Page 15 of An Unlikely Knight

Chapter Six

Aubrey wore black leggings that hugged her well-toned frame, paired effortlessly with a bright yellow tank top—a bold color that glowed against her rich skin, the kind of shade only a deeper complexion could truly pull off. Despite the eye-catching hue, the outfit maintained an easy, casual vibe, like she hadn’t even tried ... and still nailed it.

Erin had just finished explaining everything and waited for her cousin’s reaction.

“Oh. My. God.” Aubrey sat cross-legged on the couch, a bottle of Irn-Bru halfway to her gaped mouth. “Are you serious?” Her wide brown eyes were pinned to Erin as if she expected her to suddenly disappear.

“Why haven’t you told me any of this before?” Her cousin placed the soft drink on the side table and jumped to her feet.

Her cousin began walking around the room. If pacing while stressed was an Olympic sport, Aubrey would be a gold medalist. “Another realm? Knights? Men stuck? Enchantments.”

Erin sat back allowing her cousin to digest everything she’d just dumped on her. She’d needed someone to confide in, and her cousin and she had been best friends practically since birth.

“I know it’s a lot. I wanted to be sure I wasn’t crazy before telling you anything. Although, saying it all out loud doesn’t make me sound sane, if I’m honest,” Erin mused. “Quite the opposite.”

“What do you need me to do? I want to help,” Aubrey stopped pacing to look at her. “What’s next?”

“Wait for the dream, I guess.”

“What is the spell again?” Aubrey asked.

“We refer to it as the curse. The spell is what I have to come up with to save him,” Erin clarified, feeling a bit out of sorts to be having the conversation in the first place.

She repeated the curse from the notes in her notebook, despite the fact she’d repeated it so many times on the drive home she probably knew it by heart.

“Aubrey, can you stay here for a couple nights? Just in case the dream comes and it’s different. I’m a bit shaken and could use company.” Rubbing both hands down her face she blew out a breath. “I’m probably being paranoid.”

Aubrey plopped down next to her. “I would be. This is all so weird. Remember when that little ghost girl used to follow us around?”

At five years old, both she and Aubrey had an imaginary friend named Lizzy. Aubrey claimed to see the little girl, and Erin had pretended to see her as well, going along with whatever her cousin claimed to hear Lizzy say.

One day, when Erin and her mother were visiting, Aubrey squealed with delight and snatched up a newspaper that was rolled up in a basket next to the fireplace.

Erin chased after her cousin racing to where their mothers sat at the kitchen table drinking tea and chatting.

With a bright smile, Aubrey happily announced to their mothers that their little friend Lizzy was in the newspaper while pointing to the picture of a pretty blonde girl with curly hair.

Erin had been delighted as well to finally know what their imaginary friend looked like and had added. “Lizzy told us she has a brother named Henry. She doesn’t like him.”

“Why is Lizzy in the picture Mommy?” Aubrey had asked. It was then Erin noticed their mothers’ sudden stricken looks and paled faces.

“Is Lizzy here now?” her mother had asked.

Aubrey shook her head and Erin followed suit.

Years later, Aubrey found the same newspaper page. Her mother had saved it because what they’d said was true. Lizzy’s body had been found buried near a loch. She’d been dead for several years before dogs had dug up the bones. Lizzy did indeed have a brother named Henry who’d confessed to drowning his little sister accidentally when he’d been about fourteen.

“How can I ever forget it,” Erin said. “Super creepy.”

Aubrey chuckled. “The worst part is that the entire time I thought you saw her too. You should have been an actress.”

“We were five, I’m sure my acting abilities were not that great,” Erin said with a laugh. “Let’s go grab a bite. I have to go into the studio early.”

There hadn’t been any dreams the night before and Erin woke up feeling refreshed, although a bit disappointed.

Hair up in a towel, Erin pulled on her short terrycloth robe and padded into the kitchen. Aubrey had obviously left early, the note propped up next to the coffee maker letting her know she’d be back that night. She held the note wondering if Aubrey staying for a few nights would keep the dreams at bay.

If she didn’t dream in the next two nights, she’d tell her cousin to stop coming. Just knowing Aubrey was there had made her feel safer. It would be hard to stay alone afterwards.