been home to vampires for thousands of years. The last I heard, it was home to the Red Coven. A very powerful and deadly coven, often inhospitable to outsiders—and rumored to be the guardians of a deep secret.”
They dove lower, and Caitlin took in the site of the castle from all sides. It was even more impressive up close. Built on a small island in the middle of a lake, Eilean Donan castle was accessible only by a long, stone footbridge, suspended over three small arches. The castle was set against green, rolling hills on every side, mountains in the distance, and the vast expanse of the lake surrounding it. It was a dramatic and romantic landscape, and the castle, already looking ancient, with parapets on multiple levels, blended perfectly into the countryside. A gentle mist hung over the lake, lit up in the sun, adding to the romance of it. Caitlin could already sense that it was a mysterious place, and that it held ancient secrets.
They circled again and again, debating where to land. Caitlin spotted dozens of vampire guards stationed, all dressed in long, blood-red cloaks. She wondered if they would have to battle them, but wanted to avoid a confrontation if they could.
“Let’s let them know we’re friendly,” Caitlin called out. “Let’s land by the main gate.”
“But if they confront us, better to land on the roof,” Caleb responded.
“I don’t feel that they will confront us,” Caitlin said. “If they are guardians of the vampire secret, I think they will appreciate why we are here. They might even be expecting us.” Caleb looked skeptical, but he agreed, and together they dove down, right for the main gate.
Moments later, they were standing at the end of the footbridge, before the main castle gate, in a wide open plaza guarded by dozens of vampires.
The vampires, dressed in red, scowled back, and Caitlin hoped that she had made the right decision.
As she took several steps forward, towards the entrance, suddenly, the main castle gate opened, the heavy iron spikes slowly rising. A single vampire approached, standing out from the others as he was the only one dressed in all white. He had a long beard spilling out from under it, and as he approached, he pulled back his hood and stared at them both with an intense stare. He was followed by a dozen guards, and Caitlin briefly wondered if they were about to attack.
But then she saw the lead vampire break into a smile, and finally, she felt at ease.
“Caitlin and Caleb,” he said slowly, shaking his head. “I’ve heard a lot about you two. I am honored you’ve come to our remote corner of the world.”
With that, he suddenly turned and walked into the castle.
Caitlin and Caleb looked at each other, and figured there was only one thing to do: to follow him.
*
“Most vampires who come here, come looking for the Grail,” the lead vampire said, as they walked through an ancient stone corridor. He turned to them and smiled. “But I can tell that you two are different. You are looking for something else, something much more sacred.”
“I’m looking for my father,” Caitlin replied.
“Yes, I know you are,” the vampire responded. He stopped and faced her. “I knew him well. He was an amazing man.”
Caitlin’s heart raced.
“Is he here?” she asked, excitedly.
He laughed, a short, little sound. “I wish he was. No, I’m afraid he hasn’t been here for centuries. But he left a very important legacy here. And he prepared us for your arrival. Centuries ago.”
The man turned, opened a small, medieval door, and they all headed down a new corridor, twisting and turning.
“What did he prepare?” Caitlin asked, burning with curiosity.
The man stopped before another door. “There was something he wanted you to have. You and only you.”
He opened another small door, and Caitlin had to duck as she walked through the opening.
This door opened into a grand room, lit by dozens of torches, with high arched ceilings, and stained-glass. It looked like a chapel, and at the end was a large, shining gold altar, guarded by two vampire soldiers, dressed in red, who stood at attention. Caitlin wondered what could be so valuable and precious that two guards would have to stand watch over it at all times. She wondered if it was the second half of the torn page.
As they approached it, her turned to her, “Your clue?” the vampire prodded.
Caitlin wondered for a moment what he was asking for, then realized it