Resurrection - Fallen Cam - Vanilla

XXII

As the sun bore the great city of Alexandria, Victoria sighed, trying to lose the horrific events of the last few weeks amongst the sand as she buried her toes and feet into it. She watched the Niall intently, remarking at how it glimmered different shades of blue and gold as the sun passed through the sky. Her arrival here had been a stark contrast to her arrival in Camelot.

Immediately, she had known when and where she was, a familiarity with time and place that she hadn't known was missing until she found it once more. Even with Cam at her side, she hadn't felt safe in 536.

It had certainly been an eye opening experience for her. She thought she was ready to handle whatever the past had to throw at her, but now, as she sat by the rivers edge, angry hot tears pouring down her cheeks, she realized how naïve and stupid she'd been.

She felt certain that the older her would have been stronger and smarter, saving Paddy and punishing Daniel for his foolishness for making a deal that risked his life. Instead, they'd wiped the floor with both her and Cam, she shuddered to think of how close Cam had come to harm. If Penny wasn't utterly in love with him, would he have been spared?

Her heart ached at the way she'd left things with Cam, leaving him to clean up a mess that was her doing. How disappointed he must be with her now. She wondered if that was always how the past had been for him? Her showing up then and there, rather than in 1995. Why hadn't he told her, or warned her?

Victoria found that the more she thought on it all, the more confused she grew. Penny was Weathervanes, who in turn was also Sword and Cross Lucinda's friend Penn. How had she survived? How could Cam stand to watch her grace those halls knowing what she'd done to poor innocent Paddy? Why had she followed them all this time?

Paddy, how her heart ached for the poor boy. She was plagued now by the realization that he would be the first of many losses. How many would suffer so she could hone her skills?

She laughed hollowly at how Daniel had easily joked about their past, she'd felt his hatred of her burning her skin every moment she spent in 536, and now she felt part of that hatred was reciprocated. How could she ever forgive him for what he'd done? How was it possible that the sweet nurturing Daniel who'd grown to become her friend was also this monster who despised her so?

Victoria was certain she'd never felt quite so low in her life. Depressed and alone didn't even begin to cover it, she was confused and hurt. She felt like there was no one she could turn to with her thoughts and revelations, not even Cam, not the past Cam anyway. And it could very well be hundreds of years before she saw a future Cam who would understand.

A rage filled her chest, the burning desire to scream into the riverbank, until she no longer felt suffocated. Though it would do no good, save from startling the fishermen who worked quietly on its surface. Perhaps she could try to run away, in an attempt to clear her head? But already she knew no matter how fast or far she ran, she would not be able to escape herself.

"Aren't you hot, dressed like that?" A mischievous female voice asked, Victoria jumped, startled by the sound as she turned her head to find a tanned, ethereal young woman standing behind her.

The woman was striking, dressed in a white cotton dress with a thick golden necklace wrapped around her neck, her black hair immaculately sleek cascaded down her back. Her dark eyes, heavily rimmed in dark eyeliner, bore curiously into Victoria. Her gaze was piercing and it was as if the woman could see right into her soul, her mouth twitched up into a sly smile, as if she wished to ease Victoria's heavy heart. Her roman nose served to add a sense of intelligence to her otherwise flawless features. Victoria was utterly captivated by her, and found her voice wavered as she struggled to contain her emotions.