by Noah
Then, finally, they could execute their plan. Kyle and Rynd had been smart to come up with this: the vampires here would never expect an attack from within their own island, a human attack from within their own ranks. What she would demand of McCleod would be the ultimate treachery: he would rally his human warriors, with all their silver-tip weapons, surround Aiden’s people, and catch them by surprise. If all went as planned, Aiden’s entire coven would be wiped out by nightfall.
Along, of course, with Caitlin and Caleb.
McCleod would provide a crucial attack on one front. And Kyle and Rynd, at the same time, would attack on another, using their own treachery. With this two-front war, there was no way any of them could escape.
Sera smiled at the thought of it. Finally, she would have vengeance. She would spend hours torturing Caitlin. And then she would make Caleb be hers again—right before she killed him. No one crossed her.
“Leaving so soon?” came a dark voice.
Sera wheeled, startled.
She was shocked. Standing just inches away was McCleod. He was awake. Already. And judging from the vicious look in his now-red eyes, he was fully turned. Somehow, he had managed to cross the room without making a single noise.
Sera had underestimated him. His recovery was quicker than she could have imagined, and he was more nimble on his feet than she would have guessed. She had created a far more powerful vampire than she could have ever predicted. She was at a loss for words.
He smiled back. “You did your job well,” he said.
He lifted his arm and stared at it in awe, slowly squeezing open and shut his fist, admiring his newfound power.
“I’ve never felt such power in my life. Despite years of training, years of sparring. I’ve never felt this quick, this nimble. I feel a thousand times the strength I’ve ever had.” He looked around. “In this room, even in this dim light, I can see so much better. Sharper.” He turned and faced her, his eyes darkening as they locked onto hers.
“I vowed something last night. I owe you something. What is it?” he demanded. “Tell me now, so I can move on with my life. I have wars to wage, kingdoms to conquer.” Sera smiled back, admiring his pugnaciousness.
“But you can’t conquer anything until you first give me what I want,” she reminded, enjoying having him in her power.
He frowned back.
“And what if I don’t? You can’t stop me. I am a vampire now, as powerful as you.”
“Perhaps you are,” Sera retorted, “but I can summon an army of vampires to destroy you in an instant. You can’t run or hide from all of us.”
He stared back at her, and slowly, he seemed to soften, to become slightly less arrogant.
“Then I ask again: what is it you want?”
Sera smiled, relishing the moment. Now she had him exactly where she wanted him.
“Just one small favor, one tiny task. In fact, it is amazing how small it is, given what I just did for you. It will take you but a day, and then you’ll be out of my debt forever.” He stared back impatiently.
“You are going to summon your army of human warriors,” Sera continued. “Everyone in your kingdom, all your best warriors, all who carry silver-tip weapons. All those who are closest to Aiden’s people.”
“And?” he snapped, impatient. “And then what?”
Sera smiled.
“You will order them to attack and kill all of Aiden’s men.” McCleod gasped, speechless. His frown turned into a scowl.
“I would never do such a thing,” he said, outraged. “Aiden trusts me. And I him. We are brothers, warriors-in-arms. They have always been good to me, and I to them. I would never harm them, would never break the warrior code. I will not do it. But ask for something else, and that you shall have.”
Now it was Sera’s turn to scowl.
“I only ask once—and I shall have whatever that thing is. You vowed. You cannot go back.” McCleod suddenly turned and stormed away, heading for the door.
Sera felt all the fury rise through her, the fury and strength not only of her, but also of Kyle, his blood now coursing through her veins. She felt stronger and more powerful than she ever had—and in a deeper rage than she knew possible.
In a single leap, she crossed the room, grabbed McCleod from behind, and slammed him down to the floor, pinning him in a deadly lock.
He squirmed beneath her, but he was unable to move an inch. Clearly, Sera, was far more powerful.
“You’ve been a vampire for a day,” Sera scowled, “while I have been one for millennia. In the vampire world, strength does not go by gender. It goes by age. And I’m far, far stronger than you will ever be.”
He finally stopped struggling, clearly defeated, broken.
“You will do what I wish of you.”
“I will,” he answered, barely getting the words out.
“You will kill Aiden’s people. Repeat it after me.”
“I will kill Aiden’s people,” he repeated, grunting, struggling to breath.
Sera smiled. Finally, she would have her revenge.
CHAPTER TWENTY SIX
Caitlin and Caleb flew through the early morning over the Isle of Skye, heading east for the mainland of Scotland, right into the sun. As they flew, Caitlin looked down, and took in the extraordinary beauty of the Isle of Skye. It was one of the most magical places she had ever seen.
The ever-present mist hung over everything, and beneath it, she could see the hills and valleys, the green moss covering everything, the thousands of small lakes interspersing the landscape. All along the island’s perimeter were high, sharp cliffs, dropping hundreds of feet down to the ocean, and the beautiful foam of the waves crashing against the shore. The island was so remote, untouched, with no roads to speak of. It was truly a place for the brave.
Caitlin’s thoughts turned to Scarlet’s dream, her premonition that she would not return. Despite herself, Caitlin could not help feeling herself that Scarlet was right, that she would not return to this place. She knew it was crazy, but she took one long look at the island as if it would be her last. She had a persistent sense of foreboding and dread that she’d been unable to shake.
Leaving Scarlet behind had been hard. She had woken Polly, had deposited Scarlet and Ruth with them, and had made them promise to guard them with their lives. They had, and that had set Caitlin somewhat at ease. Caitlin knew there was nothing she should be worried about: surely Sam and Polly would never leave Scarlet unprotected—especially after they had messed up in England.
Not to mention, Scarlet was also in the safety of the castle, with Aiden’s men, and the King’s men, all around to protect her. Caitlin could not understand why she was so concerned.
As they flew over the strip of ocean separating the Isle of Skye from the mainland of Scotland, Caitlin, holding Caleb’s hand, reflected on the day and night before. Her wedding. The ceremony.
The reception. Her night with Caleb. Her dream. This morning….So much had happened so quickly.
As it was the morning after her wedding, she realized that this would be the traditional time for their honeymoon. And in a way, oddly, it was: the two of them were leaving, traveling, going on an adventure, just the two of them. And surely, wherever they went, they would be romantic places, a castle or a church, or some other ancient site. So in a way, this was an odd sort of honeymoon.
But in another way, their mission now had a much more serious and urgent feel to it. Ever since her dream, Caitlin felt the ticking of time, felt an urgency to find the fourth key, and to return to Scarlet. Caitlin’s heart pounded at the thought of what she might find. Would her father be there, waiting in Eilean Donan? Would the mission finally be finished? And if so, would it change her life forever? Would she be sent back to the future? Or back further into the past?
The morning sun rose high in the sky as they flew and flew. Eventually, they were over land again. Caitlin looked down and saw that the land here, in the Highlands of Scotland, was just as beautiful as it had
been in Skye. Caleb held her hand and dived lower, and in the distance, Caitlin could already see the outline of where they were going.
It was impossible to miss. Eilean Donan. Even from here, from this great distance, Caitlin could see it was one of them most romantic and beautiful castles she had ever seen.
Caitlin reached down and felt her pocket and clutched the clue, the ancient, torn page that McCleod had given her, now rolled up in a scroll. As they approach the castle, she felt it throbbing in her hand, and she wondered if this place would yield the answer, provide the second half of the clue that could lead to the final key.
“Eilean Donan is a very sacred place,” Caleb said over the wind, as they dove lower, circling it.
“It has been home to vampires for thousands of years. The last I heard, it was home to the Red Coven. A very powerful and deadly coven, often inhospitable to outsiders—and rumored to be the guardians of a deep secret.”
They dove lower, and Caitlin took in the site of the castle from all sides. It was even more impressive up close. Built on a small island in the middle of a lake, Eilean Donan castle was accessible only by a long, stone footbridge, suspended over three small arches. The castle was set against green, rolling hills on every side, mountains in the distance, and the vast expanse of the lake surrounding it. It was a dramatic and romantic landscape, and the castle, already looking ancient, with parapets on multiple levels, blended perfectly into the countryside. A gentle mist hung over the lake, lit up in the sun, adding to the romance of it. Caitlin could already sense that it was a mysterious place, and that it held ancient secrets.
They circled again and again, debating where to land. Caitlin spotted dozens of vampire guards stationed, all dressed in long, blood-red cloaks. She wondered if they would have to battle them, but wanted to avoid a confrontation if they could.
“Let’s let them know we’re friendly,” Caitlin called out. “Let’s land by the main gate.”
“But if they confront us, better to land on the roof,” Caleb responded.
“I don’t feel that they will confront us,” Caitlin said. “If they are guardians of the vampire secret, I think they will appreciate why we are here. They might even be expecting us.” Caleb looked skeptical, but he agreed, and together they dove down, right for the main gate.
Moments later, they were standing at the end of the footbridge, before the main castle gate, in a wide open plaza guarded by dozens of vampires.
The vampires, dressed in red, scowled back, and Caitlin hoped that she had made the right decision.
As she took several steps forward, towards the entrance, suddenly, the main castle gate opened, the heavy iron spikes slowly rising. A single vampire approached, standing out from the others as he was the only one dressed in all white. He had a long beard spilling out from under it, and as he approached, he pulled back his hood and stared at them both with an intense stare. He was followed by a dozen guards, and Caitlin briefly wondered if they were about to attack.
But then she saw the lead vampire break into a smile, and finally, she felt at ease.
“Caitlin and Caleb,” he said slowly, shaking his head. “I’ve heard a lot about you two. I am honored you’ve come to our remote corner of the world.”
With that, he suddenly turned and walked into the castle.
Caitlin and Caleb looked at each other, and figured there was only one thing to do: to follow him.
*
“Most vampires who come here, come looking for the Grail,” the lead vampire said, as they walked through an ancient stone corridor. He turned to them and smiled. “But I can tell that you two are different. You are looking for something else, something much more sacred.”
“I’m looking for my father,” Caitlin replied.
“Yes, I know you are,” the vampire responded. He stopped and faced her. “I knew him well. He was an amazing man.”
Caitlin’s heart raced.
“Is he here?” she asked, excitedly.
He laughed, a short, little sound. “I wish he was. No, I’m afraid he hasn’t been here for centuries. But he left a very important legacy here. And he prepared us for your arrival. Centuries ago.”
The man turned, opened a small, medieval door, and they all headed down a new corridor, twisting and turning.
“What did he prepare?” Caitlin asked, burning with curiosity.
The man stopped before another door. “There was something he wanted you to have. You and only you.”
He opened another small door, and Caitlin had to duck as she walked through the opening.
This door opened into a grand room, lit by dozens of torches, with high arched ceilings, and stained-glass. It looked like a chapel, and at the end was a large, shining gold altar, guarded by two vampire soldiers, dressed in red, who stood at attention. Caitlin wondered what could be so valuable and precious that two guards would have to stand watch over it at all times. She wondered if it was the second half of the torn page.
As they approached it, her turned to her, “Your clue?” the vampire prodded.
Caitlin wondered for a moment what he was asking for, then realized it must have been the torn page. She reached in and extracted it.
He slowly shook his head.
“That is not for this place,” he said. “Your necklace,” he corrected.
Caitlin momentarily forgot what he was referring to; then she reached down and removed her small antique cross, grateful once again that she still wore it.
The man gestured towards an ancient, bejeweled chest, and Caitlin knelt down, and inserted her cross with the click. She turned it, and it slowly opened.
She could not believe what she saw.
CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN
Polly awoke from a night of exquisite dreams, happier than she had ever been. She had been riding on cloud nine ever since Sam had proposed to her the night before. She had been secretly, deep down, hoping that he would, especially on Caitlin and Caleb’s wedding night. She knew that she had no real reason to expect this, given that they had barely been together a few days—and yet somehow, deep down, she still hoped for it anyway. She had never loved anyone as much as Sam, and she’d wanted him to propose to her more than anything.
Polly had gone to bed ecstatic and had dreamt all night long that she and Sam had been walking through a field of white flowers, white rose petals showering all around them, as the sun never seemed to set. She saw the two of them walking into the white light, and she awoke with the most peaceful feeling of her life, feeling so relaxed and content. She’d had the strangest, fleeting thought, that, given how happy and content she was, she’d be perfectly happy to die right now, on this day.
After all, there was nothing more she could ever want from the world.
After laying with her in bed most of the morning, Sam had finally arisen, seeming as happy as she was. He’d said he wanted to celebrate, to go out and hunt for them, to find the biggest, wild boar he could, kill it, and bring it back for a special feast for them two of them that night. It was to be a celebration of their love, he’d said. And he wanted to find the perfect animal himself.
Polly loved the idea. She could use the day, herself, to get ready and prepare all the vegetables that could go with it. It would be like their own special wedding night.
Polly gave him a long kiss goodbye, knowing she would see him in just a few hours. Yet deep down, she had the craziest feeling that she might not. She didn’t understand the feeling at all—it made no rational sense. Still, as Sam turned to walk out the door, she reached out, grabbed his wrist, and pulled him back to her, and hugged him tight. She did not let go for several seconds.
“What is it?” Sam asked, surprised, looking down with concern.
Polly slowly shook her head and forced a smile, knowing she was just being crazy.
“Nothing,” she said. “I just love you.”
Sam leaned in and kissed her, and then turned and walked out the door.
That was when Polly felt it. Her
first pang.
It struck her so hard in the stomach, she keeled over from the unfamiliar sensation, having no idea what it was. Just as she tried to stand, it hit her again.
And again.
Finally, Polly realized that something was wrong. She sat on the edge of her bed, in a sweat, wondering what on earth it could be. After several more pangs, she had the craziest idea. Could it be possible that she was pregnant?
She knew that two vampires could not get pregnant. But then again, Sam was no ordinary vampire. And neither was she. She also knew that vampire pregnancies manifested quickly, usually within 48 hours. Could it be possible?
Polly quickly ruffled through her drawers, and finally found the ancient locket her great-great-grandmother had passed onto her. She remembered her words, from centuries ago: if a vampire is pregnant, then her reflection will show once—just once—in this ancient mirror. If you see yourself, for the first and only time, that is how you will know.
Polly wiped the dust off the heavy, silver locket and slowly opened it, her heart pounding. Part of her knew she was being ridiculous, given how unlikely it was. But another part of her had to know.
Polly looked down and stared into the mirror.
She saw herself, staring back, with a startled expression. It was such a shock to see her own image in the mirror—she never had before—and at the same time, her heart raced to know that it was really true. She was pregnant.
Another pang suddenly struck her, but this time, Polly jumped up in joy, screaming, ecstatic.
Pregnant. Her. With Sam’s child.
She didn’t think she could be any happier—but now, her joy tripled. She couldn’t wait until she told Sam the news. He would probably keel over in shock.
And Caitlin. She had to tell her. And all the others.
No. She had to tell Sam first. And he wouldn’t be home for hours. Now, those hours felt like an eternity.
Pregnant. Her!
She shouted again in joy, hardly believing it. She would have to keep this a secret, at least until tonight. But how could she!? Keeping a secret was the hardest thing for her—and this was the secret to end all secrets.
