by Unknown
"No." She hadn't even known that Julianna had torn a page from one of the books. She glanced up at Cain as a thought came to her. "What was the spell for?"
Cain waved away her question. "Not important. You'll search the top floor. I’ll look here on the main floor. Is there a lower level?” Gwen shook her head, her mouth hanging open. “Then 'tis final. Let me ken immediately if ye find it.” Gwen stared as Cain rose, pausing a moment as he gazed at her. "Oh, and Gwen…." She looked up at him. "Dinna deceive me. I'll know."
Gwen released the breath she had been holding only after he left the room. Why wouldn't he just leave! She was bound to slip the truth to him eventually if he hung around. She made her way through the dining room to the stairs and glanced over her shoulder, finding Cain on his knees, emptying the bottom half of the curio cabinet.
She had never looked in there, but tons and tons of papers were stacked inside. A flutter of hope rose inside her. Maybe, he would quickly find this missing page and go. It would be hard to watch him leave, but what other choice was there? He had to stay away from her, and she from him. Both their lives were at stake.
She watched Cain flip irately through the stacks, when suddenly, he swatted the pile, sending papers flying, scattering across the polished wood floor. He cursed, running both hands through his hair.
Before Gwen realized what she was doing, she blurted out, “Why is this page so important? I don’t think you’ll die if we don’t find it.” She quickly cursed herself. He couldn't find out who she was.
Cain froze and in-turn gazed coldly up at her. Gwen stepped back, but he had already begun to rise and make his way to her in three large strides. “No, lass,” he hissed, a few inches away from her face, “I willna die. T'will be worse!”
“W-what could be worse?” she barely whispered.
His whole body convulsed as his eyes changed black and then back to blue. He seemed like he wanted to answer her question, but must have decided against it. “Go-look-upstairs,” he ordered through clenched teeth. Gwen didn’t waste a second, darting to the second floor, deciding she’d search her room first…with the door securely shut and locked.
* * * * *
By late afternoon, Gwen slugged down the stairs, beyond exhausted. She had decided since she was looking in every nook and cranny, to clean as she went, not knowing when Julianna would return. Unfortunately, she didn’t locate any missing page and from the loud roars of frustration she had heard from below, she figured Cain hadn’t either.
“No luck?" she asked meekly, carrying a basket of dirty clothes under her arm.
Cain stood at the living room window with one foot up, braced on the low window sill, his arms crossed. He glared at her. “I need to get into your mother's office at the college,” he said coldly.
Gwen let out a long sigh as her bones slowly turned to mush. Of course he would know about Julianna's office! What hadn't Julianna told him! “We'll go first thing tomorrow. I’m exhausted."
Cain stared at her…hard. “Now.”
Her aching muscles screamed at her to refuse, but throughout the day she had began to realize that when he grew angry, the black eyes appeared. Whatever “it” was, drew to the surface by turmoil, angst, and outrage. She didn’t want to provoke him if she could avoid it.
Gwen sat the basket down, blowing a wispy hair off to the side of her face. “Let me change first.”
Cain stared out the window. “Where the hell is it Julianna?” he said softly. He had to turn immortal, and soon. His human body couldn’t handle the enormous evil presence inside. At least, if he became immortal again, his body would contain the dark power better. The evil would stay at bay.
A few moments later, Cain turned upon hearing the bottom step squeak and found Gwen coming around the living room corner. She had changed into a white eyelet lace skirt, a white tank top, and a jean jacket. Her white flip flops "clacked" across the wood floor. He gave her a questioning look.
“What?” Gwen said blushing, “the college is very prestigious. I like to look nice when I go there.”
A titillating smile curved Cain’s mouth as he held out his arm for her to go first. As Cain followed a few feet behind, Gwen didn't see his fixated gaze on the sway of her hips. Cain silently cursed. He hoped to find three things at the college. The missing page, clues to finding Julianna, and a wench with no morals.
* * * * *
CHAPTER FOUR
Gwen unlocked the door to her mother’s office, breathing a sigh of relief. Unbearable silence had filled the entire car-ride over to the college. Neither had said a word and Cain’s presence had been almost too much to bear.
Tucking the key to Julianna's office back inside her purse, she flicked on the lights. Gwen gasped, bringing her hand up to her mouth. The entire room lay in shambles. Flower pots that had once set on Julianna's desk were now overturned, the pieces broken on the floor. Papers pulled from empty filing drawers lay scattered across the room.
Cain walked in, stepping past Gwen. “I think I can safely say we dinna need to search her office.”
"Who would've done this?" she asked breathlessly.
Cain toed some of the broken pot pieces on the floor. "I dinna ken.”
Gwen wandered over the cluttered floor to the chair at Julianna's desk. Sitting down, she placed her elbows on the desk, dropping her head into them. Her entire life turned upside down before her eyes…again. Gwen lowered her hands, and noticed the collection of gold-filigree decorated eggs sitting at the corner of the desk. Being that the crooks didn’t take them, backed up the suspicion that they weren't after valuables.
Gwen reached out, taking a small candid photo that had been wedged between the delicate eggs. She stared down at the picture of herself and Julianna. In the photo, Julianna's arm was wrapped around Gwen’s shoulder, both smiling brightly. Gwen remembered the photo. Julianna had taken it soon after they had arrived in the twenty-first century. Was Julianna in trouble, hurt, or worse? A tear came to Gwen's eye. Julianna had been the only "mother" she'd ever known. Sniffing, Gwen stuffed the photo back in-between the gold eggs, but one wobbled off its stand, and rolled quickly off the desk, onto the floor.
The sound of glass breaking made Cain glance up from the filing cabinet he was searching. Gwen appeared close to falling apart, if she wasn’t in the process already. He walked away from the cabinet and around the desk, over to Gwen. Sobs sounded as she bent down, cleaning up the shattered egg.
As Cain watched her, feelings of compassion raced through him. He had never pitied a human, and didn't want to start now. After a moment of listening to her try to hold back her cries, Cain gritted his teeth and bent down. As she reached for the glass shards, his fingers softly brushed hers aside.
She glanced up at him, surprise briefly crossing her features. “I don’t even know why I’m cleaning this up," she said, wiping the tears off her cheek.
“Shh,” Cain whispered, gently moving her hand away from the mess. “I’ll take care of it.”
Gwen took a deep breath, sitting back in the chair. She watched Cain deftly clean up the glass, but pausing as he lifted a huge chunk into his hand. Underneath, lay a small piece of paper. “What is it?” she asked as he paused, studying the note.
Cain glanced up and then back to the small piece of paper that had been magically hidden inside the egg. If Gwen hadn't have dropped it, the spell surrounding the egg would've called to Cain. He felt the magic from the broken shell pieces vibrate in his palm. Julianna was definitely leaving a trail for him. He opened it up and read the writing in Julianna’s handwriting:
Cain,
1247 A.D.
Lochcarron, Scotland
Julianna
When he felt Gwen lean over his shoulder, he let her take the note. Her brow creased. “It’s from Julianna?"
“Aye."
Gwen looked up questioningly. “Why would she leave this for you?”
Cain slowly peered up at her, his mouth thinning. “I think she's in trouble. I
believe whoever ransacked this office is after her. I dinna think she's missing, but hiding." Cain sighed. "The note depicts a date and place. ’Tis where and when we need to go if we want to see your mother again.”
Gwen slowly shook her head. "No. You have to go alone."
* * * * *
Cain and Gwen sat at the dining room table across from each other, eating a pizza she had pulled from the freezer and baked. Neither had talked about what transpired after leaving Julianna's office.
Cain cleared his throat as he finished his fourth slice of pizza. He actually found himself enjoying all the foods the humans in the twenty-first century ate. His stomach had growled in the car on the way home and it had been Gwen who commented about dinner.
“We’ll leave first thing in the morn,” Cain said quietly, reaching for his fifth slice.
Gwen paused with the pizza half-way to her mouth. “By all means, you go first thing in the morning.” Cain gave her a look full of silent conversation, and she didn’t like what his eyes were saying. “I’m not going with you."
“What if whoever destroyed your mother's office comes here? What if they try and hurt ye?” he said softly. “'Tis only right that I keep ye safe until we find your mother."
"No, you don't understand. I can't go with you!"
Cain slowly chewed his pizza. "Then make me understand," he said tightly.
Before Gwen could say another word, the doorbell rang. She eagerly sprung from her seat, happy for the interruption. Upon opening the front door, she found two men in dark breeches and tunics more suitable for the thirteenth century than the twenty-first. Short, cropped beards covered each man's face, one dark brown hair, the other blond.
"Julianna?" one of the men asked.
Gwen's mouth thinned. "U-um, she's out for the time being." Both men glanced at each other and then back to Gwen with devilish smiles. The hair on the back of Gwen's neck stood on end as she abruptly stepped back, shutting the door. The blond haired man hastily stuck his foot in front of the door, blocking it.
"Perhaps, ye should invite us in."
"Is there a problem?" a cold voice said from behind Gwen.
The two men briefly glanced at each other and then back at Cain. The dark haired one tipped his head. "No problem. We were just leaving." After one last hard glance at Gwen, the men turned and walked away.
Cain stood sentry at the threshold until both men disappeared down the block. As he stared after the pair, Gwen squeezed past him into the house, accidently brushing against his body as she walked by.
Cain sighed and joined her inside. He found Gwen scrubbing plates in the kitchen. Leaning against the archway, he crossed his arms, watching her. After a moment, Cain spoke. “Do ye ken them?" he asked.
Gwen shook her head. "No." She threw the washcloth down into the sink and turned, meeting his hard gaze. Her chin trembled. "What the hell is going on?"
* * * * *
Cain sat in Julianna’s study at her old desk, staring out the window at the starry evening sky. He placed his heavy head in his hands, silently cursing himself. Now, he understood why Julianna left Gwen home alone. To protect her. He should go back in time by himself. That's what the cryptic note from Julianna directed him to do. But after the two men stopped by earlier, he wasn't leaving Gwen's side. No, Gwen would have to tag along as he follow the trail of breadcrumbs her mother had left for him.
Cain sighed. Hearing Gwen’s bedroom door close, he turned his head in her direction. He should go talk to her. But what would he say? Ask her to trust him, a man she barely knew? A man who was more beast than human? Cain laughed bitterly. Gwen should be aware of everything that he was before being stuck with him in a different time, with a culture she'd not know the first thing about.
Absently, Cain rubbed his side were the new tattoo had appeared. “You cost me, Rowena,” he mumbled, running his fingers lightly over the black and red Celtic design. The ink, that literally entwined into his DNA, burned like hot coals searing into his side. Every time he cast a spell, he gained another painful reminder from the spirits within. The black and red tattoos covered his arms, chest, neck, and a section of his back.
Cain slowly rose, debating on whether or not to tell Gwen what lived inside him. With a decision made, Cain strode to her room. Surprisingly, the door opened as he walked up to it. Wide-eyed, Gwen gazed up at Cain. She had changed, and now wore small boy shorts…very small, and a tight t-shirt. He could see her nipples poking through the light lavender material. She must have seen where his gaze lingered, for she quickly crossed her arms.
“What,” she asked softly, looking everywhere but at him.
Cain licked his lips. He closed his eyes, focusing on why he came to see her. “There are a few things ye should ken before we leave on the morrow,” he said tightly.
Gwen was about to ask him into her bedroom, but immediately thought better of it and motioned to the study across the hall. Cain nodded, grateful for her quick thinking. He didn't think he could restrain the beast while sitting next to her on the small inviting bed, and her womanly body a hairsbreadth away. He shook off the vision of turning around, grabbing her, and pushing her up against the wall. He strode over, took a seat in Julianna's chair, leaving the desk between them for safety.
“What is it I need to know?” Gwen asked, taking a seat in one of the two chairs opposite her mother’s desk.
Cain blinked. He glanced around him as if he forgot where he sat. Gwen had just saved herself from him again and didn’t even know it.
“I’m not normal, lass,” Cain said, carefully watching her expression. Her face didn’t waiver.
“Not normal…not human," she began, "I think I realized that the minute I met you.”
He studied her. Perhaps, Julianna had warned her about him. “I can cast spells…." He eyed her under half-closed lids. "Some, that your mother had taught me." Gwen swallowed loudly. “I am verra powerful…or more so when I was an Immortal.”
Gwen locked her gaze onto his. He glanced away with a rueful grin. For a brief moment, he reminded her of the young Cain back at Castle Knightly, when they'd sit under the huge elm and watch the storms roll in off the sea. “Immortal,” she whispered. What Julianna had told her really was true.
“Before my mo-.” Cain cleared his throat. “Before a witch cast a spell on me,” he gritted out, “I was an Immortal. But now, I’m just a man with the ability to use magic.”
Gwen shuddered. She knew the witch he spoke of. Rowena. She didn't even want to utter the name inside her own mind, fearful the woman would appear. “That was why you needed the health spell." She looked up solemnly. "You're really human then?"
Cain clenched his jaw. "I'd prefer to say I'm lacking certain powers at the moment. But my black magic makes me stronger than a mere simple man."
"Why are you telling me this?"
"I want to warn ye what happens when I cast spells using the dark magic. Ye need to ken what could happen since your coming with me."
Gwen fidgeted in her seat. She wanted to correct him and tell him, he’d be leaving by himself.
“Every time I cast a spell," he continued, "the demons within rise to the surface. That's why my pupils change to black…like you have seen. In all actuality, I’m calling them to cast the spell for me. My body becomes a puppet with the evils commanding my strings. Every time I cast a spell, the demons take a piece of me. I lose a little more control every time.”
“And the tattoos?" She gestured to his side with her head. "That one appeared after you cast the spell that healed you." Gwen had half-believed Julianna when she had told her about Cain being an Immortal. That information wasn't a shock, but the tattoos and black magic were unnerving. What he told her, broke her heart. Why would he resort to that kind of magic?
Cain took a moment before answering. How much did he want to tell her? How much did she really need to know? “I get a mark after every spell," he said quietly. "Some, bigger than others, all of them painful. 'Tis a reminder of the
demons I called forth.”
“I see,” she said quietly. Her brow creased. “Did Julia- I mean, did my mother have any? I never saw any on her.”
Cain stared hard at Gwen. He was getting off track. He had wanted to warn her about how the lust filled him in the wake of a spell, but now she wanted to know about her mother, which was understandable and a topic he should address.
He shook his head. "No. She knew and studied the black arts, but she used different magic to cast the spells...Supreme Magic."
Gwen glanced at the books. “Are you taking them with you?"
Cain glimpsed down, completely forgetting he had carelessly left the books lying on the desk all this time. “Yes, we will be taking them with us."
Gwen reached down under the front of the desk. “Here,” she said, lifting up the satchel she had used before, “you can use this. I think my mother used this bag when she taught at the college."
“I only need to take two,” he said, carefully placing the selected books in the satchel. “The big book and the small red one. Some of their spells may come in use.”
“I’ll put the others back in the hiding place.” She carried the remaining books over to the panel that still sat ajar. Knowing four of them would be hidden once more, calmed some of her nerves. Too bad the most powerful books were the ones Cain wanted to keep. When she reached the cubby hole, she sat on her knees, gently laying the stack inside the wall. One of the books caught on something and she had to reach inside to get whatever blocked the way. Sitting back, she stared down at the weird little box in her hand.
The box measured only about four, or five inches long and two inches deep. It fit perfectly in her hands. Black, orange, and yellow Celtic artwork covered the sides. She brushed the dust and cobwebs off the lid. Gripping the box, she easily opened the top, revealing a small compartment.