Destined (27 page)

“We are members of the most holy and most ancient and most powerful vampire coven ever known to man. We have lived thousands of years longer than anyone else, and we guard secrets that no one else is fit to protect. It is thanks to us that the human and vampire races have managed to survive. Few know of our existence—and even fewer are members. Your father is one of us. Which means that you, too, are one of us.”

Caitlin’s heart pounded in her chest. The implications of it seemed overwhelming. These were her father’s people. Here, in the Vatican. She felt so proud of him, and felt special herself. Yet she also burned with questions.

He suddenly held out a small, jewel-encrusted box.

“Your key, please,” he said.

Caitlin looked back at him, puzzled.

Key?

She didn’t have a key. Had they mistaken her for someone else?

He looked down and pointed at her necklace.

Caitlin reached down and felt it, forgetting it was even there. Her necklace.

She removed it, stepped forward, and slowly inserted it into the small keyhole.

She turned, and to her surprise, it opened softly.

Inside it, was another key, large and gold.

“Take it,” he said. “It belongs to you.”

Caitlin reached in and took the key, her mind racing. It was heavy, smooth. She could feel an incredible power coming off of it.

“It is one of the four keys,” the man said. “Only you can find the other three. When you have all four, you will meet your father. And he will give you the Shield.

“You are on a very sacred mission,” he added. “You must find him. For all of us.”

“But where is he?” she asked.

“He does not live in this time,” he answered. “You will have to go back, further.”

Caitlin’s mind spun.
Go back in time? Again?

The vampire nodded, and the hundreds of vampires in the room came forward and crowded around them, in a tight circle.

The three vampires stepped forward, and each held out a jewel-encrusted chalice, filled with a white liquid.

“White blood,” he said. “The holiest of bloods. You must each take three sips.”

Caitlin, Caleb, and Sam each took a chalice.

Caitlin drank, taking three sips, wondering what would happen. She was surprised by how sweet it was.

More and more vampires crowded around them, closer and closer. They all lowered their heads, as if in prayer, and began to chant.

“…to resurrect another day,” they finished chanting, “in God’s ultimate grace.”

No
, Caitlin thought.

She began to feel light-headed. This can’t be happening. Not so soon. There was so many questions she had left to ask. Who were these people? How long had they lived? How had they know her father? What was he like? What was the next step on her mission? What time and place where they sending her to?

And there were so many questions she needed to ask Caleb. How much did he really remember?

Would he go back with her, together, this time? Would he remember?

And most of all, did he still love her? Would he love her again? Would they have another child?

She needed some time to prepare for the transition. Even just a few minutes.

But it was not meant to be.

As the vampires continued with the funeral service, repeating it a second time, she felt increasingly light-headed.

She grabbed Caleb’s hand tightly, and she felt him grab hers back. It felt so good to be with him, to be by his side. She hoped it would never end. She hoped that this time they would go back together, never leave each other’s sides. She never wanted to be apart from him again.

As they began the funeral service a third time, she felt him lean over and whisper, “I love you, Caitlin. And I always will.”

She felt herself getting lighter and lighter, drifting towards the ceiling, towards the sky, towards some far-off place where heaven and earth met.

And she knew, she just
knew
, that there was something bigger than this world. That there was some magical opening in the universe where destiny and love prevailed. And that, no matter what, she and Caleb would be together again.

COMING SOON…

Book #5 in the Vampire Journals

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Also by Morgan Rice

TURNED (Book #1 in the Vampire Journals)

LOVED (Book #2 in the Vampire Journals)

BETRAYED (Book #3 in the Vampire Journals)