Respite Beneath the Iron Dome (Book One of the Single Universe)

Chapter 1: Resurge Part 1

The day of Jadin's funeral. One month and a day before the next eclipse.

Princess Ellen Maryam Brown bolted upright, her eyes darting around the room. The walls closed in on her. The shadows danced at the edges of her vision.

She pressed her palms against her temples. Her fingers dug into her skin as if to physically extract the answers.

"Where am I? What's happening?" Ellen thought.

Her chest heaved with each breath. The air was thick as honey in her lungs. Swinging her legs over, her bare feet hit the cold floor. The sensation jolted her body, barely piercing the haze clouding her thoughts.

Pushing herself up, Ellen stumbled to the towering arched window. It extended nearly from floor to ceiling, offering an unobstructed and sweeping panoramic view. She gripped the Corinthian column, her knuckles turning red as she stared at the foreign scenery.

The garden below was a lush oasis. The vibrant flowers and manicured hedges stretched out toward the horizon. Beyond the yard, the vast expanse of the ocean glimmered in the sunlight. Its teal waters contrasted with the rugged coastline.

As Ellen took in the breathtaking vista, she couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and wonder. The beauty of the panorama was a momentary distraction from the confusion and unease gripping her since waking up in this unfamiliar place. For a brief moment, the majesty of the crashing waves against the crescent bays and jagged cliffs soothed her troubled mind.

But the beautiful, alien landscape offered no clues, only deepening the tension coiling in her stomach. She needed to find answers. To unravel how she ended up here and what happened to her memories.

Behind her, the room remained silent. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears as she scanned it. Everything-the furniture, the walls, the air-felt alien as if transported to another world.

With a shaky breath, Ellen closed her eyes, trying to focus on the last clear memory she could grasp. But the images slipped away like sand through her fingers, leaving her with a growing dread. She needed to move, to find something or someone who could help her make sense of this situation. But fear kept her rooted in place. Her thoughts reeled, each possibility more terrifying than the last.

Ellen clenched her fists, nails digging into her palms-she couldn't let panic consume her; she had to be strong.

"Easy, easy. You're safe," a voice said in her mind.

Ellen's head snapped up. "Who's there?"

"You know me. I'm your guide when you're lost."

Recognition flickered, then faded in her azure eyes. "My Ethereal Twin."

"Right. You're in transition. I'll anchor you until your sphere settles back into alignment."

"My head's a mess," Ellen said, eyes shut against a wave of dizziness.

"I can't remember how I got here."

"No worries. Your spirit knows the way, even if your brain's on a break."

"Everything feels wrong-like I'm coming apart," Ellen shivered.

"I know everything feels fractured, but your sphere is still whole. Your memories are still there; they're just submerged for now. We'll resurge them together. Stay with me."

Ellen steadied her breath, focusing.

"Please, help me figure this out."

"Listen to my voice. Let it guide you through the fog. There is light ahead. Walk toward it."