The Fourth Ceremony: The Sacrifice Trilogy (16 page)

              "Yes" Toby squeaked out.

              Marston took the lead while Camden stood off of his right shoulder as they approached the house. Marston tried the door and found it unlocked. The house was little more than one room. They must move in on them as soon as the door opened. Marston looked at Camden and nodded silently, counting. Once, twice, thrice, and he pushed the door open.

              Their targets sat around a small table drinking liquor, presumably to offset the pain they were feeling. The nose-bleeder hadn't even changed his soiled shirt, although the blood had long since stopped running and dried. The leader jumped immediately to his feet, but swayed from the alcohol and cradled his injured hand in the other.

              "Hey, you're that guy from earlier tonight, kept us from our lady friend. You need to apologize for that," the large brute slurred to Camden.

              Camden shrugged off Mars' stabilizing hand on his shoulder and advanced towards the leader of the pack. He grabbed the man's hand in his own and squeezed until the man cried out.

              "Sit," Camden commanded and the man sat directly, "Name," Camden demanded of him.

              "Micah, I, hey calm down. Let me go! We didn't mean any harm!" Micah was near panic as Camden continued to squeeze his injured hand.

              "Do you realize who you hurt tonight? Do you realize what you almost did?" Camden was nearly screaming in Micah's face and had yet to ascertain whether Marston had subdued his victim. Years of training with Marston told Camden that Marston would have let him know by now if there was a problem.

              "Hey, man, I didn't know she was claimed." Camden couldn't stand to allow Micah to talk anymore. He released the injured hand and waited just long enough for relief to register on Micah's smug face before he punched him, hard, and knocked him unconscious to the floor.

              "Well now that was impulsive." Marston admonished him, "Now someone is going to have to carry him back to the Manor."

              "His family can carry him. Otherwise we'll just have to kill him so we can be sure that he's still here for someone to come pick up later." Camden looked pointedly at the one who must be Steven.

              "You wouldn't," Steven said incredulously.

              "Look outside, boy, look! The sun is coming up. That means I have been awake for more than twenty four hours. I have spent a week in the woods and I was looking forward to a nice soft bed tonight rather that fighting your pitiful cousin and then hunting you dogs down. You ruined my evening, hurt my charge, and kept me awake. I would kill all three of you and take a nap on your stinking corpses right now. If you care to test me, take more than thirty seconds to pick him up and follow me." Camden didn't wait to see if Steven followed, he knew that he would.

              Outside of the house, Camden was mildly surprised to see Toby still standing there waiting for him.

              "Grab the other side and go in front. Don't make us walk too slowly." Camden demanded.

              "A little grouchy tonight, Cam?" Marston teased once the three men were out of earshot. Camden thought that Micah seemed to be coming in and out of consciousness and he was glad to see that the two smaller men struggled to keep his weight.

              "They deserve it," Camden responded angrily.

              "Oh, no doubt about that. I'm just interested to see how long it takes you to put that temper away. I don't think I've seen you get quite that mad. Alessa must have really made an impression on you."

              "It's my job, Mars. It's my job and my mission. That's all it is. That's it, alright?" Camden was almost shouting.

              "You just let me know how long that lasts you, boy. You just let me know."

              They walked in silence to the gate of the manor.

              "I have no desire to re-enter those walls without absolute necessity. They won't run off. You take it from here." Marston began to turn away.

              "Hey, Mars," Camden called him back, "thanks for your help tonight. I couldn't have done it alone."

              "It's for the mission, right?" Marston chuckled at his own joke and stalked away towards the rising sun.

              True to form, Alec and Khi came running out of the Manor as soon as the four men crossed the gate's threshold.

              "Where's Marston?" Khi asked.

              "He went home. He left me at the entrance. He was a big help. I never would have found them without him." Camden felt fatigue rush over him now that his adventure was over.

              "What happened to the big one?"

              "That one was the instigator of the whole thing. And he was disrespectful when I went to take them into custody. There's only so much I'll take," Camden said plainly.

              "Alright, Alec, help me get them inside," Khi said.

              "I'm going to find somewhere to sleep. I'm a little exhausted. Mind if I take the day off, boss?" Camden did little to mask his sarcasm, but Khi was obviously pleased with Camden's performance and chose not to take the bait.

              "Yeah, no problem, but I'd suggest staying on the Manor. Less was difficult to get to sleep without seeing you first so I imagine she will ask for you when she wakes up," Khi looked Camden over, seemingly for a sign of some sort. Camden was careful to keep his face in check as he responded.

              "Yes, I'll be in the guard break room if she wakes," he forced his reply to be smooth and nonchalant, but he was truly masking a warmth that flooded through him at the thought that she wanted him near her and a small sadness that he was not there.

              "Hey, Cam," Khi stopped him as he began to walk away, "good work. Thank you."

              "I was always going to find them, Khi. You know I wouldn't have stopped."

              "Yeah I know. And I may not always like why, but I respect what you're trying to do here. I trust you. I want you to know that."

              Camden nodded at Khi, unsure how to respond to his confession. He was glad to officially have Khi on his side. That would make the mission easier. He could even bring Khi into the negotiation with Alessa if it came down to it, although Camden hoped desperately that he could do that part on his own.

              Camden made his way through the halls of the manor to the quiet break room that hardly ever got used. He settled onto the small couch, allowing his feet to hang off of the arm rest, and closed his eyes. All of the exhaustion of the past week seemed to hang just above him. He was unwaveringly tired, but could not bring himself to sleep. He continued to wonder how Alessa was and if she was sleeping well. It was absurd, of course, she was with her parents and Jayna and a physician at this point and there was no service he could offer her, but even as he thought it he realized that he needed to check on her personally before he would be able to rest fully. Frustrated, he rose from the couch and wound his way through the maze of hallways to Alessa's room.

              He tapped as lightly as he could bear to knock on the door of her room. Jayna opened a crack in the door and peered out at him. 

              "She's asleep, Cam," Jayna said plainly.

              "Good, I'm glad. Are you the only one with her?"

              "Yes, we finally got her parents to go to bed and the doctor is due back in a few hours. She didn't go to sleep until just a couple of hours ago. She kept asking after you. What sort of impression have you made on this girl?" Jayna's question held a hint of amusement and Camden found himself smiling.

              "A similar one as she has made on me," he replied honestly, "I just came to check on her. I can't seem to rest until I do. Can I please see her? I won't wake her, you know that."

              "Ahh, she'd have my head if she found out that you came by and I didn't let you in. Come on now." Jayna pulled him into the room and locked the door behind them. "I don't want anyone coming in without my say so."

              "You're a tough one, Jay, I'm glad you're around." Camden nudged Jayna lovingly on the arm. He admired this woman. You could tell in an instant that she had trustworthy eyes and a knowing soul.

              Camden walked over to the bed where Alessa slept peacefully. Her left eye was swollen to the point that he suspected she couldn't open it very far if she were trying to. Her lip was busted, but not bleeding due to a salve that covered it. Her neck had an angry red welt where fingers had pressed into it.

              "She was in a lot of pain wasn't she?" He kept his voice quiet, but his anger was barely controlled. He wanted to go back down to the cell of the attackers and give them exactly what they deserved. He wanted to kick himself for letting them off so easily.

              "She wouldn't say so, but it took quite a bit of medicine to get her to sleep. She's a strong girl. You know, Cam, she's going to make it, this one. She can do it and I believe that she will."

              "Shh, Jay, not here, not now." He admonished her but simultaneously nodded his head. She would make it. She just had to want to. He continued to stand there watching her sleep. He thought that he could be grateful that he showed up when he did. She would think about the attack from time to time, but nothing like if it had gone farther, and he had stopped them from killing her. She stirred in her sleep. He found himself holding his breath until hers evened back out. After she had settled again, he gently moved a piece of hair that had fallen into her face.

              "You're not going anywhere, are you?" Jayna laughed quietly at Camden as she asked.

              "I will, just not yet. I just want to make sure she is okay. I have put a lot of effort into this girl recently. I need to reassure myself."

              "Yes I'm sure you're just protecting your investment," Jayna scoffed at Camden's dirty look, "it seems to me that the couch over there isn't much different than the couch in the break room. We all know she's going to ask for you as soon as she wakes. This way you will be here and I can go get some rest of my own. Works out all ways. The doctor is due in four hours." Jayna finished her sentence as she walked towards the door. Camden smiled his thanks to her and she waved at him sweetly as she closed the door silently behind her.

              Camden looked at the large couch at the other end of the room. He had a strange feeling that he didn't want to even be that far away from her. He wanted to be by her side so that he would know the moment she woke.

             
This is absurd
he thought to himself and walked over to the couch. He lay perfectly still on the couch straining to hear until he could be certain that she was breathing evenly. He knew that the slightest disturbance in the sound of the room would wake him and he drifted into a light sleep.

              After what he guessed was about two hours, he heard Alessa's breathing change. He sat up and watched her stir in her bed. As her eyes fluttered open. He made his way quickly to her side. She finished opening her eyes as he sat on the edge of her bed and she smiled at him as soon as her eyes focused on his. Camden felt a sudden warmth blossom in his chest and he smiled back at her.

              "How are you feeling?"

              "I'm okay, fine really," Alessa answered unconvincingly.

              "Don't. Don't lie. Tell the rest of them whatever you want, but tell me the truth," Camden implored her as he took her hand in his.

              "That's an awful big demand, sir, what are you going to do in return?" Alessa held mischief in her eyes, but Camden was tired and not in the mood to play along.

              "The same. I'll do the same. I won't lie to you. And more than that, I'll be honest with you, from now on." And he meant it. He watched her eyes as she understood that he meant it.

              "Yeah, I'm in a fair amount of pain. Everything below my neck is no worse than a hard workout with Evan, but my face and head feel like someone, well, beat me up." She laughed off the end of her statement, but Camden wasn't laughing.

              "I'll fetch the physician to give you more medication." Camden began to rise.

              "No, stop. Please, I don't like the medication. I don't want it. I'd rather be in pain."

              "Why would you rather be in pain? You will be relieved and go back to sleep."

              "It takes away my control. I couldn't stop myself from falling asleep earlier even though I told them I wasn't going to sleep until I saw you. I don't like the feeling. I'd rather feel pain than helpless. I've had quite enough of that." She looked away from him as she spoke. He heard the rawness in her voice.

              "I'm sorry I wasn't here," Camden said quietly as he held her hand between both of his, "but I want you to know that Marston and I found them. They are in the cell being questioned by Khi and Alec now."

              "What? They're here? They're in the Manor?" Her voice was edged in worry.