Alethea has always been awkward - eccentric, even. On a typical day she spends her time cloistered inside a tiny apartment hiding from the world she doesn't really understand. When her therapist encourages her to push herself outside her comfort zon...
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Something was wrong. I couldn't move. I couldn't see. Everything smelled like blood and for some reason my lungs were expanding and contracting but I wasn't in control of it. My heartbeat accelerated from fear and my brain was spinning in an attempt to figure things out.
"Wake up, Alethea."
Wake up? But I wasn't asleep.
"I know you can hear me."
So?
Listening to him ramble was at the bottom of my priority list. I was too busy trying to figure out what was going on while trying not to have a heart attack from fear.
"Fine. I can see what the phoenix meant about you being stubborn."
Adrenaline surged through my body at those words and in a flash I remembered everything. I fought to open my eyes – to just move at all. All I managed was a grunt.
"Ah, so you can hear me. I thought so. Good."
Hearing that voice was far more terrifying when I couldn't see the monster behind it.
"You're in a drug-induced paralysis, in case you were wondering why you can't move. Just until your more severe injuries heal. We can't have you dying too soon. A few of my minions got a bit overzealous when I told them to capture you and you look a bit like Frankenstein's monster at the moment."
Drug-induced paralysis? Just how badly had I been injured? And where was Roran?
"I have to say, I never expected David to try and double-cross me. Hijacking a police car when he knew I had vampires chasing you both? I have to give the kid credit; I didn't think he had the spine for it."
What?
"Oh, but you didn't know it was David, did you? I have to admit I was surprised when you didn't catch on to the ruse," he continued, unaware that I was having an internal breakdown.
"He wasn't even that good of an actor! I mean sure, shape-shifters retain memories and skills of the person they change into, but didn't you think it a bit strange you found Roran only hours after beginning your search for him? Or that he knew how to drive a car? Or that he was comfortable flying in a plane?"
Apparently my tear ducts still worked fine despite my paralysis because Moroi chuckled and said, "No reason to cry now, it's already done and over with. I'm not still furious over David's betrayal, am I? No.
"Well, he's dead, so I don't suppose there's any reason to be angry. But you get the point. No point crying over spilt milk as they say."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. It had been a shape-shifter the entire time?
Where was the real Roran?
"It is strange though, how you managed to change his loyalty so quickly in such a short time. We will have to talk about this more when you wake up. I'm curious to know how you did it," he mused, his nonchalant tone making me more and more angry by the second.
"But for now I think I'll just leave you to your thoughts. A fitting punishment don't you think? You were afraid of being stuck in purgatory as a vampire, but I think you'll find it much worse being stuck like this as a pathetic human.
"I hope your imagination is entertaining Alethea, because it's the only company you'll have for the next month."
With those parting words I heard footsteps and then the slamming of a door. And so began my month long period of isolation and fear.
...
I was going to keep going, but I decided it would be better to split up the chapter and make it easier to understand. The next chapter will be up by this afternoon. Do any of you remember who David is?
