"We're not far," Fionn shouted, "the opening is only minutes away."
Cillian approached a weathered, arched railway bridge spanning a flowing river. The fresh scent of water and loamy soil assailed my nostrils. He set me down gently on my feet upon the train track. I swayed slightly and leaned against the damp wall of the bridge for support. Cillian turned toward me with concern.
"Are you all right?"
Adrenaline kicked in, pushing the pain away. I lifted my head.
"Of course, I'm not all right," I snapped. How could he even think I'd be alright?
He removed his jacket and placed it around me. The heat emanating from the fabric instantly warmed me. I also smelled his scent, which sent a delicious shiver running through me and made my breath catch in my throat. His scent was musky and piney mixed with that fresh, earthy crisp. Everything I'd ever loved was all wrapped up in one delicious smell. I felt confused and a little uneasy about my reaction to him.
Fionn and Torin appeared and looked at me in irritation.
"What the hell is going on here?" Fionn asked. "Another delay?"
"May I remind you that she's mortal?" Cillian said. "She's half dead from stress. Killing her isn't our intention. We must enter the vortex here."
Fionn didn’t even look at me.
“Her mortality isn’t the problem. The timing is.”
Mortal. I understood. Of course I was mortal. Like I needed reminding. Another shiver passed through me. Weren’t they? Oh shit. I gulped. They weren’t.
"Vortex?" I said, waiting for someone to answer my unasked question.
No one did and I glanced around, expecting to see a whirling ring of fire, or a shimmering hold, or well, something, but there was nothing but open country beyond the forest and the bridge.
I fell silent and watched Fionn warily from beneath the comfort of Cillian's jacket and thanked whatever Gods watched over me at that moment that I'd fallen under his protection. Fionn reminded me of a panther stalking its prey and waiting for the perfect moment to pounce. And I was that prey.
Fionn removed a small, jewelled dagger from his pocket. The beautiful weapon bore an Egyptian-style eye on the hilt. Sapphires, rubies, emeralds, diamonds and amethysts set with pearls and other gemstones glinted in rainbow fire and sent plumes of light dancing in every direction.
I watched the spectacle with awe and almost had to shield my eyes from its brilliance. I had glimpsed the dagger earlier when the brothers had fought Horous and the others, but then it had seemed like a mere weapon. Now it seemed magical, almost alive and I couldn't take my eyes off it.
Distant voices murmured from another dimension all around me, although I could see no one except the brothers and I couldn't work out where the voices were coming from. I felt the air expand and contract around me. Below the bridge, the water began to swirl and gurgle. A spiralling funnel opened in the water and my jaw dropped. This is what they'd meant when they spoke of a vortex.
Fionn walked across the bridge until he stood directly over the vortex. Gripping the dagger in both hands, he bowed his head toward the churning water. He closed his eyes and rapidly recited words in a language I didn't understand. After a moment, he opened his eyes and pointed the dagger to the whirlpool beneathus. A pinpoint of light erupted from the swirling water and gradually, it transformed into a shimmering gateway.
"Cillian," I whispered. "Please let me go! I've done nothing to you. I don't want to die!"
"We can't let you go," he said, reaching out to embrace me. "You have to come with us now."
I shrugged out of his embrace and he let me. I looked all around quickly. This could be my last chance to escape, but where would I go? There was nowhere to hide, no saviour showing up to fight for me.
"Come where?" I asked, glancing fearfully toward the water.
Torin strolled past us with an amused smirk.
"To our world. Did you think we just stopped by for tea?"
Fionn turned toward Cillian, ignoring my questions and Torin's sarcasm.
"Bring her here, Cillian. Remember, if you let her go, we'll lose her in the vortex."
Though I had no idea what the vortex was, the finality of what was happening to me infused me with an intense panic at the thought of never seeing Donte or my family again. Cillian picked me up and carried me toward the centre of the bridge. I knew there was no escape for me here, but I also knew I couldn't just give up without a fight. I had to at least try and escape them before they threw me through a vortex and into God knows what. I kicked, scratched, and fought with all my strength.
Cillian held me out at arm's length as my hands and feet flew at him. The anger began to drain from me, replaced with a sense of hopeless inevitability as the last of my energy to fight him left me in a rush.
"No, you can't do this," I shouted, struggling to pull free as he set me down knowing that I'd given in.
