Torment (Craving 2)

I stared outside as the rain had stopped and was satisfied that the day had lightened up enough for Davis and Mrs. Tunny to get to their house unmolested.

Just as I got up from the desk, Jeremy slammed into the library and said, “What is it? What has happened?”

“How did you know anything happened?” I asked.

“I’m not sure…I was having a cup of coffee with Tina and I had this gut feeling that something here at MacLeod was wrong, terribly wrong. I didn’t question that feeling but jumped into my car and came as fast as I could.”

I told him everything that happened in Trinity, then what happened here with Beyland, and then with Allora.

He made a mess of his hair, then stopped his pacing to stare at me. “Now what, Bobbie? What is your plan?”

“My plan is you go about your business today. Go to your office…do what you have to do. Make certain Tina is safe somewhere, just in case someone watched you with her…we can’t take any chances. I’m going to find Devin’s cave and bring him home.”

“How do we stop Allora from entering? We must stop her!” he said agitatedly.

“We will. We will try and kill her if she returns before,” I said.

“Wait…I have an idea, Bobbie. If Devin puts the castle in your name, Allora can’t get in. The ownership of the castle will change and negate her invitation.”

“But would Devin accept? Pretty drastic measures and he would have to trust me…”

“Don’t be an arse, Bobbie. He has already been trusting you with his life. This will work. Yes, but it has to be legal and the deed has to be registered. Bring him home, Bobbie, and let’s get it done. But in the end, we still have to destroy Allora because she will never give up trying to best us.”

“I know how, but first, as you say, I’ll bring him home…oh, Jeremy, I don’t know how he can trust me…sign over MacLeod.” I chewed my bottom lip.

“Only the two of you know the answer to that question. Here is the thing. He has to legally give/sell for a pound the complete ownership of MacLeod Castle and grounds. Then he has to allow me to register the deed in your name. She will no longer be able to enter. It was my sister, his new bride, that invited her into their home, but if this place belongs to you…end of problem.”

“Yes, of course…but first things first. Let me go and bring him home.”

“Do you know where the cave is?” Jeremy asked. “Can you get to him without being caught?”

“I don’t know exactly where it is, but I have a notion, and I damn well don’t mean to get caught,” I said, and a small hysterical laugh escaped me. I couldn’t stop to think. I had to work on instinct.

Jeremy packed a bag and took up a briefcase. He said as he went towards the front door of the Keep, “I’ll get the paperwork done…then I’m going to get a hold of Tina…I can’t take a chance that she will go in for her evening shift at the inn. I’ll keep her with me. Ring me when you get back with Devin and I’ll come with the paperwork.”

I watched him head back for his car. The sun and a rainbow appeared and for a moment, I amused myself by thinking this was a good sign, finally, a good omen.

I went up to the barrier, aware that Devin was nowhere to be seen, and with a thought, my portal opened and I stepped through to the jungle.

I turned and closed the portal and breathed a sigh of relief. One step completed. Now, I had to find Devin’s cave and keep out of sight.

Cloaking. I was now pretty good at it.

My Shama immediately accommodated me. I had to get out of the jungle, where my movements could be seen when I moved through the wild green brush.

I couldn’t use my purple smoke to travel, as that would be seen if any soldiers were about. I reached the grassy field safely and without seeing a soul. I wondered where the Elfin were and what they were doing? I sped past the cottage and wondered why the Elfin hadn’t posted any guards there. Of course, they thought I was Draoidheil and no doubt also believed we were now safely in The Land of Draoidheil.

Okay, past the cottage, well past and headed for the highest of the foothills.

I traveled about ten more miles and stopped to take a breather. Yeah, witch strength, but ten miles were ten miles.

As I put away miles, I realized this was going to be an all day trek. Two hours later, those foothills didn’t look much closer.

Luckily, I had changed into my running shoes early this morning.

I am a jogger, or at least I was before I landed in Scotland, but it looked like I had another thirty miles to do. It was daunting.

So much had happened since I first came to Scotland.