Chapter Five
“WHAT THE HELL?” shemuttered when she heard Aidan lock the door. “I would’ve stayed put.” She eyed the courtyard, just dying to go explore. “Or maybe I wouldn’t have.”
She knew she should be afraid but instead only felt excitement and maybe a smidge of trepidation. Which was, unquestionably, because of Aidan himself. Something had most definitely sparked between them when he whisked her back in time. Something she had never felt before.
“That’s what you’re all about, isn’t it?” she whispered, staring at her ring, not sure what to make of all this. “And you’re probably why I’m not freaking out right now too.”
Because what twenty-first century woman who suddenly found herself in the medieval period wouldn't?
“Then again, I’m not your average woman, am I?” She glanced out the window, pondering everything Aidan had shared back in New Hampshire. What her Broun lineage apparently made her. “I’m a witch.” She shook her head. “Yeah, right. I'll believe it when I see it.”
She eyed her ring again. Before she put this on, she never would have believed such things were real. She dealt in cold, hard facts. Not tabloid worthy, made-up stuff.
Yet now she was starting to wonder.
If time travel were possible, never mind the various things Aidan had shared, what else was possible? More importantly, her curious mind prompted, what mightshebe capable of?
“Maybe I can unlock a door,” she muttered under her breath, back to eyeing the courtyard with longing. “So I can go investigate.” She considered the door. “He didn’t trust me anyway, so I might as well see what I can do.” Perplexed, she frowned, having no idea how to go about using magic. She chuckled that she even pondered this. “What am I thinking? Magic! Me?” She rolled her eyes. “Doubtful.”
“Why is that?” a soft, feminine voice murmured. “If others possess it, why not you?”
A chill went through her. She eyed the room, but as far as she could tell, it was empty.
“Who’s there?” she called out.
“A friend,” came the soft reply, closer now. All around her, it seemed.
Then directly in front of her.
As if caught in the streams of sunlight cutting through the window.
Enthralled, she ran her hand through a ray only for it to warm. Half a breath later, the warmth expanded, blossoming within her. It filled her with peace. Welcomed her. As though she belonged there. As if she always had.
Regrettably, when clouds blocked the sun, and the rays vanished, so did the warmth.
Yet something had appeared.
“Oh, wow,” she whispered, fingering the gorgeous gown she suddenly wore. “Way to have a Cinderella moment.”
Though tempted to thank the ‘faery godmother’ voice she knew had been responsible for her transformation, she sensed it had vanished with the sun. Had that been one of Julie’s Guardian Witch ancestors? Somehow she didn't think so. In any case, she could only be grateful.
Now she would fit in and could go out and explore.
“I guess it’s off to the ball then.” She frowned at the locked door. “Then again, maybe not.”
Hmm, what to do? She could wait here until Aidan got back but who knew how long he’d be gone. She might be sitting here all day. She might get thirsty, she reasoned. Or hungry. Then there was the whole courtyard-and-castle-needing-to-be-explored thing.
That was a biggie.
She crossed to the door and fiddled with the handle a few times just to be sure, but it was definitely locked. So she studied it, wondering if there was something on it only witches could see. Some clever way to open it that was invisible to normal folk. Perhaps a magical latch? Mystical button? An ensorcelled padlock? She cupped an elbow with one hand and tapped her lips with the other, thinking it over. The kind voicehadseemed to think her possessing magic was a possibility. And ithadseen her into this lovely gown.
So it must think her capable of getting out of the room, right?
“Maybe it's just a matter of putting voice to it,” she theorized, willing to try anything. She could hear people bustling about and wanted to be part of it. See everything. So she put her hand on the latch and spoke firmly. “Open.” Best to sound like she meant business. “Rightnow.”
She waited with baited breath, refusing to think this was silly. At least for the moment. She'd laugh at herself later if this didn't work. It would give her something to do while she wasted away waiting for Aidan’s return. Stuck in her rhetorical tower, cruelly denied the intriguing medieval activity beyond.
Suffice it to say and as expected because guess what, she wasn’t a witch, after all, nothing happened. The door was still locked.
