Twenty-Two Camilla

I sighed, my headache growing as the shards of the medallion continued to fight me. Hilma watched, half-asleep. She sighed a fraction louder, her hand cupping her cheek and her brown hair curling around her shoulders.

She was years younger than me, but for some reason, Nismera had stuck her with me while I was working. I still had no idea why the first thing Nismera demanded from me was to restore the million or so shards of this broken medallion, but I couldn’t question it. Even if my gut told me how wrong it was and my magic whispered for me to stop.

“Well, at least you sealed a few pieces,” she said, smiling lazily at me.

“Attitude doesn’t help,” I retorted.

It was a few pieces to her, but it was more than that. I had been at this since I arrived. When they first brought me this project, I’d said no, and a guard had twisted my wrist until it snapped as Nismera watched. That was the first time I realized how alone I was here. No one cared, not even Vincent. He just stood by, but . . . I did find a pack of ice in my room later when I got out of the bath. He never confessed to it, but I knew Kaden wouldn’t have left it. Sighing, I placed my hands on the table. It had been months since I’d arrived here, and I still had so far to go with this.

Hilma shrugged, holding two fragments as she tried to piece them together like puzzle pieces. I raised my head as Tessa and Tara laughed as they cleaned up the aftermath of a spell gone wrong from another task they had been assigned. I watched them for a moment, envy rising in me. Tessa could never keep her hands off Tara, always a touch or kiss away. They had found love and happiness in this hellhole, and all I’d found was spiraling hopelessness and depression.

A few days after my little outburst, they had been assigned to this workshop. It made me wonder if Nismera had sent her strongest witches to watch or help me. It was probably both.

I sighed, not really caring. I had no idea what would happen to me once I fixed this medallion. Would she make me her own personal weapon? Would I spend eternity here? Or worse, she’d learn of my snooping and kill me? I wiped a hand across my face. It was late, and I couldn’t think about this anymore. I would play along while I fixed this damned medallion and searched for a way out.

“I’m done for tonight,” I said, and every head turned toward me. Tessa and Tara squealed, happy to be able to leave. Hilma jolted, almost dropping the pieces she was fiddling with.

“Already?” she asked.

I nodded. “Yes. I’m burned out.”

It wasn’t a complete lie.

“You should probably work on keeping your energy up and not sneaking off with the High Guard.” Hilma winked.

“What?” I all but stammered.

She looked confused for a second as the guards at the door snickered. “Kaden?”

I let loose a breath. Right. That stupid ruse we’d agreed on while we both tried and failed to find out what that blood was for. So far, we had learned nothing. Even sneaking back into that room proved ineffective. The bodies had disappeared, and the room looked spotless. A part of me thought he truly didn’t care. I only saw a fraction of true emotion when he was with his siblings. He was evil. I had to remind myself that he wasn’t on my side. No one was.

“Yeah,” I said and stood up, pushing my chair back against the worktable. “I’ll try.”

Hilma smiled as she gathered up the shards of the medallion and headed out. I shuffled after her, the guards at my sides leading the way to my room. I forced myself not to look toward Vincent’s door and wondered for the millionth time why he was avoiding me. He was probably wrapped up in Nismera. The guards paused as we reached my door, and I slipped in, closing it behind me. I flung myself on my bed and wrapped my arms around my pillow, letting my eyes drift shut.

MY FEET WERE SILENT ON THE STONE STEPS. I SLID MY HAND ALONG THE wall to stabilize myself. Chanting rose as I drew closer, and I gasped as I saw the massive room. There, in the center, was a dark pool. It rippled as if eels swam beneath its inky surface. Several hooded figures surrounded the pool. The faceless forms raised their hands, and bright green magic sparked from their palms, strings of magic connecting them until they formed a glowing circle above them.

A scream curdled my blood. Two forms near the edge of the room dragged another faceless, shapeless figure. I squinted as one lifted its hand above the pool, and the room shuddered.

My hands grasped at the wall, trying to keep myself upright. The pool stilled, but then, at the center, bubbles broke the surface. There were just a few at first, small pops, and then hundreds all at once. A form rose from the middle of the dark pool, and my heart started to pound. I took a step forward, trying to see better. A hand slammed down on my shoulder. I spun, the scream dying in my throat. A thin figure glared at me with the same double set of eyes, white and opaque.

It pointed behind me and whispered, “From one, all will rise.”

I bolted upright, drenched in sweat and my hair clinging to my face. I screamed for real this time, seeing a shadowy form staring at me from the corner of my room. Magic flared in my hand, illuminating the room in emerald green. The only thing there was a dresser with clothes hanging from the drawers. I dropped my magic and laughed at myself before wiping my eyes. Nothing was there. My hand fisted in the material of my dress at my chest as I tried to catch my breath. I was just dreaming.

“Just a dream. Not a premonition,” I repeated to myself, even if I knew how wrong I was. “Just a weird dream and not a shadow figure in my room. Just lack of sleep.”

As I lay back down, I repeated it like a mantra, pulling the silk dress away from my ankles.

A groan sounded from the hall, and I turned toward it. It definitely was not a groaning shadow figure. I thought maybe I misheard, but then I heard another low moan. Disgust raced through my veins. If I had to listen to Nismera and Vincent again, I’d rather rip my own ears off. I raised my hand to speak a noise-canceling spell when another groan came through the wall, this one followed by a hiss. That sounded like pain, not pleasure.

I was on my feet quicker than I could think and at the door. I grabbed my necklace and spoke a small incantation as I slipped out the door, glancing at the empty hall. Vincent was definitely back if no guards stood by my door. Good. I hurried across the hall and opened his door.

I barely had time to grasp the emptiness before a shirtless Vincent shoved me against the neighboring wall. My eyes raked over him even as he held the cold blade of a knife pressed against my throat. Oh. Not a shirtless Vincent, but a very naked, very well-endowed Vincent.

“You’re naked,” I whispered, shutting my eyes tightly. “Oh gods, I’m so sorry.”

“It’s my room. I can be,” he snapped back, clearly agitated.

Half of his body was pressed against me, and I didn’t dare risk a look down to see what else was touching me.

Stop thinking about naked Vincent, you sex-starved psycho!

I shook my head. “How did you see past my cloaking spell?”

“Spend eons around the goddess who created all witches, and you learn a thing or two, like how certain, powerful magics smell like herbs.”

“Is there a reason why you are still naked and holding me?” I asked.

“Is there a reason you are in my room well past dusk?”

I swallowed. “Fair point. Can you lower the blade from my throat?”

“Drop your spell.”

My spell dropped the second I whispered the incantation, and Vincent stepped back. He turned, giving me the opportunity to examine his perfectly muscled backside, but it was the zig-zag patterns of scars that covered his back that drew my eyes. His long, dark hair partially covered them. I wondered if that was why he kept it long. Did he use the silky strands as a veil to hide things he wished others not to see?

“I heard a groan.”

“And your immediate thought was to run toward my room? I could have been with another,” he said, grabbing a pair of loose bottoms and slipping them on.

“Nismera will never let another touch you. I’ve seen the way she treats you. Everyone does. Besides, I know the happy groans from the pain groans.”

His brows rose slightly, and I realized what I said.

“I mean, it’s not like you guys are quiet.” I waved my hand. “Forget it.”

He folded his arms over his chest. The movement made his biceps bulge, and against my better judgment, my mouth watered. “What do you want, Camilla?”

His words shook me from my inappropriate thoughts. “I don’t know. I guess I just wanted to make sure you are okay.” It was the truth, and his eyes seemed to soften. “And maybe to talk to someone I actually know. I haven’t seen you in days.”

A dark chuckle left his lips. “I’m surprised you noticed. I figured you’d be too busy with Kaden down your throat.”

My cheeks burned at his words, but mostly from irritation. Gods above and below, I hated this damn ruse. “He is not down my throat.”

Vincent’s eyes roamed over me, and my body flushed. “I really don’t care where he is at.”

“You sound like you care.”

“I don’t.”

I huffed. “Then why are you avoiding me?”

“Funny story, Camilla. My world does not revolve around you.”

This time, when my body heated, it was pure rage. I stomped forward and felt the hair on the back of my neck raise as my magic swirled. “It damn sure feels like it. You dragged me here, you tossed me through that damn portal, and now your psycho girlfriend has you as my personal guard. The only time I get to go outside and eat something besides cold soup is when you are with me. Every damn day you are away, it’s my room, the workstation, and back. The other guards don’t care. So yes, your world revolves around me. I deserve that damn much.”

Vincent’s brows deepened at the mention of my day-to-day before his eyes dropped. A clear sign he cared more than he let on. “Fine.”

“Fine,” I huffed.

He turned away to sit on his bed, and I noticed the long red marks across his side. Dried blood still clung to his skin in places, as he’d tried to clean it but couldn’t reach it all. That’s why he’d been groaning.

“What happened?” I asked, pointing toward the wounds.

“A mission. Happy?”

“You’ve been doing a shit job at cleaning it.” I nodded toward the small table lined with various swabs and some weird liquid. “Why aren’t you healing like normal?”

“Celestial healing, while fast, still takes time. To be fair, my side was completely ripped open. What you’re seeing is a vast improvement. So this.” He waved, wincing slightly. “This is good.”

“Ripped open?” I practically squeaked. “By what?”

“Those who disagree with Nismera’s rule. Those that won’t bend.”

“Oh.”

Vincent groaned as he reached for another one of those medical swabs. “Go back to bed, Camilla. I don’t need pity from you or anyone.”

“I didn’t come for pity. I just wanted a friend. Back on Rashearim, we used to talk, and I miss it. I don’t have anyone else here to talk to.”

And it was true.

He glanced at me, nothing but cold, hard steel in his gaze. “We are not on the remains of Rashearim, and I’m not a good friend to anyone, Camilla. Do yourself a favor and find another.”

My chest hurt for him, but a part of me knew he was right. We weren’t friends because the truth of the matter was I didn’t trust him. He was ruthless and had betrayed his whole family for Nismera. He would tell Nismera anything I told him. His loyalty was to her, always her. Everyone else was second best.

I wanted to tell him my nightmares, to talk like we had on the remains of Rashearim. It felt pointless, but a part of me, one I couldn’t name, told me how wrong I was. No matter what he said or did, I knew there was something more to the situation. I wanted to find out, to break that damn wall, but he was right. It was useless. I’d only hurt myself in the end, more than I already hurt. He wasn’t my friend. He never was. I was only fooling myself.

I had no one, and I had done that to myself.

“You’re right.” I forced a cold smile and turned to leave the room. “I’m sorry I bothered you.”

I could have sworn I heard the bed groan as if he stood up. I could have sworn I felt his hand reach for me, but he didn’t stop me.

I paused at the door. “Llewir’s eye is great for healing deep wounds. I am not sure you all have that animal here, but a substitute should suffice. Maybe ask the healer.” I closed his door behind me and could have sworn I heard Vincent whisper a thank you.