“Well, I wouldn’t say every , but most of them, for sure. Venice is bigger than you think. Has loads and loads of islands, and some, I hear, hide out on small islands I’ve never heard of.”
Caitlin’s heart pounded with excitement. “Have you heard of Caleb?” she asked.
Polly furrowed her brow.
“Caleb…I’m sorry, that’s not ringing a bell…No, can’t say that I know him.”
Caitlin’s heart fell. Maybe he really hadn’t survived the trip. Maybe her sensing friends in Venice only had to do with Polly. Maybe Caleb really was gone.
“So, will you?” Polly asked
Caitlin looked at her, puzzled. “Will I what?”
“Come with me? To our island? It would be so fun. Please . I can use the companionship. It gets so boring there. And I can hardly let you just go, especially after all that. Come on, you don’t have any other place to go, do you? Please , make a girl happy.”
Caitlin thought. She didn’t see why not. After all, she had nowhere else to go. And she really wanted to spend more time with Polly, too—and meet Aiden again.
Caitlin smiled. “Sure. I’d love to.”
Polly squealed in delight. “Perfect! We have an extra room, just for you. Great views of the water. Right next to mine. And Rose,” Polly added, bending over and petting her, “of course, there’s a room for you, too.”
Rose wagged her tail, and then started whining hysterically.
“Oh, poor dear,” Polly said, “she’s ravished, isn’t she? And you look ravished, too.”
Polly yanked her down a side alleyway, and Caitlin was disoriented, barely able to keep up with all the twists and turns. She wondered how she would’ve found her in way Venice without her.
Polly stopped before a villager roasting a pig, slicing off pieces and selling it to customers.
Rose smacked her lips at the sight.
“Two, please,” Polly said, reaching into her pocket and handing the woman a coin. “And one jug of your special,” she winked.
The woman nodded back knowingly. She sliced two huge hunks of meat, and handed them to Caitlin. She then handed Caitlin a small, ceramic jug.
Caitlin reached down and fed the strips to Rose.
Rose, famished, could hardly wait. She leapt up and ate them in the air, and devoured them, smacking her lips. She immediately whined for more, staring hopefully at Caitlin.
Polly laughed. “OK, Rose, I get it,” she said, and handed the woman another coin. An even larger slice of meat came off the pig, and Polly gave it to Rose with a laugh.
Caitlin examined the jug. It was filled with a dark, thick liquid.
“Drink it,” Polly said. “You’ll be happy you did. It’s just for our kind.”
“What is it?” Caitlin asked, unsure.
“Blood,” Polly answered. “Not of humans, don’t worry. Of deer. The woman keeps a stock just for us.”
Caitlin didn’t like the smell, but she was overwhelmed with hunger pangs, and she finally leaned back and drank.
As the blood coursed through her system, she felt renewed. She realized how ravished she’d been. She leaned back and chugged it, drinking and drinking, unable to stop herself. It dripped down her chin, as she downed the entire jug.
Polly laughed.
Caitlin wiped her mouth, self-conscious.
“Sorry,” Caitlin said. “I guess I was hungry.”
Caitlin felt her full strength returning, surging through every pore of her body. She felt reborn.
“It’s the least I can do,” Polly said. “After all, you saved a girl’s life.”
* * *
Polly led Caitlin through street after street in Venice, and finally, before them was open sky.
Caitlin was in awe as she found herself at the waterfront, looking out at the Grand Canal of Venice, bustling with boat traffic in every direction. The salt breezes swept her face and hair, and it felt refreshing.
Polly didn’t waste any time. She hurried to the waterside, and began untying a rope holding in place a long, black, gondola.
“Jump in!” Polly said.
Caitlin hesitated, unsure. It was such a long and narrow boat, so low to the water, and it rocked wildly in the rough waters, which were filled with enormous ships moving quickly in every direction.
She could easily envision one of them running over a gondola.
“Oh it’s fine,” Polly said, reading her mind, “I’m in it all the time. Best mode of transportation, you know.”
Polly held out a hand, and Caitlin took it as she balanced, stepping tentatively into the boat; it rocked wildly as she did.
Caitlin slid up, sitting hesitantly on the wooden plank, a bit wet from all the water spray.
Polly laughed. “You can tackle an alleyway full of men, but you’re scared of a little boat?” Then she added, “Come on Rose! Your turn!”
Rose, still unsure, stood on the edge of the dock, staring at Caitlin for reassurance.
Caitlin nodded, and Rose ran and jumped into the boat, rocking it again.
She got her coat wet, and she shook it wildly, spraying both Caitlin and Polly.
They both laughed.
Polly finished untying the boat, got in herself, and stood in the back of it. She grabbed the long, wooden oar, and pushed off.
They were soon gliding through the water, and Caitlin was surprised at the boat’s seaworthiness.
They were so low in the water, it seemed as if the ocean might come in at any moment, and yet the boat must have been designed well, because they cut through it with a lot of speed, as Polly rowed.
Caitlin settled in, and even with the rough waters rocking them, tried to relax.
A huge ship sailed past them, just a few feet away, and left a big wake. The gondola rocked even more wildly, and Caitlin sat up again.
Polly laughed. “You get used to it,” she said.
Caitlin started to wonder exactly how far they were going.
“Where are we going, exactly?” Caitlin asked
“I live on Isola di San Michele,” Polly said, “also known as Isle of the Dead. It’s one of the outer islands of Venice, in the lagoon. Not too far. No one bothers us there, and we don’t bother anyone.
Plus, we have loads of livestock to feed on.”
Isle of the Dead , Caitlin thought. It was interesting to see that Polly’s coven still lived on an island, even these hundreds of years back. She wondered if it was anything like Pollepel. If it was, she’d be thrilled to be there.