by Morgan Rice
They now all dropped like spiders, diving right for him, hundreds of them, only feet away.
It was too late for him to react. All Sam could see was the terrible blackness of hundreds of vampires descending, eager to devour its prey. Their squeals and snarls were horrible, and as their huge wings wrapped around him from every direction, he could not help but wonder if this would be the last thing he saw on earth.
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CHAPTER EIGHT
Caitlin stood there, stunned. She could not believe that it was really Polly. She looked exactly the same as she had, with her distinctive translucent white skin, her light brown hair, and her blue eyes, large and shining. She also looked the same age, somewhere around 18. Rationally, Caitlin knew that she should have expected this; but seeing it face to face threw her completely off guard.
Polly broke into a wide smile, grinning from ear to ear, displaying her beautiful, white teeth—the exact smile that Caitlin remembered. It was uncanny. And it felt so good to recognize someone. For the first time, Caitlin didn’t feel so alone.
“Well, you sure know how to fight, don’t you?” Polly asked. It was the same accent, the same voice, the same mannerisms. Polly examined Caitlin for a moment, and something like recognition seemed to cross her face, and then quickly went away.
“I’m Polly,” she said, extending her hand. “And to whom do I owe the pleasure?”
Caitlin didn’t know what to say. She was really shocked. If there was anything more uncanny than seeing Polly again, it was having Polly not recognize her, as if she were a complete stranger, as if they had never met, never shared any of their experiences on Pollepel.
Of course, Caitlin knew there was no reason why Polly would remember her; after all, Caitlin had come back in time, not forwards. Still, Caitlin had known her so well, so vividly. It was completely eerie. She almost wondered if Polly were kidding, just testing her?
Caitlin reached out and shook her hand.
“Polly,” she said, “it’s me. Caitlin.”
Polly stared back, and her face wrinkled in confusion. Finally, Caitlin realized that it was true: Polly really had no idea who she was.
“I’m sorry,” Polly answered, “have we met? I’m afraid I don’t recall. Forgive me if we have. I am terrible with names and faces. Caitlin is your name? That’s a pretty one. Anyway, now that we’ve officially met, I’m sure glad to meet you. You really saved me,” Polly said, surveying the three unconscious brutes, still lying in the alley. “They were a rotten sort.”
Rose came running over to Polly, whining and wagging her tail hysterically.
Polly’s eyes opened wide in delight, as she bent over and petted her. “And what have we here?”
she asked.
“Her name is Rose,” Caitlin said. It was clear Rose remembered Polly, and it was equally clear that Polly didn’t remember her.
Still, Polly showed Rose as much affection as she once had.
“Rose,” Polly said, hugging her as Rose licked her cheek. “What a darling name.” Polly laughed.
“Now now, Rose!” Polly said. “My God, she’s so excited! You’d think that she knew me!”
Caitlin smiled. “Yes, you would think,” she said.
One of the unconscious men groaned, and Polly suddenly surveyed the alleyway. “Let’s get out of here,” she said, and took Caitlin’s arm in hers, and guided her out the alleyway, Rose by their side.
They walked, arm in arm, like new best friends, down the side streets of Venice, Polly leading the way. Polly was so happy, she was practically skipping, and Caitlin was thrilled to see how happy Rose was. Even though Polly didn’t remember, it still felt like they knew each other forever. Just like the first time they’d met in Pollepel.
“I don’t know how to repay you,” Polly said. “Those men didn’t mean me the best, to put it lightly. It’s my own fault, really. Aiden warned us to never venture out alone. Safety in numbers, that’s what he says. I’m strong—don’t think I’m not—but today I’m not at my full strength, and they caught me off guard. I’m much stronger at night. It would’ve ended badly, I’m sure of it. At the very least, it would have put me out of commission for tonight, and that simply wouldn’t do.”
Caitlin tried to keep up. Just as she remembered, Polly talked so fast, she could barely get a word in. It warmed her heart to be back with her, to be back by her best friend’s side, even if Polly couldn’t remember. She hoped that maybe, over time, Polly would remember. If not, she’d be more than happy to begin their friendship all over again.
More importantly, Caitlin was struck by her reference. Had she said Aiden? Could it be?
“Did you say Aiden?” Caitlin asked.
“Why yes,” Polly said. “Do you know him? Of course, there’s no way you could. You haven’t been to our island, have you? No, no, of course not. I would have known, of course. But you’ll see it now. I have to introduce you to everyone. Humans are not allowed, of course. Just our kind,” Polly said, looking over at Caitlin. “Of course, I can sense you’re one of us. I knew the second I saw you.”
Caitlin tried to speak, but Polly cut her off.
“You don’t have a coven here, do you? Of course you don’t. I know every vampire in town.”
She grabbed her arm, pleading, “You have to join ours. You have to! I’ll talk to Aiden. I’m sure he’ll let you in, especially after he hears how you saved me. Oh, I can’t thank you enough! Talk about timing. It’s like it was destined.”
Polly led them down an alleyway, into another small square, then down another side street, and underneath a small, stone arch. Caitlin found herself crossing over a foot bridge, over a narrow canal, and then back down the other side. Polly seemed to really know the back streets.
Caitlin thought. It was always hard to gather her thoughts around Polly.
“Polly,” she said, trying to catch her breath, “you said you know every vampire in town?”
“Well, I wouldn’t say every, but most of them, for sure. Venice is bigger than you think. Has loads and loads of islands, and some, I hear, hide out on small islands I’ve never heard of.”
Caitlin’s heart pounded with excitement. “Have you heard of Caleb?” she asked.
Polly furrowed her brow.
“Caleb…I’m sorry, that’s not ringing a bell…No, can’t say that I know him.”
Caitlin’s heart fell. Maybe he really hadn’t survived the trip. Maybe her sensing friends in Venice only had to do with Polly. Maybe Caleb really was gone.
“So, will you?” Polly asked
Caitlin looked at her, puzzled. “Will I what?”
“Come with me? To our island? It would be so fun. Please. I can use the companionship. It gets so boring there. And I can hardly let you just go, especially after all that. Come on, you don’t have any other place to go, do you? Please, make a girl happy.”
Caitlin thought. She didn’t see why not. After all, she had nowhere else to go. And she really wanted to spend more time with Polly, too—and meet Aiden again.
Caitlin smiled. “Sure. I’d love to.”
Polly squealed in delight. “Perfect! We have an extra room, just for you. Great views of the water. Right next to mine. And Rose,” Polly added, bending over and petting her, “of course, there’s a room for you, too.”
Rose wagged her tail, and then st
arted whining hysterically.
“Oh, poor dear,” Polly said, “she’s ravished, isn’t she? And you look ravished, too.”
Polly yanked her down a side alleyway, and Caitlin was disoriented, barely able to keep up with all the twists and turns. She wondered how she would’ve found her in way Venice without her.
Polly stopped before a villager roasting a pig, slicing off pieces and selling it to customers.
Rose smacked her lips at the sight.
“Two, please,” Polly said, reaching into her pocket and handing the woman a coin. “And one jug of your special,” she winked.
The woman nodded back knowingly. She sliced two huge hunks of meat, and handed them to Caitlin. She then handed Caitlin a small, ceramic jug.
Caitlin reached down and fed the strips to Rose.
Rose, famished, could hardly wait. She leapt up and ate them in the air, and devoured them, smacking her lips. She immediately whined for more, staring hopefully at Caitlin.
Polly laughed. “OK, Rose, I get it,” she said, and handed the woman another coin. An even larger slice of meat came off the pig, and Polly gave it to Rose with a laugh.
Caitlin examined the jug. It was filled with a dark, thick liquid.
“Drink it,” Polly said. “You’ll be happy you did. It’s just for our kind.”
“What is it?” Caitlin asked, unsure.
“Blood,” Polly answered. “Not of humans, don’t worry. Of deer. The woman keeps a stock just for us.”
Caitlin didn’t like the smell, but she was overwhelmed with hunger pangs, and she finally leaned back and drank.
As the blood coursed through her system, she felt renewed. She realized how ravished she’d been. She leaned back and chugged it, drinking and drinking, unable to stop herself. It dripped down her chin, as she downed the entire jug.
Polly laughed.
Caitlin wiped her mouth, self-conscious.
“Sorry,” Caitlin said. “I guess I was hungry.”
Caitlin felt her full strength returning, surging through every pore of her body. She felt reborn.
“It’s the least I can do,” Polly said. “After all, you saved a girl’s life.”
*
Polly led Caitlin through street after street in Venice, and finally, before them was open sky.
Caitlin was in awe as she found herself at the waterfront, looking out at the Grand Canal of Venice, bustling with boat traffic in every direction. The salt breezes swept her face and hair, and it felt refreshing.
Polly didn’t waste any time. She hurried to the waterside, and began untying a rope holding in place a long, black, gondola.
“Jump in!” Polly said.
Caitlin hesitated, unsure. It was such a long and narrow boat, so low to the water, and it rocked wildly in the rough waters, which were filled with enormous ships moving quickly in every direction.
She could easily envision one of them running over a gondola.
“Oh it’s fine,” Polly said, reading her mind, “I’m in it all the time. Best mode of transportation, you know.”
Polly held out a hand, and Caitlin took it as she balanced, stepping tentatively into the boat; it rocked wildly as she did.
Caitlin slid up, sitting hesitantly on the wooden plank, a bit wet from all the water spray.
Polly laughed. “You can tackle an alleyway full of men, but you’re scared of a little boat?” Then she added, “Come on Rose! Your turn!”
Rose, still unsure, stood on the edge of the dock, staring at Caitlin for reassurance.
Caitlin nodded, and Rose ran and jumped into the boat, rocking it again.
She got her coat wet, and she shook it wildly, spraying both Caitlin and Polly.
They both laughed.
Polly finished untying the boat, got in herself, and stood in the back of it. She grabbed the long, wooden oar, and pushed off.
They were soon gliding through the water, and Caitlin was surprised at the boat’s seaworthiness.
They were so low in the water, it seemed as if the ocean might come in at any moment, and yet the boat must have been designed well, because they cut through it with a lot of speed, as Polly rowed.
Caitlin settled in, and even with the rough waters rocking them, tried to relax.
A huge ship sailed past them, just a few feet away, and left a big wake. The gondola rocked even more wildly, and Caitlin sat up again.
Polly laughed. “You get used to it,” she said.
Caitlin started to wonder exactly how far they were going.
“Where are we going, exactly?” Caitlin asked
“I live on Isola di San Michele,” Polly said, “also known as Isle of the Dead. It’s one of the outer islands of Venice, in the lagoon. Not too far. No one bothers us there, and we don’t bother anyone.
Plus, we have loads of livestock to feed on.”
Isle of the Dead, Caitlin thought. It was interesting to see that Polly’s coven still lived on an island, even these hundreds of years back. She wondered if it was anything like Pollepel. If it was, she’d be thrilled to be there.
“So why were you in Venice today?” Caitlin asked.
Polly sighed. “My fault. I should have brought backup. Aiden warned us not to travel alone. But I had to get something for tonight’s party and no one was around. I just had to get the right dress. I have absolutely nothing to wear. I mean, I do, but nothing spectacular enough, at least not for tonight. I mean this ball only comes around once a year.”
“Ball?” Caitlin asked.
“How can you not know!?” Polly asked, flabbergasted. “It’s only the Grand Ball. I’ve been looking forward to it all year. I just wanted to sneak into town to see if I could find something better. I’m weaker in the day. I’m still training. If those guys got me at night, they would have paid.
But like I said, they caught me off guard. Anyway, where did you learn to fight like that?”
“Oh,” Caitlin said, smiling, “I learned a trick or two on an island once.”
She was hoping that somehow Polly would catch the reference, would remember. But she didn’t.
“An island? Do I know it? Near Venice?
Caitlin smiled.
“Not exactly,” she said.
They rode the rest of the way in silence, Rose resting her head in Caitlin’s lap.
Caitlin tried to collect her swirling thoughts as she anxiously looked out at the horizon, waiting for the first sign of land. She was excited to see where Polly lived, excited to see if there was anyone else there that she remembered. She hoped, prayed, that one of them had heard something, anything, about Caleb.
*
It was afternoon by the time they reached the small island, and it was lit up in a soft, orange glow. Caitlin could already tell it was beautiful. It was hardly bigger than Pollepel, stretching only a half a mile in each direction, but, unlike Pollepel, it was flat as a pancake. The trees here were different, too, with the tall, narrow Italian Cypress trees dotting the island, spread out everywhere amidst the lush, verdant grass. There was no grand castle, either, but instead, there was a huge, Renaissance church, it’s glowing white façade built right up against the water, facing the canal. It appeared to be hundreds of years old. Its entrance was flush against the water, and one could boat right up to the front doors, and step right in. She had seen this with other buildings in Venice, but it still amazed her, the idea that she could open a door and step right into the water.
Attached to the church was a huge cloister, stretching as far back as Caitlin could see, with a sloping, red-tiled roof, and dozens of arched walls and columns. Caitlin could already feel that Polly’s coven lived here.
It was still hard for Caitlin to reconcile, the idea of vampires living inside a church, or cloister.
She wondered why they had chosen this place, this island in the middle of nowhere. She assumed they could have chosen any place in Venice to live.
“Because it keeps us anonymous,” Polly said, reading her mind. Caitlin
reddened, always forgetting how adept vampires were at reading minds.
“Being here keeps us off the beaten path,” Polly continued. “Venetians rarely trek out here, and when we visit them, we keep a low profile. It suits us both perfectly. We stay out of each other’s hair.”
They approached a low, gated entrance, on top of which stood several vampire guards, standing watch. Polly looked up and waved, but they stared down, straight-faced. Caitlin looked closely, but didn’t recognize any of them.
“Open the gate,” Polly said, annoyed.
“Who’s she?” one of them asked, nodding at Caitlin.
“She’s one of ours,” Polly said.
“I don’t recognize her,” said the other.
“Just open the gate,” Polly snapped. “I’m telling you it’s fine. If you have a problem with it, take it up with Aiden.”
They both paused, looking at each other, unsure. Finally, one of them pulled a lever, and the iron gate slowly rose up.
They boated right through, and onto the other side.
Caitlin looked around in amazement. This place was beautiful. In the fields, she could see dozens of vampires training in mock combat.
“Why this island?” Caitlin asked.
Polly looked at her.
“I mean, it seems like Venice has dozens of islands to choose from.”
“This is a very special place,” Polly said. “We have buried our dead here for thousands of years.
It is the Isle of the Dead for more reasons than one.”
Polly gave one last hard row, and their gondola pulled up right to the church door, its long wooden bow hitting the stone with a bang that shook the entire boat.
Rose ran down the length of it, and leapt onto the dock. Polly threw a rope onto a beam, pulled them in tight, and tied them up. Caitlin steadied herself, slowly standing in the vessel, which rocked as she did, and climbed onto shore.
