Lost in the Mist of Time

by Karen Michelle Nutt

  “Hey, you two,” Connor interrupted the moment. “You’re starting to draw

  attention.”

  They immediately came apart both feeling a little flustered over the strange sensation that seemed to electrify between them.

  “Let us go back to the hotel,” Dougray said flatly as he began walking away.

  Dougray had been sleeping, dreaming, actually, of a life that was quite comfortable for him. There were people that he felt dear to him who were imploring him to return. In the distance, he spotted an old woman who had seen many years approaching. Her high cackle grated on his nerves. “Ye are tarrying, milord.” She shook her head. “Did I nah tell ye, nah to do this?” Dougray woke up with a start, bolting straight up in bed.

  His memory came flooding back nearly knocking him over with the reality of where his old life had been. He ran his hand through his thick hair.

  “I remember.” He wasn’t particularly sure that this was a good thing. “Ah, witch, where did ye send me? And how do I return?” He threw back the covers from him. He needed to go back to where the Hennessys had first found him. That had to be the answer. “From whence ye came.” Glendalough was not far from where they had come upon him. “I met with the Butler near there.”

  As much as he hated just to leave like a thief in the night, he knew that he had to. Now that he was aware that some kind of magic was at work here, he was not sure he wanted risk telling the Hennessys about it. Most likely they would think him mad. Maybe he was mad. The thought was most unsettling making him anxious to be on his way at once to prove otherwise.

  He left a good portion of his gold coins with a quick note of appreciation. He glanced at the strange instrument that held ink inside of it, so that he didn’t have to dip it into an inkwell. “I will miss this.”

  He glanced around the room and knew there was much more that he would miss than just these modern conveniences. The Hennessys were kind, decent people who didn’t care where he had come from. They just took him in and treated him as their own. He was saddened that he would never be able to repay them for their kindness.

  Dressed in his own clothing, mantle and all, he slipped from the room. It would be a long hike. He hoped that enough of the familiar landscape was left so that he would be able to find his way.

  Connor was the one to announce that their guest had flown the coup. He handed the note to Aislinn. “He had enough of us, I guess.”

  She scanned the hastily written words. “We have to go after him.”

  “What are you talking about?” Connor couldn’t believe his sister. “The man wanted to go. Why do you think he left before we awoke?”

  “I can’t help it. If I don’t at least see that he makes it to his intended destination, I will never be able to live with myself.”

  He shook his head. “A.J., A.J., when are you going to learn to just let go? You did your duty. He said goodbye.” He watched his sister pack personal items into her backpack.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I’m going after him. I’ll just offer him a lift is all. Then I’ll meet you back here before we have to meet Mom and Pop.”

  “You’re crazy.”

  “Maybe but I’m going.” “Then I’m going with you.”

  “You can’t. If Mom and Pop arrive and we aren’t here, they’ll worry that something happened to us.”

  “And just what do you think they’ll say, when I tell them that I let you take off to chase a man we barely know?”

  “They’ll understand.” She was finished packing and gave her brother a quick kiss on the cheek. “It won’t take me long. He couldn’t have gotten very far.”

  Connor knew that it was useless to argue with her. She would just end up going anyway. “Be careful, will you?”

  “Aren’t I always?”

  Driving was slow, once the fog seemed to roll in to surround her car. She was rather surprised that she even spotted the lone figure wearing the long thick mantle. He was farther than she had expected him to be. She slowed down to match his stride and rolled down her window. “I’ll give you a lift.” He turned toward her with a suggestion of annoyance hovering in his eyes.

  “I thought that I was quite clear in the letter that I would no longer need yer assistance.”

  “Do you even know where you’re going?” He kept up his pace and didn’t answer.

  “At least let me drive you there. This way I’ll have a clear conscience that I did all I could to see you to safety. You won’t ever have to see me again.” He glanced her way seeing the determination set in her eyes. He wasn’t sure if the exact spot was needed for him to go back to his time, but maybe he shouldn’t take that chance. Still he was not sure it would be wise to have her there when he reentered into his world. He shook his head, struggling to maintain an even, conciliatory tone so not to offend her. “Nay. I do thank ye, but I must do this myself.”

  “What are you talking about, I must do this myself, business? You might as well just get in the car because I’ll follow you, all the way if I have to.” “Dar Dia! Ye are a stubborn lass.”

  “Yep, that’s me. Now come on, get in, will you?”

  He threw up his hands in defeat. “Very well. If ye must insist what choice do I have?”

  “None.”

  With all his huffing and the dramatic slamming of the door, it was quite obvious he wasn’t pleased.

  “Grumbling will not make me find the place any faster you know.”

  “Aye, that I am aware, but it makes me feel better. Please keep yer eyes on the road. I’ll not want to be a party to ye running down another hapless victim.”

  She drew in a deep breath stopping her from the unpleasant retort she had wanted to throw at him. She had to wonder why she was even bothering. The man obviously didn’t want her help. So why was she forcing him to comply? She refused to dwell on that question and kept her eyes straight ahead.

  After about five minutes of cold silence, Dougray began to feel just a tiny bit guilty for his scornful words he had spoken to her. He was about to apologize, when she suddenly slammed on the brakes. He flew forward smacking his head against the dash. He slowly lifted his head and gave her a lethal glare.

  “Sorry.” She shrugged her shoulders. “But we’re here.” She pointed and he turned his gaze. He saw nothing but the thick white haze.

  “Ye are sure of this?” Doubt was evident in his voice. “Yes. Really, must you always question me?”

  His eyelids fluttered and he clenched his jaw trying desperately not to return an angry reply. What did he have to lose? “I will have to take yer word. Thank ye again for yer kindness.” There was a definite finality in his voice but again she refused to hear it. When he got out of the vehicle, she followed him with her backpack in tow. “It was there.” She pointed below.

  His eyes tried to make out something that might indicate a door of some sort, but for the life of him he could not detect a change in the land. “What are you looking for?”

  He didn’t answer her question but looked back to where she stood. “I’m fine now. Ye can go.”

  “Here? There’s nothing out there. You just want me to leave you out here in the wilderness?”

  “Aye. This is where ye found me. I was by myself then. Was I not?” “Well, yes, but….” Something tugged at her subconscious. This felt wrong. He shouldn’t go down there.

  “I bid ye good day.” He was about to walk away but something in her gaze made him take pause, an inkling of remembrance, a fleeing thought of holding her close and comforting her. He shook his head trying to rid his mind of such fancies, but the feeling was too strong. On impulse, he pulled her to him. He told himself that it was only to distract her from wanting to follow, make her angry enough to leave him, but he knew this wasn’t entirely true.

  He gave her lips a whisper of a touch but it was enough to ignite a strong vivid desire that coursed through him like fire. She must have had a similar reaction for he felt it with the way her eyes gazed longingl
y at him. Surrendering to the crush of feelings that drew them together, he kissed her again, pressing every inch of her body against his. His senses reeled as the blood pounded in his brain, and his heart nearly leapt from his chest. He deepened the caress as though searching for a lost passion and trying to reclaim it with the softness she was offering him.

  For a moment when he raised his head to look at her, he felt an uncertainty of emotions sweep through him. Stains of scarlet appeared on her cheeks and her dark eyes made him feel this invisible warmth that he had never felt before, not even from Ella. As much as he wanted to reach out and embrace this feeling, he felt oddly disturbed by it and mentally backed away. She was not of his world and her temperament proved that well enough. He smiled almost regretfully. “Ye are indeed a worthy lass.” With that final statement, he left her side to become one with the mist.

  She just stood there baffled over what had transpired between them, for she had felt something touch her, an emotion that left her senses reeling as if they suffered a chance of short circuiting.

  On wobbly legs, she turned to go back to her car with a heavy heart, feeling certain she would never see Dougray Fitzpatrick again. She had only had taken a few steps, when a low groan reached her ears. She whirled around expecting to see someone behind her. “Are you all right, Dougray?” She called out, but no one answered. She took a step forward. “Dougray?” The hackles on the back of her neck rose. She couldn’t shake the feeling that she was entering something that she would not understand, but still she went forward through the cloudy mist where no light could seep through. She had to make sure that he was all right before she just drove away. She was about to call out again when a large hand covered her mouth, stifling the scream that was stuck in her throat.

  Chapter 13

  Connor purposely watched for his parents out the window in his room. When he finally spotted them entering the hotel, he was still trying to decide what exactly he was going to tell them. “I should have gone with her,” he said to the empty room as he let the curtain fall.

  He went over to the bed and grabbed his baseball cap, slamming it onto his head. He decided that he would meet his folks downstairs. He would break the news to them at dinner. His last supper so to speak since his father was going to strangle him for letting his sister go after Dougray alone. “Should have gone with her,” he said again as he entered the elevator and pushed the button.

  Just his luck when the doors opened Francine and Donagh were there. “Connor,” Donagh greeted his son. “We were just coming up to get everyone. Where’s A.J.?”

  “She’s with Dougray.” He sounded too nervous and his parents immediately became suspicious. “Let’s go to dinner. I’m starved.” He grabbed hold of his mother’s arm as he came out of the elevator. “Where do you want to go?”

  “Why aren’t we waiting for A.J. and Dougray?” His mother wanted to know.

  “They said not to, that’s why. They were doing a little investigating today and said that they wouldn’t be back until late.”

  Francine and Donagh exchanged looks of concern, but they didn’t speak their fears. They let their son lead them to the hotel restaurant where they were sure he would eventually break down and tell them what was really going on.

  It took a few glasses of wine before he did. “Okay already. You can stop looking at me that way. She told me not to go. She said that I should wait for you guys here, so that you wouldn’t worry.”

  “Worry about what?” Donagh pinned his son down with a gaze that penetrated him to the core. That look brought back memories of his youth, where he had learned to tell the truth from the start or suffer the consequences. He gulped.

  “I’m sure there is no need to worry.”

  “Get to the point of this story, Connor, and let us be the judge of that.” His father folded his arms against his chest and waited.

  “Dougray left us a note this morning stating that he was going back to where we had first found him. He thanked us, paid us with his gold coins and was gone before we awoke, but you know how A.J. can be. She couldn’t let it go. She mumbled something about obligation, that she felt responsible for him, and that she just needed to know that he made it back to wherever it was he was heading. So she left.”

  “And you let her go?” His mother, who had remained silent until now, spoke up with obvious fear threading her words.

  “Well, yeah. She insisted. By God, you know when A.J. sets her mind to something there is no stopping her.”

  “We have to go after her.” Francine was on her feet, but Donagh placed his hand on her arm. She looked at her husband pausing with indecision. Connor saw that there was some kind of silent message passing between them for his mother seemed to calm down almost immediately.

  He looked to his father then to his mother again in confusion as to what just had happened. “Maybe Mom is right. Maybe we should go look for her.” “We have nothing to worry about. A.J. can take care of herself, and as for Dougray, he is a good man. He will not see harm come to her.”

  Connor didn’t know if it was all the wine he had consumed or if he was simply missing something vitally important. “I don’t understand. What are you trying to say, Pop?”

  Donagh sighed heavily as he took Francine’s hand. “We will not find them now, son. It is too late.”

  Chapter 14

  As soon as Dougray advanced, no more than twenty paces or more, the strange overhanging mist abruptly cleared as if it had never been there. He glanced back knowing only moments before he had left the dawning of a new day, but now he faced the twilight hues of evening. He had entered his century, and to confirm it, he could see in front of him three rough-looking men who were just starting to make camp. By their appearance and their talk, they were individuals that he had no wish to encounter, especially alone and far from his own territory. He was grateful that they had not spotted him and he quietly moved back into the swirling mist, hoping to find another spot farther down to re-enter into his world. It was an unsettling feeling to think that low-hanging clouds could be a doorway to another time. Ireland was well known for its mist. What if he stumbled upon another like it?

  He glanced around him and realized that the whiteness was not exactly typical. It looked different, with a peculiar smell of something that seemed oddly familiar, only he couldn’t quite place its origin. It was more of a combination of things that he would call welcoming, like a warm fire and the fresh baked bread with honey. “Bah, what a fanciful fool ye have become. This is yer doing, Neala. Just wait until I get back to the keep and have a word with ye.”

  He stopped in his tracks for he thought he heard Aislinn’s voice. Why wouldn’t the woman listen and just go back to her hotel where she would be safe? How many times did he have to tell her good-bye? A part of him just wanted to keep going and let her fend for herself, but that only lasted about a fraction of a second. He couldn’t leave her defenseless out in his world. He chuckled to himself, recalling the punch she had given him on their first meeting. Defenseless was the last word he should use to describe her. Still, he couldn’t let her stumble upon those other men. With an irritated grumble, he hurried back the way he had just come. In his rush, he missed his step and stumbled over a pile of rocks, which, he was sure moments ago, had not been there. He hit the ground hard with a curse upon his lips. He quickly scrambled to his feet and continued on. Finally he saw her, and before she gave their whereabouts away with another shout of his name, he grabbed for her placing his hand over her mouth. Of course she struggled. He had expected no less from her, and yet he was not prepared for the force she laid into him. He fell back taking her with him, where she landed hard against his chest, knocking the air out of him. His grip had lessened and she was quick to use that to her advantage and broke free. She was on her feet. With an effort that he almost could not bring forth, he forced himself to lunge at her. With pure luck he grabbed a hold of her right ankle, but she immediately twisted around and sent a kicked with her left that nearly
broke his nose. She was about to kick him again, but this time he was ready and quickly moved out of the way. She was free again and on the move, but he was determined to stop her. Using his full weight he knocked her to the ground, backpack and all. Stunned for a moment, she didn’t move.

  He finally caught his breath, just when she was about to put up another fight. “A.J.,” he hissed. At the sound of her name, she stilled. “It is I, Dougray.” He moved from her and she whipped around throwing her words at him as though they were stones. “What the hell are you doing?”

  He shushed her as his eyes darted to and fro, his hand going to the hilt of his sword.

  “What’s wrong?” She also looked, wondering what kind of danger they were in.

  After a moment of complete silence, he rose to his feet and offered his hand to her. “Ye must go back. Leave this mist at once. Do ye understand?”

  “You’re scaring me. Why? What’s out there?”

  “Ye don’t want to know. It’s another world that ye best not witness.” He dusted off his clothes and straightened his mantle.

  “Then why would you want…?” He shushed her and she lowered her voice to match his. “Why would you want to stay here? I can drive you someplace else.”

  “I belong there.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “I am aware. I’m not sure that I understand it. But I do know that ye have to go.” He took hold of her arm and started dragging her toward where he thought the car would be located.

  “What are you doing?” She tried to pull away. “And why are we whispering?”

  He continued to drag her behind him. “Just keep yer voice low. Nay. It would be better if ye were not talking at all. And I’m taking ye back to yer car and waiting until ye drive safely away from here.”

  “You’re going the wrong way.” Rancor had sharpened her voice to a pitch of annoyance. “The car is the other way.” He stopped and turned to look at her.