CHAPTER FIVE

Sam was having a hard time keeping up with Polly as she walked. She talked so fast, and never seemed to stop, racing from one thought to the next. He was still discombobulated from the time travel, from this new place—he needed to process it all.

But they had been walking for nearly half an hour, he tripping over twigs as he followed her through the forest at her brisk pace, and she hadn’t stopped talking. He’d barely been able to get a word in. She went on and on about “the palace” and “the court” and about her coven members and an upcoming concert, and a man named Aiden. He had no idea what she was talking about, or why she’d been looking for him—or even where she was taking him. He was determined to get some answers.

“…of course, it’s not exactly a dance,” Polly was saying, “but still, it’s going to be an amazing event—but I’m not quite sure what I’ll wear. There are so many options, not enough for a formal event like this—”

“Please!” Sam said finally, as she bounced along merrily through the forest, “I’m sorry to interrupt, but I have questions for you. Please. I need answers.”

She finally stopped talking, and he breathed a sigh of relief. She looked at him with something like wonder, as if she were totally oblivious to the fact that she’d been talking all the while.

“All you need to do is ask!” she said happily. And then, before he could respond, she added, impatiently, “Well? What is it?”

“You said you were sent to get me,” Sam said. “By who?”

“That’s an easy one,” she said, “Aiden.”

“Who’s that?” Sam asked.

She snickered, “My, you have a lot to learn, don’t you? He’s only been the mentor of our coven for thousands of years. I’m not sure why he’s taken an interest in you, or why he’d send me on such a beautiful day tramping all the way through the forest to get you. The way I see it, you could have found your own way, eventually. Not to mention, I had a thousand things to do today, including looking at this new dress and—”

“Please,” Sam said, trying to hold onto his thought before he lost again. “I really appreciate your coming to get me and all, and I don’t want to be disrespectful,” he said, “but wherever it is that we’re going, I really don’t have time. You see, I came back here, in this place and time, for a reason. I need to help my sister. I need to find her—and I don’t have time for any side trips.”

“Well, I would hardly call this a side trip,” Polly said. “Aiden is only the most sought after man in all the court. If he’s taken an interest in you, it’s nothing to throw away,” she said. “And whoever it is that you’re looking to find, if anyone can point the way, it will be him.”

“Then where is it that we’re going, exactly? And how much further is it?”

She took several more steps through the forest, and he hurried to catch up, wondering if she’d ever respond, ever give him a straight answer—when, at that moment, the forest suddenly opened up.

She stopped, and he stopped beside her, awestruck.

Before them lay an immense open field, leading, in the distance, to immaculate, formal gardens, the grass cut into elaborate shapes of every size. It was beautiful, like a living work of art.

Even more breathtaking was what lay just beyond the gardens. It was a palace, grander than any structure Sam had seen in his life. The entire building was made of marble, and it stretched as far as he could see in every direction. It was a classical, formal design, with dozens of oversized windows, and a wide, marble staircase leading up to its entrance. He knew that he had seen pictures of this structure somewhere, but he couldn’t remember what it was.

“Versailles,” Polly said, providing the answer, as if reading his mind.

He looked at her, and she smiled back.

“It’s where we live. You are in France. In 1789. And I’m sure that Aiden will let you join us, assuming that Marie allows it.”

Sam looked at her, puzzled.

“Marie?” he asked.

She smiled wider, shaking her head. She turned and skipped across the field, towards the palace. As she did, she called out over her shoulder.

“Why, Marie Antoinette, of course!”

*

Sam walked at Polly’s side, up the endless marble staircase, heading towards the front doors of the palace. As he went, he took in all the sights around him. The magnitude and proportions of this place were astounding. All around him, strolling the grounds, were people he presumed to be royalty, dressed in some of the finest clothing he’d ever seen. He couldn’t get over this place. If someone had told him he were dreaming, he would believe them. He had never been in the presence of royalty before.

Polly hadn’t stopped talking, and he forced himself to focus on her words. He liked being around her, and enjoyed her company, even if paying attention to her was really hard. He thought she was pretty, too. But there was something about her that made him unsure whether he was really attracted to her, or whether he just liked her as a friend. With his past girlfriends, it had been lust at first sight. With Polly, it was more like a camaraderie.

“You see, the royal family lives here,” Polly said, “but we live here, too. They want us here. After all, we’re the best protection they have. We live together in what you might call a friendly harmony. It serves us both. With this huge forest, we have unlimited hunting, a great place to live, and great company. And in turn, we help protect the royal family. Not to mention that a few of them are our kind, anyway.”

Sam looked at her, surprised.

“Marie Antoinette?” he asked.

Polly nodded slightly, as if trying to keep it a secret, but unable to.

“But don’t tell anybody,” she said. “There are a few others, too. But most of the Royals are human. They want to be among us. But there are strict rules here, and it’s not allowed. It’s us and them, and we’re not allowed to cross that line. There are certain members of the royal family we don’t want to have too much power. And Marie insists on it, too.

“Anyway, this is just the most fabulous place. I can’t imagine it ever coming to an end. There’s party after party, endless dances, balls, concerts….There’s going to be the most fabulous one this week. An opera, actually. I already have my outfit picked out.”

As they approached the doors, several servants scurried to open them. The golden doors were massive, and Sam looked at them, awestruck, as he walked through.

Polly marched right down a huge, marble corridor, as if she owned the place, and Sam hurried to keep up. As they walked, Sam looked all around, amazed by the opulence. They walked down endless corridors made of marble, with enormous crystal chandeliers hanging low, reflecting the light off of dozens of gilded mirrors. The sun poured in and reflected the light in every direction.

They went through door after door, and finally entered a huge parlor, made of marble, with columns all around it. Several guards stood at attention as Polly entered.

Polly just giggled, apparently immune to them. “We also get to train here,” she said. “Their facilities are the best. Aiden has us on a hard schedule. I’m surprised that he let me break to come get you. You must be pretty important.”

“So where is he?” Sam asked. “When will I get to meet him?”

“My, you are impatient, aren’t you? He’s a very busy man. He might not choose to meet you for some time. Or he might summon you right away. Don’t worry, you’ll know when he wants to see you. Give it time. In the meantime, I’ve been asked to show you to your room.”

“My room?” Sam asked, surprised. “Wait a second. I didn’t say I could stay here. Like I said, I really need to find my sister,” Sam began to protest—but at that moment, a huge set of double doors opened before them.

An entourage of royals suddenly entered, surrounding a woman in the middle, who they carried on a royal throne.

They set her down, and as they did, Polly bent low, gesturing for Sam to do the same. He did.

A woman who could have only been Marie Antoinette, slowly got down, took several steps towards them, and stopped right before Sam, gesturing for him to rise. He did.

She looked Sam up and down, as if he were an object of interest.

“So, you’re the new boy,” she said, expressionless. Her green eyes burned with an intensity he’d never seen, and he could, indeed, sense that she was one of theirs.

Finally, after what seemed like forever, she nodded. “Interesting.”

With that, she walked right past them, and her entourage quickly followed.

But one person lingered behind, clearly one of the royals. She looked to be about 17, and was dressed in a royal blue, velvet gown, from head to toe. She had the fairest skin that Sam had ever seen, set against long, curly blonde hair, and piercing aqua eyes. She fixed them right on Sam, locking them onto his.

He felt helpless in her gaze, unable to look anywhere else.

She was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen.

After several seconds, she took a step forward, and stared even closer into his eyes. She reached out her hand, palm down, clearly expecting him to kiss it. She moved slowly, proudly.

Sam took her hand, and was electrified at the touch of her skin. He pulled her fingertips close, and kissed them.

“Polly?” the girl said. “Aren’t you going to introduce us?”

It wasn’t a question. It was a command.

Polly cleared her throat, reluctantly.

“Kendra, Sam,” she said. “Sam, Kendra.”

Kendra, Sam thought, staring into her eyes, taken aback by how aggressively she stared back at him, as if he were already her property.

“Sam,” she echoed, smiling. “A bit simple. But I like it.”