whatever. Anywhere but here.”
Caitlin was surprised to hear Lily say that, because she had just been thinking of what an amazing life it must be to live here.
“But this place is so beautiful,” Caitlin said.
“No place is beautiful if you’re trapped in it,” Lily answered.
“But you’re not trapped. You’re royal. You can go anywhere you want.”
“I’m trapped by my class,” Lily said. “I can’t travel with commoners, or on common roads, or by myself. Everything must be formal. There are layers and layers of etiquette.
Yes, I am free to go.
But where? I’m trapped by this life.”
“So why don’t you leave it?” Caitlin asked.
Lily sighed.
“I’ve thought about it. Many times. Maybe one day I wil . But for now…golden handcuffs, I guess.”
Lily smiled and raised her glass, and Caitlin did the same.
They cheered, and both drank more.
“Caitlin!” came an excited voice.
It was Sam, from down the table. He was smiling and surprised to see Caitlin there, and was raising a glass towards her.
“It’s so great to see you here!” he said.
Caitlin smiled and raised her glass back at him.
Beside him, Kendra scowled back at Caitlin, not hiding her hatred for her.
“Oh my God, how do you know him?” Pol y asked.
Caitlin looked at her, confused. “Who? Sam?”
Pol y nodded.
“He’s my brother!”
Pol y’s eyes opened wide in shock.
“Your brother? I had no idea! Oh my god! When I first brought him here, he said he was looking for his sister. I had no idea it was you! Wow! Your brother. That’s intense!”
Pol y seemed to be thinking about it, curling her hair with her finger as she did.
“Wel , in that case,” Pol y said, “you should warn him.”
Caitlin looked at her with concern. “About what?”
“About that witch,” Pol y said. “Kendra. She’s only after him to get turned. She’s tried to get al of our guys to turn her at some point. They know it’s forbidden, so they won’t. Sam is playing a dangerous game. He can never turn her. So he should stop leading her on. And he should know what she’s real y out for.”
As Caitlin studied Kendra, across the table, she got angrier and angrier. Now her general distrust and anger towards Kendra turned to something more: protectiveness of her brother.
She was about to get up, to go around the table, and excuse herself and Sam and have a good talk with him—
but just as she slid back, there was a sudden loud clinking of crystal, and the whole table stood. As one, they al got up and moved away from the table, heading into the other room.
“Where is everybody going?” Caitlin asked.
But before she could answer, Pol y suddenly got super excited, her eyes opening wide, nearly jumping up and down where she stood.
“Yay! You get to meet him. My boyfriend! He’s up. He’s about to sing. Come quickly,” she said, grabbing her arm.
“Let’s get a good seat!”
The crowd slowly filtered into the next room, and Pol y led her, excitedly tugging at her, leading her through the crowd.
The huge, formal sitting room adjacent to the dining room was large enough to act as a smal concert space. The room was fil ed with dozens of smal couches, chaise lounges, and overstuffed armchairs.
Pol y led Caitlin to a smal couch, in the front row, and the two of them sat together, Lily sitting with them. Before them was a raised stage, covered in a beautiful, black and white, tile marble, above which hung a huge chandelier. On its edges sat musicians, one sitting behind a harp, one behind a harpsichord, one holding a cel o, and another a violin. Al that was missing was the singer.
Caitlin looked around, and saw everyone taking their seats with excitement and anticipation. She saw Sam sitting in a loveseat with Kendra, holding hands. She looked the other way, and on the other side saw Blake and his girlfriend sitting together. She looked al around, and nearly everyone seemed to be a couple. Everyone but her.
Caitlin felt more self-conscious than ever, and already was uncomfortable. She couldn’t help thinking of Caleb, and her heart dropped further. She wanted to leave this place. She hoped that Pol y’s boyfriend would appear soon, so that he could give his concert, and she could go.
The only solace to her in the room was Lily, sitting beside her. She had become a true and fast friend, and she wished that she’d had more time to talk with her. Caitlin reflected on how much life had changed: