The man standing in front of her turned and threw the yellow disc. It floated on the air.
“That’s beautiful,” Lucy admired as the other man caught it. Then he tossed it behind his back and caught it again.
“It’s just a Frisbee. Hey, you’re not from around here, are you? England maybe?”
“Yes, that’s right.” Lucy choked on a sob of relief. “How did you know?”
His smile grew. “Your accent, silly girl.” He jogged away, heading toward the other man.
“Oh.” It took a moment for her to register that the cheeky man with brilliant blue eyes had run off.
Lucy wasn’t sure what to do. She had no money. No clothes. She had nothing of value except the locket and she couldn’t sell that, not if she wanted to get back. Alone and afraid she moved over to a bench and sat down. There she watched the men throw the disc he called a Frisbee back and forth. They both seemed quite skilled, especially the one called Will. He ran, jumped, and caught it expertly. Then tossed it back to the other man with ease. It was exciting to watch, even if she was terrified.
The day lengthened and Lucy grew tired, hungry, and very thirsty. As she watched the men open containers and drink, she became even more parched. They didn’t seem to realize she was still there. In fact, no one paid her any attention at all. If Will hadn’t spoken to her when she first arrived, she would’ve thought herself a ghost.
Lucy’s stomach growled as she watched people pack up their blankets and baskets of food. Part of her wanted to run over to perfect strangers and ask them if they might spare some food for her, but she was a lady, not one to beg or steal. So she continued to sit until she couldn’t stay upright any longer. Then she lay down on the bench. After a while the shirtless men pulled some sort of clothing over their heads and then one departed. The other, Will, glanced over at her.
She wanted to wave, even thought about asking him for a drink of some of the liquid in his container, but she couldn’t. She didn’t have the energy.
“You’re still here?” Will said, squatting down beside her. “Can’t get enough of my fine body?” He glanced down at himself and laughed.
“Yes,” Lucy began answering his first question and then changed her mind, as she comprehended the second. He was teasing her. “I mean no, that isn’t why I stayed.”
“Oh?” He stood. “Then why are you still out here in your robe and slippers? You must be hungry.”
Lucy sat up and tried to ignore her spinning head as Will took the spot beside her on the bench.
“Are you lost?”
Without knowing it, Will had hit the mark.
“Yes, I am,” she said. And she was so relieved someone understood that she began to cry. Tears streamed down her cheeks like big drops of rain.
“Hey, it’s okay.” He noticed her looking at his water bottle and held it out. “Are you thirsty? I don’t have any weird diseases if you want a drink.”
Lucy wiped her face with the back of her hand. “Are you sure?”
“I’m tested regularly,” he answered with a smirk.
She had no idea what he meant, but she took the container from his hand, opened it the way she watched him, and his friend do earlier, and then tipped the water into her mouth. Before she knew it, the container was empty. Sheepishly she screwed the lid back on and handed it back to him. “I’m so sorry.” She glanced away, fighting another bout of tears.
Will patted her on the back. “Let’s get out of here. Can you walk or would you like me to carry you?”
“I’m perfectly capable of walking, thank you.” She stood and experienced an immediate rush of light-headedness.
Will caught her as he stood as well.
“Unhand me, sir. You are far too fresh for my liking and we haven’t even been properly introduced.”
He chuckled but let her go. “What are you, some kind of Jane Austen enthusiast? An actress in a play?”
“You’ve heard of Jane Austen?” The thought thrilled her. She read the author’s books and found them delicious.
“I don’t know her. I know of her. Everyone does, probably me more so that most because my mother named me after the swoon worthy Mr. Darcy.”
“But you look nothing like him,” Lucy said, as she walked beside Will. She was feeling rather unsteady and hoped they got to wherever they were going quickly. Otherwise he would be carrying her after all.
“My mother didn’t know I wouldn’t be tall, dark, and handsome when I was still in the womb.” Will began walking backward as he spoke. “At least she got one out of three right.”
“You most certainly have confi… dence… iss…” The world started to spin, and the edges of her vision turned dark.
“Hold on.” Will wrapped an arm around her waist and together they made it Will’s waiting limo.
12
DESPERATE FOR ESCAPE
Lucy opened her eyes.
“Here, have some more water.” Will held out a crystal goblet.
Lucy sat up. She felt queasy and weak and holding the glass seemed to take altogether too much effort. Her arms and legs were shaking.
“Maybe I should have my driver take us to the hospital.” He pointed toward the front of what Lucy believed was a small room. A man sat at the front peering at her through a mirror stuck to some glass. Darkened glass surrounded them on both sides as well. She glanced outside and realized they were moving! So quickly that everything rushed by in a haze.
“What the devil is this madness?” Lucy fell to the floor and pulled her legs to her chest so she could duck her head and wrap her arms protectively around her knees. But that close to the ground she could feel the movement, hear the rushing of the wind. It was terrifying.
“Hey, whoa. Hold on. What’s the matter?” Will dropped to the floor beside her.
Lucy started to rock back and forth. She made a mistake. A terrible, terrible mistake. “Oh, Grandmother. What have you gotten me into? I just want to go home.”
Will crossed his legs, more than a little worried about the girl. She was acting loopy and he wasn’t sure whether she was coming off something or still on it. She was dazzlingly beautiful. He couldn’t help noticing the way her hair fell around her heart-shaped face in waves. And her eyes? Such an unusual color. There was only one other person he knew with similar eyes. In certain light they appeared purple. One of his exes wore colored contacts that came close to the color, but not quite. He figured this girl’s must be contacts as well. And then there were her clothes. They looked like they came from a vintage store. She said she was from England. Then again, if she were on something, she might believe she was from the planet Mars.
“What’s your address? I’ll tell Victor, my driver and he can get you right home,” Will said softly.
Lucy shook her head. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”
“Sure I would.” Will tried to appear reassuring as he patted her on the shoulder. The material felt coarse, different than anything he experienced. “Even if it’s in London, that’s not a problem. My family owns a private jet. We can fly you there.”
“Fly?” Lucy snorted.
“Yes, fly. Like on planes.” Will sounded exasperated and Lucy had no idea why.
“Only birds can fly, Mr.…” Lucy glanced up. “Will is your first name, correct? What is your last?”
“Godwin,” Will said. “Why don’t we get off the floor and into the comfortable seats?” He helped her up. “What’s your name?”
Remembering her upbringing she stuck out her hand for him to take. “I’m Miss Lucy Channing, eldest daughter of Winston and Kathryn Channing, the Earl and Lady of Sothersby.”
“Huh.” Will took her hand. “Charmed I’m sure,” he said with a smirk.
“You should be, Mr. Godwin.” His arrogance was irritating.
“We’re being formal?” Will crossed a foot on one knee, picked up something and pressed a button. A rectangular box hanging from the ceiling started talking. There was a person inside.
Will didn’t seem to notice. “I’ve seen you in your pajamas, there’s no need for formalities, Lucy.”
“Of course there is, sir,” she blurted, trying to remain dignified as she faced the person talking from inside the box. “Why do you have little people locked up in there?”
Will faced her. “You’re totally playing me right now, aren’t you?”
“Playing? No. I’m completely serious.” Lucy shook her head, trying to make sense of her surroundings. “What year is this?”
Will turned away and focused on the person in the box. “Look right there.” He touched the top right corner of the box. “It’s April fifteenth, two thousand and nineteen.” In the bottom left corner was another large number followed by the words New York, New York. So she knew where she was as well. For some reason that made her feel slightly better.
“What are you on?” He rubbed a hand over his shoulder, perplexed. When she didn’t answer he clarified. “What did you take?”
“Take?” Lucy realized then she didn’t really think the whole time travelling scenario through when she took the locket from her grandmother. She hadn’t believed time travel was possible. Part of her believed the ghost of her grandmother was nothing more than a hallucination brought on by grief and that same part still hoped this was some kind of episode. Eventually she decided it wouldn’t hurt to tell the oddly kind yet slightly obnoxious man the truth. In fact, she thought doing so might wake her up, help her break through whatever was going on.
She lifted the locket and opened it, revealing the strange piece of metal with the various partial circles. “I took this from the ghost of my grandmother. She told me it would take me to my true love, no matter where he was in the word, including in time.” As she spoke Will leaned back, a combination of humor and worry crossing his features. Lucy took a breath and kept going. “I’m from Sothersby, England. The year there is eighteen hundred and fifteen. I live in that time with my mother and father and my younger brother and sister. They’re twins.” Will eyes narrowed. He still didn’t believe her. “Up until two weeks ago I also lived with my grandmother. She died the night after my birthday party, the one I mentioned earlier.”
Will opened a new bottle of water and poured some in a glass. Lucy kept talking. “I’ve been sick with grief. We went back to our estate in Sothersby for her funeral.” She got choked up thinking about it. “Last night I went for a walk in our family graveyard and saw my grandmother’s ghost. She gave me this locket and told me she used it to find her true love. She also told me if I touched it, the amulet would take me to mine.” Finished, she closed her eyes. Even she thought she sounded mad.
I want to go home, she thought again, wishing that when she opened her eyes she would be back in her bed with her big fluffy pillows and Harriet there to help her dress and bring her hot chocolate. But when she opened her eyes Will was still there and they were still moving at unimaginable speeds in a contraption Lucy couldn’t begin to comprehend.
Will leaned in, taking a closer look at the amulet. “If I touch it will it take me to my true love?”
Lucy closed the locket. It was her only way of returning home. Somehow. “It’s unclear at this point.” She tucked it under her nightdress.
Will sat back and crossed his arms. “So your grandmother used that first. It brought her where?”
“She said two hundred years into the future.”
“Uh-huh. And when was that?”
Lucy shrugged, feeling her bottom lip tremble. “I’m not sure. I didn’t get a chance to ask her all of my questions.”
“I see.” Will pushed a button and the glass between the driver and Will opened. “Take us to Bellevue, please, Victor. Thank you.”
“Right away, sir.” The driver stared at Lucy in his mirror.
The glass closed.
“What’s the name of the man she fell in love with?” Will asked. He needed to keep her talking.
Will’s tone was beginning to irritate Lucy. She knew she sounded crazy, but he didn’t have to rub her face in it. She glanced out the window. They stopped. More strange contraptions were lined up next to them. Dozens in fact. And there were hundreds of people walking next to the buildings. The city was noisy. A vexing honking noise kept sounding followed by a scary whirring noise and some screeching. People shouted.
“Lucy?”
She glared at his use of her Christian name. How dare he speak so casually?
“Fine. Miss Channing. What’s this guy’s name?”
She debated whether to tell him but went ahead. “She told me his name is Charles Kincaid.”
“Ahhhh, now I think I understand.”
Lucy’s irritation changed immediately to hope. “You do. Sir, please enlighten me.”
Will put something to his ear. “Yes, I’d like to speak to Mr. Charles Kincaid.”
“To whom are you speaking?” Lucy asked.
He held up a finger, the universal sign for wait. Lucy wasn’t a patient person. It wasn’t in her nature. She crossed her arms and tapped her foot.
“Yes, Charles. Hi. Sorry to bother you, but I have a mutual friend here who says her grandmother knows you.” A pause. “What’s her name?” He pressed something on the thing he held. “Speak aloud. Mr. Kincaid can hear you.”
“Uh,” she sat up. Then shouted. “L-Lady Agatha Fitzgerald, countess of Polenska.”
“I need to see her right away.”
Lucy nearly flew out of her skin at the man’s voice coming from the thing Will held in his hand.
Will pressed a button and returned the thing to his ear. “You know this woman? Agatha Fitzgerald.”
Lucy noticed surprise replace his doubt. The man must respect Charles Kincaid. Perhaps they were related.
“Okay, I’ll bring her right away.”
The glass slid open. “Sorry to do this to you, Victor, but can you take us to the Kincaid residence? It’s located—”
“Yes sir, I know where it is.” He tipped his head in acknowledgement.
“Thank you.”
The glass slid shut again.
“You know Charles Kincaid, the man my grandmother fell in love with? The man who is actually supposed to be my grandfather?”
Will tucked the device back in his pocket. “Apparently.” He folded his arms across his chest, leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes. “The drive is going to be another thirty minutes, at least. I’m going to take a nap.”
13
CHERRY BLOSSOMS
Lucy thought about closing her eyes and trying to sleep as well. But she couldn’t. There was too much going on in her mind. Too much to see. Too much to think about. Too much… everything. She turned in her seat, looking out the window. They were moving across a large bridge. She could see the ocean in the distance. Boats with large sails navigated along the sparkling water. Large flat vessels lined the docks. The air hung heavy with smoke and chemicals giving the sky a nearly green glow. Machines whizzed by, causing Lucy to jump each time they passed.
Once across the bridge the claustrophobic atmosphere of the city melted into country. Bright green grass, pink cherry blossoms, and immaculately kept houses lined the streets. Lucy wanted to ask where they were, but Will’s deep breathing told her he was asleep.
After several turns through what looked like well to do neighborhood, the driver pulled up to a tall iron gate attached to an even taller brick fence surrounded by thick white-flowered bushes.
The glass on the driver’s side lowered. Lucy waited somewhat impatiently as he reached through the window and pressed a button on a metal box.
“May I help you?” A low male voice came out of the box.
“William Godwin to see Charles Kincaid.”
“Very good. Please drive through.”
Lucy glanced over at Will who still seemed to be asleep. Lucy took the opportunity to admire his disheveled
blond hair, his strong jaw, and the way his long lashes curled slightly at the ends. He had a scar on his left cheekbone. His bottom lip was full while his top was thinner. She felt herself blush as she studied him. He wasn’t fashionably handsome. He was strong, muscular, rugged—
“Enjoying the view?” One side of his top lip raised in a smirk.
Lucy’s blush deepened and she turned away.
The gate opened and their driver pulled through, down a long road lined with trees. Through the leaves Lucy caught glimpses of Charles Kincaid’s mansion. It was enormous, bigger even than the prince regent’s home. The outside was a pale yellow. There was an arch over the door with a balcony above that. Large double windows rested behind the balcony with three smaller ones on each side. The roof had strange peaks and slopes with five tiny windows built into it.
The driver stopped in front of the door.
“Stay where you are. I’ve got it.” Will opened the door and climbed out.
Lucy carefully made her way over and Will helped her.
When her feet touched the bizarre rock surface, Lucy felt a great sense of relief that she was once again on solid ground and no longer moving at breakneck speeds.
Lucy followed Will as he went up to the mansion’s door. He pushed a button and Lucy heard a sound ring from within.
After several seconds the door opened. The man was older with a head of thick, white hair. His eyes were a pale blue, almost the color of ice. The man seemed full of life, despite his wrinkles. He wore a dark gray suit with a white shirt and a deep red tie.
“William, it’s so good to see you. Last I heard you were in Tajikistan searching for The Eye of God. Did you find it?” He shook William’s hand while pounding him on the shoulder.
“Kami no gankyuu. That’s what the locals called it,” Will said. “And of course I found it, Charles. The locals were adamant I not move it. They claimed I would be cursed if I did, but after sacrificing a goat—” he paused for effect while Charles chuckled and Lucy swallowed nervously. At last he continued, “And channeling my chi in the form of a thousand American dollars, the leader reluctantly let me leave with it.”
Goddess Curse Page 6