A Journey Out of Time

by S MacLeod

  Casia tightened her hold on Cullen's shoulder & then let go. Her angelic voice, spoke. "I am afraid it is my fault," she said quietly, but strongly.

  "Yer fault? How can that be, Casia?" Duncan asked.

  "It is nay your fault, woman! How many times do I have to tell ye?" Cullen was not angry, but stern, as if he had this argument with her a thousand times before.

  Casia went on, "My father warned me about being with Cullen."

  "Aye, that really worked," Cullen said sardonically with a grin at her. She laughed despite herself.

  "My father warned that there would be consequences."

  Duncan looked confused. Sonya wondered out loud, "So, is it magic or the fact that you are not human or both?"

  Duncan, Cullen & Casia stared at her. Suddenly, Casia began to laugh. It was a beautiful sound as if a bunch of tiny bells could laugh. Cullen soon joined in. Duncan raised a brow saying, "Lass!"

  "I'm sorry," she glanced up at Duncan & then back to Cullen & Casia. "It took me a while to figure out that it was her speech that was different. Well, that & her aura. Her voice is like music & she is like nothing I have ever seen, even where I am from, except in faerie tales." Sonya couldn't tell if Casia was amused at her forward suggestions or pleased; Maybe both. Cullen looked at Casia & shrugged. "I was always told," Sonya continued, "that all myths start with some truth." Sonya expected that Duncan was waiting for some sort of denial, but he wasn't getting it. She looked up at Duncan & smiled, "Love, you weren't alarmed at my arrival. You should have been."

  Duncan's eyes opened wider & then he looked back at Cullen & Casia. "What can we do?" he asked, taking on the role of the brother, the leader, determined to find a solution. Cullen looked at Casia & smiled, which was kind of cute with his nose wrinkling up. Finally, they were going to get somewhere. Duncan pulled up a chair & Casia & Sonya went to sit in the anteroom.

  "How did you meet?" Sonya asked Casia.

  "I saw him one day in a field. He was helping a man who was having difficulties with his plow. I watched as he had the elderly man sit down under a tree. He handed the man his own water, while he finished plowing the entire field. The man, of course, protested several times, but Cullen wouldn't hear of it. I didn't know his name then, of course," she smiled at the memory. "I don't know why, but I couldn't put the picture of him out of my mind."

  Sonya laughed. "It couldn't be the bronze skin, the brown hair, green eyes, & great body could it?"

  Casia laughed. "Well, I expect it did! Where I am from there are no men like that."

  "Not where I come from either," Sonya laughed.

  "One night I came to see him here. I watched him as he slept. He was so beautiful, so peaceful. I reached down & touched his face, outlining his sharp features. Then suddenly, he grabbed my wrist." Sonya raised her brows. "I couldn't understand it. No one had ever hinted at the fact that I was around before. An occasional look behind them, then they would shrug it off. But it was if he knew I was there the whole time," she frowned, still perplexed. "And when he grabbed me, I waited. I don't know why."

  "Don't you?" Sonya asked, knowing.

  "Yes, I suppose I do," she said softly. "Just like you did?"

  "Yes. So, what did you do?"

  "I came back again. My mother already knew; she had followed me after a time, wondering where I kept disappearing to. She knew before I knew. Cullen told me he didn't want me to go, but I explained that I couldn't stay. I wasn't meant to be in this world. He said he would keep asking me until I stayed. That he would continue to wait for me." Casia smiled & Sonya smiled back.

  "And the forbidden part?"

  "Long ago some of the people of Sualtam interacted with humans. As with all things some things didn't turn out good. The elders decided to make it more difficult for their interactions. If one of us should decide to stay with a human two things would occur. One, we could never return to Sualtam to stay & two if we were to mate with a human, there would be some consequence. I do not know if it is different for each human, but you can see what Cullen is going through. We figured this was the warning, to discourage interaction between the two races."

  "And your father?"

  "He warned us of the consequences, but Cullen didn't care. I could stand losing my home, but I couldn't bear the thought of something happening to Cullen. Cullen refused to be swayed," she grinned. "He is a might stubborn."

  "Yes. I think it runs in the family. So, your father could do nothing to help?"

  "The spell was weaved so long ago & I have found only vague human references to it. My mother has found nothing. If there were written records, she hasn't found any yet."

  "But the clan here, they have seen it before, yes?"

  "Yes, but the last incident was so long ago & they believed the changes that happened were put in place by their ancestors to help protect the clan in times of upcoming need."

  "Well, that can't be a bad thought. At least they aren't alarmed by it."

  "Yes, they are rather proud of it."

  "So, where do we start?"

  "I have been looking in the clan records & anything else I can find in the library. There are so many books. Cullen has sent for books from other places as well."

  "Well, lets get to work."

  Casia smiled leading the way into a room with no windows. It was huge & had rows & rows of books. Casia showed Sonya where she had left off & that is where they began.

  *

  "Why didn't ye explain it to me Cullen? Maybe I could have helped sooner."

  "Och, brother, I ken what I was doing. I ken she was nay from here. We discussed the consequences. Casia did nay want me to take the risk, but I did. What was I to do? She is the only one for me. I ken you understand that, aye?" Cullen grinned at his brother.

  "Aye, Cullen, I do."

  "Besides, when it first started I wasn't exactly in the state of mind for discussions. Casia has been searching for any references to her people or to the condition I seem to have. There have been records of it happening in the past, but we haven't found any cure. After the problem with my temper…" Cullen paused looking at Duncan with sorrow.

  "Nay, brother, that is in the past & was'na yer fault. We will'na speak of it."

  "After that abated, I had been fine, except for the obvious changes," he grinned. "But recently the transformation started accelerating."

  "Ye are in pain?"

  "Aye."

  "Well, then I am off to find my woman & find a way to fix this. After all, we both ken ye were ugly enough to start with!" Cullen roared with laughter as Duncan chuckled & went to find Sonya.

  *

  "I can't believe that we have found nothing, when the clansmen obviously know it has happened before. It must have been a very long time ago," Sonya stated.

  "Maybe before the records started being kept?" Casia said.

  "Handing down things by mouth from generation to generation is great, but I wish they wrote down all the stories. Maybe it just didn't matter to them. If they were proud & thought it happened for a reason, why would they look for a cure?"

  Duncan had been with them for two hours & nothing had been found yet. Duncan smacked his book closed & put it down in a pile. "I need a break," Duncan declared.

  "I should go see if Cullen needs anything," Casia said dusting off her gown.

  "Come, Sonya, lass. I have something to show ye." Sonya smiled up at Duncan, rising slowly from the floor, wishing she hadn't sat there so long.

  Duncan led her outside to where the loch was. It was so green around the edges. Everything was quiet. Then Sonya suddenly saw the water ripple. Duncan stood behind her, holding her close. He felt so wonderful & she felt so happy in his arms.

  "Duncan, what is that making the ripple?"

  "Look over there," he pointed to the left of them.

  "A seal! A seal?"

  Duncan chuckled. "Aye."

  "I had no idea! That is so incredible!"

  "Aye."

  Cullen held Casia close
to his side, as they looked out at the loch. He smiled down at his brother & Sonya. "I have naught seen my brother so content & happy."

  "I am glad that he finally found what he's been searching for."

  "Aye. I am glad I didn't take so long finding ye though." Cullen kissed Casia on the side of her head.

  "Why are you staying up here? No one has any problems with it," Casia reminded him.

  "I ken. I just worry what will happen when the transformation is complete."

  "I don't think anything bad will happen." Casia looked at him with a mix of admiration & devotion. Cullen looked like his thoughts were miles away & Casia slipped from under his arm.

  "Cullen," she called in a sultry voice?"

  "Aye?" he turned to see Casia crawling slowing over the bed, looking back at him with come hither eyes.

  "Casia, I doona wish to hurt ye, love."

  Casia sat up on her knees & started to unlace her corset, slowly, smiling. Cullen grinned as she ignored his words. He watched her, getting hard. She threw her outer garment at his feet. His hands coursed once down & then up his thighs as Casia slipped her chemise ever so slowly up & over her head. Cullen ran his hands through his hair as she put her hands on the bed & moved her naked body slowly down onto it. She turned & called Cullen with nothing but a voluptuous look. He untied his trews on his way to the bed, as he joined her. He put his hairy body over her & she let out a moan as she felt his manhood at her opening. He moved his hands up her sides & she shivered as it tickled.

  "Cullen?"

  "Aye Casia?"

  "I love you."

  "And I ye."

  As Duncan & Sonya returned to the library she asked, "Duncan, where are the records that Cullen has been going through?"

  "Come."

  She took Duncan's hand as he hurried up the stairs. As they reached the landing they suddenly heard a scream, but it wasn't the kind you worried about. Looking at each other they grinned & entered the study. Duncan went over to a book case in Cullen's study & moved a stone. Suddenly the book case moved.

  "Oh, you have got to be kidding me! I love this country!" Duncan chuckled, amused at her. "Does our home have secret places?"

  "Our home?"

  "Of course!" Sonya beamed.

  "Aye, lass. I may show you some day."

  "What do you mean may?" Duncan laughed & entered the room behind the bookcase. "Wow! This room is really big."

  Sonya looked around. On the wall she saw a huge Claymore. There were also dirks displayed, a few shields, & arm bands. In the center was a table & a wall full of rolled parchments. She groaned inward, taking a seat at the table. Duncan handed her a pile & grabbed another for himself.

  Days passed & still nothing. Sonya couldn't believe there were so many paper scrolls in no sort of order. Something had to be done about that!

  "Duncan? Have you ever seen this symbol before?"

  Duncan rose to look over her shoulder. "Aye, there are stones in a clearing mid way through the trees."

  "Can you take me there?"

  "Aye. Ye think there is something there?"

  "Well, there is only one way to find out."

  Riding through the trees to the clearing, there was bright sunlight shining in the middle of the circle of seven standing stones. Druids or someone else? They dismounted & started in the center working their way out looking for the symbol.

  "Here!" Sonya called out. As she reached out, touching the symbol she gasped & quickly pulled her hand away.

  Duncan ran to her side. "Lass? What happened?"

  "You know that jolt of lightening we get with each other?"

  "Aye."

  "Well, I got that when I touched the stone." Duncan's brows furrowed. Sonya took a step toward the stone again & he put out his arm.

  "Lass?"

  She looked at him & nodded. "It's okay, Duncan. It just surprised me." Sonya stepped forward again, touching it. She felt the jolt, but felt a pull & placed her other hand on the other side of the symbol as well. The jolt surged up her other arm & down through her body down to her feet. Sonya felt like there was an earthquake under her feet when it suddenly stopped & she stepped back.

  "Look, lass!"

  Looking down where she had stood, there lay a scroll. Picking it up she & Duncan knelt down to look at it.

  "Duncan, here. Listen.

  ~~~

  A clansman took to wife a woman not of our world. Upon copulation in the marriage bed the man began transforming into a lycan. Upon seeing her husband's change, the woman fled. The man continued to change until he was a full lycan. He remained with the clan until his death, protecting the clan until his death.

  ~~~

  "Oh great that is really helpful."

  Sonya gave him a sour look. "I wasn't finished. Now hush!

  ~~~

  Again a clansman took a wife from a world now ken to us as Sualtam. Upon copulation in the marriage bed, her mate began the transformation into a lycan. This time the woman remained & cared for her mate. When he fully transformed she was heavy with child. The lycan never left her side & she bore him a son. Shortly after he changed back into a man. He had a different look about him; not quite human, not quite fully man. He could transform upon will.

  ~~~

  "Well, I don't think we have to worry about the coupling part do you?" Sonya grinned at Duncan.

  "Nay, I doona think that is a problem, but is she with child?"

  He took her hand & pulled her up. Sonya took the scroll & placed it back at the bottom of the stone. Replacing her hands, it was returned to whence it came. She had no idea where that was, but she sure was curious!

  "So my brother is a werewolf."

  "Not exactly. A werewolf can only change during a full moon. A lycan can transform at will & they are more advanced."

  "And ye would ken this how? Or do I want to know."

  "Harry Potter."

  "I doona ken him."

  Sonya laughed. "It is a story. It had a part about a werewolf in it. And in my time there were also several...stories about lycans as well." She wondered if his eyebrows were going to climb down out of his hairline when she turned her attention back to the stone. "Duncan?"

  "Aye, lass?"

  "These two stones are only a couple feet apart from each other, but the others are spaced further apart. Then there is that one directly behind us on its own."

  "Aye."

  "Step in front of the stone next to this one."

  Duncan looked at her & then stepped in front of the stone. He too felt the pull to lay his hands on either side of the symbol he saw. Like her he felt the shock going through him & the ground shake beneath his feet. When they looked down there lay another scroll. Duncan picked up the scroll & Sonya went to see it.

  "What does it say?"

  "Ah, they are the vows that Casia & Cullen took. They are from her homeland. She says that her people believe that if ye say these vows then ye are linked together forever, no matter how many lives ye may have."

  "Oh, that is sweet. They are nice vows. What do you think?"

  Duncan took her left hand & put it over his heart, holding it. He put his left hand over Sonya's heart & she placed her hand on top of his. "The left hand has a vein in the third finger that is believed to go straight to the heart," he said. There was a light in his eyes, a sparkle. As he spoke each verse, she repeated them.

  ~~~

  My heart beats within ye,

  Yer love flows through my veins.

  I breathe through yer lips,

  Ye are my air.

  Where 'er I go,

  There shalt thou be.

  My body is yers,

  Ye carry my soul.

  We are for 'er twined,

  Me & thee.

  ~~~

  Duncan leaned forward kissing her, their hands still on each other's hearts.

  "Well, we doona need a wedding now," Cullen said from outside the circle, smiling.

  "What?" Sonya asked, startled by Cullen
& Casia.

  "Ye two have just wed each other," Cullen explained.

  "Really?" Sonya asked.

  Cullen & Casia smiled at them.

  "Aye, lass. That was all ye needed to do."

  "You are bound forever now, until the end of time & beyond it," Casia said.

  Sonya smiled up at Duncan & he took her hand. "Doona worry, we will still have a wedding, lass," Duncan assured her.

  "Well, we have news for you two as well," Sonya smiled.

  Casia looked hopefully from Sonya & Duncan to Cullen. "So, what you are telling us is that if we have a child, that Cullen will go back to being human?"

  "I would say that is right. He should then have the ability to transform into a lycan whenever he wants...or needs."

  "But, Sonya, how did ye know what to do at the stones?" Cullen asked.

  "I don't know. We found the symbol on a page in your study & Duncan said he thought it was carved in one of the stones. When we were there & I touched it there was this strange surge that went through my hand. I felt a strong pull to place my hands on it. It was strange."

  Casia & Cullen looked from each other to Duncan & Sonya. Casia suddenly looked saddened, her hands moving to her belly. "But I am not with child. I have not been able to get pregnant since we were wed."

  Sonya glanced at Duncan. "Well, I am sure ye two can work on that," Duncan assured them.

  Cullen chuckled & pulled Casia to him, kissing her passionately. Duncan & Sonya took their leave… quickly! Maybe the stones would bring them luck.

  "What if she does'na have a child?" Duncan worried as they walked to their bedchamber.

  "I don't know. It doesn't cover that one. All we can do is hope that she will before his transformation is complete. And they don't seem to be having any problem practicing," Sonya laughed.

  "And would ye stay with me, lass, if I turned into a wild animal?" Duncan pulled her to his side as they walked towards their bedchamber.

  "You already are!" she laughed, running. He quickly caught her before she reached the door & she laughed as he lifted her up into his arms.