“I know that folks have gone there and been hurt, badly. All these people disappearing and that place sitting like a beacon of the devil himself up there. I won’t go. I refuse. If you go, you’d better be prepared.”
The two officers left them standing there and Julia just swallowed, closing her eyes.
“I think we have to go there,” she whispered.
“Why did I know you were going to say that?” replied Joseph.
“Because you know me,” she grinned.
They made the drive to the ruins of Castle O’Shan and the moment they stopped the vehicle, they all felt as if a dark cloud of evil had landed over them. Stepping outside, the winds picked up and they looked around the barren fields, now littered with towering stones once holding the fated walls.
Julia reached for Joseph’s hand and he held her tightly.
“Are you alright?” he asked.
“There is so much evil here it’s suffocating. Hundreds, maybe thousands died on these fields. Horrible deaths. But there’s something else that’s dark. Like evil magic or the devil himself.”
“Honey, maybe you stay in the car,” said Rory.
“No,” she said shaking her head. “No, I won’t leave these people to suffer any longer.” She squeezed Joseph’s hand again, then reached for Rory’s.
Ahead, there was a new, well-made wooden bridge that carried you over what apparently was the old moat. Small signs littered the ruins, explaining what was once in that specific location.
As Dom and Fitz took up the rear, they both stopped.
“What’s wrong with the two of you?” asked Marc.
“Something is pushing on me,” said Dom frowning. “Like literally it feels as though something is shoving on my chest.”
“Same,” said Fitz.
“Leave them!” yelled Julia.
There was a burst of frigid air and the men stumbled forward, the force no longer pressing against them. They looked at one another, then at Julia.
“Did you see what it was?” asked Wes.
“No. I could feel it though. It didn’t feel human but it felt evil.”
“Honey, that doesn’t make sense,” said Marc.
“What about any of this makes sense,” she frowned. He nodded at her as they began to walk through the old gates, following around the outer bailey, then the stables.
“The ghost in my dreams was in a dark place, like a dungeon or cellar,” said Julia.
The men nodded, pointing to the main castle ruins. At one time, it would have been intimidating, powerful and magnificent. Today, it was crumbling from the winds of the sea and the salt the spray carried.
The massive fireplaces were still standing, some without walls surrounding them or roofs over their room. Others looked as if someone had just left them.
“How many castles have you visited in your day?” asked Dom to the others.
“Dozens maybe,” shrugged Rory.
“Same,” said the others.
“Have you ever felt anything so cold, dark, and absolutely horrible?”
“Never,” said Joseph looking down at Julia.
