Vowed (The Vampire Journals, #7) - Morgan Rice Page 0,39

to realize that it was not Caleb’s fault, and there was nothing to blame him for. Yes, it was beyond annoying that Sera persisted in interfering in their lives. Yes, it bothered her that Sera had vowed to tear them apart. Of course, that was news that no bride would wish for on the day before her wedding.

But at the same time, Caleb was hers now. At least, that was how Caitlin felt. She wore his ring, and whether they’d had the ceremony yet or not, she felt that deep down, their souls were connected. After all, she was holding Scarlet’s hand, their child’s hand. What more proof could she want than that?

As she walked, her bare feet sinking into the sand, she realized she should let go of any upset with Caleb. Sera was really the one to blame. If anything, she should be grateful to Caleb for always deflecting Sera’s advances, and for being so honest with her.

Most importantly, Caitlin realized there was nothing to fear: there was no way Sera could ever tear them apart. Caleb loved her, Caitlin. She felt it. And nothing—and no one—could ever take that away. The more she dwelled on it, the more her anger toward Sera started to abate. She realized that Sera was just a powerless, pathetic creature, a lost woman who was unable to get on with her own life.

Caitlin’s thoughts turned to Scarlet. She looked down at her, and marveled at how peaceful and content she seemed, skipping in the sand, looking out at the sea, chasing the seabirds running along the shore. She felt so connected to her. Caitlin was overwhelmed to think that Scarlet was hers. Her daughter. Her real daughter. And now that she knew she was her mother, she felt a greater responsibility than ever. To guide her, to teach her who she was, what it meant to not be of the human race. Caitlin recalled when she had first found out she, herself, wasn’t human; it had been quite a shock.

“Mommy?” Scarlet suddenly asked, kicking a seashell, “what is a vampire?” Caitlin felt a chill. Scarlet’s timing was uncanny. She could not believe how easily she’d read her thoughts.

“Well,” Caitlin began, trying to think of how to explain this to a child, of how to choose her words, “a vampire is a very special person. One that has special talents and abilities. One that has a special way of eating, and one that can live a very, very long time.” Scarlet furrowed her brow. “Longer than other types of people?”

“Oh yes,” Caitlin said. “A lot longer.”

“Is that what I am?” she asked. “A vampire?”

Caitlin looked down at her shining eyes, looking up at her, and knew that she had to be completely honest. Children demanded that.

“Yes, honey, you are. And, in your case, that is a very beautiful thing.”

“Are you one, too? Is Daddy?”

“Yes,” she said. “We all are. Our whole family.”

“Does that mean that we all get to live a long time? Together?” Caitlin stopped and knelt down, and looked her in the eyes.

“I sure hope so,” she said.

Scarlet frowned.

“But I heard that vampires are scary. Does that mean I’m scary?” Caitlin smiled.

“No, love, you’re not scary at all. You’re perfect. Only some vampires are scary. Just like some humans are scary. Other vampires are very, very nice. Even nicer than some humans.”

“Is that my kind?” Scarlet asked.

“Yes it is. We never hurt any humans. We eat animals, just like humans eat animals.” Scarlet seemed to relax a little bit.

“When those wolves attacked me,” Scarlet began, “I felt them biting me. I felt their teeth in my neck. And then everything went black. I was sure that I was dead. It was like I was supposed to be dead. But I didn’t die. I don’t understand. Does that mean that I can’t ever die?” Scarlet stared back at her intensely, and Caitlin could see that she desperately wanted the truth.

Caitlin cleared her throat, and looked her in the eyes.

“You are like your Mommy and Daddy. Which means that you can’t die. Not like humans die.” Scarlet looked down at the sand, then off at the water, as if debating how to react. Finally, she looked back at Caitlin.

“I always knew I was different. Sometimes, I can hear things. Not like normal people. It’s like…

I can hear people’s thoughts. Like yours, sometimes. When I try to.” She looked at Caitlin. “Is that strange?”

Caitlin knelt down and smiled at her, brushing the hair out