Chapter 85
Daniel was right about the jet lag, I managed to get around five hours of sleep on the flight, and despite leaving at 5:30pm, with the time difference we touched down in London at 9:35am. We ate breakfast before we landed, and showered, our tickets included bedding, a pair of pyjamas each and toiletries, as well as access to the on-board bathroom. When we disembarked the plane, we spent a couple of hours between our connecting flight to Cork drinking coffee and mulling around the airport. The flight from London to Ireland was only a little over an hour and by the time we got through the baggage claim, we were a little tired and hungry, but I have no doubt it would have been much worse if we hadn’t been in first class. As we descended the escalators to the main lobby, we spotted a beautiful-looking man, with flaming red hair, who was attracting a lot of attention, and holding a sign with Summer printed on it. Daniel approached the man smiling.
“Dermot, how have you been?” He asked the man, embracing him in a hug. “And what’s with the sign? Afraid I wouldn’t remember you?”
“It was Siobhan’s idea; she saw it on an American film and thought it would be a laugh.” The man replied, before turning towards me. “Is this her? The elusive mate, we all heard so much about?”
“Hi, I’m Charlie.” I couldn’t help but smile at him teasing Daniel.
“Dermot, I’m afraid I’m the reason Yer man here can’t look at a pint of Guinness without turning a little green. I had to help the poor boy drown his sorrows when those dreams of you were making him a little doolally.” He said with a chuckle, as he took my bag and turned towards the exit. “Hyacinth has arranged for you to stay at The Imperial but asked you see her first. Besides, she’s eager to meet the mate that bested her abilities, but you didn’t hear that from me. Caused quite the stir when she couldn’t see you, there’s more than a few of us that are interested in who, or what blocked her sight.” He said with a smile in my direction. I was still a little nervous but Dermot’s kindness and the joking way he referred to Hyacinth’s inability to see me, reassured me that the Fae were more curious than weary of my powers.
“Did Hyacinth say anything about what I sent her? Has she seen or heard of anyone with powers like Charlie’s before?” Daniel asked quietly as Dermot led us to the car.
“She didn’t say anything to me, but she did lock herself away in the library for a couple of days after she got your email. Aine had to force her to eat, she was so consumed with research, whether she found anything is for her to answer.” Dermot replied, pulling our bags into the trunk.
“Have you ever heard of a woman with violet eyes before?” I asked, hoping we would finally find answers.
“I’m sorry A Chara, I haven’t but Hyacinth is twice my age, and twice as powerful, let’s just see what she has to say shall we?” He said with a smile, as we got into the car.
“How’s Siobhan? I’m sorry I didn’t keep in touch; things have been a little chaotic.” Daniel explained as we pulled out of the parking lot.
“You know Mo shíorghrá, nothing keeps that woman down for long,” Dermot replied, I made mental notes to ask Daniel about the terms he was using later.
“What about you two? I noticed neither of yourselves have a mark, has this eejit not completed the mate bond yet?” He asked me, as he looked in the rear-view mirror.
“Actually, I’m the one who’s been a little gun-shy about that,” I admitted quietly.
“Sure look, I knew you were too smart for this gobshite the moment I saw you.” Dermot laughed, lightening the mood, he gave Daniel a nudge with his elbow.
“You’ll hear no arguments from me!” Daniel replied chuckling. “She’s way out of my league.”
“Fair play, they all are, look at my Siobhan! Whatever deity looked at the two of us and decided we should be together was either hammered, or plain crazy, but she is Mo shíorghrá, and I’m hers, for her sins.” Dermot chortled, as we drove away from the airport, and what seemed like people entirely as all I saw were green fields and the occasional tree.
We drove for about an hour, Daniel and Dermot exchanged insults and laughter until we came upon what looked like an ordinary small town, except everyone was exceptionally beautiful. I had thought Dermot extremely handsome, but the people here were breathtaking, their hair various shades of orange and red, and there seemed to be no old people at all, and not many children either. I was unable to contain my wonder, my nose practically pressed against the window, as I stared at the many beauties we passed. We pulled up outside a large, picturesque cottage, with a thatched roof, white walls that peeked through the wild, growing ivy, and a circular drive of sand-coloured pebbles. There was a pale grey stone water fountain in the centre of the driveway and large stone plant pots with neatly trimmed rose bushes at either side of the front door. It was the first place I had seen so far that truly looked magical; I couldn’t contain my surprise at seeing it.
“We can leave the bags here, I’ll be driving you to the hotel later, I would offer to have you stay with us, but we have the grandkids staying and Hyacinth thought you would prefer your privacy. New mates and all that, besides, those little hallions wouldn’t give you a moment’s rest, knowing them.” Dermot explained as he opened my door for me.
“Don’t worry about it, Dermot, a hotel is fine with us,” Daniel replied as he came around the car, his arm snaked around me protectively. As we stepped towards the house, Dermot leading the way, the door opened and a redhead in her late thirties opened the door.
“What took you so fecking long?” She grumbled to Dermot, before looking at Daniel and myself. “So, this is the young wan who’s been keeping the village buzzing with gossip since you left.” She said to me and Daniel, which made me a little self-conscious. “You’d better get yourselves inside, there’ll be hell to pay if Hyacinth doesn’t see you soon. She’s been completely out of sorts since she got word you were coming.” She said exasperated before she turned on her heel and walked back inside the house. Dermot grumbled to himself as he followed her, leaving Daniel and I trailing behind. The inside was just as beautiful as the exterior. The entrance led to a large wooden staircase, that split in two going to opposite sides of the house, the floors were polished wood, and there was a stone table with a crystal vase filled with what must have been two dozen white roses in it. The walls were a soft ivory colour, and the doors were all polished wood. The woman who had greeted us, strode to the only door on the left, holding it open without a word, Daniel and Dermot seemed unfazed by this and Daniel, led me through the doorway, while Dermot remained in the foyer. Inside was an enormous parlour, with a large round wooden table and chairs to our left, with an afternoon tea service of bone china. To the right were three expensive-looking, Victorian-style couches made of dark wood and an ivory fabric that matched the walls, there were thick, plush ivory rugs, and an enormous fireplace, which was crackling in the silent room. Sat on a chair, that matched the couches, by the fire was the woman I had seen in my dreams, her hair fell in soft waves to below her shoulders, and her eyes were the clearest, purest green I had ever seen. The colour reminded me of emeralds, and she was dressed in a green silk dress that was remarkably similar to her eyes, the cut accentuated her tall slim figure.
“Daniel, I hope your journey here wasn’t too abysmal.” She said as she stood and opened her arms to embrace him, her unusually deep voice surprised me, as did her accent, it wasn’t the charming Irish lilt I expected, but something more akin to the English aristocracy.
“Hyacinth, travelling through the seven rings of hell would be worth it if I were able to see your face at the end of it.” Daniel gushed and then kissed her cheek.
“You are a shameless flirt and flatterer, don’t ever change my darling boy.” She laughed; her hands cupped his face. “And this must be your mate.” She gasped as if she had only just seen me. “What a beauty she is, you are much luckier than you deserve.” She told him before she released his face and turned towards me. “I’m Hyacinth my darling, it’s a pleasure to meet you finally. I have to say, no one has ever evaded my sight before, I’m extremely intrigued.” She said as she cupped my face the same way.
“Um, hello ma’am, I’m Charlie,” I replied a little taken aback.
“What are you?” She asked with excitement as she stared into my eyes. “I can’t read you at all, I see nothing! It’s fascinating!” She gasped with glee.
“When Hyacinth touches someone and looks in their eyes she sees important things that are set in their future, things that would happen no matter what path you chose. Which is what she tried to do with me, so I could find you, but something blocked her.” Daniel explained as I stood frozen in her grasp.
“Oh, okay, kinda wish you would’ve told me that earlier, I could’ve popped in a breath mint.” I joked nervously, I saw Daniel snicker as he suppressed a belly laugh, Hyacinth suddenly let go of my face, so I stumbled forward as she spun around.
“Teatime, I insist you both join me, I know you Americans prefer coffee, but a good cup of tea can be very restorative.” She announced as she walked over to the table. “Tell me all about the vision you had my dear, the only way we will get anywhere is if we combine information.” She announced, she picked up a pot of tea and poured three cups. “Now I know this is a strange concept to you but trust me, a dash of milk and sugar to taste is the best way to enjoy Earl Grey.” She added the milk, and I realised I was frozen; I hadn’t moved from where she had left me. Daniel’s hand on my back woke me from whatever daze I had found myself in. We took our seats, as Hyacinth added finger sandwiches, cookies, and cakes to our plates. “Now dear, just start at the beginning, what you saw, smelt, tasted, felt, I want every last detail about this dream you had that I co-starred in.” She said with a chuckle when she finally sat down and took a sip of her tea, she crossed her legs as if settling in for an interesting story.
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