But these powers were also unpredictable. It could be a world of il usions. One never knew: was one seeing the future, seeing the past, and was one merely dreaming?
After the dream, Pol y had awakened looking for Caitlin, as if she real y knew her. She found herself missing her as she walked down the hal . It was crazy. Missing a girl she’d never even met.
And then this boy showed up, Sam. And for some crazy reason, Pol y felt his energy to be connected to hers. How, she couldn’t possibly know. Was she just imagining that, too?
Aside from al of this, she found herself feeling something for Sam. She wouldn’t say that she was head over heels for him. But she was not unattracted to him either. There was something about him. It wasn’t the feeling of being in love. It was more a feeling of being…intrigued. Wanting to know more.
Which made her al the more agitated that Kendra had already laid her eyes upon him. Not necessarily that she wanted him for himself. It was way too early for her to know that. But more because he seemed so innocent, naïve, impressionable. And Kendra was a vulture. She was a member of the royal family, one who had never been told No in her life, and she had a magical way of getting whatever she wanted, from whomever she wanted.
Pol y had always sensed that Kendra had some sort of sinister agenda. For years, she’d been trying to get every vampire in her coven to turn her. Of course, it was forbidden, and no one would oblige her. But now, she could tel , she’d set her sights on Sam. Fresh blood had arrived, and she was determined to try again. Pol y shivered, not liking the idea of what could happen to Sam if Kendra was determined.
Yes, this was certainly an unusual day for her. Her mind swarmed with emotions as she marched down the hal , and she realized she was already late. The new singer everyone had been talking about was giving a private concert for Marie and her entourage. The singer had been here for weeks, and al the other girls were going on about not only his voice, but his looks. She was eager to get a glimpse of him for herself. Pol y had been looking forward to this, and now she was doubly annoyed that she’d come in at the tail end of it.
That was the problem with this place, she thought, as she marched down yet another corridor. It was just too big. It was impossible to get anywhere on time.
Pol y stepped up her pace, and final y reached the end of another corridor, and two guards opened the immense double doors for her. She walked right through, and as they closed behind her, she was immediately embarrassed.
The entire room turned and looked at her; as the singer continued his performance, she realized she’d interrupted the concert. Her face reddened, as she sank to the back of the room, taking a seat among her friends.
Everyone turned back slowly, and as they did, she settled in, and realized the concert was almost over.
She looked up, and watched, and as she caught the first glimpse of the singer’s face, she was shocked. He was even more gorgeous than everyone had said. He had dark features, with dark eyes and dark, wavy hair. His face was perfectly chiseled. He was so regal y dressed, from head to toe, in a black velvet coat, with white stockings, and shiny black shoes. He stood in the center of the smal stage, and looked so confident, so in control. He looked like he might be…Russian.
But even more than that: his voice was mesmerizing. As he sang, Pol y was transfixed. She was completely riveted, helpless to do anything but listen, helpless to look anywhere else.
Pol y was lost in a daze as the singing ended, stil staring, stil hearing his final notes, while everyone else got up, clapping, and approached him. The entire room crowded around him, and he stood there, smiling, basking in the attention.
Pol y slowly made her way through the crowd. She could see the adoration of al the other girls, and she stepped up herself and took a look.
He turned and looked at her, fixing his eyes on her. He seemed to look at her with a bit of disdain, with a brazen, arrogant look, as if to say suggest that she should look up to him.
“I…enjoyed your concert,” Pol y said, realizing she was nervous.
“Of course you did,” he said. “Why wouldn’t you?”
The other girls giggled, and Pol y thought his comment was somewhat rude. Stil , she couldn’t bring herself to look away.
“Wel , if you’re just going to stare like that, you might as wel tel me your name,” he said.
Pol y stammered, caught off guard. No one had ever talked to her like that before. Part of her told her she should just walk away; but another part just couldn’t bring herself to.
“Pol y,” she said breathlessly.
“Pol y,” he mimicked back, with a giggle. “Like a bird.”
Pol y reddened, as the other girls giggled. She did not know whether she was in love with this man, or hated him.
How could he be so arrogant?
“Wel , Pol y,” he said, with a faint accent, “I’l have you know my name.”
He slowly held out his hand, which was pale and soft, like a girl’s.
“Sergei,” he announced proudly, as if she should be thril ed to know it.
She took her hand in his, staring, unable to look away.
“Sergei,” she repeated, breathlessly.
And despite herself, despite the fact that he suddenly turned away and talked to the other girls, despite every red flag that screamed for her to walk away, she knew that she was already, hopelessly, in love.
CHAPTER NINE
Caitlin woke gently, slowly opening her eyes, feeling completely rested and relaxed. It was the first night in as long as she could remember in which she hadn’t dreamt of her father—in fact, in which she hadn’t dreamt at al . It was also the first time night in as long as she could remember in which she hadn’t been awakened abruptly, when she was able to sleep as long as she would like.
Caitlin woke to sunlight streaming in through the windows on al sides of her, and to the sound, through the open windows, of crashing waves. She could smel the fresh ocean pouring through the room.
She looked over and realized she was sleeping with her head resting on Caleb’s chest. They were both undressed, under the covers, and she was sleeping in his arms.
She looked up, and saw that his eyes were closed, and he was stil fast asleep.
For the first time in as long as she could remember, Caitlin felt completely at ease. Here, in this place, in this time, in Caleb’s arms, she felt that nothing could ever go wrong.
She wanted to freeze the moment, to hold onto it. Final y, it felt like there was nothing threatening on the horizon, nothing looming that could make life change.