CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 7

The men disappeared, and then she heard screaming in the distance. Her heart leapt in her chest. She hurried to the edge of the woods some feet away. Catherine's eyes widened at what she saw. The scream was apparently coming from a single man standing out on an empty, slightly overgrown field. Like a madman, he was waving his arms around wildly as he strode from left to right.

The two men who had passed Catherine joined a group made up mostly of men who looked equally ragged. The wild man was headed away from them as he paced. The expressions of the people were all different, but all looked concerned as they stood and watched. They wore garments that looked ragged, but they were worn and draped around them like dignified robes. Their mannerisms suggested it might have once been very fine fabric that covered one fully.

It was windy, and Catherine struggled to keep her hair and the bushes out of her face and eyes long enough to see clearly. There were a few smaller wild crews sporadically placed on the large field before her, huddled together as if they didn't know what to do in wide open spaces.

In the far distance, the sun was about to set over the hills, disappearing in its last light. Catherine nearly popped up from her crouched position when she saw Kathleen sitting on the ground ahead with her arms being held tightly behind her. She looked unharmed other than that, so Catherine suppressed her tears. She watched and waited. It was a wide open field. She couldn't get her sister out of there now. Catherine regretted again, bitterly this time, that she did not bring Danny with her.

“Why did you bring me this woman?” the wild man said in a growling voice directed at four of his men. They had her surrounded. “I want Bowen, damn you!”

“She saw us. We didn't want her to tell anyone,” said one man, his brown hair whipping around his face. The wind had picked up, and everyone but Conall now felt the crisp air scrape at their faces. Conall was too heated to notice, his madness rising and falling at random.

His wildness calmed momentarily, but his eyes still looked enraged. He walked toward Kathleen. She looked up at him angrily, dried tears and dirt staining her cheeks. He leaned down and pulled her fallen hair away from her face in one swoop of his hand. Catherine clenched her fists as she watched.

Kathleen gritted her teeth and glared back at him. “Hmm,” he said in a guttural voice, “and why were you watching these men?” Kathleen said nothing. “Speak,” he screamed, and Kathleen started, but held her ground.

A tall man in the group stepped forward. “Our language, no doubt, is not the same, Conall. She cannot know what it is you say.” He put his palms out to reassure Conall he meant no challenge to his authority.

Catherine watched helplessly from the tree line. She had no idea what language these men were speaking, but they were definitely not from around there. She had to think quickly about how to get Kathleen out of there. She didn't have time to run for help. She pulled out her phone to text Danny her location, but before she could explain what to do, she was discovered. The phone dropped as she was pulled up roughly by her arms and dragged while she struggled to free herself.

Catherine was thrown down next to her sister who pulled herself free in that instant from one of the men holding her arms in their painful grasp. She reached for her embrace.

“Catherine! Thank God! I didn't think I would ever see you again. These men grabbed me when I was looking for the earring. I think they thought I was spying on them. I didn't even notice them, but they won't listen to me. I can't understand a word they're saying,” she said frantically.

“It's okay, I told Danny where we are. We just have to hope he gets here soon with help,” Catherine explained and held Kathleen in her arms.

Everyone stared at the two women with blank expressions, except for Conall, who watched them intently.

“Why, they're twins,” he said excitedly, looking them over.

Catherine caught on to what he said, for she saw realization flash across his face, and a shiver ran through her. He locked eyes with her and stood still for a moment. The tall man walked out and spoke quietly to Conall.

“I don't care if you think it's a bad omen,” Conall shouted savagely as he waved his hand at the man. “I'll do as I please!” He slapped the man across the face. He flinched in pain but backed away, lowering his head in submission.

Kathleen buried her face in Catherine's neck. Catherine held her tight but looked away from Conall when she saw movement a ways off. Catherine's eyes widened. “Bowen,” she breathed out.

Conall heard and understood instantly. “Bowen?” he called out. He grew livid with rage, his neck and mad eyes whirling around.

Bowen had been trying to approach stealthily. Now he stood still, a mixed look of frustration and pity fixed on the madman staring at him some distance away.

In a cool, slithery voice Conall said, “Oh, Bowen. After all this time, to see you standing looking just as you did before, at last, I am happy. I told you I would be free, I knew it would happen.” He walked a few steps away from Catherine and gestured toward them. “One of them is your woman, am I right?”

Bowen said nothing.

“I'll not be ignored, Bowen!”

Bowen shook his head, exasperated.

Conall threw himself toward the twins and ripped them from each other. He grabbed Catherine's face and looked at her closely while screaming at Bowen. “It's this one, the more defiant one.” He put his other arm around her shoulder, pulling her body closer. Disgusted, Catherine held her breath and clamped her mouth shut as his spittle dampened her face. She turned her body sideways and pushed with her arms using all of her strength. Conall was stronger.

Bowen ran toward them but was blocked by the wild crowd. They held him steadfast. He yelled and flung out an outstretched hand through the wall of people, grasping at air. Panic and frustration flooded him.

Conall grinned evilly at Catherine. “Thank you for releasing me,” he whispered, their noses just inches apart.

Catherine's eyes teared up. She couldn't fathom what he wanted from her.

“I have her, Bowen!” Conall screamed. “And because she is so important to you, I will make you suffer by making her suffer.” He turned to face Bowen. “It's only fair.” He gave him a lingering smile.

“Conall, don't do this,” Bowen pleaded.