Page 54 of An Unlikely Knight

Chapter Seventeen

Despite having led the morning yoga class, Erin was restless, her mind on what was occurring in the alter-world. Yes, it was a dangerous, even deadly place to be, still she wished to be there. Anything was better than not knowing.

There was no telling how long it would be before the men returned. Or when she and the others would know for certain their fate had been sealed, and they’d remain in the alter-world. The last malevolent and cruel punishment by Meliot.

She’d been at the castle the night before, finding that all the men were gone. Everyone had dematerialized in the order they’d been rescued, Niall being the last. Although Tammie greeted her pleasantly, when she entered the library, the undercurrent of desperate hope was tangible.

“We will cast spells of power and triumph,” Gwen, her tone resolute as she had motioned Erin to join them around a table. The place where they always labored over the long and arduous task of saving five men who’d bravely persevered in a world not their own. The men deserved more than freedom for all they’d gone through. If fate was kind, Tristan, Gavin, Liam, Niall and Padriag should be granted peaceful, happy and healthy long lives.

“Hello, dear.” A cheerful greeting brought her out of her musings, her memories of the castle fading as her mother entered the studio.

Erin smiled brightly, studying her mother’s colorful ensemble of purples, greens and hues of orange. The long flowing skirts, topped with a loose lime-green blouse, somehow came together beautifully.

“You have such an eye for color.” Erin hugged her mother. “You’re early today.”

Her mother nodded. “Perhaps menopause or something else, but I have been waking early.

“You look rested. Are you all right?”

With a slight shrug, her mother shook her head. “I feel fine. I’ll take a nap later. How was your retreat?”

For a moment, Erin was at a loss for words. “Oh look there’s Evalyn smoking again,” She said with a bit too much enthusiasm.

“Ugh.” Her mother stalked to the door and went outside. Then without a moment’s hesitation, her mother plucked the offensive item from Evalyn’s hand, tossed it to the ground and smashed it with her shoe.

Erin clasped a hand over her mouth and laughed when Evalyn stared at her mother with wide eyes and mouth open. For the first time since she’d known the cranky woman, she seemed to have met her match.

The women then walked inside, Evalyn looking crestfallen as they went into the studio.

Left alone, Erin’s thoughts immediately went to Padriag. If only there was a way to know what happened.

Erin looked up at the ceiling forcing herself to push all thoughts aside. There would be time to ponder and discuss upon returning to the castle.

* * *

Driving toward the castle that afternoon, Erin lost track of time, her mind already on what had to be done once she arrived there. Somehow, she knew they were getting close to a breakthrough. Everyone had felt it the night before, an almost tangible electricity in the air. It had been as if they’d somehow reached the alter-world.

The road seemed to go on forever, nothing in sight. Erin looked around confused. She’d passed Culross a while ago, the castle usually came into view shortly after. Had she somehow driven past it, while musing about the day before?

She pulled over and maneuvered her car around. Surely she’d gone past the castle. The road looked unfamiliar with vegetation on both sides of the road and no buildings in sight.

Once she headed back and drove for what seemed like half an hour, she pulled over again. Nothing looked familiar. It could be that she had accidentally turned off the main route somewhere but there were no roads cutting to either side.

“What did you do Erin?” she chided herself with a grimace. It was almost four o’clock in the afternoon, a bit later than she usually arrived, but not so late that the others would worry. The navigation system showed a straight road, no turns, no other roads. Slowly, she opened the car door and slid out.

Although the sun shone, it was a chilly day, the brisk wind blowing across the road making colder. Erin turned in a full circle. “Where the hell am I?”

As if in reply, the horizon shimmied, blurring before becoming clear again. Stumbling backward, Erin covered her mouth as dread coursed down her spine. It was a magic trick. Meliot once again blocking her from going to the castle.

It meant they were getting close to breaking the spell, but it also meant that she must be the one holding the key, the one who could bring the warlock down.

When a strange sound like the crackle of thunder sounded, she hurried back into the car and let out a shaky breath.

“What is it?” She asked out loud. “What do I have that he fears?” Her hands trembling, she gripped the steering wheel.

If going straight in two directions wasn’t working, then she’d take a chance and go in another. Pushing on the gas, she went forward and then yanked the steering wheel to the right, letting out a scream as the car bumped over the uneven terrain on the side of the road.

The view of bushes and fence evaporated, and she let out another scream veering the car to the left to avoid hitting a cow and guided the car back to the road. She was less than a mile from the castle, the edifice looming in the short distance. Seeing it, she let out a sniffle and blinked back tears.