Praetorian Rising, стр. 63
"Big surprise, Vesyon Vestra to the rescue," Metus bit out sharply. His eyes, which had been pleasant and almost shockingly radiant in color, turned black and menacing in less than a second.
"You're a Praetorian," Camille said in a slight state of shock.
"Keen observation," Metus snapped back. "Obviously your protector doesn't watch over you all that well."
"He doesn't keep me imprisoned to experiment on either," Camille snorted, her anger capped at a manageable level now that Vesyon was within yelling distance. It was startling to experience the immediate calm Vesyon's presence had on her, like a balm to her scattered nerves.
Despite her reaction to Metus's closeness and her desperation to get away, she wanted to know why he'd gone to such lengths to separate from the rest of her group.
"He treats you like a sheltered dog, keeping information from you that you rightly deserve to know. I never kept anything from you, Camille," Metus said venomously. "I'm certain Vesyon knew where to find you in the seven years we shared together—so why'd it take so long to show up?"
Camille paused, unsure of what to say. She still had no idea why she'd been sent to live with Peter, nor what Vesyon had been doing in the time beforehand. The memories she'd recovered were few and far between, mere snippets, and she couldn't be sure of their authenticity.
"Do you even know what happened to your mother, or why your memories were removed?" He snapped, waiting for a response from her, but when nothing surfaced, he smiled at her. "Your blank expression tells me no." Metus glanced from Camille's face to the dwindling group of Chimera keeping Vesyon, Theo, and Charlie just out of reach. "Looks like our reunion is about to be cut short, but do yourself a favor, little dove, and ask questions. They're keeping information from you. Despite what they say about me or your past, it's detrimental to you to be kept in the dark. You deserve to know the truth, no matter the cost."
"Not that it's any of your concern, but Vesyon's told me everything I need to know."
Metus shook his head, grimacing with what appeared to be pity. "You sure about that?"
She narrowed her eyes. "You're a liar," she said, her voice finding more strength as she glared at his twisted smirk. "You're the last person I'd trust in the whole damn kingdom."
"Then you're a fool, Camille. Vesyon can't protect you—not from what's going to happen to Aspera. The High King has plans for you; I suggest you prepare for what's to come."
"I don't care about what the High King has planned, and I sure as shiat don't need your advice."
A soft chuckle erupted from between Metus's lips as he shook his head. "Naiveté is not so attractive on you, little dove. I highly suggest you leave this pathetic village before it's too late; there'll be a fleet of Equestrians here in two hours. They don't plan on leaving survivors."
"A fleet?" Camille asked with a growing sense of panic as a swarming image of the men that attacked her slipped into her mind. She batted it away with disgust, hoping that she would be strong enough when the time came to fight off not just two soldiers, but an entire fleet of the High King's Equestrians.
"Heed my warning: the High King isn't a tolerant man. You have two hours to leave." His eyes quickly changed back to their crisp, vibrant green before he bowed his head and turned to walk away.
"So you can capture me as soon as I'm away from Vesyon? Not happening!" Camille shouted as Metus sauntered into the veil of darkness.
He stopped abruptly, barely visible among the bare trees. "I didn't come here to collect you, little dove. Didn't Vesyon tell you?" He chuckled again, and the humorless tone left a spread of gooseflesh across her arms and legs. "There are more pressing matters at hand. Besides, when the High King demands your presence, there'll be no avoiding it. You can't outrun his rule, though you're welcome to try." He turned without another word and slipped into the shadows, disappearing. The Chimera appeared to follow, edging away from the battlefield as though marching in line to his silent command. Camille was in too much shock to process his retreat or his words and stood frozen until the clearing roared with the sound of rain battering the ground with unrelenting force.
"Camille!" Vesyon yelled again, this time his voice just behind her right shoulder.
She spun, squinting against the sleet as it pounded against her naked cheeks. "I'm here," she uttered softly, before the adrenaline that'd been holding her up dissipated.
Camille sank to her knees on the icy ground as memories swarmed her vision: warm blood soaking through her clothes, running down her arms and splashing against her face. It knocked the raging energy entirely out of her. She couldn't shake them and was hard-pressed to even want to process any of it. Closing her eyes only made it worse. She saw a woman ducking down in fear as Camille's sword curved toward her collarbone. Children cried and begged Camille not to hurt their mothers, their sisters, their brothers—but they were all eventually silenced by the sharp edge of her blade.
"H-how could I," Camille gagged, clutching her head and keeling over into the mud.
It was Charlie Town; she was seeing the massacre and destruction dealt out by her own hands. The memories rammed into her, one gory second after the next pounding into her skull like a battering ram.
"Camille, look at me!" Vesyon called over the howl. "What happened?! Tell me!"
The shaking began from deep within her chest before radiating outwards through her limbs. She felt powerless to stop it, and fright choked her into silence. The intensity of her Praecollection pressed against her eyes and