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“Wait… I think I remember something… one of them saying something, like they asked if they should take me too, and a voice answered that he only wanted the blonde… what does that mean, who would know that my mother was here?” At this Sophia’s features tensed, making me grab her hand and squeeze it tight.
“What aren't you telling me, Sophia?” She released a heavy sigh, before surprising me.
“I think I know where they have taken her, come on… I have something to show you.” She put an arm around me and helped me to stand. Pip was now climbing back down the ladder, with my dress bundled under her arm.
“Let’s be quick and get ready to leave,” Sophia said, prompting me to put my dress over my clothes, as they did the same. Then I swapped my glasses for my fresh contacts that I knew would at the very least last me a month. Gods, I hope we weren’t here for that long. Thankfully, the case I had for them had a little mirror in the lid so I could at least see what I was doing. I was also glad the dress had hidden pockets in the skirt, so I didn’t have to carry the contact solution and my glasses in my hand. I then took the cloak from Pip who handed it to me with a wink, no doubt trying to make me feel better.
After this we made our way out of the cottage and now that the sun was up, it was easier to see the beautiful countryside that surrounded us. Rolling hills full of trees encircled the flat lands of farming fields and as far as the eye could see was a vista of lush green landscape.
“We tried to track them, but with all this rain and then being on horseback… I'm sorry, but we lost them,” Pip said after a time, obviously feeling guilty that they had managed to get away with my mother. I reached for her hand and squeezed it tight before telling her,
“We will get her back.” After this she took in the sight of me and anger twisted her usual cute, endearing features,
“But they hurt our little bean!” she said before fussing over me in a motherly way, now trying to wipe the blood from my cheek that had dripped down from the cut I obviously had on my forehead.
We continued to follow the same path we had last night, walking in the same direction we had been doing when we spotted the cottage. Thankfully, it was an easier journey, as for one, I could see now thanks to my contacts and also it was morning. Although I didn’t have high hopes for the weather as those dark grey clouds overhead looked thunderous and menacing.
However, after following a bend in the road that curved around a copse of trees, the landscape opened up even more, making me gasp at the sight. Even more fields rolled out in front of us like a blanket with a snake of water winding through it, making it look silver under the sun. But it was the sight that sat up on a hill that was surrounded by thick forest, that interested me more.
It was a castle.
“What is this place?” I asked after we had walked for an hour or two.
“It’s what I feared it would be as we didn’t just come back to the wrong time, Fae, but we are in the wrong place entirely for I thought I recognized the shield on the guards. I had a feeling last night but wanted to be sure before I said anything…” Sophia said all this with a solemn expression, making me turn away from the sight of the castle and face her,
“Sophia?” she winced before answering me.
“The man at the window, he must have seen what I was doing… in his fear he must have thought of only one place to go.” Again she refrained from telling me what I really wanted to know, which was why I came right out and asked her,
“Sophia… who owns that castle?” Of course, I already had a feeling I knew the answer, which meant I wasn’t surprised when she turned to me and said,
“It’s your father’s castle.” I couldn’t understand her tone of dread, which was why I asked,
“But that’s good, isn’t it?” Sophia first looked to Pip who also seemed to have the same look of dread on her face.
“No, this is bad, this is very, very bad,” she said, and Pip nodded before adding,
“Yeah, and when we say bad, we mean the shit has not only hit the fan but destroyed the spinney little bugger.” I shook my head, feeling the pain when I did, meaning I regretted it instantly. Therefore, I narrowed my eyes and winced before asking,
“I feel like the answer to this should have been something I had known before stepping through the Janus Gate, but I will ask it now… so, tell me why is this bad.”
“Because your father just kidnapped your mother, and trust me when I tell you, he is not going to let her go…as in, never.”I looked toward the castle with wide eyes and said the first thing that came to mind,
“Oh shit.”
“Yeah, now she gets it,” Pip said with a sigh.
“What are we going to do? I mean it's not like I can just walk up to the door, give it a knock and say, him Dad, I'm your long-lost daughter from hundreds of years in the future… hey, don’t suppose you can give my mum back, could you? I mean, do we even know what time period this is?” I aimed this last part at Sophia.
“It must be the late 1700s, as this wasn't our main home, just more like… well, like a holiday home,” she replied, making me mutter,
“Of course it is… only the Dravens would have a castle as a holiday home, where's home exactly, Buckingham palace… don't answer that?” I said the second I saw her face, it told me everything.
“So where are we exactly?” I thought best to ask next.
“We're in the Lake District.”
“The Lake District… Gods, but how could this have gone so wrong so quickly?” I complained.
