“They are not the same.”
“I could dismember your head from your body with this axe in a second.” Miguel’s eyes seemed to darken.
Miguel had said what we both knew. “So, why don’t you?” Jude challenged, and the axe dropped to Miguel’s feet.
“I believe you will make a strong coven member. If I push you, it’s only to make you better.” Miguel strode to the exit. “Please retire to your chambers for the rest of the afternoon. I will have the guards escort you. I’m sure you have studies to attend to.”
Alex and the other guard appeared in the doorway. Jude and I joined them, making our way to our rooms.
Was that a victory? I asked, opening my window.
I think so. He didn’t expect the attack and wasn’t able to stop it. He won’t make that mistake again.
I’m not so sure about that. I pondered whether Miguel would put us in jeopardy again.
Throughout the week, I increased my camouflage time to fifteen minutes. In addition, I worked on calling to the air to speed my pace in flight. It wouldn’t work if I passed someone in the halls, because there would be residual breeze from my travels. But if I encountered an empty corridor, I would be able to make good time.
Saturday came with our third trial. The content was so fact rich, I felt my brain might explode. When it was time for our healing tests, Miguel crossed to the door, opened it, and was handed four birdcages. He held two wire cages in each hand as he strode to us. A single yellow bird sat on a perch in each.
“These”—he set two cages on the table in front of each of us—“are your challenges.”
Before I could blink, each of the birds screeched and fell to the floor of the cages.
I fought yelling at him, realizing it would be wasting precious time. Jude seemed to have made the same assessment, and I focused on the bird closest to me.
“I wouldn’t dawdle. Birds have sensitive systems that tend to shut down when they’re injured.” Miguel paced away from us.
“Handle them as little as possible and keep them warm,” I told Jude.
“Are you trying to help Jude pass or the birds live?”
“Does it matter?” I aimed my magic at the lamp at the edge of the table, sliding it to me.
Seeing the bird panting, I unhinged the top wire portion of the cage from the bottom. I cupped my hands on each side of the tiny animal, sending calming energy waves at the bird. Then, I inspected each leg and wing. Finding one of the wings broken, I made sure it was in the correct position and pulled the bird’s natural healing abilities to the site.
“There are two birds, you know,” Miguel taunted.
Removing the wires from over the other bird, I examined it. There were no obvious injuries, but its breast rose and fell erratically, I again sent calming vibrations to the bird. Starting with the head, I sent healing waves into the bird’s body, figuring Miguel had caused an internal bleed or contusion.
Glancing at the first bird, I saw its breathing returned to normal. It stood and took a jump away from me. Moving the cage top back over the animal, I latched the wires to the base. I refocused on the second bird, calling to its healing properties. Seeing the chest rise and fall with regularity gave me some hope. I watched as it picked its head up and then stood and took a small hop. Then I fitted the cage over the base.
I turned my attention to Jude’s birds. The one closest to me was standing and looked well. Jude held his hands a few inches above the other animal. I moved his hands so that they flanked the animal.
“No magic help,” Miguel warned, and again I resisted lashing out at him. I picked up the lamp and moved it closer to the canary. My breaths sounded like rushing wind in my head, and my heart pounded in my chest, watching second after second, waiting for the bird to heal. My mind raced. What if Jude couldn’t heal the bird? Would they kick Jude out?
The bird twitched its head, and Jude inched his hands away. Ruffling its feathers, the bird stood, cocked its head at us, and took a short hop. Jude stood and fitted the cage of the base to contain the bird.
“It seems you’ve both passed. I’m guessing you are spent from your efforts. I will see you at dinner. You are welcome to use the gym or other facilities in your leisure time. Alex and Jacob can escort you.” Miguel exited the room.
“What are we supposed to do with these?” Jude pointed at the cages.
“I’m taking them to my room. This is the only color I’ve seen besides gray in weeks.”
Jude leaned into me. “You’re not outraged? What type of person uses innocent animals like that?” he whispered.
“Oh, I’m beyond rage. That man is pure evil. We must figure a way out of here and fast.”
The doors opened, and Alex and Jacob entered. “Congratulations,” Alex began.
“Can I keep the birds?” I asked before he could say anything else.
“I assume, since Miguel left them here.”
“Good.” I picked up the two cages and walked out the door.
“Do you want mine?” Jude asked as we reached our rooms.
“You don’t want them?”
“Not particularly. I can’t get the sound of their shrieks out of my head.”
“Yes, then.”
Jacob approached Jude. “I’ll take them to her room.”
“Oh, okay.” Jude released the cages to Jacob.
In my room, we searched for surfaces to set the birds on. I didn’t want them to get chilled beside the window, so I set two on my dresser and two on the desk. Looking at them, with their bright yellow feathers, made me happy. As soon as Jacob shut the door, they began to jump about their cages and sing.
I whistled a short tune, one my dad had taught me, and they stopped chirping and sat, heads cocked, as if listening. Thinking I didn’t want the song in my head, I sent heat to the logs, lighting the wood. I crossed to the window and flung it open.
I’m going to fake a shower after my workout and take a short trip under a cloaking spell. I sent to my thoughts to Jude.
Okay. I’ll go to the gym too. Maybe leave a few minutes after you do. Be careful.
I will.
Changing, I packed my toiletries in my backpack.
“Goodbye, birdies,” I called to my new companions.
“Where would you like to go, madam?” Jacob asked as I exited my room.
“I think that’s the first time you spoke to me.”
“Just doing my job.”
“Can I get some food for the birds? Maybe breadcrumbs from the kitchen?”
“The kitchen isn’t open to visitors, but I can have someone bring them to your room later.”
“Okay, well, I’d like to go to the gym then.” My plan included a marathon workout session, warming up with yoga, running, swimming, and then some time under the sunlights and in the hot tub. That way, I’d have little time before dinner and need to shower in the locker room. My body needed a good exercise after the mental trials of the morning anyway.
As I went through my yoga poses, Jude entered the room. He ignored me like always and started his routine. He finished before I did, and without a word, jogged towards the track. After an hour of yoga, I walked a few laps to let my body cool and started a slow jog. I tried to focus on anything but my dad and being held hostage in an ancient castle by evil witches. It was easier to do in the gym with the modern walls, lights, and flooring.
My watch dinged, and I realized I’d been running an hour. I slowed my pace, cooling down, and went to the locker room to change. Once in my swimsuit, I made my way to the pool. The cold water on my skin felt amazing, and I found my rhythm easily. My body tired, and I jumped to the pool deck and dried off. Thinking a bikini would be nice, I made my way to the sun bathing area. I probably hadn’t spent enough time under the sunlights the past three weeks and made a mental note to get more UV rays. Lying on my towel, I drifted off.
“Wake up, sleeping beauty.” Cold water drenched my skin.
I opened my eyes to see Jude standing ove
r me. “Oh, you’re so dead. Where did the water come from?”
“Magic.” He put his hands to his hips.
“Really?” I called to the water in the hot tub, pelting him with droplets.
He countered, pushing a wave of water that crashed against my legs, making them buckle under me. Seeing the towels on the counter, I formed a whirlwind with them and lowered it to encircle Jude. Then, I ordered them to tighten around his body.
“Nice.” He laughed from his mummified position.
“What’s going on in here?” Miguel’s voice boomed through the room.
I let the towels fall to the ground, and spun to face him.
“Blowing off steam?” Jude suggested.
“Clean this up. The staff is not going to be happy.”
The towels had soaked up water from the deck, and we wrung them out and set them in the hamper while Miguel stood, hands crossed over his chest, waiting. “You don’t have very much time before dinner.”
“I brought my things to shower and change in the locker room,” I told him.
“Good.”
We followed him to the dressing rooms, where Jacob and Alex waited.
“I may be a while.” I pointed to the women’s side.
“I’ll be waiting,” Jacob said.
I showered and washed my hair quickly, leaving the water running. I dressed and towel dried my hair, fitting my watch on my wrist. Tiptoeing to the exit, I called to Jude. Jude, I need out of the gym.
On my way.
Calling my cloaking camouflage, I peeked around the corner. Jacob’s gaze didn’t change as I entered the doorway. Jude exited from the men’s locker room, and I crept past the bodyguard after Jude.
I’m right behind you, I said to Jude.
God, that was freaky.
Sorry, open the door, and I’ll go out ahead of you.
Jude opened the door and let his backpack slide to the floor. I slipped past him while he leaned to retrieve it.
“Must be more tired than I thought,” he commented to Alex.
“Trial day can do that,” Alex replied, following Jude down the hall.
I crept in the other direction, towards the elevators Carmen and I had taken to the kitchen. Seeing someone entering the elevator, I raced to the closing door, jumping inside just in time.
The tall broad witch, I guessed to be a guard, twitched as if chilled, and I held my breath.
He pushed the button for the second basement level. It was the same level as the tech room where Miguel had taken us the first day. Disappointed, I figured I might get to view a new area on their surveillance cameras. I doubted they would have had the dungeon feed up for us to observe.
As I expected, he exited the elevator and went straight to the technical hub. I made myself skinny and slid in the door behind him. Circling the room, I saw images from the grounds, castle walls, the courtyard Miguel had mentioned, the main levels, and numerous other halls, but no cells and no Dad.
Checking my watch, I figured I should get back. I got nervous when several minutes passed and no one exited or entered. Realizing I could heat or cool the room to make it uncomfortable, I pushed a heating spell into the air. Within a few seconds, the employees started rolling up their sleeves and loosening their collars.
“Man, what happened to the heat.” The guy on the end stood and pulled the door open. As he opened and closed it, letting cool air in, I jumped into the hall and made my way to the elevator. Again, I waited for someone to let me on. It was a minute and half until the doors opened and a guy carrying a toolbox stepped out. I slipped in and pushed the button for the correct floor, glad they didn’t have a retina scan inside the elevator. Arriving on the correct floor, I made my way to the gym. Miguel approached the entrance and I sped to catch up with him.
“She’s been in there twenty minutes, do you want me to go in?” Jacob said as Miguel entered.
“She’s a teenage girl.”
I passed them, entering the locker room. I shut off the shower.
“Camille?” I heard Miguel’s voice.
“Yes?” I called.
“Jacob was concerned because you weren’t answering him.”
“Oh sorry, I couldn’t hear anything over the shower. The hot stream felt too good to leave.”
“Okay, I will see you in ten minutes in the dining room.”
“Yes, sir.”
I started the blow dryer and blew out my hair. Packing my bag, I joined Jacob in the hallway.
“Sorry about that.”
“I’m surprised you aren’t a raisin after that shower.”
“And he has a sense of humor, too.” I smiled my biggest smile at Jacob.
“Don’t push it.” He held the door for me, and we made our way to the dining room
As it was Saturday night, dinner was served in the large dining room. Entering, I recognized Anastasia and greeted her.
“Congratulations, child. I hear you have several new pets.”
“Yes.” I squeezed her hands. “I want to think of names for them.”
“I hate that Miguel always puts you younglings through that trial. I’m glad you were able to rise to the test.”
“Me too.”
Thinking that maybe not every person in the coven was an evil warlord, I made my way to our table.
“There you are. Congratulations.” Maria wrapped her arms around me.
“Thank you.” I realized I was happy. Not because I’d advanced to the last initiation trial, but because I’d sneaked past our guards and made it into the locked area.
“You look different. Did today’s victory help you feel more confident about your abilities?”
“Yes. It did,” I lied, thinking they could believe my better attitude had to do with the coven tests.
“Miguel says you two had a bit of fun at the pool today. It’s been so gray of late, so I don’t blame you. Children shouldn’t be cooped up like this.”
Miguel laid his hand on top of Maria’s. “They have the gym and large chambers with a view of the ocean.”
“That is covered in fog this time of year. But, yes, the gym is nice.” Maria agreed with him.
Champagne was poured into our glasses, and when the weekly toasts were given, I took a sip with each one.
Maybe you should slow down on that, Jude warned using our silent communication.
We have a victory. I’m celebrating.
How far did you get?
Later. I smiled and lifted my glass as another toast rang out.
“To Camille and Jude.” Miguel lifted his glass. “In a week, our father Michael willing, they will be ready for initiation.”
A round of cheers went up, and I lifted my glass to my lips again. Dinner was a blur as conversations drifted in and out of my periphery. Waiters brought bread, soup, meat, pasta, and salad and filled my glass when it emptied. As an attendant was about to add wine to my glass again, a hand appeared above it.
“I believe she’s had enough.” Jude’s eyes bore into mine. “You need to eat something. You hardly touched your food.”
“But I’m not hungry.” I poked at my nose. “My nose feels weird.”
“It’s probably numb from the alcohol. You should go back to your room.”
“But I want to talk to all these pretty people. They love me so much.” I glanced over at Miguel and Maria who were absorbed in their own conversation across the table. “They probably won’t miss me though.”
I went to stand, and Jude’s arm caught me as my ankle turned. “Whoa, these heels are high.”
“Dear, are you all right?” Maria’s voice rose an octave.
“I think she had too much to drink,” Jude supplied.
“Let me get Jacob.” Miguel snapped his fingers above his head.
“I’ll tend to her.” Maria appeared on the side opposite of Jude.
“I’m fine.” I waved my hand in front of my face.
“Oh, dear, we’ll watch how the waiters are filling you youngling’s glass
es more closely.” Maria led me from the hall, and Alex, Jacob, and Jude followed.
“Ya think?” Jude’s voiced floated to my ears.
I looked back at Jude as he rolled his eyes. “You aren’t enjoying this enough.” I pointed at him.
“Oh, I’m enjoying seeing you sauced, and I’m going to enjoy seeing you hung over tomorrow.”
“No one will be hung over.” Maria’s voice grew stern. “Tomorrow starts the last phase of your training. I will bring you a mixture of oils to clear your body of the alcohol.”
We rode the elevator in silence and snaked through the halls to my room. “I should name my birds,” I said as we arrived outside my door. “I wanted to name them Uno, Due, Sette, and Otto, but now I don’t know which is which.”
“You know Italian?” Jude asked.
“Just a little.”
“I’m sure it doesn’t matter.” Maria turned the key in my lock. “I’ll take her from here.” She motioned Jacob and Alex away. “Alex, fetch my oils bag from my chambers please.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Alex nodded, turned, and walked away.
It was the first time we’d been left guarded by only one witch, and I briefly wondered if this was an opportunity to escape. To where? I laughed at my thought, glad my drunken state could hide my actions.
“Yes.” I pulled my desk drawer out. “I’ll write their names down and put them on the cages so I won’t mix them up.” Pulling a pen out, I wrote the names and attached them to the wires one by one. Then a package on my dresser caught my eye. “Breadcrumbs.” I opened the bag and sprinkled some crumbs in each of the cages.
“Here, child.” Maria held my pajamas out to me. “Why don’t you change and wash up.”
I floated to the bathroom, changed, brushed my teeth, and washed my face. When I joined Maria at my bed, she had set up a diffuser on the bedside table and was dropping oils into the top. “These will clear the toxins from your blood and lessen the effects of the alcohol. Drink plenty of water.”
“Okay, thanks. Sorry about tonight.”
“It’s okay, dear. We all get a little carried away from time to time.” She tucked the covers under my chin. “You’ll feel better tomorrow.”
“I actually don’t feel that bad right now.”
Kingdom of Darkness (Kingdom Journals Book 2) Page 22
