LOGINShare
CHAPTER THIRTY NINE
Last Updated:
2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
Desired (Book #5 in the Vampire Journals) CHAPTER ONE
Paris, France(July, 1789)Caitlin Paine awoke to blackness.The air was heavy, and she struggled to breathe as she tried to move. She was lying on her back, on a hard surface. It was cool and damp, and a tiny sliver of light came in at her as she looked up.Her shoulders were squeezed together, but with an effort she just managed to reach up. She stretched out her palms and felt the surface above. Stone. She ran her hands along it, felt the dimensions, and realized she was boxed in. In a coffin.Caitlin’s heart started to pound. She hated tight spaces, and she started breathing harder. She wondered if she were dreaming, stuck in some sort of horrible limbo, or if she had truly awakened in some other time, and some other place.She reached up again, with both hands, and with all her might, pushed. It moved a fraction of an inch, just enough for her to slide a finger into the crack. She pushed again, with all her might, and the heavy stone lid moved further, with the sound of
Last Updated : 2024-10-29Desired (Book #5 in the Vampire Journals) CHAPTER TWO
Her world felt surreal as the nun led Caitlin through the abbey, down a long corridor. It was a beautiful place, and it was clear that it was actively lived in, with nuns in white robes walking about, getting ready, it seemed, for the morning services. One of them swung a decanter as she went, spreading delicate incense, while others were chanting soft morning prayers.After several minutes of walking in silence, Caitlin began to wonder where the nun was leading her. Finally, they stopped before a single door. The nun opened it, revealing a small, humble room, with a view overlooking Paris. It reminded Caitlin of the room she’d stayed in in that cloister in Siena.“On the bed, you’ll find a change of clothing,” the nun said. “There is a well in which to bathe, in our courtyard,” she said. She pointed, “and that is for you.”Caitlin followed her finger and saw a small, stone pedestal in the corner of the room, on which sat a silver goblet, filled with a white liquid. The nun smiled b
Last Updated : 2024-10-29Desired (Book #5 in the Vampire Journals) CHAPTER THREE
Sam opened his eyes with a start. He was staring up at the sky, looking up the trunk of an enormous oak tree. He blinked several times, wondering where he was.He felt something soft on his back, and it felt very comfortable, and he looked over and realized he was lying on a patch of moss on the forest floor. He looked back up, and saw dozens of trees high above him, swaying in the wind. He heard a gurgling sound, and looked over, and saw a stream trickling by, just a few feet from his head.Sam sat up and looked around, glancing in every direction, taking it all in. He was deep in the woods, alone, the only light coming in through the tree branches. He checked himself and saw that he was fully dressed, in the same battle gear he had been wearing in the Colosseum. It was quiet here, the only sound being that of the stream, of the birds, and of some distant animals.Sam realized, with relief, that the time travel had worked. He was clearly in some other place and time—although where
Last Updated : 2024-10-29Desired (Book #5 in the Vampire Journals) CHAPTER FOUR
Caleb held open the huge, medieval door, and as he did, Caitlin stepped out of the abbey and took her first steps out into the early morning light. Caleb at her side, she looked out at the breaking dawn. Here, high atop the hill of Montmartre, she was able to look out and see all of Paris stretched before her. It was a beautiful, sprawling city, a mixture of classical architecture and simple houses, of cobblestone streets and dirt roads, of trees and urbanity. The sky blended in a million soft colors, making the city look alive. It was magical.Even more magical was the hand that she felt slip into hers. She looked over and saw Caleb standing by her side, enjoying the view with her, and she could hardly believe it was real. She could hardly believe it was really him, that they were really here. Together. That he knew who she was. That he remembered her. That he’d found her.She wondered again if she had truly awakened from a dream, if she were not still sleeping.But as she stood th
Last Updated : 2024-10-29Desired (Book #5 in the Vampire Journals) 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 merril
Last Updated : 2024-10-29Desired (Book #5 in the Vampire Journals) CHAPTER SIX
Kyle smashed through the stone sarcophagus with a single punch. It smashed into a million bits, and he walked right out of the standing coffin, on his feet, and ready for action.He wheeled and looked about, ready to fight anyone who approached. In fact, he was hoping that someone approached him for a fight. This time travel had been particularly annoying, and he was ready to let his rage out on someone.But as he looked around, to his disappointment, he saw that the chamber was empty. It was just him.Slowly, his rage began to cool. At least he’d landed in the right place, and he could already sense, the right time. He knew that he was more of a veteran of time travel than Caitlin, and he could place himself more specifically. He looked around, and to his satisfaction, saw that he landed exactly where he’d wanted to be: Les Invalides.Les Invalides was a place he’d always loved, one that had been important to the more evil of his kind. A mausoleum, deep underground, it was made of
Last Updated : 2024-10-29Desired (Book #5 in the Vampire Journals) CHAPTER SEVEN
Caitlin and Caleb flew away from Paris, over the French countryside in the early morning, she holding tightly onto his back as he cut through the air. She felt stronger now, and felt that if she wanted to fly, she could. But she didn’t want to let go of him. She loved the feel of his body. She just wanted to hold him, to feel what it was like to be together again. She knew it was crazy, but after being apart for so long, she had a fear that if she let him go, he might fly away forever.Beneath them, the landscape was ever-changing. Pretty quickly the city fell away and the landscape shifted to dense woods and rolling hills. Closer to the city, there were occasional houses, farms. But the further they got, the more the land opened. They passed field after field, rolling meadows, an occasional farm, sheep grazing. Smoke rose from chimneys, and she guessed that people were cooking. Clotheslines spread out over lawns, and sheets hung from them. It was an idyllic scene, and the July temper
Last Updated : 2024-10-29Desired (Book #5 in the Vampire Journals) CHAPTER EIGHT
Polly strode quickly down the corridors of Versailles, heels echoing on the marble floor, rushing down an endless corridor with soaring ceilings, moldings, marble fireplaces, enormous mirrors, and chandeliers hanging low. Everything shone.But she barely noticed it; it was second-nature to her. Living here for years, she could hardly imagine any other form of existence.What she did notice, though—very much—was Sam. A visitor like him was not at all a part of daily life—and, in fact, was most unusual. They hardly ever had vampire visitors, especially from another time, and when they did, Aiden never seemed to care. Sam must be very important, she realized. He intrigued her. He seemed a bit young, and he seemed to be bumble around a bit.But there was something about him, something she couldn’t quite place. She felt like, somehow, she had some connection to him, that she’d met him before, or that he was connected to someone who was important to her.Which was so strange, because jus
Last Updated : 2024-10-29
Latest chapter
Desired (Book #5 in the Vampire Journals) CHAPTER THIRTY NINE
Caitlin and Caleb flew out of the ceiling of the Notre Dame, and into the night air. They flew together over the small Ile de la Cite. As they did, Caitlin was wracking her brain, trying to think where to go next, where that key might lead. She kept thinking of the letter, kept turning her father’s words over and over in her head.Don’t forget: the island is a big place.It had bothered ever since she’d read it. The island is a big place. The island is a big place.Was there somewhere else on the island, she suddenly wondered, that could hold the final key? Some place close to the Notre Dame?Her adversaries—Kyle, Sergei and Kendra—had managed to infiltrate her coven, and had discovered to meet her in the Notre Dame. But no one else had seen the second half of that letter. And no one else realized that it led to something else. To one final clue. One final place. Everyone else thought the Notre Dame was the final destination, Caitlin realized. But it wasn’t.“Where now?” Caleb ask
Desired (Book #5 in the Vampire Journals) CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT
Caitlin flew the short distance from Saint Germain Des Pres over the Seine river, and then over the Ile de la Cite. She circled the small, narrow island slowly, trying to take it all in. There, of course, was the Notre Dame, huge, enormous, towering over everything, the largest building on the island. It was an overwhelming structure. The thought of finding whatever it was she needed inside it seemed daunting.She circled the island again, trying to take it all in context, and noticed that the Notre Dame wasn’t the only building on it. There were rows of medieval houses, crooked alleyways, cobblestone streets, and other buildings spread throughout. She looked down to see if the mobs were here, too, as they seemed to be everywhere else in Paris. Strangely enough, they were not. In fact, the square in front of the Notre Dame was completely empty. She found that to be odd. Why would the masses revolt everywhere else in the city, but not in its most famous place? Who was controlling them,
Desired (Book #5 in the Vampire Journals) CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN
Caleb flew through the night, determined to rush back to Caitlin’s side. He hated himself. He didn’t understand how he could have been so stupid, so naïve. So easily misled.Worse, he had left Caitlin for nothing. He had ruined their moment, the very time he was about to propose, the very peak of their love, to run off for an illusion. For a false belief that his son was still alive.He would never forgive Sera for what she’d done. For ruining his life—again.But more importantly, he would never forgive himself for being so stupid. He should have listened to Caitlin, and stayed put.As he flew, Caleb closed his eyes, and the image passed through it again: he recalled his arriving back at his castle, and the sinking feeling of finding it empty. Caitlin gone. He had run through empty room after empty room, and had finally realized that she had left him.Ever since then, he had combed the skies, had looked for her everywhere. Now he was combing Paris, block by block.As he did, he r
Desired (Book #5 in the Vampire Journals) CHAPTER THIRTY SIX
Caitlin unrolled the new scroll with shaking hands. Her heart pounded as she realized that it was the second half of her Dad’s letter.She quickly took out the first half of the letter, unrolled it, and held it up to this one. As she put them together, she saw that the ridges fit perfectly, and that now, finally, it was one complete letter.She read the entire letter again, from the beginning:My dearest Caitlin:If you are reading this, you have already surpassed many obstacles. It means that you have already chosen to travel the road less traveled, to take the difficult path. For that, I commend you. You are truly your father’s daughter.You must forgive all the riddles, codes, letters, and keys, but the secret that I guard is most powerful, and must be broken into fragments, to prevent others from decoding it. Only the truly worthy—only yourself—are meant to decode the secret that you ultimately will.If you are reading this, you already have one key in your possession. You
Desired (Book #5 in the Vampire Journals) CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE
As Sam stood there, in the entryway of Versailles, watching hordes of masses storm the steps, he broke into action. He ran to help all the guards, who were scrambling to restore the huge double doors. But the human guards weren’t strong enough to lift them back up in time. Sam leapt forward, and, using his strength, pulled them up by himself, restoring them back into place. He quickly scanned the room, and spotted a huge, wooden beam mounted above the fireplace. It looked like the size of an ancient tree trunk, and like it would take twenty men to lift.Sam ran over to it, and to the shocked look of the guards, he hoisted it alone, carried it across the room, and slammed it in front of the doors, barring them.Just in time. Moments later, there came the pounding of hundreds of fists at the door, as the masses tried to get in.Thanks to Sam, the door seemed to be holding. At least for now.As Sam stood there, he was soon joined by Aiden, the twins, and all the other coven members.
Desired (Book #5 in the Vampire Journals) CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR
As Caitlin flew across the French countryside, far away from Versailles, the silver cross and her dad’s scroll in her pocket, clutching Ruth in her arms, she finally, for the first time in this place, felt as if she were on the right track. She felt deep in her bones that she was finally doing exactly what she was supposed to be doing. Searching for her father. Searching for the Shield. Following the clues, doing what she was destined to do.As she flew and flew, her head cleared even more as she got further away Versailles. She was mad at herself for not doing this sooner. She knew all along what her mission was: why couldn’t she just embark from the beginning?She thought of Caleb. Her heart pulled as she remembered how much she loved him, at how bad she’d felt when he’d left. At the same time, now that she was on her mission, she realized that if he hadn’t left, maybe she would have just settled down, and never sought out her father. She realized once again that, no matter how pai
Desired (Book #5 in the Vampire Journals) CHAPTER THIRTY THREE
Sam lay there, in Kendra’s huge bed, sprawled naked on top of the most luxurious covers he had ever seen. She lay in his arms, and they both reclined in a huge mound of silk pillows. He felt like he had died and gone to heaven. He’d never been with anyone remotely like Kendra, and he hoped they could stay together forever.His mind reeled, as he thought of the implications of what he had just done. He had really turned her. She lay there, sleeping with her head on his chest, peacefully enough, and for all the world to see, she was just as she had been before. But he knew that when she woke, she would be different. Changed forever. Turned. One of his race. Just as Samantha had turned him.He recalled how difficult it was for him when he first woke, and came to the realization. But then again, it wasn’t something he had asked for. It had been thrust upon him. In her case, she had asked for it, had begged him to turn her. And she had received her wish.He wondered what she would be lik
Desired (Book #5 in the Vampire Journals) CHAPTER THIRTY TWO
Polly lay in bed, besides Sergei, both of them naked, beneath the sheets. She rested her cheek on his shoulder, and looked up at him, studying his face. He lay there, eyes open, staring at the ceiling, expressionless.His features were so perfect, so chiseled. She wondered how she had gotten so lucky.She thought back to what a wonderful experience it had been, sleeping with him. Now, more than ever, she knew that they were meant to be together forever. She would do anything for him at this moment.She reached up, and ran her hand along his chest. Finally, he turned to her.“Tell me about your friend,” he finally said.Polly was confused.“The one that stormed out after my concert.”Caitlin. Polly was annoyed. Why did he have to bring her up now? Why did she have to ruin a moment like this?“That was nobody,” Polly said. “I’m sorry she ran out.”“What’s her name?” he pressed.“Caitlin,” Polly said.Polly saw what looked like recognition in Sergei’s eyes. It made her think, m
Desired (Book #5 in the Vampire Journals) CHAPTER THIRTY ONE
Sam couldn’t get over the concert. He had never heard classical music before, and he couldn’t get over that guy’s voice. The guy seemed like kind of a jerk, but he had to hand it to him: he really could sing.More importantly, his night with Kendra had been amazing. She hadn’t stopped cuddling up to him the whole night. He never knew what to expect with her: she was hot and cold. It seemed that once she’d gotten sight of Caitlin, she’d become super territorial and possessive. She barely left his side since.He didn’t mind. He felt like she was totally into him, and nothing made him happier. He felt completely glued to her side.As soon as the concert ended, she’d taken his hand and led him out the room, away from all the people—and he hadn’t resisted. She didn’t want to stick around and talk to the singer. She wanted him to herself. And she clearly had plans for them for the night. With a mischievous smile, she led him away, and he had been thrilled.She led him down a back hallway
