He took her hand and moved it to the wall. “As real as that stone.”
“So this isn’t a dream?”
He shook his head. “Nae dream.”
“So I’m stuck in the past?” She fell back as if winded, staggering on her feet. She almost fell but Cam grabbed her, guiding her over to the only chair in the garret. He lowered her into it as she blinked up at him. She felt dizzy. It had to be a dream and yet he had felt so real.
“It’s nae the past, lass.”
“It isn’t to you but it is to me. I’m telling you I’m from the future.”
“That’s more witch talk. Say nothing else or I’ll run you through. I willnae have you casting a spell on me.”
She opened her mouth to protest and then closed it. She could show him the cellphone in her coat pocket, the couple of coins, her train ticket maybe. She thought better of it. He already thought she was a witch. Demonstrating a cellphone wouldn’t exactly reduce his suspicion.
As her hand slid back out of her pocket, her coat fell open. He reached forward, grabbing hold of her necklace, examining the blood red stone closely. “Where did you get this?”
“It came in the mail. I think it’s how I got here but look. See the smoke inside. It’s not moving anymore. I don’t know why but I think that’s the key to this. Like the battery ran out or something. I reckon if I can get that smoke moving, I might be able to get back. Please, God, tell me I can get back.”
“Mistress Abernathy has a necklace just like that. It’s exactly the same.”
“Who’s Mistress Abernathy?”
“Runs the kitchens.”
“Can I go see her? Maybe she knows something.”
He shook his head. “They’re twitchy enough without seeing an English witch in their midst. Go walking around there and even I’d be hard pressed to stop them from sacrificing you to appease the dark one.”
“Human sacrifice? Great. What do we do instead then? You keep me up here like a pet for fifty years? If I don’t get the necklace, there’s no chance of me getting out of here.”
“So if I get you the necklace, you leave without cursing any of the clan?”
“Exactly. Get me her necklace and I’m gone.” She silently added a prayer that the necklace would work or else she’d just made a promise she would have no chance of keeping.
“Dinnae panic then. We just need tae wait until she’s asleep.”
“And then what? Tiptoe in like bank robbers and just lift it off her neck. You don’t think she might mind?”
“She willnae ken. I can be quiet when needed. Why’s the necklace so important tae ye anyway?”
She sighed. “This is going to sound crazy but I’m not from here.”
“I ken that.”
“Let me finish. I’m from the twenty-first century. This is the twelfth, right?”
“Aye.” He sounded suspicious, like he thought she was trying to trick him. “You’re from the future.”
“It’s true. I know it sounds crazy but how else do you explain me just appearing in your room?”
“Casting a spell.”
“I’m not a witch. I’m telling the truth. I traveled back in time and I get the feeling it was something to do with the smoke in the necklace. Now I’ve used it up and I’m stuck here. I can only hope your cook’s necklace is still juiced up. Do you think you can get me the necklace?”
“Aye, maybe. If I choose to believe your story.”
“There’s an easy way to find out. Get me the necklace and watch me go. If I stay here, I’m a liar and you can do what you want with me.”
