Kyle stared down at Napoleon with his disfigured face, with his one good eye, and he saw Napoleon stare back, recognition and fear in his eyes.
“Kyle,” he whispered, startled.
Kyle broke into a crooked smile. He was happy to see his old friend again. He couldn’t help admiring his audacity.
“You little bastard,” Kyle answered.
And then, in one swift move, he threw him, flying, into the crowd.
A gasp raced through the room, as several guards scurried to catch his fal . They caught him, and looked up at Kyle in shock, wondering who on earth could have the audacity to do such a thing to their leader.
Kyle smiled.
“I have returned,” he said.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Caleb stood at the entrance of his castle, watching Caitlin fly away, completely baffled. He could not understand why she had left so abruptly, or what he had done wrong. He thought the night before had gone so wel , and she had seemed so happy to be there. Why her sudden change of mind? He racked his brain, trying to think what it might be.
Maybe she blames me, Caleb thought, for having to come back in time for me. For losing our child of the 21st century. If it weren’t for me, she wouldn’t have had to come back, she would be safe and sound in the 21st century, with everyone she knew, with everything that was familiar, with that child.
Or maybe, he thought, she was stil blaming him for turning her. She had asked him, she had begged him, to turn her, and he had urged her not to. But he had relented. Did she resent him for that? For a life stuck in immortality?
Or maybe she just doesn’t love me anymore, Caleb thought, at least not like she used to. Maybe she loved the idea of me, but the reality of being here, with me, settling down for a life together—maybe it scared her away.
Whatever the reason, Caleb had to know. He couldn’t just let it go until he at least had an answer.
He set out from the house determined to find her, to discover the reason, and to do whatever he could to make wrongs right. In some ways, it was like heading off into a battle. In fact, he wished he was heading into battle instead.
This, he realized, was harder. Love, caring for someone, he was realizing, could sometimes be the hardest battle of al .
*
Caitlin walked on the sand, barefoot, alongside the crashing waves, Ruth beside her. The day grew overcast, and the strong wind pushed back her hair. She had never felt so sad. Just at the moment when she thought she’d final y found peace, had final y found true love, she had discovered that he didn’t truly love her the way she thought he had. She’d been so stupid. Living in a fantasy al this time.
But now what? Without Caleb in her life, she felt like she had no purpose. She had no idea where to turn, or where to go next. She could go back to searching for her father, but what was the point? Whether she found him, or found the Shield, Caleb would stil not be there.
She could go off in search of Sam. But again, without Caleb there, none of it real y meant much to her.
Caitlin looked out at the waves, and wondered how life could be so cruel. She felt completely, utterly hopeless.
She suddenly heard a noise, and turned.
She was shocked to see Caleb walking towards her.
He walked barefoot in the sand, and in his hand he held a rope, by which he led two beautiful, white horses.
He had a smal , hopeful smile on his face.
Her heart pounded in her chest, as she wondered what had happened. Had he changed his mind?
Within moments he stood just a few feet away from her.
Ruth ran over to them, looked up at, and yelped. In return, the horses lifted their heads and slowly lowered them.
Caitlin couldn’t help smiling.
“I’m not sure what happened back there, or whatever I said to offend you,” he said, “but whatever it is, I’m sorry.”
“It’s not what you said,” Caitlin said. “It’s what you didn’t say.”
Caleb looked back, puzzled.
“I guess…” Caitlin added, “…I just realized that your heart was somewhere else.”
He looked even more puzzled. “What do you mean?”
Caitlin studied him, wondering if he was being truthful. She could tel that he was.
Now, she was confused.
“I… I know that you stil want to be with her,” Caitlin said, now not so sure of herself. “That you regret leaving her.
Sera.”
Caleb broke into a laugh.
“Is that real y what you thought?” he asked. “And here I am, thinking that you were mad at me because I turned you.”
Now it was Caitlin’s turn to be confused. “Are you saying you’re not interested in her?”
Caleb laughed again. “Not in the least,” he said. “I have never felt so free as I do now, being away from her. In fact, she hadn’t even crossed my mind.”
“Then what was it?” Caitlin asked. “I saw your expression change. You became so sad. I know that I wasn’t seeing things. I thought it was because you didn’t want to be with me anymore.”
Caleb looked down for a moment, his expression darkening.
“I was thinking of Jade,” he said, somberly. “I stil miss him very much.”
Caitlin felt a huge sense of relief overcome her; she felt her entire body relax, felt her heart slowly get fil ed up again.
She had been so stupid. Why had she judged him so quickly? Why couldn’t she have given him the benefit of the doubt?
She was so mad at herself. She would’ve thought that she would’ve grown up already, after al this time, after al these misunderstandings. But she was stil the same old Caitlin, fearless when it came to battle, but stil overcome by fear when it came to matters of love, and when it came to expressing what was on her mind.
“Is that what that was al about?” Caleb asked. “I thought that you were upset with me over our child.”
Caitlin looked at him, confused.
“I thought you regretted leaving him, the 21st century,”
Caleb continued, “and that you regretted giving it al up to come back for me.”
Caitlin suddenly understood. He had misunderstood her completely. The same way she had misunderstood him.
She shook her head.
“I do miss that child, very much, whoever he or she would have been,” she said. “But I don’t, for a second, regret coming back for you.”
The two of them came together and kissed. It was a long, comforting kiss, and when they came out of it, they both smiled.