Lost in the Mist of Time

by Karen Michelle Nutt

  “They’re magnetic, so when you traveling the pieces don’t fall off.”

  “Ingenious.” He lifted the black knight off the board then let the magnet pull it back. “Amazing.”

  Aislinn just shook her head. “The simplest things seem to fascinate you.” His startling blue-gray eyes sparkled at her. “They’re simple to ye, but it’s like I’m seeing all this for the first time.”

  “But you do remember how to play chess, don’t you?” She pulled up a chair.

  “Most certainly, and as I recall, I was rather good.”

  “Put your money where your mouth is.” She pulled out a few coins and tossed them on the table.

  He smiled and pulled out a few gold coins of his own. “Should I began or should ye?”

  She waved her hand in front of her. “Go ahead.”

  He didn’t think more than a few seconds before he made his move. She was just as quick and so it went for a few moments.

  “Who is Roger?” Dougray asked sending her emotions into a fluster. She made a careless move.

  “Connor obviously has been free with his mouth.” She was angry with her brother and had a mind to wake him up out of his drunken stupor and tell him so. “Roger is someone of my past.” Dougray relieved her of one of her rooks and she realized the mistake of her last move. Luckily she could still rectify it, if she remained focused. “Was he yer mate?”

  She nearly choked. “Mate?” Who talked like that? “He was…hey are you trying to distract me?”

  He chuckled and his mouth quirked into a lazy smile. He leaned back in his chair studying her while he twirled the end of his mustache. “Just trying to get acquainted.”

  “Let’s not get so personal, okay?” She concentrated on her next move. “Roger was the man that hung on you, but it looked as though ye wanted to flee from his touch.” “How did…?”

  “Connor shared yer…what was it called?”

  “Christmas video.” She remembered that her father had wanted to finish the tape and had brought it on the trip.

  “Aye, that was it.”

  She made her move nearly grinding the chess piece into the board.

  “So?” he continued knowing full well that she wished the subject to be dropped.

  “Yes, that was Roger. Are you satisfied?” He moved his bishop. “Hmm?”

  “What are you getting at?” “Nothing. It’s yer turn.”

  He watched her make a few more careless moves that would cost her dearly. Obviously she was quite distracted by having her private life exposed. “Are you hinting at something?” she inquired.

  “Nay.” He just smiled completely annoying her to no end. “Why don’t I believe you?”

  “I don’t know.” He took his turn with a determined gleam in his eyes. “Checkmate.”

  “What?” Her mouth dropped open in amazement that she had actually lost. “You cheated.”

  “I most certainly did not.”

  “You purposely distracted me.” “Did I now?” he teased.

  “Rematch,” she insisted causing him to laugh. “Ye don’t like to lose do ye?”

  “No.” She smiled as she pushed her coins toward him. “Is that a yes?”

  He sighed with a chuckle. “Aye, but I’ll have ye know that I like to win too.”

  “Ah, you’ve uncovered another memory.”

  Chapter 11

  It was early morning, long before anyone else had risen. Aislinn especially liked this time for she could sit and watch the sun rise high above the horizon and drink at least two cups of coffee without any interruptions. Today however, there was a light mist and she couldn’t see the sun even if she had wanted to. She had already showered and decided that she wanted to walk down to the beach. She quickly dressed in her dark blue slacks and T-shirt. After running a comb threw her short strands and throwing on her gray sweatshirt, she slipped from the room. She didn’t bother with the elevator, but galloped down the four flights of stairs. She could hear people in the kitchen already preparing for the morning meal, and the aroma of sizzling sausage and warm bread reached her nostrils.

  She smiled at the young woman at the front desk. “Good morning.” “Good morning, Miss. Are y’ going to be heading outdoors?”

  “I thought that I would.”

  “It’s a bit damp. I must warn ye.”

  “I don’t mind. See you when the coffee’s good and hot.” She was out the door before the receptionist could say another word.

  She headed down the empty road to where she knew would lead her closer to the beach. The mist wasn’t too thick that she couldn’t see where she was going and she hurried along. Making the short hike down, she walked close to where the water was slowly receding in and out. She sat down on her haunches and just watched, feeling at peace. She loved the smell of the salt air mixed with the mist and the peat fires. She could stay out here forever and not tire of it. “Yeats, I know now why you were so inspired here in Sligo.”

  “Yeats?”

  Aislinn came to her feet in a sudden rush. It was obvious that she had been startled and she felt a little foolish when she saw that it was only their guest. “Doug, warn someone that you’re approaching.”

  “I apologize. I did not mean to intrude on yer solitude.”

  “It’s all right.” They stood there for a moment not saying anything. “You’re up early,” she commented.

  “I can say the same about ye.”

  “I just wanted to see the ocean, you know embrace it so that I could remember everything about it.”

  “So that ye can share your experience with Yeats?”

  She couldn’t help but chuckle. “That would take some doing since the man has been dead for about sixty or more odd years. He was a poet and his family used to frequent Sligo. He’s buried in a churchyard in Drumcliff.” She cleared her throat. “‘Cast a cold eye on life, on death. Horseman, pass by!’ That’s the saying he requested to be put on his gravestone.” She moved away from him then picked up a seashell.

  “Ye are fond of poetry?”

  “I like to pick up a book now and again and try to imagine what the poet was thinking at the time that he or she had written it. I have favorites of course.” She had a faraway look on her face as they walked. He assumed she was probably thinking about one of those verses she was so fond of.

  “Do ye know of one ye can share with me?”

  She glanced at him now. “It’s not an Irish poet, but I have always enjoyed this poem. It’s by Dante Gabriel Rossetti called ‘Sudden Light.’” She took a moment to go over it in her mind before she began in a clear voice. “‘I have been here before. But when and how, I cannot tell….’” When she finished she looked at him wanting to know what he had thought of it.

  “I have been here before.” He breathed as though he were in deep thought. His gaze met hers. He spoke in an odd, but gentle, tone. “The poem seems to speak to me.”

  “Isn’t that funny that you should say that, for those were my very words the first time that I had heard it.”

  They walked along the beach for a while not really saying anything and realizing that it didn’t matter. They seemed to share a comforting silence where no words were needed.

  Aislinn glanced sideways at Dougray. She couldn’t help but admire the man. What woman wouldn’t? His dark hair had been trimmed and brushed back, giving his face a more chiseled look, rugged without being hard. The mustache was bit much, but that could be shaved. His eyes were beautifully shaped and framed with dark lashes and the color was a startling silver, so light and clear. His hair wasn’t quite as dark as hers, for it held tinges of auburn highlights that shimmered in the light. She had the urge to run her hands through the tresses, which completely caught her by surprise. She didn’t even know the man, not really, but more important the man didn’t even know who he was.

  “I think that I have recalled my name.”

  “Huh?” She heard the last few words. “I’m sorry, what did you say?”

  “I re
membered my family name. It came to me that night in the pub. I didn’t say anything before because I wanted to make sure.” “And you’re sure now?”

  “Aye. Dougray Fitzpatrick is what I am called.”

  She stopped and looked at him. “Not Doug Gray?”

  He shook his head. “Dougray, together as a first name.”

  “We were inquiring about someone that didn’t exist. It’s Fitzpatrick then? We need to start over.” And she knew that they were running out of time. Their vacation was half over already. If they didn’t find out where he belonged, she wasn’t sure what to do. She wouldn’t feel right just going back to the States and leaving the man stranded. The guy didn’t even have any money, other than the old coins he carried with him. If they were even real, which the more she thought about it seemed highly unlikely, for they would be worth a fortune if they were.

  He had been watching the shifting emotions that crossed her face and knew she was struggling with how she was going to take care of him. “Ye know that ye do not have an obligation to me. I am sure that now that I know my full name, someone will come forward and claim me.” He tried to smile but he didn’t feel quite up to it. The thought of the Hennessys going back home and leaving him to this awkward world was almost frightening. He didn’t remember any of the things he encountered other than the land itself and even that was vastly changed from what his memory recalled. He didn’t understand it. It was like he had lived isolated from time and the world had sped by without him.

  “Dougray.” She tried the name on for size. It did seem to suit him now that she said the name aloud. “I wouldn’t feel right abandoning you, until I was positive that you knew where you belonged.”

  “Why do ye feel this obligation? I am but a stranger to ye?”

  She looked away. “Because I do is all. Partially because it was I that ran you off the road in the first place, but….” She met his gaze. “Don’t be angry with me, I meant to tell you. What were you doing out there in the middle of nowhere and in the fog?”

  It took him a moment to take in what she had said triggering the memory of lights coming toward him before he hurled himself out of its path. He shook his head. “Ye did nothing to cause my confusion. I do not blame ye.”

  “Maybe you should.” She threw up her hands in frustration. “If we all left,

  what would you do? Where would you go?”

  “I’d find a place. I am strong, healthy. I would manage.”

  Aislinn wasn’t at all sure. Yes, he was strong and obviously well educated, but socially…well somehow he missed out in what was going on around him. Conveniences that she took for granted seemed to be completely foreign to him. Strange as it may seem, she didn’t think his loss of memory was the reason for it. It was like he had walked from the past into this time and was witnessing hundreds of years of advancement in one fell swoop. She shook her head at that preposterous assumption, but still she had a hard time shaking the reality of it.

  “What are ye thinking about, A.J.?” He could see the indecision behind those dark eyes.

  “Just that I wouldn’t feel right is all. Leaving you, that is.”

  He gave her a sad smile before he walked away with long determined strides.

  “Hey, where are you going?” She easily caught up to him. She placed her hand on his arm halting his steps. “What was that about?”

  He looked at her for a long time, his silvery blue eyes caressing her soul. She shivered and took a step back not quite understanding her own reaction.

  He sighed with a tinge of sadness. “I may not remember a lot of things, but I do recall from the recess of my mind that I was a man that took no charity.

  I stood on my own two feet and never would have expected a woman to coddle me like an infant.”

  “That’s not….”

  “Nay?” he interrupted. “I see the way ye look at me and it is not a flattering observation. Ye make me feel less of a man and I don’t like it.”

  “Well sorry. Excuse me for giving a damn.” She started to storm away but his had flew out to stop her.

  “I am not finished.”

  She tried to yank her arm away, but he kept his hold on her, infuriating her further. “Unhand me or so help me….”

  “So help ye what? I only speak the truth to ye and ye run away. Does it trouble ye so that a man could be strong enough to stand his ground? Are ye a woman that only feels alive, if she can possess the man to bend to her will?

  I am no such man. I appreciate what ye have done, but I do not need ye to save me. Do ye understand?”

  She pulled her arm away. “I understand that you are in ingrate. I…we all just wanted to help you.”

  “Aye, but to what cost?”

  “What is that supposed to mean?”

  “I fear, lass, that ye would possess a man’s soul if he were to let ye.” This time, he moved on ahead, and for a moment, she stood there gaping at his broad retreating back.

  They both walked into the lobby just as Connor had come downstairs. “There you two are. I thought that you might have ditched me. Have you eaten yet?”

  “Not yet.” Aislinn purposely walked right passed Dougray and led the way into the now buzzing dining room.

  “Where did you two go?” Connor eyed the tall Irishman and then his sister, who looked a little flustered.

  “I was walking down at the beach,” Aislinn answered coolly.

  Dougray just shrugged. “Guess we both had the same idea this morning.” “Really? How very interesting.” He saw his sister give him a sharp look but he chose to ignore it and moved on ahead of her. “Coffee. Where’s the coffee?”

  Chapter 12

  Now that Dougray had discovered his true name they decided to backtrack. They had arrived back in Dublin that morning and had the good fortune to check into the same hotel they had stayed at on their previous visit. Connor and Aislinn had accompanied Dougray to see if the city now would trigger a memory. He stood in front of what they had called the Dublin Castle. He knew it too for the name was familiar. It even looked vaguely familiar, and yet like so many things, it did not. He took the tour with them and all along he kept thinking that he needed his sword. Little tidbits of his past seemed to come to his mind. King Henry VIII was a name that seemed to mean something to him but not in the sense of what the tour guide betrayed. He did not know of this man’s death, and they spoke of his daughter, Mary then Elizabeth, a bastard child from the woman Ann Boleyn taking the throne. This Ann Boleyn was the granddaughter to the 7th Earl of Ormond, a Butler. He placed his hand on the side of his head, rubbing his throbbing temple.

  “Is something the matter?” Aislinn asked becoming concerned that he was going to be ill. He looked a little pale.

  “I need fresh air.” He headed for the doors and Aislinn motioned for Connor to follow. Outside in the courtyard, Dougray viewed the remaining towers wondering why he felt that there should be more to the castle than what remained.

  “Are you going to be all right?” Aislinn asked. “I’m fine. Let’s walk. Do ye mind?”

  “Not at all.” Aislinn glanced at Connor who shrugged. Each Hennessy took a place beside Dougray just in case the tall Irishman actually did pass out. He seemed disoriented, his face drawn and tensed as they walked in silence.

  They passed the Christ Cathedral where Dougray stopped, eyes lingered on the place longer than necessary for he recognized it, but not with the bustling of cars that drove passed. Places that were familiar, but had changed in some way. Without a word, he hurried on. He had a cousin, he thought, or some close friend that resided….

  Realizing where they were heading, a flicker of apprehension coursed through Aislinn. She wasn’t afraid of many things, but St. Michan’s church with its mummified bodies sent a chill down her spine. She didn’t want to hear the ghost call to her as if it knew her, or feel the touch that seemed to want to possess her.

  When they arrived in front of it, she stood across the street while Connor and Dougray crossed
over to the other side to have a closer look. Dougray stood there for a long time just staring up at the church trying to force a memory back into his brain. He shook his head violently, frustrated that he couldn’t. He jogged around the back until he was in the graveyard looking at the worn out headstones. He came to the doors that would lead down below to the tombs and stopped cold. Sweat seemed to pour down his face, as some hidden dread was forcing its way to the surface, but his subconscious was gratefully holding it at bay.

  Connor moved beside him. “Do you remember something?”

  “What?” He blinked his eyes trying to focus on the man beside him, trying to recall why he was there with him. The flashing scenes from his past seemed to fade in and out until he felt lightheaded.

  Connor steadied him. “Are you all right?”

  Dougray nodded. He looked up to see Aislinn cautiously crossing the street to join them. He couldn’t help but notice that she was gnawing on her lower lip and her eyes were darting back and forth as if she were frightened of attack. Her gaze met his as he spoke, “Someone I once knew was here and yet….” He shivered despite himself. “Someone has walked over my grave.” He watched Aislinn’s eyes widen as if she was in fear for her very life. He was sure that the only reason she hadn’t screamed was that her voice had simply forsaken her. He swallowed the lump in his throat, trying to shake the disturbing presence of doom. “Let us leave. I do not know why I thought to come here.”

  Aislinn was more than happy to move on and started to jog across the street barely taking time to see if cars were coming. She could hear the voice reaching for her. “I’d die for ye.” She whirled around expecting to see a ghostly figure chasing after her.

  Dougray placed his hand upon her shoulder and she jumped stumbling over the curb. She would have fallen, but he quickly pulled her to him. Locked in his strong embrace, she looked up into his smoky eyes that gazed upon her with such compelling magnetism. His brows furrowed, as if he was battling with his own emotions.