Broken, but Not Defeated

Chapter 35 (Wesley)

Just then a loud bang woke me up. It had to be around midnight. I roll over with a groan and throw an arm over my head. I was going to kill whoever did that. Just then there is another bang. I roll out of bed, ready to yell at whoever is making the obnoxious noise. I stalk to the door and rip it open. There is a light streaming out from underneath a door down the hall. I walk over and rip the door open. The room is a disaster, papers are thrown all over the place. Just then a black head of hair comes from behind a large stack of paper. "Caldina?"

She throws the papers up in surprise. "Wesley! Do not do that," she says, chucking a paper at my head.

"Don't wake me up next time," I reply.

"Didn't mean to." She jumps to her feet and moves to a cabinet. She starts pulling papers out.

"What are you doing?" I ask, moving to stand beside her desk.

"Looking for something."

"I got that. What are you looking for?"

"A certain map. I just hope I didn't burn it."

"Why would you have burned it?"

"Cause I thought it was useless."

"Useless? But now it's not?" I was super confused, how was a map useful? Just then I feel something smack the back of my head. I turn around and Caldina is standing there with a smug smile on her face.

"You can help, or you can get out. You decide," she says, raising another piece of paper.

"Don't you dare?" I say, ducking behind the desk. "Caldina if you throw that..." She doesn't respond. I stick my head up over the desk. "Caldina?" She is nowhere to be found. I slowly stand back up. Where did she go?" I quietly make my way over to her side of the desk. Empty, except for a few papers. Stupid witch and her ability to disappear! Smack! I duck as another piece of paper flies for my head. I cover my head as Caldina hits my head over and over again.

"I found it!" She yells and drops the papers she had been hitting me with. I walk over to her side as she clears the desk and spreads out the paper. It is a layout of a castle. I have seen that design before, but where?

"Do you recognize it?" Caldina asks.

"I feel like I should."

"You should," she tells me.

"Whose house is that?" I ask.

"Yours," Caldina says. "It is the entire layout of the castle." She runs her hands over the map. "That should have unlocked it."

"What do you mean?"

"You have to have the bloodline to..." she pauses and looks at me. "Move your hand over the map like I just did." I give her a confused look but do as she says. Just then the castle spins in the direction my hand is going.

"Wow!" I breathe. I move my hand the other way, and the castle moves. "How is this possible?"

"I already told you. Magic." Caldina says studying the map intently. I watch her closely, the way her brows scrunch together and her lips move into a straight line when she is thinking hard. "What?" She asks, startling me.

"Nothing."

"Why were you looking at me like that?"

"You look like her."

"Like who?"

"Mother. She used to do the same thing you do when she is thinking hard." I whisper.

"I look like her?"

"Yes, you also look like Juliana. I should have believed you in the beginning. I'm sorry." I say looking down. The room is quiet except for the sound of the fireplace. I avoided Caldina's gaze. I shouldn't have said anything.

"I understand, Wesley."

I look at her.

"You do?" I ask, surprised.

"I didn't believe it either when I told you. But when I watch Juliana, I see her. I see mother. Even though I barely knew her. Juliana is mother's daughter though and through. I also see her in you." That took me by surprise.

I laugh. "I am my father's son."

"You are, I won't deny it. You have many aspects, but you also have her bravery, leadership, and even her stubbornness."

"Thanks, I love being told I am stubborn," I say sarcastically.

Caldina chuckles. "Don't take it like that. I am being serious."

"Wait, what do you mean I am my father's son?" I ask, confused.

"Your father is a leader and a fighter. Just like you."

"Oh." I look back down at the map. "You want to know the weaknesses?"

Caldina looks at me. "Yes." I point to the western gate. "This is the weakest gate," I tell her everything I know. A knock on the door interrupts us.

"What?" Caldina snaps. I look out one of the windows, the sun is rising.

"Your brother is missing... Wesley?" a young servant asks.

"What?" I ask.

"We couldn't find you anywhere."

"Well, you found him now so get out," Caldina snaps. The servant rushes out.

"You don't like to be disturbed do you?" I ask.

"She is being nosy." Just then my stomach growls. "You should eat."

"Yeah." I walk to the door to go get ready for the day.

"Wesley."

"Yes?" I say looking at Caldina.

"I want to believe... Do not tell anyone."

"Okay." I leave and walk back to my room super confused.