The shadows under the stars.

Chapter 15 Camille

  I awake in a dark, cold cell. Why am I here? I wonder. I have a raging headache and the world is blurry. I hear footsteps approaching. Then I hear voices I can't make out what they are saying. I crawl over to the front of the cell and see two guards conversing. They see me and start approaching. 

 "She's awake finally." Says one of them. "Get the doctor!" 

One of them runs off and, it's just me and a guard.

 "Why am I here?" I ask

 "You disobeyed the hunter's code, and now your trial is on the table. The king is considering death, prison, or working for him depending on how you plead." 

 Suddenly I remember what happened, the cold castle floor as I hit it hard and the vampire, Victoria I hope she's ok. I nod. I hear footsteps approaching and know the other guard is back with the doctor.

 "Open the cell she won't hurt me," Says a young male voice. 

 "I'm not some kind of creature I'm human, "I say annoyed. The guards look at one another and then open the cell. The doctor steps in and starts checking me over. He touches my head and I squirm away in pain. 

 "Can you see how many fingers I'm holding up Camille?" He asks. I squint to try and see.

 "Two," I say confidently. 

"No, I'm holding up four."  He grabs my face and inspects me further. "Well, it looks like hitting the floor gave you a concussion, nothing too serious but you will need to rest, and as it's only minor you can still partake in your trial." Great.

  He stands up to leave before turning to the guards. "Make sure she doesn't just sleep on the floor she needs a proper bed, but she can stay down here, the darkness is good for her." Then he's gone. At least I get a bed. 

  The guards go away probably in search of a bed giving me time to try and escape. They never chained my hands as I've been asleep since arriving. I move over to the cell's door and inspect it. I reach my arm through the opening to tell the kind of lock. Sure enough, it's a keyhole, I figured as much. I pull my arm back and peek through the bars to see if the keys are near.

  My head pounding continues feeling worse than before, I collapse onto the ground and cover my face with my hands. I hope Victoria is ok, I shouldn't have led my boss to her maybe then the witch wouldn't have found her. I remember the set of lock-picking stuff I usually carry with me and start patting myself down. Fuck. It must have been confiscated. I run my hands through my hair, my head still throbbing. I poke myself on something. I find it again and pull it out, a bobby pin. It might work, I hope. 

  I reach my hand outside of the bars once more and try fiddling with the bobby pin careful not to drop it. Suddenly I hear footsteps fast approaching outside in the dimly lit hallway. I fumble with the bobby pin and quickly pull my arm back inside just in time to put it back in my hair safe and out of sight.

  The two guards are back and carrying a bed. They unlock the cell and place the bed in a corner. Ontop the bed lay a pair of hand and leg chains. 

 "Am I being chained up now?" I ask. If I was this would fuck up my plans on escaping.

 "No, the king requests you upstairs that's what these are for!" Says one of the guards pulling out smaller chains. I nod and put my arms in front of myself trying to co-operate. The guard places them on my wrists and locks them. Adding the key to his key belt. I make a mental note, taking in the detail of the belt, the keys on it, and where he puts it when he's done. 

  The guards leave the cell keeping it open waiting for me to leave. They both exchange looks. 

 "Is this my trial?" I ask trying not to sound worried.