As Caitlin began to walk slowly down the aisle, to the sound of the chants, she couldn’t help but wish that she had someone to walk her down the aisle. A mother. A father. She had never been close with her mother, and actually wouldn’t want her here. But her father – that was different. Of course, she felt closer to him now than she ever had, after all these lifetimes of searching for him, of receiving his clues, his letters – after his appearing to her in dreams and riddles. Now, more than ever, she wished that he was there, really there, holding her arm, walking her down. Not in a dream. Not as an apparition. But as a real, physical person.
Caitlin only hoped that one day he could really be there. That she’d really get to meet him. To spend time with him. That he could be a part of her life. And at that moment, for some reason, she suddenly wondered what he would think of her child. Of Scarlet. Of his grandchild. Would he be proud of her?
As Caitlin approached the altar, so dizzy from nervousness that she barely felt where she was going, she saw Caleb standing there, smiling back at her, and she felt at ease. He was dressed in the most beautiful attire she had ever seen, an outfit fit for a prince. It was a royal, black satin robe, with a high collar curving underneath his ears, a white shirt, and a scarlet tie. His hair was slicked back, formal, and he wore red gloves – apparently, another vampire tradition. He complemented his outfit with sparkling ruby cufflinks and shirt studs.
Over Caleb’s shoulder, Caitlin saw Samuel, his brother, smiling back at her, and it felt good to see him again, after all these centuries. He looked the same, donning a beard and mustache, like an older, sterner, version of Caleb. On her other side, she turned and saw Sam, her brother, smiling back, too. Caitlin knew that behind her, on her side, were Polly, Taylor and the others. She felt comforted and reassured having all these people she loved up there with her.
And as she and Caleb turned and faced the man standing between them, she felt most comfortable of all. There, standing between them, presiding over the ceremony, was Aiden. He wore an all-white robe, his long silver beard protruding from beneath it. His expression was somber, intense. As always, his large blue eyes seemed to glow, staring back at them. But this time, his eyes were half-closed, and Caitlin could feel that he was focused, drawing down energy for this event.
The crowd stood absolutely still, waiting. The only sound Caitlin could hear was the cool November air whistling through. Finally, Aiden opened his eyes: they were a bright, shining blue, and they stared back at her with such intensity, that it nearly took Caitlin’s breath away.
“We stand here today to witness the union of two beloved members of our race,” Aiden began, in a deep, solemn voice. “I have known Caleb and Caitlin for many lifetimes. I can think of no two members more suited for each other. We have already seen the product of their union, and we wish on this day that the beautiful Scarlet may be the first of many more to come.”
Aiden cleared his throat, and Caitlin and Caleb exchanged a furtive look, smiling.
“A vampire union is very sacred. It is not one to be taken lightly. It is forever. It is the definition of forever. It makes human love pale by comparison.
“Caitlin and Caleb have a love which is enduring. A love which has withstood many obstacles, many times, many places. It is a love I have rarely seen. It is a love which will transcend everything.”
Aiden turned and looked at Caitlin.
“Caitlin, of the Pollepel Coven, do you hereby accept Caleb, of the White Coven, as your husband, to love and to cherish, for lifetime after lifetime? Do you vow to remain by his side, even though death shall never do you part?”
Caitlin turned and smiled at Caleb, and saw him smiling back. There was nothing she wanted more.
“I do,” she said.
The crowd gasped. Aiden turned to Caleb.
“Caleb, of the White Coven, do you hereby accept Caitlin, of the Pollepel Coven, as your wife, to love and to cherish, for lifetime after lifetime? Do you vow to remain by her side, even though death shall never do you part?”
Caleb turned and smiled at Caitlin. “I do,” he said.
Aiden reached out, took Caitlin’s wrist in one hand, and took Caleb’s in the other, and then held their palms up, until they were touching each other. He held them that way, and Caitlin could feel the energy coursing through his hand.
“The rings,” Aiden prompted.
Caitlin reached into her pocket and extracted Caleb’s wedding band. It was a magnificent ring, with a gold band, covered in sparkling rubies. It had been given to her as a gift by Aiden, and he had insisted that she give it to Caleb on his wedding day. As Caleb turned his hand, she reached out and placed it on his ring finger. It was the first time he’d seen it, and his eyes lit up with surprise and, clearly, admiration. It was a perfect fit, and Caitlin had never felt so proud.
Caleb, for his turn, reached in and extracted the most gorgeous wedding band Caitlin had ever seen, covered in diamonds and sapphires. Caitlin was shocked – she hadn’t expected him to get her a second ring, above and beyond the magnificent ring she already wore. But as she looked down, he added this second ring to her finger, and Caitlin could immediately see how the two matched each other. She was speechless.
“By the authority vested in me,” Aiden continued, “and by the authority of the grand vampire council, I, Aiden, of the Pollepel Coven, do hereby, through the thousand year tradition, pronounce you man and wife, vampire and vampire, merged together in a union that no man or vampire shall tear asunder.”
He paused, looking at them both.
“You may kiss each other.”
As they kissed, a cheer arose among the crowd. Joyful music broke out, to the sound of a lute and a harp, and vampires on both sides of the aisles threw handfuls of flower petals on them, as they turned and began to walk back down the aisle.
Caitlin felt the petals showering down, all around them, and broke into laughter, as did Caleb. Even while it was happening, Caitlin already knew that this was one of the peak moments of her life, one that she would never re-live again. She wished, more than anything, that she could just freeze it, hold onto it forever; but she knew, like everything else in the tide of life, it was something that could not last. So instead she just tried to enjoy it, staring at the petals, at Caleb’s smile, feeling his love for her, and hoping that they could be together like this for eternity.
Chapter Twenty Two
Sam hadn’t stopped dancing for hours. He could not remember a night in his life when he’d danced this long, or had a better time. He’d been drinking for hours, too, ever since the ceremony had ended, which had been followed by a feast to end all feasts.
There must have been thousands of torches placed around the ceremony and reception area, in the huge, open field before the castle. Even the castle itself was alight with torches, placed all around the moat, all along the entranceway, and even in every window. In fact, the moat itself was filled with ingenious floating candles.
As if all this were not enough, there were thousands of flowers, elaborate displays of every color, in every direction. There were huge vats of wine, even bigger vats of blood, and dozens of boars roasting on spits. These had been complemented by every sort of delicacy. Rounding out the festivities were dozens of musicians, jugglers, clowns, and all sorts of tournaments, games and fun. It had been a grand spectacle. And the night was still nowhere near over.
Sam couldn’t be happier for his big sister, or his new brother in law. He was thrilled seeing the two of them so happy together. He was also elated for himself as he walked down the aisle with Polly, feeling how lucky he was to have her, and feeling her love for him as she held his arm. He couldn’t help thinking, throughout the ceremony, of their night before, of how they’d spent the night in each other’s arms, listening to the crashing of the waves. It had been a full moon, and they had slept right under it. Before dawn, he had taken her back to the castle, and they had slept in his bed.