The Fourth Ceremony: The Sacrifice Trilogy (8 page)

When the ride came to a stop Alessa was sure that her head would never stop spinning. The attendant removed the strap holding her to the seat and Camden hopped easily out of the ride. He turned back to her and looked expectantly.

“
Just give me a minute
.”
She said breathily as she pressed her hand to her forehead.

“
Please do
n’
t tell me yo
u’
re going to throw up
.”
Camden looked at her while barely containing his amusement. He held his hand out to her as his body shook with silent laughter.

“
No! I just want to stop spinning, thank you very much
.”
Alessa took strength from her indignation and pushed past his proffered hand.

Alessa thought that she had managed the perfect scoff at his expense until she wobbled on her feet after the first step. The spinning ride still had its grips on her balance. Camden immediately held her arms on either side and pulled her close to his body.

“
Hey, are you okay
?”
He actually looked concerned. Alessa could
n’
t help the spike in her heart rate and hoped that all of the lights of the carnival concealed the flush that she felt rushing to her face.

“
Yes, I am perfectly fine. That was a blast! I just have to get my feet under me. Remember, I do
n’
t have a whole lot of experience at the Carnival
.
”

That pulled a laugh out of Camden as he kept one hand on her arm and walked with her towards their next ride.

The hours that came after rushed by in a dizzy and exciting whirl. Alessa and Camden ran, rode, and laughed their way through almost the entire Carnival. It became easy to grab his hand during the rush of the rides and to lean on him after the dizzy dismounts.

“I’
m hungry. Do you think we can buy something to eat
?”
Alessa asked Camden as they left one particular ride that they had decided to enjoy three times.

“
Sure, if your stomach can handle it
!”
He gave her a gentle prod in the abdomen. His casual touches had increased in number, but they were still calling a blush to her cheeks every time. She knocked his hand away with a laugh.

“
I can handle anything
!”
She retorted.

“
Go stand in line.
I’
m going to the restroom right over there
.”
He pointed to a doorway directly across from the food stand line.

“I’
ll be fine, go
!”
She rolled her eyes at his caution and walked away from him to the food stand line.

Waiting in line was a new phenomenon to Alessa. She had never had to allow others to go before her in her life. She was deciding that she enjoyed watching the people as she stood in line. It was relaxing for her to have nothing to do but stand in the line and wait for her turn. It allowed her to examine her surroundings. The people bustling in the Carnival were full of vigor and enjoying life while laughing with each other and running towards their next adventure as they pointed out rides. After a few moments of people watching, she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned to see a short and stout woman behind her with a kind face.

“
Excuse me, dear. Has anyone every told you that you look exactly like The Sacrifice
?”
She had open curiosity on her face as she examined her. Alessa felt panicky. If the people at the Carnival found out who she was, not only would the crowd bombard her, but the Government would find out that Khi let her go without closing down the Carnival and everyone would be in trouble.

“
Oh, you know, I do hear that all the time, but from what I understand sh
e’
s a lot taller than me
.”
She hoped that since she was never allowed in public that the lie would hold up to the woma
n’
s scrutiny.

“
I
t’
s just,
I’
ve seen pictures of her and you could be her twin, I swear it
.”
The woman was relentless.

Just then, Camden came walking through the crowd.

“
You have
n’
t made it to the front yet, A
l
—
“
Alessa shot him a look and shook her head slightly as the woman turned to look at who was speaking.

“
A
l—
uh, Allison
.”
He cocked his head to the side as he silently questioned her. They spoke with their eyes over the short woma
n’
s head.

“
Oh, yo
u’
re name is Allison? I have a daughter named Allison
.”
The woman exclaimed, and just like that her attention was diverted. The woman launched into a description of her daughter, Allison, who had apparently recently had a child.

“
Oh how great,
I’
d love to meet her
.”
Alessa was grasping straws to take this conversation as far away from her and her Status as possible. She caught sight of Camde
n’
s raised eyebrow and looked back into the woma
n’
s kind face.

“
She did
n’
t come with us today sweetie, but I will tell her I met the most delightful girl that shares her name. I
t’
s your turn. You two kids have fun
!
”

Alessa spun around thankful for the end of the conversation, and walked to the food stand to order her snack.

Alessa and Camden found a table not too far from the food stand.

“
What was that all about
?”
Camden asked, concern wrinkling his brow.

“
She recognized me
.”
Alessa started, and then backtracked at the sight of his startled response
,“
I mean to say, she almost recognized me. She had started to argue a little, and then you came up and called me Allison and it was all over. No harm done
.
”

“
We should probably leave soon
.”
Camden stated flatly, his brow still furrowed.

“
Oh no, please Cam, le
t’
s stay! I have
n’
t been on the giant wheel thing yet and I am dying to try a game or two, please
.”
Alessa realized a little too late that she was begging. It was not like her to beg, particularly with someone who so easily disarmed her. She kicked herself again. She needed to watch her mouth more closely where Camden was concerned.

Camden laughed a little
,“
I suppose you must really want something to come down off your high horse like that
.”
His jab hurt.

“
You think
I’
m on a high horse
?”
Alessa tried to keep her tone mocking, but she suspected she betrayed herself.

“
Well, I do
n’
t know how you could
n’
t be with being the sacrifice and all
.”
Camden answered, watching her closely.

“
That shows just how little you know about me or my position
.”
Alessa was indignant. She rose from the table and stalked away. She was
n’
t sure where she was going, but she needed to get away from Camden and his superior attitude. She certainly did
n’
t want him to realize that his jab had hurt her pride. She did
n’
t know why she should let someone whom she barely knew bother her in the first place, but he did, in more ways than one.

Alessa felt him behind her, heard him call her name, but she continued to weave through the crowd. He had uncovered some of her innermost insecurities. She had certainly been spoiled, it was the way of the Sacrifice, but she did not believe herself to be rude or inconsiderate. At least, not since her last Ceremony. Her father had made sure to show her how blessed she was, and Kh
i’
s love and friendship had given her stability and grounding. Alessa was hurt that Camden did not understand that. She realized, logically, that she had been haughty and condescending to him, but she had expected him to see through that.

After walking for some time, Alessa found herself watching the remnants of a brilliant sunset over the top of a makeshift dance floor. A band played well-known songs at the front of the stage while people were just beginning to take to the floor for dancing. Alessa watched the sun fade into the horizon and she enjoyed the brilliant reds and oranges of the falling star. Then, she turned her attention to the dancers on the makeshift floor. They all seemed to be so happy, shouting and laughing with one another. Some held each other tight, as lovers do. Others were more friendly than intimate. Still more kept a stiff distance from each other, as if nervous. Throughout her dissection of the interactions on the floor she could feel Camde
n’
s eyes on her, but he kept a safe distance away. She supposed he wanted to allow her some space.  She continued to watch the dancers while allowing herself to sway slightly with the music.

“
That was uncalled for and I am sorry
.”
She was startled to find that he had walked up right behind her and spoke softly in her ear. Yet again, she was frustrated by the ease with which he seemed to unnerve her.

“
I would kindly request that you keep your opinions of me to yourself
.”
She said curtly as she stared him straight in the eye.

“
What if I told you that I thought you were gorgeous? And smart? And funny
?”
His list made her heart skip a beat. Alessa was at a loss for words. She reminded herself that he could
n’
t have her reporting to Khi that she had an unhappy time. She supposed he was trying to save his skin by throwing in a little flirting.

“
You can keep those to yourself as well
.”
She said, but her words lacked the bite she was trying for and she could not keep her eyes on his.

They stood in silence for a moment as they watched the couples dance on the stage. The song was fast and the dancing was intense. Some couples looked as if they might start kissing there on the dance floor. It made her wonder what it would be like to kiss Camden. Then, as usual, she chastised herself for thinking such. She reminded herself of his earlier comments, but the compliments that followed snuck in to soften the blow. She heard the band begin a slower song and watched as the intensity flowed out of the dance floor to be replaced by an easy flow of affection. She longed to be a part of it.

“
Let me make it up to you. Dance with me
.”
Camden whispered in her ear. This time he had to have felt her shiver because he had his hands on her back and arm propelling her towards the floor.

“
No, no. Cam, I ca
n’
t. I do
n’
t know how to dance
.”
Alessa protested. She certainly could not let Camden see her ineptitude at this skill. She had never truly danced in all her life.

“
It will be fine. I
t’
s much like your combat lessons. You follow my lead. The only difference is that instead of moving away from me
,”
he paused where they were on the edge of the dance floor to pull her close to the front of his body
,“
you move with me and closer to me
.”
The whisper of his last words caused another spike in her heart rate.

Before she knew it, Alessa was swaying to the music encapsulated by Camde
n’
s arms. She placed her hands tentatively on his shoulders at first and, when he pulled her closer, she wrapped them around the back of his neck. She could not understand all of the emotions flowing through her, but she was certain that joy was among them, along with curiosity.  She was
n’
t sure when her unease had given way to simple wonder, but it had. His body was hard yet his touch was gentle. She felt all of the muscles in his upper arms and shoulders as they turned around their little corner of the dance floor. She glanced up at him and caught him staring at her with an intensity to his face that she could not possibly comprehend. She heard him sigh and then he pulled her closer until their bodies were flush against each other and her head rested on his chest. Alessa imagined that she could stay like this forever, but all too soon the music ended. The band announced that they were taking a break and another song, this one faster than the last, had started up before Camden pulled away from Alessa. He kept her hand in his and pulled her away from the dance floor with him.