“I don’t understand,” Caitlin said. “Is Scarlet in danger? Right now?”
“Yes,” Aiden answered flatly. “She is in grave danger. And only you can save her.”
Caitlin’s mouth went dry and her heart started pounding, as she felt overcome with a desire to leave and find her that very moment.
“Then I have to go,” Caitlin said, turning to leave. “I’m sorry.”
“And where will you go?” Aiden called out.
Caitlin stopped in her tracks.
“You don’t know where she is,” Aiden continued. “And you can’t. Not until you find your father.”
Aiden stepped forward and placed a hand on her shoulder. Slowly, she turned.
“You must trust me. Once you find your father, all will become clear.”
Caitlin looked out at the blood-red sky, the sunset lighting up the slopes of olive trees, and wondered.
“Is my brother here?” she asked, softly, almost afraid to know the answer.
She looked at Aiden and saw the concern in his eyes. That told her everything.
“Sam…” he began, and turned away, as his eyes welled up. “I’m afraid…we have lost him. He is alive. But no longer one of us.”
“Don’t say that,” Caitlin snapped, hearing the anger in her own voice. “He is my brother!”
Aiden shook his head.
“He was once your brother. Now…he has a different fate. I’m afraid we have lost him to the dark side.”
Caitlin fought back tears, not wanting to believe it.
“I am sorry,” Aiden said. “You two are of the same lineage, but you have vastly different destinies. It is your destiny—and yours alone—to find your father.”
Aiden placed a hand on her shoulder.
“I know this is hard to hear. But you are alone now. Caleb and I are here with you, but it is you, and you alone, who can find your father. The final leg of the journey must be yours and yours alone. Caitlin,” he said, with added seriousness, “after all these centuries and all the places and all the relics, the time has come. This is your time now. Use it wisely, and you will save mankind. But if you use it only for your own means….then there is no hope for any of us. Do not let us down. Whatever you do, do not let us down.”
*
Caitlin sat in an alcove in her room, looking out over the Mount of Olives. She watched the fading light of day, the twilight illuminating the silver branches as they shimmered in the burgeoning moon. Far off, in the distance, she could just barely see the flickering torchlights of Jerusalem, beginning to light up against the night. It was so beautiful, so still, it looked like something out of a painting.
Caleb sat at the opposite end of the room, reclining in the chaise lounge. She already sensed he was asleep. It had been a long day and night for them both, and when Aiden had suggested they retire to their room, they had gladly accepted.
Aiden had told her the final training could not begin until sunrise, but even if she’d been allowed to begin now, she couldn’t. She had never been so tired. In other places and times, she had been physically tired; but here, it was a different kind of tired: it was a psychic and spiritual exhaustion.
Caitlin felt so close to finding her Dad, she could hardly stand it. She felt as if she could find him at any moment, and the feeling was tiring her out. She also felt consumed by a burning need to find Scarlet, to save her from whatever danger she might be in, and the thought of that kept her on edge.
At least she had found Aiden. Caitlin felt so grateful to have found him, to be back in time with him, one last time, with his people, in his place. It was the first time she’d actually felt grounded in this time and place, felt a true sense of sanctuary. She felt reassured by his presence, as always, but at the same time, she had never seen him like this before. She could sense his nervousness, as if he saw some impending doom, and he was not surrounded by all the people she knew and loved from previous years. Polly, Blake, all the others…. It seemed as if they were all gone, as if, one by one, they were all killed over the centuries. Caitlin felt a profound sense of loss. She felt in some ways like she was the lone survivor.
It was odd, she thought, how much things had changed. In the beginning, she had felt like such a newcomer, such an outsider. Such a novice. And now, here she was, the last one standing, the oldest veteran of the bunch. Life, she realized, was always changing, and was never what it seemed to be.
Caitlin sat there, watching twilight turn into night, and finally pulled the burning candle closer to her. She rested on the small stone jutting from the wall, on which she laid her journal. As she’d set it down, she’d been shocked to see how worn and weathered it had become. By now, it looked like a museum relic. She turned the pages slowly, and they crackled with age. Each entry brought back fresh memories, and she had to fight to hold back her emotions.
Caitlin turned the pages until she finally came to the very last blank page. It was the final page of the book. She couldn’t believe it. When she finished this entry, the journal would be finished. Forever.
She swallowed in anticipation. Did that mean her journey was over? For good? In some ways, it felt like it was. What did that mean the next step would be? Would there even be a next step? When it was over, would they all just die? Or would they go on living somehow?
And what would happen to all the people that she loved?
Caitlin took a deep breath and, resting her head in one hand, she grabbed the quill and slowly began to write. The sound of it scratching against the thick parchment slowly filled the room.
This is my journal entry. My final time and place. I miss everyone so much. Sam, my brother. Polly, my best friend. Yes, I have to admit, even Blake a little bit. Actually, any familiar face. If Cain were here, I’d probably miss him, too.
I miss other times, other places. When everyone was together, and happy. In this place, everything is so serious, so urgent, so somber. There is so much at stake. There are no celebrations. No lavish courts, castles. No balls, no dances. Instead, we go from holy place to holy place. And next, it seems, will be Jerusalem. I never thought in a million years I’d ever visit it.
But this is also such an exciting time. I can feel Dad, so close now, and the feeling is keeping me going. The four keys are burning a hole in my pocket, and tomorrow morning, I will complete my training with Aiden. It’s so crazy to think about: my final training session. Then what?