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Theover at Caitlin She felt insulted

"But I had no choice," Caleb said "The day has arrived War is here"

A hushedbehind Sa behind them She turned, and saw thatto feel claustrophobic They were vastly outnumbered, and there was no way out She had no idea what Caleb had done, but whatever it was, she hoped that he could talk his way out of it

Samuel raised his hands, and the murmur died down

"What&039;stowards Caitlin, "she is The One"

Woman Caitlin had never been called that before She liked it But she didn&039;t understand The One? He had put a funny e about the Messiah or so She wondered if they were all crazy

Another murmur arose, and all heads turned to stare at her

"I need to see the Council," Caleb said, "And Iher with me"

Samuel shook his head

"You know that I would not stop you I can only advise And I advise you to leave right now, return to your post and await the Council&039;s summons"

Caleb stared back "I&039;m afraid that is not possible," he said

"You&039;ve always done as you wish," Samuel said

Samuel stepped aside, and motioned with his hand that he was free to pass

"Your ill not be pleased," Saht, and felt a cold chill run up her spine Why did she suddenly feel so insanely jealous? How had her feelings for Caleb developed that quickly? What right did she have to feel so possessive of him?

She felt her cheeks turn red She did care It made no sense at all, but she completely cared Why didn&039;t he tell me -

"Don&039;t call her that," Caleb answered, his cheeks also burning red "You know that - "

"Know that what!?" came a woman&039;s shriek

They all turned to see a wo towards them from down the hallway She, too, was dressed in all black, with long, flowing red hair that trailed past her shoulders, and large, shiny green eyes She was tall, ageless, and strikingly beautiful

Caitlin felt humbled in her presence, like she had just shrunk This was a woman Or was itvampire? Whatever she was, she was a creature that Caitlin could never compete with She felt deflated, prepared to concede Caleb to whoever she was

"Know that what!?" the wo harshly at Caleb as she walked up to hilanced over at Caitlin, and her mouth curled into a snarl Caitlin had never seen anyone look at her with so much hatred before

"Sera," Caleb said softly, "we have not been married for 700 years"

"In your eyes, maybe," she snapped back

She started to pace, circling both Caitlin and Caleb She looked her up and down as if she were an insect

"How dare you bring her here," she spat "Really You know far better"

"She is The One," Caleb said flatly

Unlike the others, this woman did not seeh

"That&039;s ridiculous," she answered "You&039;ve brought war on us," she continued, "and all for a hu With each sentence, the crowd behind her seeer It was becory ht to tear her apart"

The crowd behind her began to er flashed across Caleb&039;s face

"Then you would have to go throughback with equal deterh her He was laying his life on the line for her Again Maybe he did care for her

Samuel stepped forward, between them, and held out his hands The crowd quieted

"Caleb has requested an audience with the Council," he said "We owe him at least that Let him state his case Let the Council decide"

"Why should we?" Sera snapped

"Because that is what I said," Saive orders up here, Sera, not you" Sa and hard at her Finally, she deferred

Saestured towards the stone staircase

Caleb reached out and took Caitlin&039;s hand, and led her forward They stepped down the wide stone steps, and descended into the darkness

Behind her, Caitlin heard a sharp laughter cut through the night

"Good riddance"