Loved

by Morgan Rice

Chapter Sixteen

  As Caitlin and Caleb stood by the railing, looking out at the ocean, the ferry to Martha's Vineyard blew its horn and began to depart. Caitlin looked down and saw the moving water, and was excited. She loved boats. She felt happy, and free. As she watched the waves rising beneath her, she realized that right now she'd probably be sitting in some stupid class, listening to a teacher drone on. She felt like an adult. Independent. The whole world was hers.

  She looked over at Caleb, expecting to see him also happy, and was surprised to see him looking so nervous. She had never seen him like this.

  He looked more pale than usual. She wondered if he didn't like boats, or if maybe he didn't know how to swim.

  She reached over and lay a reassuring hand on his. "You okay?"

  He nodded, and swallowed. He clutched the railing, and looked down at the water as if it were his enemy.

  "What is it?" she asked.

  He swallowed.

  "Water," he said simply. He gripped the railing harder. "Our kind does not like water. Especially crossing it. Most won't even try. "

  Caitlin checked in with herself, and noticed that she felt fine. She wondered if it was because she were not a true vampire.

  "Why?" she asked.

  "Water acts as a form of psychic protection," he said. "When you cross a major body of water, you are crossing an energy field. It also strips our senses. It weakens them. It's harder for us to tell what others are thinking, harder to influence them, harder to sense things. It is like a fresh start. You lose the power and protection you had on the mainland. "

  Rose suddenly retreated further inside Caitlin's jacket. Caitlin could feel her trembling, and it seemed that she, too, was afraid. She reached in and rubbed her head.

  She looked away and saw that there were only a few others on the large ferry. There were hardly any people on deck either; it was practically empty. They were lucky it was running at all, given the time of year. The cold March air, along with the mist off the waves, hardly made for the warmest ride.

  "Want to go inside?" she asked.

  He gripped the railing more tightly, looking out at the water.

  "If you wouldn't mind," he said finally.

  "Of course," she said, "I'm cold anyway. "

  As they walked between the rows of empty seats, they found two adjacent seats by a window.

  As Caleb sat, Rose stuck her head out of Caitlin's jacket and made a soft whining noise.

  "I think she's hungry," Caitlin said. "What does a baby wolf eat?"

  Caleb smiled. "I don't know. Twizzlers?"

  Caitlin smiled back. "I'm going to check out the concession stand. Want anything?"

  Caleb shook his head, still looking a bit seasick.

  Caitlin headed back, and scanned the rows of chips and candy. She ordered a hot dog for Rose, a Snickers bar for herself, then one for Caleb, too, in case he changed his mind.

  As she finished paying, ready to head back, she suddenly stopped. A flyer, pinned to the wall, caught her eye. As she read it, she froze. She could hardly believe what it said.

  She tore it off the wall and hurried back down the aisle.

  She reached out and held the flyer before Caleb.

  He looked at it, then did a double take. His jaw dropped open as he held it up.

  It was an advertisement to come see Martha's Vineyard. And it listed the Vincent House.