Blood Sorceress

Chapter Four

My head ached.

It pounded. A million tiny soldiers with swords were trying to carve their way out from inside my skull. It made the lights blinding and my breathing wheezy. Oh I needed a pain reliever— a sedative, anything for the pain to go away.

Unfortunately it didn't seem like that was much of an option, so I kept my eyes closed against the light that came down on me from a window directly overhead. I found bits and pieces of shattered memories coming to in the recesses of my mind, the faces of James and Kaieres, the alleyway, dancing at that the club, Mario and then nothing. Just white light.

What had happened? I couldn't recall. And more importantly, I had no idea where I was. The bed I was on most certainly was not mine.

"You're awake." A woman hummed, I hadn't even realized I wasn't alone. I opened my eyes, blinking several times and fighting the need to hurl.

A short woman with a stern face and hallow cheeks of about sixty looked over me from the end of the bed.

"What? What happened." My voice was hoarse, sounding entirely different than usual. Had I been hit by a truck? Because I felt like I had been steamrolled.

"You transversed the Veil, it can affect people differently but you'll be alright once you regain your strength. Kaieres and Kieran will be in here shortly." Kieran, who could that be? I felt the name harness something in my gut, trying to remind me of something I couldn't touch. I knew that name, knew who it belonged to— but the face wasn't coming to mind.

"Who are you?"

"You can call me Dame Ravenna, I am the Master of Healing for the King's Own, you have been in my ward— asleep, for about seven days now."

"A week." I stiffened, I had work— and oh no! Mariella was probably beside herself with worry! I had to go home, I had to call Timothy.

"Steady yourself, Doe, you are fine. I believe Kaieres handled your responsibilities. You, my dear, will not be leaving any time soon. Just relax, it shall be explained in full when his Highness and his Majesty arrive." She cast a look over her shoulder towards the door.

It was the first time I really considered where I was. The room was large with rows and rows of empty beds made with dark sheets. The windows were arched with stained glass, one above every bed, letting in different hues of colored daylight.

"The sun's UV light is blocked by the stained glass, it was made special by the first Sable King for all to enjoy the pleasures of daylight." I didn't know what that meant but Dame Ravenna closed her eyes and seemed at peace with her words. I looked away feeling invasive in her private moment.

"I can't stay here for any longer, I have to get home. I need to call my roommate, I-I-I..." I didn't care about the windows or the strange woman or where I was, I needed to go back to London, I couldn't breathe— Ravenna frowned, coming to my side and leaning me forward with surprising strength.

"Breathe girl, you're going to be just fine." She assured. But the sudden elephant on my chest was slowly crushing me and I couldn't breathe against its weight. I couldn't breathe.

I felt nauseous, like some big force was marching my way, with every step that drew nearer it amplified and my lungs burned even more. My eyes searched for anything that may help as Ravenna attempted to walk me through a breathing exercise while crushing mysterious dried herbs in a mortar with a pestle in hand.

My eyes fell on the door down the sick bay, it was large and wooden, it looked ancient, I had never seen such a door in London or in all my travels across the United States. It was attached to stone which was stacked up to the beautiful glass peaked ceiling. If I wasn't so fixated on the door I might inspect the stain glass artwork overhead.