Dammit! I was lost. Again! I slowed the car and then pulled to the side, although on this road there wasn’t really a side. I picked up my phone and jumped to the map app waiting as the circle of death went round and round. It figures there would be no cell service out here since the town I had just driven through looked like it was stuck in the 1950’s. Langiva was a small rural town that truly lives up to the description of a “one light town”. The diner I stopped at had closed at dusk according to the sign in the window. I looked through the window and could see dirty dishes in the sink, and a half full pot of coffee on the counter. Oddly I had noticed the same sign in the general store also. Yes, there was a general store. From what I had read about Langiva the Main Street is about two blocks long and also includes a bank and a mayor/deputy office, as well as a doctor’s office or clinic. I looked out the windshield at the bare trees, the brown grass, and remnants of a recent snowfall, my eyes drawn to the full moon rising in the very dark sky. I noticed that other than the moon there were no stars in the sky. Perhaps it was just too early for them to be as bright as I would expect. One thing about being out in rural areas like this – the stars were usually bright and filled the sky.

I sighed then suddenly felt a shiver run along my arms, shoulders, and down my back. I reached out to turn the heater up when suddenly there was a flash outside of the car. I looked up in the sky for the lightening, my finger poised over the temperature button but all I saw was darkness around me. Then there was darkness inside the car as it shut down. Completely! What the hell?? I reached for the starter button only to see another flash outside of the car. It was weird as it seemed like even the lightening couldn’t quite penetrate the darkness. I was confused by how the darkness and flashes seemed to blend together so effortlessly. I jabbed the starter button several times with no result. The sudden silence that filled the car seemed as palpable as if it was closing in around me. I reached for the door to put the window down and remembered it was electric. Just like everything else. I was about to open the door to step outside when there was another huge flash of lightening. Outside the car it went from being as bright as the sunniest of days of summer and then even darker than it seemed before.

In the thick darkness that surrounded the car I started to notice things outside the car. I squinted into the distance not sure what I was seeing. At first they almost looked like fireflies, but then they started to turn red. The red dots seemed to float in the air aimlessly until I realized that they were actually moving closer to the car. I stared out the window still not sure what I was seeing. It was as if the fog was moving away from the red dots making it more obvious that they were in fact pairs of eyes. I turned quickly in my seat in all directions, now seeing clearly that I was surrounded by a pack of wolves. Despite how thick the darkness was the wolves seemed to penetrate it almost as if it was moving away from them. I felt my back stiffen when I heard the first low growl followed by a cacophony of howls. It may have started low but quickly all of the wolves were doing it and their howls and growls seemed to filter through the glass windows as if they were wide open. I stared out of the windshield at the wolf staring back at me, his sharp teeth clearly visible as he growled deeply at me. Just as I felt the fear fill my body and tears start to roll down my cheeks I heard the screech of a hawk. The screeching was behind me and my body was so frozen in place I couldn’t turn to look for it.

A moment later I looked up at the moon as I saw the hawk swooping down towards the car screeching louder as it approached. As it got closer I could see it was the biggest damn hawk I had ever seen. The howling of the wolves slowly died as the hawk got closer, and still not believing what I was seeing, the hawk landed on the ground behind the wolves. The hawk stretched out its wings and it was so large that they spread out wider than the car itself. The dark fog swirled in between the hawk and the wolves and when it blew aside a moment later there was a man standing there. The wolves seemed to gather near him growling ferociously but none moved closer. The man stood there as resolute as a brick wall, completely unfazed by the wolves even as the pack gathered closer to him. I watched as the man stared at one of the wolves slowly raising his hand, palm facing towards the wolf and I was shocked to see that the wolf started to back away slowly. After a moment the rest of the wolves backed away as well even as they continued growling at him. I couldn’t be sure but it looked like the wolves looked from the lead wolf to the man before starting to move away.

I finally found the strength to breath and move, looking out the side window and watching as the wolves ran off, regrouping as a pack with the lead wolf always in front. I suddenly remembered the man and jerking my eyes back to the windshield saw him standing right in front of the car. He was staring at me and I almost felt like he could see right through me. I tore my eyes away from his to look down at my phone distracted by the flicker of the screen before it went black again. In the moments it took me too look down and back the man had placed both hands on the hood of the car. I yelped and jumped when the car engine came back to life and my phone screen flickered back to life. I stared at the man before me, then he tapped the hood of the car and a moment later he was gone. I didn’t know how or where he went, he was just gone. I looked down at my phone and saw the map app was forefront on the screen and had directions to my hotel. I threw the car in drive and as I raced down the dark road, taking curves way too fast, I could see flashes on either side from the woods. It was as if the red eyes of the wolf pack were back. Then as I hit a straight stretch and picked up speed the eyes drifted away as the moon started to come back out. The tires screeched as I took a corner way too fast and I felt the back end of the car start to slide. The headlights flashed across what looked like a man as I skidded past him. I fought the skid and steering wheel and then, just as I saw a tree coming way too fast it felt like the car was pushed back onto the road. But instead of skidding the other way it straightened out. I glanced at the map on the phone and saw I had another five miles to the highway. It was the longest five miles of my life, my very long life.

I parked the car as close to the hotel as I could. There were plenty of lights in the parking lot but I did not want to be outside a moment longer than needed. My heart was still pounding in my chest and my breathing felt like the air was as thick as soup. I grabbed my purse from the front seat and paused a moment before turning off the engine. I jumped out of the car, grabbed my bag from the trunk and practically ran inside the main entrance. The bright lights of the hotel made me blink several times and I leaned against a wall to catch my breath. I felt a pair of eyes on me and opening my eyes saw this woman staring at me. I gave her my best smile and walked to the counter.

Before I could say anything the woman spoke in a smoker’s hoarse voice. “Ello luv. What is it dearie? Ya look like ya seen a ghost or sumfin?”

I sighed. “Hello. It’s just been a long day and got lost a few times. I have a room. The name is Terrowin.”

“Ay lass. You’re quite late. Don’t worry, we’ve got a nice room fer ya.” As she tapped at the keyboard before her I thought the mix of her accent and word usage seemed a bit odd. Just one more thing for the evening. “Well good news fer ya lass. Your room has been upgraded. We have a suite fit for a queen that you are going to love.”

“You don’t have to do that. I am sure the regular room is just fine.” She shook her head and I watched as her fingers flew across the keyboard and moved the mouse. I heard a whir as she asked if I was still leaving on Friday. “Yes, my meetings will be completed on Thursday so I will leave first thing.”

“Well if you can, you should stay for the extra night. There is always a lot of fun here on Friday nights. We have a live band and lots of people come from the town.”

“The town? You mean Langiva? I need to get home for the weekend. Unfortunately.”

She gave me an odd look, tilting her head to the side. “Langiva? Why would you think that? That town is deserted and no one lives anywhere near it. There hasn’t been anyone living there since the manufacturing plant closed down and that was twenty years ago.” My eyes were wide and staring at her by the time she finished talking. “Well… ‘ere’s your key love. The elevator is down that hallway and you are of course on the top floor.”

“Thank you. I really appreciate it.” I didn’t know what else to say, and truthfully I didn’t know what to think. I don’t even know if the words registered when I said them. I took the plastic key card and made my way down the hallway. There were offices and storage rooms along the way before I approached a small elevator. I didn’t see a button, just a slot and slid my key in. The lights glowed green and the doors opened. I stepped inside and saw no buttons, but the doors closed and the elevator rose to the top floor before re-opening. I stepped out and was surprised to see that at the far end of the hallway was a wall. I could also see that there were three sets of double doors along the hallway and looking at the number on the card approached the furthest room. Outside the room I inserted the key card in a slot and when the lights glowed green I heard the lock click open. I pushed open the door, stepped inside and stared at the space around me. This was a mid-level budget hotel and this room looked like I had just stepped into a Las Vegas suite.

I heard the click of the door close behind me and could feel the deep pile carpet even through my shoes. The room I was standing in was a living space with a couch and several over-sized comfortable looking chairs, an incredibly large TV, several tables, and at the far end floor to ceiling windows. To my right was a round table with four chairs around it, a small fridge and bar against one wall, more floor to ceiling windows, and another large TV. On the left side I could see a powder room and through a second door was the bedroom. I shook my head and walked into the bedroom, once again stopping and staring. The bed was the biggest I had ever seen, and across from it was another large TV. There was another wall of windows with two comfortable looking chairs in front of it. I had passed a closet that looked big enough to be a small apartment, and after putting down my suitcase walked into a door at the far end of the room. By now of course I didn’t think I could be more surprised, but the bathroom was as incredible as everything else. The floor looked like marble and against one wall was a huge walk-in shower, across from that was a large jacuzzi bathtub and against the far wall was a long counter with double sinks. There were two large fluffy bathrobes and a stack of towels that looked thicker and softer than the ones I had at home.

This room was almost as big as my own apartment and this was a better room than some of the top hotels I had stayed in around the world. I walked back into the bedroom and as I got undressed thought about getting something to eat. I knew the hotel didn’t have a restaurant but wondered if there was anything still open. I slipped on one of the soft robes and walked back out into the living room. I was looking around for some menus from local places when there was a knock at the door. I checked the peep-hole and saw a young man standing there in a hotel uniform. I opened the door a bit and saw him holding a bag from a Dunkin’ Donuts. I tilted my head as he smiled broadly.

“Good evening Ma’am. I apologize for bodderin’ you. Ms. Willis – from the front desk – thought you might be hungry. They ain’t much open so I went me to Dunkin’ and without knowing nuttin’ I got ya a bagel sammich, and a couple of donuts. They’s coffee and tea in ya room and I kin show you how if yiz needin’ Ma’am.”

I read his badge “Tommy… thank you this is incredibly sweet. How much do I owe you?” I turned and moved back into the room finding my purse. When I glanced back I saw he was still standing in the hallway, holding the door open. I found a twenty and walked back over handing it to him as I took the bag from him. I watched as he bowed slightly and then backed away from the door. “Good night Tommy.”

“Good night Miss.”

I was exhausted but still managed to eat the bagel and both donuts while sitting on the couch watching the news. Nothing special except for the weather which was supposed to be unseasonably warm for the next few days. I thought back to the woods – a shiver running through me again – and the signs of snow on the ground. Now that I really thought about it that seemed exceptionally odd since it was only the third week of October. But then again, everything about last night now seemed exceptionally odd. I finally dragged myself to bed and snuggled under the heavy blanket and soft sheets. I tossed and turned for quite a bit, the memories of the woods flashing through my mind like Polaroid snapshots. The flashes seemed to move rather quickly from one to the next but then slowed down as the man stood before the car. There was something triggering a distant bell that I couldn’t put my finger on. I finally dozed off and woke to the bright sunshine pouring through the windows. I had forgotten to close the curtains and now that I was awake got up for some coffee.

I slipped on my robe and looking out the window saw that the view I had was over a small grove of trees with a lake beyond. And on the other side of the lake I could see more trees and then what looked like an old warehouse. Even from this distance I could see the windows were broken in most places and completely missing in others. Quite a bit of the large doors also looked swollen and rusted as if they hadn’t been touched in years. I looked to the left of the building, past the two tall chimney stacks sitting against a two story building, and saw what looked like the small town of Langiva. Even from here the town looked completely deserted and run down. My eyes shifted to the right side of the old warehouse and I could just make out what looked like a castle. Which didn’t make any sense at all. Who would build a castle out here? It must have been an old town hall or something like that. This area of the country had some very old towns and also some very untouched areas. We weren’t that far from areas of New York State that were full of revolution and “scary” stories – like Sleepy Hollow.

I must have lost track of time because I had to get dressed quickly and then leave without having my coffee. I was here to meet with a new prospective client today and if all went well this could be an incredibly lucrative deal for the firm. I was one of the partners in the firm – a relatively new and young partner – and had been surprised when they specifically asked for me. Apparently the prospective client was looking at growing the family business and wanted to look at quite a few mergers or acquisitions. As usual I had several analysts that I worked with and that had done the research and put together a package for me. Or at least as much as we could find out about the company since it was privately held. But what I did know was that the company had been around for almost a hundred years. They seemed to have owned or invested in a variety of small businesses, all of which did really well. The one thing I noticed about their businesses is that they were generally pretty small and doing okay or struggling. Until the company bought them and then they turned around quickly and dramatically.

The company name was MacQuoid and despite the research the team did they couldn’t find any more information about the family itself. There was one note towards the end of the report that said the name MacQuoid was medieval in nature and there seemed to be a Scottish reference that meant “Sons of fire”. It didn’t make much sense to me, but then nothing about this trip did. I followed the directions on my phone through winding roads with trees full of the muted fall colors. I had thought we were meeting in an office building but as I drove and didn’t see anything more than the woods or fields I began to wonder where we were actually meeting. I glanced over at the binder the team had put together and focused on the opportunities. But of course I needed to listen to the client to understand what they wanted. I didn’t actually know much about the person I was meeting either. George Henry was his name and that was about all I knew. He was Chief Operating Officer and all we really found was that he had graduated from a small university in Nebraska and started working for the company right after he graduated.

I turned the last corner and the app told me I was about a block from the destination. And that’s when I hit the brakes. This was not possible. I took my foot off the brake and started the car moving towards the wall before me. There were two gigantic wooden gates ahead of me that looked to be ten feet tall, and leading out from the gates were walls of stone that were even taller than the gates. The stone walls weren’t made of bricks or concrete, they were made of stones some of which looked like a small person. As I approached the gates I was surprised to see them start to swing inwards so I kept rolling. Once through I looked from side to side unable to see where the walls ended and since there were woods on each side about two-hundred feet out I couldn’t tell. The dirt road wound toward the castle I could just make out ahead of me. There was no other way to describe it because that is what it was. It looked like a castle out of Downton Abby and as I approached the front doors one of them swung open and a man stood in the open space. I quickly got out of the car and as I approached saw that he was a middle aged man wearing a formal tuxedo with tails.

“Ms. Terrowin I presume. Welcome to Castle MacQuoid. Mr Henry will be meeting you in the study if you will follow me.”

I followed him into an entry way that was a massive room with a flight of stairs on each side of the room curving to meet at the second floor. The room we stood in was two or three stories high and there was a chandelier hanging from the ceiling. The man turned towards the right and opened a pair of heavy wooden doors leading into the study. Which, of course, was a formal study. Against the far wall were floor to ceiling shelves that were packed with books that looked like the type of old books you would find in special book store. The wall to the right had two very large windows with heavy satin curtains that seemed to hang from the ceilings. In front of the windows was a tall bar laden with several bottles of whiskey and water on one side with various glasses on the other side. In the corner to the right was a small table with a large silver coffee pot, a second pot next to it and cups, saucers, sugar, and a small pitcher of what I assumed was cream. The wall to the left was taken up by a large leather sofa, a coffee table in front of it, and two large leather high backed chairs facing the couch. On my left side was a table with a glass ashtray and next to it what I assumed was a large cigar humidor. Around the walls were a variety of portraits that seemed to go back hundreds of years.

I was startled from my thoughts when the man offered coffee. He poured a cup and added the cream I had asked for. “Mr. Henry will be in shortly, please make yourself at home. Should you need anything please ring the bell next to the door.” He turned to leave, pausing as he turned the doorknob. “My name is Macmillan should you need anything. Please do not venture out, just ring the bell.”

I nodded and moved to the bookshelves. I was about to run my fingers across the spines when I noticed the dates at the bottom of one series. The spine was so worn that it was hard to read the titles or authors, but the gold numbers that said 1769 were easy to make out. I was started by the voice behind me. “Ms. Terrowin. Welcome. My name is George Henry and we are quite pleased you have come all this way to see us.”

I turned to see the man standing in front of the closed doors. George Henry stood tall and straight, wearing a nice three piece suit, dress shirt and shoes, but no tie. His brown hair was perfectly groomed, his eyes seemed locked onto mine, but he had a nice smile. “Thank you for calling us. I am thrilled for the opportunity to work with you. I thought that today we could focus on what you are looking to do with the company, budgets, etc. and then we can talk about some ideas. I am hoping we can also get to meet with the leadership team – get their insight on the company. Different views will help our efforts – especially as we will likely need to engage with them as we move forward.”

He got himself a cup of coffee then sat down in one of the large leather chairs and pointed to the other one. As I sat down I pulled out a large pad and pen from my purse. The pen was a gift from my father and all I knew was that it had been in the family for years. We talked for a while then took a break to get more coffee and it was so easy to talk to George – he insisted on first names – that I didn’t really need to take notes. I was sitting with my back to the door so the first I knew something was up was seeing the look on George’s face change and noticed his back stiffening. He quickly rose so I stood up as well turning towards the door as I did. I stared at the man before me as something about him seemed to strike a chord. But I couldn’t have met him before, there was no way you could forget this man. If I thought George was tall this man seemed to tower over us both. He had thick black hair that was brushed back from his face. He had… a man’s face. Strong, squared jaw, dark eyes, a trim five o’clock shadow, his mouth not much more than a thin gash. He was dressed in jeans, black cowboy boots, a French cuff striped shirt, and a leather vest. George guided my elbow to step closer and as he stuck out his hand the cuff slid back revealing a tattoo on his wrist. The hands that took one of mine was both strong and soft to the touch, his fingers easily engulfing my own.

“Good morning Ms. Terrowin. I do apologize for dropping in. My name is Alexander and I hope you found your way here without trouble. I also hope your room was satisfactory? My wife Jacqueline insisted on giving you one of our suites.” He smiled a thin smile and even as he said we should sit he still held my hand. “Please sit, I don’t want to interrupt. I am sure George has been helpful so far.”

George and I sat back down, continuing to talk about some of the ideas they had and Alexander joined in on the discussion as well. The entire time we were talking he sat with his legs crossed, hands on his knees, and watching me. He spoke quietly and succinctly and I thought I noticed a slight accent. A few times, I saw a look pass between the two men but their facial expressions stayed pretty flat. As the meeting and discussion continued I wanted to ask questions about the castle and the family. As part of our decision to move forward with a new client we not only wanted to know about the company, but also the individuals. When Alexander suggested we have some lunch I was excited to use that as an opportunity to learn more. I was shocked when the study doors opened by Macmillan almost as if he could hear us. As we stood up I turned towards the book shelves and almost immediately found Alexander standing beside me.

“This is quite a collection you have. I see a few that have dates from a hundred years ago or more.”

“Thank you. My mother loved to read so I started to collect them for her. Now how about some lunch?” I turned from the wall and saw both George and Macmillan waiting for us. Macmillan seemed to be perturbed for having to wait for us. Alexander leaned over and whispered “don’t let his scowl scare you, he gives me the same look all the time.”

We stepped out into the entry room and walked down a hallway. As we did I glanced into the rooms on each side, seeing a very formal dining room to the left and a formal living room on the right. As we made our way towards the back of the house the smells of a wonderful lunch were just starting to hit us. We passed what looked like an office and was completely different. All of the rooms so far were a little darker with heavy woods, stone walls, and leather furniture. But this room was lighter with white washed walls, colorful rugs and sun shining through what looked like a wall of windows. They walked through the kitchen to a patio where there was a lavish table laid out with a bottle of Rose’, a cheese platter, basket of breads, and a drink cart several juices and iced tea. As we sat down I glanced up at the back of the castle and its many windows. I thought I saw one of the curtains shifting back into place and a moment later another quick glance confirmed someone was watching us.

We talked all through lunch which was served by a wait staff that were dressed as formally as Macmillan was. A couple of times I could see them glancing – nervously? – at Alexander as they served us. The food and the service was excellent, not to mention the view across the wide open fields. After lunch we stayed outside talking about the business and as much as I learned about George and his family I learned very little about Alexander’s. If it wasn’t related to the business I didn’t get any more of a glimpse as to his personal life. George had to take a business call so we decided to take a break for the day and pick it up the next day. I had planned on taking a few days to lock them in as a client so this was fine with me. Plus once back in the hotel I could catch up on some of my other work. Alexander walked me out to my car and as we approached it I noticed something in his demeanor changing. There was nothing special about my car – other than being an Alfa Romeo – but he seemed very intent on it. As we stood at the front of the car he placed his hand on the hood while I was walking to the driver’s door. I was startled when I turned and looked back. Seeing Alexander standing there like that brought a vivid snapshot of last night to the forefront of my mind.

And with my mind in a tailspin I swore I saw the clouds moving in around us. I closed my eyes to blink away the visions swirling behind my eyes as I reached for the door handle. When I woke I found myself laying on a couch looking up into a pair of pale blue eyes. The fuzziness starting to clear from the sides of my vision and I could see a pale white face looking back at me. “Well… you gave us quite a scare young lady. Are you okay?”

I started to sit up and immediately fell back onto the pillows behind me. When I sat up the second time I took it slowly and the woman before me held a glass of water to my lips. I took a slow sip and felt the cool water coat my throat. “What… what happened?”

I heard Alexander’s voice from the other side of the room. “You reached for the door and just… passed out.”

The woman standing before me looked over at him before smiling back at me, but there was something in her eyes. “Alexander dear, why don’t you give us a minute then if she feels up to it you can take Ms. Terrowin back to the hotel.” She turned back to me “unless you would like a doctor to check you out.”

I glanced over as he paused then turned and left the room. I sipped the water slowly and took a longer look at the woman before me. She was beautiful in a classic way, her long red hair hanging down her chest in a tight French braid. Her pale blue eyes were open wide and I felt like I could see something deep inside them. Her lips were a natural pale pink and her skin was the smoothest I had ever seen. When she took my hand in hers I could feel the chill of her fingers then slowly the heat between us growing. She wore a long dark blue dress with a high collar and as she shifted her legs I saw it had a high slit up the side revealing toned legs. The dress had long sleeves to her wrists, but as she reached out for the glass I could see several odd tattoos on the underside along with a thin scar. Seeing my eyes moving to her wrist she pulled back and I watched as her eyes seemed to soften.

Her voice dropped to a soft whisper. “Ms. Terrowin… Olivia. You should go as soon as you can. It’s not safe for you here. And not just in this house.” I looked confused as if I didn’t understand her. “You didn’t just pass out, there was a bright flash as you and Alexander both touched the car. Then you fell back. Alexander also dropped to the ground on one knee and I have never seen him weakened. That can’t happen.”

I blinked several times then my eyes went wide as she leaned in and kissed me on the mouth. She then moved her mouth to my neck and kissed it several times across a particular spot. I could feel her soft lips caress my skin as the pulse in my neck seemed to increase right below her touch. She finally pulled back and her lips seemed to have shifted to a slightly darker red. “Who… who… are you?”

“I am Jacqueline, his wife. So trust me… I know you are smart. But… just go. He always gets what he wants.”

As she hugged me I could see a tear sliding down her cheek and then I could feel the dampness against my own cheek. I hugged her back and spoke without even thinking. “Why don’t you drive me back to the hotel. They can follow to take you back. But we can stay in my room and talk.”

She took my face in hers and kissed me again. “He will not allow it.” Then she rose and as she stepped back and smiled softly. “Go… far. Ask yourself, why did he ask for you specifically.”

Then before I could react she turned and quickly left the room. I sat blinking and thinking about everything she had said. And done. I raised my fingers to my neck, feeling the soft space she had kissed and could feel my pulse pounding through the artery that was there. My head hurt from all of the questions and confusion. I rose from the couch and as I approached the doorway Macmillan stepped into view. I felt… fine. No… better than fine. I felt stronger than ever before, like I could do anything. I told him to tell Mr. MacQuoid that I was leaving and then headed out the front door. I was halfway to my car when I heard footsteps behind me. I kept walking and then slowed as I heard his footsteps quickly approaching me. I saw my bag sitting on the ground next to my car and turned just as he reached me.

“Ms. Terrowin. Are you sure you feel up to driving? I can have Macmillan follow if you would like me to drive you?” I gave him my best smile and noticed that he faltered and then stepped back as I reached the car. “I just… want you to be careful.”

“Thank you Mr. MacQuoid. I am fine and will be careful.”

I leaned down, picked up my bag and hesitated as I reached for the door handle. I glanced over and saw Alexander take a half step back. The car beeped as I unlocked it and internally made me jump. I slid into the front seat and pressed the starter grinning as the engine growled to life. I glanced through the window then lowered it as I pulled it closed behind me. There was something in the air between us and I realized that Alexander had not stepped any closer to the car. There was something in his eyes and where they had been open and soft earlier they looked harder and darker now. I slipped the car into drive, waved and pulled away from the castle. When I looked into the rear view mirror I saw Alexander standing there and rubbing his right hand as if it had been injured. I drove through the open gates and followed the directions on the app which took me quickly back to the hotel.

I quickly made my way up to the room and glanced at my laptop sitting open on the desk. Instead I decided to take a long hot shower and turned to go into the bedroom. I stripped off my clothes and walked into the bathroom. I stopped and laughed staring at the oversized shower, the jacuzzi tub, and the large fluffy robes. Hearing my own laughter felt really good and soon I was just laughing at nothing. I finally moved to the tub starting the water as I checked out the liquid soaps finding one that was bath oils. I poured some in, closing my eyes and letting the scent of roses fill my mind and the space around me. Just as I was about to slip in I heard the chirp of my phone as a new message came in. I sighed and got it from the bedroom carrying it back into the bath tub with me. The text was from Jacqueline checking up on me so I texted to say I was fine.

And as I slumped back into the tub I truly felt like I could be fine. I opened the Calm app on my phone and started to play some soft wave sounds that always soothed me. It wasn’t long before the photographs of my memory started playing in random order behind my eyes. I mentally found myself putting them in order hoping that would help wrap my mind around things. It all seemed to have started with the wolves, then the man at the car – was he a protector? Then getting this room – seemed okay coming from Jacqueline but was she part of everything else? Today was something else entirely. Everything had seemed completely normal – well except for the castle and all of the dark, heavy, overly masculine furniture. And then there was the “accident”. My mind decided to put the memory of Alexander alongside the memory of the man the night before and although I couldn’t be sure they certainly looked to be of the same build and with the same hair color and style. And what happened when I touched the car – was it coincidence? Or did it have something to do with the fact that Alexander was touching it at the same time? After all, the man from last night had gotten my car and phone to re-start or was that just a strange coincidence? Another strange coincidence.

My thoughts were broken when I heard the chirp of my phone. I glanced at the text and frowned. Then a second text and I frowned again. The third message was short and would ultimately change my life. History is so important. The messages were from Jacqueline and I once again wondered if she was just a part of it all – whatever “it all” was. I sighed and stepped out of the tub. After getting dried I slipped on one of the oversized robes and went out to living space. I glanced at my laptop again and decided I really did need to check in. While it started up I poured myself some water and broke open a package of nuts. I sat down at the desk, answering emails and typing up my notes from the meeting this morning. I forced my mind to focus on the work aspect and put aside all of the other questions still running through my mind. I remembered the messages from Jacqueline and after finishing up the last handful of emails I decided to check the links.

The first of the links was a website that had the MacQuoid family tree and history. I was shocked to see just how far back their history went. And peppered throughout the tree were other Alexander MacQuoids, not to mention his Father – who according to the tree was named Malcom – and I could see just as many Malcoms as I did Alexanders. I could see that there was also a link to some of the family history. The reference was in the middle of some other information about William Wallace, the Scottish Knight who was one of the leaders during the Scottish War of Independence. I was starting to think it must have been someone different since the family tree had only gone back to the 1600’s. But as I read more the reference described the Laird of the MacQuoid Clan as a tall formidable force of a man with jet black and deep dark eyes. It also specifically named him as Alexander a man who had taken the reins after his father Malcom was murdered. According to the website the clan leader Malcom was known to be a staunch supporter of Wallace but also believed they needed to find a peaceful solution. The only information they had about Malcom’s murder was that he was found in his bed with his own knife-like weapon called a sgian dubh hilt-deep in his chest.

I was starting to think this sounded like a movie plot more than anything. And also wondered if all of this could really be the same family. I went back to the main page and as I was reading a little more about the family I found another reference that talked about the family always being involved in many different businesses. It was usually children or family members that worked in those businesses but as the history got more current – even in the late 1800 and 1900’s the family was known to own several different businesses in their areas. Then it talked about the family moving from Scotland to the United States before the revolution, but there was no mention of the family playing any role in the war itself. I was about to look at the second link wondering what else I could possibly learn about the family when I saw another reference to the death of the Clan Laird from the 1300’s. This new link implied that there was a lot more to the murder than just his death. The link talked about references to a mistress that the Laird had with a woman from England. There was not much known about the woman except that they had met on a trip the Laird had taken to visit with the king. But it was not known how she came to be at the castle or if they were still involved. I jumped up from the table, the chair I sat falling backwards and landing with a crash behind me.

I stared at the screen the words before me pulsating as if daring me to click the new link. It was just two words and they seemed to grow bigger as I stared at them. I gulped and felt like my mouth was filling with cotton as it dried up. The name of the mistress was Olivia Terrowin! I sat back down and started to read with a fury, gulping down the water beside me.The mistress was thought to be an assassin that used her beauty to get close to powerful men and women. She was capable of anything and killed without any concern or remorse. The King had always been known to use women as spies because they were often ignored or could get close to his enemies through their wives. There was a distinct reference to this particular woman because she seemed to be better than any of them. There was even a suggestion that this assassin had found a way to poison the King after he slapped her. And because of that rumor she had to escape to France and live under an assumed name. The assassin’s French name had been DeHaven and it was believed that she married and had a daughter as an only child. Despite marriages through the family tree the name DeHaven kept coming back up.

The website went on to say that the DeHaven family came to the United States during the 1700’s. And while the information from that time was scarce there were references to a woman who took up residence in Philadelphia. That woman’s name was Olivia Terrowin DeHaven. I could feel the sweat starting to bead on my forehead and with trembling fingers I clicked the link to the immigration information. I stared at the screen as it started to fill-in, the formal immigration papers yellowed and the writing barely visible. I leaned in to read the name and origin as they confirmed the information. I was so focused that I barely noticed the photograph forming below. Despite the yellowed and faded photograph I had no trouble making out the long ponytail, the big eyes, and soft smile. And despite being black and white I was sure that the hair was copper red and the eyes would have been an emerald green. Just as sure that I would recognize that smile anywhere. I should, it was the one I saw in the mirror every morning.

I slowly rose from the desk my eyes locked on those looking back at me. I practically screamed when there was a knock at the door. I turned and walked to the door, looking through the peephole and taking a step back. I stepped forward and placed my hand against the door feeling a surge of strength pushing through my arms. I grabbed at the handle and felt a second surge race through my arms then taking a deep breath pulled the door open. I stared into the dark eyes facing me, the mouth set in a tight thin line. “Alexander…” I paused as I saw his eyes dip to my chest where the robe had fallen open. I spoke without even thinking. “What a pleasure to see you again. I know we said we would meet tomorrow afternoon but I am very glad you decided to come tonight. Why don’t you come in?”

I turned my back on him and moved back to the desk quickly locking the laptop to dim the screen. I heard the door close behind me and thought about what I had read. I could feel Alexander approaching me and smiling turned to face him. “I came to bring you something that belongs to you. I have been waiting a very long time to return it.”

As he brought his hand forward holding a long thin wooden inlaid box I gave him my brightest smile. I was surprised by some of the thoughts rushing through my mind. He held the box towards me and deftly flipped open the lid. I stared into the box at the beautifully carved handle, the double edged blade of the knife reflecting the light of the sun from the windows behind me. Before I could reach for the sgian dubh Alexander dropped the box and held the knife towards me. I was shocked by this move and as I backed away from him found myself looking around the room for a weapon. But then I remembered what I had read about the assassin and how she had used her beauty and charm to distract her potential victims. I smiled at him as seductively as I could and slowly pulled at the sash of the robe letting it slide open just a bit.

Before I could say anything else he practically spat at the words. “Your evil won’t work on me woman! You made a mistake when you killed my father! Not only did you leave behind this weapon, but I am sure if we did a DNA test we would know for sure it was yours. But more importantly – when I removed the sgian dubh from his chest there was just enough life left in his heart to shift his energy to me. That was your big mistake! You should have pulled it out to take it with you. Someone with your talents should have known that the person who removed the blade would get his power. That mistake has kept me alive ever since and it has taken me this long to find you and I will make you pay for his death. I almost caught up to you in Philadelphia before the revolution but it seems even then you had…”

He stopped talking and stared at the long blade that had appeared through his chest. The blood started to stain through his dark shirt and spill out onto the floor. His eyes went wide as he dropped the sgian dubh, the sound filling the silence as it clattered against the floor. I stepped forward, picked up the weapon from the floor and closed my eyes. In that brief moment everything I read flashed before me – not as words but as memories. I smiled into his dimming eyes and thrust it through his chest and into his heart. You could almost hear the two blades as the hit each other. As I held the weapon the life before this moment became more that just a memory, but a life I have lived. I glanced to my right as Jacqueline stepped around his back and grinning broadly moved beside me. She kissed my cheek softly and then raised a hand to Alexander’s cheek. “Oh my poor dear. You should have looked closer to home for a Terrowin heir. You missed the biggest lesson from your father – it is the mistress you should fear more than anyone.”

I smiled and kissed her cheek. “Alexander… there is a reason why you still live even as your life’s blood is emptying across the floor.” I grabbed the hilt of the sgian dubh and pulled it free of his chest, the impact causing him to collapse to his knees.

Jacqueline spoke softly. “I have known for years who Olivia was but it took patience to set this up. To let you find her with my help even though you never recognized that I was behind it. As soon as I saw her today I knew I had been right. I knew you could not resist coming here, thinking you had outsmarted the greatest assassin in the world.”

I reached down and tilted his chin up, the dark eyes growing dimmer as his breathing became more labored. “There is something else you should know. I did pull the weapon from your father’s chest. But I heard you coming down the hall and had to replace it hoping you would leave it in place so I could continue my quest. Since you thwarted that plan I had to find a second person to complete the transfer.” I licked the blood from the long sharp blade and smiled into his saucer large eyes. “Your sister loved me more than your father and since she was a woman you had no idea she held the same power. She was more than happy to give it to me along with her life.”

Jacqueline knelt beside him and whispered “I have put up with your crap for all too many years my love. I was thrilled when I found your research into Olivia because it confirmed that I had always felt I was more than another of your women.”

I moved behind Alexander and paused as he started to straighten his back. I knew that his power was doing everything it could to fight the physical death. “Now to end this.” I grabbed the handle of the sword and yanked it free then swung it like a baseball bat. I hit his neck perfectly and the sharp blade sliced through his skin, cut the arteries, and severed his spinal chord easily. We could almost hear his final breath escape as the head rolled from his shoulders to the floor. I could feel the power from within his body surge through mine as the memories of the last nine hundred years rushed through my being. This final phase filled my soul with the power of his evil which was then turned to good by my more stronger aura and power. Jacqueline was smiling up at me and then walked to the door and opened it letting Macmillan in to the room.

He nodded and seeing me dropped to a knee before coming closer. He whispered “M’lady I am yours to command.” He dipped his head so as not to look at me any longer than needed.

I closed the robe and tied the sash as I moved towards the bedroom. “Clean this mess up Macmillan. I need another bath. All of this has made me tired.” I paused “Jacqueline, have you brought my things?” I paused at the door and grinning turned to face them more fully. “Men… when will they ever learn.”

“Yes Mother. I have your bag right here.”

I laughed “Mother… I hardly think so.”