by Morgan Rice
“Yes, I would kill your mother now, if I could,” the old man said, reading her mind, with a smile. “But the problem is, I don’t know where she is. Not yet, anyway. You will lead us to her. And then, I can kill you and her together, at once.”
His smile broadened, and Scarlet felt her heart stop at the viciousness of his words. He was the meanest man she had ever met. And she could tell from his tone that he really meant everything he said.
“I’ll never tell you where my mommy is,” Scarlet responded defiantly.
The old man laughed.
“That is because you do not know yourself,” he said. “But you will lead us to her nonetheless. You see, there is a very important weapon in the vampire world. It is called the Vampire Shield. And there is only one person in the world who knows where it is. And that, my dear, is you.”
Scarlet narrowed her eyes back at him, fuming.
“I don’t know about any shield,” she answered, truthfully.
“I know you don’t. It wasn’t something you were told about. It was something you were entrusted with.”
He took a step closer.
“You see, the hiding place can only be revealed by your lineage. And they couldn’t risk entrusting it all to your mommy. So they split the clues. Half to her…and half, to you.”
Suddenly, his eyes dropped down to Scarlet’s wrist.
“They didn’t tell you, of course. Why would they? They couldn’t trust you. No. They implanted it on you. Your bracelet. That is the final clue.”
Scarlet looked down at her wrist, at the dangling bracelet which that man had placed on her wrist in Scotland, which she had all but forgotten about. At that moment, as she looked at it, she knew it to be true, everything this man had said. She could suddenly feel the energy radiating off of it, its intense power practically burning through her wrist. She could feel that he was right, that it was some sort of clue. She was upset with herself that she had never considered it before, had never looked at it in that way. But now, suddenly, she knew that it was the key to finding the Shield. And more importantly, the key to finding her mommy.
And then, at the same moment, she realized that this clue could not get into this man’s hands.
Scarlet suddenly reached down, snatched the bracelet off her wrist, and brought it towards her mouth, preparing to swallow it, to keep it away from them for good.
But, to her surprise, the old man’s reflexes were faster than hers. He moved at the speed of light, and while her wrist was still moving towards her mouth, he reached out and grabbed it in mid-air. His grip was so cold, it felt like a block of ice had wrapped its claws around her skin. He held it with such force, it was as if he were an 18 year old man. Scarlet was strong as a vampire, stronger than she could imagine—yet, still, she was no match for this man.
As he squeezed her wrist harder, she found herself crying out in pain, then involuntarily opening her hand. The bracelet fell out, and the man grabbed it in mid-air, in his open palm.
Ruth suddenly lunged forward and tried to bite the man through her muzzle.
But he turned and kicked Ruth with such force that he sent her flying across the room and into the stone wall, yelping.
Scarlet had had enough. She reached up and lunged at the old man, and somehow moved fast enough to get her hands around his throat. She squeezed and squeezed the wrinkled skin, and took satisfaction in seeing his eyes open wide in surprise. She was really choking him. He was strong, stronger than any man she’d ever encountered—but so, she was realizing, was she.
A moment later she felt bodies descending on her, kicking and elbowing and pummeling her in every direction. They landed on top of her, tackling her to the ground.
Then she felt the silver shackles once again bind her wrists behind her back, as they planted her cheek against the stone floor. They grabbed her and dragged her to her feet.
Scarlet stood there, her face covered in dirt, scowling back at the old man, who now scowled back at her. She could see that she had shaken him.
“You insolent little brat,” he snapped.
He held up the bracelet before her, dangling it in the torchlight, mocking her.
“You have just given me the key to the kingdom, the key to everything I need in life. I will now find the Shield, and I will take you with us. I will make you watch as I summon a greater evil the universe has ever know, and then,” he smiled broadly, “I will kill both you and your mommy with great delight.”
*
Scarlet was prodded from behind, and after a strong shove, she stumbled several feet. Ruth snarled, protective of her, and turned and tried to snap the guard; but she was still muzzled, and there was little she could do.
Scarlet felt her rage heightening as she was led by the group of vampires down the back alleys of Jerusalem. Everywhere they went, crowds parted, scrambling to get as far away from them as possible. They must have sensed the evil energy of this pack, marching on a mission.
Scarlet desperately wanted to break free, to fight back, to make a run for—but she could not. She struggled against the silver shackles binding her wrists, and realized she was helpless. She was at their mercy.
Sam and his girlfriend and the leader were in front as they twisted and turned through the alleys, marching on the ancient stone streets, going Scarlet could only guess where. They had taken Scarlet along, and while she was grateful to be free from that dark jail, she hardly felt at ease with this crowd. She knew that whenever they found whatever it was they needed, they would kill her. Or worse, use her to lure her mommy, then kill them both.
Scarlet felt another pang of fear, but there was little she could do. For the millionth time, she regretted allowing them to snatch that bracelet off her wrist. She should have thought of it sooner, should have figured out the bracelet led to something important, maybe even to her mommy. If she had known that, she wouldn’t have worn it like that. She would have taken it off, and hid it in her pocket.
But no one had told her. Before she had been sent back in time, in that castle on that mountain in Scotland, that old man had shoved it on her wrist, right after he had given her something to drink. But he hadn’t said anything, hadn’t explained. She hadn’t really thought of it, and had no idea how special it was.
Now, she felt terrible. She felt responsible—as if it were all her fault. As if she were the one responsible for leading this group to whatever it was they wanted to find. That stupid shield they kept talking about. As they hurried through the streets of Jerusalem, marching like a small army, she could see the determination on their faces. She had a sinking feeling they were going to a place of great evil. And that she, unwittingly, was leading the way.
They finally broke out of the alleyways and marched across a great stone plaza. The group of vampires pushed their way through the crowds of humanity, and bodies went flying in every direction. No one dared try to push them back. It was like a swarm of hornets cutting through the city.
They crossed the plaza and passed under an ancient stone arch. They continued down another alleyway, and down several flights of stone steps, the alleyways narrowing. As they went, even rats scurried to get out of their way, and old ladies, high above, slammed closed their shutters, afraid.
The alleyway seemed to end in a stone wall. As Scarlet looked closer, she could see that there was actually a door there, concealed in the stone. Above the door, in ancient letters, was etched: “Hezekiah’s Aqueduct.”
The old man nodded, and Sam lunged forward and kicked in the door. Stone shattered, revealing an arched passageway, heading further down, down another flight of steps, into the blackness.
Scarlet felt herself prodded from behind, and nearly tripped down the stairs as the group continued down a narrow stairwell. As they went, it got darker, and one of them lit a torch and held it high, barely lighting the way. Streaks of sunlight streamed in through small windows, high up, and Scarlet heard the distant sound of running water. It sounded like small underground streams, and it ech
oed in the darkness. It felt like they were entering an underground tunnel of some sort.
Finally, the stairs stopped, and Scarlet was marched down a high, narrow passageway, barely wide enough to fit two people side-by-side. She felt claustrophobic as the group made its way further and further down the tunnels. As they went, there were occasional small openings in the wall, and Scarlet could see streams of water rushing through.
She wondered where this was all leading. This was the creepiest place she had ever been. She wondered if they were going to just kill her and leave her here.
They continued down yet another passageway, and finally, they stopped.
Scarlet looked up, and before her, she was amazed to see, was a shining, gold door. The vampires parted ways, and she watched as the old vampire stepped forward, climbing the four steps to the door. He stopped before it and smiled as he reached out, raised Scarlet’s bracelet, held out the small golden key on the end of it, and inserted it into the lock in the center of the door.
It entered with a reverberating click. A perfect fit.
The old man turned the key, and as he did, the ground beneath Scarlet shook. He stepped back, and the gold door open on its own.
The site took Scarlet’s breath away. Shining, golden rays of light radiated out of the chamber, filling the tunnels. It was so bright, the vampires had to turn and look away. Only the old man continued to stare, his large pale blue eyes transfixed, as he stepped forward. He reached out, and grabbed hold of something with his hands.
He turned and held it up, high above his head, as he faced the others.
As he did, they all bowed down low to the ground.
It was a shield. It was a large, golden shield, and it was glowing, light radiating off of it. It pulsed and vibrated and turned colors, as if it were coming to life.
The old man held it triumphantly over his head, and as he did, all the age lines in his face began to disappear. Scarlet couldn’t believe it. As she watched, he became younger and younger, right before her eyes. In just moments, he looked like an 18-year-old boy.
He threw back his head, and with a victorious snarl, he screamed:
“My fellow vampires! After three thousand millennia, I present to you the vampire Shield!”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Caitlin stood beside Caleb, at the base of the Mount of Olives, her heart breaking inside. She had just completed her training with Aiden, and she knew it was time to say goodbye to Caleb.
They had to part ways; there was no way around it. Aiden had made it clear that she was needed out there, on the search for her Dad, and that Caleb was needed here, to stay and defend the coven, with Aiden. There was nothing Caitlin wanted less than to have to part ways with him. She wanted him to join her, especially now, on the final leg of her search for her father, for their daughter. She hated her destiny. Why couldn’t they just stay together, live their lives together in peace? Why were they always destined to be torn apart?
As she stood there, looking into Caleb’s eyes, she could see that there was nothing that he wanted more, too. But they were both dutiful warriors. They were both loyal to a fault, and they both knew where they were needed. They would not let others down. And they both knew, deep down, that if Caleb were to leave now, with Caitlin, it would leave their coven defenseless. Especially after the massacre in Scotland, neither of them liked the idea of leaving Aiden’s people defenseless again.
But still, Caitlin’s heart broke at the idea of parting ways with him. Especially this time, this final time, with so much at stake. And especially because of Aiden’s words, his dire prophecy. She hated Aiden for saying that, for saying that she an Caleb had different destinies, and she wanted his words to disappear from her mind. But deep down she felt that they were true.
She refused to think of it. Caitlin told herself that she would hurry, find her father, find Scarlet, find the Shield, and race back in time to help Caleb, and them all, just in time.
But she had a sinking feeling. As she looked up and stared into Caleb’s large, blue eyes, glowing in the morning light, she had a horrible feeling that she would never see him again. And she could sense that he did, too. It deepened her sense of dread.
Caitlin stood there, trying to find the words, but she couldn’t. After several moments, despite herself, she suddenly burst into tears, and embraced him.
Caleb hugged her back tightly, and she felt his muscles rippling across her back. She held him for a long time, crying, not wanting to let him go. Not wanting to say her final goodbye.
Finally, he pulled back. His eyes were tearing just a bit, but he clenched his jaw, and she could see he was trying to be strong for them both.
“It will all be fine,” he said.
But she knew, even as he said it, that he didn’t really believe it.
“You’re needed out there,” he said. “And I am needed here. Find your father. Find our daughter. And bring them back.”
He reached up and brushed the hair from her face.
“Don’t worry,” he said. “I will be fine here. We have fought so many battles together, throughout the centuries. I have always been fine, haven’t I?”
She looked back and nodded. That was true, he had always been fine. But she sensed that this time something was different. She sensed something, she did not know what—some disturbance in the universe, some awful storm on the horizon.
“I just wish we could be together,” Caitlin said. “I wish that Scarlet was here, with us. I would give up everything just to have us all together. Some place safe, and quiet, away from the world. Away from all this.”
“I know,” he said softly.
Caitlin felt torn up inside. On the one hand, she wanted nothing more than to stay here. Yet she knew that she had to do her duty, for the safety of them all. She hated having to choose like this. She hated that the universe was always forcing her to choose, could never just let her be.
Caleb smiled down at her gently, and swept her hair from her eyes.
“Remember that day we spent together?” he asked, nostalgia in his voice. “On the beach? The horses?”
Caitlin smiled, thinking of it. Of course she remembered. She thought about it all the time.
“Yes,” she said.
“We have been together in so many places, so many times, so many centuries. That is what matters. Our memories together. The times we shared. No matter what happens, somehow, we will always be together.”
Caitlin wanted to respond, to say: Yes. You’re right. We will always be together.
But instead, she was overwhelmed with emotion. She burst into tears again, and hugged him tightly. It was the worst feeling of her life. Deep down, she knew it was the last time she would hold him again. She sensed it in every pore of her body.
She didn’t how to handle it, how to say goodbye, how to let him go. So, without saying another word, without even looking into his face again, she suddenly pulled away.
She turned her back, took two steps off the side of the cliff, and leapt into the air. Her wings expanded, and she soared, higher and higher into the air.
She could feel Caleb behind her, watching her the whole time.
And she dared not, even for a second, look back.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Scarlet stood there in disbelief, watching as the old man held the vampire shield high above his head, the ground beneath her quaking. She watched as he transformed, became younger, stronger. Rays of light continued to shoot out from the shield, completely filling the room, and the other vampires continued to bow low to the ground, shielding their eyes from the intense light. She too, had to turn away, so much light filled the room. Beside her, Ruth whined.
She managed to peek a glance, and as she did, she was confused by what she saw: shadows, then shapes, seemed to pour out from the shield. At first she thought maybe her eyes were playing tricks on her, but as she looked closely, she realized they weren’t. It looked like spirits were flying out of the shield, forming in the ligh
t. At first, they took the nebulous form of shadows; but then they hardened, turned into shapes. And within moments, these shapes transformed into people.
Vampires.
Scarlet was even more surprised to see that these were vampires she recognized from other times and places. One of them had a face she would never forget: he was huge and bald, with one eye and a big scar across his face. Kyle. She’d thought he was dead for good, and was terrified to see him emerge from the light.
Within moments, he was standing there, back, alive again. He looked as ferocious as ever, more filled with rage than Scarlet had ever seen him, as if he’d just been let loose from a cage.
Behind him, more shadows emerged. There was another vampire she recognized, forming out of the shadows: it was the man she had seen back in Scotland, the one they had called Rynd. The one who had killed Polly.
Dozens and dozens more evil vampires and creatures, emerged, each more hideous than the next. It looked like the shield was a portal, unleashing an army of demons.
Soon, the narrow tunnels of the aqueduct were filling up with creatures, screaming, shrieking. The scene became chaotic, and Scarlet feared for her life. She knew that now that she’d led them there, they would have no more use for her, and would kill her. She knew that she had to do something quickly, or in a few moments, she would be dead. Now was her chance.
Scarlet searched the tunnels, frantic for any way of escape. She realized that, with all the chaos, the vampires were distracted. She was still cuffed, but at least her warders had stopped paying attention to her—for the moment.
Scarlet saw her chance. She turned and nudged Ruth with her foot; Ruth, still sitting loyally by her side, seemed to understand, to pick up on the signal.
Scarlet nodded, and at the same time, the two of them turned and took off, running away from the crowd, back up the steps, back up the narrow alleyway. They ran back up flight after flight, Scarlet running awkwardly with her wrists chained in front of her. She glanced back over her shoulder, but saw nobody coming her way. They were all still staring at the shield, still transfixed.
