The atmosphere relaxed considerably once Alexander and Cameron were alone. They were like old friends reunited after a long separation. Alexander even pulled up a chair and sat down.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

"My chest is still a little stuffy, and my brain feels foggy, but I'm better than before," Cameron replied lightly, stroking his chest and coughing softly. The cough was muted, but he appeared much improved.

"That's normal. After all, you've been asleep for days. Forget the damage to your body; even a healthy person would feel dazed after sleeping that long," Alexander said.

After a pause, he changed the subject. "But you're not entirely unaware of everything, are you?"

Cameron remained silent, gazing at him with heavy eyes.

"You know what I mean," Alexander prompted.

After a moment, Cameron sighed deeply and nodded. "Yeah. Even though my body was out of my control, I was still intermittently aware. It was bizarre—like I couldn't control my body, like I was observing my own life."

He raised his hand, examining it as if it were alien. The confusion in his eyes was profound.

"It felt like a soul extraction?" Alexander offered tentatively, searching for the right words. He'd never experienced anything like it. Cameron's description was unusual; he'd been unable to control his body, yet he hadn't been completely unconscious. This meant a third party hadn't fully controlled his brain, nor had he lost self-awareness. He knew what he should and shouldn't do, but he couldn't stop himself.

"Soul extraction?" Cameron echoed, the term new to him. He tilted his head, frowning in thought. Then he nodded. "I think that's it. That's the only way to describe it."

Though it sounded outlandish, no other term fit. He wouldn't believe it if he hadn't experienced it himself. It felt as if his soul had been pulled from his body, leaving him an empty shell at Rhea's mercy. He'd even watched his body receive injections and seen himself take the pills she repeatedly gave him—until Lily rescued him from that darkness. Shortly after, he'd abruptly returned to his body and blacked out. All he'd done was sleep.

"What kind of poison was in my system?" he asked, regaining his composure. He knew he'd been poisoned but couldn't recall the details. Everything was blurry, a hazy memory.