It turned with a little click, and slowly, she opened the heavy lid.
Inside, nestled amidst piles of jewels, was a second chest, with an even smaller lock.
Caitlin was puzzled.
“I’m sorry,” Caitlin said. “This is the only key I have.”
The man shook his head. “You also have another key.”
Caitlin racked her brain, but had no idea what he was talking about.
He pointed at her neck.
She reached down, and suddenly remembered the antique, silver cross she wore. Could that be it?
She gingerly took it off, and inserted it into the lock of the smaller chest.
She was shocked to see that it fit.
She turned, and it opened.
There, in the small chest, was one large, silver key. The same exact size key as the one she had received in the Vatican. She knew immediately that this was the second key she needed to reach her father.
She was ecstatic.
But at the same time, she was frustrated, hoping she would find all three keys at once, to find her dad here, in the room.
She took it, rose and stood beside Caleb, feeling increasingly lightheaded, as she faced the man.
“There are but two keys left,” the man said. “And then you can unlock the gates, receive the Shield, and meet your father for yourself. We are proud of you. And so is he.
“Your father, though, waits for you in another time and place. I am sorry to say it is not here. Are you willing to go back again? To continue your journey?”
Caitlin turned to Caleb, but she already knew her answer. She was prepared to go back, and she saw from his eyes that he was, too.
“Then kneel.”
The two of them knelt, holding each other’s hands.
“Lower your heads.”
They did so, and as they did, Caitlin felt her heart pounding. There were so many questions left unresolved. Where would they end up? Would they be together? What about Sam? Polly? Ruth? She had so many questions she was burning to ask Caleb.
She felt the entire coven gather around, and felt several of them laying their hands on her head.
“We hereby lay thee down to rest,” echoed the chorus of vampires. “Caitlin and Caleb, to resurrect another day. In God’s ultimate grace.”
Ruth came in and lay beside her, whining. As the words were repeated a second time, then a third time, Caitlin felt her world grow lighter.
At the last second, before it all disappeared, she turned to Caleb, and saw him turn to her. She looked deeply into his eyes, and knew, just knew, that next time, they would be together forever.
“I love you,” she said.
“And I love you,” he answered.
And those were the last words she heard, as she felt herself growing ever lighter, dizzier, drifting into the ceiling – until her entire world was blackness.
BETROTHED
(Book #6 in the Vampire Journals)
In BETROTHED (Book #6 in the Vampire Journals), Caitlin and Caleb find themselves, once again, back in time – this time, in the London of 1599.
London in 1599 is a wild place, filled with paradoxes: while on the one hand it is an incredibly enlightened, sophisticated time, breeding playwrights like Shakespeare, on the other, it is also barbaric and cruel, with daily public executions, torture, and heads of prisoners impaled on spikes. It is also a time of superstition and grave public danger, with a lack of sanitation, and the Bubonic Plague spreading in the streets, carried by rats.
In this environment Caitlin and Caleb land, on the search for her father, for the third key, for the mythical shield that can save humankind. Their mission takes them through a whirlwind of London’s most amazing medieval architecture, through the British countryside’s most breathtaking castles. It takes them back into the heart of London, where they just might meet Shakespeare himself, and see one of his plays live. It brings them to a little girl, Scarlet, who just might become their daughter. And all the while, Caitlin’s love for Caleb deepens, as finally they are together – and as Caleb might just finally find the perfect time, and place, to propose to her.
Sam and Polly have traveled back, too, and as they find themselves stuck together on their own journey, their relationship deepens, as they each, despite themselves, can’t help feeling more deeply for each other.
But all is not well. Kyle has come back, too, as has his evil sidekick, Sergei, and they are both intent on destroying everything good in Caitlin’s life. It will be a race to the finish, as Caitlin is forced to make some of the hardest decisions of her life if she is to save everyone who is dear to her, save her relationship with Caleb – and try to make it out alive.