A Journey Out of Time (29 page)

Sonya had a weird feeling suddenly. Kind of like those glimpses you get out of the corner of your eye when you think you see someone. There
was
someone or
something
in the bedchamber with her.

"Hello? Who are you?" Sonya bent up her knees, pulling them to her chest to cover what she could. "What do you want?"

There was no answer.

Sonya kept looking at the spot where she knew someone. Where was her drying sheet? She glanced around & suddenly he was handing it to her. She looked up & there stood a man. He was there looking at her, his head cocked to the side. She grabbed the towel, trying to hide as she stood up. Wrapping it around herself she stepped sideways out of the tub. He was only a few feet from her & she looked at him. What did he want? He didn't seem threatening, more…inquisitive. He was very tall & thin. He had straight, white blonde hair flowing down his back. His clothes were like silver & his skin was pale like Casia's. That was it! He
glowed
, like Casia!

"I didn't know more of Casia's people lived here," she stated.

His expression changed. He was angry. "She is no longer of my people," he spat.

Sonya raised her brows. "Well, perhaps not, but she
was
." Sonya was not trying to be rude, merely stating a fact.

Then he moved so quickly she didn't even see him doing it. How did she know he moved? She was dressed & she didn't do it! She shivered at the thought that this man had touched her, yet he couldn't have, she felt nothing. She didn't like this at all!

"Duncan!" Sonya cried out at the top of her lungs.

The man smirked & leaned towards her so fast that she didn't have time to pull her shoulders from his hands & then they were gone. Duncan slammed open the door to the chamber. He bent over, picking up the wet drying cloth.

"Sonya!"

Cullen ran in, nearly running Duncan over. "What is it brother?"

Duncan looked at him. "She's not here, Cullen. I ken we heard her yell."

"Aye."

"Duncan? Cullen? What's wrong?" Casia breathed as she ran into the room. Suddenly, Casia came to such an abrupt halt that she almost fell forward. Cullen steadied her.

"Casia, what's wrong, love?" Cullen sounded grave.

"Someone has been here."

"How do ye ken?" Duncan asked, puzzled.

"I know because it is one of my people."

Duncan ran to the window, "I see no one, Casia."

"No," she said quietly, "you wouldn't. He has taken her."

"He?" Cullen & Duncan echoed.

Casia looked at Cullen. "I think I know who it may be."

"Torqual," Cullen stated & Casia nodded.

"Can someone tell me what is going on? Who is this Torqual?"

Casia moved to the bed & sat down hard.

"Casia was hand fasted to a man in Sualtam for a long time. His name was Torqual," Cullen explained

"But we would have passed him on the way up," Duncan declared. "No one could have gone out this window."

"Nay, Duncan, he would'na have," Cullen answered.

"What?"

"Casia's people have certain…gifts."

Duncan furrowed his brows. Gruffly he asked, "Just what kind of gifts?"

"All sorts," Casia said bluntly. "One is moving from one place to another by will."

"Oh, great." Duncan paused a moment, held out his hand & said, "Let's go."

Casia looked up at him, surprised. "I can't take you. I am not even sure where he went."

"Okay. So, why has he taken
my
wife?"

"I fear it is retribution," Casia said in a quiet voice. Duncan glanced at Cullen, then Casia. He didn't think anyone could be paler than her skin already was.

"I see. So, now what?"

Casia stood & then was suddenly gone.

"What the…!" hollered Duncan in surprise. "I didn't ken she could do that! Did ye ken she could do that?" Duncan's eyes were as round as coins.

"Aye, Duncan, I did," Cullen chuckled. "Casia will be going home to see what is happening. She will talk to her parents & let us ken as soon as she kens something."

"Great. So now I am going to sit here & do what? My wife is missing!"

"I ken lad, but let Casia find out what she can."

Duncan shook his head & rubbed his eyes. In the matter of moments he had become helpless. He didn't like how that felt one bit. "This stuff Casia can do…"

"Aye, she rarely e'er uses it."

"And this Torqual fellow? You stole his woman then."

"She was naught his woman!" Cullen's annoyance made his ribbed nose wrinkle & Duncan chuckled.

"Sorry, brother, but it is kind of like when a puppy pulls on a toy." Cullen huffed & crossed his arms. "So, why is this fellow starting trouble now?"

"He gave us trouble before, but when his parent's stepped in, the problems stopped. As to why he would take Sonya, I have no idea. It does'na make any sense to me."

"Mayhap because he could nay longer get to ye. Desperate men, desperate measures."

"Aye, but it has been some time. I thought he found himself some other faerie woman."

"Faerie?" Duncan raised his brows & Cullen smiled. "Have you e'er been there? To her world?"

"Nay. I was always more worried about her staying in mine!" The brother's looked at each other. "Come, brother, I think it is time to have a drink," Cullen clapped Duncan on the back, directing him into his study. Duncan could do nothing & he felt helpless. Drinking seemed like a very good idea at the moment.

*

"Casia!" Her mother ran to embrace her. "It has been so long. I am glad you have come. I think I may have found something to help Cullen."

Casia smiled kindly at her mother. "That is great, mother, but that is not why I have come."

"Oh? Sit my dear." A chair appeared & Casia sat down without looking, as if it had been there the whole time.

"Mother, I think Torqual has done something."

"I thought he hadn't been bothering you & Cullen any more?"

"He hadn't, but Cullen's brother, Duncan & his new bride have been staying with us. This morning we heard her yell & then she was gone. It was someone from Sualtam."

"Oh, no. Annan!" she yelled & her husband appeared next to her, his hand on her shoulder.

"Casia, how lovely to see you!" Casia rose & hugged her father. "What brings you to us? A visit?"

"I am afraid, a problem named Torqual."

Her father rolled his eyes. "What has that boy done now?"

"Well, we think that he took my new sister in law. We don't know where he took her. I was hoping here."

Shela looked at her husband. "Just a moment," he said & was gone. Within moments he returned. "Casia my dear, he was here but has left again. No one has seen the young woman, he didn't bring her here. I hope he doesn't do anything rash," said her father.

"Rash? Like kidnapping a mortal? What would be rash about that? Now I have to go home & tell Cullen & Duncan that I know nothing."

"Perhaps he has taken her back. Can't you stay just a little while, Casia?" her mother asked.

"You know how much time passes there, mother. You could always come to visit
me,
" she smiled.

"What do you think, Annan? Couldn't we visit for just a while? It would only be a quick visit."

"We will visit soon. I have this committee with the Queen coming up. Besides, Casia won't have her babe for several more months
her
time."

Casia gasped aloud, putting her hands to her belly. "What did you say? My what?" she whispered as if she were out of breath. As if saying it out loud may make the possibility disappear.

"Your babe, child. Why?"

"I am…with child?"

Shela laughed a tinkle of laughter. "I think our daughter has spent so much time in the mortal realm that she is forgetting to use her senses!" They both laughed happily. Casia jumped up & hugged them together. She kissed them, smiled broadly & was gone.

"Well, I guess now we don't have to worry about Cullen," Shela smiled.

*

Sonya did not see him when he appeared, but she knew he was there. It was like a subtle ripple in the air around her. She looked up from where she sat on the ground. At least she hoped it was ground. It didn't look like ground. In fact it looked like how she imagined it would look if you were actually in the sky.

He appeared suddenly & Sonya continued to look at him. She was not afraid & she was not sure if that was a good thing or a stupid thing. She barely saw the movement of his hand & then, next to her, was a chaise & food at the foot of it. Although Sonya glanced at it, she made no attempt to move. The man stood watching her. He looked a lot like Casia. The white hair, the thin build, but he was taller than she was. He had pale, blue, eyes that were very pretty. Eyes that mirrored her own. She looked away, facing straight ahead of her.

"Where are we?" she asked the tall man. He still hadn't spoken. "Can I at least know your name?" He stood there studying her up & down.

"Torqual."

"Thank you," she said. He looked at her, curiosity on his face. "What?" she snapped.

"You thanked me for giving you my name. Why?"

"Well, I was glad you told me
something
."

"You are an unusual being."

Sonya laughed. "Well, thank you. That is better than some things I have been called." She looked up at Torqual who kept looking at her. "I would appreciate it if you would take me home now."

"Why?"

"What do you mean, 'why'?" she asked putting her hands on her hips. "You just took me & they will be worried about me."

"Why?"

"Why? Because we care about each other. You took me out of my bath for Pete's sake!"

"No."

"No?" Sonya walked towards him decidedly ticked off now. "What do you mean
no
? Why not?"

"Because I wish you to stay."

"Well, that is nice, but too damn bad! I want you to return me
now
!"

He seemed to be mulling over what she said. It really wasn't that hard! "Curious."

"What is so curious?" she asked.

"Everything."

"Who are you exactly? What do you want with me?"

"I have been watching you."

"Me? When?"

"Since you arrived at Dunvegan."

"Why? I don't think I have done much except walk the gardens & visit the loch."

"Oh that isn't
all
you've been doing."

Sonya raised one brow & went scarlet. "Shall I tell you how creepy that is?" she said narrowing her eyes.

"Why?" he asked.

She shook her head. "How would you like it if I watched you while you were…were…" She waved her hand around wishing she hadn't started that sentence. He seemed amused.

"Would you watch?"

She rolled her eyes & stood up. Male, no matter what species! She walked over to him, stopping a few feet away. "It is not something one should do," she stated. "Where are we?"

"Nowhere."

"I can kind of see that," Sonya turned around. "
Why
are we no where?"