119 - Camilla Scott

119 - Camilla Scott
Camilla Scott

Three weeks have passed since we returned home. We’re trying to find a calm rhythm, but we’re still on high alert, especially Benjamin, who said Oleg’s trail was lost after the Stepanovs began hunting the Volkov family.

They exterminated everyone, but so far, they haven’t found the source of my nightmares. What’s keeping my husband calm and unworried is that I’m on bed rest and can’t leave my room.

“Camilla, I came to help you take a bath, if you want!” Miley appears at my bedroom door, catching me off guard.

“Where’s Benjamin?” I ask, concerned.

“Sebastian said they went to receive a shipment and should be back by dawn!” That didn’t convince me.

“Why do I feel like they’re hiding something from me?”

“If they are, they’re hiding it from me too. After all, that’s what my fiancé told me…”

I smile, noticing how Miley is falling more in love with Sebastian each day, and the fear I had of her reuniting with Ralf now feels unfounded. When they met at the hospital, Sebastian said Miley kept the same frightened look she had the first time she saw him.

In truth, she felt such a strong pain that it made her faint, just like Ralf. However, according to Sophia, this time he didn’t transform into a wolf. They believe it’s because Ralf no longer had such a strong bond with Miley, even though she was still connected to him.

Another thing I’ve noticed, and everyone is grateful to the goddess for, is that both Sebastian and Carol seem to have gained something from the lupine goddess that many people yearn for in their lives: longevity.

Sebastian seems much younger, as if he’s the same age as Benjamin or perhaps a little older. What worries me is how to explain to people the changes happening to my husband’s uncle’s appearance.

“All right, help me stand up…” I say gently.

I push aside the notebook I was using to study the first-semester medical courses and carefully get to my feet, balancing with my nearly seven-month belly. Though I hate to admit it, I’m getting more nervous by the day at the thought of these four being born. I know it’s inevitable, as I can feel they no longer have enough space inside me.

I walk slowly until I’m near the bathroom, but without Benjamin here, I don’t have the courage to step inside unless he’s there to help me in and out. So, I settle for a shower instead.

“How are you feeling today?” she asks again.

“Very tired…” I sigh, sliding the foam-covered sponge over my belly. “Did you hear that?”

I ask, noticing the vibration of my phone.

“Maybe it’s Mr. Scott letting you know he’s coming home. Should I grab it?” she offers, but I shake my head.

“If it’s something important, he’ll call again.”

“We finally managed to secure a date with the wedding planner!”

She announces triumphantly. They don’t want anything extravagant, and the planner she wanted didn’t have any open dates for the entire month. I try not to think about what Sebastian might have done to make this spot available.

As we talk, and I rinse the foam off my body, we notice the mansion’s power goes out. My gaze meets Miley’s, who seems as calm as ever.

“It’ll probably come back in a few seconds…” Then we hear my phone vibrating.

“Go grab it!”

Carefully, I step out of the shower, reaching for the plush robe on the bathroom counter. Wrapping myself in it, I slowly walk until Miley stops in front of me, holding the vibrating phone.

Benjamin’s name is flashing on the screen, and I feel the urgency that something is wrong.

“Hello?”

“Little devil, why didn’t you answer?” His voice is tense.

“I was in the shower, Miley’s here helping me…”

“Get out of the house. Try to make it to the gym where the soldiers are. I’m coming as fast as I can!” I look up, gripping my friend’s hand tightly.

“What’s going on?” I ask before he interrupts me again.

“We were deceived. There’s nothing waiting for us at the border. I think Oleg or some Bishop is heading to our house. Now go!” I feel my body freeze.

I feel Miley's hand on mine. She gently holds my face and makes me look at her.

"Don't panic. We need to get you out of here and protect ourselves from whoever is coming…" I nod and put my phone on silent before slipping it into the pocket of my robe.

"He said to leave the mansion, but I know there's a panic room at the back of the house. I think we can make it there, and I'll call my dad…"

I whisper. Given the time the power's been out, they must already be closer than we imagine.

"Then let's go!" Miley says.

"We need to make sure Sophia and Amelia are safe…"

I think of my friends as we step out of the room and see the vast hallway completely dark. Not even the emergency lights are working.

"Whoever messed with the security system really did a good job," I hear.

"I just hope he doesn't show up before we're safe…"

I say as we move toward the stairs. Miley peers cautiously around the corners of the lower floor, looking for someone we have no idea about.

As much as we know we live a life full of danger, we're never truly ready to have our home invaded. Fortunately, both Jackson and Sebastian had shown me where the safe places are around the complex.

My house has a safe room, but it's on the lower floor, and getting there could be as dangerous as going on a mission.

"Come slowly!"

I glance at the steps, and the fear of tripping almost makes me want to stay put and hide in one of the rooms.

"Hurry up…"

Her voice is almost inaudible. Summoning courage, I started descending, holding on to the handrail. I was nervous, but I kept going until I reached the lower floor and froze at the sound of voices getting closer to where we were.

My gaze meets Miley's, and we quicken our pace toward the hallway leading to the false wall.

Before I can say anything, she presses her finger to her lips and pulls me faster toward our destination.

I feel my body stiffen, yet my pulse races. The fear for my babies nearly paralyzes me, but to keep them safe, I can't stop. I need to reach that room and wait for Benjamin to come rescue me, along with Sebastian and everyone else.

"She has to be here, that damn bitch…"

The voice that haunts my nightmares is in my house, just meters away from me. He's on the other side of the hallway wall. If I don't hurry, he'll see me, and I'm certain I'll never see my Bishop again.

I squeeze Miley's hand, and when we finally reach the false wall, we open it slowly, making no noise that might alert whoever's invading my house.

We open it just enough to slip inside, and as I step through, something hits me, pulling me into the room, which is quickly locked.

I lean against the wall in front of me, touching the spot where my skin begins to burn.

"Camilla, you need to lie down!" Miley's voice is too loud.

"Relax, we're safe. This room can withstand a nuclear war…" I try to joke, feeling the discomfort in my ribs. "That bastard threw something that hit me."

I say, and Miley's hand touches me, pulling my robe aside to search for whatever caused the pain. My breathing quickens as I realize I've been hit by a bullet.

"Lie down; we need to put pressure on the wound…" I hear her say as tears well up in my eyes.

"I need to talk to my Ben."

"Call him. I'll see if there's a first aid kit here."

I pull my phone from the pocket of my robe, still pressing against the wound that feels like an open faucet pouring out my blood, and my babies'. With some difficulty, I managed to grab my phone and call my husband.

Balancing the phone between my head and shoulder, one hand on the wound between my ribs and the other on my belly, trying to feel if my babies are okay. I sigh when I hear my husband's voice on the other end.

"? My love, are you safe?"

I smile at the nickname I adore.

"Promise me that if something happens to me, you'll love our children if I'm not here…"

I close my eyes, feeling cold settle into my body.

"Don't say such nonsense. Tell me, are you safe?"

"Yes, but Oleg hit me, and I'm so cold. Bishop, you need to hurry to save our babies…"

The darkness pulls me into a place with no pain or cold, where I wait for my husband to come and rescue me.