Two Weeks

"How much alcohol are you bringing, Pap?" asked Gretchen as she packed the clothes Tessa gave her into her bag.

"Not nearly enough," he said. "Did you get your medicine?"

"Yeah, can't go without that. I'm sure no one wants to hear me screaming like a maniac every night," she said as she closed her bag and put it over her shoulder.

"You ready, kiddo?" he asked.

"No, I'm really not," she said. "What am I supposed to do when I meet them? I attacked Damien when I met him, I'm guessing that wasn't protocol."

Haldir chuckled and said, "Listen, they're like family to me. You don't have to be formal with them, just respectful. Keep that big mouth of yours filtered. Got it?"

"I hear you. I wish some of daddy's Southern gentleman nonsense had rubbed off on me. He'd fit in well in a castle," she said.

Haldir hadn't told Gretchen about the warzone back on Earth and Gretchen had never seen the warlock reveal itself. She would never believe that her father could be capable of such things, so he said, "Yeah, he really would."

Gretchen said, "Alright, let's do this."

Haldir took Gretchen's hand then they disappeared into a black mist.

When Haldir and Gretchen reappeared, they stood before the Darke Castle. It was a massive stone fortress built into the mountainside with gaint wooden double doors at the top of a stone staircase.

The front doors opened and Haldir said, “Here we go. Behave yourself.”

“I’m not promising anything,” Gretchen said.

Daniel and Rosemary came down the stairs hand in hand with Damien following close behind them. As he saw Gretchen, Damien’s heart began to thump against his chest and his hands trembled. Everything in his life depended on the next two weeks and his nerves were getting the better of him.

Gretchen noticed that Damien didn’t look so well. He was thinner than the last she saw him and he had shaved the stubbly beard he had. She’d actually quite liked that. Most of the men in her family had beards, it was a comforting thing.

“I’m so glad you came, Gretchen,” Rosemary said as she leaned in and kissed Gretchen’s cheek.

“Thank you, your Majesty,” said Gretchen as she lowered her head in respect.

“Oh no, no, Gretchen, you bow to no one here,” said Rosemary. “This handsome man beside me is Daniel.”

“Your majesty,” said Gretchen to Daniel.

Daniel smiled and said, “Just Daniel. We’re all just family here Gretchen.”

“Thank you,” Gretchen said.

“Hello Gretchen,” said Damien.

Gretchen glanced over at him and said, “Damien,” then looked back to Daniel. “Thank you for inviting me. It’s just lovely here.”

“Invitations are for guests, Gretchen, you belong here,” said Daniel.

“Thank you,” she said as she took Haldir’s arm. The Darke family made her uncomfortable, she felt like they might snatch her directly out of Haldir’s arms and lock her away forever.

Rosemary smiled knowingly then said, “Let me show you to your room Gretchen. Haldir, yours is just as you left it.”

“Thank you, Rosemary,” said Haldir.

As the family turned and walked up the stairs, Gretchen took a deep breath and walked behind them arm in arm with Haldir. Damien glanced back then licked his lips as he slowed his pace to let Gretchen catch up to him.

“Thank you for agreeing to come. I’m really happy you're here,” he said.

Gretchen nodded as she tried to ignore him.

“I...I should have asked. Do you want me to take your bag?” he asked.

“No, I can manage,” she said.

“Maybe you’d let me take you for a ride. Have you been on a horse before?” he asked.

Gretchen sighed then said ,“Horses are afraid of Lycans, Damien."

“Oh, that’s right, I forgot,” he said. “If you wanted to go for a run then. I can shift into just about anything.”

"I don't know, maybe," said Gretchen.

When they got inside, Gretchen gasped as she spun around and looked at the murals and tapestries. “I’ve seen this place before,” she said.

Daniel stopped and turned around then asked, “When?”

“When I first got here, I dreamed it,” she said as she walked to the wall and put her fingers on it.

Damien walked over to Gretchen's side then said, “That’s our ancestor King Asnamar, the one I told you about before. He ruled here during the Great War about a thousand years ago.”

Gretchen smiled and said, “It’s beautiful."

Damien looked over at her and said, “Yes, very. I can show you more if you'd like.”

Gretchen blinked away and shook her head, “No, that’s not necessary.” She turned away from Damien, then walked back to Haldir’s side.

“Do you have visions often?” asked Daniel as they walked.

Gretchen shook her head and said, “No, never or...I don’t know. I have a lot of strange dreams that are half right, but that’s not really helpful, is it?”

“Funny that you should have them about this place,” said Daniel.

“Why's that?” she asked.

“Do you have a lot of psychics in your family?” asked Daniel.

“No, none,” she said as they walked to the hall of bedrooms. “I was never much of a witch anyway, more Lycan in me than magic.”

“Have you got your powers back yet?” asked Damien.

Gretchen licked her lips and said, “No.”

“You will,” he said.

Haldir stopped in front of a door and said, “This is me Gretch. I’ll come get you in a little bit.” Then ,he gave Gretchen a kiss on the cheek before he let her go and went inside.

“This way,” said Rosemary as she tilted her head towards the end of the hall.

Daniel and Damien stayed out in the hall while Rosemary showed Gretchen to her room. It was modestly decorated with a dresser, full length mirror, armoire and four post dark wooden bed with intricate carvings in the old language.

“It’s lovely, thank you,” said Gretchen.

“You’re welcome,” said Rosemary. “If you need anything at all, Damien’s room is right across from yours.”

“I’m sure that won’t be necessary, thank you,” said Gretchen.

Rosemary gave a quick smile then walked out of the room. Gretchen walked to the window and stood on her tip toes to see outside.

Damien leaned against the doorway and watched Gretchen then he asked, “Would you like to go for a walk? I can show you around the town below or show you the rest of the castle if you’d like.”

“Oh right! You mean the dungeons? No thanks,” she said sarcastically.

Damien huffed through his nose and looked away. “I didn’t mean it,” he said. “It’s just the way you were acting, I needed to calm you down.”

“Yeah, well, that was definitely not the way to do that. Can you please leave now?” she asked as she continued looking outside.

“Are you just planning on being unpleasant for your whole stay?” he asked.

Gretchen watched the men below as they rode off on their horses and said, “Yes. That was my plan. This is purely a run the clock down situation for me. Now, please leave.”

Being separated for so long, Gretchen was able to rebuild the walls and doors around her mind. It would take some time for Damien to open them up again. Damien licked his lips and looked away then said, “As you wish,” as he backed out of the room.