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Welcome to Chapter 8 of Secrets of Sealgaire. There's a lot that happens today in Bella Donna Cove, so without further ado, I bring you, in parts A and B....
The pack snarled its threat, moving into a protective formation with Heather at the center. She tried to break free, yelling “Giselle is upstairs!” but no one was going to let her out of their circle. Niall, the closest to Heather, nodded at Hilary Drake, sending her upstairs to protect Giselle and Faith Goodie. The boys, who only had their first change this year, held their post to protect the King and Heather. They heard a scuffle on the porch, and then Balin’s voice telling them, “Stand down - I’m coming in with a hostage.”
“King Niall.” The woman acknowledged him with a curtsey. As she rose, she shot Balin an evil look.
Niall laughed, and told the pack to relax. “Let me guess, Balin sent you right to the door with no escort, am I correct?”
“Why yes, my King. He said he’d call ahead and waved me right through.” She then turned her smile from Niall to Balin, who suddenly lost his own.
“There was no call here. Why was there no call, Balin?” Niall asked.
Balin bowed his head and growled, “Poor cellular signal in the woods?” When no one seemed moved, he tried again. “Look. I’m sorry for alarming everyone, but we needed a good tactical drill to make sure we were prepared in case the real threat shows up!”
The pack, still filled with adrenalin but seeing what happened, scattered outside to run off some energy.
Heather, still filled with adrenalin of her own, pushed Niall out of her way and punched Balin right in the nose. “You scared me half to death!” she screamed, as Balin clutched his bleeding nose with both hands.
The young woman burst out laughing. When she finally had control of her emotions, Niall introduced them.
“Heather O’Roarke, this is Shioban McShannon, keeper of Sealgaire Castle.” (pronounced shi-BON)
“My Lady.” Shioban curtsied again. “Please forgive me. Balin has a very wicked sense of humor.”
“So I see.” Heather said, bowing her head in response like Niall told her was appropriate. “I love your dress.” Heather motioned to the period costume that Shioban wore from the medieval era.
“When the - when Balin called this morning,” she caught herself, “there was no time to change if I wanted to make the plane. I was the only one who had a passport ready, and there was only one plane leaving from Dunlin to the States today.” Shioban gave her explanation, and Niall elaborated.
“Shioban gives tours of Sealgaire Castle, as well as being in charge of it’s upkeep. For the tours, all the staff dress in period costume - specifically centered on the time of the first King Niall and Queen Angelica.”
As Niall was explaining, Shioban caught herself staring at Heather.
When she realized what she’d been doing, she apologized. “I’m sorry, Ma’am. It’s just so remarkable. The resemblance, I mean.”
“Resemblance?” Heather asked.
“To Queen Angelica, Ma’am. Her portrait still hangs above the mantle at the castle. You could be her twin, if you don’t mind my saying so.”
“Hello! Bleeding wolf here!” Balin chimed in. I believe she broke it! Someone needs to fix it before it heals that way!”
“Serves you right!” Shioban yelled back. “Setting me up and scaring everyone like that! T’is what you deserve!”
“There’s a child in this house! What were you thinking?” Heather, having spent most of her adrenalin in the punch was winding down a little, and noticed her hand was killing her. As she shook it to get the feeling of needles and pins out, Niall and Shioban gathered to check her hand for damage.
“Look, I feel badly about her hand, but I’m healing crooked here!” Balin moaned.
“Allow me.” Niall said, stepping up to his friend and promptly rebreaking his nose to straighten it for him.
“YOW!” Balin yelled, gripping his nose as fresh blood dripped from his hands.
“Aye, painful, isn’t it?” Niall asked, turning back to Heather.
As soon as the all clear reached the upstairs of the home, Giselle shot past her mother and Hilary, flying into Heather’s arms.
“My Queen! Are you hurt?” Giselle peeled herself off from Heather to look her over.
“No, Honey. I’m fine. I just hurt my hand on Balin’s nose.” Heather assured her.
Giselle walked over to Balin, who was still holding his nose, and gave him a swift kick in the shin. “That’s for hurting my Queen, Uncle Jack!”
“Hey!” Balin shouted. “It was for our own good! We need to be ready!” Seeing his protest fell on deaf ears, Balin left to go clean up.
“Auntie Shioban!” Giselle cried, finally realizing Shioban was standing in their living room. As she rushed over to hug her, she asked, “What are you doing here? I thought you were helping Grandma and Grandpa make the castle ready?”
“I was, lassie. There was a delivery that needed to be made, and this was faster than using the mail.” She answered. “Eight hour flight versus next day airmail.”
Heather asked, “Is it news about Bruno or Frances?”
Shioban looked nervously at Niall, trying to find some help. “Well, Ma’am, the family did discover that Frances McCullough is a descendant of Midir’s by his last wife, but I came in person to deliver a package for Jackie Balin, which I gave to him outside.” She looked pointedly at Niall who got the hint; she’d given his package to Balin. “I was prepared to leave, but he insisted that I go inside to meet you, and aside from the chaos, I’m glad I was here to see him get what was coming to him! That’s quite a right hook you have there.”
“I imagine I should go apologize to him. He’s right that we need to be ready, but he had no business using you that way. I’m sorry the circumstances were so unpleasant, but I’m glad to meet you.” Heather told her
“I’m sure Balin appreciates you bringing his delivery more than words can say.” Niall told Shioban. “I thank you on his behalf. I’m going to go see to him now and make sure his nose doesn’t need to be broken again. Why don’t you have a seat and get to know Heather a bit? Can I bring you back something to drink?”
“I would love to get better acquainted,” Shioban directed at Heather,” But it’s so very late, and with all the excitement, I think it’s best if I just go to the hotel the folks at home arranged for me so I can catch my plane back in the morning. Another time, I hope?”
Niall said, shooting Shioban a quick look, “I insist. Take some time to recover from your earlier shock of almost being mauled by a pack of wolves. I’ll be back before you know.”
Once she understood that King Niall needed her to keep Heather busy while he got the package from Balin, she agreed. “If you’re sure you don’t mind.” She said to Heather. “I do have some questions.”
As she asked Heather’s favorite colors, styles, books, movies, and music, Niall went to find Balin.
“Are ye daft? What were ye thinking, sending her to the door like that?” Niall said in an accent thickened by anger.
“I just wanted to make sure everyone was ready!” Balin answered. “And here; is this what I think it is?” Balin asked, giving Niall a small box from his back pocket.
“It is. But since we have to come up with a reason for Shioban’s visit, we told Heather the package was for you. You need to figure out what you needed so badly from home that she had to fly all this way to deliver it in person. If you’d have used that empty head of yours, she’d have never known Shioban was even here.”
“Me? What could I possibly need so badly?” Balin asked.
“That’s your problem. I’ll grant you the drill was a good idea, but it was poor thinking indeed to use Shioban for it. You made the mess, you clean it up. Heather is a smart lass, and she’s going to be asking questions now.”
Niall left him and went back to the ladies, finding Faith had already gotten drinks for everyone.
Once Niall returned, Shioban took the change of clothes in a small suitcase offered by Faith, made her excuses and left for her hotel. Niall gathered the pack members who were guarding the inner perimeter near the house, together for a word.
“Faced with the probable loss of the pack members on the outer perimeter, all of you sprung into action to protect this house.” What he meant was protecting Heather, but he wouldn’t say that in front of her. The pack was well aware of who they were protect.
“You did a fine job indeed. There was not a pause or hesitation for the others who might’ve been lost to us out there - you stood at your post with bravery, ready to fight to the last.” At these words, he looked at the two Goodie boys. He didn’t want to embarrass them by making a large point at their expense, but he wanted to acknowledge that they stood ready, believing their father outside might be dead, and leaving their mother and sister upstairs, unguarded. The boys nodded.
“I could not ask for a finer group, and I thank you all. Now that the scare is over, those of you on post can return there, and those whose shift is over, get a good night’s rest. You all did wonderfully, and couldnae ask for a finer group.”
As they retired for the night, Niall and Heather stayed up to talk a bit before sleeping.
“It’s not for me to tell you your business,” Heather began. “But I’m about to make my first demand of you.”
Niall knew this was coming, and couldn’t keep the smile from his face as he continued to fall in love with this woman over and over again. “Let me guess. Would this concern Giselle?”
“It would. I can’t believe she and her mother were left unprotected during what we all believed was an attack.”
“You’re right, love. It won’t happen again. Would an explanation help?” Niall asked.
“I’m sure I know the reason, but I just can’t wrap my head around anyone thinking that my life is more important than anyone else’s. I can’t live with that. I need to know that the humans, all the humans - servants or not, and most especially the children, will have the same protection that I have.”
Niall couldn’t wait to share this with the pack. Although she was only being herself, Heather had just secured her place in their hearts as their queen. “You have my word.” Niall simply said, holding her close. He had all of his things moved to this room, and he planned to have Heather fall asleep in his arms every night for the rest of his life.
“You know, I tried to find Balin and apologize before bed, but I didn’t see him around. Do you think he’ll forgive me?” she asked.
“I’m sure he already has. Shioban’s right, you do have a beauty of a punch. Maybe you should be protecting me.” He teased.
The next morning came without event. Faith was working furiously to supply a large breakfast for the pack members who had worked the outer perimeter and were just coming off shift. Niall and Heather, having finished theirs, were taking a stroll around the yard. While she still couldn’t venture far for her own safety, Niall wanted to get her outside as much as possible, to make sure she never felt like a prisoner again.
“That’s new.” Heather noted, coming across a homemade sandbox in the Goodie’s yard. “They must’ve just put it there. I didn’t see it during our picnic yesterday.”
“I’ll bet it’s a surprise for Giselle. Hey, I have an idea. Why don’t we build her a sand castle?” Niall said with a gleam in his eye.
Heather’s smile grew wider. She’d daydreamed of doing this with Niall so many times over the past year; she’d almost forgotten, with everything going on around them. “It would be really fun to see her face when she gets a look at it. I have to say, I’ve never seen a sand castle as elaborate as yours are. That I could see the detail as far away as I was, I can only imagine how wonderful they must look up close.”
“Imagine no more, Love. Let’s get to work!” Niall said. They both climbed into the sandbox and started building. An hour later, they had a finished sandcastle standing tall in the center of the box.
“Just one more scoop should do it.” Niall said. Why don’t you grab some from the corner there?”
Heather went to the corner of the box, gathering a handful of sand. When she turned around, Niall was down on one knee in the sand, holding out a small box. In shock, she let the sand slip through her fingers.
“Heather O’Roarke, I’ve loved you from the moment I saw you. I’ve spent the past year falling more in love with you every day. Your beauty, your caring nature, your concern for others, everything about you has captured my heart. I cannae imagine a day on this earth without you by my side. Beautiful lass, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
Heather was speechless. She dreamed of this day, and though it might seem sudden to some, it was just as Niall said. She’d spent the past year falling in love with him as well. With tears filling her eyes, she could only nod her ‘yes’, and gave him her hand. Once he placed the ring on her finger, he rose, taking her in his arms and lifting her in the air.
They kissed, their hearts swelling with more love than they thought possible. Their perfect moment was broken when the pack members who were guarding unseen from the woods, as well as Faith and Giselle came rushing out to offer their congratulations.
As everyone admired the ring, Heather really looked at it for the first time. “Niall, it’s just beautiful!” she said. “Is it an antique?”
“Oh aye, lass. The first King Niall had it made for Queen Angelica. It’s a replica of the one he gave her at their wedding. While he searched for her after she’d been taken by Midir, he commissioned a new one to give her when he brought her home. That never happened, as you know, but with the knowledge Balin had been given that they’d be joined again in the future, it was kept and passed down through each generation.
“So this was the special delivery last night?” Heather was overcome again, thinking that Niall had gone through the trouble and expense to send for this just to give it to her today. “The sandbox?” Heather tried to ask as she became too choked up to speak. Niall nodded, then held her, while everyone who had come forward to congratulate them faded quietly away to give them privacy.
Later on, Heather finally found Balin sneaking into the kitchen for a snack.
“Balin, I owe you an apology for punching you last night.” Heather began. “I know you were only doing your job, and I have to admit, seeing everyone in action makes me feel safer than ever. But, I have to wonder why you chose poor Shioban to be the near victim.”
“I am sorry, lass. I’ll admit, while I did it to get a dry run out of the pack, a part of it was to give Shioban a hard time. Once you get to know her, you’ll see that she gives as good as she gets, especially at my expense. It’s something we do - She plays a prank on me, I play one on her. Believe me, lass. Your punch is nothing compared to what awaits me at her hands when I see her next.” Balin laughed. “So, I understand congratulations are in order?”
Heather showed him the ring, and Balin swung her around in a bear hug, kissing her cheek when he finally put her down. “Good news, indeed,lass!” he laughed. “What a great relief! Now I don’t have to make up an excuse as to why Shioban came by last night!” Taking a bite from a quickly made sandwich and dodging a playful slap from Heather, Balin headed for the door. “Back to work for me now. I’ll see you soon, my Queen.”
Heather, still laughing at Balin, thought the mutual “prank-fest” between Balin and Shioban sounded more like flirting than either party would care to admit. She filed that thought away for later, when they were all back at the castle.
In all the time they spent talking in the past couple of days, Niall asked her how she felt about returning to Ireland with him when this was finished. She assured him that she had no ties here, and she would gladly go wherever he asked. Now that she wore his ring, the reality that she would be a queen, living in an actual castle finally came to rest.
She tried to imagine what it would be like. She knew the Goodies would be coming home with them, which made her feel at ease. ‘Home.’ She thought. She hadn’t thought of anywhere as home since she was a young girl still living with her parents.
She wished they could be here now, to meet this wonderful man who would be her husband. “My husband, Niall Sealgaire.” She said out loud, just to hear the sound of it.
“My wife, Heather Sealgaire.” Niall answered, coming into the room.
Heather giggled at being caught trying out the future roles, but it made her smile to hear Niall call her his wife. “You caught me.” She laughed. “So, how long were you planning this whole business behind my back?”
“Well, truth be told, I’d been planning it for far longer than was proper.” He confessed, referring to his love for her while they believed her to be Bruno’s wife. “I’d planned getting you out of that house, properly divorced, and running away with you for quite some time. But once I knew you were never married and I could really ask for your hand, I was planning to do that at the castle, on our own private beach.”
“So what happened? Not that I’m complaining.” She added quickly.
“I simply couldn’t wait. If we could get the license, I’d have the ceremony here in this living room right now. Maybe the wolf part of me just wants to show the world that you’re mine, but I can’t help it. You’ve stolen my heart, lass. I’m yours completely, and I wanted everyone to know it. I wanted you to know it. So much of our time was wasted by being kept apart. I don’t want to waste another second.”
They cuddled together on the couch, talking about their bright new future until it was time for the meeting to start.
As promised, Cyd Roseland came back with new books and new info. He had been pouring over his own books half the night, and was pretty sure he could get into Bruno’s study through the special bookcase. They’d also given him Balin’s pendant last night, to see if what had happened to the pendant had happened to Balin as well. That, he was still working on.
They’d decided to make a try for the books the next day. While Bruno was alive, the books were their best chance at getting the ring. It would be Monday, and hopefully Bruno and Frances would both be at the academy, leaving his house empty, except maybe for Marta. The plan was for Cyd and Niall, along with some others who hadn’t been decided on yet, to break in then. Polina watched carefully as Cyd and Niall went over the plan for the bookcase.
Cyd wanted to place a protection spell over the group, so they took a break, while Niall and some others went to gather as many of the pack as could be spared from outside.
Polina had stayed by Cyd’s side this time; assisting him and learning as much as she could. As everyone was rounded up, she asked him what he thought their chances really were.
“If Bruno and Frances aren’t there, we should be able to pull it off. A zombie will be no problem getting past. She’s not what we have to worry about. I’m sure he’s got alarms everywhere now that will alert him the minute we step foot in that house. We have to know where we’re going, and we have to be quick.”
“I don’t like it, Cyd. It feels like a trap. I know the King will be in the group that goes, and I’m certain he hasn’t told Heather yet. I just have a really bad feeling.” Polina confessed.
“And you should. This is some very bad business - some very dark magic. Time is not on our side here. He has to be going crazy that he hasn’t found them by now, and a crazy warlock is a dangerous warlock. We need to make sure everyone realizes that, and is more careful because of it.”
Heather had attended the lessons, and was glad for the small break to give her spinning mind time to absorb everything Cyd and Polina had tried to teach them. After the meeting, she, Giselle, and some of the others planned to make up mirror charms for everyone to hang around their necks. Cyd taught them that deflection of a spell was a basic, but useful defense that anyone could use.
She was grateful Cyd had a protection spell for them all, and went to the front door to make sure Giselle was there to receive it. Giselle had been helping Niall round up the sentries. She watched Giselle returning from the woods, and saw her head towards the sandbox instead of the house. She couldn’t resist one more peek at the sandcastle there herself.
Heather stepped out onto the porch, went down the front steps, and around the side of the house to join Giselle at the sandbox.
From her spot in the woods, Marta saw Heather leave the house through the front door and walk down the steps. Keeping the distance between them, Marta followed her movements to the side of the house, where Heather met a little girl.
Marta froze when she saw the girl. She put her hands on her belly once again and uttered, “Cassandra.” She found herself taking a step closer without realizing it. All thought left her upon seeing the girl. Then she watched as Heather put her arms around the child, and completely lost control. ‘No! My Cassandra!’ Marta, propelled by anger, plowed forward at greater speed than a zombie should be capable of.
“Hey, did you see where Heather went?” Polina asked.
“She was looking out the front door just a moment ago.” Cyd replied.
They both looked at each other, and bolted for the front door.
Balin took a final sweep of the area before reporting back to the house, and went on full alert as he heard movement coming through the trees. He looked around him frantically, and could see nothing. Suddenly, the sound seemed to be upon him, then past him, heading towards the house. That was when he caught the scent of death and decay, and realized what this meant. He didn’t take the time to transform, he simply ran flat out for the house, yelling an alarm.
‘My Cassandra! Mine!’ Marta thought, moving invisibly towards the pair. She would take Cassandra home. She would call Frances and have her beam the two of them home. She fumbled for the phone in her pocket, but lost it in the motion of running. Marta heard the alarm being sounded, heard someone running behind her, and knew she didn’t have time. She had to use the bracelet.
Niall heard Balin’s voice, and broke into a dead run for the house. He was in the back woods, rounding up the last of the pack members, which put him farthest from the house.
‘Heather!’ screamed through his head as he raced to her.
Heather heard Balin’s call, and gathered Giselle to her. “Something’s happening! We better get inside!” she told the girl as she herded her around towards the front door.
“You go right, I’ll go left!” Polina yelled to Cyd as they raced from the front porch in search of Heather. Polina suspected she might be near the sandbox, and she was right. As she locked eyes with a panicked Heather, she reached a hand out to her, locking it around Heather’s wrist and pulling them towards the front door.
Marta reached them, and wrapping one decaying hand around Giselle’s arm, she hit the bracelet.
“Something’s got me!” Shouted Giselle.
Balin saw Heather, Giselle, and Polina heading back towards the house, but didn’t break his stride. The invisible sound was still in front of him somewhere, heading straight for the group.
Diving, Balin reached out his hands in front of him, and managed to wrap his hand around something close to the ground - ‘an ankle?’
Suddenly, everyone was gone. Heather, Giselle, Polina, and Balin had vanished into a yellow light, along with the invisible Marta.
Cyd was just rounding the corner from the back of the house and saw the group vanish. He was too late to grab Polina. Cyd was quickly joined by pack members who were rushing over, followed finally by Niall.
Continued in part B...