A Journey Out of Time (30 page)

"Why aren't you surprised? Or scared?"

"Well, I have been through some weird stuff since I arrived in Scotia, so I am not sure why I should be surprised. As for scared…should I be?" Torqual walked toward her. He looked down at her, then took a piece of her hair that had fallen & tucked it behind her ear. His hand was cold & she shivered. She stepped backed from him.

"Are you hungry?" he pointed to the chaise.

Sonya went over & sat on it, not sure if she would touch the food despite being very hungry. He followed, sitting on another chair that appeared. Sonya's brows rose. "This is Sualtam?" she asked. "Casia's home?"

"It
was
her home." Sonya heard the bitterness in his response. "But no this is not Sualtam."

"You were in love with her?"

"We were to be wed," he stated flatly.

"Ah, I see."

"You see nothing!" he said bitterly, furry in his icy, blue eyes.

"I see you are still hurting."

"What? Why would I be hurting over
her
? There are thousands of women just as beautiful."

"Really?"

"Yes." His answer was more passive now.

"But beauty isn't everything that makes up a person is it? It isn't what makes us love them."

"What do you know?" he said angrily & turned his head away.

"Not a lot, I don't suppose. I was never very good at it. Love, I mean. I was married once, but it was horrible. It wasn't until recently that I discovered what love really was. What it feels like when someone truly loves you. I knew it had been missing from my life, but I didn't know how to find it."

"And I suppose you think Casia was not the one for me."

"She may have been the one for you at the time. Unfortunately, you were not the one for her. It hurts, but it happens."

"I do not understand why she thinks this human
man
is so much better than me."

"I don't think she thinks that," Sonya responded. She felt for him. He was hurting & she understood that pain. Everyone understands it at some point.

"Is it his brown skin, his dark hair, his snout & tail?"

Sonya should have been offended, but she snorted, then laughed. Torqual turned angry eyes at her, which softened when she continued to laugh. "I am sorry. It just sounded funny. That was one surprise I wasn't expecting when I came to visit my future brother in law." Despite himself Torqual laughed. It was like Casia's but deeper in sound. After a moment of silence Sonya continued. "I think you can be happy with a person, but then I think it is different when you meet that
one
you know you are to be with for all time. The one you would transcend time for; die for. Wait several life times for." Torqual held her gaze for a time. "You have been to our world before? I mean before you were watching me?" she asked.

"Yes. I do not see the interest," he said sounding bored.

"Perhaps you have not given us a proper chance."

He looked away, annoyed. "I do not look like your people. I do not speak like them."

"I do not think you are as different as you think." Sonya held up her white arm & he smiled briefly. "I am not from their world either. I come from another world too, but they have accepted me. They are a kind people; a proud, hard working, loving, caring people."

"Humph," he responded.

"Is that why I am here? You thought you would upset Casia?"

"I
have
upset her. She was in Sualtam within minutes of my taking you."

"I see. So, is that what you wanted?"

"No," he said in a hard tone. "I want to
understand
." Suddenly he was right next to her. He took his hand & stroked it along her arm giving her shivers again. She tried not to move. "You are warm."

"Usually," Sonya responded, trying to keep the quiver out of her voice. He grinned with a maliciousness she didn't care for. He sat down next to her. Reaching up, he put his hand in her hair, pulling his fingers through it, watching it as it fell through his fingers. Sonya sat there, unmoving. Was this curiosity? Trying to make her angry? Uncomfortable with him?
That
one was working.
He ran his hand up her leg, under her skirt to her thigh when she slapped her hands down on her skirts, glaring at him. There was a strange ringing in her head that reminded her of when her migraine headaches were starting.

I could just make you do as I want
.

It resounded in her head. Not as if she heard it, but as if it was just in there. "What is it you want me to do?" she angrily ground out the words, glaring at him.

Move your hands.

Despite fighting it her hands slid off to the side. This little faerie man was getting on her nerves now! Torqual again ran his hands up her legs & under her skirts, onto her thighs. Well the nerve! Wait until she was unfrozen! He withdrew his hands suddenly & she swung at him, but he caught her hand.

"So," she said coldly, "you want a woman to control then, is that it? You can use your voice in her head & she can do nothing?"

"I didn't say that."

"Then what the hell were you just doing? Any man can
take
from a woman by force. But then he is
no
man at all, is he? He is a monster!" Sonya stormed off of the chair & walked away. Who knew where she thought she was going.

"Wait."

"No," she kept walking until he grabbed her arm. It wasn't forceful & she stopped, looking up at him. She didn't realize he looked so young. She frowned. "How old are you?" she asked angrily. Maybe youth was part of the problem.

"124."

"Ah, I see."
Holy cow!
Here & she wanted to treat him like a teenager! Maybe he was a baby in his world. She was going to take a chance here. "You are still young," she paused, thinking. Yes, she knew, it tended to get her in trouble, or get Duncan mad, but she doubted that would ever change. "I have an idea." Torqual's brows rose, interested. "Come back with me."

"With you? To your world?" he laughed & she felt a little irritated with him. "Sorry, no."

"Why not
to my world
? You are so curious what Casia sees in us, so come with me & find out. Besides, as I told you, it isn't exactly my world either. We can both learn some things together."

"I won't like it."

"Perhaps you won't, but at least then you would know."

Torqual seemed to be thinking it over as he looked at her. His eyes were no longer angry. He paced a bit, then stopped in front of her & she held out her hand. Suddenly he was gone.

"Damn," she plopped down on the ground, her chin on her hand.

*

"Cullen!"

Duncan & Cullen both looked at each other. Jumping up from the table they ran up the stairs.

"Casia!"

Cullen ran smack into the poor girl as she was running towards the hall. He grabbed her before she fell down. He kissed her, holding her to him. "Ah, Casia lass, I am glad ye are safe!"

"Any news?" asked Duncan, hopefully.

"She isn't there, Duncan. I am sorry." Duncan took it in, nodding once. "My parents know & I am sure my father has already informed the Queen."

"Thank you, lass, for trying."

Casia looked up at Cullen.

"What?" asked Duncan. "There is something ye ken that ye are nay telling me."

Casia moved towards Duncan. "In my world time does not pass the same Duncan. What may seem only a short time there, goes very quickly here." Tears began to trickle down her pale face making it shimmer. Cullen held Casia to him as she cried. Duncan looked concerned. Again he nodded & turned to go up the steps to his bedchamber. Upon thinking he turned instead to head outside. Surely some practice in the lists would be of better use just now.

*

"Cullen! That is wonderful news!" Duncan said jovially. Cullen was all smiles & laughter as his brother clapped him on the shoulder. "Casia didn't even ken yet! Her da told her."

"Maybe that will help your looks improve!" Duncan laughed.

Cullen punched his brother & handed him a glass of Scotch. Duncan shook his head as his brother turned. He couldn't quite get over his brother's growing tail & took a swallow to smother his chuckle.

"It does'na seem right to have such good news when Sonya is nay with us."

"Aye, Cullen, I ken. But she would be much fashed if we were nay happy at this news. She kens how very important it is."

"Aye, aye."

"Well, that will give me something useful to do at any rate."

"Aye?"

"I will build a cradle for the new bairn."

Casia had come into the study on silent feet. "Oh, Duncan, would you? That would be wonderful!" she cried.

The men turned towards the door. "Aye, lass, of course I will. It would be my honor."

Casia smiled & hugged Duncan. Once again the silent tears began. They seemed to plague her! Never in Sualtam did women go through such emotional changes. "Ooh, I do hate all these tears!" she said. Duncan & Cullen chuckled.

*

"Torqual, how long will you keep me here?" Sonya asked. He looked at her. He always looked so serious.

"You do not like it here with me?"

"I want to go back where I belong."

"But you don't belong there. You said so."

"Oh, but I
do
. I told you I didn't come from there, but I
do
belong there."

"How do you know?" he seemed very interested in what she may say.

"I just know it, inside," she said touching her hand to her heart. "It is everything I love & have longed for in my world. I found someone who loves me & wants to take care of me. I am happy there."

"You were not happy where you were from?"

"Not really. Not like I am there."

"What if I can't take you back?"

Sonya looked at him surprised. She hadn't considered that. Then she glared at him. He was…laughing! "You know, you aren't nearly as funny as you think you are." She turned away & he laughed harder! Jerk. If she could have conjured up something, it would have been squishy tomatoes or eggs to throw at him!

"Come on, what do you want to do? Or see?"

"Sualtam."

"I can't take you there."

"Why not? I want to see where you are from. I want to see what it is like there."

"Why?" he asked.

"I am curious," she said, giving him his own response.

"About what?"

"Everything," she replied, smirking.

"But I can't take you there. Not right now anyway."

Sonya thought this over for a moment. "You're in trouble aren't you?"

He grinned & it made her think of a young, mischievous boy. "I expect I am in
lots
of trouble."

"Hmm. Mother?"

"Yes."

"So, why not just take me back then?"

"No."

She let out a big sigh. To do that would be to admit he was wrong & he just wasn't ready for that…yet. She just hoped he would be ready soon. Sonya knew time was passing, but it was impossible for her to tell how much time. There was no day & night where she was & she could not fathom how they existed this way. Food appeared when she was hungry. She slept when she was tired, but there was no concept of time for her. She hated it. Torqual pulled her from her thoughts.