The Fourth Ceremony: The Sacrifice Trilogy (19 page)

              Alessa sighed and leaned her head against Camden's shoulder. Camden put his arm around her and joined her in looking out over the Sacred Ocean.

              "I don't want it to take things away from me either," she said softly, "but it also seems like it's not really worth fighting it when I just don't have that much time."

              "Maybe not alone, but it could be worth fighting it if you had someone to fight with. Someone to help you enjoy it."

              "Oh?" She asked, turning to look at him in the eyes, "And who do you propose that might be?"

              Camden's only answer came in the form of his lips on hers once more.

              Weeks later, at the adamant behest of Camden, Alessa stood on the beach of the Sacred Ocean in the view of her favorite cliff. Her swimsuit felt restrictive and the hot sun beat down on her as if it were punishing her. She stood, still as a statue, staring out over the water.

              "It's alright, Alessa. You can do this. One moment of fear doesn't define you." Camden stood beside her. He didn't touch her, only watched with curious eyes as she moved at her own pace.

              Alessa took a moment to look away from the Ocean at Camden. His hair was tossed by the breeze and his bare chest was tanned and strong. She took a moment to appreciate how wonderfully beautiful he was. Even if this went awfully wrong, she couldn't say that it would be a complete waste of time after seeing Camden half naked.

              "Like what you see?" Camden quirked an eyebrow at her as he took a step closer and pulled her into his arms. "Because I know I do," he said as he placed a light kiss on the side of her neck.

              Alessa sighed and leaned into his embrace, but he pulled away and grabbed her hand.

              "Come on, don't think about it, just go!" He stepped into the edges of the water, pulling her along, but gently enough that she could pull back if she wanted to stop.

              Alessa took a deep, stabilizing breath and allowed herself to be pulled into the tepid water. She felt her heart rate rise as the water lapped and swirled around her knees, but she continued to follow Camden. He turned to face her, his back to the waves, and took hold of her other hand. With both hands in his and her eyes on his face, Alessa proceeded out into the water.

              Part of her, the part in the back of her mind that wasn't afraid, felt that the water met her like an old friend. Alessa stopped, let go of Camden's hands, and turned her face to the sun. She allowed the waves to rock her back and forth while the sun warmed her clammy skin. For a moment, she felt like she always had within the arms of the Ocean, safe.

              "You are beautiful," Camden said softly. Alessa opened her eyes as she brought her face down to look into his eyes. She smiled softly at him. "Come on, let's go farther."

              "I don't know, Cam, don't you think this is doing pretty good?" Alessa felt alright with the Ocean moving around her waist and she didn't want to push it.

              "You're doing so good, don't you want to see how far you can go? Remember, you chose to push." Camden was right. She decided after her shoulder injury to push and she was rewarded with being almost back to normal within a couple of months.

              "Alright, fine. How far are we going?" She shot Camden a smile and was rewarded with a grin of her own as he grabbed her hand.

              "Let's just find out!" He shouted as he pulled her deeper into the Ocean.

              As the waves began to inch up Alessa's chest, she had to take a moment to calm her racing heart again. She tried to stop, but Camden continued to pull her deeper.

              "Remember, Cam, I'm shorter than you," she said shakily.

              "Yeah, but you can swim, Alessa. The water has no control over you when you have the power to move through it." His words and expression were so serious. Alessa forgot for a moment about her rising anxiety in lieu of perplexity.

              As the water lapped around her neck, she was brought back to herself.

              "Alright, Cam, that's enough. No farther." Alessa put finality into her tone and was rewarded with Camden dropping her hand and stopping.

              "Okay, this is good. You're doing good, Alessa."

              The waves were coming towards them in quick succession and Alessa found that she was being forced to leave her feet in order to stay atop them. The water hitting her neck and face felt like it was pulling her deeper.

              "Cam, I don't think I can stay out here much longer," Alessa tried to mask the fear in her voice, but knew that it came across anyway.

              "Alessa, you're doing amazingly. Ride it out. Play in the water. Remember, you love it."

              Alessa tried to remind herself how she loved the water. She tried to remember the comfort she always felt at being completely enveloped by it and hearing only the most muffled of sounds from the outside world, but as she imagined it, it turned into a tomb in her mind. Her breath quickened.

              "Cam, I can't. That's it. I can't do any more."

              "Hey, you're okay. I'm here and you're safe. You are okay." Camden moved to put his arms loosely around her and look into her eyes.

              Alessa allowed herself to stare into his eyes and to feel his bare chest under her hands. She focused on his corded muscles and the smooth, golden tan along his skin. She concentrated on the feel of his warm skin against hers, but his skin was wet. It was wet and slick because it was covered in the water of the Ocean, the Sacred Ocean, her sacred grave. Alessa couldn't breathe.

              "Cam, please. I can't, please." She allowed the panic in her voice to show through. She wanted him to realize how important it was that she get out of there. She felt her hands begin to tremble and tears sting her eyes.

              Just as he began to pull her into him and move to the shore, a wave rolled upon them that took Camden by surprise. Because his arms were around Alessa, she was not able to move above the wave and was rewarded with the salty water covering her face. In the instant she was under the water, true terror immobilized her. After a moment of paralysis, Alessa began to thrash about and fight for the surface and the shore.

              Alessa felt Camden tighten his grip on her. In her rational mind, she knew that he was pulling her towards the shore, but in her head he was responsible for this and she needed to get away from him. She wanted to get to shore under her own power and leave him far behind.

              Alessa found the ground with her feet, surged up, and pulled herself away from Camden. She ran towards the shore, relief finding her gradually as her body emerged from the water. Once she was clear of the rolling waves of the Ocean, she threw herself onto the sand, curled her knees up under her arms, and rested her face on them. She rocked back and forth slowly on the sand, begging the sun to warm her chilled body.

              "Alessa," Camden was right beside her, but thankfully kept his hands to himself, "Alessa look at me."

              Alessa didn't move. The gentle rocking was slowly bringing her back to herself, but she continued to tremble and tears were streaming down her face. Camden touched her shoulder lightly.

              "Why?!" Alessa shouted, "Why, Cam? Why would you make me come here? Why would you make me do this?"

              Camden looked at her, speechless. His mouth hung slightly open as he started to speak. Alessa didn't want to hear him.

              "Six months, Cam. I am going to
die
in six months," she enjoyed watching him flinch and continued, "I don't need this. I don't need you pushing me to do things I don't want to do. I don't need the Minister forcing me into events that I don't want to attend. And, most of all, I certainly don't need to fall for someone when I'm not going to be around in a few months to do anything about it!"

              Alessa gasped at her admission. Then, embarrassment overtook her fear. She turned her face away from Camden, no longer able to look into his eyes, and watched the waves roll to the shore. For what felt like an eternity they sat in silence. Without a word, Camden pulled Alessa into his arms. She tried to pull away, but her body was weakened by her faded adrenaline and her will was defeated by his closeness. Although she was mortified, his presence still comforted her. He held her tight, his arms never loosening, as silent tears fell down her face.

              After Alessa had finished crying, her face had dried, and her skin had warmed, she shifted and sighed deeply.

              "So do you forgive me?" Camden's voice was quiet and he didn't look her way.

              "Forgive you for what?" Alessa turned to face him, forcing him to look into her eyes.

              "For making you go in the water."

              "Yeah, I forgive you for that one," she said with a sarcastic laugh.

              "Wait, what else is there to forgive me for?" He moved to face her sitting cross legged in the sand.

              "For witnessing my tirade," Alessa shook her head as she turned to face the water again.

              "Oh," Camden's voice was soft and he stayed quiet for a long time, "well that part I definitely don't regret. Falling for someone, huh?" She could hear the smile in his voice without looking at him.

              "You're impossible," she scoffed, still facing the Ocean.

              "But apparently you like it," he said, truly laughing this time. Alessa started to turn her back to him, shame warming her cheeks more than the glaring sun possibly could. Before she could turn completely, Camden grabbed her knees, swung her back around to face him, and took her face in his hands. "I definitely like it."

              Alessa allowed him to pull her face to his. She allowed her lips to part as he kissed her deeply and allowed all of her fear, anxiety, and embarrassment to melt away on the fire of his lips. She slowly lifted her hands to trail along his stomach and chest, reveling in the feel of his strong muscles and adoring the way they contracted under her touch. She heard him inhale sharply and allowed her hands to run over his shoulders and down his bare back. Alessa raised herself up on her knees and sat over him, running her fingertips lightly along his back as she took control of their kiss. Camden's hands left her face, trailed down her arms, and rested in a tight embrace around her waist as they pressed their bodies and lips together.

              As the fire in Aless
a’
s stomach heated her throughout, Camden's arms loosened around her and he pulled back. Alessa sat back on her heels and allowed her hands to fall away from him. Camden ran his hand through his hair and breathed deeply.

              "Let's get you back up to the Manor. Khi will be looking for you soon." Camden stood quickly and offered her a hand to help her stand. Alessa felt slightly dazed. She didn't know if it was from the swim or the kiss.

              Without a word, they pulled on the clothes they had worn over their swimsuits. Camden stopped before ascending the hill to the Manor. He looked at Alessa, seemingly perplexed. Alessa felt uncomfortable under his hard stare. Finally, when she was ready to ask him why he was staring, he stepped close to her, pressed his lips to her forehead, and took her hand in his. With her hand wrapped comfortably in his, Alessa walked back to the Manor.

              "Hey, where have you been?" Khi said, greeting them before they entered the Manor from the courtyard. "Why is your hair wet?" His question was suspicious.

              "Well, umm, we went swimming," Alessa tried to keep her voice light.

              "Oh yeah? How did that go?" Alessa didn't miss the pointed look Khi gave Camden, nor did she miss the slight shake of Camden's head. She wondered what the silent conversation was about.

              "It was fine," was her simple answer. Khi eyed her questioningly, but kept whatever he was thinking to himself. Alessa couldn't help but mourn that the closer she got to Camden, the farther she seemed to get from Khi. It was like they couldn't both exist in the same reality.

              "So are we still doing dinner?" Khi's query was far more suggestive than Alessa liked and she wondered if he was trying to make Camden jealous.

              "Oh, yeah, of course. We always have dinner together on your shifts." Alessa tried to take the innuendo out of Khi's suggestion. At her remark, Camden pulled her into a tight hug. Turning her so that Khi couldn't see, he pressed his lips against her neck. Her pulse quickened and she began to pull away, but Camden kept his hold on her tightly until a few seconds past what was a proper or friendly hug.

              "I'll see you later," Camden said softly as he pulled away from her. She turned so that Khi was behind her and pointedly rolled her eyes at Camden. He laughed loudly and walked away. Alessa turned to Khi and was greeted with his angry eyes following Camden away.

              "Hey," Alessa placed herself in Khi's line of vision, "thirty minutes and I'll be ready, okay?"