“There are but two keys left,” the man said. “And then you can unlock the gates, receive the Shield, and meet your father for yourself. We are proud of you. And so is he.
“Your father, though, waits for you in another time and place. I am sorry to say it is not here.
Are you wil ing to go back again? To continue your journey?”
Caitlin turned to Caleb, but she already knew her answer.
She was prepared to go back, and she saw from his eyes that he was, too.
“Then kneel.”
The two of them knelt, holding each other’s hands.
“Lower your heads.”
They did so, and as they did, Caitlin felt her heart pounding.
There were so many questions left unresolved. Where would they end up? Would they be together? What about Sam? Pol y? Ruth? She had so many questions she was burning to ask Caleb.
She felt the entire coven gather around, and felt several of them laying their hands on her head.
“We hereby lay thee down to rest,” echoed the chorus of vampires. “Caitlin and Caleb, to resurrect another day. In God’s ultimate grace.”
Ruth came in and lay beside her, whining. As the words were repeated a second time, then a third time, Caitlin felt her world grow lighter.
At the last second, before it al disappeared, she turned to Caleb, and saw him turn to her. She looked deeply into his eyes, and knew, just knew, that next time, they would be together forever.
“I love you,” she said.
“And I love you,” he answered.
And those were the last words she heard, as she felt herself growing ever lighter, dizzier, drifting into the ceiling—until her entire world was blackness.