Time Masters Book One; The Call (An Urban Fantasy, Time Travel Romance)

by Geralyn Beauchamp

  Shona was in her bedroom.

  She looked at the clock near her bed. “Ten-thirty? How did I sleep so late?” She threw back the covers, went to get up and failed. “Oh,” she moaned and fell against her pillow, her whole body reacting as if hit by a truck. “What did I do?”

  She tried to lift her head and failed at that as well. All she could do was lie there and moan. “What happened?” She tried again to rise, succeeded and sat quietly for a moment, building strength. Her eyes opened and closed as her whole body swayed.

  “Mother?”

  No answer.

  Shona looked toward the door. Maybe she was alone. “Mother?” Her voice was barely a croak. She shook her head. “Blast it all! Where is he? Why can I not feel him?”

  Her unexpected tears were hot, stinging her face as they fell. Her brow furrowed in concentration. “Philip?” She shook her head. “No, definitely not Philip.” Though he seemed to be lodged in her brain as if cemented there. The last person she would want stuck in her head. Her body trembled with frustration at the thought. “Where are you?” Please…

  “Shona?”

  She half turned her head, recognition slow to come. “Kitty?”

  “Oh my gaaawsh, you look awful. What did you do, stay out all night?”

  Shona looked up at her, tears still evident. "Kitty… I feel like I must be hung over.”

  Kitty immediately sat on the bed. “Except you've never had a drink in your life." She wrapped an arm around her. "What happened?"

  “I do not know. Aside from physically feeling like I have been … well… run over, I feel so… empty." Shona wiped away her tears and looked directly at her best friend. "It hurts, Kitty."

  Kitty eyed her. “Tell me what happened. Tell me what’s been happening, what you wanted to tell me yesterday.”

  Shona's eyes filled again with tears as her head began to swim. “Kitty, I cannot find him. Where is he?’

  “Where is who?”

  She struck her hands against the bed. “I do not know! I cannot think straight. I …”

  “You mean the guy from the library?”

  Shona slowly placed her balled fists under her chin. “The library, yes that is it. The library.”

  “Shona, what is wrong with you? Geez, what happened here last night? No one answered the phone when I called earlier, your mom and dad are still in bed, and I had to let myself in with the spare key.”

  “It was a late night. Too bad you didn’t come with us. We all had a great time. Didn’t we Shona?” Julia glided into the room, her face an expressionless mask.

  “If someone would have invited me, I’d have gone.” Kitty pouted.

  Julia ignored her, went straight to the bed and sat next to Shona. “How do you feel?”

  Shona stared at her as if deciding on whether she was friend or foe.

  Julia returned the stare boldly. “Kitty, make yourself useful and get her some water.”

  Kitty stared suspiciously at Julia. “Sure,” she mumbled and left the room slowly.

  Julia leaned into Shona’s face. “Philip had a good time last night. Didn’t you?”

  “Philip?”

  “Yes, don’t you remember? Dinner? Dinner with Philip?”

  Shona glared at her and tried to scoot away.

  Julia grabbed her arm. “Yes, Philip. You like Philip, remember?”

  Shona began to shake her head.

  Julia abruptly stood, her voice a low rasp. “Well, I know what will make you like Philip.” She leaned down into Shona’s face again, her voice a vicious whisper. “I have a little something I made up just for you.”

  Shona threw herself against the headboard, eyes wide. She began to look frantically about. “Kitty?”

  Kitty entered the room, water glass in hand. “Here ya go.”

  Shona sat pinned, eyes still wide with fear. “Kitty, help me.”

  Julia spun on her sister. “Quick, she’s having some sort of reaction! Run downstairs and get my purse!”

  “Reaction?" Kitty began, nearly spilling the water. "Reaction to what?”

  Shona tried to melt into the headboard. “Kitty, please.” Please. Don’t let her touch me. She’s going to hurt me.

  Kitty's mouth dropped open as she stared at her. “Shona…?”

  “Now, Kitty!” Julia began to shove her out the door. “Hurry!”

  Kitty disappeared. Julia slowly turned back to her, eyes intense.

  “You go… away,” Shona moaned. “Get away from me…”

  Julia smiled at her. “No, I can’t do that. You’re not well, you need me here.”

  “No!”

  “Shona, calm down. You’re not yourself. You don’t know what you’re doing.”

  Shona, legs now gathered beneath her, crouched against the headboard, every muscle tensed. Her eyes narrowed to slits. “Air falbh on taigh!”

  Julia stood, stunned at what she heard, her mind racing. She backed up a step. “That’s definitely not a language I’ve taught you.” Her face lit up in satisfaction. “Well Philip, your little bride seems to already be promised to someone else.” She let go a light laugh, as she backed slowly to the door. “Serves you right, you snake.”

  Shona watched, eyes still narrowed to slits as she remained crouched on the bed. She bared her teeth. “Air falbh on taigh!”

  Julia’s own eyes narrowed. “I’m guessing that means something along the line of drop dead."

  Shona growled low in her throat.

  "Ok, I'm leaving, easy, calm down. I won’t hurt you. On the contrary, I think we can help each other teach someone a lesson.”

  “Julia! What’s going on?” Evan shoved her out of the way and went directly to the bed. “Shona, what’s wrong?”

  Shona suddenly relaxed at the sight of her father. Her features changed to utter helplessness as the tears began to flow. “D… Dad?”

  Evan gathered her into his arms and held her tightly. “Shhh, it’s all right. Everything’s all right now, don’t cry. I won’t let anything happen to you.” He turned his head and glared at Julia who now stood at the door beside a thoroughly concerned Kitty. “Get out.”

  “Evan, you no longer have any say.” Julia took a step forward.

  “I said, get out of my house!”

  “You’re making a serious mistake. She needs to be sedated. I’m the only one able to control her. Not even Philip can control her like I can. You need me here.”

  “Julia Morgan-Dawson, your employment with us is hereby terminated. Now, I’ll tell you for the last time. Get out, or I’ll throw you out myself! We can take care of her we’ve done it long enough. Now go!”

  Julia glared right back. “Very well, then. I suppose this offers me the chance to see how strong you and Maggie really are. I wish you the best of luck. Oh, and by the way, Philip should be along shortly. I’m sure he’ll see to it that she’s kept down for the rest of the day.” She spun on her heel and left the room.

  Evan breathed a sigh of relief while Kitty stood, mouth half-open in astonishment, staring at him. He looked at her, worry in his eyes as he rocked Shona, her body curled into a ball, still crying softly. “Kitty, you can stay. God, this has all gone too far.”

  Kitty sat on the edge of the bed. “What? I know something’s been going on. Shona has been trying to tell me, but she’s never gotten the chance.”

  “I can’t explain it, really. I’m not sure myself.” He let go a weary sigh, his own brain still foggy. “We don’t want to lose her. We can’t give her up. We always knew the day would come, but now that it’s here… there has to be another way. I won’t let him take her!”

  “What’s happening? What is this all about?”

  “Kitty-Kat, it’s beyond explanation at this point. Mags and I have raised Shona all these years, and now that English dog wants to take her away from us. God only knows what he’ll do with her. We had an agreement. I don’t know how it all got so out of hand.” He stifled a sob and buried his face in his daughter’s hair.
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  “Please,” Kitty placed a hand on his shoulder. “Let me help. I know I can help.”

  Evan lifted his face and took a deep breath. “I don’t know what you can do. We’re not even sure what to do. If only we knew what Philip wants, why all the secrecy, why Julia…”

  “She’s my relative," Kitty couldn't bring herself to even use the term half-sister at this point, "but if Julia’s done something wrong, then it’s on her head. If she’s wrong, she’s wrong. I won’t help her.”

  Evan pulled away from Shona to look at her face then smiled as he drew her back to himself. “Quiet now, she’s falling asleep.”

  Kitty nodded and continued in a soft voice. “She’s been so worried lately, and then that guy from the library… maybe he’s the one that has her so upset.”

  “What guy?”

  “This guy she met at the library a few days ago. I think, well I think she and him…”

  “What are you saying?”

  Kitty swallowed. “Shona’s got a boyfriend.”

  Evan’s eyes suddenly grew wide. He quickly looked at his daughter, then back to Kitty. “A boyfriend?”

  Kitty nodded. “You didn’t know?”

  “Philip didn’t want any boys near her. Under no circumstances was she allowed…” His expression suddenly changed to one of loathing. “Kitty-Kat, run down stairs and get Maggie, quick.”

  Kitty sat confused for a moment then bounded off the bed and out the door. She returned a few minutes later, a somewhat bleary-eyed Maggie on her heels.

  Evan held out one hand to his wife who quickly took it into one of her own. “I think I know where we can get some help.”

  Maggie sat on the bed, her face worried. “Julia said Philip is on his way over. Evan, we can’t risk aggravating him, you know that.”

  Evan gave her a single nod in response and looked to Kitty. “Do you know this man? Can you get a hold of him for me?”

  Kitty shifted her weight from one foot to the other. “I… I don’t know. I don’t know who he is. I’m not sure Shona even knows his name.”

  Evan’s voice became desperate. “Kitty, please think. Is there any way to get in touch with this guy? I won’t let Philip brainwash Shona anymore.”

  “Brainwash?” Maggie’s own voice hinted at comprehension. “Oh no…all this time. And I helped him! Oh God, Evan!”

  Evan squeezed Maggie’s hand still held in his own. “We both helped him and didn’t even know what he was up to. He wants her innocent for some reason, and I don’t even want to know why.”

  Maggie pulled her hand away and stood, her eyes burning with rage. “Philip Cuthbert Brennan, you dirty, disgusting, perverted…”

  “Cuthbert?” Kitty squeaked cutting Maggie off. “His middle name is Cuthbert?” She let go a laugh then caught herself. “Oh, my gawsh, I'm sorry but this is too bizarre!” Her face suddenly went serious. “He wants to hurt Shona?”

  Maggie turned and took Kitty by the shoulders. “I can’t explain everything to you. Evan and I don’t even know it all yet, but yes Philip could possibly hurt her, I’m sure of it. But it all has to do with Shona’s acceptance of him. I don’t know why; all I know is that she may well come to harm if he is able to take her from us.”

  Kitty glanced to Shona, cradled in her father’s arms, then to Maggie. “Count me in. Cuthbert, yuck!” Suddenly her eyes widened. “And I think I know how to get hold of that other guy.”

  Maggie smiled in relief. “How can we help?”

  Kitty stared at Shona then looked to Maggie, her face still serious. “Get me a phone book.”

  * * *

  “Ah, lass. Are ye no going to come to me?” Dallan’s voice was a whisper. “I need you…” He lay on the bed Angus had made up in one corner of the large fencing room behind the shop.

  Kwaku, his wife wrapped in his arms, lay on another makeshift bed, his head raised slightly at the sound of Dallan’s voice. He grinned ear to ear when he realized the Scot was talking in his sleep, then clamped his mouth tightly shut when he realized an unsuspecting Lany, who shared a bed with Dallan, might well end up the recipient of the Scot’s slumbering affections.

  “I canna find ye…” Dallan turned to his side and now faced Lany. Kwaku threw his head back and bit his tongue to keep from laughing.

  Dallan moaned and threw an arm over Lany, who on his back half-smiled. “Cari?”

  Dallan moaned. “Ah, lass…”

  Kwaku, no longer able to help himself, burst into full Azurti guffaws.

  Dallan’s and Lany’s eyes flew open simultaneously. Lany instantly turned his face right into Dallan’s. “Living stars!”

  “Saints!”

  Both men jumped off the bed, each fleeing to opposite ends. Dallan, still weak from the previous night’s happenings, fell to his knees and began to tremble slightly.

  Kwaku was on his feet and at his side before Lany could make a move. Zara sat up and watched her husband help Dallan back to the bed, a warm expression on her face. She offered it to Lany, and he smiled back.

  Kwaku cared about Dallan. A lot.

  “Get yer filthy hands off me, ye disgusting heathen!” Dallan did not feel the same way about Kwaku. A lot.

  “Boyeee let me help you.”

  “Help me! Ye’d like to kill me! Get away!”

  “Kawahnee let him go.” Zara stood wearily.

  Kwaku laughed, went straight to his wife and gently sat her back on the bed. “You too, pretty one. Bode of you are still weak.”

  She offered no protest, instead staring at Dallan. “How do you feel?”

  Dallan’s scowl retreated behind genuine concern. “Dinna concern yourself with me, Lady. ‘Tis you I worry for. What happened, lass? Ye dinna look right.”

  Zara smiled weakly. “I am tired Dallan. And…” Her gaze slowly drifted to her husband, “… hungry.”

  “Well I think it’s about time for us to leave, Dallan,” Lany declared quickly.

  Dallan turned to him. “Leave?”

  “You heard me. Leave.”

  Kwaku chuckled. “How do you fare, Boyeee? Are you hungry as well? Mos-go-fi-an can take you to food, while I feed my wife.”

  “But she needs something now.” Dallan argued. “Do ye no ha’ to go get it? Is there food here? If so, ‘twill suit me fine.”

  Lany leaned over and whispered in his ear. “Trust me you don’t want to have what they’re having.” He thought about what the Scot had been dreaming and added, “Yet.”

  Dallan only cocked his head at him.

  Lany sighed and grabbed Dallan’s arm. “C’mon, let’s go see if Angus has anything up front.” He led the Scot from the huge training area, through a large metal door and into the same room Zara had tended him in the night before.

  Angus and John sat at a small table laden with white Styrofoam containers.

  “Dallan,” John began as he stood. “How do you feel?” He grabbed an extra chair from a nearby corner and placed it at the table.

  “Why is everyone so interested in my health? First the heathen, then the Lady and now you, John.”

  John glanced at Lany, who merely shrugged. He looked back at Dallan. “You had a bad night. Don’t you remember?”

  Dallan took the chair offered and sat. “I dinna remember anything off hand that ‘twould be considered bad. I was at the… the… Saints. I no be having a memory of where I was.” His face suddenly furrowed with confusion.

  Lany found another chair and sat as well. “Nothing? You don’t remember the library?”

  Dallan shook his head. “Library?”

  “Yes, the library. Do you remember being there yesterday with…Shona?” Lany’s expression became hopeful.

  “Shona.” Dallan spoke the name slowly, smiled and sighed. “Shona. Aye, I remember Shona.”

  John, Angus and Lany all breathed a sigh of relief.

  Dallan’s face remained far away. “I have to meet her today.” All three men turned to him expectantly.

  “One o’clock.”
Dallan nodded to himself firmly then read the brand name on one of the containers on the table. “Och, family! What’s in these boxes?”

  “Lany?” John whispered. “Why is he acting so funny?”

  Lany shrugged and shook his head.

  Angus shoved a box in front of Dallan. “Breakfast, lad. Eat up, ye needs yer strength.”

  Dallan opened the box. “Ah, cakes!”

  Angus beamed and handed him a fork. Dallan took it and began to dig in.

  Lany grabbed another box as he watched the Weapons Master wolf down his pancakes. “Near brush with death certainly hasn’t affected his appetite,” he mumbled to John.

  John stood. “I’m going to ask Kwaku what’s wrong.”

  “Not now, Eaton.”

  John raised a “why not” eyebrow at him.

  “He’s feeding Zara.”

  “Oh.” John quickly sat down.

  “Mayhaps the Lady would like some o’ these.” Dallan reached for another box, his intent clear.

  Lany grabbed his arm. “No, no, not now. Maybe later.”

  “But the food’s here, lad. They’ve no food back there.”

  “They do, and Zara prefers to eat in… private.” Lany was trying his best to keep a straight face.

  Angus on the other hand, failed miserably. “Why that disgusting heathen! Why is it always in my house, my shop, now my fencing room!”

  Dallan’s eyes lit up. “Fencing room?”

  “Aye, lad, I give lessons to the wee ones now and then. The heathen planned on working ye today. Did he no tell ye what the room was for?”

  Lany, mouth full of food, nearly choked. “Kwaku? Are you kidding?”

  Angus laughed and picked up a folded newspaper near one of the food boxes. “Aye, I see yer point.” He turned his attention to the paper. “Weel, looks like there was a wee bit o’ excitement at the zoo last night.”

  Now Lany did choke. He sputtered and coughed a moment, finally managing a weak, “went down the wrong way.”

  Dallan slapped his back a few times. “Zoo?”

  “Aye, says here two unidentified men were found hanging upside-down over the pit o’ the lions’ lair. They had been stripped naked, bound, gagged and hung from the fence by their ankles.” He shook his head yet managed a quick wink at Lany, “Despicable. Who would do such a thing?”