Camarilla

03 executed

Tamsin Pov

My eyes pull open, my breathing shaky as I wake up in a completely different room than before, a medical room.

"How are you feeling?" The President questions as she moves to me from the counter. "It can be a bit hard to readjust to being awake."

"Yeah-Yeah, I...I'm fine." I stammer, trying to catch my breath. "There is uh, there's more, right?"

"Actually no, you've been under all afternoon." She tells me softly. "It's almost time for the ceremony."

"That was it?" I question, trying to sit up. How do you fail that?

"You reacted oddly to a few of the simulations." She tells me. "Most people don't react so highly to all fears." Oh great.

"Have both your parents die and I guess that makes you a coward." I laugh nervously, staring down at my hands. "I-I don't remember most of them, is that normal?"

"Not very. We see strong levels of fear awareness in The Warriors surprisingly. Only fifteen percent of the adult population are placed in Warriors, and that's where the test has selected you." She explains.

"The Warriors? Seriously?" I question, sitting up straighter.

"Seriously." She nods her head. I look away to try to hide the smile appearing on my lips. The Warriors? I could be a Warrior.

"My mom made my sister's promise to not choose Warriors." I whisper. "Which um, what was my second?" I question.

"One percent on Veracious, but your results for the others are zero." She explains."Not high enough for us to recommend any other faction."

"Oh. Great." I mumble. "So what does that mean? Like...if I could even choose another one of the factions, would I be placed in a lower position?" I question. Colette would kill me if I joined The Warriors. Or herself.

"You could receive further training for another faction but I doubt with a score that low you'll go very far." She says honestly. I nod.

"You were close with my mom, what um, what do you think she'd say?" I question her.

"To go with your heart, even if it would disappoint others." She nods her head. "Your mom's execution was a tragedy."

"Execution?" I question, my breathing getting caught in my throat. "My mother's death was an accident. That's what everyone told us." She nods her head quickly.

"Yes uh, of course. That's what I meant." She assures. I shake my head.

"Execution and accident are very different." I state. "How do you get them confused?" I press.

"I just slipped up my words." She nods her head, wiping her eyes.

"That's not words you should slip up on." I mumble, staring at my hand.

"I apologize." She whispers, glancing to the door. "Your sister is waiting in the waiting area for you." She tells me. "May the stars align your path."

"And yours." I reply back blankly, standing from the seat and pushing out the door. As soon as my eyes catch on Colette I wrap my arms around her tightly.

"You're alright." She whispers to me, holding me close to her. "I told you everything would be alright." I bury my face in her shoulder.

"Promise you don't hate me." I whisper. "Promise I'm not a burden."

"You're not, why would you think that? Of course not." She whispers, glancing around. "Keep your voice down. We need to go get your dress on."

"You know why." I whisper, pulling away carefully. "Is Rox going to meet us at home or at the ceremony?" I need to talk to her.