Морган Райс - Betrayed

Samuel reached over and with two hands gently picked up the heavy glass case and removed it.

Now they could see it more clearly: the ivory staff, the crozier, one of the greatest weapons of their coven. It had been in their safekeeping for thousands of years, reserved for the time of greatest war.

“Can we take it?”

“It is yours,” Samuel said. “You won it in battle. No member of this coven has as great a right to it as you. Go ahead.”

Caleb reached in and slowly grasped the staff. A bolt of electricity coursed through his body as he squeezed it. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply, remembering back thousands of years. This was a weapon of wonder. It was not on par with the magical Sword they had found in the King’s Chapel, but it was still formidable. It could still maim most vampires, especially those of an evil inclination.

Caleb grabbed the staff with both hands, holding it close, examining it.

As he did, Samuel reached in and took out the large, blue cloak that hung beside it. The cloak of power had been a shield for their kind for thousands of years. With it, a vampire was nearly invincible. And it was always to be worn by the one who wielded the staff.

Samuel draped the cloak over Caleb’s shoulders. Caleb felt an energy wash over his body as the cloth hugged him securely. With the cloak on and the staff in hand, Caleb felt invincible, ready for battle.

“And you?” Caleb asked his brother.

Caleb thought of all the incredible weapons they had hidden throughout the Cloisters. The swords, staffs, shields, cloaks—it was an arsenal. He wondered which weapon Samuel would choose.

Samuel took only a few steps, to the center of the room, and removed a small, glass case.

Of course. It had always been Samuel’s favorite.

The reliquary hand. A large gauntlet, made entirely of gold, with two of its fingers outstretched, this was an incredible weapon. It acted both as a weapon and as a shield, and incredible power to the vampire who wore it.

Samuel reached in, extracted it, and put it on his right hand. Already, he seemed formidable.

“And what of us?” suddenly shrieked a voice.

Out of nowhere, Sera approached, marching in between them and scowling at Caleb.

“Have you forgotten about us?” she yelled at Caleb, furious. “You’re not going anywhere. You will stay here, safe and sound with me. The council’s ruling means nothing in this time of war. You can stay here safely, and you and I shall be together. You’re not going to war, and neither are you,”

she said, facing Samuel. “You are both foolish, reckless. You’ll both certainly be killed. Especially if the Sword exists. Your weapons are powerful, but nothing next to the Sword.”

“That is a choice for Caleb to make,” Samuel said.

“Wrong!” Sera shrieked. “Caleb is mine!”

Samuel, helpless to argue with Sera, merely looked at Caleb.

“Give us a minute,” Caleb said to Samuel, as he took Sera by the arm and led her out the room.

“Be quick,” Samuel said. “Our time is short.”

*

Before they had even entered the side chamber, Sera was already reeling towards Caleb, screaming.

“You know that you cannot win!” Sera yelled. “You are being foolish. And you will drag your brother into it. The two of you, always so foolish. You will both certainly die this time.”

“That is our choice to make,” Caleb said.

“No it’s not!” Sera yelled. “You belong to me, too.”

“I do not belong to you,” Caleb snapped. “I do not belong to anyone! Least of all you.”

“We can leave this place,” Sera said. “Just you and I together. We can start our future together.

Now is our time. We can go back to that castle in Europe. We can try to have another child—”

“Sera!” Caleb snapped. He had no patience for this. “Listen to yourself. You’re not making any sense. I have told you countless times that I do not love you anymore—”

“You loved me once. You can learn to love me again,” she said, equally determined. “We will be together. That is all that matters. Over time, your feelings may change—”

Caleb had heard enough. He couldn’t take any more of this. Hundreds of years of being in this coven had made her crazy. She could not be reasoned with.

He turned and walked out of the room.

But she used her vampire speed to block his way. She stood there, blocking his exit. Her face looked distorted with rage and fear.

“You cannot leave me!” Sera yelled.

“I am leaving you,” Caleb said. “I am leaving this entire coven. For good.”

“For what? For your little battle? And then to run off with your little whore?”

Caleb could feel himself fuming at her words.

“That’s it, isn’t it?” she yelled. “You are willing to give up everything, to sacrifice everything—

even our love, for that stupid little girl. Well, I’ll tell you,” she said, suddenly smiling in a vicious way,

“your girl won’t be waiting for you anymore. You can be sure of that.”

“What do you mean?”

Sera paused, smiling, reveling in the moment.

“I told her.”

Caleb’s mind spun as he tried to figure out what it was she might have told Caitlin. He knew that whatever it was, it could not be good.

“What exactly did you tell her?” Caleb asked, slowly, enunciating each word.

Sera’s smile grew wider, more vicious. “I told her everything about us. Everything.”

Caleb thought. Everything. That could only mean one thing.

“You told her about Jade, didn’t you?” Caleb asked, fearing that she had, and knowing already from the look in her eyes that she had, indeed, told Caitlin about their child.

Sera’s smile was vindictive now. “Yes. She knows we have a child together. And she knows that you love me more. And that you always will.”

“Have?” Caleb asked. “You told her that we have a child together? Or had?”

Sera didn’t answer, but only smiled wider. Caleb grabbed her by the shoulders.

“You misled her!” he yelled. “You misled her on purpose!”

“Oh, Caleb,” Sera said, shaking her head, “you are so naïve. Who in this world has not misled someone else? Don’t you know by now that all of love is based on lies?”

She was sicker than Caleb thought.

He shook his head in disgust, and, before he could do anything rash, he took two steps past her and strutted out the door.

“That’s right,” yelled the voice behind her. “Now you’ll listen! Now you won’t go anywhere!”

Caleb strutted out of the room, his cloak over his shoulders, staff in hand, and met his brother.

“I need but one more minute, my brother,” Caleb said.

“What is it?” Samuel asked.

“I need to set wrongs right,” Caleb answered.

Samuel nodded, seeing his brother’s resolve. “Day breaks soon. Hurry at your task.”

Caleb strutted down the hall, by himself, into a side chamber, slamming and locking the door behind him.

This room had been his study. A small, stone room, with high arched ceilings and stained-glass.

He had always come here to collect his thoughts.

He sat at the simple, wooden, medieval desk, took out a piece of old parchment, and a feathered quill, dipped it in ink, and began to write.

My Dearest Caitlin,

I fear for what Sera may have told you, but rest assured, whatever it was, it was but half the truth.

Yes, at one moment in time, Sera and I did have a child together. A boy. His name was Jade. I loved him dearly, so very much. Jade, like you, was a half-breed, for when I first married Sera, she was but a human. Jade, I tear to say, did not live long.

My heart is with Jade every day, but I fear it is only in spiritual form. He has not walked this Earth for hundreds of years.