Twin Flames (Twin Flames #1)

Chapter 18

CHAPTER 18

Y ork, present day

Eddie jumped up from the leather sofa in the hotel lobby, and wrapped his arms around Cara before carefully examining her face.

‘You look tired,’ he said. ‘Are you okay?’

She noticed dark circles beneath his eyes.

‘Yes, thanks. Have you not been sleeping well, either?’ she laughed.

‘I confess I was a tiny bit worried you might change your mind. I know it’s no small thing I’m asking of you.’

Cara hadn’t slept more than a couple of hours. She’d felt anxious and alone in the dark hours of the night. She was angry at George. Why had he forced her into this impossible corner with no way out? She had no choice but to leave him.

‘I won’t pretend not to be terrified, Eddie. I thought of backing out, but the truth is I don’t want to be here right now, so I’m all yours. I’m officially your guinea pig to catapult as you wish. . .’

‘Dear Cara, I promise I’ll take good care of you. Shall we go over the plan?’

‘Yes, please. We better had as I haven’t a clue what to expect in the future.’

Cara’s heart was heavy; she feared the unknown. What if she couldn’t handle what awaited her there? More frightening to her still was the prospect of a life without George.

‘It will be strange to time travel and not meet George,’ she said, wanting to talk about him one last time with someone who knew him.

‘Why are you so sure you won’t meet him?’ asked the professor.

‘Well, if I’m going to the future. . .he’s only here or in Tudorville, isn’t he?’ Eddie noticed the light in her eyes when she spoke about him. He may be a physics geek, but he knew how deep the love was between his master and mistress of five hundred years. Is something wrong between you?’ he asked, his voice gentle.

‘Yes, you could say that. Something is very wrong.’ Tears sprung into Cara’s eyes. Eddie’s kindness was killing her. She had to be tough now so she would have the strength to go. She must leave her old self behind. There was nothing for her with George anymore.

‘There is a slim chance you’ll meet him in the future. I have no way of knowing which other lives you share. You are time travelling partners, or you wouldn’t be in two timelines together. You’re obviously soul mates, so it’s very possible that you, me, and George have been in other timelines together which we’re yet to learn about.’

‘I hadn’t thought of that, but it makes sense.’ said Cara.

There was a flicker of hope, followed by a sharp sense of dread. Would they be together again like in Tudorville? Or would the future replicate the painful tangle of the present? She prayed she wouldn’t meet him in another impossible scenario. She’d rather live without him than attempt to plough through this quicksand of pain. Like Moses, she could see the promised land but wasn’t destined to enter.

‘Before we run through the details of the experiment, would you like to be in touch with anyone?’

‘If I’ve understood correctly, my father won’t even know I’m gone. It will be as if I’m still here?’

‘Yes, that’s how it usually works, but we can’t be certain. I don’t think he’ll notice anything untoward. At least I hope not. There are no guarantees, though.’

‘It’s so weird, isn’t it? I’m here but not fully here.’

‘Yes, it’s difficult to explain. One version of you should be here in the present day; then another will experience 2100 and report back to me upon your return.’

‘I need to get away from George—our relationship needs to end, so I’m counting on it that the other Cara will stay out of his way too.’

Eddie ran his fingers across the patchy stubble on his chin. ‘I must say, I feel disloyal to the earl.’

‘Do you? Oh, yes, of course, you’ve not met George in this life yet, have you? How silly of me.’ Cara patted Eddie’s arm. ‘Don’t worry Eddie; he’s a different person in the present day. He’s not the man you adore and serve in Tudorville. I’m afraid he never will be. That’s why I must leave.’

‘I’m sorry to hear that. I can see you’re troubled. What can I do to help? I’m certain George would wish me to continue to take care of you, no matter what’s going on between you. He charged me with that sacred duty many times in the past.’

‘Thank you, Eddie. You are very kind, but there’s nothing you can do about George. And I’m too upset to talk to my father. If he hears my voice, he’ll immediately know something’s wrong. I don’t want to risk agitating him, so I’ll just go and hope I’m back soon.’

‘Sounds sensible. Anyone else you want to notify before you go? Just in case. . .’

‘Yes. I’ll write a letter to George to say it’s over. I don’t want to speak to him, and a text message would be cruel. Could you arrange for my letter to be delivered by hand to his workshop?’

‘Of course, no problem. I’ll take it myself as soon as you’ve gone.’ He looked sad. ‘Are you sure you’re ready to do that?’ he asked, searching her face for signs of uncertainty.

‘Yes, it’s the only way. It may seem harsh to cut him off, but there’s no future for us in this lifetime. I’ve fought for him; I’ve done all I know how to do, but it’s not to be. It will be easier for both of us to forget and move on if we don’t see each other, and aren’t in touch.’

‘Okay,’ he said. ‘I’ll do whatever you want. It’s the least I can do to thank you for embarking on this dangerous mission. It’s no exaggeration to say that future generations are at stake and what you discover has the power to save the world from disaster.’

Cara ordered a coffee and settled down on the shiny leather sofa in the lobby to write a letter to George using the hotel notepaper. She couldn’t bear to continue hurting him, and she couldn’t stand the pain in her heart. This was the only way she could see to save them both from the continuous turmoil they’d been suffering for months.

‘I’m ready now,’ she said. She handed the sealed, addressed envelope to Eddie. ‘I don’t want him to worry about me; I promised I’d be in touch to let him know I’m safe.’

Eddie put the envelope into his shabby brown briefcase.

‘When I say it’s time, I’ll need you to think about the future; specifically the year 2100. With a time travel ability as powerful as yours, I believe you’re capable of travelling to any timeline. It’s important that you focus on exactly where we want you to go so you don’t end up in the wrong year,’ he said.

‘Yes, that makes sense; it seems easy enough. But where do we want me to go? The year 2100, but where?’

‘Good question. Go to London.’

‘What do you want me to find out when I’m there? Oh, and how will I get back?’

Eddie walked Cara through the details of what he wanted her to do. Finally, he said, ‘I want you to go to Royal Holloway; to the Quantum Physics department, to be specific. Tell them as little as you need to, to get an appointment with the lead researcher or head professor. Tell him it’s vital he shares his latest data on their calculations of how long the planet will exist, based on current climate conditions. Tell him your father worked with me or make something up to get his attention. You’re persuasive; I’m sure you’ll come up with something.

As for returning home, you simply focus on being here. That’s how it works. You’ll likely get to the place you think about. There were a few minor hiccups in my experiments as it was only me doing the focusing. I suspect for best results, it takes two aligned minds to increase the chances of arriving in a specific time and place. But I think it should be simple to get home because you know exactly what it’s like. This is the TT system I’ve been refining over the past several months.’

‘You only think it will work?’ asked Cara.

‘Well, as I said when we discussed it, the system has a seventy-five percent success rate. But if you don’t get back with your report in the next six months, I promise I’ll find you and bring you home. Don’t worry. It’ll all work out fine.’

‘What if I end up in the wrong time?’

‘I doubt that will happen if we’re both focused on 2100 but if you do travel to another time and place, put your attention on the present day, come back, and we’ll try again. Think about George, or your father. That will maximise your power because you’ll subconsciously want to travel home.’

They went up in the elevator to Eddie’s hotel room.

‘Concentrate,’ he said. ‘Stay calm.’

Cara tried to focus on arriving in 2100, but all she could think of was George. She imagined him in his workshop trying to decipher the critical points of a manuscript, squinting without his glasses. Was he missing her or was it business as usual?

Focus, Cara, focus. 2100, here you come.

Her thoughts flitted about. It was impossible to control her unruly mind. Next, she imagined George in Tudorville. Was he still in the safe house? He’d be on edge, waiting for news of her and the children.

Then the icy chill enveloped her, Eddie’s face became a blur, and she felt herself slip away. A shorter period was required in the vortex each time she went.

York, 1536

Cara was jostled from side to side on the cold hard seat, as the carriage bumped about on the uneven track. Where was she? This didn’t seem like 2100.

Blustery, freezing winds hit her face, and her hair blew into her eyes as she stuck her head out of the window and called, ‘Driver, where are we?’

‘We’re still on the outskirts of York, my lady. These backroads are treacherous after the heavy rains. We’ll be lucky if the wheels don’t get stuck in the mud.’

‘Oh lord,’ she said, looking at Edward whose head rolled about, bouncing on and off his chest as he dozed. The children slept on either side of him.

‘You’re here with me!’

‘What? Oh, I must have fallen asleep.’

‘I didn’t expect to see you now. I’m supposed to be in 2100.’

‘Of course, I’m here with you. Whatever do you mean?’

‘You sent me on an experimental time travel mission for you: Eddie Makepeace, esteemed quantum physics professor from the twenty-first century.’

‘Oh, dear, I see. Yes, it’s coming to me now. The TT System must have been slightly off-kilter.’

Fortunately, she could talk to Eddie about their other life because unlike George, he knew what was going on.

‘Slightly off-kilter? I’d say it’s about six hundred years off and also in completely the wrong direction!’

‘What were you thinking about when you left the hotel?’ he asked.

‘That must be where I went wrong. The more I tried to stop thinking about George, the more I couldn’t get his face out of my mind. I wasn’t even thinking about London. Sorry, I’ve messed it up.’

‘Don’t worry. We’ll have to reroute you later. Better not try with the children here.’

‘But hold on. What day is it, Eddie? Please tell me we received word from George saying it was safe for us to set out? We were supposed to wait for the all-clear. He said on no account to leave without hearing from him. He was most insistent.’

‘I don’t recall,’ said Eddie. ‘I woke up and found myself here. This is more confusing than when I travel alone.’

‘You can say that again,’ said Cara.

They trundled along in the carriage for a couple of hours. Cara worried they’d left too early; she was unable to relax. Neither of them had any recollection of what had happened before the journey. Typically, she remembered snippets from Tudorville and then later the memories would flood in, and the timeline would slot into place. The timelines of recent events were muddled in her head. It was like watching the middle of a movie but missing the beginning. Living in two parallel realities was a tricky business.

An ominous dread swept over her like a dark curtain. She was supposed to be in 2100, not racing to George in daylight while the king’s army searched for them.

She sensed something had gone terribly wrong.

‘Stop! Stop!’ A loud voice thundered from behind the carriage. A soldier on a black stallion, wearing King Henry VIII’s livery, drew up alongside and hammered on the small windowpane. Another soldier pulled up, and the two of them peered in at her as she pushed the drapes aside.

Cara panicked. These soldiers must be on progress with the king’s party that George had warned her about in the letter.

‘Alight from the carriage immediately,’ boomed a voice.

The children stretched and rubbed their red eyes. ‘Mother what’s going on?’ said Thomas.

She patted his head. ‘Shh. Stay quiet, don’t move; wait here with May, please. If anyone asks your name, pretend to be too frightened to speak. Don’t say your real names, whatever happens.’

She turned to Edward. ‘Please stay here with the children, and I’ll see what these soldiers want. It may be pure coincidence. I’ll be back as soon as possible. Don’t worry.’

‘What’s the meaning of this?’ said Cara as she opened the door and stood on the carriage steps, her voice stern and commanding. Her heart galloped, but her countenance was steady. Life at court had prepared her to handle the unpredictable.

‘What’s your name, mistress?’ said the first soldier.

‘Before I tell you anything, I’d like to know who dares stop my carriage in this cavalier manner. Please identify yourselves immediately.’

The first man squared his shoulders and stood to attention. ‘We are the king’s soldiers, Smith and Cartwright; our orders are to find escaped prisoners wanted for treason and witchcraft. We’ve been informed by these here bounty hunters that you are the Countess Cavendish.’

The two scruffy men who’d been on their trail since they fled London, emerged from the trees looking sheepish.

‘Do you confirm this is Countess Cavendish?’ Smith directed his question to the bounty hunters.

‘Yes,’ they chimed in unison. ‘The earl should be with her too. We want a reward for the pair of them.’

Cara thought she recognised them from the brothel tavern.

‘No. You are quite mistaken,’ said Cara. ‘I’m Lady Sarah Bravenger of Manchester. I’m a widow, on the way to visit my kin in Scotland, with my two children and their tutor.’

Smith barked an order to Cartwright who then pulled Cara roughly off the steps and onto the ground, pushing her in the direction of Smith. Smith captured her arms and tied a piece of rope around her wrists.

She kicked and shouted, ‘You oaf, what do you think you’re doing? I’m Lady Sarah Bravenger. You’re making a dreadful mistake.’

‘I’m going to search for the earl. King Henry wants em both.’ Cartwright barged into the carriage.

Three pairs of frightened eyes stared up at him.