Enchanted Hearts

Chapter 12

Charlie
Delilah had been in bed for three days, too afraid and tired to come out. Her foot was bad, but it could have been worse. It was still causing her pain. Amir said it would heal. He cleaned and dressed her foot at least once every day. It seemed like he was the doctor of the camp. Moxie went to him with all sorts of injuries; from scratches and cuts to burns and bites. Anything you could think of he would have a natural remedy or solution for. He spent the most time with Delilah, as he tended to her wounds they would talk. Amir would then report back to me on how she was going. I only went to see her when she was sleeping. I was worried she would do something drastic if she saw me. Ace was being unusually kind to me, considering I planned on keeping this Moxie as a person. I was positive he remembered me from years ago, but neither of us spoke it out loud.
Most of the food was boiled fish or meat - deer, birds or rabbit- with some type of berry - brambles, dewberries or wild strawberry - or nuts - usually roasted pine, but also walnuts and oak. The Moxie had a rotation for who cooks, cleans, hunts and who would be on watch. The camp is surprisingly organised. Every so often they will send a group of Moxie to the 'city' to collect supplies. There were groups who went out to get food and water every couple of days. Then there were the actual Seekers. The ones who went out at night specifically to catch Virago. To set traps, wait for the scream and race out to haul in their catch. I hadn't yet seen any Virago on site besides Delilah. Though I knew that I wouldn't have to wait to long because apparently they managed to capture at least one every week or so. By now everyone knew my name and the deal I had made with Ace. Most of the Moxie were talkative and friendly to me the majority of the time. A few of the guys, all teenagers like myself, had suspicions about Delilah. "Why do you even need her?" "Why is it taking so long for her foot to heal?" "Is Ace really allowing him to keep her?"
They obviously hadn't had much social experience with Virago. I wasn't really sure how I was supposed to act and treat Delilah, so that I wouldn't stand out. I wondered what they usually did with the Virago they kept, if they did. That was until Ace came over to me during breakfast. I was sitting on a rock talking to two fellas whose names I couldn't remember. They were doing most of the talking as I wasn't really listening, but they were going on about how the camp doesn't need to be guarded at night. Ace was wearing his usual black cloak and had an enigmatic smile spread across his face. I wasn't sure what to expect.
"Charlie, can I talk to you for a second?" The two Moxie stopped talking and looked at me.
"Yeah, sure." I got up. As he lead me to his private tent the Moxie all seemed to be looking at me like I was retarded.
"How is your Virago going? Is her foot healing okay?"
"Yes, she's doing good. I am pretty sure she can walk on it now." We had reached the tent.
"Good, because I thought we would have a little meeting. Just to discuss our agreement and camp rules. I hope you don't mind?"
"No, not at all." Ace pulled the tent flap back and gestured for me to enter. I thought it was going to be just the two of us, but apparently not. Amir and Archer were sitting on one half of a neatly made bed with a black blanket, typical. There were three Virago sitting on the ground in the corner. One of which was Delilah. Their hands were behind their backs, tied. At first Delilah looked scared, then a tad relieved and then savage as her eyes laid on me. The other two girls both had dark hair, one curly the other straight and both mid-length.
They looked even more terrified than Delilah and were slightly huddled together.
"We caught these two early this morning," Ace said proudly. He walked over to the Virago and they cowered and trembled at his feet. "We don't usually keep Virago on site, but I think you might have started something within the camp. Since you brought this one in," he kicked Delilah on in side and I saw her wince. I kept as still as possible trying not to let my emotions show. I had to hold back. "A lot of the guys have been talking about having their own Virago, too. You know, to keep, sort of like a pet?" Ace looked at me straight in the eyes. I nodded and he continued. "So I thought we should trial it with these two. Amir and Archer can have one each. I will monitor how the three of you go with them and then decide whether we should keep using them or not. See if it benefits the camp. I doubt it though, Virago aren't useful for much. What do you say Charlie?"
I was still in shock, so it took me a second longer to register what he was saying and that he was talking to me. Eventually, I managed to say, "Yes, absolutely. What would you like me to do specifically?" I caught a glimpse of her in my peripheral vision. Her face was quite expressionless now, but her eyes said a million things. They were a blazing fire of outrage and abomination and they were gnawing right into my soul. I could feel it.