Everything seems wrong.
As Charlie stepped through the gates of the town, everything seems wrong.
People are crying. Fires are burning. Bodies are covering the ground like a carpet.
Her eyes landed on a man facedown on the ground and her heart stopped. His jacket looks just like one Miles has. He hadn't worn it in a while, sure, but...
She rolled him over as she held her breath, then made a little noise of relief. It wasn't Miles.
"What happened here?" she asked, reaching out to catch a woman's attention.
"The war clan attacked!" the woman wailed hysterically, tears pouring down her face as she yanked her arm free and skidded away.
Charlie froze. "War clan?" she mumbled in confusion. She flicked her eyes upwards, looking at wagons, platforms, and balconies. Miles would be higher up, giving orders, right? That's what he did. He took charge.
He wasn't there.
She swallowed down the lump in her throat, moving through the streets as she tried to find him, calling out his name. She turned a corner and swallowed down a cry as she saw him, talking to someone she'd never seen before.
She heard him asking where is as she walked closer and her eyes lit up, because he was worried about-
"Rachel?!"
That brought her to a screeching halt, blinking in confusion.
"Have you seen her?! Is she okay?!" Miles demanded of his companion.
Charlie tilted her head just a little, blue eyes welling up with tears she tried so hard to fight. Of course he wouldn't be asking after her, he didn't even know she was there. Why he'd be asking after Rachel was a question that puzzled her, though. She'd thought Gramps was looking after her.
"Miles! Miles, I'm here!" She heard Rachel's voice echo across the street as a head of blonde hair pushed its way through the crowd towards Miles.
"Rachel, thank g-" The rest of his response was muffled as he swept Rachel into his arms and buried his face in her hair as she clung to him, arms around his waist.
Everything else around Charlie disappeared. The people, the noise, the stench, everything. All she could focus on was the horrific scene in front of her, watching Miles cuddle her mother and stroke her hair, lips moving as he murmured what could only be comforts.
"He does that," a smooth voice said from behind Charlie. She whipped her head around, eyes wide, to see none other than Sebastian Monroe.
"I thought I lost you!" she hissed. "What are you doing here!"
"You've learned a few tricks, Charlotte, I give you that, but..." He flashed her a quick serpent's grin. "I've got some experience on you yet."
She scowled darkly at him but couldn't find the words to speak, her gaze dragged back to Miles and Rachel who were now locked in a kiss that made Charlie wish she hadn't looked around.
"Give it some time and a few wild nights and he'll move on from her too, Charlotte," Bass murmured in her ear, standing directly behind her. "You'll get your turn."
Charlie spun, not sure whether she was ready to punch him, cry on him, or demand what the hell 'move on from her too' meant, but he was already gone.
When she glanced over her shoulder, she saw Rachel walking away with Miles, his arm around her waist as he tucked her up to his side.
"You said you wouldn't leave me," she whispered in a quiet, small voice, a byproduct of her first broken heart.