CHAPTER SEVENTEEN #2
Brigdhe shook her head and as she did so, they both heard the bolt outside the door being lifted.
Brigdhe jerked up the blanket, consumed with so much fear that Allie felt it wash over her.
Anger arose. She stood, wishing she had a weapon.
Somehow she had to defend Royce’s wife from his demonic enemy.
The door opened and Moffat stepped inside, smiling. “Hallo a Ailios.”
It was hard to think. Clearly this was the sixth century. A very young Royce would soon appear to vanquish Kael and free his wife. Moffat had captured her and brought her to this terrible time and place. Why?
And what would happen when “Ruari” appeared to rescue Brigdhe? Could the past be rewritten after all? She was terrified Royce might die when he was only twenty-three years old.
Allie realized she was defensively hugging herself and she dropped her arms and straightened her posture. “We agreed to a trade,” she said coldly. “Where is my mother?”
Moffat grinned at her. “Your mother is dead.”
Allie felt like clawing his eyes out. “No, she’s not. She’s alive!”
“I sent you every thought you had of her caged and hurt,” Moffat said with gleaming eyes. “In truth, I have never met the great Elasaid. I was born many years after the massacre of her family at Blayde.”
She had been duped, Allie thought furiously. Royce had been right—her mother was dead and Moffat had tricked her. Elasaid had been trying to warn her not to fall for such treachery from the afterlife. “I won’t heal for you.”
“Really?” He smiled widely. “I have promised Kael you’d heal his brother, who is dying.
In return, he has allowed me to keep you here—with her.
” He gestured indifferently at Brigdhe, who huddled beneath the blanket, listening to them.
“It is in your best interest to heal Kael’s brother—and wait for Royce to arrive. ” He laughed then, triumphant.
Allie stiffened with dread. In that moment, she had the dreadful comprehension that Moffat didn’t want her—that this was a trap and it was set for Royce.
Moffat was reading her mind, because he said, “Aye, beauty. T’is a trap and you are the bait.”
ROYCE TENSED in the high tower at Blackwood Hall, filled with alarm and sick with fear.
In that moment, every memory he’d ever had of what Kael had done to Brigdhe filled his mind, paralyzing him.
Moffat would use Ailios to torment him as Kael had used his wife, he had no doubt—unless he could save her in time.
It was the past repeating itself. It was his worst nightmare come true, his most ancient fear rekindled and reborn.
Now, he heard nothing but the wind whispering in the trees outside. But he had heard her calling him.
He fought the gut-wrenching fear. Instead his mind calmed and he readied for the battle of good and evil that was to come. A terrible savagery stole over him. This time, Moffat had dared too much and gone too far. He would suffer a horrendous death. And Royce listened to the universe.
At first, he heard nothing but the vast, eternal silence. He strained and remained intently focused. A ripple went through the eons of time
He breathed hard and refocused. And slowly, the tormented passions of humanity reached out to him from the many ages of time. First he felt fear, and then waves of extreme anger and hatred, followed by lust, sorrow, vengeance, jealousy…
He breathed hard again. Somehow he was tapping into the emotions of too many victims to count.
He did not want to feel the horrors of a thousand strangers, unjustly destroyed by demonic hands or the capricious will of Fate.
There was only one person he wished to find. Sweat poured down his body in streams.
The roiling mass of turbulent human emotion receded. The vast silence of eternity came yet again.
And then he felt a vague ripple of fear, followed by the nearly intangible rush of anger.
It was Ailios. He had little doubt. He closed his eyes, controlling his breathing, his mind. Tell me where you are.
At first there was no answer. The fragile sense of her fear and anger vanished. His heart wanted to panic. He would not let it do so. And then her fear slithered through him, intensified, and this time it was followed by the heavy weight of evil.
Royce straightened. He knew without a doubt that he had found her and she was in Moffat’s control. But where were they?
Ailios, hear me. Where are you?
There was no answer, although he waited hours for her to respond. All the while, he strained to sense her again. And when he did, the anger was gone; there was only fear and alarm. Ailios, feel me, hear me. Where are you?
It remained an incredible feat to feel her, and that told him that she was far away, in another time. How would he find her? She could be anywhere….
He was ready to give up. She was too far away for him to contact her with telepathy. He had to make contact with Moffat. He would offer a trade—himself for Ailios. And then he must pray that Moffat wanted him, not Ailios.
He whirled to go to the door and came face-to-face with Elasaid.
Royce froze. Her shimmering face was strained with worry. He hesitated and instinctively reached out to touch her, certain she was a ghost. “Elasaid?” His hand drifted through her shape and form, for she was just an image etched onto the air.
She said, “He has taken her to Eoradh.”
He was shocked. Moffat had taken her back in time to the place where Brigdhe was imprisoned. He could barely assimilate what this meant. He was about to leap when she seized his wrist. She had no corporeal form, but he felt her touch, like the caress of a cool breeze on a chill winter night.
“The gods bless you, Ruari. Go with caution into your enemy’s trap.”
SHE WAS BAIT.
“You’re frightened for your lover,” Moffat murmured. “Well, I cannot reassure you.”
Allie felt her heart hammering in alarm. “Why bother with such an elaborate trap? Why lure him here to this time? Royce dies in 2007. You murder him.”
Moffat’s brows lifted in surprise. “Is that a ruse on your part, Lady Ailios?”
He didn’t know, Allie thought, her heart jackhammering. And that meant that a modern-day Moffat had murdered the modern-day Royce. It meant that they must kill him now and forever remove the menace he posed to them.
He seized her and pulled her close. “Ah, well, it doesn’t matter. He murdered my favorite lover. Ever since, I have been planning his destruction. My trap is perfect now. I will not sit by and let him live after what he has taken from me.” Moffat let her go.
Allie backed away, rubbing her bruised arm. This was a burning vengeance, a crime of passion.
“He hates me. He won’t come.”
Moffat gave her a long look. “Oh, he’ll come.”
Allie didn’t bother to ask why he’d chosen this time and place. She already knew. He wanted to emotionally destroy Royce. He would be devastated to return here, to see his wife again, this way, in Moffat’s hands. And she knew Moffat was right.
Royce would never leave her here. Their affair might be over, but he would rescue her. He would die to do so.
She was so afraid for Royce. She did not like Moffat being there with Kael, allied against Royce.
She didn’t have to understand the rules of the universe to know that if young Royce failed to destroy Kael, Royce would be killed.
But everyone kept insisting the past could not be changed.
She prayed now that it was written in stone.
“Let us go.”
Allie stiffened. “Go where?”
“I promised Kael you’d heal his brother. I can hardly walk into another man’s home and take it over for myself.” He took her arm. “Not even in this primitive time.”
Allie twisted to free herself, but to no avail. “I am not healing a demon!”
He mocked, “You gave me your word.”
“I lied,” she snarled at him.
“Then I will encourage Kael to spend the day with Brigdhe. You’ve healed her—she won’t be healed when he is through.”
Allie cried out. But she met his demonic gaze, already knowing he would love to sick Kael on the injured woman. “Fine. Take me to him.”
He laughed at her and shoved her outside.
Allie saw that they were in a very primitive wood fort. High wooden stockade fencing surrounded the interior courtyard, a wooden watchtower on each corner. The building she had just left was the largest structure within the fort; the rest of the buildings were mere huts.
Many armed men were on the walls, wearing leather helmets and carrying leather shields. Others sat outside a group of huts, drinking and gambling. Everyone was human—and evil. She was certain the only Innocent ones in the fortress were her and Brigdhe.