The Zodiac Warriors: The Will of the Gods

Chapter 2: An unexpected turn of events

Chapter 2

An unexpected turn of events

'I wonder if she's alright', a calm voice said. 'She's been out for some time now. Are you sure she didn't hit her head?'

'I am', someone answered, and Caitlin recognized Brice's voice. 'I caught her when she fell.'

'Maybe you gave her an overdose, then', a third voice said. It was a boyish voice, Caitlin thought. 'If that's the case, you'll have some serious explaining to do.'

'No need', the first voice said, 'I think she's waking up.'

Caitlin stirred slightly and tried to open her eyes. Her eyelids were heavy and her head was throbbing. The first thing she saw was the face of a boy who was staring at her with a concerned expression. He was positively beautiful, with deep blue eyes, light blond hair that went down to the base of his neck, full lips, and delicate, almost feminine features.

'Are you OK?' he asked almost in a whisper.

She nodded and he sighed with relief.

'Good', he said. 'We were afraid Brice had damaged you beyond repair. I am Jamie, by the way.'

She tried to get up and he helped her in a sitting position.

'What's going on here?' she managed to say in a ragged voice. She looked around and realized that she was in a room she didn't recognize. She had been laid down on a narrow bed covered in simple white sheets. There wasn't much furniture in the room besides a wardrobe, a night stand and a desk with a chair. On the wall opposing the bed there was a flat screen TV and there was also a computer on the small desk. The room was dimly lit, which she was grateful for in the state she was in.

Apart from the boy who had helped her up, and who was now sitting on the bed next to her, there was another young man standing in front of her at some distance. He was tall and slender, with ginger hair and hazel eyes. He wasn't beautiful, Caitlin thought, but there was something about him that she couldn't quite pin down. He had his arms crossed over his chest and he was looking at her with genuine curiosity.

And then there was Brice. He was leaning against the wall, his golden-brown hair like a halo around his head. He was studying his fingernails casually, showing not interest in her whatsoever.

'Where am I? Who are you people?' Caitlin asked.

'You are in Brice's room at the Astronomical Observatory', the ginger boy said and she immediately realized who the calm voice belonged to. 'Brice brought you here. My name is Hugo.'

'What happened to me?' she asked, putting a hand up to rub her forehead.

'You fainted', Brice said without looking up.

'And you decided to bring me here instead of taking me to the hospital?'

'It didn't look like anything serious', he shrugged.

She put her head between her hands, trying to steady herself. The headache was terrible. But why would she have a headache?

'Did I hit my head?' she asked.

'No, I caught you before you fell', Brice said.

And still the pain must have come from something. Then she remembered: him disappearing into the bathroom and coming back, the cappuccino, which he brought to her personally without waiting for the waiter, and the sweet taste of it, with a touch of something like cinnamon, and then the swirling and the nausea. All of a sudden a surge of panic overcame her.

'Did you drug me?' She tried to keep her voice steady, but she couldn't.

'I might have', Brice said calmly. 'But it was only so that I could bring you here without having to persuade you with words. Our date wasn't going as well as I expected.'