CAMILA
I hesitated. I stood at the entrance of the torture room and just couldn't grab the handle to go down there. It's the torture room. The room where this family put many people inside there to torture them in order to get the information they want from them. Erica had told me not to down there. She doesn't want me to see the cruelty of things they had to do in order to sustain this family.
I promised Erica that I will never go down there, but now I can't sit still knowing Erica is down there. I breathe in the air and open the door. The smell of blood and sweat hits my nose instantly I wanted to vomit. I pinched my nose and groaned. I looked down the stairs and I couldn't go down the stairs wearing sneakers they were all frozen up but still I went down slowly. This is just like ice skating right? All I have is to have the right balance on both of my legs. I took ice skating lessons before I can do this.
My body shook harshly at the cold when I made it down the stairs I gasped in surprise. I couldn't believe my eyes weird imagery took form in this room which is sculpted by ice. The floor became no longer a floor. There were grasses on the floor with tiny stone pebbles on the ground. There were trees growing up from the ground with flowers in them. I recognized this kind of trees they were sakura! At the end far-end corner of the room, something caught my eyes. There was a small little house that looks like a shrine. I glide myself to the corner and it is a shrine with a fox inside it.
I stare at everything in amazement at just how strong is Erica. I quickly move over to Erica. Has she been hanged up in chains this whole time? She was wincing the whole time she is asleep. My heartache so much for her I pulled her into my chest for an embrace. My tears came pouring down from my eyes. I can't see her like this.
I just can't her be like this. It is the only thing and best for me to do as her wife. I took the chains up to my hands and tried to pull it apart when I couldn't I saw a surgical knife up on the desk all along with many tortures devices on it and tried to cut it apart even though, I know none of them would work on it. This chain is magic like all the Lumia Family is. It cannot be broken by normal means. Only me and Fay are the outsider of this family who has no magic and I feel completely useless.
I plopped down to the icy floor ignoring the cold atmosphere that is making my skin feel like I am living inside the refrigerator. I want to be able to be of help to Erica. This is why I had given up on university. It was all to be with Erica.
My teardrops were becoming were all become frozen and remained plastered across my face but I didn't care. I took my hand and placed it on Erica's cheeks and with that touch, Erica's eyes started to twitch a little and little by little Erica's eyes started to blink and open itself looking drowsy Erica. "Camila," Erica said unsure her voice filled with raspiness. "What are you doing here?" she asked. "Ugh..." she groaned. "I don't feel so good."
"I'll call Kieran," I said taking my phone out.
"No," Erica quickly objects.
"Why?"
"I am still not myself yet. Tell me, Camila, what is the color of my eyes right now?"
"Purple," I admitted.
"What is happening to you, love?"
Erica smiles sadly and coughed. "May you help me get some water, love? My throat feels very dry."
"Yea.. sure, but please do not try and changed the subject," I said reluctantly.
"Thanks, I will, love," she coughs.
"But you owe my explanation when I come back here."
Erica nods her head. "Please do wear one more jacket when coming here, Camila. I don't you to come here feeling cold."
"I will don't worry." I smile.
I went out of the room and the warm air hits my body immediately making me sneeze because of the sudden change of temperature. I walked past the garden and into the mansion. I walked into the kitchen and took out several mineral drinks of water from the box. I even took some freshly baked brownies that were still hot on the table and put it into the container. Erica must be hungry she hasn't eaten anything in days and went up the stairs to get a jacket and one more extra just in case Erica wants it.
Quickly, I headed back to where Erica is. She was looking at the shrine that I have been wanting to ask her about. I open the lid and fed her some water. "Thanks, love."
"Want some brownies?" I asked and showed her the container. "It's still hot from the oven." She nods and I fed her some of the brownies. I still can't see her like this. "Can you tell me about it now?"
"I am going through the merging Camila. Chione had merged with me. If Kieran didn't bring me to this place I could have gone on a killing spree murdering every person I love and know in the family. The chains here are keeping me sane and my powers at bay."
"But not all your powers."
"No. Not all," she admitted.
"What's with the fox shrine and what's with this place?"
"I am relieving the days of my past old self. I did not walk on Earth just once, Camila. I have walked on Earth since before the gods are born."
"I don't understand, love."
"It means that I have died before and in this life, I am reincarnated as Erica Von Lumia." My mouth turns into a giant O. "I used to go by the name of Nora Jamison and as confusing as it sounds I also have a little brother who is still alive and his name is Olive Jamison."
I didn't want to believe in all this, but I was already living in a mansion with people who have magical powers so I breathe and choose to believe. "Ok, but what does this have to do with you being stuck here, and what's with the fox shrine?"
"He has something of mine and if he won't return it to me. I am afraid I won't ever be able to walk out of this torture room anytime soon."
"She will," a voice came inside the room. I turn around and saw Jamison in his suit like he just came back from a tour.
"It's finally nice to talk to you again, sis," Jamison said. "I was hoping a day like this will never come but I guess fate still likes to toy with my sister."
"Olive Jamison," Erica called. "My brother."