Lienna.
For the next few days, the camp settled into a relentless routine. Day in, day out, casualties poured in, and we worked tirelessly to treat and care for them. Despite our best efforts, some soldiers slipped away, but most, thanks to the healings, recovered and even returned to the battlegrounds.
My role in the infirmary grew more defined. I focused on healing wounds inflicted by Veronica’s dark magic, significantly reducing the number of soldiers in the tents. With each success, my control over the moon goddess’s powers sharpened.
Hermes, however still kept his eye on me, watching me like a hawk, constantly monitoring my every move, ensuring I didn’t overexert myself. Whenever the power’s aftermath hit, he was always there to help me out.
The camp seemed under control, but my mind wandered to Caspian and Adonis, still fighting on the front lines. Every night, before sleep claimed me, anxiety gripped my heart. Were they safe? Hope they hadn’t gotten injured?
When the thoughts became too distressing, I’d whisper a desperate prayer to the moon goddess, seeking solace in the fact that she was looking over on us and wouldn’t let us fail. Focus on what I can control, I’d remind myself. The mantra became my lifeline, keeping distressing thoughts at bay.
As the days blurred together, my dreams began to reflect my fears. Dark visions of Caspian and Adonis, battered and broken, haunted me. I’d wake with a start, my heart racing, and Hermes’s reassuring presence being the only calm in the storm.
One day, the uncertainty became unbearable. I couldn’t shake off the darkness surrounding Caspian and Adonis. As Hermes lay beside me in the tent, his hands wrapped around my waist, I broke the silence.
“Hermes, how are Adonis and Caspian?” I asked, holding my breath.
Hermes stiffened, his body tensing, but he didn’t pull away. “Fine,” he muttered, his voice curt.
I turned to face him, my brow raised in question. The dim light of the tent couldn’t hide the evasiveness in his eyes.
“Just fine?” I pressed, my voice laced with skepticism.
Hermes nodded, his jaw clenched. “They’re fine. You have nothing to worry about concerning them.”
“Okay…” I trailed off, unsure what to say next.
The silence between us grew thick, until I asked, “What about the battle? How has it been lately?”
Hermes’s response came slowly. “It’s fine too. Both sides are still at loggerheads, but it’s only a matter of time before we have the upper hand.”
His words lacked conviction, and my doubts deepened.
“I don’t think you’re telling me the truth,” I whispered, searching his gaze in the darkness.
His lips pursed in displeasure, and I sensed a faint unease emanating from him.
“Why is that?” he asked, his tone measured.
“I don’t know… it just feels like you’re missing something out. What’s really happening, Hermes? I need to know. Being in the dark is killing me.”
Hermes pulled his hands away, rising to sit. “I’m not hiding anything, Lienna. You’re reading too much into this. You should be asleep by now.”
I sat up, urgency etching my voice. “Hermes! Just tell me the truth. What’s really happening?”
His eyes flashed, a warning sign, but I pressed on.
“Is Caspian hurt? Is Adonis…?” My voice trembled.
Hermes’s expression softened, but his words remained firm. “Lienna, trust me. They’re fine. Focus on yourself.” He stated, his tone meant to be final but I couldn’t let it die like that.
“If it’s not that, what is it?” I pressed, my voice firm but laced with concern. “Don’t tell me it’s nothing, because for the past few days, you’ve been acting strangely too. You’ve doubled the soldiers keeping watch over me, and most of the time, you even tag along.”
I took a deep breath, letting the words sink in. “This has gone beyond regular overprotectiveness, and I need to know what’s happening, really. What is it? Is it directly involving me?”
Hermes’s expression darkened, his jaw clenched. “If you want to know that badly, then yes. It is directly involving you!” he finally snapped, his words gently spoken but intense.
I flinched at the ferocity in his eyes, but he continued, his tone unwavering.
“On the battleground, our forces are equally matched with Oberon, but Veronica’s presence has become problematic. She’s… evolving.” His gaze drifted, as if searching for the right words.
“It looks like the more shifters she kills, the stronger she gets.” His voice dropped, laced with concern. “That’s bad news. And it’s not all.”
My heart sank to the bottom of my stomach and I wondered if I wanted to know all of it.
“We recently learned that Veronica knows you’re here,” Hermes revealed, his words measured. “Rumors have it that she’s on her way to attack. We’re doing everything we can to ensure it doesn’t happen.”
The air seemed to thicken, heavy with unspoken threats.
“That’s what’s been going on as of late,” Hermes concluded, his eyes searching mine. “There, you have it. Are you satisfied?”
I felt like I’d been punched in the gut. Veronica, that crayon woman knew where I was and she was coming for me. I swallowed, feeling cold sweat break out of my skin.
“No,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “I’m not satisfied. What are we going to do?” I asked, hating the way my voice trembled.
Hermes’s expression turned resolute. “I don’t know. All I know is I need to prevent that from happening and protect you. At all costs.”
His words filled me with a fragile hope, but it wasn’t enough to dispel the dread creeping in. If there was anything I knew about Veronica with the short time I had known her, is that she would stop at nothing to get what she believes is hers. So if she was on her way, I’d best believe she was showing up sooner rather than later.
“Lienna?” Hermes called, breaking the spell.
I blinked, realizing I’d been lost in thought.
“Were you listening to me at all?” he asked, concern etched on his face. I shook my head, feeling a pang of guilt.
“I said we will protect you,” he repeated, his voice gentle. “I won’t let any harm come to you.”
A tiny smile escaped my lips, but fear and uncertainty still gripped my heart.
Hermes’s gaze softened as he let out a sigh. “Sorry if I was a little hard on you. I didn’t intend to.”
“I know,” I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. “Thank you for telling me. It would have been way worse if I’d found out the wrong way. At least, I’ll be more careful now.”
Hermes nodded, his expression thoughtful. “Perhaps that might be true.”
I nodded, staring at my fingers, my mind racing.
Hermes coaxed me back to bed, wrapping his arms around me. But sleep eluded me, my mind racing with the news I just heart.
As the days dragged on, I grew more paranoid, constantly looking over my shoulders and trying to check if was nearby. This caused me to be greatly distracted in the infirmary and I kept making more mistakes than necessary.
“Miss, are you alright?” a soldier asked, concern etched on his face, as I placed my hands over the wounds I was supposed to heal.
I looked at him, dazed, gathering myself slowly.
“Oh… I’m sorry,” I muttered, flushing guiltily.
“Perhaps you should take a break,” a healer suggested, eyeing me with concern. “You’ve been distracted all day.”
I forced a smile, glancing at the soldier once more.
“Right after I heal this one,” I whispered, refocusing on the task.
Once the blackened wounds disappeared, I excused myself, craving fresh air. The soldiers Hermes had assigned followed closely, their vigilant presence both a comfort and bother.
I stopped at a tree trunk, gazing ahead as sunlight filtered through the forest canopy, filling my lungs with the earthy scent. Serenity teased me, but unease lingered.
Then, movement caught my attention.
I stiffened, scanning the surroundings. The soldiers tensed, their eyes scanning the trees.
We searched, but nothing seemed out of place.
My breath escaped in a shudder. “Let’s head back to camp,” I suggested, unease crawling up my spine.
As I turned, an arrow came out of nowhere, hurtling toward me.
What the!?