Sweet Ambrosia (Pure Magic Book Three)

Chapter Ten

Caleb woke up screaming as if his life was in danger. I sat up and grabbed him.

"Caleb! Hey! Caleb, it's okay! Calm down!" I pulled him close to me, trying to stop his panic. Slowly, he calmed and rested his head on my chest as we laid back down. He was breathing heavily.

"What happened?" I asked, stroking his hair.

"I..." he stuttered, catching his breath. "I-I-I don't know."

"What made you scream?"

"I-I don't know."

"But why would you scream if you-"

"I said I don't know, Jade!" He glared at me angrily.

"O-okay. I'm sorry." I heard my voice shake as I spoke. I stayed quiet after that.

At some point, we fell asleep again. I woke up the following morning with Caleb holding his head in both hands, leaning forward on the edge of the bed.

"Stop it," he said quietly. "Stop it, stop it. Stop! Stop it!" He started to rock. "STOP!"

I sat up, putting my arms around him. As I did, he jumped.

"Hey!" He shouted, then instantly calmed himself. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay," I reassured him quietly. "What's going on?"

He leaned into me, gripping my arms. "I can't explain it." He put his hands on his head again. "I'm seeing a shadow in my dreams, hearing a voice I just can't place. But I know it. Somehow." He looked at me, his eyes glowing red and the whites of his eyes red and bloodshot. "I don't know what's happening, Jade. I'm losing my mind. What's going on?" He started to sound frantic. "What's going on?!"

"Shh, shh," I held him close. "I don't know, but I'm here, my love. We'll figure it out."

"Figure it out?" He asked quietly. "Really?"

"Caleb, I didn't mean it in a bad way."

"I mean, you're the one who cast the spell, didn't you?" He barked. "How can you just not know?"

"Morgyn told you this-"

"Yeah!" He shouted. "He did, and I still don't understand it! That shadowy figure. Who is that?"

"I don't-"

"I know you don't know!" He stood up, causing me to almost fall forward. I caught myself and moved back onto the bed.

"Taking it out on me isn't going to change a damn thing, now is it?" I spoke calmly despite my anger, glaring at him.

His expression softened. "You're right, I'm sorry." He sighed and paced the room.

I stood up and walked out of the room, taking an outfit with me to change into in one of the bathrooms downstairs. I walked out onto the streets of San Myshuno and looked around. I needed to just go somewhere. For some reason, Caleb's behavior really angered me, and I needed to get out for some air. I thought for a moment. I should have told Morgyn or Kris first, but instead, I just left. Sighing, I just walked to the food stalls, ordering some ramen and sitting at one of the picnic tables to eat it. I pulled out my phone and texted Morgyn.

"Watch out for Caleb," I wrote, "he's really on edge."

"Where are you?" He replied.

"I'm just downstairs at the food stalls."

"I'm coming down."

"Wait, tell Kris."

"I will."