Fifty Camilla

I woke with a jolt, sweat drenching the side of my head as my hair clung to my skin. I felt hot and then cold, my hand clutching at the fabric over my chest as I took one breath, then another. The sounds of hurried footsteps and shuffling out in the hall assaulted my ears, all my senses overly sensitive. I felt tension seep through the air like a heavy fog, the palace buzzing. The sky cracked. I jumped from my bed, quickly throwing on a dress and shoes before leaving my room. No guards stood outside, and when I checked Vincent’s room, he wasn’t there either.

I ran down the steps, the palace a bustle of whispers and murmurs.

What was going on?

“Camilla,” Hilma yelled from behind me. I spun as she charged forward. “Oh, good, you’re awake.”

“As if anyone could sleep through this. What’s happening?”

“You didn’t hear?” Her eyes were like saucers.

“Hear what?”

“An Ig’Morruthen destroyed Nismera’s entire legion. The mountainside of Flagerun is just gone, along with the prison. They are still bringing back remains, and I don’t know if Vincent is one of them or . . .”

She kept talking, but the world had gone silent for me.

I COULDN’T FIND HIM, NOT AT ALL. I LACED MY FINGERS THROUGH MY necklace and hurried to Nismera’s war room. She would know where he was. I walked close behind the generals speaking to Nismera, a shadow unable to be detected. One general turned as if he could feel me, the one next to him elbowing him to stay in formation.

He ran a golden armored hand across the back of his neck as he whispered, “I thought I felt something behind me.”

We turned a corner into the long, overly decorated hall that led to the war room. Two guards opened the large, gaudy door, and Nismera walked in. I snuck past and went to the darkened corner. She tossed silver energy toward the hanging metal protrusions on the wall, illuminating the massive room.

“Leviathan,” she said to the tall, lanky member of The Order as he bowed his head, “give me some good news, please.”

“I wish I could, Your Highest, but I am afraid I only have the opposite.”

She sighed as one guard held out her seat, the long sheer sleeves of her jeweled gown swaying as she sat. “The prison?”

“Demolished.” Leviathan sat. “The remains are rubble along with the mountainside.”

She steepled her fingers and leaned across the table. “And the member of The Hand?”

“Stolen, my liege. There were no reports of cerulean lights darting through the sky.”

Member of The Hand? Stolen? Did she mean Vincent? Is that why I couldn’t find him?

She ran a hand across her face before her fist slammed onto the table, the lightning beneath its surface skittering away in fear.

“The Eye will see this as rebellion, another foothold they think they have when they do not.” Nismera met Leviathan’s eyes. “She is becoming a problem.”

“She has been for a while.”

Nismera let a breath loose. “I should have killed her in her mother’s womb when I had the chance. Now she’s disrupting my plans once more.”

“Do not fear, my highest. Let Kaden follow through with his plan, and then you shall have what you always wished.”

Her nails tapped against the table. “Perhaps.”

“If the fate is with her, she may still be one step ahead of us.”

“I tried to have the fate killed, and Vincent came back an absolute waste.”

My heart lurched. He was here? But I had checked the medical wing and everything.

“He returned from the infirmary in Pike’s Bay a few minutes ago. We had the guards escort him to his chambers. I am afraid he is still in rough shape. We have not had the opportunity to seek out new healers since she destroyed Jade City.”

She waved her hand, staring out the window of her war room. “He is nothing but a sentient weapon. He is not my concern. These realms are my concern. My rule will be challenged if I am even suspected of weakness. Losing that prison is weakness, having my legion decimated is weakness, having my general near death is weakness.”

My chest tightened for him. Vincent had betrayed his family and was damn near on his deathbed for her, yet she spoke about him as if he meant nothing. He was nothing to her. I struggled to hold back the anger that bubbled in my throat. I hated her.

“You are not dealing with a simple rebel, my king. She was, for all intents and purposes, the Queen of Rashearim. She was meant to rule everything. Therefore, her—” Leviathan’s head exploded, blood and brain matter spraying everywhere.

Elianna yelped and grabbed her notes. The other council members froze, none daring to speak.

Nismera’s eyes returned to their normal color, the silver power that had burned in their depths receding.

“Rolluse,” she said. The man sitting to the left of Leviathan’s corpse stood, his hair, face, and clothes splattered with gore. “You are now the leader of The Order. Please don’t be like Leviathan.”

“Yes, my liege.” Rolluse bowed, a slight tremor shaking his body.

“And there will be no further talk of rulers. I am your king. Your only. Understood?”

Every head in the war room bobbed, even the guards.

“What’s our next step?”

Rolluse swallowed, reaching for the folder in front of Leviathan’s chair. He opened it and cleared his throat before speaking. “The King of Quinural still requests to see you in five days for the resale. I suppose he wants to gift you the murrak and offer a display of power.”

“He’s only pissing in his boots because The Eye is growing close to his territory. Otherwise, he would have pledged his loyalty sooner.” Nismera waved her hand.

“Regardless, a murrak is a rare creature. You can add it to the plethora of others you have collected and stored.”

Collected? How many monsters did she have under this damn city? And what was she storing them for?

She sighed. “I suppose. Even with my ryphors, I do not have the time to fly there to retrieve it myself. We need to prepare for the coronation. I cannot prepare a legion to join me if I’m not here. What commander is stationed closest? Maybe they can pick it up for me?”

Elianna flipped through several pages before half raising her hand. “The closest would be Enit, but his calvary is too small. Send Illain.”

I didn’t stay to hear the rest, needing to check on Vincent. Sneaking out of the war room, I hurried toward my chambers, taking the wide stone steps two at a time. The hall was clear, but I heard the low murmur of voices and paused before turning the last corner. I carefully stepped into the corridor and pressed against the wall to listen.

“The infirmary did a terrible job,” a tall woman said, her face and hands completely covered.

The short, stout man next to her nodded. “They are all we have now that Jade City is ash.”

They hurried past me, continuing to talk and none the wiser. I didn’t hesitate, nearly running to Vincent’s door and pushing it open. I snuck in and spoke the enchantment, dropping the veil of invisibility as the door closed behind me.

Vincent’s feet, raw and burned, were the first things I saw. He lay atop his bed, covered in gauze. My horror grew the closer I got. His entire body was covered in horrific burns. He seemed to be resting, but then I saw the tonic on his bedside table and knew they had sedated him for the pain.

My hand went to my mouth, and tears filled my eyes. Not a single hair remained on his head. Even his brows and lashes were gone. How bad had he been before the infirmary got to him? Near death, at least. I knew the true power of Ig’Morruthen flames and had seen what Dianna could do. She could have made this quick, but she had done this to make him suffer before he died.

“Stupid, stupid idiot,” I whispered, wiping tears from my cheek. I knelt beside his bed. “Why would you even go after her? You know it’s suicide. How dare you try to leave me here alone! I can’t do this without you. I can’t be alone.” It was true. He was the only friend I had in this wretched, wretched world.

My head dropped to my arms along the side of his bed as my body shook. Tears spilled as the stress of this damned place finally broke like a dam. If Vincent died, I would be alone, truly, utterly alone. A wet sob left my lips before I covered it, lifting my head. I refused to leave him like this. There was no telling how long it would take for his celestial blood to heal him.

I knew for a fact Nismera did not care one single bit, nor would she even venture here to visit him. He was a weapon to her but not to me. The tears dried on my face, resolve replacing despair. I stood in one solid motion and cast my illusion once more before leaving the room.

I stormed through the maze of halls, my magic raging around me. I didn’t even care about the chaos I left in my wake. An emerald ball of power formed in my hand, and I blew Kaden’s door off its hinges.

He lunged out of bed, his chest bare, dark slacks slung low around his hips, the twin lines of muscle on each side disappearing beneath them. His eyes were burning, and he snarled at me, baring his fangs, ready to end my life.

I lifted my hand and clenched it into a tight fist. Magic swirled around his throat, cutting off his air. He fell to his knees, his hands grabbing at his neck. Kaden glared at me, but I didn’t release my hold. I paused in front of him, my hand still raised.

“You did this,” I snapped. “All of this, everything, is your fault. You will fix it.”

I spun my magic into a leash and dragged Kaden from his room.

“YOU DRAG ME OUT OF MY ROOM TO WITNESS THE DEATH OF THIS?” Kaden pointed toward Vincent’s body.

“He is not dead,” I snapped from where I stood at the edge of his bed.

“Pretty damn close,” Kaden murmured. “Dianna did this?”

I nodded. “Yes. Yes, she did.”

Kaden leaned a fraction over as his lips turned down. “Impressive.”

“I’m glad you think him being burned alive is impressive, you piece of shit.”

Kaden glared at me. “I’m talking about the reset bone they did and also that gash on his chest. It went straight through his heart, yet he breathes.”

“What?” I asked, scanning Vincent’s body. I hadn’t even seen that when I was in here before. I’d been too concerned with the burns. But there it was, a small red blotch that seemed to still be leaking right where his heart should be.

“What did you do?” Kaden asked me.

“I didn’t do anything.” I sneered at him. “But you’re about to.”

“And what does that mean?”

I raised my hand, my magic swirling over his torso, binding his arms, legs, and throat. His muscles bulged as he tried to break it, and if I didn’t hurry, he just might.

“Relax,” I said. “I only need to borrow a fraction of your life force to heal him, then I promise I will let you go, okay?”

His upper lip curled back, exposing his fangs.

I carefully knelt on the bed beside Vincent and hovered my free hand above him. Magic swirled against my palm before breaking free to land atop him. The vibrant green ropes tightened around his body, just as they did Kaden’s. I blew out a breath, stabilizing my mind and spirit before beginning to chant.

“Viti rucku mocharum.”

A window slammed open.

“Viti rucku mocharum.”

A cold wind curved through the air.

“Viti rucku mocharum.”

A soft groan came from my right.

“Viti rucku mocharum.”

I pulled on every bit of Kaden and myself. That secret part of me twisted and unlocked. I felt moisture coat my eyes and a familiar tug in my chest. It grew and pulsed, contained within the grip of my magic. I took a deep breath and released it, the power whipping out of me. It darted to Kaden and then to Vincent. My eyes sprang open, and the room descended into darkness. Then came the screams. I ignored the hundred-and-one voices whispering into my ears.

“Viti rucku mocharum.”

My eyes were open, but I did not see this room. I saw everything and nothing all at once, darkness and light intertwined. A voice rose from below the world, below the universe, far but close, and something turned toward me.

“Well, aren’t you new?” it said.

I was yanked back to the present, myself, and Vincent’s room. Kaden and I gasped. My magic, an iridescent green, rose like a wave before crashing into Vincent’s form. His body bowed off the bed, and he groaned, skin knitting together. The burns healed, and hair sprouted from his head. He opened his eyes and looked at me.

“Camilla?” His voice was the last thing I heard before pain sliced through my head, and I fell to the floor.