Stolen Portrait Stolen Soul: A Shadow Slayers Story (Shadow Slayers Stories Book 2)

by Nellie H. Steele

  She paced the floors outside of their rooms until they emerged. “Good morning,” Damien said as he entered the hall.

  “Good morning,” she answered. “Come, we mustn’t waste any time. We have precious little time left.”

  “Has something happened?” Michael asked.

  “Elizabeth nearly did not make it through the night,” Celine admitted. “Gray and I will depart tonight from Bucksville. I must send you back to your time at once.”

  “But we have to get the painting!” Damien exclaimed.

  “I’m not sure there is time. I must open a time portal for you and send you back. I won’t take that chance that you are trapped here!”

  “You’re not leaving until this evening. We have the whole day to retrieve the painting. You can send us back later before you leave, painting or not,” Michael said.

  Celine shook her head but acquiesced. “Agreed. Only because I would feel much more comfortable leaving Bucksville with the painting in this house.”

  “Then we’ll need a plan and fast,” Damien said. They walked together to the dining room. “Here’s our plan so far: we steal the painting from the Duke when no one is in the house.”

  Celine gaped at him. “How do you propose we clear the house?”

  “No idea. I hoped a good night’s sleep would give me the answers, but so far I haven’t been enlightened.”

  “Do you think you can lure the Duke out of the house, Celine?” Michael asked.

  “No way!” Damien said. “That’s way too dangerous.”

  Celine ignored him, considering it. “Yes,” she answered after a moment. “Yes, I probably could, but it will take some effort. But that doesn’t help us, you’d still have Stefano and Dembe in the house.”

  “Do you think you could get them ALL of them out of the house at once, Celine?” Michael joked.

  “The unfortunate thing is even if I am able to summon Marcus away, he will not take Stefano and Dembe with him. I’d be able to lure away either Marcus or the other two, but not all three,” she conceded.

  “Yeah, too bad being in two places at once isn’t one of your powers,” Damien joked. Celine stopped what she was doing, staring at him. “Sorry, just a joke,” he said, confused by her reaction.

  “Your joke has given me an idea. I’m not sure it will work but…” She paused, staring sideways. Her gaze refocused on Michael and Damien. “Suppose I could lure both Marcus and Dembe and Stefano out of the house. Could you enter the house, retrieve the painting and get it away in, say, fifteen minutes?”

  “Assuming we were hiding in our normal spot, yes, I’d say we could,” Michael said.

  Damien nodded in agreement. “But, Celine, that’s impossible. I mean you can’t do both, so this plan isn’t going to work.”

  “You said it’s too bad I couldn’t be in two places at once,” Celine said. “But what if I could be?”

  “Huh?” Damien exclaimed.

  “Come with me,” Celine said. She led them upstairs to her bedroom suite. “I’m not sure this will work. I’ve only witnessed Marcus do it once before. But I’m a quick learner. If I pull it off the effects will be temporary, but they should last long enough for us to execute our plan.”

  Celine stood in front of a full-length mirror that stood in a corner of the room. Holding out her hand in front of her, she knit her brow in concentration. She uttered a few words in Latin before closing her eyes in deep concentration. Opening her eyes, she uttered a final few words in an unintelligible language. The scene unfolding mesmerized Michael and Damien, though they did not understand what she was attempting to achieve.

  When Celine finished speaking, she reached her hand into the mirror. Damien turned to Michael to ask him if his eyes were deceiving him or if Celine’s hand had disappeared into the mirror, but he found himself unable to speak. After a moment, Celine pulled her arm back. Her hand, which had disappeared into the mirror, held another hand. She tugged the hand toward her. Michael and Damien were further stunned into silence as a figure emerged from the mirror. Celine pulled the woman closer to her, a smile crossing her face.

  “Hello, Celine,” she said.

  “Hello, Celine,” the figured answered.

  She turned to Michael and Damien, a triumphant look on her face. “Now I can be in two places at once,” she exclaimed, clapping her hands.

  Chapter 30

  Damien blinked his eyes a few times, staring at the scene in front of him. “I… I… I… what is that thing?”

  “She’s me!” Celine said. “She’s a doppelganger, a mirror image of me.”

  “Is it real?” Michael asked.

  “Yes, she’s as real as I am. Although only temporary. She’ll only exist for a few hours before she dissolves back into the mirror world. Until then, though, she can walk, talk and act as I do. She can distract Stefano and Dembe while you steal the painting back!”

  “Wait, wait, wait. If she’s the copy, send her to deal with the Duke,” Michael said.

  Celine shook her head. “No, he’d realize, he’d sense it wasn’t me. The dance would be over before the music even began.”

  “I still hate the part of the plan where you have to deal with him,” Damien said.

  “I won’t be alone.”

  “What do you mean? Who will be with you?” Damien asked.

  “In order for this to work, it must appear legitimate that I want to speak with Marcus. After the last incident, he’ll be wary of indulging me with another spontaneous meeting. I’ll go to my sister, cry on her shoulder. If she and Teddy request his presence, he’ll come. Then my doppelganger,” she said, motioning to the second Celine, “will create a distraction to remove Stefano and Dembe from the house. Then you will retrieve the painting.”

  “Uh, okay,” Michael said. “When should we start?”

  “Now,” Celine said. “We have little time. Come. Let us go to Marcus’ home first and check a few details.”

  They followed the two Celines outside. Celine was careful to hide her doppelganger under a hooded cloak as they left the house. Michael and Damien trailed behind the two women as they made their way to Marcus’ house.

  “I can’t believe she pulled a second Celine out of a mirror,” Damien marveled.

  “I’m not sure anything surprises me anymore,” Michael responded. “We’re in 1791 retrieving a painting from a time traveling Duke after I was bitten by a vampire. A faux-Celine seems reasonable in the grand scheme of things.”

  “Good point,” Damien admitted.

  They arrived at the Duke’s house, taking their usual hideout. Damien stared at the two Celines, still finding it overwhelming to see the twins. “The painting is in the same spot,” Celine said, calling their attention to the upstairs window.

  “And Marcus is there, having his breakfast,” the second Celine whispered, pointing toward the dining-room window.

  “This is weird,” Damien said.

  “Pay attention,” both Celines stated simultaneously.

  Damien’s eyes went wide, and he swallowed hard. “Sorry.”

  “Well,” Celine said, “let’s begin our plan. I shall go to my sister’s. Once they call for Marcus, you, Celine, will retrieve Stefano and Dembe. Once the house is empty, Michael and Damien, waste no time in retrieving that painting. We’ll meet at the house later.”

  “We got it, Celine… s… Celines, both of you, all of us,” Damien stuttered, adding an “s” to Celine’s name. “Okay!” he settled on.

  “Don’t worry, we’ll have that painting,” Michael said. “Be careful, though, Celine.”

  Celine nodded her head. “Oh, is there anything we need to do with, ah, her when we’re finished?” Michael asked, nodding his head toward the twin Celine.

  “No, she understands what to do once her job is done,” Celine assured him.

  Michael nodded. She smiled at them before heading off on the path toward her sister’s home.

  “Here goes nothing,” Michael said to Damien.

&
nbsp; Celine approached her sister’s home. She took a deep breath, smoothing her dress before she climbed the steps. She disliked lying to her sister, but she reminded herself of her sister’s role in her current situation. It had to be done, she assured herself.

  She lifted her trembling hand to knock at the door. Teddy opened the door. “Celine!” he said, surprise in his voice. “Come in, my dear, come in.” He ushered her into the entryway.

  “Thank you, Teddy. I hope I’m not interrupting you, but I need to speak with you. Both you and Celeste.”

  “Not at all, Celine. Please sit down, let me fetch Celeste.”

  After a few moments, Teddy returned with Celeste.

  “Now, Celine, what is it you’d like to speak with us about?” Teddy asked.

  Celine paused a moment, her heart pounding in her chest. She summoned everything she could for the performance, there was no room for error, she could not fail. “Elizabeth Buckley nearly died last night,” she said, genuine upset entering her voice.

  “I’m very sorry to hear that, Celine, but I fail to understand how this concerns us,” Teddy said.

  Celine sighed, swallowing hard. She hesitated as though searching for the right words. “I… I…” she stammered.

  “Oh, out with it, Celine,” Celeste said, exasperated.

  “Let the girl speak, Celeste,” Teddy counseled.

  “I’m wondering if I’ve made a grave error in judgement,” Celine lied, pouting for dramatic effect.

  Shock and relief showed on Celeste’s face. She rushed to her sister’s side, sitting next to her. “Oh, darling,” she said, stroking her hair.

  “Do you mean by carrying on with Grayson Buckley, Celine?” Teddy questioned.

  Celine nodded. “I don’t know what to do,” Celine cried, squeezing a few tears from her eyes.

  “There, there, darling,” Celeste consoled, “you’ve come to the right place.”

  “Indeed, Celine,” Teddy said, “you are taking the right steps to correct the situation.”

  “I fear there may be no correcting it!” Celine wailed, throwing herself across the arm of the loveseat she shared with Celeste.

  “Celine, there is no need for hysterics. Nothing is unfixable,” Teddy assured her.

  Celine sat up, shaking her head. “But how?” she croaked.

  “Just leave it to us, Celine. We shall help you correct this error in judgement, darling,” Celeste said.

  “Your sister is correct. We are your family. We shall guide you in this delicate matter,” Teddy agreed, offering his handkerchief.

  Celine nodded her head, drying her tears with Teddy’s handkerchief. “That’s it, darling, dry your tears. From this moment forward, you will have no more tears, only joy,” Celeste promised.

  “What must I do?” Celine posed.

  “You must speak with Marcus at once,” Celeste answered.

  Celine feigned shock. “Oh, surely not, Celeste,” she said, standing and stalking a few steps away. She made a show of wringing her hands.

  “Well, of course, darling. Oh, I understand how hard it will be, but once it’s over, you can both put it behind you and move forward.”

  “I cannot,” Celine stalled.

  “Why not Celine?” Teddy asked.

  Celine shook her head. “How angry he must be with me. How can I face him?”

  “Oh, sister dear, it won’t be easy. You must admit you were wrong, apologize and earn back his trust. I shall counsel you in what to say. Listen to me and it will all be over soon with the outcome you desire.”

  “Indeed, I’m certain your sister’s advice will soothe the raw feelings between the two of you. And, of course, we shall speak on your behalf.”

  “Oh, yes, and Marcus values Teddy’s input. I’m sure it will help in correcting this situation.”

  Celine nodded. “When do you propose I speak with him?” Celine asked.

  “Right away,” Teddy suggested. “I shall appeal to Marcus at once. Celeste will ready you here to speak with him. I shall return with him as soon as I can.”

  Celine swallowed hard, nodding. “You’ll feel better once it’s over, darling,” Celeste said. Teddy pulled on his overcoat and exited the house. Celine watched from the window as he made his way down the path.

  “Now, darling,” Celeste said, guiding her to the loveseat, “everything will be just fine. Follow what I tell you and all will be forgiven. You’ll be back in Marcus’ arms by evening, I promise.”

  Celine wanted to shudder at the idea, but instead she smiled and nodded at Celeste.

  Michael, Damien and Celine’s double stared at the house. Minutes seemed like hours as they waited for action. Damien spent much of his time studying the clone as discreetly as he could.

  “There!” the clone Celine said, pointing down the path leading to Marcus’ house. They followed the line of her finger. Coming down the path toward the house was Theodore VanWoodsen.

  “Damn, she’s good,” Michael said, shaking his head.

  Teddy approached the house, knocking at the door. Dembe greeted him and he entered the house. The trio spied him speaking with the Duke in his sitting room. After a few moments of conversation, Marcus pulled on his coat, exiting the house with Teddy. The pair strolled down the path, returning in the direction Teddy approached from.

  They kept watch on the time, waiting until Marcus and Teddy should arrive at Teddy’s house before Celine said, “My turn!” She stood, smoothing her dress. She was so like Celine, Damien mused.

  “Good luck, ah, other Celine,” Damien said.

  She winked at him and climbed from their hiding spot. She stalked down the path, pausing for a moment. Then she charged onto the porch, banging on the door. Dembe opened it. “Dembe!” she shouted, “you must come with me. It’s Marcus. He’s… please, you must help!” Celine’s voice was shrill. Her ravings were so loud, Michael and Damien could overhear her without trouble from their hideaway.

  Dembe answered her, though they could not hear him. He started out the door, but she stopped him. She shouted again at him and he nodded. They overheard her call Stefano’s name. He raced into the hallway and she retold her story, gesturing wildly, near hysterical.

  Together, they raced from the house. The fake Celine took them in a different direction than Teddy had gone with Marcus. As they disappeared from sight, Michael said, “Now or never.”

  “Let’s do this,” Damien said. They stood and raced toward the house, finding the door unlocked and ajar. In the confusion, Dembe had not bothered to latch it. The two sprinted up the steps, taking them in twos. They burst into the bedroom containing the portrait.

  “There it is,” Damien said.

  “Yeah, let’s not waste time admiring it. Grab that side, I’ll get this one. And let’s get the hell out of here,” Michael declared.

  Damien grabbed a sheet from nearby and tossed it over the painting. “To protect it since we’re going through the woods.”

  “Good idea,” Michael said, pulling it over to his side.

  They hefted the painting up, turning it on its side to make carrying it easier. Michael backed out the door. Carefully, they turned the corner and began down the staircase.

  “Almost there!” Damien announced a few steps from the bottom.

  “Don’t jinx us,” Michael said, already at the bottom of the staircase.

  “And straight out the door,” Damien said, reaching the bottom stair.

  They cleared the doorway and descended the few steps to the path. With no obstacles, they each turned so they could walk facing forward. “Are you able to go faster?”

  “Sure,” Damien said, picking up the pace to a jog. “And into the woods for the win!” he said as the trees closed around them.

  Sweat beaded on both their foreheads as they continued their journey toward town. “Whew, man, walking was a terrible, terrible idea,” Damien said.

  “Yeah, we should have driven,” Michael answered.

  “Hilarious, Michael,” Damien
said. “I meant we should have asked Celine for a carriage.”

  “Oh, yeah, good idea,” Michael paused. “Do you think…”

  “We can’t ask now; I’m not explaining this painting to anyone or taking the chance that we’re caught.”

  “Right. Okay, we stick to the plan. You hide with the painting in the alley near the painter’s house and I’ll buy the other painting from him with the money from Celine.”

  Celine waited with Celeste. She paced the floor, stopping a few times to stare out the window. “Relax, Celine,” Celeste said. “He’ll be here soon enough.”

  Celine was uninterested in the whereabouts of Marcus. Concern filled her over Michael and Damien’s end of the plan. Had they retrieved the painting? Were they safe?

  “Celine, please,” Celeste beseeched her. “You’ll wear the floor out with your pacing. Sit down. Darling, please, everything will be fine! Remember what I told you.”

  Celine nodded, although she had no intention of begging forgiveness while batting her eyelashes at Marcus. She wasn’t sure what she planned to say, but it would be none of the things her sister advised.

  If she was correct, Michael and Damien should have absconded with the painting before her conversation with Marcus began.

  “Stop scowling, Celine, it is most unattractive! Please try to appear pleasant, agreeable. You’re a pretty girl, Celine, you must use it to your advantage now more than ever.”

  Celine found herself wishing Marcus would arrive soon, bored with her sister’s lecturing. Within moments, her wish was granted. “Here they come. You’ll wait in here. I’ll speak with Marcus when he arrives, then we’ll send him in to speak with you. Oh, Celine,” she said, wrapping her sister in an embrace, “I am thrilled for you. I’m so pleased you’ve come to your senses.”

  The door opened. Celeste gave her one last tight embrace before disappearing through the doors, closing them behind her. Celine sighed. She hated lying to her sister, but the situation gave her little choice.

  She overheard voices conversing in the hallway. Her stomach clenched into a knot. She swallowed hard, readying for her performance. She stared out the window, wondering if she could climb through it and flee to freedom. Her decision was made for her when the door opened behind her. She closed her eyes, steadying herself.