Chapter 14 #2
But when my legs can’t carry my weight anymore, I fall to the ground. To my surprise, I don’t feel the wooden floor beneath me, but instead the soft cushion of a chair.
I’m too hot, my skin damp. I put my head between my knees and close my eyes, in the hopes of reducing the waves of dizziness that come every few seconds.
Breathe in, breathe out.
In. Out.
Seconds pass, the comforting crackling of the fire eventually sounds in my ear, my own breathing too loud, but not as fast as it was seconds ago. Dizziness slowly fades, until there’s just a slight feeling of lightheadedness.
I manage to open my eyes and move slowly until I’m seated upright. Aramis crouches in front of me, a worried expression on his handsome face. He’s so close I can discern the dark shades of green in his eyes.
“Are you okay?” he asks, his voice soft-spoken.
I only manage to nod. Aramis looks over his shoulder at Althea, they don’t say a word, but eventually she inclines her head and Aramis looks back at me.
“You were exhausted when you arrived here. Not only your body, but your mind as well.” My mind is still an emotional mess, burdened with things I cannot face yet.
The thought alone, about…her. Ami. I push them aside, that little burst of emotion before was more than enough.
“You needed rest, honestly you still do. The normal sleep you go into every night wouldn't have been enough. Not after everything you have been through,” I can’t help but cringe at his words, of course they know everything that happened, they are after all here to punish me.
To sentence me for something I didn’t do.
“To aid you, Althea decided it was best we gave you a tonic to keep you from waking in distress.”
I look up at Althea, a serene expression resting on her face. “It really was for the best, Maily. I understand this all might be confusing, but we care about your wellbeing.”
For now.
Until I trust them and they will punish me either way. Deciding I’ve had enough of sitting down and looking weak, I slowly rise. Aramis reaches out a hand, but even before our skin meets, I stiffen. I can’t help it. Whenever a man touches me, pain follows.
I’m not sure if he picks up my reaction, but his hand drops and my shoulders relax once again. I try to filter their words, but they don’t make any sense to me.
“I don’t remember that, or anything else for that matter.
I arrived here, about to receive my sentence, only to be put to bed and wake up three days later?
” I pull at my hair, trying to wrap my head around it.
Maybe I should shut up, but there is no stopping the word flow.
“For a prison, you treat your inmates very well, and I honestly don’t know if I deserve it.
I understand why you put me in a coma. I’m a danger, right?
Or at least, that is what they told you, but —”
“Oh dear, let me stop you right there,” Althea says, a confused expression making her brows rise. “I do not know what you heard or have been told, but this is not a prison. We will not punish you or anyone else. We are an Academy, you are here to learn and study.”
Wait. What? An Academy?
“Well,” Aramis says, dragging out the word.
“I know you wouldn’t believe this coming from me, but I got in trouble once for…
” Althea clears her throat. He scratches the back of his head, innocence written all over his face.
“That might be a story for another time.” He gives me another wink, making my temperature rise, and I’m sure he’s fully aware of that too.
“Let’s just say I had to do some chores around here to do penance for my actions.
Nothing bad really. Shovelling snow, helping the chefs prepare meals, things like that. ”
Oh. Those are chores that were a daily task at Anima. But the way Aramis says it, gives me the impression it rarely happens here.
“Please Maily, don’t take an example of this young male. He’s a lot of trouble.”
“Oh, you know you love me.”
Althea’s mouth forms a firm line, ignoring the comment and focusing back on me. “Here at Moonveil, you are a student, just like anyone else. You will follow the lessons you like or inspire you, learn about nature and so on.”
“Moonveil… Is that the name of the school?”
“Yes. The full name being Moonveil Academy of Mankind. Aramis will give you a little tour of the establishment, but it might be a good idea to eat something first.”
As if on cue, my stomach rumbles loudly. I put a hand on it, hoping to silence it. “Oh, excuse me.”
“No need to apologise, dear. It’s a normal physical reaction of your body." She waves towards the door that I now know leads to the bathroom. “Why don’t you freshen up and get dressed? We will wait for you in the hallway.”
I search for the uniform I arrived in, or anything else I can temporarily put on, but come up bare. I was about to ask when Aramis says, “That over there is a built-in closet, I’m sure you will find something that fits you and is to your liking.”
Althea calls his name in the hallway and Aramis disappears through the door, closing it behind him.
So, that was…unexpected. I’m not sure if I should trust them, although I don’t have any reason not to.
But why would Dom lie about something like that?
He would definitely send me to a penal camp in a heartbeat.
And the gossip I’ve heard about this place?
You shouldn’t always believe what others say, but I’ve heard it multiple times before.
My stomach rumbles again, a loud reminder that I should be getting ready. I walk towards the bathroom, before turning back around to head over to the closet.
I slide open the closet and my jaw drops to the floor. Again. I’m used to wearing a uniform all day, every day. There wasn’t anything modest about it. But the clothes that lay out in front of me? Well, that is a whole new world opening up.
I run my fingers through the soft fabric of sweaters, the elegant trousers neatly hung up and a cupboard full of socks, underwear and bras.
A little overwhelmed, I grab the first thing that catches my eye; a navy-blue sweater and some brown wide trousers. Not my usual attire, but as far as I can see, nothing in that closet is.
I grab some underwear and a pair of shoes, not sure if they are even my size. Only one way to find out. I walk into the bathroom and turn on the water.
And while the warm water runs down my face, there is one question I can’t seem to shake off; if I won’t receive my sentence, why am I here?