Морган Райс - Betrayed

I meant to tell you of him, in good time, but we had not the right moment to share this memory. I presume you assume I was withholding something sacred from you, and in some ways, I was, but only due to my own deepest sadness. And insecurity. You see, I was afraid of losing you. And apparently, I already have.

Please trust that there is nothing between myself and Sera, and there has not been for hundreds of years. I am deeply sorry if she gave another impression. I was not kissing her, despite appearances: she had thrust herself upon me, and I was merely pushing her off.

Know how much I love you, and how much I’m thinking of you even now. I eagerly anticipate the end of this war, and a new life somewhere far from here, that is, if you are in it.

Please know that you hold my heart in this letter.

My deepest affection,

Caleb

Caleb gently folded the parchment, again and again, until it was a tiny square, barely bigger than his palm. Then he walked to the large, open window, raised a finger to his mouth, and whistled.

Within seconds, a huge falcon swooped in, and as Caleb held out his arm, landed perfectly on his wrist. Caleb reached up and stroked the Falcon’s head.

“My old friend,” Caleb said softly.

It jerked its head back to Caleb, in recognition.

“Deliver this to Caitlin. Pollepel Island. You know where it is.”

Caleb stuffed the small piece of paper into a tiny locket around the Falcons neck, and closed it securely.

“Be off!” Caleb yelled, raising his arm.

With that, the falcon flew out the window, and into the night sky.

Suddenly, there was a banging at the door.

Caleb strutted across the room and opened it. There stood Samuel, with all his soldiers.

Caleb grabbed his staff, and walked right towards them.

“I’m ready,” Caleb said.

“Caitlin!”

Even in Caitlin’s haze, even as she knelt there, choking Cain, there was something about that voice that snapped her out of it. Where had it come from?

A man stepped forward, cutting through the crowd, wearing a long robe and carrying a staff.

With his long, silver hair and long beard to match, he looked like a prophet. He stood there, scowling down at Caitlin, disappointment in his voice.

“Release him!” he said firmly.

As Caitlin looked into his eyes, even in her haze, she could feel that there was something special about this man. She felt as if it were a reunion, as if she had known him for lifetimes. And she respected him.

She was helpless to refuse. Caitlin slowly loosened her grip, and as she did, Caitlin quickly scurried out from under her, gasping and choking, and ran off towards the woods.

Caitlin stood, and faced this man.

Aiden. She was sure it was him.

“Yes, it is me,” he said, answering her thoughts. “And you and I have a lot to discuss.”

Caitlin walked in silence behind Aiden, as they hiked on a narrow trail through the thick woods of the island. Pollepel, she was starting to realize, was deceptively big: while the huge castle was perched on one corner, once she headed into the interior, the rest of this island was consumed with woods.

They hiked this way and that, weaving left and right, up and down trails. Aiden kept a hard pace, several feet in front of her, and never once slowed or turned back to see if she were following. He must have just assumed she was. He had a magnetic personality; there was something about him that Caitlin couldn’t quite place, something that made her follow him whether she wanted to or not. He was clearly a leader.

As they hiked, Caitlin could spot glimpses of the river in the distance, peeking its way through the still bare trees of April. Spring was happening all around them, and the thousands of trees were all starting to bud, giving a pale green shimmer to the forest. This place so beautiful, and with a pang, Caitlin suddenly realized that she didn’t want to leave it. She was struck by a sudden fear, as it crossed her mind that he might kick her out already.

She hadn’t meant to attack Cain like that. But she couldn’t stand bullies, and he was one of the more repulsive bullies she had ever encountered, and she just couldn’t control herself. It seemed to always keep coming back to that: controlling herself. When she was a human she couldn’t do it, when she was a half-breed, she certainly couldn’t do it—and now that she was a true vampire, it seemed like she was no better. When the rage built up inside her, she just couldn’t keep it down. She didn’t know Aiden, but she could already feel that he disapproved of her actions.

They hiked to the top of a ridge, then down the other side of it. Caitlin could see families of deer bounding in every direction, hurrying to get out of their way. This must be where the coven caught their nightly dinner.

As they rounded yet another hill, a structure finally came into view. Perched on the water’s edge, in a sandy clearing, was a small stone structure. It was the size of a one-bedroom cottage, but built in the same ancient fashion of the Scottish castle on the other side of the island. This must be where Aiden stayed.

Aiden strutted forward and entered the structure without a word, opening its small arched, medieval door, and leaving it open for Caitlin to follow. Knots formed in her stomach, as she felt as if she were being called into the principal’s office. She probably deserved it. She still felt that she was right to stick up for herself—and more importantly for Polly—but she probably shouldn’t have pushed as hard as she had. She should have just knocked Cain around and let him go. But that wasn’t her. She just couldn’t let things go. At least she was starting to realize that about herself. That was a start.

She entered the small, stone cottage. It was dimly lit, and she walked down a small hallway, into Aiden’s office.

This room, too, was carved of a medieval stone, with an arched ceiling and two big, arched windows which looked out at the river. It was simple and austere, and the view was beautiful, the river seeming to fill the entire room.

Caitlin sat in the large chair opposite his desk, as Aiden sat behind it. Caitlin could feel the river breezes coming in through the open windows, and it refreshed her. She turned and focused on Aiden.

He sat behind his desk and stared at her. He was an unusual man—or vampire, that is. He was tall and broad, and his long silver hair, neatly combed, fell down past his shoulders, and blended into his beard. He had intense blue eyes which fixed on her, and didn’t waiver. He looked to be in his 60s, but she knew he was far older than that. This was an intense man. Not the kind of man who seemed to joke around. Ever. Not that he seemed stern—he didn’t. He just didn’t seem frivolous.

He stared at Caitlin intently, looking into her eyes, and she sensed that he was finding out all that he needed just by staring. It made her uncomfortable. She wondered what he was discovering.

“I took you in here,” he began, in an official sounding, deep voice which nonetheless relaxed her, “because Caleb asked me to. Consider it a favor to an old friend. He assured me that you would be harmonious, easy to get along with, a good fit with the rest of my coven. As you know, there are only 23 of us—24 now, with you here—and I accept new vampires very, very selectively. We must all live in harmony with one another if we are to get along here.”

“I didn’t start the fight,” Caitlin said defensively. “Cain started it. Why don’t you reprimand him?

He’s the jerk.”

The second she said it, Caitlin knew that she was right, but she also knew that, as always, she’d spoken before thinking, and shouldn’t have been quite so harsh.