by Leela Ash
A Runes of Argyl Story
Book 3
Jessica Savage
Copyright ©2016 by Jessica Savage. All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic of mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
1.
At the Beginning of all time the great Gods of the Universe sat in the Great Void of Space and looked down upon the world that had been created beneath them. They had already foretold the future of mankind and could see the recklessness and hostility of the centuries to come. Many of the Gods laughed and did not care about the creatures that were emerging from the slime of the waters to stand erect upon the cooling land, yet Odin and Thor and Ares were not too great to realize that their own destinies were aligned with this new and emerging species, and that the very existence of the Gods would come to depend upon them.
To this effect, three stones were cast by each of the great deities from out of the molten pit of the earth and upon each of these stones were placed great powers that only the Gods possessed.
A keeper for each of these stones was nominated from the faithful souls that roamed the earth and these runes were handed down through the centuries, generation to generation of guardians, until such time would come when their powers would be released.
Andrea read the leaflet that she kept in the back of her dressing table drawer. The pamphlet had been part of the display in the New York gallery - describing the ancient relics that Helen had discovered.
It was hard to think that all that had happened in the past was real and sometimes she didn’t even believe it herself, but Alex and the unborn child inside her were constant reminders.
Upon meeting Alex she had decided to remain on Iona; why not? She would be close to Geraldine, the only other person in the world she could confide in. Alex knew nothing, he was a descendant of Alexhander MacDonald but had no clues about the past. Geraldine, his grandmother, had told him nothing. The baby would be born soon, the girl Elizabeth; she would remember nothing of her time in the past. The present was enough for all of them.
Over the months the romance had easily blossomed between Andrea and Alex and it wasn’t long, with the help of Geraldine, before they had rented a small cottage together on the Island. She was two months pregnant but had lied to Alex that it was merely a month. It was, after all, only a small white lie; the child had in reality been conceived over 500 years in the past, and of course the child was technically his - or at least his great–great-great-great-grandfather’s.
She tried not to think about it too much.
Life was good in the main. The pace of life was much slower here on the Island; compared with New York it had stopped, but she preferred it that way. There were only two things that niggled away at her on the long winter nights and one was Steve - her ex. She had left him behind in New York to escape the clutches of her other worry; Helen. Her evil ancestor Helena had been killed way back in time but the present day incumbent still remained. No doubt she knew of her ancestor’s death and was now even keener to possess the three runes that were in Geraldine’s possession; to gain their power and return to the past to take her vengeance and wreak havoc once again.
At first her mobile had been full of missed calls and voicemails from Steve, but as the weeks passed the calls grew fewer. Now almost 9 months had elapsed since she last saw him and she doubted that she would see him again. His ego had been bothered by her leaving, but he was not bothered enough to follow her back to England, even though he believed it was his child she was bearing.
Geraldine had promised that Helen could no longer harm her; with her ancestor, Helena, now dead, she was weakened. There was only one way Helena could be restored and that would be by Helen retrieving one of the runes and travelling back in time to breathe life into her evil ancestor. Without possession of a rune, travelling back in time was impossible. Geraldine assured her that could never happen while ever the runes were kept safe.
Life was slow paced and peaceful on Iona and it was just what Andrea needed. She could run her business from anywhere in the world as long as she had a laptop, mobile phone and a good internet connection, and even Iona managed to provide all of those.
The day was bright and she needed some fresh air. As she stepped outside of the doorway the view never failed to impress her. The cottage was located away from the main centre of the Island, overlooking the Bay at the Back of the Ocean. The title itself conjured up different worlds in her head and she was immediately struck by how little the place had changed over the centuries. Her ancestor, Andra, would have stood here and looked out onto the same view. The roar of the ocean against the shore was mesmerizing; something ancient and powerful in each roll of the waves and she could watch it for hours.
Holding her hands over her swollen belly she felt for the life within. She was almost full term with the baby and could feel the movements within the watery depths.
Life and death, birth and rebirth, as constant as the waves upon the shore.
Andrea shivered slightly. That was the only downfall to setting up home here. There were constant reminders of the past everywhere, each step she took was treading in her ancestors footsteps. It was almost as if Andra was there, watching her every move.
Even after everything that had happened, she could still scarcely believe it, especially in the daytime when everything seemed bright and normal. Her adventures into the past seemed but a passing dream and she would have thought she were mad if it were not for Geraldine to remind her that she was in fact sane; that what had happened over the last few months was real.
She walked slowly across the fields and into the main village. She had agreed to meet Geraldine at the Hotel Columba for coffee before calling in at the Abbey to catch Alex in his lunch hour. The tourist trade was busy at this time of year and his guided tours were proving very popular – he had a way of bringing the past alive for people and the Abbey Trust had made his temporary contract permanent.
Geraldine was as bright as ever and Andrea found it hard to believe that she was 80 years old.
The two were sitting in their regular seat by the window of the small hotel lounge when Andrea’s face dropped as she stared out of the window.
“What’s wrong Andrea, you look like you’ve see a ghost?”
Andrea continued to stare; her face turning pale.
“I think I have; Steve has just walked past the hotel.”
She had never imagined that she would ever see Steve again. With no intention of ever returning to New York, she never expected Steve to turn up here on Iona.
“He seems to be heading for the Abbey Geraldine, I better head him off. I don’t want him to meet Alex.”
Her old friend looked concerned.
“But Steve doesn’t even know about Alex, does he? Wait a moment and collect yourself. He can do little damage. Now, what are you going to say to him?”
Andrea was already standing and putting her coat on ready to leave.
“I’m sorry Geraldine but I have to go. What if he meets Alex and starts asking questions; asking if he knows me? I just can’t leave anything to chance. It’s all too complicated. I’ll catch up with you later.”
Geraldine watched her young friend rush out of the room and her brow furrowed. There was a change in the air and the period of calm was almost over.
He was some distance away by the time she had walked out of the hotel and onto the path, and he had almost reached the entrance to the Abbey.
“Steve!”
She called his name as loudly as she could muster. His pace slowed and he stopped; recognizing the voice he turned to face her.
The sight of him caused her heart to quicken. Andrea thought she was well and truly over him, but they had been together a long time and old habits die hard.
He walked slowly back towards her and stopped a few paces awa
y from where she stood.
“Andrea.”
Struggling to keep her composure she bit into her lip. It was ridiculous that she should feel so emotional; it had been such a long time. Perhaps it was her hormones?
“Andrea, you look great.”
Walking forwards he held out his arms to embrace her.
“Big, you mean?”
As he moved in closer to kiss her, she turned her head and his lips pecked her cheek politely.
That was typical of Steve; always thinking that his charm would win her round. Maybe it could in the old days, before Alex, but now things were different.
“What do you want Steve?”
She pulled herself away and he was ruffled by her coolness.
His smile soon disappeared and she could see the anger starting to form behind his eyes.
“Isn’t it obvious Andrea? I’m here for you and the baby. Enough is enough. I’ve left you long enough on your own, given you space or whatever it was that you wanted, but now I’ve come to take you back home. Let’s be sensible about this. I’m staying for a few days in a hotel on Mull. Now be a good girl and come home with me?”
Andrea could feel her temper start to flare.
“How dare you patronize me. And what is there to be sensible about. I’m pregnant – end of. But we’re finished Steve, it’s over and I am not coming back with you to New York, I’m staying here with ...”
She could have bitten her tongue, she had said too much.
Steve’s face grew pale.
“Staying here with whom?”
Her face reddened as she struggled with an explanation.
“With, with...Geraldine of course. She’s been looking after me and I’m making a new life here for myself.”
She didn’t sound convincing and he narrowed his eyes in disbelief.
“So you’re setting up home with a crackpot old pensioner eh? That doesn’t sound likely Andrea. And what about this place, it’s the back of beyond and far too quiet for someone like you? Be reasonable Andrea. The child needs a father and a proper home.”
“It’s not your child.”
The words were blurted out before she could stop them.
He looked shocked but laughed scornfully. “Of course it’s my child Andrea, don’t be so ridiculous - who else could be the father?”
She opened her mouth to speak but knew the words were impossible to find.
“Is anything the matter Andrea?”
They hadn’t noticed Alex approaching them.
She stopped speaking as soon as she saw him and wondered if he had heard any of the conversation. Andrea had been trying to avoid such an encounter and now it was here there was nothing she could do about it.
“Alex.”
Andrea tried to keep her voice light but there was an audible tremor as she spoke.
“This is Steve, Steve – Alex.”
The two men glared at each other. Alex had heard all about Steve and disliked him immediately. Steve felt his hackles rise as Alex laid a comforting arm around Andrea’s shoulders.
“So this is the truth then, this is what’s really happening? Living with Geraldine, I didn’t believe that for a start. I can see it all now. So you’ve set up a cozy love nest with this drop-out huh? What on earth can he give you that I can’t? Be reasonable Andrea, you’ve not been well since your Grandmother’s death. Come back to New York with me and leave this bozo. We can start again.”
Alex was trying to take in the words, understand what Steve was saying.
“I don’t know what you’re playing at mate but the baby is mine. Andrea and I are planning on getting married. You’re not needed here.”
The testosterone was rising and the two men squared up to face each other. Andrea knew that Steve was a coward and his bluster was worse than his bite, but she wasn’t so sure about Alex.
“Listen you freak, the baby’s mine. I don’t know what crap Andrea has been telling you, but she found out she was pregnant in New York, so how could it be yours? You hadn’t even met her then. Unless...”
He turned to look at Andrea with a queer look in his eyes.
“Unless you met this pile of shit when you visited Iona just after your grandmother’s death – is that it eh? I see the truth of it now. There was I thinking that you were grieving for your grandma, when really you were just having it away with this idiot. Well, it just shows the fool that I have been; I didn’t realize that you were such a slut Andrea.”
The fist sent him reeling over the path and into the road in pain.
Steve stood up, the blood pouring from his nose, a look of shock on his face.
“Bloody maniac! See what kind of man you are getting involved with Andrea. You women, you’re all the same. And yes, Andrea, for your information I was sleeping with Helen until she fucked off too. I suppose that makes us even. Well I’ve had enough of this; I hope you both rot here.”
And with a final glance at Andrea, he stormed off along the path that led back to the harbor.
Andrea and Alex stood in silence as they watched him go. Alex still looked angry; shocked at his sudden act of violence. He was a peaceful man by nature, or thought that he had been until now.
Turning to Andrea he fought to keep his emotions at bay.
“So you were pregnant before you came here?”
She had hoped that he hadn’t taken in all that Steve had been saying. The conversation would be a difficult one.
“Look Alex...”
Andrea hesitated, thinking carefully over her words before speaking.
“So it’s true?”
She did not answer.
Taking her silence for a sign of guilt he turned and walked quickly away.
“It’s not what you think Alex...” but it was too late, he had gone. Two men had walked away from her in the space of minutes. It just wasn’t her day.
It was no use running after him straight away. If she tried to explain it would all sound ridiculous and would achieve nothing. She needed to speak to Geraldine to figure a way out.
The old woman had been watching the scene from the hotel window. One day her Grandson would learn the truth, but not today. She had kept it from him for all of these years. The Beginning and the End would be upon them all soon, and then it would be time.
Andrea decided that a little white lie wouldn’t hurt. Alex would be told the truth eventually, but until that time, until he could actually see it for himself, there would be no gain in telling him everything just yet. He would never believe it; she hardly believed and she had seen it all for herself.
She agreed with Geraldine that she would admit to being pregnant with Steve’s child whilst in New York, but that she had miscarried shortly after arriving in the UK. This baby, she insisted, was his.
“Why on earth didn’t you tell me all of this before?”
She shrugged “I guess I thought it wasn’t important. I wanted to leave the past behind.”
“But the guy still thinks the child is his, I don’t like him but I think he has a right to know.”
Andrea agreed to write and tell Steve. It would put a line under their relationship. She had nothing to fear from Steve, a paternity test would prove that he wasn’t the father, and hopefully the ancestral genes would prove that Alex was - if need be.
Life settled into a gentle pace once more and soon Alex and Andrea were married in the little chapel of St Oran and she gave birth to a beautiful baby girl – Elizabeth. The months went by and Andrea had almost stopped thinking about the past, wrapped up in her own, cozy world.
2.
The day was fine and blowing and she was hanging out her washing when she saw a very troubled looking Geraldine walking up the small lane towards the house. It was quite a walk from the main village and Andrea usually met her old friend at the hotel. She called out in surprise and waved to greet her old friend.
Geraldine was usually so calm and peaceful, but today she appeared agitated and nervous. The walk had exhausted her
and she carried a newspaper under her arm. Andrea led her in to the cozy kitchen for a seat and a cup of tea, and Geraldine spread out the paper across the kitchen table.
“It’s started.”
She pointed a finger to an article in the newspaper.
Andrea was immediately struck by a color photograph in the middle of the page. It was a picture of Helen. The article was headed ‘Ancient Burial Ground reveals sacred Treasures’.
She quickly scanned the article. It appeared that a team of archaeologists funded by Helen’s art business had discovered some of the oldest relics to date, in a tomb uncovered in Greece. Carvings and pictures of grotesque statues and three headed dogs had been uncovered, and it was supposedly connected to a lost and ancient temple dedicated to the God Hades – the dark God of the Underworld. Andrea picked up the paper to peer more closely at the photograph. Helen was smiling and holding in her hand a set of 4 small carved beads.
“Helen has finally discovered what she has been looking for all of these years. For everything good there is an evil counterpart. Whilst the runes we protect carry a positive energy, there are others that are negative. The stones in Helen’s hand look harmless enough, but in the right hands they can topple nations. This date was foretold; that the powers of Hades would be unleashed upon the world. I’m sure you have heard of the 4 Horsemen of the apocalypse?”
Andrea screwed her eyes up as she looked more closely at the paper.
“Surely you’re not saying that those stones can bring about the end of the world?”
She looked incredulously at the old woman.
“The runes that our families have been protecting are very powerful. They are used to channel the positive energies of the universe and are more powerful than we have yet to see. The Universe is a balance of good and bad, yin and yang. Somehow they work in harmony, but if the power falls into the wrong hands then the balance of the Universe could be at risk.”
“But why should Helen want that power; what on earth would she use it for?”