“What do you mean you’ve done all you can for now?” Kyle crossed the visitor’s center and addressed the police sergeant in charge of the investigation into Gwen’s disappearance. 

“We’ve interviewed everyone that was here when the last tour ended. I’ve taken statements from the tour guide, the ticket taker at the entrance, the custodian, and Ms. Williams,” the sergeant replied. “Have you given us your statement as to your whereabouts when Ms. Lindsay disappeared, Dr. MacKay?”

“Yes, I gave my statement to the constable when I arrived.” Kyle pointed to an officer standing by the door of the visitor’s center. “I was at the hotel all day and had no idea Gwen was missing until Beth called me. Maybe someone else on the tour noticed something.”

“According to the tour guide, the other visitors had already left the castle reception area before Miss Lindsay entered the rose garden. That was the last anyone saw of her.”

“A woman like Gwen doesn’t just disappear into thin air, unless something has happened to her.” Kyle was usually a calm and patient man, but it was Gwen who was missing. “Damn it, man, she could have been abducted or wandered off and gotten lost. For all we know, she could be injured and in need of medical attention.” He lowered his gaze. “I’m sorry for losing my cool, but Gwen means the world to me.”

“I understand your concern, Dr. MacKay. I have a wife and two teenaged daughters at home, and I would be beside myself if anything happened to one of them. But we do have to keep in mind that Miss Lindsay is a grown woman. Perhaps she got tired of waiting for her friend and decided to go back to the hotel,” the sergeant said. “We’ve sent officers to check.”

“There isn’t much point in looking at the hotel. I was in their room taking a nap when Beth called at seven, and Gwen was not there,” Kyle said. “It was almost two hours after she disappeared, so she had plenty of time to get back to the room if she decided to return without her friend—which is highly unlikely. I got a text from her at five, stating they were held up and would be a bit late, so if things changed, she would have let me know. Something has happened to her. I can feel it in my bones.”  

Beth moved to Kyle’s side and grasped his hand. “Try to have faith. I know you’re worried, and so am I, but they really are doing the best they can to find Gwen. Maybe she did decide to go back to the hotel without me and you just missed each other.”

“You know as well as I do that Gwen would never leave without telling you,” Kyle said, more abruptly than he’d intended. Usually in complete control of his emotions, he immediately regretted raising his voice to Beth. She was his friend and colleague, and this was not her fault. But he’d never felt this sort of desperation before now. He swallowed against the lump in his throat, then softened his tone. “I’m sorry. Tell me again what happened.”

Beth wrung her hands and lowered her gaze. “We’d just finished the tour of MacQuin Castle and were about to leave, when I noticed the tour guide was smiling at me from across the room. I asked Gwen if we could hang around a little longer so I could talk to him,” Beth explained. “Gwen said she’d wait for me in the rose garden, then left the visitor center. That’s the last time I saw her.” She released a shuddering breath, tears running down her cheeks.

Kyle raked his fingers through his hair. “It’s not like her to say one thing and do another.”

“The woman manning the ticket booth said she saw Gwen sitting in the rose garden right after the tour, but the next time she looked up, she was gone. When I couldn’t find her, I asked Thomas to help me search. When we followed the path behind the castle, we found this.” She handed him a Celtic charm Gwen had attached to her purse. “Thomas figured she caught it on a branch, but it did give us an idea which way she went. The path ended in a clearing, but there was no sign of her anywhere.”

Kyle fisted the charm as if doing so might bring him closer to Gwen. “She got this from her grandmother and I don’t remember a time I saw her without it. I never thought of Gwen as a superstitious woman, but there was something about this bauble she cherished.” He glanced at Beth. “You told the constable you found this, didn’t you?”

“Yes. He said that since I picked it up and Thomas handled it, we’d compromised it as far as fingerprints go. But he did tell me they might need it later on as evidence,” Beth explained. She peered up at him, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. “I’m so sorry, Kyle. I should never have let her wander off alone while I flirted with Thomas.”

Kyle wrapped his arms around Beth’s shoulders and drew her against his chest. “It’s not your fault, kiddo. The cop was right when he said Gwen is grown woman, and she doesn’t require a sitter. We need to concentrate on finding her, not placing blame.” He honestly didn’t believe Beth was responsible for Gwen’s disappearance, but wished he’d insisted they’d let him tag along, rather than staying at the hotel to catch up on his sleep. “Did you notice anyone hanging around the visitor’s center that took an interest in Gwen, someone who might have taken her?”

Beth pulled out of Kyle’s embrace, sniffled, then swiped the back of her hands across her eyes. “The police asked me the same thing, but I never noticed anyone. Why would someone take her? I don’t understand. Gwen is the sweetest, kindest person I know, and she doesn’t have an enemy in the world. Not to mention we’re in a foreign country and don’t know anyone.”

“We don’t know for sure that she was abducted, but we can’t rule out any possibility,” Kyle said. “It’s more likely that Gwen wandered off and got lost. The woods around the castle appear to be pretty thick, and you know how she loves to explore.” He was grasping at straws, but the thought of her being taken against her will was something he couldn’t bear to think about. However, if she did wander off, she could be injured or worse, which didn’t set his mind at ease either.

The police sergeant in charge of the investigation approached. “We just heard from the officers that went to the hotel. Miss Lindsay is not there. Normally—”

“I told you that,” Kyle interjected before the man could finish.

“Normally, we wait twenty-four hours before we consider someone missing, but given Miss Lindsay is not a local, and could have wandered off and be lost in the forest, we are foregoing that protocol,” the officer said. “As we speak, a search party is being organized. However, given that it is Halloween, getting volunteers is not going to be easy.”

“Why would that matter?” Kyle asked. “Lost and in need of help is just that, no matter what day it is.”

“I’m aware of that, but Highlanders are a superstitious lot and Celtic lore plays a big part in their lives. Even many of the police officers and emergency rescue personnel are hesitant to venture into the wood on Samhain Eve.”

“You can’t be serious.” Kyle couldn’t believe that trained professionals would hesitate to help a person in need based on folklore.

“It’s true. There are many who believe the fae and other things that go bump in the night, roam the earth on Samhain Eve, especially in a castle steeped in legends and reported to be haunted. Fortunately, we do have officers who set no store in Scottish legends,” the sergeant said, his expression quite serious. “I do need to ask if Miss Lindsay was upset about anything or is prone to depression.”

“Gwen Lindsay is the happiest, most well-adjusted women I know,” Kyle said. “If you’re suggesting she just decided to run away or might do herself harm, you’re wrong.”

“Kyle’s right. Gwen had no reason to run off. It’s her birthday and after the tour we were going out to celebrate. But now—” Obviously fighting back another bout of tears, Beth wrapped her arms around her middle and peered up at the officer. “Please, you have to find her.”

The officer patted Beth’s shoulder. “We’ll do what we can. Is there anyone you know of who might wish to do her harm, or perhaps hold her for ransom? Does she come from a wealthy family?”

“Gwen has no enemies that I know of,” Kyle replied. “She has tons of friends and everyone loves her. She volunteers twice a week at a local senior center and organizes a charity picnic for the kids suffering from cancer every year at her parents’ horse farm.” He knew the officer was only doing his job and trying to be thorough, but Kyle wished they would stop asking questions and start looking.

“What about her parents?” the officer asked, maintaining a calm demeanor. “The more we know about Miss Lindsay, her family, and friends, the better chance we’ll have of figuring out what happened to her. Even small details might be useful.”

“Her parents are great and I doubt they have any enemies either. Her mom is a lawyer and her father a surgeon. Gwen just finished law school and is supposed to join her mother’s firm when she returns from Scotland.” Kyle hung his head. “If she returns.” The words got lodged in his throat.

“We’ll do everything we can to make sure she is found. It will be easier in the morning to follow any tracks we might turn up and will expand the perimeters, but we’ll continue searching the castle grounds now. Why don’t you and Ms. Williams go back to the hotel and get some rest.”

Kyle stiffened and met the officer’s gaze. “With all due respect, I want to stay here and help in the search.” He had no intention of leaving MacQuin Castle until Gwen was found and in his arms where she belonged. “I’m not going anywhere, but I agree that Beth should go back and get some rest. Perhaps one of your officers could give her a ride back to the hotel.”

Beth grasped Kyle’s forearm. “I don’t want to go back to the hotel. I’ll go nuts if I’m there alone. Gwen is my dearest friend and I want to stay here and help look for her.”

“Neither of you are familiar with the area,” the sergeant pointed out. “The last thing we need is for one of you to get lost too.”

“We’re staying.” Kyle was emphatic and determined to help, and no one was going to sway him. He looped his arm around Beth’s shoulders and tugged her against his side. “Assign an officer to accompany us if you want, but we are going to help look for Gwen. Best we get started. Standing around talking is wasting precious time, time Gwen might not have if she is in trouble or injured.” Kyle released Beth, then he rushed out of the visitor center, with her following closely on his heel.

~ * ~

Gwen moaned as she dragged the back of her hand across her eyes, then squinted, trying to focus on her surroundings. While her muddled mind cleared, she shot up and quickly scanned her surroundings. She shivered, her teeth chattering as she wrapped her arms around herself, trying to conserve some body heat, but her efforts failed. Her sweater and slacks were soaked from the heavy dew on the grass, and the thick mist rising up from the earth encompassed her. She was in the Scottish Highlands at the end of Oct and the temperature at night dropped to near freezing.

“My God, what time is it, and what on earth happened to me?” After a bout of nausea and dizziness passed, she slowly climbed to her feet.

She recalled leaving the castle, going to the rose garden to wait for Beth, then following a little girl she’d seen running toward the woods. She remembered standing in the clearing, encircled by what sounded like the laughter of children before she collapsed. Turning full circle in search of the girl, she quickly realized she was very much alone. She hoped the child had found her parents, but right now, Gwen needed to sort out her own precarious situation.

When she entered the forest, the sun was still shining, but now the full moon was the only thing illuminating her surroundings. Having no idea how long she’d been here, she tried to check her watch, but could not see the face. Judging by the moon’s placement in the sky, she guessed it must be close to midnight, and she couldn’t understand why Beth hadn’t come looking for her.

Aware she had to get back to the castle and let everyone know she was okay, Gwen grabbed her bag and darted toward the path. But as soon as she took a few steps, she once again experienced a vice-like pain in her head that was so intense, it brought her to her knees, for the second time. Her body began to shudder and her mind clouded, but unlike the first attack, the episode passed quickly and she didn’t black out. “What’s happening to me?”

“You entered the fairy ring and have made the choice to leave it before dawn. Now you must face the consequences,” the woman’s voice echoed in the clearing, but she couldn’t pinpoint exactly where it was coming from.

Although her body felt like it had been zapped of strength, Gwen somehow managed to stand. “Consequences? Fairy Ring? Who are you? Step into the clearing so I can see who I’m talking to.” As the words left her lips, she regretted the decision to invite the person to join her. She had no idea if they might do her harm, but it was too late to rescind the request. Chewing on her lower lip, she pensively watched a dark figure emerge from the forest.

Dressed in a black hooded robe, it was difficult to tell if the person was male or female, but because it couldn’t be more than five feet tall, had a slight build, hunched shoulders, and a high pitched cadence to its voice, she guessed it was an old woman.

“You’ve grown to be a lovely young lady, Gweneth,” the woman said. “But then again, I knew you would. Yet, I must admit, I never thought I’d see you again.”

“See me again?” Gwen gasped. “I have no idea who you are and have never met you before. How do you know my name?”

“Och, you’re wrong, lass. We have met in the past and now you have come home.” The woman stepped into the moonlight. “I was there the night you came into this world, then saw you safe at your mam’s request.”

“That’s impossible. I was born in the United States, not in Scotland, and my mother has never been here.” Gwen scratched her head and focused on the woman’s face, but still didn’t recognize her. “You must have mistaken me for someone else. This is my first visit to Scotland. I’m twenty-three years old and—”

“And today is your twenty-fourth Saint’s Day,” the woman said, finishing Gwen’s sentence before her.

“How did you know it’s my birthday? I insist you tell me what’s is going on and who you are.” Heart hammering, Gwen fisted her hands at her sides as she moved toward the woman, but stopped suddenly when she realized she was no longer dressed in her pants and sweater. Instead, she wore a cotton chemise, a long brown wool skirt, and a plaid arisaidh—the outfit resembling those she’d seen in medieval movies. She glanced at her feet, surprised to see her hiking boots had been replaced by leather slippers. She patted her chest, relief washing over her when she realized the brooch her mother gave her was pinned to her clothing.

“This is crazy, where are my clothes?” She inspected the ground for her bag, but at her feet was a canvas sack. “I demand you tell me what’s happening.

“I’ll start by telling you my name is Beatha,” the woman said. “Do you recall collapsing after you chased the bairn into the woods?”

“Yes, and when I woke up on the ground a while later, it was dark and my clothes were soaking wet. But what has that got to do with me entering and leaving a so-called fairy ring, and how does it explain why I was dressed in slacks and a sweater one minute and in this medieval costume the next?” Gwen rubbed her aching temples. None of this made any sense to her, but she was determined to get to the bottom of it.

“What you experienced upon entering the ring, is what happens when a mortal trespasses into fae territory.” the old woman explained.

“But I didn’t enter it on purpose,” Gwen said.

“It doesna matter. The second time you felt the pain and collapsed was after you left the ring, which brings us to the present...or in your case, the past.”

“There is no such thing as a fairy ring.” Gwen glared at the woman. “And even if there was, I have no idea where the darn thing is, let alone where it starts or ends. What makes you think I even believe in this superstitious gibberish,” she challenged.

The woman clucked her tongue and crossed her arms over her chest. “You mustna question the beliefs of your ancestors, lass. Especially on Samhain Eve. Things happen on this night that dinna happen any other time of the year, so heed my warning and mind your words.” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “One never knows who or what is lurking in the forest and might be listening.”

Gwen met the woman’s stare. She really seemed to believe what she was saying, but Gwen wasn’t buying it. “Why should I listen to an odd old woman I don’t know? There is nothing stopping me from leaving this clearing and going back to the castle. My friend, Beth, must be so worried.”

“You left the ring before sunrise on the morrow, so your friend willna be there. Naught will be as you remember,” Beatha said.

“What are you saying?”

“Leaving the fairy ring before dawn on the first day of November means everything will have changed. Had you remained where you were, you would have had the choice to return from whence you came, but you no longer have that option.”

Gwen paced as she tried to make some sense of all that Beatha claimed. “This is insane. Are you telling me that because I stepped outside a fairy ring I didn’t even know about that everything I know and love will be gone?” She didn’t believe what she was hearing, but then again, the woman had no apparent reason for making it up, and at this moment, Gwen wasn’t sure what was real.

“Na gone. They will just na be born for eight hundred years,” Beatha replied simply.

Gwen fought to keep her mouth from gaping open as she tried to process what the Beatha had said. She couldn’t deny that something strange, even unnatural, was going on and she’d somehow wound up smack in the middle of it. But implying it was possible to time travel really pushed the limits. The thought crossed her mind that this was some elaborate birthday prank Beth had concocted, and would explain why she hadn’t come looking for her. But Gwen was pretty sure her friend wouldn’t go this far.

The pin and the portrait of Lady Lilith immediately came to mind. She did bear a strong resemblance to the laird’s wife and Beth saw it too. That she felt drawn to the picture and experienced a sense of déjà vu when she entered Castle MacQuin for the first time were undeniable, but time travel was something she could not wrap her mind around. “You said I’d come home. If you’re trying to convince me I was actually born eight hundred years ago and not in 1993, that I was Lady Lilith in a past life, I don’t buy it for a minute.”

“I dinna said you and Lady Lilith were the same person,” Beatha replied.”

“Then what exactly are you saying?”

“You will soon learn the answers to all of your questions. But there is blood on the moon and danger lurks, so you must be careful who you trust.” Beatha pointed to the red halo around the full moon. “Telling people who you are and where you are from is also na a good idea.”

“Why do you speak in riddles instead of giving me a straight answer?” The more the woman said, the more confused she became and the larger the knot of trepidation twisting her gut grew. “You also claim that you witnessed my birth eight hundred years ago, yet you’re here now, which is virtually impossible, unless you’re some sort of witch or sorceress?” She couldn’t believe those words were leaving her lips, but until she could come up with a logical explanation, she had to consider all possibilities, real or imaginary.

“I was present at your birth and am here now. Some call me a witch and I have practiced as such, but I am what is referred to as an ancient, an immortal guardian of the past and protector of the future, a link between the fae and mortals,” Beatha said. “It matters naught if you believe in me. It is what you choose to do with the information that is important.”

“Why must I do anything?” Gwen asked. “If what you say is true, why can’t I simply go back into the fairy ring, return to where I came from, and forget any of this happened?”

As Gwen prepared to return to the ring, Beatha clasped her upper arm, her expression stern. “You canna go back into the ring. It is no longer there, and you left of your own free will.”

“Free will? I had no idea what I was doing, and if I had, I would have stayed put. I certainly did not deliberately tempt fate or expect to end up in the past.”

Beatha shook her head. “The ring only appears on the eve of Samhain and serves as a gateway between the fae and mortal worlds. Once you step out of it, you canna go back and the prophecy will be fulfilled.”

“The prophecy? Are you saying this is pre-ordained, something that was destined to happen?”

“I canna give you the details, as those you must discover for yourself. But I can tell you that the only way the prophecy could come to pass was if you entered the fairy ring on Samhain Eve, which you did.”

Gwen sat on a fallen log and cradled her face in her hands. She based her life and decisions on logic and facts and this was neither. She wondered if she pinched herself if it would awaken her from this nightmare. What this woman was telling her couldn’t possibly be true, and she was never the sort to give up without a fight. People could not travel back in time, and there were no such things as fairies, fairy rings, and other mythical creatures. They were stories made up to entertain children or to share around a campfire. Even if her grandmother had told her they were real.

“I don’t know who put you up to this prank, but it’s not funny. I demand you tell me what’s going on, and I want to know now.” With fists balled at her sides, Gwen rose, prepared to do whatever was necessary to set things right. But Beatha was gone.