Page 49 of Treachery in the Highlands

Joey's body suddenly goes rigid.His back arches off the bed, and a pained groan escapes his lips.I rush to his side, my pulse pounding in my ears.

"Joey!"I reach for his hand.But as soon as my fingers brush his skin, a jolt of energy courses through me, and I stumble backward.

"Rachel!"My mother exclaims, steadying me with her hands on my shoulders."What's wrong, sweetie?"

I lean down, clasping Joey's face with my hands."Please come back to me, please.I cannae lose you."

His eyes dart back and forth behind his lids.

As I gaze at his impassive face, desperate to help him, I suddenly understand what I must do.

I crush my lips to his mouth.

A faint moan escapes his lips---along with a single word."Rachel..."

I pull him into my arms, clutching him to my breast.A rush of power courses through my veins.It's unlike anything I've ever experienced before----raw, primal, and ancient.The magic of my ancestors, passed down through generations, pours out me in a torrent that threatens to overwhelm my senses.I cling to Joey, anchoring myself to him as the energy builds.The shadows writhe and shriek around us, their inky tendrils recoiling from the growing light that emanates from our embrace.

I gasp, and my eyes fly open, but my lips still pressed against Joey's.His eyes snap open too, wide and disoriented.We stare at each other wide-eyed, both panting heavily.

"Rachel?"Joey whispers, his voice hoarse."What just happened?"

"Ahmno sure.But it seems like dark magics got hold of you."

"Was it the Ashrays?"

I shake my head."That cannae be.The Ashrays are good folk---fairies---not demonic forces."

Joey's grip on my hand tightens."I remember...darkness.And cold.So much cold."

He shivers, and I instinctively move closer to him, offering my warmth.I grab another blanket too, draping it over him.

"Ye fought it, Joey," I assure him."Ye didn't let it take ye."

"Because of you.Your presence was a white light in the darkness."He pushes up into a sitting position."I can't explain it, but while I was unconscious, I felt a presence hovering around me.Something dark and dangerous.It wanted me, sure, but also you and everyone else here at Dùndubhan."

I sweep a lock of hair away from his eye."We will figure this out together."

"There's something else."He pushes up on his elbows."When I was out of my head, I saw things.A dark place.Visions, maybe?Flashes of the past and...things that haven't happened yet."

The room falls silent, all eyes fixed on Joey.Even my great-aunts, usually unflappable, exchange worried glances.

"What sort of visions?"Great-Aunt Lachina asks.

Joey's brow furrows as he tries to recall."It's all jumbled, but I saw...battles.Ancient ones, with men in kilts wielding claymores.But also, modern warfare with guns and explosions.And I saw...us.Me and the whole family, fighting against something dark and terrible."

"There's more," Joey continues, his voice growing stronger."I saw a figure, shrouded in darkness.It was controlling everything, pulling strings across time itself.And I heard a name...but I can't remember it now."

Lachina grows pale."An Bodach.Tha e tighinn."

I stare at Efrica, unable to believe what Lachina has said.

Joey's gaze flicks to me."Is she speaking Gaelic?"

"Aye.Lachina said 'The Old Man is coming.'"

"What old man?"

"He is a malevolent spirit from ancient folklore."I glance at my great-aunt again, just as she seems to come out of her trance."What did you see, Lachina?"