Found (Book #8 in the Vampire Journals) (17 page)

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

Caitlin stood in the midst of the thick crowd, staring up at the Eastern gate, the sun glaring behind it. She had to squint at the site, and for a moment, she could hardly believe it was true. She wondered if her eyes were playing tricks on her. Making things worse, there was also such a light radiating off the man coming through that it was hard for Caitlin to see where the sun ended and the man began.

Caitlin watched as the man, seated on a donkey, rode in through the Eastern gate. The animal ambled through the thick masses, as all around him swarmed dozens of followers, dressed in long, flowing white robes. The man himself wore a long, white robe and hood, which was lowered, exposing his face to the crowd. He had long, light brown hair going down to his cheekbones, and a short brown beard. His eyes were large and hazel, and they radiated light, like two glowing marbles. In fact, there was such light radiating off of this man that Caitlin had to squint. And he had such an aura of peace, she could immediately sense he was different. This was no ordinary person.

Caitlin could hardly imagine this was real. She felt as if she were in a dream, as if she were watching herself from the outside. And yet, from the pushing and shoving of the crowd, the noisy street, the smell, the braying of donkeys and bleating of sheep, the heat, the chaos, she knew it was real. It was very, very real.

To her astonishment, Caitlin realized that the man before her, the man entering in a donkey through the Eastern gate of Jerusalem, was none other than Jesus.

Your guide will appear the Eastern gate.

She could not believe it. She was standing there, at the doorway to history. In history. Watching it unfold as it happened.

Her heart started pounding, as she realized that all the clues, in all the places, had led her to this spot. To this moment in time. This was it. Jesus was her guide. He would lead her to her Dad.

As Caitlin watched him enter, she sensed it to be true. It felt right. Every bone, every vibration in her body told her that it was him, that
he
was her guide. That he would be the one to take her on the final leg of her journey. To meet her father. To bring her to the Shield.

She watched as he got closer, slowly riding through the crowd. He held up a single hand as he went, palm out, his eyes half-closed. As he went, she watched in disbelief as several crowd members, hunched over and limping, suddenly stood up straight. Healed.

It was incredible. As he went, anyone close to him became healed.

Being Jerusalem, this was also a chaotic and crowded scene. Flooding into the gate behind him were dozens of followers, and behind these there appeared dozens of Romans soldiers, marching, trying to clear the way, to regain order and control. They had scowls on their faces, and looked deeply displeased that Jesus had come, and that he had drawn this crowd. People elbowed to get closer to him, pushing each other out of the way. People screamed Jesus’ name in every direction, wanting his attention, wanting to be healed. Others screamed curses at him, throwing stones, calling him a false Messiah.

Yet as the stones flew through the air, they fell harmlessly to the ground, falling limp as they neared him.

It seemed like everyone in this crowd had a different opinion, a different agenda, different beliefs, a different perspective of him. Caitlin could see from the angry faces of the guards that the Romans were threatened by him and wanted to keep him under a tight watch. Amidst the Romans she saw there was standing a single man, clearly their governor. She recognized his face from the history books: Pontius Pilate. The Prefect of Rome. The one who had killed Jesus.

Caitlin thought of history, and she knew what would happen. Jesus, riding now so harmlessly on his donkey, would soon be captured. Imprisoned. Put on trial. And then, crucified.

The thought of it made Caitlin cringe. She looked at him now—so serene, so peaceful—and it seemed hard to believe that any ill would ever come to him. Just being there, on the outskirts of the crowd, she could already feel a sense of peace. It was actually the first time she had felt a real sense of peace since she had arrived back in this place and time. She didn’t know why, but she felt a great sense of comfort around him.

She also felt excited. Every clue she had ever found pointed her to this moment in time. She felt that, in just moments, he would lead her to her Dad.

As Jesus made his way through the crowd on his donkey, slowly, the crowd parted ways. Caitlin pushed her way through a row of people, trying to get closer. She had to see him up close. She wondered if he would even acknowledge her—or if she were just imagining all of this. Had the clue meant something else entirely?

She felt the urgency of time now more than ever. She didn’t have a moment to lose.

Caitlin managed to edge closer, her heart pounding. As she neared him, she felt a warmth spreading throughout her entire body, and an indescribable sense of peace. Jesus was sitting straight up, eyes half closed, looking at everything and nothing at the same time. Caitlin hoped, prayed, that somehow he might acknowledge her. That this was all real. That he could lead her to her Dad.

As she got closer, he suddenly turned her way, and looked directly at her. Then, he lowered his hand and held it out to her.

Caitlin could hardly breathe, she was so nervous. He was holding out his fingertips, as if for her to touch them. She reached out, slowly, her hand shaking, and the tips of her fingers just barely grazed his.

As they did, her entire body was electrified. The shock ran through her fingertips, down her arm, and through her entire body. The amount of energy that poured through him was more than she could fathom: it was like a tsunami. The energy rejuvenated and healed her at the same time. It made her aware of her own power. Of her own existence. For the first time in as long she could remember, she felt truly alive.

Jesus looked down at her, expressionless, his eyes aglow, gazing into hers.

“I have been waiting for you,” he said, softly.

Caitlin felt her eyes fill with tears. Waiting for her? Jesus? She couldn’t even imagine. She felt so important. As if her entire life had a greater meaning than she ever knew. She had no idea how to respond.

“Follow me,” he said.

The crowd surged forward and his donkey moved on, absorbed by the masses. Still trembling, she watched his back as he continued on. The experience left her speechless. She felt more of a sense of purpose now than ever. She felt absolutely certain that if she followed him, he would lead her directly to her Dad. To the shield. She was so excited, she could hardly breathe.

But just as Caitlin took her first step to follow him, she suddenly stopped.

Because there, standing in the crowd, staring back at her, was a man with intense, sad eyes, a man she was sure she would never see again. She did a double take, unable to comprehend if it was true.

After several moments, she realized it was.

It was really him.

Blake.

And just as Caitlin, already overwhelmed, tried to process this new twist, she was suddenly overcome by another shock: standing there, beside him, looking up at her with love and joy, was her daughter.

Standing there, was Scarlet.

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

Caitlin stood there, staring at Blake and Scarlet, speechless. Her heart soared at the site of them. Her eyes locked on Scarlet’s, and at the same moment, they ran for each other. Caitlin could see Scarlet’s face light up with joy, and beside her, she was also thrilled to see Ruth, who ran to her, too.

Caitlin picked Scarlet up in her arms and hugged her with all she had. She could feel Scarlet’s little hands hugging her back, squeezing tightly.

Caitlin felt hot tears streaming down her cheeks, and felt Scarlet’s tears on her own neck. She felt whole again, alive again. As if a piece of her had been returned. Her daughter was alive. And she was
here
, with her, back in this time and place. Safe.

“Mommy
mommy
! I missed you so much,” Scarlet said, through her tears. Caitlin hugged her, never wanting to let her go.

“I know, sweetheart. I missed you, too.”

Ruth barked and whined, jumping on Caitlin; Caitlin knelt down, and she licked her frantically all over her face.

Scarlet watched and laughed hysterically. Caitlin was so happy to hear that laugh again. Her life felt whole again.

Then Caitlin stood, suddenly remembering.

Blake.

He stood there, staring back with his large blue eyes. They were watering over, Caitlin could see, and he smiled. Clearly, he was overjoyed to see this reunion. And more than that, he had been a part of it.

“Mommy, Blake saved me! And Ruth,” Scarlet screamed.

Once again, Blake had saved Scarlet. Her daughter. She owed him a far greater debt than she could ever repay.

Caitlin stepped forward and wordlessly embraced Blake, hugging him tightly. At first, he hesitated, and then he hugged her back. His embrace became tighter and tighter, and she felt his muscles rippling. She felt his love pouring through to her, and she could feel how sad he was that they were not together anymore.

After a long time, too long for just a casual friend, Blake finally, slowly, pulled back. He stood there, his eyes watered over, and looked down at Caitlin. She could see the longing and sadness in them. She could see in them how much he wished that things had turned out differently.

Caitlin felt indebted to him. But she was loyal to Caleb. Caleb was her husband, and Scarlet was her daughter. So Caitlin did the loyal thing, and forced herself to look away. She took a deep breath, and turned away, not wanting to look into his eyes anymore, not wanting to think of him. She owed that to Caleb.

She hoped she didn’t offend him. But she had to be strong. For them both.

Caitlin could sense Scarlet looking up, back and forth between them, trying to figure it out.

“I can’t thank you enough,” Caitlin said. But she was not looking into his eyes as she said it. She was looking away, refusing to meet that stare.

“I was looking for you, and I stumbled upon her,” Blake said. “I came back in this time searching for you. There is nothing to thank me for. It was a great privilege.”

Caitlin kept her distance. She turned and looked through the streets, trying to distract herself, to look at anything else. In the distance, she watched Jesus, riding slowly through the mobs. Some bystanders were cheering at his presence. Others were heckling him. She watched as he got further and further away.

Follow me.

She felt that she needed to go after him, that she couldn’t let him disappear. She had to follow him. Wherever it was she needed to go, wherever it was he would lead her, now was the time. She felt a pang of anxiety at the thought of losing him. She sensed an urgency.

“You are right,” Blake said, reading her mind. “You cannot lose him.”

Caitlin blushed at her mind being read.

“You must follow him. Now. Take Scarlet. Don’t let him get away. He will lead you to the shield.”

Caitlin blushed, embarrassed her mind was such an open book.

“And what about you?” Caitlin asked. “Where will you go?”

“As much as I would like to stay here, with you,” he said, “there is business calling me elsewhere. Urgent business. There is a great disturbance in the universe.”

Caitlin looked at him, unnerved to hear someone else say it.

“I can feel it too,” she said.

“It is Rexius. And his men. And, I’m sorry to say, your brother. Sam. He is with them now.”

Caitlin nodded slowly, sensing that, too. She felt heart well up with shame and remorse at the thought of Sam helping those cretins. But she didn’t know what to do.

“They are attacking Aiden,” Blake said. “Every moment counts.”

“Caleb is with him,” Caitlin said, feeling a sudden terror. As Blake said it, she could feel the power of these forces. She could feel that they had unleashed something very powerful, and she did not know what. She sensed it was heading right for Caleb.

“I have to join you,” Caitlin said. “I can help you. And I can help Caleb.”

Blake shook his head.

“No. We need you to find your father. If you come with us, you’ll be just another soldier. That won’t help us at all.”

As he said it, Caitlin sensed his words were true. But it still hurt to hear them. More than anything, she just wanted to be by Caleb’s side.

“I must go,” Blake said, sadly.

As he did, Caitlin had a sudden sense this was the last time she would ever see Blake alive again, too. The feeling caused a pain in her heart. She tried to pretend it wasn’t there, but deep down, she knew it was.

She looked at him one last time. She saw him staring back at her, and it pained her more than she could say.

“I don’t know what to say,” Caitlin said.

Blake took a step forward, standing just a few inches away. He reached up and held her cheek in his hand, smiling.

“Don’t say anything,” he said. “I know that you love Caleb. I’m happy for you. I’m happy for you both. But just do me one favor,” he said, looking at her. “Just tell me one thing…. In the past, once, long ago…tell me that you loved me.”

Caitlin felt her eyes well up with tears and pain. She wanted more than anything to push thoughts of Blake completely from her mind. But, she had to admit, there had been a time. Once. When she did, indeed, love him. She thought back to Venice, to their magical time together. The costume ball. His dying for her in the Roman Colosseum.

Slowly, her voice trembling, Caitlin began to speak. It was hard to breathe.

“I…there…was a time…once… Once, I loved you.”

Blake stared at her for several seconds, then finally, slowly, nodded. Satisfied.

He lowered his hand from her cheek. He leaned over and kissed her forehead. Then, he reached down and placed something in her palm, and closed it.

Then, without another word, he leapt into the sky.

Caitlin stood there, in shock, her heart in a million pieces as she watched Blake fly away, over the streets of Jerusalem, up higher and higher, towards the Mount of Olives, his wide black wings flapping. She knew, she just
knew
, that she would never see him again. She watched him disappear for far too long, wondering why they’d ever had to meet in the first place.

She looked down and slowly opened her palm, afraid to see what he’d placed inside. Her heart stopped as she saw a small, well-worn piece of sea glass.

And, despite herself, she burst into tears.