Gregor
I knew Felicia was dreaming. Vague images drifted into my dreams, Zana’s face, a struggle of some kind that was just a blur of colors and sound. We both woke with a start. I heard her get out of bed and go to the kitchen.
I got up and followed her. “Are you alright?” I asked. The room was dark except for the starlight outside, but I could feel her nearness as I approached like an electrical current running between us. My breath quickened, and my throat went dry.
“Yes, just a dream.” She said with a weary sigh.
“I got some of the images through my implant,” I told her.
FeliciaI swallowed the lump of nerves that had lodged in my throat.“Can we take a stroll, Zana?” I asked, though I wasn’t sure of the wisdom of being alone with a dangerous predator, who harbored some resentment against me, I knew it was the only chance I would stand of breaking the ice with her.She inclined her head and indicated for me to lead the way, but her wary yellow eyes watched my every move.I was not sure where to start with her. But I wanted her to know I meant no harm and that I wanted to help her.“Zana, do you remember any
FeliciaGregor made lunch, and I watched him. He made a simple meal of bread, cheese, and some apples. His concern for me was evident, and it was endearing. He set the food before me, and we ate in silence for a while. He seemed lost in thought, and a felt strange sort of hum come through my implant from him.“Are you alright?” I asked him.His eyes snapped to mine. “I’m worried about Zana. She is so full of rage.”“Rage?” I asked, surprised. “She is in pain, anguish even, but rage?”“Yes.” He confirmed without hesitation. “Rage is what I f
FeliciaI watched Gregor through the window until he was out of sight. He can't have gone far before he called the wolves, for I picked up the gist of their exchange. If I was going to do what I felt I needed to, there was no time to waste. I put on my red cloak and snuck off into the night.I needed to see Zana. And I needed to do so while there were no interruptions or hovering pack and master. I moved quickly to get out of range before the pack showed up. Once I knew I had successfully avoided them, I headed in the direction Zana had gone that afternoon. I thought I could follow her tracks, but I found wolf tracks heading all over the place, and I had no idea how to tell which ones were fresh.I crouched on the grou
FeliciaThe men gagged me and bound my hands. They had horses waiting not far from the village. The man who came to install my bed, a large brute of a man, picked me up and set me on the horse. None too gently, I might add.Riding made me nervous. I had not been on a horse since I was a girl, and that had only happened once when a fellow guardsman to my stepbrother saw me watching them and offered to give me a ride. In that instance, I only had to hold on while the horse was led around at a very sedate pace.I thought about protesting to the men but thought better of it. If they realized I couldn't ride, then they might make me ride with one of them, and I think I would have preferred to fall off an
FeliciaBy early morning we had cleared the tree line and were riding through craggy peaks at the top of the mountain range. It was frigid, and I was shivering. The air was filled with the fog of everyone's breath. It floated in the air and sparkled as it froze. The snow glowed with an orange haze as it reflected the morning sunlight.From where we were, I could see for miles. I took a moment to appreciate the view. The forest seemed to go on forever until, way off in the west, I could make out the azure skyline that marked the edge of the sea.My teeth were chattering, though, and I wondered how far it was until we arrived at wherever our destination was. Surely, they didn't intend to let me freeze
FeliciaI looked around the room that had been mine so very long ago. As I looked at the details, I could tell it had been fashioned for a young girl, not a grown woman. Like it had been frozen in time, just waiting for my return. But the whole thing didn't make sense. How and when could I have lived here?I tentatively sat on the edge of the bed. My brain was trying to sift through the details of jumbled memories. They were vague images and feelings mostly. I got the impression that, as pretty as the room was, it had always been a cell.I sighed heavily and walked over to the slit of a window. It faced a sheer cliff that disappeared into a deep ravine, so deep I couldn't see the bottom, just swirling snow and mist. I would not be escaping that way.
FeliciaI woke up with my heart racing. Waking from the dream had left me disturbed. The face I had seen was mine but not at the same time. Her smile had been malevolent even psychotic. It had frightened me.The light from the window had faded and was the eerie bluish-grey of twilight. It made the room look menacing rather than childish.I got up from the bed and took the water glass drinking from it quickly, then looked around for something to take my mind off of the dream. I went over to the vanity and gazed at my face, it looked frightened and...fragile. Nothing like the expression in the dream. I got up and moved around the room.I leaned ag
FeliciaAfter a night of intermittent sleep, I woke to the maid returning with a breakfast tray.“Good morning,” I said pleasantly, though my voice sounded a bit gravelly.Another quick movement of her eyes was all I got in response before she retreated out the door with quick, nervous steps, as though she was afraid any contact with me would communicate some dreaded illness. It was extremely frustrating, and I huffed out an exasperated sigh.But, my stomach soon grumbled with hunger, aggravated by the scent of nearby food, so I ate my breakfast like a good little prisoner and decided not to let the maid's behavior both