The Journey To Orillion

Chapter 8: Him

(Esmeralda's POV)

I awaken to the sound of my heavy breathing. My eyes fly open as my body, full of adrenaline, pulls the covers off my body, and I hastily get out of my bed. I don't hesitate to go downstairs, but I stop cold on the stairs when I hear my parents talking to an unknown man. I lean against the far wall, to be hidden but staying as close as I can to hear them. I stand on the fifth step from the bottom, my body cloaked in darkness.

"Cami..." I heard my mother say. "...Is she going to be alright?" What happened to Cami? I thought as my face paled.

The man started talking. "She should recover just fine. Unfortunately, the bullet went completely through her thigh, and I don't think she'll be able to walk on it again." A... a bullet? I paled even more.

"I-I'm sorry that I wasn't able to stop the man from pulling the trigger, Mrs. Rasherin," A younger male voice said.

"Oh, sweety, thanks to you, she's still alive! That's enough of that sour language," Mom replied.

I took another step down and swiped a quick glance at everyone in the room. Bleach and cleaning spray immediately filled my nostrils, and I noticed the couch had a towel and some preserving paper around it, making it shiny and crinkle whenever my parents shifted. Farthest from me was a man who looked like he was in his thirties, but a couple wisps of grey hair told otherwise. He wore a white, clean coat and his demeanor gave a very intelligent aura. He must be a doctor. Across from him, and closest to me, was a young man. I could barely see his face since his back was almost turned completely towards me, but he didn't look over 20. 

I moved back into my hiding spot and sat down on the steps, leaning my head against the wooden wall surrounding the stairs. This is my fault. I thought sadly. If I hadn't gone that far with my new magic, Cami wouldn't be in the hospital with a bullet hole, my mother and father wouldn't be worried sick, and two strangers wouldn't be in my house. A rogue tear slipped from my eye and ran slow and hot down my cheek, all the way down to my chin, before I wiped it away. I'm sorry, Cami. I closed my eyes as memories before I passed out came back to me.

This is getting me nowhere. I thought. I opened my eyes and stood, debating whether I should go back upstairs or make myself known. When I stood, the stairs creaked beneath me, giving away my position.

"Esmeralda!" Elisha jumps to her feet and hastily comes to greet me. I now was the center of attention; I saw all eyes land upon me. Only one set of eyes interested me, though. The teenage boy's who saved my dear friend's life. I locked eyes with him, taking in what little detail I could of him before my mother blocked my line of sight. 

"Oh, honey, I'm so sorry," she said, her voice thick with sadness. She hugged me tightly against her chest, and I gladly accepted the embrace. The same tears made their way through my walls of self-consciousness, and before I knew it, I was crying again. Why is this happening? What did Cami do to ever deserve this? 

 My sobs echoed throughout the solemn household, and Elisha addressed this by rubbing and scratching my back, something that helps me calm down. I slowly compressed my feelings down back inside of me, and I used the top of my shirt to wipe my face. Elisha stood in front of me so I could keep some dignity in front of the guests. When I finished, she wrapped her arms around my shoulders and walked with me to the couch. She sat in between her husband and I, while I was left next to the boy. My face flushed when I realized he was staring at me. I looked back at him, unable to look away from his handsome face. 

His dark brown hair was swept carelessly back. His eyes represented a small pair of stars; His pupil was surrounded by the blue flames, and the area reaching to the white was glittered with flecks of green. He was wearing all-black clothes, and it contrasted well with him. I sighed internally. Esmeralda! Control those hormones! I made myself look away, to the displeasure of my inner woman. 

I looked away to see my father staring at me. Then to the boy. His eyebrow was raised as he looked back to me. 

"Esmeralda," my mother said, her voice quiet. I hastily turned my attention to her. "This man is Dante. He saved Cami's life."