Innocence Lost - Part 3

[Carlisle Cullen MD]

Innocence Lost - Part 3

As I reached the top of the ladder I saw him. I jumped with a thud, my feet hit the ground running, he was behind me, catching up with great speed. My mind raced. I knew he was one of them, his eyes and feral expression was obvious. I ran like I had never run before, dodging trees, jumping over fallen limbs and rocks until I hit the clearing out behind the church. I didn't dare look behind me, that would just slow me down. I felt myself being lifted as if I was flying, this surely was the end. I didn't fight, I knew there was no sense in it. I shut my eyes tightly expecting the worst, it was then I heard her voice. "Carlisle, what were you thinking?"
I opened my eyes and blinked rapidly. I knew her face instantly, she was the girl from the tree from that night.
"What? Wait" I stayed perfectly within her embrace peering over her shoulder watching as another took down the man who was chasing me. The noise as they battled was excruciating and she knew it and swiftly took me out of human hearing range of it all. She set me down, I was surely in shock as I merely stood there staring up into her crimson eyes. You're the one from that night. I remember." she quickly placed her frigid finger over my lips.
"Hush young one, they will hear you." she whispered
It was then that he appeared from no where "No they will na" said a man, tall, fair & grinning.
My gaze quickly snapped to meet his. I saw his face fall as he quickly turned away. The girl was immediately at his side with her hand around his waist whispering something I couldn't hear. It appeared that she was consoling him.
"Excuse me?" I said, awkwardly. "I left the milk in the barn and my father will surely be angry if I do not finish my chores and return soon.' I looked towards the sky noting that morning was slipping away rapidly and father would return from morning vespers within moments.
"I'm sorry how terribly rude of me" I shifted my weight from my left foot to my right and extended my hand. "I didn't catch your name and how is it that you know mine?"
Her expression softened as her companion turned as I spoke.
I be Liam.
For a man of his stature his voice was like soft velvet, I was taken aback by it and visibly so as he noted my posture change and commented on it.
I will na hurt ye lad, do na fear me.
"I apologize first off for being rude, thank you for saving me. I don't know what happened, it all went so fast. I heard a noise in the loft and the next thing I knew I was running and seemingly appeared here. If you don't mind me asking, who are you? I don't understand"
All of my thoughts flooded from my mouth at once, surely I sounded like a dumbfounded fool and that's exactly what I was. My mind could not grasp that which just happened. I lost my balance and fell on my backside.
I reached up instinctively to take her hand and retracted it immediately. "You hands are like ice" I said, getting to my feet.
She smiled down at me. "I be Siobhan, Carlisle, and aye twas I in yer loft the other eve. Ye must be careful around things such as this, young one, as tis very dangerous for ye."
My glance shot immediately to Liam. Something caught his attention and he ran to investigate. My mind cleared for a moment as I remembered I left my chores unfinished. My eyes must have spoken for me, before I knew it I was once again in Siobhan's arms and back at our barn without so much as a blink.

Siobhan's crimson eyes softened as she set me down. "My father is going to be so angry" I sighed.
Liam secured the area and made sure that no others were in the vicinity.
"He's completely bound by schedule and time. I should have been done a quarter hour ago."
I quickly went in the barn, gathered up the milk pail, put the cow back out to pasture and started back inside. I turned around to thank them once more and they stood silently gazing towards the house. Siobhan shook her head, "Perhaps he will na, Carlisle" She said "Maybe ye should give him the benefit of the doubt." I took a few steps, turned again to thank them and were gone. I stood, silently staring, amazed at the speed at which they traveled. I took a deep breath and entered the house. I found my father in his usual place, pouring over a sermon. His eyes met mine as I entered the kitchen with the pail of milk.
"Carlisle" He said, my heart stopped, knowing I would, at least, be scolded for my tardiness.I averted my eyes and waiting for his harsh words but none came.
"What are you waiting for, son?" He said, glancing back down to his sermon
"I, uh.. " started as I shifted my weight from foot to foot nervously.
"Best get that milk on ice before it spoils " He said, dismissing me with a wave of his hand. I quickly scampered past him, put the milk away and tidied up the kitchen before disappearing to my room to peer out the window in search of my new-found friends.


*Disclaimer - Siobhan at this point is NOT aware that she has a gift. Carlisle surely thinks she's magical for this was the 1st time he had NOT been scolded for dilly-dallying and being tardy