CHAPTER TWO

A vampire war.

The sea below Caitlin was as black as night. She listened to the sound of the thrumming engine as the small military plane soared through the clouds, the words repeating themselves over and over in Caitlin’s mind. She could hardly comprehend how it had gotten to this, how her daughter had flown off into the night, leaving her and Caleb to chase desperately after her. The worry she felt for Scarlet was all consuming, making butterflies of panic take flight in her stomach.

Caitlin felt a strong, primal sensation stirring within her. Scarlet was somewhere nearby. Caitlin was certain. She sat bolt upright and gripped Caleb’s arm.

“You can sense her?” he said, studying her expression.

Caitlin just nodded, gritting her teeth as a yearning need to be with her daughter swelled within her.

“She’s in danger, Caleb,” Caitlin said, holding back the tears that threatened to choke her.

Caleb looked back out the windshield and set his jaw. “We’ll be with her soon. I promise you. Everything will be okay.”

Caitlin desperately wanted to believe him but a part of her was skeptical. Scarlet had flown willingly to this place, to this castle filled with vicious Immortalists. As her mother, Caitlin had felt she had no choice but to follow. As a vampire, Scarlet was certainly in more danger than your average teenager.

Another pang of longing struck Caitlin. But this time it was worse than before. It wasn’t just the pain of separation from her daughter that Caitlin was feeling, it was something even worse.

Scarlet was in mortal danger.

“Caleb,” Caitlin said hurriedly. “She’s down there and she’s in trouble. We have to land. Now.” The urgency in her voice made her words come out in a hurried whisper.

Caleb nodded and leaned his view to the side. Below them, the black waves churned.

“There’s nowhere to land,” he said. “I don’t want to attempt a water landing. It’s far too dangerous.”

Without missing a beat, Caitlin said, “Then we’ll have to eject.”

Caleb’s eyes grew wide. “Caitlin, are you mad?”

But even as he spoke she was reaching for the parachute pack and strapping it on.

“Not mad,” she said. “Just a mother whose daughter needs her.”

No sooner had the words left her lips than the aching need for her daughter flooded through her again. She could just about make out a shape in the distance and thought that perhaps it was a building.

Raindrops had begun to fall, drawing lines down the glass and reflecting the bright moonlight, and Caleb’s grip tightened on the tiller.

“You want me to ditch the plane,” he said, calmly, more as a statement than a question.

Caitlin clicked her parachute pack into place. “Yes.”

She held out another pack to Caleb. He just looked at it, the expression on his face one of incredulity.

“There’s nowhere to set the plane down,” Caitlin added firmly. “You said so yourself.”

“And if we drown?” Caleb said. “If the waves are too strong? The water too cold? How can we help Scarlet if we’re dead?”

“You need to trust me,” Caitlin said.

Caleb took a deep breath. “How sure are you that Scarlet’s near?”

Caitlin leveled her gaze with Caleb as another pang of longing rushed through her. “I’m sure.”

Caleb sucked air between his teeth then shook his head.

“I can’t believe I’m doing this,” he said.

Then he quickly slipped off his shoulder straps and slipped the parachute pack on. Once he was ready, he looked over at Caitlin.

“This won’t be fun,” he said. “And it might not end well.”

She reached out and squeezed his hand. “I know.”

Caleb nodded but Caitlin could see the fear on his face and the worry in his eyes.

And then he slammed his palm onto the eject button.

All at once a rush of air swirled around them. Caitlin felt her hair tangle in the ice cold wind and felt herself propelled upwards at a rate so fast her stomach seemed to drop as though left behind.

And then they were falling.