Destined (21 page)

Caitlin turned to Blake, running over to him, feeling responsible for his wound. He stood there, clutching it, the arrow still stuck in his arm.

“Break it off,” he said through gritted teeth.

Caitlin hesitated, then snapped the arrow. He screamed as she did.

“Now pull,” he said.

She looked at him, unsure, but he nodded, locking his jaw.

In one strong motion, she yanked the arrow as hard as she could. Blake screeched, as it went entirely through his arm. Blood poured everywhere, and Caitlin stopped it with her hands.

Blake reached down, tore a strip of fabric off of his shirt with his teeth, and handed it to Caitlin.

She took it, and wrapped it tightly around the wound.

Finally, the bleeding stopped.

Blake bent down, grabbed the tip of the arrow, and held it up to the moonlight.

“As I thought,” he said. “Silver-tipped. These were not hunters. They were
vampire
hunters.

Looking specifically for types like us.”

Caitlin looked at the arrow tip, and saw that he was right. She looked at his wound in concern.

“Will you be okay?” she asked.

He nodded, but not convincingly.

“Let’s get out of here,” he said.

*

Caitlin stood beside Blake on the stone terrace, leaning against the ornate marble railing. High up on a hill, she looked out over the forest, over the river, at the city of Florence. Her mind was still reeling, still trying to process how she got here, how it all happened.

She had never expected to be surrounded so quickly by a group of humans, especially armed with weapons capable of hurting vampires. She hadn’t known of vampire hunters, and it was stupid of her to let down her guard so much. She had been too focused on Florence, too excited to be here—and too hungry, too focused on feeding. It had been a stupid mistake.

Thank goodness for Blake. Seeing him there had been such a shock. She had thought that he’d forgotten about her, and that if he thought of her at all, it would only be with anger. After all, she had left him so abruptly, when he had been so kind to her.

After their encounter, he’d led her through the forest, up this hill, to this incredible mansion. It was, he explained, a palazzo. Sitting proudly high up on a hill, it had a wide, marble staircase, with thick, ornate railings winding their way up to this huge stone terrace. It all led to a magnificent, marble house, with huge oak doors, and glorious arched windows in every direction. Blake had led her inside, and had explained that this was one of his many houses. It was magnificent, fit for a king.

It sure beat spending the night in the forest.

After collecting herself and helping tend his wound, Caitlin had wandered out onto the terrace, to get some fresh air, to take it all in. He had wandered out after her, and now stood at her side.

She and Blake hadn’t said much, both still reeling from the shock of battle. He looked like he was in pain from the arrow, and Caitlin felt terribly about it. She was deeply touched that he had come for her, that he had saved her. Who knows what would have happened if he hadn’t arrived.

They stood there in the warm evening air, each looking out, each lost in their own thoughts.

The silence grew thick, and Caitlin began to feel nervous. She felt her heart start to be faster. She had no idea what to say. She wanted to thank him. But she didn’t know how to begin.

“Did you come down here just for me?” she asked softly, in the summer darkness.

He waited several moments, then nodded.

“Why?” she asked.

“I couldn’t forget you,” he said.

He turned and faced her.

“Our dance. Our boat ride. I thought what we had was real.”

He looked at her.

“Was it?”

She looked back at him, at the blazing intensity in his eyes, and could see how deeply he felt things.

“Yes,” she answered.

His face seemed to relax.

“Then why did you leave me?” he asked.

Caitlin sighed, trying to think what to say.

Finally, she simply said, “I’m sorry.”

“Do you always run when you’re interested in someone?” he asked, with a small smile.

She smiled back. “Now that I think about it, I guess I do.”

“That’s a bad habit,” he said, his smile widening.

He turned and looked at the city, and she studied him as he did. He was still very mysterious to her. He was a man of few words, and he was so soft-spoken. She could feel the intensity that burned off of him, and it scared her. He felt like a man who lived life on the edge. He seemed like a hopeless romantic, like someone who was always embroiled in a passionate affair.

“That man you spoke to the other night,” Blake continued, “the one with the child. How do you know him?”

Caitlin was at a loss. She had no idea how to explain it. “It’s complicated,” she finally said.

“Do you have feelings for him?” he asked.

Caitlin paused.

“Yes,” she said, truthfully.

She saw Blake’s face fall in disappointment.

“But,” she added, “that was in the past.”

He looked at her, confused.

“What I meant to say was…we’re no longer together.”

As she spoke the words aloud, it pained her to hear them—but even as she said it, she knew that it was true.

Blake looked at her with a new hope.

“I followed you to Florence hoping that you would say that,” he said. “From the moment I met you, I couldn’t stop thinking about you. Last night, I visited your island, and Aiden told me you’d left for Florence. I don’t know why you’re here exactly, but I can sense that you’re searching for something. I want to help you. I want to be with you.”

He turned and faced her, and took a step closer.

She looked up into his eyes, at his smooth, flawless skin, and felt completely overwhelmed by his presence. She was unable to resist. He looked down at her, reached up, and slowly stroked her face with the back of his hand. She closed her eyes. She remembered that night on Pollepel, that same feeling she’d had. Now it came back, but stronger.

And as he leaned in, and his lips touched hers, she felt her heart swell again. She found herself kissing him back, meeting his lips with equal force.

She found herself melting, and knew that something inside of her was slowly coming back to life.

Caitlin woke to the morning light breaking through the large, arched windows. She reached over to the bedside table, put two drops in each of her eyes, closed them, and waited for the sting to go away.

She opened her eyes and looked around. She saw that she was lying in a huge, king-size bed, in a massive bedroom, with soaring ceilings, moldings over all the walls, and a marble floor draped in a huge, sheepskin rug. She lay on the finest of silk sheets, covered by fine linens and blankets, her head resting in an impossibly soft pillow. She’d never been in such a luxurious place in her life.

And as she looked over, she saw that she was not the only one in it.

Blake lay beside her. And they were both undressed.

She tried to remember. After that kiss, they had gone inside, had spent the night together. It had been a magical night, and thoughts of Blake filled her mind. A part of her, of course, still thought of Caleb.

But that part was slowly fading, becoming smaller and smaller. Lying next to Blake, feeling his energy, she felt she was exactly where she was supposed to be right now.

Caitlin lay there, studying his face, still sleeping, so peaceful. She wondered how far back they went, exactly how many lifetimes they’d known each other.

She finally crawled out of bed, her bare feet feeling good on the cool marble, and walked across the room, to the enormous window. She looked up: the window was at least fifteen feet high, with lace curtains that blew in the breeze.

She leaned out and watched the dawn break over Florence. The river lit up, glowing in the soft light. Birds chirped in the trees all around her.

A strong breeze came in, cooling her down on the warm summer morning, and blowing the drapes back. They billowed in the wind all around her, as she felt the wind caressing her face.

Caitlin looked into the distance, out at Florence, and for the first time in a long time, she looked forward to the day ahead. She couldn’t wait to explore the city, to continue the search for her father, for the Shield, especially with Blake by her side.

Finally, she was not alone.

*

Caitlin and Blake held hands as they exited his palace and made their way down the endless marble staircase. She felt like a new woman. She had bathed in the enormous bathtub, and had changed into a new outfit that Blake had given to her. He had actually laid out several outfits for her.

She had chosen a simple, black one, not too tight, one which was elegant and yet which seemed to fit in with the times. It had long, black pants, and a light, long-sleeved shirt, all black and all made of a silky material. The outfit was completed by a pair of open-toed sandals. She ached to see what she looked like in a mirror.

She wondered briefly why Blake had all those clothes, but she didn’t want to ask, to ruin the moment. After all, she figured, he had been alive for thousands of years, and it was only natural for him to have had past relationships. It didn’t bother her, and she was grateful for the clothes.

As they headed down the road, towards the river, it widened, and became busier, the occasional person and horse accompanying them. They blended into the crowd and, held hands. She looked up, and was glad to see that his wound had already healed.

They walked across the small bridge, crossing the river Arno for Florence.

“The Ponte Vecchio,” Blake said.

Caitlin looked over at him. He looked happy and content, in his element.

“It is known as ‘the gold bridge.’ See the merchants? All the little tables? This is where they sell gold. The finest gold in all of Europe. It is not only the entry bridge to Florence, but it also happens to be
the
place to come for jewelry.”

As they strolled across the bridge, offering an incredible view of the water and the city, Caitlin looked closely: small tables lined the bridge, around which stood merchants and customers, all examining various piece of jewelry.

He took her hand, and led her to a small booth.

She looked down, and was amazed to see it filled with gold bracelets, necklaces, rings, pendants…. They all shone in the light.

Caitlin fingered a bracelet.

“Try it on,” he said, smiling.

She shook her head and put it back. “I was just looking. I don’t have any money.”

He picked it up.

“
Please
,” he pleaded. “Money is no issue for our kind. I have money enough to last one thousand lifetimes, and one thousand more.”

Caitlin hesitated.

Blake reached over and placed it on her wrist. It was thin and elegant, the gold a brilliant yellow, and it was lined with small pieces of sea glass. It made Caitlin remember their time on Pollepel, when he had given her that piece of sea glass. Did he remember?

But it wouldn’t fit on her wrist.

He tried to open the clasp, but it wouldn’t budge.

“You need the key,” said the merchant.

She looked up, and saw that he was holding a small key. Blake took it and inserted it into the clasp, and it opened. She was amazed.

“It is designed to be opened only with the key,” said the merchant. “Only someone close to your heart holds the key. Only they can open it.”

Blake slipped it onto her wrist, then closed the clasp, and locked it. She tried to take it off, but it wouldn’t budge.

She looked it over, and held it up to the light. It was beautiful, the sea glass reflecting all different colors. She felt like she was wearing a part of Blake.

“Are you sure?” she asked.

Before she could finish asking the question, Blake had already paid the smiling merchant.

He took her hand, and they continued down the bridge.

*

Caitlin was in awe as they entered the city of Florence. It was one of the most beautiful places she had ever been. The streets were much wider here than in Venice, and not nearly as crowded.

They were lined with beautiful façades of buildings, townhouses, storefronts…. People, elegantly dressed, tipped their hats as they walked, and the occasional horse walked leisurely down the street.

There were sculptures and fountains everywhere. The streets were lined with cobblestone, and every few blocks they opened into an inviting square. This was a truly a city of light.

“So,” Blake asked, after walking in silence, “where to?”

“I need to find my father,” Caitlin said. “And an ancient shield. One that he will lead me to.”

“Your father was of our kind?”

Caitlin nodded. “I’m told that he came from a special coven. I’ve never met him.”

Blake nodded back. “That’s quite common among vampires. Often, the parents abandon the children. It’s safer that way. That way, if the parent gets caught or killed, the child is safe. Plus, there isn’t as much of a need to be together: the vampire connection is so much stronger between parent and child. Vampires don’t need to physically be with their children to be close to them. We can communicate through thoughts, thousands of miles away. And through dreams.”

That jarred something, made Caitlin think. Her dream. Those golden doors.

“Actually, that’s what led me here,” she said. “I dreamt of my father. And these beautiful, golden doors. It was like…I can’t explain it, but it was like…like he was pointing me towards Florence. I kept feeling that the answer was behind these doors. They were so unusual, so tall, and beautiful, and they had these carvings all over them.”