Disoriented, I didn’t know where I was. For a moment, I hardly knew who I was.
But I knew one thing: wherever I’d landed, it was far from home, and I could only wonder where the vortex had taken me.
SIX
STERNWACHT
"It didn't work!" Fionn yelled. "The vortex threw us to Bavaria. We're still on Earth."
My eyes flew open. "Bavaria?" I wasn’t any good at geography, but I was pretty sure that was Germany. The word hit like a brick. I must’ve misheard, except the look on Fionn’s face said I hadn’t.
Bavaria was a real place. A real country.
I blinked hard, trying to ground myself. My head spun, and my body still felt like it hadn't landed yet.
Despite the distance,Bavariaoffered a glimmer of hope, a sliver of possibility that I might escape back home, although I didn't fancy my chances of bagging a free flight home based on this story. I'd be much more likely to earn myself a free room in an asylum. Seeing my expression and mistaking it for fear, Cillian clasped me more tightly, bringing my mind back to the real problem, getting away from the brothers.
"Try to stay calm. Trust me, everything will be fine," Cillian said reassuringly.
Damit!" Fionn muttered. "It's taken us back to the Manor of Sternwacht. The Gatemen must have stopped any mortals passing through this world."
"This can't be!" Torin said. "Those bastards don't have that kind of power!"
I listened to them as though in a trance, feeling like I was neither asleep nor awake. Surrounded by idyllic countryside in the full throes of summer. I gazed with a sense of surreal disbelief as birds fluttered across a diamond-blue lake, the sunlight bouncing off it like a polished mirror. Snow-capped mountains rose in the distance, brushing the pristine sky. I inhaled the rich scent of sun-warmed soil and the faint perfume of trees. It was all beautiful. Too beautiful. I didn't trust it.
The soft sound of cowbells drifted on the breeze, and sure enough, there they were. Cows. Actual cows. With bells. No fences or anything, just wandering about like it was the most normal thing in the world.
Beyond the trees, a small village came into view, with houses featuring whitewashed walls and dark wooden beams that were so perfect they looked like they had been plucked from a snow globe. At least there was somewhere nearby I could run to for help.
Enchanted by the calm of it all, I almost forgot I'd been thrown across countries in an instant by something I could barely understand.
The Gatemen Order, whoever these mysterious entities may be, had stopped us from slipping into another world. At least I was still in a familiar place, although I would have never believed such a thing was possible had I not experienced it myself.
The relief I felt knowing the brothers weren't completely infallible gave me a tiny flicker of hope.
But I was still far from home. A pang of sorrow overwhelmed me as I thought of Donte and my family. Would I ever see them again? Would I become a face on a milk carton or a news report and vanish into an unsolved case file?
The severity of my situation was at odds with my beautiful surroundings. I couldn't fail to notice the serenity of the place. What sort of artist would I be if I didn't see such a thing? But I knew I had to be careful not to let the beauty of the place distract me. The danger was far from over, although it occurred to me that if Cillian and his brothers hadn't succeeded in taking me to their destination, they might consider releasing me if they realised that their plans for me had failed. I felt the flicker of hope inside of me grow a little.
SternwachtManorwas a gorgeous period home, resembling a royal abode, its imposing towers reaching towards the sky, adorned with intricate carvings and steep gabled roofs that looked more like a Bavarian castle than a typical home, nestled against the gentle curve of a hill overlooking a picturesque lake. Beautiful lawns and gardens in full bloom surrounded it.
Everywhere I looked, marble fountains dotted the landscape, giving the place an almost majestic feel.
"We'll go to theManor of Sternwachtand decide what to do from there," Fionn commanded, striding toward the house. He didn't look back, confident that his brothers would follow his order. They did, and I, too, found myself walking towards theManor of Sternwacht. It wasn't like I had much of a choice. If I didn't follow, I'd simply be carried there at best, and at worst, well, I didn't want to think about that yet.
As we walked toward theManor of Sternwacht,I admired its graceful beauty. I knew I should focus on trying to spot an escape route, but I couldn't tear my eyes away. The place was straight out of a fairy tale, and I let my gaze linger along its elegant lines.
"Who are you? Are you nobility?" I asked, pulling my eyes from the building just long enough to glance at Cillian.
"This is one of our homes in this world," he replied,
Torin, who overheard, glanced back at me over his shoulder, amusement dancing in his eyes.
"Impressed? Come in and enjoy all the pleasures that Sternwacht has to offer. Our wealth is limitless. Misbehave, and we might send you to the dungeon," he said, a suggestive smirk tugging at his lips.
I glanced at him in alarm. Cillian cast his brother an irritated look and smiled reassuringly.
"Torin, you're acting no better than a child yourself. Stop frightening Tilly. I can see her trembling."
