memory?”
“Umm,” Celine creased her forehead, remembering. “There were a few, but they were all jumbled. The one that stuck out was an argument we all had soon after I became what I am. Celeste, Teddy, Marcus and I.”
“Each memory has been about Celeste, right? You’re upset about her. It’s manifesting itself physically.”
“This has never happened before,” Celine answered, climbing to her feet and shaking her head.
“You’ve never been this worried about your sister before,” Gray said, also standing.
Celine nibbled on her lower lip a moment before answering. She shook her head again. “It’s far-fetched. I can’t imagine it would manifest like this.”
“Like I said, you’ve never worried about her this much.”
Celine shot him a glance. “I’ve been worried before about plenty of people. This has never happened.”
“None of them were blood relations.”
“It doesn’t add up, even with that explanation. Something’s wrong.”
“Nothing is wrong,” Gray said, putting his hands on her shoulders. “Celine, look at me. Nothing is wrong, other than the minor trouble with Celeste, which is eating you alive with guilt. We’ll fix it, it’s temporary. But nothing is wrong. The Duke is gone, we have nothing to fear.”
She sighed. “I just can’t shake this feeling.”
“Residual effects from the centuries of being pursued and tormented. You don’t remember how to just live with no threats or danger.”
“You may be correct,” she agreed, relenting to his explanations whether or not she believed them.
“I am. Now, do you feel strong enough to walk?”
She nodded. “I do, I’m fine. Like I said, as soon as it’s over it’s like nothing happened.”
“Then let’s get back. We will check on Damien and then you will get some rest. Proper rest, not sleeping in Damien’s chair.”
“I’ve been resting.”
“Sure you have, and yes, I realize we don’t get tired in the traditional sense but we do get run down. You need to rest.”
She rolled her eyes at him. “Okay, Dad, I will rest.”
“Very funny, Celine.”
“I promise I will, just after I check on Damien. Let’s go.”
When Celine and Gray returned to the house, they found Michael sleeping with Damien watching over him. Millie’s sedative kept him resting. Still, Damien appeared worried, the crease in his forehead deepening by the hour despite Michael’s lack of responsiveness.
At Gray’s insistence, Celine retired to their suite for a nap in the early afternoon. She laid in bed, staring at the wall. Worry consumed her. Worry for Damien, worry for Michael, worry for Celeste. The anxiety robbed her of any sleep. She rolled onto her back, staring at the ceiling for a fresh perspective.
After another hour, restlessness overcame her, and she rose from her bed. Wandering down the hall, she let herself into Michael’s room. Damien still sat at his bedside. Celine slipped her arms around his shoulders in a hug. Damien clasped her arm. They spent the next few minutes in silence.
“How are you holding up?” Celine asked, sitting on the edge of the bed across from Damien.
“Okay, he’s been quiet.”
Celine offered a half-smile. “That’s good, but how are YOU?” she inquired, emphasizing the last word.
He paused a moment before responding. “Okay,” he said, his voice rising an octave higher than normal. Celine raised her eyebrows at him without answering. “I’m fine!” Celine tilted her head, continuing to make eye contact. “Doing good. Plagued with worry but good, overall!”
She nodded her head. “Plagued with worry. That sounds about right.”
“I’m trying to be okay with this, but…” He paused. “it seems so complicated and like he’s getting worse.”
Celine grabbed Damien’s hand. “It is. It’s strange, too. He’s improving, physically anyway, but the other symptoms: his restlessness, apprehension, need to be with Celeste, all of that seems to be worse.”
“Why?”
“I’m not sure.” Celine glanced at Michael, shaking her head. “What a mess I’ve made.”
“Is it the same for Celeste? Would she experience the same thing?”
“No. It’s not the same for her. I’ll check with her tonight again but she seemed fine. I’m not sure why he thinks she’s unsafe and was so concerned earlier.”
“Wow, that’s not fair, just Michael gets stuck with the bad side effects.”
“To be honest, Celeste’s got a bad case of side effects, too,” she said, grinning at him.
“Good point.”
“Any progress on getting her back to normal?”
“No.”
“Too bad you can’t just wave a magic wand and turn her back. Or a magic finger or whatever you use.”
“Sorry, it’s not that easy,” Celine admitted. “Although…” She paused, thinking.
“Although what?”
“I have an idea. It’s not a great idea and it probably won’t work, but it’s worth a shot.”
“What is it?”
Celine glanced at him. “Promise me you’ll keep it to yourself.”
“Okay?” he said, unsure.
“I mean it, you can’t tell anyone.”
“Not even Alexander or Gray?”
“No one. It won’t be a very popular idea with either of them, especially Gray.”
“Okay, sure. I won’t tell anyone.”
“Promise?”
“Scouts’ honor!” he replied, holding up three fingers.
“Good. I’m going to summon the adjudicator. Best-case scenario, they restore Celeste to her rightful self. Worst case, they don’t. Although even if they don’t, perhaps they’ll have a suggestion about dealing with the situation.”
“Do you think this adjudicator person will fix her?”
“It’s a long shot. They prefer not to get involved in these matters. But I persuaded them once, perhaps I can persuade them again to procure a second life for Celeste.”
“So… okay, this might sound stupid but how do you contact this adjudicator? Is there a hotline you call? Like one-eight hundred-help me?”
Celine laughed. “No. It’s more complex than that. I’ll do it tomorrow, after I speak with Celeste tonight. If Michael is correct and there is a problem, that’ll give me more leverage.”
“Okay. Good point. So, how’s noon tomorrow? While everyone is at lunch, we could sneak out and…”
“No,” Celine interrupted him.
“Huh?”
“No, there is no ‘we.’ I must do this alone.”
“What? No way! I mean, okay, you don’t want me telling Gray or Alexander, which, by the way, is sketchy to begin with, but now you want me to let you do it alone?”
“It’s fine. I’ll be fine.”
“Why can’t I come with you?”
“It’s complicated. It’s not dan
gerous for me, but it’s tricky. It’s something a human shouldn’t be involved in.”
“Why don’t you want to tell anyone else?”
“Adjudicators aren’t the easiest beings to work with. What they determine is fair may not be in line with what anyone involved thinks is fair. Plus, the last time I spoke with an adjudicator, well, it didn’t end so well for Gray.”
“Right. I am in no way okay with this but, okay, I won’t say anything. Just let me know when you’re going so I can worry the entire time you’re gone.”
Celine smirked at him. “I will do that, D. You don’t have to worry though, I’ll be fine.”
“Yeah, remind me of that when you disappear for twenty-five years.”
“Funny, D.”
“Well, I hope it works!”
“Me too and you promise NOT to tell no matter how worried you are, right?”
“My lips are sealed, I won’t tell.”
“Won’t tell what?” Gray asked, entering the room.
Celine turned to face him. “Uh-oh, we’re caught. I was swearing Damien to secrecy. The truth is I didn’t get much rest earlier.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah. Yeah, that’s it, no rest. Didn’t sleep a wink. There it is,” Damien rambled. “You know me, I can’t keep a secret so I’m glad this one is out. Whew!” Damien raked the back of his hand across his forehead. “Glad that’s over.”
Celine squeezed his hand, signaling him to be quiet. He cleared his throat as Gray made his way across the room. “No rest, huh? Well, I’m glad I know the secret. Now I can insist you rest more this afternoon.” He squeezed her shoulders.
Celine made a face, rolling her eyes. “I will try to rest before I visit Celeste. Make sure he stays sedated, please!” She stood. “You should rest, too, D.”
“I hate to leave…” he hesitated.
Celine tugged his arm. “Come on, you can sit with him this evening while I go check on Celeste.”
“Go ahead, I’ll be here. Millie will be checking in soon,” Gray insisted. “You both need some rest.”
Celine and Damien agreed, leaving the room and heading to Damien’s room. “How about you take the bed and I take the chair this time,” he offered.
Stolen Portrait Stolen Soul: A Shadow Slayers Story (Shadow Slayers Stories Book 2) Page 12