Song of Rust Book 1

written by Wren Haisley

This is the finished first book in my trilogy. The next two novels are Song of Glass and Song of Gold, both almost done. For information on background or stuff, just ask me on my wall or my owls, I have plenty of lore that's behind the scenes. And I'll start putting the first couple chapters of Song of Glass in the library as well once this is posted. I'll put a link here once that's done. BOOK 2 WIP: https://www.hogwartsishere.com/library/book/39489/

Last Updated

09/16/23

Chapters

31

Reads

347

Eighteen

Chapter 18

“Why’s it called gully fever?” Cai asks, as I sit with him playing cards, on his bedroom rug. 


“Because you look like a seagull. Red eyes, red nose, pale face,” I explain, winning the game in my last move. “You might be delusional from fever. That’s my third win.” 


“No, I’m just really bad at this game normally,” Cai says, leaning back on his bed frame. “I think I caught the fever from the palace librarian. He looked a bit sick when I was picking out my book earlier, and we talked for a while.” He glances up at me. “My headache is feeling better. You don’t have to confiscate my book anymore.” He teases, kicking my leg. I roll my eyes. 


“Yeah, but then I’d get bored, and Julia’s busy all day today, so I’ve nowhere to go,” I say, shrugging. Cai chuckles. 


“I could read to you,” He offers. “It’s a super old book I found, it’s a great story. Lots of murder, you’d like it.”


“Okay,” I agree with a small laugh. “I hid it in your desk while you were sleeping last night,” I admit, pointing. 


Cai stands up, shaking his head, and retrieves the novel from his desk drawer, walking over to the bed. He gestures for me to come over, and I stand up, climbing onto the bed, and sitting next to him, curling my legs up to my chest as I get comfortable in the pillow nest. 


“So, there’s a lot of context I need to get into. Before Therncolaos, there was a place called Europe,” Cai says. “Well, Therncolaos is basically the British Isles, just north of mainland Europe. Metal Island was called the Isle of Man,” He explains . I furrow my brows. “What you call the mainland is actually just an island next to a way bigger mainland.” 


He puts the book down with a bookmark in it, and grabs an old map from in a drawer next to his bed, showing me a picture. I’ve seen a map of Therncolaos, the islands in the top of this picture. But much bigger, there’s a place I don’t recognize. 


“Why don’t they tell us about any of this?” I ask, scooting closer, and looking at the map. Cai shrugs. 


“Therncolaos has been isolationist since the war that destroyed most of the societies here,” He explains, pointing. “That’s why we have the sea-wall around us now.” 


“Sea wall?” I ask. Cai sighs.


“You didn’t learn about that in school?” I shake my head. “We’ll get to it later. Anyway, this right here is France.” He points to a spot on the mainland, right below Therncolaos. “Centuries and centuries ago, the aristocracy of France were getting too rich while their people starved. One day, there happened to be a revolt, and the revolutionaries started beheading all the rich people.” My eyes widen. As Cai talks, his glasses start to slip off, and I reach over to push them back off. 


“So the book is about that?” I ask. Cai nods. 


“You’d like it. The plot isn’t hard to catch onto. It’s called the Scarlet Pimpernel.” Like a pimpernel flower? 


“I’d like it because there’s a lot of rich people getting beheaded?” I ask, and he chuckles. 


“It’s not even focused on any of that. It’s mostly a romance,” He says, adjusting his seating, and opening the gray book with a red flower on the cover. I roll my eyes. 


“Of course you read romance novels. Your fan club would love that,” I mumble, leaning closer, and resting my head on his shoulder. He rolls his eyes, and starts to read from the page he’s on. 


After about a minute, I feel a hand on my waist, Cai resting the book on his lap and turning the page with his free hand. I look over at him, but he’s just staring down at the book. I curl up tighter, closing my eyes as he reads. 


 




 


“Olive?” Cai asks, and I groan, sitting up. My skin is cold and hot at the same time. My head throbs. “Did you… sleep on my floor with no blanket?” He asks, as I sit up, shivering. 


“I couldn’t find a blanket, and I was so…” I rub my eyes. “So tired…” Cai stares at me. 


“The bed’s big enough for two, Ivvy,” He mumbles, fixing my hair. 


“Yes, well, I don’t want to be in any more newspapers because a servant saw me in your bed,” I argue, reaching for the bed frame so I can get to my feet. My hand slips, and I fall on my bottom, wincing. 


“You’re sick,” He mutters, reaching under me, and lifting me up, having me hold onto his bare chest. As we pass his mirror, I look even worse than he did with his gully fever. 


“Everything hurts,” I mumble, and he nods. 


“It’s okay. I’ll take care of you like you did for me.” He carries me out of the room, my skirt bunched up around my thighs. I see a door close as soon as we get to my door, a pair of green eyes disappearing. 


As soon as we get into my room, I stumble towards the bathroom, and throw all of my dinner from yesterday into the toilet, groaning. Cai sighs, leaning in the doorway. He eventually speaks. 


“You can take all the time you need here. I’m going to get some tea. You said medication only makes it worse,” He says. I nod, crouching by the toilet. “Just lie down.” I nod again, and he leaves, closing the door. I stand up, and go to sit on the toilet, my face in my hands. I see red in the bowl, and groan, starting to cry. 


“Of all the days…” I mumble, leaning against the wall, my eyes filled with tears. I grab supplies from the cupboard, my hands shaking. After I’m in new clothing and underwear, glancing at the bruises on my middle from sleeping in a corset, I crawl into my bed in my nightgown, hugging my pillow as tears fall. 


“Is something even more wrong?” Cai asks, walking into the room with a mug of tea. I wipe my eyes, and sit up. 


“Girl things,” I reply, holding my fists against my middle as cramps decide to rage beneath my skin. Cai nods, wearing a shirt now, and comes to sit next to me, holding me to his chest as I cry. He rubs my back, bringing some relief.


“I’m going to get some chocolate. One of my cousins on my dad’s side says that helps her when-“ He pauses. “Drink your tea. I’ll get some chocolate,” He says, starting to pull away. I grab onto his shirt, stopping him. 


“I’m fine. I just want you to stay here,” I mumble. Cai smiles, and moves back, leaning on my headboard as I curl up on his lap, sweat coating my forehead. He rubs my back with one hand, and brushes my hair with the other. Oh my gosh, I- I kinda want to be held like this forever. I think, my head on his shoulder. “Can you read to me again? I want to know the ending,” I ask. 


“After you get some sleep,” He promises, chuckling. “You couldn’t have slept well last night with a headache on a cold floor.” I nod, my grip around his shoulders loosening as I yawn. 


 




 


Angel comes over to me after lunch. I’m still moody, hormones playing ball inside me, but I’m feeling much better, and I’m nearly at the end of my problems. Ashton tails Angel, as she gestures for me to follow her. I glance over at Cai, who’s talking with Dennis and Hadley. Julia sits alone. 


“Where are we going?” I ask, as they lead me out into the hallway. Ashton puts his hand on my back, and pushes me into a side room, a small sitting room. “Hey!” Ashton stands by the door as Angel shoves me up against a wall.


“You little-“ she calls me something not very nice, kicking me in the thigh. She’s much taller than me, and her green eyes are filled with fury. I tremble as her grip crushes my wrists against the wallpaper. 


“Please don’t hurt me,” I mumble. She slaps me, and lets go, having me slide to the ground. 


“Caden is mine,” She hisses. I furrow my brows.


“What are you talking ab-“ Angel punches me in the face. 


“I know you were in his room the other night. I saw him carrying you back to yours in the morning. No wonder you got sick, you made out or worse.” She hits me again. “Then the next night, he stays in your room.” 


“Angel, maybe don’t-“ Ashton steps forward. She glares at him. “Don’t hurt her.” 


“Ash, I will talk to you later. Go away if you’re soft.” She says, then bends down in front of me, smirking. I look over at Ashton, my eyes filled with tears. 


“I promise, nothing happened with Cai-“ I clear my throat. “Caden. I was just tending to him while he was sick. I know how to treat the fever, and I caught it from him while I was caring for him. I never meant to get in trouble with you.” Angel smirks. 


“Fine. I’ll still beat you anyway. Then you won’t be as pretty, Miss BL 143. Caden won’t be stuck on a filthy Metal anymore if you don’t look as nice.” Angel smirks. 


“He’s not-” I get punched again, and Ashton walks over, pulling me up to my feet. “He’s not stuck on me.” Angel doesn’t look convinced. 


“You’ll get in trouble if she’s hurt, Angel,” He says, holding onto my arm. My head is spinning. “Just, do what she says, Olive.” I nod. 


“Stay away from Caden, or you’re dead. Got it?” Angel asks. I nod again, my eyes filled with tears. “Cover that up with some makeup.” 


She shoves me towards the door, and I run out, stumbling. Cai’s distracted in the dining room, so I quickly go to my room, grabbing the nude makeup. After my bruises are covered completely, I pick up Cai’s glasses and The Scarlet Pimpernel from my bedside table where he left them, running over to his door. 


I put them just inside his room, fix my hair, walk downstairs quietly, and sit in the big room. Cai sees me and starts walking over to my couch, but Angel intercepts him, pulling him away by the hand. I move to sit in an armchair, so nobody can sit next to me. I don’t want to get another beating. 


“Olive.” Ashton walks over to me, and sits on the arm of my chair, his arms folded. “Julia told me to come over and make you pretend like you like me, so Caden gets disinterested.” I furrow my brows. “I don’t think it’ll work, of course. What Caden’s got is definitely much more than just wanting to sleep with you.” He mutters. 


“He doesn’t-” Ashton shushes me. “We didn’t-” 


“Fine, you didn’t. But he’s been staring at you since you got here,” He mutters. 


“So tell Angel. Get her off my case about how it can’t be helped,” I argue. Ashton shakes his head. 



“Telling her that would make her want to kill you even more.” I sigh. “Just laugh at something I said, and then we’ll sneak out of the room. And remember, don’t talk to Caden.” I nod, and fake a smile, giggling. Cai looks over at me, but I ignore him, looking up at Ashton. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to beat you up once we get out the door,” Ashton whispers in my ear, grabbing my hand.

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