Rosaline Wood (A Violet Eden Follow-on Reboot)

Chapter Nineteen: Is That a Threat?

Cam POV

My head hurt; a lot. Slowly, I cracked open an eyelid. Sun showered down on my face almost blinding me. My arms felt like lead as I tried to push my unresponsive body into a sitting position. No success. I lay in foggy vagueness, the grey ceiling drifting in and out of focus. Where was I again? What had happened? Did I oversleep? Had the boys already gone to tennis? Or was it soccer today? Why was it so quiet? Millions of question dripped like honey through my mind at such a snail pace I could almost see each forming before presenting itself.

Suddenly, with a sound like an atomic bomb going off, some idiot decided to swing open the door. Maybe I was exaggerating it slightly but after what felt like an eternity of silence it really did sound like an explosion.

    "Miss D'Arcy!" the idiot exclaimed too cheerfully, "You're awake. How wonderful. Is there anything I can get for you?" I managed to withhold a groan of despair. How about some earplugs and an icepack?

    "Where am I again?" I croaked sounding like a dying frog. The moron laughed in ear-ringing falsetto identifying her as female.

    "Sweetie," she giggled, "You're in the Academy Hospital, of course. Under excellent care, I might add. Now, is there anything I can get for you?" Academy? Hospital? Why was I in an expensive school hospital? Then of course I had a brilliant mental break-though and all the stupid events of the last few days stumbled through my head. And the eyes.

    "Oh great," I muttered to myself. The ears of the nurse picked up with excitement and she trotted over to the bedside.

    "What was that?" she questioned joyously, "Did you ask for something?" I shook my head.

"Is this your first time nursing?" I sighed to refrain from screaming at her to get the hell out of here. A beaming nod sunk my heart like the Titanic.

Rose POV

I couldn't stop thinking about it. Or him. Or whatever. The feeling of his lips on mine, his body wrapping itself tenderly around my own, the way he pushed my back just so making my spine arch; it was all so perfect. It had felt so good I swear it must have been illegal. I had planned to tell Cam I thought Dean had a crush on her but that plan was out the window now. After the roof there was no way to believe that he cared about Cam the way he did about me. My heart skipped another beat as I thought about how soft his hair had felt. How good against my fingers.

For the moment I had confined myself to my room. I would share it later with Cam when she was awake and cleared. I was allowed at both Griffin's and my friend's hospital bedsides but I didn't think I could bare that at the moment. I wasn't in total solitary confinement but I couldn't find anything to get that kiss out of my head. And I couldn't just go and see Dean. It was nine o'clock and he would be in specialist combat classes now. I had to wait for this evening to catch up. But oh my god his lips . . .

I jumped off the bed and rushed to the door. My hands gripped the handle with such forced I was sure I would leave an imprint on it. Maybe I could go watch him train? Without my permission, my inner eye pictured him shirtless and gleaming with sweat as he easily flipped opponents onto the floor. I shook myself and resignedly flopped back onto my bed. I was whipped. When did Dean ever train shirtless? I groaned raking my fingers through my hair wishing it were someone else's. I had another seven hours of this at least.

Cam POV

A little after the nurse left I had another visitor; Joey. I almost did a tap dance with delight.

    "Damn it," I muttered to the air as she waltzed into the room. Why the heck was this woman coming to see me? I was fairly sure she wasn't bringing me a get-well-soon card and candy. A flash of a dark suit and com-pack hovered outside the door.

    "Cameron," she greeted solemnly, "I trust you're on the mend." I nodded stiffly. A lyric popped into my mind. 'I'd rather be divisive than indecisive'. Could she maybe just cut the niceties?

    "Yeah," I answered and decided to take a jibe at her, "So you got security posted outside in case I pose a threat to the ceiling?" Josephine shrugged one elegant shoulder.

    "You don't belong here," she replied smiling sweetly, "There is nothing wrong with being careful." I shook my head in disbelief.

    "Seriously?" I shot, "I'm not Grigori. I'm not an Exile. I'm Human. I don't have the power to harm anything except maybe bugs. Are you always this paranoid about outsiders? Or did you find out I'm a Grigori serial killer before I did?"

    "I'm glad you mentioned that," she smiled again even more falsely. Finally! We were getting someplace. "As it stands you may have some information about the condition of Griffin Moore." I stared at her in amazement. Griffin? Like what the ...

    "What are you talking about?" I breathed. She cleared her throat before answering.

    "I am lead to believe that the once-exile, Phoenix, as well as yourself have ended up in similar predicaments as Mr Moore but to a ... lesser degree," Josephine explained, "Both of you were attacked and left on someone's doorstep. I think you can tell me what attacked you." Thoughts whirled through my head trying to not think about what had happened. Josephine sighed as she registered the blank screen that fell across my eyes. I forced back the bile rising in my throat.

    "If you don't tell me now," she remarked casually, "We do have people who can get the knowledge from you. With or without your permission." The Grigori gracefully rose to her feet.

    "Is that a threat?" I asked quietly, my mind reeling.

    "Yes." Two orbs of steel flashed before me. "Yes, it is."

Rose POV

It was nearing four o'clock. Soon I could see Dean. I was lying on the bed I'd claimed as my own when Cam was escorted in. The restless excitement that had been ruling my day disappeared like smoke. Her red hair was a mess and her usually tanned skin was almost devoid of colour. She stepped inside the room and they closed the door behind her. I thought I hear the faint click of a lock.

    "Are you okay?" I asked gently as she slumped down on the bed opposite mine.

    "Yeah," my friend whispered, "I'm good." I slid off the bed and made my way to her side. She was staring at her knees.

    "What happened?" I inquired as she ran her hands through her curls and let out a shaky breath.

    "Josephine came to visit me," she informed me in a monotone. My arms encircled her in a firm hug. "And she wants answers I can't give her so she threatened me. Rosie, do they really have people who can read your mind?" I shivered at the sound of her voice and held her tighter.

    "Umm. Yeah," I replied uncertainly, attempting to play it off casually, "They can see your memories and stuff, I think. You'd have to ask my mum if you want to know more."

    "I already knew," she breathed, "I just wanted you to tell me so it doesn't seem as bad." At that I let her bury her head in my shoulder. My Cam was tough. She wouldn't cry but she could get pretty damn close.

    "Cam," I whispered, "We've got you. I've got you. She has no right to bring you before the Assembly. You're not Grigori. My parents won't allow it. And besides, Mum knows what it's like and she'd never put you through that. Ever."

    "But what if Josephine forces her hand," she whimpered, "It's about Griffin. I have information that they need and I can't say. It's the only way they will get it." A wave of anger rose in my chest.

    "Then they'll have me to deal with."

. . .

So here is the next chapter!!! Poor Cam! And goodness, Rose has got it BAD, hasn't she? Please don't forget to tell me what you think in the comments. And remember you can vote for Rose's love life. A limit to one vote per chapter please? A third chapter is coming your way soon!!!

~SpanishFox