“We don’t have time for rest. Come on,” she responded, standing from the bed.
“Just a moment,” Marcus interjected, grasping the handkerchief from her hand and wiping a smudge of blood from her face.
Gray opened the door, peering in. He frowned at the scene, stalking into the room. “I thought I heard voices.”
“How is Damien?” Celine asked, pushing past Marcus toward Gray.
“No change.”
“We’re going straight there,” she answered, avoiding any conversation between the two men. “Come on,” she urged Marcus.
Marcus stalked past Gray, a smirk on his face. “You look a little worse for wear, Buckley. I didn’t damage anything vital, did I?” Marcus taunted.
Gray frowned at him, following him out the door. “Oh, I’m perfectly fine, no thanks to you,” he growled. They proceeded down the hall to Damien’s room. Millie waited in the room, noting several things on Damien’s chart. She raised her eyebrow as Marcus entered the room. “Hi, Millie,” Celine greeted her. “Gray said there’s no change?”
“No, none, which is a good thing at this point. There is no sign of further deterioration in their symptoms.”
“Thanks,” Celine responded as Marcus approached Damien. He glanced at him, touching his skin with the back of his hand. Celine watched him as he glanced at the monitors.
“They seem to experience intermittent responses to stimuli at various times,” Celine mentioned.
“Both of them at the same time?” Marcus inquired.
“Yes. Both of them at the same time,” Celine answered.
“Where is the other?” he asked.
“Michael is in the next room,” Celine responded, pointing to the wall behind her. They departed Damien’s room and went to Michael’s. After a moment, Celine said to Marcus, “Well?”
“Well, I’d say you have assessed the situation correctly,” Marcus responded.
“So, they’re in Alterra?” Gray questioned.
“It seems likely, yes,” Marcus answered.
“Can you get them back?” Celine inquired.
“It may not be easy, but yes, I believe I can,” Marcus replied.
Celine breathed a sigh of relief. “How soon can you retrieve them?”
Marcus considered it. “That will depend.”
“On what?” Gray barked. “Can you help or not?”
“Gray, please,” Celine hissed through clenched teeth.
Marcus sighed. “On many things. First, we must determine what Alterra they are in. There are many that exist, you realize. Once we have established that, we will need to find our way to them. And only then can we bring them back.”
“So, you have no idea if you can do it or not,” Gray surmised.
“What do you need from us?” Celine asked, ignoring Gray’s comment.
“I will require several things, most of all your cooperation,” Marcus answered, shooting a glance to Gray.
“You have it. Just, please, find them and bring them back before it’s too late,” Celine replied.
Marcus stared at Gray, his eyebrows raised. Celine tapped him on the chest with the back of her hand, shooting him a look. He rolled his eyes. “Fine, fine, whatever you say. But I don’t trust you and I’ll be keeping my eye on your every move,” Gray warned.
“A wise idea. Perhaps you’ll learn something, Buckley,” Marcus shot back.
“Only if I wanted to learn how to be a…”
“Enough! Both of you,” Celine interrupted. “The priority is rescuing Damien and Michael before their bodies succumb to the pressures of being in Alterra. I’m not going to listen to the two of you bicker at each other. Let’s just do what needs to be done.”
“I quite agree, Celine,” Marcus answered. “I shall prepare a list of the elements I will need. Perhaps Buckley will be kind enough to retrieve them for me.”
Gray shut his eyes, gathering his strength for a moment. “I would be more than happy to,” he muttered through clenched teeth, sounding anything but happy.
“Thank you, Gray,” Celine said, squeezing his arm. “I’ll get you some paper and a pen.”
“I’ll come with you,” Marcus suggested.
“Let’s all go,” Gray recommended.
They proceeded to the sitting room downstairs, meeting Alexander who waited there.
“Oh, good, another Buckley,” Marcus said in greeting.
“Welcome back, Celine. I’m glad to see you were… successful,” Alexander said, shooting Celine a glance. Celine returned the expression, hinting to him the situation was no more comfortable for her.
Gray poured himself a drink as Celine retrieved the writing instruments for Marcus. Alexander joined Gray at the drink cart. “Sounds like everything is going well thus far,” he kidded.
“That man is insufferable, and he’s even more so now that Celine’s asked for his help,” Gray answered, staring at Marcus across the room. The man relaxed in one of the leather armchairs as though nothing was amiss in the world.
“I can’t imagine any of this is easy for Celine,” Alexander mentioned.
“No. I’m afraid my inability to control my animosity toward him is making it worse for her. I refuse to leave her alone with him, but the mere sight of him sets me off.”
“I understand, cousin. If you should need a break, let me know. I’d be happy to monitor him for you.”
“Thanks. I’ll let you know,” Gray answered, stalking over to where Celine sat in another armchair near Marcus. He placed his hand on her shoulder, squeezing it. She glanced up at him, grabbing his hand in hers. “You okay? You want a drink?”
“I’m fine,” she answered, offering a slight smile.
Marcus glanced up from his work, narrowing his eyes at the scene. He sighed, returning to his writing. Tearing the sheet from the notepad, he held it out. “Here you are.” Gray didn’t move. “Well, chop, chop, Buckley, the faster I get everything I need the faster I can begin work.”
Gray closed his eyes a moment, setting his jaw and sighing before he snatched the paper from Marcus’ hand. “You really need ALL of this?” Gray asked, skimming the list.
“No, I wrote it for my own pleasure,” Marcus responded. “Do I look like a man who would waste my own time?”
Celine stood. “Please, Gray, just get everything on the list.”
He glanced at Celine, then the list. “Stay with Alexander while I’m gone,” Gray said, kissing her on the forehead.
Celine nodded. Gray departed, leaving them alone. Celine blew out a long breath. “I think I’ll go sit with Damien,” she said.
“I’ll accompany you,” Alexander offered.
“Thanks,” Celine said. “Help yourself if you want a drink,” she offered to Marcus before they left the room.
“Don’t worry about me,” Marcus called after them. “I’ll be just fine.”
1812, Buckley Country Estate
Celine awoke early the next morning. She had slept little, obsessing over her alternatives, the few available. Her new friends informed her Celeste was not an option. With both her parents deceased and no other family to speak of, she had few other options.
Friends tended to be nonexistent in these times. She had nowhere to turn. Gray’s offer was her only option at the moment. Yet, she couldn’t accept it. She couldn’t leave her husband, bringing his wrath on her and whoever helped her. In addition, the scandal it would bring upon their home could bring them to ruin.
She rose from her bed, peering out of the window. The morning was cold and crisp. She dressed for the day, leaving her bedroom before breakfast. She pulled on a cloak and exited through the front door, hoping a walk might clear her head.
Celine strolled down the walk leading around the house. Before she turned the corner, someone called her name. She glanced behind her, spotting Gray hurrying down the path.
“Celine, good morning,” he greeted her, closing the gap between them.
“Good morning, Gray,” she answered.
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“Running away?” he inquired. “I wouldn’t blame you if you were.”
“No,” she responded. “Merely hoping a stroll in the crisp morning air might bring clarity to my mind.”
“Your mind remains troubled by the conversation from last evening?” Gray asked as they continued around the corner.
“My mind remains troubled by the realization of what I must do, coupled with the lack of options by which I might achieve it.”
“What options have you identified?”
“They are few,” Celine admitted.
“You do not wish to share them? You were quick to criticize the Carlyles for withholding information.”
“You are quick with your tongue, sir,” Celine said with a laugh. “You do not allow me to evade your question.”
“No, I do not. Because I fear you have identified no options but are too polite to admit it.”
“You are quite right,” Celine admitted. “I have no family to speak of, no home to seek shelter in. I could, perhaps, stay at one of our other estates until tempers have cooled. However, that may prove problematic.”
“You could accept our offer and stay here.”
“I couldn’t possibly,” Celine responded.
“Why? Because it appears improper?”
“That is but one of the many reasons.”
“Then allow us to dismiss that reason,” Gray replied, stopping along the path to face Celine. “Then, marry me, Celine.”
“You must be mad,” Celine responded. “I am a married woman.”
“You are a woman about to leave her husband from a marriage she never should have entered.”
“I cannot ask you to give up your life to rescue me from my poor choices,” Celine contended.
“You aren’t asking me, I am offering.”
“I do not believe you realize the full scope of what you offer.”
“Don’t I?” Gray replied.
“No,” Celine answered. “The start to our marriage would not be easy. Beside Duke Northcott’s anger, there will be much gossip surrounding it. Your reputation may suffer greatly.”
Gray chuckled. “I don’t care much about my reputation, particularly in this country. We shall leave and return to my home in Massachusetts. The scandal will not follow to those shores.”
Celine gazed at him a moment, processing the information. “However, your regret may follow.”
“My regret?”
“Yes. You make a magnanimous offer, yet you may find the result of my acceptance more tedious than you desired after a time.”
“My dear Celine, I doubt I could find marriage to you tedious. I have loved you from the moment I laid eyes on you.” Celine smiled at him. “And now have I laid all your fears to rest, dear lady?”
“You have made a compelling case,” Celine admitted.
“And you have, as you pointed out, no better options. Yet you still hold reluctance. I should be offended.”
“There is not much reluctance on my part,” Celine declared. “It seems rather odd to accept a marriage proposal when one is still married, however.”
“But you will?”
She smiled at him again. “Yes, I will. I know not why I act so frivolously yet I will admit when near you I experience emotions I have never experienced.”
Gray returned her smile. “How fortunate I am at this turn of events,” he replied.
“I am glad you find it so. I express a similar sentiment. I must confess, despite knowing you very little, my heart feels freer with you than I’ve ever experienced with Marcus.”
They walked further along the path, enjoying the crisp morning air. “Are you apprehensive to tell him the news?”
Celine shook her head. “No, although I do imagine he will take it quite badly.”
“When will you tell him?” Gray inquired.
“I shan’t tell him until we’ve returned home. There is no need to create a scene here.”
“You’ll do no such thing,” Gray argued.
“You object? Surely you consider it best done privately to minimize the damage and your family’s involvement.”
“I do not want you alone when you tell him,” Gray countered. “You need support. I will not chance him harming you.”
“He will blame you, all of you.”
“Celine, I will not allow you to return to his house to do this alone.”
“Allow me?” Celine questioned, glancing at him with wide eyes.
“As your future husband, you should humor me and follow my advice.” He chuckled.
Celine laughed. “I shall take the matter under consideration, future husband.”
“Shall we return to the house? I don’t want you to catch a chill.”
“Yes. I do not wish to be late for breakfast either.”
“If it is agreeable to you, I shall announce our plans to everyone.”
“I hope they are not shocked,” Celine replied.
“I doubt it. The Carlyles may even expect it.”
“Expect it?” Celine questioned as they approached the house.
“Yes,” Gray replied. “When they arrived at our London house searching for you, they told Alexander we were married.”
Present day, Bucksville
The door to Damien’s room opened and Marcus strolled in, followed by Gray. “Did you get everything?” Celine asked from her position on Damien’s bed.
“Surprisingly, he did,” Marcus replied. Gray rolled his eyes at Marcus.
“So, you can begin?” Celine asked, approaching him as he laid his materials on a nearby dresser.
“Yes,” Marcus responded.
“How long will this take?”
“Patience, my dear Celine, patience. We must first determine which Alterra they are visiting.”
“How?”
“First, I shall need a drop of blood,” Marcus answered, approaching Damien and pricking his finger with a needle. He let a drop of blood fall into a glass tube from the materials Gray brought. “Now, we’ll mix it with a few of the other items and note its reaction. Come closer, Celine, you always enjoyed learning.”
Gray rolled his eyes, shooting a glance at Alexander who shook his head.
“The lighter the color, the closer they are to our current world,” Marcus pointed out. “And notice how his blood splits into smaller particles. It will help us navigate to the correct iteration.”
“Can you tell where they are?” Celine asked.
“More or less,” Marcus replied. “However, this is quite interesting.”
“What is?”
“The blood particles exhibit tiny spikes. Notice how they distort along their edges.”
“I see it,” Celine answered. “What does it mean?”
“It indicates they have not only traveled laterally to another time band but that they also traveled backward in time.”
Celine furrowed her brow, contemplating the information. “Did they travel back when the pulse hit them or after, I wonder? Is it still possible to follow them?”
“Yes, it is. Albeit, it will be more taxing than a lateral journey. We should verify that the other one has traveled in the same way.”
“Oh,” Celine responded, realization dawning on her, “I assumed they had, or at least I hoped they were together.”
“It is likely, however, we should still ensure that is the case. It is also good practice for you, my dear.”
“I’ll retrieve a drop of Michael’s blood,” Celine answered, taking a vial from Marcus and departing from the room.
“I don’t know how much more of this I can stand,” Gray whispered to Alexander.
Marcus stared at them. “What’s the matter, Buckley? Concerned after I rescue her precious Damien, she will be so grateful she may run straight into my arms and forget you entirely?”
Gray closed his eyes, channeling his inner fury to avoid throttling the man. “No,” he sighed. “I’m concerned after this she won’t be able to get away from you fast enough.”
Gray barred himself from leaping across the room at Marcus as Celine returned with the blood vial. “Perfect, my dear, and now the other ingredients,” Marcus instructed.
“I swear I’m going to find a way to kill that man,” Gray hissed to Alexander.
“Just don’t do it before he’s retrieved Damien and Michael,” Alexander warned.
“Well done, my dear,” Marcus congratulated Celine across the room. Her blood sample from Michael pointed to the same Alterra location as Damien’s. “Now, I must prepare to travel to the location.”
“What must we do to prepare? I will go with you,” Celine said.
“No,” Gray barked from across the room.
“For once, I agree with Buckley,” Marcus replied. “That is unwise. It may be dangerous.”
“I don’t agree with either of you,” Celine argued.
“Too bad, you’re overruled,” Gray answered.
“No, not too bad. You don’t suppose Michael and Damien will just go willingly with Marcus when he arrives there, do you?”
“He convinced Damien to go with him once before, I’m sure he can do it again,” Gray answered.
“This time it means Damien’s life if he can’t, Gray. I’m not taking the chance.”
“I wouldn’t care to take a chance with your life, either, Celine,” Marcus interjected.
“Oh, please,” Celine groused. “After the centuries of fighting between us NOW you’re concerned about my well-being?” She rolled her eyes. “Honestly, Marcus.”
“Celine, I have always been concerned about your well-being. This is not a journey to be taken lightly. But it would expedite the process if you were there to convince them to come back.”
“Thank you,” Celine answered. She turned to Gray. “I can’t leave it up to chance.”
“I’ll go instead,” Gray replied.
“That is a disaster waiting to happen and you know it,” Celine argued. “You’ll be so busy sniping at each other, you’ll lose focus on the task at hand. And besides, Michael and Damien are not much fonder of you than they are of him.” Celine thumbed toward Marcus.
Gone: A Shadow Slayers Story (Shadow Slayers Stories Book 3) Page 28