Leveling my gaze to the bed I awoke on, I notice someone sitting on rumpled sheets. She sits there, ever so delicately, with her legs crossed and hands in her lap.
Her raven blue hair hangs loosely over her shoulder that’s draped in a rich wine colored fabric, her porcelain skin far fairer than even that of Lees’. I eye her curiously, suspicious of why she would be sitting watching me.
Her neck cranes as she returns the stare, her pointed nose delicate like the rest of her features.
She releases a soft murmur before sliding off the bed with a feline move.
I swipe my hand across my eyes. Not that it would help, I’m sure she witnessed my unravelling anyways.
Her soft voice fills the silence of the room, “You need not be ashamed of your tears, Alora.”
The hair on my arms raises. It feels like I’ve swallowed gravel but I still try to reply.
With a croak I begin, “How?—”
A coughing fit interrupts my sentence and the woman steps closer to me, stopping at a small side table. She quickly meets the distance between us and offers me a small glass of water.
“Drink this,” the woman says, “it’ll help your throat. You screamed so much when you were under thenyghmargh.”
I eagerly take the cup with my shaky hand and down the contents. The water eases some of the soreness and I swallow much more freely now.
Continuing, I began again, “How did you know my name?”
Though my voice still is scratchy, at least I can now bear to speak.
She comes closer into the moons' light and I gasp when her eyes come into view. One eye is split down the center, half of the iris a deep brown while the other half is an icy blue similar in color to the other.
Her peculiar gaze bounces back and forth between mine and her face drops slightly.
She whispers, “Orlin told me your name when he threw you in here with us. He left you there,” she gestures to the bed with her hand, “and I thought it would be best if I dressed you in something clean…” her voice trails off as she watches my brows settle into a vee.
“You dressed me in this?” The question rushes out faster than I mean it to.
The woman settles back onto her heels, uncertainty on her face mirroring my own.
Her lips purse and she closes her eyes, pausing for a moment before speaking once more. “You were covered in filth, gods knows what else but I imagine that you were dragged here like most of us were upon?—”
I cut her off, “Where is here?”
Her eyes soften before understanding washes over her expression.
“Ahh,” she merely murmurs before she leans forward and pushes herself upwards.
Standing, she outstretches her hand and waits. I swallow again, debating on if I should trust this woman.
“Forgive me for being suspicious, but I don’t know who the fuck you are.”
Her heart shaped lips lift in a grin. Amusement melts in her airy voice as she tells me, “Come on, let me show you something.”
She motions her hand at me again.
Reluctantly I stand, making it a point to ignore her outstretched palm.
A chuckle escapes her as she watches me. “I think we’ll get along well.”
I eye her as she turns and watch her as she makes her way towards the opposite side of the room furthest from the bed, leaving me standing in the center.
I mutter a curse under my breath before deciding to follow after her.
