Desired

“But you don’t approve?” she prodded. “You think I should continue with the mission?”

He looked away, but didn’t say anything.

“What is it?” she asked. “Are you worried about the others?”

“I guess I should be,” he said. “And I am. But I, too, have selfish reasons. I guess… in the back of my mind I was hoping that if we found the Shield, it might somehow help bring my son back to me. Jade.”

Caitlin felt a terrible feeling of guilt, as she realized that he equated her giving up the mission with letting his son go forever.

“But it’s not that way,” she said. “We don’t know that if we find the Shield, if it even exists, that it will bring him back. But we do know that if we don’t search, we can be together. This is about us. That’s what matters most to me.” She paused. “Is that what matters most to you?”

He looked off at the horizon, and nodded. But he didn’t look at her.

“Or do you only love me because I can help you find the Shield?” she asked.

She was shocked at herself, that she actually had the courage to voice the question. It was a question that had been burning in her mind ever since she’d first met him. Had he only loved her for where she could lead him? Or had he loved her for her? Now, she had finally asked it.

Her heart pounded as she waited for the answer.

Finally, he turned and looked deeply into her eyes. He reached up, and slowly stroked her cheek with the back of his hand.

“I love you for you,” he said. “And I always have. And if being with you means giving up the search for the Shield, then that is what I will do. I want to be with you, too. I want to search, yes. But you are much more important to me now.”

Caitlin smiled, feeling in her heart something she hadn’t felt in forever. A sense of peace, of stability. Nothing could stand in their way now.

He brushed the hair from her face, and broke into a smile.

“It’s funny,” he said, “I lived here once before. Centuries ago. Not in Paris, but in the country. It was a small castle. I don’t know if it still exists. But we can search.”

She smiled, and he suddenly hoisted her onto his back, and leapt into the air. Within moments, they were flying, high up above Paris, and heading into the country, to search for his home.

Their home.

Caitlin had never been so happy.

Chapter Five

Sam was having a hard time keeping up with Polly as she walked. She talked so fast, and never seemed to stop, racing from one thought to the next. He was still discombobulated from the time travel, from this new place – he needed to process it all.

But they had been walking for nearly half an hour, he tripping over twigs as he followed her through the forest at her brisk pace, and she hadn’t stopped talking. He’d barely been able to get a word in. She went on and on about “the palace” and “the court” and about her coven members and an upcoming concert, and a man named Aiden. He had no idea what she was talking about, or why she’d been looking for him – or even where she was taking him. He was determined to get some answers.

“… of course, it’s not exactly a dance,” Polly was saying, “but still, it’s going to be an amazing event – but I’m not quite sure what I’ll wear. There are so many options, not enough for a formal event like this – ”

“Please!” Sam said finally, as she bounced along merrily through the forest, “I’m sorry to interrupt, but I have questions for you. Please. I need answers.”

She finally stopped talking, and he breathed a sigh of relief. She looked at him with something like wonder, as if she were totally oblivious to the fact that she’d been talking all the while.

“All you need to do is ask!” she said happily. And then, before he could respond, she added, impatiently, “Well? What is it?”

“You said you were sent to get me,” Sam said. “By who?”

“That’s an easy one,” she said, “Aiden.”

“Who’s that?” Sam asked.

She snickered, “My, you have a lot to learn, don’t you? He’s only been the mentor of our coven for thousands of years. I’m not sure why he’s taken an interest in you, or why he’d send me on such a beautiful day tramping all the way through the forest to get you. The way I see it, you could have found your own way, eventually. Not to mention, I had a thousand things to do today, including looking at this new dress and – ”

“Please,” Sam said, trying to hold onto his thought before he lost again. “I really appreciate your coming to get me and all, and I don’t want to be disrespectful,” he said, “but wherever it is that we’re going, I really don’t have time. You see, I came back here, in this place and time, for a reason. I need to help my sister. I need to find her – and I don’t have time for any side trips.”

“Well, I would hardly call this a side trip,” Polly said. “Aiden is only the most sought after man in all the court. If he’s taken an interest in you, it’s nothing to throw away,” she said. “And whoever it is that you’re looking to find, if anyone can point the way, it will be him.”

“Then where is it that we’re going, exactly? And how much further is it?”

She took several more steps through the forest, and he hurried to catch up, wondering if she’d ever respond, ever give him a straight answer – when, at that moment, the forest suddenly opened up.

She stopped, and he stopped beside her, awestruck.

Before them lay an immense open field, leading, in the distance, to immaculate, formal gardens, the grass cut into elaborate shapes of every size. It was beautiful, like a living work of art.

Even more breathtaking was what lay just beyond the gardens. It was a palace, grander than any structure Sam had seen in his life. The entire building was made of marble, and it stretched as far as he could see in every direction. It was a classical, formal design, with dozens of oversized windows, and a wide, marble staircase leading up to its entrance. He knew that he had seen pictures of this structure somewhere, but he couldn’t remember what it was.

“Versailles,” Polly said, providing the answer, as if reading his mind.

He looked at her, and she smiled back.

“It’s where we live. You are in France. In 1789. And I’m sure that Aiden will let you join us, assuming that Marie allows it.”

Sam looked at her, puzzled.

“Marie?” he asked.

She smiled wider, shaking her head. She turned and skipped across the field, towards the palace. As she did, she called out over her shoulder.

“Why, Marie Antoinette, of course!”

* * *

Sam walked at Polly’s side, up the endless marble staircase, heading towards the front doors of the palace. As he went, he took in all the sights around him. The magnitude and proportions of this place were astounding. All around him, strolling the grounds, were people he presumed to be royalty, dressed in some of the finest clothing he’d ever seen. He couldn’t get over this place. If someone had told him he were dreaming, he would believe them. He had never been in the presence of royalty before.

Polly hadn’t stopped talking, and he forced himself to focus on her words. He liked being around her, and enjoyed her company, even if paying attention to her was really hard. He thought she was pretty, too. But there was something about her that made him unsure whether he was really attracted to her, or whether he just liked her as a friend. With his past girlfriends, it had been lust at first sight. With Polly, it was more like a camaraderie.

“You see, the royal family lives here,” Polly said, “but we live here, too. They want us here. After all, we’re the best protection they have. We live together in what you might call a friendly harmony. It serves us both. With this huge forest, we have unlimited hunting, a great place to live, and great company. And in turn, we help protect the royal family. Not to mention that a few of them are our kind, anyway.”

Sam looked at her, surprised.

“Marie Antoinette?” he asked.

Polly nodded slightly, as if trying to keep it a secret, but unable to.