Dark Gathering

by Karlene Cameron

  Math dhuinn airson ar n-euchdan …

  He didn’t know how long he stood there directing her energy and keeping his men safe, but at last, he felt her energy leave him. He collapsed atop his horse, his sword falling to the ground. He slumped in his saddle, uncaring of where he was or what he needed to do next. His hands trembled as he grasped the pommel. Swinging down from the saddle, he collapsed to the ground, pulling deep breaths into his lungs. He had to see to his men. And he had to see Caitriona.

  As he pulled himself to his knees, there was an emptiness in him where Caitriona should have been. He closed his eyes, slumping to the ground, unconsciousness threatening to take him. The last thought he had before succumbing to the darkness was whether Caitriona felt the void as well.

  Dani reached for her sister’s hand. She could see the milk-white look in her sister’s eyes that portended her second sight. Caitriona’s hand felt cold, her breath raspy as she mumbled incoherently.

  “He’s coming, Duncan,” Caitriona croaked. “Hawkins knows we’re here,” she continued, fear lacing her voice. “We don’t have much time. You have to mobilize your troops.”

  Nicolas wrapped his arm around her sister and Dani was grateful for his calm presence. She knew they’d have to act quickly. They would lose this battle if Duncan and his men didn’t get into position.

  “Duncan, you have to trust me,” Caitriona muttered. “I know you don’t understand, but Hawkins’ armies are almost here. You must mobilize your men. They should approach Hawkins from the southeast and only on your command. You’ll stay here, but in sight of your troops. There’s a small plateau just beyond that ridge.” She swayed, but Nicolas held her tight.

  “Dani, I’ll need your magic,” Caitriona said, slipping her hand into Danika’s.

  “Anything, Caitriona, you know that. But last time we were here we couldn’t control the energy,” she said.

  “I wasn’t in the right place,” Caitriona mumbled, scanning the mountainside.

  “Katerine, slow down,” Nicolas implored. “You’re not making any sense.”

  “We don’t have time for me to explain. Trust me, Nicolas.”

  Duncan and Nicolas looked at each other. After several seconds, Duncan nodded his head and Nicolas clasped his arm.

  “I don’t have a good feeling about this,” Dani groaned, watching as Duncan left to prepare his troops. She reached for her sister’s hand. Nicolas took Caitriona’s other hand. At Caitriona’s nod, Nicolas and Dani clasped hands, completing the triangle.

  “Power of three,” Nicolas mumbled, squeezing their hands as their combined energy began to flow through them.

  “What?” Dani asked, glancing at Caitriona, who was already lost to her otherworldly sight, seemingly unaware of their presence.

  “It was something Caitriona said in one of her earlier visions,” he said. Seeing the confused look on Dani’s face, he explained. “She said the power of three would be needed to end the war.”

  “We’re the three?” she asked hesitantly.

  “Perhaps,” he replied. But the furrow in his brow told her otherwise.

  “What do we do now?”

  Dani watched as Nicolas closed his eyes. She knew he was opening his mind to Caitriona’s. Within seconds she felt a stronger force flow through her.

  “Start the spell,” Nicolas said, his voice barely above a whisper.

  Dani took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

  “In the shadows, evil hides,

  In flames of fire and hell-bent strides,

  With our strength you shall be strong,

  Banish all that’s filled with wrong.

  As above, so below, so mote it be.”

  As she spoke the words, she concentrated her will, drawing Caitriona’s energy into her. She watched as Nicolas inhaled deeply and closed his eyes. She knew he was channeling Caitriona’s energy, keeping her safe. She also knew it was a tall order for the empath. His ability to ground her powers and cast off excess energy had never been tested on more than one person. It would take his full concentration to keep the energy they were creating from consuming them all.

  Overhead, grey clouds appeared, dark and menacing as they grew closer. In the distance, Danika heard the first sounds of thunder and knew the elements of the earth were reacting to her powers. A half smile lit her features. She loved having this much power and she tilted her head to the sky, relishing the feel of the raw, untamed energy as it coursed through her body.

  Danika repeated the spell again, this time prepared for the surge of energy she felt as she completed the words. She knew the power wasn’t in the words; the power came from her, from each of them. The words merely provided focus.

  The wind started whipping around her, tugging at her hair and clothes. She cast a glance at Caitriona, her milk-white eyes still lost in her world and oblivious to the maelstrom of elemental energy that was being unleashed around them. Nicolas’ brow was wrinkled, his eyes shut tight, murmuring words under his breath that only he could hear. She wanted to reach him, tell him they would be alright, but she knew that to interrupt him would sever the connection they had. They all needed to do their part. Otherwise, the energy would kill them all.

  She started on the third repetition of the spell, nearly stopping as the energy she was creating tore through her. Nicolas growled, a deep feral sound as he fought to control the energy being created. As she neared the end of the spell, Caitriona arched her back, tilting her head to the sky. She was ghostly pale, her lips moving as she interacted with her world. She was breathing heavily and Danika worried for the unborn child Caitriona carried.

  Caitriona saw the battle from Duncan’s eyes. She followed the movements of his men as they marched toward Hawkins’ horde. She could feel their anxiety, their energy as they waited for Duncan to give the order to fight. She felt the power ripple through Duncan’s frame as he was filled with the energy the three of them created.

  Caitriona focused on casting a wide net of protection around Duncan. She wanted to do the same for his men, but her power wasn’t strong enough. As Duncan spotted Hawkins and his men, she could feel his heart accelerate, the adrenaline carrying him as it washed over her. The power he exuded was almost overwhelming and she fought to control her own impulse to run.

  Duncan gave the command to engage the enemy. She felt the air around her move as thousands of Templars rushed past Duncan. He controlled his horse and stayed where he was. She could feel his frustration and anger at having to remain behind.

  Caitriona knew it was time. With one foot in the circle of three, and the other on the battlefield with Duncan, she began channeling the energy Danika was casting. She connected with Duncan and watched as his body responded to her will. He spoke in Gaelic, yet somehow she understood the words. She watched through his eyes as his troops engaged the New World Order. Duncan’s men were strong; Hawkins’ men were stronger—and better equipped. It was time.

  Pulling the energy from Danika, she focused on Duncan, envisioning the energy flowing from her to him. She began shaking, panic setting in as the energy remained within her. Perhaps they’d been wrong. Her heart thundered in her chest as she realized this was going to end badly. Her body felt as if it were on fire.

  She felt her handler in her mind and reached out to him. She didn’t know what to do. Caitriona, let go of the energy, she heard his voice in her head. She couldn’t. If she let go without channeling, the energy would be grounded and Duncan and his men would be vulnerable to Hawkins’ attack. She held tight, her body beginning to convulse. Just as she thought she couldn’t take anymore, she felt Duncan pull her to him. She arched her body and cried out, the energy ripping from her.

  She felt Duncan’s body absorb the energy and watched as energy cascaded off him in sheets. He had to focus his will. Connecting with his mind, she told him to raise his arms and repeat the words she heard from Danika. He did as he was told, the words pouring from him in Gaelic. As he finished the words, the energy around him form
ed into a ball and shot from his fingers toward the battle below him. The energy exploded in a shower of fire above Hawkins’ men, engulfing them in flames. Their shrieks and screams split the cavernous silence.

  Caitriona watched, horrified, as she saw some of Duncan’s men caught in the fireball. They had to become more focused, otherwise the energy would be lethal for anyone caught in the energy’s deadly arms.

  She encouraged Duncan to repeat the spell, this time helping him to envision the path. As he let out a thunderous roar, the energy rolled off him and shot in a laser tight stream toward Hawkins, slicing through several of the Order’s soldiers as the energy searched for its victims. Caitriona closed her eyes and saw Hawkins riding away from the fray, flanked on either side by several of his men. Coward, she thought.

  She projected the new coordinates and vision to Duncan, who kicked his horse into gear. He was going to try and get closer. As he sped into battle, he drew his Claymore, hacking at soldiers who were bent on killing him. She screamed and nearly lost her connection to him. Again, she heard Nicolas in her head, focus Caitriona or we all die here today. She moaned and used her energy to cast a wide net of protection around Duncan.

  As he was fighting one of the Order’s men, she saw another man charge him from his left. His stallion danced nervously, eager to be away from the battle and the smell of blood. Entering Duncan’s mind, she sent him a vision of the man who was approaching on his left. Duncan made short work of the man in front of him and spun the stallion just in time to slice through the young soldier who was approaching with deadly intent.

  Where, Caitriona? She heard her lover in her head and knew what he was asking. She closed her eyes and let her inner vision scour the surrounding country. She saw Hawkins climbing aboard a shuttle and her heart sank. He was getting away. She projected the image to Duncan, who maneuvered his way from the battle, yelling commands to his troops.

  Her breath was coming in short bursts as she fought to maintain the connection to him. She could feel the wind whip her hair, the sun beating down on her as she scrambled to find Hawkins.

  Caitriona felt a wave of nausea wash over her as she abruptly opened her eyes and collapsed on the ground, the link between them severed. She couldn’t breathe. It was as if a heavy weight were anchored on her chest. She pushed herself to her knees gasping, trying to pull air into her lungs.

  “Let go,” Nicolas said to her, crawling next to her. “You have to let go of your energy.”

  She didn’t know what he meant. The connection had already been severed. She started to panic as the world swam before her and she fought for oxygen.

  “Katerine,” he yelled again. “Stop this!”

  She collapsed again and rolled to her back, her eyes looking up at the sky. How beautifully fragile we are that so many things can take but a moment to alter our lives forever, she thought as she slipped into the darkness of death.

  Chapter Forty-Six

  Nicolas tilted Caitriona’s head back and began CPR, carefully counting the chest compressions as he tried to resuscitate his charge.

  “Don’t do this to me, Katerine,” he yelled, knowing she couldn’t hear him. Danika rocked back on her heels, stroking her sister’s hair and choking back tears.

  “Don’t let her die, Nicolas. Please don’t let her die.”

  He didn’t want to tell her that she was already dead. If he didn’t resuscitate her soon, they would lose her. Goddess how he wished a doctor were here. He continued to measure out the small pumps to her chest, alternating between breathing into her mouth and pressing her chest. Her eyes continued to stare at the clouds, but he knew she was no longer with him.

  He stopped and placed his ear against her chest, hoping for the faintest indication that she was still with them. He looked up at Danika and shook his head. She sobbed and pushed his hands away.

  “Don’t stop,” she screamed. “We just need to keep going.” She took up the rhythmic pumping, continuing for several seconds, tears falling on her hands as she worked. After another minute, Nicolas stopped breathing into Caitriona’s mouth and placed his hands over Dani’s. She tried to push him aside, but he held her hands tight.

  “No,” she cried, burying her face in his chest. He sat there holding Danika, trying to figure out where it had all gone wrong. Why hadn’t Caitriona been able to release the energy once the link between them had been severed? She should have lost all connection.

  He swiped at the tears that were rolling down his face. She should have been able to disconnect. He had absorbed nearly all her unspent energy...or had he? He pushed Danika away from him and scrambled next to Caitriona. Her eyes continued to stare up at the sky. It was a long shot and he knew it.

  Grabbing Danika’s hand and taking Caitriona’s other hand in his, he turned to Danika. “Help me reconnect the link.”

  “I can’t,” she sobbed. “Not without Caitriona. I don’t have enough power to…”

  “Just do it. I will explain later.”

  She took her sister’s hand in hers and looked pleadingly at Nicolas. Goddess, this must work, he thought to himself, noting the scared, confused look in Danika’s eyes.

  He opened his mind to Caitriona’s as Danika began the spell to join them. Caitriona’s mind was blank, void where he usually felt her presence. He cast a wider net but still nothing. He felt a small spark from Danika as she tried to link their energy together. He knew she was struggling without the energy of her sister. When she stopped, he looked at her and said, “Keep going.”

  She repeated the spell, each time trying to link their energy. On the fifth iteration of the incantation, Nicolas finally felt his charge. It was distant, almost as if she wasn’t here on this plane with them. That’s it, he thought, his heart beating a fast staccato. He cast his mind further and called to her. He could feel her presence getting stronger.

  “Katerine, you need to come back to me. You need to let the energy you have flow through you so I can absorb it. Do you understand?” he whispered.

  Danika looked at him as realization of what he was trying to do became clear.

  Nicolas closed his eyes, trying hard to reach his charge. He didn’t know how much longer he had. He could feel her fear, her isolation, and the energy she still held within her. “Let go, chérie.”

  I don’t know how. He heard her clearly in his head and he breathed a deep sigh, squeezing Danika’s hand reassuringly, knowing she couldn’t tell what was happening.

  “Katerine, see the energy around you as a ball of light. Move the light back and forth between your hands and when you are ready, I want you to throw it in front of you, almost as if you are throwing the perfect pitch for your Mariners team, ouí?”

  Next to him, Danika started crying. He squeezed her hand again, wishing he could do more. Right now, he needed to concentrate on bringing his charge home. She was alive, but not on this plane. He had read about astral projection and suspected the energy she had consumed took her out of body. As she tried to re-enter her body, she had lost focus and been separated from the physical world. He needed to provide her an anchor point to come home.

  “It’s so heavy, Nicolas. I just want to rest for awhile.”

  “Katerine, I can’t have you rest just yet. You’re in danger, dear heart. You need to follow my instructions, ouí?”

  She didn’t respond to him. His heart beat faster. What if she’d succumbed to the relief that would be present on the astral plane?

  “Katerine!” he yelled, sharply.

  He felt her again, this time struggling with the energy that engulfed her.

  “That’s good, Katerine. Throw the energy ball. And then look for the light, ouí?”

  He heard her quiet acknowledgement in the back of his mind. Seconds later, Caitriona began sputtering and coughing. He dropped Danika’s hand and rolled Caitriona to her side just as she brought up the contents of her stomach. He held her hair back as she finished retching.

  Helping her sit up, he wiped the corners of her
mouth with his shirt, a big smile lighting his face. Danika wrapped her arms around her sister and sobbed into her shoulder.

  “Can’t breathe,” Caitriona said, pushing away from her sister. Both Danika and Nicolas looked alarmed, but Caitriona rushed to reassure them. “I’m fine. I just need a little less squeezing, more explaining,” she grinned.

  “Of course, chérie,” Nicolas told her.

  “What happened, Nicolas? From my perspective, I was here the whole time. But I couldn’t move. I was so tired,” she confessed.

  “I believe you had an out of body experience, chérie. Most likely due to the amount of energy you were holding and the almost cathartic state your sister’s spell put you under.”

  “Did I die?” she asked.

  He looked at Danika and then back at Caitriona. “I’m not sure, chérie. I couldn’t feel your heartbeat or your breath, but it’s very possible both were slowed to nearly indiscernible readings while you were out of body. One of the doctors should be able to give us more information.”

  “What are you saying, Nicolas?” she asked.

  “Did you see a silver cord anywhere near you?”

  She shook her head. “But it’s not like I was looking for one. Why?”

  “I’m not sure,” he said. “There’s still so much we don’t know about the astral plane. We can sort this out later. Right now, we need to get you back to the hacienda.”

  “What about Duncan?” she asked, alarm lacing her voice.

  “We all agreed to rendezvous back at the hacienda,” he reminded her. “But you would have a better idea if he was successful.”

  She shook her head. “He went after Hawkins. Our link was severed before I could see more. Nicolas, what if he’s hurt or captured? We have to try and help him.”

  “Chérie, we have no idea where Duncan is. Going after him would be like hunting for a needle in a haystack…a haystack that’s on fire.”