Child of Earth

28

Author's Note:

I'm really sorry for doing all this editing at the moment, I know I haven't been updating as much as I would like but the book is coming to a close and I am starting on a new book, it's called Bane of Death and it should be up soon.

Bane of Death will continue the story line in the 'Camp Annabra' series and I hope you've enjoyed my book so far.

Thanks for reading.

- Em

-X-

I woke up panting. My heart was racing. I looked around the room to see that Nathan and Ebony were still very much asleep and Ebony's foot was still twisted in a weird angle.

I got out of the patch of liquid ground and I opened the door with my shoulder. I needed some air.

I walked along the orchid path until I found Nick leaning against one of the cherry trees. I walked up to him and sat beside him. He didn't notice me.

"Nick?" I said touching him on the arm, he looked up startled.

"Oh sorry Thai I was just... thinking."

I nodded and looked out over the orchid and the surrounding trees.

"Nick, you've been acting preoccupied ever since that ghost showed up. Are you okay?"

He looked at me and I saw the shadows under his eyes.

"Do you remember the premonition dream you had?" he asked staring at the entrance to the cave. I nodded.

"Even though it wasn't a scary dream, it left me in a cold sweat like someone had just run their fingers down my spine, it wasn't a good experience... did you have one?"

He nodded and I sighed.

"Do you want to tell me what you saw or is it private?" I asked staring at his face, wishing that he would face me as well.

"I don't think that I... Yeah. Yeah okay.

...So I was standing in this small, circular stone room and my... father was holding two tiny bottles full of liquid in each hand and he was talking to someone that I couldn't hear, but he said something about the 'Trial of Four Choices' and so I looked it up in the book about Tomeinus written by the Amy Jackson girl and it's where there are four different bottles, full of different potions."

He scratched the back of his neck and winced.

"One will heal any injury even if someone is on the brink of death, the second will cure any mild injuries like cuts, bruises or headaches, the third will do nothing and... and the fourth will kill whoever drinks it instantly."

He looked at me and he had tears in his eyes. "Do you think I'm a good person... really?"

I considered it briefly, "Why-

"I can't tell you why I need to know, just tell me... Do you think that I'm a good person?"

I was in shock. How could Nick not be a good person? He was honest, loyal and brave enough to face his father even though it might mean that Tomeinus would kill him.

If I can tell that he's a good person just from being with him for a few weeks, then what is he really asking?

"Nick, I haven't known you for long, and even then I don't know you well, but I know that you're a good person, you're risking the disapproval of your father to save the world... I don't know if I could do that. So Nick, what are you really asking me?"

He sighed and faced the exit again, a tear rolled down his cheek and I resisted the urge to hug him, knowing that he wouldn't appreciate it.

"I guess, what I'm really asking is... Do you trust me... like with your life?"

I opened my mouth and then closed it again.

"Nick..." I said placing a hand on his arm. "Do you know which bottle has which potion?"

He stared at me for a second examining my features.

"I do... but I can't tell you."

"Why not?"

"You'll see... Just really think to yourself... do you trust me? Because I don't know if I trust myself."

I was about to ask him what he meant when he stood up and walked towards the hut.

"I'll wake the others, Nathan had better get started."