Chapter 4 - Camilla
1385 Words
I was drenched. The loose hair from my bun stuck to my forehead and the back of my neck.
It's only been an hour and I was already at my limit.
“You're hesitating,” Percy said with a smirk. “Just swing already, Camilla.”
I exhaled, “You talk too much.”
He laughed, light on his feet as he circled me.
I let him, waiting for the right moment before I shot forward, throwing a quick jab toward his shoulders.
He dodged easily, like I knew he would, and went for my legs with a low sweep.
I jumped back just in time, barely avoiding falling.
“Not bad,” he mused. “But you're still distracted.”
I scoffed. “And you're still cocky.”
“Confidence, sweetheart,” he corrected. “You should try it sometime.”
I ignored him, stepping in fast and aiming an elbow toward his ribs. He caught my wrist, but I was already moving- twisting with the momentum to lock his arm behind his back.
“Say that again?” I muttered, tightening my grip.
Percy groaned, shifting under my hold.
“Alright, alright. You passed your message across.”
I grinned, loosening my grip.
Before I could react, he yanked free and flipped me onto the mat, pinning my shoulders down with just enough pressure to prove his point.
His grin was downright smug.
“Lesson one,” he said. “Don’t get cocky.”
I didn't hesitate. My knee shot up between us, forcing him off balance.
He cursed under his breath and in a second, I was the one on top, my forearm pressing lightly against his throat.
His low ponytail came loose, sprawling out on the mat.
“Lesson two,” I panted. “Don’t underestimate me.”
Percy let out a breathless laugh, tapping the mat in surrender.
“Alright. You win this round.”
I smirked, releasing him and standing. “I thought as much.”
Just then, the double doors pushed open and in came a running, brightly coloured red hair.
My eyes widened in shock as I turned back to Percy, to be sure he was seeing what I was seeing.
The bemused look on his face confirmed he was.
“What the f**k did you do to your hair?”
Jonathan paused mid-race, touching his scalp like he was noticing it for the first time.
“Oh, this? I was trying something different. I'd be 16 in a few weeks, so I asked myself why not an early present,” he answered with a goofy smile, strolling toward us.
I could feel Percy’s anger as I tried to hide my amusement.
Such a shame. His brown curls will be missed.
“What did I say about not touching your hair till you're 18 and legally an adult?”
“But that’s like two years from now. That’s a long time and I’ll probably not be alive by then, so why not do the things I want now?”
“Don’t say things like that,” I cautioned.
He looked away from me, shuffling his feet nervously.
“I’m sorry.”
Percy reached over, smacking him on the head.
“It’s fine,” I continued. “Just be careful what you say, yh?”
“Okay,” he replied with a grin.
I smiled at him.
“What are you here for?” I asked.
“Yh, right. Théo asked me to gather everyone in the big hall. He has an important announcement to make. And Percy- he wants to talk to you first.”
Percy nodded. “Okay, we're right behind you.”
I turned to Percy and pointed to my water bottle, which he threw my way.
“Okay, see you then.” Jonathan replied, turning on his feet and running back out the door.
“Kids,” Percy chuckled. “I can still remember when he was an angst 12-year-old.”
“And I can still remember vividly when you were an annoying, stuck-up 19-year-old,” I retorted.
He widened his eyes, holding both hands to his chest.
“What do you have against me and my flawless beauté?”
I rolled my eyes at him. “More like flawless ego.”
Ignoring his gasps, I turned toward the door, hiding my smile.
Forty-five minutes later, we all gathered in the hall buried eight feet underground. About two hundred of us stood with our legs apart, hands clasped behind our backs.
The silence was heavy, save for the slow drip of water somewhere down the corridor.
It was dim. Three headlights lit up the space- two pointing down at us and one at the elevated stage.
My eyes scanned the stage. Théo stood at the centre with Céline and Percy at each side of him.
Percy had paired his cargo pants with a muscle tank.
I rolled my eyes. He does love to show off.
My eyes caught his, and he sent me a wink- his face, a blank canvas, not showing a stray of the mischievousness playing in his eyes.
Ignoring him, I focused my attention on Théo as he stepped forward,
“Ma famille, mon clan,” he began, “I'll start by thanking the new people who joined this noble association. It's not easy to make the decision to sacrifice the rest of your time, your comfort and your life, for a purpose.
So thank you. Thank you for choosing to serve this country and the people in it.”
I watched as the new recruits knelt in a straight line.
Théo rubbed ashes on each of their forehead, then patted their backs before sending them off.
When they returned to their ranks, he straightened.
“Now the real reason we're here.
Tonight's mission is important but before I dive into its details, I want to remind you of the very reason this organisation exists; To teardown the wrong kind of power.
To erase it and to bring peace and safety to the people of this country.”
“A man clad in the finest armour will hesitate in the dark.
Because it's not the weapon that gives courage, but the ability to see what you're fighting.
The same man when given a pocket knife in broad daylight, will fight without hesitation.
That is the reason we operate in silence. The very reason our existence is whispered in fear.”
He paused, scanning the faces of each of us.
“Tonight, as we stand, we carry on that name.
We show that power belongs to those willing to seize it, to those who dare to act when others hesitate.”
“Loyalty is our bond. And we thrive on the strength of our force.”
“Our enemies are watching. Waiting for a weakness. We will show them none.”
“We are not just protectors. We are builders. We forge connections, gain influence- and above all, we keep our word.”
I know the risks. I know the weight of this responsibility. But I also know the strength of everyone standing in this room and that- ”
Just then, I heard a sigh upfront, and for a second, thought I had imagined it.
The entire hall fell silent.
All eyes turned to source, Jonathan.
His shoulders stiffened and he froze in place.
Theo fixed him with a hard stare.
He ducked his head and quietly dragged himself to the back.
I bit my lip to stop the laugh building up in my chest
Someone else coughed to hide their amusement.
Théo exhaled sharply before continuing,
“We are here tonight for more than just another job.
This isn't about a transaction. It's a partnership. Mr Russo's reach matters, and tonight we protect more than just a man- we protect our reach, our reputation.”
“We don't just follow orders, we build connections.”
“We're in this together. So stay sharp. Do what we do best. And remember, tonight is more than just a job. It's an investment in our future.”
The trio clasped their hands behind their backs and stomped their feet on the ground in perfect sync.
“Pour la famille, pour l'honneur!”
We followed in unison, echoing,
“Pour la famille, pour l'honneur!”
- Writer
