Highland Shift (Highland Destiny: 1)

by LAURA HARNER

  She was sitting with an older woman, perhaps her mother, and kept paging through her menu. He continued to watch her as he ate his dinner, and although he was seated across the room, he clearly heard her dinner order, “I can’t make up my mind. Do you have any other specials, maybe something not on the menu?”

  Chapter Thirty-nine

  Elena was sitting on the floor, unable to move her hands, and completely disoriented when she woke. She could hear men speaking nearby, and she wisely kept her head down and eyes closed until she could figure out what was happening. She was tied to something, maybe a pillar or a pole? The last thing she remembered was having dinner with Lilly. Lilly! Where was Lilly?

  “She’s caused us a lot of trouble; why don’t I just get rid of her? Throw in a memory spell and dump her somewhere.”

  A voice she would recognize anywhere said, “Patience, Liam. I wish to have her here for the ceremony. You may kill her tonight, when her sacrifice will do us the most good. Kill them both.”

  Dear God, that was Worthington talking.

  The men’s voices faded, a metal door clanged in the distance, and then silence. There was a scraping sound nearby, so Elena waited a few more minutes, trying to decide if she was alone. Cracking her eyelids infinitesimally, she peeked, trying to see if anyone was watching. She was in a large, basement-like room, with high ceilings, exposed ductwork against brick walls, no windows, with a rectangular table at the far end.

  Other than the table and the pole she felt pressing into her back, the room was completely empty. She twisted her head as far as she was able and could see Lilly. They were secured to the pole by rope, back-to-back, and both of them had their legs splayed out in front of them. Lilly’s head was slumped to the side. “Lilly? Can you hear me?”

  Nothing. Either Lilly was still unconscious or…well, Elena didn’t want to think about what else might be making her quiet. She tried reaching out with her mind but she received no response in return.

  Elena could sense nothing at all; her brain felt sluggish. Try as she might, she was unable to make her thoughts go where she wanted them to go. Her eyes started to glaze over; she was so tired. Her head sank to her chest, and she drifted between half-remembered thoughts and dreams. She was out a long time.

  “Elena,” whispered Lilly. “Elena, wake up.”

  Elena’s head shot up, and she bumped it sharply against the pole behind her. “Lilly, are you okay?” she whispered urgently.

  “Aye, but I can’t get loose.”

  “Me either. Do you know where we are? Or how we got here?”

  Sighing, Lilly said, “I think we were drugged at dinner. ‘Tis the last thing I remember, we had just finished eating and then that old codger of a waiter brought over a special dessert. I canna remember anything after we ate dessert.”

  Dinner had been delicious and elegant, the service extraordinary. Elena had settled on the member’s special without even knowing what it was. Shortly after, the manager came by to visit with them, promising a meal they would never forget. It turned out that the member’s special had been angel hair pasta with shrimp and a salad. Although it was nothing she would have selected from the menu, when Elena tasted it, it was as though she had taken a bite of heaven. Try as she might, she couldn’t remember eating dessert.

  What Elena did remember was waking earlier and hearing Worthington and Liam talking about killing them as part of a ceremony tonight. They needed help. She tried to reach out with her power again, but her thoughts jerked uncontrollably. Pick something familiar, she told herself.

  “Lilly, I’m trying to make a projection of Faolan in front of you, tell me if you see it.”

  “Nay, lass, there’s nothing here,” Lilly said after a moment.

  “Oh, help,” Elena whispered quietly, “I can’t remember what he looks like.” She wanted to cry. She felt no more special, no more powerful than when she’d arrived in Scotland all those months ago.

  “Lilly, I can’t control my thoughts. Whatever drug they gave us, it’s messing with my projection. Listen, we have to get away at all costs. If someone comes in, we better fake being unconsciousness but be ready for anything. We have to get free.”

  Just then, the door opened and both women dropped their heads. A man walked over to the pole where they were tied and approached Lilly first.

  He grabbed Lilly by her hair and yanked her head back violently, exposing her neck. He laughed at her sharp intake of breath.

  “Do not try to fool me, you fucking old woman. I know you’re awake, I can smell your stench. You smell like the dying,” Liam said.

  A sharp bite of a needle piercing her flesh was all the warning Lilly had, before the lethargic heat took control of her body again. He dropped her head and it lolled against her chest, and she was unconscious.

  Liam moved to Elena, squatting next to her and resting on his powerful haunches. He stroked her cheek and whispered as though they were lovers engaged in an intimate moment. “Open your eyes and look at me, or I will kill the old woman.”

  Elena opened her eyes and met the gaze of her would-be-killer. He removed a second syringe from his pocket, uncapped it, and then held it up for Elena to see. “I am just going to give you a wee bit of this, not enough to knock you out, like your friend here, just enough to protect me from the power of your thoughts.”

  As he was speaking, he leaned forward and depressed the plunger on the syringe, and Elena had the sensation of warmth spreading through her veins. She was suddenly very glad he liked her and would take special care of her. She smiled at him, thinking he was a good-looking man. How had she not noticed before that he reminded her a bit of Marty?

  “You are a very powerful woman, Elena MacFarland. When did that happen? You didna have such power when I met you in Fairth. Aye, there was a wee bit of interesting in you, but nothing like I sense now. Worthington told me what you did the last time he held you captive. Would that I could keep you for myself, but it’s not to be, for you have an important role to play here tonight.”

  Elena felt bitter disappointment flood her, and then realized he was projecting his feelings into her. He wanted her to know how he felt, and without her shields, she was helpless to protect herself.

  *

  Liam found everything about Elena fascinating. He pushed his desired at her, easily overpowering the shields he felt her try to erect. He might not have a lot of choice in how things were going to work out, but he needed her to sense his desire, to taste his power. “Tonight we’ll celebrate the Beltane, and the coming of the Druids. It’s the biggest night in the history of our order. We will regain all that was lost. You should be honored to be such an important part of the ceremony. The greater the sacrifice, the more pleased the gods, and the greater the reward.

  “Once the order is rid of the unworthy, those who remain will lay you upon the altar. There we will offer you to the gods, first through the flesh, then through the blood.” He substituted his lips for the blade of the knife he’d held against her throat. He inhaled her scent before sucking hard on her neck, tasting her. The minute his lips tasted her flesh he was overwhelmed with desire for her. Her power thrummed through him, hot and demanding in his veins. A fierce jealousy twisted inside and his hatred for the bastard that claimed her flared.

  Liam threaded his fingers through her hair, and he pulled her head even further back. “Did you know a life force grows within you? I can feel it. You are carrying the wolf’s pup. This will add immeasurably to the power we will receive through your sacrifice. Or should I say sacrifices, since you will be giving your flesh in the mating ceremony before you give life force in the blood sacrifice. We will worship you. No woman has ever been the object of such desire, such reverence.” Again, he let his feelings of desire flood her.

  “Fear not, sweet Elena. I shall work an enchantment for you before we begin. You will participate willingly and you will be pleasured many times by your sacrifice. I only wish I could keep you for myself.”

  Althou
gh unable to speak, Liam could sense Elena’s terror, feel the horror grow, spreading a fear so palpable it threatened to strangle her.

  “Don’t let the fear overwhelm you, Elena. Act afraid, so no one will know of the enchantment, but I will not let you suffer.” Liam lowered her head to her chest by her hair, then leaning over her, Liam whispered the words to an ancient spell, and Elena slept. He would need to get her alone for a few minutes before the ceremony to work the second spell.

  Liam smoothed her hair back from her face, “Would that I could keep you for myself,” he whispered again. He kissed the top of her head before walking slowly away.

  Chapter Forty

  A few minutes, or maybe it was hours later, Elena woke as the room started to fill with black robed figures. They entered slowly and the conversations were subdued as each person took a place around the room, forming a loose circle. Two men stood behind the table and laid out a book, a chalice, and a purple cloth.

  A screen was now propped in front the women, and although Elena could see through, it appeared no one in the room could see in from the other side. No one spared them a glance. The hooded robes prevented Elena from recognizing anyone. Except for one man, standing directly in front of the screen, and wearing street clothes. Gabhran MacLachlan. She vaguely wondered why he didn’t merit a robe.

  Voices, chanting, incense. Elena’s drug-addled brain clicked: this was a ceremony of some sort! Brilliant, eh? B, B, something with a B. What was important about B? She was supposed to be somewhere for B…. Oh God, am I drooling?

  The man presiding over the circle raised his arms and called to the gods, to ask their blessings upon the gathering. Elena recognized him, even though she’d never actually seen him in person. It was Symington; the man Worthington had called Master.

  Symington led the group in a responsive chant, one that continued for many minutes before the members all fell silent. Then a robed and hooded person joined Symington at the table. The second man carried a scepter and presented it to Symington, but before handing it over, he turned toward the room and made an announcement. Elena recognized him immediately… it was Worthington.

  She focused hard trying to make sense of his words.

  “I am making this presentation to the Order of Etarlam,” Worthington said, and he pulled a staff from the folds of his robes. The surprise rippled around the room. “I ask that the Master and you the Council accept this gift of the Scepter of Entitlement, a relic of the Royal Court of the Tuatha Dé Danann. With this Scepter, the Tuatha Dé could bestow immense power to the Druids, and with this Scepter the ungrateful Fae Queen stripped the power from the Druids before she scattered us about the Earth.

  “The Tuatha Dé came to our Earth and expected to rule with impunity, and they destroyed the Druid Priests that opposed them. We honor our ancestors. We, who have brought forth their genes through the ages are gathered together this Beltane to enter the epoch of the Druid. The prophecy will be fulfilled, the power of Druids fully restored, and we will wield our power in that which was our way.”

  The group responded with shouts and fist pumping. He continued, “When those with power choose our ways, the Scepter of Entitlement will show us whose heart is truly Druid. Tonight we have one who sought us out and has expressed his desire to join us.”

  Worthington bowed formally, and appearing completely submissive, he presented his plea. “Council of the Etarlam, please accept this gift of the Scepter, and allow it to test our newest potential apprentice before we begin the ceremony of Beltane.”

  Again the robed figures cheered, the Master nodded, as did several others standing near the front. Symington reached for the Scepter, and the members erupted.

  Whatever Liam had done to Elena, it had paralyzed her vocal cords, but some sound must have escaped. She gasped with her effort to call out. Gabhran was directly in front of her now, and he turned his head slightly at the sound she made. He looked at the screen, his eyes sliding unseeingly over the women before he turned back to watch the ceremony. “No,” Elena shouted with her mind. Again, he turned his head slightly in her direction, and she tried the mental shouting again, “Yes!”

  It was like some bizarre game of Hot and Cold, trying to get him to look beyond the screen. Elena knew who he was, but she didn’t know if he was a good guy or a bad guy. What she did know was that if she and Lilly were still here at the end of the ceremony, someone would kill them.

  Gabhran’s posture changed slightly, and he shifted to the right, which let him look toward the bound women without it being obvious to the others in the room. His attention appeared focused on the leader, but his eyes kept returning to the screen.

  Master Symington was lighting candles, calling on fire to light the way. The faceless voices in the room replied, chanting again. Placing the candle in the center of the human circle, Symington returned to the table for stones and placed them around the circle. Someone else brought a large tub of water and placed it near the candle. Symington turned to Worthington and nodded for him to continue. The ceremony was getting ready to start.

  Worthington stepped forward and raised his hands. Looking in the direction of the ceiling, he called out and a breeze began to blow through the room, although there were no open windows or doors, and no visible vents. The air seemed to swirl just because Worthington had commanded it so.

  In all the pomp of the ceremony, Elena had nearly forgotten about Gabhran, and she looked up to find him staring directly at her. Not at the screen that had been shielding her, but through the screen, directly at Elena, their eyes connected. She silently pleaded, “Help!”

  His eyes, took on a faraway look again and he turned back to the ceremony. “Nooooooo,” Elena thought desperately, but he didn’t turn around again.

  Symington was speaking loudly in order to be heard over the wind as it continued to gather strength. He called on the spirits to bless this convocation, to open the assembled minds to the ways of the Order, to bless the leader of the Bresal Etarlam.

  “We, the true and rightful heirs to the Druidic nature, have been called together from beyond the borders of Scotia. We knowingly enter into this time of prophecy, call to the spirits of our ancestors, show us the way, summon the intended heirs to come home, turn away our enemies.”

  Symington raised the scepter high in the air. “We call on your power to make our Order sacrosanct, to keep those from us who are not the true believers, to bless our council with wisdom!” He finished on a shout over now howling wind.

  Symington glanced at Worthington, and his look held a measure of uncertainty as though the increase in the wind was unexpected. Symington was still holding the Scepter in the air when his eyes bulged in their sockets and the wind began to turn dark.

  There was no other way to describe it; the wind became visible as black wispy strands began to reach around the room. The tendrils curled, testing, tasting each person before moving on to the next. Elena watched in horror as the darkness encircled Symington in a lover’s caress before tightening around him, constricting until he screamed in agony. Soon one voice was joined by many, as more members of the council were wrapped in the tentacles of the spell.

  Dear God what’s happening? Elena’s panic found a voice. “Don’t look,” she managed to shout as the tendrils reached lovingly for Gabhran. Elena didn’t know if he heard her or if either he or Lilly could understand what she’d shouted. In truth, she didn’t know if Lilly was even conscious.

  The temperature around them plummeted as the icy black tendrils passed over Elena, surrounded her, caressed her for a moment before moving on. She felt as though she might never be warm again, bile crept up her throat, and she struggled to keep it down.

  Gabhran was yelling, but Elena kept her eyes squeezed tightly shut. She knew he must be surrounded by the same black ice that had passed over her. She could not look, she was not going to open her eyes until she was sure the icy black tendrils had gone. Their end of the room began to warm slightly, but the wind was still howli
ng, the black seeking others.

  Worthington’s voice boomed over the roar of the wind, reverberating, unnaturally loud, “The ancestors are calling judgment upon us! There are those on the council deemed unworthy. Stand tall, make your heart pure lest you be found lacking in your heart of hearts.”

  Someone grabbed Elena roughly and tried to pull her up. Her arms were jerked tight against the ropes and then she dropped hard back against the pole. The rope was pulled tight and then fell as it was sliced away. She heard a muttered, “Shit! Can you walk?”

  The screams in the room continued and she was afraid to open her eyes. Who ever had her shook her so hard her teeth rattled.

  “Goddammit, woman, look at me! We’ve got to get out of here. Your friend is unconscious, so if you want me to bring her along, you have to walk! Can you?”

  Elena managed a feeble nod and took her weight on her own feet moving them experimentally. She thought they might work. They have to work!

  Gabhran let go of Elena and picked Lilly up, before whispering urgent instructions. “Do not look to the center of the room. Keep your eyes on my back or on the wall to your left. I am going to take us back through the door near the front. Keep your head down.”

  With that warning, they were off, and he was moving fast. Elena had expected stealth, but he was practically running, Lilly was cradled in front of him, and Elena desperately tried to hang on to his jacket. Her feet were clumsy from the effects of the drug, her body uncoordinated from being tied in one position for so long.

  When Gabhran stopped suddenly, Elena crashed into his back, and he grabbed her before she could fall. Shifting Lilly over his shoulder, he wrapped an arm around Elena. Supporting all of Lilly’s weight and most of Elena’s, he dragged the three of them to the door.