Microsoft Word - BETROTHED.docx (11 page)

"Samuel," he said. "No one's called me that in forever.” Caitlin stood there, reading it again, trying to decode it. It warmed her heart that her father had left this for her, and she felt closer to him than ever. But at the same time, the idea of splitting from Sam hurt her. Why couldn't they be on the same journey together? What were their different destinies?

The mount of judgment
.

She had no idea what that meant.

She looked slowly at Caleb, wondering if he knew, but he just shook his head, as did Polly, Sam and Lily.

"Warwick?" Sam asked. “What's that?”

Lily cleared her throat.

"That part’s easy. It can only mean one thing. It has to be a reference to Warwick Castle. It’s the oldest in that region, and it’s been a stronghold for your kind for thousands of years.”

"And what about the mount of judgment?" Caitlin asked.

Lily slowly shook her head. "Your guess is as good as mine."

*

Caitlin's mind reeled as she sat at the huge dining table with the others. That letter from her father, which she had since read again and again, had been like a bomb dropped into her consciousness. It held so many implications, both for her future, and for Sam’s. She kept going over every word in her mind, trying to figure out what it all meant.

But she didn't have time to think about it all right now. Lily had led them all to this enormous banquet, laid out so generously, under her supervision. It was indeed a lavish feast. She sat at a huge, oak table, Scarlet beside her, Caleb on her other side, and Sam, Polly and Lily across from them. Just the six of them, sitting at a table meant to hold a hundred, reclining in gilded, gold, stuffed armchairs.

Caitlin examined the silver, the delicate china plates, the fresh flowers, the huge candles, the chandeliers above, and the enormous windows on all sides of them, letting the sunset in. Before them were spread out heaps of every type of food. There were slices of the finest steak, overstuffed turkeys, breads, fruits, jams, desserts…there was no end to the food in sight. And behind them stood several waiters, ready to jump at their slightest need.

Caitlin looked over and saw Scarlet’s expression, how amazed she was at the feast before her.

Clearly, she had never seen anything remotely like it in her young life. Caitlin smiled wider, realizing she must think she was dreaming.

"Is this all for us?" Scarlet asked Caitlin, blinking in disbelief.

"Yes, sweetheart," Caitlin responded, "it's all for us. Dig in.” Scarlet reached over, like a kid in a candy shop, and grabbed a large piece of cheesecake to start.

Caitlin smiled. Scarlet had probably not eaten this well in her entire life. She grabbed the food quickly, as if worried someone might take it away from her.

Caitlin reached out and laid a reassuring hand on top of hers.

“It's okay," Caitlin said. "You can take all the time in the world. All this food is just for you.” Scarlet looked at her with a look of complete disbelief, as if she had landed in heaven.

More relaxed, Scarlet heaped several large strips of steak on her plate, along with the cheesecake.

Caitlin smiled, as the tower of food soon reached higher than her head.

Scarlet then took the top slice, reached over, and handed it to Ruth, who had been sitting patiently by her side, watching wide-eyed, smacking her lips. Ruth snatched it from her fingers, and Scarlet laughed in delight. Scarlet did it again and again, giving her an entire plate of steak.

Caitlin was amazed. Here Scarlet was, probably having never having such food in her life, and the first thing she did was give all her food to Ruth. Caitlin admired her more than ever. If she ever had a daughter, she wished she’d be like her.

Caitlin reached out and put a huge serving of steak on Scarlet’s plate. "This portion is just for you, Scarlet," she said.

Scarlet looked at it wide-eyed, picked up a knife and fork, and put a big piece in her mouth. She chewed, and Caitlin could see the satisfaction in her face.

Suddenly, servants appeared, and large, bejeweled goblets were placed before Caitlin, Caleb, Sam and Polly, overflowing with a white liquid. Caitlin could already sense what it was, with every pore in her body: the finest of white blood. Every ounce of her body craved it.

They all lifted their goblets, reached forward and clicked them together. Caitlin leaned back and, finally, drank.

It was the best blood she’d ever had. She drank the entire goblet without stopping, and with every sip, she felt every ounce of her being restored. By the time she set it down, she felt like a new person.

Caitlin watched as the servants placed delicately cut strips of meat before Lily, and she remembered that, of course, Lily was human. It felt so natural having her around, Caitlin had momentarily forgotten that she was not one of hers. Lily, sitting with a perfectly straight back, ever poised, reached out and gently took her knife and fork, cut it into small pieces, and chewed. It was like watching royalty. Caitlin was amazed at how refined Lily was.

Scarlet’s laughter filled the table, giving it a festive feel, as she snuck Ruth piece after piece of food off the table. Caitlin felt her heart warm at the sight, so happy to see Scarlet so well cared for here, and that Ruth was equally happy. Caitlin sat there, looking at Caleb, Sam, Polly and Lily, everyone smiling and chatting and happy, and felt so grateful. Finally, they were all together. She was with Caleb, she was with Sam, she was with Poly and Lily. They were all in this beautiful place, having this amazing meal. Finally, she felt as if there were peace and serenity in her life. It felt so good, and she wished she could freeze this moment forever.

But the letter gnawed away at her. Once her dad's voice got in her head, she found it impossible to get it out. The phrases turned in her mind, over and over again. The mount of judgment? Where could that be? Why were she and Sam being given two different paths? Would they both lead to the same place? Or would their separate journeys tear them apart forever?

And what would happen if she actually found this mount of judgment? Would her father be there? Or would she have to go back in time, yet again?

She found it hard to rest until she knew the answers to all these questions.

Caitlin needed clarity. Seeing how happy and content Scarlet and everyone else was, she slowly stood.

Everyone looked at her. "Please excuse me for a few moments," Caitlin said.

A servant hurried over and pulled back her chair.

"Of course," Lily said, "it's been a long day. The servants will show you to your room.” Caitlin leaned over and kissed Scarlet on the head, and leaned in and kissed Caleb on the lips.

Then she walked out of the room, following a servant. She felt a bit bad leaving everyone there, but they all seemed content and happy, and she needed just a few minutes to herself, to get her mind clear. She found it hard to think with everyone there.

Caitlin was shown to a magnificent room, enormous, at least fifty feet in every direction, and shaped in a semi-circle, with an entire wall of glass, looking out over the grounds of Windsor Castle.

It was an exquisite room, an architectural masterpiece, with moldings all over the walls and ceilings, huge rugs laid out in every direction, antique couches and chairs and bureaus and dressers, and a huge four-poster bed in the corner. It lifted Caitlin's spirits to be here, although at the same time, she sensed that she wouldn't be here long, that her journey would lead her elsewhere.

She walked over to the window and looked out, at the last fading light of the day. Where was it that her father meant for her to go? Would there ever be an end to this mission, to these clues?

Would she see Sam again, after their journeys took them in different directions? She knew that Caleb would accompany her. But what about Polly? Would she go with her, or with Sam?

And what about Scarlet? Already, Caitlin felt as if she were part of her family. She could not see herself ever abandoning her. But what would that mean for the future? Would she bring Scarlet on this mission everywhere? Would that be too dangerous for her?

Caitlin spotted a small writing desk in the corner, and sat before it. She reached back, deep into one of her pant pockets, and extracted her journal. She had been carrying it all along, and it felt good to take it out and hold it.

She turned back page after page, and saw the journal was getting thicker, more used up, weather-worn. It was truly becoming an old, trusted friend.

Finally, she found an empty page, grabbed the quill off the tabletop, blotted it, and settled in to write.

What is my destiny? When am I meant to find my father? Who is he? Does he really love me? Why was I chosen
for this mission? Why is it that I'm so special? And how is my mission different from Sam's?

And what will happen when I find the shield? Will all of this be over? What does that mean? Will I ever return
to a normal life? When and where? Will Caleb be in it?

Caitlin stared at her entry. It surprised her. It was not her typical journal entry. She wasn't summarizing, like she usually did. She didn't feel the need to anymore. Now she felt the need to question. To question the very deepest essence of who she was. She lifted the quill again:
Should I forget the mission? Should I just stay here, forget the clues, live here happy, safe, and secure? Or should I
go out there again, back on the trail and part from Sam? Is there more security in staying here? Or more security in
fulfilling my mission?

"Look!" came an excited voice.

Caitlin spun around, snapped out of her reverie.

There stood Scarlet, dressed in a beautiful, small silk white gown, wearing a diamond laden tiara and small diamond necklaces and diamond bracelets. She was positively beaming.

Caitlin couldn't believe the sight. She looked like a real, small princess.

"Lily gave these to me. She said I could have them. Can I? Please?” Caitlin smiled wide. She didn’t quite know what to say. "Um…if she said so, then, um…of course.”

Scarlet smiled wider than Caitlin ever thought possible, and came running over and hugged her.

Caitlin hugged her back. It felt good to have her in her arms.

"I love it here," Scarlet said. "Can we stay forever?” Caitlin stared back, thinking how uncanny it was that Scarlet should ask the very thing that was on her mind. She could see that Scarlet was a very evolved child, and wondered just how deep her powers went.

"I would love to," Caitlin said. "But if we have to leave, we will always be able to find another place that is nice.”

Scarlet hugged Caitlin again. "I love you, mommy," she said.

Mommy.

The word rang through Caitlin like an electric shock. It was so unexpected, and yet it felt so good to hear it, and it brought up so many feelings, that Caitlin found herself bursting into tears, crying as she held Scarlet, feeling the hot tears pouring down her cheeks. She felt that she really did love Scarlet like her own child. And she couldn’t help it, but it made her think, once again, of being pregnant, and of the child she might have had with Caleb.

Scarlet pulled back and looked at her. "What's wrong mommy?"

Caitlin quickly wiped away her tears. "Nothing, sweetheart. Everything is perfect."

Ruth came running into the room, and Scarlet wheeled, bursting into laughter as she turned and played with her. The two of them ran throughout the huge room, chasing each other.

Caitlin wiped away the last of her tears, and looked out the window, at the setting sun. She knew that she had a major decision to make. And that she had to make it soon. Would she stay here forever? Or would she pursue her destiny?

Kyle loved watching the night fall. This was his favorite time of day, especially as he went further back in time, as he watched all the simple human folk close up their shops, board up their shutters, scurry to their homes, as if terrified of the dark. The further back in time he went, the more afraid people seemed to be of the night.

And of course, they had reason to fear.

This was the favorite time of day for people like Kyle, and for his entire race. As dusk fell, that creepy feeling that the humans began to feel was indeed the feeling of his kind awakening. Kyle never felt so energized as he did at dusk, so ready to head out there and wreak whatever damage he could.

Kyle reached down and touched the dozens of vials of plague he had stored safely in his pouch, and a reassured smile crossed his face. Standing there, in the heart of London, he looked at the bustling crowds before him, all these pathetic little humans who had no idea what was about to come, the storm that he, single-handedly, was about to bring. He felt elated, like a kid about to enter a candy shop. Everywhere, there were crowds, alleys, bars—places to spread the plague. He was so giddy, he hardly knew where to begin.

But Kyle had to control himself. He knew that if he wanted to spread this plague thoroughly and professionally, he would need to enlist not only his mercenary vampires at arms, which he already had, but also an army of critters—rats. An army of rats would be much more effective, and much faster, at spreading the plague than he ever could, and so his first task was to find and infect them.

He might also, of course, try to infect humans individually, and in large gatherings, but that would just be for fun.

Kyle practically bounced through the streets, ready to have some fun. As he saw a big fat man, swaggering with a bottle of gin in his hand, Kyle reached up and patted him hard on the back—as he did, sticking a small, infected needle into his shoulder blade.

The fat man screamed out, suddenly wide awake at the pain, but Kyle just bumped him hard and kept walking, disappearing into the crowd. Kyle smiled wide. The first infected was always such a great feeling.

Kyle saw a wild dog sniffing at a mound of garbage beneath his feet, and he dropped to one knee, suddenly grabbed the dog by its mane, and stuck a small needle right into its neck. The dog yelped, and tried to turn around to bite Kyle, but Kyle was faster. He leaned back in time and kicked it, sending it back several feet. The dog yelped again, and took off. Kyle smiled, knowing the damage it would do as it carried the plague all throughout the streets.