Betrothed. Morgan Rice

standing beside her. He shook his head slowly, with a reprimanding look.

      “You've done enough damage. Let him go.”

      Something about Caleb's voice got to her.

      She grudgingly lifted her foot.

      In the distance, she spotted a huge tub filled with sewage. She could see the thick dark liquid spilling over its edges, and could smell its stink from here.

      Perfect.

      She reached down, hoisted the man above her head, even though he easily weighed over 300 pounds, and walked him across the alley. She threw him, headfirst, into the vat of sewage.

      He landed with a splash. She saw him stuck, up to his neck, in all the excrement. She enjoyed the idea of his waking up, realizing where he was, and finally, she felt satisfied.

      Good, she thought. It is where you belong.

      Caitlin immediately thought of Ruth. She ran over to her, and examined the belt mark on her back; she was cowering, and slowly regaining her feet. Caleb came over, too, examining her, as Ruth placed her face in Caitlin's lap and whined. Caitlin kissed her on the forehead.

      Ruth suddenly shook them off and darted across the alley, to the girl.

      Caitlin spun, and suddenly remembered. She hurried over to her, too.

      Ruth ran to the girl, though, licking her on her face. The hysterically crying girl slowly stopped, distracted by Ruth’s tongue. She sat there in the mud, in her soiled, dirty dress, covered with belt marks on her back, blood oozing through, and looked up at Ruth in surprise.

      Her wet eyes opened wide as Ruth kept licking her. Finally, she reached up, slowly, hesitantly, and petted Ruth. She then reached up and gave her a hug. Ruth reciprocated, coming in close.

      It was amazing, Caitlin thought. Ruth had detected this girl from blocks away. It was as if the two had known each other forever.

      Caitlin came over and knelt down beside the girl, reaching out a hand, and helping her sit up.

      "Are you okay?" Caitlin asked.

      The girl looked at her in shock, then at Caleb. She blinked several times, as if wondering who these people could be.

      Finally, slowly, she nodded yes. Her eyes were open wide, and she looked too afraid to speak.

      Caitlin reached out and gently stroked the matted hair from her face. “It's okay," Caitlin said. "He won’t hurt you anymore.”

      The girl looked as if she were about to start crying again.

      "I'm Caitlin," she said. "And this is Caleb.”

      The girl looked at them, still not speaking.

      "What's your name?" Caitlin asked.

      After several seconds, the girl finally answered: “Scarlet."

      Caitlin smiled. “Scarlet," she repeated. "Such a pretty name. Where are your parents?"

      She shook her head. "I don't have any parents. He is my ward. I hate him. He beats me every day. For no reason. I hate him. Please don't make me go back to him. I don't have anyone else.”

      Caitlin turned to Caleb, and saw him look at her, both thinking the same thing at the same time.

      "You're safe now,” Caitlin said. “You don't have to worry anymore. You can come with us.”

      Scarlet’s eyes opened wide in surprise and delight, and she nearly broke into a smile.

      "Really?" she asked.

      Caitlin smiled back, reached out her hand, and Scarlet took it, as she helped her to her feet. She saw the wounds on her back, still oozing blood, and from somewhere deep within herself, Caitlin suddenly felt a power overcome her. She thought of what Aiden had taught her, of the power of being one with the universe, and deep within herself, she suddenly felt a power surging that she'd never known. She had always felt her power for the rage, but she had never felt a power like this. This was different, a new power, tingling up from her feet to her legs, through her torso, through her arms, to her fingertips.

      It was the power to heal.

      Caitlin closed her eyes and reached out, and gently placed her hands on Scarlet’s back, where the marks were. She breathed deeply, and summoned the power of the universe, summoned all the training Aiden had given her, and focused on sending white light to the girl. She felt her hands grow very hot, and felt an incredible energy coursing through her.

      Caitlin wasn't sure how much time had passed when she opened her eyes again. She looked up, slowly opening them, and saw Scarlet staring back at her, eyes wide in amazement. Caleb stared at her too, also amazed.

      Caitlin looked down, and saw that Scarlet’s wounds were completely healed.

      "Are you a magician?" Scarlet asked.

      Caitlin smiled wide. "Something like that."

      Chapter Six

      Sam flew over the British countryside, Polly at his side, but keeping her distance. Their wings were spread out but they were not close to touching, as they each wanted space from each other. Sam preferred it that way, and he assumed she did, too. He liked Polly, he really did. But after his debacle with Kendra, he wasn't ready to get close to anyone of the opposite sex for a long time to come. It would be a while before he could trust someone again. Even someone who had been close to his sister, as Polly seemed to be.

      They had been flying for hours, and as Sam looked down in the morning light, he saw endless stretches of farmland, with occasional small houses, smoke rising from their stone chimneys, even on this beautiful fall day. He saw the occasional person out in their yard, tending to clothing, hanging sheets on strings. There were not many houses, though. This countryside seem so entirely rural, he began to wonder if cities even existed in this time – whatever time and place they were in.

      Sam had no idea where to go, and Polly hadn’t been much help. They had both used their keen vampire senses to tune in, to try to use their close connection to Caitlin to sense where she might be. They had both intuited that she might be in this general direction, and they had been flying for hours. But since then, they had seen no clues or direct leads. Sam’s instincts told him that Caitlin was in a large city. But they hadn't passed anything remotely like a city for hundreds of miles.

      Just when Sam was beginning to wonder if they’d chosen the right direction, they rounded a bend, and as they did, he was shocked at what unfolded in the distance. There, on the horizon, sat a sprawling city. He couldn't recognize what city it was, and he wasn't sure that he’d be able to recognize it at all, even up close. His geography was pretty bad, and his history was even worse. It was the result of being moved one too many times, of falling in with the wrong friends, of not paying attention in school. He had been a C student, although he knew he had the potential to get A's. But with his upbringing, it had just been too hard for him to find a reason to care. Now, he regretted it.

      "It’s London!" Polly called out, in delight and surprise. "Oh my God! London! I can't believe it. We’re here! We’re really here! What an amazing place to be!" she yelled, excitedly.

      Thank God for Polly, Sam thought, feeling stupider than ever. He realized there was a lot he could learn from her.

      As they got closer and buildings came into view, he marveled at the architecture. Even from this great distance, he could see church steeples rising into the sky, punctuating the city like a field of lances. As they came even closer, he saw just how grand and magnificent all the churches were – and was surprised that they already looked ancient. Beside them, all the other architecture was dwarfed by comparison.

      As he began to take it all in, he sensed keenly that Caitlin was here. And the thought of that excited and thrilled him.

      "Caitlin's down there!" he yelled out. "I can feel it.”

      Polly smiled back. "So can I!" she yelled.

      For the first time since landing in this time and place, Sam finally felt grounded, felt a strong sense of direction, and of purpose. Finally, he felt as if he were on the right