Page 19 of Rekindled Prophecy

After taking a few moments to regain her composure by silently chanting “Om”, Greylyn tersely complimented him through clenched jaws. It took all her will power not to lash out at him in front of their host. Kael at least had the sense to look a little ashamed, but that was an act too.

In no mood to deal with him any further, she racked her brain for a way to get rid of the troublemaker. She needed to talk with Maureen alone. His presence complicated things. As if reading her thoughts, he suddenly apologized to the ladies and said he needed to get back to his room. He needed to make a few business calls before calling it a night.

“And I’m sure you beautiful ladies could use some time together without a dude intruding on your conversation.” Pausing as if waiting for someone to object to his departure, he reluctantly added, “So I will bid you both good night.”

Maureen intervened. “Don’t be silly, dear. I’m sure Greylyn would appreciate the company of another young person. I’m getting so old, I’m sure you two would find more to talk about and keep each other entertained.”

Flashing her an “Oh, hell no, you don’t” expression did nothing to dissuade Maureen.

“No, really I do need to attend to some business before calling it a night and I don’t want to wear out my welcome.” With that, he kissed Maureen’s hand and walked away. As she heard the back door open and then close again, she visibly sighed in relief.

“Now you are such a strange lassie,” Maureen chided Greylyn. “He’s a fine catch.”

Hearing it put that way, she could not help it as a giggle erupted out of her throat. The whole thing was just preposterous! It was inconceivable to explain precisely why they were the exact opposite of a match made in Heaven. But she had to offer some excuse, no matter how flimsy.

“Maureen, it’s been so long since I’ve dated that I don’t even know how to act anymore. I have found guys are just too much trouble with extraordinarily little payoff for my efforts. Besides, he’s certainly charmed you. Maybe you should look in the mirror instead. Let’s see. There is a term for an older woman with a young man. Cougar! That’s it! You could be a cougar!” Greylyn teased. It had the intended effect. Maureen blushed the color of the Killarney rose.

The odor of her dead husband’s cigar grew stronger. The widow was oblivious, but Greylyn sensed Robert was not happy with how she had maneuvered the conversation.

At last Maureen conceded temporary defeat on the topic of Kael.

Greylyn redirected the conversation quickly to that of the upcoming wedding. Did not do much good, though. There was not that much to tell. And nothing that screamed “Danger!”

Eventually, Maureen grew too tired and excused herself for the night, but not without one parting shot. “I bet that young gentleman is still awake though.” With a sly grin, she yawned and retreated to her own room upstairs.

Draining her glass of wine, Greylyn let herself out the back door. The night air was cooler, refreshing. She had half a mind to confront Kael now. But she reluctantly admitted to herself, she was not at the top of her game. To face him in this condition, when she so desperately needed rest and a clear head, would be tantamount to suicide.

Still, what was to prevent him from harming Maureen during the night while a guardian angel snoozed close by?

She fished out a medallion from her back pocket.Just in case of emergencies.Too short to reach the top overhanging ledge of the door, instead Greylyn lifted the worn “Irish Welcome” door mat and placed it directly in the center. Would not keep Kael or anything else evil out of the house, but at least the resulting scream of agony from an evil creature crossing any threshold would wake her in time to run to the rescue. Just in case, she would sleep with the windows open.

Chapter 8

Shadow Dancing

Carriage House

Greylyn was too keyed up from her encounter with Kael to relax. She knew sleep was futile. Not to mention the nagging in the back of her mind about the woman in the vision. There was something she was missing. Something she was supposed to know, but that knowledge evaded her.

Parking herself in the cushioned rocking chair on the porch attached to her, she allowed the tension in her shoulders to release. The resident bull frogs were in rare form, drowning out any other noises. Strangely, she found the incessant croaking rather soothing.

Her thoughts drifted. She was blessed, a force for good. Kael was a power for evil. Immortal enemies. He was there to cause trouble. She was there to stop him. It was that simple. If she just knew what the trouble was.

The wine mixed with the sultry smells of lavender and the caressing cool breeze on her skin lulled her into a light doze. Images swirled across her eyelids. Golden eyes sparkling like a tiger tracking its prey. Sunlight glinting off auburn highlights accentuated by tendrils darker than chestnut. A wicked smile followed by a throaty laugh that set warmth racing through her veins. And muscle perfectly outlined underneath dark denim.

Long, thin, icy fingers curled around her neck. Her eyes shot wide open. There was nothing there. She bolted up out of the chair, but the invisible force threw her back down, tightening its grip. Her hands clutched at her throat…at nothing.

That was when she noticed the darkness surrounding her. Darker than the night. A shadow.

More precisely, a shadow demon.

She flailed around in an unsuccessful attempt to throw it off her. There was nothing for her to grab onto. Nothing to hit, punch, or kick. It was a shadow, a translucent demon without substance. Shadows were simply that … shadows.

Dark fingers squeezed her throat shut like a vise. Her lungs burned. Her eyes searched desperately for a weapon. Nothing could fend off a shadow though. Nothing except light or water.

Clouds obliterated any illumination from the night sky. Still clutching at her own neck to remove the shadow’s grip, Greylyn realized with dread it would have to be the water. Using all her energy, she pushed herself out of the rocking chair and stumbled towards the koi pond.

Though made of air, the shadow was strangely heavy, like a barbell weighted down with iron plates. It resisted her with uncanny strength, slowing her progress, at times jerking her backwards. All the while continuing to tighten its grip on her throat.

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