The medicine Alex had been given overwhelmed her senses, pulling her into unconsciousness. She drifted into a dreamlike state, weightless, until the shrill beeping of her alarm clock shattered the silence.
She tried to open her eyes, but nothing happened. Confusion surged. Why can't I move?
"That's weird," she thought, straining harder. But her limbs stayed unresponsive. A bead of sweat rolled down her temple as her father's muffled groans reached her ears.
"Fuck, he passed out again," Alex thought, frustration mingling with dread. She knew what would follow: his temper would rise, boiling over like a storm.
"TURN OFF THAT DAMN ALARM!"
Her heart raced. She tried to call out, to explain, but no sound came. Panic crept in as she heard the clatter of bottles and the heavy thuds of her father stumbling up the stairs.
"DID YOU HEAR ME, YOU LITTLE SHIT? TURN IT OFF!" His voice boomed, and his heavy steps echoed.
Her breathing turned shallow as she fought against the paralysis. The door splintered open under his violent kick, his angry presence filling the room.
Alex braced for the blow when a high-pitched ringing pierced her ears, louder and louder, drowning everything out. The noise ceased suddenly, and Alex jerked upright, instinctively shielding herself.
"I'm sorry, Dad! I couldn't wake up!" she stammered, her voice shaking.
A soft voice cut through her haze. "Ma’am? I’m sorry. I just wanted to change your bandages..."
Alex blinked, disoriented. She tried to find her bearings but tumbled out of bed, crashing hard onto the floor.
The noise startled her fully awake. Two figures rushed into the room—a young knight and a woman in simple robes.
"Ma’am, it’s okay," the knight said, stepping closer. "You're safe."
Alex scrambled toward the wall, her breath ragged. "What the hell is happening right now?"
"Why am I still sleeping?" Alex whispered, her voice trembling.
The knight cautiously stepped forward. "Ma’am, you're awake. Should I fetch Doctor Leoda?"
"No!" Alex snapped, clutching her head. "No, my dad—he’s going to kill me. I need to wake up."
The knight exchanged a glance with the woman, whose expression softened. "Get the doctor," she murmured.
Alex’s eyes scanned the room, her fear escalating. A spider sat in the corner, its presence making her skin crawl.
“Oh, hell no,” she muttered, scrambling onto the bed and away from the creature.
The knight’s voice came from behind her. “Ma’am?” He sounded more alarmed than before.
Alex dashed toward the mirror on the wall, her breath hitching. She needed something familiar. Her reflection stared back at her—a face that was hers and yet... wasn’t.
Her brown hair, streaked with white at the front as it had been since birth, framed her face. Her blue-grey eyes stared back—sharper, brighter, as if someone else were looking at her. The scar from her childhood was gone, and the crooked nose she'd had from a bully was straightened. Her features were too refined, like she was seeing an idealized version of herself.
“What the hell?” she whispered, reaching out to touch her face.
A soft voice broke her reverie. “Alexandria?”
Alex’s breath caught. No one had called her that in years. She spun around, and there, standing just behind her, was the female knight—the one from earlier—her blonde hair gleaming in the soft light.
“How do you know my name?” Alex demanded, her voice tight.
The knight's expression faltered. She shared a glance with the robed woman before stepping closer. "Can you come sit on the bed, please? We need to talk."
Alex hesitated, her chest tight with dread, but eventually, she allowed herself to be guided back to the bed. Her mind was a whirlwind of confusion. Who were these people? Why did they know her name? What was happening?
The knight motioned for the young knight to leave, her tone softening as she kneeled in front of Alex. “What do you remember, Alexandria?”
Alex recoiled, shaking her head. “I don’t understand. I don’t know what’s real anymore.” She reached out, touching her face again, her fingers trembling.
Doctor Leoda, who had been standing quietly, spoke up. “Ma’am, do you remember anything from the past few days? Your kidnapping? The attack?”
Alex froze. The memory hit her in fragments—the alarm blaring, her father’s voice, the harsh faces of her captors—and then nothing. A blank. She tried to piece it together, but nothing made sense.
“I don’t... I don’t remember.” Her voice faltered.
The doctor sighed, her expression gentle. "It's okay. Memory loss after trauma is common. Let’s clean your wound, and you can rest. Things will come back."
Alex’s gaze shifted back to the mirror. Her reflection wasn’t hers. And the world beyond the balcony wasn’t the one she knew.
“What year is it?” Alex asked suddenly, her voice trembling.
The knight frowned. “904 AG.”
The number made Alex’s stomach churn. “904? But... that doesn’t make sense. Isn’t this the Roman Empire?”
The knight and the doctor exchanged puzzled glances.
"Julius Caesar... you must know him, right? The emperor?” Alex pressed.
The knight’s expression darkened. “Julius Caesar? Who?”
"The Roman emperor!" Alex exclaimed.
The knight stepped closer gently. "Ma’am, there is no emperor. King Aldway Edgare rules these lands."
Alex stared, her chest tight. The words didn’t make sense. None of it did.
"Where is my father?" she whispered, her voice breaking.
Doctor Leoda’s gaze shifted to the knight, and the room fell silent.
The knight stepped forward cautiously. “Alexandria... your father—”
“Don’t call me that!” Alex snapped, her voice cracking. She didn’t know why the name felt so foreign, but hearing it made her panic grow.
The knight’s shoulders sagged. “Your father passed away during the attack. I’m sorry.”
The words hit her like a physical blow. She stumbled back, hitting the edge of the bed. Her mind reeled, the room spinning.
“No... no, that’s not true. He was fine. I heard him—”
Doctor Leoda stepped forward, placing a hand on Alex’s arm. “Ma’am, please. You need to rest. We can talk more when you’re feeling stronger.”
But Alex wasn’t listening. She turned toward the balcony, gripping the railing for support. Below, the courtyard was peaceful. Bakers moved loaves in and out of ovens, and the scent of fresh bread wafted upward.
Her father was gone? Were they even talking about the same person at this point? Her reflection wasn't hers. And the world outside her window wasn't the one she knew.
Alex realized she might never go home anymore.
YOU ARE READING
Bound by blood & Ink
Historical Fiction+18 Trigger warning. When college student Alexandra "Alex" Fairmont discovers an ancient, leather-bound book hidden in the depths of her school library, she's drawn into the unfinished tale of a noble young countess's life. Haunted by vivid dreams o...
