Chapter 10 — Hidden Messages

Grandfather was sitting next to the fireplace in his wingback chair reading when I entered his study. Taking a seat in the other wingback, I patiently waited as he finished the chapter.

"Isabella," he started, placing the book on the mahogany table next to him. A smile was firmly placed on his lined face.

I've never noticed how old he was until now.

"The sigil you drew."

I leaned forward, hoping he had found some meaning for it in one of his books.

"I couldn't find it in any book," he said.

I fell back into the chair.

"However, I did find it in a letter." He held out an envelope to me.

I didn't reach for it. "Will the letter tell me what the sigil means?" I asked.

He gazed at me for a long moment. "Read it, Isabella, and find out."

Standing, Grandfather walked by me and dropped the letter in my lap before leaving the room.

I sighed. Picking up the envelope, I looked at it. In a familiar script, Edward's, was the name Malcolm McGregor McCullough. When had Edward written Grandfather? The single piece of paper slipped easily out of the envelope. Again, Edward's flowing handwriting greeted me.

Dear Isabella,

I started, and once again looked at the envelope. Yep, it's addressed to Grandfather. So, why am I the person the letter is greeting?

It's hard writing to you when you are asleep in the next room, but I fear if you knew how I feel about you, you would disappear sooner. I know you don't know when you will be pulled to another place and time; that fact, too, keeps me from voicing my feelings.

If it were not for my father, I would be sitting next to you, watching you sleep. This past year has been one I will never forget, even though you have disappeared for weeks at a time. I want you to know, if I ever work up the courage to give you this letter, happiness filled me when you finally told me who you are and of your mission.

I didn't tell you at the time and I feel I can freely tell you, I hate knowing and wish I never convinced you to let me in. If there is a spell to take away the knowledge, then I would like you to cast it. Further, if what you said is true, about us finding each other again in the future, this is one way I can protect you. I could never ask this of you and that is selfish of me. I should let you go to finish your quest.

I have two things to confess. First, I love you and want what's best for you. So, if this letter comes into your procession, do what you must, even if it means me forgetting all about you. Second, a book fell out of your knapsack. When I leaned over to pick it up, I noticed the page it was opened to — a symbol. To me, it looked like a fish diving into water. And it got me thinking. I have seen it before. Maribella was drawing it on a tree, deep in the woods. Ewan, Iain, and Maribella left a day later, but not before I asked the meaning of it. From reading what you wrote on the next page, I gathered you were searching for that very answer, too. I will not answer in this letter, as this might fall into the wrong hands. Your answer is in your knapsack.

With all my love,

Edward

Reaching up, I found my face was wet. Why was I crying? With my sleeve, I dried my eyes and looked at the date of the letter — May 31, 1998. I swallowed. Over seventy-seven years since I first slipped into time.

Reading the letter again, I started to question how I was able to spend a year with Edward and why he seemed to have the answers. He didn't mention anything about… then it hit me. Someone erased all knowledge of me from his mind, and I had a feeling it was me who spelled him.

There was no time to waste. I had to find out what Edward had written in the journal, even though I had no knowledge of spending any significant time with him. The letter was still clutched in hand as I ran up the stairs and down the hall toward my chambers. The only thought I had was my knapsack and the treasure it held.

It didn't take long for me to locate the bag. Flipping frantically through the journal, I found the page Carlisle had drawn the unknown sigil. Right next to it, in Edward's flowing script, were the words: "I am hidden from those who would seek to harm me." Under it was a message from Edward.

Bella,

I don't know what it means and Maribella wouldn't tell me. All she would tell me was that someone in the future would figure it out and know what to do. She also said something about May 31. Again, she said nothing further on the importance of the date.

Oh, please forgive me. I read everything in this book.

He was definitely forgiven, but his letter didn't stop there.

Your question about why a crown appears with the warning of evil intrigued me and got me thinking. The only possible explanation I can think of is it could be a message.

Duh! What's your point?

I know. It's pretty obvious it's a message and you probably realized that immediately. You're undoubtedly thinking right now 'but what does it mean?' Here's what I think it might mean: the crown is evil. How I don't know? What I do know is that Maribella was wearing a tiara when she married Iain.

Holy cow!

Now, for the letter I gave to your grandfather. You've read it before.

No, I haven't.

You have, Bella. You found it a couple of days after I wrote it. Before both of us drank the potion Maribella brewed…

Huh?

Carlisle had it. Seems he didn't drink the brew when she gave it to him. Anyway, before we drank, you told me to give this letter to your grandfather and write this message. So, when you needed to break the spell the potion put on you, it would direct you to this book. The spell on me will remain until you tell me to remember. I love you with all that I am, so it's time for you to wake up and remember what we discussed in the past. Edward

With those words, warm energy enveloped me, it felt like a hug, and with it memories of Edward and I together. Oh, the tears I shed when Carlisle told us the mages had been spotted. A cool hand cupped my cheek. I shivered, reaching up and found it was warm, but the memory of Edward wiping the tears away felt so real it was like he was standing right in front of me.

I recalled him leaning in and whispering in my ear.

"It's time for me to forget you," he said. His cool breath made me shiver again. "Find the tiara, Bella."

Standing on my tiptoes, my lips claimed his. "I don't want to forget you," I whispered against his lips.

"I understand, but we have little choice. It's to protect both of us."

Even now, I nodded as I had back then.

A knock at the door had me shutting the book. The memories stopped replaying in my mind.

"Come in," I said, my voice tight from the tears that were threatening.

Grandfather opened the door and stepped into the room, closing it behind him. "Get your answer?" he asked.

"Yes." I took a couple of deep breaths. "Where's the tiara?"

"Tiara?" he questioned, scratching his head.

I didn't reply.

"Oh, aye. The tiara Maribella wore. Why?"

Reopening the book to the page that contained Edward's message, I handed it to him. "Read and I think you'll understand why I'm asking."

Leaning against the door, Grandfather read for a long minute. When he was done, he was silent. I waited patiently, my lower lip between my teeth and my brows knit together as I wrung my hands.

At length, he said, "Makes sense what Edward wrote. I thought it myself over the years. The tiara must have been spelled or my Maribella would have never repeated the marriage vows to my brother."

His eyes had a far-off misty gleam in them, and by looking at him, you could tell he had loved Maribella. Until I spoke with Iain, what seemed like years ago, I hadn't known who Grandfather was. Back when I was ignorant, I never understood his gaze. Now, especially after meeting Maribella, I did. She was a remarkable young woman. Bright and quick-witted.

A few more moments passed before he shook his head. "She never spoke of that night," he remarked, his brogue thicker than usual. "And I never asked. If I hadn't been with Iain when he signed my name to the marriage document, I would have challenged both him and her father for her hand."

A tight smile formed on my lips as I nodded. "I think that's what I need to find."

"Aye, you do. It will set my bonnie lass free, maybe me too."

My eyes went wide. "What do you mean?"

He sighed and ran a rough hand down his face. "My life became a prison the day I sent Maribella into time. She didn't argue and went. The only thing she said was she hoped she would be able to come back."

Understanding came to me fast. "She wasn't blessed with the magical ability."

"No, she wasn't. Time is her prison. My prison, as is Iain's, is to live and ensure you were born. We had thought once you were, we would be freed."

The room shimmered around me. I took that as a sign. My time here was almost over. "Do you know where the tiara is?"

"No, lass. I wish I did."

"Would Iain know?"

Before Grandfather could answer, the room vanished and I was back in the gray room.

I wanted to scream, but before I could, I noticed the scrolled words on the wall.

Iain could have been of assistance but I took the knowledge you seek away from him. You know where Edward hid my journals. They contain the answers you need and the location of the tiara you need it to defeat the mages. The night sky contains the secrets you need. You're close to all the answers you need. Beware the mages. They will continue in their pursuit to stop you.

With a rush of clarity, I knew where and when I needed to go. Hoping I could persuade the magical forces, I pictured the place in detail.