Desired (16 page)

Caitlin turned to the servant, who stil stood there, holding the door.

“Thank you,” she said, embarrassed to be waited upon.

“You don’t need to hold the door. I’m not royalty, after al .”

He smiled back as Caitlin stepped up into the carriage, and then closed it behind her.

It was smal and cozy in here, as Caitlin settled back on velvet cushions, Ruth in her lap, and looked out the dainty glass window. The servant jumped on board, whipped the horses, and they were off, the horses trotting, taking Caitlin through the manicured road leading to the palace.

Caitlin leaned forward and looked, and Ruth did, too. She marveled at the perfectly cut grass, the endless, formal gardens designed in every shape, the huge fountain bursting at its center, the perfectly trimmed hedges. She marveled at how smooth the roads were, how white they were, how wel taken care of. It was like riding on air.

As they pul ed up to the main entrance, Caitlin saw several people come out to greet her. She felt embarrassed. The sleek, marble steps, were already crowded with servants, royals, al sorts of people teeming, waiting to get a glimpse of her. They al watched with expectation as the carriage pul ed up.

They came to a stop and the servant opened the door for her, and she slowly climbed out.

As she looked at the crowd, at al their fine outfits and elaborate hats, she suddenly felt self-conscious of what she was wearing. She looked down and was mortified to see that she stil wore the simple wardrobe the nuns had given her.

Caitlin ascended the steps—there seemed to be hundreds of them—until she final y reached the top. The crowd stared back. She wondered who exactly was supposed to introduce her, to show her around, now that Aiden had left her to her own devices. She scanned the faces, hoping to find someone familiar, and especial y hoping to find Pol y.

But she didn’t recognize anyone. And she suddenly felt like a stranger here.

Caitlin heard a giggling, and turned to see several girls, dressed in incredible finery, whispering and laughing at her, as they eyed her from head to toe. Caitlin felt her cheeks redden. Clearly, they were making fun of her.

Caitlin suddenly felt under scrutiny, and wanted to leave this place. Everyone here seemed so formal, so uptight, so judgmental. And she didn’t recognize anyone. She was thinking of turning around and leaving, when suddenly, someone stepped forward from the crowd.

She was one of the most beautiful women Caitlin had ever seen. She was dressed in a long, green, satin dress, with high col ars that framed her perfect cheekbones. She had dark skin, standing out amidst al the pale, white faces, and she looked to Caitlin to be of African descent, and maybe 18. She had large, emerald green eyes and long lashes, and she stood so erect, with such a straight posture, so regal. Caitlin wondered if she were a princess.

She turned to the girls who were giggling and scowled at them.

“Silence yourselves!” she snapped. “That is not how we treat our guests!”

The group of girls quieted.

The woman took two steps towards Caitlin, and curtsied.

Caitlin curtsied back, trying her best to remain dignified.

She was so grateful for this woman’s intervention, whoever she was.

“It is a great pleasure to meet you, Caitlin,” she said. “Aiden has told us al about you. I am Lily.”

Caitlin shook her hand. “Thank you,” she said.

“I’ve asked Aiden for the honor of escorting you, and showing you our grounds. Would you like to accompany me?”

“I’d be delighted,” Caitlin said, relieved to be away from this crowd.

Caitlin stepped up, linked arms with Lily, and the two of them began walking away from the steps, Ruth at her heels.

“Don’t mind them,” Lily whispered to Caitlin as they walked, the crowd parting ways. “They are young. And bored.”

Caitlin couldn’t help smiling. She real y liked Lily already, and already felt that they would be close friends.

“Caitlin!” suddenly came an excited voice.

Caitlin recognized the voice immediately.

She turned, and there, rushing at her, dressed in a royal gown but otherwise looking exactly as she’d remembered her, was Pol y.

Pol y came rushing towards her and embraced her in a huge hug, before Caitlin could even react.

Ruth whined hysterical y, until Pol y leaned down and hugged her, too.

“Oh my God, I can’t believe it!” she said in a rush. “I had a dream about you last night. It was so weird. I mean I know I’ve never met you before. At least not formal y. But in the dream it was like, I remembered everything. Pol epel, Venice—the whole thing. Was it real y you? I can’t believe it!”

Caitlin couldn’t help smiling back. She was delighted to see Pol y, and even more delighted that she remembered.

“Yes, it was me. It
is
me. The same old Caitlin. I’m so happy you’re here.”

Pol y embraced her in a second hug. Judging from the stares of al the formal people around them, it seemed that Pol y was breaking etiquette.

“Oh my God, it’s incredible!” she said. “We have so much catching up to do. I have to show you around,” she said, as she grabbed her arm and began to lead her away.

Caitlin stopped and turned to Lily, who seemed disappointed.

“Lily was just about to,” Caitlin explained to Pol y. “I’d like for her to join us.”

“Oh my god, of course!” Pol y said. “Lily is awesome!”

And with that, Pol y locked one arm with Lily and one with Caitlin, practical y dragging the two of them away from the crowd.

They walked towards the huge marble entrance of the palace. Caitlin had never been in such a magnificent place in her life. Not only was everything built in such a grand scale, but everything was so wel -maintained. Everywhere she looked, she saw freshly cut flowers. The floors were draped in magnificent rugs, there were endless wal hangings, tapestries, oil paintings; there were rare china vases.

If that were not enough, huge crystal chandeliers hung everywhere, their light reflected by dozens of ornate mirrors. The sun shone through rows of windows larger any she had ever seen.

The three of them walked so far just to get down one corridor, that her feet already hurt—and there was stil no end in sight.

Pol y had not stopped talking the entire time. Caitlin had never seen her so excited. She went on and on, hardly taking a breath, as she fil ed Caitlin in on everything about the palace, the grounds, Aiden, their training, the Royals, the local gossip, Marie Antoinette—and most of al , her new crush.

She would not mention his name. Al she’d say that he was a singer. A vocalist.

“You
have
to meet him,” Pol y said, grabbing Caitlin’s wrist in enthusiasm, “oh my God, he’s so amazing. I mean, he can be a little brusque at first, but he doesn’t real y mean it.

It’s just like how he warms up for his art, you know what I mean? I can’t stop thinking about him. I’m real y fal ing for this guy!”

Caitlin examined Pol y’s face, and couldn’t believe it. She had never seen Pol y so in love. She was happy for her.

She was a little worried by the way she described this guy, though. A bit brusque?

No one should be brusque to Pol y, Caitlin thought. She felt the need to check out this guy for herself, to see if he was truly the right one for Pol y. Especial y since Pol y seemed to be so in love.

“I’m so happy for you,” Caitlin said. “Just be careful. Take it slow. Make sure he treats you wel .

You deserve that.”

“Of course he treats me wel , why wouldn’t he?” Pol y shot back, sounding defensive.

Caitlin was shocked. Pol y had never snapped at her before, in al the time she had known her.

Caitlin sensed that she had changed—that this guy, this singer, was having some sort of weird influence over her. It made her worry even more.

“I’m just saying,” Caitlin said softly, trying to backtrack, “you deserve the best.”

Pol y seemed to soften at that. She looked down and checked her watch. “Oh my god!” she exclaimed, suddenly wide-eyed. “I’m almost late. He’s giving a performance at the far end of the palace. I have to go!”

And with that, Pol y suddenly took off down a corridor.

Caitlin stopped, watching her go, completely baffled. She had never seen Pol y like this. She couldn’t believe that she would just take off like that, so soon after barely seeing her.

It seemed like she was total y under the control of this guy.

Caitlin had a sinking feeling about it.

“Was she always like this?” Caitlin asked Lily.

Lily shook her head. “No. It’s only since she met him. He’s a real jerk, too, if you ask me. Ful of himself.”

Caitlin sensed that Lily was right. That Pol y was under the spel of a guy who was wrong for her. She remembered al the times she’d had to watch her girlfriends date guys who were jerks, and their friends were too clouded to see it. It was painful for her to have to watch them go through that, especial y when there was nothing she could do about it.

Whenever she tried to help them, give them advice, they didn’t want to listen, and inevitably, it just seemed to backfire on their friendship.

“That’s not the Pol y I know,” Caitlin said.

“Me either,” Lily said.

Caitlin sighed as Lily took her arm, and the two of them continued walking down the corridor, Ruth fol owing.

Caitlin missed Pol y, but at the same time, it felt good to have a chance to walk with Lily in the calm and silence.

Pol y could sometimes be a bit overwhelming.

Around Lily, though, Caitlin fel total y peaceful.

“So you and Pol y have known each other a long time?” Lily asked.

“Centuries,” Caitlin said, but immediately after she said it, she realized it must have sounded weird to a human. She wondered if Lily would think she was crazy.

But Lily nodded, seeming to take it al in stride.

“Don’t worry,” Lily said, “I know al about your kind,” she said. “I’ve been living with you guys al my life here. Nothing surprises me.”

“So you’ve lived here your whole life?” Caitlin asked.

Lily nodded. “I’m a member of the royal family. Marie is my second cousin. Adopted, if you’re wondering. These people certainly didn’t give birth to an African child like me,”

Lily said, and burst into laughter. She had a warm, infectious laugh. “My birth parents are from Kenya. But they died when I was an infant, and I was adopted by one of the Royals while they were on their African vacation. And here I am. A member of the royal family. Isn’t that ironic?”

“No, I don’t think it’s ironic at al ,” Caitlin said, seriously. “In fact, you seem to be the only one here with real class.”

Caitlin could see Lily’s expression change. Her face seemed to fold into appreciation, and at that moment, Caitlin could tel that she had just made a friend for life.

“That’s the nicest thing anyone here’s ever said to me,” she said. “Al the others do here is backbite and gossip about each other. You’re different.”

They walked out the rear palace door, down a set of marble steps, and through the formal gardens.

“You better pick up your pace, girlfriend,” Lily said. “We’ve got miles to go to show you this place.”

They walked for what seemed like forever, through garden after garden, as Lily pointed out al the different buildings.

They walked around a large pond, and Lily pointed out where Marie’s private residence was.

“At least she’s fun,” Lily said. “Lots of parties. It’s never dul around her. It’s the people who surround her that are the problem. Of course, Marie’s one of yours, though. That’s the big thing around here: who’s vampire and who’s human.

Al the humans here want to be vampires. But the vampires wil never turn them. So we live in a sort of harmony together. The vampires watch our backs, protect this place from attack, and we give them a place to live. We guard the palace by day, and they by night. So far, it’s working out.

But there’ve been a few close encounters over the years.”

“What do you mean?” Caitlin asked.

“I mean, a human fal ing for a vampire, or vice versa.

People almost getting turned. That’s a big no-no for Aiden.

If that happens, they’re out. It’s always a source of tension around here. We can be friends, but we can’t cross that line. Which is fine with me. Al the guys I like are human anyway. But that’s not true of al of my human girlfriends.

Some of them set their eyes on a vampire, and just won’t let it go, if you know what I mean.”

Caitlin thought about that, and remembered back to when she was human, and she knew how they felt.

“Anyway, al your kind do is train al the time anyway. They spend the whole day on the training ground. Every day it seems like they’ve got a new weapon to try out, or some new skil . It’s fun to watch. Us royals gather around, and watch you guys square off. It’s probably the greatest entertainment around here.”

They walked down a set of grass steps, across another formal courtyard, and approached a low, marble building, set back from the rest of the palace.

“That’s where you guys live,” Lily said. “I trust you’ve seen worse accommodations?”

Caitlin was in awe. It looked like a miniature palace. She couldn’t believe she’d be staying here.

In the fields al around her, she saw dozens of vampires training, sparring with bamboo swords, their click-clack heard from yards away.

She suddenly had a pang of worry, as she wondered if Blake were among them. She was going to ask Lily, but was afraid to hear the answer. That was the last thing she wanted to deal with right now. As it was, her heart was stil hurting over Caleb, wondering if she’d made the right decision to leave.

Lily stopped before the door, and faced Caitlin. “Wel , this is far as I go,” Lily said.

Caitlin stepped up and gave her a hug. “Thank you,” Caitlin said. “For everything.”

Lily hugged her back.

“I’l see you soon,” Lily said. “After al , humans and vampires always feast together. I’l save you a seat next to mine.”

“I’d like that,” Caitlin said.

*

Caitlin surveyed her room, taken aback by its opulence.