Rite of Passage (22 page)

“Simon. Robbie’s right. It makes no sense,” Michael agreed.

He looked at me, then put his massive hand on my shoulder. “I grasp what’s happened. It’s the only rationale. She wanted to protect someone. That’s why she surrendered the amulet.”

It took a moment for his words to penetrate. “No, please. Tell me it’s not...” A sick feeling crept over me. I searched Simon’s wise gray eyes.

“Yes, Robert,” he whispered. “The only way she could be taken would be if they told her they’d harm the person she loves the most.”

Michael turned.

I understood. Courtney had given herself up to save me.

****

Courtney sat silently in the back seat of the enormous Cadillac. Mrs. Mac sat next to her, squeezing her hand tightly. The women who had taken them captive wore sober expressions. She remembered the cruel smile on the face of the woman she had thought of as a confidant and friend. Courtney felt betrayed.

“Please, Courtney,” said the large woman who seemed in charge. “We want your journey home to be as comfortable as possible.” The woman studied her captive. Courtney sensed that the woman was tense and frightened. “We’re aware of your extraordinary powers, but I have to warn you that if you try to influence us or communicate with your family, it will force us to resort to measures we’d rather avoid.”

“I don’t understand. What do you want? What can I possibly do for you?”

“I can tell you that when we reach our destination everything will be made clear. In the meantime, if you make trouble or rebel, your charming old friend here”—the woman looked at Mrs. Mac with a cold smile—“will find life very uncomfortable. Do you understand?”

Courtney nodded. She was frightened, confused, and mad as hell.

****

I sat in the courtyard, lost in thought. I heard voices talking about Courtney—what they could do to find her, help her, save her. I jumped up. Whatever was going to happen I had to be part of it.

As soon as I stood, it struck me like a bolt of lightning. I could see something—the inside of an automobile. An older woman sat next to her. I saw a road sign out the window:
Boston 35 miles
. Just as suddenly the vision vanished.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Michael grabbed my arm.

“Where’s Simon?”

“Inside with Gretchen.” Michael stared. “What happened? You look so pale, like you’d seen a ghost.”

“Don’t say that!” I grabbed his shoulders, pushing him away. “Not now. Not ever.”

“Why? What the hell’s going on?”

“I’ve just seen something—a vision, an image from Courtney.” I ran into the house and found Simon.

Everyone assembled in the great room.

“Simon, how is it that he saw this vision?” Gretchen asked. “Perhaps it’s just emotion. Robbie feels guilty—a sense of responsibility for Courtney’s disappearance.”

I took Gretchen’s arm. “I swear. This is not wishful thinking.”

“How can you be so sure, Rob?” asked Michael.

I searched the two dozen faces surrounding me. “Because it was more than a vision, Mike. I could feel her presence.”

He frowned, looking at Simon.

“What do you mean, Robert? Explain. How could you feel her presence?” Simon asked.

“I mean what I experienced was more than just visual, Simon. I could actually feel her fear and her anger.”

“It’s possible,” Gretchen offered. “They’re incredibly close.”

“I don’t know.” Michael shook his head.

“Robert, I want you to close your eyes and recall what you saw and felt when you had this vision,” Simon said, placing his hands on my temples.

I did as he asked, closing my eyes as I recalled the image. Suddenly, my mind was consumed by a pleasant buzzing. I felt faint. Several sets of strong arms kept me from falling.

“What he says is true,” Simon assured the others. “I caught the image clearly. I couldn’t detect any emotion, but then I wouldn’t since I experienced it secondhand.”

“But why him? And how can she manage it?” Michael asked. He sounded frustrated.

“First, Gretchen’s right. They have an extraordinary bond and awareness of each other. Unlike anything I’ve ever seen.” He patted my shoulder. “And I think that she may be able to relay her thoughts to Robert for an instant without being blocked or detected. That’s why she waited until she saw a sign to give us a landmark—a direction.” He shook his head. “The problem is we don’t know how often she’ll be able to send clues.”

They looked at Simon and then at me. Michael sighed and played with his lips.

I had to ask. “Simon, why did they kidnap her? I mean instead of…” I asked, unable to finish my thought. He grasped my meaning.

He raised his thick gray eyebrows, looking reluctant.

“They must have a ceremony of their own, Robert.” He looked away. “I’ve heard rumblings.” Simon finished in a whisper, “But I thought it was folklore.”

I turned toward Michael. He stared at the floor. No one would meet my eyes.

Simon put his hand on my shoulder. “I’d rather not speculate. What we know is that Courtney is somewhere around Boston. But I’m positive that they have to return her to Great Britain. Wales, I believe.”

I let it go. Whatever these people were planning for Courtney, I was better off in ignorance. I wanted to keep my mind uncluttered for any thoughts or visions she might send.

“The only place to get a transatlantic flight is New York City. They know our resources. They’ll drive to avoid detection. If they took a plane from Boston we might intercept them.” Simon looked at me. “But they have almost five days until her birthday. They may fly to somewhere on the Continent first. That’ll make finding them difficult. We have a major task ahead of us. But I promise, we’ll get her back.”

Chapter Thirty-Three

The next few hours dragged. Sand through an hourglass. I heard hushed discussion between family members.

“Why aren’t we doing something?” I asked, pounding the table. Four hours had passed. All these powerful witches and wizards were doing was drinking coffee and sitting on their behinds.

Simon took my arm and gently directed me to the ballroom. “We have an extensive network, Robert. We have to rely on them to help us determine where they’ve taken Courtney.” He squeezed my shoulder. “After that first image, I was hoping you might receive something else to help us pinpoint where she is.”

“Nothing since that first vision.” I shook my head. “Why are you so sure they’ll take her to Wales?”

“There’s a strange Druid coven behind this. I’m certain of it. But still don’t understand why. Wales is their home.” He motioned for me to sit.

I had too much nervous energy. I paced in front of him.

“This group is small but powerful,” he continued. “They’re directly descended from the ancient leaders, the philosopher-priests who ruled much of England. They have a new leader—a high priest. I’ve heard about him, but discounted it. He has some agenda. I’m afraid Courtney and our ritual are part of it.”

I concentrated, trying to see her, to make contact. The door flew open, followed by Michael and Jonathan.

“We just got a call from one of our people in New York. Four women, one fitting Courtney’s description, another Mrs. Mac’s, bought tickets on this evening’s flight to Bournemouth.”

Simon nodded. “Interesting.” He closed his eyes.

“This is a big break,” Michael enthused. “The flight takes fourteen hours. It stops in Gander and Shannon before it gets to Hurn Airport. We can intercept them.”

“First,” Simon began. “It strikes me as odd that they could get to New York in that time.” He looked at his watch. “Five hours? Second, this seems a little too obvious. These people knew our plans, where we were, every detail. They know the extent of our network. Would they parade someone like Courtney who’s bound to attract attention to an airport ticket counter?”

Of course he was right. My heart sank. “He’s right,” I whispered. “Of course they wouldn’t.”

“I appreciate your opinion, Rob, but you’re new to all this.”

Simon held up his hand. “Let’s give Robbie some credit. So far his instincts have proven accurate.”

“All right. So what do we do?” Michael asked with a scowl.

“Follow the bait they’ve given us, but keep searching and hope Courtney can send another image or that we can figure out where they really are.”

As if on cue, I felt weak and dizzy. An image appeared in my mind. It was faint and faded quickly, but there was no mistaking it. I saw whitecaps, heard the unmistakable call of seabirds and just before I lost it, I saw the cluttered deck of a large fishing vessel.

I staggered backward and sat down, breathing heavily. “You don’t have to search. I know where she is.”

****

We stood in the dining room gathered around the table. When I explained the details of what I saw, both Jonathan and Michael were certain the image was Portland Harbor. Gretchen was skeptical, explaining there were too many places on the Maine Coast that fit my description. Simon called a friend at the Portland harbormaster’s office, telling him about the images I had seen. He asked the man if there was a fishing vessel that fit the description.

“The name is what?” He nodded, his look a mixture of anger and amusement as he hung up. “You’ll like the irony.” He shook his head. “The vessel we’re looking for is called the
Sea Witch
. She left two hours ago. He came on duty after she left, so he couldn’t tell us who boarded. The captain told someone they’d be gone for ten days.”

The room had filled when word of my vision spread through the compound. Some shook their heads, others showed frustration.

“She regularly fishes well out into the Atlantic. She’s well-built, eighty-five feet long, and my friend thinks she could make the British Isles by Friday.”

“Damn,” I said, looking at Michael.

He nodded. “That complicates our situation. They could put in anywhere.”

“No.” Simon concentrated. “It has to be somewhere in Wales. I’m sure of it. These Druids have too many ties to that country. But it’s riddled with places of ancestral significance, places that they might use to…” He looked at me and stopped before completing his thought. I searched the other faces in the room. They were staring at each other or the floor.

“What? What aren’t you telling me?” I stood toe-to-toe with Michael and took his shoulders. “What do they want Courtney for?”

Michael looked at Simon who came between us and pulled me away.

“Why won’t you people tell me what’s going on?” I pleaded with him. “I love her, Simon. I have to know.”

He sighed. “I wish I could tell you. I’m at a loss to explain it. Druids are a peaceful group that reveres and worships nature. I’d been told about their new leader. He seems driven by some strange passion, but this…”

“Then this makes no sense.” I shook my head, clenching my fists so tightly they hurt. “Is there some rationale for kidnapping Courtney?”

“I can’t be sure. A dozen centuries ago, Ethwyn, a powerful and beautiful goddess, had a remarkable vision. She foresaw that the fortieth in her line would be a princess, beautiful, wise, and powerful beyond any that had come before. The number forty is significant in witchcraft.”

“Go on,” I prodded.

“She foretold the coming of this young woman before the end of the millennium, when the world was plagued by war, cruelty, and a terrible force that could destroy mankind.”

“That could easily be today. World Wars, the Depression, the Holocaust. That force could be the atom bomb.”

He nodded. “When we were blessed with Courtney, we knew she was the chosen one. But to assure that her power and goodness does not end with her, the prophecy commands she mate with a man. A very special man. That man must have all the physical attributes and beauty worthy of his mate.”

My jaw dropped. “And you all decided that man was
me?
”

Simon nodded. “You not only met all the criteria but as you’ve discovered, you’re one of us.”

“What does that have to do with Courtney and why they’ve taken her?”

He looked around for support. It was the first time I’d seen Simon not in complete command. The others continued to avoid our eyes.

“Because, Robert, I believe that the Druids and their leader believe that a cosmic event of monumental proportions is going to take place on the night of the solstice. Something called the Cardinal Cross. It’s the alignment of four major planets in a unique way that they think is a harbinger of great evil. Unless…” He stopped and looked away.

I grabbed his arm. “Unless what?” I demanded.

He refused to look me in the eye. “Unless the chosen one is sacrificed,” he whispered.

I stepped backward, dropping into a chair. Yesterday at this time, Courtney and I had been riding back from our picnic. In less than twenty-four hours my fantasy world had crumbled, been turned upside down. My dream had become a nightmare. “And how does the prophecy say she’ll be”—I found the word difficult to say—“sacrificed?”

Simon found my eyes again. He swallowed deeply. “I can’t be sure, but I’m afraid she’ll be taken to their secret altar and burned at the stake.”

Chapter Thirty-Four

I heard them discussing the call we’d just received. The four women sighted in New York boarded the DC-4 for the overnight flight to Bournemouth, the transatlantic destination for flights to Britain. Their clothing matched what Courtney and Mrs. Mac were wearing when they left the estate.

But none of that mattered. My mind was in total chaos, my heart torn apart. Simon’s words echoed.
She’ll
be taken to their secret altar and burned at the stake.
It was all I could think about.

Only a few hours ago witchcraft held mystery, romance, intrigue. I relished being part of it. But this was no parlor show with broomsticks and pointed hats. Courtney’s fear was justified. Mine grew by the minute. I had been an unwitting accomplice in putting her in danger. If she were sacrificed I could never live with myself.

Simon, Michael, and Jonathan sat at the dining room table, speaking in hushed tones. Gretchen prepared sandwiches and fruit while they discussed strategy.

“If anyone can find her, they can.” She patted my forearm, offering a forced smile. “You have no idea of their power,” she said with pride as her smile brightened.