I Want Him to Pay

#2

Camilla

Orange slowly seeped through the darkness behind my closed lids.

My lashes fluttered open, then closed again as sunlight fell across my weak eyes.

It took a few blinks before I could keep my eyes open.

Water.

I needed water. I rose with much effort. I was on a bed with a rotten wooden frame, covered by a moth-eaten bedsheet.

With two fingers, I tossed it off me.

Where was I?

The room was dimly lit. The walls were covered in peeling paint, and the room smelled damp and earthy.

What happened?

In a flash, the night returned to me.

Kael’s tears,

The cold moon,

The sickening feeling of falling,

The merciless waters,

and the man… the man who had called me Luna.

I slapped a hand against my belly, searching for the wound.

My clothes had been changed into a brown tunic. I pulled it upwards, and saw my belly without an injury. All that remained were five thin lines…the scars Kael's claws had inflicted on me.

Proof that the night had happened.

I rose to my feet, but fell back to the bed, my head swimming. The door opened, and two men dressed like warriors entered.

“She's up," one of them said.

Reflexively, I covered my face with my hands.

"Go tell Filius she's awake.” The man walked closer to me, and went on one knee.

“Your Highness," he greeted.

My hands came down slowly from my face.

“Were you the man who saved me? How do you know I'm Luna?" I stopped as his face suddenly became familiar.

I shifted away from him instantly, “Don't come closer!"

This man.

Just last year, he'd been exiled from the Kingdom for trying to kill Kael. What was he doing here? How on earth did I end up somewhere with him? Where the hell was I?

The door opened again, and this time, an even more familiar face entered.

Long white hair that dropped down his shoulders, and those familiar cold blue eyes.

Filius Brodvard, the head of the Royal Office of Foreign Affairs. I'd run into him so many times while trying to follow Kael around whenever I got the chance.

Filius had always scared me as a child. It also seemed like he could see past the veil. To be honest, he always seemed to frown whenever he saw me, and at the moment, his frown was even deeper, seeing me without my veil on.

Filius stepped forward.

I backed into the wall.

This meant one thing. Filius and this rogue wolf… what was Filius doing?

"If you touch me, Kael would…" I stopped.

What would Kael do?

Kael wanted me killed.

Wait, was Filius here to finish the job?

“Luna," his voice was icy. "You are safe here.”

"Why are you here with a rogue? What is this place?”

"I saved your Highness’ life. I think I deserve a little trust.”

His eyes were cold, but still, I found myself relaxing just a bit. He did save me after all.

"How do you know I'm Luna?”

He said nothing.

The two men bowed and walked out.

Filius ignored my question, "You've been out for four days. I had some healers come to tend to you, but I'll need to know what happened before I decide whether to send you back to the…”

"No! You can't send me back!” I jerked forward.

Filius stayed calm.

"How do I return? Kael tried to kill me."

Filius cocked his head.

Why was he surprised?

“Are you with him?"

“He stabbed you, and one way or the other, you ended up floating on a log of wood when you should have drowned. Four days have passed, but you're here all healed.”

My gaze lowered, “Thank you."

Silence filled the room, and slowly, my eyes began to fill up.

Kael smiling.

Kael patting my head.

Kael holding my hand.

Kael defending me.

Kael laughing.

Kael, Kael, Kael…

"Answer me one thing. I'll trust whatever you say."

“If you're planning on not returning to your castle, then trusting easily will be stupid.”

"I choose who I trust. I choose to trust the one who saved my life."

“Why did I save you? Do you know?"

“I don't want to know. You did save me. That's all that matters. Now, answer me. Are you on Kael's side?”

He didn't need to answer. A look of disdain flashed briefly before it was expertly concealed again.

"No.”

I rose to my feet, and nearly lost my balance. My hands reached out, holding Filius’ silk robes to find balance.

He looked down at me, his hair falling over one eye.

“Do you know why Kael tried to kill me? Did anybody poison his mind against me? Tell me. Kael would never…”

Filius pried my fingers off his robe.

"You're just a child. When you choose to grow, come find me and tell me if you want to stay here forgotten, or do something else.”

Filius turned, leaving me watching him as he walked away.

My face crumpled as the tears fell down my face.

Kael had never loved me.

He'd used me.

I'd been the only one living in a fantasy.

I should have known. The way he looked at Nicasia. The way he'd laughed with her..

The way he'd smiled at her. The chemistry between them when they locked eyes.

Why did I choose to trust Kael's love for me?

Was there even ever a point in time where Kael loved me?

My fingers traced my belly.

I bit my lip hard.

Did he also think I was a child? Stupid, gullible, innocent and easy to take advantage of?

Was that why he was with someone older who could rule with him?

It was my Kingdom! It was my place!

I took large strides, stepping outside the room. There was a little flight of stairs, and when I burst out the door at the end of it, Filius was walking through a long stretch of barley fields.

The sun was already sinking low in the sky.

“I can't stay here, Filius." My voice trembled, but the determination in it was unmistakable.

Filius didn't turn, he simply looked slightly over his shoulder.

"I want Kael to realize he made a huge mistake.”