In the Stars

Chapter 35

Chapter 35

The Finish Line

Charlotte had expected the weather to be turbulent. In truth, she'd expected a tempest worthy of a mythic story. Instead, she got a bright sun fighting through gloomy clouds and a gentle breeze. Gone were the blustery gales from the day before.

She had slipped away in the early dawn hours, before the sun completely crested the horizon. With her heart pounding, she didn't dare stop; to second guess or for sustenance. The taxi driver didn't ask questions when she requested to be taken to the ferry dock.

Once there, she bought the first ticket of the day. The gentleman who took her money gave her a sideways glare.

"No tour groups goin' out this early, lass."

"I know. I'm not with a tour group."

He eyed her again as he handed her a paper ticket. His knit cap and squinting eyes gave him the look of Popeye.

"It'll take a few more minutes to get her ready," he said and moved out of his booth.

He was also the ship captain, apparently.

She waited with impatient nerves. Holding her bag against her chest, Charlotte paced until the captain came back down the gangplank.

"You doing research on the old witches' place?" he asked as he allowed her entrance onto the boat.

"Uh, yes. I'm doing a, um, paper about it."

Let him think I'm a university student. The last thing she needed was nosy bystanders.

The ride to the island took longer than she thought it would. Luckily there was an enclosed seating area with self-serve drinks. As she sipped on a Styrofoam cup of weak tea, she thought about Owen.

She blamed herself, of course. What if their relationship made him vulnerable to the prophesy? What if giving up his eternity for her caused his death?

Charlotte blinked away the tears that flooded her eyes. They overtook her so quickly she couldn't stop them from rushing down her face. Sobs wracked her body as the reality of this thought hit her heart.

I won't let it happen.

She would finish this by herself. Knowing it was near, she was determined to follow her parents' instructions until the end. What she would find there was unknown, but Charlotte felt no fear.

Etoile Island came into view and she was drawn from her morose thoughts. She stared at the mist-shrouded spike of land as it revealed itself, bit by bit. She wasn't surprised to find its landscape dramatic.

Like a mountaintop peeking out of the sea, it challenged its conquerors to peer beneath its skirts. Were there as many mysteries beneath the water as above? Did a sea serpent patrol the borders, waiting to pull seafarers down into the obsidian depths? There seemed no reason to doubt it.

She imagined warrens of caves circuiting that jagged crag of rock. There didn't appear to be any trees, only lichen covered stone. Lots of stone. At the top of it all, coming up from stacks of rock as if organic, was the fortress she'd seen in her dream. On the derelict side, it stood intact - a feat probably insured by magic.

They docked and Charlotte made her way to the gangplank. She took her time, not wishing to rush something so momentous. At least, she hoped it was. Otherwise, she was just a tourist looking into a life she didn't remember.