Gone: A Shadow Slayers Story (Shadow Slayers Stories Book 3) by Nellie Steele (english novels to read txt) 📗

what has you in such a pensive mood, my darling?”

Celine hesitated. “It is nothing you need concern yourself with, husband,” she replied.

“Hmm. Something is on your mind. Tell me what it is?”

“Alexander Buckley paid me a call this afternoon.”

“Buckley? Whatever did he want?” Marcus inquired.

“To request an invitation to an upcoming social event for his American cousins who are visiting.”

“That’s rather odd.”

“Yes, I found it so.”

“Did you agree?”

“I did. I shall call upon Lady Blackburn tomorrow to discuss the possibility of an invitation to her ball.”

“Hmm,” Marcus muttered.

“Do you object?” Celine questioned.

“No. No, I do not object. But I find it rather odd.”

“I quite agree. However, I did not see the harm in it.”

“These cousins, what are their names?”

“Michael and Damien Carlyle. They paid the call with Alexander earlier.”

“I’ve never heard the name,” Marcus responded. “I shall inquire after them tomorrow.”

“Please let me know what you find?” Celine requested.

“I shall. We should dress for dinner, dear.”

“Yes,” Celine agreed, kissing his cheek before leaving the room. “I shall go at once.”

Present day, Bucksville

Celine sat on the edge of Damien’s bed, his hand in hers. She had hoped to find him awake earlier this morning. Neither Michael nor Damien’s condition had changed overnight, both of them still unresponsive. Millie checked their conditions first thing in the morning, noting no major changes.

Celine fussed with his covers, rubbed his forearm and murmured a few encouraging words. She found the situation impossible. She had faced tough circumstances before, but this one was gut wrenching. She had never faced an unknown illness of a human in the past. She felt helpless.

By lunchtime, Damien showed no signs of waking. Celine chose to eat a light lunch in Damien’s room, refusing to leave him alone. After her lunch, she rejoined him on his bed, lying next to him as he slept. Celine watched his chest rise and fall rhythmically. It brought her a sense of peace to count his breaths.

Her fixation on his breathing aided in her ability to notice a slight change. Around 1:30 p.m., Celine perceived a change in his breathing pattern. His breathing quickened; his pulse raced. His brow crinkled as though something confused him. Celine rose from the bed, racing to the hallway. She called to Millie, who hurried down the hall from her room toward Damien’s bedroom.

“What is it?” she asked.

“It’s Damien. His breathing has changed, and his pulse is racing.”

Millie began a physical exam. Celine slipped to Michael’s room, noting he suffered from the same acute physical changes. She returned to Damien’s room as Millie finished her exam. “Michael is exhibiting a similar set of symptoms.”

“His breathing is elevated, as is his pulse,” Millie agreed. “He made a few minor vocalizations while I examined him as well. Nothing major, just a few groans. There is something else rather odd, though.”

“What is it?” Celine asked.

“His body temperature seems to have dropped. It’s only by a slight amount. It’s no cause for concern at this moment, but I’d like to determine if Michael exhibits this symptom as well.”

Celine nodded and Millie exited to perform an exam on Michael. She returned ten minutes later. “He is exhibiting the exact same symptoms.”

“What do you suppose it means?” Celine questioned.

“I’m not sure. However, I am hopeful this is their bodies’ way of trying to restart and come out of the coma they are in.”

“Did you notice the expression on his face? Is he in pain?”

“He doesn’t appear to be. He may be dreaming.”

“Dreaming? That’s a good sign, right?”

“Yes. It means his brain is active, which is a very good thing. Will you stay with him for the afternoon? Notify me of any changes. I’ll return before dinner for another exam. I’d like to monitor his temperature.”

“Yes, I’ll stay.”

“I’ll ask Gray to sit with Michael.”

“Thanks,” Celine replied, climbing onto the bed with Damien. Celine slipped her hand under the covers, grabbing his hand. She didn’t want to remove his arm from under the covers with his lowered body temperature. She stroked his hair with her other hand. “Damien,” she murmured, “are you trying to come back to us?”

Chapter 16

1812, London

“I’m still surprised she granted you an audience,” Gray replied, wandering around the sitting room following dinner.

“She was most gracious,” Alexander admitted. “She agreed to solicit an invitation to Lord Blackburn’s upcoming ball.”

“Gracious? You call that gracious?” Damien questioned.

“Michael and Damien found her behavior odd,” Alexander mentioned.

“Odd?” Gray inquired.

“She was nothing like the Celine we know,” Michael admitted.

“Perhaps because she is NOT the Celine you believe you know,” Gray countered. “That Celine is a figment of your collective imaginations.”

“It’s not!” Damien exclaimed, leaping from his seat to pace the room.

“I cannot fathom why you are continuing with this madness, cousin,” Gray said to Alexander.

“It isn’t madness,” Michael argued. “Something is very wrong here.”

“According to you, who can’t remember how you got here or what you’re supposed to do here but who claim to be time travelers from the future. You’re mad. You belong in an institution!”

“It’s far from implausible. And they do know what we are,” Alexander pointed out.

“There’s a simple explanation for that,” Gray answered.

“Which is?” Michael chimed in.

“You discovered the existence of the supernatural and it drove you mad!”

“For the hundredth time, we’re not crazy,” Damien griped. “And even if we are, I’d like to go home and in order to do that we need Celine’s help.”

“And to secure Duchess Northcott’s help, we must create a plan,” Alexander reminded them. “We have made no progress on that front.”

“Short of just asking her for her help, what else can we do?” Damien questioned.

Alexander pondered for a moment. “You claim to be well acquainted with Duchess Northcott,” Alexander began.

“Very well acquainted,” Damien assured him.

“Yes, they are very well acquainted with a woman who does not exist,” Gray added.

Alexander ignored him. “Is there something you know about her that might be used to gain her trust? Some little-known information that could signify a connection with her?”

Damien and Michael exchanged a glance. “Uh,” Damien began as he pondered the