Chapter 3 Accused

Camilla POV

"This wasn't done by me."

The phrases shot from my lips ere I halted them. My fingers trembled, and my tone seemed extra noisy in the hushed space. Lucien stayed on his knees, embracing Elin near his chest, and his gaze burned into me like blazes.

"Your scent," he stated, his tone hushed and risky. "It's smeared across her. And across this space. I can detect it crystal clearly."

"I never entered this space," I stated, stepping ahead. "I pledge it."

Senna seized my arm. "Kira, what's he saying? What scent?"

I yanked from her grasp. I couldn't detail what he meant sans giving myself up. I couldn't speak that I was a wolf. That I could morph to be rapid plus lethal. That my aroma felt risky plus ancient plus hexed.

Lucien rose, yet embracing Elin. The wee girl cried soft near his neck, her tiny hand holding his shirt. He glared at me using such hate in his view that it felt like a blow.

"Keepers," he shouted. His tone boomed via the packhouse, and within moments, two huge wolves showed within the doorway. They stayed semi-shifted, their forms vast plus savage. "Escort her to the holding space. Don't let her flee."

"Nay," I stated, stepping back. "You're committing a blunder. I didn't wound this kid. I'd never-"

Yet, the watchmen shuffled right at my face. One fellow seized my arm so tight, and fierce spikes burned into where he grabbed. I could have fought them off. With such force from the hex, I could shred them all easy. If I did that act, I would spill all my secrets. I would show them just who I was now.

Then my payback would end fast.

So I let them pull me off.

They took me down deep under, to a room made of stone plus one barred window way up high near the roof. The door banged shut behind me, and loud locks clicked hard in place. I was stuck down there.

I plopped down on that cold floor and dropped my face into my hands.

This felt off. This felt so very wrong. I didn't harm Elin yet. I learned she lived today. But Lucien didn't know it. He saw some guy who smelled off, and he pinned it all on me.

The sad joke stung hard on me. He had blamed me for faking stuff before. Five years gone, the group said I was cursed, and he ate it up so fast. He watched me burn alive without lifting one finger. So now, here I sat, jailed once more for his rush to judge.

That hot rage rushed back hard, sharper than before now.

But under that hate was more grief. Worse than I can speak. Doubt came up strong.

Because Elin felt hurt bad, and it wasn't some dream. If I wasn't at fault, then who did it? More so, why hurt such a nice small kid?

I was stuck for hours in that chill place, moving like a trapped beast. The sun slid over the small glass, and shades hopped on the walls. Nobody came to check on me. Nobody gave me grub or water. It felt like they erased me from their minds.

Then, when the light turned to gold, steps echoed near.

The door swung open, and Lucien entered. He seemed weary, like no sleep had come. His hair was wild, and his eyes had dark rings. He clutched something odd-a scrap that stank like Elin's blood.

"Where'd you grab this thing?" he asked, skipping hello or saying why he came.

I stood up, puzzled. "Huh?"

He held up the scrap. "This was there at the spot. It's cut from stuff I've not spied before. The group fears it's bad. They want you torched for it."

The group. Of course. They wished me gone. They saw what I was, and they hoped to use me to show the pack magic was real. That beasts walked with them.

"I don't know this thing," I spoke, which was real.

Lucien moved near me. He checked my face like trying to slice through my skin to find truth. "Why were you in the room reading 'bout Camilla?"

My heart froze up. "I didn't-"

"Senna said all," he spoke, slicing my words. "You asked 'bout Camilla. You asked 'bout what hit her. You acted like you cared for one you've not met."

"Is that bad?" I asked, my sound shaking. "Is it wrong to mind dark wrongs?"

A funny light danced in his gaze. For a flash, he seemed unsure. Like maybe he was slowly getting my point.

"Elin called you Mama," he mumbled low. "Were you aware of it? When pain hit her, she cried for her Mama."

The ache in those words stung hard. "I never hurt her in any way."

"I know," Lucien sighed, his voice so blue it hurt my ears. "I get that. I can sense that. You feel safe somehow, but I can't sell it to the group. They want a fight. They wish to say dark powers got to our group."

He then faced away to move out.

"Hold up," I shouted fast. "What will they do with me?"

Lucien paused near the doorframe. He didn't spin back to face me. "The group gathers soon, at midday. They'll judge you there. If you're found wrong, they'll kill you off."

He left me, and the door clicked shut tight.

I stood all alone in that bare space, as truth hit me like strong sea waves. History felt keen to come again. Like some years back, I stood accused for deeds undone. Like some years back, the group wished my end soon. Like some years back, Lucien would just see it and do zip.

Save this round, I might face real death.

The spell that woke me won't work twice. One death already felt too huge. If the group roasts me a second time, I won't come back here. Only dust and sad thoughts would stay on back.

My thoughts raced as I walked around, then I sensed a thing. A faint sound barely there. It came from the wall right near me.

I spun and found space between rocks. A glow shone in that space. The soft light seemed to beat like a heart.

I stepped up and shoved the rocks away.

A sign was etched in stone behind. An old sign I knew at once. It was a prophecy's sign, the same one burned on my skin when I came to be. When they said I was dangerous.

Below it were words I knew well. My mom's writing, clear as day.

It said: "If you read this, you're still here. Flee now. They won't quit chasing you."

I went to feel the words, and when I did, the stone shone brighter now. Light flew across the wall fast, the whole room filled with gold fire that didn't hurt.

A hidden room showed up in stone.

Inside stood someone I thought gone, watching me, tears in her eyes.

Lucien's mom was right there.