Fidelis made it back to his room and snatched up his cell. He quickly called Sera's phone.
"Pick up, pick up," he murmured. He tensely held the cell and listened as it rang and rang before finally going to voicemail. A chill filled him. He wasn't sensing her emotions through the mark. She was either unconscious or…no he wouldn't think that way. She wasn't dead. He would know.
He hung up and called Al. Anxiety rose as he waited for the other guy to answer. Finally, on the third ring, Al picked up.
"What?" Al growled.
Fidelis swallowed a curse. He really hated Al's attitude. He decided to play nice. He needed to know how Sera was.
"Hey, Al, can you check on Sera, please? She isn't answering her phone."
"Maybe she's asleep," Al retorted.
Fidelis counted to five and fought back his temper. Yelling at Al would get him nowhere. "Please for my peace of mind."
Al sighed. "Fine. I'm putting you on mute."
It felt like an eternity until Al spoke again.
"I'm outside her room. One second."
He heard Al knocking and then silence. Come on, Sera, answer, he prayed.
The creak of the door opening broke the silence and Fidelis let out the breath he'd been holding.
He heard a woman's voice. He recognized it. It was that Lael woman who had answered Sera's phone before.
"Al, how is she?" he demanded. He couldn't hear what they were saying.
"You are so impatient! I was getting the information for you. Lael said Sera is resting. She's fine."
"Is that all?" Fidelis asked, angry that Al wasn't being truthful. He knew Sera was anything but fine. He had felt her pain and experienced her injuries.
He wanted to rail at the other guy but didn't. It wouldn't change anything. "Thank you for checking on her, Al. I'll see you both on Monday."
Al hung up without saying goodbye. Fidelis stood there clutching his phone so tightly it squealed in protest. He dearly wanted to smash something. He texted Sodalitas and Blainel and asked them to meet him at the training grounds. He would work out his frustration that way.
Ten minutes later, his two friends were there and ready.
"How many rounds would you like to do, Your Highness?"
He studied Sodalitas for a moment before responding. "Until I am so exhausted I can't think anymore."
Fidelis ignored the look his friends gave him. It had been a long time since he'd made such a request. The last time was a year ago when they'd first arrived in this world.
"As you command," Blainel replied with a bow. He got into a fighting stance and waited for Fidelis to retrieve a training sword.
Fidelis went to the rack and picked a sword. He swung it back and forth, testing its weight. Satisfied he returned to Blainel and raised his sword.
It was time not to think or feel, only react. With a nod, he was in motion, a smile on his face.
~***~
Fidelis walked out of the shower, toweling off his wet hair. He was exhausted. The workout with Sodalitas and Blainel had accomplished its goal. He wanted to sleep.
He slid under the covers, closed his eyes, and let sleep claim him.
~***~
He didn't recognize the room he was in. The wall to his left was lined with all kinds of instruments of torture. This must be a dream, he thought.
The air before him shimmered and the view changed. In the center of the room, dangling by chained wrists was Sera. Behind her was her father and to the right of her father, in the shadows was a hooded figure. The figure was shorter than Mr. Holland. Fidelis had the feeling that he didn't know this stranger.
His attention was abruptly brought back to Sera when the crack of a whip rang out and Sera's pained cry filled the room.
"No! Stop it!" he snarled and ran toward her father.
He gasped when he passed through Mr. Holland. Fidelis looked down and saw through his hand. He couldn't touch them! Shock froze him in his tracks. He shook himself when Sera's scream pierced his ears.
He watched as her father continued to whip her with a malicious smile of pleasure on his face. The scene upset Fidelis. Helplessness seeped into his heart and he cursed. He couldn't protect her even in his dreams. He had to change. He needed to be stronger. He needed to help her get stronger, too.
A chill stole over him and Fidelis jerked his head up, his gaze going to the hooded figure in the corner. He felt an evil aura coming from that person and he frowned. He took a step toward the room's other occupant. An invisible barrier flung him backward. He cursed. What the hell was going on?
"I will not be blocked," he growled, calling forth his magic. He held up his hand with the glowing blue ball of light and prepared to fling it at the barrier.
The hooded figure raised a finger, pointing at him. Fidelis felt a blow land in his stomach, sending him stumbling back. The room spun and suddenly his eyes opened.
He blinked and snarled. He was back in his room. He was drenched in sweat. He didn't understand what happened or what the dream meant. One thing he was certain about. He would rescue Sera and give her the happiness she couldn't find in her family. Satisfied with that thought, he got up and took another shower. This time when he went to sleep it was a dreamless one.