LOCH MORAR, SCOTLAND
The Past - Greystone Castle
“Gavin, you’re awake…” I stopped because Gavin wasn’t sitting up, waiting for my arrival like I had thought. Instead, his eyes were still closed and as far as I could see, he was still asleep, if you could call it that.
Letting out a heavy sigh, I walked across the room to the bed and sat down beside him.
“What the…?”
I stood up and took a closer look.
His face and chest were wet.
Terrified he had come down with a fever, I pressed the top of my hand to his head.
“That’s odd.” I lifted my hand. “You don’t’ seem to have a fever.”
The tapestry whipped outward and I spotted the pitcher and glass on the floor. That still didn’t explain how Gavin got wet, but then lightning cracked and I saw that it was raining.
Assuming the wetness was from the rain blowing in from the window; I secured the tapestry better and then walked over to the end of the bed. Taking the chain from around my neck, I stuck the key inside the trunk and lifted the lid. Pulling out one of Gavin’s coveted towels, I walked back to the bed.
Sitting down, I carefully wiped off any water from his face and chest. His brow creased as I did this.
“I’m sorry. I know you must be chilly, but I’m almost done here.” I quickly finished and pulled the fur closer around his body, tucking him in.
The floor was cold as I lowered down to clean up the mess there as well.
Setting the wet towels aside, I sat back down on the bed, and smoothed his hair away from his face. Even in sleep, my heart stuttered looking at him. I loved him so much. “Please wake up,” I said.
There was no response.
Letting out a heavy sigh, I stood once more and walked over to the fire. Leaning down, I tossed another log on the reddened coals and then stood back up. Watching the flames ignite, I tried to tamp down the wave of depression that threatened to take hold once more.
“I will not get upset,” I said, hoping saying it aloud would make it true—it didn’t help.
Normally, at home, when I was sad or bored, I would turn on music, let my creative juices flow, and work on one of my clay pieces. But that was not an option here, so, I settled for my second favourite thing to do, which was read.
Walking back over to the trunk, I lifted the lid to get one of Gavin’s books out to read that I found earlier. It wasn’t anything fancy, just a romance novel but at least it would help keep my mind off Gavin. I didn’t even want to think on who may have brought the book to him—I was just glad that he had books to read.
Reaching down, I pulled a book out and underneath, there was a box that I hadn’t noticed before. Feeling a bit guilty for being a snoop, I looked up at the bed. I wasn’t sure what I expected, but obviously, Gavin was still off in la la land. That’s what I called it because I did not want to admit that he was by all accounts in some kind of coma.
Lifting out the jewelled inlaid box, I cradled it in one hand, and slowly lifted the lid, which made a slight creaking noise as I opened it.
Inside was a very pretty dagger. Different colored jewels encrusted in the handle as well as strange white things that I could swear looked like teeth.
A shiver of dread washed over me.
Not liking the look of the thing or the way it made me feel I closed the lid and set it back inside his trunk.
With shaking hands, I walked back to the bed.
Propping a pillow up and moving the dry furs aside, I sat down on the bed. Kicking off my shoes, I lifted my feet and leaned back against the pillow. Normally, I would have shut the door and locked it, but Elvis was still downstairs.
Crossing my ankles, I turned the page and began to read.
With the cool night air rushing steadily through the window and the fire crackling in the hearth, it didn’t take me long to become engrossed in the story.
♦
Shadows danced across the floor in the firelight and a cool breeze wafted inside the room. Feeling a chill, I lifted a fur, settled it across my lap, and then leaned over to check on Gavin.
His breathing was slow and steady, just like it had been since the day we brought him back here from the Loch.
I tried not to think about that day too much. Even now, it still freaked me out. Especially the way the water bubbled upward and the ground shook. Thankfully, the creature did not make an appearance but Gavin had been beaten pretty badly by Broderick and his men. Just thinking about that man, made gooseflesh rise on my skin and my stomach twist in knots. I didn’t know if he would return, but if he did, I would make sure he didn’t hurt anyone ever again—at least that was my plan.
Letting out another heavy sigh, I resumed reading, never once hearing the footsteps mounting the stairs from below.