The Fourth Ceremony: The Sacrifice Trilogy (25 page)

“
Camden, it does have to. It has to end because I have to die. Regardless of whether I want to or not, I owe it to the Empire, to the people. I have to
.”
Alessa sounded resolute.

“
Do
n’
t you realize i
t’
s a farce
?”
Camde
n’
s voice had an edge to it now. He tried to rein it in
,“
i
t’
s a complete set up. The only reason the Government continues the Sacrifice is because rich brats pay big bucks to attend events with the Sacrifice throughout the year and especially on the big day. Do you know what a ticket to the Fourth Ceremony costs, Alessa? Hundreds of thousands, tha
t’
s what
.”
Alessa stared at him in stunned silence. Tears began to fill her eyes.

“
Why would you say this to me
?”
She pulled herself out from under his arm
,“
Why would you try to make this harder for me? Do you think this is a choice? Do you think I just get to sa
y‘
no, nevermind,
I’
ve decided not this yea
r’?”
Aless
a’
s voice was angry and the tears were spilling down her face. This was
n’
t going right. Camden needed to get it all out.

“
Alessa
,”
he forced his voice to be soft and loving again
,“
it can be a choice. I can make it a choice.
I’
m here to give you that choice.
I’
m here to save you
.”
He held her eyes and watched her process what he had said.

“
I do
n’
t understand
,”
she replied.

“
Alessa, please, I am begging you to hear me out, all the way. Promise
?”
Camden reached for her hands, but she pulled them away.

“I’
m listening
,”
she said, her eyes narrowed.

“
Alessa, I have been sent here to help you escape. I have been sent to stop this stupid Sacrifice nonsense.
I’
m SDL, Alessa, and I am here to save your life
.”
Camden closed his mouth and watched Alessa for a reaction. She sat staring at him, her mouth slightly open, without moving. Finally, she stood up and moved away from him. He felt his stomach drop. He moved to follow her.

“
Stop. Just do
n’
t come close to me, not right now, I need a minute
,”
Alessa paced beside the rock they had sat on. The air was cool and Camden noticed her pull her light jacket closer to herself. He quickly pulled off his coat and offered it to her. He knew better than to drape it over her shoulders himself. She refused it with a shake of her head so he set it down on the rock. His racing adrenaline made it unnecessary for him to wear it.

“
So, you were sent here to save me, to get me to not do the Sacrifice. And what if you found that I wanted to do it? What if I did
n’
t want to be saved
?”
Alessa asked, her eyes wide.

“I—
I was supposed to make you want to
,”
Camden answered slowly, not liking the turn that the conversation was taking.

“
So, this, all of this
,”
she pointed from herself to him
,“
This was all a tactic? This was all a plan to make me want to run away
?”
Her voice began to rise as she grew more insulted by the revelation.

“
No, Alessa, no tha
t’
s not it at all
,”
Camden moved towards Alessa again, but she backed away
.“
I
t’
s not like that, you have to believe me, please
.
”

“
Are you telling me that you were
n’
t told to flirt with me? To seduce me
?”
Alessa stared at him in challenge. Camden sat silently for a long time. Finally, Alessa turned away from him and began to walk.

“
Alessa, wait
,”
Camden exclaimed as he grabbed her arm.

“
No, Camden, do
n’
t touch me! I ca
n’
t believe this was all a job, a fake. I ca
n’
t believe you. I need to be as far away from you as I can get so just stop and let me go. If there was a minute of realness in the past year, do
n’
t touch me right now
.
”

Her words bit into him and he pulled his hand back as if h
e’
d been burned. He watched her run away from him and fought every urge in his body to follow.

I
t’
s okay, she needs to think it through. I can talk to her again tomorrow
he told himself. He had given her a lot of information and he needed to give her a chance to process it all without him staying in her face trying to beat his point into her brain. He was glad he did
n’
t wait until the last minute. He would certainly have plenty of time to talk to her after she wrapped her head around what he had told her.

Camden shook his head and snuck around the Manor to go spend some time relaxing at his home. He needed to decompress. A shower and a nice cup of tea would make him feel better and he could formulate a speech for the next time he saw Alessa. He needed to come up with a good way to explain to her that everything that had happened between them had not been fake. He had to make her understand that his feelings for her were certainly not a part of the plan. Of course, it had started out that way, he reminded himself as he walked into his apartment, but it had shifted. Camden remembered the moment that they had shared on the Wheel at the Carnival. He could
n’
t help but think that was when he began to unravel. He had tried to put himself back together several times after that, convinced that falling for her would ruin the mission, but he was lost beyond hope the night she was attacked. Seeing her so vulnerable and strong simultaneously had sparked an admiration in him that provoked his deepest protective nature. He did
n’
t want her to have to be strong anymore. But, he realized, what he was asking was going to take monumental strength from her. It was going to take everything she had to follow the plan, and she had to do most of it completely alone. Camden shook his head. She could do it. He was
n’
t going to undermine her by second-guessing her. And he was
n’
t going to second guess that she would go along with the plan either. She was
n’
t the type to go down without a fight.

Camden startled when he noticed the time. He had been away without telling anyone for several hours and was sure that Khilyn was going to be angry.

Sure enough, Khilyn met him at the gate looking almost frantic.

“
Look, I know
I’
ve been away,
I’
m sorry. It did
n’
t go as great as I had hoped and
-“
Khilyn cut him off.

“
You have to get out of here
,”
Khilyn said while he backed him out of the gate and around the front column.

“
What are you talking about? Did Alessa say something
?”
Camden could
n’
t believe that she would betray him.

“
No, Evan did
,”
Khilyn threw a look over his shoulder.

“
Wait, what
?”
Camden was stunned. Evan was SDL himself. He would never betray the mission. He grew up in the cause just like Camden did.

“
I saw Evan coming out of the Ministe
r’
s office earlier. He looked very strange, so I went to the Minister and asked if Alessa was okay. The Minister said that she was fine, but that Evan had just told him of a devious plot to stop the Sacrifice. He said that you were to be found by any means necessary and brought straight to him alive fo
r…
questioning
.”
Khilyn rushed out
,“
H
e’
s angry, man. H
e’
s going to torture and kill you
.
”

“
I-I ca
n’
t believe it.
I’
ve known Evan since I was a kid. We were put on this together
,”
Camde
n’
s thoughts were a jumble.

“
Look man, you need to get out of here. The
y’
re looking for you. If they find you, you will be publically executed for treason. You know those tickets will sell big. Just go.
I’
ll take care of her. Meet me at Marsto
n’
s in five days after things settle down a little and w
e’
ll figure everything out. Just go, now
!”
Khilyn pushed Camden with his final words. Camden turned on his heel and ran. The Government did
n’
t know about his apartment. It was rented secretly by the SDL. He did
n’
t think he could stay there long, but he was certain he could stay for a few hours and develop a plan.

Evan had sold him out. Someone from within had betrayed him. He could
n’
t believe the timing. He would
n’
t be able to talk to Alessa again. Khilyn would have to convince her. Camden rubbed his face in frustration. He could
n’
t explain himself to her, could
n’
t tell her that it was real. What if Khilyn could
n’
t convince her? His chest ached at the thought that there was a chance h
e’
d never see her again. He pushed the thought from his mind. Certainly if anyone could convince her to save herself, it would be Khilyn. Camden would just have to trust him. That was
n’
t easy, especially now, but he did
n’
t have a choice.

Five days later, Camden paced the tiny inn room. Marston had changed their meeting place since Marsto
n’
s spotty past cast a suspicion on him from day one. Camden had left the Capital and had camped in the woods just outside of it so that he could easily sneak in and out while the SDL guard was on duty at the secto
r’
s boundary. He had been waiting on Khilyn to show up for three hours. They had
n’
t specified a time in their haste and Camden did
n’
t want to miss him. Finally, a knock sounded at the door. Camden almost flung it open without thought. He caught himself at the last minute and bent to peer through the tiny keyhole. Khilyn stood back at the door enough that Camden could make him out. Camden opened the door.

“
Glad to see yo
u’
re still in one piece
,”
Khilyn said stiffly as he swept in the room. Camden closed the door behind him.

“
How is she
?”
Camden blurted out, his worry for Alessa that he had not allowed himself to feel finally taking over. Khilyn sighed.

“
Sh
e’
s not great, man. She stays in her room most of the time and barely sees me. I have
n’
t tried to talk to her about you yet. She seems so confused. I did
n’
t want to tell her I knew until we were able to talk and you told me what happened with her
.
”

“
First tell me what happened with Evan
,”
Camden demanded.

“
There is
n’
t much more to tell
,”
Khilyn started
,“
I was pulled into the Ministe
r’
s office at the Manor later that day that I saw you and told that Evan had revealed that he was with SDL for a time and that you were planted there to stop the Sacrifice, I was
n’
t told anything else
.
”

“
Evan has been in SDL his entire life
!”
Camden exclaimed
,“
For a time, yeah
!”
he scoffed.

“
Anyway
,”
Khilyn continued
,“
I was questioned. I said that I had no knowledge of anything. Of course, since
I’
ve been in the Capital my entire life, they had no reason to doubt me.
I’
m pretty sure they went to Marston next, but did
n’
t get anything from him. It seems that Evan does
n’
t know the actual plan so they believe i
t’
s been stopped since yo
u’
ve disappeared
.
”

“
No, Evan was
n’
t in on the exact plan. He was just there in case I needed any help. Some help he was. The only people who know the plan are Jayna, Gavin, and I
.”
Camden said distractedly.

“
Jayna? The servant
?”
Khilyn sounded surprised.

“
Yes, Jayna. Sh
e’
s integral to it, she altered The Box. Look, i
t’
s time you knew it all since you are going to have to get Alessa on board
,”
Camden stated plainly. He began to talk. He started by giving Khilyn the blow by blow of what happened at the Great Cliffs with Alessa, then he backed up to tell Khilyn every bit of the Mission. Khilyn was in charge now. The whole thing along with Aless
a’
s life was depending on him.

Alessa

              Alessa sat in her room curled up on the couch. She did
n’
t know what to think. The Sacrifice was two short weeks away and it looked like she would never see Camden again. She reminded herself that she did
n’
t want to see him again, but she had a hard time believing it. As much as she was afraid of his organization, she had never been afraid of him and had a hard time believing he had anything but good intention. Of course, she was nervous about him in the beginning, but he had quickly dispelled that. He always seemed so attentive and thoughtful. She did
n’
t know what to think.

              She was
n’
t sure what to think about Evan either. She had always really liked Evan. How could he betray Camden like that? It had seemed all along that they had known each other, now that was certain. Evan had confessed and had implicated Camden with him, but why? Did he think that they would get caught and wanted to save himself? Alessa was
n’
t sure. She was
n’
t sure about anything. All she knew is that thinking about it made her head hurt. Alessa heard a knock at the door. She was tired of people knocking. That never used to happen. Not before Camden.

              Alessa walked over and opened the door to find Khilyn looking back at her. Without a word he wrapped her in his arms. She melted into him, thankful for the comfort that she had refused for days.

            
 “
Less, you look like hell
,”
Khilyn stated plainly. Alessa snorted.

            
 “
Thanks
,”
she answered.

            
 “
Less, I just talked to Camden
,”
Khilyn watched her closely.

            
 “
You did what
?”
Alessa pulled back from him in surprise. She was shocked that Camden would take time from being on the run to talk to Khilyn, unles
s….“
Wait a minute
.
”

            
 “
Yeah, I know what he asked you
,”
Khilyn said
,“
he filled me in on it, a long time ago actually
.
”

            
 “
So was everyone working behind my back
?”
Alessa was angry. Not her best friend, not Khilyn, he could
n’
t be in on it, too.

            
 “
I
t’
s not like that Alessa. If he had told you from the moment you met him, would you even have listened to him
?”
Khilyn asked. Alessa faltered.

            
 “
No, probably not. But once he told you then you should have told me
.
”

            
 “
You may be right, Less, and
I’
m sorry for that. But wha
t’
s done is done now. We need to talk about this. As much as I know yo
u’
d like to avoid it, yo
u’
ve got a huge decision to make in not that much time
.”
Khilyn grabbed Aless
a’
s hand and pulled her to the couch.

            
 “
I do
n’
t even know what you want me to do, run away? It seems so childish
,”
Alessa said
,“
I have a duty to fulfill. Even if I wanted to run away, I owe this to the Empire
.
”

            
 “
Less, you do
n’
t owe this Empire or Government anything. They have made a spectacle of you since you were born. You need to do what you want, what you think is important and right, but you should have all of the information first
,”
Khilyn started. They were interrupted by a sharp knock on the door.

            
 “
What now? People need to stop knocking all the time, i
t’
s seriously annoying
!”
Alessa proclaimed as she walked to the door. She flung it open with an annoyed expression on her face and there stood the Minister. Aless
a’
s mouth dropped open. She had never seen the Minister outside of his office or at an Event.

            
 “
Dear Sacrifice, we need to talk
,”
he said smoothly
,“
Khilyn, son, if yo
u’
ll excuse us
.
”

            
 “
Umm, err, sure, yeah of course
,”
Khilyn seemed as baffled as Alessa. He stood and rubbed a hand over Aless
a’
s arm before he left the room.

            
 “
Sacrifice, darling, may I sit
?”
The Minister motioned towards the small table in the room.

“
Of course, Soren
,”
Alessa replied politely
,“
and please call me Alessa
.
”

“
Yo
u’
ve been trying that for years, dear, surely you realize by now that
I’
m never going to call you that
.”
Alessa was taken aback by the Ministe
r’
s clipped tone. He was usually dripping with sugar.

“
Oh, well, yes I guess so
,”
Alessa answered.

“
So, my Sacrifice, I need to know everything you know about this silly little plan to thwart our Fourth Ceremony
,”
the Minister said plainly. Alessa felt her face redden.

“
I do
n’
t know anything about it, I only just heard when Evan said something
,”
Alessa tried to sound casual. She was
n’
t sure why she wanted to protect Camden, but she did
n’
t want to expose him, particularly to the Minister.

“
Now listen here
,”
the Minister slammed his fist on the table and made Alessa startle
,“
I know about how much time you have been spending with that guard.
I’
ve watched you canoodle. Ever since that stupid Carnival, oh yes, I certainly know about that, you have been spending more and more time with him. I know that you know something. I know that you were in on the plan, and you are going to tell me right now what it was or so help me
-“
The Minister was practically shouting, his face red, and his eyes burning with anger. Alessa had never seen him like this. He was always so controlled and annoyingly sweet. Of course, Alessa had always seen him in front of other people.

Aless
a’
s mind was reeling. How did he know about the Carnival? Why had
n’
t he stopped them? How did he know how much time they had spent together? And if he knew so much, why did
n’
t he know about the plan? Alessa guessed that answer, she realized that was why Camden had
n’
t talked to her until recently, why no one else seemed to know exactly what was going on. Camden had been very careful. He probably knew that they were being closely watched. Camden was right again, Aless
a’
s heart pounded.