Desired (22 page)

That he real y existed. That he’d real y left something for her. That he cared enough about her enough to do so. She felt her heart lift, and felt more determined than ever to fulfil her mission—

and to find him. She read each word with utter fixation: My dearest Caitlin:

If you are reading this, you have already surpassed many obstacles. It means that you have already chosen to travel the road less traveled, to take the difficult path. For that, I commend you.

You are truly your father’s daughter.

You must forgive al the riddles, codes, letters, and keys, but the secret that I guard is most powerful, and must be broken into fragments, to prevent others from decoding it.

Only the truly worthy—only yourself—are meant to decode the secret that you ultimately wil .

If you are reading this, you already have one key in your possession. You must obtain the final three to reach me.

The second key is your focus now. To find it, you wil first have to go to the Fields of the Scholars—

The letter was torn right there, in mid-sentence.

Caitlin read it a second time, and a third time, then final y set it down.

She leaned back, her mind spinning. Holding this was overwhelming. Her mission felt more real, and more pressing, than ever.

But she was also confused. The Fields of the Scholars?

Where on earth could that be?

She was more determined than ever to embark right away, to embrace her mission, to head there immediately, wherever it was, and to find the second key.

But before Caitlin had any more time to dwel on where this place may be, there was a sudden knock at her door.

She started to get up from bed, but before she could even reach it, the door swung open by itself.

In strutted Pol y, a huge smile on her face, beaming. She was dressed in a lavish, formal outfit, a long, satin pink gown with white trim, her hair pul ed back in a bun, and her face careful y made-up and powdered.

Ruth ran up to her, so happy to see her, jumping at her feet.

“Oh my God, why are you not dressed!?” Pol y began. “The

“Oh my God, why are you not dressed!?” Pol y began. “The concert is tonight!”

She rushed into the room and immediately began to ruffle through Caitlin’s wardrobe, as if to prepare an outfit for her.

Caitlin sat on the edge of her bed, confused.

“What concert?” she asked.

“Didn’t I tel you? He’s singing tonight. My boyfriend. You
have
to come. Everyone wil be there!”

Pol y came running over excitedly, grabbing Caitlin’s arm and pul ing her up off the bed and onto her feet.

“Not to mention, dinner is starting now,” Pol y continued.

“There’s always a feast before a concert. Everyone’s going to be expecting you!”

Caitlin withdrew her hand from Pol y’s grasp, and slowly shook her head.

“I’m sorry, Pol y,” she said. “But I can’t go. I’m actual y about to leave Versail es.”

Pol y looked incredulous.

“What are you talking about? We barely had time to talk to each other! What do you mean leave?

Where!? You just got here!”

“I’m sorry,” Caitlin answered, “but I need to find my father.

I’m going back to Paris. To the Notre Dame. I feel that he’s there, or that there might a clue there to lead me to him.”

She watched Pol y’s face fal in disappointment.

“And we haven’t had time to talk because you’ve been so wrapped up with this singer,” Caitlin added. She felt that she had to let her know how she was feeling.

Pol y looked down, looking sad for the first time Caitlin had ever known her.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. I just…” She looked up, and her eyes were suddenly beaming again. “This guy is just
so
amazing. You
have
to meet him.
Please
. I promise, after tonight, things wil be different. We’l hang out a lot more. It’s just the beginning.

He hasn’t met any of my friends yet. I want you to be the first!”

Caitlin sighed, not knowing what to do. On the one hand, she wanted to leave right now. But on the other, she certainly didn’t want to let Pol y—or anyone else—down.

Especial y since everyone had been so hospitable to her here. After al , it was already night, and she didn’t see the harm in waiting until the morning. And looking at Pol y, she could see how much it meant for her to meet this guy. She could see how much it meant for her to meet this guy. She could understand. If the situation were reversed, and it were about Caleb, she might feel the same way, too.

Most of al , Pol y always managed to touch a soft spot in her heart.

“Okay,” Caitlin said, “but I’l just stay tonight. Tomorrow, I leave.”

“Yeah!” Pol y screamed, jumping up and down, excitedly rushing about the room. Caitlin marveled how much she was like a little kid. She went through al of Caitlin’s clothes in a rush, and picked out a long, elegant yel ow skirt, with a red trim.

“This one,” Pol y said. “Yes, this is perfect. You
have
to wear this.”

Caitlin looked at it, and shook her head. She’d never worn anything remotely like it before. It was so long, heavy, formal, and had so much material. It looked like it had enough material to make drapes for an entire house.

“I don’t know, Pol y,” she said. “I don’t think it’s me.”

“Nonsense,” Pol y said, running around and holding it up against her. She gasped. “Oh my God!

It’s beautiful!”

Caitlin decided it would be futile to resist. Clothes were clearly Pol y’s thing. She figured she’d letter be happy with what she wanted, especial y since Caitlin didn’t much care for al these fancy clothes anyway.

“Okay, I’l wear it,” she said.

Pol y practical y screamed with giddiness, clapping her hands. Ruth barked excitedly, joining in.

And Caitlin realized she was in for a long night.

After what felt like hours getting ready—far longer than Caitlin would have liked—Pol y was final y satisfied with the way that the two of them looked. Because they couldn’t see themselves in mirrors, they had to rely on each other.

According to Pol y, Caitlin looked ravishing. Caitlin wasn’t so sure. She had never thought of herself as ravishing, in any outfit.

But she had spent more time putting on makeup, and getting into this outfit, than she had in any outfit of her life.

There had been layers and layers of fabric, each more uncomfortable than the next, and in this July heat, she felt her body temperature rise with each added later. She had no idea how they did it.

If that were not enough, Pol y had caked her face with layer after layer of thick, white powder.

Caitlin didn’t understand why this generation thought this to be attractive. And even if for some reason they did, wasn’t one layer enough? She was pale to begin with, but now, she was sure she looked ridiculous.

As if al this weren’t enough, as if she weren’t already boiling over and ready to tear off every item of clothing in this heat, her outfit had to be topped off with a huge, heavy hat. Caitlin was so warm and stiff that she could scream.

She felt like a plaything, dressed up to be shown off to people.

She hated it. She preferred loose, simple clothing, that she could throw on and off easily, and she preferred not having to wear any makeup. And she hated spending hours getting ready.

That said, she tried to put on a big smile. She didn’t want to ruin Pol y’s excitement, which, as usual, was brimming over.

“Oh my God, you look gorgeous!” Pol y said again. “You’re going to be the talk of the night!”

Without another word, she took her arm, and the two of them walked out of the guest house, and began to cross the grounds.

They crossed through the perfectly trimmed formal gardens, heading for the main, marble palace of Versail es, Ruth trailing on their heels.

As they headed up the marble staircase, immediately several servants rushed to open the doors for them. Caitlin had never felt so regal.

They glided through the open doors and down a marble hal way, and in the distance, several more servants opened doors for them.

They entered a grand, magnificent, dining room. Caitlin had never seen anything more opulent.

The room was dominated by an enormous dining table, which looked like it sat at least fifty. This was surrounded by thick, grand velvet armchairs, decorated in a light blue velvet with white arms.

The table was covered in flowers and burning candles.

Everywhere was real silver, real china.

There were heaps and heaps of food al throughout, and each guest already had a plate brimming over. Dozens of servants hovered around them, waiting on their every whim, pouring glass after glass of wine into the finest crystal she had ever seen. Above the table were several magnificent crystal chandeliers, reflecting light off of everything.

And this was just the beginning. Everyone was dressed in fineries more opulent than Caitlin had ever seen. There were gowns and dresses and suits of every shape and size and color imaginable.

The table was a rainbow of color. And this was topped by extravagant hats, and even more extravagant jewelry, women and men wearing rings the size of golf bal s, long glittering earrings, draping bracelets. The table positively sparkled.

Off in the corner of the room was a harp and a cel o, and the performers played lightly, providing pleasant background music.

Caitlin surveyed the group, and there were so many faces she didn’t recognize. But there were several that she did.

She spotted Sam, sitting way too close to Kendra, who leaned into his shoulder as he fed her chocolate-covered strawberries.

As she scanned further, she saw Blake sitting at the far end, and beside him, a beautiful, tal blonde girl. Caitlin could sense that she was human, and seeing Blake together with her, and seeing the two of them so happy, felt like a smal dagger in her heart.

She immediately looked away, trying to focus on anyone else. She saw the twins, Taylor and Tyler, and then, to her relief, she saw Lily. That was the only face that set her at ease. She was even happier to see that there was an empty seat beside her. Caitlin hurried over, Pol y at her side.

“Mind if we join you?” she asked Lily.

Lily looked up, and her eyes opened wide in delight.

“Who else do you think I saved it for?” Lily asked with a smile.

Caitlin sat beside Lily, and Pol y sat on Caitlin’s other side.

Caitlin tried not to look in Blake’s direction. She turned her head the other way, and saw Sam and Kendra. But seeing those two so enmeshed upset her, too, so she looked away from that end of the table. She fidgeted, not knowing where to look, already impatient to leave.

“Where is he?” Caitlin asked Pol y, as she scanned the table for Pol y’s new boyfriend. She was eager to meet him, to see what al the talk was about—and then, to leave. She had been surprised not to find him at the door, waiting to greet Pol y and bring her to her seat, as the other men did.

“He’s performing tonight,” Pol y said with great pride, “so he won’t be joining us at the feast.

He always needs to prepare before his performances. He needs time alone. Backstage. That’s because he’s a very great artist.”

Caitlin looked at Pol y, and wondered if she were serious.

She was. She had never seen her so smitten by a guy, and she worried for her once again. Everything she said about this guy gave Caitlin the creeps, made her feel as if something was off about him. He sounded so vain, so megalomaniacal. Caitlin could care less that he was performing—she stil thought that he should have greeted Pol y and escorted her to the table, and dined with her, especial y since Pol y was so enthusiastic about him.

Caitlin once again felt moved to tel Pol y exactly what she thought—but, reluctantly, she bit her tongue. She didn’t want to get involved and ruin her good time, especial y since she didn’t think it would do much good. At the very least, she’d wait until she met him first.

Several servants appeared, placing dish after dish on Caitlin’s plate, and fil ing her glass with a thick, red liquid.

Caitlin felt herself getting hungry as she saw what was in the glass: blood. She held it up, and realized that this blood was an even lighter shade of red than any she had seen.

“It’s refined,” Lily explained.

Caitlin looked at her.

“They take al the impurities out of it,” Lily continued. “It’s supposed to be healthier for your kind. Remember, this is Versail es: everything is extravagant here.”

Caitlin tasted it, and was surprised at how much lighter it was, and how it went down so much more smoothly. She was also surprised by the immediate kick she got, and by how she felt so rejuvenated so quickly. Whatever it was they did to it, this blood was definitely of a greater quality.

Caitlin took a piece of raw meat off of her plate, reached down, and slipped it to Ruth, who was hiding beneath her legs. Ruth jumped up and snatched it from her fingers, and happily gulped it down. She looked up at Caitlin, ready for more, and Caitlin slipped her another piece.

Caitlin looked around the table and could see that there was a large mix of vampires and humans here. There was a lot of interaction between the two, and the relationship felt very harmonious.

“Quite a scene, isn’t it?” Lily asked.

Caitlin nodded back. Everyone seemed happily engrossed in chatter, and light laughter spread throughout the table.

“I envy your life,” Lily said. “Our royal life is one of forced idleness. This. Al the time. I’d rather be out there, sparring, traveling, whatever. Anywhere but here.”

Caitlin was surprised to hear Lily say that, because she had just been thinking of what an amazing life it must be to live here.

“But this place is so beautiful,” Caitlin said.

“No place is beautiful if you’re trapped in it,” Lily answered.

“But you’re not trapped. You’re royal. You can go anywhere you want.”

“I’m trapped by my class,” Lily said. “I can’t travel with commoners, or on common roads, or by myself. Everything must be formal. There are layers and layers of etiquette.