Vowed

She had no idea. She had not been thinking of the Holy Grail at all, and hardly even knew what it was. She wished now that she had been listening to their conversation. She tried to remember what it was, and thought back to childhood fairytales, to myths and legends. To the stories of King Arthur. Excalibur. The Holy Grail…

  Slowly, it was coming back to her. If she recalled correctly, the Holy Grail was rumored to be a chalice or goblet, rumored to hold a special liquid….Yes, now it was coming back to her. Some people had said that the Holy Grail held the blood of Christ, that drinking it would make you immortal. If she remembered correctly, the knights had spent hundreds of years searching for it, had risked their lives trying to find it, to the ends of the earth. And no one ever had.

  “Do you think it will ever be found?” McCleod asked again.

  Caitlin cleared her throat, the entire table looking to her for an answer.

  “Um…” she began, “I haven’t really thought about it,” she answered. “But if it really exists…then I don’t see why it can’t be found.”

  There was a small roar of approval at the table.

  “You see,” McCleod said to one of his knights. “She is an optimist. I, too, think it will be found.”

  “An old wives’ tale,” said a knight.

  “And what will you do when you find it?” asked another knight. “That’s the real question.”

  “Why, I shall make myself immortal,” the king answered, breaking into a hearty laugh.

  “You don’t need the Holy Grail for that,” said another knight. “All you need is to be turned.” A tense silence suddenly fell around the table. Clearly, this knight had overspoke, had crossed a line and mentioned something taboo. He lowered his head in shame, recognizing his mistake.

  Caitlin saw McCleod’s sudden, dark expression, and in that moment, she realized that he desperately wanted to be turned. And that he sorely resented Aiden’s coven for not obliging him.

  Clearly, this knight had raised a sore point, the one point of tension between the two races.

  “And what is it like?” the king asked aloud, directing his question to Caitlin, for some reason.

  “Immortality?”

  Caitlin wondered why he’d had to ask her, of all the vampires in the room. Couldn’t he have picked someone else?

  She thought about that. What was it like? What could she possibly say? On the one hand, she loved immortality, loved living in all these times and places, seeing her family and friends again and again, in each new time and place. On the other hand, some parts of her still wished she had a normal, simple life, wished that there was a normal arc to things. Most of all, she found herself surprised at how brief immortality seemed: on the one hand, it felt like life forever—but on the other hand, it still always felt to her like there was never enough time.

  “It doesn’t feel as permanent as you might imagine.”

  The rest of the table nodded in approval at her response.

  McCleod suddenly rose from his chair. As he did, all the others rose at attention.

  Just as Caitlin was turning over the odd exchange in her head, wondering if she had upset him, she suddenly felt his presence behind her. She turned, and he was standing over her.

  “You are wise beyond your years,” he said. “Come with me. And bring your friends. I have something to show you. Something that has been waiting for you a very long time.” Caitlin was surprised. She had no idea what it might be.

  McCleod turned and strutted out the hall, and Caitlin and Caleb rose, followed by Sam and Polly, and followed him. They looked at each other in wonder.

  They crossed the large, stone floor, following the king through the enormous chamber and out a side door, as the knights around the table slowly sat back down and resumed their meal.

  McCleod walked in silence, strutting down a narrow, torch-lit hall, with Caitlin, Caleb, Sam and Polly following. The ancient stone halls twisted and turned, leading them to a staircase.

  McCleod took a torch off the wall and led the way down the darkened staircase, into seeming blackness. As they walked, Caitlin began to wonder where exactly, he was leading them. What could he possibly have to show them? An ancient weapon of some sort?

  Finally, they reached a subterranean level, well lit by torches, and Caitlin was amazed at the sight.

  The low, arched ceiling glittered, plated in gold. Caitlin could see illustrated images of Christ, Knights, scenes from the Bible, mixed with various odd signs and symbols. The floor was an ancient, well-worn stone, and Caitlin couldn’t help but feel as if they’d entered a secret treasure chamber.

  Caitlin’s heart began to beat faster, as she sensed something important awaiting them. She strutted faster, hurrying to catch up to the King.

  “The treasury vault of the McCleod clan for a thousand years. It is down here where we hold our most sacred treasure, weapons and possessions. But there is one possession which is more valuable, more sacred, than all of them.”

  He stopped and turned to her.

  “It is a treasure we have been saving just for you.”

  He turned and lifted a torch off a side wall, and as he did, a hidden door in the wall suddenly opened up in the stone. Caitlin was amazed: she would have had no idea it was there.

  McCleod turned and led them down another twisting corridor. Finally, they came to a stop in a small alcove area. Before them was a throne, on which sat a lone object: a small, jeweled treasure chest. Torchlight flickered over it, illuminating it, and McCleod gingerly reached down and picked it up.

  Slowly, he lifted the lid. Caitlin could not believe it.

  There, inside the chest, sat a single piece of ancient parchment, a faded, antique color, wrinkled and torn in half. It was covered in ancient handwriting, in a delicate script, in a language Caitlin did not recognize. Along its edges were multi-colored letters, drawings and symbols, and in its center was a drawing, semi-circular. But given that it was torn in half, Caitlin could not make out what it was supposed to be.

  “For you,” he said, gingerly lifting it and holding it out to her.

  Caitlin held the piece of torn parchment, feeling it crinkle in her hands, and held it up to the torchlight. It was a torn page, perhaps from a book. With all of its delicate symbology, it looked like a piece of art in its own right.

  “It is the missing page to the Holy Book,” McCleod explained. “When you find the book, that page will be complete. And when it is, you will find the relic we are all searching for.” He turned and faced her.

  “The Holy Grail.”

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Caitlin sat in her large room in Dunvegan in Castle at a writing desk, looking out the window at the sunset sky. She examined the torn page McCleod had given her, holding it up to the light. She slowly ran her fingertips along the embossed, Latin letters. They looked and felt ancient. The entire page was so beautifully and intricately designed, and she marveled at the intricate colors along the paper’s edges. Back then, she realized, books were made to be works of art in and of themselves.

  Caleb lay on their bed, while Scarlet and Ruth were sprawled out on a pile of furs before the fireplace on the far side of the room. This room was so sprawling, that even with all of them in it, Caitlin still felt alone with her thoughts. In the adjacent room, she knew, were Sam and Polly. It had been a long day, and a long feast with Aiden’s coven and the king’s men, and they were all settling in for the night.

  Caitlin could not stop thinking about the torn page, the clue, where it might lead her, and if it would yield the fourth key. Would her father be there this time? Could it be that he was waiting, close by? Her heart beat faster at the thought of it. Did that mean she would finally find the shield?

  That all of this would be over? And what would she do then? Where would she go next?

  It was all too overwhelming for her to consider. She felt she just had to focus on the clue before her, to take it one step at a time. She thought of what McCleod had said about the holy Grail. He had told h
er that he and his men had devoted their lives to finding the grail. That legend had it that a woman would arrive and lead them to it. He believed that she, Caitlin, was that woman. Which was why he had given her his precious clue, the ancient piece of paper.

  But Caitlin wasn’t so sure. Was the grail just a myth? Or was it real? And how was it tied to her search?

  Caitlin didn’t know where all this lead, but as she reflected, she realized that, once again, she had finally found a place, in this castle, with these people, where she felt a sense of peace and comfort.

  She felt at home in Skye, in this castle, with this king, with his knights, and of course, being back with Aiden’s coven again. She was thrilled to be reunited with Caleb, Scarlet, Sam and Polly. Finally, once again, everything felt right in the world. It was cold and windy out there, and with a fire raging in her fireplace, she was cozy in here, and really didn’t want to venture out there, hunting down more clues. She wanted to stay right here. She could see herself building a home here with Caleb, and Scarlet, and Ruth.

  If they pressed on with their missions, how might that affect her relationship with Caleb? Or even endanger Scarlet or Ruth? It seemed that whenever she got close to finding another key, bad things started to happen.

  Caitlin slowly set down the brittle piece of paper, and stared, instead, at her unopened journal before her, sitting on the desk. It was now worn, thick with use, looking like a relic in its own right.

  She reached out and slowly pulled back the pages, turning them all the way until she nearly reached the end of the book. She realized, with a start, that there weren’t that many blank pages left. She couldn’t believe it. When she’d first began this journal, it had seemed as if it would last forever.

  She lifted the quill, blotted it into the ink, and began to scrawl.

  I can’t believe this journal is almost finished. I look back at some of my older entries, like the one from New York City, and it feels like lifetimes ago. But it also feels like it all just happened yesterday.

  I think back on all that I’ve been through, and I don’t even know where to begin anymore. I feel like too much has gone by to catch you up on everything. So I will just fill you in on the most important things.

  Caleb is alive. He survived his sickness. I’m back together with him now. And we are going to be married.

  Nothing makes me happier.

  Scarlet, the most beautiful eight-year-old girl in the world, is in our lives. She is our daughter now. She survived her sickness, too, and I am overjoyed.

  Not to mention Ruth, who has grown bigger and stronger than Rose ever was, and might just be the most loyal and protective animal I’ve ever seen. She’s as much a part of our family as Scarlet and Caleb.

  And I’m thrilled to be reunited with Sam and Polly. Finally, I feel like my whole family is back together again, under one roof.

  I am nervous for our wedding. Caleb and I haven’t had a chance to talk about it yet, but I feel it will be soon.

  When I was younger, I always tried to imagine my wedding day. But I never imagined anything remotely like what this might be. A vampire wedding? What will it look like?

  I hope that he still loves me as much as I love him. I sense that he does. I wonder if he is nervous for the wedding, too?

  I look down at my ring, at the ring he gave me, so beautiful, covered in all these shining jewels. It doesn’t feel real.

  Not any of it. But at the same time, I feel like I’ve been connected to him forever.

  I want to find my Dad. I really do. But I don’t want to search anymore, and I don’t want things to change. Any of this. I want to be with Caleb. And I want our wedding to happen. Is it wrong to put our wedding first?

  Caitlin closed her journal and sent down the quill. Still lost in another world, she blinked and looked around the room. She wondered how much time had passed while she was reflecting; she looked out the window and saw that it was twilight, and as she glanced about the room, she saw that Scarlet and Ruth were still fast asleep. On the other side of the room, beneath the torchlight, Caleb seemed to be asleep, too.

  Caitlin also found herself feeling sleepy. She felt she needed to clear her head, to get some air.

  She got up from the desk quietly and began to cross the room, determined to slip outside. She grabbed a fur shawl on the way, wrapping it around her shoulders. Just as she reached the door, though, she heard a soft clearing of the throat.

  She looked over and saw Caleb looking at her, one eye open, beckoning her.

  She turned and walked over to his side, and as he patted the bed, she sat beside him.

  He smiled as he slowly opened his eyes. As always, she was struck by his beauty. His facial features were so perfect, so clean and smooth, his jaw line and cheekbone prominent, his lips full and smooth, his nose angular and perfect. He blinked with his long eyelashes, then slowly reached out and ran one hand through her hair.

  “We’ve hardly had a chance to talk,” he said.

  “I know,” she smiled back.

  “I want you to know how much I still love you,” he said.

  Caitlin smiled. “I love you, too.”

  “And that I can’t wait to be married to you,” he added, his smile widening.

  He sat up and kissed her, and they kissed for a long time beneath the torchlight.

  Caitlin felt her heart warm. That was exactly what she had been wanting to hear. It was uncanny how he had always been able to read her thoughts.

  “Now that we’re here, I want to marry you. Before we continue on our search. Right here. In this place.” He studied her. “What do you think?”

  She looked back at him, her heart racing with conflicting emotions. It was exactly what she wanted, too. But she was also scared. She wasn’t sure how to respond.

  Finally, she stood.

  “Where are you going?” he asked.

  “I’ll be back soon,” she said. “I just need to clear my head.” She kissed him one last time, then turned and walked out the room, closing the door softly behind her. She knew that if she stayed, she would end up in his arms, in the bed. And she first really needed to gather her thoughts. Not that she had any doubts about him. Or about their marriage. Or about their wedding. But she still felt conflicted, divided, over whether she needed to be out there, pursuing her mission. Was it selfish to put the wedding first?

  As Caitlin walked down the empty, stone corridor, her footsteps echoing, she spotted a stairwell heading up, and saw natural light filtering down it. The castle roof, she realized. That was just the place she could go to get privacy and fresh air.

  Caitlin hurried up the steps and into the twilight air. It was colder up here than she imagined, a late October wind driving strong. She wrapped her furs tightly over her shoulders, and was grateful for the warmth.

  As Caitlin walked slowly along the ramparts, she looked out over the countryside in what little light was left. It was breathtakingly beautiful. On one side, the castle was perched beside a vast and lake, covered in mist. On the other side was a great expanse of trees and hills and valleys. This place felt magical.

  Caitlin walked to the edge of a rampart, staring out, taking in the landscape—when suddenly, she sensed another presence. She didn’t know how that could be possible, as the entire roof had been empty. She slowly turned, not sure what to expect.

  She couldn’t believe it.

  Standing there, at the far end of the roof, was a lone figure, his back to her, looking out over the lake. An electric thrill ran through her. She didn’t need to see his long, flowing robes, his long silver hair, or the staff at his side to know who it was.

  Aiden.

  Could it really be? she wondered. Or was it just an illusion in the twilight?

  She crossed the roof, slowly walking over to him, and stopped a few feet away. He stood so still, his hair blowing in the breeze, not turning. For a moment, she wondered if he was real. Then came his voice.

  “You have come far,” he said, his back s
till to her.

  Slowly, he turned and faced her. His eyes were a large shining blue, even in the dim light, and they seemed to look right through her. As usual, his face was expressionless. Intense.

  Caitlin was thrilled to see him here. There had been so many questions she was dying to ask him, and as usual, he seemed to show up at just the moment when she needed guidance the most.

  “I didn’t know if I would see you again,” she said.

  “You will always see me,” he answered. “Sometimes in person, and sometimes otherwise,” he answered cryptically.

  A silence hung between them, as she tried to gather her thoughts.

  “There is only key left,” she found herself saying. “Does that mean I will see my father soon?” He studied her, then slowly looked away.

  Finally, he said, “That depends on your actions, doesn’t it?” His habit of answering a question with a question always drove her mad. She had to try again.

  “The new clue,” she said. “The page. The torn page. I don’t know where it leads. I don’t know what to look for. Or where.”

  Aiden stared off into the horizon.

  “Sometimes clues look for you,” he answered. “You know that now. Sometimes you must wait for things to be revealed.”

  Caitlin thought about that. Was he telling her to do nothing?

  “Then…is there nothing for me to do?” she asked.

  “There is much for you to do,” Aiden responded.

  He turned and faced her, and slowly, for the first time in as long as Caitlin could remember, he broke into a smile. “You have a wedding to plan.”

  Caitlin felt herself smiling back.

  “I wanted to. But I was afraid that it was frivolous,” she said. “That I should put on hold. That I should be searching first.”

  Aiden slowly shook his head.