Those Who Live in the Shadows

Chapter 14

It was now morning. I had carried Camelia back to her world, to her house. I had managed to heal a little her wounds, since I have some kind of control over what happens in the Nightmare world, for humans at least. I still had to help her bandage her injuries. Then she had gone to sleep, completely exhausted. She had woken up pretty late, and was now taking a shower. I was waiting behind the bathroom's door, reading one of her books. I now knew why some of her books weren't normal: they were written in Braille, a language that blind people could decrypt by touching the relief on the pages. But I was reading a "classic" book, with ink.

Camelia's mother was spending the day with her, because it was the start of something called "Spring break". Which meant that no one had to go to school for like a week. Lucky her, and me. But since her mom was there, she couldn't really talk to me.

I was pretty sure Ally wasn't going to attack me anymore, but I was still watching over Camelia. No way she would get kidnapped again. I couldn't permit it. Last night was my entire fault. We were lucky to be alive, especially Camelia. I sighed. How did it come to this? How could I fall in love with a human? But I knew that what I felt for Camelia was true. I couldn't deny it.

I saw Camelia's mom climbing the stairs, coming in direction of the bathroom. I stepped aside from the door, and she went in, after announcing to Camelia that she was there.

Suddenly, I heard her mother scream. I jumped and instantly took my shadow form and went through the door.

"What happened to your arms!" she screamed. Camelia was in a towel, trying to hide her half-healed wounds behind her back, but her mom had already seen them.

"Tell her you cut yourself when you wanted to clean the broken glass after the burglar's intrusion." I advised my friend. Camelia seemed to freak out a bit when she heard my voice, but still answered to her mom.

"No, you weren't injured at all that day!" replied her mom, frowning.

"That's because I didn't want to worry you! I had already bandaged it!" continued Camelia in her lie. Maybe her mom would believe her? I didn't know what would happen if she didn't.

Camelia rushed out of the bathroom, managing to avoid her mother, and went in her bedroom. I followed her calmly. She closed the door behind us.

"Desire?" she said.

"Yeah?"

"I'm going to change."

"So?"

"So you better not look." I sighed but still turned as Camelia put on clothes.

"Do you think your mother believed you?" I asked when she was done.

"I don't know," she answered, "I hope so. I can't tell her what really happened. Anyway, thanks for the help. I really didn't know what to answer." She grimaced, holding her left arm.

"Does it still hurt?" I asked worriedly. I took her hand and very softly walked my fingers on her wounds. She grimaced again, but did not protest. I had done my best to heal her, but I was afraid it wasn't enough.

"Only a little, don't worry," she said. "I'll have to go bandage them later."

"Yeah," I agreed. I let her go. "If your mom doesn't believe you, what do you think she'll do?"

"I don't know," Camelia answered again.

***

It was now late afternoon. We had decided to watch a movie in the living room. Camelia had said it didn't bother her to only hear a movie, but she soon fell asleep, and was now leaning on me, her head on my shoulder. She was so cute, sleeping peacefully as the action-filled movie continued on the screen. I put my head on hers, and rested for a bit.