The Skye Trilogy: Isle of Skye, Isle of Night, and Isle of Dawn. * Bonus: Scrumptious Skye Confections Cookbook* (51 page)

I looked at the screen before answering with a grin. “Hello Daddy-o.”

“Hi Willy Dilly,” greeted Cormac. “I thought I might take my favorite ladies out to lunch today.”

“I think all three of us would appreciate that greatly.” I answered

“Three?” he asked. “Oh, of course, Polly is included as well.”

“Great, meet us out front.” I said before hanging up. “Come on girls. Mac is springing for lunch.”

“Woohoo,” Polly said loudly. “I love me some free food.”

“Have you ever paid for a meal?” I asked

“Yes.” Polly answered. “I bought your dinner the night before you left town.”

“That’s right.” I said. “That candy bar from the gas station was excellent.”

“That was no candy bar,” she said in mock horror. “That was a king size serving of peanut butter cups.”

I nodded my head, “Which you ate half of before you gave it to me.”

“What a lucky man I am. I have the pleasure of escorting the three most gorgeous ladies on the island about town.” Cormac said as he stepped out the front door with Cupcake and Oscar

“I just hope wherever we go there is something more nutritious on the menu than peanut butter and chocolate.” Cecily remarked as we piled in my golf cart and headed towards town

The rest of the day was familiar and relaxing. My dad picked on Polly and I while my mom rolled her eyes in amusement at our playful jokes and antics; even Cupcake behaved. All in all, I couldn’t ask for a better way to spend an afternoon. When Polly, the dogs and I got home however I was a nervous wreck.

“What if something happened?” I asked anxiously. “What if the Rau saw them or had one of their minions follow them? What if the Fae are following them and are after the paintings?”

“Jeez Louise Willa,” Polly said. “If, if, if, if grandma had a penis she’d be grandpa. Chill out.”

“Why hasn’t he called?” I asked. “He must realize that I would be a total mess.”

The doorbell suddenly rang, but I reached for my phone instead. “Hello?”  I answered

“Hello?” Polly repeated. “It’s the doorbell Will.”

“Don’t even say a word.” I said as I raced to the front door. I was vaguely surprised to see Robert standing on my doorstep.

“Hi Robert,” I said. “What’s up? Have you heard anything? Is that why you’re here? Oh
my gosh…”

“Willa.” Robert replied calmly. “I haven’t heard anything but I’m sure things are fine. I’m here to report for duty.”

“Oh.” I said deflated. “That’s right. I forgot you were coming over tonight. I think it’s unnecessary though. I don’t need a night Guardian yet.”

“Mathias disagrees.” Robert said ruefully. “Besides, I brought you a gift.” 

He held up a brown paper bag. I immediately identified the smell as Chinese food.

“Oh, he’s good, he’s real good.” I said. You had to give Mathias credit. He knew the way to my heart and through my front door was by making my stomach happy.

“Is that Chinese food I smell?” Polly yelled

I set the bag on the dining room table and got out plates while Polly and Robert acquainted themselves. When we sat down Polly, and I watched as Robert mix fried rice, Lo Mein noodles and white rice together with expert precision.

He became aware that we were watching him and shrugged. “The white rice helps dilute some of the stronger flavors.”

“So why didn’t you bring Katya?” I asked my mouth full of orange sesame chicken. “I would have been cool with having her around.”

Robert smiled brightly before answering. “Katya was invited to her parent’s house for dinner. I sadly couldn’t attend because of my critical assignment this evening.”

“You sound real broken up about that Robert.” Polly observed

“How’s that going?” I asked. “I know Katya’s parent’s excommunicated her when she ran off with you.”

“The situation is better,” he answered. “After thirty years, Sergei and Rita have finally accepted that Katya and I are together. I’m not sure they will ever welcome me, an evil creature of the night, as their son-in-law, but they seem to be genuinely happy that Katya’s back on the island.”

“Are you guys going to stay after this is over?” Polly asked

“I’m not sure.” Robert answered. “I never thought we would ever come back. Everyone has been very welcoming, and I have to admit I did miss this place.”

“I know my grandmother missed you.” I said. “She’s happier now that you are back.”

“It’s odd.” Robert replied. “That we are all back on the island at the same time? It’s nothing short of a miracle. Archie, Cecily, Gus, and Julia, even Katya and I are back.”

I set my fork down while Robert’s words sank into my brain. It was odd. Was there a reason we were all here? Was that that part of the Fae Lord’s plan? Did he want to gather all of us together in one place because it would be easier to get rid of us that way?

“What’s going on in that brain of yours Willa?” Polly asked. “You’re the only person I know that thinks so loud I can almost hear it.”

“We’re all here on the island so they can round us up and kill everyone.” I said, almost in a trance. The vision hit me hard. I could see my family, the Guardian’s and the islanders all corralled together in a big field by the castle. Hundreds of Rau vampires, as well as other beings, walked the perimeter and were killing the clan viciously.

There was so much blood. What once was rolling hills of green on the small island was now streaked with dark reds and glimpses of flesh that peeked out obscenely. I could see myself chained to some crudely made metal cross that overlooked the massacre. My clothes were torn, and my eyes were wild with desperation.

When a dark haired Fae lit Polly’s Japanese maple tree on fire, I decided to call upon water to douse the flames but I couldn’t move. All I could do was hear her screams of pain as her tree burned. I saw a Rau rip into Julia’s throat, and I called for my freaky fire but again I failed. My parents were brought before me, and I screamed with anguish as their bodies were ripped apart. I tried to shut my eyes, but they wouldn’t close. I could feel black magic being used on me and smelled the burning sulfur scent it produced.

A veritable army of Rau dragged a struggling body before me, and my heart ripped in two as Mathias and my eyes met. When they plunged their hands into his chest to rip out his heart, as well as his other internal organs, they flung it at my feet and my knees buckled. When one of the Rau laughed and rolled his head like a bowling ball towards me, I begged for someone, anyone, to kill me.

I never in my life felt so terrified. Murder, rape, carnage was all displayed in front of me, but I couldn’t move. I was being held up like a puppet on a string. I pleaded for them to stop. All of a sudden bright light flashed before my eyes and I felt like I was being ripped in two. They had torn my magic from my body, and before I slumped over to pass out, I could hear my grandmother scream.

I awoke a few minutes later, not on a cross overlooking a bloodbath, but Polly shaking me and screaming in my ear.

“Willa!” Polly screamed. “Willa, come back. Come back to me. You’re freaking me the fuck out.”

“Willa,” my father’s voice broke through my agony. “Sweetheart it’s not real. You’re safe. Come back to the here and now.”

The vision cleared and I opened my eyes to find myself flat on the floor in the dining room. Robert, Polly and my dad were sitting on the floor around me. Their faces lined with worry and concern. I sat up, and Cupcake nosed his way past Robert and came to sit beside me.

“What happened?” I asked. “What the hell was that?”

“You had a vision and began to scream uncontrollably.” Cormac explained. “Polly and Robert didn’t know what do so they called me to teleport here.”

“It was awful dad.” I whispered, reaching for him. He gathered me into his arms and stroked my hair. I tried to hold back my tears, but I couldn’t. The vision had seemed real, and I was having a hard time adjusting to the present. My body shook so bad I thought my teeth were going to fall out.

“Cormac, Willa,” Cecily yelled. I reached for my mother the minute I heard her voice. She sank on the floor beside me and wrapped her arms around me so tight I could hardly breathe. I felt another set of arms join hers and looked up into my grandmother’s eyes. I started whimpering again because I would never in my life forget the sound of her scream.

“Willa.” Winifred said. “Drink this, you’ll feel better.” She held out a bottle filled with brown liquid

“What is it?” I croaked

“A little bit of this, a little bit of that.”

I took the vial and drank greedily. I was hoping it would knock me out or make me forget the last few minutes. Pleasant warmth spread through my body a few seconds later, and I untangled myself from the arms that were enfolding me.

They were all quiet. I knew what they were waiting for, but I didn’t want to go back there. I didn’t want to revisit the vision I just had. It took me a few minutes to gather the courage to speak. Cupcake and Oscar both sat down on either side of me, and I tried to tell the story as dispassionately as possible while I petted their soft fur.

I omitted the part about Mathias. That was one aspect that I still couldn’t even think about right now.

“So someone burned down my tree?” Polly asked. “Are you serious? That’s a little harsh.”

We all looked at her in disbelief. “That’s what you got out of the vision? That someone burned your tree down?”

“It’s my tree!” she yelled. “Mother Fu…”

“Polly, please, not now,” Cecily said

“Well, we know the vision isn’t real.” Polly stated matter of fact

“What do you mean?” asked Winifred

“Because in case you haven’t noticed my tree isn’t even here. It would take six to eight weeks before I could get it here and regrow the roots.”

I looked up quickly at Robert. “Six weeks to eight weeks? That’s how much time we have.”

He nodded swiftly before he took out his phone and left the room. I could hear him speaking urgently to someone on the other line. I wondered if it was Mathias.

“We run,” my father announced

“Yes,” my mother agreed. “I think that’s the best option we have. If they can’t find Willa, they’ll call off their plan.”

“I think you may be right.” Winifred said thoughtfully

“No.” I said. “They’ll still use the islanders as leverage. They know I’ll never sacrifice an entire clan just for my own neck.”

“Not for nothing Willa,” Polly started. “But you have some great power, right? Don’t you think it’s more important to keep that out of their hands? I know that the idea of sacrificing a bunch of people is terrible but if they had your powers wouldn’t they probably kill even more people?”

That was thing about Polly, just when you wanted to write her off as some smart ass Goth chick, she comes out with sounding almost reasonable.

Apparently my grandmother thought so too. “Very well put Polly,” she said surprised

“We must leave at once.” Cormac said decisively

“No dad.” I shook my head. “We’re not leaving. I’m not going to let the clan deal with my mess. I can’t do that. I’m sorry.”

“Willa, Mathias would like you to call him.” Robert said as he came back into the room. Everyone ignored him, except for me. I was desperate to hear Mathias’s voice. Even if it resulted in a fight, I didn’t care, I needed him.

I hated to admit that.

“Honey, your father and Polly are right, if we go now they may give up on their plan.”

Robert’s brow furrowed. “Leave? What is this?”

“They think I should run and sacrifice the lives of a couple thousand people.” I answered

“You need to call Mathias.” he repeated sternly

“Willa…” Winifred said

“This is non-negotiable.” I said. “I’m not leaving. Now if you excuse me I have to go and splash some water on my face.” I got up from the floor and walked quickly downstairs. After freshening myself up in the bathroom, I pulled out my phone and called Mathias.

“What did you see?” Mathias asked curtly

I started telling him about the vision, haltingly at first, but soon it all came spilling out. I tried to be as businesslike as possible. I knew Mathias would not be appreciative of me blubbering like some irrational girl.

He didn’t interrupt me once. I waited for a few seconds before I finally heard him say, “Hmmm.”

“What does that mean, hmmm?” I asked

“You were chained to a cross?” he asked

“Yes, it was some weird looking metal contraption that was shaped like a cross.”

“Then there’s nothing for you to worry about then. That was not a vision,” he replied

“That was a not a vision?” I repeated. “And why is that Wolfie?”

“Because the only place you will ever be chained to is my bed,” he said. “So obviously that vision is false.”

“Really?” I asked. “Did you just say that?”

“I’m curious though, how many of them did it take to restrain me?” he asked, almost excited

I held out the phone and shook my head at the device before answering. “I believe it was anywhere from fifteen to twenty Rau.” I replied in annoyance