Uncovered

Chapter Ten:

(Benjamin's POV)

Someone was holding me down. My body convulsed under their weight. This felt so real. Was I back? I continued struggling. My muscles ached, screaming with tension.

"Stop fighting me, Benjamin, this will go faster," Kimberly hissed in my ear.

I felt something jab into my neck. My lungs were burning now.

"What'd you do to me?" I coughed out.

"You know too much. I'm sorry."

The healer was a traitor. I had warned Jeremiah right after coming back from exile. I forced myself to become motionless for a few seconds, throwing her off once her grip softened. Lightning immediately crackled in my palms. Tobi was nowhere to be seen. Maybe he was innocent. Kimberly cornered herself. I smiled coldly. My vision blurred in and out as I bound her hands and hoisted her over my shoulders.

"You're a Gazer. I know the deal you made with Lei. You'd trade all of us for your old coven," she said, unable to fight out of my grasp.

"And you're a dishonorable wench who doesn't know Gazers build a tolerance to poison. We're going to see Jeremiah."

We went to his room and knocked on the door. He sleepily answered.

"Hey, you're back. Why're you here and why is Kimberly tied up?" Jeremiah's eyes narrowed to drowsy slits.

"She's the traitor that I warned you about. I woke up to her poisoning me. Call the council together," I replied coldly.

Jeremiah shook his head, "The whole coven will be called."

I smiled half-heartedly as the three of us went to the main hall.

Children were sitting at tables, having lunch together. I whistled loudly. Their gazes were on me while mindless chatter stopped. The adults came in next. Anne and another man brought up the rear. My eyes narrowed as she stared at me curiously but didn't come closer. I dropped Kimberly heavily onto the floor.

"Why do you have to be so rough?" Kimberly groaned.

"You tried to kill me, sweetheart," I barely looked at her.

"I had to. They said there'd be no attack if you were dead."

"Yeah? Just wait until the trial starts. Was Tobi working with you, too?"

"He's uninvolved."

I nodded to Jeremiah as he stood in the room's center. His shoulders went rigid while waiting for our coven's elders to join the crowd.

"Welcome. I'm going to make this as short as possible. We have a trial for attempted murder and traitorous intent. The elders will give the final decision," Jeremiah explained, motioning for me to step forward.

I limped over, realizing my leg was injured from the fight. All eyes were on me now as I took the time to focus my thoughts and made my face stoic.

"As many of you know, I've been in a coma. I came out of it early this morning. Our expert healer, Kimberly, had injected some sort of poison into me, with the intent to kill. She wasn't aware that Gazers were immune to poison. Her attempt on my life became a realization that Kimberly is the traitor that our council was trying to find," I said loudly, staying firm and calm.

Anne had moved to Jeremiah's side, holding his hand. Jealousy scratched my heart. It wasn't the time to show emotions though.

"Kimberly, do you have anything to say to defend yourself?" our leader's voice was soft.

Anger lit her cheeks but she shook her head. Anne's eyes were full of tears while we waited for the elders to decide. I wanted to comfort the woman, but I couldn't. Jeremiah had taken my place.

"We have cast stones and decided Kimberly is guilty. Her charges are punishable by execution or exile," he dipped his head before rejoining the elders.

"Benjamin's the victim. He'll decide the traitor's fate," Jeremiah boomed out.

I looked at Anne, noticing the tears running down her face. Her hands were shaking with anxiety and grief. I didn't want to hurt her. But Kimberly was a threat to our survival now.

"She'll be more of a threat if she's exiled," I declared finally.

"Execution it is," Jeremiah gazed carefully at the healer.

Anne moved in front of the other woman, protecting her from us. The children and elders were escorted out as I closed the distance. Fire sprouted from my fingertips.

"Move, Anne," I ordered.

"No."

"Get the hell away from that traitor or I'll move you."

This wasn't the time for Anne to be stubborn and challenging. My temper was flaring. I didn't want to hurt her, but she was making it necessary. We stared each other down. Minutes passed before she looked away. I was in control.

"Move. I respect your loyalty and stubbornness, but this is going to happen one way or another," I took a few threatening steps closer.

Anne backed away. The fear in her eyes almost made me smile. She should be afraid. With two quick movements, I broke Kimberly's neck and injected poison, just to be safe.

"I hate you, Benjamin. Don't come near me," Anne turned on her heel.

"I'm sorry but it had to be done."

A guy followed the angry witch to the training hollow. I felt bad that she had to lose her best friend, but it had to happen. Sighing, I went outside to clear my unforgiving mind.