Microsoft Word - BETROTHED.docx (20 page)

Finally, Kyle felt the moment was right, and he slipped into the bar. Wearing a cloak and hood, pulled tight over his face, he slipped between the crowd, creeping towards Caitlin's table. He saw her sitting there, next to all of her stupid little friends. He wanted to kill them all, and he would if he could.

But this time, he forced himself to stay focused. He clutched the poison vial in his hand, using his sleeve to hold it, determined to kill her for good this time.

Kyle crept behind Caitlin, and just as he did, a strange woman, who introduced herself as Violet, appeared at the head of the table. Kyle got lucky: he hadn’t planned for this, and it was the perfect distraction.

He moved quick. When everyone was looking away, he quickly emptied the vial of poison into her drink. Then he slipped out of there, thrilled that it had gone so smoothly.

In just minutes, Caitlin would drink. And when she did, she would be dead within days—if not hours. It would be a cruel, agonizing death.

This time, Kyle would leave nothing to chance. He would track them, wherever she went, and watch her final moments in death.

As Caitlin sat there, staring back and forth between Caleb and Violet, she could not believe what she was seeing. She felt her entire body start to shake. How could this be happening? And why now, of all times? When things were finally looking so bright? When all the obstacles for their relationship seemed to have finally disappeared?

Like a thunderbolt out of the sky, this woman had appeared, ruining the high of their engagement party. It wasn't fair. It just wasn't fair.

Worse, Caitlin could see in Caleb's eyes, could sense deep down, that these two had a special relationship. The one who had turned him? She had never even considered such a thing.

Of course, now that she thought about it, she should have.
Someone
had turned him, at some point. But she had never considered it would be a woman. And a gorgeous woman at that. Or that, possibly, the two might still have feelings for each other.

Caitlin remembered once being told that the strongest relationship you could have in the vampire world was to the person who turned you. It was something that ran deep in your blood and soul, something that you could never shake. It helped make you what you were, as that person’s blood ran through you.

Caitlin knew that to be true. She felt that with Caleb. After having been turned by him, she felt as if he were always there with her, a part of her. It felt deeper than love, deeper than a connection.

It truly felt like they were one.

Now, as she examined Violet, Caitlin wondered if Caleb had the same feelings for her. Was she always there, somewhere inside of him? Did he ever think of her? From the way he was stammering, and from the nervous look on his face, Caitlin suspected that he did. Maybe, she realized, deep within his consciousness, there was another woman lurking there.

It was too much for Caitlin to think of. She didn't want to do or say anything rash, especially after having learned her lesson back in France. And she desperately didn't want to assume the worst, as she had before.

But at the same time, she just couldn't bear to sit there and watch this unfold before her eyes any longer. Whatever game fate was playing on her, she didn't want any part of it. She had to get out of this place, this loud drinking hall, to clear her mind, to get fresh air. She had to leave before she did anything rash, or jumped to any conclusions, or said anything she might regret.

Caitlin stood abruptly, taking Scarlet’s hand.

Caleb stood, too, a concerned look on his face. "Where are you going?” he asked her.

Caitlin didn't trust herself to answer him, didn't trust herself to say the right thing. So instead, she silently took Scarlet and pushed her way out through the crowd.

"Caitlin, you don't understand!" Caleb yelled out after her, "It's not like that. It was centuries ago!"

Caitlin grabbed Scarlet’s hand more firmly, and parting the crowd, finally made it to the staircase, and up the steps.

"Mommy? Where are we going?" Scarlet asked.

But she was distracted by Caleb’s words, which rang through her mind.
Centuries ago
. She desperately wanted to believe that there was nothing there. She breathed deeply, willing herself to believe it.

She made it outside, and standing there, she began to feel better already. She breathed deeply, trying to get a hold of herself. She willed herself to believe Caleb. She had made the mistake in the past of not giving him the benefit of the doubt. And she felt that now she had to grow, to become a better person, to learn from that. She
had
to believe him.

Rationally, she knew that she did. But deep down, emotionally, it was hard. She saw the look in Caleb's eye. And the look in Violet’s eye. The way they looked at each other. As a woman, she knew there was something there.

Caitlin stood there, feeling at a crossroads. She didn't know which way to go. A part of her wanted to flee, like she had in the past, to get far away from Caleb, and everyone.

But another part of her, a part that was evolving under her eyes, knew that she had to be more mature. Patient. To hear everyone out. To think things through. To allow everyone the benefit of the doubt. She had to be the bigger person.

"Mommy, I'm not feeling so well," Scarlet suddenly said.

Caitlin snapped out of it. She knelt down and looked at her, and brushed the hair out of her eyes. As she did, she noticed how clammy her forehead was. She already knew Scarlet well enough to see that she was not herself. In fact, she looked extremely pale and sick.

Scarlet reached down, and scratched her ankles with both hands.

Caitlin looked down, and her heart dropped as she saw that they were covered with welts. Bites.

At the same time, Caitlin noticed several rats, scurrying past them in the mud.

Bites. Around the ankles. Large, red welts.

Caitlin's breathing stopped, as she realized what they were. Flea bites.

Caitlin tried to push the thought of her mind. Flea bites didn't necessarily mean the Plague. But she knew it didn’t bode well.

"Mommy, I feel really sick," Scarlet said again. And then, as she said it, Scarlet suddenly fainted.

Caitlin's lightning fast reflexes allowed her to catch Scarlet in mid-air, in her arms.

"Scarlet? SCARLET!?" Caitlin screamed, frantic.

But she didn't respond.

Scarlet opened her eyes, gently. She looked deathly ill.

"Mommy, can we go home?”

"Of course, sweetheart," Caitlin answered, repressing tears.

Scarlet closed her eyes again. As she did, Caitlin picked her up, and took off into the air, flying with more speed than she ever had. She knew where she had to go: to the one person in the world she knew who could help someone who was deathly ill.

Aiden.

Caleb sat there, watching Caitlin leave the tavern, in total shock. He could not believe that this was all happening. Just moments before, it had been a high point for them, one of their very best days, an incredible engagement party, an incredible play, and they were having an amazing time with everyone. It had seemed like things could never get better.

And then, moments later, it all came crashing down, and so unexpectedly. Caleb had been absolutely shocked to see Violet, someone who hadn't even entered his consciousness for hundreds of years, and he was at a complete loss for words. He didn't know what to say to her, and he didn't know what to say to Caitlin. It had happened so fast, he was so caught off guard, and before he knew it, Caitlin was leaving.

"Caitlin!" he had called after her again.

But it was no use. She had already pushed her way through the thick crowd, Scarlet in hand, and was already heading out the bar.

Caleb wanted to go after her. And he would. But he figured it was best to first let her get some air, to clear her head and calm down. He planned on giving her a few minutes, then he would go out and talk to her.

In the meantime, he wanted to know what Violet was doing here—and he didn't want to be rude by walking out on her.

"She's a touchy one," Violet said, looking down and smiling at Caleb.

Caleb was not amused, and did not smile back.

"How did you find me here?" he asked. "And what are you doing here? Last I heard, you were living in Sweden."

She smiled back. "That was five hundred years ago," she said. "People move around. London is my home now. It has been for the last 200 years.”

"Did you follow me here?” Caleb asked. “Is there something you want from me?” Caleb felt nervous that perhaps she was stalking him, wanting to ruin his relationship—maybe wanting to get back together.

But he was also a bit baffled, because Violet had never been that type. She had always been a loner, and when they had broken up, hundreds of years ago, she had never once tried to contact him.

"Don't flatter yourself," Violet shot back. "You're not the only reason that someone lives in London, or goes to a Shakespeare play. This is a very popular tavern. The world does not revolve around you. I happened to be here. And I happened to see you. That's all there is to it. Nothing more.”

Caleb sighed, feeling the tension leave his body, and the table seemed to relax, too, the tension visibly reduced.

“I'm just leaving,” she said. “I suppose I shouldn't even have stopped to say hello. But I presume you'd be more courteous than you were.”

Caleb now felt badly. She was right. She had done nothing wrong, and he owed her at least a tiny bit of cordiality. He should have been more polite to her.

"I'm sorry," he said. "Just bad timing. Caitlin I just got engaged, and this was our engagement party. She doesn't know about you, so your appearing here out of the blue—” Violet held up a palm. "I get it," she said. “Sorry. I wish you both well.” With that, she turned, and disappeared into the crowd. That was the Violet he remembered.

Always quick to leave, not to stalk. Which was why seeing her in the first place had so surprised him.

The table seemed to breathe a sigh of relief as she left, and slowly, the chattering resumed.

"Don't feel bad," Sam said to Caleb, "Caitlin’s always been that way. She can be hotheaded.

Territorial. It's not your fault," he said.

Caleb nodded back, grateful.

"I should go and check on her," Caleb said, rising.

"Polly already went out to check," Sam said. "She’ll be fine.”

"I think I should check myself," he said, and rose from the table and pushed his way through the crowd.

Caleb headed out into the sunlight, and looked everywhere for Caitlin and Scarlet. The crowd was thick, and swarmed in every direction. But he could not see her anywhere. And he did not sense her presence, either.

He saw Polly standing there, looking around, too.

"Where is she?" he asked Polly.

"Your guess is as good as mine," she said, looking worried. "It seems that your girlfriend, Violet, scared her away. I don't blame her."

"Polly, she's not my girlfriend. I didn't do anything wrong.” Probably merely shrugged and looked away, and Caleb could tell that she was mad at him, too.

Girls
, he thought.

Caleb stormed back into the bar, needing a drink. He went back to the table and sat back across from Sam. He saw all the empty glasses and noticed that Sam had been drinking too much, and he realized again what a wildcard Sam seemed to be. A fresh round of drinks came, and Sam grabbed two for himself, and handed a glass to Caleb.

Caleb drank the whole thing in just a couple of gulps.

"Is Polly still out there?" Sam asked.

Caleb nodded back. "She's pissed at me, too.”

Sam shook his head. "Girls," he said. "I better go talk to her," Sam added, and got up from the table, seeming a little bit drunk. Caleb watched him push his way through the crowd.

Caleb felt the beer go to his head, and it felt good.

He wanted another drink, but the waiter was nowhere in sight, and he could tell that, with the thick crowd, it would take forever to get served.

He scanned the table for any leftover beer, and saw, across from him, Caitlin’s untouched drink, still filled to the rim. She was gone now, and so she wouldn’t be drinking it. He didn’t see the harm.

It was a shame to let it go to waste. And after all that happened, he really could use just one more drink.

Caleb reached over and grabbed her glass, and drank it all down. He couldn't help noticing that it tasted a little bit funny going down, not like the normal beer. He wondered if maybe her beer had gone sour, or came from a bad batch.

But he didn't care. He wanted to drown out his woman troubles, and make it all go away.

*

Polly was upset as she stood outside the bar, searching everywhere for Caitlin and Scarlet. She knew that Caitlin could handle herself, but it bothered her that she was nowhere to be found. That could only mean one thing: she had left. Gone somewhere. And that she must have been really upset with Caleb.

And Polly could understand. If it were Polly's engagement party, she surely wouldn't wish for some ex-girlfriend to show up. It was annoying, to say the least. Not that Caleb could be blamed, necessarily. But still. It wasn't what any bride-to-be wanted.

Polly knew how emotional Caitlin could be, and only hoped that she would stay clear-headed, and not let this affect things between her and Caleb. She thought they were the perfect couple, and hated to see all these things constantly get between them.

As Polly turned, preparing to go back into the bar, she suddenly felt a cold hand grip her arm.

The grip was firm—too firm to be Caitlin's, and she wondered who it could be, as she spun to look.

Polly was aghast.

There, just feet away from her, stood Sergei.

He looked much like he had back in France, even wearing the same regal outfit he’d had on back then. She couldn’t believe that he was here, that he had traveled back in time. And that he had tracked her down.

She still felt a burning hatred towards him. He had tricked her, back in Versailles, into revealing where Caitlin was. He had used her all along. He had duped her, made a fool of her; he had played with her heart, and broken it. She felt ashamed and embarrassed at how deeply she had fallen for him, at how blind and stupid she had been.