Marienne's life was completely undone when her village went up in flames. Badly burned and her eyesight lost, she awakes in a strange place, with no knowledge of how she arrived there. Her savior was the enigmatic and alluring Victor, the Lord of Az...
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For the next two days, I was still bedridden, and most of my time was spent sleeping. I admit, I didn't have much desire for life left within me. However, I did have Amelia as my constant companion. I couldn't have asked for a more competent caretaker. Her hands were always kind and gentle, and she was quick to fill the time I spent awake with small talk, if and when she could coax me out of my own murky mood and self-pity.
Though my sight did not return, within those two days I noticed quite the improvement in my condition. My burns seemed to be healing at a rate I would have said was a near miracle had I seen them for myself. It seemed that every time Amelia changed my bandages, the skin underneath felt healthier. The dry, uncomfortable stretching sensation began to fade, and I began to hope that I would not scar so terribly as some other burn victims might. When Amelia removed the bandages from my face, my heart leapt with excitement. I could make out some light and shadow, if I concentrated. Still, the debilitating feeling of my world being blocked out visually left me morose and melancholic.
With my eyesight gone, there was no hope of continuing my work in the village, even if there had been anything left of my home to return to. I had been living alone anyway, my mother and father already in their graves, and I had no siblings. That wasn't really my worry, nor was my house, however much I mourned its destruction. My concern was the children I had helped bring into this world, and their mothers. They were the people that had grown into my extended family after my mother passed away.
As far as I was aware, my entire village was gone. It frustrated me, to know that all the hard work of so many generations could be undone so quickly. I didn't know much else after the fires had jumped to gobble me up, so I wondered, had anyone in my village survived?
There wasn't much left to do but ask Amelia if she knew anything about any other survivors. Once I awoke from what I assumed was an early morning nap, I waved my hand to motion Amelia to approach me. I turned my face to her as she approached. Even though I could no longer see, it still seemed polite to try and look people in the eye.
With the grumbling in my stomach, I thought any news she may have would best be heard after a meal."Do you think I might be able to sit up and eat something? I'm terribly hungry."
The smile that crept across her face was audible in her voice. "Right away, Miss. Do you think you would like to start with some broth, maybe a crust of bread? It's been quite some time since you've eaten."
I nodded, and she shuffled out the door, the lock clicking softly behind her. It would seem for all their well meaning here, they did not yet trust me. In all fairness, I wouldn't trust a stranger brought into my home, no matter how damaged their body had been either. Still, under their care I was recovering quickly, and much more quickly than I would have expected. It was odd, to say the least, but I was very grateful for it. Perhaps I had been incredibly lucky, and wasn't burned nearly as badly as I had thought. I waited for Amelia to return to help me sit up. I wasn't entirely sure how much strength I had just yet.
