separated by formal, ornate gardens, with a huge fountain in the middle. Flying over it, circling, again and again, Caitlin marveled that anything manmade could be that perfect. It looked like a palace fit for a king.
As she fol owed Aiden, circling, getting lower, she began to realize that this was where his coven lived. She was shocked. Pol epel had been magnificent, and so had his island outside of Venice. But this place outdid them al . She vaguely recognized the buildings, and wondered if she had seen pictures once somewhere.
“Where are we?” she yel ed out, as they circled lower.
They dove in low, and landed on a road on the edge of the woods.
As they landed, he turned and looked at her:
“Versail es,” he said. “Your new home. At least, while you choose to train here.”
A servant stepped forward from behind a horse and carriage, dressed in royal finery. He took several steps towards Aiden, and bowed.
“You wil now receive your formal introduction to the palace,” he said. As he did, the servant hurried around and opened the gilded door to the carriage for Caitlin, waiting for her.
She was confused. “What about you? Aren’t you coming?”
“I have important matters to attend to. You’l be shown your room, and when you are ready, you’l meet me on the training field.”
And with that, he took several steps and leapt into the air, flying off.
Caitlin turned to the servant, who stil stood there, holding the door.
“Thank you,” she said, embarrassed to be waited upon.
“You don’t need to hold the door. I’m not royalty, after al .”
He smiled back as Caitlin stepped up into the carriage, and then closed it behind her.
It was smal and cozy in here, as Caitlin settled back on velvet cushions, Ruth in her lap, and looked out the dainty glass window. The servant jumped on board, whipped the horses, and they were off, the horses trotting, taking Caitlin through the manicured road leading to the palace.
Caitlin leaned forward and looked, and Ruth did, too. She marveled at the perfectly cut grass, the endless, formal gardens designed in every shape, the huge fountain bursting at its center, the perfectly trimmed hedges. She marveled at how smooth the roads were, how white they were, how wel taken care of. It was like riding on air.
As they pul ed up to the main entrance, Caitlin saw several people come out to greet her. She felt embarrassed. The sleek, marble steps, were already crowded with servants, royals, al sorts of people teeming, waiting to get a glimpse of her. They al watched with expectation as the carriage pul ed up.
They came to a stop and the servant opened the door for her, and she slowly climbed out.
As she looked at the crowd, at al their fine outfits and elaborate hats, she suddenly felt self-conscious of what she was wearing. She looked down and was mortified to see that she stil wore the simple wardrobe the nuns had given her.
Caitlin ascended the steps—there seemed to be hundreds of them—until she final y reached the top. The crowd stared back. She wondered who exactly was supposed to introduce her, to show her around, now that Aiden had left her to her own devices. She scanned the faces, hoping to find someone familiar, and especial y hoping to find Pol y.
But she didn’t recognize anyone. And she suddenly felt like a stranger here.
Caitlin heard a giggling, and turned to see several girls, dressed in incredible finery, whispering and laughing at her, as they eyed her from head to toe. Caitlin felt her cheeks redden. Clearly, they were making fun of her.
Caitlin suddenly felt under scrutiny, and wanted to leave this place. Everyone here seemed so formal, so uptight, so judgmental. And she didn’t recognize anyone. She was thinking of turning around and leaving, when suddenly, someone stepped forward from the crowd.
She was one of the most beautiful women Caitlin had ever seen. She was dressed in a long, green, satin dress, with high col ars that framed her perfect cheekbones. She had dark skin, standing out amidst al the pale, white faces, and she looked to Caitlin to be of African descent, and maybe 18. She had large, emerald green eyes and long lashes, and she stood so erect, with such a straight posture, so regal. Caitlin wondered if she were a princess.
She turned to the girls who were giggling and scowled at them.
“Silence yourselves!” she snapped. “That is not how we treat our