➳ Camille

Standing above us was a beefy guard wearing thick armor. We jerked upward and attempted to run, but we quickly found that we were surrounded by, not just one, but an entire group of men. The guards lunged for our hands and, once they held them in their iron grip, pinned them behind our backs.

I gasped in pain. Anemone's cry mirrored behind me.

Promptly, I wrested one of my hands out of their grip and unsheathed my sword. I slashed the hand off of my attacker. The contact sent a thrum through my already aching arm.

I stabbed the guards that got in my way, relying on the sword to do what it did best as I ran to quickly free Anemone.

By the time Anemone was free, all the guards were either dead or unconscious.

"Hurry! They now know we are here so we have to be more hasty. Come on!" Anemone rushed toward the tower's side door and used her dad's spare key to unlock the door. We slipped inside quietly and looked around to find silent guards stationed within five feet of each other. The room was light brightly, meaning there were no shadows to hide in. The hallway was thin and there was nowhere to run. We couldn't defeat all of them. We were greatly outnumbered.

"Hide," I whisper-hissed, pulling Anemone into a nearby door. I figured it would be safer than hiding out in the open. I hoped the door wouldn't lead to more guards.

I scanned the room quickly. One lone guard protected the tall, empty room. Before he could open his mouth, Anemone's arrow pierced through his head. He was dead before he hit the ground.

"What is this room?" I asked.

"It's a floating stair room," Anemone said. "Only power elves can hover and fly. It's the perfect way to make sure intruders don't get past the first floor. And anyone who isn't in the council can't get to the very top floor, where the council members do most of their work."

"Then how can we get up there?"

"I'm not sure... I can float for some time, but I'm not sure if I could get all the way to the army room. William and Father are most likely there."

While Anemone spoke, I noticed tiny ledges that poked out from the stones. We had practiced rock climbing since we were going to be climbing up a mountain, but I hadn't thought I would be using my skills here. A sigh of exhaustion slipped from me.

"I'll climb. You float for as long as you can. If you see the floor the army room is on, tell me and we'll stop there."

Anemone nodded and began to levitate herself slowly upward. Her eyes were closed, and her fists were balled up.

I began the climb, one foot balancing on the edge of the ledges, the other one reaching for the next. My fingers gripped the wall, digging into the grainy surface. I fought back a gasp of fear when, at one point, my foot slipped and I was left dangling for a second. I wasn't confident enough to risk a glance down after that.

"This is it," Anemone whispered. "This is the floor."

I peaked to make sure no one was around before heaving myself out of the shaft. Anemone floated in and landed softly beside me. She panted endlessly as we both took a look around.

The floor started with a large meeting room that led to an open hallway lined with doors.

After taking a short break, we walked past the meeting room to find that each door had a name on it. We crouched down and searched for a possible door with the names we were looking for.

"We'll try to find William's room first since my father is higher ranked and will likely be much further down the hall," Anemone whispered as we looked around.

We searched the whole hall, but not one door had William's name on it. At this point I was ready to give up and leave, but Anemone pressed on.

"It's possible they had code names for every member but... what would William's be?"

Out of the blue, a bell rang and people rushed out of their rooms. In a state of blind panic that was sweeping over us, we quickly opened the nearest door and rushed in, hoping the room was empty. I hurtled in head-first. My tan skin grew pale with terror as I hit someone as I barreled in.

"Hello?"

I looked up to find an elf with deep red hair, pale skin, and emerald green eyes. "William!" I gasped.

William looked surprised. "Camille! Anemone! What are you doing here?" He ran a hand through his scarlet hair.

"We are here to rescue you," Anemone said. "Where is father? We have to save him too."

"He'll be at dinner," William said, his face flickering to worry. "And... I'm not sure this is a good idea."

"Why not? We are saving you! Don't tell me you want to stay!" Anemone exclaimed.

William ran a hand through his hair. "I don't want to, but father... he might want to stay."

Anemone's eyes widened and tears pricked her eyes. "No! He has to come with us. He can't die!" Anemone began sobbing.

I wrung my hands together. "Anemone, calm down." Her sobs would alert everyone in the hallway that something was going on. We couldn't afford to get this far only to be caught thanks to Anemone's sobs.

William glanced at his sister, eyes softening. "Father won't die. He will be safe."

Anemone dropped her bow and arrow. "No! He'll most definitely die. We foresaw it!"

"What?" William's face turned to panic and he looked to me for an explanation. "Camille..."

I sighed and my shoulders sagged. "It's true. Your father's fate is to die in battle. We are trying to save you both from that fate."

"I'll go," William said. "I'll get father and we'll escape. We'll leave this doomed place."

Anemone's sobs cut off and silent tears replaced them. She looked up at her brother. "Please hurry."

William hugged his little sister. "Don't worry, Anemone." He brushed her hair. "We'll all be just fine."

Anemone smiled, her tears drying. "If you say so."

"I'll be back," William said. "Stay quiet." He left the room.

I listened to his soft footsteps until I couldn't hear them anymore.

I looked around the room, taking it in for the first time. It was very small. It only had room for a bed, a drawer, a clock, and a lamp. It was windowless and a little gloomy. The bedsheets were boring grey and the wallpaper was a bleached blue.

Anemone and I waited for many moments before the door opened again. William and his dad walked in almost silently.

"Anemone? And her friend?" he asked, looking between us.

"Father, they are here to help us escape," William explained. He looked a bit worried and stressed. His dad's face showed confusion... then abrupt anger.

"WHAT? Why would I need to escape?" he snapped. "We are men fighting for our country! This is my job, my honor, my legacy, my life!"

"You're going to die!" Anemone exclaimed suddenly. "Please escape with us!"

"Oh, dear daughter," the dad said softly, his face suddenly melting. "If that's what you're worried about, then worry no more. I'm the highest ranked in the army. I'll be fine."

"You must know that you're going to die," I said. I had to explain this quickly; his shouts were drawing attention. "It was predicted. Both Anemone and I saw it."

Their dad began to chuckle. "How silly! Okay, okay. I've had enough of these games." His voice turned serious. "Time to go home."

"No!" Anemone shouted. "No! No! No! Father, no! You have to come with us! You can't die." Her voice broke. "Please..."

"Sir, please listen to us-"

"No!" He waved his hands down. "I will not have it." His voice was serious and annoyed. "You can leave now, or I'll call the guards."

Anemone sobs resumed.

"Father, please," William pleaded. "Just leave them leave in peace-"

"I am! However, I will not hesitate to call the guards."

"We aren't leaving until you come with us!" Anemone sobbed.

William's dad thrust open the door. "Guards! Two intruders!"

A heartbeat later, a trio of guards rushed in. They grabbed Anemone and I by the arms. My heart plummeted. I tried to break free but I was being held down by three guards. I was scared. Life in Cerevaux was plain and predictable. This was making my heart jump and fall all at the same time.

"What are you going to do?" I asked, tears burning my eyes.

"You," William's dad said, "will join our army. You are sixteen, correct?"

I clutched my chest. I wanted to scream in fear. I couldn't join the army. Somehow, I managed to mumble a quick yes.

"Wonderful. Cerevaux will be our first ally. Along with Skye. Maybe even Fluu Glurg..." William's dad smiled. "Take her to her training room. And please take my daughter home to her mother."

Anemone's face was wet with fat, drops of tears, snot covered her nose and cheeks. Her face was twisted with pain. "No!" she sobbed over and over. "No!"

I watched with hot tears brimming my eyes as she was taken away. I was dragged out of the room and thrown into another, identical room farther away.

Once the guards were gone, I climbed into my bed and began to cry.